put on my big girl panties

 Yesterday I went to yoga again. Then at bedtime did 100 deep breaths. It didn't help me fall asleep. Actually it the the most active day of afib since I went back into it Christmas Eve.

Today I didn't have as much work to do -- I've been putting in 8 hours days all break. It was about 2:30 and  I put on my big girl panties and coat and then headed out to simply walk around the block. Such a simple task was terrifying. I told Pat my exact route just in case I didn't come back. (Left up the hill to Sioux, right on Christian, right on Itaska, and then right on Bishopthorpe. I took the pic at the cemetery to show I made it to the top of the hill. But I did stop once. But I think that was more out of caution than need.

I sauntered. I did not speed walk. I looked at the house they gutted. Checked out the Christmas decorations, and made it home in one piece. I didn't pass out or run out of breath. My heart rate was up but its always up. I have no idea what normal feels like any more.

Tomorrow I'm going to Hellner.  Who knew baby walks could be rewarding.

yoga, movement and surgery date

 

The last time I posted ... Monday?... I mentioned that I signed up for a couple virtual AARP classes. The first one was yesterday. I had trouble finding it. I kept looking for the Zoom link. It was on Facebook, live from Alabama. It was listed as "Mindful Movement Workout Session". The listing said "Put on your stretchy clothes and join in as health educator Jerri Haslem leads attendees in a variety of low-impact exercises ranging from chair movements to light weight-training exercises, with an emphasis on moving mindfully. Practicing mindful movement — paying attention as you move to what’s going on in your body —  can help you ease tension and find calm in stressful situations as well as enjoy feelings of well-being." Imagine my surprise when the instructor was standing. She began with squat like movement. My knees said hell no. I only stuck around 10 minutes. I couldn't do a single thing other than march in place. I didn't get to the chair or meditation portion.

I barely made it in time. I had a doctor's appointment first. Being in AFib I knew what the end result would be — ablation. today I found out it's scheduled for February 12. I'll be having my first CT scan he week before.  I got a book to read and it's got lots of gross pictures.

Today I received a text from Pam asking how I was and did I want to do yoga Friday. I said sure and went into the app to schedule. It wasn't there. Pat said, "well it's Wednesday you can go today." So I mentioned that to Pam and we ended up going. And it was my favorite instructor, not the regular Wednesday one.

 

As I'm driving home I remembered that I signed up for that class in Alaska. Again, after stopping at the grocery store, I barely made it home in time. This one was called "Chair Stretch and Strength". The listing said: "The chair exercises in this stretching and strengthening workout are low-impact movements performed while seated that are designed to improve flexibility, strength and cardiovascular health. We begin with a head-to-toe warm-up of dynamic and static exercises to stretch the muscles and connective tissue. Next, we’ll do a series of mild stretching and strengthening movements integrated with your breath. Midway, we’ll pause for a three-minute guided relaxation. " It was as advertised. We never got out of the chair. We stretched everything that could be stretch. It was weights, yoga, mindfulness, qi chong, tapping and even laughter yoga. The savasana was in the middle, which was odd. 

This was not the instructors first time at the rodeo. He knew his shit. And he probably knows all those forms of ancient movement. He also mentioned that he also taught Tai Chi virtually.

The weirdest thing was he had everyone turn OFF their video. I have never been in a zoom where that has happened. Usually you're being begged to turn it on.

Pat thought it was silly. But I actually liked it, in a touchy-feelly-granola-hippie way. And if it keeps my AFib in check I'm all in.

twas the night before christmas

Paper Christmas tree from Bonnie. I took this when it arrived. Now the mirror is covered with cards. The only indicators that there might be a holiday happening. My decorations are in the attic covered with 20 years of dust.

I've felt pretty good since I've been out of the hospital. I went to my yoga class on Friday. I vacuumed. Cleaned a bathroom and did laundry twice. I went grocery shopping, twice. I planned to go back to Moving With Milly. And finally, get my ass walking again. I don't even have Christmas stress. It's just another Tuesday in this house.  Everything seemed right with the world. My follow up appointment is Tuesday morning.

I have a lot of work to do over break.  I made this list about three weeks ago. The BC's are done for Angel. As are the bookmarks. The typo has been fixed. That leaves four major projects to be done during Winter Break. Then I need to prep my classes. The Graphics 2 and History classes have been replaced by one Type course.

None of these projects are a lot of work. I did the "dentist" Saturday, and "Otto" yesterday. I felt no stress. They are drafts after all. I actually felt like I accomplished something. The plan was to do middle school today. That potential history book? It arrived this morning which I find quite remarkable since the author is a Christian minister. You'd think this would be the busy season for that profession.

Last night -- it was after seven -- as I was making the PDF of "Otto" my email dinged. I thought who the hell is sending me emails Christmas Eve? I looked. A project that I was involved in 2-years ago has come back to haunt me. I thought I was just cleaning up the file, but it came with a long list of suggestions and questions. Plus this dreaded sentence: "I am still editing the stories one last time but I wanted to get this to you." I replied, let me know when you are done. I'm not doing it twice. I may hear from her in June. Bottom line, this project is so far down on the to-do list it might fall off. I was pissed. Not stressed. 

I watched some mindless television and went to bed. Had no trouble getting up the stairs. Crawled into bed and the afib started. Why? My sister in law says it's tricky to figure out the triggers. I ended up having to take 100 deep breaths to fall asleep. And count backwards from 100 twice. I know I don't want the hospital again. I know I don't want more freaking drugs.  But I will spend part of the evening moving my work into Dropbox just in case. I also need to cast off this impending doom feeling I have. I usually get this way at the end of the year, but this year it's magnified 100 fold.

However, I was optimistic and signed up for three AARP classes this morning. The one originates out of Alaska. One out of Alabama. Both had stretching and mindfulness in their titles. And I'll go to yoga Friday.

