Toffee, Dijon, Face Fight, On Lawn

Title of this post comes from us making huge fun of a song by a country music guy, very very famous country music guy, and his horrible horrible song. I won't mention either of them by name because I don't want people finding this post because they're searching on the person but... Go read this excellent evisceration of said person and said song.  And search for the song if you want to hurt your ears, but sing along with your new lyrics that you make up. 

Two syllables, or one syllable words 2 times, over and over. And boy did we laugh. 

Since this is a two day post, I'll start with Saturday. 

I woke up at about 6:45am, had to pee, and then dogs knew I was up so I fed them and we went outside where they were Toffee, Dijon, Face Fight, On Lawn for quite a while. We headed in and I decided to do the treadmill early, once again thought about going a full 5k but got to a half hour and stopped. 

When I came out, Doug was up, sitting in the living room drinking coffee and looking at his phone. Jess and their friend came out from the guest room, dogs were here in the middle of things face fighting and playing, then crashing and sleeping.

The plan was that Doug would leave in the morning to head to the family reunion up north of Pittsburgh, about a 4 hour drive. He had been dragging his feet and procrastinating. Jess mentioned that it almost seemed like he didn't really want to go. He said they are very perceptive. 

I said to him, honestly, you don't have to go. But I personally kind of think you should because you and your sister should spend time with mom and discuss her plans about the house (long story, she has finally decided it is time to sell the house, and has started talking to a realtor. That discussion did not go well. I will leave it at that). 

He was kind of miffed with me when I also reminded him of the fact there was one meal served this year at 2pm and he should go if he wanted to partake in that.

 In years past, there was an early and late meal, and he knew he'd miss the early, but figured he'd get there at 4 for the late one. I had mentioned this single-meal serving to him a couple weeks ago, that there was one meal... and he didn't remember me telling him that. He said that, and Jess looked at me knowingly "you told him, I know you told him" in their eyes. 

Do not lay your lack of listening to me back at my door like it is my fault you don't know something. Bro, I tell you things. You do not hear me. So he got his stuff organized and hit the road around 11. 

It is the 75th reunion and every year his mom says it is the last. We shall see if she is right. 

Jess and A sat around the living room and we were yapping, chilling, drinking coffee, singing that song. 

Coffee, Chillin', Dog Snores, Alright. 

A wanted to go to a little antique-ish shop. She likes to get a little trinket or doo-dad from each place visited. So I wanted to go to this antiques mill. I called up and they were not open. They are not open kind of ever? Special times? The woman said that they'll be open "sometime maybe mid-August. Oh, okay. I won't be here and for sure A and Jess won't be here. I guess I'll catch them some other time. 

"Did you look us up on Google and it said we're open?"

Yes ma'am, I did. The Googles lied to me, then.

"Yeah. We can't get them to change that. We've tried," she said. "Which is why on our facebook page we say to call ahead. We're retired, we open when we have time." 

I did indeed look at their Facebook, and all the pictures are so pretty, and she posts several times a week with picture captions of next time we're open... 

Sigh. I really wanted to go there myself. So a new plan.

I told them maybe they should head to Frederick. There are some antique malls around here, but I do not think they are open Sundays. And I didn't Eventually they got ready and made an excursion. Frederick was the destination. They asked if I wanted to come, and to be honest that would have been nice but I sort of wanted to just be here. Geoff went to the market and did the shopping, and we meal planned for that night. I wanted to do steak tips on the grill and potato salad, but it was too late to make the potato sald... need to do the eggs and bacon, and I ended up not doing that while he was out. 

Linda called me, and we had a long yap. 

The kids came home from their Frederick jaunt, and they had a grand time. They had lunch at a BBQ joint, did some shopping in town, went to the cute river and bridge thingie in town, and just enjoyed themselves greatly. Jess said Frederick is a must re-visit place next trip out here. Duly noted. 

I mentioned to Jess that it would be nice if they stopped at the dairy/creamery and picked up some milk and Chocky Milk (as they called it) so they did on the way home. It is off the beaten path, and you gotta want to go there for a destination, especially from here, but it is easier to get there from Frederick. 

Since they had big lunch they both were not hungry for dinner, so I didn't grill. Geoff made a dinner he usually makes but he doubled it, in case there was a desire for foods. Not so much. So we have a lot of left over pasta alfredo and chicken. No worries. It'll be good later on. 

After dinner, we sat around and yapped and Jess wanted me to show A some Tiny Desk videos, and suggested we put them on Youtube on the regular TV instead of the computer. So we pulled a few up. Then Jess saw Guster on the menu, and told A about my obsession. I figured I'd show her some things, so we watched Brian play bongos, we watched the ships & dips video from like 18 years ago when Brian couldn't go on the cruise because his wife was having a baby, and they filmed a video that looked like he was calling in by satellite. Hilarious. The Three Rivers Stadium duet with Bill Peduto about snowstorms and dogs and dumpsters. And then I had to show the video of the actual dumpster set they did in Pittsburgh that is referenced in the duet. 

