More Candied Nuts

Today I spun up 4 cups of candied cashews. And then I made 4 cups of chocolate covered cashews. I have an entire container of mixed nuts, and I'm wondering what on earth to do to them. 

Why am I like this? Why do I just get into some groove on one thing and ride it until I'm sick of it. I did this a few years ago with granola. 

Heck, I may make granola and mix it with candied nuts. I bet with the chocolate ones that'd be amazing. Clusters of sweet salty granola and nuts. 

Doug just suggested margarita salt and a hint of lime. Also, I could make spicy chocolate too. 

Hmmmmmmm. Oh the possibilities. 

Nothing more to report. I sat out grilling this evening hoping that R & J and Meg would walk down the street and they didn't. Oh well. Maybe this weekend. 

Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. 23 min. walk in the house. 6k steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:45am: 171
4:15pm: 141
10:30pm: 145

food:

coffee/water
10:30am: 647 english muffin w/pb 
noon: metformin
an unreasonable amount of candied cashews and chocolate coated cashews, you know, for tasting and comparison
6pm: chicken breast over Big Salad w/ bleu cheese dressing
7:30pm: metformin+jardiance
a couple hard seltzers

Massage and Meg

Two big things for today. 

I recently made an appointment to see a massage therapist after a couple weeks of consistently stretching and doing stuff to help my plantar fasciitis. The pain is much better than say, when we were in Vegas and I couldn't get up out of bed and step on my left foot at all, but it still is not right. I've been stretching every day, and it was time. 

I don't have plantar fasciitis. According to the massage therapist.

He said I just have a super knotted muscle, in my heel, and he worked it, it's MUCH better (and he also worked my right foot and leg, so "it won't be jealous." I am making a followup appointment to have him recheck things to see if they are better, and have him do my neck and back. 

Worth every penny.

This afternoon, our neighbors came over with their 3 month old Pibble Pubby, Meg. Oh my gosh. We died. We died 100 times over. Toffee tackled her and Meg PLAYED DEAD. "If I don't move, she won't know I'm here. And maybe she'll go away. And I can live. 

They had a blast together running around the yard. Toffee was a little rough and big, but Meg also put her entire face into Toffee's mouth AND stood on her head AND cleaned her teeth. 

R and J had to head home because we were about to get pounded by a thunderstorm (and we hadn't had dinner yet) and they sent me a picture of Meg conked out on the couch within minutes of getting home. 

All told, this was a really fun and good day. Here are some pictures. Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  No dedicated 10 but a lot of walking around downtown and running around the yard with the dogs.  6400+steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

9am: 168
6pm: 173
10pm: 163

food:

coffee/water
11:30am: Metformin, bowl of mac & cheese w/bacon, apple w/peanut butter
6:30pm: metformin+jardiance
8pm: pork loin and pierogis. 
9pm: piece of weird dessert roll thing I got for doug at a korean bakery
hard seltzers

Baby's First Phish Show

Traffic always stinks going into DC so I left at 7:30am and got to the office in about an hour. I got a little work done, we had a team meeting. My boss and coworker were both in the office so it was nice to see them and chat in person. 

My buddy M showed up at about 11:30 so we got him checked in as my guest and had some lunch and caught up. We had to wait on line for an hour but got ourselves in and lined up in a good spot to watch the show! 

M has seen Phish ... many many times. But this was my first. When I told him he could come with me he just about died because seeing Phish in my office was a dream come true for him. Happy to facilitate that for him. And happy to see them for the first time with him by my side. 

When we walked in, he saw little trampolines behind the desk and gasped because he knew what song they'd be playing with those. 

It was super amazing. For all the years I have enjoyed listening to them as a casual fan, seeing them in person was great. The vibe was fantastic, Trey and Mike are a machine together. Just really cannot believe this happened today. 

Worth the schlep into the office. 

Now to get Guster in there. Someday. 

Photos below: Mike Gordon and me, I liked that we had on the same color shirt. M wanted a picture of me with the band. Closest we could get - Trey and Mike grooving through the audience at the end of You Enjoy Myself. Love the smile on Trey's face. And below - trampolines during the same song. And a shot of Trey and Mike during their introduction, more of Trey's smile. Digits below.

