Reading Retreat

Sunday I ended up washing all of my sweaters and putting them back in storage. Sigh. I look good in sweaters. Ah well, it's getting warm again so I probably can survive with hoodies and the odd sweater dress. Just one... the one with the cut out in the back. 😁 you know, for date nights. Then it got coldish on fri. Of course. Sigh... ah well.

I've pretty much got the bio tracker figured out, there's just one thing that has me... unsettled. How quickly connected becomes normal. My car insurance app judges my driving for discounts. My bio tracker judges my activity and pays me thru my insurance app. I had to sign up for Google fit in order for my tracker to talk to my insurance and yet they don't agree. Treadmill says 2.59 miles, tracking app says 2.03 and Google says 2.91. I'm still going with the treadmill for my walk to mordor. It's just... the car insurance discount is pennies because according to them I drive too much, but it's a pain in the butt not to have it because they constantly hound you about it. The health insurance is basically a refund (again, pennies) tho I 100% think I overpay for what we actually use. And yet, since I got the tracker I figured "why not?" Their "yearly refund" doesn't equal what they take out of ONE paycheck, let alone a year of them. What will they actually do with the data I'm sharing with them? How dystopian nightmare are we going? Sigh... just some thoughts. It's like with the industrial revolution: profits were the most important thing until tragedies and loss of life led to regulations and safety standards. We are in the profit-driving technological revolution now, so what tragedies will lead to regulation? People dying because insurance won't pay based on lifestyle data (as opposed to income/insurance policy)? Sorry, it's scary to go down the rabbit holes of what could happen and where this could lead. And yet, until I don't need the tracker anymore (when my next weird dizzy thing happens and i can determine if its blood pressure related) I might as well try to get some money back from the damn insurance company.

Work was work. 

I got a new lamp in my office...

Doesn't it look like I'm a professional now??

So, the reading retreat. When I was in Italy I got my bestie a blind book. That's a book that's all wrapped up with a synopsis on it, but you don't know what book it is. Well, now you van buy a "blind date with a book." Same thing, but this time with stickers, bookmarks, tea, etc. I got us one each from the farmers market last year, and pitched the idea of a reading retreat weekend. So, this weekend was our reading retreat. We wanted cozy, snacking, reading, relaxing, chatting, and since Feb 22 is national margarita day, OF COURSE we had to have those, too. So we met up in New Braunfels. Hubby brought some of his figurines to paint as well, and we went a little nuts for snackies. 

Besties book

The one from Italy was a good girls guide to murder, but bestie left that at home.

My book

The synopsis on the wrapper is better than anything in or on the book. I have NO idea what this is about.

Book #2 for me

I am intrigued.

We also brought games

And crafties

The scratch off things are fun, and very Lisa frank.

My kind of art!

Hubbs brought his Warhammer stuffs to work on, too. Friday we got fish and shrimp from besties dad's K of C fish fry. We were STARVING, so I didn't get a pic, but it was all good. The Mac and cheese was particularly enjoyable. Saturday was mimosas and snacks with our books and crafts. Then hubbs wanted blacks BBQ for dinner, so we did that. 

Now it's Sunday and I went to Mass, we will have dinner with my Stew family tonight. I am so grateful to them for being my rock since I moved to TX. I love these people so much, I'm so grateful to know and love them. Hugs to all of you that I know and love and miss. ❤️

Bio Tracking

Since this is the first time I've had a wearable fitness tracker, I want to share some thoughts about it.

Day 1: it's either needing calibration or I take WAY more steps around the apt on a lazy day than I thought! 

Nice to have a 30 second scan option so next time I have a dizzy spell I can see if it's heart related.

Day 2: it's nice to have data to back me up when I say that i slept like shit. 

Ah, it doesn't automatically log my workouts, so I gotta remember to push "walk" when I start the treadmill. Also, no option for strength training... rude!!

Day 3: strength training is called "compound exercise." Seems unnecessary, but ok. 

