i think it is great that you are compromising and there is something special about older houses

kitchen
 

Sounds good.

My parents have a house with a foundation that moves or something.
They had that done a few years ago.


We used Home Depot for our kitchen too. Hubby liked the electronic design process.
Hubby did the decision making all by himself but would tell me what was going on because I was mostly on the couch recovering from my little stroke at the time.
Mostly, I did not care what he was up to and trusted that he was more or less doing things right.

I did ask him for these:
-garbage disposal -- hubby never uses it but I love it.
-double sinks in the kitchen - some people need a big sink for big dishes and pots but I wanted two sinks.
-a lazy susan for the corner in the lower cabinet. Shop Rev-A-Shelf 2-Tier Plastic Pie-Cut Cabinet Lazy Susan at Lowes.com


=-=-
Almost immediately after the kitchen was installed, I wished we had worked out a plan for the garbage /trash pail. It's messy.


M

Good idea about the lazy susan corner and discuss the trash issue, ours now fits under the sink left is recycle right is trash, small containers.

bizi

3 scrambled eggs with a lot of spinach and a side of brocolli for breakfast/brunch.
4pm early dinner of left overs from bone fish grill Lilys chicken artichoke basil lemon with goat cheese. delicious!!!
jeff is going out to have a beer and he will eat a hot dog over there.
Then later we will have some cabbage soup from sandras health food store.
maybe some pop corn before 730pm cut off time. Then fast until 1130am.

I can do this!
I am very tired, may lay down and take a nap.
finished billing and filing.
bizi

I did take a nap and got up and ate half an avocado, half bag of popcorn and a chocolate yogurt and a cup of left over butternut squash soup.
Afterwards we watched this sweet movie about "good bye christopher robin"
about the writer of the winnie the pooh books and his son.

It will go down to 41 tonight.
I finally got warm taking my nap.
I never nap!
It felt all snuggly in the bed fully clothed with this big furry sweater and wool socks on.
bizi

I'm glad you had a nice snuggly nap :)

I imagine the foundation would be a big job, but I think the rest of the improvements will be fun to plan :)

First thing that will happen is a new front door.
Even though nobody uses front doors here everyone goes to your back/side door....
We can't even open/lock ours. It looks like the original door 50 years old.
I am sure it was beautiful in its day with leaded glass and such.
Maybe we could sell it on ebay?
Yesterday, We met with a man(Steward, my clients grandson) that gave us a bid for installing the new door and door jam. Just installation cost $500!
I am meeting with james this morning to get a quote on staining the fiberglass door...and see if he does installations as well to get another bid.
Jeff is going to research foundation repair companies.
Back down to 171.1 this morning.
It is sunny today, am happy about that.
bizi

One of my favorite clients died.
James Crane, 96 years old died peacefully in his sleep at an assisted living facility that I frequent.
I saw the obituary in the paper this morning and called his son.
He was a special man and I always enjoyed our visits and he did too.
We all thought he would live to be 100. I cried this morning talking to his son.
What a wonderful man.
I will miss him....
bizi

I like the intermittent fasting. Look it up.
Eat healthy with in an 8 hour time window. Then fast for 16 hours with only water coffee or tea unsweetened.
I ate a healthy lunch at noon
hamburger(no bun), turnips, collards, cauliflower.
Dinner: half a small supreme pizza
1 little bag of dehydrated peaches
drinking herbal tea and not hungry for snacking in the least.
This is an easy way to eat because I was never a breakfast eater.
Snacking has always been a down fall.
So now I drink herbal tea after 8pm like right now.
This burns fat!
bizi

$500 just for the install sounds like a very expensive install, even for up here. You may want to ask what need to be done to justify that price. I hope that the competing estimate will be a lot lower, especially since I'm sure that you are spending a lot of money for the new door.

I'm so sorry about your client :hug::hug::hug:

I'm glad that the intermittent fasting is working so well for you! :):):)

The painter said yesterday that he could install the door for $350 including the hardware.
His total bid for the stain paint/2 coats trim was $650 which I think is fair.
Will get one more bid today and decide who we will use.

