Friday and Saturday

I did not feel like working on Friday. I was incredibly drained from the jury duty experience. Just couldn't rouse myself to be alert, awake, alive and on task. I thought I'd take the morning off and then I took the day. 

Doug joined me. Because it is hard to watch me sitting around doing nothing. After we loafed around, we knew we both needed to get bloodwork done. So we got showered up and ready and headed the 45 minute drive over to where we do that. 

In and out, plus a flu shot, Good times. 

We stopped at a brewery we had not yet been to, and it was very good, very nice beer, very nice staff and they are dog friendly so we know we can bring miss Toffee inside. Most breweries are okay with dogs on the patio, but, here they're family. Nice. 

On the way home, we had to stop and grab some subs. I didn't feel like cooking, Geoff was not home from school yet, and Doug ... well. He'd just eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if push comes to shove when neither of us want to cook. 

Plus, the Halloweeners would be coming. Halloween was Friday night in our neighborhood because the city does a big parade on halloween, so, some neighborhoods buck the recommendation to do Halloween the night before so the kids can come to the parade. 

We had about 25 kids. Hoards of kids all at once, families traveling around together. Super cute. 

A very small boy dressed as The Joker from Batman sang "TRICK OR TREAT! SMELL MY FEET! GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT!" 

And I sang something back about how he had to smell MY feet so we'd be even, and I lifted up my bare foot into the air. 

All the kids squealed and laughed. 

Everyone got a big fat handful of candy. We had enough. Lord, children please save me from the candy. 

Today I woke up and thought it was Sunday. I was all ready for some football. But lo and behold, joke's on me! 

We loafed around, as is our usual behavior on a Saturday and Doug mowed the lawn while I ran on the treadmill. I thought maybe we'd go out and about but he went to nap. 

And the phone rang. 

It was Geoff, only not Geoff's voice at the other end. It was the police. He was in a minor car accident, right up at the top of our street, and the police officer said the insurance card in our glove box was expired. 

If I'd be so kind as to obtain the insurance card and text a picture to Geoff, ..... Yes officer. You got it.

Doug was ... annoying. I asked him where the insurance cards were, and he said "well go to the app on your phone." 

Bitch, you think I have the app for the insurance company on my damn phone I do not. Can you please participate in this and find it for me and ... I don't know, print it, text it to me, something? 

He found it (he has the app) and handed me his phone. 

"What do you want me to do with this?" 

"Well, text it to Geoff, I guess." 

Like YOU CAN DO THAT! please participate in this? 

I texted it to me and Geoff, and I took my phone, and walked up the street. 

"Where are you going," he says to me. 

Dude, your son just had a car accident, I'm going to walk up there because I care about him. 

I spent the rest of my evening rather grumpy. But I made dinner, something new and I must say very good and I'll make it again. 

After dinner, I took Toffee out for a walk, I wasn't going to but. Meh. It's still nice out. Make use of the nice weather. 

I also realized at some point that fuck all fucking hell - it is Daylight Saving time tonight and I'm so pissed off. I fucking HATE this. It is going to be pitch dark at 6pm. I thought we had like 2 weeks until this happens. Fucking crap on a cracker I hate. 

Okay. Got that out of my system but I hate it. On record as ten thousand percent - full of hate. You heard it here first. 

Didn't take a bunch of pictures but here are a couple. Digits, below. The truck amused me.

Friday digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  Toffee Walk 22 min/1.01 mi, Treadmill run, 15 min/.93 mi; 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:45am: 113 
5pm: 156
xpm: x  (fell asleep before taking reading)

food & meds
9:45am: jardiance & new meds
1pm: met+glip
2 beers at Steinhardt brewing
3:30pm: new meds
6pm: Jersey Mike cheesesteak sub (note to self - get extra cheese next time)
red wine+diet ginger ale
7pm: met+glip
some halloween candy

Saturday digits 

exercise: 12/12 hours.  Treadmill, 30 min/2.25 mi; Toffee walk; 28 min/1.2 mi; 14k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:45am: 113
4:45pm: 167
11pm: 101 

food & meds
9:45am: jardiance & new meds
11am: very small bowl of mac & cheese w/hamburger
a couple of bits of halloween candy
2:30pm: english muffin w/pb & cherry preserves; met+glip
(skipped new meds)
6pm: chorizo & chickpeas & chevre over couscous (w/spinach, onion, red pepper)
red wine+diet ginger ale
8pm: met+glip

Trying My Best

This image is of a sticker that was stuck to the bench in front of me, as I sat waiting this morning during jury duty. 

Trying my best, indeed. 

I went to jury duty this morning. I had hoped to be dismissed even though you know your girl feels it imperative that we do our civic duty and we participate in things like this. 

Part of me felt like hey just showing up means we participate, right?

Well. 

I got placed on the jury. 

