There are some beautiful words in our language. One I’ve found today is “negative.”
I had a test last month that was ‘positive.’ Like a child, I immediately spun the worst scenarios and have been having real trouble keeping my act together, trying to figure out what I could do to make it easier for my husband to live alone.
The exam I had last Friday came back as “negative.” I received the results on the medical portal this afternoon. I had to look up a lot of words, and then look further into what they MEANT, but unless my doctor tells me something different, it looks like I’m out of the woods.
The news hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I told my husband it looks like he’ll have to put up with me for awhile longer. :0)
Our forecast for today was “rain changing to snow this afternoon.” They were right, except for the timing. It’s 25 degrees F. and snowing right now! It’s very light, but if you look, you can see the snow falling, dancing in the sudden gusts at times. The weather forecast has now changed from ‘a dusting of snow’ to 1-3 inches accumulation today. My husband and I are very happy we can stay home. :0)
Jon Kabat Zinn – Quotesmuse.com
My exam went well yesterday. We were on the road to the hospital by 6:30 am and I was home around noon. I slept a lot of the afternoon. I will know the results by mid next week, I think.
nytimes.com
I’ll make a beef stew this weekend. I’m grateful for a warm, dry home, good food, husband and animals close to love, surrounded by music, books, and maybe art to enjoy. I’m a very spoiled woman.
I hope you’re having a happy Saturday. Stay safe and warm!
Only one post today. I’ve waited and worried for a month to get the exam. It was done today. The doctor and others at the hospital were more than kind to me. My husband drove 45 minutes to get me there before 7am. He sat and waited while they whisked me away. We got home just before noon.
I had soup for lunch – delicious!
I practically froze to death at the hospital, although they brought me a couple of heated blankets. I was like a human sandwich after lunch, wedged between my heating pad and my throw – kind of a human sandwich of warm. The chill is now gone and I’m mostly alert (I think. ) :0)
We will get the results from Pathology
by the middle of next week – so the waiting continues.
My posts tomorrow (Friday) will be delayed. I’m having an exam in the morning and will be out of commission until the afternoon. I’ll write again when I can.
Have a wonderful evening tonight and an even better day tomorrow!
Highs in the 50s today here! Woo HOO! And lots of pretty sunshine. I’m hoping to spend some time outside this afternoon. I have lots to clean up and winterize in the yard. It looks like I’ll have a GREAT week for it. :0)
I go for a haircut this morning, so Michael will make me look like ‘someone-had-a-plan.’ My hair is thin and fine and ONLY does what it wants to. Michael understands that and works WITH it. He’s wonderful.
Nothing exciting going on today – that I know of – so I’ll look forward to getting the planters around the yard in better shape when I get back.
On the one hand, I’m trying to limit the amount of food I eat. I don’t eat anything after dinner until lunch the following day – unless I’m up in the middle of the night and have no willpower. (I tend to think I’m starving to death then. :0) )
My husband and I have been eating individual frozen meals from REAL FOOD or STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’, both in Greenwood, for dinner. I noticed that our choices from Stu’s are too high in sugar for us, so now we’re splitting ONE individual meal and I’m fixing a veggie side. We also have a roll with that.
Lunches are 1/2 slice of ham, sugar-free jello, a hard-boiled egg, two green olives, and sometimes I have a slice of cheese or a cheese stick.
Snack in the afternoon has been raw veggies and a spoonful of ranch dressing with less than 1 gram of sugar.
Since a doppler ultrasound showed 50-70% occlusion in my right carotid artery (not enough to have a procedure) I have found a list of food and drink that is supposed to dissolve the plaque, and hopefully prevent me from getting more.
List for cleaning arteries – SALMON, FLAX SEEDS, BLUEBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES, GRAPEFRUIT, SQUEEZE OF LEMON/LIME, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, AVOCADOS, BEANS, PEAS, CHICKPEAS, LENTILS, TOMATOES – EXP COOKED OR SAUCE, GARLIC, CINNAMON, ONIONS, GINGER, TURMERIC, BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, WALNUTS, BEETS, SPINACH, DARK CHOCOLATE. GREEN TEA.
