Oh, hey.
Just sitting at my bar, having a glass of wine.
I was sitting out by the pond but it's too humid out there.
Pumpkin wants to go back outside and beat up the nice neighbor cat that wandered through the yard.
Counting my blessings, in what seems like a handful at at time.
Life has been pretty good.
Work has been steady/kinda slow, which I'm fully embracing because I know how busy it can/will get.
Planning a few trips, to some new places, yeah! Got plane tickets to Atlanta next month, just because they were cheap and we've never been. April involves a trip to Austin, and I believe FG has plans to book a trip to Boston in June. He has it in his head that we're going to take a trip each month. I'm certainly okay with that, as long as we do it economically. Usually my vacations are the "treat yoself" vibe, but if we're taking several this year I've gotta budget. Also in the works is a possible trip to Vegas in July and it looks like Suzy and I will be spending Thanksgiving in Seattle/Vancouver. I also really wanted to go to San Diego this year but we'll see how that works out.
Getting ready for another round of painting. Feeling motivated to finish the main rooms because with each wall, the light bounces around so much more and the mood in the house is lifted. Also testing out pinks in the bathroom. Because I can.
Digestive issues have gotten worse. Like, random attacks of digestive upset followed by pain and general ick. I figured I was getting accidentally glutened but I stopped eating out and can't pinpoint a trigger. I'm scheduled for another endoscopy... which isn't for another few weeks and I'm not looking forward to it, but I figure with my health history, I will likely just have to learn to deal with cameras being periodically poked through my digestive system.
Speaking of, this little ray of sunshine has been floating around the celiac community, and explains a lot actually. Basically there was a study done that found that for those with celiac disease, the good immunity cells are replaced by cells that promote inflammation and a bunch of other non-fun stuff when exposed to gluten.
But. Those types of cells stick around permanently even after you move to a gluten free diet. We're talking joint pain, inflammation in the bowels for no damn reason, and a diminished ability to fight tumor cells and general intestinal infections. So you eat gluten free but still suffer. Hopefully the next step after this discovery is finding a way to reverse or combat it.
Skin. That differin gel is actually making a difference. Way less breakouts. Now I'm mostly dealing with scarring and discoloration from past breakouts, which still doesn't look pretty but at least I can get those eventually lasered off.
Speaking of lasers, I still have to look into laser hair removal. I wanted to wait until most of it grew back from the waxing, and I think I'm about there. So excited thinking about the prospect of never shaving my armpits again. TAKE MY MONEY.
27 February 2019
20 February 2019
DIY floating planter
One of the main reasons why there were so many holes in the pond liner was because there were a lot of rocks in it. Water pressure combined with the weight of the rocks is enough to puncture it. There were even cinderblocks stacked inside the pond to serve as plant stands for the lily pads, which definitely caused problems.
The pond guy suggested getting floating planters when I get more plants.
You can get them on amazon for 35 bucks, ORRRR you can go to the dollar store and make your own for 3 bucks.
Which I did. With a basket, a pool noodle, and some zip ties. So easy, so cheap, and it actually worked!
Went to the store, got a plant, and plopped it in.
I have to admit I was scared when I stuck it in the pond, but it floats perfectly. The plant should eventually grow over the edge enough to conceal the bright blue color.
The pond guy suggested getting floating planters when I get more plants.
You can get them on amazon for 35 bucks, ORRRR you can go to the dollar store and make your own for 3 bucks.
Which I did. With a basket, a pool noodle, and some zip ties. So easy, so cheap, and it actually worked!
Went to the store, got a plant, and plopped it in.
I have to admit I was scared when I stuck it in the pond, but it floats perfectly. The plant should eventually grow over the edge enough to conceal the bright blue color.
11 February 2019
health, home, beauty, etc.
Ugh. Lipid panel sucked. It was a huge disappointment, as I've made some long-term positive changes only to see they're getting worse. Well, I'm not getting any younger and I suppose mid-thirties is late enough to start thinking about taking drugs to make sure I don't have a heart attack in a decade. Still, very disappointing. Traitorous body! I give you vegetables!
New oven was installed today, for $75 thanks to this fantastic thing called a home warranty. It's so cool, it looks like a double oven because the microwave opens with a bottom hinge just like an oven door. And it's pretty and it sings at me when it's done. I'm so happy with it! What else can I find that's broken so it can be replaced?
I noticed my curb appeal sucked recently so today I got outside and pulled a bunch of weeds and removed some plants that had died in the freezing weather. Then I noticed the back looking a little overgrown and the next thing I know, there are 8 trash bags full of crap I pulled out of the back yard. It's looking a lot better now, and there are no spots that look appealing to critters looking for a new home. Relieved to report that I encountered zero roaches or snakes or rats, and only walked into 2 spiderwebs. I haven't seen the frog in a while, since the pond was drained and the leaks were "fixed." I half-expected to encounter him in my clean-out, but I didn't. I hope he didn't find a new home because I really like him!
I plan to plant sunflowers along the back fence and slowly fill in the newly empty places with as many flowers as I can. If I can't have a hot tub just yet I'm going to have flowers, darn it.
Finances are a little tighter than I'd like. This new higher mortgage sucks and I actually can't spend money with abandon. I have to PLAN my large purchases and cut back on random Target runs. I'm joking-ish, but even with the purse strings tied a little tighter, I'm trying to plan a couple of trips as cheaply as I can... I have the wanderlust, bad. I have several trips planned but they're all to places I've been before. I want to go to a NEW place.
