Weekly Mileage #235 and the Storage Container

note River's ears- sliding the container off was a noisy process

Monday was the first day of the fall session of Leatherwork 101. Sunshine doesn't have seminary this week since her teachers and their family have covid. They meet via zoom, so at least none of the students were exposed.

Tuesday we did music lessons online because the shipping container was supposed to be delivered that morning. So naturally it wasn't delivered till 2pm. After it was delivered I realized that I got a different one when we lived in Colorado. That one had a much easier-to-open door (it could be done one handed) than this one, which just has the standard container locks (stiff and hard to maneuver and takes both hands). It'll be a pain, but it's not worth paying to switch it for another container. At least we're just renting it and didn't buy it like that, that would have been disappointing. I had planned on starting to load it up, but I may pressure wash it first- it's a little grungy inside. At some point in its life, oily substances have been spilled in the back, and while they're soaked in, it's still off-putting.

the current setup, though it will change when we have time to move the Subaru shelter

That evening we went to karate class and I worked on a cross body bag prototype.

Wednesday was a rainy day, so I stayed inside and worked on the 3rd version of my cross body bag. I've just about got the design dialed in.

Thursday I worked on email and lesson updates for my course. I switched out one of the projects so it used rivets instead of snaps (so it would be less frustrating to complete), and I needed to record the videos to go with it. I also copied and pasted my email sequence so the course emails were all in one sequence (they weren't before).

Friday I woke up feeling crummy, so we skipped park day, though we did make it to karate class.

Max knows what getting in the car means, and she was super excited to go for a run finally

Saturday I was feeling a bit better. My sleep is still a bit off, but I had more energy, so I took Max for a trail run for the first time in a long time.

Jeremy took a load of trash to the dump, including River's old carseat. He and Ocean have both outgrown it, it had been sitting in the shed for awhile and got mildewed, and it had expired. The end of an era, since we also gave River's old carseat (it was in better condition) to a work colleague of Jeremys. The boys just use booster seats these days.

In the afternoon, Sunshine and I went to help with an Eagle service project that one of the girls in her troop is leading.

building a foot bridge to go over this little ditch to make the space more accessible for a future playground

Sunday everyone else was sniffing and coughing, so I went to church alone. I didn't sleep well Saturday night (I woke up to nasty esophageal reflux about 5am), so if I hadn't had ward council and YW, I would have stayed home as well. I was super tired. And after church I had a YW presidency meeting.

Everyone went to bed early, though I still didn't sleep well since I was worried about another bout of esophageal reflux and I was uncomfortable because I was sleeping propped up.

This week was a struggle. I finally cut my carbs on Wednesday, which I've really needed to do for months. But I also inadvertently did some intermittent fasting (stayed in bed late and didn't eat till lunch time), which did not help my energy levels. I know a lot of people have success losing weight with intermittent fasting, but I haven't been able to make it work for me yet. It always results in super low energy levels, which are not what I need.

Weekly Mileage 

Thursday-          .50 miles                                1.0 hours outside

Saturday-         1.62 miles                                4.5 hours outside

       total- 2.12 miles                             5.5 hours

2021 totals

226.5 outside hours

212.45 miles

Sunday Funny

his pillow is resting on the boys' laundry bag, continuing his streak of uncomfortable-looking sleeping positions

River is at that age where he doesn't want to acknowledge that he still needs hugs and snuggles, so he practices reverse psychology.

If he says "don't give me a hug", he wants you to give him a hug (and if you don't, he'll keep saying it, trying to taunt you into doing it).

He's also used it for things such as "I don't need a kiss". 

Funny kiddo.

Weekly Mileage #234 and Our New Parking Area

Everyone look at the camera, not Ocean!

Still not quite there....

Monday evening Sunshine had a Scout Court of Honor. Received some merit badges and her Star rank patch. 

Rather a blah day, other than that.

Tuesday we had music lessons and on the way home we had to pick up the second half of our grocery order that wasn't put in our car Monday night when we stopped at Kroger after Scouts. So frustrating- it was out of the way and took time I hadn't wanted to spend on it.

That afternoon we had a load of gravel delivered. We wanted recycled asphalt millings, which we've had delivered on two previous occasions, but we couldn't find anyone willing to deliver to our house. We ended up settling for a load of gravel and we'll cover it with RAM when we can find some.