Major discrepancy between the tracker and the treadmill. I wonder if it have to allow more settings. 1.4 miles vs 2.51 seems excessive 

I DONT WANT CALLS/NOTIFICATIONS ON MY WRIST!!! I want the tracker to track and the phone to phone, how is that hard to understand?!?!

Is there a difference between wearing it inside or outside the wrist? Most seem to wear it outside. Why do I prefer inside? I'll try it outside for a day or 2. See what it says during gym time. 

Day 4: I have a 2 hour block of sleep time missing. I wonder what that's all about. 

Ok, the tracking issue is fixed, tho there is still a discrepancy. 2.1 miles vs 2.56. But heart rate looks WAY more accurate (same workout each day, so I know what it should look like). Tracker has lower heart rate, too, so maybe it's more accurate?? But I'm going with treadmill for distance (cuz I CAN). 

Also, don't have to allow calls to let tracker track, so YAY!!! 

Also, FINALLY logged over 10,000 steps! Lol... what do I win?!?!

Day 5: errands and stuff. Way more steps today during the day. However not as many as when I treadmill. Didn't wanna.

Day 6: we celebrated Valloween cuz... Friday the 13th. Who cares what the bio tracker says! Sleepover with the hubby!! Dinner, then living room fort and SNACKS!! Games and/or movies. Love spending time with my hubby!

Day 7: I've developed an itchy red spot thanks to the band... that's annoying. It has 2 bands, so maybe the cloth one for day wear and plastic for workouts. Sigh. 

Anyway, non-tracker related

As promised, new office set up

Much nicer, less clutter, and got rid of all my extra binders! One issue: the desk bit me! So I had to move it closer to the door. Also I've ordered another lamp for behind me. The lamp will also have shelves for my stuffs 😁

For when I dont want to gym, but I still want to move (and thanks to Lil sis) I got an infinity hoop. It's supposed to be a good full-body workout. We shall see...

The hoop and waist belt. It was on sale. I didn't try this week cuz... I didn't wanna. 

In other news, I paid off my car!!! Fran is mine, all MINE!!! Hehe. So now I don't have to worry as much about the car dying while I still owe $ on it. My plan is to keep saving $ so when it does die ill have a down payment this time. 

Thursday I went to confession at st rose of lima cuz they understand we need the option for confession more often than just at 330 on Saturday. (For real, can more parishes PLEASE offer random weekday after work options??)

Hubbs said he wanted to do valentines this year, so I made him a Valloween basket! 

All the goblin snacks and a dozen milk chocolate roses!!

Jason valentine cuz.... Friday the 13th

ALL THE SNACKS!!! We goblin HARD. 

I made us a slumber party setup. 🥳

We did papa murphys for dinner. 2 pizzas, cheesy bread, and ceaser salad. Then we played super Mario 3 and made it to level 7 before we gave up. Jay decided to show me his Friday the 13th game. It was funny! Jason won. Then we watched predator badlands. It was good. 

One of my favorite games. Hehe.

Even Ace was engrossed in the movie 😁

Saturday we did a lot of relaxing and cuddling and watching movies. I made tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch. Then we ordered torchys for dinner. I'm giving up margaritas on wed for Lent, and hubbs wanted to have one of my last margs with me. So adorable. 

I colored a LOT.

It was a lovely, chill day.

Even Ace loved the family cuddle time. 

Sunday i went to Mass, then hit the farmers market, and soon I'm having lunch with A when hubbs goes to work. When I get home I'll clean and get ready for the week. I hope all of you are having a good weekend, that you feel loved, and that you got to relax at least a bit. Hugs from me!! 

Busy week

We had a joint commission consultant at work this week. We also had a report to the board, and I also got a real desk for my office! It was a BUSY week.

Workout... gotta say, the angles are important... this was actually wed.

Monday

Tuesday

Thursday. I gotta say, by Fri EVERYTHING hurt and I was EXHAUSTED.

I also forgot my phone on fri, so the new desk/office set up has to be shared later.

We ordered mod pizza on fri. I did bbq sauce, chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, and pesto sauce. And i had wine, too. Hubbs had red sauce, ground beef, sausage, and plops of red sauce on the top. We watched some of pitch black together and then he went back gaming. The cat, of course, followed him.

