Fri 30 Nov

Wow, was I tired last night. Came home from rehearsal (which was low energy across the board) and just did the minimum to fall into bed. This morning there were no clothes set out for the day, I missed my gratitude journal. I had been tired. And bother, I have a mild headache. One choir concert down, two to go. Solo went okay. Food: 6:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:25 am 55 g raisin challah, 57 g turkey breast, 6 oz pumpkin kombucha 2:15 pm 3 c Kettle Corn 4:25 pm Mexican cornbread 8:30 pm 5 oz cherry wine Exercise: 8:00-8:35 am Barre class 8:40-9:10 am Treadmill 9::30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 29 Nov

A little less cold this morning with a light layer of snow. Guess I'll go out and clear it in a bit. We have a choir rehearsal tonight, then the next three consecutive days are our shows. Glad I had a chance to work the solo one more time with Mary. I should drill the Polish a bit today also. Food: 7:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:05 pm TJ's whole wheat British muffin w/butter, 2 fried eggs, 1 pc Organic Valley string cheese, 3/4 c homemade applesauce 5:55 pm Meal kit: chicken fajita rice Exercise: 9:35-10:05 am Shovel light snow 10:15-11:00 am Pilates mat

Wed 28 Nov

Brrr, it's colder again this morning. Still only 10 degrees, but the change is noticeable. Got the silver tree set up and decorated yesterday and it delights me. Of course the word of the day today is KITSCH. How appropriate. Also, I used the recipe from the Paris book yesterday evening to make chouquettes for the first time and was quite proud of the result. Food: 7:55 am 86 g cream cheese brioche, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 27 Nov

Seems chillier this morning again, unfortunately. Mary is giving me a lesson this afternoon to prepare for my solo this weekend, much appreciated. Found a recipe in the Paris book last night for the chouquettes, the little choux pastry puffs studded with pearl sugar that I loved in Seattle this summer. Now I just need to find a local source for pearl sugar and I will make them. Food: 8:00 am Hard boiled egg, 79 g cream cheese brioche, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 61 g turkey, 61 g raisin challah 6:20 pm Meal kit: Fried pork chop w/onion gravy, roasted potatoes, roasted carrots Exercise: 9:20-9:30 am Walk to Jefferson 10:35-10:45 am Walk home 12:15-12:30 pm Walk to Suzuki 1:30-1:45 pm Walk home

Mon 26 Nov

Had an embarrassing moment at choir rehearsal where I blanked my French lyrics on the second phrase and had to stop and start the song over with everyone. Will write the French lyrics on the new sheet of music we received as a prompt so that doesn't happen again. The Polish quartet managed okay, though we were criticized for seriously looking at the music instead of at the audience. Since it was our first run-through, I felt that was justified at the time. We will have one last rehearsal at St Paul's on Thursday evening so one last chance to practice the solo and the Polish with the choir. Food: 7:50 am Chocolate chip oat scone, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm 2 slices struan toast w/butter, 2 scrambled eggs w/mushrooms 6:05 pm Tuscan Sausage and Penne soup from meal kit Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body pump class

Sun 25 Nov

Happy Birthday, Mark! You would have been 67 today. Wish I could have known you as an adult. Tree put up yesterday. Need to get the decorations down from the attic and take several things up from the hallway today. At the very least, I'd like to get the wand in place to make it easier to turn the lights on and off, but hopefully I'll motivate to do some decorating as well. Packers don't play til evening so there's time to attend to the tree. Saw the Zahns at church today; Rosan came up afterward and said she has been keeping the Paris book out for me since our last conversation at the Farmer's Market. We drove out and picked it up and I read one chapter aloud on the way home. We will try to read it aloud as it is fun. Told Fr. Steve that my name is Sue, not Kathy. We'll see if he remembers. Food:: 8:09 am Large chocolate scone, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:10-9:30 am Walk to church 11:10-11:30 am Walk home

