The holiday season is coming in fits and starts. Hubby and I have been preoccupied the past couple weeks with some worrisome business stuff, which has delayed any preparations. By the end of Tuesday all the stress should be over and we can get on with it. Hubby is talking about getting out of Dodge and going somewhere warm and sunny for a few days. Sounds good to me.

I’ve been holding my own in the eating area. When we go out to restaurants I choose neutral or beneficial proteins. I only eat a small bit of whatever yummy wheat product they dream up to tempt me. And I’m always satisfied with just a taste of someone else’s dessert. A new Italian restaurant opened up in town last week. They served a spelt and porcini mushroom soup that was to die for! I can’t wait to go back and have just that for lunch someday. Yesterday we were invited to a holiday open house. I made sure that I ate lunch at home before we left. The food spread at the open house was unbelievable. Mountains of gorgeous goodies and treats. I didn’t touch a one. I really was almost disappointed that I had no appetite and didn’t get to taste anything forbidden! We had lamb curry for dinner last night. It’s one of my top two favorite beneficial meals. I’m afraid I overate in the portion department. I will assume it is better to occasionally overeat beneficial foods than moderately eat avoids – until I hear differently.

Daughter has been transitioning out of the home. She is transferring to a school in the big city. It will be good for her to get out of a house where she feels like she is treated like a kid half the time. It will be good for us, too. It’s not a big break….she drives down a couple times a week to visit and take more of her stuff out. She brings her kitty to visit, too. I miss the kitty.

The barbershop chorus has been doing a lot of sing-outs the past few weeks. We’ve sung at several nursing homes, a community concert and a military party. This week we are singing at a casino. It’s been fun to dress up and entertain folks. It has helped to take my mind away from the daily stresses and put me in momentary Christmas spirits.

I have an appointment with an orthopedist in a couple weeks to get some medical advice about my bum shoulder. It’s been pretty annoying the past couple months. My physical therapist is stymied and wants some x-rays or MRI done. She suspects there is more disc degeneration between C7 and T1, where the first diagnosis several years ago was degeneration between C4 and C5. It must be an age thing. I’m not thrilled by the prospects.

I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. Eat well. Rest often. Enjoy life.