heat+noom+recovery=lazy

 We are on day three of a heat wave. My house was 86 degrees at 6:30 am. Can't wait for three o'clock.

Sunday I really didn't exercise. It was a beautiful day and I walked with Pat. Then my friend took me to the laundromat to help do my laundry. Bo lifting more than 5 pounds is a pain in the tush. I think that I am well enough now that I can do the laundry at home. I can move the laundry in small batches and go up and down the stairs. Will try tomorrow with sheets. if nothing else, I'll make my stair counts.

Also Sunday I went to brunch at Pam's house and met with her father-in-law about a book project. It was nice to be around people. But I realized I have no social skills.

Monday I walked with Pat and did a simple round the big block walk.  I can't remember what Angel posted on FB but her friend Fausta commented and mentioned she was doing Noom. I asked for an introduction. By Monday night Fausta, a life coach, and I had messaged for at least a half hour. Maybe more. She's only about a week into it so it was hard to compare our experience. My weight loss total remains at 0. I am still going up and down in the same five pounds. Being a life coach she will have a much easier time with all the ancient/eastern/new age mindfulness elements of the program. Today I received a message that she's over her start weight. Looks like we might be fighting the same battle. We're about the same age, so maybe that has something to do with it?

Tuesday morning I had a Dexa Scan. It checks for osteoporosis. The text alert came later in the evening. I can't rad these things but apparently my hips and spine at withing the normal range and my neck is slightly below normal. My guess is nothing will change. This getting healthy stuff isn't quite as scary as first thought. However, it is expensive.

The lab was right across the street from a super Walmart. It was 88 degrees at 8 am. I decided I'd exercise at Walmart. Bonus: No temptations. I parked far from the door to get even more steps in. That place is huge. I did the outside perimeter twice.  It wassn't a straight shot. They had occasional walls that divided departments. Sadly they had a really nice craft/fabric department. I was wrong, there was temptations at Walmart. I walked with Pat when we got home.

My house is a pig sty. And that's insulting the pigs. I vacuumed the living room once. I'll do that again tomorrow. I don't think the dishes have been done since Saturday. I was hoping the roomie was going to do them. She yelled at me when I did them Saturday.

The outside is all overgrown and the lawn boy hasn't come yet. The new ETA is Thursday. If he doesn't show I'm doing it myself. It might take all day. One section at a time. Last night I sat on the curb and trimmed back the sucker shoots on the tree. It looks so much better.

Today we went to Target to walk and pick up my RX. But we ended up not walking. Pat had the johnny quick steps. She went twice before we left, and was in Target's bathroom so long I thought she fell in. We came home. Thankfully I have errands to do for Sharon before she comes home tomorrow. There will be lots of stores to walk in. I'm not risking walking outside. There's no place to cool off.

The sidewalk next to my house was overgrown and weedy. I usually do it well in spring, and then again in early summer. After which I pour vinegar in the cracks instead of Roundup. It was rainy before my surgery and I didn't get it done. The sidewalk looked like the house was abandoned. I can't physically squat but today I went out and bent over and pulled the weeds. Leaving the trail of green behind me. I'll need to get a rake and clean it up and someone to lift the bag. I also need to get something to pour on the poison ivy. I guess the stray cats are dragging that around. For years it was at one spot. Now it's in the sidewalks.

I probably did too much. I was hurting when I came in. I'll take it easy this afternoon. After dinner I'm going to see if the weed whacker is heavier than 5 pounds. I think I should be okay. Not so sure about the 100 foot cord. If I whack, then the lawn will not look so bad. Then if I borrow a hedge trimmer (mine was borrowed and never returned) the forsythia and Rose of Sharon can get a haircut. It might just look like a yard again. Not a pretty yard, but no longer the neighborhood eyesore.

soaked

 

 

Today it was still nice when I got up. I wanted to get out early for a wlk before the humidity rolled in. But I also wanted to go to the casino outlet mall to buy new Birks, and the Puerto Rician supermarket for a jicama. The walk would have to wait. The mall doesn't open until 9:30.