We then watched some Amythyst Kiah. I think we have a new fan there. 

It was getting late, Jess knew that they wanted to get on the road early so ... we packed it in. Our agreement is that one should always leave in the Single Digit hours. And those single digit hours come early. 

Sunday

We got up around 6:45, all of us. Dogs and humans. 

Feed dogs, pack car, breakfast, go home.

Jess asked for an egg mcmuffin because I guess I make the world's greatest breakfast sandwiches. So everyone got one, Geoff too because he came upstairs. 

We sat at the kitchen counter. Doug insisted we buy stools for the counter and I said "no one is ever gong to sit here," so he sometimes very much on purpose does. Then he taunts me "look at me, sitting at the kitchen counter!" Okay. nice. Glad you are doing that. I mentioned this to Jess and A and they both wanted me to take a picture of them for him. 

A's flight out of DC wasn't until 8pm but Jess really needed to be on the road as early as possible. I offered to give A a ride but Jess said nah - they'd go to a metro station in VA, do the drop off, and then Jess would continue north, but do so far away from the 95 corridor. We've all grown to prefer driving up through Pennsylvania that way. You barely touch New Jersey. It's fantastic. 

A said she can self-entertain. She was going to check her bag, and walk around downtown DC. Maybe go over to the zoo. Maybe just find a neighborhood. Who knows. The day belonged to her and she would do what she wanted with it. 

And they did leave in the Single-Digit hour of 9:40 am. Well done. 

The rest of the day was quiet. 

Toffee, big sad, on couch, sleepin'

Without Dijon here, it was quiet and very still, no wrasslin' no face fighting no chaos. And Toff slept the entire day. Geoff did take her for a walk, she deserved a treat. 

I hit the treadmill at 2-ish, and committed to a 5k. Slow! I felt like it took forever to get to 2.75 miles and then oh my lord-a-rama I gotta make it to 3.1! Gah! 

Ran more than I walked, but ran slow. My pace was mostly in the 14+ min/mile range. But hey. Done! 

I made potato salad and seasoned up some steak tips Jess brought from New England. I also made a nice tomato, cucumber, bleu cheese salad and put red wine vinaigrette on it. What a great meal. Way more than I should have eaten, especially in the potato salad department. But she was so tasty. 

When Doug isn't here, I kind of don't watch TV. I yapped again with Linda and Jess called from the Mass Pike, and then checked in once they were home around 10:30. Long trip with the extra taking the friend to the Metro. I mean, I did offer, right? 

I didn't vacuum today so I will probably try and do that in the morning? Maybe? I also have to get blood work done. Again. So I am going to flex time the hours tomorrow. Not sure what time Doug will be home, but Geoff is working and I'll have to wait for one of the two of them to get back. 

Digits for two days below! Pics of Jess and A. 

Saturday digits
exercise: 11/12 hours,  somehow missed 7pm while sitting yapping. Treadmill, 32 min/2.17 mi. 11k+steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

7am: 203
5pm: 179
11pm: 111

food & meds:

7am: jardiance, new meds
throughout the morning: lots of ritz crackers nibbling
1pm: met+glip; roast beef & giant tomato slice on potato roll
through the afternoon: trail mix snacky
5pm: new meds
6pm: bowl of cheesy pasta alfredo w/diced chicken
wine and diet ginger ale

Sunday digits
exercise: 12/12 hours,  treadmill, 5k/3.11 mi - 46 minutes; 14,000+ steps bybedtime

blood glucose: 

8am: 190 (? why?)
4pm: 99
10pm: 95

food & meds:

8am: jardiance, new meds
8:45am: english muffin w/pb & full sugar j (small amount)
(a little chocolate milk in my coffee after noon-ish)
1pm: met+glip
4pm: some peanut butter M&Ms and some crackers
6pm: steak tips, tomato/cucumber/bleu cheese salad; potato salad
7pm: met+glip
white wine w/diet ginger ale

Jess' Guest is Our Guest

Jess stayed down here longer than they usually do, because they have a friend who was in DC attending a conference. They asked if it would be okay for their friend to come here for a couple days and stay until it was time for her to go to the airport on Sunday. We said of course! 

On Thursday, Jess went and picked her up at the metro, they drove over to Virginia to a Dinosaur park (Jess had been there before but her friend A wanted to check it out). They had a blast, then went up to Winchester VA (a town where we looked to move to, but couldn't find the right place). Doug and I had let them know it was a great little town, so lunch was needed, and they had a good walk about. Then they came back here late in the day, after dinner time. 

