days_unfolding

I think that I need a yoga practice. The people leading the meditations for the Smithsonian have a yoga background. It's something to investigate. Hmm, a yoga studio in Champaign offers a 50+ class on Saturday afternoons. But with the cost of gas, that could be expensive. They also offer the class online, but I'd like to go face to face first. I get paid on the 6th, so maybe on the 9th?

I bought a book (that I couldn't get from the library) called Heal Your Living: The Joy of Mindfulness, Sustainability, Minimalism, and Wellness. That seems to be the direction that I'm heading, so I'm intrigued by it.

I've decided that I don't like the Viori shampoo and conditioner bars. I'm going to try superzero.

I like my new sandals. It's funny how much cooler wearing them makes me.

Talked to Mom. She's feeling tired due to a medication that she's on. She's enjoying reorganizing stuff around the house though. She says that she's doing okay and not to worry. (I worry anyway.)

I got the new shredder, and it made quick work of the pile that I had to shred. I'm pleased with it.

Funny how things work. I was looking for composting programs in Champaign, which led me to an apartment management company talking about starting a program, and they have buildings that are pet-friendly and offer recycling. They even have one in Savoy (south of Champaign) that has a washer-dryer hookup! Worth investigating.

Holy cow. The treadmill is supposed to get here tomorrow. I need to fire up some audiobooks. I think that my fitness goals for July are walking and yoga. I walked to the mailbox today (at the other side of the complex) and got winded. I got a fitness journal to track my workouts.

I spent some time with my planning book, setting it up for July. I enjoy the stickers that they have; it's kind of cheesy, but they help. Now I need to remember to check the planner.

I was wondering when classes start in the fall. August 22nd. It's on my calendar. I need to find out how to register for classes.

I need to wend my way towards bed to get a decent night's sleep and actually have energy tomorrow. Maybe I should put that as one of my goals. It's a form of self-care.

I've found some shampoo and conditioner and body soap bars that I'd like to try in the pursuit of less packaging. It looks like the frizzy part of my hair is indeed the part that still has the dye on it. That confirms my decision to stop dyeing it. It's cool that gray hair for women is now "in," although mine is definitely salt-and-pepper.

I'm tired today, which is not surprising. And it's dark and rainy.

I tried an online meditation session offered by the Smithsonian. I'm not sure what I thought of it. Part of it was meditating on a Korean painting, which seemed strange. But I do feel relaxed in mind and body.

Overslept my nap. I've decided not to to pick up Zara's meds today because I'm too tired.

Had another nap after work. Made up work time afterward. Finally remembered to request that a transcript be sent from Wayne State University (my Master's Degree) to the University of Illinois for iCAN.

It also just occurred to me that I could ask work for a new trackball because I use it for work. New headphones too.

I have a really dry scalp that flakes. I found a dry scalp treatment that you use once a week. Worth a try. Actually, a site said to use coconut oil, so I'll try that first. No, actually I'm going to try V05 Hot Oil Treatment. I used to use it years ago and it's inexpensive, so it's worth a try.

Farmers was more expensive than Liberty Mutual. I finally went with Allstate, although it had the buggiest site (I hope that isn't an omen). I had to have a chat person help me, and the site signed me up for their driving monitor service although I didn't sign up for it. Sigh. But it's done.

I spoke too soon. Allstate sent me a contract in which almost all the info was wrong, so I was on the phone with Allstate. Then I learned that the effective date was next week, and I wanted it now. So I canceled the policy. I signed up with State Farm, and that was as smooth as Allstate was buggy. Plus there are State Farm reps in the area. (They're out of Bloomington.) I think that it's all better now (fingers crossed).

I did have enough dirt to plant my basil, so I planted it and the dill and the cherry tomato. My watering wand broke though, so I don't know whether to replace it or try to use a watering can. I bought one from Walmart because I don't want to mess with a can.

Started laundry. The light blanket is done, so I can get my clothes in the dryer. I want to get to sleep at a reasonable hour because I have a headache. Put groceries away. Oh, I need to scan my PSLF form to send to the college that's closing (done).

Arrgh. I completely forgot about the decluttering meeting. But I don't see an email about it? Yeah, I see no emails about it at all. Did I get ripped off? Well, it was only $5, so no big deal, but annoying. Oh, and I sold a book on eBay, but the buyer hasn't paid yet, so I don't have to package it yet.

Got up early and got my hair cut. And then I dropped off the dead printer and monitor for recycling after getting a little confused as to where to go. And the recycling didn't cost me anything! And the printer and monitor are out of my kitchen!

Had a nice nap. Started laundry. Went to the storage place and went through four boxes of books and brought two back to get rid of, plus a bookcase to replace the one that crumbled and the basket for my yoga stuff. I'm beat, so I need to sit a while. Maybe I should post some books to sell.

Hmm. I'm poking at airfares to Seattle and Washington DC, and Seattle is cheaper (which makes no sense because it's a longer trip). I've heard some horror stories about Airbnbs, so I need to look at hotels. It's kind of looking like the Extended Stay America for Seattle. Then I could eat breakfast there and maybe some dinners. Hmm, another advantage of Seattle is the time change. I'll have classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and they would be over earlier and I'd still have some time to do things.

