Wed 30 Sept

Had a weird dystopian dream about people being "re-engineered" to not require food or water (or going to the bathroom), just taking a small daily pill that contained all the needed nutrients to run the body without waste. It had been developed to eliminate hunger and was distributed first to all the underfed populations, but then was accepted by everyone. No more obesity, considerably less disease. No restaurants, grocery stores, farmers, cooks. Weird. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate knot, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:55 pm Oikos Coffee Triple Zero, 1/3 c pumpkin spice granola, slice honey wheat bread, butter, apple butter Exercise: 9:35-10:05 am Jessica Smith Belly, Buns, & Thighs DVD 11:20-11:35 am Jessica Smith Fast Fat Burning DVD

Tues 29 Sept

Weather is cooling down this week, getting used to closing the windows, at least downstairs, and supplementing with the fireplace at times. Nice to have that option rather than turning on the house heat. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate knot, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm Leek & potato soup, 34 g pumpkin bread, peach 6:55 pm Pasty, 3/4 c roasted Brussels sprouts, 1 c applesauce Exercise: 10:15-11:15 am Yoga Flow class

Mon 28 Sept

Heading into a chilly week as October rolls around soon. Didn't get into my Pilates class this morning, but will try to get into next week's as the new app states that signup starts at 10 am today. I was able to get Yoga Flow with Alexis tomorrow and Pump/Yoga on Friday this week. Otherwise, I'll have to improvise some exercise on my own in addition to walking. Hello, Jessica Smith and Jane Fonda. Food: 7:50 am Pumpkin cheese turnover, 102 g blackberries, coffee 1:05 pm Slice Swedish honey wheat bread, Jif, peach, 8 oz apple cider, 1 Babybel Light

Sun 27 Sept

Had a wonderful week in Grand Marais. Despite some worrying, our cabin reservation was waiting for us (even without recent confirmation). The cabin was clean and cozy and very adequate to our needs. It was chilly on Thursday, so we had a fire in the Franklin fireplace that made the interior almost too toasty. We had a large picture window to the yard behind our cabin that was not really open to any other people except through back or side windows. We were treated to a young black bear that wandered in from the woods and climbed a crabapple tree behind cabin 5 to get his snacks. He came back so often (three times) that I named him Buddy. We also had visits from several grouse, though not at the same time as Buddy. The color was absolutely beautiful, at peak, and second only to the amazing first year (but not far behind)! We had beautiful sunshine on Monday, Tuesday, and part of Wednesday to really bring out the color, and even in the cloudiness the rest of the time, the brilliant colors shone through. Somewhat unusually, the yellows of the birches were also close to peak along with the brilliant maples. We did a long hike on Moose Mountain/Mystery Mountain along a newly-improved mountain bike trail on Tuesday, Lake Agnes on Wednesday, Carlton Peak on Thursday, and Kadunce River on Friday. Good hiking, some amazing views, and wonderful mild weather. It was actually a bit warm on Tuesday and Wednesday. We enjoyed two meals and last-day takeaway from the Coho Cafe (lox and bagel sandwiches and good pizza), delicious fish and chips from the fish market, adequate burgers from My Sister's Place takeaway. We had one evening of the leek and potato soup I had brought from home. It was nice to have a comfortable place to eat in the cabin so we didn't have to sit outside if it was too cool toward the end of the week. We did eat at the Gunflint cafe-on-the-street on Monday night. Food: 8:00 am Caramel roll, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 21 Sept

The day is here! We are actually getting ready to go, and I hope that they are waiting for us in Grand Marais. I'm a little unsettled for not having received any confirmation email, but I seem to remember that Nelson's isn't real internet-savvy. I pray it's not a bad sign. Food: 7:35 am Almond croissant, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 20 Sept

Just saw a picture of the brilliant foliage from the really good year we first went up to the North Shore. Hoping for even a shadow of that glory this year. Delighted that my scale dipped back down again below 150 today. I was a little afraid that once it crested, it would keep rising now that I'm eating meals again. Packers won! Good game! Food: 8:20 am Chocolate nut danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:35 pm 2 scrambled eggs, peach 5:30 pm Rocky's sausage/mushroom slice

