Tuesday and you can take it to the bank

[BirdbyBird]

Good Morning it is here anyway. All the tax refunds have hit the bank account. Most of the refund is earmarked for recent RoadTrek repairs, then there is the recent Audrey vet visit complete with testing and Addison's diagnosis and the final expense...that IPad I brought home to replace the mini iPad that was 8 year old and no longer holding a charge well and running out of memory to hold those travel apps. Yes, I know my phone is working very well but my eyes do love reading and looking up important stuff on the iPad. ANd the laptop can stay safely here at home. Oh well, after the last year and a half I remember that it is only money and my children are doing better, thankfully, than this parent so they have assured me that I get to spend it with no regrets.

Jane picked up another Select and one more Grand Champion point. She will make it, even if it is crumb by crumb..... Lark is waiting for JAne to complete her twirls around the ring so she can go back to completing in Rally. My body and brain is no longer able to juggle both events in the same day.

Hope most everyone is enjoying some positives in their days. Even with the weather up and down here in Ohio, the increased birdsong and the attempts of green things to push up through some of those last frosty mornings are appreciated. Go forth and create a day you can find things to smile about.

[BarbaraRose]

Just got back from the putting course. As I figured, I was by myself so I just went around and practiced. When I was halfway thru the course, a woman showed up, so we started back on the first hole and played together. She won't be heading north for a few more weeks so we can play together on Tuesdays until then.

Sunday was pretty steady all day at work. After I posted on here, I fell asleep (around 6pm.) I woke up at 10:30, put on my PJ's and went back to sleep until 7am.

Then I went into work at 9am. The gal who I was scheduled to work with is the new gal. She has a habit of not showing up and having a million and one excuses why she can't work. So I was worried she wouldn't show up. Just before 9am she texted me saying she left her equipment at the other shop and had to stop there to get it on the way in so would be a little late. No problem...by 10:30 she still wasn't there. (the other shop is 10 minutes away). I texted my manager and said that if she doesn't show up by 1pm and no one else comes to work with me, I will close the shop and leave. I will not work by myself all day long. At one point, I had an hour and a half wait with haircuts lined up . At 11:45 she finally showed up! I didn't say anything since I was just glad she was there. Not my job to yell at her and I didn't want her to get upset and leave, so I was nice and avoided the situation. Besides, I was told she had given her 2 week notice yesterday so it really didn't matter. The rest of the day went smoothly. My manager will work by herself at times but I don't want to even be willing to do it once because that will make management think I am willing to do it again and will expect that. I wanted to send the message loud and clear that I will not work alone. Corporate also doesn't want stylists to work alone in a shop. Our owner feels it is OK since we are inside a WM and are safer there. Both times my manager worked by herself all day she was so stressed out and actually got in arguments with customers because they were getting so impatient with the long waits.

Anyways, now I have 4 days off to get stuff done around here. My list of things to do consist of one room per day to make it a little easier. However, I am already thinking of changing the list . Oh well, as long as stuff gets done...

The Keto diet is quite intimidating and a drastic change from how I have been eating (and also involves too much math! ) so I think I will just start cutting way down on sweets and carbs to begin with and start adding in some of the more healthy stuff. Baby steps! I am now taking the anti-inflammation stuff that Sue recommended so that should help. Should help with my shoulders as well. I need to look into getting back to a fitness routine. Curves was fun and I stuck with it while I was a member, but it is a bit costly and their hours are very limited. Planet Fitness is half the price and is open 24/7 but I didn't get there very often (other than to use their hydro massage beds ). Both places are close to work and home. We have an exercise room here I should check out and see what they have in there. I like to have a specific routine, that is why I liked Curves. It was easy and fast, in and out.

I guess I better get moving here before I totally lose my energy. Enjoy your day!

[Redetotry]

Glad to see you post Tina I hope you are feeling better. You are getting a tax refund and I just mailed my payment. I didn't send in quarterly estimates this year, opps! DH will not up his deductions so we always have to pay I gave up trying to explain claiming one deduction was the reason.
Barbie I don't blame you for refusing to work alone even if you are inside a Walmart. I won't even go in the one here it is so scary. The one in the next town is much better but I get lost trying to find anything and the prices are higher on food than regular grocery. I think making changes are easier if you do it a little at a time. Just be aware of when and what you eat. I find I can't go too long without eating something so I always have food with me so I don't eat junk.

