Tues 31 Jan

Another January bites the dust. One advantage to getting older and time passing more quickly is that even the winters disappear more quickly than they used to. Got some snow but not a whole lot. Enough to look pretty again. Food: 8:05 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Small portion risotto w/crab/peppers/mushrooms/squash, 4 gingersnaps Exercise: 8:45-9:00 am Walk to St Steve's 10:10-10:25 am Walk home 12:45-1:00 pm Walk to Suzuki 2:10-2:25 pm Walk home

Mon 30 Jan

Pilates starts today for the semester, and I'm excited. Bob is making an effort to come as well. I'm particularly glad that I'll get a month of it in before hitting the beach in Mexico. I'm also just looking forward to how much better I felt the last session. Food: 7:35 am Cheese danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm Risotto w/crab, squash, yellow pepper, mushrooms Exercise: 8:40-8:55 am Walk to campus 9:00-9:50 am Pilates class 10:05-10:20 am Walk home

Sun 29 Jan

Nice to sometimes go to church on Sat evening and have Sunday morning absolutely free. I stayed in bed about an hour beyond my normal rising time after reading til 10 last night. We have no structured obligations until choir at 3:30 (an organizational meeting before the normal 4:00-6:00 singing). Bob's already watching movies. Food: 8:40 am Apple danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:40 pm 2 eggs over easy, 1 slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, 34 g raspberries 2:30 pm 3 biscuits 7:05 pm Risotto w/crab, squash, peppers, 5 oz white wine Exercise: 9:45-10:25 am Jessica Smith Warm-Up and High Energy Walk 11:50-12:25 pm Jessica Smith Power Walk and Cool Down

Sat 28 Jan

Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Rooster. I cantor tonight at 5 pm. Maybe I'll plan a stir fry or something to celebrate with our Eastern friends. Food: 8:55 am Gibassier, 100 g blackberries, coffee 1:05 pm 32 g asiago cheese, med banana, Pacoquita peanut bar Exercise: 1:20-2:15 pm Walk w/Bob to Schmeeckle and back

Fri 27 Jan

This week has fairly disappeared. I have over-indulged in chocolate and other sweets, so I need to get "back on the wagon". I did get over 18,000 steps yesterday so I feel good about that. Don't think I exacerbated the shoulder soreness too badly today. Took the relevant weights lighter and didn't do the tricep presses that specifically hurt. Food: 7:45 am Morning bun, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:35 pm 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl peanut butter, 99 g raspberries Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 26 Jan

May need to break out the Yaktrax for walking this morning if the layer of moisture froze underneath the light snow. I don't look forward to slipping and sliding again. Looking forward to getting my hair cut this afternoon; it has been just that bit too long so as to be annoying. Food: 7:20 am Honey Bear pastry, 103 g blackberries, coffee 11:25 am Chicken tortilla soup, 1 slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, 101 g raspberries Exercise: 8:00-9:25 am Walk w/Kathy, Mead Park route 1:45-2:00 pm Walk to haircut 4:25-4:40 pm Walk home

Wed 25 Jan

Falling back into more normal routine again. Gym today in the falling snow, followed by Bootstrap. Enjoyed watching The ABC Murders on Poirot last night, the first Agatha Christie book I ever read. It was a season opener and therefore a double-length episode and quite enjoyable. Food: 7:40 am Chocolate croissant, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am Carrot cake muffin, 101 g raspberries Exercise: 9:00-9:26 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 24 Jan

Home from Madison, a nice time had. Hopefully we weren't too intrusive in Laura's space. All was enjoyable except, of course, the outcome of the Packer game. I found I didn't even mind that as much since the only game left is the over-hyped Super Bowl. Laura's friends welcomed us into their circle for the game and we still had the opportunity to enjoy a couple of good Restaurant Week meals as well. Back to routine again for awhile. Nothing really much planned between now and Mexico, though I suppose we'll pick a Saturday in February to visit Laura again. Food: 7:50 am Carrot cake muffin, 102 g blackberries, coffee 1:20 pm Pumpkin pie Greek yogurt, orange Exercise: 8:45-9:00 am Walk to St Steve's 10:10-10:15 am Walk to the library 10:25-10:40 am Walk home

