What are you doing these days?

[Woggle]

We took the boat out for the first time since Covid. It was a little cold but it felt good to get some subs from our favorite place, listen to some tunes and just stop the boat out in the pacific ocean and take it all in. The ocean is very peaceful and we enjoyed just getting out again.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I was just about to go insane from 3 months of extreme lockdowns when case numbers dropped and restrictions eased. I am now out every day. I had my first lunch at a restaurant in 8 months and first drink at the bar. Today, I just went and sat on the grass in the city centre and watched the city come back to life just in time for summer. I had some issues with sounds and lights being too bright the first day out (I think I started becoming agoraphobic) but it settled down. Then I did some clothes shopping and eek found that I gained some weight/lost muscle mass.

From tomorrow, cinemas and gyms are going to open and can't wait to get back. It still feels a bit surreal and I am just waiting for things to go bad again and be ordered into another lockdown. While we have had 0 new cases for 9 days in a row and now have only 4 active cases in the state - I can see how bad the virus is in the rest of the world and I know it's just the matter of time.

I ordered a bottle of champagne today to celebrate Biden's win and I can't help but feel that this is the sign of better things to come in the world.

[Shining One]

On 11/4/2020 at 7:35 AM, Ellener said:

The movie theatres here in Texas are selling the films online, I think it's the same charge as going in person.

Are the theater companies themselves hosting the streams? I know various film companies are releasing to their own streaming services if they have one and to the major online streaming stores if they don't, but I haven't heard of any theaters hosting streams.

[Happy Lemming]

I removed a dead palm tree this morning from my front yard. Three of my palm trees died over the long extremely hot summer. I tried giving them extra water to try to get them through the hot days, but it didn't work.  I did save three others, so 50% survival rate on my palm trees.... not too good. 

Oh well... maybe I'll plant something else in that spot after the pandemic.

1 down... 2 to go.

[Ruby Slippers]

I've gotten really focused and disciplined on my weight loss and fitness goal, and as of yesterday, I'm at the lowest weight I've been since HIGH SCHOOL. I'm feeling really good. I've lost a little over 10 pounds and think I'll aim for another 10 pounds. I'm tall, so a 10-20 pound change isn't all that visible on my body, and I'm staying in the healthy range for my height. Mainly I see it in my stomach, which is getting flatter and more toned.

It's really not that hard once you simply make up your mind and realize it's a marathon, not a sprint. It's the same principle Dave Ramsey always talks about with money, quoting this Bible verse: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

I'm learning to embrace and even enjoy discipline in new ways. Feels like a game changer.

[Ruby Slippers]

This cool guy got in touch with me randomly online. I keep a pretty low profile online, but somehow cool men seem to find me. I guess it's law of attraction  We're just getting to know each other. I'm doing my thing, not really thinking about dating till I reach my fitness goal, but it's fun to talk to him. He's cute, has a very interesting job with the United Nations, seems very gentlemanly and sweet. I don't know if I want to date until I reach my goal. I've been thinking no, because early dates seem to be so food- and drink-heavy. I don't guess they have to be, though. Hmm, we'll see. Anyway, it's fun 

[Happy Lemming]

I finished removing the other two dead palm trees. 

I'll need to replace them with something, the house looks way too barren in the front.  Once the pandemic is over, I'll go to the nursery and try to find something.   I like the way oleander looks and it makes a nice drought resistant hedge, so maybe I try that.

[Ellener]

On 11/8/2020 at 5:00 PM, Shining One said:

Are the theater companies themselves hosting the streams? I know various film companies are releasing to their own streaming services if they have one and to the major online streaming stores if they don't, but I haven't heard of any theaters hosting streams.

Yes, AMC sends out ads for what's available, the movie theatres are restricted-open but I don't think people are much attending. Our free outdoor entertainment stage is also putting out entertainment, mostly based on past shows I think.

Glad you're doing well!

 

[regine_phalange]

On 11/9/2020 at 8:13 PM, Ruby Slippers said:

I've gotten really focused and disciplined on my weight loss and fitness goal, and as of yesterday, I'm at the lowest weight I've been since HIGH SCHOOL. I'm feeling really good. I've lost a little over 10 pounds and think I'll aim for another 10 pounds. I'm tall, so a 10-20 pound change isn't all that visible on my body, and I'm staying in the healthy range for my height. Mainly I see it in my stomach, which is getting flatter and more toned.

It's really not that hard once you simply make up your mind and realize it's a marathon, not a sprint. It's the same principle Dave Ramsey always talks about with money, quoting this Bible verse: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

I'm learning to embrace and even enjoy discipline in new ways. Feels like a game changer.

