Wed 30 Nov

It will be very nice to be done with choir concerts after this weekend, because hopefully then Bob will stop whistling choir songs all the time. Haven't heard anything whether we have a Thurs night rehearsal. I don't feel a strong need for one, but I'll go if they do it to get maximum participation. Food: 7:40 am Morning bun, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Crabby Guy on English muffin, 1 c fresh fruit, 4 Dutch mints 2:30 pm Slice cranberry bread, Reese's sm pumpkin, 1/2 c caramel corn Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 29 Nov

The Christmas tree is begging to be trimmed. Maybe this afternoon? Susie Eberhard's funeral is at 11, but the afternoon is unscheduled. Desmond and family did not return yesterday, so I suppose it's possible they might show up today. We had such a nice visit last week, that it's fine if they aren't able to return. Food: 7:35 am Morning bun, 100 g blackberries, coffee 10:20 am Nespresso espresso 12:15 pm Slice Omega 3 bread, .15 tbl butter, 4 oz ham, med banana, 20 cal Nestle cocoa 2:00 pm 2 chocolates Exercise: 8:45-9:00 am Walk to St Steve's 10:05-10:20 am Walk home 10:40-10:55 am Walk to St Stan's 1:40-2:00 pm Jessica Smith Power Walk YouTube 2:50-3:10 pm Jessica Smith Upper Body Mile walk

Mon 28 Nov

Laura had a good first night with her cuddly kitty. She is thinking of renaming her, but hasn't yet chosen a new moniker. I'm so glad she has a pleasant companion in her lovely new home. Extended choir rehearsal went pretty well yesterday. I feel much more confident about the concerts now. They are planning to try for another dress rehearsal on Thurs. Food: 7:35 am Pecan danish, 99 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am 2 scrambled eggs, 1 tbl shredded cheddar, thick slice challah, sm orange 12:30 pm 3 pc chocolates 2:30 pm .5 c Quaker Oat Squares 6:10 pm Aldi's vegetable lasagne, pomegranate sauce cup Exercise: 9:40-9:55 am Walk to Pilates 10:00-10:50 am Pilates class 11:05-11:20 am Walk home 2:55-3:10 pm Walk to Suzuki 3:35-3:50 pm Walk home

Sun 27 Nov

Had a very nice visit with Laura in Madison yesterday. Her friend, Elin, helped to choose her kitty from Petsmart where the shelter brought several cats ready for adoption. Laura chose a 4-year-old female named Pearl, a fairly large tortoise-shell cat with a lot of personality. I think they will get along well. We gave Laura her housewarming gift in the form of cat-warming gifts - a large climbing tree, feeding dishes, grooming tools, a harness, and adoption fees. Laura had a "Friendsgiving" celebration scheduled that evening so Bob and I did Costco and the bakery, then hit Hubbard Ave Diner for a light supper with chocolate blackberry cake. We had lunch earlier with the girls at the Pub. Food: 7:40 am Chocolate chip danish, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:50 pm 3 oz white meat turkey, 1/2 c stuffing, 1 tbl gravy, 2/3 c sweet potatoes, 2 tbl cranberry relish Exercise: 9:10-9:30 am Walk to church 11:10-11:30 am Walk home

Sat 26 Nov

This long holiday weekend is really playing havoc with my feeling for the day of the week. I have been sure that today is Sunday, and actually thought yesterday should have been Sunday for awhile. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly happy that it's Saturday, and I'm really looking forward to helping Laura get settled with a new kitty. We are going to the indoor Farmer's Market at about 7:45, hoping that it's open already, so we can get David's pastries for the week, then home quick to nosh one and hopefully en route to Madison by 8:30. I am so hungry on waking that I need a bowl of cereal to tide me over for the hour until a pastry is available. Haven't had cereal for awhile due to abundant bakery so it tastes good to me. David apparently didn't come to the market today, so I'm glad I ate earlier. Still, I succumbed to the last poula roll while Bob ate. Food: 7:05 am 1 c Quaker Oat cereal, 1/2 c soy milk, 104 g blackberries, Nespresso espresso 8:25 am Poula roll Exercise: 7:30-7:45 am Jessica Smith Power Walk workout DVD

