Last week in my TGIF post, I couldn’t think of a single low point and I was really happy about that! Of course, the Universe decided I was feeling a bit too comfortable so it decided to throw some curveballs my way. I’m going to start this post going through all of the different low points of my week, and then I’ll bring us back up with some good things!
The Lows
1) Over the weekend, I had a really bad reaction to the new medication I’m taking for depression. I didn’t realize I shouldn’t take it on an empty stomach! But I did, both on Saturday and Sunday, and experienced terrible heartburn or acid reflux. I’m not really sure what was happening in my esophagus, but it was awful. Ever since, I’ve been waiting to take it after I’ve eaten and let the food settle, and I’ve been fine. Lesson learned!
2) I’ve been dealing with a weird joint pain issue. I’ve had this pain before, but it usually goes away quickly and then doesn’t come back for many weeks. This week, it’s stuck around for a few days and doesn’t seem to be getting better. It’s the joint in that first crease on my pointer finger near my fingernail, and I don’t know if I’m dealing with a trigger finger issue, some sort of tendon strain, or something more serious (that I don’t want to even contemplate because it makes me panicky). The problem is, I use my damn pointer finger for so many things! Tapping on my phone, clicking my mouse, typing, tying my shoes, opening jars, locking my door… it’s making everyday life very difficult. (I’ve been trying to switch to using my middle finger and ring finger when using my mouse, when I usually use my pointer finger and middle finger, and it feels very awkward.) So far, I’ve been trying to do heat + ice therapy and taking ibuprofen when my finger starts aching. I may need to go back to my ortho to figure out what’s going on (and I still haven’t scheduled that damn carpal tunnel surgery, so I’m going to feel like a student who forgot to do their homework, lol.)
3) I think I need to change my bed situation. I have always loved sleeping with numerous pillows (seriously – I have SIX on my bed for ONE PERSON), but for the past week, I’ve woken up with neck pain and it’s likely due to my head being tilted at a weird angle thanks to all of my pillows. (I only sleep with three of them under my head, but that’s still too many pillows.) What I probably need to do is invest in some really good pillows that are more supportive, but ugh, the expense! For now, I’m going to try to transition to sleeping with just two pillows and eventually one pillow. Plenty of people only sleep with one pillow! I can do this! (Maybe.)
4) Lila sometimes gets matted fur, which always makes me feel like the worst cat mom. She is typically very good at grooming herself, but homegirl is a little… erm… fluffy… and certain parts of her body are hard for her to reach. She hates being brushed, even though I keep trying to get her used to it. Usually, I can get in about 15-20 seconds of brushing when she’s sitting on my desk before she runs away, and I was doing that this week when I noticed a really tough part of her fur. And it was a little section of matted fur that I needed to snip out. Of course, do you think it’s easy to get this girl to sit still so I can use scissors to cut her fur? Absolutely not. I was finally able to do it when she was snoozing in one of the caves on her cat tower because she physically couldn’t move. Muahahaha! I would love to take her somewhere maybe once a quarter to have them really brush her good to avoid these issues, but if you think it’s hard to get her to sit still and be brushed, imagine what she’s like when I bring out the cat carrier.
5) And I’ve saved the worst news for last: I found out on Wednesday evening that my favorite HIIT instructor has been let go. I don’t know the details surrounding his departure, but it came as a shock to all of us and I’m really, really upset about it. He is the reason I have been going to HIIT for almost 18 months now and his classes are the best. And that’s because he’s not just a group fitness instructor. He really and truly cares about his people and takes the time to get to know them. He knows when to push me and when to let me do the modification. He knows our limitations and when we’re ready for the next step. I am where I am today in my fitness journey because of him, and I am just hoping this was all a big misunderstanding and he can come back. Otherwise, I will be following him to wherever he goes next!
The Highs
1) Yesterday, my mom and I got a great email from our travel advisor! Thanks to her connections, she was able to get us into an upgraded room at our hotel and secure an early check-in of 10am. Since we arrive in London right around 8:30am, that’s perfect timing for us (it’ll take at least an hour to get from the airport to our hotel). It means we can settle into our room right away, which is much appreciated!
2) Fall is coming! YESSSS. Okay, we won’t get any of the delicious fall weather, but it’s almost time for fall drinks at Starbucks, football, and to get all of my autumnal decorations out of storage. I’m also excited to experience some fall-like weather while we’re in London. It’ll be nice to be able to wear long pants and maybe even a long-sleeved tee or jacket! Those clothes don’t see the light of day until late November here in Florida.