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  no dedicated 10 or other exercise. 7k steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

7am: 171
5pm: 181
10:15pm: 121

food:

coffee/water
11:30am: chicken in lemon cream sauce, wheat rotini, green beans
3pm: Metformin (forgot to take with lunch) 
6pm: nachos with ground beef, cheese, avocado, sour cream; white wine
8:30pm: metformin+jardiance (wanted to space it out further from the 3pm dose) 

Making the most of the day off

Today I was so joyful about taking the day off of work. I'm learning this lesson that I really have to take a day after getting home and not just jumping back into the swing of things. I slept in, woke up quite organically without an alarm after a wild dream. The dog was all cozy beside me, curled up and comfy. Doug had gotten up and fed her, and went to work downstairs, and she knows where the fun is when I'm sleeping in. 

Toffee and I got up, got coffee, got comfy on the couch. I loaded the dishwasher and tidied up a bit. I offered Geoff a ride to work since it was already 95+ and so humid. It also meant I'd leave the house and go to the gym if I got up and got out the door. He took me up on the offer, and I went to the gym. If he had said no, I would have just cuddled with the cuddlebeast until my phone battery died.

Did a huge 30+ minute walk on the treadmill listening to The Band. Quite a good pace on so many of the songs, and it put a smile on my face. I went to the Lidl next to the gym, did some shopping, stocked up on dinner things while listening to Phish and dancing in the aisle singing out loud to Waste, Heavy Things, and Farmhouse. 

More on Phish later.

When I got home, Doug was napping so I put everything away. I cuddled the dog for about a half hour until it was time to do the 4pm steps and take a shower. Geoff texted me to ask for a ride home, so I was prepared while Doug was asleep. 

We needed to put air in the front tire of the mini, so I took Geoff with me and made sure he knew how to do it. He had asked me about it, thinking that cars are different. But no, Tires are all the same, and he'd done this a million times with the other car and he nailed it. 

We got home and started dinner. Ate. I chatted with Linda for a huge long time, Doug is watching some British Crime/Detective thing and I'm ready for bed. 

The things I didn't get to were repotting an Aloe and making the candied nuts I wanted to make. But I'm happy I got out to the gym and did the other things. But that's alright. Many things got done. 

Tomorrow I'm going to the office. As many know, my office hosts concerts. Tomorrow is Phish. When they announced this a month or so ago, my Guster friend messaged me to ask if he could come. Initially we were told no guests but they've changed their minds and I can bring him now. He actually took the day off of work even though I told him I couldn't bring anyone, just in case plans changed. How's that for awesome? 

So he's coming around 11, we'll see the performance, he'll cry. It'll be great. I'm so looking forward to it.

In the meantime... Here's a picture of Toffee holding me hostage today. Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. 33 min at the gym w/1+ mile on the treadmill. Did almost the entire circuit room, skipping the one machine that hurts my knees really badly. 9600+steps by bedtime (too late to get to 10k!)

blood glucose:

9:30am: 165
5pm: 151
10:30pm: 129

food:

coffee/water
11am: metformin; several slices of roast beef
5pm: handful of trail mix
6pm: bowl of pasta w/meat sauce; metformin+jardiance 
white wine

So Happily Home

We left Doug's mom's at a little before noon. We spent the morning sitting on the patio on the furniture that Doug saved from a horrible wasps nest. I was going to post the photo but it freaks me out looking at it, so I don't want to freak out anyone else who may be visiting. The coffee was flowing, she was super duper chatty, and bubbly. Almost exhausting that early in the morning, to be honest.

At about 11 or so, I was quickly finishing yesterday's blog entry that I didn't publish last night, and I was sitting at the dining table. I didn't have a light on, it was not necessary. She came in and told me to turn on a light. "I'm okay, I can see the computer screen just fine, it is light enough." She turned the light on.  "It's just awful dark in here."

