Wed 31 Mar

Plenty of rain in the last day and a half. Maybe Kathy and I will get lucky and it won't rain while we're walking, but I'll take an umbrella anyway. Got a new library book on my Kindle and am looking forward to finishing it today. I so rarely read new-to-me books, so it's fun. Food: 7:10 am Kwik Trip chocolate donut, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 30 Mar

Rainy day today. Doesn't really matter to me because Wed is my busy day with gym in the morning and Bootstrap in the afternoon. I usually manage to get my 10,000 between the two of them so I don't need to get outside for a walk if I don't want to. Food: 7:35 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Slice Omega 3 bread, 1 tbl PB, i tbl red raspberry jam, med banana Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 29 Mar

Ah, another nice Tuesday. And this one promises very nice weather as well. I'm hoping we can hike Rib this evening before the day or two of predicted rain starts tomorrow. Otherwise I don't have specific tasks or appointments in mind, so the day will develop as it will. Food: 7:50 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am Slice Omega 3 bread, 1 tbl PB, 1 tbl red raspberry jam, med banana 4:00 pm 1 Peeps chick 6:45 pm 16 oz Seattle cider, Carolina BBQ pork sandwich w/apple slaw & pickled red onions, 1 c green beans 8:10 pm 2 Peeps chicks Exercise: 9:40-10:10 am Yoga DVD - tutorials and part of AM session 1:35-2:50 pm Walk to Schmeeckle 5;00-6:15 pm Hiking Rib on trails!

Mon 27 Mar

Looks like a lovely sunny day today, supposed to get into the 50s I believe. The next few days look to be a tad warmer again, then back to cooler temps by the weekend. Food: 7:50 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:40 am Cherry almond scone, caramel macchiato Greek yogurt 12:45 pm 2 Fiesta eggs 3:15 pm 2 Fiesta eggs Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 12:45-1:00 pm Walk to Suzuki (with Mick) 3:00-3:15 pm Walk home

Easter Sunday 27 Mar

Happy Easter! Vigil was okay last night, but definitely not as good as when we were Newman. Music still sometimes dragged and wasn't as polished as we used to have for vigil. Pretty amazing spread of food for the social afterward, though, with multiple cheesecakes/desserts, ham sandwiches, shrimp, other hors d'oeuvres, etc. It was very late so we had a few shrimp and shared a small piece of dense chocolate cheesecake and came home to hit the hay for church this morning. Had a hard time waking up this morning as I was in the middle of an unremembered dream when the alarm went off and can't seem to shake the sleepiness. Church was great this morning - wonderful to be back at the Convent with a great group of Newman singers. Kathy B, Dave R, Guy and Sandy, John E and wife, Pat. Nuns greeted us enthusiastically when we came to practice and I even got a hug from one. It felt so right and so joyful to be there. Brunch at Bernard's was also delicious as usual. Food: 7:30 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 99 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 3:15-4:30 pm Walk w/Dad through Iverson back Patch

Sat 26 Mar

Nearly Easter. Most of the big snow has already melted, and since it is supposed to be a bit milder over the next few days, the rest isn't long for this world, I suspect. No great loss. Food: 7:45 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl PB 3:30 pm Salmon club sandwich, 12 oz Velvet Hammer bock, 3 bites cheesy grits, 2/3 c steamed green beans 4:5 pm Kwik Trip chocolate cake donut Exercise: 1:15-3:00 pm Hike Rib on path

Fri 25 Mar

Good Friday. We will go to church this afternoon at 3 pm. The Holy Thursday potluck was fine yesterday at St Stan's. Lots of Newmanites were there and the food was a nice selection. I made bean casserole which went very well. Sat next to Paul and Cindy Piotrowski at the service and discovered that Paul is a good singer, so am trying to recruit him to Master Chorale when he retires at the end of the year. He is an excellent police captain, but his work shift is something like 6 days on, 6 days off which prevents him from involvement in things like choir with a regular weekly schedule, but he should be free in January to join. Ran into Rick Foss leaving the gym this morning. 212 really is the place to see old Ruth Gilfry retirees. Food: 7:40 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:40 am Slice Omega 3 bread, 1 tbl PB, 1 tbl red raspberry jam, lg banana Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 2:30-2:50 pm Walk to church 4:15-4:35 pm Walk home