Baby steps. Will I slay this dragon?

my new route

 

Yesterday morning I was given the all clear to walk with supervision. Yesterday afternoon I was given the all clear to walk alone as long as I didn't leave the floor.  One trip around I noticed this sign. 

This morning I noticed more. Then I found it. The start line. I don't think I'll have time for the whole 1/2 mile or five loops. The PA was just in here and they are scheduling me to be zapped. I am not looking forward to it, but if it gets me out of here, then let's do it.

The zapping event is the reason this sign is on my door.

Fingers crossed.

go for a walk, end up in the hospital

 

Yesterday was the volkssport walk in historic Bethlehem. I knew I was walking, I didn't feel well enough. But after having a really pretty good day Friday, I was planning on meeting the walkers at the Hotel B. It's free meter parking during December so I grabbed a spot at the church side of the Moravian Book Store. I started to walk up the hill to the crosswalk, and I was out of breath. I waited for traffic and then started to cross barely making it across the street. I nearly fell. I grabbed a post and breathed heavily. When my breath returned I head to the hotel. I barely made it inside. The walkers were ready to call 911.

I promised them I'd go to the ER. After they headed out on the walk, I worked my way back to the car. I stopped three times. I met the Grinch.

Thankfully the ER was empty. They took me right in. Then the very long day began. They game me several rounds of drugs and talked about options. I was no longer standing so I felt better. One option was to check in and have an ablation. I didn't want that. That's very aggressive.

During one of the long wait periods I turned on the TV and had assigned videos to watch. It was like health class in the 60s.

Around four I was released. I had three injectables, and 360 mg of something I already take, plus Lasix. I barely made it out the ER. By the time I reached the car I thought I should go back in. I didn't. I went to Target to pick up my RX. I needed a buggy to walk without stopping. I got back in the car and called Bonnie. She agreed. Go back to the hospital.

So I did. It was standing room only. Thankfully I was still wearing my bracelet and had my discharge papers. I only waited 15 minutes. And then the waiting began again. This time they they decided to keep me. Give me the drugs thru IV.

I got to my room and immediately used the bathroom. They wouldn't let me go in the ER. My bladder was about to burst. I went three times in two hours. I named her Penelope. Penelope Pole. I had to call every time I went to the bathroom. I went to bed at 8:30. I was so bored I was exhausted. I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

Today they woke me at 4:20 for blood work and vitals. I couldn't go back to sleep. They gave me food. The doctor came in around 8 and said maybe I could go home Monday. They are hoping I convert myself. If not I'm getting zapped tomorrow. Basically they knock you out and use those paddles like they use to bring you back to life. Sounds like it hurts. Sounds scary. Sounds dangerous.

Bonnie stopped by and stopped at my house for my computer and a phone charger. Angel stopped by. I texted a lot of people and then started grading. Hospital or not it is final exam week. 

seven weeks since I last posted.

Why? because there has been nothing to post about, exercise wise anyway.

I have five classes this term in two states. That's my excuse for not working out. It stinks. And I could work out with that schedule, I've done it before. And there's actually a few places I'd like to check out including the poetry walk at NCC.

Physically I'm in shambles and have just had the worse week of my life. Most days when I went to bed I was unsure if I'd wake up in the morning. And of course that just makes things worse.

The downward health spiral started around Thanksgiving/birthday. It was a perfect storm. 

Ball 1: I work in Jersey for one of my jobs. They offer life insurance. I know I don't qualify, but I have to jump thru the hoops. I did the mini application,  full application, and just received the "we need to contact your doctor" letter. The next letter that comes should be the rejected letter.

Strike 1: Back in October I signed up for a Part D RX plan. But I informed the state one day late and they auto enrolled me in a second. In the meantime, "my plan" sent me a letter saying I had to pay a late enrollment penalty because I didn't sign up for Part D when I signed up for medicare. Surprise. Then I got the letter saying welcome to the second plan. Two calls to a call center in India yielded no results so I ended up calling medicare. The person that answered the phone assured me that my plan was in place, and told me the price. About $9 more than I planned. Yep, that late enrollment penalty fee.

 

Strike 2: Then it was time to look for healthcare. I had till Dec. 7. You've seen all the ads. Old celebrities that Boomers loved in the 60s and 70s touting the benefits of Advantage Plans. And hip seniors touting the benefits of mainstream supplement plans. My mailbox got hit pretty hard by Highmark.

What a pain in the ass. I was not doing an advantage plan. Though you pay nothing up front they nickle and dime you with copays. I guess that's fine if you want to pay in small increments. I decided that I was just going to use the supplement service my sister's use. Easy peezy. Or so I thought. First I needed to sign up for AARP to get a discount. Then auto pay was another discount. When I started the price range was $137-$287 or something similar. With the discounts in place it dropped down to $110. Her plan, C was no longer available for people applying after 1/1/20. I start the application for G. They want a full medical history. The screen says it will take 20 minutes. I buckle down to work. I clicked AFib and the screen flashed. Odd. I clicked glaucoma and the screen flashed again. When I clicked to go to the next page I found out what the flashes were. The price going up. It was over $380, and I was five minutes in. My blood boiling, I hit cancel. I have gotten an email every day since asking to finish my application.

So then I started looking at the others. I signed up for one. It will increase my health care costs a month by about $250. (Plus $550 a quarter for medicare, and $10 for RX.) Maybe. It will be 4-6 weeks until I am approved. If not, it's back to paying that 20% copay.

Strike 3: Stress has been building in my classrooms. At the Jersey school things were okay. Their software is old, it's not really stressful. At the Pennsylvania school another instructor had the latest version of the software installed on the machines mid-term. I think it screwed with my projects. But students magazine projects were failing and I didn't know why. They were coming back from the printer with things missing from the pages. These were the best students, not the weak one. Was it that upgrade? 

