Not Quite Done Braggin'

Had my first post-op Dr.'s appointment yesterday afternoon. I was feeling very good about my progress, but you know how Doctors can be. I went in with tempered enthusiasm for what I believed to be remarkable progress. I am extremely happy to report that my enthusiasm was not misplaced! I am a medical miracle! Ok, that might be a slight overstatement, but I'm pretty dad-gummed good.

The Dr., first of all, complimented his handiwork by bragging about my incision. I was glued shut, not stapled,so the wound looks really nice. I reminded him that it was my knee, my skin, and my fantastic healing ability that is making him look good....and what kind of discount do I get for that? No surprise, no discount!

I did my best strut around the room for him so he could see my knee bend. I passed that with flying colors, too. So, my reward?? No crutches!!! I can navigate around the house without benefit of crutches. I am to use one crutch or a cane when I go out and about, at least for the next two weeks. Dr. Was very impressed with the angle of bend I have achieved in only two weeks. So much so, that I will be requiring no further physical therapy! I am to continue everything I have been doing, and add other exercises as I feel stronger.

One small downer....no driving until after the first of the year. Guess my friends will be getting bigger Christmas gifts as bribes to schlep me around a little while linger.

Ok, I am now officially done bragging about my amazing recovery.....at least for now! :)

Up And At 'Em

I have returned to the blogosphere! Would have dropped by much sooner, but being techno challenged, I could not work my new toy. Hubby Dearest got me an iPad so I wouldn't have to negotiate an extra set of stairs to use the computer. Try as I might, I simply could not get the body of the blog written. Many tries, and many false starts later, here I am! Nonidea if, and/or when I might return.

My surgery was a rousing success,and I think I am doing splendidly. The shot I had to give myself turned out to be a piece if cake....and no, a longer needle was not needed to penetrate my additional roll of fat. Thank goodness. I go to the Dr. Tomorrow for the first time since the surgery, so I'll get a professional opinion on just what a fine example I am as a patient. I anticipate kudos all around.

I have had very little pain, very little pain medication, and feel I'm doing great. I do have occasional stiffness in the knee after overdoing the exercises I've been given, but nothing unbearable. All in all, I have to say I am looking forward to many years of pain free walking, golfing, exercising, and playing with my grandchildren.

The being waited on hand and foot portion of this event ain't so bad, either. :)

Shocking, Just Shocking!!

Yep, shock of shocks, I am posting yet again. It will be just like most of my other posts, random and imparting nothing of note. However, I find myself with a bit of time on my hands, so I thought I'd sneak in a post today. Don't get excited, I don't have much to say. :)

I had my pre-op "class" yesterday. It was semi-informative. Much of the info was the same as when I had my other knee replaced five years ago. However, there were some new twists since my last foray into surgery. This particular orthopedic department believes in pain meds by the pound!! I'm not at all sure I'm totally on board with that. Before I'm even undressed I will be given an Oxycontin, Tylenol, and some other pain pill/relaxant I'd never heard of. Hope I can get undressed and into my hospital garb before I pass out.

The rules for post op are much tougher, but they mentioned nothing about physical therapy. That was the most important part of my recovery last time. I asked about that and was told they would discuss therapy with me after the surgery. Wish I had a little more info on that. The newest thing, and one I'm lukewarm about, is that instead of the Coumadin I took post op last time, I'm going home with 7 pre-loaded syringes of Lovenox (sp?) that I have to inject into my stomach once a day. Doesn't that sound like a laugh a minute? Hope the needle is long enough to penetrate the blubber that resides there. :)

I just noticed that I have no spell check for this post, and the font is different. What the hell happened while I was sleeping? I don't get it. So, while I think I've spelled things pretty well, I'm not certain. Wonder what else will change while I'm recooperating? Hope I still have an account upon my return.

Once again....Happy Thanksgiving to all, and safe travels.

Yes, I'm Still Here!

After what seems like a long absence, I have rejoined the blogosphere. Nothing was wrong, I was not sick, and I wasn't being bad....I was being lazy. Well, that, and I'm trying to get everything in order for Thanksgiving, the last tailgate of the year and have the house in order for after my surgery. Needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting Nov. 29 and my new knee.

I have my pre-op walk through this Thursday, and my physical on Monday. I should be all set to go. I'll be delighted to have my mobility restored. I have been trying to keep up with exercise and proper diet. I have to say, I'm doing ok in both regards. I'm not a shining star, by any means, but I've done pretty well.

A friend of mine recently broke her right foot, and is not allowed to drive, so I'm trying to accumulate brownie points by chauffeuring her around these last few days before I no longer can drive. Then, hopefully, she'll be able to take over. I'll be wheel-less for about 4 weeks. Certainly didn't wish an injury on her, but at least we can help each other out. Handy for me, not so great for her.

I must now take a moment to brag on The Primary Child. As a teacher, he doesn't have lots of time off, but he is going to take a personal day after my surgery to drive 2 hrs. one way to come help me out if needed. I thought that was a lovely gesture. I'm quite certain The Perfect Child would fly in from Phoenix if necessary. I got me some terrific kids!! Even Hubby Dearest surprised me by taking the entire week off after my surgery. Didn't see that comin'. I figured an hour here, an hour there....color me shocked. What a guy!!

Thank goodness the new Trader Joe's opened here before I was temporarily incapacitated. I have enjoyed my forays into the new store. I can now make shopping lists for all my favorite places and I'm sure HD will be happy to fulfill my every whim. For one who absolutely hates grocery shopping, his efforts will probably be less than enthusiastic. Poor guy. But if he wants to eat, he'll adapt.

I am able to read blogs on my Crackberry, so I'll be in and out of the blogs while I'm hobbled. I haven't found a good way to comment or post on my phone, so I may be silent, but I'll be checking up on everyone.

I'll check back in on the flip side of surgery. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. For those who are travelling, please travel safely. The very best to everyone. "See" you soon!!!

Mental Check Up

I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I may need. I've had insomnia lately (nothing new), but my thoughts have been turning to what it is going to take for me to have the defining "AHA Moment"? I've had minor moments, and pay attention.....for a while. While lying awake at night this week, I've come up with a myriad of great reasons to get my act together once and for all.

A few months ago, I realized my children have never seen me in any other state than fatness. That should have done it, right? It did, for a while. Since then, I've thought about having some sort of accident that would require EMT's to lift me onto a gurney. Could they do it? Yes, I'm sure they could, but it would be embarrassing, I'm sure. I am not fixated, by any means, on having any accidents or health problems, but I'm just considering the problems that could possibly arise as I age. Last night's thought for the night was about my post op recovery. What if, after getting my new knee, I still have the sciatica and hip pain? What if it wasn't just a result of the odd walking gait I now employ? I've been told it is, but maybe the weight has played a part as well. Along with that, what if I cause the health insurance rates we pay to go up due to my inability to keep my blood pressure and cholesterol under control. I do have them in very good shape, so it is not an immediate concern.....but at 3:30 in the morning, it's something I ponder. My new concern this morning is flying. I love to fly, but what if pretty soon I have to ask for the seat belt extension? A lady across the aisle from me on one flight had to ask, and I could sense her embarrassment. I don't want to be that woman. I want to travel, and be able to do so comfortably.

Any of these moments, taken by themselves, should be a call to action. So, why is it that I remain half-assed in my efforts? I am lightening up and improving our eating habits, but that alone, ain't gonna do it. I can do easy exercise, which I do, but not enough to be considered a cardio workout. I guess my best effort has been in changing our diet. We eat healthier, lighter meals, and we do watch the calories, but I know that alone isn't going to make a huge difference. I have pledged to include more grains and legumes, for fiber, in our winter diet. I am hoping that's gonna move me to action. (Not the kind you're thinking of when you hear "fiber".)

AHA!! I am hoping against hope, this is it!!!