Sat 19 Sept

Remembering five years ago right after my retirement party, we went up for a week at the North Shore and stayed in a cabin at the Gunflint. That's where we fell in love with the gas fireplace. Got lots of good pastries and a loaf of bread from David to take up north. Good cinnamon rolls w/fruit pieces for this morning. Scale is creeping back over 150 again, so need to be careful. We had Culver's sundaes last night, which may have been a factor. Food: 8:50 am Cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 18 Sept

Five years ago I retired. Must have been two leap years in between because the same date fell on a Friday again. Bob was amazed to learn it had been five years already. Feels good. Food: 7:50 am Honey bear, 101 g blackberries, coffee 2:45 pm 1/2 c 2% cottage cheese, TJs apple cider donut, peach Exercise: 10:15-11:15 am Yoga class

Thurs 17 Sept

Cautiously feeling better this morning, excited but trying not to get too much so. Also realize that my arm is feeling better from the fall in February, seven months later. It's probably still not back to baseline, but much closer. Thank you, Lord! Food: 7:50 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 16 Sept

Feel like I'm progressively improving, but slowly. Scale has remained below 150 for three days running now. Wish it could stay there even when I am able to eat more normally. Did breakfast and a fairly substantial lunch of french toast and sliced banana in milk yesterday, but wasn't hungry for dinner. Managed a glass of chocolate milk and about 2/3 of the leftover slice of foccacia. Food: 7:50 am Almond croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 15 Sept

Somewhat nervous to say it, but feeling a bit better this morning. Slept well, stomach feeling pretty good. If I get another good poop this morning, should be feeling pretty normal. Weight just now crept under 150, but hope that doesn't mean I'm losing muscle mass from not doing Pump. Will do some strength training here at home today to keep up. Food: 7:45 am Apricot danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 12:25 pm Slice Innkeeper's bread, large egg, 1/4 c skim milk, butter, sm banana, 1/2 c soy milk

Mon 14 Sept

Feeling a little "meh" this morning, need to have a good poop to clear things out. Still haven't really decided whether I'm going to Pilates class at 10 today. Will have to see how the morning progresses. I think I'm already feeling a bit better as I sit. Food: 7:50 am Caramel chocolate nut danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee 5:40 pm 2 oz chicken breast, 1/3 c brown rice w/mushrooms & almonds, small tomato w/fresh mozz & basil Exercise: 9:30-10:00 am Jessica Smith Dance Walk DVD

Sun 13 Sept

Hoping not to jinx myself, I'm feeling a bit more like myself this morning. I felt the digestion of supper last night, but right after eating and not too uncomfortably. No problems in the night and I slept well. Will keep on keeping on and see how it goes. Packers won! Food: 8:20 am Almond danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 1/2 c 2% cottage cheese, TJs apple cider donut, 100g cherry tomatoes 5:55 pm Rocky's sausage mushroom slice

Sat 12 Sept

Only ate very minimally yesterday (102 g blackberries, 1/2 c cottage cheese, and a bowl of cereal all day), but I feel much better today for it. I hope to be able to eat breakfast today after we get some fresh pastries at the Farmer's Market. It's raining, so we'll likely drive to the market. We'll probably have to drive to Bukolt also for the pre-show for Walk for Hope, though I had really hoped to walk there and back as our "virtual walk". We will try walking to Bukolt even with raincoats and umbrellas. I'm chancing a whole lunch today. Let's hope it takes. Food: 8:00 am Cherry danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm Oikos Zero coffee yogurt, 31 g Wheat Thins, peach Exercise: 9:00-10:30 am Walk for Hope to Bukolt loop