When I got out of the bathroom, my fellow jurors said "we nominated you because you weren't here, you were in the potty," and honestly. We all kind of laughed but I accepted. 

"It would be an honor and a privilege to be the foreman of this jury. Thank you." 

There was one other guy who I felt would have been my pick, personally. In fact, now that we are not on the jury anymore I kind of am mad we aren't friends. He was AWESOME. 

Anyway. I don't feel comfortable discussing the case, but, let's just say that it isn't anything that I thought I'd have to be a juror for. 

We had a nice lunch break, and I went to that bookstore I've wanted to go to. 

When we got back the trial went on. The state did its thing, there were witnesses. The defense only had one witness, and I didn't feel they added anything to the process. 

Closing arguments, your friend me is your jury foreman. Okay let's go deliberate.

Everyone was incredibly thoughtful. We all felt the weight of this decision making process. At one point in the discussion I turned to the man next to me who had been very quiet and I said "we haven't heard from you, brother, how are you feeling?" 

He seemed to be kind of a religious guy, he had Jesus bracelets on and a straight-edge kind of t-shirt. He may have been a serious serious seriously serious evangelical. 

He said "everything you are all saying, I feel. I see it all the same way." 

"So you're okay with it if we say he's guilty of all three charges?"

"Yes." I put my hand on his shoulder. He seemed like this was a lot. But he was there. And in agreement.

I thanked him. Then, I said okay friends, show of hands. Charge one? 

All raised hands.

Charge two?

All raised hands.

Charge three? 

All. 

Raised.

Hands.

All 12 of us on that jury ruled that the defendant was guilty on all three of the charges that the state charged him with. 

The case by the state was made, and strong, and yeah. Sorry. But I do not feel like the public defender really did any actual defending to convince us of otherwise.

I texted Doug when we were done and he suggested he'd meet me at the downtown bar we like. 

I texted back, "Please."

In the lobby, before leaving the building, I was putting on my sweatshirt, and the public defender came down and walked past me. He said loudly something along the lines of .... And I'm not quoting him exactly because I do not remember what he said but, it was along the lines of....

Fucking Juries. I never want to deal with another fucking dumb ass jury again. 

The security guy at the front desk, and a woman who had exited her office as the "Family liaison" person (or something of the sort, I'm not 100% on the title) were standing in the lobby with me. They had been talking about halloween candy and a specific neighborhood where they hand out the BIG full sized candy bars... so the three of us were right there when the lawyer went out.

I think this guy looked over his shoulder at me, noticed who I was as he left, and stormed off.

So. 
Now.
Friends? 

I looked at the other two people in the lobby with me, and I said "okay, not for nothing you guys, but...." 

"I was the foreman on this jury. and. I will say, I'm kind of sorry we had to rule the way we did, but, the evidence being what it was, and the fact that his client didn't get the opportunity to testify in his own defense. This guy did not make a clear and obvious case that reasonable doubt existed for his client. I'm sorry, but. The evidence was what it was." 

The woman made a face, she said something like "that guy doesn't have a good track record, I think about 90% of the cases he is on, he loses." I said that was sad. 

Everyone is entitled to representation, but so help me GOD do not ever have that guy ever ever ever represent me or anyone I love. Ever. 

I said to them "I've watched enough TV, I hope that guy isn't headed to the same bar I'm going to." One of them said something along the line of "I know him and let's just say, he can't go to a bar or drink any more, medically speaking. I'll just say that much."

"Bless him for that," I said, "But. I sure the fuck can." 

And I walked outside. The woman in the lobby, I think she almost died laughing at my comment. I heard her laughing "I sure the fuck can!!!!" 

Friends, believe me. I sure the fuck did.

I beat Doug to the bar. I ordered a beer, and another beer, and wings. I sat reading a book I've been trying to finish for YEARS that I'd brought with me to pass the time during the jury selection process. There was a girl at the bar that a guy was zooming on her, and at some point, she said something that made me tune in, and she and I started talking. 

We were nerding out over Richard Ayoade, and animes like Death Note and Avatar, and then the news about Patrick Stewart came on the TV and she and I both nerded out all the way on him. The guy seemed annoyed, but, I think I helped her out by derailing his efforts and getting her to talk to me instead of be subjected to him. 

Doug showed up, and we had our food and drinks and I wanted 90 more beers but we left while the sun was still up. 

We got home, and I took Toffee for a walk because my steps were way behind at that hour. Seeing as I thought I may walk the 1.5 miles home, and I ended up not.

Thanks to the Toffee walk, I crushed the 10k steps, and got some wired energy out. After a day of mostly sitting it was good to walk her and have some time to be outside and all that.

Here are some pictures from the day, from my lunchtime excursion, to beers and wings. I have to say I'm humbled and wildly overwhelmed at times about my life and how anything can happen. Anything. 