In addition students are blowing off deadlines. They will make awful employees. Apparently another instructor is hammering them with a lot of work. They call him the "professor from hell". I wonder what they call me? They ask a lot of questions because they aren't listening, and they don't watch the videos. They need their hands held. Emails and Team messages will often be about "is this okay". I want to say figure it out yourself. I blame K-12. They are so busy studying to pass standardized tests that they no longer think independently. They just want it to be correct. 

You're Out: Last Monday night was stressful. I was pulled in five directions all at once. But I had walked from my remote parking space and back no problem. Tuesday I felt okay. I stopped at Angel's between classes and had some middle eastern food. Another stressful night at school. Damn I was tired when I went up to bed. The stairs kicked the shit out of me. Wednesday I was headed to Jersey and stopped at Wawa. I parked, walked in the door and barely made it past the register before I felt like I was going to collapse. I was so short of breath. I recovered pretty quickly and went back to the car and headed to school. All the stress kicked up the ducking AFib. Shit. I started deep breathing to calm my heart down. At 8:30 in the morning it's easy to park. I had to stop twice to get to the door, and I used the elevator. I stopped again on my to class. When I got to Pennsylvania, I used Pat's card and parked in the handicapped space. Every small walk I was out of breath.

It continued Thursday. In Jersey I again parked in the handicapped space. I didn't think I'd make it from the remote lot. Friday, I took Sharon to the doctor, and she wanted to go to Giant. I took a cart for fish, bread and milk. But I made it and wasn't too exhausted. I am my mother's daughter. I am a worry wort. Visions of hospitals and dying and everything in between were dancing in my head. It needed to stop. I needed to get out of my head. 

I went to yoga. (The instructor is a retired nurse. I told her what was going on.) It seemed to help, as did all the deep breathing. I decided then and there the weekend would be no-stress and kicking AFib's butt. I needed it to convert or I'd have to go have an ablation (I looked it up online. Yuck.) and I didn't want that.

Saturday I went to the grocery store with Pat. Again, I used a cart. I feel like an old lady doing that but I don't want a repeat of Wawa. Again, I did very little all day. I'd get tired walking to the bathroom and the garage. Sunday wasn't much better. I did manage to walk around Target with my cart while waiting fr my RX. And according to my fitbit I took a nap instead of watching skating. 

Maybe it's working. I don't feel as shitty today. I slept all night. Didn't even get up to pee. I walked to the garage without getting exhausted. And I only stopped once walking in from the parking lot. I still took the elevator.  But I walked to my classroom without stopping.

Maybe I converted. If I did it took a week. Let's see if I get a sleep score tomorrow. That's always a good indicator. I hope so. I have classes till the 21st. The worse of the term is over. Fingers crossed.

so we can ring a bell with a blind persons cane

 

Yesterday my friend Pam, her blind cousin Mary, and I went to Columcile in Bangor. No some people question the sense of taking a blind person to someplace that is clearly a visual feast, but it was her idea. She's Irish and Scottish and has the pale skin and red hair to show for it. She went to Stonehenge and wanted to go here before she heads home. She lives in Florida. Pam's child, also home from NYC wanted to come as well. Be we had already left when we found that out.

I've been here three or four times. Each time there's been two, maybe three, cars in the lot. WAZE took us on this scenic route to get there and as we approached there were cars everywhere. The lot was full and there were cars parked on both sides of the road. What was going on? Apparently a memorial service. Our timing was impeccable. But as a bonus we got to hear the bagpipes playing.

As you enter the property there is a stone circle. Similar to Stonehenge. Much smaller.  To the left is St. Oren's Bell Tower. We went inside and I was telling mary about it having windows with iron bells hanging. Pam took her cane, raised it in the air and dinged the bell. Twice. Then we remembered the memorial service. Ooopsie.

 

We walked the "Glen of the Temple where there was a giant egg stone. And Thor's Gate. Two huge stones with a third on top. Even with the cane we could not touch the top. We wandered more and found this beautiful angel stone on the ground. It was carved. We guessed that it was the Sacred Women's site. 

 Then we walked around a pond and dared to take a blind person across stepping stones. Thankfully no one fell in. (Me.) This path took us to a restored sheep barn on the Kirkridge Retreats property. We came back thru the woods to the labyrinth. Pam set Mary up to walk it, and she did, just using her cane. Pam was usually in front and I was behind. When we got to the center we cheated coming out.

Then it was down the Faerie Ring Trail to the Oak Grove. A side path took us to the Eye (2nd from top). That's where we met up with the caretaker walker her golden lab, Merlin. Merlin was very friendly. Getting tired and hungry we walked back toward the start, stopping at stones along the way. The pipers had stopped playing so we knew the chapel would be empty, so we went inside to explore before grabbing our lunch bags and taking a break.

We were in this little shelter with benches eating when the caretaker came by. We probably talked for 15 minutes. Then we took Mary up to the house to feel stones. There were some great ones.

Miles/Steps:     1.5 miles? It's hard to know because I went to the Farmers Market first.
Weather:           mid 70s, sunny
Bathrooms:       Well if it was just for cleanliness these port-o-potties would have been a P-4, but it smelled to high heaven, and it was coming from the urinal. Therefore it becomes a P-2

Last Sunday my sister-in-law called and asked if I was interested in attending a laser light show Friday night at the fairgrounds. I said sure.  It was Drive-Thru style and the price was by the car full and she was taking mom. We were going to eat there. There was supposed to be food trucks. There was one—a carnival/fair food truck with outrageous prices. My funnel cake was cold. I threw it out. It was okay. We were. The show was an hour with pop music. There was a screen which had animated items on it, not necessarily to the music. And there were search-style lights overhead. The screen was too low. I don't think you could really see well from the car. Most people had lawn chairs. Not quite what I was expecting. Maybe it's because the students at my college do this stuff all the time. Many left before it was over.  But it was nice being out on a Friday night. Barb's and her mom enjoyed it. The Ritz BBQ for ice cream after it was over was certainly a bonus.