No. It isn't. But. Okay. Whatever. Writing, finishing, and she comes over and asks if I want something to eat because Doug and I have not eaten yet. 

"No, I don't eat before I travel, it does horrible and wild things to my belly. I prefer to eat later."

"But you have diabetes, and you can't just not eat," she lectures.

"Yeah, I can, I do it all the time, and it is especially important not to eat right before I get in a car, and we're leaving really soon. I'm fine. We'll stop later on and get lunch."

"Well, have some orange juice. You should have some orange juice because your blood sugar can drop to dangerously low levels, and you should have that."

Lady.

No.

I had taken my blood sugar at about 8:45, it was 165. That's plenty high, and it isn't going to plummet. "I'm all set, I'm not going to have my blood sugar drop."

Lord, how I wish it would drop sometimes, right? y'all read the digits. You know where my number are. I get mad if the reading is over 180. I'm pleased as hell if it is in the 130s. If ever it would be below 100, I may have to call my doctor. Am I dying over here? 

I kind of know my body and what is good for me. And orange juice may actually knock me out by shooting my blood sugar over 300. 

I love it. I would love some orange juice, but no. I haven't had it in .... like a year. Just. let me take care of myself the way I've been taking care of myself. Thanks. 

Continues to lecture me. I published the post, closed the laptop and put it in my bag. I showed her my water bottle, "Actually this is far more important for me to drink, I drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. I'm fine. You have to trust me. I'm fine." I didn't yell. I wanted to. I wanted to just snap. But I just let her talk and talk. 

She finally gave up, and I looked at Doug and he started loading the car. 

We were on the road and everything was going great until the West Virginia state line, some road construction on a bridge crawled us to a stop. We got back up and running again, and several times in Maryland (Cumberland, you jerk) we ran into traffic again. We finally stopped in Hancock to eat. In 2022 we stopped at a place called Buddylou's (this entry has photos, the other I linked to only has one) and we figured with traffic as heavy as it was, an hour for a meal would be better than sitting on 68. 

We had a great meal, did some steps but not an official nice walk, even though the C&O canal is right there and we could have pounded out some minutes. We stopped at another place in Hancock called the Blue Goose Market. You shouldn't drive past there without stopping for a little something. Doug was in the mood for maybe a Coconut Creme Pie or something, I was just there to look at the gifty doo dads and sniff things. 

No Coconut Creme, but they had Key Lime, and he likes that a lot so. It came home with us. We also got peanut brittle, which is my kryptonite, and some dried kiwi and strawberries for Geoff. A lot of people were in the market because it is easy off-easy on access from the highway, and a good break was needed by many motorists. 

True to form, shortly after eating lunch there I am needing to use the bathroom. I held it. Tummy rumbles and all. We got to Frederick County and the Waze took us off the highway and onto Rte 40, so I told Doug that if he sees a decent place to stop, I needed to stop. 

He lew right past a Sheetz and a McDonalds, so I reminded him of what I said a half hour earlier. "Oh yeah, sorry." Sometimes doesn't listen to me at all. And there I am ready to poop my pants. We got to the outskirts of Frederick itself and he pulled into a McDonalds. I used the bathroom, and bought him a large unsweetened iced tea. 

Am I the only one who feels guilty about using a restaurant bathroom if I don't actually buy something there? 

Anyway, got back in the car and we were home in another hour. 

While we were getting out of the car, our new neighbors came walking past with their Pittie Puppy. I was that guy. I ran over and said "OH HELLO I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR PUPPY!" and they saw Doug, they'd met him previously and ... well. I had puppy snuggles from a 3 month old baby named Meg. They said they'd walked by the other day and Toffee was out in the yard, and they said 'we really should try and connect with them for a playdate.'

So. We exchanged phone numbers, and yes. We will have puppy time. Hopefully this week. If it isn't too brutally hot. 

Geoff was happy to see us. He did a good job with Toffee. She was in the kennel on Saturday while he worked and she pooped in there, so he took the kennel out, sprayed it with the hose, washed the dog bed, etc. She did not poop in there today. The house smells funny even though he did clean everything up, but I am smell sensitive sometimes, and. Yeah. 

