Tues 31 Dec

Last day of the decade. Hard to believe we're heading into the 2020s tomorrow. Been a lot of places and done a lot of things this decade. Hope the next one is peaceful, productive, and filled with good times and love and manageable difficulties. Hope we all come out of it together and healthy. Food: 7:45 am 2 butterhorns, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:30-10:00 am Treadmill 10:00-10:20 am Machine workout 10:30-11:30 am Body Flow class

Mon 30 Dec

The snow has begun, but they're only predicting a little over 4 inches. We dodged a bullet on the weekend in that we didn't get the freezing rain predicted. Temps stayed in the low 40s (highs) so things didn't really freeze up, at least during the day. We'll see what this weather ends up like. Food: 7:40 am 2 butterhorns, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 29 Dec

Looks like there was some freezing rain yesterday so we'll need to wear the grippers over our shoes to walk to church this morning. Packers play their last regular season game at noon, and if they beat Detroit, they will get a bye for the first round of playoffs and home field advantage throughout. Playoffs at Lambeau again - what fun! Food: 8:00 am 2 butterhorns, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 28 Dec

The new Word-A-Day calendars should arrive today, in time for use on New Years'. Feels really weird to have a weekend already with Christmas Eve/Day having fallen on Tues/Wed and our family celebration on Thurs. Yesterday felt very much like Monday, and now it's already Saturday. Next year is Leap Year so the Christmas holiday will jump to Friday and feel much more normally like a weekend rhythm. Food: 8:50 am 3 butterhorns, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:10 pm Steel cut oats, soy milk, 1 c fruit salad Exercise: 10:00-11:45 am Walk at Schmeeckle

Fri 27 Dec

Back to routine. Gym/laundry today, then weekend which will feel strange. Had a very nice Christmas celebration with the kids yesterday, and even the visit to Leone and Mick was pleasant. Surprised that I got all my steps in for each hour as well as the total. Food: 7:55 am 2 butterhorns, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 26 Dec

Today is the 13th anniversary of the last time I had a period. The kids are coming to celebrate Christmas today. We had a pleasant surprise last night when Michael and Taylor came over in the evening, having returned from Ironwood. They brought a stollen from the good bakery in Ironwood and stayed to share a couple of bottles of wine and fellowship. Food: 8:15 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Christmas Day 2019

Wow, Fitbit says I only got 15 min of deep sleep all night last night. I had frustrating dreams toward morning, but I still feel reasonably well-rested. Guess it couldn't have been too bad. Doesn't feel much like Christmas since the kids aren't coming to celebrate til tomorrow. We had the church service last night which was very nice with much of the old Newman gang. Christmas Eve brunch was great with the Hartmans, and John gave me the best Christmas present ever by restoring the "lost" photos from my camera disc. I'm looking forward to looking at all my NZ pics sometime today. We had traditional oyster stew for dinner. Food: 8:50 am Chocolate pumpkin danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:50 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 2 sm butter horns

Tues 24 Dec

Its Christmas Eve, and it still doesn't really feel like it. Just remembered this morning that I haven't done my butterhorns, so I'll have to do that today. Also need to make sure I have all the groceries I need to prepare Christmas dinner on Thursday. I've been lax. Food: 8:10 am Chocolate pecan snail, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 23 Dec

Wow, but Christmas is approaching headlong! We got the main cookies baked yesterday, though I'd still like to try a batch of afghans perhaps today. Need to wrap the presents, but that isn't as big a job as it used to be when we did way too many gifts. Tomorrow is brunch at the Hartmans. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate eclair, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:00 am Several Christmas cookies 12:45 pm 2 slices Dave's 21 grain, butter, 1 egg, cinnamon sugar Exercise: 9:05-9:20 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 22 Dec

First day of winter, so as Bob pointed out, the days will start getting longer. That was one of the more difficult adjustments coming home from NZ where the days were lengthening and they had flipped into daylight savings time. We are getting a temperature reprieve at the moment. Yesterday in Madison, it hit 50°. They have no snow down there, so I kind of hope we don't lose all of ours before Laura comes on Thursday so she can see it. Food: 8:35 am Chocolate eclair, 103 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:40-10:00 am Walk to church 11:15-11:35 am Walk home