Thurs 24 Mar

After much dilly-dallying and wishy-washiness, Kathy and I have decided we'll brave the still-falling snow to try a walk at 8:30. Might be fun to walk in all the fresh whiteness. It was fun! A bit of a tramp in places where no one had yet shoveled, but we walked over to the west side where we could walk around through Mead Park and down a back road and stay in the road. There were a few slippery spots, but no butt pratfalls. Got a bean casserole in the oven to take to Holy Thursday potluck tonight. Food: 7:30 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 Viennese finger chocolate sandwich cookies 12:20 pm Leftover liver n' onions, 1 sweet potato wedge 2:45 pm Milk chocolate Santa Exercise: 8:30-10:05 am Walk w/Kathy

Wed 23 Mar

No snow yet, maybe starting this afternoon. Amazing gourmet lunch. The brioche bread from the Hmong baker lady, made into French toast w/sliced bananas and real maple syrup. Yum!!! Food: 7:40 am Cherry almond scone, 1/2 grapefruit, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am 2 slices brioche bread, 2 eggs, 1/4 c milk, 1/2 tbl butter, 1 tbl maple syrup, 1 large sliced banana 3:30 pm 1 Fun-size Butterfingers 4:20 pm 1 Riesen caramel 5:35 pm 1 c whole grain spaghetti w/meat sauce, 1 tbl shredded parmesan, mango peach sauce cup Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 22 Mar

Ah, a Tuesday. I do have a voice lesson with Mary today and then we are going to lunch together. This is her spring break. I should walk to St Steve's to pick up the Easter music binders for the Convent chapel with the Newman musicians. I may also walk down to the courthouse to vote. It is supposed to get in the low 50s today before the big snowstorm hits tomorrow. Food: 8:00 am Morning bun, 1/4 cantaloupe, 99 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm Tokyo Steak House lunch buffet (sushi, green beans, 2 crab rangoon, 3 tempura veggies, stir fry plate) 1:00 pm 2 Wint-O-Green LifeSavers 3:30 pm 3 Leo's peppermint sticks 6:40 pm Costco rotisserie chicken breast, 2 large sweet potato wedges, 2/3 c diced beets, thin slice brioche bread Exercise: 9:30-9:50 am Jessica Smith YouTube videos 10:30-10:55 am Walk to church and then Suzuki 1:00-2:00 pm Walk from Tokyo Steak House to courthouse and home

Mon 21 Mar

I am delighted that I was able to recover the trip code for Aer Lingus from the credit card bill and request that they resend the confirmation email. That was the last piece I can think of that was lost with the email inbox as most of the other things I had thankfully copied into a trip folder on the desktop. I don't have the Macs Adventure full itinerary yet, but that's because they haven't sent it out. Nice evening with the Hartman's last night. We giggled together like a bunch of old friends. Food: 7:30 am Chocolate chip danish, 1/4 cantaloupe, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:15 am Sm piece kolache coffee cake 12:00 pm Cherry almond scone 1:00 pm Large banana 7:00 pm Beef liver w/caramelized onions, 2/3 c mashed sweet potato, 3/4 c roasted green beans Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 5:50-6:20 pm Neighborhood walk

Sun 20 Mar

I wish I knew why I feel so tired much of the time lately. I seem to get really tired in the mid-afternoon unless I get a short nap, and yet I'm still really exhausted at early bedtime. I'm okay the rest of the time, but when I get tired, I get really tired. Hope it's just the weather changing. Food: 6:30 am Chocolate chip danish, 1/4 cantaloupe, 120 g strawberries, coffee 11:30 am Kolache coffee cake, 100 g blackberries 1:45 pm Sm piece kolache coffee cake Exercise: 7:10-7:30 am Walk to church 9:20-9:40 am Walk home 1:50-3:00 pm Walk to Schmeeckle

