Getting healthy

Good Morning! Woke up at 6 as Mari and I are walking Rancho Santa Margarita Lake this morning. We go around twice, which is 2.2 miles, then we go to Starbuck's and get oatmeal. I think this morning, I am going to make a Breakfast Parfait that is in a blog, I have been following called Peanut Butter and Peppers. Love her recipes! I have taken care of Sweet Pea this morning, done my stretching exercises and my Bible reading. Nothing special planned for today. Yesterday, when we went to the Foothill Ranch Farmer's Market, I found Tanaka Farms, who does a box of produce for $20/week for a small box. I am going to start getting this on a weekly basis. My meals are going to start including veges and fruit. I really have to thank my friend Cricket Walker from FB for starting me on this new road. It is where I always should have been, but I really needed the support. Overall I am lazy when it comes to eating healthy, I would rather have yummy food that is not healthy. Also I did not have really good support within my own house. Better go wake up Mari and get us going, before it gets too warm. We walked two times around RSM lake, drip, drip. Came home, after stopping at Starbuck's. Drove through Live Oak Canyon, which is nice and relaxing. Made breakfast and now I am looking at emails and about to start house stuff. Oh such fun! Got a nap and now I am finishing house stuff. My poor plants out in this heat! Gave them a nice drink of water. Now to check our bank account, do some filing and get employers off of the internet for Rory. To me, this is so ridiculous, as he does not really plan to go to work for anybody else. He is just playing the unemployment game. I do not like lies and that is what I feel like he is doing, just so he can get some play money. He does not put his unemployment money in our joint account. Had a healthy lunch of a half sandwich and a half grapefruit that we got from the box from Tanaka Farm. Mari and I ran errands. I will be so glad when the temperature goes down to the 80's, as I am tired of the mid to upper 90's. Came home and having a time I enjoy and that is some quiet time. My two favorite times of the day are first thing in the morning and this time of the afternoon. I also enjoy time with my daughters and my friends. Beautiful nature:

I try to start dinner about 5:30. Friday night is steak night for Rory and he always wants steak and salad. Tonight he also got rice. I am trying to watch our portion sizes, so the rice we had serves two people per package. He didn't complain. He also found out that our attorney has the last of the money from the law suit and will wire it to us on Monday. That will hopefully close this part of our lives. Where he goes from here, who knows. Had dinner and Mari and I watched a couple of programs that I had DVR'd. Then we watched "Dead Files", which the girls like and I am interested in. Now I have another hour before I do my wind down routine. At 10, I will go to bed. Good night, Trudi

Wine Tasting and horses

Good morning! Up at 6, did my morning routine. Trying to help Rory out by getting up early, so he can get to Torrance and back by noon time for his therapist appointment. My feeling this morning is it is just another day. The girls and I are going with Chris to a winery in the canyon that has horse stables as well. We will hopefully go out to dinner as well. Mari and I did our walk and then came home and made breakfast, did house stuff and got a nap. Had lunch and watched TV. Instead of running errands, I decided to stay home and work on pictures and stuff. Rory called after his session with the therapist. The therapist wants to see me; which I expected. I made an appointment with the therapist for next Tuesday. This will be interesting. Just enjoying have a peaceful afternoon at home.

Left at 3:25 to pick up Chris and head for the winery. OOPS! I goofed, the winery is only open Friday to Sunday. Plan B-we ended up going to our local Farmer's Market, which was fun, but hot.

After we left the Farmer's Market, we went to dinner, which was nice and air conditioned. Enjoyable late afternoon. Came home and just enjoying the quiet. Rory in our room watching TV, Marissa in her room and Mari in her room. Editing pictures. Not much more to the evening, except reading at 9 and going to bed at 10. Good night, Trudi

