Small Joy — birthday project!

Day 248

Random # 493

work on a birthday project with Nora

I love doing grand birthday projects for people. We’re doing a heart garland for Aunt Laurie, like we did for Kamas. I’d already gathered stamps, envelopes, a letter, addresses, and fabric with hearts drawn on them. Today Nora and I addressed, stamped and stuffed envelopes to Laurie’s friends. I’ve heard from all but 7 of them — good response! We’re sending out 24 envelopes with 36 hearts. Hopefully we get most back by end of October and we will stitch them into little puffy pillows and string into a garland.

For now, i don’t have to think about this project until late October.

EXPERIMENT: let’s see if this forehead thing works

I got this silicone forehead mask. Forget where I saw it reckmmended. It sits on forehead pretty nicely. I’ve worn it about 3 nights of past week. I’m going to wear 5 nights in a row and take a new photo see if forehead is less wrinkly.

Before

Well I slacked off two days after this post. So no difference. Will try again next week.

Update: I have not worn it consistently. It’s not unpleasant to wear at least. I do feel like my brow is less furrowed when I’m wearing it but could be my imagination.

Here is a photo approx 19 days later, but different lighting.

Small Joy — artsy fartsy

Day 247

Random number 492

Create

Had a lovely online crafting day with friends Susan and Rachel. I got ideas on what to use some fun cloth for. And I painted a bunch of hearts for a seasonal decoration.

Been busy… doing who knows what

Haven’t been keeping up with my Small Joys. But sometimes a break is a good idea. Been working more. Been baking a lot of bread. Been taking care of Peter and condo. Now the cat is sick, so that takes priority today.

Experiment already begun

I was going to start one of my Experiments on here… to take vitamin C and stay more hydrated and lotion my legs more to see if I could lessen the red spots on my ankles. I don’t know what’s causing them, but after some research, it could be dehydration or lack of Vitamin C. So a few days of lotioning and more fluids and either Airborne or Vitamin C tablets… and they are looking a bit better.

Not very scientific, but something is helping. More water. Vitamin C and lotion for a week and see if it’s even better. I’ll give all three credit.

Edited to add 9/27: haven’t taken vitamin c consistently. I have been moisturizing and exfoliating my ankles more. I am dehydrated— need more water.

Edited to add 10/1: still slacking off on enough drinking water. Been moisturizing and exfoliating and taking vitamin C. But these red spots are because of blood thinners so they’re only gonna get slightly better. Oh well.

Small Joys — Watch less

Day 246

Random number 46

Eliminate things from TV watch list

I tried out

* Sirens — eh (even with Julianne Moore)

* I’m A Virgo (I like it, but, eh, not compelled to watch next episode. Stresses me out as a parent)

* High Desert (love Patricia A, but already canceled? Eh)

*Chief of War — eh, not my style

✔️ Finished Steve Martin: A Documentary

So 5 less things on list expected of me

Small Joy — zzzzzz

Day 245

random 490

sleep in

needed it! Woke up at 10!

Small Joy — tidy up

Day 244

Random number 457

Tidy up

Washed dishes. Vacuumed. Put away clean laundry. Picked up tissues by bed. Straightened food in freezer. Vacuumed. Fixed table cloth. Put stuff away.

Stood back and appreciated living in a smaller space.

Small Joy — good job, Old Me!

Day 243

Random number 489

admire my past self for doing well

Woke up late, Peter had dentist appt. I didn’t know where insurance info was. Called Sean in a panic to get insurance card.

Turns out former me is awesome!

I had given the dentist’s office the insurance info when I made the appointment a month ago. Whew!

And I wrote 9:30 for the appt but it’s really 9:40. Prior me didn’t have a cold and sleep deficit and made today easier!

Small Joys — big catch up

I got lax about posting these.

Day 237. Number 65. 9/11/25 explore a theme park

Got myself an annual pass to Busch Gardens!

Day 238. 482. 9/12/25 Cocktails with a friend

Stacy was in town, we explored three bars!

Day 239. 3. 9/13/25 admire public art AND 339. celebrate a friends passion: Karen and her dog Mr Frodo at an agility competition.

Day 240. 224. 9/14/25 admire daughter’s taste 

I love this shower curtain she left in the condo

Day 241. 262. 9/16/25 remember my uncle AND 488. enjoy serendipity!

Uncle Peter’s 68th birthday. And I found a mini crockpot and a 6 quart Dutch oven for $10 and $30 at Aldi. Amazing deals.

Day 242. 364. 9/17/25 cook what you’ve been craving

Cranberry apricot meatballs! So good.

.

Living abroad proposal

We probably can’t and don’t want to fully love to another country — at least not without the kids.

But if Sean and I are retired or semi retired and there’s no grandbabies yet to fuss over and we’re still healthy… we should consider a month or two in certain countries.

1. To see if we could tolerate living in a non US culture
2. Just to get away from the insanity
3. and get away from Florida in summer
4. And maybe do make connections for a longer or more permanent stay if needed.
5. Learn to live with less

I would propose

1. -Spain/Portugal
2. -Italy
3. -Mexico
4. -Canada of course, but I think we know their culture, but it would be good to strengthen connections cause it’s our most likely destination
5. -some Eastern Europe country that isn’t overly Russia friendly
6. -Argentina maybe?
7. If we were frugal and stuck to smaller towns. UK and Amsterdam and northern France would also be nice.

