Gotta Love Amazon - and now it's even better

 8/11/2020

I just have to wait for one more day, before the house gets clean. I have attacked both spare rooms, but only one room could now actually be used. This is the room Benjamin sleeps in now, but if he had a choice, he would still prefer to actually sleep on the floor, in our bedroom!

In the other spare room, I have made progress, but am nowhere finished. I have literally just dumped my clothes on the floor. Don't worry, I'm going to donate all of the clothes that have multiple "x's". My theory is, if you don't own any larger sizes, then you must make a lifetime effort to stay at or below the weight you have lost (52 pounds) avany of my fatter clothes around, well you guessed it. I definitely don't want or need to gain weight. To keep me honest, I weigh twice a day. Our new swanky scale, not only gives you your weight, but will produce a green screen (you've lost a bit more weight) or the dreaded red screen that tells you how much weight you have gained. And, for me, just looking at the red screen, motivates me to pay more attention to what I eat.

I saw a plastic surgeon the other day, and she told me that I would have to lose 40 more pounds. Heaven knows how I'll be able to do that. The surgeon, unfortunately spent a lot of time looking at my chart which for the moment only contains two pages.

I left her office, with multiple feelings: sad, depressed, disappointed and let's throw in a little anger. If I had an ego issue, then it flew out the door as soon as we left.

I should have know that I was going to be unsatisfied, because my glass is always have empty. I know, I know, that's not a good way to live your life. And, I have tried in the past, since at least 2014, to try and stay happy as well as relaxed. Having trouble with both of these issues.

After all the years we've been married, these last few years, have been challenging for both of us. But, even with gentle reminders, I feel less and less useful. I know that I can and do  use the dishwasher and the washing machine. Be still my heart.

We have 3 wedding anniversaries to celebrate soon. Scott and Wendy's anniversary is this month. Andrew, Stacey as well as us, all have September anniversaries. Needless to say, we have a few years on the rest of the family.

I'll close for now. Have things to work on, like tackling the other spare room!

Stay safe, wash your hands and wear a mask.

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My Day So Far

7/10/2020

Usual breakfast, bagel and coffee. Daisy, never misses to get up in my lap, looking for crumbs. And, yes most of the time she finds some. 

This morning, like every morning (and yes I'm "somewhat" in a rut. But, that's just who I am, and by the time you become a senior citizen, most of us (okay, at least me), don't really want or feel the need for changes. 

Just finished talking to my "head" doctor, via Zoom. I know everybody is zooming their friends, family as well as to doctors. I appreciate that the way the world is today, and it's scary out there. This is a perfect time for me to be reclusive. I've had years of practice being my own company. And, saying that, I actually do like myself!! 

I watched the hour, never more, and never less, the morning news.  And, the reason is, that the news is currently always seems negative

I remind myself that the world could sure use some good news right now. And, while doing a bit of research, I did find some positive news, but nothing much that caught my eye.

I did, however not too much news. And, any of the news that caught my eye, were blocked until I gave my consent. Hence, no exciting unblocked news from over the pond. I can generally find some tidbits that catch my eye. Unfortunately, I found nothing to report. And, full disclosure, there was nothing I found that seemed interesting (at least for me).

As it's August, I have already have started my search for Christmas presents. And, don't roll your eyes at the mere suggestion, that Christmas will come around again this year.

But, based on social distancing and wearing masks, it will make a very different holiday than we're used to. And, based on that, I have searched and found several things on Amazon (is there any other place to shop)? 

There are items are in my personal folder, just waiting for me to tell Jeff to pull the trigger. I have in mind, several "fun" items to give to the big as well small kids! Obviously, I can't say what I bought, because that would be "cheating". Each present should be, and generally are, just fun things. A "real" present will eventually be given. Since the boys, really don't need anything, makes it very hard to know what to buy!

Quote of the day: Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.

My usual good-bye: masks, washing hands, and social distancing. I, and all of you, don't really like masks. They seem to slip off your noses, so that  many adjustments have to keep your nose covered. And, I'll state that wearing a mask is essential, but I see a lot of  people, wear the mask doesn't cover the noses! It's really that simple.

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Cost of Drugs!