In the evening we went to karate and Ocean finally got his last two stripes so he could graduate with the rest of us on Friday. We did a run-through of what we'll do at the graduation ceremony, which includes 10 pushups. I did them all as full pushups! no knees this time. I can't lower myself and hold as close to the floor as I'd like, but I can lower and raise myself. My upper body strength is improving!

Our instructor (the same guy from last week) made the point that when we practice our universals, we should be putting force into them. A universal is essentially the moves you'd make in a given attack situation. So just going through the moves isn't that effective. Even when practicing them, we should be throwing our weight into them. I hadn't thought of it that way. 

Wednesday I ran some errands and had a presidency meeting with my new counselors. I'm excited to be a bit more functional than we've been in a while- a full presidency (we haven't had a secretary in a really long time) with a secretary who is really good at keeping track of the details, which is what I need right now.

Thursday I packed and shipped tool kits for my course and a bucket order.

I also finished updating my sales page. I had to switch it over to the waitlist page since registration is closed, I needed to update the dates for the next session, etc.

For YW, we were supposed to photograph graves, but it was rainy, so we did some family history stuff at the church. We asked some "how well do you know" questions about them and their families, which got some good discussions going. Surprisingly good discussions and responses, even from those who are typically pretty quiet.

Friday we went to park day in the morning and in the evening we had our karate graduation. It was held indoors, in a gym with no AC, and we had to wear masks. Needless to say, we were all hot and sweaty.

Saturday we paid a guy to come and level the area where we had the tree taken down a couple years ago, and then he spread the gravel. It was cheaper, quicker, and a better job was done than if we'd rented a bobcat again. Last time we rented a bobcat, we got it mostly leveled, but there's mounds along the outer edges and it was still pretty bumpy in the middle.

Now the area is now useable for parking and for the shipping container that will be delivered on Tuesday. We need it for storage: primarily for my business stuff, but also for random household stuff that we just don't have space for or the energy to deal with right now.

The shipping container will go to the left of the vehicles. Then we'll move the Subaru cover to be next to it so we can tie the cover to the container so it doesn't blow away. We're still deciding on the parking arrangements for the other cars, but regardless of what we decide, we have a lot more turn around room now. So much more than we used to have.

The angle on this old picture below doesn't really convey how small and narrow the driveway was, but there really wasn't a lot of room to maneuver or park. In the picture above, the bottom left corner is about where the tree in the middle of the photo below used to be.

I'm feeling better overall. The depression is pretty much gone (a huge indicator is that I'm feeling motivated to get work done), but I'm still struggling in the mornings. That's a narcolepsy issue rather than a depression issue, but it's still a frustrating one. I'd really like to be able to get up earlier and be functional, but it's proving to be more elusive than I'd hoped/was afraid it would be. I'm not giving up on it, it's just a work in progress.

Weekly Mileage 

Monday-                                                           1.5 hours outside

Tuesday-                                                           1.0 hours outside

Friday-                                                              2.0 hours outside

Saturday-                                                          1.0 hours outside

       total- 0.0 miles                             5.5 hours

2021 totals

221.0 outside hours

210.33 miles

Sunday Funny

me, trying to do product photography while on a hike with the boys
Ocean had more important things to do

We got in the car to go to church and the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was playing.

River matter-of-factly commented "this is dramatic music".

Jeremy and I were dying. Such a funny kiddo.

Weekly Mileage #233 and Shingling the Shed

River helping me work on the shed roof
(my foot is pressing down on one foot of the ladder to keep it in place)

Monday I read, cleaned the kitchen with the kids, and fixed the hole in the shed roof. It's not professional grade, but it looks decent, so as long as no shingles blow off, we’re good. 

the branch that fell on the shed roof

Jeremy's patch job- the Gorilla tape actually did a decent job staying on the shingles

the stick is still in the upper hole that had to be patched

one of the branches punched through inner plywood ceiling 

all patched up

We've realized Max has PTSD. She's become hyper vigilant and walks around the house, anxiously scanning the ceilings and upper walls for bugs. She's been stung by wasps several times now, and she is on the alert for them (yet won't stay away from them, either). We don't always see her get stung. Monday afternoon it happened again, but we only knew about it because she got super clingy. Like sitting on top of my feet clingy, which she's done the other times she's been stung and isn't feeling well (also, her ears were pinned back instead of being happy floppy ears). Poor Maxi.