I’m not keen on Asia or Central America …

Feeling better

I had a head cold. I must be feeling better. In addition to work (turned in 3 returns so far this week), I’ve vacuumed, started a loaf of bread, and started a crockpot meal. Then I was washing dishes, and thinking, wow, it’s been days since I washed dishes but there aren’t many. Oh yeah, I barely ate for 3 days.

Looking forward to meatballs and roasted garlic tonight, and fresh bread tomorrow.

Brand new mini crockpot (perfect for one!) And new 6 quart Dutch oven behind it. Both great Aldi deals.

A bargain for cookware

So! I was trying to be a smart consumer and look for a crockpot at a thrift store. Save some money. Especially since we already own two (one is in deep storage). Saw a decent one at thrift store but I don’t think it was original lid. The lid is *plastic*? I didn’t trust it even at $8. Or maybe because of $8.

I also looked around for a Dutch oven as those are pretty pricey and I already have a perfectly good glass container that bakes my bread. But it never hurts to hunt for a good deal -- especially since I think I am going to keep baking bread forever. However, I didn’t see anything.

I did however find an amazing couch at a good price. But I did not buy it. I may regret that.

ANNYWAY, then Peter and I went to Aldi (or Aldi’s as I’ve taught him to say it 😉)… and just for kicks I walked down the new items aisle. And they had a 2 gallon crockpot for $10. Yes, TEN. Perfect for tiny kitchen.

Oh and next to it: a small metal Dutch oven for $30. I think I literally said "GET OUT OF HERE" when I saw that.

So, yeah, of course I bought them both.

(no photo yet of dutch oven as we left it in the car when bringing in other groceries, but it is blue)

Cardiology patient

My heart troubles “started” in 2017 I always say. But honestly I’d been in the hospital twice before then with heart issues. Plus family history. Most likely I didn’t notice all the little ways my failing heart was slowing me down in the decade before 2017.

I missed out on a lot of my daughter’s high school and college years. 😕 I honestly thought I was just lazy, but I was so easily fatigued. Being fat and middle aged didn’t help my energy or self image.

Chronic illness often sneaks up on you. When symptoms happen occasionally or have seeming solutions in a medication… you think it’s a blip. Sure, with my family history, I was going to develop heart trouble… but not in my 40s! Everything was just a speed bump.

But, looking back, I *was* sick.

And then the week I turned 50, my heart started a serious decline in function. I still thought each procedure or new med would fix it. And I’d be right back to normal. And my expectation of normal lowered so I thought this was good enough, not realizing how much my energy had slipped.

Then in 2019, a procedure did not help for a change. And then came two hospital stays with deadly symptoms, and a quick decline into congestive heart failure.

I finally was like, oh hey. Maybe I’m … you know…sick. Like forever with this.

A pacemaker has helped a lot. And when I pay attention and keep healthy habits, I feel good like I’m in my 40s instead of (my experience of) early 50s. But I know this thing is legit.

I kinda wish I’d taken it more seriously earlier. Then others would have too.

But also… who would want to identify as a near invalid with two teenagers while in the midst of a career re-start. You don’t want others to worry. You don’t want to worry! You feel mostly great most of the time! And there’s life to be lived.

I guess I wish a doctor had sat me down and talked about how serious — though manageable — this all was going to be. That I could be mostly fine most of the time, but I was never not going to be a cardiology patient.

But they’re cardiologists not psychologists.

Who knows.

I am trying to finally take my body seriously at 58…?

Peter brag

Today is my Uncle Peter’s 68th birthday.

An update on my Peter:

Peter often takes showers on class days without my suggesting it.

He checked with me on what I expect him to do during this week because he knows he has more homework now.

Every time he drives, he’s been responsibly signing into an app from the insurance company that tracks his driving to get us a discount (they need 4 hours of him driving).

He’s also oblivious to street signs while driving so driving solo still isn’t quite a thing yet.

He still spends loads of time staring at his phone and staying up too late.

He still hates his beard and yet hates shaving so is bedraggled half the time. 

I still occasionally have to remind him to pull the bottom of his pants out of his socks. But at least he does it without complaining now. 

But also! Three weeks ago he said he wants to do something about his lazy eye (something a doctor suggested to him years ago but he didn’t want to do then) … but now we have an appt on 9/30 and I’m so excited for him. He wants to be out in public and doesn’t want to be embarrassed. 

Like all of us… a work in progress.

Small Joys — lavish praise

Day 236

Rando # 300

Build Sean up, lavish praise

sean has had a bad start to a work trip. And also stressed about how his royalties have grew smaller. I reassured him he’s awesome, and his employers are being rotten and stupid. And he deserves to rest and sto and enjoy the scenery there in Colorado.

He sent this photo:

Small Joys — old art in new places

Day 235

Random number 479

Hang up Art in condo

Hung 3 of our paintings, and my ceramic fish, and a few Halloween decorations.

