30 April 2020

Thurs 30 Apr

The sun is back! It's amazing how much of a difference it makes to my mood to see bright sunshine in the morning. I recently read a book about a man who hiked through Scotland on his own while battling depression that he hadn't acknowledged. He noticed a lot of fluctuations in mood with the weather as well. Tomorrow many of the State Parks in the northern 2/3 of Wisconsin are reopening with restrictions. I have to get through on the phone to purchase a park sticker in order to be able to enter, and the phone line has been busy every time I tried so far. I also learned that David will be back selling his wares on the square on Saturday! Life is definitely taking an upturn. Food: 8:05 am Costco cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

29 April 2020

Wed 29 Apr

Rainy, dreary morning. Bootstrap day. Otherwise, things much the same. Food: 7:55 am Costco cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm English muffin w/Jif, kiwi Exercise: 9:05-9:20 am Part of Erin O'Brien's workout DVD, Jessica Smith mile

28 April 2020

Tues 28 Apr

Felt like I slept quite a bit better last night. Grey, misty morning today, though still quite warm. Was again able to sleep with windows open. Loving having Costco cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Food: 7:50 am Costco cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:05 pm Slice Oat Bran Bread, butter, cheddar cheese, 1 lg strawberry, 1 kiwi Exercise: 9:00-9:30 am Jessica Smith Interval Mix DVD

27 April 2020

Mon 27 Apr

Warm night last night. Left the window open and it was around 50° this morning. Supposed to rain mid-morning, but should reach 62° today. So nice to enjoy some warmer temperatures finally. Didn't get Pilates in last weekend, so we'll have to see how it fits in with getting some strength training in today. Food: 8:00 am Costco cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:55 pm 2 scrambled eggs, English muffin w/butter, 159 g strawberries Exercise: 9:05-10:15 am Jane Fonda Complete workout

26 April 2020

Sun 26 Apr

Yesterday was really a fun day, with a successful trip to the Farmer's Market a (somewhat illicit) drive to Appleton to "do Costco", and a lovely hike on the West Side Green Circle. Did me good to get out so much. Staying at home for 6 weeks and more is starting to wear a bit, despite understanding the need for it. Hopefully the outings we indulged in were pretty safe. Food: 8:15 am 2 refrigerator cinnamon rolls, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 hard boiled eggs, 149 g strawberries, chocolate cupcake

25 April 2020

Sat 25 Apr

Going to break down and drive to Appleton Costco. I'm in need of blackberries (on a Saturday yet), and there are a few other items I'd like to pick up. We'll get some eggs at the Farmer's market, then head directly to Appleton and back. We'll take our face masks. Not sure I'll tell Laura that we did it. Making a tube of refrigerator cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning. Blast from the past. Did a Farmer's Market run where we got eggs, mushrooms, liver, and a beef roast. Then drove to Appleton Costco and spent around $350!!! Lots of good things. Food: 8:15 am 2 cinnamon rolls, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:45 pm 1/2 c+ 2% cottage cheese w/chives, 146 g strawberries (2 strawberries!!!)

24 April 2020

Fri 24 Apr

Depressingly grey outside this morning, but sun is possible later. When I went to bed last night, I was positive today was going to be Saturday. As I lay in bed this morning, I realized I didn't do laundry or Pilates yesterday, so possibly it hadn't been Friday yet after all. Lo and behold, it is Friday today! Food: 7:55 am 3 donut holes, string cheese, 101 g blackberries, coffee

23 April 2020

Thurs 23 Apr

Not sure how I managed to get 1448 steps already this morning when I usually only have about 750 at most doing the same things. Only extra thing I did was clip my finger and toenails. But I won't complain. Kind of a dreary morning today for my walk with Kathy. Food: 8:05 am Caramel pecan roll, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:45 pm English muffin w/butter, 2 scrambled eggs, ginormous orange Exercise: 8:30-10:00 am Walk w/Kathy Zinda Dr loop

22 April 2020

Wed 22 Apr

Laura is 35 today! Hard to believe that many years have flown by. Wish we could be with her to celebrate. Also Earth Day, may our beautiful Earth find healing in these times of Corona virus. The only bright side is to see photos of places that have been previously plagued by pollution now looking clean and refreshed with industry at a standstill. Food: 8:00 am Caramel pecan roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:20 am English muffin w/Jif, kiwi Exercise: 9:10-9:40 am Jessica Smith Stride & Strength 10:50-11:15 am Ellis St loop