I’m now eating grapefruit in place of the raw veggies some days. I’m drinking a glass of green tea daily. When I eat raw veggies, I’m including broccoli and cauliflower, and I’m fixing spinach as a side for dinner, using walnuts and flax seed in my salads, etc.
My dilemma is that including so much ‘good stuff’ in my daily diet is resulting in my eating more. And GUESS WHAT HAPPENS THEN – my scales scoff at me, laughing and sneering at the poundage creeping up. ARRRRGH!
So now I’m vacillating between throwing my hands up in the air and eating a cheeseburger and fries, eating the good stuff and skipping yet another meal, or……
I will work it out, but right now I’m feeling that getting old sucks.
Today we have Lunch Bunch for the first time in two weeks. We missed last week due to the restaurant being closed the day after Thanksgiving. It will be good to catch up with everyone again.
It’s amazing to realize that we have been meeting our friends every possible Friday for about 20 years now. These people aren’t just friends – they’re family. We have helped each other through the hardest things there are, and celebrated joy. We have laughed, hugged, and shared our lives. Friends are truly one of the greatest riches we have.
This afternoon my husband has an eye exam. This is especially important as he has Type II Diabetes. He hasn’t had an exam in several years due to stubbornness. Our primary doc finally got through to him that he NEEDS to do this. So we go today to Fort Smith.
I’m hoping it will go smoothly. My husband used up all his patience in the Marine Corps years ago. He only gets more stubborn with age. He HATES waiting in doctor’s offices. Years ago we were waiting for a different eye doc. We waited in the room for 45 minutes with no one telling us what was going on. I checked out in the hall, but couldn’t find anyone. He insisted we leave without seeing the doc. He wouldn’t go back. Hopefully, today will be a more reasonable appointment…
Trying to eat right and take care of yourself becomes more and more complicated as you age. If you are married, the complication explodes because you are dealing with not only different health needs, but also different ideas of what ‘good food’ is, how seriously needed changes should be taken, etc. My husband and I are in the process of yet another adaptation since I had an ultrasound of my carotid arteries.
I’m lucky, in that the problem in my carotid arteries is not to the point where any procedures are necessary, but I am trying to adapt my eating to include food and drink that dissolves, lessens, or prevents plaque. I’m ornery enough now without having strokes! Happily, I found an article on the net that lists 16 things I can include in my diet. I have several of them already and eat them. Yesterday I started drinking one glass a day of green tea (I found sugar-free). Since beets are on the list and I can’t face eating them, I’ve ordered supplements for that. I’m making a grocery list to get other things. I’m feeling very lucky that there are things I can do about this situation that may improve my chances to continue being ornery… :0)
A downside that complicates things a bit, is that I gained a couple of pounds yesterday. I refuse to worry about that yet, though. I will try to include the new food and drink, continue to exercise at least three times a week if not more (elliptical trainer and yoga stretches), and will give the changes some time before I worry again about lardage.
Here’s to doing what you can to get and stay as healthy as you can for as long as you can.
Lloyd, Baxter, Bubba and I wish you a happy first day of December 2021. If you would like to buy a calendar to support the firefighters’ fundraising efforts, go to wwww.australianfirefighterscalendar.comGardiner Family Chiropractic
I’m feeling very relieved this morning. The results of my carotid artery doppler ultrasound show plaque, but not to a worrisome percentage. No procedures necessary. I found an article on ‘artery cleansing foods’ and will try to include more of them in my diet. Many of the recommended foods we already eat, but I will try to drink a cup of green tea daily and purposefully include the recommendations at least several each week.
spinsterstitcher.blogspot.com
Just to give an example that shows even though you may be older than dirt, you never outgrow some childish reactions – I was downstairs in the middle of the night, reading for another hour or so, unable to sleep. When I went back up, I slept, but had my old, reliable nightmare I’ve had since I was a child when I’m feeling scared, insecure, dreading something, etc. (I’m desperately trying to get ‘somewhere.’ I’m either alone or with someone who is depending on me. I’m late, I’m lost, and I need to pee. The whole nightmare is me dashing from place to place in this state.) I never get where I’m going and wake exhausted. Since the results of the ultrasound were good, I’m hopeful that I’ll sleep well tonight, plus maybe get a nap this afternoon. :0)
Pinterest
We’re having gorgeous weather for the first day of December here in Arkansas. The weather people are predicting 71 degrees F. this afternoon! Woo HOOO! I’ll plan to get outside and smile.