Fri 25 Nov

Happy Birthday, Bro! Mark would have been 65 today. So difficult to imagine what he would have been like as an adult. Due to the age difference and how little time we spent together, I never really got to know him very well before he was gone. Bob is going over to Michael's this morning to help him muck out the bathtub drain, then hopefully we'll go out to do a little Black Friday scrounging together and have lunch at Panera. Maybe I'll use his absence this morning as an excuse to start laundry early to get as much out of the way as possible since we go to Madison tomorrow for the day (to help Laura pick out her new kitty!!!) Did the Black Friday thing by myself this year as Bob didn't get back from Michael's yet by 9:50 am. Went to Target, Kohl's, Plover Shopko and Younker's and didn't buy a single thing. Didn't see any amazing bargains worth standing in line to buy. Food: 8:00 am IKEA cinnamon roll, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 24 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey bird is in the oven with a brown ale basting sauce on top. Chose not to put any of the stuffing inside the bird this year to reduce cooking time and also because the new recipe did not suggest stuffing it. If we want to eat at 11:00, saving roasting time is a good idea, and really so little of the stuffing is usually inside anyway as to be negligible. Still need to get the sweet potatoes ready to pop in, the asparagus ready to roast, and the small crock pot of creamed corn ready to try. That is an experiment that I'm not sure will turn out well, but it is really an extra dish so it doesn't particularly matter. We have Costco pumpkin pie, (must whip cream!), and cranberry pudding pie for dessert. Food: 7:20 am Maple pecan coffee cake, 104 g blackberries, coffee 11:00 am Thanksgiving bounty Exercise: 2:05-3:50 pm Schmeeckle lake walk w/Bob

Wed 23 Nov

Day before Thanksgiving already, and it hasn't really hit me yet. This evening, after Bootstrap, when I need to make all my advance preparations for morning cooking should do it. Hopefully I've collected everything I need. Gym today for the first time in a week. Mondays are now for Pilates, and last Friday I was in Minneapolis. Don't expect I will go on Black Friday this week either as we will probably follow our annual routine of morning shopping around 9 am followed by lunch. Maybe we'll get ready to put up the Christmas tree afterward. That would certainly shock me into seasonal realization. Food: 7:40 am Maple pecan coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 22 Nov

A cold grey day today. Kathy and I will walk after my tutoring at St Steve's, so maybe it will warm up a tad by then. I need to get to Aldi's to get some celery for the stuffing on Thursday. I'll probably pick up Cool Whip for the pie rather than whipping cream as a nod to Taylor's dairy intolerance; I hope she can eat the pie. Food: 7:45 am Nutella pocket pastry, 72 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am Friendly Farms pumpkin Greek yogurt, Bosc pear, poula roll Exercise: 8:45-9:00 am Walk to St Steve's 10:10-11:30 am Walk w/Kathy

Mon 21 Nov

Very nice trip to Minneapolis. The usual Mall of America, Target, Good Earth lunch and other shopping. Enjoyed watching Kurt and Barb curl and dinner with them on Friday at a Thai place. They took us on a driving tour of downtown Saturday and we then walked through the skyways and ended up at Macy's to go through their huge holiday display with all the Santa's elves like they used to display in the windows downtown when I was little. I was thoroughly delighted with it. Barb also helped to get me a bottle of Bailey's pumpkin spice that I had not been successful in locating on my own. She is so sweet in helping to make other people's holidays perfect. Poop! I was excited about finding another top like I had got at the Grafton Costco in a different color. It finally arrived today, but what they call Grey is exactly the same green as the one I already have. Either Laura or Taylor will likely get it for Christmas. Talked to Patrick briefly after class. His part-time job is Tues/Thurs at The Store gas station. He said he has been living full-time in Stevens Point for the last two years! Food: 7:30 am Peach danish, 100 blackberries, coffee Exercise: 8:40-8:55 am Walk to Pilates 9:00-9:50 am Patrick's Pilates class 10:00-10:15 am Walk home

Thurs 17 Nov

Wow, a week from today is already Thanksgiving! That snuck up. I haven't yet begun to collect food or recipes or seriously plan, though it's just going to be Bob and me and Michael and Taylor. I'll look to pick up a turkey at Costco in Minneapolis, and perhaps also some stuffing mix and veggies and maybe a Costco pumpkin pie. It's not quite the event it used to be when my folks were alive, Leone and Mick came, and Megumi, Yoshi, and Yuki. A little more planning was required in those days. Heading out to Minneapolis in about an hour or less. We have been looking forward to this trip quite a bit, so it will hopefully be relaxing and fun. Mall of America this afternoon! Food: 7:10 am Honey bear pastry, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 16 Nov

One more home day before our Minneapolis trip. We both seem quite eager for the trip this year; hope it bodes well. Should be a lovely day weather-wise tomorrow, then rain/snow on Friday and cold on the weekend. We shall cope. Food: 7:30 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 15 Nov