Nothing of Note

Just exactly as the title suggests, nothing good or bad is happening around these here parts. In a way that's good, but in other ways, disappointing. I have had some relief in both the sciatica and knee departments, so that is the good news. However, my increased exercise and mindful eating have not yielded quite the success I'd hoped for. I had some "flu" bug or another on Saturday evening thru Sunday, so I did lose weight thanks to that. Of course, when I re-hydrated, my wonderful loss was suddenly not quite as wonderful. However, I did lose 5.6#, and believe me, I'm perfectly ok with that.

I find that each day my energy increases, and my sciatic nerve pain lessens a bit. I still go to the chiro regularly, but I'm stretching the time between appointments each week. Even better, I've been able to play golf....adding to my exercise this week. Once again, I'm beginning to be satisfied with baby steps at this time.

My next cortisone shot is coming up in a week or two, so I'm hoping that some relief will be forthcoming. Easier walking should, theoretically, lead to lessening of the pressure on my sciatic nerve. At least that is what both the chiro and the orthopod tell me. Since at the time of my last shot, the sciatica was minimal, I'm awaiting that relief in that department.

I do have to confess a funny mistake I made last Saturday. It was football Saturday, and we were going to the game. In order to be ready for the long walk, I put on my knee brace early. Laced it up, buckled it, and off we go. About an hour away from the stadium, I realize I have put the brace on the wrong knee!! This required a trip to the restroom in our parking lot, and a bit of maneuvering to get it on the right knee....literally the right knee. Felt a bit silly, but everyone enjoyed a good laugh. I may have to use a magic marker now to make sure I'm hitching up the right side.

I Love My Postal Worker!

Well, not in the literal sense, but figuratively, anyway. Yesterday, my new blogger friend, Spunky Suzi sent me a package of delicious bars....my favorite postal worker delivered them! I simply could not resist trying just one right then and there. I chose a coconut and mango (she had me at MANGO) bar. It was lovely, even tho' I am not a huge coconut fan, I enjoyed this bar. After looking at my goody package, it occurred to me that I had won a give away a while back. This little goody bag arrived just at the right time!! I am feeling a bit better, and have begun exercising more, so a mid-day snack that is healthy will be a wonderful treat. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Suzi. I'm really anxious to try the Macadamia Nut Butter. That sounds delicious.

We have begun the tailgating season around these here parts. I am still trying to include a healthy alternative to some of the usual tailgate culprits. If I don't mention that a certain dish is healthy, it goes just as fast as the ribs, brisket and cheese corn bake. This week's switcheroo is a healthy mac 'n cheese. It came from a Taste of Home Healthy Eating cookbook, and is quite delicious. Made with healthy pasta (which coincidentally comes in the shape of the letter "N" for Nebraska) no one will know it's a lower fat, lower calorie version of the usual fat laden dish. I am also including a smoked turkey breast as well. I think I'm all set. I made a few changes last year, and they went over well, so I'm expanding this year. I've heard that many of our tailgate participants are trying to improve their eating habits, so I feel it my duty to assist them in this endeavor.....all the while really making it work for me!!

Knock, Knock...

That is the sound of my knuckles meeting the desktop. Not that I'm overly superstitious, but just in case, I'm taking no chances. After 4 days of being miserable, and still trying to do the new stretches my chiro gave me, I had shown no relief in the sciatica. Then this morning, after a fairly miserable night, I awoke to the least amount of pain I've had is weeks and weeks!!! Instead of having to sit down on an ice bag for 45 min. to an hour before I could get anything done, I was ready to go in only 15 min.!!!! Hip, Hip, Hurray! I got right after the stretches, and began to graduate to a few leg lifts, and sit ups. Weights came later, but I did get a few done. No outdoor walk today, it's raining again. Baby steps.

I hesitate to get too excited and overdo, but I am feeling heartened by the little progress I'm currently enjoying. Now, I'm going to have to get my cooking and eating under control. I've felt so lousy lately, that I've not been good about food preparation, at all. Whatever I can throw together is what we end up with. Not good at all. In all honesty, there have been a few too many trips to a fast food joints, too. If this pain relief is the real deal, I'm anxious to get back and get crackin' on my new plan for more soups, and for using more grains and legumes.

Tomorrow is the last regular delivery for our CSA produce, but this year, I wised up and extended our share for the fall. I love the squash and fall veggies, so we decided to pony up and get the extended share. That will begin next week. Last week's box brought a little "Carnival" squash, and this week it should be ready to eat. I've been busy dehydrating chili peppers and making chili powder for soups this winter. I just finished a batch of tomatoes that I dehydrate and use as snack chips. I'm going thru all the right motions, I've just been terribly remiss in putting the right things into action.

I've also found, by stepping on the scales this morning, that I have not been maintaining my weight, as I thought I had. With little or no exercise, and a diet of junk and crap (sadly).... imagine my surprise when my scales showed a gain!!! Not as bad as it certainly could have been, but more than I'd like to have seen. I even modified my calorie intake to compensate for the lack of exercise, but then it just all went to hell, and off the wagon I tumbled. I'm reaching for the reins right now, trying to gain control of my wagon, so hopefully in the very near future, my results will be better. Here's hoping.

Day Three, I'm On a Roll!

Well, a mini-roll anyway. I do feel improvements, gradual as they may be, but at least I'm feeling perkier by the day. I'll take what I can get.

I went for a little longer walk today. Still not overdoing, but it felt good to at least get stretched out and get something done. I'm working my way up to the recumbent bike, as it requires hoisting my leg over the middle of the bike. We don't have one of the fancy ones with the completely cut out middle portion.

I'm also making it a point to begin thinking about re-vamping (for a 2nd time) our eating habits. With my exercise limited, I need to alter my portions and daily calorie allotments. I informed Hubby Dearest that we are going to be enjoying more grains and more soups this fall and winter. We (meaning I) are hoping that using soups, which are quite filling, will provide the proper fiber and calorie counts without breaking the dietary bank. There are only a few (canned) soups that HD even likes, and besides chili, this could be a real challenge. But, to his credit, he has taken all of my previous wild ideas in stride, and is extremely cooperative. All I need to do is leave out the mushrooms and I'm golden. :)

So, now armed with the umpteenth iteration of my "plan", I am hopeful that I'm back on the right track. All I need is for the knee and the back to hold out until Nov. 29 when I can then fully engage in all of the things that I've been planning to do. Not quite a bucket list, but kinda close.

Ho Hum!

Another day, another blog post. OMG!!! This makes two in a row! Alert the media, I'm back at it. Well, sorta. After yesterday's "Oh Woe Is Me" post I felt I owed it to myself (and to the one or two people who actually read my blog) to let you know that I am seeing some improvement. My walk yesterday was, in fact, longer than the day before, so that's progress. I still have great difficulty getting on the recumbent bike, but that day will come soon, I am sure. For now, a few weights and a walk or two is about all I can muster.

I can't tell if the prednisone is really helping yet or not. I do know that it tastes bitter, and gives me terrible indigestion. Ahhhh, the price one must pay for results. The gigantic bruise on my butt is not subsiding, and sitting is still an issue. Perhaps I mentioned I had a deep tissue massage, with a sledge hammer, so I'm still mighty tender. Ice, Ice, Baby!! The good news is that I did, as usual, awaken at 3:00 this morning for my nightly trip to the potty, but instead of being in pain and having to go downstairs to medicate and sit on my ice bag, I was able to go back to bed with minimal pain, and get 3 hrs. more of the sleep I so desperately crave. That, my friends, is progress. I still have the morning pain, but it begins to subside about 11, so I am hopeful that each day, as the prednisone takes hold, my mobility will arrive earlier in the morning....day by day.

I am currently able to get some work done around the house, so that makes me feel a little bit more useful. Can't do some household tasks, but they are the ones that I hate to do when I'm completely well.....vacuuming being one of them. Luckily, Hubby Dearest has sprung for a cleaning lady, but she is only able to come every 4 weeks until Nov. But believe me, that is better than nothing. So, I am trying to maintain bathrooms and dust now and again. Not too much bending over at one time, and I can "Get 'er done!"

Lest I bore you all further, I shall now go back upstairs to my comfy chair and lovely ice bag. Getting a lot of reading done as I sit all day. Boring, but at least I don't have to twiddle my thumbs all day long.

