Tag Archives: gym

February 17, 2026 · 2:43 am

Tuesday, 2-17-2026

Latest painted sketch

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We had the busy morning I talked about yesterday, got through it all, and lived to tell about it! HOOORAAAY! 😁

I walked my mile on the treadmill at the gym. I don’t know how to really ‘describe’ the differences I’m feeling – other than not having to hold onto the handle bars any more without falling on my head. The best way I can describe it is that I’m feeling my stomach muscles working for the first time in years and years. I feel looser in my ‘core,’ now and it feels GOOD to be walking – not having to concentrate so hard on not listing to the right or the left or having to ‘correct’ for balance issues so hard. 💪🏻

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Small Door Veterinary

I took a quick shower, dressed for the rest of the day, and we grabbed a GRAB (Uber type transformation) to go for my routine doctor’s appointment. I had dreaded it because the last time the lady took my blood for labs, it HURT and I ended up with a fairly impressive hematoma that lasted several days before just becoming a bruise and fading. This time she didn’t hurt me (Yea!) and I only have a small bruise.

The first time I went to this doctor was in May after we got my husband settled at the nursing home. We found my blood pressure to be sky high – they took my pressure several times, then got me meds to give me right there at the clinic so I wouldn’t stroke out. She suggested that I continue my efforts to lose the lard, be serious about taking the blood pressure medicine she prescribed, and exercise.

I am now taking half a blood pressure pill daily and it’s keeping me under good control. Since that first checkup, I have lost 35+ pounds (90 pounds in the past two years) and am doing yoga stretches and water bottle exercises on alternate days in addition to the daily treadmill, plus using the stairs here at the condo building when reasonable.

I should get the official results in the next couple of days. I’m hoping to get much improved numbers.

Something that made me the happiest – I am finally maturing as an adult (I know, you’re rolling your eyes and saying, “It’s about TIME!”) – but I figured out that I was wanting to see the doctor to have her give me kudos in my efforts to follow her advice. Now I don’t need that! I am happy inside MYSELF that I am trying to take better care of myself. I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m continuing to watch what I eat and my portions. I will continue trying to add to my regimen of moving my body more as I can tolerate it. 🙏🏻

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Harem – Wikipedia

After the doctor appointment, we went to visit my husband, Harvey, at the nursing home. His new nurse is very young and incredibly sweet. I don’t know her name yet, but Brian said he would write the nursing home and find out.

This was a very strange visit. Harvey was comfortable and in a good mood. He greeted us with the fact that he was going to be married again today. He couldn’t tell us the name of the woman he was going to marry. When I remarked that he had quite a harem now, he kind of smirked and said he couldn’t remember how many he had now or their names. He said he had 8 0r 9 children, but couldn’t remember their names, either. Brian described himself, and Harvey turned to look at him, but couldn’t come up with his name. When I told him I still wanted to be his #1 wife, he didn’t answer, so I might be being replaced….

I took him “Watercolor Dreams” by RG Ryan, one of the series of books I love now. He listened as I described the main character, a man my husband would identify with, and he looked interested. Hopefully, he’ll get into it later and get hooked, as I did.

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Chelsea’sMessyApron.com

We got back home around noon. My stomach had decided my throat had been cut. It had been since 5:30 yesterday since I had eaten. Brian had ordered half a chicken salad sandwich with avocado slices to be waiting for me when we got home – thereby saving my life. 🥪

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NBC News

I’m now up from a short nap, trying to get my act together for the rest of the day. I’ve retrieved part of my laundry from my drying rack on the balcony. I got my clothes from the laundry as we got home, so that is all under control now.

Our housekeeper is cleaning Brian’s condo this afternoon, so he will come to my place this evening, bringing dinner. We’ll back up my phone and computer data and then both of us will probably crash early.

A good day, all in all. I hope that you have had an enjoyable day or evening.

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October 24, 2025 · 12:42 am

Friday Thoughts 10-24-2025

Father Time – Mikki Life – Pinterest

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I asked Brian if I could leave another review for each of the two shops from which we bought the crocheted carriers and smaller, zippered bags. He said he thought that Google Reviews only allowed one review per customer.

Happily, I discovered that, though he was right, I COULD ‘edit’ my original review. I did that, adding a paragraph about the second purchase and the fact that the carrier and pouches washed just beautifully. 😃

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We got a good report from Harvey’s nurse this morning. They had to suction him again to clear his lungs (and hopefully avert pneumonia). That, and the supplemental oxygen allowed him to sleep well last night. Although he is still using a nasal tube for most of his nutrition, they are starting to give him small bites of fruit and crackers in addition. He was in a good mood and talking. HOORAY!!!

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I had a fabulous massage this morning. For some reason, I was really stiff and sore when I got up today, even after I walked my mile at the gym. Now I feel absolutely GREAT. Thanks to Khun Weaw for her caring expertise in making me functional again.