I had a carotid artery doppler ultrasound this morning to see the reason for the right carotid bruit my primary doc heard at my last appointment. I don’t know the results yet, but I wasn’t rushed into surgery or anything. The procedure was painless and only took about 15 minutes. I am hopeful that we can just monitor my situation or correct it with some medication, and I can continue to pretend I’m immortal. :0)
I exercise to try to stay reasonably strong and as healthy as I can be, though I do it grudgingly. I have a “life alert” type medallion that we got along with our security system for the house. It only works within so many feet of the house, I think. I forget to wear it. :0) I am careful when I’m doing something I know is ‘above my pay grade’ physically – like when I decided the other day to NOT try to balance on the rickity ladder on a slope in the gravel at the bottom of the driveway while trying to freshen the paint on the greeter robot.
I haven’t fallen on my head or tripped lately. I’m due. Knowing this, I’m trying to plan better, to TRY to remember if I’m working outside to find and put on the medallion necklace, etc., but it will happen sooner or later…
I’m a relaxed, happy cat right now. I just got home from doing a few errands and having my second massage for the month. (My first was an unexpected and thoroughly appreciated gift from my cousin in Thibodaux, LA.) So this is one very spoiled lady. :0)
It’s also my husband’s birthday today. (Shhhh! He’s very grumpy and doesn’t want to talk about it. I took this opportunity to sing “Happy Birthday” to him this morning. His response was a stuck-out tongue, and then a pat. I’ve done some other things I’ll surprise him with later, but we are officially ‘ignoring’ his birthday. I think it’s wonderful that he gets to all the birthdays first. By the time I have that birthday, it doesn’t hurt so much.
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In a couple of minutes I’ll fix our lunch, then we’ll relax awhile.
I guess you can tell from the expression on my face above – it’s the height of being spoiled to admit that, when I’m lucky enough to have one of the best dentists on the planet with a full crew of good hygienists, I still HATE going there for our twice-a-year appointments.
Other than braces as a teenager, until this year I had never had a cavity or anything else done. One of the perks of getting to be older-than-dirt is that you start falling apart. Now I’ve had one cavity filled and one tooth pulled.
One of the things that scares me the most is the cancer check. My mom died of oral cancer. Hers, I think, was due to smoking. It still worries me that there MIGHT be a hereditary factor at play. Thankfully, my hygienist now does that screening for me first. (Did I tell you what wonderful people these are?)
I did the repainting of the greeter robot at the bottom of our driveway yesterday afternoon. He doesn’t look ‘new,’ but it definitely looks as if he is a treasured member of the family now. I’ll try to get a pic of him to show you later as we leave for the dentist this morning.
We’re due for thunderstorms and colder temperatures starting this afternoon, so I’m glad I got that little project finished.
Tonight we’re heating up a frozen meal we bought at Real Food in Greenwood. These are meals made by a lady who is an eater’s dream. They are good for us in that there are no preservatives, no additives with unpronounceable names, reasonable portions, and a moderate amount of salt, sugar, etc. We eat these a lot, but tonight we’re trying something a bit different.
We bought a container of ‘meatballs,’ rather than a regular dinner for one. We will heat this, find out how many servings we have, and go from there. I will fix a veggie to go with it, and we will indulge in some green grapes.
I say, ‘indulge,’ because my husband is a Type II diabetic (although he won’t be labeled this – he says he has a ‘sugar problem.’) We try to avoid sugar as much as possible. The grapes this year, though, are absolutely incredible. We feel that, since life is short anyway, we should enjoy something on the ‘avoid’ list if it is really good.
So tonight we splurge, enjoying each and every grape!
