Sat 25 Jan

Today's the day - we leave for our month in Spain. Hopefully we've remembered all the important details. God be with us, and with those who we leave at home. Food: 8:25 am 3/4 c TJs Maple Pecan cereal, 1/2 c skim milk, 96 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 24 Jan

Last full day at home, need to plan my day out for tomorrow, arrange the shuttle with the hotel, decide where we will go in Chicago for Mass. Remembered my compression socks this morning, so I'll put them in my carry-on to put on before the flight. Food: 8:10 am TJs cocoa sea salt instant oatmeal, 94 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 23 Jan

Spain is encroaching quickly, last minute prep must be completed soon. Bootstrap this morning, haircut and laundry tomorrow are the last of the regular home chores. Food: 8:10 am 3/4 c TJs Maple Pecan cereal, 1/2 c skim milk, 94 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 22 Jan

A relief to be above zero this morning at 7°. Hopefully we won't see any more frigid temps before we leave. Michael and Taylor are both home sick, and they think it's the norovirus, probably contracted at their get-together with Taylor's family last weekend. Michael spent the day yesterday throwing up and diarrhea, and Taylor worked though she was starting to feel awful so I expect she has a day like that ahead of her today. Food: 8:05 am 3/4 c TJs Maple Pecan cereal, 1/2 c skim milk, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 21 Jan

Bitterly cold morning, nearly -20°. Hope everyone is safe. Schools are canceled and people will hopefully be staying in wherever they can. I'm so grateful that we have a cozy house with heat, and if I'm chilly, I use my neck heating pad with a blanket in my lap. Hygge! Food: 8:10 am Trader Joe's cocoa sea salt instant oatmeal, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 20 Jan

Temps this morning at -14°. Doesn't appear that the Point schools are closing today, though many area schools are, so we likely won't close OBT this afternoon. I will break down and drive, though. Food: 8:00 am 3/4 c Trader Joe's Maple Crunch cereal, 1/2 c skim milk, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 19 Jan

Back down to the deep freeze -9° this morning. May allow Bob to talk me out of walking to church this morning. Might even have to break down and drive to OBT tomorrow afternoon as it's not expected to improve for several days. Food: 7:55 am 68 g marzipan stollen, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 18 Jan

Only one more week before we leave for our month in Spain. It has been creeping up slowly, and now the sprint is on. New smart watch finally arrived yesterday and I'm wearing both the new watch and the Fitbit together for awhile to compare. Also need to see if the new watch can be paired with Noom. Had a very tasty fish/shrimp fry at the Sunflower Cafe, with the familiar servers from Rock N Roll whom we have known for years. Food: 8:00 am 68 g marzipan stollen, 96 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 17 Jan

An anomalous warm day today, possibly hitting 40°! Unfortunately, it is just for today, but I'll try to make the most of it and even get in a walk to the library along with laundry and Body Pump.\ Food: 8:00 am 73 g marzipan stollen, 96 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 16 Jan

First time ever I think that I ran my Fitbit completely out of juice. It didn't sound the alarm and wouldn't light up at all, so I came down to put it on the charger and it showed 1% charge, but now I wiggled it and it shows 80% which is more in keeping with what I would have expected. Took it off and got it to come on, but put the charger on again and it says 23%. Think I'll let it sit on the charger a few minutes before going back upstairs for my morning ablutions. Got the Fitbit charged to about 50% before my shower, saying 70% now after breakfast, so who knows? No data from sleep, but I guess that's to be expected since it was completely off this morning. I'll have to remember to clean the contacts before we go to Spain and keep it well-charged. Food: 8:25 am 78 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 15 Jan

Yet another frigid morning. Massage this afternoon. Fireplace and hot tub still kaputt. Oh, my! Food: 8:00 am 74 g cinnamon streusel coffee cake, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 14 Jan