My client: James Cranes death was announced publicly in the newspaper,
I also honored him on facebook. He was a wonderful man and has a great family. He was a WW2 veteran in the navy. He was not shy about telling me his stories as some clients are reluctant to share war stories.
I will miss him.

I see Robin my therapist this morning,
(to talk about my journal from 12 years ago).
Then will meet with another painter, Stephanie, at noon to get a final quote on the door, that will make 3 quotes.

I will meet a general contractor this thursday morning to discuss using his services to do the remodel, he is a very busy man who is a builder but also does cabinets....sounds expensive. WE shall see.

Happy we are getting things done.
I wonder if we should put off doing anything done until after getting the foundation fixed/stabilized?????
I think we can do the front door.

bizi

I'm sort of feeling that the foundation could be first -- before the door.

Ask the foundation people.


M

Intermittent fasting works for me.
I eat with an 8 hour window. Then fast for 16 hours over night. so basically skip breakfast then eat lunch and dinner and snack if I need/want one before 8pm. Then no snacking bed by 11;30. So it works perfectly for me.
Trying to eat as healthy as possible and not over eating.
no calorie counting no carb counting....it works best for me and is working!
Hubby is trying it too. day 2 for him.
I weigh 170.3, almost lowest weight since august.
bizi
I am very happy headed in the right direction. ______

goal for feb...is to be AF as much as possible.. I will avoid drinking during The time before fat tuesday and will be drinking on Mardi gras. Then give up alcohol for lent.
bizi
I had to throw out the little bottles of alcohol that I got for christmas, flavored. too much temptation here. I reached for them and picked up an apple instead. Had a big dinner :

160 cal Potato soup
120 yogurt
140 oatmeal
70 small apple
70 handful of almonds
200 popcorn
total for dinner=760 calories
but I did not drink alcohol!
bizi

My friend Susan is cooking dinner for me thursday night, I am to bring fruit. Maybe I should just bring strawberries. They are a low calorie/carb fruit.
I will have lunch at noon and stop eating at 8pm to start another fasting period of time 16 hours.
She is newly divorced and is adjusting to her townhouse and being alone.
Forgot about the super bowl coming up this sunday we usually do something anti superbowlish but she may be working, will find out tomorrow. Jeff is watching the game with some guys.
I work saturday out of town, usually have McDonalds oatmeal but theirs is so fattening! Will have grilled chicken with guacamole, I think I will have the oatmeal! Even though it has a lot of sugar it is still healthier than other side options.
LOL I am always thinking about my next meal! it is only wednesday and I am thinking about my lunch on saturday!!!!
Tomorrows lunch I am hoping for some greek food at the health food store that I eat at 4 days a week....maybe egg plant casserole mousaka, my favorite...will find out tomorrow.
Today I met my friends and had a very quick bite to eat at panera.
It was a chicken lentil/rice quinoa bowl with miso broth. I had them add an egg for more protein. It was very good. I think the miso had a lot of sodium so I might not want to get on the scale tomorrow.
bizi

I'm glad that Susan is settling into her new place. Does she like living alone?
I hope the two of you have a nice dinner together tonight :)

You are writing so much about food, you make me hungry!
You're eating very healthy, and it sounds like the intermittent fasting is working for you. Congratulations on losing more weight! :):):)

I think you are being very sensible and realistic about your AF/drinking plans. I like the fact that the drinking days are planned. This is a much different and healthier drinking pattern :hug:

You are doing so well in all things...
I am so proud of you!!! :):):)

p.s. Have the oatmeal!

Thanks kay!
((((HUGS)))))
bizi

yeay!
veggie mousaka for lunch today!!!!!
bizi:)

I stuck to my 8 hour window of eating but over ate for a snack at whole foods trivia night in the bar. I drank 2 fattening beers and ate berry cheese cake. before 8;30pm.
sigh
I work tomorrow and will have a sensible lunch.
Tomorrow night is the first mardi gras parade for the season. We are going to a cook out and then hear a band play at 9pm...pretty late for old farts like us!
lol
Fat tuesday is feb 13th this year.
bizi


WE are going to see james taylor and bonnie raitt in INdy on june 26th.
yes this will be so much fun. We will go with my sister gretchen and maybe my other sister jill too.
bizi

One day of cheating isn't going to derail all the progress you have made :hug:

I hope you have a great night tonight! :)
It sounds like it will be a lot of fun. It would be late for us too lol.