So I waited. I finally left and parked at Arts Quest. I decided that all the stairs on the trestle were not a good idea and I was not taking the elevator. So I followed the road to the casino and outlet mall. There are indications that phase 2 of the HMT might be on it's way. I'm excited.

My Birks were on sale for $99. Yee haw. I wished I had money for two pairs. I was down to my last pair and they were shot. The shoemaker said they were no longer fixable. Imagine, only getting ten years out of a pair of shoes.

I headed up the exit ramp from the casino to the Greenway and took the Greenway to Taylor. THen I went down to Third to go to the market. They had no jicama. They did have plenty of cactus. But I don't know how to make that. Actually I've never eaten jicama before either. I need the jicama for tomorrow. We were going to have a tasting party while doing laundry. I'll be so happy when I'm off restrictions. I have at least three more weeks to go.

I left empty handed and headed down Third. Is it raining?

I stopped at Starbucks and got an overpriced dragonfruit drink. The one's a Wawa are cheaper, and similar, but really, really, sweet. 

I left Starbucks, and it was raining. Not horribly, but I would get wet. I crossed the street and went thru NCC's parking lot and by that point it was pouring. There was also no cover as I crossed the NMIH patio and returned to the car.

Lydia and I are going to see Sharon at rehab this afternoon. I made an appointment. Then it's off to Allentown to the other Puerto Rician supermarket to find jicama.  Wednesday at Wegmans they had a spot for it but it was empty.

Miles/Steps:  2 miles. Maybe a bit more
Weather:       high 70s, sunny to start, downpour by end
PPE Found:   1 mask, 1 glove

dead bird in my grille

 

Wehr's Bridge, 1841

Today Pam, her adult child, and I walked at Covered Bridge Park in Whitehall. It's almost in their neighborhood. I looked at the map and it looked like the trail was on both sides of the creek.

Manasses Guth Covered Bridge, 1858

 

 

 

Pam asked which way to go. She said lets head this way and we can walk to the other bridge and back. What! I didn't realize was that there was two covered bridges in the park.

The first interesting thing, other than the second bridge, was this bridge crossing the creek. It's only pretty on this side of the creek. The style is very similar to the one at Trexler Nature Center. This bridge crossing has a lot of steps so it's not wheelchair or stroller friendly.

We followed the trail for awhile and then it ended  at a subdivision. We backtracked and went a different direction. That ended at a comfort station and athletic fields. We crossed the basketball courts and followed the lawn to the second bridge before turning around and coming back.

We crossed the parking lot and went thru the children's play area. There was this sculpted tree at the entrance. The mama owl and the baby were at the top along with a woodpecker. There was a racoon and her baby on the one side, and also a squirrel and tortoise. It was beautiful. It looks like the holes were in the tree, but maybe the sculptor created them.

We walked back to the lot. We had parked in the shade under a tree.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate dead things. I will walk blocks out of my way to avoid them. If they can't be avoid I run past them, kind-of screaming. So imagine my surprise when I returned home from walking and was emptying the car. Wow. I have a leaf in my grille. I walk over to it and did my dead animal scream/dance and ran into the house.

Now I always call someone to clean up dead things.The last was a squirrel. I decided I'd go back out and turbo wash it away at the car wash. It didn't work. So I drove to my nephews house, and he tried. But it turns out that he doesn't like things much more than I do. I finally called Bonnie and went to her house. She appeared wearing rubber gloves, and extracted the robin from my grille. Then carried it all the way around the house and put it, unbagged, in the trash. Gross. If I'd open the trash can I'd freak out.

