Never thought retirement would be like this

[NancyNGA]

Got one coat of paint on all the woodwork. With a 100 year old house, which was rental property for several years, it is really hard to catch all the numerous flaws before painting. You'll be painting along and see something you missed---a nail hole, or something that should have been sanded, and weird things you can't imagine. It is really tedious stop-and-go work, and I had too much caffeine today (tea), so not as much patience. Second coat should go easier.

Today was the 5th day of this dieting. If the deficit is at least 700 cals/day, that would be one pound down. Maybe this part of it can be over in 4x5=20 more days if I can stay with it.

Morning weight: 125.0
Calories:
1/2 fried egg sandwich (1 bread, 1 egg, 1 pat butter): 210
banana, apple, 6 peanuts: 240
salad (lettuce, 1/2c lima beans, <1oz cheese, 3 tbsp dressing): 390
frozen dinner + 1c vegs: 320
Total: 1160

 

[NancyNGA]

Rain/sleet was predicted to start after 3pm today. The plan was to check on the goats before the rain. Arrived at 1:30 to find the power company trimming trees right beside the barn with one of those big noisy cherry-picker trucks.

Goats were gone. The guys said they went that-a-way, so I headed off walking expecting to find them around the corner---got all the way to the cabin and it started sleeting. No goats.

While I was gone the men had moved their truck right into the middle of the deep pile of "stuff" I had been shoveling out of the barn and were now hung up. It was 37F out there today, the coldest day of the year so far. I got worried they would not leave before the goats got soaking wet in the rain. I'm sure they thought I was overly worried, but cold, wet, and stressed out, is not a good combination for goats. So I jumped in the EZ-GO and took off looking again. Didn't find them until about 3:00 pm, but they followed me back in spite of the strangers and noise.

I had not dressed for all this---hands frozen, feet soaked. Water hadn't soaked down to the skin on the goats yet, probably because it was mostly sleet and bounced off. Locked goats up in the barn, except smart-alec Rusty was having none of it. He is so darn clever he outsmarts himself. He stayed outside (under an eave) for an extra hour.

The truck made big trenches trying to get out. They wanted to fix it before they left, and I wanted them gone. Told them there needed to be a drainage ditch there anyway. That is true, but a neater one would have been better.

Found a can of corn in the pantry, and the only coffee was dollar store brand instant that was so old you had to chisel out a chunk to make coffee. It was bad, bad, but it was warm and it was coffee. Somehow stress and cold make me more tired than working. Fell asleep at 8pm and didn't wake up until 11pm. That dangerous late-night snacking period had passed. End of story.

Morning weight: 124.6
Calories
1 cheeseburger, 1 mozzarella stick: 370
1.5 c canned corn: 210
2 ginger snaps: 50
1 frozen dinner, 1/2 c mixed vegs (half lima beans): 290
peanuts: 60
Total: 980

 

[NancyNGA]

Expecting rain tomorrow. Couldn't stand it---had to go check on the goats again and make sure they recovered from yesterday. They are fine. Did some more painting. Almost done with the woodwork. I really should take down the pantry door and try to square it up. It's starting to sag. Maybe I can think of something else to stop it. Went over on calories a little today, but low yesterday.

Morning weight: (predictably low)
Calories
1 McDouble: 390
1 frozen dinner (170), 1/2 c lima beans: 290
Salad (lettuce, 1/2c limas, <1oz cheese, 3 tbsp dressing): 380
1 banana, 1 hard boiled egg, 6 peanuts: 230
Total: 1290

 

[NancyNGA]

Nothing to report. May be freezing rain out at the farm tonight. I think we are going to be lucky in town. Furnace is acting up a little again---short cycling, not coming on sometimes. The last repairmen who came out told me they don't make furnaces to last more than 10 years. What?!!

I used to drink a lot of coffee (decaf), all day long, but added regular tea lately---a lot of it. The caffeine is definitely doing a number on me. The jitters make you feel like you're hungry when you're not, and I can't have that happening right now. Need to either switch to decaf or cut way back. Guess today turned out to be egg day.

Morning weight: 123.8
Calories
2 hard boiled eggs: 180
1/2 egg sandwich: 210
1 sliced apple, <1 oz grated cheese, fatfree CoolWhip (all mixed together): 250
1 frozen dinner (220) + 1c mixed veg: 320
3 deviled eggs (halves): 180
snacks: peanuts, 2 tbsp vegs: 60
Total: 1200

 

[FazeFour]

I used to drink a lot of coffee (decaf), all day long, but added regular tea lately---a lot of it. The caffeine is definitely doing a number on me. The jitters make you feel like you're hungry when you're not, and I can't have that happening right now.