Sat 19 Mar

And it's Saturday! Came very quickly with coming home from vacation in the middle of the week. We are heading down to Madison to celebrate Bob's birthday with Laura and get some erranding done. Fireplace seems to be working again, albeit a little quirky getting started. Looks like we won't need to have them come do a service call after all. Missed having it available the first day back, but we got it working yesterday morning and it's going again today. Went to Aldi's last night and got the Easter baskets done for the kids. Stocked up on fresh fruit so this morning is a feast for me. Food: 7:25 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 1/4 cantaloupe, 100 g blackberries, 142 g strawberries, coffee

Fri 18 Mar

Starting to slip back into normal routine, getting up for gym today. Got to do laundry this afternoon, plus a lesson with Mary to go over our Palm Sunday music as she is accompanying when I cantor. Tomorrow we go to see Laura in Madison. Food: 7:30 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee 11:45 am Slice German dark wheat bread, 1 tbl natural PB, 1 tbl red raspberry jam 2:25 pm 1 Riesen caramel Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 12:45-1:00 pm Walk to Suzuki 2:00-2:15 pm Walk home

Thurs 17 Mar

Happy St Paddy's Day! I believe Bob had a nice birthday yesterday. We celebrated here by going to dinner with Michael and Taylor at the new Old 10 Bistro, the reincarnation of the Red Mill Supper Club which was having a soft opening on their very first day of business. Meal was excellent, we met the chef who is young, talented, and very nice. Dad got his birthday present of new hiking boots early so he could start breaking them in right away. We were able to get a good night's sleep last night so I feel a little more normal, but I suspect it will take a few days to get back to the feeling of the schedule. Today is walking with Kathy and tutoring, and we have a Rockman cooking class tonight. Light rain started falling when I left for my walk with Kathy, and switched to snow about halfway through. Fluffy, big flakes and quite wet, but kind of fun. Food: 7:25 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee 11:40 am 2 Royalty Cream Crackers, tea Exercise: 8:00-9:35 am Walk w/Kathy 10:00-10:15 am Walk to St Steve's 11:20-11:35 am Walk home

Tues 8 Mar

Yay!!!!!!! Vacation day is finally here! Hopefully by 6:45, we will be on the road with intention of a nice breakfast at Manna before getting to the airport by about 10:00. We fly out at 11:45 and have layovers in Chicago and Miami, so we don't get in to St Maarten til about 10:30 pm, but there were no flights available arriving earlier. We have someone meeting us at the airport to drive us to the hotel and we pick up our rental car at the hotel, so we don't need to worry about driving today. The hotel provides a couple bottles of water, beers, and sodas in the fridge for the first day as well as coffee for breakfast. I'm also taking more coffee from home so we don't have to buy it in the supermarket for the rest of the trip. Food: 6:10 am Hot cross bun, 71 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 7 Mar

Vacation is a good motivator. I've had the hats/booties for Liliana and Daniel Mateo for over a week, meaning to prepare them for mailing. I really want them sent out before we leave, so I wrote the cards and wrapped them this morning. Bob has some time this morning so he is in charge of mailing them. Food: 7:40 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 84 g blackberries, coffee 11:00 am Satellite wafers 11:55 am Slice banana bread, caramel macchiato Greek light yogurt Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 12:45-1:00 pm Walk to Suzuki 2:20-2:30 pm Walk home

Sun 6 Mar

Today is Mothering Sunday in the UK, whatever that means. Don't recall hearing that they have their own version of Mother's Day, though that's what it sounds like. Who knows? Going to the early Mass this morning as it is for the birthday of Art Zag and even Joyce has returned from California to co-cantor with Janet. I haven't seen Joyce for probably 40 years, so I thought we would go take in the festivities. Enjoyed very much touching base with the Zag clan. Joyce had to work at it, but was able to remember me. They were all quite rushed so it was a brief meeting but I had a chance to say hello to each of them and to wish Art a happy 90th. He said my dad was the one who invited him to join Knights of Columbus many long years ago. Food: 7:15 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 78 g blackberries, coffee 10:30 am Satellite wafers 11:45 am 2 1/2 pc leftover Wheel House pizza 6:30 pm Regular size hamburger, Lakeland bun, 1 tbl ketchup, 1/2 c baked beans Exercise: 9:40-9:55 am Walk to church 10:15-10:30 am Walk home 1:30-3:15 pm Hiking Rib path