Jess' friend is darling, very very sweet, and we sat on the patio until late just having a big yap. Doug made drinks, mixologist that he is, and it was a lot of fun. 

The dogs played like crazy, everything was perfect. The weather has been spectacular, almost like late September. I think we're getting spoiled. 

Both Doug and I had to work today, but the kids were off. They slept until about 11, and then hung out in the living room with me while I worked. Surprisingly, I got plenty of things done even though there was plenty of time for yapping. I have to do one thing that I didn't fully accomplish this week, and write an announcement and link to help documents. I also kind of want to make a video on how to do the thing that needs done, and I should have time to do that on Sunday. 

Tomorrow Doug is going up to Pennsylvania, his family reunion is Saturday so he's going to surprise his mom. Even though she poohpoohed him from coming last year, and then this year she said she NEVER told him he shouldn't come and that everyone asked after him. And last week she poohpoohed him coming and said he didn't have to come. 

So he's going. And she may freak out. Because she probably does not have the guest room made up for him and it'll be TOO MUCH! and she'll be upset. I told him if that's the case get a hotel. 

Jess is taking her friend to the airport on Sunday and then will head north and home. 

I miss them already.

The other night, I couldn't download any pictures to my laptop, nothing would cooperate so here are pictures that I wanted to share! All in one post! 2 days of digits below! 

Thursday digits
exercise: 12/12 hours,  Treadmill, 15 min/1.05 mi. 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

8:45am: 136
5pm: 150
11pm: 108

food & meds:

8:45am: jardiance, new meds
9am: blueberry muffin
1pm: bowl of mac & cheese w/extra cheese; met+glip
3:45pm: new meds; ramekin mixed nuts
6pm: small bowl of chicken and rice
7:30pm: met+glip
white wine, red wine, diet ginger ale

Friday digits
exercise: 12/12 hours,  treadmill run, 20min/1.41 mi; 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

8:30am: 108
4:45pm: 90
10pm: 222 *close to dinner & met/glip. will come down

food & meds:

8:30am: jardiance, new meds
9am: blueberry muffin (the last one!)
1pm: met+glip; tiny slice of seeded bread w/pb
4pm: part of a ramekin of mixed nuts
5:15pm: new meds; chunk of cheddar cheese
6pm: several ritz crackers
8:30pm: buffalo wings, crab dip & crostini, fish & chips (only a few chips) 2 beers; met+glip

Porch Life and Sangria

Big product outage today, lots of drama. Very stupid day work wise but overall, an amazingly fun time with the family. 

We went up to High Rock and Pen Mar Park with Jess. Doug has been wanting to go up there to see the sunset, and tonight it did not disappoint. 

We wanted to stop at a brewery on the way back, but they don't open until tomorrow at 3pm. They lost out on having us as customers. 

Lucky for us, I whipped up two carafes of sangria, a white and a red, before we left. So they were here waiting for us. Huzzah. 

Doug headed to the TV and Jess and I headed to Porch Life. I chastised him, and he came out to join us. 

Porch life rocks, y'all. 

I didn't get any pictures because the phone was in the house on the charger but we sat out and talked about A.I. Translation and how it is a failure, The Regular Show, Jess' friend who is coming to stay with us tomorrow, fun things for Jess to do with her tomorrow. Doug made more sangria after we killed the two carafes I made, and his was decidedly more "fun" than mine. 

Like I said, great day. Stupid work. Tomorrow might be some more stupid. But we'll survive. Still having internet problems with this laptop, so pictures maybe tomorrow? who knows. I did manage to get that one there of Doug uploaded. 

Digits, below!

digits
exercise: 12/12 hours,  quick treadmill just to fit it in (glad I did!) 15 min/1.13 mi. 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

7:15am: 146
4:30pm: 154
11pm: 153

food & meds:

7:15am: jardiance, new meds
through the morning, some crackers
1:15pm: 2 blueberry muffins, met+glip
2pm: english muffin w/pb
5pm: new meds
6pm: bowl of cheese tortellini; sangria
more sangria. no snacks

Deluge

I may have found the sweet spot in the getting ready and on the road process. Up at 5:45, showered, dressed and out the door by 6:20. I was at my desk by 8:30, and I even walked a bit further/longer than usual, just to get some extra steps in.  I was in town, meeting friends at the office for an important event, and it is an earlier event than my office usually does the event, so they arrived around 10:30/10:45. Part of me thought about staying at S's house by the metro last night, another part of me even considered coming down and staying at the little hotel I stayed at during the conference. 

But I couldn't justify 200 bucks to just not have to schlep early. 

The cafe in our building has exquisitely excellent food, and this morning they were cheffing up pancakes with either chocolate chips and a sauce or blueberries with a compote. 

Damn, they looked good. But, I passed. The parfait that I bought was decent, and saved for a while so I'd have something in my belly and not have to wait until 1pm or so to eat. 