Middle of the week

Good morning! Up around 6 and did my morning routine. Rory is less stressed today and he is exhausted. His weight and blood sugar are up. I have gotten rid of 5 pounds since July 20. Better get Mari up, so we can go walking, before it gets too hot. did our walk. We have decided that as soon as it cools down slightly, we are going to add a lap to our walk. Came home and had breakfast and did house stuff. Rory is supposed to finish getting his car fixed today between 10 and 12. He had to come downstairs and watch TV, so the girls of us take off to other parts of the house. Took my nap and then finish doing house stuff. At least the car repair people called and said they were going to be about an hour late. Wonderful! The guy got here about 2. Mari and I ran errands(car registration, bluetooth for my phone and Trader Joe's. Drove back through the canyon. Came home and the guy was still working on the car. Rory has been downstairs all day watching TV and I have just done what I usually do. I am just tired of the TV. The girls have been in their rooms most of the day, when usually the three girls of us hang out in the living room or their bedrooms. I am looking forward to Rory being gone out of the house or staying up in our bedroom. I just need to have some calmness. I left about 4:15 to go see a friend at Jamba Juice. The man repairing Rory's car was still there. Had a nice visit with my friend. Mari's computer is ready, so we went over tonight to get it. Came home and had a dinner of shrimp salad. After we came home from the Mac store, we watched "Haunted Collector". After the program is over, I am going to bed. My friend and I were talking about Rory and his family and one of the questions that was asked is why does my mother-in-law not want to see Rory-does it bring back too many memories. Rory starts counseling tomorrow and I am wondering where this is going to go. There are certain things he does that I know was affected by what went on in his family and he doesn't even realize it. I am tired tonight, so Good night, Trudi

Tattoos and computers

Good Morning! Got up at about 6:20 and did my morning routine in quiet. Came downstairs and took care of Sweet Pea, did my stretching exercises and I am about to make breakfast for Rory. Today is mainly a stay at home day, but my errands are going to be going to Target, Trader Joe's, take Mari's computer to get a check up before she starts school and then to a Tattoo shop to get Mari's ears pierced. No we are not getting tattoos. I have made up a routine that between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., I do morning routine and between 8a.m. and 10 a.m., I do walking, breakfast and emails, then from 10 to 12, I do house stuff. From 12-1 is lunch and then from 1-3 is errands and any picture taking I want to do. From 3-6 is editing pics and writing. Dinner at 6 and then however I want to spend the rest of the evening. My day went fine until lunch time. Earlier in the day, we had heard Rory yelling at whoever he was talking to on the phone. He is getting frustrated because the camera in his car is not getting fixed. He also heard or called Social Security and found out that he was probably being turned down for disability and he was not getting straight answers as to when his SS check is coming. He has been getting more and more frustrated over the last few days. He came down to put something in the car and saw that there was nothing of his in the freezer. A couple of days ago, he was complaining that there was not enough meat in the lunches, so I told Marissa she could have it, as he has not been eating the lunches in the freezer anyway and it was shrimp. He went out to Wienerscnitzel. He came back and started yelling at me and I was yelling at him, which was the only way to talk to him. Then Mari started crying and saying she could not take the yelling anymore. I am having to be responsible and not make emotional decisions. I hate this! Rory came back downstairs and wanted to talk and I told him I really wanted to leave. The girls and I finally got out of the house and went to Target and Trader Joe's and then went to Irvine Spectrum to the Mac store, to get Mari's Mac fixed. That took some time, then we went to get the girl's ears pierced. Things today took longer than I thought. We finally got home and I was very hungry. We made dinner and Rory came down and joined us for dinner, which I really didn't want. I like my late afternoons doing things I really enjoy doing. I am exhausted tonight. Mari and I had made a decision to go back to the park to use one piece of the equipment, which we did. It was fun to watch the dogs running around. Got back and Rory had gone up stairs and I am enjoying just me time. Rory has made a decision to go to a psychologist. We will see where this goes. I guess I don't have much confidence in this, as he had done this before and nothing changes. I feel like the therapist always expect me to change and I am sorry, but not this time. I do not want to do things with Rory, especially going to Vegas, or anyplace else. He wants to have communication with his family all of a sudden. It has been almost 40 years since he has talked to his family.

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

Good Morning world! Got up at 6:10 this morning and did my morning routine. Rory was doing his non-stop talking and the TV was going. Came down to my quietness, oh how nice! Did my stretching exercises and my morning routine with Sweet Pea! Now to start breakfast. Mari and I are going to Rancho Las Lomas this morning, which is a place 5 minutes from us that I have wanted to go to, but never been able to go. Looking forward to this! This afternoon we get our mantle. Looking forward to that as well. This morning I was listening to Chip Ingram of Living on the Edge and he was talking about living with difficult people and he totally described my living with Rory. He also said that God puts people in our lives who are difficult so that we can grow. My prayer is what God wants me to learn through living with Rory and what God wants to teach Rory through me and does God want me to continue to live with Rory. After Mari graduates from college and gets a job, what I want to do is take off and live with the girls, but what does God want me to do. Our new mantle:

This afternoon we got our mantle and I love it! I feel like I am getting such a nice looking house. New kitchen, new bath and now a new mantle. I am so used to living cheap, but this is so nice. I feel like I have a somewhat classy house. Mari and I ran errands. Came home and I had made the decision that I was going to spend an hour on my pictures and an hour on writing, which I did. Mari made dinner and we watched Extreme Makeover-Weight Edition. Watching this, really, keeps me motivated to move forward. I was good with my food today, I did do my stretching and we did walk around Rancho Las Lomas. It was not the walk I usually get, but that is ok, as I can handle walking for lengthy periods or standing and I am not having the problems in my back. My pants are starting to show the exercise and the weight loss and I am happy. I want to keep moving forward for my girls and for my health. Good night, Trudi

Sunday, August 5-Let's see what the day brings

Got up at 6:15 and was able to get ready without the TV going. Came downstairs and fed Sweet Pea and then Rory started complaining about last night's dinner, especially the green beans being hard. I told him I was done talking and went about doing what I was doing. I am going to cook healthy and if he wants something different, he had better buy it. I am going to be responsible with my health and finances, the best way I can. Did my stretching exercises and now I am making Rory's breakfast and listening to a message from Chip Ingram, before Mari and I go walk. Mari and I went for a walk, but I was not much into it. I was waiting for just another boring day. Decided to take the "bull by the horn" and not make it a boring day. Had breakfast, did house stuff, took a nap and had lunch and then Mari and I went to The Farmer's Market at The Great Park. That was fun! Ran errands and then came home. Working on my pictures and chatting with friends. We bought nectarines at The Farmer's Market.

I made dinner tonight and Rory actually liked it. He does not like fresh vegetables and he wants his vegetables almost mushed. Mari and I have gotten hooked on a blog called "Peanut Butter and Peppers". Mari made Almond Joy Frappe from her blog. It was really good. Sat and watched TV with Mari tonight. She likes to watch a program called "Oddities". Enjoyable day! Good night, Trudi!

Off and running

Mari and I have a field trip today to Los Angeles to look at street art. Something new I have found that I like. This morning, my topic of conversation with Rory was his favorite, "money". He was complaining because the money we received from his working went into our joint account and he got less unemployment money for him to play. The end of this month, he will start getting Social Security of about $1500 and he is going to put $500 into the joint account and keep $1000 for play. This is not fair, but there is no changing how he is going to do things. I know we have our investments and that is how we live, but he does not get the idea that the less we pull from our investments, the longer they will last. I will probably be going back to work towards the end of Mari's school, so that I can have some of my own money. I have to be thankful for our investment money; but again, why do I have to be the responsible one. ARGH! Also, found out he is going to Vegas the end of August for 4 nights, which I am glad about, because it gives me a vacation. Wall Art:

Mari and I left about 11:30 to head up for Los Angeles. We stopped at "Jersey Mike's" to get sandwiches. On the way up to Los Angeles, we were talking about an article I had gotten from Will Marre on the American Dream Project, regarding how our society were like teenagers and how we need to grow up. Most people want everything now and that is so true. We were talking about whether it is just people here in the United States or is it the whole world. I love it when I can have these kind of conversations with Mari. Got to the Pacific Design Center or as they used to call it "The Blue Whale". The parking lot we parked at had wall art on the side of the building. It was also fun driving up some of the streets and looking at all of the stores, it also brought back alot of fond memories from when I used to spend time in this area. Walked around the PDC, took some pictures and then headed back to the car and drove down Melrose and took pictures of wall art. It was a fun afternoon and then we headed for home. Stopped at Trader Joe's and picked up some things we needed. Got home and made dinner. One thing I decided on the way home was that Rory was going to handle money the way he does and I can't change that. I will handle money the way I do. I am going to try not to argue about how he handles money. I know this is going to be hard, but I need to do it that way. For dinner, we had pork chops with green beans and proscuttio and potatoes. I knew he wouldn't like the potatoes, as for some reason, he has taken to not liking them. The green beans were not made to his liking, but he did eat the pork, that he thought was chicken. The girls and I are really trying to eat healthy and lose weight. He really doesn't care about his health. I will cook the way I cook and if he wants a TV dinner, I will make it; but I will not make two separate meals, except for Friday night, when he has steak. Having a nice quiet peaceful evening, watching TV and hanging out with my daughters. I am so blessed to have the things we have. I saw a woman at Trader Joe's, who had lost her job and had a small child and was pregnant with another one. She was aksing for food and money. Good night, Trudi