Tuesday after the boys' music lessons we went on a short hike. The mid-70s weather was much nicer than what we've been having.

After lunch I drove Jeremy to the VA med center for his back shot, which took most of the afternoon, as it does. We go back too late for karate as a result. I spent the evening fixing my sales page and back end of things- I'd updated my prices in one spot, but there's like 4 or 5 other spots that I had to do it as well, for 6 different items, and I hadn't realized that when I was working on it last week. I was repetitive and frustrating, but once I figured out what needed to be done, it wasn't so bad. I also had to spend some time on customer support chat to figure out how to do one aspect of the changes I was trying to make. Lots of fun.

Wednesday we did schoolwork in the morning, then I paid bills (my favorite task ever 🙄) and caught up on the miscellaneous tasks that I've been putting off. I feel like I'm forever trying to stay on top of things and failing miserably. ah well. 

I took the kids to karate, but Jeremy had to skip since his back was still sore from the shots.  

The depression has eased considerably. I'm diffusing Balance every night, plus I put it on my skin at least twice a day. I've also been using my BioMat most nights and I've used my infrared light a couple times.

the first version of my cross body bag

Thursday I went to the chiropractor, then stopped by the bank to finally change the name on my business bank account (after changing it with the state 6 months ago). With my Etsy shop updated and my PayPal account needing to be linked to my bank account (but both with the same name) it was past time to finish the transition.

In the evening we had our YW activity, which was a pool party. It was a cooler day, so not great, but the girls had fun, staying in way longer than we (the adult leaders) thought they would.

It was another narcolepsy day: I was super tired and struggling all day. I still haven't gotten back on track with my carbs. It requires extra mental effort and energy to plan and prepare the proper meals and I just haven't been in a place to do that. I need to though. My body would definitely appreciate it.

the second version of my cross body bag

Friday Ocean had his annual checkup (all good, though his weight percentile has climbed and his height percentile has fallen, which is not a good combo. hopefully he hits a growth spurt really soon), I spent some time on the computer working on emails and other fun stuff, then we went to karate.

We worked on some self defense moves this week. Tuesday Ocean was my partner (usually he's with Jeremy and I'm with Sunshine or another middle age mom), which meant I didn't get a lot out of the practice sessions in class. Friday I got to work with Jeremy, another guy in the class, and one of the male instructors. It was much more realistic, and kind of fun and empowering. Usually when we practice we're practicing movements without making contact. This time we were kneeing and punching pads as part of the exercise. I think that was the part that was empowering- actually making contact. 

These movements are for if someone is pushing you around: After the first push, you say "Stop, don't push me again!" If they come at you again, you use your arms to sweep their arms to the side as you step in the other direction. At that point, you throw a knee in their groin or stomach and follow up with a back fist to the temple and a reverse punch to the solar plexus, then you step away and disengage.

inside the 2nd cross body bag, the first didn't have any pockets

Saturday while Sunshine mowed the lawn, Jeremy and I put together the shelter for the Subaru. We wanted to finally put in a carport this fall, but metal prices are up and waitlists are long. Acorns have started falling (not much, thankfully), so it was time to get some type of covering over the Subaru to keep it from the hail damage our other vehicles have. We also weeded the flower beds, which was long overdue. The yard doesn't look quite as much like a jungle.

we'll move the shelter back next week after we get the clearing in front of the vehicles leveled and gravel spread

Weekly Mileage 

Monday-                                                            2.0 hours outside

Tuesday-              .44 miles hiked                     1.0 hours outside

Thursday-                                                         2.0 hours outside

Saturday-                                                          2.0 hours outside

       total- .44 miles                             7.0 hours

2021 totals

215.5 outside hours

210.33 miles

Sunday Funny

me: look at the mushroom (I was trying to get a good photo of their pockets)
Ocean, looking at his brother, who's smiling
yeah, that was a bust

Jeremy and I were discussing some past disagreement and one of us said the phrase "That's how you know it's true love" because we're still together despite whatever disagreement we'd had.

River chimed in with "No, that's divorcement!"

We tried explaining he was on the wrong side of things, but he wasn't believing it.

Weekly Mileage #232 and the End of Speech Therapy

Monday was Sunshine's first day of seminary- 6:45 on zoom. I liked the 8 zoom classes last year a lot better. Even if I get enough sleep, early mornings are really difficult for me.

