I haven't checked the board for a while... Haven't fallen off the edge of the Earth
I've been working my butt off. I do the loaner instruments for the after school band program. The first year... I think I lent out 45 instruments. Last year, it was about 80. This year, I've loaned out 117 in the last month and still have another 15 or so to go, but I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
Takes me about 2 hours to play test, clean, inventory, checkout and deliver an instrument... on average. Most days in October, I worked from 7:30am until 11:00pm nonstop... often not having time for lunch. Only think I haven't been skimping on is sleep.
I did get sick for 2 days. Another band dir. dumped 65 instruments in my garage that I needed to go thru... and I've played/touched/messed with approximately 175 instruments in the past month. I can not comprehend the number of zeros I would need to count up the germs I've taken in. I was thinking of you all, as kids have had H1N1/Swine flu in the district. Thus far, my health clinic doesn't have the vaccine. And there are no plans to give vaccines at school. Health care workers are threatening to strike, as they have not gotten the vaccine, either. I'm guessing we will end up going thru the flu season unvaccinate. I did have a seasonal flu shot... but heard on the news that nobody has the seasonal flu. If people have the flu... is all H1N1.
It has been an "interesting" eating month. Usually, lunch has been a baked potato, defrosted frozen vegs, and a defrosted Banquet frozen dinner. I've eaten virtually, no snacks this month (is amazing how not hungry a person can be when they eat lots for breakfast... and then don't have time to snack!). I'm having trouble remembering what we've been doing for dinner. (Nelson has also been working hellacious hours.) I think I've eaten a lot of p&j sandwiches and bowls of cereal with banana... and Jamie and I have Chipoltle MANY times. And we got Chinese take out one night. I actually made dinner for the past two nights and looking forward to getting back to more "normal".
If you walk/run around the house from 7am until 11:30pm and schlep instruments across school campuses and are hosing out trombones in the backyard at 9:45 at night... a person can eat quite a large number of calories. I'd guess that I've been eating 2500-3000 every day. Fortunately, I haven't gained any weight.
The scale is the same (or even down)... but am "fluffier" since I haven't exercised in about 6 weeks or something. I've lost a lot of muscle definition. I think that maybe I lose definition faster now at (almost 52) than I did pre-50. Nelson says he likes it better. I figure that it is what it is. I'm just glad that the scale didn't go up and I don't have to go back into losing mode. Plan to do a 30 day shred today as I want to be ready for ski season... and despite an El Nino prediction... we aren't getting a lot of rain/snow... but still hoping.
We are all good. Jamie has a new math teacher in YEARS, and we got him a math and Spanish tutor and he may end his high school experience on a high note... and there is the possibility that he could get straight A's (or maybe one B). Tutor is VERY, VERY expensive... and we are freaking just a little financially, but hanging in there.
House is surprising clean... needs some catch up work... but could be sooooo much worse! Looked for a while like the instrument repair shop or eBay barfed in my living room... but all of those instruments are loaned out now.
A good friend (with a brain tumor) has stopped treatment and started Hospice, so that is very sad and weighing on our group of friends.
But mostly, we are all doing pretty good.
Been thinking about you all often and wondering how everybody here is?
Denise
Posts: 9221 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Hi denise! I'm glad your family is doing okay. I am very sorry about your friend. My mom and I just went through the same thing. Our friend just passed away this last monday. I am doing okay. I have an evil cold that I am getting over. I got completely side tracked on my diet again taking care of my kids and helping my mom care for our friend until I got sick. My daughter with extra help is doing good in school this year. I know she is enjoying school. My Son is doing good. We are still trying to get his seizure meds regulated. He is driving his teacher batty at times. (ADHD) We are trying some different things. Nothing to date is anything that you can say that is the answer. part of the problem is keeping him wanting to try. DH is healthy and very busy. Anyway, I am back to trying to lose weight and trying to find a part time job to help with the finances. I just hope my mom's health stays okay so my working part time will not be a problem. I am trying to get on in substitute postitions at the school district for starters. I have to relearn a lot of math to take the test to qualify for the instructional aid position. Working while the kids are in school is the only way it will be possible.