Sat 24 Nov

Thanksgiving is over and done - and Christmas is a blink of the eye away. Especially for us, since we will celebrate with both of the kids Dec 14-16 in Madison. Will probably make the actual holiday seem somewhat anticlimactic, but then we have Costa Rica to look forward to. David was not at the market this morning, so we compensated by stopping at Main Grain to check out their offerings. Have to patronize small businesses today, after all. Food: 8:30 am Hard-boiled egg, 101 g blackberries, coffee 10:15 am Caramel apple cinnamon roll 1:05 pm 51 g turkey breast, 56 g raisin challah Exercise: 11:00-11:50 am Walk to library and back

Fri 23 Nov

Today feels more like actual Thanksgiving since I got up and made stuffing and put the turkey in the oven for dinner with Michael and Taylor. The duck dinner for two last night was delicious, but not actually very Thanksgiving-y. The sweet winter squash was so good and so big that neither of us had room for the baked sweet potato. And I didn't do the creme brûlée dessert for lack of hunger. I'm quite pleased with the performance of the new oven in baking the cranberry pudding pie. I'm using convection roast for the turkey so I'll have to keep an eye on it as it cooks. Also the single oven cavity is much larger than my old oven so even with the turkey cooking, there is room to put the rack down on level 2 and I'll be able to put the stuffing and sweet potatoes in with it if I choose. If the turkey cooks sooner than expected, I'll likely put in the divider and roast carrots in one section while cooking the stuffing and sweet potatoes at the same time in the other section. Bought some brioche milk rolls to serve as dinner rolls. Don't think I'll hard boil an egg for breakfast as there will be so much food for lunch, though I reserve the right to change my mind. Food: 8:30 am 1/2 Costco apple muffin, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 22 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving! An odd Thanksgiving as we're not getting together with Michael and Taylor so Bob and I will eat duck alone today and do the turkey dinner with M&T tomorrow instead. Texted greetings to Laura. Will do the hard-boiled egg to add protein to breakfast this morning since it is a pretty leisurely day. Food: 8:45 am 1/2 Costco apple muffin, 101 g blackberries, hard boiled egg, coffee, tea 12:55 pm 58 g gouda, 6 Specially Selected Mini rosemary artisan crackers, 52 g cream cheese brioche, pumpkin rooibos tea Exercise: 10:25-10:45 am Part of Dancing with the Stars DVD

Wed 21 Nov

Last day before Thanksgiving. Thought we had bought everything needed last night at Aldi but forgot the duck for us on Thursday so need to return today. Got a poinsettia for the table. Found a broiler pan in the drawer of the old stove before they took it away and it looks as though it's never been used. Now to find a place to keep it since I can't fit it in the storage drawer along with the big cast iron frying pan. It's nice not to have to store the cast iron pan on top of the stove. I have a little broiler pan in the toaster oven that I usually use, so I'll store the full-size one somewhere else. Not going to do the egg for breakfast today. Too lazy on a gym day. Food: 7:50 am 1/2 Costco apple muffin, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 56 g raisin challah 4:55 pm Culver's single mushroom Swiss burger, sweet potato fries Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 20 Nov

Expecting my new stove between 1-3 pm today. Excited. Got some space cleared out on the counter adjacent and also got rid of a lot of dead cereal, etc. on the floor next to the stove. No tutoring today as the kiddies have a program at school before the holiday. Must do ballet today. Food: 8:20 am 1/2 Costco apple muffin, 101 g blackberries, coffee, soft-boiled egg

Mon 19 Nov

Had a really nice trip to Minneapolis and visit with Kurt and Barb. Found a pair of shoes that was just what I wanted for winter wear. Had a great meal at a French Vietnamese bistro with Kurt and Barb. Good trip altogether. Scale was up this morning so I hope it's an anomaly. Need to scale back on the snacking again. Food: 7:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:00 pm 2 fried eggs, whole wheat TJ's British muffin w/butter, 99 g raspberries 5:35 pm Chicken veggie stir-fry, 1/2 c quick brown rice Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 15 Nov

Getting ready to head out to Mpls for the weekend to shop, spend time with Kurt & Barb, and generally chill. The weather should be halfway decent. Food: 7:55 am Coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 14 Nov

