Tag: aging gracefully

Daily Food Diary – Day 38 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Thirty-eight days in and this isn’t shaping up to be a good one.   A few years ago this would have been one of those days that put me over the edge – or at least kept me clinging to it for  dear life.

There is nothing drastically wrong in my life today.  It is just one of those days where every little thing goes wrong.  

I woke up to a balmy minus 40C  (feels like). In reality it was  only minus 30C.   I made sausage and egg breakfast sandwiches and Dan’s sausage decided not to cook.  My computer was glitching, also my phone.   My phone worked, it just refused to make calls.  Since Dan was going to drive our Maddy to work,  I needed to call her to make sure she was ready.   Dan took the garbage out when he left.   I got into a  battle with the new  garbage bag.  I wanted to put  it in the garbage can and  it did not want to go.    Ultimately, I prevailed, but things got ugly.  Meanwhile, Molly dog was on a tear while I was trying to do a video for my accountability group.  Again, I prevailed but not before I accidentally deleted my video.  Finally,  I managed to complete my aerobics without incident but I have been experiencing coughing and  sneezing fits ever since.  Sigh…

It could be a long day.  I might even make a few poor food choices. 🙄 But this will be a good day to mark on my diary, because I know that tomorrow is another day – and it will be better!   Looking back through this year, there will be more days like today – and more better days that follow.   And this Daily Food Diary will be the solid proof I need  to remind myself that such is life.

Daily Diary – Day 38

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) tea biscuits with butter (234)

(3) slices thin sliced bacon (270)

(24) oz water

(4) air-dried chicken wing flats (320)

(1) egg roll with plum sauce (100)

(1) c tea (1)

(2) chocolates  (130)

(12) oz carbonated water

(3) c chilli with cheese & fried dried onions           (640)

(25) Salt & vinegar chips (270)

(1) c tea (1)

Total calories:  1968

(I knew that one was going to be ugly! 🙄)

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💓☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 10 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

Good Saturday morning, because paying attention to what I eat is a seven day a week exercise.   ☺️

As always, today’s food diary entry is  for yesterday – Friday January 10th.  Friday used to be the worst day of the week for my diet.  That was my food reward day for making it to the end of the work week.   Donut breakfast, fast food lunch (KFC was my favourite), happy hour after work and date night supper out  when Dan was off (some unhealthy prepackaged meal when he wasn’t).   I am surprised I survived as long as I did with all of that salt, sugar, and yeast. 

My diet is still far from perfect, but I am becoming more aware of what I eat and  I am making some improvements – specifically snacking less, especially in the evening.  It’s not that I don’t want to snack all evening.  I just get cringy thinking about writing it all down and posting it for everyone to see. 🙄

Hopefully by the end of this  year,  those evening snack cravings will be long gone.

Food Diary – Day 10

(1) c coffee

(1) large Baking Powder biscuit Denver sandwich

(3) 8 oz  glasses of water

(1) small Bowl BBQ potato chips

(2) c leftover spaghetti with meat sauce and shredded cheese

(2) c raw vegetables – broccoli, red pepper, cucumber, and radishes with Dilly Dip

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) c tea

That’s it for today.  Dan is gone to drive his girl Maddy to work and time for me to get my morning aerobics done while he is gone.

Genie, Rory, Grandma/Me, Maddy
Maddy now – those (almost 15) years went by way to fast!

Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Morning sunshine to break through our cloudy skies and another foot of fresh snow.

Daily Food Diary – Day 5 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Good morning!  Five days down and only three hundred and sixty to go!

When I decided to do this 365 day Food Diary, my first concern was to make it as ‘doable’ as possible.   

Choosing the best time of day was my biggest challenge.  Retirement is an ongoing battle between getting things done and  keeping my schedule flexible enough that I FEEL retired.   I have found a pretty solid spot, between my morning coffee and newspaper and doing my morning workout.   So far so good! 👍

My second challenge was tracking what I consumed throughout the day, so my diary would be as accurate as possible. 

It’s not pretty,  but it is convenient.  And we have an endless supply of such notepads around here. (And pens!)

Day Five of Daily Food Diary…

(1) c coffee

(2) potato patties

(1/2) tomato

(4 1/2) slices thin sliced bacon

(2) eggs

(1) c tea

(2) chocolates

(1) Burger King Single Whopper without bun or cheese

(1) Order medium onion rings w/ gravy

(12) oz water

Sunday brunch 💞

Burger King was not part of the plan yesterday.  After spending over three hours at Emergency, due to a hernia issue that refused to resolve itself, I just wasn’t excited about making supper at 9:30 pm.  This morning,  Dan said he had no idea what I was capable of, if I was willing to sit in an emergency room for three hours just to score Burger King.  Have to keep him guessing!  😂

Take care and have a great day! 🌞💞

February 2nd Update – 10 Things Anyone Under 40 Should Never Do

by annemariedemyen, posted in Updates - February 2022

For the second day of February, I am looking back at a blog that I posted while I was still gainfully employed and before I allowed my hair to turn a natural shade of grey. Then as now, I was aware of ageism in our society.