When I’m standing in the middle of a decision, not sure of which direction to take, a picture of my mom comes into my head. She always used to say, “Do any reasonable thing quickly, rather than reaching hesitantly for the ideal.”
Decisions are difficult. It doesn’t seem to always matter the importance of it or its outcome. When my dear friend and former colleague and I ran our own reading clinic years ago, we used to spend countless silly minutes trying to figure out where to go for lunch. We would go through the same questions – “What are you hungry for?” “What sounds good?” Finally, we would say, “Where do you NOT want to go?” and see if we could come to a decision that way.
I got really tired of trying to figure out what to cook for dinner. I didn’t mind COOKING it so much as the constant pressure to try to figure out something that would please, wouldn’t take a lot of time or effort – as I had always worked a full day before having to do it – provide a reasonable variety, etc. I used to ask my husband what he was hungry for while trying to make a grocery list. He would always say, “Whatever you cook is good.” And while that was nice in its way, it wasn’t helpful.
Decisions that involve things where consequences matter are much more difficult, of course. Sometimes even agonizing, when all of the avenues are distasteful, painful, or scary. Whenever I’m faced with one of these, I consider each avenue, then ask myself, “If I do this, what’s the worst that could happen?” If I find one in which I can handle the answer to that, I have my avenue.
Good morning. It’s sunny, but only 33 degrees F. out there this morning. This abrupt turn toward winter causes me to want to burrow in, stay under my throw in my recliner in the living room, watching TV or a movie, reading, or zonking out for awhile.
All of my good intentions are deferred, my focus on staying warm, cuddling with my husband and our animals, drinking coffee.
According to the weather folks, it’s supposed to warm up mid week. I’ll plan to try to get out and get the greeting robot at the bottom of our driveway repainted then.
I’m back to “Ground Zero” this morning with 30 lbs. off. I’m hopeful that I can continue the onward and downward trend now, even though it’s Lunch Bunch today.
I’ve been able to talk myself out of over-eating at our mid-afternoon snack, and I’ve been sleeping better, so I’m not up in the middle of the night – my biggest temptation time.
I’m trying to talk to myself (I do that a lot :0) ) telling myself how happy I will be if I start a new 5 pound goal instead of re-losing what I’ve lost before.
Hopefully, the next time I report, I’ll be able to tell you I’m into new territory!
I’m watching the news less and less as the days pass. It seems it can’t get any worse, and then it does. I find myself angry, frustrated, and depressed. Another of life’s character-building exercises, I guess. I can’t DO anything about it, so I’m now trying to keep up with what is actually happening and then shut it off and live elsewhere, at least in my own mind.
Happily, I have a wealth of coping mechanisms and they are getting a good amount of use now. I thought I would mention a few of them, in case YOU are having some trouble coping, too –
I’ve been using Pinterest lately for two reasons: 1) to listen to music from people I haven’t heard before. It’s inspiring to find so many talented singers. When I hear them, it seems as if their voices fill me up. 2) I’ve also clicked on interesting things and have discovered some really talented artists using various media who take my breath away. (Since I don’t mind others knowing what I’ve clicked on, I find it great that once you click on something, the program gives you more of that.)
I’ve been reading a lot. Instead of relegating things I enjoy to the “end of the line” when I’ve finished ALL the ‘have-to’s’ and ‘shoulds’ on my to-do list, I’m consciously taking time to dive into a great book. Right now I’m finishing a re-read of one of Nora Roberts’ trilogies, The Guardians.
I’m also making time to play in my art room. Right now I’m experimenting with the impasto technique – lots of texture laid on with a palette knife. So far, I’m awful, but who cares? :0)
I’m getting better at looking at exercise as a stress-reliever. I’m doing 35 minutes on my elliptical trainer in the garage on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, plus doing yoga stretches every afternoon. I’m trying to put this in the category of ‘my time,’ although basically I’m a slug and have to push myself to get up and get at it.
If you have something that helps you cope with stressful things, I would be very interested in hearing about It. We’re all in this together, and it’s good when we can help each other.
