Mood:
This was yesterday. Yay! I love toasted marshmallows!
Toasted enough that they catch fire.
The day before was Lemon Juice Day. Lots of great things you can do with that. Not only for cooking, but for cleaning as well. Banana Lover's Day was last Thursday. Bananas are awesome!
The weather was crazy Saturday. It was pouring rain, extremely strong winds, and cold. The winds were so strong, it felt like it ripped off things from the house.
There are a lot of branches and leaves that fell, but we were ok. Some people in the area weren't so lucky. We lost power for a couple of hours that morning, and it flickered throughout the day. One of my friends said a tree fell down from their yard, and landed on their neighbor's house crashing through it. Another person said the wind picked up their BBQ, and tossed it around so hard it's unusable now. Their little pavilion area outside has a huge hole in its roof now, too. I feel bad about what they and other people in similar situations are going through.
It also rained so much that the salmon at a local fish hatchery flooded over, and were swimming across that person's driveway and the road connecting to it. That's crazy! People were grabbing them. We needed the rain, but that was nuts. yesterday was relatively quiet out. Some wind (occasionally it picked up, but it was nothing like Saturday), and I think it lightly rained off and on that day, too.
I've lost so much hair that it's starting to look funny down.
Kind of 'airy' on top, and normal looking curls on the bottom. I decided to put it up in somewhat of a bun with my black scrunchies. Didn't really get a chance to use them before, so I thought I'd try them. They're prettier than the bands, and don't seem to rip out my hair as much.
I wanted to have a pony tail, but it still had that weird airy top layer to it. This looks a lot better. Oddly, this 'look' is better on me now that my hair's thinner.
There's no poofiness coming out in weird areas. It doesn't have that volume anymore.
I'm thinking of ordering the curl styling mousse I've been wanting to get for months. It seems like the store that used to sell it, discontinued it.
It really works nicely with my hair. Currently, I'm just using the calming spray. I was trying out a Garnier Fructis thing for the styling mousse as a replacement. I think it damaged my hair, made it frizzier, there wasn't much 'hold', and it was hard to get out of the tube. I normally comb my hair with my hands as soon as I get out of the shower, comb it again with a wide-toothed comb (I only comb it when it's wet, so it needs quite a bit), work in the calming spray, and then the styling mousse. (I wrap sections of hair around my finger after working the mousse in, and then let them go. Makes for more controlled cascading curls this way.) That styling thing at the end is a pretty big part of it. Anyways, I'm thinking of ordering it directly from the company that puts it out. It might even be cheaper on there from what I've seen. I'm thinking of styling it like usual when I get it to see what it looks like with the normal stuff. If I've lost enough already that it still doesn't look the way I want it to, I might go see a hairstylist. Just to see what they can do with it. My hair might be slowly growing back, but it won't suddenly come in like it used to. I'd have to wait for a while, and by then the rest of my hair might be out of whack, too.
I made a mug cake for the first time in a while. The last one was about a year ago. (That didn't turn out too well...
) I think it was a yellow cake. This time I made a Nutella one, and the recipe came from Yummly. (The first recipe I tried from their app.) It was very rich and good. Kind of like fudge. Made a lot of it. They said it was one serving. Had a hard time finishing it, but that might have been the richness of it all.
It kept rising in the microwave, and I had to constantly open, close, and continue cooking it in there. It used a lot of Nutella, unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, an egg, flour, milk, and a few other things. They suggest topping it off with whipped cream and/or chocolate syrup. We only had whipped cream. The cake was extremely hot and took a while to cool down enough for me to eat it. So, the whipped cream had already disappeared into the cake by the time I could have it. It was kind of funny.
Probably cooled down the top layer a bit for me.