3) I’m having a lot of fun with my decluttering project. It’s nice that I made it so easy for myself, as it only takes a few minutes each week to go through a box or a bin or a cabinet and figure out what I should donate or throw out, and how to reorganize what is left. So far, I have decluttered my shoe basket and a bin that holds extra purses/wallets/bags. Next on my list is one of my kitchen cabinets that has been looking extra cluttered recently.
4) After some spicy opinions of my last few reads, I’m happy to report that things have definitely gotten a lot better. I will have three great reviews for you next week and the books I’m reading now (Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez and Heartwood by Amity Gaige) have been excellent. Let’s hope this trend continues!
5) I’m really excited for this weekend! Today, I have a facial scheduled. Tomorrow is a writing date with Mikaela, a pedicure, and my family’s fantasy football draft. And on Sunday, I’m taking my mom to afternoon tea. This was her Mother’s Day gift from me, and I can’t wait!
What were the highs and lows of your week?
Yes- FALL IS COMING. Like you said- we won’t get the fall weather, but we can pretend. I’m looking forward to the annual Girl Next Door Fall Extravaganza episode!!! Plus pumpkins, football etc.
Sorry about all those lows! It sounds like some of them are easily fixed- fewer pillows, and you figured out how to take that medication (ugh- that sounded horrible). The finger thing… it could be trigger finger? I’ve had trigger finger in both thumbs (trigger thumb?) although not at the same time, luckily. Both times it resolved on its own, but it took a long time. Was the HIIT instructor fired? Are you sure he didn’t quit? Either way, that sucks. I know that feeling of losing a beloved teacher.
Your weekend sounds fun! I’ll be watching college football and hopefully the Dolphins preseason game.
I think it might be trigger finger? I honestly don’t know. I thought it was getting better but today it’s been very painful, ugh. I just need to schedule an appointment with my ortho to figure out what’s going on but I thought I was DONE with medical appointments for a good long while!
My HIIT instructor was fired. All I know is that he had received several complaints, but I don’t know the nature of the complaints. It’s just a sucky situation all around.
Ugh I can really sympathize with your trigger finger issues. I hope you get to the bottom of it. That is the joint I have had so many issues with. And then I could not use it for about 10 weeks. I got good at mousing with my left hand, though. But it’s a highly used digit so having issues with it really really really sucks.
The high of my week has been being at my parents! It’s so great being up here. We don’t leave their house much. I love the slower pace. The low of my week is that I seem to be getting a cold sore on my lip. Sigh. I have rarely had them. I am thinking it’s from sun exposure or something.
I love that you have this lake house to escape to with the kids when you need a reset! It must be such a different pace of life than what you’re used to. <3
Oh nooooo I am so sorry about your HIIT instructor!!! I mean, I’m sorry about all your lows but that one is really sticking with me. When I taught yoga I knew all my students’ names and backstories and limitations and I was SO attached to them all. I know when I left one of the studios (because I just couldn’t take the owner anymore, he was really difficult to work for, plus it was a 45 minute commute in rush hour) I was swamped with emails and texts. It made me feel great that people would miss me, but also kind of terrible for leaving. So I’m sure the instructor is very sad that he has left you and hopefully you can find out where he will be next – or I hope the next instructor is similarly great with people!
To this day I stay in touch with my senior ladies that I taught – they were such a lovely group!
I am so very bummed. He was such a great instructor and really knew how to push me in ways other instructors don’t. I hope he’s able to come back at some point, or I can follow him to where he goes next!
I love that you had such a close relationship with your yoga students! That’s so special. <3
cat and matted fur! Okay – we took our 5 year old to get her hair cut this week. I think since birth, she’s only had it cut one other time, and I did that in the bathroom. This time we took her to the lady that does the Husband’s hair. And she asked us how short to cut it, and we said a couple of inches. And she starts brushing it and hits a huge tangled snag. And she says, how about I cut it off from here?
I think my high this week has been running with my kids. I don’t think I’ll ever like running, but running alongside my kids while they bike and scooter has been fun. My low has been the great instability at work as a whole department was disbanded. I think work and life under the current administration will be my low for a long long time to come.
Gah, I remember how tangled my hair would get when I was a kid. How did I live like that?! lol. I can barely stand any knots in my hair now. But kids just don’t care!
I really wish Lila was better about letting me brush her – she has SO much hair and needs a good brushing at least once a day. Argh.
Your weekend sounds amazing.
I would most definitely bring more than a long sleeve T to London in October. Rain, wind and no sun can fee so cold.