The concert in June is really something to look forward to :)

Thanks kay!
mardi gras parades started here in lafayette with the krew of rio.
It was a long parade over 20 floats.
WE caught a lot of beads and trinkets/toys.
Completely over ate and drank.
blew my diet and my AF plans....
sigh
bizi

Today is a new day Bizi :hug::hug::hug:

I'm glad you had fun tho.

Jeff is going to a super bowl party and is bringing his famous Mango chunky salsa.
He has made it for many years. The guys love it.
I don't have any plans...I put in a call to melissa to see what she was doing. She said I could join her going to her families house.
I spent some time with susan and felt awkward. We usually do some anti-superbowl thing....I have not even asked her if she is working today.
anyway.
I feel so full from yesterdays feasting still, may just have a lighter breakfast.
scrambled eggs with spinach.
bizi

We went to a mardi gras party before the parades.
There was a whole table full of good food.
I had stopped by whole foods on the way home and had 2 beers in a short amount of time. Then one more at the party.
But I ate:
chicken and part of a pork steak.
mac and cheese, 2 different kinds
spicy green beans, think tabasco
3 lemon bars, one was a raspberry bar.
fruit, pinaple and keywee and straw berries and blueberries.
king cake a small slice.
It doesn't sound too too bad now that I look at it. Just had been really good about portion control and not over eating.
I think having the beer ahead of time made it too easy to over eat and derail my diet. Poor decisions on my part.
Before heading home I bought some hard sparkling adult beverage with only 100 calories and a hint of grapefruit. They are called truly, a 6 pack.
Which means that I was planning to drink more than just last night.
Sigh
My resolve went out the window.
I knew this would happen during mardi gras which is until fat tuesday Feb-13th then lent begins(ash wednesday which is also valentines day) and I will give up alcohol for lent which ends with easter.
I drank 3 beers total so that was not horrible!
bizi

It sounds like Mardi Gras is so much fun! :)

I'm sorry that things felt awkward with Susan. Why do you think that was?

If you feel like you are starting to indulge too much, please just remember how good it felt to be clear headed. Reread this thread from the beginning when you need strength :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks kay.
I appreciate your wise words and friendship.

It is easy to slip back into old habits
I really need to be more thoughtful and purposeful.
preMardi gras and the superbowl were all excuses to drink.
I intend to give up alcohol for lent starting valentines day.
Until then I will be more mindful.
Thanks again,
love
bizi

You have been good for a very long time up until now. I like your plan, and I know you have it in you to see it through :hug::hug::hug:

173.6, my weight is fluctuating....and to get back to dieting again. Had a wonderful dinner out last night.
Fried chicken and roasted brussel sprouts and our favorite mac and chess.
Even though I had the equivalent of 3 beers total yesterday with jeff,
I was going to sneak off and have a couple after work with out jeff knowing but I decided to not do that. At least I decided to just go home, To just go home.
any way, think I will throw out the rest of the truly's beverage(pour down the drain)...I don't even like them. They are just a temptation that I don't need.
It is so easy to fall back into old habits....
sigh
bizi

good for you-one giant step!

Great job showing restraint by not stopping off at the bar after work and pouring those drinks down the sink. You may be drinking, but you're not letting it rule you :)

Thanks kay.
I am giving up alcohol for lent even though I am not religious nor catholic for that matter.
Hope you are well.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Is it that lent starts in about 4 days?


Do you do different things / activities when you are AF?

