The week ahead.

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Our temperatures are really delightful. Even this week shows temperatures in the low to mid 80’s. Unusual for California this time of year. Climate change? Who knows, right?

I started to cut some carbs from my diet to see if that helps with weight loss. Bread, of course, sourdough bread, homemade, is my weakness, but I will try to avoid it at least for a while.

I’m focusing on proteins like eggs, chicken, tofu, and veggies. It hasn’t been too bad to switch my focus, at least for now( ha, it’s only been 4 days)!!!

I have my labs this morning and decided not to go down to the pool. I’ll come home and do some house stuff and work on some meal planning. I found a Japanese cookbook at Goodwill, and there were some good low-carb recipes like miso soup with tofu( which both my daughter and I love). I bought the book for my son’s partner as they are going on a trip to Japan this fall, but I’ll use some recipes before I give it to them. ( They are non-binary),hence the pronouns.

I had one small dip in 02 last night between 1 and 1:30 to 88, but it popped back up to 90, so I’m ok with that. My only other alternative if I really want to challenge this 02 stuff, is to get the in-lab test and see if the BiPap machine is better. But honestly, I just can not deal with it right now, so since RingConn is giving such great info, I’m ok with it. Maybe down the road.

Tonight, I’m planning on grilling some tofu, and I’ll slice some tomatoes and also make up a romaine salad. As long as I have some protein, I do ok. Last night we had a modified Reuben with pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese just grilled up. It was good. This pastrami is from Costco, and it’s thin-sliced from some deli. I’ve always wanted to buy the Katz’s box of Reuben stuff, but it’s pricey. Guess who I just saw on their blog that they got a Katz’s box? Mavis, from 100 dollars a month. With the amount of projects they do and buying the house next door to them, I guess they can afford a box from Katz’s of NY. Although, to be fair, she said it was a gift sent to them. Ha, I want a gift!!!!

Well, I’m off to do whatever my boring life requires:)

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, budgeting, budgets, California, cooking, Uncategorized, Walking by

I had a nice walk this morning, and the park was empty except for a dog running around loose. I asked the park guy when he got there to call someone, but he didn’t seem very inclined and shrugged it off. Sigh, I hope he gets caught and not hit by a car.

I’m really loving my RingConn ring to track my 02. Overall, I’m pleased with the results. My Apple Watch will often show a lower 02 but it seems that maybe due to turning in bed or getting up. So right now, I’m feeling encouraged and my Resmid score last night was 100%.

Today, I plan on going to the gym in Auburn and then home. I don’t need any groceries, so I’m set there. Last night we had chicken salad on romaine lettuce.

I feel my blog is getting boring and repetitive, so I may take a break. I do like keeping track as a journal of what’s going on, but my life is not what it was. No RV’ing, not much of anything really. Just living day to day. I’ll think about it and see how I feel.

I did order some Prime Day deals, like a new Speedo. Mine was starting to wear thin, and on Prime it’s half off, so a good deal. I have labs tomorrow, so I might go to the pool afterwards if it’s not too late. This week is also my oncology appointment in Sacramento. Hopefully, my labs will come in before I see him.

Friday things

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I canceled the PCP appointment for the Medicare program after reviewing the details on the site. It said NOT for sleep apnea, so that threw me out. It’s just for clinical obesity, so? I was disappointed, but well, sigh. I just don’t understand how all these people are on GLP 1s and affording it. I just don’t have an extra $300 in my budget. That’s the e Lilly cost with patient care.

After my Velcade shot I went to Costco.

At Costco, I picked up some salmon, veggies, eggs, and a few other things. I got some cherries and raspberries that looked good. Oh, I picked up that premade spinach salad meal, and we had half of it for dinner last night.

Tonight we’ll have the other half if we dont eat it for lunch.

I used the new Ringconn ring I got yesterday and like it, but it does not give minute by minute like the Wellvue, only hour by hour. So disappointed there too. Overall, it had some good information, though. And my low 02 only went to 89, and for some reason, that was AFTER I took my mask off at 5 am and was just lying there. So, I don’t know. I really hate this stuff.

Today is a Dex day, so I’m home doing home stuff.

No Menu Monday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, Death, meal planning, medicare by

Father’s Day ended up ok. I was sad, but it was still a nice day. My son didn’t come up, as he had come up Friday and spent the night. We had a BBQ and celebrated Barclay’s life. It was a nice family time.

As to menu stuff, I just plan on using whatever I have. I was going to make tofu burgers, but realized they were way past their date to be used. I had to toss 2 packs. I felt like I hadn’t really been on top of checking, sigh. So my daughter pulled out some burgers fromt he freezer and we had those with some fries.

Today, I’ll check the fridge and see what’s lurking. I know I have some romaine lettuce, as we had that on the burgers.

