Crash and burn time?

 Yesterday was sorta boring, sorta busy, mostly not busy/boring. I even took a short nap in the middle of the day as my cold seems to be making itself known again.  I worked on the message last night for Sunday and have the first draft of it completed.  That's the hard part; going through it and cleaning it up, correcting spelling, etc., is the easy part.  I took Musinex DM and went to bed around 9PM.  I tossed and turned most of the night, waking up, if felt, every hour on the hour.  Could not shut the mind down, even though nothing was swirling in there.  I finally arose at the usual 4AM and tried to go back to sleep here in my chair, only I remembered my pill and I have to sit upright for 30 minutes.  Hubby brought in my coffee.  I'm still trying to sleep.  I read some in my Bible and devotional... then tried to sleep some more.  The body was just not cooperating with trying to stay awake.  Finally, a little after 6AM, I determined I needed to 'get it together', drink my coffee to help wake myself up, and get on here.  I've been listening to it rain all morning and now my head hurts.  Grumpy, aren't I!  

I've 'wasted' my quiet time morning by trying to sleep, although I have read my Bible some and all... but I am feeling just so tired.  Perhaps it is 'crash and burn' from the weekend?  All the things I did leading up to it?  I cooked more, and did more, the entire weekend than I normally do in a month.  I enjoyed every minute of it, but I think it is just movement I am not used to.  I mean, getting up, sitting in my chair in here for a couple hours, moving to the desk chair, sitting there nearly 9 hours, then grabbing a quick bite and back the couch for the rest of the evening.  Not much exercise at all.  And I need to get on it -the exercise part.  I am getting old before I need to get old - know what I mean?

Hubby didn't help much yesterday.  I had a big piece of leftover eggs ole' for breakfast around 8AM.  He went to breakfast with a friend.  On his way back, he thought he'd be nice and stopped at Whataburger and got my #7 - but why does he buy me the chocolate shake?  He is the one who always drinks the shake... I need my diet coke!  A large portion of my shake is in the refrigerator... I wasn't hungry when he brought the food (and he got irritated when I couldn't eat everything) and I wasn't hungry last night - although I did fix about a cup of garbage of me... it's always about food for him... when it is time to fast this next month, he isn't going to have a good time, that's for sure.

Our fasting time... we were going to start January 1 since we have no plans for the day other than church, but since Free Chapel is starting on January 8, we decided to start then as well because we still have food and things I need to go through in the refrigerator.  Will see.  I told hubby I wanted to do the Daniel Fast, and he reluctantly told me the other night he will do what I plan to do.  (wanna bet?)  I plan to have fruits and vegetables... we have lots of veggies in the freezer and orange and grapefruit trees outside- plus strawberries in the freezer, etc.  I'm not saying it will be easy, but fasting for a reason is not to be easy, it is to be meaningful.  And it's 'only' for three weeks. I love my salads but need to use lemon juice instead of dressing.  Not a big deal.  And just garden salads.  See - it's not that bad. Maybe I can clear my head.  And I can still have potatoes... just without all the butter and sour cream. Oh well, that's just calories anyway, right?  But so good!

Speaking of, hubby's breakfast buddy told him yesterday of some research he did on helping him think more clearly.... he's the one who has Alzheimers and was taking handfulls of pills to counteract it - he has quit taking them and is reevaluating many others.  Anyway, I read  up on the two bottles last night - and bought some via Amazon.  I definitely need something to clear my brain fog sometimes and so does hubby.  I'll give up the overpriced prevagen that doesn't seem like it's working anyway.  Although a pharma friend said it was the best thing out there.  I'll have to present this information and have him research it.

I'm meeting one of my friends for lunch at Olive Garden today - yeah - salad, breadsticks, and pasta e fagioli is on my agenda for today.  Need to clear my head and get moving.  With the rain, part of me is hoping she will cancel... but she is only working from home this week so I imagine it will happen.  Oh well.  It's not too far for me to drive, and since I want to make chili tonight with hamburger I cooked up last night... I need to stop at Frys' too and pick up some red beans.  I'm pretty sure I have another can of tomato juice, which is good, but need the beans - and of course, cook up some pasta!  It's a 'midwest thing' and I love it.

I don't have anything in my mind today with trying to sleep so much of the time away this morning.... my apology for that.  I know I'm rambling... maybe those pills would do me some good and help me to be alert and focus better.  I'm willing to try!  

Hope you have recovered from Christmas activities and are getting the rest you need.  I am determined to get my body moving to make it feel better... if only this stupid cold will vanish completely, including the headache.  No, I didn't have COVID... just a stupid cold that the cough lingers forever.

Have an amazing day!

Blessings!

I can't believe I slept that long....

 I knew I was tired last night.  Hubby wanted to watch a couple movies, so we did, and we ended up going to bed around 9:30PM.  That's early, still, for some people, but for me, that is about an hour later.  I fully expected my internal alarm to go off between 4 and 4:30AM this morning, but if it did, I internally shut it off.  I slept until 5:30AM this morning!  And I probably could have slept longer if I chose, but I jumped up and came in here to do my DQT.  Hubby had gotten up earlier and I saw his light in the other room on.  I heard him move to get my coffee, as he does every morning.  It really felt good to get a good night's sleep, and I only woke up once during the night.  I really needed the extra hour, I think, especially since I went to bed an hour later.  So technically, I guess, I didn't sleep longer..... to bed an hour later, slept an hour later... hmmm I guess I slept the same.  I just slept better.