Filled a bag of garbage from the kitchen. Brought in the basket and a box of books. Just remembered that I need to put clothes in the dryer, but I need to sit for a moment. Went through the box, but there were only a couple of books worth selling. I need to find out if the public library is taking donations for their sale. Put the clothes in the dryer. Emailed the library director at the public library, who is a former colleague of mine, to ask if they are accepting donations. Went to sell some books, only to find that Amazon wants me to verify my charge method, and it'll take a couple of days. Sigh. Maybe I should just sell on eBay.

Not sure what to do now. I'm feeling tired but not sleepy. Make German flashcards, maybe (done)? I'm going to eat some soup and go to bed.

I did get up at 8:30 AM. I really want to go back to sleep though, so I think that I'll wait to go get my snow shovel. I do have a small one in the car if necessary.

It's clearly Zara snuggle season. She comes running as soon as I sit at the kitchen table. (She ignores me during the summer.)

Studied Italian. My Italian lesson went okay, but the exercise choosing between the two types of past tense was hard. Oh, we also read an Italian train ticket, so now I found and saved a bunch of articles about taking the train in Italy.

I'm mulling over letting my natural hair grow out. It will make me look older because I have some gray hair (people guess late 30s or early 40s and here I am 59) but I kind of like the gray hair.

Tried to nap but couldn't sleep. Put a litter box on to soak. Paid some bills. I couldn't pay my cell phone bill because their Web site is signing me out as soon as I sign in. Yikes :)

Comments on susandennis' journal made me think that I should bake some shortbread cookies for my mom. She really likes them. I don't know if I should bake them there or before I leave for there. But I'll have a lot of homework to do before I leave.

I'd like to get the girls some heated cat beds (because they use me as a heated cat bed!), but I can't swing it this year with the money that I'm spending to go to Mom's house. Maybe next year.

I felt sleepy after dinner, so I tried to nap again, but my legs hurt again. They're worse when I lie down. I wonder if I'm getting restless leg syndrome? A medical Web site said that it's more likely when you get older and when you take a med that I'm on. Though they're still hurting when I get up. I put some analgesic cream on my legs, and that seems to help.

Took the garbage out for collection. Started laundry. Ran out to get some cash. Started working on homework for my programming class.

I think that I want to write for Medium for my mental health articles because it has a built-in audience, it's simpler to use, and it's easier to monetize. I just need to find the time to write, but Saturdays are good. I'm feeling safer to write about mental health issues under my own name because I have a good (and probably my last before retirement) job now.

I think that I'll take deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee89kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, Zara wrote that. She's looking for a new favorite spot to hang out. She tried to get into a box that I plan to use to sell my Living Language Spanish Complete set, and she found that she couldn't get into the box with the set in there. Goof. Now she's lying on top of a stack of books that I want to sell. Thankfully on top of a plastic bag.

Anyway, I was trying to say that I think that I'll take a break from homework to post. Oh bother, I need to put laundry in the dryer.

Hmm. Noom has a recipe for homemade applesauce with frozen yogurt. That might replace my pie addiction. But it's a lot of work.

Oh hell. I didn't thaw my chicken for tomorrow night. I night have to thaw it in the microwave.

Hmm. Respect is playing in Bloomington and Springfield.

Woke up to rain.

Hmm, Noom says that I should make oatmeal with water instead of milk. I'm logging my food, and when I do that, I always find "stealth calories" that I don' t realize that I'm eating. Noom also had me tracking my water intake. One glass down.

I took a "where should I live" quiz and got...Chicago. You can take me out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of me.

I decided to make grilled cheese with avocado and tomato tonight and let the chicken thaw normally. Eeek, I'm going to go over on calories, although I think that their "chicken wrap sandwich" had more calories than mine did.

I'm now dyeing my hair (done). Missed a spot, so I have a smidge of gray hair. It doesn't look bad though.

Ran to the store. I found some unsweetened applesauce to use for the apple "pie" concoction. There wasn't any frozen yogurt, so I bought the most low-cal ice cream that I could buy. And I have the light sour cream for the pancakes.

Talked to Mom. She's had a lot of stuff going wrong, including a groundhog got in her basement. She's kind of fed up. She said that it was good to talk to me though. And she's thrilled that I'm going to Madison.

I've gotten The Fit Foodies Meal Prep book. I'm intrigued by some fish cakes.

I'm trying to figure out what to do now. Maybe pick up stuff in the kitchen? Oh, and study Italian. I can't stop yawning, so maybe just look over Italian and go to sleep. And my wrist is twinging; I don't know why,

I requested the book that inspired Nomadland from the library.

Had my "loaded" oatmeal with butter, bananas, and almonds. It was good and filling.

Gloomy day. They're expecting rain later, which might put the kibosh on my plan to weed and thin the lettuce. It might be easier to do after the rain though. Hmm, a Web site that I read said to wait to thin until the lettuce is a little taller.