Decalf tea tastes pretty good, Nancy. I drink loads of tea, and I really don't taste a difference when I use decalf.

 

[Pappy]

I've just started drinking hot green tea, I've always hated tea, with a teaspoon of raw honey. You know, it's not bad. Instead of a snack in the afternoon, I'm drinking this.

 

[NancyNGA]

Decalf tea tastes pretty good, Nancy. I drink loads of tea, and I really don't taste a difference when I use decalf.

Good to know! I didn't like decaf coffee at first, but got used to it quickly. I'm going to get some decaf tea today.

 

[NancyNGA]

I've just started drinking hot green tea, I've always hated tea, with a teaspoon of raw honey. You know, it's not bad. Instead of a snack in the afternoon, I'm drinking this.

I tried the green tea, and it seems very weak. Finally put it in a black cup and that made it taste better. Seems like I can eventually get used to most anything. I drink tea with artificial sweetener. I've even got used to that.

 

[NancyNGA]

Bought some decaf tea this morning and have been drinking it all day. It makes a big difference---I'm laid back today. It tastes just fine.

In case I ever start to think I'm trying to be too perfect on this kitchen, I'm posting proof here otherwise. The pantry door is coming apart and sagging. It is not enough to be a problem, YET. The only way to fix it perfectly is to take the door apart, glue it all back together, and re-hang it. Instead I cleaned the old paint out of the joints, squeezed it together as much as possible with clamps, and screwed a corner iron onto it from the inside to stop it from getting worse. The crack wouldn't close up more than this, but I don't even care.layful:

I can fix it to make it look decent now from the outside. It lasted for 100 years. If it lasts 20 more that will be fine. I also should have taken off all the hardware and removed the old paint. Didn't do that either. Yes, it bugs me, but not enough to do it. :torn:

There are so many flaws in the walls and woodwork in this house, it takes a lot of work just to get them to look halfway decent. Painting is done as much as I want it to be for now. Next is the nook part of the kitchen. I hope the flooring installer will help me move the stove out of the kitchen. It is really heavy and awkward.


Morning weight: 123.6
Calories
1 cheeseburger + 1/3 sm fries: 370
2 deviled eggs: 120
Salad (lettuce, 1/2c limas, <1oz cheese, dressing): 430
1 frozen dinner (170) + 1c mixed veg: 270
Total: 1190

 

[NancyNGA]

My motley crew today. They are actually enjoying the cold weather, with no insects.

Rusty, ornery as ever.

Dixie, hoping to get a gingersnap.

Shorty, my shadow.

Green. He is the one in my current avatar, only taken 10 years ago.

　
Wish I could come up with a better name than Green, but nothing seems to stick. Any suggestions?

 

[NancyNGA]

I Led 3 Lives was a TV show back in the 50's starring Richard Carlson. We watched it every week. I now lead 3 lives: (1) at the house in town fooling around, (2) out at the farm looking after the property and goats, and (3) time spent on the internet (in town only). It's like switching gears all the time. But life sure never gets boring.


Tonight is going to be another cold night, so I put out another bale of straw. This is a picture of the goats' bed (minus goats). Camera angle makes it look distorted.

The crazy looking walls are the result of an experiment years ago to whitewash the inside of the barn. Whitewash is safe for animals. It was beautiful in there when we finished. It added so much light to an otherwise dark barn. Three days later the goats had chewed off all of the whitewash they could reach, plus a little of the siding along with it. And, No, they don't have a mineral deficiency. Some of them just liked to chew anything they can get their teeth on, and it has a salty taste (so I'm told).

The contraptions hanging on the left wall are temporary partitions for setting up a sick bay for a sick goat.

I'm posting this picture because when I was about to leave today I couldn't find my keys. Backtracked every step and the only possibility left was they dropped out of my pocket while tossing out the straw. Backtracking, and raking out and putting back the straw, took an extra hour. But was good exercise.layful:

Day 10: Morning weight: 123.6
Calories
1 cheeseburger + 1/3 small fries: 370
2 ginger snaps: 50
1 frozen dinner (240) + 1c mixed veg: 340
1/4c corn, 1 deviled egg, 6 peanuts: 140
1 oz, cheese, 1 med apple, 1/3 c ff Coolwhip: 270
Total: 1170

 

[NancyNGA]

Visited a real flooring store today. I wanted that very hard commercial grade sheet vinyl---the kind you can't poke your thumbnail into and make a dent. They only make it in tiles now. But the tiles they had were much better quality than any I've seen---very thick and hard. So looks like I'll go with tiles.