I took tomorrow off, because I'm smart, and I knew there was no way I could go from 3 solid days with mom straight back to work. I have a little list of things to do. I want to clean the bathroom. Make candied nuts. Take myself to the gym. It's supposed to be 97 degrees tomorrow and Tuesday so outdoor activities may not be the best idea. 

Oh, Geoff didn't water the plants daily. He watered them once since we left. So the impatiens are fried, and a few other plants are not faring well. A couple thrived in not being watered. I may need some replacement plants so I'll evaluate things tomorrow and decide. 

Here are some pictures. First, I forgot to share the picture of the plants I repotted that resulted in me wanting to use a trowel in inappropriate ways. Then, a classic water fountain in Elwood City that I for some reason didn't test out. And finally, my dog, glued to me because she missed me. And I missed her. How I lived for so long without her is beyond me. So happy to be back here with this bean. 

Digits below.

Sunday digits

exercise: 10/12 hours. Missed noon and 5pm being in the car. no good timed walk. 5k steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:45am: 165
n/a afternoon reading
10:15pm: 156

food:

coffee/water
11am: metformin
2:30pm: large spinach strawberry salad w/chicken, candied walnuts, bacon, hard boiled egg, red onion, cherry tomatoes, some sort of vinaigrette dressing
on the road: a lot of peanut brittle. A. Lot.
7pm: metformin+jardiance
8pm: small slice of Key Lime Pie

Planting, Meading, Leaving

Saturday's entry

When we visited last year at this time, we took Doug's mom to Home Depot and got her a ton of flowers. This year she insisted no flowers! NO FLOWERS! I told Doug so help me God do not just take it upon yourself and get her stinkin' flowers.

And then, suddenly while we were here, there she goes. She starts talking about flowers. We went to Home Depot for other things, like a doorbell, but she didn't see anything she particularly wanted or liked. Okay great. Back to the house. Doorbell installed. Fun.

She received some little plants and flowers for easter and mother's day and so they were in individual pots, and she wanted them moved into one big pot together. Doug volunteered me to do it. To be honest, it sounded blissful. Go outside, dig in dirt, repot flowers. 

I went out to get started and she came out and let me know what I was doing wrong, where she wanted things. That's too close to the edge, move it to the center, oh no then there's not room for this to happen. It's awful crowded. 

Well then why are we doing this. Why. Are. We. Doing. This. Why aren't YOU doing this if you know exactly where you want things. Or think you want things until you change your mind

After a little while I just sat there and let her talk. She fussed and pointed. I moved things. Moved them again. 

Literally a 5 minute job, 40 minutes later we're finally done. 

This was all rather frustrating to me because there was no need for the level of fuss, micromanagement, and oversight. They are plants. They're fine. I came inside, she put lunch out for us, I angrily got a shower, ate, and Doug and I got in the car for a drive. Where? Elwood City. Why not. Doug found a brewery online, it was somewhere we'd never been, as far as a town goes, and this is all very (as Jess would say) "Dougcore."

The ride up was lovely, even with construction. Beautiful day, blue sky, big puffy clouds, not being fussed at about plants. We enjoyed looking at homes with giant plants and hanging baskets. 

The Time Brew Pub is semi-themed on the artist formerly known as Prince but also, known as Prince. Beer was great, beer tender was super friendly. The building was once upon a time an elementary school, and the tasting room/restaurant was the old cafeteria. They even had the station where kids used to bring their trays up, and the sliding vertical steel gates to the kitchen for the lunch line, everything. The bathrooms are still the elementary school bathrooms. It's kind of neat. 

Several other business are in the building including a hair salon, which takes up the circular area that used to be the library. There's a courtyard that the owner is hoping to make an outdoor patio. 

In a lot of ways it is so similar to a church brewery, a reclaimed space for fun and frivolity. 

When we were driving in, we passed a meadery, so after two beers we'd decided that we should check them out too while in town.

