slidergirl

Purple - Good to hear the cruise was a relaxing success prior to those nasty weeks where everyone is trying to get their surgeries in before the New Year deductible kicks back in. I hope the grumbling ends and you have smooth sailing (pun intended) at work!! I am freakin' exhausted today. My co-worker hurt his back in the AM and went home before noon. I was totally solo from then until 7pm. There was really too much for 1 person to do. Some of it was unexpected with guests from other management companies coming in and not having a clue on how to get their keys, where to park. One owner came in totally unannounced. Another who is coming in late tonight had a shipload of groceries delivered and I had to go up and put them away. And, the usual 30 packages from Fedex, UPS, Amazon, etc. which had to be logged and then delivered... And, my usual late afternoon duties. I sure hope I get a part-timer for the weekends quickly!!! Otherwise, it'll just be me from 4-7pm every weekend!! I literally just got to sit and breathe at 6:15pm!!! No lunch break today. I'll have to pick up dinner on the way home as I don't want to wait 30 minutes for something to cook at home. OOTD: My RBX tan sweatshirt dress, Sweaty Betty brown leggings, my Taos white hi-tops.

Yep, it will get busy on Sunday and not let up until April... For now, it's just some of my owners in house. Snow is meager and is looking non-existent through the 24th. I can only see 10 days in advance. I don't mind but my owners and guests may be a bit angry to only have manmade groomers to play on with 5,000 others 😼 Hmm. Haven't tried anything yet from my haul, but I did pick up: Frozen chicken & cheddar breakfast bake. Looks like a quiche. Sounded good Frozen Italian creme pastries. I did have this the other month. Yummy treat! Stollen Crisps. In a box - looks like Fig & Olive crackers. Frozen fried olives stuffed with cheese. Just sounded like something good to pop into the air fryer after work. Frozen Pretzel Bread Pudding. I couldn't resist!!! Porchetta roast. In the meat section. I've had this for a few years - yummy good. Serves me for a few meals. I was looking for, but couldn't find: cranberry butter cookies, cranberry pistachio biscotti 😒

Lois- the long wait for an endocrinologist isn't unusual. I waited a good 6 months for mine. There aren't that many and they are swamped. My first week of work is in the books. I slept for a looooong time yesterday. I got a new co-worker Tuesday for the winter. I think we're going to be good together. She an older woman who has been through the career & marriage thing and she picked up everything I showed her right away. The "kid' we have, well, no one likes him so we'll just have to deal with him. He wants to be the alpha male and have us be his minions. Yes, this after a week. Ah, life. Went down to TJ's today to pick up the Holiday junk food for work and special stuff for me. It was the first "Holy Cr$p" moment for awhile, but expected. I get different cookies and candles for gifts. I picked up some good frozen things to make for a fast dinner after work. Some dog bones to take to work for all my furry friends. And, a porchetta roast for Christmas. I won't get down there again until sometime in January... OOTD: My black flowered hoodie sweatshirt, Free People jeans with flowers on them. It was in the 40s, so no coat needed.

Yep, it's awful. It's bad enough if you pay for one of them, even with Medicare. But, some of us us have them stacked and it's a big financial hit. In the formulary, they are at the highest level. If I wanted to go on insulin for the rest of my life, sure, I could do $35/month. But I don't want to do that and my endocrinologist says I don't need to. I think the next round of prescription negotiations are supposed to have some of these in there. Not holding my breath, though. It's a beautiful, but chilly day up here at work. 34F right now, up to maybe 38F at the end of the day. I get my nice view again out my Front Desk window. It's really slow and will be that way the rest of the week. I wish I had a spot to go out and sit in the sun today, but we only get sun on our deck for a short time. OOTD: a pink floral Kari Traa base layer shirt and a pinkish purple button-up sweater vest that I bought at the consignment store. My black jeans again.

OK. I'm home. Lois - The cheap med that my endocrinologist added is Pioglitazone. It's like $2 for a 30 day supply. I was bored at work so I decided to look up and see if my cashmere hoodie was on the internet. I found the company and took a peek - $379!!!!!!!! I have to do the morning shift again tomorrow. Ugh.