Managed to find some Jdramas to watch. I had doubled up on some anime episodes for a while, since nothing piqued my interest. Or, what I did want to watch wasn't available yet. I just recently started Fugoh Keiji Deluxe or The Millionaire Detective Deluxe a few weeks ago. It's actually a second season to the series. Couldn't find the first season online, so I thought why not start it anyways? It's a detective series that has a new case every 1 or 2 episodes. The main character is incredibly rich, and solves cases in an interesting way. Her attitude's a little weird, but most of the successful detective shows are like that. I don't think I'm missing much by skipping a season this way.
Also, just started watching Ishi no Mayu or Stone Cocoon or Cocoon of Stone. I've wanted to watch it since this season started.
They finally got at least one episode up. It's all about catching one serial killer. His first victim died from being smothered and covered in quick-drying cement. The cement had made it up into his lungs and other organs. It was first poured into his mouth for the head part. His body apparently was covered in the concrete first, and he was probably alive until the concrete was poured into his throat and on the rest of his head. The main character is a rookie detective, but she seems to think outside the box when under pressure. And, has an interesting way of thinking normally. It's a bit more scattered when not under pressure. The killer took an interest in her during the first episode. They actually treat her like she's a part of the team, instead of some dramas where they don't take them seriously right away. She experienced some sexism from one of the other squads, but her partner stood up for her pretty quickly. She has a tendency to overly apologize, and give out too much info when questioning people. The killer apparently wants to make a mockery of the police. He intentionally left a brochure to a Pompeii exhibit at a local museum at the scene, and took a chunk out of the concrete that was just above the victims chest (that was the only area that was bare). He did it to see what they would do with that info. Kind of testing them. By the end of the episode, he committed another murder. From the preview, it looked different compared to the first one.
Also, just started Fuben na Benriya or Inconvenient Handyman. I think I wanted to watch this a while ago, but gave up on it because it wasn't up for so long.
This one's a bit weird, but funny. A scriptwriter gets stranded in a Hokkaido town on his way back home, and gets mistaken for a guy's son. The guy hadn't seen his son in 23 years, the son would have been his age, and his son had the same name. A little too many coincidences. Jun, the main character, said that his father passed away 23 years ago and was quick to say that it couldn't be him. He's stuck in town until the bus service picks up again. But, they keep getting hit with horrible snowstorms. There's a cosplay bar that everyone in town goes to. The town itself is weird. The 'dad' has a handyman business. The 'dad' normally has a close friend that's his partner in the business. They sucker Jun into helping them with their work. Which is usually shoveling snow during that time of year. It seems a bit campy, but I like some of those types of shows. Should be interesting to see where it goes.
Just started Clinic on the Sea, too. It's about a medical boat clinic that travels along some islands to help the isolated residents. There's usually not a hospital on those islands, so this tends to be the only way they can get medical care besides calling a 'water ambulance'. It's very interesting. They just had a new eccentric doctor join them. Even though his methods seem to confuse the nurse that works for him, he's very good at what he does. He has a very soft spot for women. Almost any woman he sees, he tries to go after. He doesn't seem to mind age, either. He was hitting on an elderly woman at the beginning. Only stopped because he saw much younger women get on the train...He laughs at weird times, makes strange jokes, showed up super late to his welcome party, etc. His mom works at a restaurant. He keeps telling her he has a girlfriend, and someday he hopes to show her that girlfriend. I'm not sure if she believes him or not. She just says he's a goofball. A woman at the end of the episode was looking frantically for him. Not sure who she is yet. All these 'new' shows have several actors that I like. Which is another plus.
I made something a little different for Friday's dinner. I noticed we still had some Garlic Chicken in the freezer. It's a mix of chicken with garlic in the breading, corn, broccoli, carrots, pasta, and maybe one other vegetable I'm forgetting. It's normally very good. I also noticed that there wasn't much left. So, I cooked some more pasta, added a ton of chopped up garlic, sliced kalamata olives, and olive oil. Then, mixed it all together with what was left of the Garlic Chicken thing. Turned out awesome!
Might do something similar in the future. Smelled good, too. Kind of a Mediterranean take on it.