Meads can be hit or miss, I've had some that taste like rubber tires (allegedly supposed to be "lemongrass" but ... no). I'm sometimes a little wary of anything beyond a basic flavor. When they start getting into cucumber, thai basil, habanero peppers, it strays off my tasty path. 

The meads at Fitzgibbon Meadery were great. We got the Maxiumus Flight - a full 10 samples on the back of a wiener dog viking ship. How could we not? Again, very Dougcore. And Mecore when you think of it. 

We had a great time, and headed back to mom's because Doug's sister, her husband, and their son were coming over for pizza. We sat and chatted until after 11:30 about things. We only get to see each other once or twice a year and sometimes it is stressful with Doug's mom fussing. Last night only had a little bit of fuss. 

Here are some pictures from the meadery. 

Right now it is Sunday, we're packing up to leave so I wanted to just post this before I forget. More later!

Saturday digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. 26 minute very nicewalk. 7100+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

9:45am: 147
5pm: 197
11pm: 185

food:

coffee/water
10:30am: 1/2 slice of sourdough toast
11:45am: metformin
1pm: sliced turkey, sliced ham, one slice of swiss cheese, a little mayo, rolled up. one small scoop of potato salad
2pm: 2 beers (and a half, split with Doug)
3pm: Mead. Lots of mead. cheese & salami
5pm: protein shake
8pm: 2 slices of pizza, salad, metformin+jardiance

Ouch

I've got a migraine so no real entry today, just digits. More tomorrow. Promise. Just wanted to record the digits.

digits

exercise: 10/12 hours. 27 min solid, good walk in the neighborhood with doug & mom to look at flowering bushes in front of everyone's houses. 7k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:45am: 163
4pm: 146
10:30pm: 148

food:

coffee/water
10:30am: 2 eggs scrambled w/salsa (no cheese because that would be too complicated)
11:30am: Metformin
5pm: fried fish, broccoli, a couple scoops of mac and cheese, metformin+jardiance. 2 beers with dinner

Fourth of July and the End of Summer

Wednesday
We had a good ride up, left at a good time it seems and just breezed north. We saw a lot of south bound folks out of Pittsburgh traffic headed to West Virginia. People probably bailing for the holiday on the Wednesday afternoon. I'm sure it'll be lovely in the mountains.

17 miles away from our destination, traffic was at a standstill. There was a giant plume of smoke in the distance and several emergency vehicles blew past us. As we approached, we noticed there was a trailer on fire on the side of the road. We all passed slowly, and the fire was raging when we got there. 

We still made it by 4:30. Miraculously. 

She was waiting for us, and after brief chit chat it was off to dinner at a favorite place. We talked and talked, came back here and talked and talked. Before we knew it, it was time for the 11pm news for one of us, and bed for the other two. 

One of the things she always says is that "Fourth of July is the end of summer." Her grandmother used to always say that, and perhaps from a farming perspective, you're done with a lot of stuff seasonally. She says it all the time. Doug was stressing it's just the start of summer. But perhaps that's just because we lived in New England so long, but I feel like here July 4 is the peak of summer. It's not over, it's the zenith of the fun and gorgeous long days here in Western Pennsylvania. 

It is a debate that rages on.

Thursday
Wide awake at 6am, fell back asleep. Doug's alarm went off at 7:30am. Thanks. Wide awake again. 

If it was my own home, I would have gotten up, put on coffee, but I'm afraid to touch anything in this house. I won't turn on lights, I won't get anything out of the fridge. Forget about the coffee pot. 

She's very particular about things and I just don't touch anything rather than do something wrong. Oh, and my computer forgot the wifi password here, so I couldn't just come sit out in the living room with zero coffee an futz with things left undone at work, just quietly with no other distractions. (note: Doug remembered what it was, thankfully. I didn't have to ask for it because that could have turned into a whole big thing of where's the sticky note the password is written on, etc...)

Mercifully, I fell back asleep and snoozed until 9:45. 