21 April 2020

Tues 21 Apr

The weeks are starting to drag on now, especially without a real end in sight. I know the current order expires on May 26, but experts are hypothesizing that it might go on for a year or more before it is truly safe to return to life as we knew it. It's not that my life is so extremely different on a daily basis. I miss going to the gym and tutoring the kids (although that would only be for a few more weeks now anyway), but I mostly miss casually traveling or just picking up to go to a store or restaurant because we felt like it. I'm truly grateful we were able to complete the Mexico trip even if it wasn't really the smartest idea at the time because it allowed us one last enjoyable experience before the drought. Food: 8:00 am 3 donut holes, 1 slice string cheese, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:55 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 2 thin slices Italian bread w/butter Exercise: 9:20-10:05 am Buns and Abs of Steel video

20 April 2020

Mon 20 Apr

Didn't sleep very well and ended on a nightmare of arriving alone in San Francisco and being far from the hotel where I had reservations in an oncoming serious storm. It was not fun. Finishing the last of the White Gull Inn coffee cake today. Need to think on what breakfast goodie to make next. Food: 8:00 am White Gull Inn coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:55 pm Slice Oat Bran bread w/butter, cheddar cheese, sm banana 3:00 pm Dark chocolate sea salt caramel, 4 pizzelles, rest of chocolate bunny 6:00 pm Liver w/caramelized onions, 3/4 c broccoli, 1/2 baked sweet potato Exercise: 9:10-10:20 am Jane Fonda Complete Workout

19 April 2020

Sun 19 Apr

Mixture of sunshine and clouds today, not predicted to be as warm as yesterday. I left the bathroom window open all night last night and it wasn't really cold this morning, though I closed it before showering. Laid awake for most of an hour before getting up just letting my mind wander over my life and what I valued. It was a good time. Food: 7:55 am White Gull Inn coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:50 am Bean casserole

18 April 2020

Sat 18 Apr

Lovely sunny Saturday with promise of warmer temperatures this afternoon. Hopefully we can find someplace not too crowded to walk outdoors. Finished Dreaming Spies last night; not sure how I missed that one when I read the Russell books before. I had particularly been wishing I could read about the adventures in Japan, but somehow it slipped under my radar. Now I have righted that wrong. Food: 8:00 am White Gull Inn coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:45 pm Slice Oat Bran bread, Dif Exercise: 2:30-3:30 pm Hike at Steinhaugen

17 April 2020

Fri 17 Apr

Looks like some more sunshine today, and I believe the temps are supposed to start going up a tad. Laundry today, and I really must do Pilates as I missed it last week. Liked my new GoPure face regimen at first use. Food: 7:55 am White Gull Inn coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm Aldi burger bun, 38 g ham, slice Muenster cheese, Honey Crisp apple w/cinnamon sugar 6:10 pm 5 spinach cheese pierogi, 1 c broccoli Exercise: 9:15-10:05 am Pilates mat 3:30-4:25 pm End of Center loop

16 April 2020

Thurs 16 Apr

My computer didn't want to wake up this morning, but we did eventually get it going. Yesterday my phone was a little weird. Technology seems to be taking the virus a bit weirdly as well as physiology. Nice sunny morning for my walk with Kathy today, though a bit chilly. Food: 7:50 am White Gull Inn coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:20 pm 1/2 c 2% cottage cheese, 1 oz Wheat Thins, med banana 3:30 pm 4 dark chocolate pizzelles, handful nutella M&Ms 5:50 pm Potato leek soup, 2 slices Italian bread w/butter Exercise: 8:30-10:05 am Walk w/Kathy Bukolt loop

15 April 2020

Wed 15 Apr

Sunshiny day, would have been tax day if they hadn't extended the deadline due to Coronavirus. It's a Bootstrap day, ergo a pants day. And we have White Gull Inn coffee cake for breakfast! Yay! Food: 7:50 am White Gull Inn coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:15-9:45 am Jessica Smith Latin Dance Walk DVD

14 April 2020

Tues 14 Apr

Today would have been my haircut appointment in the former world. As it is, we'll see when it's again possible. Sue set another appointment for me on May 5, but I don't hold out much hope that it will be possible. Pleased to hear that Jill Karofsky won the State Supreme Court election. Praying that people who waited and had to go out in person to the polls are mostly remaining healthy, as well as the brave workers who staffed the polling places (including Laura). Wisconsin was so derided for holding the election in this situation that I really dread if the COVID stats spike considerably in these weeks immediately following the election. Got pretty tired doing just the upper body/aerobics portion of Jane Fonda Complete, so called it "good enough". Food: 7:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:45 pm 2 scrambled eggs, Thomas English muffin w/butter, med banana Exercise: 9:20-10:15 am Jane Fonda Complete - upper body/aerobics