Since I was nervous about using my computer on Saturday (because of the storm), I stayed away from it. I watched my normal stuff, looked more through Drama Cool's list of dramas on my phone (found some more to add to my 'to watch' list), did some coloring in my new coloring book (the one that has designs by a tattoo artist, really cool ones), read, etc. Rosie was really scared, and tried to cuddle close to me. It was cute, yet I felt sorry for her. It seems like I'm her security blanket or something.
I also just listened and occasionally watched the storm. It was crazy. It seems windier than it was yesterday during the day, at least. I'm kind of an awe of it. It can cause so much damage, and looks fascinating watching it unfold.
Managed to go for my night walk yesterday. It was very windy at times, and there was a lot of tree debris. (Wasn't raining, though.) Smelled earthy and pine-like. I think it was quiet most of the day until then. Oh, and since it was cool outside, I decided to wear my jacket. Haven't worn it in a while. Maybe since April? It was even bigger on me this time. Felt like I was swimming in it.
The large pockets started close to halfway down my upper legs, instead of around my hip area. I like to bury my hands in those pockets when it's stormy out there, but since they've become so big on me, I can't really do that anymore. Maybe at the very top of the pockets, but half my hand is still exposed. It didn't feel like I've lost that much weight. The jacket itself is probably long enough I could wear it as a semi-long dress. Feels heavier, too. It was interesting to not see my hair move crazily in the wind, since it was put up in a bun. Normally my hair turns into a mess when it's windy like that, and I can't see.
I love stormy weather, but there's also a feeling of being overly cautious while I'm out there. I didn't go out during the worst of it on Saturday, because it didn't seem very smart or safe. Considering all that stuff falling and the wind being stronger, not to mention the rain coming down like crazy.
Mood:
One of my fave types of pies!
I love peaches in general, but putting it in a pie takes it to another level! Haven't had it in a while...Thursday was Lemonade Day, and National Radio Day. Lemonade can be so simple to make, and it's pretty tasty. I just put a little sweetener or sugar in a glass, add some lemon juice, fill the glass up with water, and then mix. Much easier than squeezing the lemon yourself, and it's relatively fresh still.
I sometimes experiment with the amount of each thing to see how much better I can get it compared to the last time I made it. Haven't made it in a long time, though. Used to do it all the time during the summer. Radio's important, and great that there's a day devoted to it.
Weather's been a bit weird.Temperature-wise it hasn't been all that bad. Mid-70s to low-80s. But, since our state has so many fires going on, for the last few days it's been pretty smoky here. Air quality is not that great. (I can feel it more after walking a while in it.) At least I'm not on the eastern side of the state where most of the fires are happening. It must be brutal there right now.It's particularly bad because of the drought. Makes it incredibly easy to start a fire if everything's dried out. The college I went to started classes today, and they're on that side of the state. I hope it's not that bad out for their first day. Although, I remember things like terrible dust storms, enough of a bug infestation that it blotted out the sun (and occasionally looked like snow, but was really dying bugs), smells from the farms, people burning stuff on the farms, crazy snow storms, bone chillingly cold at times during the winter, etc.Lots of the 'normal' stuff can be difficult. It's a great place though, besides that stuff.
I decided a couple of days ago that I'd get back to doing my makeup.Doesn't have to be all the time, but I want to do it a lot more often than I have been. I started today with doing foundation, a little blush (not that I really need it...
), eye shadow, mascara, and lipstick. I'm not going to do a lot every time, just try to have something on. When I did it more often, I mostly just used eye shadow and lipstick/lip gloss. I've been told by some that I look like I wear mascara when I don't have it on. But, it's still interesting to see. I used to hate foundation.
