Thurs 30 Nov

Thurs morning again. Still haven't seen Desmond and family; thought sure they would come when we were doing Pilates last night, or else after I had gone up to bed. Hopefully they won't come while we're at rehearsal tonight or at the concerts this weekend. It would be a shame to miss them. Food: 7:15 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm Slice Omega 3 bread, cheddar cheese, butter, 100 g raspberries 2:00 pm Packet Muddy Buddies 4:55 pm Healthy turkey chili, sour cream, grated cheese Exercise: 8:00-9:30 am Walk w/Kathy 2:45-3:20 pm Walk to Hair Co/library

Wed 29 Nov

The year is waning! Hard to believe that November is nearly over, and only one more month remains. It's always a surprise no matter how often I tell myself that this time of year flies by. Even every Wednesday seems to be here before the last one is over. Food: 7;50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm Homemade turkey soup, 100 g raspberries, 2 pc light string cheese Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 28 Nov

Exceptionally warm morning today - 46° when I got up. I'll have to get in some extra walking beyond to tutoring and my hair appointment if I can. I did get in one longer neighborhood walk yesterday afternoon and it was fairly pleasant except for a bit of brisk wind. Food: 7:45 am 1/2 Costco apple muffin, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Slice Omega 3 bread, 50 g Lunch Mate black forest turkey, sm banana 5:20 pm Kielbasa skillet w/potatoes, onions, & peppers Exercise: 10:30-10:40 am Walk to Jefferson 11:50-12:00 pm Walk home 12:45-1:00 pm Walk to haircut 3:10-3:25 pm Walk home 3:30-4:15 pm Walk to post office and back 4:40-5:00 pm Ellis St loop w/Bob

Mon 27 Nov

Cyber Monday. Doesn't hold much more interest for me than Black Friday did this year. We'll see whether any online retailers can tempt me. I realized I have a hair appointment tomorrow so I have to figure out if the check will clear or whether I need to add to the account. I think I'm okay because I've already subtracted out the payments to Target and Capital One that won't be deducted til 12/8. Got a killer deal on blackberries at Aldi's yesterday $.89 per carton. Bought a dozen and am sincerely hoping they don't mold before I eat them up. Food: 7:50 am 3/4 Costco apple cinnamon muffin, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:25 pm Homemade turkey soup, slice cottage cheese dill bread Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 26 Nov

Last regular choir rehearsal before the concert. Scary thought since it doesn't seem we're performance ready, but I suppose it rarely does. At least we now have an accompanist so we can see how Carrie will direct us. I nearly have the two required pieces memorized. Food: 8:05 am Costco apple cinnamon muffin, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 25 Nov

My brother would have been 66 today. Calendar word of the day is mogul, maybe a hint that he would have been a powerful person had he lived. I would have liked to get to know him beyond what I gleaned when I was 10 and he was 14. No Farmer's Market this morning, as we found out when we pulled in to an empty parking lot. Won't hurt us to go without delicious pastry for a week. Food: 8:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 1:00 pm Slice cottage cheese dill bread, 3 pc lite string cheese 4:00 pm 1 c Quaker Oat Squares (dry) 6:20 pm 4 oz turkey, 1/2 c stuffing, 1/2 c sweet potato casserole, 2 tbl cranberry sauce Exercise: 2:05-3:15 pm Little Schmeeckle walk w/Bob 5:10-6:00 pm Pilates mat

Fri 24 Nov

Black Friday, and this year I find I don't care. Need to cut back on spending frivolous spending so I don't just want to troll for "good deals" and I can easily stand to miss the crowds. Had a good time at Laura's for Thanksgiving with Laura, Jude, and Jude's friend, Tiffany. We went down Wed evening, picked Laura up at her gym and went to Weary Traveler for sandwiches, and stayed in her guest room. Cooked the food on Thursday, had dinner, and Bob and I took a nice walk down to Yahara park and around the neighborhood before driving home. I didn't get to my step goal for the day, but at least I was close to 10,000. Food: 8:25 am Costco apple cinnamon muffin, 101 g blackberries, coffee 2:15 pm 1 Werther's coffee hard candy 5:25 pm Betty Crocker chili pie, pint Seattle basil mint cider Exercise: 2:30-4:20 pm Hiking Rib Mt