I had a wild dream after I fell back asleep that Linda and I were driving some guy around downtown Farmingdale NY who needed to get to the train station. "I need help, I need to get to New York City and meet with my accountant. It is very important. Please help me get there. But you can't tell anyone. You can't tell anyone I'm going to see my accountant. And my lawyer. Don't tell anyone." 

He lived in Farmingdale, but didn't know how to get to the actual train station. Well, I do. Just from being there once. We agreed to give him a lift, even though it was just around the corner. 

He was in the front passengers' seat, I was in the back guiding Linda. She drove through a municipal parking lot, which I believe is the commuter lot anyway but got up on the sidewalk, and drove up a ramp of some sort. I was telling her to stop because this ramp ends at a drop-off behind a building. We're going to drive off the edge of a 4 foot drop into an alley. She stopped in time, and I could see the train station stop from my seat. I told the guy he should get out and walk over there, but he said he couldn't. Linda put the car in reverse and I guided her back down the ramp, around the corner, and we dropped the guy off. 

"Don't tell anyone about this. I don't want anyone to know about this," the man said.

"About what?" I asked with a grin, and he smiled and nodded. And that's right when I woke up.

Getting up at 9:45 was on brand for me. Doug and his mom were in the living room chatting. His mom uses half-caffeine coffee. And she uses a 4-cup coffee maker. She has a 12-cup one but she rarely takes it out. I drink basically a full 12-cup pot of coffee from when I get up until lunch, and sometimes have iced coffee in the afternoon. 

When I got up this morning, coffee was made, and lo and behold, she'd bought us full caffeine coffee. Bless her. I could almost cry. Four little pots later, Doug and I each had our coffee and no headache on the horizon. 

And she bought me a whole half gallon of whole milk for my coffee, which is super sweet. I'll probably have to take home whatever I don't finish I bet, since she doesn't drink whole milk. 

It started raining around 6. Doug and his mom sat out on the patio arguing about politics. I came inside because there is a wasp nest on the underside of the bench. I have few phobias and fears, but flying/stinging bugs are the one for me. Doug's entire family is phobic of snakes. I'd rather hang out on the patio with a garden snake or black racer sunning itself on the rocks all day any day than deal with wasps flying around. And these two sat out there for hours, with wasps coming and going all around them. Nope. Big Nope. No way, nope. 

We had dinner, sandwiches again. I ate too many potato chips, had a roll with my sandwich, and my blood sugar is higher than I would want as a result. 

Fireworks in the neighboring towns and even down the street kicked in around 8pm. Still raging on at 10. Doug's mom's place is kind of on a ridge, and usually we could see fireworks for miles around but now there are a lot more trees in the way. Still, a really big noisy night out there. 

Digits down below. I'm going to retest the blood sugar after 11, just to see how it is doing. 

Wednesday digits

exercise: 8/12 hours.  No exercise but 6500+ steps by bedtime even with missing 4 hours of 250. 

blood glucose:

8am: 163
afternoon reading not taken, traveling
11pm: 136

food:

coffee/water
10:30am: english muffin w/pb; metformin
2pm: tiny little crispy chicken wrap from burger king. It was really tasty but small. Could have used 2. 
5:30pm: zucchini plank, nice salad, meatball, chicken parm. Gave my pasta to bonnie. 3 beers at the restaurant
7pm: metformin+jardiance
8pm-10: 2 more beers

Thursday digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  17 minute indoor walk while Doug and his mom sat on the patio and I avoided wasps. 6100+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

9:45am: 170
5pm: 145
10pm: 179

food:

coffee/water
11:30am: metformin
12:45pm: 1/2 slice of sourdough (21 grams of carbs but so good), sliced turkey, one slice of swiss cheese, sliced tomato, iceberg lettuce, some cubed cantaloupe, scoop of potato salad
5pm: handful of triscuits, handful of cherry tomatoes
7:15: metformin+jardiance
7:45: roast beef on brioche bun w/horseradish sauce, potato chips, coleslaw, grapes
10pm: protein shake

Firewood Adventure

I use the Nextdoor site which is mostly people reporting their cars have been broken into, reports of "was that gunshots or fireworks," people oversharing their artwork, stuff like that. There is a For Sale and Free section, and I go there once in a while to just see if there are pots for my indoor and outdoor plants. 