I stand behind everything that I noted in my original post but I do have a couple of things to add.

Number 1 – While I still take exception to much of how aging is portrayed via the youthful  ‘internet experts‘,  this agism thing has become personal for me in the past two years.   I  am regularly treated with less  respect and consideration than I had come to expect from family,  strangers, and acquaintances.   My age has become a determining factor in my worthiness. FYI – I refuse to accept that or buy into it at any age.

Number 2 –  I have one more rule to add.   Regardless of your age, do not compare yourself to anyone who is years or decades your senior.  We may not have your youthful beauty, or stamina, quick wit or nimble fingers – but we do have  qualities that you will not recognize or understand until you become one of us. 

https://seclusion101withannemarie.com/2019/09/26/10-things-anyone-under-40-should-never-do/

Aging gracefully and gratefully for all of my life’s experiences
My father-in-law… living out his final years cherishing the memories of a life well lived, the family and friends he loved, and the community he supported.
My mother living her final years in a nursing home – Mothering, grand-mothering, and great-grandmothering. Regardless of parenting fads and fashions through the generations, it always came down to common sense and caring.
My Dad – 83 years old, living with cancer and dying with dignity. Still kind, still strong, still aware and interested in everything happening in his family and his community.

That’s it for today. For those of all ages – take care and have a great day!

July 30th – Nap Magic

by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

Today, I reached the epitome of retirement. I had an afternoon nap! That is about as decadent and retired as it gets. 😊

Over the years, I have taken the occasional nap but it is generally the result of life threatening illness or a bit of meditation that went sideways. This was an honest to goodness, deliberate nap because I had a lousy night’s sleep. I typically sleep like a rock, but on the rare occasion that I do have a bad night, it is nothing to nap over. I am just happy knowing I do not have to drag my exhausted self to work the next day. 🤗

Yet, here I am – napped out. Now what? I just hope I can still sleep tonight. Otherwise this could be the beginning of a long and slippery slope ending in regular afternoon naps. 😴

This could ultimately be retirement with Dan and Kat one day. 🙄

Wishing everyone a great rest of the day and a magical long weekend if you are celebrating this weekend. Here, apparently it is Saskatchewan Day. 🎊

Take care and I hope to see you tomorrow. 💞

July 26 – Older, Wiser, Better 😁

by annemariedemyen, posted in Magical Moments - July 2021

So we have come to this.  I am officially over sixty-five. 

My sister Elaine makes the cutest cards for family! I have saved every one she has sent us. I might have to frame this elephant one! 💞

After working five brutal shifts, and the last three shifts being night shifts, Dan slept for three hours this morning and then came with me to do the weekly shopping. Tonight he is taking me out for a nice supper – I got to choose and since we had Arby’s last week, I chose The Keg. I love their prime rib and horseradish sauce. It is to die for! 🤗

Dan did have an extra special supper planned for us, but once again his romantic gesture was foiled. At least I wasn’t the one that foiled him this time. 😌

When we first started dating, we worked at the same company. One morning Dan snuck into my office and left a sweet note for me. He crumpled it up, so no one else would read it, and set it on my chair. I didn’t read it either. I tossed it in the wastebasket and cursed my boss for leaving his trash on my chair. 🙄

The next time Dan tried to romance me, he set a Hershey Kiss on the seat of his Jeep when he came to pick me up. I hopped right in – and sat on it. 🙄 At least he used chocolate that was wrapped in foil. That could have been really embarrassing. 🥺

Then Dan took me out for my birthday. After a lovely meal at Golf’s, several staff members burst out of the kitchen carrying a sparkler topped birthday cake and singing Happy Birthday! 🎂 I heard it was really nice. I was in the washroom. Our waiter did bring the little cake back, and it was delicious, as everything is at Golf’s. I think he even sang but I am fairly certain he sang alone. 🎶

Finally, the next year for my birthday Dan took me to Neo Japonica. Everything was magical and when the waitress brought me a saki martini, I was cautious (or lucky) enough that I did not toss it back and swallow my sparkling new engagement ring. 💞

This year, twenty-three years later, Dan decided that we should relive his triumph. He asked me if I remembered the name and address of the restaurant. It took me a couple of minutes but I did remember the name and I quickly Googled the address. Sadly Neo Japonica is no more. The unique building is still there – with the same verandah where we were seated that memorable night. Unfortunately, the ambiance of the Chuckwagon Hotdog and Ice Cream shop with the bright red shiny paint job just wouldn’t be the same. 😳

So, tonight we are off to a lovely supper at The Keg to celebrate my birthday and the anniversary of our engagement.

You are my greatest adventure too, Dear! 💞💞💞

Dan always buys me the sweetest card. 💞

Wishing all a magical happy day today! See you tomorrow! 💞

* Notice how I used the word ambiance two days in a row. It is not a word that I generally use that often. 🤔