Wed 22 Nov

Going down to Laura's tonight to spend the night before Thanksgiving. Got cranberry sauce done, sweet potato casserole and stuffing prepped and ready to cook down there. We'll pick Laura up around 7:45 when she finishes work and/or meet her at a restaurant for a late dinner before heading to her house. We have a pretty normal Wednesday at home until I finish Bootstrap before we leave. Food: 7:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 pm Leftover Uncle Will's (primarily gravy), slice banana bread Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 21 Nov

Today is my day to do advance Thanksgiving prep since we will likely leave as soon as I finish Bootstrap tomorrow. I want to make a cranberry sauce or relish, assemble a sweet potato casserole, and chop the veg for stuffing. I also need to assemble the cookware I'll be taking along. Goodness! Just noticed I have a massage scheduled at 2:30. More expense! Food: 7:55 am Banana date muffin, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am 2 scrambled eggs, 1/4 c chopped mushrooms, .25 tsp butter, slice banana bread, orange 5:20 pm Bay scallop & asparagus risotto, 3 tbl red cabbage w/apple Exercise: 10:30-10:40 am Walk to Jefferson school 11:40-11:50 am Walk home

Mon 20 Nov

I hope I'm not eating one of Bob's danish. I can't remember if I've already had one of these this week. It gets confused occasionally. Proud of myself for working harder than usual on the treadmill today. Food: 7:55 am Cheese danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee Exercise: 9:00-9:26 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 19 Nov

Wow, time is slipping by quickly! More than half of November is already history. We go down to Laura's on Wed evening, which will be here before I know it. Delighted that the scale stayed below 150 for two days in a row now. Perhaps I will start to see results if I can keep to good eating/exercise regimes. Food: 6:40 am Chocolate pecan pinwheel, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am Large bowl Moroccan 3-bean stew 2:00 pm 1/2 c Quaker Oat Squares 6:30 pm Beef stew, brioche roll Exercise: 7:10-7:30 am Walk to church 9:10-9:30 am Walk home

Sat 18 Nov

Beginning to do the funds-saving mode, agreeing to eat at home and limit outings over the next few months to keep the credit card bills from further skyrocketing. We're committed to Madison over Thanksgiving and our Minneapolis trip with one B&B night, already billed, and two nights at Kurt and Barb's. We're going to not spend much on Christmas this year. Laura's faucet is already billed (though we could have saved $60 by waiting until this week). We have our trip to look forward to, so we can just get a couple of small things to have something to open on Christmas but we don't need to spend big on ourselves. Food: 9:20 am Cheese danish, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:40 pm Moroccan 3-bean soup, brioche roll Exercise: 1:55-3:05 pm Little Schmeeckle walk w/Bob

Fri 17 Nov

Suicide Prevention meeting this morning at Boys and Girls Club. If I'm ready in time, I may walk. Going to try to stay home tonight and cook, and ditto for the weekend to save some money. In addition to this credit card bill being high at about $2400 each, next month could be double that with the balance of the cruise payment on it. I just can't stand to decimate my savings so much, so we need to cut back on eating out and other frivolous expenditures. It's cooking season now, so it shouldn't be a burden to stay home and create good meals. Food: 6:50 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:45 pm Brioche roll, sloppy joe, med orange Exercise: 7:30-7:50 am Walk to Boys & Girls Club 8:55-9:15 am Walk home

Thurs 16 Nov

Another Thursday, looking forward to walking with Kathy. I'm sure she's glad to have the cast off her arm finally. Other than cantoring at 8 am Sunday, nothing special planned for the weekend. Maybe we can get to see Murder on the Orient Express at the theater. Got my 12,000 on the walk with Kathy this morning out past Bukolt to the stop sign on the road. Food: 7:15 am Morning bun, 105 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm 2 scrambled eggs, 3 mozzarella pearls, Costco pumpkin muffin 5:30 pm Moroccan 3-bean stew, brioche dinner roll Exercise: 8:00-9:40 am Walk w/Kathy beyond Bukolt