He said if the floor wasn't level they would pour leveler all over the entire kitchen floor and let it settle out! :eewwk:

What if the floor is an inch lower in one corner? That stuff would all run to the corner. That could very well happen in this house. I know it doesn't have to be that perfect, just locally flat.

This would be a fun job to try myself. The hard part would be removing the old flooring. I got at least a few weeks to think about it.

All the sudden this dieting seems to be getting harder, rather than easier.

Day 11: Morning weight: 124.0
Calories
1 cheeseburger: 300
hard boiled egg: 80
1 frozen dinner (410) + 2/3c mixed veg (half limas): 500
frozen entree (190) + 2/3c mixed vegs: 260
peanuts: 80
Total: 1220

 

[NancyNGA]

Just learned there is a legend buried not many miles from where I live---Old Dan Tucker!!!

Daniel Tucker (1744-1818?) came to Elbert County, GA, to take up a land grant. He was probably best known for his role as a Methodist minister who cared very deeply for the slave population. He spent much of his time teaching them and praying with them. Supposedly the song "Old Dan Tucker" was written about him.

Gravesite:

This is a great version of the song, performed by a German group, The Gallows Fellows. Definitely another toe-tapping earworm song (to me).

Day 12: Morning weight: 124.0
Calories
3 lg hard boiled eggs: 240
1 frozen dinner (270) + 1c mixed vegs: 370
Salad (lettuce, 1/3c lima beans, <1oz cheese, 3 tbsp dressing: 360
1 apple, grated cheese, ff Coolwhip: 250
Total: 1220

 

[NancyNGA]

This diet should have a name, because it isn't cool to be on a diet without a name, so I'll call it The Frozen Dinner Diet. Spent the afternoon out at the farm today.

Day 13: Morning weight: 123.8
Calories
1 cheeseburger, 1/3 sm fries: 370
1 lg hard boiled egg: 80
1 frozen dinner (240) + 1c mixed vegs: 340
1 apple: 90
6 sm green olives: 30 (seems too little to me?)
Total: 910

Day 14: Morning weight: 123.4
Calories
1 frozen dinner (250) + 1c vegs: 360
12 sm olives, hard boiled egg: 140
Salad (lettuce, 1/2c limas, 1oz cheese, 3 tbsp dressing): 420
1 gala apple: 80
2oz gr. beef: 140
Total: 1140

 

[NancyNGA]

.


Ten more days, or 121.0 on the scales, whichever comes first. Out to the farm to work tomorrow. Supposed to be high of 63F and sunny.

Day 15: Morning weight: 123.0
Calories
6 oz gr beef (drained): 420
1 frozen dinner (230) + 1c vegs: 330
1/2 egg sandwich (1/2 pat butter): 180
Snacks: 12 sm olives, 3 tbsp lima beans, 1 hb egg: 180
Total: 1110

 

[Pappy]

You see, Nancy, you're doing it all wrong.

 

[NancyNGA]

Pappy,
:lol1:
Some days, on my battery scales, the number will jump around at first each time you get on, and then eventually settle down to something. So when I'm doing *serious* weigh-ins I'll bring out my ancient spring-loaded scales. If they both match, that's what I use. I should just throw away the new ones, but there's something about seeing a number down to the nearest 0.2 I can't resist.

-------------------
Saturday, January 30th

Day 16: Morning weight: 122.8
Calories
1 lg hb egg: 80
2 (or maybe 4 ?) gingersnaps: 100
2 chicken patties: 400
1 frozen dinner (270) + 1c vegs: 370
30 sm olives: 150
Total: 1100

------------------
Sunday, January 31st

Day 17: Morning weight: 122.4
Calories
cheeseburger, 1/2 sm fries: 410
1 frozen dinner (170), + vegs: 270
Med salad (lettuce, 1/4c limas, <1oz cheese, 2 tbsp dressing): 250
12 olives, 10 peanuts, 1 hb egg: 210
Total: 1140

 

[NancyNGA]

One of the many things I did Saturday was replace the cross-brace on a corner of the fence with a new one. Not a big deal for anyone but me. The corner post was set crooked to begin with, so there is no way to make it look beautiful.

Before and After:

Normally I don't let the goats come along when I'm working on the fence alone, because it's usually too far away, and they will climb up on the ezgo every time you turn your back and start messing around with your tools. But they like following that golf cart so much, and start dancing and running around whenever you crank it up. It's almost as if they think it's The Great White Lead Goat, ready to take them on an adventure. They were very well-behaved and settled down while I worked this time, so we all had a nice quiet outing and got some exercise.