Fri 20 Jan

Luckily Kathy asked me about the Suicide Prevention meeting today. I didn't get the email this month and I hadn't written it on my calendar. Odd that I didn't get the email because I did get a different one from Michelle's forwarding list. Oh well, I'll go anyway. Walked/skated down to the courthouse and got the taxes paid, then returned my library books. A few blocks from home (on the worst of the slippery sidewalks) I realized I had forgotten my library card and they wouldn't allow me to take out new books without it or my driver's license. Food: 7:25 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 103 g blackberries, coffee 11:50 am Peach soy shake w/veggie powder, 2 slices 3 Kings bread Exercise: 9:45-10:35 am Walk to courthouse, then to library, and home

Thurs 19 Jan

Today I will walk with Kathy in the morning if the sidewalks are not prohibitively icy, and then this afternoon we are going to make mouse cookies together. What fun! Should get the thank you note written to Ruth for the 3 Kings bread, pay the property taxes, and return books to the library also if weather allows. Wow, the sidewalks were treacherous. We mostly walked in the streets til we got to the University area where the sidewalks had been professionally cleared and salted. There were still occasional icy patches even there, but our sidewalk outside the house was so bad I had to hang on to the picket fence and I wasn't sure I'd make it down the driveway. Bob had bought salt Tuesday but hadn't yet put any down. He was home when I returned and reluctantly went out to put it down when I told him our house was among the worst I had encountered. Food: 7:20 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 10:15 am 3 pc chocolate 11:45 am 2 slices struan toast w/butter, orange Exercise 8:00-9:15 am Walk w/Kathy on icy roads

Wed 18 Jan

Weeks are flying by again already. Shared a nice dinner with Heather at Father Fats last night (which I almost completely forgot about! Thank Heaven that Heather had to text to adjust the time!) Have been enjoying watching episodes of Poirot on my Fire tablet on Netflix. I can sit in my chair and it is no handicap not wearing my contacts since the screen is in my lap. I have even taken to watching an episode in bed before I sleep if there is time. I had never watched TV in bed before so it feels quite decadent. Food: 7:35 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:40 am 2 slices struan toast w/butter, 37 g asiago cheese, orange Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 17 Jan

Looks like the town is pretty well locked down this morning from the layer of ice on sidewalks and roads. No school today so no tutoring for me, leaving my day fully free. I likely won't set foot outside all day. Nice when this happens on a Tuesday (if it had to happen at all). Bob isn't heading out for at least a while also, so I set him to work on my travel hairdryer to see if he can get it to switch on to high. Food: 7:40 am Apple danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:35 am 48 g challah, 1 tbl peanut butter, vanilla soy shake w/Spruce greens packet Exercise: 9:15-9:45 am Jessica Smith warm-up, steady state mile, cool down, stretch 10:35-10:50 am Jessica Smith upper body toning mile

Mon 16 Jan

The Packers are still live in the playoffs. Hopefully Laura can find us a spot to watch the game on Sunday afternoon in Madison. After the dismal beginning of our season, no one (except Aaron Rodgers) would have dreamed we would be in this position. Amazing fun! Food: 7:40 am Lingonberry danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 79 g challah, 55 g Swiss cheese, orange Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 15 Jan

An unusual Sunday in that Bob and I are scheduled to minister at different Masses. I cantor at 8 am and he ushers at 10 am. Therefore he is still sleeping in while I get ready to walk by myself early on. I have requested that he get the Christmas boxes down from the attic and I will start de-Christmasing while he is at church. Packers don't play til 3:40 pm so I have some time. Yesterday I did manage to make the pink hat for the Women's march from the pattern Laura sent. It was fun and she gave me email kudos. Food: 6:45 am Lemon brooche roll, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Slice challah, 2 oz salmon, 1 c wild rice w/veggies Exercise: 7:10-7:30 am Walk to St Steve's 9:05-9:20 am Walk home

