Port 3: Florence / Pisa

Today we docked in Livorno. Nothing interesting to do in Livorno so we headed off to Florence and Pisa. I’ve been to both but I don’t think I could ever get enough of either place.

Pisa is the same as always. Tons of people and yet such an amazing thing to see. The tower is still leaning.

We had 45 minutes give or take so we took our crab photo and then I took off to find the bathroom.

I’m feeling better today. Actually, started to take the Imodium correctly and it seemed to do the trick. So yay.

Back on the bus we headed to Florence.

What a city! So many amazing things to see there. Our guide took us throughout the old city. We started at Santa Croce church and had about 30 minutes of free time to go to the bathroom and wander around. Just as we were gathering to leave the skies opened up and just down poured on us. So we stood under awnings for a bit to let it stop. Then it was off to see the medieval town. He took us through narrow passageways trying to avoid the crowds and it was fantastic.

In one of the small alleys he pointed out a wine window to us. The tradition of the wine window dates back to the 16^th century when aristocratic families were granted permission to sell the wine they produced in the countryside to consumers directly through these windows without a middleman or being taxed. It’s brilliant.

Next stop was Ponte Vecchio. It’s a bridge that is over the River Arno. It is the only bridge that was not bombed during WWII and was left standing. It originally housed all butchers but the rich got tired of the smell and so kicked them out and now it’s all gold jewelry and pick pockets.

Following that it was off to the Piazza della Signoria statues. Some amazing works of art here.

Finally it was time for lunch. Our guide took us to a nice hotel that was once a palace for lunch. The palace was once owned by the Borghese family. Now it’s a fancy hotel and delicious restaurant. We had pesto lasagna, some turkey and potato thing and a dessert. I ate very little even though I was starving because I just wasn’t sure how my body would react.

Next stop, the Duomo. It’s such an amazing building. The three colors of marble really make this a masterpiece.

After that the guide walked us back to Santa Croce church and gave us about an hour of freetime. Janet and I took that time to get some gelato and just sit.

As we got ready to get back on the ship we decided to do a selfie in front of the ship. The wind was blowing so hard that we had a hard time getting our crab hats on. Then we started giggling and that made it worse. After we took the photo we laughed even more. Our crab limbs are all over the place.

Leaving Livorno tonight is a rocky one. The wind has the water all churned up and we are rocking back and forth. Good times.

Port 2: Cannes / Nice

I sure needed the rest yesterday and I'm hoping it has me ready to go today for Nice. 

This excursion is a short 4.5 hour trip so I'm hoping my stomach keeps the grossness at bay. Fingers crossed. 

Cannes is the only port we had to tender in. Instead of using the life boats like normal we got to get on a ferry like thing instead. 

Our tour started with a drive to Nice. It's only about 30 minutes away. The countryside is pretty and entertained us all the same. 

We drove down the English Walk for about a half of mile. And not really the interesting side of it. The bus then took us up a big, windy hill to the top. We stopped, got out. The tour guide pointed out the restrooms, which I gladly took advantage of. 

When we all got done with the potty, the tour guide was gone and so we all got back on the bus. Apparently, she took those who didn't use the restroom down the trail to see some garden or something. 

So let me get this straight. We drove all the way up this hill to go potty? Lame.

Back down the hill, the bus dropped us off and we walked to the "Flower Market". Only the "Flower Market" on Monday's don't sell flowers, but more garage sale stuff. So boring. But at the end of the market was a bathroom and for 1 whole Euro I got to use it. 

After that the tour guide gave us free time. Janet and I found a cafe and sat in the sun drinking Fantas. I wasn't really up for more walking and there wasn't anything to see anyhow. 

When we got done we walked back up the street to the plaza with the naked guy and waited for the tour guide. 

All in all, WORST EXCURSION EVER! Totally not worth the money and one of the most boring excursions I've ever been on. Honestly, I'm not sure what I expected. I hadn't been to Nice since 1987 Senior Skip day and maybe I was thinking it was a cooler place than it was. 

Back on the boat and my tummy is still not behaving. I ate a bit more tonight, but not much. Trying to keep relatively boring foods in my system. 

Tomorrow we're in Florence and Pisa. That should be exciting. 

Port 1: Marseille France

We got onboard pretty easily yesterday. Not too much hassle or chaos. I mean there's always chaos because of the number of people. 