Ceaser salad.

Sweet kitty 

Saturday I went to world springs to celebrate our friends bday (finally). This party had been postponed 2x already because of ice storm and then random cold Saturday. It was a beautiful day, and I forgot sunscreen but it's ok, cuz I only got a little pink and it's already fading. 

Waiting for friends. I even rented a robe this time 😁

Lunch

Drinks. Water and nanea sunset (light rum, dark rum, pineapple, orange, and passion fruit).

After the week of the gym, my legs REALLY appreciated the waters.

Checking for sunburn... you can see a bit on my chest already.

the bday girl!!! Looking super adorable in her retro style suit!! 

Stopping for drinks before heading to the sauna and more soaking 😁

It was a really nice day. Now for other updates. I finally got a... not a smart watch, but a tracker for my steps, heart rate, sleep, and blood pressure. I'm hoping if I have another dizzy spells while wearing the thing it can tell me if it's heart related (I generally have low blood pressure, so I wonder if thats the cause). It's not a smart watch because I don't want it to make calls or notify me of anything AND it doesn't have a face. It just looks like a bracelet. We shall see how long it lasts. I also got an infinity hoop for when I dont wants to gym and for ab workout. Still waiting on that to come in. In the meantime, for my mental health I got this!

That's right, a black and while coloring book! No rushing thru the picture, making decisions on what colors look good, or any of that mess. Just "color the areas with an X." I can do that! Lol. 

So this week should be slightly less nuts. I have a couple meetings and have some more things to do to prepare for the inevitable TJC visit, but I'm feeling a little better about that since the consultant lady said some things are WAY better than last time she was here. 😁

So today is laundry and cleaning around the apt, planning for the week, and grocery day. I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend, that you are feeling well, and that you know you are loved. Hugs from TX!! ❤️❤️❤️

Delayed Opening

Monday and Tuesday were work from home days for me. Monday was approved already, and Tuesday it was decided that I wasn't needed on site, so I stayed home. Ace was thrilled as only a cat could be. 

You can tell, can't you. He was just over the moon elated. Lol. Hubbs had to work on Tuesday, which wasn't ideal, but what can you do? At least he's a good driver. 

Went to Kroger after work on Thurs for a few things. This is what the tortilla section looked like. I guess everyone but us had tacos during the storm.

Wednesday was work as usual, as was the rest of the week. Dealing with the new EHR remains a pain in the butt. As does dealing with the person who is SUPPOSED to be helping me. We had a training scheduled for Thursday, which was rescheduled 45 mins after it was supposed to start. This training is named "knowledge transfer" on the calendar. I was joking about how pretentious this was and one of my coworkers pointed out that a transfer usually means the person who had it is giving it to another, thereby losing it themselves. Suddenly, it all made sense! The person I'm dealing with gives her knowledge away, which is why she seems to know JACK ALL about what I'm doing/need! LMAO!! That thought makes me feel better, tho I still hate having to deal with her. Sigh. Once I understand all of my bits and have the access I need, I'm gonna be UNSTOPPABLE!!! Doesn't help that our system doesn't look the same as their system, rendering the online trainings effectively useless. Sigh. 

Friday after work, hubbs and I ventured to Costco for supplies. We did pretty well considering I didn't make a list before we went. Saturday we ordered in and didn't leave because another cold snap came thru. This one didn't include precipitation, so we weren't stuck stuck, we just didn't wanna!! Hehe. I do love being a goblin with the hubby. 

My usual breakfast at noon... tho the brownie was new from costco. SO GOOD!!

I decided to take a pic of the TBR pile... I'm officially overwhelmed. 

It was also the weekend of the anniversary of losing hubbs' brother, so yeah. The grief hit hard this week/weekend. We ended up watching anime and taking naps. We also did our taxes, which is ever so fun. Lol. 

A and I are gonna meet up on Sunday afternoon at On the Border instead of chilis. It will be nice to be able to chat. We need our lunch dates. 😁 Then I'm going to make some breakfast sammiches for lunches. It's gonna be great!