Anything. 

Wow.

Digits below.

digits

exercise: 9/12 hours. lost a couple hours to sitting in jury duty. Toffee Walk, 30 min/1.4 miles; 12k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

7:45am: 105
xpm: n/a
10:30pm: 167 

food & meds
7:45am: jardiance & new meds
1pm: 1/2 panini w/turkey, cheddar, ltm; italian wedding soup; met+glip
4:45pm: new meds
5:30pm: buffalo wings; 3 beers
7pm: brownie that I bought at the bookstore cafe
7:45pm: met+glip
white wine, more brownie (finished it up)
9pm: ramekin of mixed nuts

Aspirational Chairs

I had a whole entry drafted about how I do not like ham sandwiches, and Doug told me I'm a liar, that I do like ham sandwiches, and I said no, I like ham like... Christmas ham or scalloped potatoes and ham, split pea and ham soup, bordering on Bubba Gump-ing my way through all the ways I like ham... except for ham sandwiches. 

Then I decided I sounded like a jerk.

So I deleted it.

I got a text and phone call at 5pm saying I need to show up for jury duty tomorrow. Well. That's stupid. 

Made it all the way to Wednesday without being needed. 

That's okay. I mean. I've said it before and will again, I'm willing. I've felt for the past several years that it is hard to get a jury pulled together that is ... smart. Willing. Civic minded. If nothing else, maybe I'm not smart but I'm the other things, and I'm happy to show up. 

I was going to get blood work done tomorrow with Doug but now I think we'll go on Friday instead. 

Today, I found that I slept the whole way through the night, which I've mentioned does not usually happen. Doug's alarm went off at 6, left over from last week when he had to be up for a meeting. He went downstairs, I fell back asleep. Toffee was all cuddly, so we slept through to my alarm at 8:30. 

By the time 8:30am comes around, your girl's gotta pee. I high tailed it downstairs, Doug fed the dog. Geoff had left for work at some time, more quietly than normal so we all three got our day started. I had a couple of morning meetings, hit the treadmill at lunch and told myself to get to 30 minutes. then. Why not .... 35, why not 40. and then if you're at that point, you've made it that far, why not 5k ... 

the last half mile is brutal. Always feels like it takes forever and ever. But I did it in 43, down from 44, down from 46. I don't think I'll continually shave minutes off my pace. I feel like 45 minutes is really decent, and if I do this semi-regularly keeping it at 45 will work. 

Why not. 

I finished the day strong as far as the tickets go. It was probably around 5, I put on laundry and puttered around the kitchen. Made dinner. I've been really wanting some fish lately so the price was right the other day at the "good" market, and I got us some. It was just the right size for the three of us, one little piece left that'll be good for a lunch tomorrow. 

It was around 8pm and Doug moaned that he couldn't believe it wasn't 11:30 already (same, I always feel the same). He's been watching some series by Guy Ritchie and I'm just not into it, so I've been entertaining myself doing other things, such as last night talking to Jess for almost 2 hours. 

I said "Well, wanna help me build a bookshelf?"

Friends, I was shocked. He said yes. 

We went downstairs and where I failed the other day, he quickly saw where I didn't quite get things right, so, he figured it out right well, and I swear, once I saw what he did, and how it worked, hell I could have put this thing together all by myself. 

We talked about what I should use as a desk. The table that is downstairs in that room is one he's actually kind of fond of. I told him I'm not married to it, I would have no problem with him taking it upstairs but what will I use. 

There are a few options, including the dining table from his family's house that had been in the garage for .... 30+ or more years. I suggested I use that and he thought it was a good idea. 

I have a feeling things will fall into place easily. I wanted to take the Stickley chair downstairs (it is in the guest room right now) and he said he liked it where it was.

"No one ever sits in it" I pointed out.

"Just because someone hasn't sat in it for a while doesn't mean someone isn't going to sit in it over the long cold winter, to read a book with a fleece throw over their shoulders," he replied. "It's an aspirational chair." 

Oh, okay. 

He suggested we keep an eye out for maybe a nice love seat that would work down there. I agreed because hey, I may be sitting at a desk sometimes, but there will be other times your girl would love to have Toffee curled up next to her. 

That doesn't have to change. 

This bookshelf is a little shorter than the one we have from Ikea, which okay.... it's from Target and stuff and I saved a lot of money buying it there instead of the 2x4 unit from Ikea but now I'm slightly disappointed at the height difference. Meh. I can live. It's built, it's done, and we're making progress. 