Our first meal on the ship was at the Brazilian Steakhouse. My god the amount of food they put on our plate was amazing. There was chicken, pork, sausage, flank steak, filet mignon, and lamb - which I passed on. They included some sides that were sautéed mushrooms, fried yucca, some potatoes and I think beans.  To say we had the meat sweats would be putting it mildly. 

Something got in my gut overnight and I had what we are now calling the "Jenns". I couldn't be too far from a bathroom. I was exhausted, dehydrated and had loose bowels. So, I opted to stay on the ship and send Janet to see Marseille and Avignon. 

It was a tough decision to make, knowing I'd be losing money, but it was the right decision to make. As Janet was gallivanting around France, I was in the room sleeping and getting my steps in to and from the bathroom. 

Maybe tomorrow will be better. 

Barcelona

Day 1 – We made it. It was a close call, but we did it.

Our flights were with Air Canada and I’ve been worried since the day we got them about our layover time. We flew into Toronto and had to go through a security check there. We only had 1 hour 15 minutes to get off the plane, through customs and to the other side of the airport. Even if we left on time I thought we had a low percentage of actually making it.

Well, Air Canada confirmed their reputation of always being delayed and we left Seattle 45 minutes late. You can imagine I was anxious as all get out. Turns out though, these two ladies in the seats in front of me were also going to Barcelona and on our cruise. By the time we got off the plane we had to hit the ground running. And you all know me and I don’t run.

As we finally got off the gangway and were officially in run mode. One of the gals that we met stopped a guy in one of those carts you see in the airport and asked him if he could take us to the E gates. He said hop on.

Off we went. And I gotta tell ya, if we had not, we would not have made our plane. It was already boarding and we stood for like 5 minutes before they called our zone.

Phew. Safe and sound, and a little sweaty, the rest of the flight was uneventful.

We landed in Barcelona, found our driver and were off to Hotel Gaudi.

We stayed in Hotel Gaudi last time we were in Barcelona and loved it so much we figured we might as well stay again. Prices have gone up significantly. Plus, the room we got was a bit more expensive. We were on the top floor, and we had a terrace.

It was a great hotel. The view from our terrace looked down on the Palau Gaudi roof which has several “Gaudi” style statues.

We didn’t really have any plans for the day we arrived, so we dropped off our suitcases and went in search of lunch. Hotel Gaudi is on Las Ramblas which is a major (and touristy) walking street. Its tree lined walkways are covered with restaurants, flower shops, ice cream, and more. It’s great for people watching.

So, we found a restaurant and ordered our tapas and drinks. Janet had a sangria, and I had a beer. We asked for the small ones. Their smalls are almost 30 oz of liquid.

We stopped at this restaurant primarily because I saw on the menu Fried Olives. What? I had never thought to deep fry a green olive. It was delicious. We also ordered jamon with melon and croquettes.

The real entertainment, though, was Janet. She was taking a drink of her sangria, started to drop it then in the attempt to recover from starting to drop it, she spilled most of it on her. I looked over to see what the commotion was about and saw and piece of apple on her shoulder and her entire front side covered in Sangria. We haven’t stopped talking about it yet.

We sat there for quite a while. Partly because of all the alcohol we had to consume (“had to”) and partly because the sky opened up and it rained. Poured actually. But we were safe under a restaurant tent.

After that, our room wasn’t quite ready so we had to find something to fill our time. I was exhausted so wanted to sit for a bit, and truth be told I needed to find a bathroom. Thankfully there are two Starbucks on Las Ramblas. A teeny tiny on that had the dirtiest bathroom I’d ever seen and no toilet paper. And a huge on that was clean, tidy and had toilet paper. You can image which one I stopped in.

While I was doing that Janet walked up to the top of Las Ramblas and took photos and just checked things out.

Finally, we headed to our hotel since our room would be ready.

That’s when we discovered what a fantastic room we had.

We walked a long way to get dinner. We were on the hunt for paella. Which isn’t hard to find. But it is hard to find a good one. We think we found the restaurant we ate at in 2015 and sat down.

That night I dealt with some leg cramps. They seem to be part of my travel experience these days. I brought electrolytes to help with that but it sure didn’t help that night.

The next day we got up and had our breakfast in the hotel. My standard European breakfast of ham and cheese on a baguette. My god it’s so good.