8/6/2020

No politics this morning. But, I would really like to get on my "soap box" and give you my opinion. Alas, I will not do this.

Today, I looked up prices on some pills. One medicine costs $53,000.00, and a daily dose costs only $33,000 for 4 pills. If you paid $53,000, you could buy a car! One pill's main usage is mainly for people with MS. Hmm. Well, I know that he doesn't have MS, so it's possible perhaps the pills treat other conditions.

Unfortunately, Jeff weighed in, using the cost of the pill and the price. The price made the decision pretty easy for him. And, it makes me wonder how people suffering from MS, can afford to take this medicine. 

Everyone knows, that the drug companies, who puts some random price, that a lot of people just can't afford to buy it. And, that's really sad. I know that the companies, are in fact, there to show a profit. But does anybody sit in on a board meeting, and doesn't think the price of some pills is ridiculous. How can drug companies sleep at night? Probably, very well. They don't count sheep before falling asleep. Maybe, they dream about money, and how much richer they can be. Does the comic book about Richie Rich (I think that's what it was called, have lost their sense of empathy.

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Plastic Surgery

 8/6/2020

Jeff took me yesterday to meet with a plastic surgeon. I'm not going to bore you with the details, but I can assure you, that I left, I'm not sure what my feelings best describes how I was feeling on our way home.

When we started to leave the house, Bella tried her best, with large dark eyes, to try and convince Jeff that he must have been making a mistake. She always goes with us, when we leave the house. And, she also knows that there is going to be ice cream, when our errands are gone.

Daisy, on the other hand, curls up in a ball on the back seat, and even trying to put the ice cream near her, and get no reaction. Bella, on the other end, just loves chomping and licking a cone. Sometimes, I have to remind Bella, who is higher up on the food chain. And, it's definitively not her.

For a very long time, we didn't leave Bella inside the house because of her taking (she certainly doesn't think of it as stealing), any thing that catches her eyes! We've had missing or chewed up beyond repair, shoes (generally mine), my cellphone, which she played with, until it became inoperable.

But, yesterday we came home, and found no destruction, and no food stealing off the counter. Perhaps, now that she's 4, she has given up on her puppy activities. Keeping fingers crossed.

I always hold my breath when we come home, but so far, she hasn't even touched the potato chips on the table. Progress is being made!

Jeff had bought two burrito bowls from Marie Callanders (maybe I have spelt her name wrong), but you get the idea. I will tell you that the burrito dinners were really very tasty. Tasty enough, to buy them again.

I had a busy head last night, so I came downstairs to watch television. And, in a few hours, my head was no longer busy, and I drifted back to sleep.

Please stay safe, social distancing, masks and washing your hands.

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Yesterday

8/5/2020

Yesterday, Jeff took me to an appointment with a plastic surgeon. And, no if you're wondering I wasn't going there so my lips could be bigger. See picture below, but be aware that this cartoon could be the stuff of nightmares. I have seen, and so have you, see real women who has lips just like this - horrors.

What I went to the surgeon for? An extreme  body lift (don't laugh] Doesn't everyone want to have this done to their body? Obviously, that was not what I was asking . You know where the surgeon starts at your ankles and continues to pull your skin up (and, of course that seems reasonable - not), and after pulling up all of your skin, and it is now nice and tight, stops at your head, after which, when they remove all the excess skin, and then tie up your additional skin. After that, they pull up all of that excess skin on top of your head.  Once their done with the procedures, all they have to do, is put all that skin on your head, and then just put the new tightly skin in some kind of knot on top of your head. I'm supposing that it wouldn't look too good, but perhaps a wig would help with your new body. Perhaps you would need a wig!

Okay, I researched a body lift, and the cost is somewhere around $30,000. Used to be that you could buy a new car for that amount of money! Aw, such good memories of long ago.

After researching, and I do love a good challenge, I found out that there is a procedure called body contouring. They say it's a good solution, but does require multiple treatments. I'm not in favor of. I'm more of a "one and done" kind of person. The other side of the coin is, that if you have to return for more sessions, I personally would begin to dread returning.

I see that it's now time for lunch. Better get my butt out of this chair, shower and get dressed.

As always, please be safe.