Believe me, I totally know about the cost of the Diabetes meds. There are no generics except for Metformin (that I know of). At the beginning of the year, my Jardiance and Rybelsus cost over $500 each. But, then they eat up my Medicare deductible for meds and the cost goes down to abut $150 for a 90 day supply for Rybelsus (I know because I just got it yesterday.). Rybelsus is the daily pill form of Semaglutide (i.e. Ozempic). Be sure to talk to your PCP about the different drugs and which would work best for you. I take 4 - Metformin, Jardiance, Rybelsus and 1 more that is a generic that kickstarts the others (and it's cheap). I'll have to look at what it is when I get home. But, you may have to pay full-price the first time or so to eat up the deductible and then it will drop. I think my first refills of next year will be about $1500 for all 3 (!).

If you are in the US and live near a Trader Joe's market, pick up a tub of the Double Ginger cookie and take some with you. They have chunks of ginger in them besides the usual. If nothing else, you have some tasty cookies to eat on your cruise!!!

Hi all. Busy, busy, busy. Got to drive to work through the first winter storm of the year Friday. No fun at all. At least I remembered how!! Busy trying to replicate mail and our calendar on Google to make up for the loss of our Outlook stuff. Interesting since I know nothing about Google (other than the web browser). I'm finding some of our old documents and trying to get them ported over to share mode. Ugh. Times when I wish I wasn't known as the one who knows computers 🙀 I get a new co-worker on Tuesday, so it'll be training time, just in time for us to start getting our holiday guests. We're putting up the 2 Christmas trees and our staircase garland now. One of my least favorite things to do. Lois - I'm so relieved to hear that your numbers did drop and you are back home! I'm asking Santa to bring you a "health break" for Christmas! Melody - I've had 2 pair of the Delancey herringbone and 1 textured tights. Salt & Pepper in both and blue & black in herringbone. But, none of them fit me now (too baggy). I may have to buy at least one of them to add again. Right now I'm just wearing either my blue or black jeans into work. Maybe in a week or so I'll bring my leggings into play - I have to get used to the temperature in the Lodge. Cynthia - that martini does look good! Sorry 'bout the 'vid visiting the ship. It's our gift that never stops giving, I guess. Be safe - did you bring a mask? I still carry one. OOTD: my Driftwood black jeans and a cashmere hoodie sweater that I got from one of my owners last year (the one who also owns the villa in Tuscany). And my gray Chaco wool lace-up booties. I'm the only one here besides the maintenance guy, so I'm just sitting at the desk and petting the sweater 😻

Lois - I'm relieved that it was a stone and it was quickly taken care of. I do hope that, with it removed and the stent in, nature will take over and restore your numbers. Home from Palm Springs and did my first day of work. I'm just exhausted today - my usual day off. Turns out my boss is still my boss until they can get someone else. Poor her - she's doing her new job AND her old job. She's going to be going crazy. And she has to hire one more person to be the "opener" at the Lodge. I was going bonkers because I thought I had my logins/passwords put away and I couldn't find them! I took all day to try to remember them. One still is a mystery. they also "upgraded" us to the big domain and took away the domain the lodge has had for years, Our email is a mess, documents are unavailable, just awful. I'm sure they are thinking I can fix it since I worked in IT 😒. Nope. OOTD: joggers and a Tshirt. Day off. I'm going to nap!

I’m sorry Lois. Hope it gets straightened out quickly!

I got into the Sky Club at SLC just as it started to snow! So I made it just right. A warm and sunny weekend with the girls. We took lots of photos so our friend with early Alzheimer’s will be able to look at them and remember the trip. Now I am sitting at PSP airport waiting for my flight home. The winter storm warning was canceled for today so I should be good driving home tonight. Start work tomorrow at 11am!

Melody - Happy Anniversary!! I have to pack today. My flight is tomorrow at 11am. I have to leave earlier than usual because it'll be rush hour down in Salt Lake AND there is going to be snow. Not a good combination. I do NOT enjoy having to get up early in the morning. Today was the last day to be able to sleep in ☹️ I can't believe I start back at the Lodge on Tuesday. There was a lot of renovation construction all summer long so I'm excited to see how things turned out. Snow on the runs is basically non-existent except for the couple of runs with man-made. Hopefully, I'll have time to ease back into "Lodge Life" before the Christmas hordes show up!! OOTD: leggings and a Tshirt. Going to be cleaning up and packing all day.