Then we were off to Parque Güell. Parque Güell is a failed park up on the hill in Barcelona. I don’t remember the whole story but Mr. Güell bought the land and wanted Gaudi to do the design. Mr. Güell was a well off man in Barcelona and told the well off that only the best families would live in this park. Turned out only Mr. Güell, Gaudi and their lawyer lived there. That’s why it was a failed “park”. The rich didn’t come.

It’s a beautiful green space for the city now. Tourism keeps that place a float…and how. It was packed with people from all over the world. PACKED!

Once we were done there we tracked down the Hop On Hop Off bus and, well, hopped on. We had a tour scheduled for La Sagrada Familia and we needed to get lunch before.

We got off at the La Sagrada Familia stop and were FLOORED at the number of people there. It was busy when we were there in 2015, but My GOD. It was wall to wall people. And you all know how good I am around so many people.

We had time for lunch, so we walked down the street and found an open table. The waiter moved a table for us, so we figured this was turning out to be a good spot. We were wrong. We only wanted a ham and cheese sandwich and a Fanta. When we sat and ordered he was “ok” with giving us the ham and cheese, but we HAD to order an alcoholic drink. Fanta was only to go. What? So we said no thank you, got up and left. The guy was so rude and didn’t seem to care at all that he just lost money.

It worked out in our favor though. We walked around the corner and found this cute “very little” place where the woman was friendly and welcoming. We ordered and she said, “go on upstairs and I’ll bring it up.” A couple minutes later we had our sandwiches and a SUPER sized Fanta. I was in heaven.

We walked a little further to the meet up place for our tour and waited until it was time to go.

I don’t even know what to say about La Sagrada Familia. It’s the most unique basilica I’ve ever seen. It’s been under construction for a hundred years and still isn’t finished. It has followed Gaudi’s original plan, mostly, but each engineer on the job has put their own touches on it. The tour guide pointed out the façade that was constructed while a Japanese engineer was in charge all those people have a very definite Japanese face and eyes.

Inside the basilica is just amazing. The outside is fascinating, but the inside is just beautiful. It’s supposed to represent a forest and nature in general. The light that comes in just makes the place glow. It was beautiful in 2015 and even more gorgeous today.

Finishing there I was pooped. We hopped back on the bus and headed to Las Ramblas. We strolled down the avenue until we found a place for dinner. Janet and I both had Sangria, split a pizza and the weirdest Caesar salad I’d ever had. It had fried chicken nuggets on it and the lettuce was the spring mix that has what I call “weeds”.

We sat and did our people watching and amused ourselves thoroughly.

We walked back to the hotel but not before stopping for gelato. I mean, it was on the corner of our hotel so it only seemed right.

Tomorrow we get on the ship. It's gonna be a whirlwind trip again. I wonder if Janet and I will ever take a trip that is relaxing. Probably not.

All my Crabs are Packed...I'm ready to go

It's hard to believe, but here we are. The eve before another big trip. I always get a little anxious the day before thinking about leaving the house and dealing with people. Ugh. But thankfully the always chipper Janet is with me and she keeps everyone talking. 

I just checked Janet and I in and am sending good vibes out to the universe that Air Canada does not live up to all the negative things I heard about them. It's going to be fine. 

The itinerary of our trip has been set for months, but for documenting purposes - and in case anyone reads this blog - here's what's happening. 

Barcelona

We're spending a day and a half in Barcelona. I love this city and I am so thrilled to be spending some more time there. We're going to visit Parque Guell since we missed it the last time. Then we're doing a tour of La Sagrada Familia. This church has been under development for over 100 years.

Our cruise starts on May 18th. We're on the Norwegian Pearl this trip. I thought I had been on the Pearl before but I can't seem to find any photos of us on the Pearl. Mom and Dad have been on the Pearl a couple of times. I love knowing that. It's like they will be traveling with us. 

May 19

Port: Marseille

Excursion: Marseille City Highlights & Avignon

I've been to Marseille once before in our 2014 cruise. The highlight of Marseill to me is the massive basilica on the hill. Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde. It's a beautiful basilica and I'm excited to see it again. 

After Marseille we head to Avignon. This will be a first time for me. In Avignon,  along the banks of the Rhone River, we'll see the famous Pont d’Avignon with only four of its arches remaining. "Avignon was a small but prosperous town when its destiny changed in the early 14th century with the exile of the Popes to France, leading to a century of brilliance. It is surrounded by ramparts and dominated by the Doms Rock which is crowned by the magnificent Cathedral and Palace of the Popes." We'll have some free time in Avignon for lunch and general wandering.  