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Keeping It Short

8/4/2020

I have a doctor's appointment this morning, so this blog will be short. Apologies.

You all know that I don't wade into politics. But, today I feel I must get some of my anger out. Congress can't seem to come together long enough, to pass a bill giving the unemployed people an additional $600 each week. I know there are too many unemployed people to count. Perhaps you know someone, and I certainly do, who could really use additional money.

But, for reasons that don't make sense to me, is how this executive order can't come together for the good of the people.

I checked, and Senators earn $174,000 per year. Not too shabby. They certainly don't need a boost to their income. The annual salary of a rank-and-file Member of Congress is $174,000. Congressional leaders earn more since they have additional responsibilities. The Speaker of the House receives $223,500 annually, and the Senate President pro

tem-pore receives $193,400. Clearly, none of

these politicians are absolutely not in need of any extra money. So who is speaking out for the little people? Anybody? Or is all we're hearing now is the sound of crickets. For me, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night, knowing that with unanimous, on both sides of the aisle, could correct this deficiency. 

I believe there are not many citizens who wouldn't like to receive a boost of money. Who wouldn't?

And, then you read this: Because unemployment compensation is intended to partially replace your income, the amount you will receive depends on how much you used to earn. Seriously? This strikes me as very unfair, to all the people who are getting un-employment checks now.

Hoping off of my "soap box" now. But, it gives me pause to do so. This picture below, while more like a cartoon,  shows the present state for so many people now.

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Sorting Through Clothes!

8/3/2020

First, I wrote about sorting out Benjamin's toys. I kept a few things that will stand the test of time. The remainders, have been bagged up, to give to Benjamin to decide what to keep, or not. Anything he wants to keep, he can give those items back to me, and I'll store them with the other toys I have kept.

After doing all that, and finally seeing more of the carpet in this spare room, I decided to try on my clothes (don't tell Jeff, because unfortunately, I own a lot)!!

I put all the clothes that had been sitting at the bottom of the closet. Dragged the plastic totes, and started trying on clothes. This was a big job, but I was ruthless. If the clothes were too big, I mean really big, they went into a pile for me to donate.

I took a magnifying glass with me, because I have a hard time, seeing the size. I worked at this chore, for several hours. The donation people are going to be thrilled, because most of the clothes are in good shape. If they weren't, they went into a different pile - throw them out!

Yesterday, I put on a pair of pants, and if I sucked in my tummy just a little bit, the pants fell to the ground. Mind you, this is a good feeling, as far as my weight loss goes. This morning, I'm wearing a bathrobe, that once it's washed, will go into the donate pile. The robe is in good shape, but when I put it on, it wraps not only around me, but in actuality, it wraps around my body almost one more time. I like the robe, but it's got to go.

To keep me honest, weight wise, I have to get rid of clothes that are much too big for me now. I tell Jeff that if I donate clothes that are too big for me, then there is no going back from my weight loss, nearly a year ago. Basically, if you don't keep clothes in bigger sizes, then if you gain weight, you'll have no bigger sized clothes to wear. Because I have now gotten a little paranoid, I weigh in the morning and also at night. I have a very narrow window, as far as my weight goes. After you weigh, the scale will either show red (weight gain) or green (weight loss). Obviously, you only want to see the green number.

As somebody who, I guess, didn't give a fig about buying larger sizes, when I was working, I had "work" clothes. Now that I'm retired, and the shoppers at WalMart, don't care what I look like, I decided last November, that the multiple "xxx's" could no longer be part of my wardrobe.

Even the dress I had, which basically was my wedding, funeral dress, is now too big. It's a good thing, but now I'm going to have to buy a dress that fits me now. Such a problem!

I will eventually get around to digging through my closet(s), and yes I have more than one, try everything on, and decide to keep or donate.

When I would wear pants for my personal training, Melisa would pull out the sides of my pants. She then told me to go home and get rid of said pants. And, because I always follow rules, I did exactly what she told me. For me, trying on clothes that are too big for me, is a very good feeling. Of course, eventually it might hurt the bottom line, as I need to buy new clothes!

Everybody, stay safe, wash your hands and wear masks. I heard someone on CNN this morning, advising that we should wear masks even when we're in our own house. That is, so not going to happen for us.

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