Shame, shame, shame

ON ME!!! I have not only been remiss in my blogging, I have been remiss in almost every other area of my life, as well.

This is the point where I now begin the litany of maladies that have prevented me from doing what it is I know I must do. So as not to disappoint, I shall begin by saying that my sciatica has come back with a vengeance. It has prevented me from sleeping, doing stairs, driving long distances, and sitting comfortably. I have not come downstairs to blog or to ride the recumbent, or to do any exercises at all. As one might suspect, the lack of activity has taken a toll on my previous successes. I am about as out of shape and "blubbery" as I have ever been. It's more than slightly depressing. I'm trying to work myself back into some sort of groove, but when I awake at 3:30 every morning in pain, I'm not exactly motivated to get exercising. I know, Excuse #1. When the pain finally subsides, I drive the 7 blocks to the chiropractor, where he uses his elbow to go deep into the tissue to loosen up the "knots". I'm black and blue for days, and it hurts to sit on the bike seat. Excuse #2. There are days I cannot stand to do the stairs. I can get downstairs from the bedroom, but doing another flight just isn't in the cards. Excuse #3. I could go on and on, but instead I bit the bullet and actually went to my regular Doctor.

After making me push and pull various muscles, he came to the conclusion that I do, indeed, have sciatic nerve problems, caused by my bad knee. (Which, due to the sciatica, I'd almost forgotten about.) He's given me prednisone (sp?) for the time being. I only have to get to Nov. 29 when I have my knee replacement, so this is a 6 day pack, with 6 days of residual effect. That will hopefully give me some much needed relief. I just want to sleep more than 3 1/2 hrs. per night. I think the worst part of all of this is my pathetic lack of golf this summer. It has always been the one key component to my exercise regimen. That, may very well be the cause of my blue mood. I've only had one day on the prednisone, so we'll see if relief is on the way. Fingers crossed.

I did try to take a short walk yesterday, but turned back after less than 1/2 block. I thought the stretching would be helpful....I was incorrect. Back to the ice pack again. I'm going to try again this afternoon, so we'll see how far I can get. I'm going with the any progress is good. Even if I only go 3/4 of a block today, it will be an improvement.

I probably should have titled this post "Oh Poor Me!", but I think I've used that before. :)

Yoo Hoo, Am I Out There?

Seems like ages since I've set down and composed a post for my blog. Suppose that could be because I've not been busy doing very much. Knee, back and hip are doing quite nicely considering I am an old fart. Rain, rain, and more rain has kept me off the golf course, so my exercise has been largely confined to the recumbent bike. I really have no problem with that except that I prefer an outdoor activity.

A post without mentioning another injury is like a day without sunshine. Well, actually I have 3 new ones to report. Last week I had 2 squamous cell spots removed on my right hand. They were located in very odd spots, and the Dr. said he'd never seen them between fingers before. Leave it to me!! Typing has been a challenge with all the bandages. They are smaller now, so I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. The third oddity occurred last night. I opened the drop leaf to my desk and the old calculator slid out and dropped, corner first, right on my big toe. A slight yelp of "ouch" and I thought nothing of it. When I went upstairs to go to bed, I had quite a lovely bruise. Well, "ouch" indeed. This morning I awoke to a really swollen and bruised big toe. A little ice and a little elevation of the foot, and only the bruise remains. But, really, what a stupid accident. Only I could do something so blatantly dumb.

It's State Fair time again, but I am not succumbing to the temptation of the pork chop on a stick.

The heat and humidity might also play a small part in my willingness to forgo the lure of multiple new foods on a stick. I'll stay at home and enjoy the fresh and delicious tomatoes that everyone, but me, has been growing. My efforts at tomato farming have yielded exactly 2 regular sized tomatoes and 6 cherry tomatoes. Pitiful, I admit. However, my peppers are going nuts!! That, and my herbs, have been doing well. My upside down tomato thingy hasn't proven to be the wonder of nature I was promised. I had much better luck last year. Lucky for me I have my CSA and several friends providing lovely produce.

On a very proud note, my granddaughter (age 6) completed her first 1 mile fun run in 13 min. 11 sec.!!!! I am so proud of her. The Primary Child (her father) did the 5K just prior to her run, then ran with her. Very cool.

A Sunday Post??? What Am I Thinking?

Well, I'll tell you what I'm thinking.....Yippeeeeee Damned Skippeeeeee!!! I played 18 holes of golf today with almost no pain!! I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about that. At about the 16th hole my knee began to get tired, but I was not in pain. Hallelujah!!

I know better than to get too cocky about this, but I have to admit I am heartened by this turn of events. I am well aware of the pitfalls of being over confident, so I will keep things in perspective. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week is our annual Member-Guest Tournament, and I am hopeful that I will be able to continue to enjoy a pain-free golf experience. I have promised myself that I will not overdo, and I will not force myself to do things I'm not able to do. Thank goodness my partner realizes that I have certain limitations. We're in it, not to win it, but to have an enjoyable experience, and have fun. I have warned her that if I feel pain...I quit. She's good with that.

Since my injection on Thursday, I have been taking things slow and easy. I am not going to tempt the fates, but I am thinking I may be able to resume a walking schedule after the golf tournament. I have found one thing to be a problem, I cannot carry heavy things without a bit of a twinge in my knee. I think that's a sign that everyone should fetch and carry for me!! NOT!

I cannot carry my usual 5 grocery bags in at one time, but I'm ok with that. :)

In looking over this post, I see why I don't post on weekends. It's an odd post, but a happy one. I just couldn't wait to share my happy news. Hope my good fortune continues. Wish us luck.

Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Oh What A Relief It Is

Well, truth be told, there was no plop, plop or fizz, fizz....but AHHHH what a relief it is! Yep, you guessed it! Today was cortisone shot day. I'm to stay off the knee for a "few" hours. What exactly is a "few" I asked. I was told "More than 1 and less than 10". So guess I'll just chill for a little while. I was told to stay off the "dreadmill" as it is too taxing on the old, decrepit joints. So just me and my trusty recumbent from now until Nov. 29. Oh....did I mention that's my surgery date? I can also squeeze one more cortisone shot in before surgery. I learned not to stretch the gap between shots the hard way.!! I am looking forward to the surgery and having all of this crap behind me, but I still want to be able to enjoy golf and football, too. I want it ALL!!! If I take care and listen to what my body tells me, I see no reason I can't have it ALL!!!

I have to admit that feeling the relief already has me anxious to get back on track. I will pace myself, but just being able to do a bit more than usual will be wonderful. I'll ease back into a routine that is sensible, but just using the word routine is comforting.

Thank you all for your encouraging words on my last post. I did think and ponder quite a lot before I went to the Dr. today. I was truly thinking of an earlier surgery, but after discussing the situation with my Dr., he felt I could stay comfortable and still do all the things I want to do. He did use the word "sensible" quite a bit. Think it might have been a subliminal message? I was also left with the option to change dates if things become intolerable. Good to have options, I guess. Certainly hoping that I don't need to make alternate arrangements.

So, I'm all set for another 3 months...I hope. I'm gonna do things in moderation, but I'm looking forward to actually DOING things again. Thank you all again for encouraging me. I'm trying to hang in there. After one whole morning...so far, so good. :)

At A Crossroads

Remember the old Johnny Carson skit, where Johnny is giving directions to his character's car lot, and he says "When you come to the fork in the road, take it!!" Well, I think I might be at a crossroads ready to "take it"....but which way do I turn?

When I originally began this journey, it was to improve my health and hopefully lose weight along the way. I am happy to report that the health improvement is going along nicely, but there is always room for improvement. Improvement that would be greatly enhanced by a greater weight loss. Thursday I am going to the orthopedic Dr. for my cortisone shot. I know that it is going to bring relief, but I also know that relief will be temporary, and will wear off a month before I want to schedule my surgery. Crossroads #1...accept the fact that I will have another month like this last one before the surgery OR bite the bullet and schedule the surgery earlier and miss football season. (No I am not playing linebacker for the team.) Fact is, I am as crazy about Nebraska Cornhusker football as I am about golf!! Therein lies my dilemma.