Alright. Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  Treadmill run, 43 min/3.1 mi (5k). 12k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9am: 102
4:30pm: 154
10:15pm: 122 

food & meds
9am: jardiance & new meds
9:30am: slice of strawberry & cheese danish; last pumpkin muffin (sad and lonely by itself)
1:45pm: met+glip; very nice pear, sliced 
2:30pm: ham and havarti sandwich
4pm: new meds
white wine
6pm: cod in ritz crackers w/carrots (ate too much but. i was hungry!) 
7pm: met+glip

Big Soup Energy

As previously mentioned, I made stock yesterday in anticipation of soup for dinner tonight.

I stripped the chicken this morning, got all the last of the meat off of it, and then felt like it needed more chicken to make it an awesome soup. So I ran to the market and bought a package of chicken breasts (and a multitude of other things. I took one of the chicken breasts, butterflied it, seasoned it, and threw it on the grill for 15 minutes. 

Perfect. 

That was diced all  up and chucked it into the stock. I also got a package of frozen mixed veggies, threw that in, and Doug noticed we a bunch of rotini noodles that were in a bag in the back of the pantry. Those went in too.

This was a great soup. Great soup experience. 10/10 would recommend.

After dinner, I decided to take Toffee for a walk, realizing that I basically wasn't going to make 10k if we didn't go on a longer than half hour walk. 

It was beautiful out, so we did a much longer than usual walk to make up for the steps. I kind of didn't want to do a run today, and with going to the market that ate up the time that I would have been doing a run. So a longer walk than usual for the win. Made up for the missing steps and then some. 

When I got back, I wanted to bake another pumpkin pie since we're basically out (dang it), but Jess called and we had a big huge yap, I had to load the dishwasher, and then it was bedtime. 

No picture, but digits below! 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. No Run. Toffee walk, 1 hour, 2.54 miles 13k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:30am: 134
4:30pm: 95
10:15pm: 145 

food & meds
9:30am: jardiance & new meds
10am: 2 pumpkin muffins
1pm: chicken salad; met+glip
3pm: new meds
7pm: chicken soup, 4 kings hawaiian rolls
white wine
8:30pm: met+glip

Quiet Day

For a Monday, things were pretty quiet. I felt like I was going to fall asleep all day, so around 11:45 I got on the treadmill. I realized I had a 1pm meeting, and didn't give myself enough time to shower. Thankfully it was an "internal" meeting and not a client meeting. Whew. 

My hair looked like Miracle Max's wife Valerie (if you remember the movie, some of you do) but I kept it together.

Before the treadmill I got chicken going for chicken salad, and then finished making it right before the call. 

I had thought about pushing another 5k run, but, chicken salad needed made and I was hungry! 

I did make up for some activity by taking Toffee on a walk. It is so super advanced dark out there at 8:45pm. Yikes. 

One thing I noticed is over the past several days that my 9pm steps are usually zero! I made up for that today. Good walk. 

Really nothing much more to say on this one. 

We have a site launch at 11am tomorrow, and this one is coming down to the wire. I don't think we have the grace to push it back past this coming Friday because their contract with their current web situation expires on Saturday, cross your fingers that we get 'er done. 

Oh - and I had to buy a new glue gun, which arrived this evening so now I can get back to my arts & crafts.

Yay! 

Digits, below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. Treadmill run during lunch. 30 min/2.21 mi; Toffee walk, 30 min/1.34 mi. 13k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

8am: 146
4pm: 118
10:30pm: 121 

food & meds
8am: jardiance & new meds
9:45am: 2 small pumpkin muffins
1:30pm: bowl of chicken salad (made with apple chunks and pecans); met+glip
3pm: new meds
4pm: 2 celery sticks w/pb
6:30pm: 2 italian sausages w/cheese & sauce, no roll, onion/pepper/mushrooms 
7pm: slice of pumpkin pie w/whipped cream
8pm: met+glip
red wine

Freeze Warning

This morning we were up and enjoying the Steelers' game from Paris. My one regret was not doing some frenchie french french brekkie spread with croissants, pain du chocolat, a little tasty le petit déjeuner as it were. Just was not thinking ahead and regretted it. Oh well. 

After the game, we brought in our outdoor plants to overwinter in the mudroom. Overnight tonight we're expecting a big freeze, at least, according to the weather report I saw, not the one he saw. 

But we didn't argue about it. At least they are in. 

I need to buy some of them there plastic saucers to go under the pots for 4 different sized plants so we can water them, because you should water them. Or so I learned last year.

Once everyone was moved inside, we puttered around some more and Doug made a face when I asked him to help me build the bookshelf. 

He said he had other things he wanted to do. And one of those was to put tung oil on a table that he had brought back from his mom's. 

Admittedly, I agreed that needs to be done but. Does it have to be today? I guess when one is in the mood to do a thing, one should. 

The table has been sitting in our living room under the picture window this whole year, I like it there because that's where I set up Christmas. This summer, I damaged it a little by .... not having a plastic saucer dealie the right size under the monstera. Oops. Terribly sorry. I know this disappoints him but. We will just keep stuff on that spot forever. It's fine! It's fine!