Miles/Steps:  I forgot to look. My guess was about 3
Weather:       low 80s, sunny, not super humid.
Bathrooms:   Comfort station I-4.5 There was also a ton of port-o-potties around the park, and another comfort station being built.
$ found:        C found 30c
Wildlife:        Geese in the field

 

it's only eight blocks

 

My sister Sharon is still at St. Lukes. The hospital is so close to my house that we can hear the helicopters land on the roof. I thought she would be transferred to rehab today but it didn't happen. I've seen it before. The medical profession appears to grind to a halt during the weekends. 

Bonnie and I decided to walk up and visit her. Well, actually I decided and dragged Bonnie along. This was a shorter distance than yesterday, plus I had a break in the middle. Of course it was mostly uphill going there.

We headed out and crossed Itaska when I realized I didn't have a mask. Neither did Bonnie. Back home we went. She practically ran up the hill. I sauntered. She got home and back to Bastian as I arrived there.

We went up Bishopthorpe to Seneca and I had to stop. I suggested we go out Seneca and then up Fiot. We crossed Delaware and down St. Luke's Place.

After visiting Sharon, we went up Ostrum and came home Bishopthorpe 

I was sore when I returned home, but not like yesterday. And I didn't even have to take pain relievers.

Miles/Steps:  1.4 miles plus walk with Pat
Weather:       90, sunny

 Update on Sharon: It is Tuesday. She is finally going to rehab.  The rehab center called at 8 am Monday and had me bring clothes and paperwork. Sadly it took another full day. Health care in America is F'd up. 

maybe I overdid it.

Today Pam and I did our walk on the Greenway. It's flat and paved. I've been going just under 3/4 of a mile, I was hoping to make it a mile, maybe a mile and a quarter.

She picked me up and we parked at the Skate Park. Then headed west towards New Street. Now I know it's almost exactly mile between the two bridges. I planned to keep an eye out for a good spot to turn around. But I've been stuck in the house for a full week with only my sister for company. She doesn't speak unless spoken to. She answers questions and returns to her knitting. She is not a conversationalist.  Actually she really likes quiet so the tv is usually off till at least 5, except a half hour of news at noon. And don't even think about putting radio on.

Therefore having someone to talk too was quite the novelty and we're chatting away and I'm half hearty looking for a place to turn around and before you know it we are at New Street. Pam offered to walk back and get the car. I said no. I could do it.

We were coming up on Hayes and I said, the last patch of shade before the corner we need to stop for a minute. Again, she offered to get the car. We stopped one more time BUT I MADE IT. 

And came home and took Aleve. I've been off pain meds for two days except before bed.  It's 2 pm and I'm still hurting a bit. I didn't over do it, but I think I did push the limits of what I could do. Maybe tomorrow I'll drive to Cedar Beach or someplace flat and paved and do it again. I'm not ready for gravel.

When I got home I went online and ordered groceries for pickup tomorrow morning. If I have to carry them in the house one by one so be it. I'll get a good walk in! Actually, I'm going to set the pedometer, let's see how many steps it is to unload the car. And, as always, I forgot to order bread. Hopefully, after three weeks I'll be able to shop again. Online shopping is not my jam. And I should have hired a cleaning lady. This place is always dirty. It will be really dirty by July 8!

Miles/Steps:  2 miles plus walk with Pat
Weather:       high 70s, sunny

For anybody who reads this and knows my sister Sharon, she had her knee replaced this week. Surgery was more extensive than planned, so instead of going home she's off to rehab. Cue Amy Winehouse.

recovery walks

Anybody who reads this blogs knows that I neglect my health. I really don't trust doctors or the medical profession in general, and I mostly had no health insurance for over twenty years. Friday I had my long-awaited hysterectomy. Shockingly I was more scared for the D&C.

Everything apparently went well *knocks on wood* and I am in the recovery phase. Basically I can do nothing. I can't lift, bend, push, pull, reach. You get the idea. If they weren't clear enough, they added no laundry, house cleaning, yard work, eat. That leave little other than to sit on your butt. But not too much. They want you to keep moving. I borrowed a kindle power cord because I'm out of books. The pile for the little free library is getting huge.

