Thread Drift

Thanks for the good wishes, all. MIL and SIL are struggling so hard, each in their own way, it's just so incredibly sad that they can't be any support to each other. I'm honestly not sure how much DH is helping either ... it really seems to me that MIL needs space and privacy before she'll even allow herself to grieve, but if I ask DH to come home he'll think I'm just being selfish. SIL had a major meltdown after the funeral and he sat with her for a while ... niece thinks that helped, anyway. Maybe he'll be home before my birthday in November. But if I was running on empty after five days with his family, he's not going to have anything for me emotionally for months, anyway. I am so ready to see my therapist next week ...

The one thing about this funeral, after 19 years together I am finally starting to feel like part of his family.

Aw, I'm sorry your dh and in-laws are struggling, Oak. It sounds like you are able to pull away a bit at least.

One thing I've learned is that everyone grieves differently. I think giving space is a good idea. I had people thinking I didn't care when my mom died, but truthfully, I was just being pragmatic, which is the way I handle most of these events. What kept me level headed was thinking about how my mom would want me to act. My mom was sick for a very long time, with a failed liver transplant, etc. and I prepared myself mentally by sort of visualizing what I knew would happen, after a certain point.
It's good your DH can be of support to them now, but I hope he comes home to give you support!

Happy Birthday, Catrin!!

It's Catrin's birthday?

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !


:)

MY COUNSELING LICENSE WAS APPROVED!
Now I can put all of those letters after my name.

Crankin, MA, LMHC

Congratulations!

Crankin - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been a quiet birthday, I took the afternoon off work and started it with a workout. I had NO idea how long THAT would take :) My coach likes to challenge us on our birthdays, and our age always fits in there. I am 54 today...and I am not very good at rowing....so my "Birthday Metabolic Challenge" was to row 540 calories on the rower in 10 rounds with a 2-minute rest after each 54-calorie round. One can choose meters or calories as a metric - it isn't related to actual calories burned, unsure how it is calculated. The advantage of it is it does seem to be a bit better measure of energy rather than distance - obviously a taller person or someone with a very strong upper body will expend less effort in the same distance as a shorter/weaker rower.

Anyway, I DID my 540 calories and rowed 10,776 meters to meet that goal in 1:15 (counting all 2-minute rest periods) :) I had NO idea how long it would take or what I would feel like - so I did other things before hand - mainly deadlifting, KB swings and goblet squats. If I had realized I would have simply done my usual warmup, the deadlifting, and gone straight to the rower. Regardless, it was a great challenge for this 54-year old woman and I DID it :)

I don't normally get sore...I suspect that I might be for my usual group training tomorrow!

Yes, ice cream was part of my recovery - not much - but part of it ;) You can't tell I am a single woman, can you?

Woot woot! Congratulations Crankin! And happy birthday Catrin!

Congrats Crankin!!!!

Happy Birthday Catrin!!

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Originally Posted by Crankin

MY COUNSELING LICENSE WAS APPROVED!
Now I can put all of those letters after my name.

Crankin, MA, LMHC

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Congratulations, Crankin! Know you've worked hard for this. Thumbs up!

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Anyway, I DID my 540 calories and rowed 10,776 meters to meet that goal in 1:15 (counting all 2-minute rest periods) :) I had NO idea how long it would take or what I would feel like - so I did other things before hand - mainly deadlifting, KB swings and goblet squats. If I had realized I would have simply done my usual warmup, the deadlifting, and gone straight to the rower. Regardless, it was a great challenge for this 54-year old woman and I DID it :)

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That sounds tough! I am very sure I'd be sore. Good for you working so hard on your b-day! You definitely deserved that ice cream and more!

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

That sounds tough! I am very sure I'd be sore. Good for you working so hard on your b-day! You definitely deserved that ice cream and more!

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I really didn't realize what I was getting into, and it was indeed tough! Good though to have been able to accomplish it...and am already sore. My knee isn't happy and my hip flexors are tight so there will be much mobility work tomorrow morning before group training. I will take it easy if I need to but will go. We DO have a team rowing challenge at my gym between Thanksgiving and New Years, I think I am all ready to go!

Oh yes, I also made a batch of pumpkin-coconut-bacon biscuits (with coconut flour) as a second treat. Yummy! I certainly broke my calorie budget today but it IS my birthday - back on track tomorrow ;)

Happy Birthday, Crankin. And congratulations on the wonderful way you celebrated it!

It was a nice way to mark my 54th year on this planet :) Even if riding wasn't a problem right now the weather was icky yesterday so I couldn't have ridden. We are having much colder temps than normal in Indiana for this time of year, and we even had a bit of SNOW yesterday :eek: :eek: I don't remember EVER having to wear my winter coat on my birthday before, but they do say our memory starts slipping the older we get ;)

I AM a bit sore this morning, especially really tight hips and of course my cranky knee. If I had known the level of effort required for that challenge I wouldn't have done much else but it was fun! Now I've a rather better feel for the rower and after rowing almost 7 miles on it I think, or at least I hope, my timing/technique is improving. I wasn't exhausted, I could have continued for a couple more rounds but thankful I didn't! Hopefully we won't be rowing today...