Aaaah! Itchy dry winter skin!! It begins! Going to be slightly warmer today, and possibly near 40 on Thursday. Weather for the Mpls trip looks mild and minimal precip. Laura is coming to Madison Dec 6-17 to argue dissertation and hopefully graduate. Am trying to organize one of the weekends to celebrate with her and do a family Christmas, maybe renting a VRBO house. Food: 7:55 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 13 Nov

We are definitely into the "time flies by" stage of the year, with November almost halfway gone already. Only consolation this year is that our Costa Rica trip happens in early January so it will be here before we know it. That's good because I'm already tired of cold and it hasn't even really truly gotten hold yet. Tutoring today, but not next Tuesday due to a school-wide pre-Thanksgiving program. Got to get to the library today even if walking will be cold as I have one due today. It's cold outside!!! Food: 7:50 am Chocolate pecan danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:50 pm Bob's 8-grain hot cereal, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1 small apple, 1/3 c chopped walnuts, soy milk Exercise: 9:20-9:30 am Walk to Jefferson 11:40-11:50 am Walk home

Mon 12 Nov

Had a very nice day in Green Bay yesterday with lunch at St Brendan's, a successful Costco run, and just a brief time at the wine pickup to enjoy food and good wine. Both wines on the pickup today were among my favorites which is always nice. Listened to the Packers win on the drive home. Managed to get all my steps in by sticking with it right up til bedtime. Am enjoying a new season of GBBO on Netflix. Somehow today doesn't really feel like a Monday. Perhaps because it's a short week with heading to Minneapolis on Thursday. Food: 7:45 am Cheese danish, 104 g blackberries, coffee 12:45 pm Spinach mushroom frittata, coffee cake Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 11 Nov

Always a little disconcerting when we go to Saturday evening Mass when we're in town. Getting up on Sunday morning without preparing to go to church is weird. I guess that's a good thing. Going to Green Bay in a bit. Will have lunch, hit Costco and possibly their Aldi to fill the time until the 4 pm wine pickup at Captain's Walk. Of all the pickup parties we attended over the last year, this holiday one was my favorite so I hope it is again this year. Quite delightful this morning to lie in bed until I felt like getting up. No need to rush for any reason. Food: 8:40 am Apricot danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 10 Nov

Bob got cold last night and turned the heat on, unbeknownst to me, and when I turned on the bathroom heater as usual this morning, I was quickly too warm. I complained so he turned it off again for now, but he agreed that we should get him one of those blanket suits to wear while he sits at his computer in the evenings. Weird change that now he's the chilly one and I am too warm. Food: 8:15 am 101 g blackberries, coffee 10:15 am Fruit? danish, coffee 1:45 pm Brioche roll, 45 g honey ham, 25 g cheddar Exercise: 11:50-12:40 pm Leslie Sansone 4 Fast Miles DVD

Fri 9 Nov

Got about 2" of snow last night, not the most welcome sight this morning but hardly totally unexpected now that we're well into November. Tasting my first effort from the GBBO cookbook, a coffee cake that actually contains coffee. I didn't have any instant powder and it was directed to dissolve it in 2 tbl hot water so I just made a Nespresso and used that. Cake tastes very nice. Food: 6:55 am Coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:40 pm Coffee cake, 2 hard boiled eggs, med Honey Crisp apple w/cinnamon sugar Exercise: 8:00-8:35 am Barre class 9:10-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 8 Nov

Kathy is going to pick me up at 8 and we'll drive over toward the University, walk a bit at Schmeeckle, then have coffee at Starbucks. Her recovery is slow. I have soreness in my side glutes today so I can empathize. For some reason, I am particularly sleepy yet this morning. Must have awoken in the wrong sleep stage. Food: 7:15 am 84 g Aldi cream cheese brioche, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 7 Nov

