Rantings, Ravings, and Ramblings

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Congratulations on completing Recovery and 10,000 Punches!
Hugs for the other thing. (I find all of those punches can be cathartic if one imagines a deserving target.)

With yoga breathing exercises I often find it is useful to me to go at my own pace. If the instructor (or a clock) is forcing a pace that isn't working for me at that time, it's actually stress-inducing. Which is the opposite of the point of doing it! Taking breathing exercises at my own pace, however, is calming and meditative.

 

[JCU]

@Anek, @VacTom, @Fremen, @Mamatigerj, @FlowersandPetals, @Laura Rainbow Dragon!

A mental target did help, @Laura Rainbow Dragon . A forced pace is definitely what turned me off of controlled breathing. Being able to find my own place really changed things for me!

Did the butt kicks slowly after the jumping jacks, didn't love the program, but I'll get back into that, and no stretching today.

First snow storm of the season! More than a foot of snow and my brother got thrice that! Had to pull out the winter jacket and boots, which is always a fun question of, "where did I leave those??"

(The hall closet. I was good this year!)

Slow day, otherwise. Took down all the fall decorations, but Christmas things are in the attic, so we're tackling that tomorrow.

I get to see how well my attempt at apple cider vinegar comes out tomorrow! Fingers crossed!

 

[JCU]

All exercises were done! It always feels both great and slightly painful to stretch my legs out again.

Didn't get to either the Christmas decorations or apple cider vinegar.

New plowman has not returned today and the town cleared the sidewalks with an electric plower; great for walking, but not so much for getting out of the driveway. That took some tiresome doing. If our snowplow could work consistently

I will be getting those decorations down tomorrow!

Also working on the vinegar. As it is vinegar, I'm not worried about giving it another day.

My sister sent some pictures. This is an old box. Isis just loves the shape!

 

[GentleOx]

Look at the cuddly kitties! Glad you're feeling better and back in action

 

[MadamMeow]

Been missing those kitties! Congrats for Recovery & 10,000 Punches!

 

[JCU]

@GentleOx, @MadamMeow!

Exercising was done! Cider is on the second stage! Christmas decorations are downstairs! My thighs are done!

It's been a wonderfully productive day!

Dad and I both have sore backs from shovelling, and I have added leg pain from Fit December yesterday. The plowman came last night, though, so the driveway needed no extra work from us!

Nobu has been particularly cat like today. He smelled the treats Dad gave them yesterday and cleared the coffee table to find them. He's also an idiot, because he knocked them to the floor on the first pass



That's the face of a cat who doesn't understand why the fireplace is chirping but not turning on. (He's on the remote )

Christmas decorations go up tomorrow! We talked last year about using guide lines to hold up the tree. Fingers crossed we won't need them this year!

I'm hoping to have time to craft in the next few days. Today my back definitely didn't want that!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Silly kitty!

 

[JCU]

Exercising done! My legs hated the stretching as I did it, but are much better now!

Christmas tree is up! House has some more decorating to be done, but that's always been Mom and Dad. Planning for Christmas cookies has been done, as well! We always forget those until after

We have more lake effect snow moving in and it may hit us with blowing snow tomorrow morning. Not enough to keep us in the house all day, but Mom might not get into work. We'll see in a few hours!

(Mom had a time two years ago with the exact weather conditions and nearly didn't make it home. She doesn't drive in that anymore and thankfully her bosses are understanding.)

Nobu has been in a mood all day! It started with him being a goof with Mom and then I got it. My tablet, which he had been sleeping against, slipped when I sat down. Then he decided to walk on my legs?? He cuddled, he was a seat stealer (twice!), he was a cat

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Your Mom is smart! (And her bosses too.)

 

[JCU]

I'm thankful they all are, @Laura Rainbow Dragon! The weather was clear enough for safe driving, so in she went!

Exercising done! Used logic to talk myself out of an anxiety attack, which pleases me greatly! It did cause any other work to be delayed, unfortunately. Still, I count it as a win!

Nobu has been a great comfort today. Cuddles, seat stealing (and the belly was a lie ), and the moment I could not move





We should be through with this round of snow. It's left a mark!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Used logic to talk myself out of an anxiety attack, which pleases me greatly!

(and the belly was a lie )

Isn't the belly always a lie with a cat?

 

[JCU]

Surprisingly not, @Laura Rainbow Dragon! If Nobu shows it, I can usually get it! Casper loves it! This time, though...

And thank you!

 

[JCU]

Hello, Bees!

Exercising done! (The past few days, too.) Ornament done! I will be feeling that tomorrow!

