Thanks from My Escape Hatch

      An extra post from my health goals update that I posted this morning. It did help to unload yesterday. For those that read, commented, or just scrolled by but came back again, thank you. Words matter and when trapped in head space, they can churn into messages and commentary that is at best unproductive and at worst, debilitating. It's two people really that are difficult to be near when cornered, plus the continuation of decades of "dings" from MIL. Honestly, I doubt she'd think they're dings, just her trying to be helpful and I'm just the difficult one. There are people in my husband's family that are absolutely lovely so an added level that would make walking away sad. There's also some shared property in my kids names and responsibility there. All the words of wisdom are being taken to heart though so I appreciate you. Blogging is like opening an escape hatch to let my feelings out before imploding. 

     I opted to get a few basic things done yesterday, then inertia kept me going. Bathrooms cleaned, bedding washed and bed remade, refrigerator cleaned out, a good job to do the day before garbage pick up. I hate that I still have bits of food waste. This week's waste included two little tubs of chicken drippings for intended risotto, then forgotten about instead of freezing. I had to toss two baby portobello mushrooms and a last nub of a cucumber. My daughter left the last of her rice and chicken behind as she got full, but never went back to eat it. I think there were a few bottled sauces with cruddy remnants pitched too.

     My son worked most of the morning and early afternoon from home, then left for a job at 5:30. It was nice to have leftovers from the rather large "use it up" lasagna I made Monday. I cut up a watermelon and put a vegetable pasta salad together as well so no thinking about food for meals until tonight, and it's going to be another easy one, just broiled sandwiches and salad. It was a nice weather day so dogs and I spent a lot of time outside. I'm with you Hawaii Plan that my mood is just lifted when I can be outside. I still hate weeding, but I pick a bit each time I'm out. I picked more raspberries when the sun was going down to avoid bees. I'll be mowing front and side yards today. Here I am lounging outside, hair pulled up, in my summery finest. If you look you can see the new hostas are flowering and a couple wild ferns are in a nice spot to line the patio. That is a scratch above my lip, battling daughter's older cat Sunday night to get him in his carrier. I have war wounds on my arms too. 

     My old work friend had to reschedule our lunch meetup tomorrow, but the morning coffee business meeting is still a go. I'm going to give myself a wander day. Possibilities as long as I'm in St Paul might be the conservatory and maybe a late lunch or happy hour with a mocktail at a restaurant with a patio in the Grand Avenue area, which is lovely, though every place is expensive. My younger daughter lives in a pricey area of St Paul too, though her apartment is small and lines a freeway, so rent is priced accordingly. Still, she gets lured into a couple lovely cafe's, a delicious Thai or a Mexican restaurant, and a wine bar just blocks away. I'm leaning towards the conservatory as it's free admission and I'm trying to be really frugal this month, throwing some fruit, a granola bar, and a diet coke in my lunch bag with some ice packs and just finding a table in a busy park for people watching. I'll bring a book and notebook along. 

      I'll stop at Aldi and maybe Sam's Club and Trader Joe's on my way home. There's a community concert tomorrow night too, reggae and ode to Bob Marley, so an option for a Thursday outing if after a day out of the house I'm looking to extend. Friday there's a free movie in the park, Mufasa. It's nice that these community events are ageless and I see couples, friend groups, families, seniors all attend. That's about it for today's post. I hope you are having a good Wednesday,