Crossroads #2...I am not achieving the weight loss goals I had hoped for lately, but I know that my lack of exercise due to limited movement is not helping. It is not an excuse either. So, do I back off for now completely, continue the healthy eating and wait for pain relief to begin again, or do I toughen up and get on with it? I'm not a sissy by nature, but I am not enjoying the pain I'm inflicting upon myself one little bit. Even golf has been a struggle. Sunday, after a long layoff, I decided to give it a whirl. I only lasted 13 holes, then became an innocent bystander. That really hurts!!!

Crossroads #3...Blogging. While I love blogging, especially reading all of the blogs that I've followed all these months. I simply don't feel that I'm doing my part as a blogger. I'm not able to exercise, I'm not really losing weight, I'm just kinda hangin' on by a thread. My question is, "Should I continue to blog even tho' I have nothing but my marvelous wit (no wisdom) and sunny disposition to share? The blogging community has been so kind and generous to me, I hate to leave it altogether.

I can see that this post might qualify as a whiny, "oh poor me" post. I don't want it to be, really I don't. I want to make decisions that will be in my long term best interests. At 61, I want to maximize the years I have to look forward to. I don't want lasting damage from anything I may be trying to do right now. At least we are on the right track making good food choices, and making sure we find healthy alternatives to our old "vices". Guess that's a good thing, huh?

Thwarted!!

Drats! My grand plan to grow old gracefully is being thwarted. Roadblocks are being thrown in my path right and left lately. I shall not be deterred, but it ain't gonna be easy.

As I've already complained, my knee is on the replacement "to-do" list this fall. Until then, I'll be dragging it behind me, bitching loudly. I think I might have pulled a little something in my neck lifting weights this morning. I think it might be a matter of not stretching enough, so I'm not overly concerned. However, what I am concerned about it how much more stretching and warming up I have to do before I can get down to business. Almost as long as the workout itself!!

I was at the Dermatologist the other day, and had several spots frozen. Nothing significant, thank goodness, but the spot I was actually worried about turned out to be nothing more than an "Old Age" spot. Now, the Dr. put it more politely than that, but I knew exactly what the inference was. Old Age spots be damned!! Of course pointing this one spot out led to the discovery of many, many more spots that prompted the, " You don't have to worry about this, it's a normal part of aging." comment. Ouch!

I looked this morning and found that my list of vitamins and Doctors now outnumber the number of friends on our Christmas Card list!! I had a plan, once upon a time. Hubby Dearest and I would slide gracefully into our dotage with dignity and all in one piece. I'm pretty sure HD is gonna succeed, but I'm sort of a question mark at this point. I can cope with body parts aging, and going to pot, but I get very concerned when my mind shows signs of slowing down.

Case in point: Grocery Day today. I park the car in about the same place.....far enough from the door to make myself walk a short distance. (So far, so good, huh?) I shop like pro, sticking mainly to the perimeter of the store. (Still ok, right?) Check out and pay. (Still hangin' in there.) Push the cart out to the car. Stand by the door and click my remote door thingy...nothing. Keep clicking, still nothing. Click, click, curse, curse, click, click. Well, dummy, now what? If I stay out in the heat much longer, my broccoli is gonna pre-cook. LIGHTBULB!!! This is not my car! Ye Gods! It is an identical version of my car, down to the extra cloth grocery bags on the back seat. My car is directly across from the car I'm trying to break into! As casually as I can muster at this point, I stroll over to my car and load 'er up, return the cart to the cart park, and make my getaway as quickly and quietly as possible. As I left I saw that this car had different tires than my car.....well, who the hell checks that???

But in thinking about this further, it occurs to me that I have an SUV with the license plate right there in front of me on the tailgate. I have a personalized plate and should have noticed that I was trying to load up the wrong tailgate!!! I can't begin to tell you how that affects my self esteem and my plan to be a really cool, hip and happenin' old lady. I've suffered a setback, but I'm bound and determined to keep pluggin' away. I am buying a book of more difficult crosswords right away!

No News=Good News, Right? Well, Maybe Not

That's just where I am at present...nothing newsworthy.

My knee completely gave way last week, so I am on the injured reserve list. Walking very gingerly until I can get to the orthopod on the 29th. I am hoping that the cortisone shot will help re-seat my knee, and I'll be able to resume some sort of regular walking routine. Right now I have a hobbling routine. My knee "popped", I heard it, waited a moment, and then it came....PAIN....shooting, stabbing pain. My knee had popped out of "sync". I got it kinda re-seated, but it still wobbles. I am seriously considering an earlier surgery date. I'll see the Doc on the 29th and ask if this little setback is enough to move up the surgery date. I'm hoping not, but if I'm going to have this "wobbler" for the next few months, I won't have much fun to look forward to. I know it's bad when I cancel golf!! One good thing has come of this new event tho', I've pretty much forgotten about my sciatica! :)

I've been away from blogging for a bit. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I began reading again yesterday on my Crackberry. I haven't figured out how to respond or comment using the phone yet, but I did finally read and catch up. I am trying to use the phone for as much as I can, then I don't have to go downstairs to the "office/gym" to use the regular computer. (We don't yet have a laptop.) Stairs are not my friend at the moment. I can't use any of the equipment we have downstairs, so I'll bring the exercise ball upstairs along with my 8# weights and do a little bit of work upstairs. Makes the family room look a little funny, but at least I can do a little something.

My main claim to fame in the past few weeks has been that we are keeping our eating under control. I've managed to stay on the healthy track with that, at least. The CSA shares help, so it's always fun to see what we're going to be enjoying from week to week. And, guess what??? My beloved kohlrabi has returned!!! Not in the huge quantities we had last year, but it's back. I am wondering what it is about Iowans and their kohlrabi? Even the farmers' markets are full of kohlrabi baskets. I find that very odd. Must have something to do with the bright purple color. If that's not the reason, I cannot figure out the attraction. This year, a friend and her husband are sharing our bounty with us. Makes it much easier to use all of the greens and, of course, kohlrabi, if we are not the only ones trying to make use of it. Zucchini squash season has begun, so I suppose I'll be baking soon. I'm not keen on baking, but with the onset of zucchini season, I usually have to do something baked for HD to take to the office. I can't let a cake sit around here, that's for sure. We'd not be able to resist.

Well, Go Figure!

This just in!!! Dr. Reports That VRaz60 Is OK!! I just opened my Dr.'s report and found that aside from the bottom number of my blood pressure (I forget which is systolic and which is diastolic) all of my numbers have improved!! As I whined yesterday, it was due in no part to my healthy habits of late. I am hopeful that with these numbers showing improvement, and knowing that even tho' I've slacked off lately, I did well, I'll be more inclined to get my act together more quickly.

After several weeks of remaining silent, my competition has spoken!! He informs me that he has now lost weight again! The contest continues. Perhaps that, too, will motivate me again. He has forged into the lead by a per cent or two. I should put my nose to the grindstone, or more accurately, my butt on the recumbent bike, and get a move on it. I did 15 min. on the bike yesterday, but I really felt it in my knee. Fortuitously, my sciatica is in abeyance for the moment and I can be more active. Will that actually make me get going or not, we shall see.

As you can see, I talk a good game. Action needs a little work. I DO really want to get my mojo back, I really do. I don't want it to take bad news to make me work as hard as I should. I cannot take my positive Dr.'s report as a sign to continue slacking off.

Blogger's Block

I've had Writer's Block before, but now it has turned into Blogger's Block. I am still doing most of the same things on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, so nothing strikes me as very newsworthy. The events that are fun and exciting to me have nothing to do with my health, per se. Even tho' each of the fun events make me happy and I enjoy them enormously, they don't necessarily contribute to my overall good health.

Example: Our wonderful grandson's 3rd birthday party. For this big event, The Perfect Child flew in from Phoenix to help celebrate. Big party, big fun. Smart eating....not so much. Earlier, The Primary Child and the above mentioned wonderful grandson came for a visit. Rainy weather, no outside activity, and again.....good habits took a big hit. Guests for golf, dinner out, bbq's when weather permits. Dumb choices all over the place.