Well done for achieving your goals! What are you doing to reach them? I started working out and spinning but my diet is a bit rich at the moment 

[Ruby Slippers]

2 hours ago, regine_phalange said:

Well done for achieving your goals! What are you doing to reach them? I started working out and spinning but my diet is a bit rich at the moment 

Thanks! I was already pretty active, so it's mostly improving my diet. It really is true what they say - 80% of it is what you eat. I've now lost 15 pounds, and this means I'm running faster and longer, and post-workout soreness is way down. I'm carrying around 15 less pounds, which lightens up the impact to my joints when running.

Recently I've been eating a very clean diet - vegetable soups, fruit, lean protein, and high-quality carbs. I'm doing intermittent fasting, only consuming calories between 12:00 and 7:00. I'm also doing more heavy(ish) weight lifting, which does a good job of blasting fat and feels pretty easy for me to do. I just started calculating the macros I need, and discovered I need to increase the protein and reduce the carbs more. So now I'm eating a very protein-rich diet, soon going to get some protein powder and egg whites to boost it even more. Protein does a lot of good for the body, and it's filling.

The coolest thing is that I got over that hump, and now the benefit of getting slimmer and healthier feels better than the indulgence of eating whatever. It's kind of like when I got really serious about budgeting and frugality - at first, passing on the $5 Starbucks or whatever other fluffy purchase felt like missing out, but eventually, the satisfaction of keeping that $5 in my pocket every time took over. It's a very empowering feeling of being disciplined for a bigger purpose. 

Now I feel like I can accomplish pretty much any goal with focus, discipline, and time

[Ellener]

On 11/14/2020 at 3:11 PM, Happy Lemming said:

I like the way oleander looks and it makes a nice drought resistant hedge, so maybe I try that.

did you get it?

Oleander grows like a weed here in Texas.

[Ellener]

I've got a few gift cards to use up on meals, which I'll order online then pick up. 

Going to get a 'flu shot. Donating blood Saturday.

One more grocery shopping trip for the Thanksgiving meal and some medical supplies. Have stocked up ahead of the predicted lockdown, we are getting 11 000 new cases a day again of Covid where I live.

Practising walking my little dog beside the wheelchair, she's pretty good now! My arms are getting lovely and trim 

[regine_phalange]

33 minutes ago, Ruby Slippers said:

Thanks! I was already pretty active, so it's mostly improving my diet. It really is true what they say - 80% of it is what you eat. I've now lost 15 pounds, and this means I'm running faster and longer, and post-workout soreness is way down. I'm carrying around 15 less pounds, which lightens up the impact to my joints when running.

Recently I've been eating a very clean diet - vegetable soups, fruit, lean protein, and high-quality carbs. I'm doing intermittent fasting, only consuming calories between 12:00 and 7:00. I'm also doing more heavy(ish) weight lifting, which does a good job of blasting fat and feels pretty easy for me to do. I just started calculating the macros I need, and discovered I need to increase the protein and reduce the carbs more. So now I'm eating a very protein-rich diet, soon going to get some protein powder and egg whites to boost it even more. Protein does a lot of good for the body, and it's filling.

The coolest thing is that I got over that hump, and now the benefit of getting slimmer and healthier feels better than the indulgence of eating whatever. It's kind of like when I got really serious about budgeting and frugality - at first, passing on the $5 Starbucks or whatever other fluffy purchase felt like missing out, but eventually, the satisfaction of keeping that $5 in my pocket every time took over. It's a very empowering feeling of being disciplined for a bigger purpose. 

Now I feel like I can accomplish pretty much any goal with focus, discipline, and time

Solid advice! I never tried the macro thing. I guess it takes some time in the beginning but later on you just know instictively!

[Ruby Slippers]

4 minutes ago, regine_phalange said:

Solid advice! I never tried the macro thing. I guess it takes some time in the beginning but later on you just know instictively!

I also track everything I eat and drink and everything using the free MyFitnessPal app. This shows you exactly what percentage of carbs, protein, and fat you're eating. Just as tracking every penny you earn and spend is the best way to manage your finances, tracking everything you consume (and burn through exercise) is a great way to stay aware and make positive changes in that area.

[Happy Lemming]

1 hour ago, Ellener said:

did you get it?

Oleander grows like a weed here in Texas.

I'm going to wait until after the pandemic or at least until after I get the vaccination.  I want to minimize my trips to places and reduce my odds of getting Covid-19.

I'm assuming the less I go out, the less chance of me getting exposed to the virus.

 

[Ellener]

6 minutes ago, Happy Lemming said:

I'm going to wait until after the pandemic or at least until after I get the vaccination.  I want to minimize my trips to places and reduce my odds of getting Covid-19.