I had a really great day at the office. My boss is back from vacation and he's full of questions about things he got email on so he's peppering me with "did you handle this? is there an update on that? who was looped in on this one?" I also did a little bit of an overstep on something and he asked me to stand down on it, that technically it isn't my job, that the guy on parental leave was supposed to do it, and now his manager is the point person for taking care of the thing, and that they'll be discussing what is to be done in their 1:1 today. 

Okay. He doesn't necessarily know that the manager asked for my help on it, and hopefully he'll find that out and it's all good in the hood, as it were. 

Around 3pm I decided to hit the road, but I ran into one of my former colleagues from our Boston office who left and "Wandered the Wilderness" and ended up back with us. Thankfully. He's just the best. I absolutely love him. 

And we talked for 90 minutes. Shit. Okay. He had a 4:30 meeting he had to attend, and I really should have already been almost all the way home. 

I paid for it. Boy did I pay for it. 

The way that Waze has been sending me down in the morning was the way I wanted to go back, even if it was 10 minutes longer. I'm sick of I-270 and what a shit show the traffic is, so, 2 lane roads for me! At least, in the spring, summer, and fall. I doubt very much I'd go this way in the cold months. 

I got to my metro station, the red line was delayed due to switch problems. Nice. I do not miss that. So I walked back and forth on the platform and felt the fitbit vibrate. 5:15pm and your girl hit the 10k steps post already. Nice! 

I sat down on one of the benches and a lady asked me what I was doing, so I told her. She said to her friend, "See, she knows how to do it! When I'm home I get... 1000 steps a day! I just sit on my ass but coming to the metro, and walking to my office I'm hitting about 6k!" We congratulated ourselves and talked about strategy. She said it was too damn hot to walk on the platform today but she loved that I was doing it. 

The train finally came, and by the time we got to my stop, it was pouring out. Nice. Okay. Fun. Then, I couldn't remember what level I parked the car on. So I walked up to level 4/5, and then down to 3/4. and then down the stairs to the main level and up the ramp to 2/3. Oh there you are. Okay! Another decent walk but now it is about time to get home. 

I headed up the back roads way, and got north of the breweries and started heading to I-70, 16 miles... and it was a horror show. Trees down. Water on the roads. A couple times I questioned my sanity but if that little honda in front of me made it, my old Volvo will? Maybe? 

There is a gas station just south of 70 and I needed gas, so we filled up, and I went inside. I was pretty hungry at this point. It was almost 7 and I ate lunch at 1:15. They have fried chicken at this place, and I thought well heck, I'll get two pieces of chicken. How bad can it be.

They were actually amazing. For as late in the day as it was, I thought maybe they'd be all dry and stupid but no. Perfection. 

Onward. I waited until after 7 to get rolling back to the highway, I should have stayed there and done the 7pm steps. 

The highway was equally horrible. It was the kind of rain where if you're sitting still, it seems like no big deal, but you start moving and it is sheets and sheets of rain! How did this happen! 

Doug called twice, and I don't answer the phone while I'm driving, so, I kept going and by the time I made it 25 miles further west out of this vicious band of storms, it was better. In fact, the sun was peeking through at the horizon, blinding the fuck out of me. 

So rain blinded me for 2 hours and now the sun is going to try and kill me too. Great. Thanks Sky! you're the best! 

I got home and Doug had just got back with pizza. I ate one slice, and came up to bed. Exhausted.  Anyway. Maybe if there is another nice thing happening at my office I will stay with S. She always offers. I should take her up on that. 20 minute train commute or 3 hour fire and brimstone commute. Which to choose, which to choose. 

Oh - I wanted to show C my new sneakers. I bought 2 pairs. Go me. Still getting used to them but. Here's my feets!

Digits below.

digits
exercise: 11/12 hours,  missed 7pm by a few min. 3 measurable walks but my phone is all the way over there. 13k steps by bedtime. boom.

blood glucose: 

5:45am: 107
n/apm: n/a
9pm: 127

food & meds:

5:45am: jardiance, new meds
10am: yogurt parfait w/granola, strawberries, blueberries
1:15pm: pork loin, cauliflower, gravy, mashed potatoes; met+glip
6:45pm: 2 pieces of High's Fried Chicken. Met+glip, 2 peanut butter cups; coke zero.
8:15pm: slice of chicken alfredo pizza. Bite of calzone. it didn't taste good. 
no alcohol

The Early House Hours

I woke up at 6:20 and had to pee. 

But of course, I knew if I went downstairs there were two dogs who would be on to me, and would notice it is light out, which means brekkie and awakeness. Both of them ended up sleeping with Jess, even though Toffee started with us. She loves the guest room, and she had no problem inviting herself up to sleep with Jess and Dijon. 