Next up: 4th of July with friends joining us for the huge celebration at our club. I'm planning on improving my choice making, but who knows? I grow weaker and weaker in this department lately. I'm not gaining any weight, but I'm certainly not losing, or taking care of my overall health.

I should get a gauge as to just what damage I may have done very soon. Monday, I went to the Dr. for my 6 month med-check. I'll be getting the blood work results back this week, so perhaps I'll be shocked back into action....and while I'm not anxious for bad news, maybe that might just be the kick in the butt I need to get my sorry ass back on track. I talk to myself daily, chastising myself for being such a slacker. I know exactly what the consequences will be if I don't get going in the right direction again. I know, I know, I know. WHEN do I DO???? I certainly do not lack for AH-HA moments, they happen all the time. How do I manage to continually ignore them?

Sciatica is much improved, golf is more frequent, so theoretically, I should be perking right along, right? Yeah, I'd think so too.

Dadgummit, Anyhow!

Seems as tho' I'm just not gonna catch a break this week. Yesterday, as I was pulling some items out of the dryer in order to get ready for my big golf outing, I snapped my sciatic all over again. Not as bad this time, but plenty aggravating. I made up my mind not to miss this golf event because it was "Bras for the Cause", a breast cancer and women's health organization here that our golf club supports with a big tournament every year. I hated to miss it, so I dropped "a few" Tylenol Arthritis Strength, and tried to keep moving. I wasn't much help to the team, but I got thru the day with no major problems. Just the same nagging pain as I woke up with.

Upon my return from the tournament, I called the chiropractor to see if I could get in yet that afternoon. The office was closed!! I suffered thru the evening, and was able to sleep a bit. I do have to get more Tylenol, however. Also had to pull out "Old Faithful"...the ice bag. I've had it attached to my butt off and on all day. Took it off only long enough to get the chiro to adjust me, and to have my spinal decompression. I'm having a modicum of relief right now, so I'm hopeful this siege of sciatica won't be as long, or as painful as the last one. The whole things throws a real kink into my exercise program, let me just say. Walking slowly is just about all I can do at present. I've tried a few stretches with the exercise ball, but I'm not quite sure about that yet. It hasn't actually been painful, but I can feel an uncomfortable pull now and then.

My salsa garden has suffered a setback, too. A friend told me to make a solution of Dawn liquid dish washing soap and water to get rid of the little bugs that were nibbling on my radish tops and enjoying my lettuce right down to the ground. I bought a plain, non-antibacterial, old fashioned Dawn liquid, added it to a spay bottle with some water. Spritzing away, I was feeling very good about my efforts to remain "green". Later that day, the tops of the radishes were brown and wilted, the lettuce sickly, and the leaves were beginning to yellow on my pepper plants.... and then eventually they fell off!!! Tomatoes were unaffected, thank the Good Lord!! Today, I noticed that teeny, tiny leaves were beginning to form on the "Pepper Sticks". Can't really call them plants at present! :) I remain hopeful that I'll have peppers by the time the snow flies.

Blogger Must Not Like Me

I had the most wonderful post ready for yesterday, but Blogger wouldn't let me post it. I commented on a few blogs, then PRESTO! I was booted out. Was it something I said?? At any rate, a day has passed and I've forgotten what I was going to regale you all with. So, I decided that an even better post would include the picture of our granddaughter, "The Dancing Princess", pre-recital. Ain't she sweet? This picture doesn't show her black and white pom poms which were part of the dance. The music..."I'm A Believer"... Right up my alley, era wise. :) It was fun to see all the little ones doing their very best to remember their steps. As usual, I was tired of seeing the older dancers every other dance. 2hrs. and 40 min. of dancing, and the cutest dancer of all was 5th or 6th from the last act. :(

On another note, I assume I am running away with the "Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done" weight loss challenge. My competition has not reported in for two weeks, so I have declared myself the winner of the last two weigh ins! This is turning out to be easier than I ever imagined!! Possibly NOT the dumbest thing I've ever done, at all.

I have just purchased two new cookbooks, neither one of which I needed. However, I love cookbooks, and now that I've added these two to the collection, I have decided I need to cook at least two items from a cookbook, any cookbook, in the collection each week. More would be better, but at least two seems doable. My new Emeril cookbook, "Farm to Fork" will be useful when my CSA shares begin to be more bountiful. Right now we are stuck on greens, spring onions and asparagus. All wonderful stuff, but I'm looking forward to more variety soon. The other book, "Planet BBQ" gives ideas for international barbecue favorites. Last night we had a Serbian style stuffed pork tenderloin. Wonderful!! HD's father's family was Croatian, so in the interest of detente, we enjoyed a Serbian specialty. Ever the peacemaker, that's me. There are Croatian recipes in the book, so I do plan on sampling those soon.

My new addiction, which I'm trying to use to replace Cheetos, is Twitter. I'm not a contributor, as a rule, but I am following several people. I find it oddly fascinating, and totally addictive. Being a total non-technological person, this is a huge step for me. Teeny, tiny news bits, recipes, gossip and useless info is wildly amusing I am finding. It's just plain fun. Guess what, when I got kicked out of Blogger yesterday, I went right to Twitter to amuse myself. Should I have done laundry? Yes, of course. I got around to that eventually, so Twitter is not consuming all of my time, although I think it certainly could. Moderation in all things, right? Right!!

Ok, Where Is My Yearly Weight Loss??

I just read that throughout the year, a person sheds about 9# of skin!! Where's my 9# loss been hiding? Has someone else confiscated it? I feel cheated.

I have noticed my skin getting thinner, (old age, I'm told) but I've had no significant weight loss due to skin loss, I'm pretty sure. How, and when does this happen? Certainly not while I'm watching....and I have become very vigilant after reading of this phenomenon. Something else for me to ponder while I'm awake at night. :)

I decided yesterday that perhaps my blog needed a new look. Being kinda techno challenged, I tried to find a spiffy one from one of the sites dedicated to creating new blog templates. I found one, downloaded it, as instructed. Problem #1, the right margin said 2009 and problem #2, it didn't completely replace my old template, so I had old and new trying to compete with one another. My solution? Just use the templates that Google provides. Quick, easy, done!! Not sure yet if it has boosted my enthusiasm or not.

Today's CSA delivery is going to be Bok Choi, Lettuce, Arugula, and Garlic Scapes. Looks like we will be having a salad of some sort this evening, followed by a healthy stir fry on Sun. Sat., we'll be in Omaha for our granddaughter's dance recital. I totally enjoy watching the little dancers every year, but as the program goes on, the older dancers begin, and I lose interest. I know that when our 6 yr. old progresses upward, I'll enjoy the older kids, too. However, at this point only the little ones make me smile.

No report this week from my competition in the "Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done" weight loss challenge. Plus, he's off to Vegas this weekend!!! I think I'm gonna do just dandy. This past week, I held even, but lethargy overtook me and my exercise program. No gain, so I guess that's good, but with a little more effort, I can do even better. I just need to get motivated again. Having a competitor should help, but since he's not really giving it his all, neither am I. THAT, has to stop....for me, anyway.

Just Wonderin'

I was awake again last night with my restless leg and began to ponder. I pondered many important things, but the uppermost topic was blogging. I am concerned because I feel I have run dry, and have no blog topics I want to discuss. I look at my blog list and see all of you coming up with witty, interesting, pithy, informative, and smart things to blog about. I'm at a loss.

I am continuing my journey to better health, but nothing fascinating or exciting is happening on that front. I'm doing just fine in my "Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done" challenge, but it isn't necessarily newsworthy. No really big news around here. I don't really feel like I'm in a funk, really, just experiencing some antipathy toward my blog.

See, this is why one should not contemplate big things while up and about at 2 or 3 in the morning. Nothing good comes from thinking. :)

Miss Me???

Nah! Didn't think so.

I have been goofing off, blogging wise, but working on the rest of my plan. I've also been nosing around the other blogs, but haven't commented much, cuz I've been using my new fangled phone, and I can't figure out exactly how to leave comments on blogs while using the darned thing!! I know, and I admit that I am techno challenged. I've learned to accept that shortcoming.