All my bills are paid for the month, and my new budget starts next week. This will be a week in between. I could start the budget this week but I think I’ll push for next.

I have Velcade this week, so that plus Dex keeps me home for 3 days. So no spending there. I am planning on buying a different smart ring to track 02. I bought an inexpensive one to only find out it didn’t do continuous monitoring, which is what I need at night. I’ve settled on RingConn and am waiting to see if it goes on sale during Prime Days. So far, my night time 02’s have been very good, but there is still a dip, and that’s what I need to know: for how long. If it’s only a minute, then I’m not worried. If it’s staying there, then I will need to go do the in-lab test to see if I need a different machine called the BiPAP. I do think the increased pressure has made a big difference in holding my 02 numbers higher most of the night.

I also have an appointment with my PCP doctor to see if I’ll be eligible for the new Medicare GLP 1 program. My insurance doesn’t cover Zepbound, so this program will be available regardless of insurance at a cost of $50 per month. So, I need to get the doctor to fill out forms, etc and follow the procedure. It seems a bit complicated, so I’m not sure if it’ll fly.

Is anyone else going to try the new bridge program? It starts in July.

Thankful Thursday, sort of..

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I’ve had a difficult week and am not feeling very grateful. Mostly, I feel sad and overwhelmed. This week is the final week of B’s life and hospice; though they were great in the way they helped, it was still not easy. Well, it wasn’t hospice; it’s just the way someone dies. It’s not pretty, and everyone here at least has some PTS over those last days. Life does go on, and we go on, albeit differently.

Then Father’s Day is Sunday, and I’m sure that will be tough too. I wanted to do something special, like go to Tahoe, but right now Tahoe is filled with annoying tourists, and all the main roadways are under construction. When my son and I went last week, it was a disaster all around the lake, and Truckee was even worse. I-80 has numerous slowdowns with major construction, so no Tahoe right now. So, we will celebrate here, and I’m sure Barclay will be with us in spirit. I have a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in the fridge, and I think I will open that around dinner time. I’m planning on tofu burgers because anytime you ask Barclay what he wanted for dinner, he’d always say, How about tofu burgers.

I am grateful for all my great memories of the things the two of us did. Some were crazy when we were young, and then traveling in Rubi in our golden years. It’s been a year, but I’m not sure time is the factor here. Just trying to keep it together.

I haven’t felt motivated either. It could be the heat, as I definitely don’t do well in it. We are in a cooling trend so that will help if I can be outside more.

Meals have been simple this week. My daughter had some southwest chicken wraps from Costco; I had a quesadilla; we had pulled pork, beans, and rice burritos one night. When it’s hot, neither of feel like eating a lot. I still have a salad pack to use, so we’ll have that tonight.

I found an electric Cuisinart fondue pot at Goodwill, and I bought some fondue to try it, but I think I’ll wait. It is brand new in the box. I checked if it worked, and it did. I paid 6.99. We like fondue a few times a year, and the one I have is very small, actually a chocolate fondue pot, which I didn’t know when I bought it off eBay several years ago.

I do plan on going to the library, maybe tomorrow, as I have ahold and I want to return the 2 books I have. I’ll probably go to the gym first.

Well, on that depressing note, I hope your week has been better than mine, and this finds you well, healthy, and happy.

My new Ikea chair, my daughter put together for me. I wanted to get two and thought I’d wait till I got this one. But they were all sold out, as it was on sale for 70 off. IKEA stuff sells out frequently on their sale items. It’s quite comfortable, although not a curl-up-and-read chair.

Oh, that’s little Cherry lurking.

Simple Sunday

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It’s still very hot here, but I think today is the last day of it. I went for a walk this morning, but even then it was warm out.

After checking my SD card for the Airsense data, I asked AI about the data. It does seem that my oxygen drops relate to when the pressure ramps up. Also, there is more leakage at that point too. For now, I’ll continue as usual. I may need to do that in lab titration because it pinpoints when it happens, and then they adjust it. I feel my next step is to lose some weight and then see how the oxygen is. Medicare has a bridge program for Zepbound ( which is used if there is a diagnosis of sleep apnea). I don’t know how it works, but I will find out. My Part D drug insurance doesn’t cover it, so if I can, it’ll be helpful, I think.

I’m still stressed about it all, but will plod on.

I did go into the gym as I wanted to do my weights and hit the thrift store. I didn’t find too much. Sunday is nice in there as it’s fairly quiet.

Not too much cooking going on with this heat. I might just make up one of the salad packs with some sort of protein. I’ll make a tentative list of meals for the week tomorrow. I know I have some pulled pork to use and beans, so that’s one or two meals. I also have some feta to use, so I was thinking a Greek pasta salad. Otherwise, who knows? A pizza?

This is an open week for me, which is great. I’d like to do a few house projects, like painting the front door. Plus at least one swim and one Roseville gym/library.