Minor anxiety kept me from wanting to socialize, but that's through! Had a bit of a busy weekend and a surprisingly good day today!

Celebrated Dad's birthday at my brother's house. First visit and it's quite nice! (he moved in with his girlfriend) Also got to see Stormy and meet Mittens. He's a rapscallion (and grown so much!) and she's a cuddle bug. I had a blast!



We had a soup flight with me making half of them and that increased my anxiety a bit. That going well helped a lot, and yesterday wasn't as bad as Saturday.

Today I babysat for the first time ever that wasn't my siblings. And that hasn't happened in more than a decade. Being asked (and knowing I was the last person they could contact) was the huge anxiety spike I talked my way out of last week. I woke today with excitement and a bit of worry that was both well worth it and unnecessary. The kids are amazing, they listened well enough, and didn't fight me about bedtime. For a first attempt, it went exceedingly well!

Sincerely hope it doesn't happen often or soon, though. That stress!

I see Tyler tomorrow (I am so. thankful.) and may go to Canada on Thursday. Another weather front is moving in and the snow may keep us home. Hopefully not!

And I came downstairs to this:



That's Nox on my side!!

 

[Anek]

Congrats on the ornament!!

 

[JCU]

Thanks, @Anek!

It's been a slow day. My legs hate me. Expected that, so it's not too bad. Laundry was fun. Tyler helped a bit.

Today was my second hall pass. I will earn that pass tomorrow. My legs really didn't like the squat hops, let alone the very slow butt kicks.

My own fault for pushing through after months of no regular programs

I have been crafting! Half done with A's present and 1/3 of Mom's! I'm focusing on Mom's for now because I have to do it while she's not here. That restricts me a bit! One of these days I'm going to wake up early enough to make 2 sections in one day. One day...

Nobu cuddled! Casper kept moving closer as I slept and I woke with him against my chest

I will either sleep early and deeply, or stay awake beyond a reasonable time and then hopefully sleep deeply. Fingers crossed!

 

[Fremen]

Congrats

 

[Mamatigerj]

Cheers for your Ornament!

 

[MadamMeow]

Congrats for the ornament!

And omg to Mittens, look at that cattitude!

I love you have so many great cats in your world!

 

[NightWolf714]

Congrats on the ornament!

I think it's awesome that you're crafting presents. I feel like that can definitely be a workout sometimes, haha.

 

[JCU]

Thank you, @MadamMeow! I'm very lucky to have so many! And only 2 are cryptids!

Thank you, @NightWolf714! I definitely have to stretch a lot while crafting, that's for sure! And Kayla (my massage therapist) regularly works on my shoulders. The results are worth it!

I've been exercising, but stretching has fallen behind. Recovering from DOMS and spending family time has had me exercising late at night, when I don't want to do too much.

Family time was a long weekend courtesy of the snow! This was our backyard on Thursday.



Mom couldn't see through the gusting snow, so called in. Then came the travel ban that lasted through Friday morning (she called in then, too). That was lifted by Saturday morning, which she already had off, so we went to Canada! That was a pleasant afternoon! Then home again today, with crafting happening. Finished the loom work on A's gift! It should be pressed enough to knit together tomorrow!

Attempting to shift my sleep schedule by an hour to get good crafting in before Mom gets home. It was a bit of a miss this morning.

Cats! Nobu likes to steal my hand for a pillow, which I only mind when it starts to go numb! And he finally found the bauble on my sweater



And I managed a picture of Nox!! The cat tree in the family room was rarely used, so we moved it to Mom and Dad's room and I saw this earlier!!



And finally, my sister's non-cryptid cats. Bean likes to climb things. That includes the "spare" human. Isis is deciding whether the lack of ornaments is enough deterrent (it was! The tree has remained unharmed!)



I have to remember to post more often to avoid these photo dumps!

 

[NightWolf714]

Oh wow, that's a lot of snow! And such silly babies~

 

[CODawn]

 

[JCU]

Productive day! Exercised and stretched! Made three segments! Stitched together A's gift! Wrapped presents!

I did only finish the loom work of Mom's gift. The only way I could get that much done in the time I had! I'll make two more segments tomorrow and close the warps on all of them.

A's gift is resting under a book for the night. I need to do some work on the very center and decide which side is "front". Still need a frame, so I've got time to tinker!

My sister stopped by! Always great to see her!

I need to keep butt kicks in mind after this challenge. They were great after sitting and leaning forward for so long!

Nobu wanted to cuddle while I was crafting. When I finally let him, he didn't want to give me back my hand. I won in the end



Kayla tomorrow! I'm looking forward to that immensely.