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Since it looks like I may actually finish my current jigsaw puzzle in the near future 😋, I’ve started looking for another puzzle to order. As I’m finding each, I’m bookmarking the page with the puzzle I’ve chosen and putting it into a folder on my computer. It’ll be fun to choose my next challenge.

I’m going to have Brian take a picture of the finished puzzle -when it’s finished and being shown off in all its glory on my puzzle table – so that we can order a glass print of it, as we did with the owls puzzle, so I can keep it on my special treasures shelf in my living area.

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Later today we’ll go to the cafe to spend time while we wait for Khun Nong, my cherished housekeeper, to do her thing to make my place shine. I’m taking my sketchbook and drawing supplies, my Kindle, and my sweatshirt, because it tends to be cold in there.

About half of the blossoms are gone from the spectacular bouquet she left for me last Friday, but I think it still looks great, and I smile every time I see it!

I hope that this day is a fun one for you, full of family and friends.

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October 16, 2025 · 8:59 pm

Full Friday

I’ve been to the gym, showered, eaten breakfast, and will soon go to get my Friday massage. This is truly a gift that I am giving myself. Khun Weaw is a master. She knows without words where I’m sore, where my tensions have settled, how much she can do to help without breaking me me each week. I consider her time and care part of my new health regimen.

The image above is the card I painted to show her in a small way how much I appreciate being able to come to her each week. I know how to bow and SAY “Hello “(and best wishes for a blessed day for you) and “Thank You” now – in awkward Thai, and say these each time I go, but I have no idea how to WRITE “Thank You,” so just had to write that in English.

Brian told me something I hadn’t realized before. He said that when I give someone a gift, I should bow 🙏🏻 and present the gift with BOTH HANDS so that the person understands it’s a gift, so I’ll be sure and do that this morning. I hope it makes her feel special.

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When I finish my massage and get dressed again, Brian and I will go visit my husband in the nursing home. I’m hoping he’s alert and more comfortable than the last time we saw him. He’s having more trouble eating. There are various options, none of which we like. We’re taking this one visit at a time and making decisions as we go. Going to visit him is a 3-hour round trip.

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When we come back from visiting my husband, we will gather the things we need from Brian’s place and prepare to spend the rest of the afternoon at a cafe where they make you feel comfortable to sit as long as you would like. I get an iced mocha, and sometimes Brian and I get a fresh lemonade for the last bit of time we’re there.

I take my sketchbook and supplies, and sit there happily trying to draw images I find on my phone that I’ll paint later on in the week. I also take my Kindle, where I’m in the middle of a book from an author new to me.

Finally, if I’m lucky enough to get the seat at the front of the cafe, I can watch the activity on the big street outside. I’m fascinated to watch the many lanes of vehicles – cars, buses, trucks, Tuk-Tuks, a gazillion (give or take one or two) motorcycles, motor scooters, and bicycles zipping in and out of the lanes of traffic almost without slowing down or stopping. Finally, the pedestrians walking on both sides of the street, crossing the road (some carefully, using good sense – others waiting, then RUNNING full speed, hoping they make it to the other side.)

It’s intelligent chaos. Everyone is used to the flow. They know what to do and not do (except for the runners.) I’m fascinated, and VERY glad my husband and I don’t have to try to drive in this.

(Brian and I use Grabs for wherever we go. It’s amazing how fast they come and how expertly they drive, using their GPS’s to take you right where you want to go, whether they have been there personally before or not). PLUS, I get a lot of practice trying to say “Hello” and “Thank You!”

We’ll get home around dinner time, and then I’ll end the busy Friday lounging on my couch, wearing my headphones, and listening to and watching YouTube before bed.

I hope you have a fun time today. Make yourself a priority for at least a while during the day, doing something you truly enjoy. It’ll fill up your heart and have your smile spilling over onto all around you!

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August 3, 2025 · 2:53 am

A Beautiful Day

It wasn’t raining when Brian and I made our way to the gym this morning! Later the sun came out, and it’s a lovely day here.

We went to see my husband at the nursing home. He has a new full time caregiver who is very nice. She suggested we get him toys to give him something to do with his hands, so we’re looking into that. We stopped for a chocolate drink on the way home, having a nice conversation.

I have the afternoon to myself. I’m going to paint some of the drawings I did recently after I finish writing my blog posts. Such a great way to spend the afternoon! 😃

I am learning gradually to eat Thai food. Brian supplies me with a glass of water, plus I am learning to combine bites to include something that makes the ‘hot and spicy’ easier on my mouth.

Also, we’re drinking some mushroom tea in the mornings with breakfast. It’s Brian’s idea that the worse the tea tastes, the better it is for us. 🤣 He got us two teas – one container each from two different mushrooms. We also add bone broth to it for added health benefits. Both have long lists of all the wonderful stuff they provide. One doesn’t taste like much of anything except hot water. The other tastes truly awful. Of course, Brian thinks the latter is ‘better for us.’ We trade off on which one we drink each morning. There is no telling if either one really are that great health-wise, but it’s worth a shot. Plus, it gives us something to laugh about every other day…

Have a wonderful day!

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