Sat 14 Jan

David was back at the Farmer's Market and we bought 6 pastries each and a loaf of challah. Savoring a gibassier as I write. Yum! We will be going to the Women's March in Madison next week and staying with Laura all weekend. She sent me a crochet pattern for a pink cat-ear hat to make; apparently it's a thing. I'm going out to Herrschner's in a bit to pick up a skein of hot pink yarn to give it a try. The pattern looks doable, so we'll see what the result looks like. Food: 8:50 am Gibassier, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm 2 slices struan toast w/butter, pumpkin Greek yogurt

Fri 13 Jan

Deb's retirement party was really very nice. Got to see lots of old folks including Linda Weitz and a FaceTime contact with Christianah. On the way home, we got pulled over and notified that we had somehow missed our annual license plate registration. We also didn't have a current insurance card in the car, so that had to be written up. Most of the fine will be remanded when Bob takes proof of insurance to the Plover Police station, but there will remain a $10 fine. Not a great end to the day. Today I will try to get down to the courthouse to pay the property taxes, though it is supposed to be quite cold so I might convince myself to wait til next week. I have the checks written out and ready to go. Exercise was a little harder than usual today, but then in Body Pump, I started sneezing and my nose started running. I'm doing some Cold-Eze lest the problem is the onset of a cold. Food: 7:50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:25 pm 2 slices struan toast w/butter, 1 c vegetable minestrone 5:30 pm Cheese fries, 1/2 orange, 1 large carrot Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 12 Jan

Deb P-J's last day of work and retirement party tonight. I wonder how she is feeling this morning. I expect it will be just a little bit harder for her to let go of that role she has embraced so deeply all these years. Nice to eat oatmeal at breakfast again. Been awhile. Snowy sidewalks made a slightly more energetic workout of our walk, especially swathed in layers of protective clothing. Like the new dentist; she is professional and good. She allowed me the option of no anesthesia since the filling was quite shallow. Food: 7:30 am Steel cut oats w/protein powder, 1/2 c frozen blueberries, 1 tbl flaxseed meal, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am 2 slices struan toast w/butter, 2 scrambled eggs, 1/8 c chopped red pepper, 1 oz double cream cheese Exercise: 8:00-9:15 am Walk w/Kathy 10:10-10:15 am Walk home from dentist

Wed 11 Jan

Getting colder again, though not quite as bad as last week. Snowblower is on the fritz so Bob has to hand shovel the very packy snow at the end of the driveway, lest we get stuck. I noticed our neighbors shoveling out their car stuck in the end of their driveway a few minutes ago. I'm sure they wonder why Bob didn't blow out their driveway. They wouldn't know that it just stopped working. I'm not going to have any free time to help shovel today as I have gym, a birthday lunch, and Bootstrap today. I suppose I can go out after Bootstrap if it hasn't been done yet. Food: 7:35 am Prune paczki, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 10 Jan

Much snow last night, about 4 inches, with possibly more to come. Things are pretty again. Bob is heading outside with the snowblower now to clear it. Plows have apparently not yet been through. He came back in and said that there is a wetter snow still falling that might leave an ice layer on a bare sidewalk so he is going to leave the snow from before and get rid of it altogether when it stops. He is concerned about driving his van to Plover, but schools have not canceled. Woke up with a headache for some reason this morning which will hopefully dissipate with food. If not, I will take ibuprofen before going to tutor. I was able to arrange Robyn to sub tutoring for me when I go to Mexico. Feels good to have that taken care of. Tramped to St Steve's in the falling snow. I always enjoy walking in the snow. It was reassuring to hear Michael say he got winded walking relatively short distances in the deep snow today also, because I was frustrated to be panting on my way to and from downtown. Food: 7:50 am Prune ponczka, 100 g blackberries, coffee 10:10 am 1 wedge orange 11:50 am Cup navy bean soup, package oyster crackers, tea Exercise: 8:45-9:00 am Walk to St Steve's 10:10-10:25 am Walk home 11:10-11:30 am Walk to Wooden Chair 12:40-1:00 pm Walk home