We have a new governor!!!! Walker has finally been defeated!!! And Tammy Baldwin will continue to be our awesome senator! The referenda appear to have passed successfully, even the advisory on medical marijuana. I am so happy I have tears flowing. Food: 7:50 am Honey bear pastry, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:25 pm 1/2 Costco apple muffin, med banana, 2 hard boiled eggs 5:45 pm Macaroni & cheese, sliced beets, pumpkin kombucha Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 6 Nov

Checked the Costco email and I won't get notification of the shipping of my oven until "the week of Nov 5", so they may not even ship it until the end of the week. I hope we can arrange installation before we go to Minneapolis. I certainly want to use the new oven to prepare Thanksgiving dinner with Michael and Taylor on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I was delighted that Taylor was willing to rearrange her schedule to accommodate us, otherwise we would have been preparing and eating Thanksgiving meal on the day we have a choir concert in Waupaca at 6:30. Oooh, the ballet DVD did not seem much easier today for repetition. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am Wild rice mushroom soup 3:00 pm 3 butter waffle cookies 5:50 pm 6 oz pumpkin kombucha Exercise: 11:15-11:35 am Jessica Smith Power Walk Mile YouTube 1:50-2:40 pm Brutal Ballet DVD

Mon 5 Nov

Maybe I'll hear today when I'll get the new stove. They thought they'd have things sorted out by today. Need to get to the library this afternoon so I hope the weather is okay for walking. Gotta be a record! Only took me one day to change the time on the car clock after Daylight Savings Time ended. Food: 7:40 am Cheese danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:55 pm 2 fried eggs, 1 med pear, 1/2 Costco apple muffin Exercise: 8:55-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 4 Nov

Good day yesterday starting with a successful trip to the Farmer's Market, including meeting up with Taylor! Talked with Rosan who may lend us a little Paris guidebook with good everyday suggestions and recipes, and one of the vendors will consult with a friend who is knowledgeable about French cheeses and get information for me on which ones to try. After the market, we went to Aldi and bought, among other things, a frozen duck which I thawed and cooked on the portable rotisserie for dinner. Tres delicieux! Food: 6:35 am Apple almond danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 60 g raisin challah, 56 g honey smoked ham, butter, med pear, 3/4 c skim milk, 2 tbl Penzey's hot chocolate powder

Sat 3 Nov

I was exhausted most of the day yesterday from the added time at the gym. Hopefully my body will adjust soon to the new Friday routine. Nothing in particular on the agenda today except the first indoor Farmer's Market of the season. Food: 8:00 am 1/2 c Quaker Oat Squares, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:00 am Cherry danish, 6 oz pumpkin cider kombucha 3:55 pm 1 stroopwaffel Exercise: 1:00-2:15 pm Walk to Schmeeckle lake

Fri 2 Nov

We'll see how well my legs do in Barre this morning after just having done the Ballet DVD yesterday. I can still feel the muscles so it should be interesting. Food: 6:50 am 1/2 Costco pumpkin streusel muffin, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:30 am 2 fried eggs, 1/2 Costco apple muffin, med pear Exercise: 8:00-8:35 am Barre class 8:40-8:55 am Pilates exercises/foam rolling 9:05-9:20 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 1 Nov

Light count of Trick or Treaters last night; it appears to be dying out a bit. Managed to mostly memorize Cantique de Noel in between attending the door. Kathy called and canceled our walk as she is nursing a sore muscle in her right gluteal area and has been advised by the PT to not walk long distances. Can't say I minded sleeping in today. Will try to get in a walk and possibly catch up on the missed ballet DVD as well as Pilates if I can do it all before my 1:30 hair appointment. Bob and I will go to Mass at 6:30 tonight. My new curtains for the dining room arrived yesterday and I hung them (first upside down). I like them a lot. One thing off list; did the makeup ballet DVD that I missed on Tuesday. Hard as it is, it does get a little better each week. Food: 8:00 am 1/2 Costco pumpkin streusel muffin, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 56 g raisin challah, 55 g honey smoked ham, med banana, 8 oz blueberry lavender drink Exercise: 9:45-10:35 am Brutal Ballet DVD