May 20 

Port: Cannes 

Excursion: Highlights of Nice

 Every time I see the word Nice I think of a t-shirt I got back in 1987 when I was there for Senior Skip Day. The t-shirt said "Nice is Nice". It's only funny if you realize the first "nice" is "neese" the city.

Anyhow, there wasn't anything interesting in Cannes to see, so we opted for the side excursion to Nice.  We'll drive along the Promenade des Anglais, a lovely palm lined boulevard stretching three miles along the Baie des Anges. We'll pass landmarks such as the legendary Negresco, an imposing hotel with a Rococo façade. 

Upon arrival in old Nice, enjoy your walk along Cours Saleya, an elegant promenade lined with shops, restaurants and home to the famous flower market that’s held here. Your drive continues passing the Regina Hotel to Cimiez Hill, an upscale area with many large villas. You’ll pass the Franciscan Monastery, gardens and Roman arenas, before joining the highway back to Cannes.

Nice is one of two short days for us. We're only out and about for 4.5 hours. It'll be nice to rest up that afternoon. 

May 21

Port: Livorno/Florence

Excursion: Florence & Pisa

This will be a fun stop for us. Janet's never been to Italy in general and her first steps into Italy will be Florence and the Leaning Tower. What a way to start your Italian adventure. 

In Florence we'll get a short tour of the city seeing places like the Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade is covered in a mix of pink and green marble, the statues in the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio (the medieval stone bridge was the first bridge built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century.)

Lunch is included and then we'll have some free time to explore. First on my list is to find a Wine Window. Wine windows Florence: https://www.theintrepidguide.com/wine-windows-in-florence/

Once we're done in Florence we head to Pisa to see the Leaning tower. This will be my third time seeing it and I'm sure I'll still stand there and marvel at it. 

May 22

Port: Rome

Excursion: Rome, Spanish Steps & St. Peter's Basilica

Rome is one of my favorite cities of all. It's big, bold, dirty and full of history. We'll do a bus tour of the city and at some point get off for a short walking tour. We'll see the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Stairs and a few other iconic locations. I'll be sure to toss another coin in the Trevi fountain so I can come back to Rome again.

The saddest part of this tour is we had originally planned to go inside the Colosseum. Something happened and our tour got changed to not include going inside. Which is a BIG bummer because that is one of the most historical and amazing sights in Rome. They swapped that visit out with the Spanish Steps. Big whoop. The Spanish Steps is like swapping the prime rib your ordered for a burger. 

We'll end our tour at St. Peter's Basilica. Depending on timing we may or may not have time to go inside. We HAVE to go inside. La Pieta is in there and I gotta see that masterpiece again.

May 23

Port: Naples

Excursion: Capri, Sorrento & Pompeii

THIS is the stop of all stops. Not only are we getting to see Pompeii - but we're stopping in Sorrento and Capri. Both of those spots were part of my In Program travel my senior year at TASIS. I'm so excited to see them again. 

We'll take a boat to Marina Grande in Capri, a port lined with colorful old fishermen’s houses. A funicular will take you up to a terrace with a marvelous scenic overlook of the small island, the coast and the sparkling sea. Walk to the piazzetta, the heart of Capri’s shopping and nightlife area. Explore the narrow streets, take in the magnificent views, or relax at an outdoor cafe. You’ll then continue to Sorrento by jet-foil where lunch awaits.

It sounds like we're only in Sorrento for lunch and very little free time. 

Then we head to Pompeii! I can't even ... Pompeii has fascinated me for years. I've been there twice before and I guarantee you this time will be just as exciting.

May 24

Port: Messina, Sicily

Excursion: Taormina and Castelmola 

We'll be exploring two medieval villages on craggy hills overlooking the sea, each setting with its own personality. This will be a first for me, so here's the description from the NCL website. 

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a scenic drive south to Taormina, an ancient city that rises almost perpendicularly from the sea. It’s a beautiful setting with an alluring medieval character, as you will discover while strolling its narrow, cobblestone streets.

Among the highlights are the Arabian-influenced Palazzo Corvaja and the ruins of a 2nd-century Greek theater. It sits on a seaside hilltop with a view of Mount Etna that is so inspiring that it can detract from the entertainers that still perform there in the summer.

After visiting, you will enjoy free time to explore on your own, taking in the views from the fragrant public garden or shopping along boutique-lined Corso Umberto. The most popular merchandise includes designer fashions, jewelry and colorful ceramic pine cones, a Sicilian symbol of hospitality.