Time marches on. Halfway through November already. Today my tutoring and walk with Kathy both were canceled so I again have a completely free Tuesday. I'll get the laundry done so we have clean clothes to pack for Minneapolis and I may start my own packing. Otherwise I can decide my own activities today. I like it. Food: 8:00 am Lingonberry danish, 103 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am Pacific Southwest Vegetable soup, pumpkin bar w/cream cheese frosting 12:30 pm Sipping chocolate 2:00 pm 4 dark chocolate English toffees Exercise: 10:45-11:00 am Walk to library 11:15-11:30 am Walk home 3:50-4:35 pm Ellis/Minnesota loop

Mon 14 Nov

Looking forward to Pilates class this morning for the first time in a very, very long time. Expecting resultant soreness in long-forgotten muscles, but it will be good. Bob wanted to revive the routine at home, so getting it back into my brain will help enormously with that. Food: 7:30 am Prune danish, 104 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am Slice Oat So Healthy bread, .15 tbl butter, 1.3 oz Jarlsberg, mandarin orange Exercise: 8:40-8:55 am Walk to NFAC 9:00-9:55 am Pilates class 10:-10:15 am Walk home

Sun 13 Nov

Aunt Leone turns 96 today. We have to stop over and visit her today. We had offered to take her out to breakfast but she said she really doesn't leave the house much any more and doesn't feel comfortable going out. Music of the Masters was kind of fun last night. Got to visit afterward with Elaine Wrone whom I haven't seen in years. 8:00 am cantoring today. Went fine. Food: 6:25 am Cheese danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 10:00 am 1/2 pumpkin bar w/cream cheese frosting 11:35 am 2 eggs, 2 oz chopped ham, .5 tbl shredded cheddar, 38 g raspberries, 1/2 pumpkin bar w/cream cheese frosting Exercise: 7:10-7:30 am Walk to church 9:15-9:35 am Walk home

Sat 12 Nov

Gradually I am beginning to shake off the shock/dismay of the elections and return to feeling normal. It helps considerably that I have completely boycotted any related news. I won't listen even to my WPR during newscasts and I ignore items on the Yahoo homepage related to the election or candidates. I can't completely ignore the Facebook references, but I do skip most of them. It is helping a lot. Rehearsal didn't take too long last night for Music of Masters; I was home shortly past 8:30. I do feel now like I know what will be going on tonight so it was helpful. It is strange that I know so few of Mary's kids any more. Food: 7:45 am Costco coffee cake, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 11 Nov

Having a voice lesson and lunch with Mary today immediately after the gym, so it will be a bit of a rush. I have my clothes laid out for a quick change. Laundry will then be delayed to the afternoon, and I believe I need to go to the Music of the Masters rehearsal tonight since I haven't yet sung with the others. Busy day. Ran into Patrick on the way to Suzuki voice and he invited me to take his Pilates class at the Dance Studio on campus at 9:00 am Monday. I'll be there! Food: 7:45 am Costco coffee cake, 98 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm PJ's salmon burger w/veggies on brioche bun, sm side salad, orange pound cake w/rum sauce Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 10 Nov

I'm starting to feel a little more normal again, as long as I don't allow myself to think about the elections. I need to just move on. It means I won't listen to the news at all for at least a month or so until things settle down, so a quiet car feels strange. Maybe I'll find a good CD. Not sure if I'm walking with Kathy this morning as she wasn't feeling well yesterday. She texted to say she was up for a shorter walk, and it was very nice. Food: 7:25 am Costco coffee cake, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Friendly Farms pumpkin Greek yogurt, slice oat toast w/butter, 100 g raspberries Exercise: 8:05-9:20 am Walk w/Kathy

Wed 9 Nov

The election results are in and I am nauseated. Pretty much every candidate I voted for and believed in has lost, except Katrina Shankland who ran unopposed. I fear for the next four years for our country, but need to remember that we survived 8 years of Bush. I am stunned and still nauseous. At least losing my appetite from the election helped me resist snacking at Bootstrap this afternoon. Food: 7:45 am Morning bun, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g raspberries 5:20 pm 2 corn dogs, ketchup, 1/2 c egg pasta, 2 tbl Autumn Harvest sauce, 1/2 c sliced beets, 5 oz zinfandel Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 8 Nov

So, today is voting day for all those who didn't vote early. Tonight they tabulate and we shall know our fate. God help us. Looking forward to my massage with Mary this afternoon. Been a very long time since I have had one with her; she is so good with my feet particularly. Food: 7:45 am Morning bun, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 7 Nov

Last day before election day, then hope for peace and quiet and "life goes on". Home all week this week, Music of the Masters concert on Saturday. I need to work on making sure everything is memorized. Food: 7:30 am Morning bun, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 2 slices Oat So Healthy toast, 2 tbl peanut butter, 99 g raspberries 1:30 pm 2 meltaway chocolates Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 2:50-3:05 pm Walk to Suzuki 3:50-4:05 pm Walk home