Fri 11 Sept

My stomach did not like having to digest a normal supper last night. I woke up in the middle of the night to the awareness of the digestive processes taking place less than comfortably. I did manage to have a BM while getting ready this morning which has improved my well-being, but I'm still far from normal. Glad I canceled my gym classes for today; no doubt I wouldn't have been going. Not sure how much I'll eat today. Food: 9:00 am 102 g blackberries, sips of coffee

Thurs 10 Sept

Walking with Kathy this morning, on time and hopefully not as fast as last week. Also hoping my stomach is sufficiently recovered to enjoy the birthday dinner this evening with Michael & Taylor that they will cook here. Not sure if I'm supposed to bake the cake, so I will try to do one if I can. Food: 7:45 am Chocolate croissant, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 9 Sept

Taking yet another day off from the gym to more fully recuperate. I felt good in the morning yesterday and, although I needed a noon nap, okay in the afternoon. My stomach was fine, but come supper time, I just didn't feel like eating. Bob and I shared one of the chocolate raspberry tarts from Michael & Taylor, and that was enough for me. Hoping today brings me closer to normalcy. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate nut danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:30 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 1 sauteed sliced mushroom, 1 slice Innkeeper's toast w/butter, large peach Exercise: 9:15-9:45 am Jessica Smith Stride N Strength

Tues 8 Sept

New refrigerator comes this afternoon. Bob has been so good with getting everything ready. I really was feeling punk yesterday and wasn't much help. I'm hopeful this morning that I feel more normal, but I haven't put anything in my stomach yet so we'll see. Food: 8:05 am Apricot danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 7 Sept

Stomach continues to be less than comfortable, with upper GI gas bothering me in the night particularly. I hope it goes away soon. It was encouraging yesterday that Michael said some stomach issues seem to be going around, though it seems that with masks and other precautions, things shouldn't really be "going around" much anymore. I'm still tired physically too, though I didn't feel there was anything to be gained by sleeping in much this morning. Food: 8:05 am Almond danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 6 Sept

Today would have been MN State Fair day in a normal world. First miss in my memory. It will be nice to have a little visit from Kurt & Barb today to get a little piece of the tradition. I feel like I should have found turkey legs for the grill or maybe make chocolate chip cookies and put them in the Sweet Martha bucket today. Sigh. Food: 7:50 am Cherry danish, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 5 Sept

David had sent me a Facebook message saying that my danish were on him today, but Emma was working and didn't appear to know anything about it. I wasn't comfortable bringing it up, so we just paid normally. He also had quiches and foccacia, both of which we bought. He did his sticky caramel rolls again which are really amazing, but no eclairs. Food: 8:40 am Caramel roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 4 Sept

Happy Birthday to me! I got a fun card from Bob and birthday texts from Michael and Taylor already, though M&T aren't comfortable joining us at Father Fat's to eat in a public place. But I got a surprise lunch date at Hilltop with Bill & Paddy today. And M&T offered to cook a dinner for us next week sometime. Hopefully that won't fade into nothingness like Michael's planned birthday dinner did. Food: 7:55 am TJ's apple cider donut, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 3 Sept

Overslept just a tad so have a request in to Kathy to delay til 8:45. Just would prefer not to rush through breakfast too much. She has agreed. Food: 8:05 am Apricot danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 2 Sept

Had fun with the first-of-the-month new critters on Animal Crossing yesterday. I always seem to play longer near the beginning of the month while I discover the new things. Robin taught the Yogilates class yesterday so it was nice since I had not been able to get into her Pilates class on Monday. Today looks to be sunny and comfortably cool. Food: 7:45 am Honey bear, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:25 pm 1/2 c 2% cottage cheese w/chives, cranberry orange muffin, organic pear, 1/2 English cucumber

Tues 1 Sept

I'm officially on Medicare as of today! Hopefully that will allow me better access to medical care without worry of huge bills. Certainly the bills for the insurance itself, including the supplement are about 1/3 of my previous insurance costs, and there shouldn't be huge deductibles to pay if I really need to see a doctor. Food: 8:00 am Chocolate croissant, 101 g blackberries, coffee