A bit farther inland and above Taormina, you will find the village of Castelmola, which arguably boasts even better views. Although first fortified in the 9th century, Castelmola was repeatedly attacked and the ruins of the castle that remain are from the 16th century.

Like Taormina, Castelmola is wonderfully atmospheric with cobblestone streets and lovely squares flanked by small shops. Still, it’s the breathtaking views that will linger long in your memory. Before returning to the pier, you will enjoy a traditional Sicilian lunch and perhaps a glass of almond-flavored wine, the local specialty.

May 25 

Port: Corfu, Greece

Excursion: Ultimate Corfu

This will be a first for me, so here's the description from the NCL website. 

Experience Corfu’s most beautiful and renowned landmarks in a small group. You’ll drive in a minibus through the countryside dotted with lemon and olive trees, to reach at the most photographed spot of the Island and you will have a photo stop to capture the famous Mouse Island and the church of Vlaherena.

Legend of Mouse Island: https://greekreporter.com/2023/06/05/mouse-island-corfu-greece/

After, you will reach the top of Analipsis hill, near Kanoni area where Mon Repos Palace stands. It was built in 1826 by the British Commissioner Frederic Adams as a gift to his Corfiot wife, Nina Palatianou. It is a charming palace with colonial architectural elements. You’ll stop at Paleokastritsa, not only one of the most beautiful spots on the island but also a vantage point for splendid views of the multiple bays. Legend says that Odysseus met Nausica after he washed ashore on one of these bays and enjoy some free time.

This will be followed by a typical lunch at a local restaurant in Paleokastritsa. Your tour continues to Esplanade, the main square of the town, for a walk through the picturesque streets of the Old Town to see some of the historical sites.

May 26

Port: Split, Croatia

Excursion: Split Old Town & Trogir Medieval City

 This will be a first for me, so here's the description from the NCL website. 

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the same day. You'll discover the treasures of Trogir and see how the Romans influenced the old city of Split. The medieval city of Trogir boasts architectural treasures of beautiful stone houses, palaces, churches, monasteries, towers and walls. The entire town is like an open-air museum, so just strolling through its narrow streets is an unforgettable experience.

You’ll visit the main attraction in Trogir, the Cathedral of St. Lawrence which is probably the finest example of Sacral architecture in Croatia. The unusual construction with three naves and three apses dominates the entire town. The main portal carved by local artist, Radovan, in the 13th century is world famous. You’ll also see the Town Loggia, Town Hall, Cipiko Palace and have some free time to explore on your own.

The old town of Split is built on and around the massive palace built by Roman emperor Diocletian. It represents the most important example of Roman architecture on the Adriatic. Your walking tour starts in the cellars which are very well preserved. You’ll see the Cathedral of St. Duje, considered to be one the oldest Catholic cathedrals in the world that still retains use of its original structure. You’ll also see the Golden Gate, the Silver Gate and the Peristyle Square from the outside.

May 27

Port: Venice

Finally we end this adventure in Venice. We're spending the day there doing a walking tour of Venice and then head home on the 28th. 

I'm exhausted just looking at this itinerary. Bon Voyage everyone!

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

I had to make the most difficult decision us pet owners have to make. I had to let my Sweet Lucy go last night.

My last photo with Lucy. 

Lucy has had some breathing difficulties for a couple of months now. Her original diagnosis was asthma. We put her on a steroid to help with that. It did help for a little.

Last week her breathing became more labored than it should have. I was able to get her in immediately for a vet visit. We did an x-ray and the vet came in and said, “Lucy’s in trouble.” There was more she said but I sorta zoned out after that.

She sent me to Timberline Vets so Lucy could be put immediately into an oxygen chamber. She spent the rest of Monday and all day Tuesday in this oxygen chamber. The vet that met with me gave me several options. We went down the path of more tests on Monday.

Tuesday a different vet called and provided an update. She was going to do an abdominal ultrasound and would call me later in the day with an update. They had felt something hard in her abdomen and wanted to just rule out any blockage as the issue. Following that they were going to do a lung wash. She explained what that was and boy did it not sound pleasant. But if it gave us something to work with, I was willing to agree to yet another test. 

The same vet then called around 1 and laid it on the line for me. She said Lucy wasn’t able to stay outside the oxygen chamber for long without her breathing becoming labored. The lung wash provided no useful information and the latest x-ray showed her lung tissue was seriously compromised.