I am happy to report that The Perfect Child is doing her best to secure my victory in the "Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done Challenge". She took my competitor out to dinner last night, fed him junk, and insisted he consume beer!! Yay, Kris!!!!!! AND, since I had not heard this week from my fellow competitor, I assumed I was in the lead...I was right, I am!! He finally reported in this afternoon, and his results were not what he'd hoped for, I'm sure, but I'm delighted. :) He gained .09% this week, and I lost .19%. Now, normally that wouldn't be a very exciting loss, but at least I'm hanging in there. A win is a win, right?? What is it they say about age and treachery?? I certainly have the age part covered.

I have also heard from the competition that he's begun to follow my blog, so now I must tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. (Shaded slightly in my favor, of course.) I have to admit that my exercise this week has been less than exemplary. I am two months away from being able to get my next cortisone shot, and my knee is complaining loudly!! It's all I can do to get around the golf course, so lots more than that simply is not getting done. I do get a few weights in now and then. Jason, on the other hand, is hiking up and down mountains like a mad man. Luckily, The Perfect Child is insisting on beers and "squeeze cheese" for dinner. I've been assured that even tho' this week offered up a gain, he's still on board with the challenge, so off we go to week three. I keep reminding myself of the tortoise and the hare.

This is the tortoise signing off. Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all !!!

Week One Is In The Books!

While it hasn't been a full week since the "Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done" Challenge began, my competition weighed in yesterday and reported a loss of 2.24%!! Thankfully, his weigh in took place before he did a mountain hike of 4 miles in the 96º heat!! I dodged a bullet there, I'm quite certain. My loss, while delighting me, was more modest. I had a 1.18% loss, which at this juncture, I'm very happy about. It erases the evils that beset me a week or two ago. So, while I did fall below the yellow line, (reference "The Biggest Loser") I was not eliminated!! We are still hard at it. I am also buoyed by the knowledge that my beloved competitor has indulged in a QuickTrip hot dog with all that wonderful squeeze cheese and drippy chili, so I'm feeling ever so much better about that, too. He hasn't entirely given up the soda pop, either. The Perfect Child has volunteered to sabotage his efforts, so I may eventually have to take her up on that offer, but as of now, I'm gonna play it straight. That might not last long, but at least I'm going to try. :) I am certainly not above taking help when it is needed. :)

I have to admit that my efforts are a bit more focused these days. For absolutely no other reason than that I am able to play golf on a much more regular basis. That just lifts my spirits enormously, and makes me much perkier....disgustingly so, some would say. I have to admit that I was tired of just doing the same old stuff day after day. Even my outdoor walks, which I enjoy were getting boring.

I have received confirmation that my "Almost, But Not Quite, World Famous Rhubarb Ketchup" is, indeed wonderful with turkey burgers! The Primary Child emailed me with that bit of news the other day. Being the wonderful parent I am, I resisted the urge to say "I told you so", and accepted the compliment with humility and gratitude, neither of which come naturally to me. I received the same plaudits for the rhubarb-chipotle BBQ sauce, too, so I am really on a rhubarb roll!! CSA deliveries start next Friday, so I am excited about that. I can't wait to see what's gonna show up. There was a limited delivery (not to our site) 2 weeks ago and they got asparagus, onions and garlic scapes. I'm hoping with an extra week in between, we'll be getting lots of goodies. I always look forward to the email telling us what we're going to get so I can begin gathering my recipes. It is just so nice to have fresh, organic, locally grown produce. I miss that in the winter months.

Onward and Downward in Week 2!! Be sure and have another hot dog, Jason....I'm buying!!

Confuscious Say...

"Never enter into Biggest Loser contest with man who is just beginning his diet". Contrary to good sense, I have done just that. A family friend, 37 yrs. old, and I have embarked on a Biggest Loser type contest. He wants to lose weight before his vacation in Aug., and I am just continuing what I've already started. This ain't gonna be fair, I already know that!

First, as we all know the deck is stacked against me just for being a female. Second, I've been working on this a while so my initial big loss is behind me, he is just beginning. Third, he has just discovered FIBER, so his first week will probably be a very nice, big loss. I'll be happy getting my 1#. (There goes my "touchy-feely" diet, I'm gonna have to file reports.) I'm not even going to think about the age difference and activity levels. UGH!

As an aside, this guy is a young, athletic guy with an active, outdoor job. He's on the go most of the time. However, he has never met a QuickTrip hotdog smothered in that pump cheese and liquid chili he didn't love!! Junk food in quantity is his best friend. The Perfect Child, our daughter, is back into fitness and healthy eating, so her friend has decided he needs to begin a healthy eating program, too. Even tho' he's not a healthy eater, he is so active in his job that he can get away with the diet he has been enjoying. He is also a devoted Dr. Pepper drinker. Upwards of 2 liters a day!! He's cutting back on that, I've been told.

The cute thing is, that yesterday he called to tell me about his FIRST day of eating well. Like a little kid that just won the spelling bee, he was delighted with himself. I oohed and ahhhed appropriately, then listened as he told me a Buffalo Wild Wings was going in very close to where he lives!! Excitement was clearly in his voice. However, since he is one day into his devotion to good health, he has determined he is going to ride his, as of right now, nonexistent, bicycle to and from his wild wing, beer drinking evening. He's also going to try to get The Perfect Child to fall of her wallet to buy a bike as well. Heck, she can't even commit to a living room set she likes after being in her house for a couple of years, it'll take forever for her to chose a bike. (This comment will get a rise out of her....I should be hearing from her soon.)

Ya know, come tho think of it, if we stay at this contest long enough I just might be the tortoise to his hare, and do okay. :) Fingers crossed.

Weekend Recap

For starters, I had a really wonderful weekend! On Sunday, I was pleasantly surprised by HD with an invitation to breakfast. Not all that unusual, but we were going to a place much further away than usual. We arrived, waited for a table for 2 to clear, and HD said we needed a table for 6. I thought our golfing compatriots would be joining us. We ordered coffee and waited. Well, imagine my delight and surprise when our son, daughter-in-law, and the two grand kids walked through the door!! The best Mothers' Day gift by far. They traveled 2 hrs. to treat me to breakfast, then came to the house for a few minutes and headed back home. They left early so I could join our golfing friends for our Sunday afternoon round of golf. What a wonderfully thoughtful and gracious thing to do!!! I enjoyed my day even more because of this fabulous beginning. Happy Mothers' Day to me.

Saturday was Farmers' Market day. It was cool, windy, and overcast, be we got up early and got moving. We made a quick run to the stands I was most interested in, and made a record haul. I got everything in the shortest time ever!! My leg was giving me problems, so I was happy to find a primo parking space close to where I wanted to shop. Upon my return, I chopped my rhubarb and got ready to make my "Not yet world famous" rhubarb ketchup. I got side tracked, and found a recipe (a friend suggested it) for chipotle-rhubarb BBQ sauce. I made a batch of that instead. It was wonderful!!! And, better yet, only 40 cal. for 1/4 c. I need some small freezer containers to do the rhubarb ketchup, so that's on tap for later today. Naturally, I had asparagus to take care of too, so that's all cleaned and ready to go as well. While I was picking out asparagus and rhubarb, HD went to the stand next door and got a cup of coffee for each of us. I allow myself a few cups of coffee on the weekend, so it was a real treat to have some "gourmet" fresh roasted coffee to warm me up.

While my weekend was wonderful, it might not have been full of my best food choices. I wasn't terrible, but I know I was indulgent on more than one occasion. A half order of biscuits and gravy for Mothers' Day was one example, but I was confident I'd work some of it off whacking around the golf ball that afternoon. Believe me, I worked hard on the golf course, and swung the club many more times than I would have liked. I'm looking at that as excess exercise to make myself feel better. :)

After uncovering my tomatoes and peppers on Sunday morning (we had freeze warnings out) I found that they looked none the worse for wear. My basil looks forlorn, but all things considered, I think I came out ok. I even saw one little blossom on my cherry tomato plant, so that gives me great hope. I may beat the neighbors to a BLT yet!