Miles/Steps:     at least a 1000 steps.

three weeks, no walks

 

It's been at least three weeks since I've walked. And worse, I'm using the elevator at Warren to go to the second floor! I am so out of shape. This A-Fib thing is kicking my ass. I get winded walking across a large parking lot and down a long hall. However, it is getting better. I think.

Coming out of school today was a table. I always check out the tables and this one had Tootsie Rolls. It was a drug prevention thing, specifically they were training people to administer Narcan during overdoses on campus. I wonder how many there are?

So I said I needed to get to my next job. (Really, I just wanted a Tootsie Roll.) They said it would take five minutes so okay I did it. I was not signing up for something that took an hour.

So I'm trained. It's really common sense for the most part. Call 911. Put on gloves. Roll the person to their back and try to arouse them pressing on their sternum. You can choose to do mouth-to-mouth which now has a new name that I've forgotten. It's a nasal spray you have to handle it carefully taking it out of the package and holding it without touching the red part. Then you put it in the persons nose and hit the red part. Then open the second one. Wait three minutes and do the other side. By that time 911 should be there. They said the biggest problem is getting the person to stay put. The wake up Jonesing for more drugs and want to take off.

Now my idea was to leave it in the car. But I can't. It's sensitive to extreme hot and cold. They want you to have it on you at all times. Basically because you won't know when you need it. I can't ever find my phone. How will I keep tract of a life saving drug?

And now the more important question. I did this in Jersey. I signed something so the Jersey "people" know I have it. Can I use it in Pennsyltucky? I didn't think to ask.

It's probably a moot point anyway. I'm useless in an emergency. I just stand there blubering.

the spotted lantern fly motherload

 

Today my nephew came over to mow the lawn. I hate doing yard work alone. Hmmm. I hate walking alone. I'm sensing a theme. Alone is not my friend. Anyway, while he was mowing I decided to clean up some weeds. I piled them by the garage where they make great bedding for the stray cats. They love it there. Basically it's a compost pile.

He's working in the alley and cleared out some of the weeds —I've given up trying to grow flowers there— and I noticed on the retaining wall a large vine root. I went into the garage and cut the root at the bottom and began to pull it. The vine wasn't on my property. It went across the sidewalk and up the side of the garage. I pulled it again.

 

All the vine on this section of the garage came out. I kept rolling it up. My nephew stood there with the OMG look on his face. Finally I thought I had it all and took it to the pile.

I came back to get the clippers and I noticed some just hanging there. So I pulled it again. More came off. I just stopped. I was afraid this one fine was attached to the whole garage and maybe the renters like it. I saw spotted lantern flies and killed them. Maybe about six.

Then I look down and there are many spotted lantern flies. Clearly this was a grape vine. I killed many. My niece kept saying there's another one. This mass of vine is a hot spot for SLF. Next spring I'll spray it with dish soap water.  It doesn't hurt the plants but the SLF eggs die.

This whole time I am to the right of the compost bin. He is on the left. I go to hop off the retaining wall and catch my foot in the vine and go splat. Karma sucks. Thankfully he wasn't nearer with the weed whacker.

mystery socks

 

The other day I received an email from the Humanities secretary saying I had a delivery and I should come and get it. Say what? 

Yesterday after my walk and the picnic, I went and had my driver's license photo taken and I still had time to kill. I decided to pick up the package. I kind-of expected a pink slip. But the envelope was soft. In the hall I opened it and it was a pair of socks. I have no idea where they came from or why.

The only think I can think of is they came from the Wellness Warriors, the faculty/staff fitness group on campus. I signed up to be part of this year's walking challenge. But they said nothing about prizes. And these socks have no logos.

I'm puzzled.

walking around the college

I'm an adjunct at a community college in Jersey in addition to my regular teaching gig.

I last taught there in 2018. When I went in June for the interview I noticed that they had a new community walking path. I decided to check it out. I already knew that part of it circled the parking lots and ran parallel to the road. From the lot I knew no bikes were allowed and there was a lot of benches.

My class ended at 12:30 PM and I didn't need to be to NCC until 2:30 PM. The weather was beautiful so I decided I'd go to the picnic and then check out the trail. I had a few reservations. Last week we received a email from public safety saying there was a bear spotted on the trail. Love bears. Don't want to be up close and personal with one.

I grabbed my food and went to a bench a bit from the party. I was greeted by the friendliest husky. He quickly went off to greet someone else. I thought maybe he belonged to a student or faculty member. I finished my lunch and headed toward the woods.

The path was sunny, but protected, and paved all the way around. I walked thru the wooded part singing "please don't eat me mister bear." We we're always told in Girl Scouts to make a lot of noise to keep the bears away at camp. I quickly reached the other side of campus and headed toward the lots. But the sun was very strong so I decided to go across the grass to go back in the shade of the building.

There were some recreations fields but no sports I ever heard of. What are these used for? There was also a big pit of some kind, with poles and on top of the poles were buckets.

I passed the picnic, and got back on the trail and followed it past the rock pile to the beginning.

I took a photo of the sign and was deciding if I wanted to to the parking lot trail for the car or walk in front of the building and I heard a loud car. It said "animal control". Oh no. The bear?

I went in front of the building and went inside to use the restroom before driving back to Pennsylvania. As I came out I heard one security guy tell the other it was the dog they were after. They came and took it to doggie jail. 

Miles/Steps:  The trail is 1 mile. I didn't do the "sides" of the lot, so I probably came in at 3/4 mile.
Weather:       mid 70s, sunny

looking for inspiration

 

 

I've been looking for inspiration to get myself moving again. 2023, the year of the health issues, will be over before I know it. I need to get my fat, lazy, ass moving again. And I need to do it alone. The scoobies are all long gone. I need to face that reality.

Last Saturday I grabbed this book from a Little Free Library box outside my sister-in-law's church. We were assembling there to carpool to the Poconos for my brother's "green" burial in a forest. I'm horrible at small talk. I had to be pacing and exploring and ended up bringing four books home.

This one appealed to me because of the strong graphic design of the cover. Nice vector drawing. Great colors. Good type. Inside was also pretty dang good. As a walker, the tagline "How to turn the most boring thing in the world into something extraordinary" caught my attention.

The book is a biography of three months, and 1000K (62 miles) in the author's life when she was recovering from a hip replacement. The blurb on Amazon says:

An absurdist adventure travelogue and self-help book for jaded cynics, WALK chronicles the antics of a movement fanatic who walks 1000 km after total hip replacement surgery.

Phase 1: denial
Phase 2: training to fall by skating on asphalt
Phase 3: learning to pee
Phase 4: walking 1000 kilometers

Left with no other options, the dancer/martial artist/adrenaline freak forces herself to walk and walk and walk and gradually discovers the virtues of slowing down. Along the way, the reluctant walker learns to see the world in super macro, think like Sherlock, and invents puzzle games while pacing.

... Speed is not the goal. Seeing is. WALK shows how to turn the most boring thing in the world into something extraordinary.

She was a world-class martial artist and dancer and didn't think highly of walking. Well, actually, she hated it. But it was the only exercise she was allowed to do. She did 5K walking up and down the halls of the hospital one day after surgery. (She's in Prague. I can't imagine a hospital in the US allowing that. They won't let you do anything alone. Even pee.) But she grew to embrace it and find the value in her journey is often called "awe" walking. Taking time to smell the roses.

It was a really quick read. There were a lot of pictures. There were 9 spreads (48 images per page), plus an additional 8 pages with three screenshots of screenshots from every walk. After the initial excitement over the page design, I was disappointed because of how inconsistently the text was formatted. Especially since the writer spent time as a designer. I tell my students I'm always critiquing. I guess it's true. So I did it on my professional blog.

 

It has a bunch of pages for you to use like a workbook which was interesting. Like a spread where you stepped on the book. Tangible evidence of taking your first steps. I didn't. The next person to read this book doesn't want my dirty foot prints.

Mei is an advocate of goal setting, rewards for reaching small and large goals, and documenting... that's why all the screen shots and photos. She also advocates you look for, and document,  the "Seven Wonders of the World" that you saw that day, playing I Spy (make it difficult) and looking at details of your walk using micro photography. Ie: Instead of seeing a push, come in really close and see the bud.

The book had no publisher on the spine, or on the copyright page. It is clearly self-published and it shows. A good editor would have caught some of these errors. As would have a proofreader.

If you want to read my critique, hope over to the pro blog. As my mom would say, the devil is in the details.

I had no epiphany's. It was funny at times, preachy at times. She is clearly in competition with herself in any thing she does. This book goes back in the car, and back to a Little Free Library somewhere. I wonder if the next person to pick it up will see a motivational story or see its design flaws? 

it's been awhile but ... s p l a t

 

Nothing is worse than being greeted with a selfie, right? 

It's been a while since I posted and I thought I did post about my glasses adventure, but apparently not. You'll have to wait for the splat story. Sorry.

I went for my eye exam at 4 pm on the 15th and told the doctor that I was not leaving without an RX. She checked my surgical eye and said it was healing well and the TWO stents looked great. On the 11th of September I go to the glaucoma doctor (who is back from maternity leave already) and maybe she'll discontinue some of these eye drops.

I hurry out to the waiting room to Bonnie. I had my old glasses in my purse—the rimless one. I decided to pay a kings ransom at Lenscrafters because I really wanted my glasses NOW. You pay a premium for one-hour service. I tell the clerk that I just need distance vision and one lens. I'll wait to get the bifocals. They are very expensive. She writes everything up, I pay and say see you in an hour. We went to Red Robin for supper and came back.

We came back in about an hour but I still hadn't gotten the text so we just sat and chatted. Soon someone came over and said "May I help you." I replied that we're just waiting on the text that my glasses are done. The person looked puzzled. "We aren't doing one-hour glasses tonight. Our tech left at 4 pm." WTF? Why didn't they say that when I came in I would have left. They called the clerk at home and she swore she told me. Really? When I left I said see you in an hour. If there was a misunderstanding that's the time to clear it up. She said they'd do them first thing in the am. They open at 10. I called at 10:30, and they weren't working on them. At 11 Bonnie called and put the fear of god into them and got the store manager to call me. At about 11:30 they called and they were done. We went to pick them up. Honestly I was so pissed and I will never darken their doorstep again. Nor will I recommend them for glasses. 

Two days later I took my sunnies and other pair to Costco for new lenses. Without the Costco membership fee I got two pair for the price of their one, but not Transitions. Just plain. I picked them up earlier this week. Sadly, I wasted money on the bifocal. I still take my glasses off to read and use the computer and phone.  I really, really, want Pair eyewear that I can change my look everyday. But it's a money pit that I cannot allow myself to fall into. Not with medical bills coming almost daily. But the idea of snapping on sunnies is so appealing. I either leave them in the house, the back seat, or sometimes the kitchen. It's a PIA.

As the email person for the Liberty Bell Wanderers I filer all kinds of forwards, and send out a comprehensive email once a week. There's a walking festival in Kingston Ontario next May. I can still kick myself that I didn't make it to Texas. But this is 5 hours, rather than 3-days, away. I got an email from the Princeton (PAWS) group president saying she booked a room at Queens University dorm (conference hotels full) and it has two beds. She was looking for a female roommate. I replied yes.  I never forwarded the email. There's 5 people going so far from PAWS so we'll have to figure out a carpool. I certainly am not driving to Princeton to come back again. I'm either going to need a park and ride, or someone to shuttle me. Yesterday I registered for the festival. I think I'd be gone less than a week. Two days driving. Three days walking. I'll tell the roomie in March.

I need to get in shape. Maybe this is the kick in the ass I need.

I also would like to go next weekend to the Penn Dutch Pacers event in Manheim, Pa. It's west of Litiz, and north of Lancaster. This isn't normally a walk I'd attend but the Penn Dutch Pacers are closing up shop this year. Their walks have been picked up by other groups. The problem with these walking groups is the people in them are retired to really old. If they don't recruit younger people (50s, 60, 70s) they die off. And again it will force me to walk to see how much I can do and how much I need to get back in shape. Maybe we could stop at the Cloisters on the way home.

Finally, yesterday Pat and I went to Scholl's Orchards farm stand. Both she and Sharon received $50 in Farmer's Market money from the state. (It was five $5, then $6, now $10 coupons.) We've been going every week and buying veggies and corn. Then we take half to Sharon's house. I think we have two left.

I parked the car and Pat was out in a flash and headed to the corn. The table was filled, it wasn't like they were going to run out. I'm working my way to her and suddenly I'm headed face first to the asphalt.  I have no idea what I did. Some customers came over to help, and I think and employee too. I wanted to dig a hole and climb into it. I got up but my knee and shoulder hurt. I bought our groceries, went to Sharon's and headed home to work. 

My nephew came over to do the lawn just as my Zoom meeting started. I went to stand up and my knee protested. But once I got moving I was okay. I could not get off the couch either. I have to hold on and put all the pressure on the right side. I'd love to take Aleve, that's always my miracle cure, but I believe with my new meds NASIDs are a no-no.  Last night I got up to pee and thought I wouldn't be able to stand. But I managed okay. This morning I was stiff and it hurt. It's not black and blue but it is red. The more I walk on it. The better it feels. 

Eventually it will heal. It always does. Until one day when it doesn't. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

doctors update

 

 

The cupboards are pretty bare. Because I can't drive, I've been clearing out the freezer and pantry all summer. I buy groceries a little at a time because I don't want to ask someone to take me. I will not turn into the twins dependent on someone else. Yes, I could do the delivery thing but frankly I'm too cheap to pay $7.95 for it. I'd kill to go to a farmers market. Eating frozen veg in the summer should be illegal. And besides that, I'm out of it. And it will defrost carrying it home in 90+ temperatures. I make do. The roomie doesn't eat real food anyway.

Saturday was my annual doctor's appointment, though it was more like 18 months. Ever since I had the blood work taken my phone has been dinging with test results. I didn't think they were good. But what do I know?

Megan drove me. I would have had to leave Thursday to get there by bus. I'm only half joking. My appointment was 8:20, we arrived at 8:15 and they took me fairly quickly. Then after the nurse did all the intake I waited. And waited. At 8:38 I was just getting ready to text Megan that the doctor still hadn't arrived when she walked in the door.  She asked 'how are you?' I said, 'I've had better years. I've basically been stuck in the house all summer with vision issues, ended up in ER with AFib, and had cataract and glaucoma surgery. So to compensate I'm getting no exercise and eating like garbage'. I think she was looking for "okay".

She didn't seem phased by the blood work. Thankfully my A1C only went up one point. She said since you've been eating like garbage we'll let it slide this time. But next time it need to go down two points. (The sweet spot.) She was thrilled with my blood pressures and at a quick glance did an average of 130. She submitted an rx for both a dexa scan and a FIT test (aka Cologuard). I have to go back in six months. 

Before I was to the exit my phone started dinging. I checked out and they gave me a stack of paper. (Which I still haven't looked at.) We headed to Panera for breakfast—it's just on the other side of the highway—and as Megan pulls into a space my phone rings. I think it's the roomie. I look to "ignore" it and it's the doctor's office. I answer. I need to come back. They didn't give me the FIT test. I told them we were eating first and we'd be back.

We get into Panera and I look up at the menu board and couldn't read a damn thing. I said to the clerk do you still have the ... Thankfully she said yes. Tuesday I get my glasses RX. I cannot wait.

We eat and head back to the doctors. I grab the FIT test and they also gave me a "hat". Finally we head home.

Sunday Bonnie picked me up and we did the lunch shift at the shelter. I manned the "farmer's market". It's not really a farmer's market. It's just fresh produce from the supermarket wholesaler. They take what they want. The lemons were popular. "Lemonade!" Cabbage not so much. I brought home a few leftovers so now I have fresh veg in the house again. Sweet corn will wait till Wednesday after I get me new glasses. Maybe peaches too. I may have to go back Thursday.

the almost 4-hour trip for blood work.

With my vision still recovering, I won't drive. I was cleared to drive during the day but honestly if I can't read the subtitles on the tv from the couch, I can't see to drive. Everything is blurry. So I need to get a ride everywhere, or stay home. Mostly I stayed home. I'm using up all my favors (paybacks will be hell) just to get the twins to where they need to go. I knew I drug them around a lot, but I didn't realize how much. 

In order to not not ask for a ride for blood work, I decided to take the bus and walk. I knew I couldn't walk to 5th and Broad. A simple walk a year ago.

Basically I'd need to take the 327 and transfer to the 107. It looked like those were a half hour apart. I could walk that faster. Now I haven't been on a local bus in a long time. I've spent the last two days on their app and website trying to figure out times and places. It's an awful app. It doesn't help that I can't actually see the streets on the map. Really, the type is like 30% black. (Who designed that?) I asked it from home I wanted to go to 8th and Broad. I didn't put in a city. Turns out it's a national app. It took me to NYC.  Then I put in the BTC and I think it took me to central Ohio. Clearly this wasn't working. I finally put in a full and complete address. That worked. Damn I wish I had old fashioned paper that you stuffed in your purse. Life was so much easier.

I left the house about 8:40 for the 8:50 #327 -- -- boy was that a high step to get on -- to the Bethlehem Transportation Center. The bus was fairly empty. One other person got on at my stop. On arrival at the BTC I exited thru the back door like I was taught, and literally had to jump off the bus and hope I landed on the curb. I did. (How do the elderly and handicapped do it?) I was walking up to the corner when the 107 arrived. Instead of walking, I took that to 8th Avenue and went to the bank. Then I started working my way back to town.

At 5th and Broad I made two big mistakes. I was carrying a bag of stuff to stop at Sharon's. I thought I'd get a few groceries at Sim's. An old-school neighborhood supermarket that appears to now be owned by middle eastern people. I haven't been in there in at least a decade ... not my neighborhood. The bag ended up very heavy. (I really need to buy a cart if I'm going to be a pedestrian shopper.)  The second mistake was not buying a lottery ticket. It's freaking 1.55 Billion--with a B--dollars. I could waste two bucks. Oh well.

I crossed the street and went to the vampire. They are in the old Bethlehem Gallery of Floors building. The other side is rehab. The tech couldn't find my RX so I was there a bit. But ultimately the blood work was done. Now the horrible (shit diet, minimal exercise) results will start coming in.

Finally, after a long time I was finally released and I headed to Johnny's bagels. I bought a half dozen which after 10 turns into 8. I leave and call Sharon. I'm on my way meet me at the new coffee shop. Now I'm carrying a bag of groceries, and a bag of bagels, plus my purse.

I arrived at Bitty and Beau's at the same time she did. She brought me a bag of crap including a Musikfest book that Pat wanted. Bitty and Beau's was packed with Musikfest volunteers. The coffee prices are very Starbucks like. No dollar Joe here. But what makes them different is the bulk of the workforce is has some sort of mental or physical challenge. Jarrod would have fit in here perfectly. So we are sitting there and Sharon is being Sharon, she says in full voice "I think the girl waiting on you has Downs." I want to crawl under the table.

I walked Sharon back to her building and headed to the BTC. The 327 only runs every 90 minutes. Really. 90 minutes. It used to run every 30. I discover it will be more than an hour wait. I should have checked before the coffee shop. I might still not have made it. I contemplated walking home, now with three bags. With 2% battery left I check the app. I see that the 108 goes across the bridge and up to 4th and Wyandotte. Then it continues going up toward Delaware. It will have to do.

I get off at New Bethany and hike it home. I'm really tired, and really hungry. It's past 11:30 and I haven't had breakfast yet. Just one tumbler of water.

I arrived home at 11:55. Almost 4 hours that in the car would have taken 40 minutes. Maybe.

Miles/Steps:  2.5 miles
Weather:       72, partly cloudy, wind 14mph
SLF Killed:     I killed my first one for 2023. It was on the bus post.

Oh, and the Musikfest book Pat wanted? She was excited. Picked it up, flipped thru it and was done in less than 2 minutes. Why did I carry it home?

walk interrupted

 

Earlier today I heard that they were going to come change my water meter to a "smart" one between 12-4. I wanted to keep the walk short because Pat doesn't deal with repair people well. She doesn't trust any of them. (She watches too much news.)

I need to go for blood work before my doctor's appointment on Saturday. I'm prepared to fail it all. I'm eating like shit. Anyway, the vampire is at 5th and Broad in the old Bethlehem Floors building. I'm not going to use a favor to go. I've used a lot of them for Sharon and Pat, and will need more for the fall academic year. Sharon's appointments in October are enough to make you go bonkers.  So I decided to take the bus. But I have no idea how the busses run anymore. Or even what the numbers are. I'm used to the old system of letters. ("The G bus goes to Grammies".)

Therefore for today's walk I decided to walk down to Broadway, take a pic of the numbers and then look up a schedule online. Then go finish my walk. That, at least, was the plan.

I arrived at the bus stop at 1:05. I pulled out my phone to take a pic and noticed that I had a text message sent at 12:57. Like Pavlov's dog, I looked. It was the water meter company. The tech -- there was a pic -- is on his way. Shit. I turned around and headed toward home. I turned on to Fiot Street and called Pat. The tech is on his way. He's wearing a grey t-shirt, has a small beard. Let him in. I'm on my way home.

It's the first time I walked quickly since all this medical crap began. And it was uphill. Thankfully it was only about four blocks. He didn't arrive until 1:25.

Pat asked if I was going to go back out. I said no. I lost my mojo.

The new water meter. I haven't gone in the basement to see what is there.

Miles/Steps:    1/4 mile. Seriously.
Weather:          mid-70s, partly cloudy
Money found:   6 cents 

8/8 update: The water meter in the basement. They replaced brass with a shit piece of plastic. Someone call Saturday Night Live. There's a cone-head missing.

a short walk

I have a fascination with faded signs. And alleys. I am so weird. 

Since I'm still not driving Bonnie took Pat for bloodwork today. We were going to meet at Perkins for breakfast. Pat's appointment was at 7:30 am, so I left the house at 7:45. They called at 8 to tell me they were on their way. I was at CVS.

I cut thru CVS's parking lot and headed to the alley behind it. I looked up at this crumbling garage that I've seen a million times before and said, shit, there are letters on there. So I went to investigate, and take pictures of course. It says "Frank A. Scattene Plumbing and Heating Supplies." What's really interesting is at places the board is peeling up but by the out line of the letters. Maybe i'm spending too much time prepping for the fall term.

Anyway, I got to Perkins about 5 minutes before they did. Bonus: I had zero trouble crossing the intersection. I've already waiting 5+ minutes to cross that street. And more than once.

ps: after lunch I went out and ran the car for five minutes. Then I opened the garage door, and moved the car forward a few feet, and back. Just to rotate the tires. I was terrified.

Miles/Steps:   Less than 1 mile
Weather:          mid-70s, partly cloudy

on the road again ...

It's weird not being able to drive. And Pat is starting to drive me bonkers. I am also not comfortable asking people to do stuff. 

I'm horrible about money. I give. I loan. I sometimes lose. And heaven knows I will never have a receipt. I also trade. An author, RC Thom, who I do work for needed a quick update on her titles late in spring. Prices were changes because the cost of everything is going up. We decided to do all 7 ... 9 of her titles. She asked what she owed me and I said, a drink when you head north. (She's now in Florida.) The project got a little more complex and she added I'll buy you a meal as well. Saturday was the day. I had to ask for a ride. It was weird. We ended up getting poutine. We would have walked but it was 110 in the shade.

Sunday, I had to ask for a ride to go to a bridal shower. I haven't been to one in decades and this one was beautiful. Right out of a design magazine. And a lot was DIY. Apparently the theme was a tea party, and we made the little tea cups above. Until present happening occurred I kind of forgot I was at a bridal shower. Sadly I didn't take a present. I need to handcraft something and frankly I need at least one working eye to do that.

Yesterday Bonnie had to take me to the eye doctor. My vision is improving (couldn't prove that by me) and still no glasses. The eye is healing. I'm allowed to drive if it's important, local, and daytime. No random trips to the mall. We're going to the theatre Saturday and meeting here.

I don't think I can see well so I'm trying not to drive. I ordered some groceries yesterday and we picked them up on the way home from the doctor. Of course I screwed some things up, so I had to walk down to the old Ahart's today.

On the way to the store I realized that my curbs are not that bad after all. Take a look at this one. It's at Fiot and Itaska, but there are a lot. Many are worse. Walking down I only stopped for lights and to take pictures. One the way back I stopped more. But not as much as last time. And I think if I was carrying stuff I would have not stopped at all. Maybe. I hope so.

I took two bags, mostly to balance the load. I noticed they were making cool shadows. So I took a shadow selfie. 

I'm still learning the layout of the new Aharts. One day I might even call it the Ideal Food Basket. But that's a few years away. Hell, sometime I call it Food Fair and it hasn't been that since the 70s. I was looking for a toothbrush and it turns out all the "health and beauty" stuff is behind the counter. Basically the easy to shoplift stuff. As I was waiting I notice the sign for the billion dollar lottery drawing. I bought one. I'll recycle it tomorrow.

Miles/Steps:   Less than 2 miles
Weather:          72, sunny

great news, okay news

No glasses for the next two weeks. I don't know if it makes me more or less attractive. I look a whole lot like mom. And oddly David.
 

Yesterday's surgery went okay.  I'm typing, so I can see. Great news. 

I left afib Sunday so that load of stress was eliminated.  My BP was 155/75 but the nurse said that was okay. The surgery was much different than before. The last time I was in a chair, more like a dental chair and only partially back. This time I was laying flat. Actually, I think slightly more than flat. Last time they didn't strap me or my head down. This time they did. Because I was looking at the ceiling, and not a wall, the dark period didn't bother me a lot. It was weird but she was giving me the play-by-play so it didn't disturb me. I think I was in and out of there in two hours. I hadn't eaten since midnight so we went for ice cream. I enjoyed every calorie.

Sharon called hysterical at 5 to make sure I could see. Yes she was worried because I'm her sister, but she was more worried because I'm her Uber. Pat didn't seem to care one way or the other. I couldn't see to type. Thankfully I pre-wrote a mass email. All I had to do was hit send. Thank goodness for other family and friends. They wrote back.

I came home with a plastic covering but when I put drops in I could see the world was much brighter and at least in the mid-field more crisp. I called it high def.  As the evening wore on my vision worsened. I think it was the plastic shield. That thing was nasty when the doctor had me remove it today. I wear it to bed for a week.

Before the surgery I had three drops that I took a lot. Plus my three regular drops. They gave me a little chart.

 

 

At today's appointment I received this huge chart. Plus, of course my three regular drops.

She looked at my eye and said everything looked great. I couldn't even read the big E on the chart so I can't drive. I could if I had two eyes. I go back Monday. If I can read the chart then I get to drive. If I can't I have to wait until I go back the 15th when they do my eye exam. Then I'll get my new glasses if I need them. I might just need reading glasses. (The computer is fine. The phone and print not so much.)

The hardest part is keeping my hands out of my eyes. I've stopped myself twice. The grossest part is the chronic booger in the corner of my eye. 

After a trip to Waffle Hose (inside joke) I returned home. Told Pat that I couldn't drive till Monday and she took it personally. But my medicine is ready at CVS. How am I going to get it? A) You have enough till Saturday. B) It's 3/4 mile a way. They didn't operate on my feet. I'll go get it.

 

Sharon immediately got hysterical. But I have a doctor's appointment Monday. Don't worry Sharon I got you a new Uber driver. Make sure you buy her breakfast. I'm buying mine lunch.

I decided I'd go the market as well and I grabbed two bags and set off like it was any ordinary walk. Totally forgetting about afib and sore legs. I made it till Seminole Street before my body reminded me.  I think it was because it was all downhill or flat. They were doing construction at the 5-points so I had to wait there a bit to cross and didn't stop again until I got to CVS. I looked at "readers" while I was there. I didn't buy any. I want to check out Dollar Tree. This is going to take some trial and error.

I then headed to the market, got a few groceries and split them between bags. I started hoofing my way to the five points and had just crossed Carlton when I had to stop. Shit. My body was remembering. And it did not like carrying groceries. I waited again at the five points for the flagger to cross me. I stopped again at Ontario. This was beginning to be an every block thing. Instead of fighting it, I embraced it.

It's the longest I've walked in weeks.

Miles/Steps:   Less than 2 miles
Weather:          83, sunny