He rubbed it all down with the tung oil, it looks great, except for where the circle of damage is. He said we can probably get some stain and freshen that all up in the spring. Like I did with the corner hutch when we bought that a couple years back, in this blog entry here. 

Also, if you go to that entry, that first picture of Phineas makes me smile so much. I miss that little fella. 

Once the chores were done, Doug napped and I went to the treadmill. I was aiming for 30 min and was going at a good pace by the time I got there so I kept going. I did slow down to a walk, and then ran again and shaved about 2 minutes off of yesterday's pace for a 5k. 

Hell. I doubt I can or even would do a 5k every day but. just doing that two straight days feels pretty decent. 

Geoff made cheesesteaks for dinner, I skipped the roll on mine but did have some steak sized fries (spicy and so good!). I then made whipped cream to go with the pumpkin pie that I made yesterday. I like making homemade whipped cream because I can control the sugar content in it, and keep it lower than store bought. 

And it tastes great. 

I made a lot of whipped cream so tomorrow I may be treating myself to dollops atop my coffee maybe. Why the hell not! 

After dessert and during the 8pm football game that was rather dull, I decided Toffee needed a walk. It's been a couple days and no one has taken her. So even though it is zero dark thirty around here at 8pm (only to get zero darker thirty next weekend at this time) we went out. I fished my LL Bean head lamp out of the closet and winter things, happy to see the batteries were still active. 

Sometimes I take us on a walk up the street to where there are no street lights, and there is a part of the journey with no sidewalk. So I figure it is time for safety! I even put on a warmer jacket, it was 50, which sounds like nothing and to be honest, it isn't! I got out there, thought it was chilly and half a block later regretted my warm clothing option. And we didn't go to where the sidewalk ends and the road is dark and full of terror. 

The good thing about the headlamp is I can see where she pooped. 

That's about the wrap up. Digits below this beautiful pumpkin pie action!

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. Treadmill run, 44 min/3.12 mi; toffee walk, 30 min/1.47 mi; 16k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:15am: 130
4:45pm: 84
10:45pm: 158 

food & meds
9:15am: jardiance & new meds
9:45am: pumpkin muffin
10:30am: 2 slices of sourdough bread, toasted, buttered, w/ cherry preserves
1pm: left over very small cheeseburger w/corn salsa on top (tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn)
1:30pm: met+glip
4pm: new meds
6:30pm: cheesesteak filling in a bowl w/some steak fries. Onions, peppers, mushrooms steak bomb style
7:30pm: slice of pumpkin pie w/homemade whipped cream
8:30pm: met+glip
red wine

Success and Failure and Baking

Not much happening today. Doug hasn't been feeling himself for a couple weeks. Just very tired, sleeping plenty, sleeping well, just wiped out all the time. He said he's going to make a doctor appointment this week. 

It is like tables are turned as of late. Me? Constantly moving, hardly sleeping, never napping, walking/running/whatever. And he hasn't wanted to walk or do or go. Forever I was the big slug-a-bed. Now it is him. And now I know how he probably felt every time he asked me if I wanted to go for a walk or something and I said no.

Today was no different. He said he was going to mow the lawn, but then took a nap and after he woke up he didn't want to. 

While he was napping, I built a shoe rack. I had bought it because I have been sick of shoes all over the damn place. Massive success. I love it. I should have bought a bunch of these and stacked them on each other, so easy to make. 

But.

I also bought a bookcase, and well. not a success. I can't assemble it by myself. It was kind of hiiiiiilarous me downstairs attempting, solo, and failing miserably. After a bit, I read something in the istructions that said "you will need two or three people to build this bookcase." Damn.

Geoff was at the gym and I didn't want to bother Doug at all, he was napping. 

I did ask him if he'll give me a hand tomorrow maybe. 

Here is my success and failure. 

The Steelers are playing at 9:30, so yeah? Maybe after the game. I feel like I'm making such great progress on getting this office situation all set and don't want to lose momentum.

I got on the treadmill at about 5, and instead of a podcast today, I decided on music. I will say, if you asked me this time last year if I could run at all, I have said no. If you asked if I could run AND sing at the same time, I'd have laughed. 

But I was listening to the Avett Brothers, and as much as I do very much love them, most of the songs aren't at a fast enough clip for me, but, I can sing while running. 

Very pleased with myself, I must say. 

And I put in a full 5k to boot. Just because.

After dinner was cleaned up and put away, I decided that to redeem myself of my failure-state and do something I'm good at - Baking. 

I whipped up a pumpkin pie. And the can of pumpkin I bought was too big for one pie and too small for two pies, so I took the remaining pumpkin and got a pumpkin oatmeal muffin recipe. I smashed up some pecans to put the mix, and used full sugar maple syrup instead of the low sugar stuff I have. 