Wed 15 Nov

I broke down and checked out next year's health insurance options yesterday. Seems I have little choice but to accept the premium increase to over $1600/month next year as there are no longer any less expensive plans left to downgrade to. Sucks. Feeling better in my body again for having done Pilates mat yesterday evening. Wish I could get back on a regular schedule with that so it didn't seem so much work to fit it in. The benefits are immediately obvious. Food: 7:50 am Morning bun, 100 g blackberries, coffee 11:40 am Fit & Active Chicken Noodle soup, Costco pumpkin muffin, peppermint tea 5:35 pm Beef stew, 2 sm slices polenta Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 14 Nov

I have a birthday lunch with former coworkers at Hilltop today immediately after my tutoring session. I've warned Sue that I may be a tad late. I don't have any commitments afterward so if I get my lunch a bit late, it's not a problem. Will be nice to see the gang again. Slightly warmer today, and much appreciated. Bob is very happy to finally have his van back again. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate pecan pinwheel, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:00 pm Mushroom Swiss chicken sandwich, cup fruit 3:30 pm 1/2 c Quaker Oat Squares cereal, dry 6:45 pm Costco Italian sausage ravioli, 1/2 c onion/garlic sauce 9:05-9:30 am Jessica Smith steady state mile 3:30-3:50 pm Jessica Smith mile 4:40-4:55 pm Jessica Smith mile 5:40-6:30 pm Pilates mat

Mon 13 Nov

So begins another week. The Packers won yesterday to the delight of their fans. We didn't get yelled at in choir for skipping last Sunday for wine. Carrie indicated that she has been diagnosed with some health conditions expected to continue lifelong, so she had a little of the wind taken out of her sails. Food: 7:55 am Chocolate croissant, 100 g blackberries, coffee 12:15 pm 2 scrambled eggs, slice pumpkin bread 3:30 pm Packet Muddy Buddies 4:30 pm 1/2 c Quaker Oat Squares 6:10 pm Beef stew Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sun 12 Nov

Nice day in Madison with Laura yesterday. Got her main Christmas present bought and delivered; she wanted a new kitchen faucet so we picked it up together at Costco and Bob installed it before we went to dinner. She has agreed to host our Thanksgiving dinner at her place; Michael and Taylor will be with her relatives Wed evening, Taylor has to work on Thurs, and they will visit her brother and his wife on Friday so they will not be a part of our holiday this year. Jude has a friend coming up so there will be five of us at her house. We bought the turkey yesterday and she is storing it in her freezer. I will bring a roasting pan and stuffing ingredients and sweet potatoes for sure. Other food arrangements yet to be determined. Food: 8:20 am Chocolate pumpkin danish, 100 g blackberries, coffee

Sat 11 Nov

Snow outside this morning, rather pretty. Not too much, just enough for effect. Yesterday morning was much, much colder. Isn't expected to be snowy in Madison, so hopefully driving will not be affected. Food: 8:05 am 101 g blackberries, coffee 9:45 am Cherry danish, coffee

Fri 10 Nov

Damn, it's cold in the house! 49 on the fireplace remote thermometer when I turned it on. This getting up at 5 am is chilly business. Suppose I should have come down and turned on the fireplace before I got in the shower so it had time to add a little warmth to the house. Going to an Elder Care conference at NCTI in Wausau today, 8-3. They will feed me breakfast and lunch and give me credits toward maintaining my license. I'm eating a cereal breakfast at home as I expect their "breakfast" will be bagels and muffins. Food: 5:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee

Thurs 9 Nov

Had a very strange dream last night inspired by a Sherlock Holmes story about Dr Watson stepping into an alternative dimension where Sherlock was the master criminal, Moriarty was the detective, and Watson himself had died many years ago in the war. In my dream, I went out for a walk and stepped into an alternate dimension of this world. When I returned to the house, someone else was living there and had been for years, no one had heard of me or Bob, we apparently had never married so our kids didn't even exist. I had no money, no place to go, no one who knew me. It was most distressing. Glad to end that dream. Food: 7:20 am Costco pumpkin muffin, 102 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am 2 scrambled eggs, slice pumpkin bread, cup of tea 4:00 pm 1 c dry Quaker Oatmeal Squares 6:00 pm Baked tilapia filet, 1/2 c steamed corn, 1/3 c bulgur/quinoa Exercise: 8:00-9:40 am Zinda Dr walk w/Kathy