M

Mari,
It is all about choices for me.
And making substitutions.
Substitute one activity for the next.
This is where I get bogged down.
Tonight It will be a whole foods night, in the bar playing trivia. Before I have not drank when going there but that is not any fun. If AF I will get a lot of food to eat so as to be doing something there. I don't really play because I am horrible at trivia but it is something to do.
Being on a diet is not any fun either but I try still down 13 pounds.
Drinking fattening beers is not on my diet.
When I drink, I am not supposed to drive.
Before when I was AF...I was able to go to the gym in the evening.
I substituted drinking hot tea this past 2 months over the holidays when at christmas parties etc....in Indiana. I felt like I was hypo thou.
In theory I could start a new hobby.
But instead I post on even more forums and spend hours on the internet.
I have neglected certain aspects of my job for 9 months now. No one is to hold me accountable for doing that kind of paper work, so I don't do it.
That would take up a lot of time and is completely not fun, and I don't want to do it so I don't.
It is charting and creating new charts on the new clients that I see.
I am so far behind, it is daunting.
Now I do a little paper work daily then billing twice a month which takes me a few hours.

For lent I think that I will rejoin planet fitness($10.90 a month) and go after dinner in the evenings, when I would normally be on the computer. Would get home to watch jerry seinfeld with jeff at 9:30.

Being AF, I get better sleep. I am able to stay on my diet and not make bad food choices and don't have to worry about a DUI, or ruining my life.

There is shame involved in my drinking, like I am bad, weak, a moral failure, a lesser human being if I drink.:(
My therapist doesn't know that I started drinking again.
The last interaction we had was she texted me how proud she is of me...
sigh
I will probably lie to her or let her think that I am AF when I have not been.
I don't want to let her down. It felt good to hear her say she was proud of me....
sigh
My house always needs cleaning...I could do that but I am lazy.
It is more fun to be on the computer...than anything else.
I need to find joy in other activities. I have said for years now that I need to get a life.
Yesterday I had a cancellation so I thought I would stop and have a couple of beers and be ok to drive home.
I could not think of something that I could do or wanted to do to fill up that free time. So I thought about it while driving...and came up with " I have been needing new glasses for years" So I stopped at the store and got my eyes examined and picked out new frames. I am getting 2 pairs. Getting regular/expensive ones for everyday and cheap ones for the computer.
I did not get home until 6;30 so we ate late.
But it gave me something else to do besides drinking so that was good.
I spent $515 dollars on 2 pairs (including the eye exam)so that was not too too bad. I would have spent hundreds more if I had gone to lens crafters.
Sorry for the long post.
Thank you for reading.
Taking each day as it comes.
AF last night=a win.
sigh
must it always be a win/ lose situation....
bizi

You showed a lot of insight in that post, Bizi. I hope that getting all of that out helped you a little :hug::hug::hug:

There is a lot of shame associated with drinking (for people with drinking problems). I know I still carry it with me. Indulging in those thoughts is not helpful. But it seems like you recognize the pitfalls of drinking and benefits of being AF, and I think more than anything those kind of thoughts will help you. And I think it's great that you've been thinking about alternate activities :hug::hug::hug:

On the lighter side, congratulations on losing those 13 pounds!!! :)

I got home early and was able to have jeff drive to whole foods.
I had tried to get together with a friend but she did not text me back until it was too late to do anything. I would have drank hot tea with her, perhaps we would have gone out to eat or to a movie.
There were 2 tables of friends (and some people I did not know) at whole foods it was great fun, had 3 beers over 3 hours. Ate a lot of healthy food and had cho pudding for desert. I have social anxiety when it comes to talking to people in public. The beer helps with that. and it gives me an excuse to drink.
Earlier I had called a friend to discuss a surprise birthday party for our friends 70th birthday. She was at a bar drinking a beer and asked me to come join her, I asked her if she wanted to come to whole foods and she declined. The party is at 8am.
After trivia we went to target to pick out a birth day card and went home where I proceeded to make pop corn. WE ate 2-3 bags, can't remember actually while we watched seinfeld together. I also ate a carmel turtle that jeff picked up.
I am stuffed and tired.
I hope I sleep well tonight.
I don't like having to get up at 7am on a saturday. I am working in the afternoon. It is mardi gras season, many parades to go to and parties to attend. Monday night is the queens parade where our friends make king cakes. I will have decaff coffee there as they always serve that.
they make 3 different king cakes and every one samples each one. It is hard not to endulge but in all seriousness Their king cakes are too bready.
Again there will be people I don't know but I will have a cup of coffee in my hand to be a buffer so to speak.Mardi gras is fat tuesday, the last day of living it up before ash wednesday and the beginning of lent.
It happens to fall on valentines day this year.