There was a guy selling firewood for a buck a log. We're out of firewood. We need to replace our fire pit, and stuff, but, okay. I'll get some wood! 

The dude and I played email/text tag for weeks and weeks and today was the day. After work I went over with the mini - and we filled the hatch with about 40 pieces of wood. Some long, some short, so he didn't charge me a buck a piece for the little chunkies. For about 25 bucks, my car was full and I have permission to come back any time now that I know where his house is, and just leave an envelope with money somewhere on the porch. 

He was a super nice guy, and on the way home the GPS sent me right past the gym. Damn. I knew I was somewhat close? And... I had my flip flops on. So. No gym. Should have planned better.  It was too dark when I got home to take a picture of the pile, Geoff is going to organize it while we're away. 

We're leaving in the morning, so I'm glad I went and did this. Feeling quite accomplished. I did a thing!!! Speaking of things, I do have a list of things to do in the morning. We are hoping to be on the road by 10? Wish us luck!

Today's Picture: When I went out to water the plants this morning, some wee being ate one plant out of one of the pots, but not .... anything else. Rude. Anyway. Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. no formal exercise but did move the wood around with the guy to get it in my car, unloaded it, that sort of thing. 6300+steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

8am: 150
6pm: 151
10pm: 205 (pre protein shake)
11pm retake: 170

food:

coffee/water/iced tea
11:45am: metformin, roast beef & sharp cheddar grilled cheese on 657 multigrain bread
throughout the afternoon .... maybe a bunch of candied cashews. maybe
6:30pm: small bowl of pasta with meat sauce; metformin+jardiance
10:15pm: protein shake

Candied

On Saturday, we had some candied cashew nuts while hanging at the brewery. They were so good. I'm glad it was a small container, because honestly I could have eaten about a pound of them. And then my stomach would kill me, and I'd die. But I'd die shaking my fist at the sky saying "those cashews .... were ....... worth it!" 

Semi-obsessing over the thought of them, I thought I'd look up a candied cashew recipe. On accident recently, Doug got a big plastic container of unsalted cashews. Now. they're okay for a snack but when you want a little somethin' somethin' salty, these will not do the trick. So they've been languishing, unappreciated, in our cabinet. Until today.

I got a recipe off the internets

• Mix together 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of of white sugar, a bunch of cinnamon, and a teaspoon of salt. We use coarse ground kosher salt so the granules are big and beautiful
• In another bowl, froth together an egg white and a teaspoon of water
• add some vanilla, mix that in and keep it frothy
• dump it over 4 cups of unsalted cashews (or other nuts) to moisten them all up
• Mix the cashews into the sugar mixture and coat well
• Preheat oven at 250. Toss them into the oven for 20 min. Take them out, bake for 30 more
• Let the cashews cool, break up stuck-together bits. Enjoy!

The one bummer thing is I'm out of vanilla, so, they won't be perfect. But they'll be tasty. I want to do it more with say some chili powder and spicy flavors. I may be getting myself into trouble. Hahahaha. ha. Like this one I found is different than the toast in the oven kind. Buttered Toffee Candied Nuts 

My house smells so good. Even hours after making the nuts. 

I wanted to bake cookies for Geoff but, out of vanilla and only a tiny bit of brown sugar. I'll have him stop on the way home from the gym to pick up what's needed and make some condolence cookies for him, as he'll be staying here, not coming with us to Pittsburgh. 

Digits below.

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours. No walk today. Worked late, didn't feel like going out. Should have. 5k by bedtime

blood glucose:

8:30am: 152
5pm: 117
9:30pm: 156

food:

coffee/water
11:30am: English muffin w/pb; metformin
1pm: scoop of potato salad, just to taste. Heavy on the bacon this round. mmmm
2pm: slices of turkey (not enough for a good sammitch)
5pm: handful of candied cashews
6:30pm: Potato salad & bbq pork from aldi. no roll. More candied cashews. Metformin+jardiance