Brilliant. 

House smells great, I just wish I had some vanilla ice cream. 

Digits below! 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  Treadmill 5k. 46 min (tried 45 but didn't quite make it) 13k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9am: 100
4:30pm: 105
11pm: 93 (surprising based on muffins below....) 

food & meds
9am: jardiance & new meds
10:45: slice of banana bread
2pm: mac & cheese w/ground beef; met+glip
3:30pm: new meds
6:30pm: cheesey pasta w/shrooms & broccoli a la Geoff
8:30: met+glip
white wine+diet ginger ale
10:15pm: 2 pumpkin oatmeal muffins 

Sunrise Sunset, Sunrise Sunset

Thursday I headed into the office in DC. It's a schlep. I believe I've mentioned this before. Geoff was up getting ready to go to school/hotel/school and so I got ready to leave right after he went. 

Pitch dark out there in the world at 5:45am, friends. 

I was ready to go by 6:30 and hit the road. Normally, I don't see too well to drive in the dark anymore, but I've figured out a route from my house over to the highway that is fairly well lit by streetlights. And then once on the main drag and the highway, the problem becomes the driving due east right into the sunrise. 

In the summer, she's up by the time I hit the road, that Sun. This time of year not so much. I was on the interstate and she was peeking up,  almost where I'd be exiting to head south and thankfully there was a line of clouds low on the horizon, it blocked the blinding rays and I was able to successfully avoid being zinged. 

I left my office at 4:15, any later and the traffic is hell. Sooner and I wouldn't have been able to attend the office hours with our clients and have a yap with my boss who was in town for big meetings. 

The way home, I experience the same sunny problem with the driving due west. In the summertime, I can stay at the office later but this time of year really have to go on time. Thankfully, the sun was off to my left due to how the magic of tilting of the earth works out, and it was not direct into my windshield, so I was able to safely drive. It was pitch dark by the time I pulled into the driveway. 

And I feel like I really need to talk to my doctor about this night time blindness. Yet another thing to deal with as we get older. 

Friday morning I had a chat with a co-worker in her 30s and she's got a gorgeous little almost 2 year old. She was telling me how he got up the ladder to the next level on the playground apparatus, and how she was internally screaming for him to get down and externally being that most supportive and most wonderful helpful mom. I'm super proud of her.

I've kept this blog long enough that I can recall how many instances I've experienced, especially with Geoff, where I wanted to save him from himself. Stop. Do not do this thing. Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! 

But we let him do/try/experience and he survived and our (my, usually) heart(s) were sometimes aged prematurely by the parental inner-trauma we give ourselves. 

I recalled this blog entry where I wrote about "Stop Growing,"  and I shared it with her, and I'm sitting here thinking not just of how 28 years ago I didn't relish the thought of the children not growing up to do amazing things, I'm also pondering the me portion of things. I'll be 60 soon, which is mindblowing... How the hell are we 60? Yesterday I was talking to my friend J about how it's weird that we met in Junior High School way back in the day, and now we're going to shows together and hanging out, and talking about our gardens, and being "us" but we're old. 

I used to think 60 was "old people" but I don't now because I'm in the middle of it. 

And except for the vision issues I'm feeling pretty good about turning 60. 

My friend Rob told me his birthday in July sucked. He avoided everyone, didn't connect with anyone. His dog was very very sick and he was so angry, "If my dog dies on my 60th birthday this is going to suck miserably" he shared when we chatted recently. I felt that. When Brodie was sick a few years back, Thanksgiving was when we almost lost her. I was at the market walking around crying because she was at the animal hospital and I was trying to buy food for dinner that didn't include a 100% frozen turkey. Thankfully she didn't die that day, or I'd associate Thanksgiving with the death of my pup. 

But even so. We don't have control over dates things happen, and I think I've learned to just accept sometimes multiple things happen on the same day. 

Just like a sunrise, sunset. Just like Fiddler on the Roof sang to us. The years move swiftly. 

And it is okay. 

Monday would have been Doug's dad's 86th birthday, and how I miss him. But instead I'm focused on the fact I may have jury duty. 

Sigh. 

Anywhoo. At the office yesterday I got fuck all nothing done. It's like that when I go in. So today I made up for a lot of that. I tested digital widget embeds with a colleague on the visuals team, or Viz as we lovingly call them. 

I have my annual review on Monday, thanks to the fact that I called and do not have Jury Duty this Monday, but, I do have to call every day next week to see if my number comes up. They needed jurors #1-106 and my number is 112, so, I would bet I am on the list for Tuesday. I kind of wish instead of chit chat yesterday that my boss and I could have done the review then, in the same room. 

Not ever saying I need to/want to go back to the office on the reg but it is nice to be in the same meat space sometimes. 