I'm assuming the less I go out, the less chance of me getting exposed to the virus.

 

I think I've already had it, but now of course it appears we can get it more than once...but yes, I understand.

I'm in a big city so there are lots of places to shop, if I get somewhere and it's busy I just leave and there is somewhere else a mile or two away. I'm expecting a lot of these to disappear in 2021 though, this is how it was after Harvey disaster- you can tell the places which are struggling and half-stocked.

 

[Happy Lemming]

Last night after dinner I loaded the dishwasher and turned it on.  For some reason, it started making a buzzing/humming sound, although it still ran through the cycle and drained properly.

So after it was done, I removed the dishes and lower dish tray and partially disassembled it.  I gave everything a real good cleaning, filters, impeller, etc.  They were a little dirty, but nothing to write home about.  I put it back together and ran it through a normal cycle empty, the sound was gone, so maybe its fixed.

I think I'll run it through another two cycles first with white vinegar, then baking soda.  That should pretty much clean up anything left in it, hopefully.

 

[schlumpy]

My wife and I took a run to a local outlet mall where we discovered to our dismay that around thirty percent of the stores were gone. I fear there will be more 

[schlumpy]

Hey... @Elaine567 or @Foxhall.

How is the lockdown working out in the UK?

I haven't seen it in the news lately. Where I live it just it just went to Stage four out of four and the county has imposed a curfew and travel restrictions. We are like a big purple hickey on the Covid-19 infection state map. They are blaming it on Halloween parties.

It's like a mild version of martial law. No soldiers in the streets yet or check points. 

As usual when the government "helps us" it's one size fits all.

 

[elaine567]

10 hours ago, schlumpy said:

Hey... @Elaine567 or @Foxhall.

How is the lockdown working out in the UK?

@schlumpy
The four nations of the UK all have a different approach.
England is in countrywide lockdown but a softer one than in the Spring. Cases in last few days plateauing hopefully but hospitalisations and deaths still rising.
Scotland has a tiered system, with 2.3 M people in the highly populated West and Centre being placed in level 4(out of 5 tiers) tonight. They were in level 3 but cases are not dropping hence the upping of the restrictions. Seems like cases are flattening off very slightly, but too early to really speculate. In England the less affected areas are now rising so maybe it will be the same in Scotland...
In Wales they have just come out of a short sharp lockdown so they need to now re-assess where they are at.
Northern Ireland have just come out of tough restrictions but they are going straight back into a more severe lockdown on 27th November. Hospitalisations running higher than in the Spring.

None of these lockdowns are getting the same level of compliance that the first lockdown got. So not sure where that leads us, in the run up to Xmas and the start of the real respiratory virus season... 
 

[schlumpy]

Just found out my little sister has Covid. She's weathered it and is now in isolation for two weeks.

 

[Happy Lemming]

3 minutes ago, schlumpy said:

Just found out my little sister has Covid.

 

Does she know how she got it??

[Ruby Slippers]

I went to the grocery store today. Not surprisingly, the weekend before Thanksgiving it was a madhouse. I expected that going in and was in no hurry, so my strategy most of the time was to park my buggy in an out-of-the-way spot and walk the aisle to pick out what I needed. Of course, most people don't think of that, so the aisle was jammed with too many carts, people saying excuse me and other people refusing to budge till they completed their slooooow perusal of the section, lots of obvious frustration and rolled eyes. Since I was prepared for the chaos, it was mildly amusing and I was extra nice and friendly to the cashiers, who were clearly feeling the stress.

I went ahead and got most of the stuff I'll need to bake my many tins of Christmas cookies, since I'll be sending boxes to my out-of-town friends right after Thanksgiving. I'm baking for about a dozen different people/couples/families. So now my pantry and fridge look like they belong to Mrs. Claus, are stuffed with stacks of white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, flour, peanut butter, butter, nuts, Hershey's kisses - and candy canes to put on the Christmas tree. There was a buy 2 get 1 special on the kisses, so I have a whole bag to myself - tastes like absolute heaven with all this super clean, light, monk-like eating I've been doing lately. 

[schlumpy]

1 hour ago, Happy Lemming said:

Does she know how she got it??

She works at a legion hall and got it from a customer. She tested positive. She lives with her husband and son so they were also included as Covid cases even though they never tested them. I can see why the doctor made that assumption but I have to wonder about the accuracy of the statistics that are being compiled

My sister can't taste or smell anything at the moment but she isn't in the ICU. So, that's something positive.

[Happy Lemming]

42 minutes ago, schlumpy said:

My sister can't taste or smell anything at the moment but she isn't in the ICU. So, that's something positive.

Get well soon (for your sister)!!