Sat 5 Mar

Vacation is getting close enough to taste! We had about 2-3 inches of new snow last night to set the stage for escape to warm temps. I'm mostly packed and I even got to the bank to pick up cash already. There is time this weekend to check things over for last minute additions and make lists if needed of things I don't want to miss doing once we're there. Food: 7:55 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 88 g blackberries, coffee 10:30 am Satellite wafers 1:15 pm Slice banana bread, vanilla Greek light yogurt Exercise: 1:50-2:20 pm Jessica Smith Cardio Party DVD 2:25-3:05 am Leslie Sansone 3/5 Fat Burning Miles DVD

Fri 4 Mar

For some reason I am very muzzy this morning, no explicable reason. Maybe it's related to the numerous times I started and ripped out the knitting project yesterday evening. The best attempt that was really going well, I realized I had twisted in spite of trying not to and I was knitting a Mobius strip. Food: 7:35 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 88 g blackberries, coffee 11:15 am Satellite wafers 11:35 am Slice banana bread, caramel macchiato Gree light yogurt 5:45 pm Bernard's fish fry (1 1/2 filets of fried tilapia), coleslaw, mini baguette w/butter, Italian breadsticks w/herb cream cheese, 1/3 c scalloped potatoes, 1/2 strawberry rhubarb tart, 16 oz German beer Exercise: 8:55-9:15 am Treadmill 9:20-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 2:15-2:30 pm Walk to Kathy Hartman's 3:00-3:15 pm Walk home

Thurs 3 Mar

Went to the grocery store yesterday evening and restocked on berries and hot cross buns to last til we leave. Nice to have familiar breakfast food available in the house. I really like the Trig's hot cross buns; they are nice and fresh and don't taste as processed as Copps'. Looking forward to walking with Kathy this morning since we missed last week and have to miss again next week. I really have come to enjoy our weekly catch-up sessions. We had a really nice long walk. Food: 7:15 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 84 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am Campbell's Chunky Chicken Noodle soup, slice Omega 3 toast, 1 tbl PB, 61 g red grapes 4:45 pm Slice banana bread 5:25 pm Flat Tuscan spaghetti w/meat sauce w/onions and peppers, 1 tbl grated Parmesan Exercise: 8:00-9:45 am Walk w/Kathy 10:00-10:15 am Walk to St Steve's 11:20-11:35 am Walk home 1:50-2:05 pm Walk home from UC

Wed 2 Mar

Cold again this morning. Enough already! I'm very ready to go to St Maarten and be toasty warm next week, and glad that those staying here will also enjoy much warmer temperatures. I hope the local temps last a bit after we return. Food: 7:30 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee 11:45 am Campbell's Chunky Chicken Noodle soup, slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, lg banana Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 1 Mar

Kathy is 60 today, even though she managed a one-day reprieve this year. I look forward to walking with her again this week after missing last week. We will have to miss again the following week when we are in St Maarten. We leave a week from today. This morning I got up late and there is snow falling outside with temps in the mid-20s. Yuck! A little frustrated with myself for cutting both Jessica Smith routines a little short when I got tired, but so be it. I also cut the Barefoot flow slightly short because she went into static toning moves and I just needed a few more steps so I walked while she toned and then ended. I also wanted to keep this afternoon session slow and mellow so I wouldn't have to strip off layers and turn off the fireplace again. Fruit flies drive me nuts! One week before St Maarten - freezing my fingers while shoveling a light coat of snow that showed no signs of melting all day. Food: 8:45 am Hot cross bun, 1/2 grapefruit, 30 g blackberries, 41 g raspberries, coffee 12:30 pm 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl PB, med banana 4:45 pm 1 oz tortilla chips 6:00 pm Cheeseburger pie, 1 tbl ketchup, 2/3 c winter squash 7:30 pm Jello Sugar Free rice pudding cup Exercise: 10:35-11:25 am Jessica Smith Indoor Jogging YouTube and Buns/Thighs DVD 2:10-2:35 pm Jessica Smith Barefoot Fusion Flow YouTube 4:00-4:30 pm Shoveling light snow