Met the neighbor up at that corner for the first time, even though he has lived there 16 years! He seems very nice. I think he is renting, but still owns the 3 horses posted in an earlier picture here. He had 8 horses last year!!! Maybe he downsized his dogs, too? This neighbor, and every single person who sees these goats for the first time, comment about how large they are. Some even ask me if they are really goats. Even the vet said our goats have "reached their genetic potential." (vet speak for "big")

Every post needs a map. Corner (green dot)





Monday, February 1st

Day 18: Morning weight: 122.0
Calories
4 oz fried gr beef (drained): 280
1/2 egg sandwich w 1/2 oz cheese: 220
Apple, grated cheese, ff Coolwhip: 260
1 frozen dinner (220) + 1/4 c lima beans: 280
10 olives, 10 peanuts: 150
Total: 1190


Tuesday, February 2nd

Day 19: Morning weight: 121.8
Calories
4 oz fried gr beef (drained): 280
1 frozen dinner (190) + 1c veg: 290
Salad (lettuce, 1.5oz grated cheese, 3tbsp dressing): 370
8 olives, 2 gingersnaps: 90
2 pkgs fat-free sugar-free cocoa: 50
Total: 1080

 

[NancyNGA]

Watched some of the debate on rerun, so I'm up late.

Weight this morning was 120.8. Target was 121.0. I've had a lot of experience losing these same 5 lbs, probably 20 times in my life. But it's not quite over yet. Next I'll raise the calorie target by 100-150 calories per day each week for maybe 3 weeks. So this week I shoot for ~1350 cals/day, next week ~1500, etc. It's like getting an extra treat every day now. The point is to gradually get used to normal eating, rather than just start pigging out immediately. On the diet forum I used to belong to everyone said slow and steady wins the race. I say slow and steady leads to discouragement. I'll stop posting daily details. Maybe weekly updates.


Wednesday, February 3rd

Day 20: Morning weight: 121.4
Calories
2 pkgs fat-free sugar-free cocoa: 50
4 oz fried gr beef (drained): 280
1 frozen dinner (170) + 1c veg: 270
fried cabbage (1 tbsp butter): 300
1 hb egg, peanuts: 300
Total: 1200

Thursday, February 4th

Day 21: Morning weight: 120.8
Calories
1 McD Cheeseburger, 1/2 sm fries: 420
1 frozen dinner (190) + 1c veg: 290
Salad (lettuce, 1.5oz grated cheese, 3 tbsp dressing): 350
3pkgs ff sf cocoa, 2 tbsp ff Coolwhip: 180
Total: 1240

 

[NancyNGA]

1966. What a beautiful smile.

 

[NancyNGA]

Beautiful day today. High 60F, no wind, not a cloud in the sky, birds are chirping, even heard a mockingbird this morning. I think spring is just around the corner.

A silly little story

When I went to college I had to commute from home all 4 years. The parking lots were far away from the classroom buildings. Commuters had to carry all their books around all day. This was before book backpacks. On some days it could be quite a load to carry in one arm.

The student union was a regular hangout for commuters because there was nowhere else for us to go between classes. There was a bookstore in the basement of the union, and it provided free lockers outside for you to store your things while you were shopping. There was a big sign on the lockers, "FOR BOOKSTORE CUSTOMERS ONLY." Many commuters would use these lockers to store their books while in class. I usually always obeyed signs, but one term I had an extra heavy class load and some days I stored my books in a locker, too. It seemed like no one ever checked those lockers anyway, and there were plenty of them.

One day I came back from class---no books! I was angry. Went in the bookstore and this 30-something guy handed me the books and then very politely said, "The reason you're angry is you know you were wrong." This made me even more angry and I stomped off in a huff. It took me until the next day to realize he was correct. If he had not stated it so simply I probably would never have figured it out.

Since then, when I get angry over something and it lingers on, I eventually get around to asking if I'm not really just angry at myself for whatever reason. Many times it's the case, probably even a majority of the times. Then the whole thing just fades away.

I must have been about 20 at the time, so that was almost 50 years ago. Isn't it funny how some little insignificant incident like that can stick with you the rest of your life? Maybe I was just very lucky to be in the right place at the right time that day at the bookstore.

Because I had to write this story down at least semi-coherently, it finally dawned on me that a more important lesson would be how not to get angry, in that particular way, in the first place... I suspect that is more complicated than just one sentence from a stranger can solve.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Nancy, congratulations on your weight loss! It's nice that your goats follow you around sometimes and keep you company, that's ideal if they're behaving so well. Interesting story about the book store locker too, glad you got your books back and it's really hard not to get angry sometimes, I agree that many times it's frustrations with ourselves over something we did or didn't do. Yes, I like that song and that gal's smile and personality, honestly, when the song was popular, I had no idea who she was or what she looked like.