Because my sleep has been better, deeper, lately, I got to thinking as to why.  I did a little research and I think now I know.  About two weeks ago I started drinking 8 ounces of tart cherry juice.  Sometimes I drink it mid-day, sometimes I drink it in the evening.  You can drink it straight, with sparking water - hubby put some with his tonic water the other night.  Anyway.... tart cherry juice.  I looked it up.  Not only is it packed with antioxidants, and lots of other good stuff, it has melatonin in it.  And after about two weeks of drinking a couple ounces of it before bed, you should find you sleep deeper and wake up feeling more rested.  I bought my first batch from the company Cheribundi, but have not put it on Amazon as a subscription and it will be delivered once a month.  It's $52 for 24 8 ounce bottles... but since I don't buy Starbucks or spend my money on Dutch Bros, and this is much healthier for me, I'll try it for awhile.  I did give in and tell hubby about it and told him to drink it as well.  It says it helps with brain clarity and we both need that as we age.  With both of us drinking it, I will probably have to buy two subscriptions, for you know he will be 'all over it'.  But if it clears up his mind and helps him to think more clearly, it is worth it.  What is money anyway.  We waste a lot of it, so why not spend it on something that will help us be more healthy?  Tart Cherry Juice.  It has natural sugar - and I think it shows 25 g, but there is no other sugar added to it.  It says it takes about two weeks to feel the effects of it and that's about right.  I've been drinking 8 ounces a day... but it says it helps even with two ounces.  

Today is going to be a busy day.  Hubby has breakfast with a friend this morning.  He will be leaving soon.  I have Needles of Hope at 9AM - I had forgotten it was this weekend when I was talking breakfast or lunch with my friend.  She sent me a text yesterday and said we'll meet today at 11:30AM at the restaurant on Peoria I suggested.  I found out she leaves a few streets past my youngest, so this restaurant is fairly close.  Was glad she agreed to lunch for I can still go to Needles of Hope from 9-11 and then work my way over to the restaurant.  I'm looking forward to a good lunch - not so much the food, but the conversation.  I met this person in our small group and we just seemed to hit it off and share a lot of the same convictions and love for God.  Looking forward to hearing about her new job she started this week.  I was 'dumbfounded' when she told me earlier she has two masters' degrees and is now working on her third one and will put it towards a PhD.  And she's much younger than me!  But our love for Jesus is what has drawn us together so our conversation should be good.

I think I have told you about my 'annoyance' that my doctor couldn't see me until April.  I found a NP who could get me in on Tuesday next week, and I have an appointment with her.  Then yesterday, I get a phone call from the mammogram place that my doctor had sent them a prescription for me to go get my mammogram.  I explained to them that I was in the process of switching doctors... but as we talked, we decided I'd go ahead and get he mammogram under the current doctor and then I can share the results with the new one.  I don't expect to get 'worked in'... but now I'm in a turmoil about it all.  Did I not wait long enough to switch?  Should I have waited another month or so?  I was irritated that my August appointment was cancelled and I was told by the office I couldn't get in until April.  Technically, I am healthy, and don't need to see the doctor.  Going to the doctor for a well check up has always happened.  But, I've had the blood work, I'm getting the mammogram, and I see they have already scheduled the Dexascan on the 18th, but haven't let me know when or where yet.  As long as I get a phone call that gives me the results, do I even need to see him for ten minutes?  Not really.  So I began to second guess myself.  Should I cancel Tuesday's new appointment?  Should I just reschedule it?  I discussed with my boss and she said to keep the appointment and get established.  I obviously can get in to the NP faster than I can with this doctor, who the entire issue is that he doesn't allow any other doctor to see his patients.  The NP works with doctors who cover each other.  So I have an appointment on Tuesday with the NP.... and really, it will be just to meet her, I guess.  The mammogram is scheduled, the bone density is scheduled, I've already done my blood work.  My prescriptions can be filled by the current doctor.... ugh!  And the concerning part is that they both work in 'My Portal' which means they can see when I see the other doctor.  I was in it the other day and sure enough, my NP is listed as NEW..and when my appointment is.  Dang!  Yeah, I'm squirming.  The NP is a bit closer.  (I was told she was an NP, but her name has DO after it...) 

My mind is all over the place this morning.   Thinking about NoH, lunch, doctors, things I want to make, things I want to do... what shall I do?  When shall I do it?  Do I have the time to take on extra projects?  Can I do anything new?  Dare I try?  I want to try some new recipes.  I want to make some things.  I need to finish some things.  A 3 day weekend is here and why do I want to fill it up with things to do?  So many decisions!  I need to just take one project and start on it.  I've one that I've had for 9 months now... one more thing to do with it and it's finished.  Sorta like giving birth, huh.  Just realized the time I've had it to complete and haven't.  This weekend might be a good time to start on it, ya think? Maybe I can finish that one before the month is out.

And now I'm rambling.  Again.  Still.  Whatever.  My scripture today for you is this....

Philippians 4:4 (NKJV):  "Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I will say, rejoice!"

Take a moment and just praise Him for waking you up this morning, for waking up your loved ones.  Have you ever thought what you would feel if one day they didn't wake up?  Or they weren't there?  Be thankful for today that they are with you.  Show them you love them.  You will never regret it.

Blessings!