I prepared for that inevitability, that they'd find it morning-time, and it was exactly as I thought. 

Toffee came out when she heard me come out of the bathroom, Dijon took a little while but when she heard the scoop hit the dog food it was on. 

They both danced and danced, I really should video them and how happy they are for brekkie! 

After they ate, they went outside. Instantly a bullet to the Walnut tree to chase the squirrels up. It is not even 6:30am and they are on patrol at top speed. Toffee is quiet but Dijon is a barker, and she read those squirrels to filth. I don't really care, considering how often the dogs next door wake me up at like 5 am. Fair game.

It was actually nice and cool out, so I got my coffee and sat out for a while, watched them play and enjoy the morning. 

They wanted to come in and that was disappointing. I honestly could have sat out there for quite a while. The wrasslin' and face fighting and tug-o-war began in earnest indoors.  

Busy workday for all of us. Geoff was at work and had to be there at 5am. Jess brought their computer gear down so they worked in the dining room. 

I got the makings for the potato salad going at around 11am. I hard boiled the eggs and did the potatoes, I harvested parsley and dill and tossed it in there. All of that was combined and chilling in the fridge. The bacon is last to add to the mix.  I really love making this potato salad, and I'd eat the entire thing if common sense didn't grab hold of me and stop me. Still. Oh my god yes. so good. I grilled bratwurst that Geoff had picked up, rather than wait for him to come up and do it. I was getting hungry! Normally he starts dinner at like 4, but with working super early, I think he comes home and naps. 

Jess and I sat outside on the porch for quite some time until it started to get buggy and bitey. Well after 8pm, almost 9. This is my favorite time of year. The fireflies were spectacular and Toffee and Dijon laid in the grass and just soaked in the scenery, being part of the scenery themselves. 

My tired ass managed to make it to 11pm, but I will be up early to go to the office tomorrow, again. Another special thing to go see happening, and I have to say as much as I love these special things, I wish they didn't happen as frequently. I've been to the office more times this year than all the years since 2020 I think. Gah! 

Anyway, here are some sleepy dogs who played and played a lot. Digits below! 

digits
exercise: 12/12 hours, Trot w/toffee into Treadmill run to continue: 17 min/1.17 mi; 11k+ by bedtime

blood glucose: 

6:30am: 108
4pm: 143
10:45pm: 97

food & meds:

6:30am: jardiance, new meds
11:30am: small bowl of mac&cheese w/bacon
12:30pm: met+glip
4:15pm: 2 slices of super seeded bread w/pb & a lil'bit of blackberry jam
6:30pm: 2 bratwurst, cup of potato salad w/bacon/egg the way I make it
white wine w/polar seltzers
8:45pm: new meds, met+glip (new meds should have been closer to 5pm but I forgot)

The visit of Misty John and the Kid

Jess and Dijon got here around 6 something. I had taken myself out for sneaker shopping and a pedicure. Success on both fronts. 

Geoff made some sort of beef enchilada (sp?) dish and we all chowed down on it. I am kind of glad we didn't have more wine in the house, that kept me from just ... over enjoying. 

The dogs are outrageous. Toffee kind of attacked Dijon when she came in the house, I should have had Jess wait on the porch and we should have gotten Toffee harnessed up for a team walk, and then gone straight into the backyard. Oops. No harm, no foul, and everyone went out back and had a fun time. 

They literally played non-stop until 10pm, and crashed. Tomorrow, the chaos will begin again!

Here's a dog, enjoying porch life even if she is a little blurry. Digits below! 

digits
exercise: 12/12 hours, Short treadmill trot, 15 min/1.07 mi. 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:45am: 165
5pm: 118
10:30pm: 88

food & meds:

9:45am: jardiance, new meds
2:45pm: 4 little cracker peanut butter sandwiches, met+glip
5pm: new meds
6:30pm: small bowl of enchiladas, one glass of vinho verde

The Right Amount of Drunkening Fluids

Today is 2 weeks since I started the new meds, and technically I'm down 4 pounds, well. As long as I've pooped? Pooping is the important part. I mean, I've shared WAYYYYYYY too much info here but the new meds constipate me a bit? and. Well. Yeah. Once I go, there is a noticeable difference in pounds. 

Anyway. 

Today I started what she prescribed for one week in: do the meds in the morning for one week, and then add in the 2nd dose. But. I waited an additional week.  With her guidance. 

We're moving forward. 

Morning and evening doses, let's see how things go. Wish me luck. 

Today Doug said he was not feeling well. We have a bunch of stuff we need to do before Jess gets here tomorrow, but he was in the guest room hogging up space. I didn't want to vacuum, so I did a bunch of other tasks. 

He did say at about 1 that he wanted for us to go out and get peaches, so we went to the farm that we literally have struck out at so many times. Not open on Sunday (duly noted), on a Saturday - closed because they had zero things to sell because the April Frost fucked up their everything. 