“Seriously compromised”. Those are difficult words to hear.

She provided some more tests we could try. But honestly the tone of her voice told me all that I needed to hear. Her tone was sad; defeated. I asked her the question I didn’t want to ask. I asked, “Are we talking end of life here?”

She paused and said she would support that decision. Nothing we could do for Lucy would make her better. She couldn’t live outside the oxygen chamber and lung tissue doesn't regenerate. So, basically, she'd never get better. 

GULP. We hung up and I cried. A lot…

Then I got myself together and called Sherrie to see if she wanted to go visit Lucy with me. She did of course and thank GOD she was with me. I was clear with her as to the fact our visit would be saying goodbye. She still wanted to come and say goodbye and support me.

I don’t really remember the trip to the vet. But once we got there they took us back to see Lucy in the chamber. She recognized me immediately and perked right up. She started purring and walking back and forth in the chamber. There were little doors we could reach through to pet her. And she seemed so happy to see a friendly face.  

I asked the vet tech if we could hold her and spend some time with her outside the chamber. I explained I had made that decision to let her go. She immediately got Lucy out of the chamber and took us to a room to spend time with her.

Once in the room she handed me Lucy who quickly put herself in the usual position over my left shoulder. She hugged me. I hugged back. She purred like she always does. I cried. 

We loved on her for about 20 minutes and then we gave the vet our go ahead to put her down.

They brought in a VERY comfortable looking blanket. The type Lucy would love. We laid her down on the blanket. The vet explained what would happen, including some things that might happen so I was prepared. I was sure I was about to run from the room but I stayed. Lucy needed to not be alone.  

She was very content. It was like she was ok with this decision. She was ready. 

As she laid there and the Vet started, I had my face next to her ear, my hand on her side and I whispered my love to her and my thankfulness for her filling my life with joy. I told her I would remember her forever and that I’d take special care of Linus.

The vet indicated we were beginning and within 10 seconds she was gone. Peaceful. Very peaceful.

I kissed the top of her head and stepped away. Sherrie said her goodbyes and the vet wrapped her up and walked out.

Sherrie and I sat and cried and cried. 

I know in my heart it was THE ONLY decision to make. I don’t regret it at all. But I’m sad. And I’ll miss her every day. 

Linus seems to be ok with this. He hasn't spent any time "looking" for her like I thought he would. He's been by my side non-stop though. He hasn't been on her chair once. So maybe he knows. 

It feels weird to only have him. I keep telling him it's just him and me now. 

The Big D

Welp...it's official. I have Type 2 Diabetes. I was officially diagnosed with it last week. I am not surprised at all. I'm pissed. 

I know. I know. I got myself here. I made all the bad food choices and it landed me here. THAT's why I'm pissed. 

I remember watching Dad give himself insulin and I thought, "That's not going to be me." I sword I'd do better. And I did. For a little. 

Then COVID came about. And something in me switched. I just started eating. I didn't care what I ate. I wasn't trying to make healthy decisions. I just ate. 

I gained all the weight I lost in 2019. Thankfully I haven't gained more. But that aside, the bad eating is what got me in the situation I'm in. 

Next steps are to visit the doctor on May 13th to figure out the medication I'm going to have to go on. The thing is my appt is a day before we take off for our trip. I am not taking any new medications and then leaving the country. No sir. No how. So that'll have to wait until I get back. 

I've been eating low carb since I got the diagnosis. My A1C is quite high and the doc wants me to really cut back on all the white refined sugars, flour, breads, rice, pasta, chips etc. So basically everything I love. But I did my grocery shopping and focused on low carb goodness and I'm doing pretty good with it. 

Low carb has come a long way. I don't feel deprived and as long as I don't feel deprived and I feel full I should be ok. It's when I don't plan and I'm hungry that my decision making skills go to hello. 

So stay tune. This adventure will be put on hold until I get back from our cruise. 

Speaking of which, we leave in 8 days. 

March Madness The End

We did it!

We did 30 days of 30 minutes of walking. It wasn't always easy and I can confirm that there were more than a couple of days where I really didn't want to. But we did! And I'm so very proud of France and I. 

So here's a list of things I learned this last month. 

1. The words "commitment" and "accountability" go hand in hand. France and I both take commitment very seriously. This helped keep us both accountable. All we would have had to say to each other was "you made a commitment" and we would have ignored the pull to not get out of the house and would have met each other as planned. 

