In Which I Do Some Digital Housekeeping

I cannot stop cracking up about the picture for this blog post. Who vacuums with rubber gloves on? I can just imagine they set up this shot and decided, "hmm, no, she doesn't look enough like a housekeeper. Better put some gloves on her." Also, if you squint the glove makes her left arm look like a noodle. No offense to the model, I'm sure they're lovely and have a perfectly ordinary forearm.

Getting back to the title, as part of operation "get-Devin-physically-and-mentally-well," I updated my profile pictures on social media for the first time in four years or so. Being honest, I was embarrassed with the extra sixty to seventy pounds I'd put on. I'm still embarrassed about it. This is where friends and family tell me about how it's not my fault, how it's because of the issues with depression and anxiety I was dealing with. At the end of the day I'm heavier than I was and it wasn't the obesity fairy adding pounds by sneaking me donuts at night. I am where I am, but that doesn't mean I can't get from 244 down to 190. And I will.

On a related note, if you have someone telling you about issues going on in their life, don't make excuses for them. Don't respond with "The Solution." Think about why they're coming to you. Are you a counselor? An authority figure? A doctor? If you're one of those things, then please ignore this rant and provide the advice you're qualified to give. Thank you for your expertise, millions of people live more enriched lives because of the knowledge you've acquired. If you're not one of those things, then they are coming to you and telling you these things because you are their friend. Friends are there to tell you everything is going to be okay. Friends make sure they always have your back. Friends get you in contact with the counselor, or they drive you to them. It is so hard to find someone willing to listen, acknowledge how crappy things are, promise things will be better, ask for and find ways to assist, and then stop there. Phew. Okay, end of rant.

I walked farther today than I believe I have in months, so hooray for that. I got to chat with my sister along the way, which was lovely. I was going to stop at the park and read for a bit, but by the time I reached that part of the walk it was getting dark and I wanted to avoid driving the moped home in the dark. It has lights, but you have to worry about other drivers, and the median age in my neighborhood is probably in the 50's. Tomorrow I'm either going to walk with weights or speed-walk; I haven't decided which yet.

I can now do ten push-ups in one go, and I added leg-ups (is that what they're called? I haven't the foggiest) to the ab routine. Weights went up from eight pound weights to ten pound weights, with the exception of shoulders, which stayed at eight pounds. I'll have to see about installing a pull-up on the porch. I don't like those doorway pull-up bars you can buy off storefronts, they tend to damage the door frame. I'm thinking I can get a rod, some chains, and some anchors and hang it from the support beams of the upper porch. That would give me a good pull-up bar to use on the lower porch without being in the way.

I'm bushed, so I'm going to call it here, but thanks for reading! This adventure has already improved my mood and outlook substantially. For real though, it's time to catch up with amigos and then snooze. I slept for ten hours last night. Crazy!