After work, Doug ran to the market to get something for dinner (Geoff wasn't back yet) even though we have a fridge full of left overs and really need to have a left over bonanza. He grilled burgers, and I took Toffee for a truncated walk so I could get back and eat. Geoff got home right at the same time as Doug got back, he's always happy when he gets home. 

Not sure what we are up to this weekend, I may try to get Doug to go to the antiques store with me, I really want him to see it. 

Digits for 2 days below this hilarious calendar entry on the wall in my office. Duly noted for next year. 

Thursday digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  No run, but plenty of measured walks; 11k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

5:45am: 98
xpm: n/a didn't bring monitor
9pm: 163

food & meds:

6am: jardiance & new meds
9:30am: piece of sausage and 3 strips of bacon
1pm: small bowl of cheddar cheese soup w/bacon & jalapeños (cafeteria at work)
3pm: met+glip, new meds
7:30pm: 647 everything bagel w/chive cream cheese
8pm: healthy slice of stromboli w/sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, cheese, green peppers
9:30pm: met+glip
one beer (poured a 2nd and didn't want it, gave it to Doug)

Friday digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. Treadmill 30 min/2.15 mi (slower than usual pace... hmm);  Toffee walk, 16 min/.75 mi; 11k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:30am: 118
4:30pm: 164
10:30pm: 98

food & meds
9:30am: jardiance & new meds
1:45pm: english muffin w/pb and bonnie maman's wild blueberry preserves
2:15pm: met+glip
3pm: new meds
5pm: handful of mixed nuts
6:45pm: cheeseburger, no bun, mixed greens, bleu cheese
8pm: met+glip
white wine+diet ginger ale

Paper cuts

Today I opened up some mail and got a paper cut. I opened up a box, and got a paper cut right below the paper cut I got from the mail. 

I honestly cannot recall the last time I got an honest to goodness paper cut. 

Well, yesterday. I got paper cuts yesterday from other boxes. 

Good grief. I hate you, paper cuts! 

So my fingers are bandaged, and I hate it.  They hurt like a mother. 

Anyway.

Today was a pretty good day. I went on the treadmill when I was listening to our All Staff. The laptop/internet connection absolutely failed when I brought it out to the mud room, which means, of course, when I want to use video down in the office I'm slowly but surely moving my ass into, it won't work. 

I need to get a good wifi signal booster. That's for another day.

Today's overall day was great, the running on the treadmill during All Staff was a very good idea. Great use of 30 of the 90 minutes of the meeting. Super happy with myself. I took Toff for a walk after dinner, like we've been doing, an got a lot more steps in. Tons of steps today. Super proud of me. 

Doug went to bed at 9 because darkness? So early. I emptied the dishwasher at 10 and reloaded it. Geoff had made a slow cooker dinner and so I was wanting for it to be tidied up before I went to bed. 

He has school/hotel/school tomorrow. I'm going to the office tomorrow. I probably should be smart, like Doug, and go to bed early. Because I need to be up stupid early to leave. It'll still be dark when I go but luckily, enough street lights along the way and tail lights on the highway and I should get to a good point by sunrise. I'm slightly worried about coming home and it being super stupid dark, but I'm hoping it won't be an issue. 

Geoff is taking the wagon that had the coolant thing issue the other day. I've got the "good" and healthy car .... I offered to swap with him and he said no - the wagon is registered at the college and he does not want to go to public safety and get a temp pass for the other car. Okay 

So please send him in your heart of hearts a little bit of grace and mojo. 

Here's a picture from our garden. Our neighbor put a bunch of shit out on the curb recently, one of those things was a flamingo light that is solar powered. 

I stole it. Because, of course I did. Guster fans know. 

She's cute. I like her. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. Treadmill, 30 min/2.25 mi; walk with toffee, 30 min/1.34 mi. 14k+ steps by bedtime. Not too shabby.

blood glucose: 

8:30am: 130
4:15pm: 126
10pm: 111

food & meds:

8:30am: jardiance & new meds
9:45am: slab of banana bread w/butter
2pm: met+glip
3pm: slice of seed bread w/pb
3:45pm: new meds
white wine w/diet ginger ale
6:15pm: hungarian goulash a la geoff's slow cooker recipe
wine, wine, wine a bunch of wine sorry.

Cars and Crafts

Geoff left for work at 5:30, I realized I needed to pee, and I knew Doug's alarm would be going off shortly. I wanted to keep sleeping but also, he needed to be on camera at 7am so. I went downstairs. I didn't even hear Doug come down, feed the dog ad let her out. She had been sleeping with me, but of course, brekkie time. He let her out and I just kept sleeping. After a while, I knew she was still out there, and he was in the shower so I went and got her. Back to bed.

He attended his 7am meeting, I vaguely could hear voices but they wove into my dreams. He came downstairs to get some coffee and headed out to the car. 