Today, they were open. The peaches and nectarines were so fucking expensive, I even gasped a bit when I saw the prices. But we bought some, to support. They've had a shitty year. 

And the fruit was and is lovely. 

Home, and I took a nap. I normally don't nap but the second dose of the medication was making me sleepy. 

Geoff was headed to a concert in Baltimore tonight. I looked up the headliner, the band he is actually going to see, oh my god. they go on at 10:50pm. 

Jesus. 

I'm such a fan of 7pm shows, where the headliner comes on at 8 or 8:30pm. And at 10:50pm I can be sleeping. 

So I am slightly anxious about him coming home. late. It is a long trip from Baltimore, 90 minutes. So he won't be home until late, and I'm trying not to be my mom. Be Careful... be careful.

Anyway. I was actually napping when he left, I heard him talk with Doug and heard the door close. So I didn't get to do "be careful," and I don't do that. I say things like "hey I hope you have a GREAT time!" and in my heart I pray be careful. 

He is such a good guy, I know he'll be fine. He knows not to drink too much or at all. If he is there with another person and that person is driving (cough cough he never is) He knows to not booze it up. He just wants a night of loud crazy dark metal and noise. So happy for him to be able to go and enjoy. 

I asked Doug what he wanted to do for diner, if he wanted to just eat a mess of leftovers. 

"Nah, that sounds like no fun. Let's go out." 

Oh. I did not expect that. Okay. 

We got clothes on and he said he wanted to go to this place in town, but I'd never heard of it. And when I googled it, that wasn't it. 

Turns out the place sold in June. And rebranded under a new name. But okay. Let's go. 

We got there and a band was setting up, and holy shit they were loud. Sound check, this loud? no. I'm not staying. The bartender said they didn't start until 8pm, and I said "Oh okay it is 6, we 'll be gone before they start." 

The sound check went on and on, and it was almost enough for me to look at Doug and say "I'm walking home, bye." 

There was a little lady at the end of the bar next to Doug, her name was Debbie, and she started chewing Doug's ear. She's there every night. She said "yeah, this band is great but they are the loudest band." 

No joke, Debbie. 

A lady sat next to me, and she was younger than me and very pretty. Her name is Shannon. I asked her if this place used to have a different name and then changed. She said yeah! The owner wanted to sell, and one of the staff bought it, did a deep clean refurbish and rebrand. But all the regulars still show up, and things are going great. 

Unlike my mom's "familiar" which changed hands an then sucked ass totally. It seems everyone is happy with this new arrangement.  

We had a good dinner, a couple beers and yes, we left before the band really started their noise. 

When we got home, I was the right amount of alcohol-infused and happy. So I baked cookies. I've been threatening to bake oatmeal cookies for days. So I did it. I didn't want to drink more beer, so I got the Kahlua out and finished off the milk. Will regret that in the morning. But we have a little half and half to get me awake alert and alive with my coffee. 

The cookies came out amazing. 

Digits below the very good advice from the wall at the bar.

digits
exercise: 11/12 hours, slept through 4pm with a nap.  Treadmill, 20 min, 10k+ steps by bedtime 

blood glucose: 

8:00am: 150
5pm: 95
10:30pm: 180

food & meds:

8:00am: jardiance, new meds
1pm: met+glip; english muffin w/pb and j *full sugar but small bits
6:30pm: 2 smash burger patties w/cheese, no bun, 3 beers; french fries
5:30pm: new meds (2nd dose levels, 2nd week)
7:45pm: met+glip
8pm: baked cookies - so some cookie dough for taste
9:30pm: oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and Kahlua & milk cocktail(s)

Magnets and Smoke

Yesterday I published a post that is kind of a stand alone entry. Not a blog entry really but. Fiction. This entry was meant to be the Thursday normal entry but, I fell asleep and forgot to write. So you get a twofer Friday. 

When I chatted with M the other day, we talked about magnets and I told her about my refrigerator. I took some pictures for her and she was highly entertained. I think I'll get her some magnets for her collection. 

Yesterday I was up at 6am and took it easy in the morning but hit the treadmill at 8. Getting that out of the way is kind of a great thing. I was at 10k before 9pm. Broke 11 on the way to bed. I am usually pleased if I get to 2k by noon! 

I should do that more often but I am not a morning person. So not a morning person. 

Everyone has been really freaking out about the air quality, thanks to the Canadian wildfires. Our AQI (Air Quality Index) is 238 today which is super shitty. Like, far over and above the usual "eh, this is bad" levels. 

This morning, Doug and I both sat out on the patio (gasp!) and felt like yeah, it's hazy but it isn't ... that bad? He went inside and I did some work but after about an hour I was feeling it in my eyes. Okay, bad air, you win. You win. 