Cynthia - sorry 'bout the knee. Keep off it and keep it elevated when you can. A little ice can help, too. I learned "RICE" for things like that - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. I'm a major klutz so I learned that quickly. I didn't realize you were doing a TA this time. If anything else, at least you won't be wandering around ancient ruins on that knee 😉 I broke down and contracted with a snow plow guy for this year. My shoulder just can't handle it again. I'll have to give up something to be able to pay for it, though. OOTD: my joggers (that I don't wear in public) and a Tshirt. I'm being lazy for my last few days before I start back to work.

Hi all! Lois - Cynthia had the pumpkin gnocchi in Rome. I just sounded so good. I've had sweet potato gnocchi so I imagine it's pretty similar. Sorry 'bout the test results. I know how that goes. Glucose levels still baffle me - I can eat the exact same thing two days in a row and one level will be low 100s and the next will be 120s. Changing eating habits is freakin' hard. Is there anything specific you can do to help with the kidney output levels? Melody - nice pics! My backyard looks a little like that too. It stayed cold enough that the snow stayed put this time. Not as cold as you, though. We stayed in the 30s. No more snow until Friday, supposedly. That's the day I fly out to Palm Springs, so I may stay down in Salt Lake City Thursday night to avoid a snowy drive down the mountain. I'm watching the weather. I have a free night at a Marriott to use by the end of the year so it won't cost me anything. OOTD: Sunny, but temp is in the mid 30s. So, leggings and a long-sleeve Tshirt.

Cynthia - pumpkin gnocchi- YUM! and, yes, I recognize the church! Still one of my favorite places in Rome. I went real lazy yesterday for my Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of doing the turkeyloaf and the sides, I made one big mashup. In the skillet. Cooked up the ground turkey with all my seasonings, added a bag of mixed veggies, added some of TJ's mashed potatoes (nuked them first), added a container of TJ's stuffing and then mixed it all up with a box of TJ's Turkey Gravy. Good eating. And, already mixed up to put in the leftovers container to eat the rest of the week! I did leave the TJ's cranberry sauce separate, though. Popped open a bottle of my favorite Rosé and had a glass. My glucose level did not suffer... It's snowing today. So, OOTD is again leggings, Tshirt and my Acorn mocs. Cozy-ing up in the house.

Good to hear you are feeling better today, Lois. Take it easy today. Started out Thanksgiving with some Noosa Pumpkin Yogurt for breakfast. I added a sprinkle of my Penzy's Pie Spice on top to add a little zing. I pride myself in not having ever made a whole turkey. I've done a half breast at the most. Today, I'm lowering my bar and making a turkey meatloaf. I've got a pound of ground turkey to use. I have my sides ready - mash potato, creamed corn, TJ's stuffing/dressing. I'll just nosh on it all afternoon/evening. OOTD: Inside all day today and a winter storm advisory in effect. Leggings and a long-sleeve Tshirt. I have my new Acorn slouchy moccasins on. My NP doesn't want me walking around barefoot on my slate floors (peripheral nerve issues). Happy Thanksgiving to the US ladies. Everyone else - have a great day.

Ah, the familiar sights and sounds and beverages of Rome! Good choice of Brunello!

I do like RipSkirt. I have 2 skirts and a sunscarf. They are indeed very travel-packable. I actually have the shortest ones and I use them with my leggings.

Welcome back Lois! Cynthia - have a wonderful trip! I'm sooooo jelly!! I didn't realize you were cruising, too - thought you were just going to Rome. Buon Viaggio! Have a spritz for me. Rainy day today. Snow level is just at about 7000' so I'm just below it. As the temperature drops, the rain will change to snow for sure. Just hiding out at home today. I start back at my lodge on Dec. 5 so I'm going to enjoy my last few days of "vacation" before diving back into work. I think this will be my last year. OOTD: leggings and a long-sleeve Tshirt.

Endocrinologist NP visit today. All was great. She was impressed. A1C down at 6.2. I laughed at my weight - I haven't been this "light" since college! I told her about my bout with losing my appetite the other month; she said she's hearing it's common with patients who had COVID. She said that when that happens I'm ok to just eat whatever tastes good to me. I did make a stop at TJ's on the way home. I was pleasantly surprised that they had out a bunch of the holiday stuff that wasn't in the Flyer. It was a "Holy C$ap" kind of shopping day and totally unexpected. My seasonal favorite, Baked Lemon Ricotta, was there! The flavored JoJo's (like Oreos) that I give my hair stylist were in. The Italian custard pastries were in the Frozen section. The real surprise was the newest candle-in-a-tin: Chocolate Croissant. OMG! It smells oh, so, good. f OOTD: My new hoodie with the matching leggings. Got lots of compliments on the combo. It'll be on the list of things to take to Palm Springs. I'll call it "Real Locals of Park City visits Palm Springs,", an homage to the Real Housewives of both Beverly Hills and Salt Lake City when they did their visits... I have to keep an eye on the weather report for that first weekend of December - I just hope there isn't a snowstorm when I drive down to the airport or back up - I don't want to have to take a jacket!!