Another bitter cold, below zero morning, and today the fireplace isn't working and the hot tub heater stopped heating. Can't feel too troubled since we still have a comfortable house with a working furnace, and I know there are many who are struggling to find a warm place to sleep. Food: 7:55 am 134 g cinnamon crumb coffee cake, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 13 Jan

Really nice time with Laura and Michael yesterday, celebrating a belated Christmas together. Laura made me a beautiful knitted scarf since I had requested one. She appeared to like her gifts and enjoyed spending family time together. Michael threw out his back again and came over just to chat, but stayed quite awhile. The kids actually liked the Celebration beer, so divided it between themselves and took it home. Food: 7:55 am 87 g Costco chocolate orange loaf, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 12 Jan

Christmas with the kids today. Laura is driving up, expected after 2 pm. Michael will come over even though Taylor will be working. I will make vegan wild rice mushroom soup and a veggie pie and hopefully Michael will bring a dessert. I have lots of non-vegan dessert but he would make something delicious. Food: 7:55 am 77 g Costco chocolate orange loaf, 103 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 11 Jan

Only 2 weeks til we leave, suddently it's approaching like a freight train. Will be fun to be back now that it's a familiar area. Cantor at 5 today, tomorrow hopefully see the daughter for Christmas festivities. Food: 8:00 am 94 g Costco chocolate orange loaf, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 10 Jan

Starting to feel the need to begin the packing process for Spain as we leave two weeks from tomorrow. Michael and Taylor stopped over after work yesterday and she seemed to like her gifts, though we all acknowledged that the Harry Potter monopoly was not what you would have expected. She did note, though, that it is compact enough to take with when they travel. Food: 8:05 am 148 g Costco cinnamon roll, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 9 Jan

National day of mourning as they lay Jimmy Carter to rest today. What a wonderful man he was, the like of which we haven't seen again. May he rest in peace and send down blessings on our country which will be greatly needed. Food: 7:55 am 96 g Costco cinnamon roll, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 8 Jan

Chilly morning at 10°, warming into the 20s later hopefully. Nothing but Body Pump on the schedule today. Sanctuary went well last night. Food: 8:00 am 115 g Costco cinnamon roll, 105 g blackberries, coffee

Tues 7 Jan

Sanctuary tonight, so must study today. Already getting a little tired of the cold weather, and it hasn't even been January bad too much. Am becoming a wuss as I get older, I guess. Food: 7:55 am 151 g Costco cinnamon roll, 106 g blackberries, coffee

Mon 6 Jan

Taylor's birthday! And back into normal, non-holiday weeks. Maybe Laura will drive up on Sunday and we'll do vegan dinner with Michael and give Laura her Christmas gifts, and if she's too tired to drive up, we'll drive down there with her gifts and take her out to eat if she will. Food: 8:00 am 102 g Costco cinnamon roll, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Sun 5 Jan

In three weeks, we'll be on a plane for Spain, and I'm sure it will go by fairly quickly. Made the Park N Fly reservation on Friday. so that's set. Had a very nice overnight at St Brendan's in Green Bay yesterday. Food: 8:00 am 196 g Chocolate cream cronut, 102 g blackberries, coffee

Fri 3 Jan

Still feeling discombobulated with the days of the week with holidays falling on subsequent Wednesdays. Hopefully all will settle back to normalcy next week. Food: 8:00 am 91 g Costco morning bun, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 2 Jan

Another year is underway! Let's hope we fill it with good things for friends and family. Bootstrap this afternoon, then no other commitments for awhile. Food: 8:05 am 99 g Costco morning bun, 104 g blackberries, coffee

Wed 1 Jan 2025

Another New Year to thank the Lord for our blessings. Had a beer and a pizza at PJs after church last night, and went to bed at my normal time. No need to party or see in the new year at midnight. Figured out that this was the 44th new year greeted in my bed here at 1801 Center St. Food: 8:05 am 84 g Costco morning bun, 104 g blackberries, coffee