Mon 9 Jan

Light snowfall in the night as a precursor to a predicted heavier snow this afternoon. Pretty. Perhaps after gym I'll have time to clear the sidewalks before more falls if Bob doesn't get to it first. Temps are milder today. This morning it's already around 15. Tonight we take Taylor out for her birthday celebration. Food: 7:35 am Caramel pecan roll, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am 2 scrambled eggs, Laughing Cow Light Swiss wedge, 2 slices cinnamon raisin struan toast w/butter 12:55 pm 4 butterscotch M&Ms Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Fri 6 Jan

Less time than I had anticipated this morning before we leave. I waited on packing til today. Regular time to get to the gym, then really only an hour or so to eat, change, do French/Spanish and go. Started a little on packing before breakfast so now I have very little time for breakfast/emails. Food: 8:10 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill w/running intervals 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 5 Jan

Gonna be one frosty, chilly walk with Kathy this morning. Temps are about -8°, wind chills -20° to -30°. I'm prepared to bundle up thoroughly, and I suspect we won't walk as long as usual. I'm going to try to remember to take some cash if we decide to stop somewhere for coffee. Wind was not the forecasted factor, and we were well dressed for our walk so that I wasn't at all chilled on my return, actually a little sweaty. Good times! I crocheted my first project successfully today in a very long time. I downloaded a pattern from Revelry for a crocheted headband and completed it in about 3 hours. I sent pix to Laura. Food: 7:20 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 10:20 am Nespresso espresso 11:40 am Slice Omega 3 toast w/butter, bowl turkey chili w/light sour cream & shredded cheddar, med banana 2:30 pm 4 pepparkakor cookies Exercise: 8:10-9:25 am Winter walk w/Kathy

Wed 4 Jan

Feeling a little tired this morning, not really sleepy, just lackadaisical. Perhaps its the cold snap beginning in earnest that is doing it to me. Got to keep thinking about going to Candlelight Inn this weekend to keep my enthusiasm up. Food: 7:35 am 1 c Quaker Oat cereal, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm New Glarus Swiss Cheese pie Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 3 Jan

We get to meet the new dentist this morning in about 45 min. I read with my third graders immediately afterward, then take the car in for servicing at 2 today. Busy day for a Tuesday. Temperatures are quite mild today, preparatory to a severe dip over the next few days. Food: 7:15 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 1 slice Omega 3 bread, 38 g cheddar cheese, .15 tbl butter, med banana, tea 2:00 pm 2 c popcorn, tea 5:35 pm Turkey chili, 1 tbl light sour cream, .1 oz shredded fancy cheddar, 6 oz scotch ale Exercise: 7:50-8:00 am Walk to dentist 9:45-10:10 am Walk on to library and home

Mon 2 Jan

I didn't expect to renew Amazon Prime after the free trial month, but they did it automatically without me realizing it. Actually, I don't think I mind too much as I can now get free shipping on things with no minimum order so I don't have to try to add things I don't really need in order not to pay shipping costs. I just ordered a wall calendar that I would not have otherwise ordered if I didn't have free shipping. I will have to start using the other features as well. Sigh, the after-holiday gym crowds have arrived. Body Pump is once more very crowded. Food: 7:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:50 am 2 slices Omega 3 toast, 2 tbl peanut butter, med orange, 20 cal Nestle cocoa 2:00 pm 1 Lindt peppermint cookie truffle 4:00 pm .5 c Quaker Oat Squares 6:05 pm 3.5 oz turkey, 1/2 c sliced sweet potatoes, 2/3 c broccoli/cauliflower/carrot medley Exercise: 9:00-9:24 am Elliptical 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class 2:20-3:00 pm Walk to library and back

Happy 2017!

The New Year is here, so we're off to the races again. We'll see what this one has in store. Last year, Bob and I explored several new hiking trails, new restaurants, new weekend experiences. We will probably try to continue that trend while still enjoying old favorites. On the close front, we're hoping for a Packer victory today and the NFC North championship again, and also just hoping to find an internet broadcast of the game since the nasty NFL moved the game to the evening prime time slot which is broadcast on a channel we don't get. In a couple of weeks, Fr. Tom will be heading out to his spring sabbatical. Then St Stan's will really not feel like our parish, just visiting. Food: 8:05 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm 2 slices Hawaiian bread French toast w/butter & maple syrup Exercise: 9:10-9:30 am Walk to church 11:20-11:40 am Walk home