After seminary, Ocean had speech therapy (online again, thank goodness. it saves so much time not having to drive to the school for speech), then we did school work.

I'm starting to feel better and finally feeling a bit more productive. I updated my bucket listings and added listings for pockets and rebranded my Etsy shop finally. I need to figure out which notebooks and journals to carry. I'm streamlining my offerings to make things easier for myself: easier to make the same things over and over and have some made and ready to go when they're needed.

Tuesday after music lessons I did the grocery shopping, but I was dragging the whole time. I'm really struggling with the early mornings. I want to get to the point where I can go running while Sunshine is doing seminary, but my energy levels are too low right now. Rather than try to do everything all at once (run, regular karate classes again, early mornings, school, etc) and risk burnout when I'm already tired, I'm doing what I can and trying not to push too hard. But it's still frustrating.

I finally got my shop to show up properly on Instagram (it didn't sync properly when I re-branded at the beginning of the year). It took a chat with Facebook support, but it was surprisingly easy, once they pointed me in the right direction. I have multiple Facebook commerce manager accounts, and the wrong one was connected to my IG account. The real issue is that the accounts are numbered, so it's really difficult to figure out which one is which.

During karate class Sunshine and I got our blue stripes for our back fist, front punch, and forward kick combos. The boys had stricter testers and didn't get theirs yet.

There was lots of rain and thunder and lightning overnight as we got the edges of what was hurricane Ida as it moves north. We also had a tornado watch/warning and a flash flood warning, but no damage to our house.

Wednesday we had an IEP review for Ocean's speech therapy. We feel he's progressed enough to not need it anymore, but we can't just stop without the official review. Everyone was in agreement that he has progressed past needing it, so we'll have one final meeting Friday morning, and then we'll be done. We still have to remind him about things, but he's much more intelligible. (and I don't mind having one less thing to worry about every week)

The storm was still hanging around and we got lots of rain. Since I'm still struggling with waking up early. I didn't bother trying to go for a run. The trails were way too wet, plus it was raining again. 

Essential oils are still helping, though my anxiety did get triggered a bit by an email about YW. It wasn't meant maliciously, but it came off as criticism. I can see the points she made, but most of those points have been addressed in the past or are currently being addressed or are out of my control. We're currently operating with me, one counselor, and one advisor for 26 active YW, which is not optimal. And our class presidencies are being switched out. There's stuff that's not happening because of the transition going on (I don't see the point in trying to start something or focus on something with the class presidency when I know they're being released soon), but that transition isn't necessarily happening publicly, so it's not obvious why I'm doing what I'm doing. I'm just frustrated about it. And it wasn't helped by the fact that I still need to submit names to the bishopric to fill out the leadership ranks, but the depression interfered with that process. So frustrating.

I really hate it when my anxiety gets triggered, since my meds make it worse. Talking myself down only goes so far. I can be as rational as I want in my arguments with myself as to why I shouldn't dwell on whatever is bothering me, but the anxiety is still there.

the last rocket to go up was a much larger one built by one of the YM

Thursday was a sunny day!

That evening we held our YW/YM rocket launch. It got pushed back a month or so because of rain, but Thursday evening was a beautiful evening for it and the youth had a great time. 

Friday was Ocean's last speech therapy appointment. I spent some time updating my sales page and various forms and what not. I'm in early registration right now, but next week regular registration will open for a week before closing so my next class session can start.

the larger rocket made for much more impressive pics

Saturday we cleaned the main level of the house, and I organized my workspace in the basement. This mostly consisted of me finally putting away stuff from camp and convention.

I also worked on the second version of my leather and waxed canvas crossbody bag.

Sunday I had another eyeball migraine started up just before dinner. Maybe it's hormonal? Low blood sugar from fasting? I need to check the timing on my last one to see if I can find any commonalities. I do not like getting them. 

my current sticker offerings, though I'm working on expanding them

Weekly Mileage 

Tuesday-                                                             1.0 hours outside

Thursday-                                                          1.50 hours outside

       total- 0.0 miles                             2.5 hours

2021 totals

208.5 outside hours

209.89 miles

Sunday Funny

I think of this as my narcolepsy shirt- I definitely have days where I feel like this

 

I feel like the R2 unit the Jawas try to sell to Uncle Owen in Star Wars: A New Hope.

"This one's got a bad motivator!"

My motivator broke after pushing it too hard all summer. It's getting better, though.