13 April 2020

Mon 13 Apr

Didn't get as much snow as threatened last night, only about two inches, but it looks heavy and wet so I'm letting Bob handle the shoveling. My wrist can handle lightweight strain, but heavy lifting is still beyond it. I'll probably try to go out to Target this morning and purchase a Nintendo Switch Lite and Animal Crossing. I may also stop at Aldi to get some more blackberries. Maybe if I go pretty early, there won't be many people there yet. Once we have the Switch, I'll also order a download of the Untitled Goose. Then I should be set for a long period of isolation if necessary, and if not necessary, we'll still enjoy playing the games. Food: 7:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee

12 April 2020

Sun 12 Apr

Happy Easter to all! Having a hard time waking up this morning, probably due to going to bed late after Easter vigil. At least we didn't have to travel this year, so I could just go upstairs, put on pajamas and crawl into bed. Looking forward to making Easter dinner and celebrating with Michael and Taylor who have been in and out of our house several times during this pandemic. Bob and Michael have also been working together many days, so any germs they are exposed to should be the same, and Taylor and I by extension. Don't feel too noncompliant with Shelter At Home. We'll try to call Laura when we're all here together to have a full family gathering. Food: 8:15 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 109 g blackberries, coffee

11 April 2020

Sat 11 Apr

Decided to toss the rest of the ultra-dense cinnamon rolls and opt for cereal this morning. Later today, I'll bake a White Gull Inn cherry coffee cake to last for hopefully a few days. Sometimes when you try a new Internet recipe, it's amazing; other times, it's a dud. Now I know this one's not worth repeating. Food: 7:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm 1/2 pita, small avocado, small tomato 3:45 pm Culvers small raspberry hot fudge sundae Exercise: 2:10-3:55 pm Hike at Steinhaugen Land Preserve

10 April 2020

Fri 10 Apr

Good Friday. The homemade cinnamon rolls with no yeast, just self-rising flour, are pretty dense. Expect we won't finish the whole pan. If I attempt cinnamon rolls again, I'll use yeast and do them properly. I'll probably go for a White Gull Inn coffee cake next as I had originally planned before finding this recipe. For today, the very dense roll will do. Food: 7:55 am Very dense homemade yeastless cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:40 pm 2 scrambled eggs, pear, Thomas English muffin w/butter 5:00 pm 2 pc fried cod, tartar sauce, 1 c fries, 1/4 c coleslaw, 8 oz Buzzy Badger porter Exercise: 9:20-9:50 am Jessica Smith Total Body workout

09 April 2020

Thurs 9 Apr

I was surprised by a fairly large, reddish spider in my shower this morning. He scooted up the wall when I turned on the water, from his apparent perch on the top rim of the shower enclosure where I wouldn't have otherwise seen him. I was able to get out, fetch my flyswatter, and put a quick end to him. Today is Holy Thursday, so internet church tonight at 7 pm. We are invited to share pictures of ourselves eating dinner this evening as our Holy Thursday potluck. Food: 7:45 am Caramel pecan roll w/extra pecans, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:10 pm 1/4 non-yeasted cinnamon roll, slice Lewis whole wheat bread w/butter, slice Muenster cheese, pear

08 April 2020

Wed 8 Apr

Today is the anniversary of our first date, also Val & Kate's anniversary. 39 years ago today we had a glass of wine at Joe's Pub and the rest, as they say, is history. Sunny day today. Bootstrap this afternoon. Not quite as exhausted after Bootstrap today. Andy Erler had been working (with others, I assume) all day to devise a new system where many of the items for a food order are combined in pre-marked containers for family size so the worker just needs to collect the appropriate containers rather than fill the order with individual items. It was indeed much quicker, though it took some getting used to. Food: 7:55 am Caramel pecan roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 hard-boiled eggs, med pear, Thomas English muffin w/butter 5:50 pm Chicken casserole, 6 oz Christmas Ale Exercise: 9:05-10:15 am Walk loop to Iverson

07 April 2020

Tues 7 Apr

Had to switch to an old HP keyboard because I apparently ruined my Apple keyboard by wiping it too vigorously with a wet paper towel. Some of the water must have gotten into the mechanism and shorted it out. Glad we had an old spare on hand. The other one was working a little, but it had no caps, and some of the letters (like r) weren't hitting at all. I couldn't close a program with Command Q but I could if I used the mouse. It would have worked until I could get a replacement, but words might have been incomplete in the interim. Food: 7:55 am Coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm Thomas English muffin w/butter, 1/2 c 2 cottage cheese w/chives, 1/4 c cole slaw Exercise: 9:25-10:10 am Jane Fonda Workout with Weights