Eh, Kajero *my* birthday isn't for another 10 days. Not really looking forward to this one. I am OLD. But, Catrin, your birthday sounds perfect! Happy, happy.
Thank you all for the wishes. Of course, I did an intake yesterday, and I was up late/got up early this morning to finish it. I didn't go to the gym, I have a little cold, AND my haircut was cancelled yesterday, as my stylist had a migraine.
Good thing I got that letter from the state. Otherwise, it would have been a suck-y day.

Congrats, Crankin!!!

Happy Birthday, Catrin! Apparently, just as I can't determine how steep a hill is (post on steep hills), I can't get similar names straight either!

oops, sorry, Crankin. :o Sometimes I just don't get the transition from post to post. Happy Pre-Birthday.
And I bet I am older than you are!!!!

Not by much...

congratulations to both of you. Way to go ladies

Crankin, congrats!

Happy birthday to you & Catrin.

Was talkin w my man a wee bit ago (am so thankful for things like Skype & Yahoo chat :)) n we're in the midst of pondering where in the Southern US to spend christmas...

We're looking forward to doing stuff on our "always wanted to see x in the US" list....Alcatraz, Hoover Dam, Kennedy Space Centre, Daytona, sixth floor museum, national civil rights museum to name a few...

Happy Birthday to ALL the birthdays!

Aren't letters after your name a trip? They say you worked hard and you are QUALIFIED to do this thing!
It took me quite a while for that to sink in; in fact some days I still have to remind myself that I do really have skills and that I am not just doing what is obvious.

Hey crazycanuck: Ever considered New Mexico. I'm sure it's bright but cold. Oh heck, you're from Alberta.

We went at end of Oct. and loved it (that was few years ago). The Southwest Indian + Spanish influence is so unlike anywhere in Canada. Also some great rock mountain/cliff formations near Santa Fe..Ghost Ranch area where Georgia O'Keefe, the Painter got inspired.

(Reminds me that I ought to do a blog post about the area..)

Took a step today, a big one for me. Contacted a personal trainer and hope to start working out again very soon.

Just the bit of swimming and bike riding I'm able to do isn't satisfying the urge to work out. I've spent half my life in a gym and I miss it! Found a guy with a Masters in Exercise Phys. who specializes in working with people with injuries... wish me luck!!!

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Originally Posted by Pax

Took a step today, a big one for me. Contacted a personal trainer and hope to start working out again very soon.

Just the bit of swimming and bike riding I'm able to do isn't satisfying the urge to work out. I've spent half my life in a gym and I miss it! Found a guy with a Masters in Exercise Phys. who specializes in working with people with injuries... wish me luck!!!

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Yayyyy Pax, this is good to hear! It is good to be able to get back to something you know that you enjoy, and even better you found someone who can help you get there while decreasing your chances for injury!

Good for you Pax! I did the same thing a couple of months ago. I'm really liking getting back into a fitness routine.

I meet with him tomorrow after work. I so hope they can create a plan that will allow me to work out with aggravating the old injuries.

Good luck, Pax! There's your mid-life indulgence. :)

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Good luck, Pax! There's your mid-life indulgence. :)

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Good point!! I was chatting with my honey yesterday and realized the change I'm wanting:

I'm really looking at the next couple of years as a segue from eating out/drinking a lot/spending money on tons of wine... to working out/eating right/spending some money on health and spa services.

So excited, DS and DIL are arriving Sat. morning on the red eye (6AM) from CA.
3 days of family time. Other DS and DIL will be sleeping over Sat. night, too, after my birthday bash.

Pax, somehow I manage to spend lots on eating out and wine, as well as health/outdoor stuff :eek:. But somehow, I manage it all. I'm a firm believer you can do both, if the eating and wine is in moderation. I love going to restaurants and cooking and I certainly could never give up that. It's all balance.

Getting ready to leave for the airport...
then we'll head to our fav breakfast place in Acton. One that DS introduced us to when he hung out there before high school

From my birthday party weekend.
Rare to have them all together!

well, I had a great day. How about you ladies? Everyone doing well? I replaced my missing sleeping bag and air pads today. On Sale. I love On Sale. That brand seems to be everywhere I shop. Amazing really that they can cover so many products and places like that. :D:D:rolleyes:

I'm playing the return game with LL Bean this week... rather than the buy-on-sale game. Bought sleeping bags, didn't like them; bought a down comforter, didn't like it... back to Bean they go. It's like putting money into savings, sorta!

How cool is that, Mine is Monday but we won't all be together until Wednesday

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Originally Posted by Crankin

From my birthday party weekend.
Rare to have them all together!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Getting ready to leave for the airport...
then we'll head to our fav breakfast place in Acton. One that DS introduced us to when he hung out there before high school

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which breakfast place? I lived in Acton for 10 years and worked as manager for Philips Coffee for a lot of that time.

I miss Acton, such a lovely little town.

I'm just dropping in to say X I remembered my password and HELLO to everyone! It's been a while. How is everyone?

holy sheep catman..! Long time no see round here young lady!

Yes, Marni, you should miss Acton! Remember, you worked with my son, Josh, at the coffee place. The skinny, dark haired kid who came in to work, when you were leaving for the day.
The breakfast place I was referring to was Julie's. By the Ace Hardware on rt. 27. It may not have been there when you lived here. I can't remember exactly when it opened.
We actually ended up going somewhere else, closer to our house, as the kids were exhausted from the red eye.

Well, it's about time you remembered it. Dang. :D:D