December 16, 2018
Man! I just spent 45 minutes typing my post and hit some button on my keyboard and WHAM@! all the words disappeared. A lot of times that happens when I am too negative and I guess it is a way of getting things out of my system.
I accidentally clicked on my first page of my journal and saw that I had my Instant Pot for 4 years now. 4 Years!! my, oh, my, where has the time gone? Seems like yesterday since I got that appliance. I also noted that I made Chef AJ's Split Pea Soup recipe - so, if anyone is wondering, YES, that recipe is a keeper.
An overuse injury flared up in my wrist with all that painting I am doing, so yesterday was a no painting day and I wore my splint to give it a rest. I ran about 3 miles on the treadmill, went to the Wreaths for the Fallen ceremony. They put wreaths on all the headstone at the Veteran's Cemetery. It is so pretty when all the wreaths are put in place. Both my father-in-law and mother-in-law are laid to rest there.
Afterwards, I went hiking with GD1. We went to the state park to check out the backpacking sights. They have 4 sights where you have to hike in about 1.25 miles. I heard that to get ready for backpacking that you should start carrying your pack with whatever you are going to carry so you get used to it. So, since we have been slowly getting my gear, I loaded up my pack (about 25 pounds) and carried that to see how I'd do. I survived and even was able to walk at a good pace despite the hills.
The second sight we looked at I commented on how it was going to be a pain coming back because we were walking downhill to it. But on the way back GD1 said, "Hills are good for you. They make you strong." Yeah, right, not very convincing, girl.
I use an alcohol stove for cooking when camping and discovered that, while it was warm for December, 40°F, it was too cold for the alcohol to catch - that meant we were not able to have the meal we planned for our hike. We ended up having a candy bar and orange juice. But we had our meal once we returned home - dehydrated Vegetable Curry with Rice. I discovered that during the dehydration a lot of the curry flavoring was lost. I guess I'll need to add more for the next batch I make.
I miss not having GD1 living next door. It was fun doing something with her. She says she wants to do the backpacking trip with me this next summer. We might have to ease into it by doing a walk in (about 100 -200 yards from parking) first so we can get used to the noises in the dark, but have a quick way out if we get too scared. But, she may be getting a job, so we'll see what happens. Either way, I am going to do it this summer.
See, I can plan and prepare for things - so why in the world can I not get with this whole food plant based way of eating and get rid of the junk? Sometimes I get so frustrated with myself, but these past few months were so stressful and I had so much stress eating that it is taking me a while to get my mindset where it needs to be to get back with it. These extra pounds that found me again seem to be hanging on with such a tight grip that I am feeling the aches and pains again - Awww! Motivation is returning, that is what got me started on this journey in the first place.
So, here's to a new day -