One of my legs started hurting while I was cleaning out litter boxes. I lay down for a nap, but it hurt too much to sleep, so I took acetaminophen, and now I'm waiting for it to kick in.

One of my cats barfed on a library book. Terrific.

Finally the acetaminophen kicked in, and I was able to nap. Had a good nap with Zara.

I decided that dyeing my hair with the new color was a good rainy-day task. Right now, I'm doing a strand test. It looked okay, so I'm doing the full color. It looks good, but I expected it to have more of an ash tone, but it is going over the old color. Maybe I want a darker color next time? I sent eSalon a message to send me a darker color next time.

Talked to Mom. She sounded upbeat. She's now thinking that I should visit in late June instead of July. I'll have to think if I can pull that off. Money for the train and pet sitter might be an issue, but maybe I could book it in mid-June?

I'm going to go to bed early. Oops, after studying Italian.

Woke up after an intense weird dream about my friend Lance being diabetic. He isn't as far as I know. Which reminds me, I want to send him an email because I never sent him a card with everything going on around Christmas.

It's snowing big fat flakes, but it's supposed to stop in a couple of hours.

I've got the hair appointment. Yay.

I was talking to Zara about how she has no respect for my person. She walks all over me as if if I was a combination jungle gym and speed bump. Now she's in my face. Zara: "So?"

I was ready 15 minutes early and went to scrape snow off my stairs, only to find that it rained and melted the snow. Works for me. So I went to work on the kitchen table but set an alarm.

Organized people: what do you do with stuff like a 15% off coupon from Chewy? I'm not planning to order from them right now, but might in the future. Also, catalogs?

Back from the hairdresser looking much better. I talked to her about getting my hair professionally colored (as a reward for losing weight), and she said that it would be easy to change the tone. Highlights might require a test because of the old color. I really would like two-tone tortoiseshell hair, but that's a long-term goal.

There is a method to my madness. Because I probably won't be able to move to Champaign until next year, I want to really get into shape and look good before I move.

And now I'm home. I'm tired, and my eyes are watering due to eye strain, so I'm staying home today, although my orders are ready for pickup. Tomorrow, the forecasters are saying snow showers, but it shouldn't be so bad for driving. Or I could go on Monday.

Got my used colorblock sweater. I'm looking for stuff that I can throw on and look decent. It'll work. (It's black, gray, and a berry color.)

Hmm. Someone in my Rebels list uses a "magic light" as a dawn simulator, and it helps her get up. Now that I'm getting up earlier that might work. However, I've been getting up without it. Something to think about. I don't think that I need it now while I' m working from home, but when I have to commute, yeah, I'll need it.

I (mostly) cleaned off the table. Go me. I have my planning books out and found the Outer Order Inner Calm book. Gretchen Rubin (the author) discovered the Four Tendencies when people kept on asking her how she got organized. She was like, "I decided to get organized and worked at it." Then she discovered that it isn't as simple for most people.

I'm loving the colored pencils that I bought to use with the workbooks. I also want to make an "action" (my word of the year) collage and put it in the kitchen. I kind of want to run out and get poster board and glue sticks, but I will be at a Walmart when I pick up my stuff.

I ran out for poster board. I found pieces of poster board at Dollar Tree, but Walmart had pieces of mini poster board, which is really what I want. And tons of glue sticks. And a pen cup for the kitchen table. (I was going to keep office supplies on the counter where Zara's dishes are. So much for that.)

Mother Nature is being indecisive. It's snowing! No, it's raining! No, I'm going to drop enough snow for you to have to brush off your car! Whatever.

Mom sounds a lot better. She's gotten some energy back. She' s having a biopsy done in a growth in her bladder on Wednesday and said that she'll call me when she feels up to it. She said that there was a lot of good energy going on with me.

Got up and wow. Dizzy. Of course, I started thinking COVID, but I'm probably just tired.

Still kind of have a chest cold. I'm getting impatient to get rid of this cold.

I'm wondering if I can walk/run with this cold. I won't have time until tomorrow though.

Got us all fed. Zara cracks me up because she has to take a hunk of food and drop it on the floor before eating it.

Nap time. Had a nice nap. I'm throwing myself together to run errands, but Zara has fallen asleep on my lap. Aww.

Got new keys made. Picked up Zara's meds. Went to put money on my Walmart debit card, only to find that I had the old one that isn't active. I'm been looking for the new one, but haven't found it thus far.

Cleaned up the stuff that Zara has knocked off of the table. I'm trying to decide whether to go to sleep now and get up early to clean (which usually doesn't go well) or stay up and clean. It's only 10:00 PM right now, but it feels later.

Well, staring at my phone isn't helping me get anything done.

Talked to Mom briefly. I was worried because she was out really late (for her), but she was at a memorial service.

I kind of like my salt-and-pepper hair roots, but I'm still going to dye them this weekend because I want to look younger while I'm working. Plenty of time to go gray after I retire.

Note to self: Multiple places offer Tai Chi in Prescott. Yavapai College has some decent Community Education classes. There's a guitar instructor in town (who also does voice).