Wed 8 Nov

Weeks are flying by again. Once we hit Wed, with gym and Bootstrap, the rest of the week always seems to disappear. Funny, that wasn't often the case when I was working. Keep forgetting that I'm registered for a conference in Wausau on Friday. It will be a miracle if I remember to go. Food: 7:50 am Honey bear pastry, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:05 pm Fit & Active chicken noodle soup, pumpkin bread, Nestle Fat Free cocoa Exercise: 9:05-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Tues 7 Nov

Took a nice relaxing afternoon to read yesterday, so probably should expend some energy in cleaning or other useful activities today. Need to get an actual start on crocheting an afghan for Laura for Christmas as well. Food: 7:50 am Chocolate pecan pinwheel, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:55 am Sun-dried tomato bagel, cream cheese chive spread, 66 g cheese curds Exercise: 10:30-10:40 am Walk to Jefferson 11:40-11:50 am Walk home

Mon 6 Nov

We had a fun, spontaneous weekend totally unexpectedly. We had decided to go to Green Bay for the day, have a wine tasting and lunch at Captain's Walk, and pick up the wine at discount with Roseanne DeBot's donation money. We planned to go to Costco and then see what the weather portended regarding a walk or other activity. In talking to PJ at Captain's Walk and looking over the brochure for the wine club, we decided it would be a good thing to try the club. PJ said the next pickup party was scheduled for the very next day from 4-7 pm, with a chicken/broccoli/rice dish and tiramisu paired with sauvignon blanc and Captain's Mistress port which were the two varieties you would buy at 25% off. We called St Brendans and they had one room available due to a cancellation that had just come in, and we would be doing the cancelling party a favor as they wouldn't be charged if we rented the room. We signed up for a Pure Romance package with wine and chocolate on the spot (in spite of the fact that we had no overnight luggage with us!) We stopped at a Family Dollar and bought toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, contact lens cleaning supplies and disposable shavers, then did our Costco shopping and returned to the inn. As it was almost 4:30, we discovered that a very nearby church, St Willebrord's, had Mass at 4:30 so we walked over and attended a nice Mass. We then checked in to St Brendan's, went down to have sandwiches for a light dinner, and relaxed in the room, reading Kindle books on our phones. On Sunday, we went down to breakfast, then headed to Potawotomi State Park to hike. We ran into Rick and Rosan Zahn on the trail! We had picked up cheese curds on the way so we lunched on the trail, then returned to Green Bay just in time for the pickup party. We were able to eat enough chicken/broccoli/cheese dish to fill us comfortably, with a delicious little tiramisu and a glass each of the sauvignon blanc and the port, then homeward bound! It was quite an adventure, and strange to stay in a hotel with no pajamas, no toiletries other than the few we purchased and what was provided. I had no face wash or moisturizers in the morning, no clean underwear(!), no hairbrush, but we survived. Food: 7:50 am Pumpkin chocolate danish, 105 g blackberries, coffee 12:05 pm Fit & Active chicken noodle soup, pumpkin bread, orange Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Sat 4 Nov

First day of indoor Farmer's Market at Redeemer. Planning to head there shortly. Then to Green Bay to get some wine at Captain's Walk, go to Costco, and see what else weather suggests.

Fri 3 Nov

Finally allowed my iPhone to update to the new iOs, so now I have to get an updated version of Snood if one is available. Can't put these things off forever, I guess. Food: 8:05 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:10 pm 1 c Fit & Active chicken noodle chunky soup, slice pumpkin bread Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class

Thurs 2 Nov

Should be a somewhat chilly walk with Kathy this morning, hopefully no precip to interfere. No other unusual obligations the rest of the week or weekend. Food: 7:15 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 12:20 am Cheddar Chowder, applesauce Exercise: 8:00-9:40 am Walk Schmeeckle w/Kathy 10:55-11:30 am Walk to library and back

Wed 1 Nov

175 Trick-or-Treaters last night, pretty consistent with the last couple of years. I found records back to 1996, and for several years around 2010, we were getting 275-300 kids, then it fell off abruptly in 2015 and has remained fairly constant since. It's less expensive with less candy to buy. Food: 7:55 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c soy milk, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am Cheddar chowder, 2 light string cheese Exercise: 9:00-9:25 am Treadmill 9:30-10:30 am Body Pump class