My friend Angel has been my text-a-friend thru this whole thing. "I am going to nag you through your whole recovery". Bethy  and myself sister Barb  also keeping tabs on me. I am accountable. 

Here's a wrap up of the first few days.

Friday, surgery day. Did zip. Didn't even put on my Fitbit.

Saturday. I only took the OTC pain meds the way she prescribed. The opiates are still up in the bathroom. Finally, if someone breaks into my house there is something worth stealing. I walked up to the corner twice. The first time I stopped three times. The second time once and I bullshitted with neighbors. I also weighed myself I was two pounds heavier. I looked like I was well into a second trimester.

Sunday, My first walk was up the hill, left to Sassafrass (1/2 block), down the alley, back the alley and home. Basically I went around a half block. The next time, I went past Sassafrass and went to Foot, but still came back the alley. The third time was a repeat of number 1. Again, BS with the neighbors. Again, OTC pain med protocol. My belly was mostly down, but still hard. I gained another pound leaving me three pounds above my Noom start weight. Like a dog, all the walking was doing it's job. On more then one occasion I had to hustle, best I could, back to the house.

Monday. I got adventurous. First I walked to the top of the hill with my sister and home. Later I went up the hill, turned right, went down Thorpe alley to Itaska, and home. Since that went well, the second time I went to Christian Street that was pushing it. So the third time I went to Hellener. I felt it wen I came home. Again, OTC pain med protocol. And BSing with the neighbors. 

Tuesday, my sister and I went down the hill and on the flat part of Bastian. Again I went out three times. The first time to Hellener, and the last two to Clewell. It's been really nice and the neighbors are always out. Being with them is part of the walk. I cut the pain meds in half. Instead of three hours I went a generous six. 

Since it was four days post op and I hadn't taken any opiates, I tried driving. Getting in the car is hard. Out pretty easy. Bumps ouch. But there's really no point driving when you can't lift, bend, push, pull, reach when you get there. I drove to the farm and got some eggs. I got some veggies too. I put them in two bags. Walked the eggs to the car first and then the other bags. Gloria, who runs the market saw me outside.A teen was manning the register. We chit-chatted and she asked me what I was doing this summer and I said recovering from surgery. That's why I'm taking my stuff to the car in two loads. Knowing what she was thinking, I said. Don't you yell at her. She offered to carry my bags and I said no. When I returned for my second bag the teen was walking to meet me.

Today I walked to the top of the hill with my sister. She only stopped once. She's getting better but once it gets hot I fear she won't go.

I thought the vegetable truck is at the Art Establishment today so I waited till 9:50 to walk. I walked down the hill, crossed Broadway and went out Cherokee. Then I returned via Broadway to the Art Establishment to shop. And they weren't there. It's tomorrow. I'll try again. I can only buy a handful of things to meet my weight limit. I'm thinking strawberries, a cuke, and lettuce. Had to stop a few times on this walk, so I think I'll do the same walk again later. Almost back to my start weight.

Today is the first day I am am planning not to take pain relievers. We'll see.  

This module on Noom is just like the others but you get to be more creative. I respond much better to creativity than words. One day last week we had to do a "Wheel of Life"  and use it to find balance. I actually shared my graph with the group. I don't share shit. I might respond to people, but there's no way people are going to know my business. Someone named Clarrisa saw my chart and found an app to make hers. I started a creative trend. (okay, maybe not. But it's my blog and I'm sticking with it.)

Yesterday on Noom you had to imagine yourself as a super hero. I don't feel like a super hero. I just wrote "fat girl failing" as my name. Thankfully it's just computers reading this stuff. Then I forgot about it.  But today when I checked the group -- recovery is really, really boring -- Clarissa found a phone app to make super heros. Since I have nothing but time on my hands I went searching for a generator on my laptop. I did not want the stereotypical woman with the Barbie waist and the Wendy Williams boobs. I found this generator on heroized.com. You still have to pick male/female but the proportions are a little more realistic...at least from this view. I choose the designer avatar, and the In on her belt is InDesign. And her hat gives her some not to serious style.