Some pictures of our crimson Hollyhocks. They were my sister Heidi’s favorite.

Friday Things

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It was a semi-frugal week because of not being home for a few days. But we did spend some money on coffee and pastries, and of course, gas. Today I do need to go to the store and get some salad stuff and maybe some assorted veggies. I’m still not planning to go down to Roseville yet. Maybe tomorrow.

We had grilled chicken for dinner last night and potatoes. I have chicken left over, so I’ll either make a chicken salad or slice it for sandwiches.

I did a small Costco trip earlier in the week, so that filled in a few things. I’m trying not to buy Costco salad stuff, as we don’t finish the big packs. I did see their spinach salad, which I would try if it’s there next time.

I also need to go into the AAA office to deal with the non op motorcycle registration. I figured I could do it online, but apparently you need to show insurance. So I’ll do that first and then go over to Safeway.

We are in a heat wave again, temperatures in the 90’s. I closed all the windows early yesterday, and that helped. I also have blackout curtains on the windows that get the most direct sun. The heat is supposed to be here through the next couple of days, then drop a bit, but be back in the 90s again next week. By the end of next week it’s back down in the 70’s and 80’s.

Thankful Thursday

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Well, we did it!! My son and I went to Tahoe and camped in his Ritz-Carlton Teton tent. It is a 3-season, very big tent with an awning and windows. I’m very grateful to him for setting it all up and having everything that made it so nice. I had an air mattress that was on a twin frame, so I was off the ground. He even had a camping side table for my CPAP machine.

I’m very thankful that I had the Jackery battery, as it ran the Airsense all night. When I took it off, I still had 56% left, so theoretically that could be another night. My AirSense worked perfectly, and I even got a 100% score for the night, which I haven’t had since my air pressure was raised. I did finally take off my 02 ring because we were at 6000 feet; my 02 kept going down. Today, as I’m home, it rarely buzzes.

It was chilly at night, and I probably could have had another blanket on my down bag, but overall it was fine.

I was a bit emotional as it was 2 years to the day that B and I were up there for the last time. By July, of 2024, we were getting the bad news of cancer, but the pathologies hadn’t come in yet. It was also just a year ago that he started hospice and was gone by the 19th.

We got up early at 6:30 and walked down to the far end of the beach and let some of Dad go. He would have liked that.

My son and I packed up everything( he did 99% of it), and then went into South Lake and got some coffee and pastries before hitting the road.

I’m grateful my daughter held down the fort here with all the kitties. When you’re here alone, it is a bit time-consuming dealing with cats and house stuff.

Well, it was a fun trip, and I accomplished getting Barclay’s ashes to Tahoe. I did bring home a can of sand to use here. The sand on this beach is very golden.

I’m not sure I could handle two nights, but that’s not a concern right now.

Simple Sunday

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It’s very busy in our little town for the big Pioneer Days event. When the kids were young, this was a special event; there is a parade, with candy being given out, fire trucks, etc. The park is packed with vendors for burgers to coffee to beer ( I think). We haven’t gone in years now; it could be fun. Anyway, I just got home from the gym because the road closes at 10:30.

I need to get some stuff ready for our overnight trip this coming week. I’m not saying too much till I’ve gone and come home. Plus, I need to do some household chores.

Mr Peabody was back and on the roof. I think he’s lonely, as his cries are not answered. I think he’s gone now as I didn’t see him when I drove in.

I hope you have a peaceful Sunday. Share what you’re up to!

Saturday things

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I’m still struggling with my pressure adjustment on my CPAP. I’ve been using AI Gemini to troubleshoot, and it’s been very helpful. The problem is that I don’t feel better even though the machine says good mask fit. The app for AirSense is showing only a score of 90, which I have not had since starting 8 months ago, because it says the mask needs adjustment. I feel very weary over all this and not sure what to do. Hopefully I can figure it out. I am sleeping mostly through the night but just not waking up refreshed. More like a bit stuffy and a bit of a headache. I suppose it could be the pollen affecting me too.

Yesterday I went down to the gym and then the library. It was nice to go without needing to add groceries or another stop. It was very warm in the afternoon, so I did start the cooler again. Today is supposed to be 10 degrees cooler, so back in the 70’s.

Today I had a nice walk, and there was a lovely breeze. Tomorrow is Pioneer Day here in Meadow Vista, so I may not walk, as all the vendors get to the park early to set up. They also close the main road through town around 10, so if I’m going to the gym, I’ll need to be back by then.

I might go out this morning and do a few errands that I haven’t gotten around to, namely recycling and filling the small propane bottle I use for the fire pit. If my daughter comes along, we could go to the bookstore.

Well, that’s all I have for today. I will read my new library book, which is the latest Jane Whitefield by Perry. I finished The Correspondent, and wow, it was a great book. Very timely if you are in your 70’s.