Been experiencing some really, really shitty acne. All over my cheeks, mostly. So bad I had to buy actual foundation because I can't simply dot concealer over a few spots anymore. Before I go back to the dermatologist to get another expensive prescription that doesn't work, I decided to try that new Differin gel. It got worse for a few weeks, but has actually stated to get better.
"Better" is relative, though, as currently I still have way more acne than I'd like, but I'm encouraged.
In addition, I'm using face masks on a daily basis. Sandi does it and she has flawless skin, so I figured it couldn't hurt.
I could use a long hot bath. You know how clorox makes those toilet scrubbing wands with the disposable pads? They need to make something like that but for bathtubs. I would buy that.
New oven was installed today, for $75 thanks to this fantastic thing called a home warranty. It's so cool, it looks like a double oven because the microwave opens with a bottom hinge just like an oven door. And it's pretty and it sings at me when it's done. I'm so happy with it! What else can I find that's broken so it can be replaced?
I noticed my curb appeal sucked recently so today I got outside and pulled a bunch of weeds and removed some plants that had died in the freezing weather. Then I noticed the back looking a little overgrown and the next thing I know, there are 8 trash bags full of crap I pulled out of the back yard. It's looking a lot better now, and there are no spots that look appealing to critters looking for a new home. Relieved to report that I encountered zero roaches or snakes or rats, and only walked into 2 spiderwebs. I haven't seen the frog in a while, since the pond was drained and the leaks were "fixed." I half-expected to encounter him in my clean-out, but I didn't. I hope he didn't find a new home because I really like him!
I plan to plant sunflowers along the back fence and slowly fill in the newly empty places with as many flowers as I can. If I can't have a hot tub just yet I'm going to have flowers, darn it.
Finances are a little tighter than I'd like. This new higher mortgage sucks and I actually can't spend money with abandon. I have to PLAN my large purchases and cut back on random Target runs. I'm joking-ish, but even with the purse strings tied a little tighter, I'm trying to plan a couple of trips as cheaply as I can... I have the wanderlust, bad. I have several trips planned but they're all to places I've been before. I want to go to a NEW place.
Been experiencing some really, really shitty acne. All over my cheeks, mostly. So bad I had to buy actual foundation because I can't simply dot concealer over a few spots anymore. Before I go back to the dermatologist to get another expensive prescription that doesn't work, I decided to try that new Differin gel. It got worse for a few weeks, but has actually stated to get better.
"Better" is relative, though, as currently I still have way more acne than I'd like, but I'm encouraged.
In addition, I'm using face masks on a daily basis. Sandi does it and she has flawless skin, so I figured it couldn't hurt.
I could use a long hot bath. You know how clorox makes those toilet scrubbing wands with the disposable pads? They need to make something like that but for bathtubs. I would buy that.
04 February 2019
productiveness
Last week was a slow week at work, so I took advantage of that and made a bunch of doctor's appointments.
Finally went in for a checkup, and got some bloodwork done that will actually be on my chart. Curious to see how my lipids look, as my diet has changed drastically over the last year or so. I hardly ever eat red meat or dairy, I eat a ton more veggies and have been taking fish oil consistently. We'll see!
Saw the dentist for an x-ray and cleaning. NO CAVITIES, which has literally never happened. Going to get some surface chips filled but that's no biggie.
Been having some digestive issues, which I attributed to poor diet or accidental glutening. However I've noticed a persistent pain in a localized area over the last few weeks so I figured it would be smart to get it checked out. GI doc wants to do another endoscopy, which I'm not thrilled about, but I suppose is necessary. In the meantime, she prescribed some pills to take (also not thrilled about that but it's short-term), and said to lay off the booze. Surprisingly, I don't mind that. I haven't wanted to drink lately anyway, and when I do it really does irritate my stomach.
Got a lot done paint-wise last week. Look!
Compare that to the previous picture I took:
Brighter and airier, don't you think? The new lights I installed are perfect; they are daylight LEDs and change the whole feel of the room. Very pleased so far. I want to continue this momentum and tackle the grey walls in the main rooms next.
Finally went in for a checkup, and got some bloodwork done that will actually be on my chart. Curious to see how my lipids look, as my diet has changed drastically over the last year or so. I hardly ever eat red meat or dairy, I eat a ton more veggies and have been taking fish oil consistently. We'll see!
Saw the dentist for an x-ray and cleaning. NO CAVITIES, which has literally never happened. Going to get some surface chips filled but that's no biggie.
Been having some digestive issues, which I attributed to poor diet or accidental glutening. However I've noticed a persistent pain in a localized area over the last few weeks so I figured it would be smart to get it checked out. GI doc wants to do another endoscopy, which I'm not thrilled about, but I suppose is necessary. In the meantime, she prescribed some pills to take (also not thrilled about that but it's short-term), and said to lay off the booze. Surprisingly, I don't mind that. I haven't wanted to drink lately anyway, and when I do it really does irritate my stomach.
Got a lot done paint-wise last week. Look!
Compare that to the previous picture I took:
Brighter and airier, don't you think? The new lights I installed are perfect; they are daylight LEDs and change the whole feel of the room. Very pleased so far. I want to continue this momentum and tackle the grey walls in the main rooms next.
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