 

[NightWolf714]

Definitely sounds productive. And Nobu is just trying to remind you to rest is all, I'm sure, hehe.

 

[JCU]

And Nobu is just trying to remind you to rest is all, I'm sure, hehe.

I'm sure, @NightWolf714

Another great day! Loomed two more segments and closed the warps on yesterday's. Laundry got done, which cut into crafting time. Tomorrow will be better!

Visited my cousin, who is housebound after knee surgery. There were some complications, but she's on the mend and not stir crazy yet! And she has dogs!!

Joe is a 95 pound golden doodle who uses his weight to bully back scratches out of you. Violet is an 18 month old American poodle who is all legs and manic energy. I had a blast!

Kayla was delightful. I still have some spots I need to work myself, but things are much more relaxed and I'm feeling very good.

In the past, I've found it difficult to balance exercising and crafting. Today was all the proof I need that exercising helps crafting. I desperately needed to get up and stretch and move!

No Snowfight for me this year. I need to focus on finishing presents and holiday preparations.

I will leave you all with Casper, who was basking in the fire Mom lit.

 

[JCU]

Exercising done! Stretched both days!

I finished all segments of Mom's gift yesterday and had a thought. They're all bordered, so not knitting them together could work. Set them out today and I really like how it looks!



I need to figure out specifics of framing after I get a frame. That should be tomorrow! A's present is still in a book. I'm ignoring that until I get a frame. I'm only a little worried!

Nobu stole my seat before I even got downstairs. I could not deny that position



Then we cuddled!



I slept in an hour and took today to be lazy. Needed that! I caught these 2 yesterday cleaning each other. So cute!!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Exercising done! Stretched both days!

I finished all segments of Mom's gift yesterday and had a thought. They're all bordered, so not knitting them together could work. Set them out today and I really like how it looks!

View attachment 5588

Cute! I like this layout too!

Nobu stole my seat before I even got downstairs. I could not deny that position

View attachment 5589

Aww!

I caught these 2 yesterday cleaning each other. So cute!!

View attachment 5591

Reminds me of a Taijitu.

 

[Mamatigerj]

Well done on your Mom's gift!

 

[NightWolf714]

That gift looks super cute!

 

[JCU]

I'm alive! That was suspect for a little while

First: Happy Winter Holiday of Choice! I hope you're all having a great time with your family of choice.

My Christmas Eve was spent with my siblings with a surprise visit from an out of state cousin. Excellent time, exhausting night.

Today was a lazy morning followed by a busy afternoon and family friends over for supper. Loved seeing them, but my social batteries were fried by then.

The days leading up to Christmas were full of last minute prepping. I did the daily exercise and butt kicks, but haven fallen uncomfortably behind on Fit December. I'll work on that in the next few days!

In the very best Christmas news: my brother proposed to his girlfriend!! And she said yes!! We're all ecstatic!

Tomorrow will either bring a swell of enthusiasm, or I will be tired all day. Time will tell!

Nobu hasn't cuddled as much. Tyler surprised me with Theo, though! He was bribed for this picture

 

[NightWolf714]

Cute puppy!

Congrats to your brother and his fiance'! And happy holidays!

 

[Daptomycin]

Congrats!
And it doesn't matter that you have fallen behind a few days, you can always catch up!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

Happy Holidays, @JCU !

Who is this Theo? He is very cute!

 

[JCU]

Thank you, @NightWolf714!

That's the attitude I try to take, @Daptomycin! Thanks!

Theo is my chiropractor Tyler's dog, @Laura Rainbow Dragon . I used to see him regularly when I saw Tyler on Thursdays. Now that it's Wednesday night, I am often bereft. Tuesday was the best surprise! He is very cute, indeed!

 

[FlowersandPetals]

Congratulations to your brother and his bride to be! I hope you're able to catch up on some rest today!

 

[Anek]

Congrats to your brother!

 

[NancyTree]

Congrats!

And Theo is so cute!

 

[MadamMeow]

OMG Theo is super adorbs!

 

[JCU]

Thank you, @FlowersandPetals, @Anek, @NancyTree!

He was especially cute in that hat, @MadamMeow!

Sleepiness won out! Slept in to my latest alarm, had a leisurely shower, and a nap!

Much of that is this month's symptoms. Because of course Christmas was day 1. Still, I'm not dragging, sweet cravings are because we have cookies, and I'm feeling quite good otherwise!

No catching up today, though. If I've recharged my batteries, I should be able to do that tomorrow!

Nobu cuddled last night and has ignored me entirely so far today

Nox came to enjoy the fire, though!



So distrustful

 

[Mamatigerj]

Sounds like a joyful Christmas, indeed, @JCU!