Especially the liquid kind. Just the way it feels... I have a semi-wet powder foundation that's still rather new. It feels pretty good so far. Sometimes foundation feels cakey, no matter how little of it you use. I'm also trying a different way of doing my eye shadow that I've seen on some Youtube videos and Pinterest. Turned out interesting today. I like my fairly new lipstick, too. They're interesting colors. I like colors that aren't the 'norm'. I'm that way with nail polish, too. I want something fun, but not too crazy.I found out a while ago that I don't like eyeliner. It seemed to make my eyes look smaller, and didn't like the overall effect. It feels nice to put makeup on occasionally. Rosie wants to eat it, though...
Went through my facebook friend list. I hadn't done so in a long time. Found out 3 people had deactivated their accounts, so I had to drop them. (Funny how facebook doesn't get rid of them naturally if they deactivate...) 1 friend became increasingly malicious sounding over time. It was never about me, but I don't like when a 'friend' talks about their friends that way. Or, about other groups of people in general. It just makes me feel slightly sick to my stomach when I start to see stuff like that. Makes me feel worse when I see it over and over again.So, goodbye to that friend. (I knew her sinse high school, so it was a bit of a difficult decision to make.) There were 2 others that I dropped. 1 of them never responded to anything I posted, and essentially seemed to ignore me...
Even though she's cool in person, it just seemed pointless on facebook.
Another person I changed to 'unfollow'. They were constantly posting some strange things. I 'met' him and his wife through yahoo messenger years ago. They're an Orthodox Jewish couple. They both are very nice to me. Just weird.The husband runs a radio station online, and posts everything they feature each time it broadcasts. He changes his profile pic all the time, but it's never anything new. And, half of them are creepy looking ones of himself. He also acts like he's personal friends with celebrities. And, I can't tell if it's true or all made up...
But, he does some nice things, too. He'll do special birthday posts every year to his friends' walls. Sometimes High Holiday stuff. I think that last one I dropped was actually his wife. She was a bit strange too, and didn't do much. I kept him as a friend mainly because he does something like the birthday stuff.
So, cutting a lot of these people out of my list should make for a better feed, too. I don't need toxic people.But, I didn't drop too many people, which is great. Started with 161 friends, and am now down to 155 of them. Not too bad. I only friend or accept an invitation if I know that person somehow. Most I've seen face to face. Some I've met online through other sites.
Went through the hanging stuff in my closet. Most of it seemed to be Mom's. Her old blouses, jackets, dresses, etc. She put them in there partly as storage, and partly thinking I'd grow into them and like them. Most were larger sizes than I ever was, even at my heaviest. And, practically all of them were never my style. They still smelled like her, too. That felt really weird to me.
I still had some of the things I wore when I was 12 and 13. I was quite slim back then, plus my hips were narrower, too. So, even though I still liked most of those things, I had to toss them. There was one shirt, I think it looks like a black long sleeved camisole (Dad said it must have been just a stretchy shirt), that still fits me, though.
There were some that were from when I was at my heaviest. They were incredibly big on me when I tried them on. Odd to see how much I've lost that way. There was a sleeveless dress that the armpit holes were so big, you could easily see part of where my ribs start. It's supposed to be a clingy type dress. It still clung, but in weird areas. I tried on its matching jacket, but it was too big for me, too. I kind of was swimming in it. Not used to that feeling.The jacket was missing a button, and since it and the dress are a set, I had to throw them both out.
I'm also keeping a few things as keepsakes. I have my graduation gown with the stole. A traditional Chinese styled shirt I got one year from the NW Women's Show. That happens once a year. There are tons of free stuff, people selling things, demos, food, etc. I remember thinking the person who was running the Chinese clothing shop wouldn't be able to find something that fit me. It fit me to a T back then. It doesn't anymore, and I don't think it ever well. I'm bigger on top than I was back then for one thing...
I remember everything she was selling actually came from China. There were some nice looking dresses, but most of it was super expensive. This shirt wasn't too bad. It'd be cool if I could find a similar one that fits me now. But, I highly doubt I would. Putting it on is interesting, too. Lots of buttons and hooks.