 

[NancyNGA]

SeaBreeze, thanks for finding that video for me. It's a cute simple song---her only hit recording.

 

[NancyNGA]

Rusty earned a few points with me today because of mutual head-rubbing with Shorty. Of course he did this while he knew I was watching and had a camera. Clever little devil.

And what is this "thing" on my roof (above the broken shingle)? At first it looked like a dead groundhog. Maybe old Phil?

But no, it's a 2 year old pile of pine needles that finally washed down from above the dormer. I will have to get those down now or it will stop up the gutter.

Feb 19th was the 1 year anniversary of my mother's death. Can't say it seems like just yesterday; can't say it seems like a long time ago, either. It seems like, well, about a year. My uncle called last week to say he is compiling a book about my mother's side of the family. He wanted some dates.

Still haven't decided what to do about these two properties. A guy who makes a living renting property just bought two more houses on our block in town. My next door neighbor and I are the only non-renters left on the whole block. I hope he doesn't one day make me an offer I would be stupid to refuse. I like this town. It's just large enough so that you can go out and not meet anyone you know, but not large enough to have traffic problems. I like having renters as neighbors. They come and go, and I don't like people "keeping tabs" on what I do, or don't do.

With the usual complement of simple carbs, salt, retained water, and larger volume of food, morning weight is 123.0. That compares to the 128.2? before I started this (-5lbs). I want a BMI of 20, just because I want it. Need to drop 3 more pounds. I've got a whole lot of frozen dinners left, so no time like the present. It should only take 12 days if I stick to it, shooting for less than 1200 cals/day. Didn't decide until yesterday afternoon, so I was off the mark that day. So...

Which reminds me of the Dolly Parton song Here You Come Again
　
Feb. 19th
Calories:
1.75 Chicken patties: 350
1/2 grilled cheese: 260
Frozen dinner (220) +1/2c lima beans: 370
Apple, 5 olives: 110
1/2 egg sandwich, dab of butter: 190
Total: 1280

Feb. 20th
Calories:
1/2 egg sandwich: 190
2 gingersnaps, 11 olives: 110
Frozen dinner (170) +1/2c lima beans: 290
Salad (lettuce, cheese, 120, lima beans, 120, dressing, 140): 410
Total: 1100

Feb. 21st
Calories:
6" Subway (ham & mozzarella): 380
Frozen dinner (180) + 1 cup mixed veg (100): 280
Salad (lettuce, cheese 120, 1/3c lima beans 100, dressing 100, 5 olives): 380
6 olives: 30
Total: 1070

 

[NancyNGA]

Feeling silly again tonight, and somehow I got to thinking about winks. Seems like winking is a lost art. I believe my grandfather was the world's greatest winker. He had twinkly eyes to begin with and that helped a lot. Maybe that's why I am a pushover for a wink. And girls can do it, too.

(I have no idea who these people are, except I've heard of Ledger, but only because he died.)

Wilmer Valderrama, Heath Ledger, and Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black)

And don't forget Superman.

Now down to serious business.layful:

Seven years ago my BMI was 24. When I got it down to 20, BP went down to low normal, cholesterol went down to normal, knees were better (left torn meniscus), much more energy, and it never got too hot to work outside in the summers. Only two disadvantages as far as I can tell: less tolerance to cold weather and more wrinkles. I let things get out of hand last winter, but it ain't gonna happen again (knock on wood).

Day 3, Feb 22nd

Morning weight: 121.4
Calories:
Frozen dinner (180) + 1c mix veg: 280
Mix (1 apple, 1oz cheese, ff Coolwhip): 260
Monster Salad ( lettuce, 1/3c lima beans, 1oz cheese, 3tbsp dressing) 390
ff sf cocoa x 2, 10 olives: 110
sm apple: 80
Total: 1040

Day 4, Feb 23rd

Morning weight: 120.4
Calories:
1 chicken patty: 200 (seems too low)
Frozen dinner (210) + vegs: 310
Monster Salad (lettuce, cheese 120, lima beans 120, olives 30, dressing, 140): 410
ff sf Cocoa x 2, 2 Gingersnaps, 6 Olives : 180
Total: 1070

Day 5: Feb. 24th

Morning weight: 120.2
Calories:
McD cheeseburger, 1/4 sm fries: 360
Frozen dinner (170) + 2/3 c mixed veg (70): 240
Monster Salad (lettuce, cheese 120, 1/3c lima beans 100, dressing 130, 6 olives): 410
8 olives, 2 tbsp lima beans: 80
Total: 1090