Being on the computer takes up a lot of my time. I post on the addictions forum as well as here, and neurotalks bipolar forum as well.
And a nutrition site(spark people) that wants to decrease their drinking in order to lose weight.
I can easily get all hypo going from one forum to the other to face book then emails back to favorites forums etc.
I am online several times a day for at least an hour each time.
We are in the planning stages of fixing up our house. updating the kitchen and bathrooms, foundation repaired, new brick mail box, new front door, electrical wiring, landscaping, maybe sodding the back yard as the grass has all died. work on the drainage in the back yard. Lots of projects, getting ready to close on a new line of credit on the houses equity.
I already see my self getting all worked up over this.
WE cant really do any repairs to sheet rock or cracks and two doors can't shut....we have to have the foundation fixed first which is no fun at all and very expensive. We can at least get a mason to do the mail box so that will be nice. That will happen in the next few weeks.
I think we should sit down, make a list and prioritize which projects to do first. I want to hire a contractor to organize these projects as it is too much for me to deal with. I get hypo thinking about it.
I need to slow down and not rush things. Each project will disrupt our lives.
A new kitchen will require a plumber, an electrician, cabinet maker/installer, painter maybe, granite installers, etc.

I did not drink and drive. 3 drinks in 3 hours is not horrible.
I am not a bad person. I did over eat tonight.
Some how I will tell my therapist that I have been drinking.....
I am actually looking forward to lent.
I am looking forward to taking better care of myself joining a gym again.
bizi

Bizi,

I am going to respond to more of this later -- on way to bed now.

'I wish you did not feel shame.

Treat yourself as well as you would others ---no moral failure involved.
Be kind to yourself.
Maybe try not to associate drinking with bad or good. It just "is."


Re glasses: I recently bought a pair with purple frames. I love them but they are heavier
than the old light weight wire frames -- after a few hours I feel the weight.
Maybe I am just not used to them.

Hope you like yours.

M

Bizi, you are not a bad person... you are a wonderful, beautiful person with a lot to offer, and I love you (((HUGS)))

I'm sorry you have to get up so early this morning, even if it is for a good cause (a birthday party). You are going to have a long day :hug::hug::hug:

There is danger of becoming hypo with all the projects coming up to fix the house. I think that your idea of hiring a contractor may help with that a bit tho :hug:

Have a good day today, Bizi. And treat yourself to some oatmeal if you are not too full from the party :)

you have to look in the mirror a few times a day and say you are not a bad person. I carried a lot of shame from my father's drinking. it is hard to fight.
your home is going to be beautiful. just like a metaphor.

I gave myself a hug and looked in the mirror ans said
'"I am a nice person"
The surprise birthday party was nice. Nicko was very surprised!!!!!
We had gotten him a card and paid for his lunch, there were about 25 people there. Jeff and I split a breakfast.
It is a gloomy day.
I see three people this afternoon for work. Jeff is busy doing errands, changing light bulbs, other things not sure. I am sitting here making hot tea, relaxing before work. He said he would prepare dinner tonight.
Not sure if there is a parade tonight or not, 100% chance of rain.
Don't feel like getting wet.

I used to get great pleasure out of working in my yard. the whole yard screams for attention. I just don't have the energy/desire to tackle it.
It is over whelming.
I think the yard will get damaged when they bring in the big equipment to fix the foundation. Then would be a good time to redo the flower beds. We have been talking about this for years. WE will compile a list of things to do to fix up the place. We aren't planning on selling just fixing things that we have neglected or want to do but never got around to doing them.
bizi
Must get my tea.
I have some paper work that I could do....
sigh
bizi