We are supposed to get some big storms tomorrow, which maybe will help out but nothing will help until Canada stops being on fire. Poor Canada. I feel for you. I love you very much. I wish you weren't on fire. 

Also, Colorado. 

People in the East have little or no concept about these things until they happen. I was woefully disappointed in ALL of the news coverage because all it did was bitch about our air here. There was no reporting on how people in Canada are doing. I went and found stories about entire neighborhoods burning down, and a horse farm losing their horses and everything because there was no way on earth they could evacuate all the horses. Terrible. 

I think my entry yesterday is also wrapped up in my feelings about how we see situations. Are we self-centered/only regionally focused or can we branch out our awareness and think "yeah this sucks but ... wow over there look at that shit." 

Flip the empathy switch to on. 

Geoff did take Toffee for a walk, which she needed because she is crazy full of energy. I told him not to take her long, or far, for her sake and for his. I showed him the map. He got the message. 

It could be worse. I could be in Pittsburgh. 

I'm happy to stay inside. I did go out and water the garden last night while talking to Linda. That seems to be my outdoor activity lately. And I'm alright with that. I want to go out later and harvest some stuff from the garden, so I'll be doing that and we'll have all our wee tomatoes and maybe some squash ready! 

Jess is coming this weekend and I can't wait. I love when Jess visits, and I hope that we have a lot of fun with dogs and each other! Hopefully the air will clear up. 

Lin and I chatted and I walked on the treadmill while we did that so I got extra time. Since it is so gross out, it was nice to have some more walkies and chat. 

Here are the magnets! And the Thursday and Friday digits are below!

Thursday digits
exercise: 12/12 hours Treadmill, early morning! 30 min/2.09 mi. 11k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

6am: 118
3:15pm: 133
10:30pm: 131

food & meds:

6am: jardiance, new meds
11am: chicken salad (about 1.5 cups) no bread
1pm: met+glip; big handful of candied mixed nuts 
3:15pm: last piece of banana bread
5:15pm: slice of sourdough toast
6:30pm: nachos; red wine+diet ginger ale; met+glip
7pm: met+glip

Friday digits
exercise: 12/12 hours Treadmill run, 20 min/1.44 mi (tired, hot); walking treadmill w/linda on phone, 30 min/1.3 mi; 11k steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

8:30am: 121
4:30pm: 99
11pm: 110

food & meds:

8:30am: jardiance, new meds
2pm: chicken thigh w/ guac. met+glip
4:45pm: 2 small sourdough slices w/butter, toasted
6:30pm: Creamy cheesy pasta w/ broccoli, shrooms, chicken; vinho verde on ice
7:30pm: met+glip

There but for the grace of God

I wrote this based on a discussion with someone about how pissed they are about the Canadian wildfire smoke blanketing the Eastern Seaboard. It isn't as bad in the DC area as what I've seen in New England. 

And it also made me think, crap. It certainly is an inconvenience but all my life could be burned down in Canada. And that would extra suck. I pointed this out to the other person and he was none too kind back at me. I think he lacks an empathy gene anywhere in his body. 

I haven't written a thing like this in a long time. 

How many times have you (or I) been stuck in traffic. Nothing is moving, or it is at a very basic crawl. Progress by inches is hard fought. You're not really late for a thing, you don't have a tub of ice cream in the groceries in the way back but you just want to get the hell home. It isn't the usual time for traffic to be this gianormously sucky. But it is. 

You curse under your breath or maybe with your full voice. You don't let that guy in the BMW in after he flew down the breakdown lane. "That guy," you say, "Fuck that guy." 

Eye contact, that's what you want. You want him to see your massive bitch face as you cling to the bumper of the Dodge van in front of you, only his windows are fiercely tinted. Maybe you can't see him but you make sure he can see you, buddy. 

Eventually, you approach the area where the hold up is. There are emergency vehicles everywhere, Fire trucks, Ambulances, Cops. A helicopter is landing. 

Jesus, a helicopter? Oh no. 

One lane of traffic is getting by on the very far right side of the highway. A couple cops are trying to get the four lanes to three, down to two, and down to that one. The cop glares at the BMW guy in the breakdown lane, he's got his number and if he could he would write that up. You, and that cop, you get it. 

As the helicopter comes down, no one gets to go forward. They wait for the whirlybird to be on the terra firma, and then sweeping arms they send cars up the highway. Everyone spreads to the far left so they can slam on the accelerator and get the fuck out of there. 

You stay in the second lane from the right, you're feeling big things. 

Jesus, a helicopter? What the hell must be going on for those poor people. 

You saw three cars, one upside down in the median, in the wildflowers that are chaos gardened into the space each year and there are signs telling the mowers not to mow this down. It is for the pollinators, and for beautification. 