Sat 21 Dec

David had eclairs today!!! And he had made a Buche de Noel in the French style for a customer to order but we were able to see it. It was a work of art! Enjoying a fruit danish with raspberries, blackberries, and kiwi as I write. David informed us that kiwis have genders, and that it takes only 1 male for 7 females. Food: 8:45 am Fruit danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 20 Dec

Got my "festive" Suicide Prevention Coalition meeting this morning, so no gym. Will come home and do laundry and try to motivate to trim the tree or something. Started to get a burst of energy yesterday afternoon, but it dissipated quickly. Tonight and tomorrow night, we sing Christmas carols with our choir before the ACT show. No rehearsal necessary, just sing. Food: 7:10 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 9:00 am Frosted sugar cookie 9:45 am Chocolate frosted donut

Thurs 19 Dec

My cold continues to abate somewhat. Didn't have to wake up to blow my nose in the night, and only coughed up a little gunk this morning. Kathy does not want to walk this morning as she is starting to come down with a cold, so I'll go to Body Flow later this morning and otherwise take care of myself as well. Food: 7:50 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee 2:05 pm Slice Dave's 21 grain toast, 1 tbl Jif

Wed 18 Dec

Having trouble with the mouse function again. Maybe I can get that figured out as my Christmas present. Even if it's just updating the software to run my old mouse. Back is a bit stiff; will have to break down and do Pilates soon. Had to cut the back track weight back down again today. Food: 7:50 am Cheese maple danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 17 Dec

Bob and I did the Bootstrap grocery pack-up last night together and it was fun. I go back this afternoon/evening for other aspects of the Holiday Basket project. It's a good thing to get involved with for the season. Food: 7:50 am Chocolate pumpkin danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 16 Dec

Didn't get much deep sleep last night at all. This cold shows no signs of abating. Sigh. Packers held on to victory by the skin of their teeth yesterday. We got the decorations down from the attic, bought Laura's gift and much of the stocking stuffers. And Bob got the fridge cleaned out on Saturday. Had good intentions on the way to the gym to stay after Body Pump and resume my machine workouts, but I was out of energy by that time. I did go back to using my regular weights during Pump, so didn't totally wuss out on getting back on track. Food: 8:00 am Cheese danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:05 pm Bob's 8-grain cereal, 2 tbl powdered almond butter, 1/2 c blueberries, 1/4 c chopped walnuts, soy milk Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-1030 am Body Pump class

Sun 15 Dec

Wow, this Christmas season is starting to fly by without my close attention. I need to get cracking. Food: 8:30 am Mixed berry danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 14 Dec

Woke up around 7:20 when Bob got up after lots of nose blowing in the wee hours (and lots more after my shower). Went to the Farmer's Market and loaded up on regular pastries from David. He gifted us with two cinnamon rolls that I had forgotten in the initial order. Michael and Taylor showed up while we were chatting with David. Got eggs from Robin but no carrots available. One of the vendors told me the carrot guy will be there next week. Food: 9:25 am Cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 13 Dec

Six years ago today my mom left this world. Miss you, Mom! Beginning to realize that I need to get my act together to get ready for Christmas. I haven't bought Laura's or Taylor's main gift yet, and I haven't begun to prepare for stuffing stockings. Need to make cookies, put up and trim the tree. Yikes! Email from Capital One this morning; someone compromised the David card and tried ordering merchandise on the Internet from BooHoo.com. Only took about 10-15 min on the phone to get it taken care of. They will cancel the card and send a new one. Food: 7:55 am Cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:05-9:20 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 12 Dec

Hopefully it will be a little warmer today, even though there is more snow in the forecast. Kathy and I are going out for a walk this morning after a long absence. My cold continues to progress, but the 12-hour sudafed is a godsend. Still up and down a lot in the night, but feeling a little better rested today. Got my 12,000 steps already on my walk with Kathy in the snow around Mead. Had to take smaller steps because of the ice hiding under the snow, but neither of us fell (even though we both had surprise slides). Decided not to go to the gym as I'm a little tired from the walk and I probably wouldn't get there in time for Body Flow anyway. I'll try to put up the Christmas tree later today, but for now, a little relaxation sounds great. Food: 7:50 am Cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:40 pm Dave's 21 grain bread, butter, 1.5 oz cheddar, herbal tea Exercise: 8:30-10:20 am Walk with Kathy around Mead

Wed 11 Dec

The golden Kiwi girl is no more. Got my hair put back to its normal color yesterday. Also woke up more easily at the normal time today, even though I really didn't sleep very well. I was up and down all night, using the toilet, adjusting medication, drinking water. Oddly, I don't feel overly tired today. I did keep the muscle soreness at bay with Ibuprofen so I should be able to go to Body Pump no sorer than I was on Monday. Made it through 15 min of treadmill and Body Pump. Still not feeling wholly normal, but better. Someone pointed out that NZ experienced a volcanic eruption shortly after we left, and Notre Dame burned a couple weeks after we left Paris. Disturbing trend. It was nice that Annie Glinski Leahy came running after me on the way into gym to say how glad she was to see I returned safely since she knew I was there around the time of the volcano and she had worried. Food: 7:45 am Caramel pecan roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:40 am Bob's 8-grain cereal, small Gala apple, 1/3 c chopped walnuts, 1/4 c soy milk Exercise: 9:10-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 10 Dec

Definitely have a cold now, needed some decongestant to sleep last night. Not too bad as yet, and hoping that the tea, water w/lemon, and plenty of rest will keep it from getting worse. Sad that David's Christmas goodies class was canceled due to wintry weather making conditions very slippery. Could be a long winter. Glad we missed the beginning. Food: 8:00 am Caramel pecan roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 1 golden kiwi, bavoise, fig cookie 4:00 pm 1.75 Scottish fingers 6:00 pm Macaroni & cheese, sliced beets Exercise: 9:15-9:25 am Walk to Jefferson 10:35-10:45 am Walk home

Mon 9 Dec

Choir concerts done, and thankfully the soreness from Friday's Body Pump has abated today. Between feeling the oncoming of a cold yesterday and being really sore, I felt awful by end of day and needed to go to bed early with scarcely any steps on the day. Of course it didn't help that I forgot to wear my Fitbit when walking to church so it wasn't quite as bad as it looked. A good night's rest has left me feeling much more normal again. Let's hope I don't have quite the soreness reaction from Body Pump this time. I'm reassuring myself that at least by next week, I'll be feeling more normal. Food 7:50 am Caramel pecan roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 8 Dec

Nice evening with Michael and Taylor last night, sharing the wild sockeye salmon, baked sweet potatoes w/compound cinnamon/maple butter, and Taylor's garlic green beans. Since I wasn't here for Thanksgiving, I made a cranberry pudding pie for dessert and they were very pleased. One more choir concert this afternoon, then we're done for the season, though I think we're doing a Christmas caroling gig for the ACT Christmas show. Left my Fitbit on the charger when we walked to church so I now have only 489 steps at almost noon instead of about 5000. Oh well. I'm so stiff from Friday's Body Pump that getting up and sitting or kneeling down requires external support. Food: 8:35 am Caramel pecan roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:10-9:30 am Walk to church 11:20-11:35 am Walk home

Sat 7 Dec

First choir concert over and done with. This was probably the shortest concert we've ever given. We were on our way home by 8:15 from a 7:00 show. Larry cut the longest, most difficult piece as it wasn't very good at rehearsal Thursday (before I got there). Heading out to the Farmer's Market for pastries and then to Amherst for the pre-Christmas festivities in about half an hour. The concert today is in the afternoon so Anna, our accompanist, can get to St Bron's for Mass at 4:00 as she is the music minister there. Means we'll have Saturday evening free! Food: 7:15 am 101 g blackberries

Fri 6 Dec

Wow, it actually feels a little weird to be back home and finding my previously normal routines again. A month is a really long time to be away. I suspect it won't be long until everything feels completely usual again, but for now, it's a path of rediscovery. It's also weird to realize there's less than three weeks to Christmas, so all of the holiday stuff needs to get underway right away. New Zealand was amazing, wonderful, and everything I had hoped it would be. Many thanks to God for giving us a perfect vacation experience. Glad I had the self-discipline to keep up a journal every day so I can read through and stimulate all the memories of a month. Scenery, food, people - all were wonderful. Food: 8:00 am Morning bun, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 2 fried eggs, 1 pc Dave's Killer toast w/butter & Bonne Maman apricot preserves, navel orange Exercise: 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class