TLDR ahead.

Given I had a hair-raising ride through formerly-marked-but-rearranged-by-flooding minefields through Mozambique (at night! In the dark! and jesus christ, in farmland, the locals!) I am happy for everyone for what Sparky's husband is doing.

Today wore me out. Successes: found my swimsuits on sale ($35 down from $85, plus 10% off coupon!) and so bought 3. Even though I still have an unworn one in packaging. It's so rare I find them on sales this low, I stock up. This should last me a couplefew years, if the wear of the current is any indication (it's nearing end of life. It's been about 7 months, I think? Which is a little longer than past suits. In this case, it'll be the stitching that goes.)

I'm getting renewed frustration with my swim times. I know some of it is recovery from the cold. But I'm seriously wondering if it is less buoyancy: I was starting to maintain and drop times again. Then in the last few months, I've gotten sick a couple times in such a way that I don't eat for a couple days and when the appetite returns, it is diminished for a good week. I've lost on order of 15 lbs from that. Even with my usual 5lb winter gain (it usually drops off over the summer, so I never fuss about it) that's still kinda a hefty percentage for me in a short, unhealthy period. And after a brief lull after each precipitous drop, my times went to worse shit.

I'm sure part is just bad habits rutted-in when sick and tired, but grrr.

And this week I went to wear a dress I haven't since last summer and it was too big. I figured since it was knit, just from hanging on a hanger for a year. So I washed it and...yeah, still going to need tucks to fit properly. That's not just the 15 lbs. That's changing shape, and bodies are just fucking weird. I mean, I have developed new ab..well, you can't call it definition, but it is a tuck that wasn't there before. FROM A WEEK OF COUGHING.

I'd really really like my times back. I've basically lost a half mile in time and that's insane and makes no sense.

I'm actually really liking the mini. For typing and shopping, less so, but for reading here and fb and articles and...it's book sized. I can tote it around. Score: Dad.

That is why I love my mini. Such a convenient size to carry around, but a more readable screen than a phone. My full-sized (and 1st-gen, so ancient) iPad pretty much lives on the fridge anymore. Which is almost like having a smart fridge.

Hey! As of right now I'm leading the team!

I've been doing a "wellness challenge" at work, but only barely and it ends this month. You have excellent timing, msbelle!

See, I only have a stupid phone and a 4 ish yr old itouch in addition to the 6 yr old laptop. Which is showing its age/os. I'll have to deal with that eventually. But this is just so speedy and handle able! Plus, better camera than the touch and thus I don't have to do the camera card shenanigans for good quick shots.

It's raining so no yardwork will be done. Darn.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday Hec!

Looks like it will be a nice day, so a zoo trip is in the plans.

Blueberries and cherries and strawberries! And apricots made their first appearance, but I usually wait a week or two for them to sweeten up.

Didn't get more sweet peas, still working on last week's.

Happy birthday, David!

It's raining so no yardwork will be done. Darn.

I'm so sorry, Zen. Sucks to be stuck inside and forced to read or watch recorded entertainment.

I need to get out the door and get canning jars. Don't wanna. But I also have a hundred mangoes or so and the tree is threatening to rain many more down on me. Chutney forever. Also need to get a zillion plastic containers for freezing. I just had a mango/oats/almonds smoothy for breakfast. Not surprisingly I have tabs open for mango frozen yogurt, lime (also have tree) mango sorbet, and Thai beef and mango stir fry. DH put the chest freezer in storage but I think it has to come back.

Also he just hit up a yard sale of a moving neighbor and scored a cache of tools that was quite impressive. Older (think super quality) power tools. Wet saw, sawzall, don't remember all the stuff he listed. Lots.

I thought we were getting rid of stuff, but maybe not so much. Sigh.

I am getting rid of stuff!

Also, I just heard on the radio that calamari has been named official state appetizer of Rhode Island. I certainly hope it's Rhode Island style calamari, and not just any old squid!

I've never been able to enjoy calamari. DH swears that it is yummy when fresh and well prepared, but I'm not convinced.