The Gym Machines Are Actually A Good Alternative!

It's Saturday, it's not snowing for a change, and it's only -1 F, so I'm counting this as a win. After today's swim, I will have done two weeks at the gym with my new workout schedule and I think I'm starting to enjoy it. I'm allowing myself to swim four days a week, but I'm also forcing myself to work on the machines on Thursday and Friday, although the water still beckons. During the three weeks I was forced to stay out of the pool, I discovered that I was getting something from the machines that I wasn't from swimming, and that combining the two exercises actually was totally beneficial for me. Who knew? So now I grit my teeth and hit the elliptical and the recumbent bicycle two days a week. 

The elliptical machine isn't romantic or exciting, but it gives a
great low-impact high-intensity workout if you allow it to
actually make you sweat. I find that I get more from 15 minutes
on the elliptical than 30 minutes on the bike, but I like
mixing them up. 

Thank goodness for Spotify. I do have music loaded on a variety of players I can bring with me to plug in and listen while working on the machines, but I noticed the Spotify symbol on the splash screen, and decided grabbing a set of headphones and plugging into my genre while getting new music recommendations would be even better. In fact, it's beyond great. I can listen to an assortment of kick-ass music or swipe a song out of the way if the beats-per-minute aren't where I want them (no slow and easy songs here ... I'm pushing for BPM and a hard beat). I'm thinking about expanding a bit - grabbing the Spotify from my phone app and using the virtual landscape with varied terrain options on the machines. I might try that next week. 

I like Spotify. When combined with my Sirius channels, I get a lot of
new music to listen to and I'm rarely bored. Over time, my likes
get honed into almost all wins for suggested tunes. I like listening
to it at home too. I'll put on my bluetooth headphones, stick my
phone in my back pocket, and listen while I do housework or cleaning. 

Meanwhile, today is Saturday and I'm back in the water. That's an automatic positive for me. Next week is taken up with doctor appointments where, I'm sure, they'll tell me that there really are no options for regrowing my hair (won't be a surprise). I guess I'll find out, and then I can move on. I'm seriously thinking about just getting the last of it shaved off and owning the bald look. It's actually not a bad look for me, and I could totally own it. DH is thinking about wigs for those times when I want to be "normal" (not that I'm abnormal anyway), and if I can find a good one, I'll probably get one or two of those too. If nothing else, it will help keep me warm in our cold weather. 

I haven't worn my hair short in many years, but used
to have a style similar to this that actually was really
cute. I might look into a wig or two in this type
of style for those days when I don't want to just
work with a scarf. 

So I'm off to the gym and the pool. Since it's a Saturday and I won't be back until Monday, have a wonderful and fabulous weekend and stay cozy and loved. 

Haircut, Cards and Donations

It's always a bit weird to get a haircut. I had 6"-8" cut off the bottom of my hair yesterday, and it brushes my shoulders now in a much fuller-looking bob. Nothing fancy, but it will get me through the holiday. Of course, DH who had been so unsure about my getting my hair cut in the first place, looked, said it wasn't any different, sniffed, and went to gather his dinner together. OK ... totally unimpressed. All I care about is that it looks a bit better, although the top of my head will take months to fill back out. I'm estimating trims every 2-3 months, and that's good, because it was EXPENSIVE! I'm going to make my "oblivious" hubby pay for the cuts, though. 

JUUT Salon is an Aveda salon. I used to go to one in a southern
suburb many years ago. It's pricey! But it's also really close to
my home. I could walk here in nice weather if I wanted to. Since
I didn't go super short, I won't have the 4-6 week maintenance
needed, so I can handle every 2-3 months. 

ALL of my holiday cards have now been mailed and I've put my tools, stamps, dyes, etc, back into their places in the art room. I'm really happy with this year's card. Although the actual images are heat-embossed stamps (house-mouse, remember?), each front and inside was individually hand painted. The back piece and the mouse across the envelope seal are copies of four different mouse paintings that I did, cut and sized, and then permanently mounted with adhesive. It was really fun making the cards this year and I want to use these precious mice on another card because I have several more images in my collection. 

Although I own this House Mouse stamp, it's NOT one
that was used in your cards this year. It's adorable, though! 

I'm already starting to think about next year's card. I think I will include an ornament, so I'll try to get started on that rather early (for a change). I have so much going on next year that early will most certainly be better! So ... now I can start concentrating on this year's Holiday season - Hanukkah which is happening now, Solstice which is coming up on the 21st, and Christmas on the 25th. I have presents to buy, calendars to order, and family events to attend over the next month. I suspect all of you are also busy with so many things. 

At this time of the year, we're all bombarded by charitable donation
requests. Choose your charities carefully and make sure they
represent your personal values. Also, donations don't have to
be monetary. There are many ways to help others. 

As we move into this season of celebration, please remember kindness. It's a stressful time of the year for everyone, and can be very difficult for for many people. Smile, donate to charity, help a friend or neighbor, be a positive note in the seasonal chorus. I'm going to take some time to figure out the next things I need and get going on those, as well as line up my charities for my end-of-year donations. I'm sure I'll donate to Trevor Project, and the Human Rights Campaign, but I'm not sure about the other two this year. Public Broadcasting (TV and Radio) are monthly, so I don't have to think about them. Hmmm ... how can I best help? Do you have a favorite charity? Share with me - which one and why? 