06 April 2020

Mon 6 Apr

Slept a wee bit later this morning, but it felt good. Enjoying half of one of Michael and Taylor's homemade cinnamon rolls, an appreciation gift for letting Michael take the Prius up north this weekend since neither of their vehicles is in tip-top shape. Nothing scheduled this week until Bootstrap on Wed afternoon, so maybe I'll find the motivation for a little more cleaning. I'd like to do the desk surface and the top of the bookcase under the windows at least before Easter. Food: 8:20 am Half homemade cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12;55 pm 3/4 c chicken dumpling soup, small dinner roll

05 April 2020

Sun 5 Apr

Palm(less) Sunday, Mass will start at 9 on Facebook. Coffee cake for breakfast. Today I want to draw up my Easter menu and accompanying grocery list and go shopping to see if everything will be available. We already bought a ham, but still need fixings for bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, asparagus, maybe a fruit salad. Need to see what I might want for other food for the week as well. Might pick up some extra sour cream to make a White Gull Inn cherry coffeecake when the Betty Crocker one runs out. Went to Mead to walk because Bob thought there wouldn't be many people there. I've never seen so many cars there! Must have been a dozen in the parking lot, but there's plenty of space for people to spread out there. Just as we were almost back to the car, a couple caught up to us from behind and we heard, "That looks like Bob and Sue!" It was Guy Gehrman and Sandy Weyers, so we got a little visit with them. Saw the Michele's Sunday Facebook special of a chicken dinner for two with dumpling soup, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw and dessert for $18 and couldn't resist. Bob will go pick it up in about 15 min. Food: 7:55 am Coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:00 pm Oikos Zero coffee yogurt, sm banana, Lundberg tamari/seaweed rice cake Exercise: 10:10-10:40 am Jessica Smith Total Body Workout 3:30-4:30 pm Walk at Mead

04 April 2020

Sat 4 Apr

Wow, the homemade cinnamon roll from Michael and Taylor (made with an extra stick of butter) is really amazing! Good thing I don't have those to eat more often or the pounds would pack on. Bob and I worked hard and emptied the three shelves above the computers, returning just a few things. Lots of old and forgotten things that could be tossed. Food: 7:50 am Large homemade cinnamon roll w/walnuts, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:40 pm Slice Innkeeper's bread, 1 tbl Jif, small banana 5:45 pm Small trout filet, 2 pc sweet potato fries, 1/4 large green pepper, 16 oz ale Exercise: 2:40-3:25 pm Pilates mat 4:40-5:40 pm Schmeeckle walk w/Bob

03 April 2020

Fri 3 Apr

Nummy! Homemade Betty Crocker coffee cake for breakfast! True comfort food for me. We're going to swap some of it for Michael and Taylor's homemade cinnamon rolls, but making coffee cake might become a more frequent thing if this situation lasts much longer (and I can keep getting eggs). I'm going to try to score two dozen at the Farmer's Market tomorrow so I can make an Easter basket for Michael and Taylor with goodies like eggs, fresh fruit and veg, maybe milk. Food: 7:40 am 2 slices coffee cake, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 12:50-1:15 pm Ellis St loop

02 April 2020

Thurs 2 Apr

No walk with Kathy today since we went yesterday, so a free day to structure as I will. Had a fairly long restless, sore-hip period in the middle of the night last night, so not feeling as well rested as I might at this point in the day. May take my own walk since it's sunny and pretty out, may just do some Jane Fonda Weights and take it slowly. We'll see. Food: 8:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:00 pm 1/2 c 2% cottage cheese w/chives, 121 g strawberries, 22 g Wheat Thins, 5 dark chocolate pizzelles 6:10 pm Rocky's sausage/mushroom slice Exercise: 5:00-5:50 pm Schmeeckle walk w/Bob

01 April 2020

Wed 1 Apr

Surprised to get a text from Kathy suggesting a short walk this morning. Didn't have the heart to ask if she realizes it's only Wednesday. I'm not going to the gym, the sun is shining, and it looks like a great morning for a walk, so why not? Yep, she had no idea that today was Wednesday but her hip held up for a full Bukolt loop though I think she started hurting a bit near the end of the return home. She will think about whether she wants to walk again tomorrow, but leaning toward not. Wow, am I exhausted from working at Bootstrap. It was good to have Kathy K as my partner in the pantry, but we had two inexperienced people in the office and a steady flow of work. Fred and Jeanne Groos brought a couple of loads of stuff from Aldi and Kwik Trip in addition to filling orders and delivering pickups to the parking lot. Food: 7:50 am Caramel nut danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 1.45 oz cheddar, slice Innkeeper's bread w/butter, 134 g strawberries 4:20 pm Kwik Trip molasses cookie 5:55 pm Moroccan 3-bean stew Exercise: 8:45-10:15 am Walk w/Kathy Bukolt loop