I’ve spent much of my life waiting. Waiting for Christmas morning. Waiting for school to get out for the summer. Waiting for my husband-to-be to get out of the Marines and come home. Waiting for school to be finished so I could start teaching. Waiting to get my Master’s degree so I could run my own reading clinic. Waiting for babies to be born. Waiting. And while I waited, I wasn’t really in the moment.
When the worrying gene was passed out, I got my share and then spent a lot of time nurturing and polishing it. I lost sleep. I didn’t eat, couldn’t eat, then over-ate in an effort to exert control over things not up to me. 99% of things about which I worried didn’t happen. This fact, plus the fact that I KNEW in my head I had no control, didn’t stop me from worrying. And while I worried, I wasn’t really in the moment.
It has taken me a long time, but I am finally living in the moment. I still wait, but I LIVE while I’m waiting. I may worry, but I LIVE while I’m worrying. I take the time to not only notice things, but really appreciate the beauty around me – how beautiful the weather is; I’ve come to treasure each time my 95 pound yellow lab, Amber, gets her top half in my lap while I’m trying to type a blog post, licking my face, making me laugh. I stop by my husband’s chair in the living room on the way to or from – or both – taking the time to kiss him on the head, hug him, and make him smile. I take time to play in my art room, smiling like a kid with fingerpaint, trying something new and having FUN whether I do something reasonable or just make a mess. :0) I can insulate myself from much going on in our world today, doing the little I can to help a bit – trying to protect those I love from the bad consequences (about which I worry) and ignore what I can.
If I live another hundred years or so, I may have this!
Today is the day for October’s massage. My body is almost smiling in anticipation.
Even with my old lady yoga stretching, my body won’t really relax until Lynn Moody 479-629-7601 uses her magic hands and arms to find all the knots I’ve built up since last time. She finds the ones I can feel and even those I can’t.
I’ll drink lots of water the rest of the day and won’t be shy about taking a nap this afternoon if the sleepies visit.
I hope that you are either enjoying regular massages or will look at it as a great way to take care of yourself. In our world now, we need all the help we can get.
I’m leaving in about 45 minutes for my once-a-month massage. Ahhhhhhhh! My body is already saying, “THANK YOU!”
I used to think fondly of getting one, but couldn’t really justify spending the money.
Then, after working 12 hour days, 5 days a week, doing medical transcription and bookkeeping for a busy general surgeons’ office for years, I was in the position of not being able to pull a tee shirt off over my head and needed help. Massage, whirlpools, my bosses hiring additional part-time help and changing my chair and my keyboard at work all combined to heal me.
I then went a long time without massage. My body wasn’t happy. My neck and back hurt. It was like I was trying to pull everything ‘in,’ and I started searching for a massage therapist here in Greenwood. I won the lottery when I found
Lynn Moody 479-638-8788.
Now my monthly massage is part of my ‘take care of me’ regimen. I go in, just looking forward to Lynn’s competent hands. She finds all the tight, knotted places I didn’t know I had and kneads them away. I come away, limp as a noodle, relaxed, and smiling, my next appointment date in hand.
Today’s world is a stressful one for many, many reasons. If you don’t get massages, I can’t recommend them highly enough for the peace of your mind and body. Letting go with a person you trust is a gift you should definitely give yourself.
I made it through the 3-minute dumbbell exercises with Denise Austin – barely. Then I rested for quite awhile and did other things. I have just finished another group of exercises with the weights, and plan to do one more group before I give myself a star on my calendar.
I will go and do my yoga stretches in a minute – as soon as I finish this post.
It would be NICE if I could learn to love exercising. It would be WONDERFUL if I had a rush of endorphins. It would be even better if my body had an easier time getting through this stuff. Best of all, I’ll be happy if my tape measure gives me some pats at the end of this month. It would be terrific if I end up stronger, more flexible, and feeling good.
For the moment, though, I’m just working for a star or three on my calendar for the day- a sign that I’m TRYING to take care of myself. I have a chance for 3 stars today –
Short answer: I lost an inch off my hips and a half inch off my thighs since the last time I measured, a bit over a month ago.
Total loss to date since my heaviest: 30 pounds and 28.7 inches.