I borrowed a cord for my Kindle but it didn't work. I actually dug around and found one that fit. Not sure what's on there. I only have one book left and at least three more weeks of being on my butt. I'm not normally one to wish away time, but July 8 can't come soon enough.

 

thursday in emmaus

I was so busy getting ready or surgery Thursday afternoon I forgot to post about my walk with Pam in the morning. Yesterday I looked to see if the blog was up-to-date but a guess in my drug induced haze I totally forgot about Thursday's walk.

Thursday was the first time Pam and I have walked in weeks. She did an extended road trip with her adult child starting on the left coast and working their way back east. They probably were gone three, maybe even four, weeks.

Pam had things to do in Emmaus later in the day, so we picked South Mountain Park's trail head at Alpine Street in Emmaus.  The "Alpine Street" trail is three miles.  What we forgot to consider that the previous two days of downpours. We met at the trailhead and  headed into the woods. The first 1/4 mile or so is gravel before it turns into a narrow dirt path. We reached the dirt portion and there were giant puddles. We decided to go a different way and ended up in the parking lot.

We went back to the trail head and took the Homestead Trail to the Rodale Gate and back. This trail has gravel and board walks and runs mostly adjacent to the railroad tracks. There is a small loop at the end.

Everyone on the trail was mask free, including us. But I'm still wearing masks inside.

Miles/Steps:                   2 miles for the walk 

Weather:                        mid-70s, sunny

the pro-lifers weren't wearing masks

 (Window grate for basement, near 10th and Walnut)

I didn't get to Dodson Park again today. At 7 am the phone rang. It was Sharon. Why didn't you remind me that we had a hair appointment today? Cause I didn't know. I open my planner and there you go. I was ready early because I was going to do the winter bedding at the laundromat and then head to the park.

Instead I walked in downtown Allentown. Sharon gets her hair cut first so I have a half-hour/45-minutes to wait. I took a mask in case I encountered people, then I put it on. I can't tell if you are vaccinated or not. I'm not taking chances.

It was a simple route. I started at 10th and Walnut and headed west toward 15th street. 

There were bags along Walnut street like this. Sadly, the street was still a mess. I guess people litter faster than the homeless people from the Rescue Mission can bag it. 

Then I walked up to Linden, and came back to 9th . Near the exit to the Spiral Parking Deck (Hess's) I first saw a portion of this mural. Right before it I encountered a group of pro-lifers, complete with dead fetus posters. They were younger than the average crowd. As I approached I slipped on my mask. As I past the lady wanted to give me propaganda. They were all yelling about saving dead babies. BUT THEY DIDN"T HAVE MASKS ON. The irony wasn't wasted on me. (It probably was on them). Apparently the only lives they are pro-life about are fetuses, not their fellow citizens. I didn't engage in conversation because you know I would have asked them questions they don't want to hear.

I saw a lot of people out and about. It's odd because it was hotter than hades out there and there was little shade. I returned to the salon via 9th and headed west on Walnut. They were waiting for me when I got back.

Miles/Steps:                   2 miles for the walk 

Weather:                        89, sunny, humid, Violent storms broke out around 3

PPE Found:                     9 masks, mostly disposable; 1 blue glove. And a lot of socks. What's with the socks?

sunday on the trail

On Friday I have a hysterectomy. I decided I was going to walk every day until then because I'm not sure how much walking I'll be doing for the next week or two. Of course life as other plans.

On Sunday's I usually go to Sharon's to pick up a paper and deliver whatever was collected for her during the week. Including leftovers. I put all her stuff in a cooler bag since she'd be my last stop. Since I was headed that way, and also wanted to go to Michael's, I chose to walk on the D&L at the Farmersville trailhead. I walked in one direction for awhile, and turned around and came back. I past the entrance I used and was headed toward the lock when my phone rang. It was Sharon. Where was I? So I turned around and went back to the car. I only got about a mile in.

