Finally Friday

I had a UPS email later yesterday that said I was getting a package/envelope from my work delivered Friday. I was kinda excited and thought oh, boss must have shipped my bonus checks overnight. But when I logged into my UPS this morning, it showed that the package label was created but it hasn't been picked up from the office yet, so it won't be here today, LOL. 

Not the best picture, but outside with all the trees covered in snow and the sun just popping up over the mountains behind us, the outside looks like a black and white picture with the tips of the mountains across the other side just showing a bit of sunshine on them. 

I watched a good Christmas movie on Netflix last night called "A Boy Called Christmas" based on the book by Matt Haig. I have read several of his books, but somehow missed this one. It was a good Christmas movie. 

I try to read things on brain health and dementia. Sometimes it's just articles I come across. The other day it was a TED talk, which led me to one of the books by Daniel Amen, MD. He's been doing brain imaging for years, showing what a healthy brain looks like compared to not healthy brains. The good news is, according to his years of working on this, some of it can be reversed and of course the major way to do that is to stop eating the "Standard American Diet" (SAD). Again, sugar is such a huge villian in our health and especially brain health. It looks like he's written several books, but I'm currently reading "The Brain Warrior's Way". The takeaway, so far, is there is a lot we can do to lessen the chances/delay dementia by taking care of our brains. I also went to his website and did a test they have to help determine what "type" of brain I have. I apparently have a type 1 brain, which from the results they sent back, is a good sign, at least. 

I have cookies to make this weekend. At a minimum I'm making the Rosette's. I may attempt sugar cookies (I skipped them last year). They are such a pain for me to make and while they taste super yummy they are always a total disappointment in that they flatten out and do not hold the cookie cutter shape. My mom used to make them perfectly. 

Mrs Neighbor brought over a plate of goodies she made yesterday. Quite the variety, like 4 or 5 different things. I said oh, you were busy! More time now that you are retired, LOL. I tried a few of the things, thinking to myself I've been doing so good cutting down on chocolate and sweets....oh well, back at it next month...haha. But, honestly the 3 little things I tried I didn't really like....don't know if it's my taste buds changing or what, but I later looked at the plate of goodies and thought well, good, now I won't eat all of it! Dh is more picky with homemade sweets - he really only like peanut M&Ms, a few cookies and a little bit of chocolates. If someone brings over a plate of homemade goodies, he usually won't try them..which means I usually end up eating it all! I might put it all in a covered plastic container and put it in the fridge until dd and sil are here and see if they want to eat any of it. Or I may send it back with my mom when we return her the day after Christmas, if the goodies are still good to eat by then. They may not be....neighbor said she made them last week when their grandkids were still here.....

Aside from a diet change, I still need to drink more water! Even though I'm trying to drink more water every day, I'm still only drinking about half what I should be. and exercise....and learn NEW things. It's not enough to do crosswords and brain puzzles, your brain already knows how. We need to learn new things. 

Mom continues her journey. The last 2 nights, sleeping in her recliner again. Wednesday evening C put her nightgown out for her on her bed. She never put it on, slept in her clothes in her recliner until she got up at 5:30am and went into her bedroom and got half undressed and went to bed. Last night K was on duty (usually she is Sat-Tues) and she got mom in her nightgown before she left at 6:30. But again, mom slept in her chair until 6am this morning and then got up and went into her bed. I'll just be glad when she is living in memory care and there are staff there that can guide her through the evening.

A new thing I'm noticing her doing is she'll be sitting/resting in her recliner during the day and evening and constantly getting up to look out her door. I think what is going on is because her apartment is right next to the elevator she is hearing the comings and goings and is thinking someone is at her door, is my guess. Since I found her tv remote when I was there Sunday, she has at least been watching a little tv the last few evenings. I just think, sadly, she turns it on, but none of it really makes sense to her anymore.

Well, the weather forecast for next Friday, when dd/sil are driving over sure has changed from what it showed a few days ago! A few days ago it was going to be a low of -25. Now it's going to be a low of 29 and a high of 40! Good grief. That's almost a 60 degree difference!