Pippa is being a little angel today. Emma must have a cast iron stomach as she did not throw up the rabbit, thank goodness. Now all I have to worry about is if she gets worms from it!

Shirl, it sounds as though Luca and Pippa are alike! I haven't even taught Pippa to walk on a leash and she will be 6 months old on the 11th! She has never had another dog to interact with as I still have to keep them separated. Now that it is warmer though I'm going to take her out to meet other dogs. I don't have kids but from what I've observe I think the behavior it is pretty similar!

[Shirlv]

Tina, if I do not have to pay the IRS I’m happy. Always good to have a little cushion in the bank. Rainy, gloomy day but the tulips are loving it. Watched a video on how to grow a tree from an avocado seed, huummm ! Wouldn’t grow avocado in my life time but might be able to sell it to Tom Selleck. Lol. No news just dropped in. Be safe

[OregonLuvr]

We are having a nice day today. Rained during the night but now sun is out and 68. My kind of day. Made some homemade soup today and will freeze some of it for later. Washed the bedspread on my bed today and it is now in the dryer. It is fairly heavy so will take a while.

Now time to vacuum the bedroom and dust. Another room will be done. I am doing one room at a time.

[snowball]

with the afghan I crochet I usually do what I call sections 7 today I decided to count them I was at 6.5 wow thought I was just starting the 6th one... so almost done and don't have the yarn for the next one.. drat I planned on getting some when I get my hair cut... but the appointment hasn't even been made yet... did a couple of rows done on my Swedish Weave... I've been going through the old women's worlds for recipe or whatever I might want to clip out... so went through about 3 some not read yet took longer...
just been one of those not accomplished much at all
we had deer in the yard I think a doe with 3 yearlings... and then there was a deer in the neighbors yard as well... it's always fun to see them and a robin wow that was a pleasant site.. didn't even have my glasses on and saw it...
I didn't know that Desi Arnez played in a Murder she Wrote... just saw the names on the screen will have to pay attention I guess.
But first will need to get some hot chocolate... hmm I remember the show but sure don't remember Dwekk esi Arnez in it ... oh that is cause he wasn't it is Lucia Arnez
Really sorry about Lyn's lose...
Barbi I wouldn't want to be there by myself either... not only not safe but not getting to costumers for such a long time just isn't making people want to return... she probably thinks she isn't going to be there much longer so why worry
I am going to go and take care of taxes tomorrow normally I get a refund but will see. always wonder if it will hold true..
oh it's cold tonight
you all have a great day
sheila

[BarbaraRose]

I ended up working on the cat thunder gourd today for my cat sitter. I am giving her and her husband haircuts tomorrow so I want to give it to her then. I have it all painted and sealed and just have to add the mylar material on the bottom and put in the spring, and drill holes at the top to string thru a leather cord to hang it with. Will do all that tomorrow morning. I asked her husband what colors she likes and he said she likes anything colorful so this one is definitely colorful! I will take pics before I give it to her.

It was pretty warm today but was also humid . I was working out in the porch and had sweat dripping off my nose! I even had a fan blowing on me.

I also realized I need to rearrange my table. I have the power strip on the wall in front of the table. Well, the cords from things I need to plug in are getting in the way of and knocking over things on the table when I am using the tools. So I will move that to the wall next to me so the cords won't be in my way across the table. Also need some other things to make things easier for me when working. Also just need to get things more organized like the paints and brushes, etc.

I met a new neighbor this past week. She just bought a park model down the street from me. Today she gave me a couple things she didn't want that were left in her rock garden by the previous owner. One is a metal sculpture of flowers. I will paint the flowers to match my house (they are yellow now). I have the perfect place to put it in front of my house! Those things are very expensive! It is almost 3 feet high. I also got a nice piece of driftwood that I can use with my gourd art.

Tomorrow I will work on the kitchen. I need to run over to WM to the shop and pick up one of my trimmers so I have one for the haircuts in the afternoon.