Good Times 'a Comin'

Yep, I'm anticipating a great day today leading into a great weekend. "Why?", you might ask. Well, I'm going to tell you! Today our new bed is being delivered!! I am extremely hopeful that this will alleviate some of my back issues. Our old mattress is embarrassingly old, and I've been begging for a new one for a few years now. We'd kinda forgot about it after we moved, until just recently when my sciatic nerve problems began. Voilà! We got a new mattress. The one and only good thing coming from my sciatica. :)

Second, tomorrow is the Farmers' Market. It is week two for the market. Last week I went with two friends, one of whom doesn't like early wake up calls, so we missed the fresh asparagus and rhubarb!! Oh woe was me. This week, HD and I are off early to be able to partake in all of the fresh goodies that went so rapidly last week. Asparagus is #1 on the list, followed closely by the ruby red rhubarb, from which I will make my "Not yet world famous" rhubarb ketchup. This ketchup is wonderful, but it particularly good with a turkey burger. Yummy. I'm down to my last container from last year, so it's time to get busy and put together another pot full. Needless to say, the tender, young asparagus has my mouth watering just thinking about it. I was told that last week, amounts per person were limited, so I hope that is not the case this week. I did get some spring onions, and there was bok choi available, as well. Since I was so bummed out about missing the asparagus and rhubarb, I just settled for some spring onions and we all went home. Tomorrow is going to be a completely different experience, I am certain of it. I'm taking my largest shopping bag along to be sure I don't run out of room.

In my zeal to beat all the neighbors in harvesting tomatoes, it would appear that I'll be covering them up the next few nights. I guess they say May 15 for planting them for a reason. :( Luckily, the plants are not all that pricey, so if I lose one (I only have 4) it won't be the end of the world, but I will have lost my competitive edge. My radishes and lettuce are up and looking perky as the dickens. They'll get covered too, as they are in the top part of the upside down tomato "thingy". My herbs are looking great, so guess I'll cover them as well. Replanting everything has no appeal whatsoever.

So there you have it! My wonderful weekend begins today between 11-1 when the bed is delivered. Then I'm off and running, ready to enjoy a terrific weekend. Hope you all are ready for a great weekend, too.

Product Review

Before I get into the product review, I wanted to check in and thank everyone for the kind comments on my last post. I honestly was not "fishing" for compliments. I was only thinking out loud about posts and followers. Having never worried about either, I was surprised that so many folks are concerned about those things. Thank you all for your comments and compliments. Even tho' it wasn't a fishing expedition on my part, I feel like I landed the "big one". Thanks again, you are all too kind.

Now, on to the product review. A few weeks ago I received a 4-pack from CherryPharm asking me to review their new sweet and tart cherry juice CheriBundi. I was given 4 (8oz) bottles of the three flavors available. There is Tru Cherry, Skinny Cherry, and Whey Cherry. I sampled each, one day apart so as not to confuse my taste buds. I began with the Whey Cherry, and while I had to shake it fairly often to keep it mixed properly, I did like it. It was a little higher in calories than I would have preferred, but it also packs a protein punch. 8g of protein in one 8 oz. serving. I could also taste the whey, but it was certainly not unpleasant. It contains milk, so I don't think the vivid cherry taste was a prevalent in this bottle. Although, I must admit, it did taste a bit like a cherry pie...just as they had said it would. Next, I had the TruCherry. I really liked this very much, but again, a few more calories than I'd like. These products are made from Michigan and New York cherries (tart), and each 8 oz bottle equals 2 servings of fruit (50 cherries in each). I was totally unaware of a tart cherry juice, so finding these items was a nice change of pace from my usual pomegranate juice. Lastly, I drank the Skinny Cherry juice. It was very tasty, and I liked it quite a bit. It is sweetened with Stevia, so the calorie count was more to my liking. Even with extra calories, I really liked all of the choices, but if I was going to purchase these items, I'd be getting the Skinny Cherry.

Each bottle contains Phytonutrients, the building blocks in fruits and veggies, they provide more benefits than green tea and other juices. They all have a high ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) rating. In reading about this, it means CheriBundi will absorb and neutralize free radicals. As a personal aside, I would say these are all worth a try. They are a wonderful tasting change of pace from the grocery store juices.

I am suspending Weigh In Wednesday for an undetermined period of time. I lost .8# this last week, but I think I'm going to try the "intuitive" method for a while. Not being married to the scale, but being cognizant of what I'm putting in my mouth sounds better to me. Besides, I'm quite sure the scale has turned against me and is rebelling. So for the foreseeable future, I'm going to suspend the Wednesday Weigh In, and resort to a more "touchy-feely" approach to my healthy pursuits. I'm sure I'll hop on those mean, nasty scales once in a while, but I'm not going to record and keep track of what the scales say to me. So for now, "May the force be with me".

Lack Luster

That's me this week. Lack of Luster, Lack of Motivation, Lack of Energy, Lack, Lack, Lack.

Weigh In Wednesday was extremely lack luster. I had anticipated at least a decent week, and was truly thinking I'd have a loss....after all, I'd had 2 days of flu-like stuff. To say Wednesday was disappointing was an understatement. I'd gained!! Not a little, a LOT. I was up 3.1#!!! How I managed that is a complete mystery to me. I have no explanation for it. I am baffled, and also a little depressed. To my credit, I did not turn to a bag of Cheetos to erase the memory of the gain. That, in and of itself, was a great victory for me.

After reading Jack's blog the other day, I began to wonder about my blog. I'd never thought about how many responses I get, or how many followers I have. Apparently, I am lacking the desire to really knock the blogosphere on it's ear. I'm just plodding along in my own little world. I assume people read my blog once in a while, cuz I do get comments now and then, and that has always been enough for me. Now I wonder, should I be more concerned with my lack of readers and comments? Nah!! I love all of the "Popular Kids" blogs, I read them religiously. I comment when I feel I have something to say. But Jack made me think about my own blog for the first time since I've started blogging. I'd say, by comparison to the "Cool Kids" I have a fairly lack luster blog. It's fun for me, and it is serving its purpose, but it certainly isn't the bee's knees. I'm actually ok with that. Is that normal? Should I be striving for more and better?

On the bright side of being Lack Luster, I don't have to moderate my responses like the real bloggers do. :)

I am in the process of reviewing a product sent to me this week. It is a tart cherry drink from CherryPharm.com called CherriBundi. Since I've had a "bug" this week, I've not had a chance to taste all three flavors, but when I do, I'll be reviewing it for all of you. I'm anxious to try them all. I think my innards are ready to experiment now. So, I'll get back to you all when I'm done with the samplings.

Lacking Luster, I'm off to peruse the Cool Kids' blogs.

How I Spent My Earth Day

Today was Earth Day, and as part of doing something "earthy" I planted my herb garden, pepper plants....AND, tempting the gardening fates, I hung my tomatoes!! May 15 is the magic date for planting tomatoes, but I can't wait that long. I'm hoping that getting a jump start on the season will provide an extra early crop. We'll see. I want bragging rights in the neighborhood.

As part of this gardening project, I included the lifting, walking and bending over as part of my exercise for the day. As for the "not so green" part of the day, I had to run to the store to buy an extra bag of potting soil. Seems that taking out all of the strawberry plants in my tomato planter took a considerable amount of soil out as well. So I did have to take one extra trip to get the job completed.

Since taking the strawberries out I'm trying to decide what to plant in the top of the tomato "Thingy". I have 3 (soon to be 4) pepper plants and one stray dill plant. I'm thinking of putting in radishes. Ed loves radishes, and the CSA usually has only a few each week. The planter isn't really deep enough to try carrots or any other root crop, so maybe an early lettuce could work. Any ideas?? I'll pick up the seed on my next grocery shopping trip, as I want to remain as green as possible while doing this project. Looks so nice to glance out the kitchen door and see herbs just waiting for me. Gives me all sorts of new ideas for yummy concoctions for dinner.