Experiment — body moisturizer, skin firming

Bought myself some new lotion from Nivea. It claims it can give me “firmer skin” two weeks.

Why not test it out. I’m suppose to put it on twice a day.

the before photos on Monday 9/8/25:

Update 9/12/25: have not remembered to do twice a day, and I diverge arms more often than the legs. But I am moisturizing about 20 times more than usual!

Small Joys — cupcake and save $2

Day 233

Random number 194

enjoy a cupcake

And I did — chocolate cupcake with hot pink frosting. At our Flamingocon Friends & Family event.

Day 234

Random number 258

Don't buy a power ball ticket

This was going to be: buy a power all ticket and enjoy speculating on winning. But we didn’t get around to it Saturday, then went to buy a ticket on Sunday morning and discovered/remembered that the drawing for the 1.79 billion had been on Saturday. So we enjoyed not wasting $2! Wheee!

Small Joys — fruit & new lotion

Day 231

Random number 108

Eat a piece of fruit

An apple! This needs to be more often. So yummy.

Day 232

Rand number 50

Buy new lotion

A new lotion, new promise of moisture! I bought it at CVS, using coupons and extra bucks which is fun. This one claims it will firm skin in two weeks. So I’ll start an experiment and photograph the results, see if it’s true.

Fun to do in Tampa — Riverwalk

Downtown, walk the Riverwalk, see public art

Thing I looked up: craft classes in Lakeland

 Library events with crafts to share with Nora

Small Joys — walking indoors

Day 230

Random # 193

Watch and do a walking video

Sean hooked up the DVD player. Today I got batteries for the remote. And I’m walking indoors with my old DVDs. I’m so glad I have this. I need to get a resistance band.

Thing I looked up today — USF student discounts

USF student discounts

EXPERIMENT: hair conditioning part 2

I believe my hair will look better and be less frizzy and will curl better with regular conditioning. From Sept 2 to Sept 30, 28 days, I will condition my hair at least 5 times a week.

Factor: my hair is getting colored on 9/26 which could overshadow the final results.

Tuesday 9/2: done

Weds — conditioned, didn’t photograph

Thursday skipped

Friday 9/5 — done

Saturday 9/6 skip

Sunday 9/7

monday, 9/8, conditioned!

Tuesday conditioned, no photo

Wednesday skipped

Thursday 9/11:

Friday 9/12

Saturday 9/13 — conditioned, no photo

Sunday 9/14

I dropped the ballon this. Was sick, then recovering and did not shower or condition hair much this week. It was frizzy mess again by Friday. Conditioned it Saturday morning, and it’s so much happier. No photo though.

so 11 out of 18 days so far. That’s better than 50%. Hair color is Friday, so let’s try to condition every day until then, so it’s going into hair color in great shape. If I do conditioning Sunday to Thursday, I’d get at least 17 or 18 out of 26 days… that’s way better than I have ever done. That’s like 70%.

Small joys — mindless

Day: 229

Random number: 178

Hours of mindless TV

After a lovely full weekend and cuddles with my honey, I enjoyed 4 hours of Sunny on Apple and an hour of Matlock. Still managed to also make dinner (and leftovers) and finish King Arthur shopping and start dishwasher.

Now early to bed in hopes of a good night sleep.

Ins and Outs September

Ins:

1. roasted broccoli
2. salmon
3. working and making money, OT when possible
4. Dracula
5. Busch Gardens
6. Peter driving on his own
7. housekeeping
8. house hunting
9. exercise videos indoors
10. fiber
11. being blonde
12. Foreign films
13. planning future vacations with friends
14. Survivor
15. meditation
16. labyrinth walks

Outs

1. processed sugar
2. being outside more than necessary
3. political doom scrolling

UPDATE

Labyrinth one was good in Tampa. Will go here again.

Labyrinth 2 was a bust in Sarasota, overgrown with weeds.

Saw Dracula Comedy of Terrors. It’s funny. But not amazing.

Got annual pass to Busch Gardens. Visited once. Still awfully hot midday.

Our run of Hong Kong movies is over, but looking forward to other options.

Not too much sugar, though I indulged in chocolate today. My body didn’t really like it after a long break.

Getting better at putting away the phone occasionally and getting away from doom scrolling.

Survivor 49 starts the week and my hair appointment is this week! More roasted broccoli and Sunday.

Need more exercise video time and fiber! It’s why I keep this list: to remind me of goals and priorities!

UPDATE 10/1

Not enough roasted broccoli and salmon. Lots of tunafish sandwiches

Not enough work hours — but I have been busy with no work stuff.

Not enough walking. Really gotta focus on that for October

Peter not driving on his own yet. He has to by 10/17.

Watched less Survivor than we had in past. But picked up again at end of month.

Finally getting to vacation planning with friends in first week of October.

i slid into a bit of sugar at end of September. Nipping that in bud.

i am blonde. We saw Dracula. I joined Busch Gardens. I worked. I did housekeeping. Definitely a bit less doom scrolling so that’s good.

i also started a HELOC application and Laurie's 70th birthday and had a cold.