There's also a dress I wore to a big dance for our high school band in New York City. I loved it, but I don't think it'll fit me in the future...Never know with this one.
All in all, I filled 5 garbage bags. An additional bag had another jacket and dress set that I'm donating to Goodwill. It was only used once or twice. I hated it, and it's too big for me now. Hopefully, someone else will like it.I think it's the only thing I'm donating so far from my closet. The other stuff was just too far gone. Sad. I think I've filled at least 16 large garbage bags in total for stuff from my closet. (The first several were about a year ago.) That's a lot of bags.
I didn't realize I had so many things to get rid of. It's actually roomy in there, and I can walk in. The hangar rod goes just over my head, so I could stand without bending in there.
Now, I just have to go through the storage area on top. It's kind of a mishmash of things. I have a big white stuffed bear that has winter hat on, and a scarf that has reindeer on it. Not sure how I got it. I think one of my geography projects is up there, too. We had to create our own island with topography and such. I came up with a crescent shaped one. And, I think I remember liking the results. There's a box of papers and stuff that looks pretty full. Several more shoe boxes that might hold the possibility of more shoes I can use. I know one of them was actually a part of my science fair project. It shows the phases of the moon when you look inside, with a builtin flashlight, at different angles. I think I placed 1st with that one. There are a few sweaters. Not sure if they fit. So, there might be a few pieces of clothing left that I can keep. It'd be cool if there were more shoes in decent shape up there, too. Another adventure. It feels like the closet as a whole has an endless amount of stuff to go through.
I'm thinking of looking for more clothes and such online, as well as occasionally at the mall. I usually don't see too many things I like at our local mall. There's one quite a ways from us that has a much better selection, though. I've noticed most online sites have approx. measurements for their sizes. So, you can measure yourself, and figure out which one of their sizes you are. That can vary even with actual physical stores. So, it might be more handy that way. Plus, a lot of places online have better deals. Dad found a site that the clothes are actually customizable. So, you give them more detailed measurements, you can choose what kind of style some things are (like what kind of neck style: Scoop, V, etc.), the length, etc. Really interesting.
Had a phone appointment with my gastroenterologist last Friday. She asked how I was. I'm getting better slowly (ever so slowly
) each day. I brought up that I'm starting to get worried about my hair loss. Luckily right now it just looks a bit thinner. She said she did notice my protein levels were really low the first time they tested for it (during the worst of it), and it's slowly getting better over time with each new test. Also, the new med can have a side effect of losing hair. She wants me to continue eating more protein than I used to, and to just see what the next result will be for it. She asked about how my weight is doing. I'm still losing it, but I personally don't think it's going at too quick of a pace. She said I have to continue monitoring it, and if I lose it too quickly, to tell her immediately. Once I hit the 1-month mark with the newest med, I could cut to 2 doses instead of 3 of balsalazide. (Balsalazide was prescribed to me right after my colonoscopy.) So I'll go from 9 pills of it to 6. I feel like I'm eating a bunch of plastic every day with it, and it's incredibly filling.Eventually, I'll go off of it. At the beginning of next month I'll get another blood draw. She said eventually I might just have to do it every 3 months. She didn't mention about narrowing the type of IBD I have down. It's kind of frustrating to me not knowing which one I have. I like that she seems to really be listening to my concerns, though. For some reason I thought she wouldn't.
I have been noticing today that I'm feeling very sore lately. Some of that soreness is in my joints, and the rest feels like it's in my muscles around them. I especially feel it after sitting for just a few minutes, and standing up. Doesn't feel right.
I'll email her eventually about it. It can be another thing the disease is affecting. It's kind of hard for me to remember to eat more protein, too. I'll do my best, though. Trying to get back into my sit-ups. Restarting with this week at 10 sit-ups twice a day. Didn't go very well last week. Hopefully, I can get back to doing my walks. Although, right now the smokiness is affecting me. I have to be smart about this stuff, too.