I was sent to help out at a sister hotel for a month. It was a beach resort at the start of their summer season. I packed some of my everyday Ts and tanks to wear double-duty: wear under my suit jacket for work, then as my off-work attire for hanging out. I hand washed them and let them dry in the bathroom. No one noticed and no one cared. All my stuff - work suits and play stuff and I was still under 35lbs in one bag.

The pasta does look yummy! Can't go wrong with Sta. Margherita - a solid choice for Pino Grigio. I'm on a hiatus from shrimp - it was the protein that kept me going for awhile and I'm kind of tired of it. I'm trying to incorporate some, ugh, red meat into the diet for dinner. A lean ground beef mixed with canellini beans and a can of diced tomatoes works. I just put in a ton of different spices. It's not chili but it's decent enough. I made some pork chops the other night. I've always loved them, but this time I just felt blah with them. Going to grill some chicken and add it to salad tonight and see if I like that once again as I really started to not like my entree salads. I don't like how my palate has changed. Cool the past few days, in the 40s. Got my hair taken care of on Thursday. We added some red highlights just because we could and hadn't done those in quite awhile. Definitely turned into jeans and sweatshirt weather up here! OOTD: faded yellow Laguna Surf Co. hoodie and a pair of Vuori leggings.

Yes, it's happened in mountain towns. That's my experience in my town. Can't go up to Main St. to eat anymore as it's way too chi chi and expensive for me. Stores are stocking things for the tourist and are too expensive for me. Used to take 15 minutes from my house to Main St., now it's 30 in the winter, And, don't get me started about Sundance Film Festival... The Summer season is getting just as crowded lately. We used to be "smog-free" up here in the winter (the inversion layer that occurs), but now it's here. Parking - non-existent unless you want to pay $20-$30 an hour. Sucks if you are an employee and have to try to park somewhere and you only get paid maybe $15/hr. I'll walk 1/2 mile to the bus stop to get the electric bus into town if I'm going just around Main St., but I have to drive to my lodge for work as there is no transportation up that high on the mountain. I save up chores and appointments so I only have to drive down to the city once a month. I do what I can.

It's not just the climate. The average idiot may think the environment is just climate. Social environment is just as important. Try living in a place that gets overrun by tourists and your local stores are replaced by Diamonds International and other tourist-oriented chains. Have to drive a good distance to get your groceries because your bodega is now a Chanel store. As for ship size, why would only gigantic ships with "greener" fuel be built? Why not smaller ones, too? Why would you have to have a bunch of small ships to replace one gigantic ship? That would have the same adverse effect on the port PLUS where would you dock them all? OO

You beat me to it! The Fearless Flyer was indeed underwhelming. The Rosemary nuts in a can is good, but not much else called to me. I'll be down in the Valley next week to see my endocrinology NP so I'll probably make a drive-by anyway, I can always appreciate a salad or two! I looked at my usual spots for those hoodie sweaters but didn't find anything but unembellished. Unfortunately, a few things in Free People called to the hippie in me and I have to do my best to avoid them!!! Maybe leave a small space in your luggage just in case you run into a hoodie that calls to you!! I think it'll be fun do be able to go down into the cat sanctuary and wander around the ruins now. For me, it would be a 2-fer: see the ruins and pet some cats (and take photos of them) 😸 Speaking of cats and trying to herd them: I'm afraid to ask my girlfriends what we're going to do in Palm Springs. I'm going to just sit back and take NO ownership of where to go and what to eat. I'm over that after I got no good things when I researched and recommended (thank awhfy) for food in Colorado Springs. I have places from my friend who lives part time in PS but not going to say them unless I'm asked. I would love to find a place that is "NO substitutions" and watch some of them squirm. I think there's only 2 of us who can order right off the menu...