My weekend will be a 2 hour long walk workout in the woods (which I am somewhat procrastinating by reading blogs) and after that lots of reading and couch snuggles withe the husband and movies. Also I think I’ll hop into the bathtub tonight.
Oh, don’t worry! I will be packing a FULL winter wardrobe for London. I’m from Florida! I have extremely low tolerance for cold weather, haha. Anything under 70 degrees feels cold to me!
I’ve never had a facial, but it sounds divine!
Sorting out med stuff is so frustrating and it can take forever to get the right timing/dose. Glad you figured out food really helped.
The high of my week was the time at my parents. It was a lot of fun at the lake and I felt like I did good parenting work, getting involved and having fun.
I can’t think of any big low this week, but I am dreading the transition of getting back to school. I’m craving routine, but also know that it takes a while for everyone to get used to getting up early, sorting out school kinks etc. So I am dreading that and forsee that MIGHT be a low in the near future. Hopefully not, though!
You felt like you did good parenting work! That’s an AMAZING high. Way to go, you!
That school transition must be so rough! My younger nephew really struggles but that’s because he sleeps SO LATE during the summer so getting up at a normal time for school is rough for him. I hope the transition is smoother than you imagine!
Sorry to read about your instructor leaving, a great instructor makes all the difference to a class. I’ve had joint pain in my thumb which has magically gone away after my sister recommended daily turmeric shots. She fixed the pain in her knees and within a week my thumb joint felt fine and I no longer needed a splint. I’m in the UK so can’t recommend the shot (drink) I take, but it’s from my local supermarket
I take a daily tumeric pill, but maybe a shot would be more potent for me. I’m going to look into this – thank you!
Oh, I’ve really been enjoying decluttering. And my house is MUCH more cluttered than yours. I’m almost 2 months in to my 6 month project, so I still have a lot to go. Though I guess if I get to a point where I have nothing at all that I want to part with, I will be happy about that as well.
I’m so sorry about your HIIT instructor, I hope you can find where he went, and that it will be convenient. Oh what the hell, let’s make it less expensive too!
There is something so refreshing about a good decluttering journey! I love getting rid of things, lol.
YES – let’s make his new gym more convenient and less expensive. I like the way you think!
Oh no, that is a bummer about your HIIT instructor! That is almost as bad as having your good friend from work get another job; like you are used to them and you see them every week and it is just not the same without them! I hope you can follow him wherever he goes!
It is exactly like that! He was truly one of my favorite instructors and took so much time and care with me. It’s really sad that this happened to him. 🙁
Pillows. Homegoods. $19.99 for 2 reasonably decent ones. Just upgraded because my parents were appalled at how awful they were when they helped me move (the first time).
Also, your pharmacist should have told you about taking it with food. Gah. Sorry. I hope it’s still going okay with the modifications you’ve made.
To be fair, the medication had to be specially ordered from an out-of-state pharmacy and there were instructions included with the medication that I chose not to read. So probably more my fault than anyone else’s!
Geesh! I am late reading this and so I hope your joint pain has gotten better! Steven hurt his finger a while ago and it just won’t heal for all those reasons you listed—you use it for so much!
I am glad you were able to help Lila with her fur!
Oh no! Any news on the HIIT instructor? I hope it was a misunderstanding 🙁
We have had a glimpse of fall weather here this week and it’s been lovely. I am glad you get to experience it in London!
YES. Decluttering feels SO good!
The joint pain continues to be a problem. 🙁 I thought it was getting better but this weekend started getting worse. So I just need to make an appointment with an ortho to get it checked out. Hoping they can give me a steroid shot and that will take care of it!
No news on the HIIT instructor. I’m still so upset about it, and I hate that this happened to him!
Chicago is one of the cities I keep on my weather lists because I just like to see what your weather is like from time to time when I’m dying here in Florida… and I was very jealous to see it was in the 60s one day! GAH. I WISH.
I wish it was better and hope the appt helps!!!!
I am so upset about it for you!!!!
I am so sorry you’re dealing with more medical stuff. So frustrating to get this all figured out, but it’s good to get on top of things! Fingers crossed for you.
I can imagine how bummed you are that your HIIT instructor has been let go. Are they downsizing? Did he leave voluntarily (it doesn’t sound like it)?
I hope the highs made up for some of the lows.
No, unfortunately, he was fired due to complaints from other members. I am not sure what happened because he’s always been one of my favorite instructors and he’s always so positive and encouraging. I don’t get it at all.