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Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
500 posts

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Posted by Amalthea, 18:23 25 November 2007

Hello, folks.

I was trying to catch up on messages, but it's a short-attention span day.

I'm visiting my parents for the Thanksgiving holiday. It's just been a ridiculous trip. My father's van broke down in PIttsburgh, which is almost 5 hours away from my parents' home. We rode in a tow truck (the driver, my father and I) for 1 1/2 hrs to my hometown where dad's mechanic is. Mom drove in to pick us up.

So, we've been getting around in dad's truck and talking about how he'll manage since they were down to one vehicle that mom can't ride in with her back troubles.

We were on our way to church this morning when the truck started making noise. The mechanic thinks it's the head-gasket and recommends scrapping the truck at this point.

So, we're staying home today and tomorrow the neighbor will take me to the train station. I just hope that all goes as planned. I had to call my boss and ask for another day off because of catching the train home. I also am not sure what I've done to my back, so I hope I can manage the luggage!

I'm kinda tired and would like to see something go right for them!

Hadrian
joined 11 Sep 2007
140 posts

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Posted by Hadrian, 18:30 25 November 2007

Hi there,sound's like youve had a bit of a hectic time!How's the bird watching going?

Me
joined 29 Oct 2007
414 posts

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Posted by Me, 01:43 26 November 2007

AMalthea
Sorry you are having a tough time, thought youd be really enjoying yourself.

Purple Ivy seems to be troubled too.

Ive managed to stay out of trouble by staying asleep most of the weekend.

I actually managed to stay awake till 6.00pm this evening, but that concluded when the boys put a video on and I managed only 10 mins, even though I thought it was good.

I tend to struggle at their bedtime. I have to listen to them read. But more often that not I nod off after just a page. whoops.

My husband saw me playing with my youngest on his bed. He gave me his bunnies and a special blanket and was pretending to put me to sleep. My husband immedialtely informed me that perhaps it wasnt a good idea. He is right of course - id been rumbled. I was fairly close t0 zzzzzzz.

Going to see Take That tomorrow. So gonna have to put my lightbox on big time.

Me x

Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
500 posts

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Posted by Amalthea, 13:33 26 November 2007

I'm doing OK. I wish my parents were having an easier time, and I think I'm ready to get back home. Sometimes I dislike being away from my routine for a long time, because I have to be sensitive to my sleep-schedule adjustment.

Other than that, we enjoyed each other's company, I got some time to watch the birds, and I even helped out with Thanksgiving dinner (a big change for me, as I hate to cook and get cranky in the kitchen!)

Hadrian, I have some new good shots of chickadees, tufted titmice, and I got close to some other interesting birds. Even had two chickadees land on my hand. (YES! You can hand-feed chickadees if you're patient, apparently). I took down the feeder, and stood very still with my hand out-stretched with black oil sunflower seeds... must have looked goofy, but so what, right?

I saw PurpleIvy's message, and was going to check to see how it's working out for her. How upsetting! I hope she's gotten her lamp back.

Me, I probably would have slept a lot had I been at home for the holiday. It wouldn't have been a good thing for me, though. My apartment is so quiet and lonely, I would have been depressed.

I'm working very hard to get my weight down. I couldn't seem to leave bread alone, but I did only have one piece of pie and a reasonable portion of mac and cheese, all the time I was here. The rest of the food was mostly healthy. I just know that if I put on weight, I get really depressed. Strangely enough, I spent yesterday watching 3 episodes about an obesity clinic, and it made me eat a much smaller helping of mac and cheese. ;)

Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
500 posts

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Posted by Amalthea, 10:42 27 November 2007

I have a feeling it's going to be a tough day. Was crying over emails I was reading... even funny ones.

I didn't get good sleep last night -- I think I'm running a fever with whatever is causing this back pain. I was feeling clammy all night - blankets on, blankets off... The pain isn't unbearable or anything, but it's hard to be comfortable and I'm worried about the hassle of seeing the doctor, paying for tests, getting medicine and I've signed up to go to our work's annual Christmas party. I was asked to sleep in a room overnight with 3 other co-workers.

I'm on prednisone, which I take every time I go home to visit my parents because they own 6 cats, despite my allergies and asthma (ugh). It's going to give me enough restless energy to get through the day, but who knows about my mood...

I'm really desperate to do something about my weight, too. I want to go work out right now... I'll have to be careful with my back, but I'm off to exercise now - a little gentle indoor walking -- I lost so much weight through this indoor walking program. I'm so afraid of getting diabetes or having an asthma attack that meds won't work for, or having a heart attack (my cholesterol!)... but then it's just hard to do anything and be consistent!

I'm off to exercise.

PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
782 posts

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Posted by PurpleIvy, 12:44 27 November 2007

Well done Amalthea. I have my own indoor walking program at the moment.... down to the cellar up to the kitchen, upstairs to fetch things, back again... trying to get everything back into the new bit of the house. don't want to carry too much, so it's more trips. Knees feeling the exertion of the stairs!

Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
500 posts

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Posted by Amalthea, 14:02 27 November 2007

I did 15 minutes of walking, which is really not bad for early morning with a sore back.

I put an exercise video on my computer chair so that I'll have to make a conscious (or semi-conscious, as it may be) choice to ignore it when I get home.

I think about all that's manageable to me right now is 15 minutes at a time, and that's OK. They say it adds up, and that's how I got started last time I did regular exercise and lost weight.

PurpleIvy, dear, you have your hands full with all that work you're doing! Be careful of your knees, too!

PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
782 posts

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Posted by PurpleIvy, 18:31 27 November 2007

Did some more stuff at lunch time and after work, but having the evening off as I'm meeting with some people from another internet forum... complicated! It's only a small group and I have met some of them before, so I should cope OK.

I should go, as I have dishes etc to do before I go. Can't go and leave the lovely new kitchen grubby! It's very untidy as I['m still deciding where some stuff has to go. Ordered more shelves for the cupboards, but not arrived yet. Beans on toast followed by home made waffles tonight.... DD & I had M&S fresh raspberry sauce and ds had maple syrup! You would think it's Christmas already. I haven't been able to make them stuff for so long!

Amalthea
joined 12 Nov 2006
500 posts

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Posted by Amalthea, 20:43 27 November 2007

We've really got to give ourselves credit for every little thing we do manage to do rather than getting wrecked up over the things we didn't get to do. It's just so hard this time of year, isn't it?

I think you're doing great, PurpleIvy. You've got a lot going on. You sound like me... it sounds like you're taking things step by step... In the wintertime, my brain works like this: "First, I should do this... Second, I should do that..." Sometimes I have to write the process down if it's complicated! I'm a huge list-maker... even in the summertime.

Your meals sound tasty. I remember when I was first exposed to the idea of beans and toast, I loved it! Haven't had it in a long while. And... mmmm, that raspberry sauce sounds too tempting.

Dunno what dinner is tonight. Almost certainly not homemade. :I

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