Three cars means at least three drivers, three humans, maybe kids, maybe friends, maybe a dog. The carnage of the speed machines is everywhere:  the chrome bent all to hell; broken glass and plastic; and all sorts of liquids from inside the vehicles. 

The next exit is yours, which is why this location was infuriating to you. But now you know that could be your neighbor. Do you recognize that blue Honda Fit in the wreck? Is that the guy that lives two blocks over? He's got kids. You've seen them. 

Suddenly your anger about the traffic jam and the time "wasted" has turned to sober realization, and deep empathy. You were so mad, so enraged. But there are people who are probably dead or dying, or in a world of hurt and facing a monstrously horrible recovery. Maybe they'll never be the same again after today. 

Home. Grab the backpack off the back seat and the 6 pack of beer you stopped to get at that store where the prices are just right, even if he is a little out of the way. By now the beer is warm but you pop a top off as you drop your keys into the basket on the kitchen counter. The dog welcomes you enthusiastically, the way she always does. 

Now is when you cry. 

The dog is what gets you. 

Maybe someone's dog is going to be waiting for their best friend. And their best friend isn't going to be coming home. 

You open the back door and let her out, you stand there with your warm beer and watch her take that big dump that she takes because she's waited all day for this. Then she runs and plays, brings you the backyard toy to throw. Halfheartedly, you do. 

And you cry more.

It crosses your mind that you were so angry, so pissed off, and yet what for. Why? Would it be different if the traffic was caused by one of those super old trees that you think could fall down any day now? Or if it was a road crew getting ready for night work so they've shut down three of the four lanes with cones and flashing lights? They'll be out there all night while you're home watching BritBox comedies and eating that left over Thai food from last weekend. 

This is different, because lives are possibly lost, but. No. It is the same. It's not a good reason to be furious. It's just traffic sometimes and you have no control over that so getting worked up and aggressive is useless, futile. An absolute waste of your energy. 

You know your brain, it isn't as easy as just saying "Oh look at this horrible situation and think it could be worse! It could be raining!" But you know your minor frustration is actually someone's worst day ever. And you need to learn to activate that empathy gene once in a while, in advance. Not when you roll up on a car wreck. 

The dog is tired and now she wants to eat so you head on in. You call your girlfriend. 

You call your mom.

Sun Tea

When you were a kid, did you make sun tea? Get a glass pitcher and dump a mess of tea bags in it, cover up the pitcher and stick it out in the sun? Then drink your bounty? 

We have a couple gallon glass jugs from a local creamery, and one of them is always a perpetual zero sugar drink dust lemonade or peach lemonade or whatever mix. The other sits in the dining room, waiting to be swapped into duty while its brother goes through the dishwasher. 

Doug had suggested we make some sun tea during the giant heat wave around July 4th weekend and I never got around to it. Today, my internet connection was constantly failing and kicking me offline. I had the worst "I want to punch technology in the face" kind of rage, so I walked away and got 8 tea bags out and cut a bunch of peppermint out of our pot, and went for it. 

I set the glass container out in the sunniest, hottiest part of the patio, and completely forgot about it. Around 9pm, Doug asked how it came out. 

Well. 

I went out and got it, and it was delightful. Absolutely wonderful. Strong, minty, refreshing. Aaaaah. 

If tomorrow my internet is shitty, first, I'm calling the provider. Then, I'm going to a local bookstore/coffeeshop to try and work. I have no morning meetings, so my plan is up early, see how things go, have a hissy fit, and then go somewhere else and see if it is any better. 

Doug and Geoff both are telling me they don't have problems. 

And right now, after 10pm, everything is working well. I've not been kicked off even once. The hell? 

I do not think it is too many of us on one service, we've been here since September, and have not had any issues until today. But honestly, I can't work like this. It sucks. 

Rage. 

Geoff is working tomorrow, he has to be at some store at 6am and opted not to go in the van with the crew, but drive himself. Doug pointed out that you get paid for travel time to and from when you are with the team but not when you drive yourself. So I am wondering why he wants to drive? Maybe he isn't getting along with someone on the team? It's only been a week or so since he started this job, so I hope he's okay. He doesn't like to talk about conflict. Fold a little napkin for him to sit at a table in your heart and keep him in your thoughts. He has about 6 weeks until school starts. I just want it to go well, ya know?

Digits below my glorious before and after Sun Tea photos. 

exercise: 12/12 hours Treadmill, 30 min/2.07 mi. 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

8:30am: 127
4:15pm: 173
10:30pm: 141

food & meds:

8:30am: jardiance, new meds
1pm: 6 little round cracker pb sandwiches; met+glip
2pm: slab of banana bread
6:30pm: some sort of chicken with bleu cheese and caramelized onions quesadilla thing by geoff
7:30pm: met+glip; small bowl of mixed nuts; red wine (2 glasses w/ice)