All the lights were on on the dashboard with a giant red exclamation mark, turn vehicle off now. 

The hell?

I drove that car on Sunday when I went out on errands. She was fine. 

I got out of bed at like to find him still here, which surprised me since I knew about the in person meeting he was supposed to be going to, starting at 10am. With lunch following. And stuff. 

He told me the saga. No coolant in the reservoir. At all. 

"Do we have a leak?" I asked.

"Dunno, not sure yet." he replied. 

We just had like 500 dollars worth of work done. But not on the cooling system or anything. Did our mechanic forget to attach a hooziewhatsit to a thingamabob? Did a lid not get put back on a thing? 

I recalled the time I got an oil change at a jiffy lube, and the dudes forgot to put the cap back on the oil holder. I was driving down the road, and smoke came pouring out of the engine, and I could smell the oil, basically slapping all over the inside of the hood, all over everything. 

I pulled over and a guy stopped and helped me open the hood. Sure enough, oil everywhere and no cap on the thingie. 

"Here's your problem," the roadside volunteer said.

"Sigh. Thank you. I see that. But thank you for opening the hood, I didn't even know how to do that."

Friends, I was in college, it was my second ever car. It all worked out and hey, I got a gift certificate for a future oil change at that place and never used it. Fuck those guys.

So I was wondering what could suddenly all of a sudden make a sudden oh no we're out of coolant thing happen on our car. 

I also was anxious, because, Thursday both Geoff and I need to be places. Places that are not near the house. Doug came back from the auto parts store, filled her up with coolant, drove her around. We'll take her for a spin later. Drive her again tomorrow, and just see how it all goes. And, we've got an extra container of coolant just in case. 

If things start to get worse and whatever, back to the mechanic with you! 

He's actually a really great guy, and if he broke something, I'm sure he'd make it right. I'm happy we found him because it is sometimes a challenge when you move to find a good mechanic, a good dentist, and a good veterinarian. 

Work was incredibly quiet today. I ended up doing a little bit of arts & crafts preparedness for myself. I had bought a corkboard and frame, on the advice of the girl at Michael's who said it would be much less expensive than going to staples and getting a whole ass bulletin board thing. 

Stupidly, I didn't realize the frame has a plastic front dealie to it, Cool. No. Not Cool. 

So I had to gently but forcibly get the plastic out of the frame and of course she's glued in there. Awesome. I cut my middle finger on my left hand a little bit, not gushing horrible murder bleeding but enough that I said Fuck. Fuck you you fucking why didn't you just go to Staples and buy a corkboard dummy. So what it'd cost a little moarrrrrrr! 

But. I finished it and got the corkboard in the frame. Take that everybody! 

The basement office is obviously concrete walls, so I don't think I can mount/hang anything on the walls successfully. 

I need to build the bookshelf next. 

But also I need to find the box of push pins that I have 9 million of, of course, I have no idea what box they are in. I bet they are in the basement. But. I did go ahead and buy some cute ass flamingo push pins because that's fun. They'll be here tomorrow. Progress, babies. Progress! 

Geoff started dinner, so I got on the treadmill. About 10 minutes into it my friend A called, recently relocated from Arizona to Lancaster PA. She likes to chat on the phone, and the past couple times I have not answered but today, I did. We kept me on the treadmill for a solid half hour and I think we would have kept up a yap if she hadn't gotten to her destination. 

Right now, we're aiming for getting together in the weekend between Hartford and Brooklyn Guster shows. I cleared it with the husband. We STILLLLLLLLLLLL have to get together with our friend Smittay up in the Harrisburg area. Someday. It feels like all the time one of us has a thing on some weekend or both of us have a thing on the weekend. 

This year is going to go fast getting towards the end of things. 

After dinner, I took Toffee for a stroll. It's still nice out, it was chilly but no wind. You all know how I can handle walkies in the cold, but not in the wind. And miss Toffee sure did have a great time. We met a lady hanging out her halloween decorations, in the dark. And there was a man using his weed whacker as a sidewalk edger, in the dark. There were baseball games going on, so the big lights were on up at the big park and our little park. Lots of cheering. 

I pretended it was for us. 

Alright, here is the bulletin board, framed, in process, and more to come with this tomorrow. Digits, below. 

digits

exercise: 11/12 hours.  Missed 8pm while loading the dishwasher; Treadmill, 30 min/1.92 mi (walked some of it while trying to talk on the phone; Toffee walk, 30 min/1.36 mi; 12k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose: 

9:30am: 161
4:30pm: 98
10pm: 146

food & meds:

9:30am: jardiance & new meds
9:45am: 2 heel slices of super seed bread w/pb
4pm: new meds. handful of mixed nuts
4:45pm: 3 Oreo cookies
6pm: cheesey chicken pasta alfredo; white wine
7:45pm: met+glip