This time, I managed to badly injure my shoulder while (!) sleeping. I must have rolled over with my arm all twisted around or something. Anyway, it's not getting better at all, and I'm hoping that the injury isn't permanent.
Me too Denise -- I'm so very sorry about your friend.
As for me, I'm slowly, slowly approaching the upper end of a healthy BMI and that's as far as I can go. 3-4 lbs and then maintenance.
Lots of stressors right now - I'm feeling overextended due to work stuff and being in the middle of the H1N1 outbreak in our city right now (half of the kids in ds' class were absent on Monday, either with swine or seasonal, who knows?). So I do poorly at work and worry a lot and feel very tired. The only thing keeping me from overeating is I get major indigestion if I do (and even when I don't).
****************** “The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.”
I'm so sorry Denise. I totally agree about the no thing as all good/all bad but there is still a lot of sadness. I hope you'll be able to find comfort in the network of friends and your family.
I am doing fine. Mostly the same old, same old. Still trying to eat healthy and mostly focusing on getting 225 min of exercise on avg per week. It's a push. Went to a big fitness center on a 1 week pass last week and I don't think it's for me. I can't see myself actually making that happen week in and week out. There's a smaller center that's next on my list to try. I did get a nice long walk in today but indian summer won't last forever.
Was out shopping for dress clothes over the week and I'm still firmly in a size 12 so that works for me. Like not being between sizes anymore, sort of wish I'd gotten into the 10 instead of 12 but not wishful enough to make any major changes right this minute.
Hi everybody. Thanks for the good wishes and nice to "see" everybody.
I posted this at 8:30am.
Checked email and there was an email saying Sarah isn't doing well. Come TODAY.
She passed away about 10am yesterday. Hospice was scheduled to come at 11am.
It was both a "good death" and a "sucky death". Sucked because she was 50ish, and has 3 kids, and having a brain tumor for 2 years really sucks. But she also had about 6 really excellent months last spring and early summer. And it was a peaceful death, and exactly as she and her family would have wanted.
Sad day, but also a "good" day with my friends. Everybody dropped everything and went to their house yesterday about noon.
Nothing is seldom all good or all bad.
Denise
Posts: 9221 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Hey Denise-was wondering where you were. Wow you have been one busy chick!
I think my two biggest changes are that I started taking classes to obtain a new degree and change careers and that I started working out with a trainer about 6 weeks ago and am really making a commitment to changing my health and weight.
Jill
I have no specific goal(s) right now. I am trying to find the spiritual side of myself that I lost somewhere along the way.
Must be something in the air in Northern California today (other than flu viruses!) because I'm checking in for the first time in a long time, too. Looks like I've missed a lot.
Denise, I'm tired just reading your post! Hope you can take a break soon. Even if you can't, maybe you should?
I've been working on PTA fundraising again this year, rowing a lot, chauffering my child to all his various activities and social engagements, and making a concerted effort to NOT stress eat. My weight is holding pretty steady just above my ideal range and I need to work on making some small changes over time. May be back more often!
hey denise, how awesome to hear form you. i am sorry to hear about your friend. thank goodness you guys are a solid group of friends.
i know what you mean about life getting busy. for me, that means, less gym time, trying to fit in exercise here and there. still eating normal, and not worrying as much about calories but not gaining anything either. i just had my annual paps, and i am the same weight i have been for 2 years now.
Goals: 1. Enjoy life! 2. Be aware, be awake, pay attention. 3. One word 2010: faith
Posts: 2653 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: November 11, 2006
I'm glad that overall things are going well on your end but I'm sad to hear about your friend's decline. I hope that the hospice support is helpful for her and the family.
We're just getting over the flu. Chris got it first, then me and finally Cori. Everyone is finally back to work/school today but all three of us sound like we have bronchitis and no one is sleeping very well.
Today was the first day that I exercised in over a week and it sent me into a coughing fit so I'm taking it slow.
Still babying my ankle which I injured running too. It's improving slowly though so staying off it was probably a good plan.
Everything else is pretty much status quo.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
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