There were a lot of bikes on the trail, and I was the only one with a mask.

Saturday when Pat and I were out, there was a Dairy Queen across from the nail salon. It was 10 am. Pat said, we should get ice cream. I said, they aren't open yet. Sunday afternoon she says, can we go to Dairy Queen. (Clearly a red food on Noom.) We went. I'm so happy she's better that I'll take her wherever she wants to go. Anytime. She gets out and gets moving. Heck, the other day we picked up my RX at Target and she walked around the store. She hasn't done that in months. And we are doing exercises again.

Today I had planned on going to Dodson Park early in the morning. I came downstairs and she said can we go for a haircut today? Now she doesn't comb her hair and she looks like she was in a wind machine. Hell yes we'll go. (Goodbye plans!) I'll walk at the shopping center while I wait for her. We arrive at 8:58 and I see a sign on the door. Temporary hours. They don't open until 11. Drats. We went back at 11, she got her hair cut. I got a short walk in, but there was precious little shade at 11.

Sunday

Miles/Steps:                   2 miles for the walk

Weather:                        87, sunny, humid

Monday

Miles/Steps:                   3/4 mile

Weather:                        88, sunny, humid

looking for healthy food in all the wrong places.

As my readers know I am trying Noom. Trying being the operative word. Today challenge is to SHARE MORE.  (Hell, if that will happen. I'm only doing it here because nobody reads this regularly.) Share a selfie of your workout, or cooking masterpieces blah, blah, blah, retch. It's all about extra accountability. I'm sharing a picture from my last workout since I didn't work out today I had my nails done. Now my sneakers will fit. I should have taken a before and after picture. Bethy works miracles.

A couple days this week I did chair workouts. Mostly because I was bored. I find them on youtube. This guy is good. I'll have to stop that when I have my hysterectomy for a couple weeks.

It's only been about 50 days and it feels longer than the pandemic. I'm about 3/4 of the way thru my "course" and am still waiting to hear something I haven't heard before. Although I will tell you they are thorough. They whittle down all the dieting advice from the last three decades and give it to you in bites, with the science backing it up. But I no longer care. It has become a chore. No different than cleaning the house or the toilet. I haven't cared since about day three. But I persist.

One of our discussion questions this week was to step back in time and reflect on "how far you've come since you started this journey".  There was more, but that is the gist. Everyone who posted was in dieting/lifestyle nirvana. Not me. But I tried to keep it positive. I posted "I am eating better and moving more but I don't feel any different. I keep waiting for "it" to kick in. Actually numerous times I nearly quit. (But when I spend $ on something I stick it out to the end.)" It got 8 likes. Either I have kindred spirits out there, or they aren't actually reading the posts. Although I am pen pals with a guy who was going to quit. So I signed up to me his motivator. I can motivate other people, just not myself.
 

I am still standing on the starting line. It reminds me of a race I did at the teen's middle school back in 2015 when I fell at the start and it seemed like two hours before I started to move. It was probably two minutes. Eventually I snapped out of it and moved. I had a swollen black and blue knee for weeks. I actually went to the doctor for x-rays. It was bad.

I rode the weight roller coaster this week. We have to weigh ourselves every day. Very briefly last week I got on the scale and it actually went down five pounds. It corrected itself two days later, and went up for three days (total of 6) and is now going down. Then it will go up. The same five pounds on an endless loop.

Yesterday I took Pat for blood work and we went to the diner for breakfast. We only get 1250 calories divided into three groups. Low calorie, high density foods are green (fruit, veggies, whole grains), yellow (lean meat, low fat dairy, other stuff) and red calories. That's butter, mayo, red meat, full fat dairy, refined grains, adult beverages, nuts, nut butters, nut milks, Cherrios, any kind of sugar ... . I generally max out my red calories by lunch, and although I usually hit my calorie budget, or close, 85% of the time I'll be over in red. Breakfast used to be an easy meal. Now it's hard as hell. I wake up dreading breakfast. I have defaulted to eating a lot eggs (yellow) so  I didn't want my normal omelet. I took a risk and got the blueberry pancakes. Two, about 6 inches each. I ate 1.5 and ended up using half my calories for the day but went 141 calories over on my red calories. PLUS I didn't get green credit for the blueberries which were abundant. (OJ is yellow but pickles are green. I don't get it.)