Ongoing focus:
IF I eat in-between meals, have plenty of ‘approved’ snacks READY
Concentrate on my exercising, since it seems to be yielding results
Monitor scales, but don’t look to them for applause
General: We are eating carefully at lunch, and then eating a frozen meal from either Real Food or Stu’s Clean Cookin’ in Greenwood. We are happy with the variety, and we’re eating controlled portions.
I’m trying to do a session of yoga stretching daily, plus work with weights M-W-F, plus a session on the elliptical T-Th-S – unless I’ve been outside doing yard work. Then all bets are off.
I will leave soon to enjoy one of my favorite once-a-month activities – a massage. Ahhhh!
If you live in the area of Ft. Smith, call Lynn Moody 479-629-7601.
I used to consider a massage a luxury. Now I look at it as an essential part of my well-being. If the end of the world happened, I would still reluctantly give it up. I take my poor, battered, tense body, with knots and soreness to Lynn, and she returns me a very relaxed lady smiling from ear to ear.
If you have regular massages, you know what I mean. If you don’t, I am encouraging you to give yourself one of the best gifts there is.
Today is DAY 10 of my renewed efforts to lose the lard. My weight loss is not impressing anyone. In fact, my body seems to be staging a real effort to keep every bit of poundage. However, my exercise efforts are going well and I’m feeling better, even though frustrated by the scales.
Starting today I’m making two additions –
I’ll drink TWO bottles of water each day, rather than the one. (If nothing else, this will increase my ‘steps’ running to the bathroom :0) )
I’m adding some exercises with 5 pound weights Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I’ll start out slowly, since it’s been essentially forever since I’ve used them. I’m doing well with my yoga practice and am beginning to feel looser after my practice, even though I’m stiff and sore when I start.
Today is DAY 4 of my new motivation to lose my lard and increase my flexibility and stamina.
I’m feeling good about things, even though I didn’t shed any weight yesterday. I will ‘keep on keepin’ on,’ one day at a time, looking at each one as a day to maybe lose a bit and work on getting stronger.
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I’m doing my yoga-snack-water thing each afternoon. I have some sore stomach muscles in particular, a sign that my body recognizes a change. That’s GOOD. I’m finding it easier to get out of my chair, get my yoga mat and get started. Once I finish, I get my husband his bagel with cream cheese, chives, and onion, and I get MY snack of some raw veggies and a bit of dip, plus a bottle of water.
My husband, of course, isn’t even trying to lose weight at this point, or exercise, but is ahead of me on weight loss. I’m trying to be adult enough to realize that each person is different, that men seem to lose weight more easily than woman, and hitting him in the mouth won’t solve my problems. :0)
I have my desk calendar set up to get my stars for doing what I should today, and it makes me smile when I earn them.
I am feeling more in control of my habits and I’m pleased I’m doing some good things for my health.
I accomplished my goal of losing 2 lbs. last week. I am almost to my goal of reaching the 30-pounds-off-from-my-heaviest weight landmark. I am happy that I’m making some progress toward my goal of losing my lard and getting as strong and flexible as I can.
I did my second yoga practice yesterday. My husband was encouraging, though he has no appreciation for how stiff, sore, and inflexible this old lady can get. He asked me if I were having an easier time of it. I had to tell him that SOME of the positions were a bit better, but some were more difficult, because I hadn’t been practicing as I should – that it would probably be at least Sunday of THIS week before I felt much difference. He is encouraging me – as HE stretches out for a nap in his chair – :0) – and that is good motivation, too.
I feel calm, happy that I am now on the way to being healthier, am practicing good eating habits and exercising. One day at a time. Baby steps – in the right direction.
Little, but TODAY the answer is a massage! Ahhhhhhhh!
I leave in about 20 minutes and my poor body is really ready for my massage therapist, Lynn Moody, 479-629-7601, to do her magic.
With all the rain we had lately, I’ve been pulling, hauling, cleaning out and putting things back together. My body is yelling weakly, “No more!” Even the yoga I’ve been trying to do in the afternoons hasn’t been enough.
So I’m the luckiest person in the world this morning, looking forward to feeling really relaxed soon. :0)
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