2. Some people think it's funny that I'm so happy about 30 minutes of walking for 30 days straight. I get that. Most people don't have to force themselves out of the house and do exercise things. I have to. Exercise isn't something I have ever enjoyed (obviously) and it's easy for me to make an excuse to not go. So going 30 days in a row and exercising is a huge accomplishment for me. One I'm proud of. And I intend to continue to do this in April. 

3. It's amazing how good I feel. I know 30 minutes a day seems like a small amount to you all, but that small 30 minutes has really given me back my energy. I find I'm not as lazy as I used to be. And that, my friends, is a good thing. 

4. There's a difference between routine and habit. When I think of a habit I think of things we do with muscle memory. Things like brushing your teeth, going to the same coffee shop every day. Things like that. When I think about routine, the project manager in me comes out and a routine is like a mini schedule. It's what you do to get things done. For example, my routine is to do my grocery shopping every Saturday morning. It's routine. It's on the schedule and so I do it. 

This gym thing is now routine. Whether it becomes a habit is yet to be decided, but the routine is down flat. France and I go every day at my lunch time (around 11). It gets it over with and then we have the rest of the day to muck around and do things like, take naps or scrapbook, or cook. 

5. The biggest lie I tell myself is I'll walk at home. I won't. I will want to. I will change my clothes to, but it's really common that I don't. Outside is usually wet and cold this time of year, so there's another excuse. BUT, now I bought myself a walking pad that is in my house. Now I have zero excuses. France has one and talked me into buying it. Probably the best thing I did. 

It's set up right in front of the boob tube too. So my plan has been to walk during commercials. Some nights I do. Some nights I don't. But it's there and it's available to use.

So now we're in April. And France and I both plan on going every day that we can. I start my week by reviewing my work schedule and sending France my plan for the week. Then each day we confirm the next day. 

The best part of the gym now is when we leave I say, "See you tomorrow." and I know I will. 

March Madness

I am not a basketball fan. Not even close. But, I am doing a March Madness of sorts. 

Friend France mentioned that she was doing this thing she was calling "March Madness". Her goal is to walk/exercise at least 30 minutes a day for 30 days. That sounds like a solid goal. It sounds like a lot, but why not give it a shot. 

So I told France I was all in. 

I'm a believer that the Universe tells us things all the time. If only we just listen. I could give you a dozen examples of how that's played out in my life, but I'm sure you've experienced. That gut feeling. The turn right instead of turn left gut punch you get every now and then. I have that all the time. Sometimes I listen. Sometimes I don't. I've gotten two tickets from not listening. 

I took Friday off to run some errands and to just generally have an extra day for the weekend. I do it every month. I take one Friday off a month. Call it mental health adjustment. This Friday I wanted to do some comparison shopping on chicken. (Someday I'll tell you about my weird chicken quirk I have). 

My dad love Sprouts and so I figured I'd swing over to Sprouts and see what they have and what their prices are. Next door to Sprouts is my old gym Planet Fitness. I've been meaning to go in and cancel my membership there since I have a member ship at 24 hour Fitness now. 

As I was walking over to the gym I thought, you know why not get on a treadmill. You've got tennis shoes on. You've got a bra on. You've got music. What's stopping you from walking for 15-30 minutes. AND you've got a trip looming in which you need to get into some type of shape. 

Decision made. I walked into Planet Fitness and expected bells and whistles to go off indicating I hadn't been there in a thousand years. Nothing like that happened. 

I found a treadmill and walked. I turned up the incline at some point and just people watched and walked. It was all over in no time. 

Got off and left. 

When I got home I was chatting with France and our other friend Anandi and mentioned this whole thing and that's when France told me about her March Madness plan. I was all in. 

Having accountability with someone else makes a big difference with me. It amazes me I can't be accountable for myself. I am at work. I am with other aspects of my life. But when it comes to working out goals, I have a bucket full of excuses. 

France and I have a plan. Anandi wanted in too. She lives out of state so we made a plan to send photos of our walking/exercise for the day. 

I've walked two days in a row now. Which for most people sounds funny - but when you work from home and have no reason to leave, it's easy to not walk too far. 

So here we go. Let's see what March brings us. I have 76 days before our big Mediterranean cruise and if Portugal was any indication of how out of shape I am to travel, then I really need to get going. I can do this. I will do this. I even bought a walking platform to have at home. That should really help.