Thursday I went walking with the volkssport group. I had no fresh fruit left in the house and all my typical snacks are red -- dried fruit, nuts, cheese, Kind bars -- I stopped at a plain old gas station (Not the Wawa, Sheetz, Buckees type) for more water. I thought about grabbing a snack. There was nothing. All my hiking fall-backs are red. So I bought pretzels. Ate a half bag. Guess what? They are red too.

In case anyone does read this, this Hell will end in 168 days. I'm certainly not renewing. And you never know, a miracle can happen. But I need to change my attitude. Angel is coming over with and extra Silk & Sonder planner. Hopefully working that will help flip my script.

a symphony in nature

 Today it was pouring when I woke up. Not good. I was hosting a volkssport walk on the D&L. The weather people kept saying showers.mNo storms until late afternoon. I set out for Tinicum Park.

I arrived early and nobody was there yet. I opened the door of the car expecting to hear birds chirping. Instead it was a loud chorus of cicada singing their mating song. It was punctuated by the percussion of woodpeckers and the melodies of song birds. And let's not forget the occasional honks of geese. I think it was quieter in center city Philly during rush hour.

Eventually people came. Although we only had a total of six walkers.  We headed north on the trail with the 5K turn-around point being the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge and the 10K turn-around at the state park office. 

Only two of us turned around at the 5K mark and we were talking about how we didn't see any wildlife. I was looking at something and my fellow walkers said "Do you know what these holes are?" 

It looked like someone took a drill and drilled way too many pilot holes in the dirt. Once we saw the dead cicadas then we knew what it was. These were not huge so I guess they did not quite make the trip to their mating orgy. 

It only rained for about 30 seconds. And in the last kilometer we saw plenty of wildlife.

Miles/Steps:                   5K for the walk, 5 miles for the day 

Weather:                        71, overcast

Wildlife:                          Heard: cicadas, woodpeckers, red wing blackbirds, birds in general, geese. Saw: turtles, deer, dead cicadas 

the walking phone call

I live with my sister who has had more than her fair share of medical issues lately. She's at a good place now and we've started to exercise and walk again. This afternoon I'll be taking her twin shopping and to the doctor and for my trouble I get free lunch at the Mexican place across the street from her house. Noom will hate when I log that meal. Oh well.

Since I'll be with the twin all afternoon, I said to Pat, do you want to walk now. She said yes. Yesterday she stopped four times going up the hill and three coming down. Today we stopped once going up and none coming down, but she did need to rest before going in the house.

I went back up the hill to do my walk. And there was this angel in the cemetery demanding my attention. She was all bright and white and glimmering in the sun. It's an old graveyard, and they have been having a lot of funerals lately, but I thought to myself that it's odd they went with a angel. Nobody does that kind of fancy tombstone anymore. I went to check her out. 

While I was walking, I also called my sister in Kentucky. I never really get to talk openly with her with my resident sister in the house. This would be the perfect opportunity.

She isn't new. She've very old. The person died in 1928 at ten years old. My guess is someone cleaned her. You can kind-of see that they were not quite tall enough to reach the top of her wings and head. She's still dirty.

Curiosity satisfied, I headed out toward the driveway and happened to look down. I was in section G. And a beautiful G it is.

We talked on the phone for the rest of the walk. I headed down Itaska and Clewell, crossed Broadway and came back Cherokee, and then back Bishopthorpe. Not a long walk, but better than nothing.

Now to tackle the pile of dishes.

Miles/Steps:                   1 mile 

Weather:                        72

PPE Found:                     3 masks.