[MandysMom]

Barbara, Keto has grown to cover so many different things that it can be intimidating. If you take this back to basics, you can use a free app, such as my fitness pal, and record what you eat. It does the calculations. Or you can make a very good start by simply not eating anything that is grain ( wheat, rice, pasta, oats, cereal, bread) and stop all seed oils, which means reading labels and not eating stuff with vegetable oils , soy , corn, safflower, canola oils. Eat no junk, only real food: vegetables that grow above ground, berries, and fatty sources of protein. Can be as simple as eating a salad , some broccoli, and chicken with skin on. Doesn't have to have fancy recipes or any packaged foods.
I had recheck witn Dr today as my post CoVid check. He was basically useless, other than saying all these painful joints might take 6 months to quit hurting. There really is no drug to give me because I react badly to all NSAIDs, which would be the choice for inflammation. So, onward I go. I am considering a visit to the cannabis shop where Mel got his pain medicine to see what they suggest. It's owned by a nurse and they are very good. CBD is good, but I may benefit from upping the ante.
We are expecting to reach 90 Wednesday and Thursday. I'm not ready for summer. Son finally got my laptop updated and Turbo Tax installed, so I need to get that done as I know I owe, as many of us military widows are having trouble getting the DOD to deduct monthly for taxes and, thankfully got a pay boost this year. Good thing as our health insurance from Mel's state job went up a lot! Taxes and getting my Rv to smog check so I can get tags paid before April 30 are my focus this month?
I did get to actually paint along with my watercolor class Tuesday night, which was so much fun and relaxing.
Have a good Wednesday.
Velda

[BarbaraRose]

Thanks Velda for the info. Can you take the Pro-Resolving Mediators that I am now taking for inflammation? (I forget who suggested that for me.) CBD oil is great for pain! I used the stuff I got at my old job and it was awesome! I hardly need to use it now since my shoulders are both feeling so much better.

[MandysMom]

Barbara, I have no idea what pro resolving mediators are. Sounds like a great title to make $$ on for whoever sells them. You can't drug your way out of a bad diet! Make up your mind to get rid of junk food, grains, sugar, seed oils. The best help is to prepare ahead, so you are not tempted to go get that big order of spaghetti or fast food. It's easy to prepare ahead. Hard boil eggs and keep in she'll in fridge for grab and go protein. Watch for sales on chicken thighs in family pack and bake entire pack with your favorite no sugar herbs and seasonings and keep in fridge to grab for dinner after long day. Have lettuce ready to rinse and make salad ( I no longer buy bagged pre-rinsed salads as seems at least once a year there is a recal due to contamination). Look for better salad dressings made with avocado or olive oil instead of soy or canola. Better diet is always easier when you sit weekly and figure out what to prep ahead. You can bake ground beef patties in batches and keep in fridge for several meals, either whole in a lettuce wrap or cut over a salad. My 2 most used appliances are my air fryer for wings or thighs or ground beef patties and my instant pot for hard cooked eggs- add water as directed by your IP then a dozen eggs- I like my stainless rack I ordered, and I set it on manual 2 min then when that is done (after its warm up) I set timer for 5 min before releasing steam and putting eggs in cold bath. Again, I do not peel until I use them because they last longer! I can peel in just seconds , put on plate with 3-4 pieces of the pre cooked Costco bacon warmed in microwave, or slices of my air fryer bacon cookedin batch, and have a high protein , zero carb breakfast done in under 2 min!
I use CBD nightly and as needed during day, but hope to find a little more pain relief with added THC in very small amount.
I used to use turmeric tablets/capsules for joints but they didn't help plus turmeric gives me heartburn. I took other various joint supplements but the only true help seems to be MSM powder which I add to electrolytes each day. On a true low Carb no Keto packaged food diet, you need electrolytes, ESP natural sea salt such as Himalayan pink or Redmond mined in Utah.,magnesium and potassium are important too, which is why one of my few supplements is a sugar free electrolyte powders I mix daily with a big bottle of water. My only other supplememts are Vit D , Vit k ( both bone health), and Quercitin during allergy season. My only RX (at now 73 1/2) is a single BP pill, which I hope to eliminate over next year. I'm told by my Dr that I'm an outlier as average person my age is on 6-10 drugs by RX each day! My triglycerides are in 60-70 range with HDL to match!
You can do this Barbara, it's all about being ready to change your way of eating and taking a few minutes a week to plan and prepare. I love the concept and proactive of plan and prepare once and eat all week! Only you can take control of your health.
Velda

[BarbaraRose]

"What are pro-resolving mediators?
These molecules are called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). They are lipids (fatty acids) that signal for the resolution of inflammation. To be clear, this is different than anti-inflammatory drugs or supplements that block inflammation."

[MandysMom]

You can either pay for a pill somebody says reduces inflammation, or quit triggering it by eating right. Frankly, I'd rather spend my money on some nice steaks thn a pill.
Velda