Day 147: It's Go Time !

 

I had so much hope for 2024, but I haven't accomplished anything. I failed miserably getting back on my diet and exercise program. I lost my job. I can't seem to keep my house neat, though I'm trying. Here is a link to my first post of 2024: New Year  I feel like I'm still in the same place. I started and stopped so many times and I have yet to "get it right". I am going to be starting 2025 with the same goals as 2024 .. and 2023 ... and probably 2022. I have to pull myself out of the hole I've dug and start this final section of life: retirement. I'm not going to fool myself into thinking I will magically find a job in the new year. In all honesty, I don't want a new job. This means I have ZERO excuses not to fully devote my life to losing the weight. I have nothing but time. I do not want to end 2025 in the same place. I want to be thinner and happier.

I wrote the paragraph above on 12-16-24. I'm going to repeat it in every blog through 12-31-24.

I was awake just after 8 and got up shortly after. I'm not sure what the outdoor temp was but I believe it was single digits. I'm convinced my outdoor thermometer is broken as it was reading -10 and I don't think it was that cold. Regardless, turns out insulating under the sink wasn't enough. My cold water line in the kitchen is frozen and will likely stay that way until it warms up tomorrow. I'm going to have to do something in the basement to wrap that line, but that will have to be a spring or summer project, unless we happen to get a nice warm spell before then. It's almost 5 pm now and my phone says it's 22 outside. That seems reasonable. My phone did read below zero late last night and the "low" was updated to be -2, so it was definitely a below zero night.

Despite the cold and the frozen water line, today was GO TIME !! I had to get out and do all my errands, and I did !!! I left the house just before noon and I was home around 3:15. As I was leaving, Doug came by and turns out he was under the impression he was plowing my driveway. I guess we miscommunicated, because he had said he was retired last time we talked. With that straightened out I had to let Todd know I didn't need him anymore. That was hard for me, but I did it. I honestly don't think he cared and I'm hoping he has tons of clients and is glad to be rid of me ! I'm happy to have Doug doing it again, as he does a better job and doesn't drive on my lawn. He can probably use the money too. 

As for my errands, I started off at Delta Sonic to fill up the gas tank. Gas was $2.75 a gallon, which was great ! They were mobbed but I got a spot right away on the end. I guess no one noticed it or it had been recently vacated. Next stop was Wegman's to pick up shrimp, appetizers and salad items. Then I headed to Walmart to pick up a few things. I got everything I needed for the cookies I want to make, except for 4x sugar, they were completely out ! That is so weird ! After Walmart I went to the liquor store and picked out 2 bottles for Lauren. One that I bought had a deal if you buy one you get a 2nd bottle for 1/2 price. It's a sparkling Moscato and I can't wait to try it ! I hope she likes the wines. I'm also going to get a Starbucks gift card for her. Next up was CopperTop to get gift certificates for Alyssa and Erin. They had a deal that you get an extra $5 card when you buy a $25, so they'll each get $30 total. I also got an order of bang bang chicken to bring home for myself. The restaurant was packed but the front desk ladies were super nice and I didn't have to wait long. I had to pee so that stop was perfect timing ! I've been thinking about that dish for a while and I heated up half of it after I got home because I was starving. It was so good ! I will have the 2nd half for dinner later this evening. Traffic in Cicero was unbelievable and I was so happy when I got through that and hopped back on 81 to head north. Despite every place I went being packed, I didn't have to wait anywhere. Gas, in and out. Wegman's, empty checkout lane in and out. Walmart, self-checkout in and out. Liquor store, no one in line - in and out. CopperTop, waited a couple minutes as the clerk finished up a gift certificate purchase then had to wait for my food to be ready. I was there maybe 15 minutes. My last stop was the post office and there is no wait when you get your own mail out of your po box. I had cards from Kim & Joe, Michelle & Mike, Pat & Toni Marie and Kathy & John. I didn't send cards out this year, even though they've been sitting in the dining room for weeks. I am going to send cards next year for sure !!! Minnie was sound asleep when I got home and never lifted her head until after I had eaten. I had to stare at her for a bit to make sure she was breathing ! I guess she was tired and in a deep sleep.

When I got up this morning the temp in the laundry room was 59 and the dining room was at 63. I didn't look at the thermostat upstairs but it didn't feel super cold. When I got home from shopping the laundry room was at 64 and the dining room was at 68. Those temps tell me that it was seriously cold last night. 

I didn't buy any "treats" for myself beyond a pack of 5 pizza crusts and a cheese danish. My focus today was just getting what I needed. I now have everything I need to make tapioca pudding, and I'm going to do that on Thursday. It's just milk, vanilla, eggs & the tapioca. I have no choice now and I forgot I bought milk the other day, so now I have a whole gallon of milk to get through.