Sun 6 Nov

Daylight Savings Time ends today. It's not as easy as it once was to figure out how to set all the clocks back. My Fitbit worked by just syncing it to my computer, but I could not remember how to reset the time on the alarm clock. Bob's still in bed so I didn't want to dig through the nightstand drawer with the light on to look for the manual. Finally just gave up and figured it out for myself. Reset the living room and bathroom clocks and the other bedroom clock. Still have to deal with the kitchen timer clocks, dining room wall clock and others I stumble across. Looks to be another nice, sunny day. Should be pleasant to walk to church. Food: 8:00 am German danish, 1/2 grapefruit, 103 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am Equiv 2 med slices Bill's sausage/mushroom pizza, mandarin orange Exercise: 9:45-10:00 am Walk to church 11:10-11:25 am Walk home 12:15-12:45 pm Ellis St loop 1:10-1:20 pm Walk to Michael's 1:45-1:55 pm Walk home

Sat 5 Nov

Already November marches on. Tomorrow we set back the clocks for Daylight Savings, a bit later than usual in the year. It has been nice to have the daylight evenings longer in the fall. No more evening hikes at Rib now though. Soon it will be dark when Bob comes home from work already. Today we plan to go to hike at Devil's Lake, but we will lunch at the restaurant at the Driftless Glen distillery first. Lunch is more reasonably priced than dinner, so we will eat and then take advantage of hopefully warmer afternoon weather to hike the bluffs. Food: 8:20 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 4 Nov

For some reason, I feel dopey tired this morning even though I had a normal full night's sleep. Hopefully it will pass soon. Tonight we plan to go see Pacelli's Holocaust play. Our choir director, Carrie, is the director of the play and really feels it is the best thing she has done in high school drama. We shall see. Food: 7:35 am Raspberry kringle, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:25 pm 2 slices 45 cal multigrain bread, 2 lg eggs, 1/8 c skim milk, .15 tbl butter, 1 tbl maple syrup, 1/2 grapefruit 5:30 pm 1/2 slice ham, 2/3 c egg pasta w/1/3 c Autumn Harvest sauce, 1/2 tbl shredded parmesan, 1 c sliced beets Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 3 Nov

Yay, Cubbies! Congratulations on your first World Series win in 108 years. If the Cubbies can win the Series, anything good can happen, no matter the odds. I'm delighted for them, though sorry for my friends in Cleveland who were so happy for their own team. I get to walk with Kathy again on a Thursday morning for the first time in what seems ages. I'm looking forward to it. She called and wanted to drive out to a segment of the Green Circle loop at Moses Creek so we had a little change of scenery. Little shorter walk, but fun. Food: 7:15 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 9:45 am 2 salted caramel cookies, tea 12:05 am Cheddar chowder, dark chocolate beltway 4:35 pm Indian corn Exercise: 8:20-9:15 am Walk w/Kathy at Moses Creek 10:15-10:35 am Madison St loop 1:45-2:00 pm Walk to haircut 3:50-4:05 pm Walk home

Wed 2 Nov

Don't know why I feel tired this morning. Got a full night's sleep, but could crawl back in with ease. Darker mornings always make it harder to feel awake. I'll try using the happy light for a bit. Food: 7:35 am Chocolate croissant, 71 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Millville Steel Cut oats, 1 tbl golden flax, cinnamon, 1/2 scoop Elevation vanilla protein powder, soy milk, 1/4 c frozen blueberries Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 1 Nov

Beautiful evening for Halloween trick or treating last night. I sat out on the front steps in my bright orange jacket for the first hour and a half since the porch light didn't come on til 6 pm. We had 178 trick or treaters; I used one big Costco bag and found a bag of York patties leftover from Christmas to finish the night. Next year we will just buy one big bag and maybe a couple regular size bags from Target or such and not bother with a second big bag to return if not needed. It's too hard to know if you'll get enough to justify opening that second huge bag, and the last three years now, we haven't. Food: 8:15 am Cheese danish, 97 g blackberries, coffee 11:50 am 2 slices 45 cal multigrain bread, 65 g braunschweiger, 1/2 c stewed rhubarb 3:45 pm .5 c Quaker Oat Squares 7:20 pm Bowl chili, 1 tbl light sour cream, 1 tbl fancy shredded cheddar, square pumpkin cornbread Exercise: 2:55-3:10 pm Walk to Suzuki 3:50-4:05 pm Walk home 5:10-5:30 pm Walk to church 7:00-7:20 pm Walk home