Have a wonderful Thursday. I'm going to hunt up some photos and then get to the pool. It's another day in the Frozen Northlands. 

Hair, Rum and Snow

So, I had my hair appointment consultation yesterday and Jenny and I agreed that this coming week (on Wednesday again, of course, since it's my only day off) I'll get at least 8-12 inches cut off my hair. That should bring it to just below shoulder length. It's a start. I'll get a chance to see how I like shorter hair, and we can always go shorter in another appointment. I showed her the bottom photo from yesterday's blog and she was quite astonished that I would be open to such a drastic change. Although she thought a short style similar to that would look really cute. So that's still on the table, but ... baby steps. 

Apparently Lemon Hart & Son are the
purveyors of rum for the British Navy. Since
the Navy ran on booze and brawn, I
couldn't wait to try some in my tea. 

To treat myself (and because it was on my shopping list too), I dropped by my local mega-liquor store to pick up some 150-proof dark rum. I love a shot of good quality overproof dark rum in my tea, and had run out. Although I was looking for a brand they no longer carried, I found this lovely bad boy instead. 

You've got to love a label that ends with the words "Rum Always".
It's a statement that certainly resonates with me - LOL. 

I fell in love with the label. You've got to love a label that ends with "Rum Always" on the front and heads the back by telling you about how flammable the contents are. I suspect that I shouldn't be keeping the bottle near the stove. Oh - lucky me - liquor is in the pantry - across the hallway from the kitchen. 

On the back, instead of extolling A or B, they go straight into
how extremely flammable 150-proof liquor is. It makes
me think about small ships, large cannons, and explosions. 

I also succeeded in getting all of my envelopes printed for my holiday cards. I'll be doing the final tasks on those now - signing them, applying my "Made By" patch to the backs, putting them snugly into their envelopes, and sending them on their way. I'm not ahead of schedule, but I'm also not behind. 

To top off the day, it started snowing. It's looking rather white out there and I've received phone notification that the plows are running. I probably should try to get going earlier and try to shovel a lane down the driveway. So have a great Thursday, and I'll be back tomorrow for a VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY! 

Today Is Scheduled To the Max!

I am rarely so busy on my "day off" that I have to write myself a schedule to make sure I get everything done and appear on time for appointments. Today is one of those rare days and it's already driving me crazy. Still - I'll get through things because I have to. My time is compressed because I have a hair consultation today shortly after noon, and that punches a hole in my day. I need the consultation, but have to schedule around it. 

Wow! Do people actually do this? Do they have the
time to do this and still make the schedule and have
a life? I don't think I'm really good with daily
schedules, but I'd sure have a clean house - for a
nanosecond! 

As I mentioned a month or so ago, I've been losing a LOT of hair. I'm pretty sure I have Alopecia Areata - an auto-immune skin disease causing loss of hair. Those of you who follow American Ninja might remember Kevin Bull who also has this disease. What it's doing for me is dramatically thinning my already-baby fine hair. When I look in the mirror now, I think I'm looking at Ebeneezer Scrooge - NOT the vision I want when I'm looking at myself. So ... I'm heading off to a hair consultation at noon. 

I'm far from alone, and I've had friends who fought cancer
who also had associated hair loss, so it's far from rare. But
it's really annoying me. I'm not vain, but I also don't want
to hide under scarves and hats for the next 20 years. 

I'm not expecting any miracles, but I'm hoping that something can be done stylistically to make me feel a bit less ugly. I'm wearing a lot of scarves and headbands now, and that's one solution, but I'm hoping suggestions might exist for something that won't require my being covered up all of the time. There's a good chance that my hair growth may resume when my stress levels reduce, but I don't see that happening until late next year. I need to get an appointment set up with my dermatologist, but that won't happen until 2019 either. I'm just too busy at this time of the year and working six days a week doesn't help either. 

I'm starting to feel like I'm turning into a female version
of Ebeneezer Scrooge. I'm NOT this bad, but sometimes
I feel like it. I'm hoping to get a hairstyle that might
look attractive while I get this condition under
control. 

I chose the salon I'm going to based on a search I made for a salon that works well with chemotherapy patients, because my hair appearance isn't that different right now. Additionally, I'm so sensitive to chemicals and additives, having someone who can take that into account seemed wise. I made the consultation appointment a week ago and I'm actually looking forward to it, even though my hair is generally uncooperative and I may not actually get a hairstyle for another week or so. Today is only a consultation, after all.  

Any short hairstyle I end up getting will have to be easy
care, survive my daily swims, and take into account the fact
that my hair is quite literally baby fine. It's a real challenge! 

But I guess it's time for a change. I've been wearing my hair long and untouched for years and years now. It's time for a style that might pull me through this latest mess and return a bit of self-confidence my direction. It certainly can't hurt to get an opinion from a professional, right? So, on that note, it's time to get back to the swimming pool. At least there's one constant in my life right now, and I'm very grateful for my morning workouts in the water. Have an excellent Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow.