February 24

Year in review: An ordinary time, lots of ups and downs, that’s the way life is. Having Megan here has been wonderful. I enjoy knowing she is moving toward her degree with my help. I’m grateful that I had the resources to make that possible. My health has been more up than down in spite of the bursitis that benched me for a while. My immune system is working and I had fewer health events. All ready for another great year.

The next blog will be called  82 Words Everyday.

Day 366

Cold and clear.  A welcome change from gloomy and wet! Did more pruning yesterday and filled the green bin just as the truck came by. I like to cut behind the shrubbery to make air space. Don’t want anything right up against the house. Too wet for that. The lettuce bowl is actually sprouting outside even in this awful weather. I do have a cover over it. Must have something growing. I have an itchy green thumb. It must be spring soon.

Day 365

I’ll go to the yoga class at the senior center and recruit members for our workshop. We want at least six and would prefer eight. Rosie will go to the exercise class on Friday. We need to hear from potential members and find out what they want. Maybe we have too much on the agenda. It’s a work in progress. Later, ahh, a holistic massage with Karen. She gives a different style than Sarah’s technical massage and I need them both.

Day 364

Megan was not home until after midnight due to waiting for a downed tree to be removed. This winter has been horrendous and she is bravely commuting. I’ll be as glad as she when she graduates and the long drive is over. I did get out for a brief walk yesterday. I’m discouraged by how my endurance eroded with the long weeks of rain and pain that kept me from walking. I’ll push myself when the weather allows. Never give up.

Day 363

Early wakeup call with thunder and lightning. Minnie can’t tolerate the noise. The weather is wild again and Megan just drove off to Arcata in serious wind. Please give us a break from wind and rain! Today I’ll get my PT exercises early. It is the best way for me to start the day. I have to remind myself that it’s in my best interests to exercise. Later, Rosie is coming and we will put together the workbooks for our workshop.

Day 362

Yesterday was non-productive in any sense of the word except for a walk. I was unfocused and easily fell into the comfort zone. Watched any old junk on TV and ate my way through the kitchen. Fortunately, the choices were good, however, too much is too much. Slept through the night except for wind blusters that shuddered this old house. Today physical therapy exercises first, church, and then an activity that I can find satisfactory at the end of the day.

Day 361

Wet windy. I did get outside yesterday for three walks. It was wonderful. The tax appointment took an hour and was eventful. Megan went with me and had lots to talk about with Jeff. She had a lesson in the IRS law that shook her up. Hope it turns out okay. Today I may not do anything productive. May find old movies and eat popcorn. Not motivated to purge closets or anything. Or write. I miss having ideas to write about. 

Day 360

Wet Friday morning with a short agenda. First the dogs go to the groomer for their monthly bath while I do my quick walk through Walmart. I have a short list of things that I can only find there as our choices are small. Later comes soup from the leftover pot roast. I’ll throw in more vegetables and fresh kale and chard. The story group was its usual enjoyable event. I love our women, all different, all creative and funny too.

Day 359

Deb Tyler gave me orders for 12 physical therapy sessions. I’m ready for corrections and additions to my routine. Hope to start next week. The first person has enrolled in our conscious aging program. Megan is home safe again after a horrendous drive through the wind and rain. She is brave to make this commute. I’m ready for senior center duty and later for the story group. House is as clean as it gets with wet dogs running in and out.  

Day 358

Day 358

The BOS was a microcosm of the government at the top. Two supervisors tried to steamroller their personal agenda. Thankfully they were stopped for now. Dirty tricks should backfire. Today I am fired full of domestic energy and I’m thankful for it. Already sorted a couple of places where stuff seems to land that really needs to be thrown away. I love my morning ritual with Megan. As she pulls out of the garage, we wave big waves at each other.

Day 357

Good contacts yesterday. Rosie came for lunch at the senior center and we talked with the director and the manager about our conscious aging group. We started putting together the workbook and the handouts. We have a start date and fliers to recruit the first group. Later I attended the Dem committee and gave my application. I want to be part of the activity. Today I will speak at the board of supervisors meeting about the intersection at Cooper and J.

Day 356

Lots of restless wakefulness. Now I want to get busy and don’t have a lot to work with. I’ll catch up with myself as the day goes along. Rosalie is coming to the senior center at lunch time so we can plan the elder circle program. The groundwork is done and now the recruiting for our first group. Later I will attend the Dem central committee meeting and decide if I want to join. I want to be part of resistance.

Day 355

Two long walks outside yesterday and it felt wonderful. Yes, there is still a whisper of pain in the bursa, like a reminder or a scar. I may have overdone it because it felt so good. I had a very productive day with lots of prioritizing and planning, two parts that have been missing in the long gloom. This week will be full and I’m looking forward to it all. My activities are all handpicked and that’s why I have them.

Day 354

My optic pressures and retinas are stable. Don’t need to see Dr. E. again for six months. He called it a reward for staying eye healthy. I did shop a bit and brought home plants for the planters around the deck. Just can’t wait for sun and warm air. It’s very cold this morning and the moon was huge and bright. I’m hoping for a day outside. I need to get my brisk walking and PT exercising back to routine events.

Day 353

A shot in the bursitis will make my life comfortable. Dr. Duncan says I’ll be back to normal movement by Sunday. He said I was doing all the appropriate helps for the condition. Now, Dr. Eninger will dilate my eyes this morning and check the progress. I think I’m doing fine and that the retina is stable. Could do errands if my vision allows. Might be hard after dilation.  I want to work on the invitation to our conscious aging program.

Day 352

Rain. It won’t stop and I’m feeling soggy. Today I’ll go out for senior center duty and later to Dr. Duncan so he can read the MRI and give me direction so I can continue to heal the bursitis. It’s been six weeks since I reported the pain and now it’s almost gone. Healed myself while waiting. I’m wondering if the slow response to my needs has anything to do with my age. I’m also waiting for more physical therapy sessions.

Day 351

Day 351Gloomy inside and outside. I’m feeling the heaviness of the weather and it squashes my motivation. Today I will go to the office supply store and have pages copied for the elder circle groups. I need to compose an invitation for the first group. I want to hand pick the first participants as we try out our plan and make changes as the need arises. I’m looking forward to starting the program. I may get my exercises this morning. Feeling the need.

Day 350

It was good to get to the center. Lots of conversations with different people. I didn’t bundle up and walk in the wind. Just didn’t have the energy. Actually, I took a nap with three dogs on my lap. Today is messy outside and my only outing will be to get a massage with Sarah. There are plenty of inside jobs and I’m guessing I can ignore them. If there is any kind of break, I’ll go out and pull weeds.

Day 349

Two walks yesterday and I will get out today between showers. Senior center duty today and I’m looking forward to it. I didn’t talk out loud yesterday. I’m not lonely but I do need people after a few days alone. I needed a complete day off, no nagging at myself about exercise and overeating. Even though I get out of control now and then, I am healthy and doing well.  Today I will talk to Amanda about our elder circle program.

Day 348

Went to the store yesterday just to get out. Endless rain and days to come before a break. When I was driving home, the odometer turned over 60K miles in my 19 year old car. I bought the van while I was taking care of my mother and she had a problem getting in and out of the Neon. Her walker and then her wheel chair fit easily in the van. I decided to keep it as long as I’m driving.  

Day 347

Another day inside with a week of rain coming. It’s easy to get sluggish without any sun or outdoor exercise. Rosie brought more information for our program and now we need to get a group and find out if it works. I’m ready to get busy with it. After while I’ll look for a project inside. I’m in a purging mood and anything that hasn’t moved in a year better look out. Simplifying makes life easier and I’m all for that. 

Day 346

Six of us for story group and it was warm and comfortable. I enjoy the group so much. This morning Rosie and I will have a breakfast meeting about our elder circles and plan what’s next. We need to run our plan by the director at the senior center as we want to use the conference room. There are other spaces such as the church hall. I’m anxious to get started. May not get a walk in the rain and wind.

Day 345

Another week of wet. The groundhog went back to sleep. I filled the green bin yesterday with weeds and dead branches from the front hedge. I saw lots of the bulbs poking up and one flowering tree on my walk. Today I hope to get out for a short walk between showers after senior center duty and before the writing/story group meets at 3. I enjoy the stories and still haven’t been able to comb through my memory for interesting events.

Day 344

Physical energy did not match with ideas yesterday. I did walk and look for signs of spring. There are some greens poking up and that’s encouraging. Now it’s February and the agenda needs updating. I want another volunteer duty. When I have nothing to do, I do less around here. Guess I’m still a multi-tasker at heart. I am using the rebounder when I don’t get outside. It’s exercise. Not the same exercise that I get with the physical therapy routine.