Yesterday was Weigh In Wednesday, and I remained the same as last week. I was really hopeful after having done reasonably well over the tailgate weekend. I suppose I shouldn't complain, as it could have been (and has been in the past) much worse. I refuse to believe it was the M & M's I stole the other day. :) Other than that, I'd been doing quite nicely. I even lightened up a strawberry shortcake last night. Using Stevia to sweeten the strawberries and fat free angel food cake for the shortcake. The strawberries needed a little sweetener this time for some reason. Generally, they are plenty sweet all by themselves.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Earth Day as much as I enjoyed mine.

A Drive By Chew-ting!

It never pays to brag too early!! Last night as I was putting away the last remnants of the tailgate, I took the leftover bag of M & M's down to the freezer. On the trip I decided that one or two wouldn't kill me. Well, it was more than one or two, but not a great deal more. Just enough to satisfy my curiosity. I'm not a sweets person by nature, but for some reason an M & M nibble caught my fancy. So I had a quick drive-by "Chew-ting" on my way to the freezer. It's over now, and no one was hurt. I cannot explain why I wanted an M & M, because unlike most women, I'm not a chocolate eater. And, I don't really like desserts or sweets all that much. These little drive-bys remain a mystery to me. Luckily, they don't happen often, so I don't think I'll waste too much time worrying about them.

I was delighted this morning when I found that I could do a little dancing without the stabbing pain from earlier this month!! So, I turned up the music and had a little fun. I didn't overdo, but just knowing that I can do this without crippling myself was a wonderful surprise. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting back into the things I used to do. I'm trying to exercise caution while easing back in, so as not to overdo and end up back where I started. Patience is a virtue, I'm told. I am anxious to get back to the program, but I really am being careful. Slow and steady, right?

I got an email from my CSA farmer yesterday telling everyone that there may be a few spears of asparagus for delivery in a week or two. Just knowing that the deliveries may be starting made my day. This year he's added bok choi, and parsnips to the farm, and I am a huge fan of both, so that was something I was particularly delighted to see. I've suggested parsnips two years in a row, so finally we're going to have them!! Squeaky wheels...and all that. Pays to beg, I guess.

Weekend Review

As you may or may not recall, Saturday was the first tailgate of the season. All went very well, and I really did stay in the neighborhood of what I had planned. There were around 25-30 of us at the tailgate, and I do believe a good time was had by all. The kids had a wonderful time, and enjoyed all of the kid food we had for them. Lots of "junk" too, but I skillfully avoided that....save one small rugelach treat. As you can see, my favorite boys are ready to roll out the food and fun!

Breakfast with the family on Sun. morning was on track, too. In the past, I have treated myself to a little "heartier" breakfast after a game, but this weekend I decided to keep it simple. I am very hopeful that my good behavior will be rewarded come Wednesday.

I was all set to get my herb garden in place this week, but the weather has taken a bit of a turn, as it often does in the Midwest. The nights are getting down much lower than I'd like, and I'm too darned lazy to cover things up every night. I guess I'll wait. It is always advised that we not plant tomatoes until May 15, at the earliest. Last year I jumped the gun a bit and the plants were none the worse for wear. This year, I may heed the advice.

By the by, the Amberjack we grilled the other night was wonderful!! Although it is not a really good looking color to start with, it is a flaky, white fish after it's cooked. I'll be getting it again when it's available. To be able to see what it actually tasted like, I didn't make a sauce or salsa to accompany it, just lemon pepper. Really tasty. I'm anxious to find some new fish this week, too. It isn't as easy here in DM, but once in a while I am surprised and delighted at a new arrival at the fish "place".

Doin' A Little Math

After yesterday's post, I decided to check and see how I've really done with my Moron's Challenge. I had to look up the date of the post, which was Feb. 4. That makes today the 10th week following my bold proclamation. Up and down, and all over the town went my weight. However, after 10 weeks I have lost 8.2#. Not quite the 10# my plan proclaimed, but respectable anyway, in my opinion. Beats having put that back on again!! Right? Right!!

I am now hopeful that with an improved back and knee, I'll be able to resume a regular, if somewhat modified, exercise program. And of course, with golf season heating up, I'll be on the links as often as possible as well. I really do think the 1.8# that I did not lose during my ten weeks of the challenge may be due to the difficulties I was having with sciatica, no cortisone in my knee, and general malaise. Soooooo, since I am now perky as the dickens, the sky's the limit!! Well, at least the 2nd floor of the house should be possible. :)

Since this weekend will bring a few challenges with it, I'm going to make a real effort to use what little good judgement I possess and eat sensibly. Tailgating is always fun, but troublesome for someone on a diet. Since our grandson wants fruits, and lots of them, I'll try to stick to those items. I will have healthy options, so I will give it my all. The mac 'n cheese that I make is anything but healthy, so I'll stay away from that (well maybe a little taste), but I will account for it in my overall caloric count. Since it's a walk to the stadium, up the stairs, and back from the stadium, I'm counting the walking as mild exercise which will walk off the nibble of mac 'n cheese. Please don't tell me that this won't work, I'll be heartbroken. :(

Tonight, we are trying something we've never eaten before....Amberjack. Apparently, it is a fish that is similar to halibut, firm and steak-like. This is the first time I've seen it at the market, and the fish monger talked me into it. Looks like a slightly tanned halibut, so I'm anxious to give it a whirl. The same guy talked me into Barramundi several months ago, and we loved that, so I'm hoping his suggestion this time will meet with the same success. I'm going to go online and see what preparations I can find that might be interesting. Whatever I decide to do with it, I'll be having my favorite grilling delight alongside. Grilled pineapple with just a hint of Cajun or Creole seasoning on it. That is my favorite dessert when it's grilling season. My mouth is watering in anticipation.

The Moron's Pound

"Any moron can lose one pound per week", remember that proclamation? Well, today is Weigh In Wednesday and I lost .8# this week. I am calling that the "Moron's Pound. Not quite the real deal, but close enough. Given my lack of exercise (I'm told I can't count calories used in whining as exercise) I'm not totally disappointed. Not the full pound I'd hoped for, but perhaps after my haircut this morning, the other .2 will be gone.

I have to say, that the last two days have found me feeling a bit perkier. Still have a twinge or two in the hip, but overall, I'd say I'm back to where I was. Now I must re-energize my exercise program. With the arrival of Spring, I have drug out the baskets that will hold my herb garden, and the contraption that will house my upside down tomato plants. The strawberries I planted in the top of the tomato "thingy" look fairly good, and have some new growth, so I am hopeful that there will be more than the 8-10 berries I harvested last year. I am going to count my garden building as part of my exercise program. Hauling potting soil, lugging plants, etc.....that can double as doing weights, right?

I am happily compiling the list of the herbs, tomato varieties, and kinds of peppers I want to grow this year. This time of year is always exciting to me. Plus, it will only be a few short weeks before our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share deliveries will begin!! Barring no lousy weather, I'm anticipating some young, tender greens, asparagus and spring onions. We've been promised that the kohlrabi crop has been minimized this year!!! Hallelujah!! When all is in place, I'll try and post a few pictures.

One small downside to Spring around here....ALLERGIES!! Des Moines has been ranked as the 5th worst city in the country for allergies. So, at least we're really good at something. :)

I really, really love Spring! Everything begins to renew, and I'm going to renew myself and my health journey. I have all Summer to perk myself up, and get that one pound per week goal back on the right road. A "Moron's Pound" once in a while isn't going to deter me, I am hopeful it will make me work harder the following week. After all, a semi-famous old woman once said, "Any moron can lose a pound a week."

Piece by Piece, Bit by Bit

My body is giving up bits and pieces on a daily basis now. :( Oh poor me. The back and knee are in pretty darned good shape at the moment, but someone, somewhere decided that this condition was not to be tolerated. "Let's give her something else to bitch about" was the decree!! And so it was. On the fifth hole of golf, on a lovely Sunday, not a care in the world, playing well, enjoying friendly chatter, and just plain, old fashioned havin' a good time....POP! There it was a pop of some sort on the top of my right foot. Ouch! Oh poor me!!! Needless to say, I complained immediately, received an adequate amount of sympathy, but was told to suck it up and keep playing. Which, may I add, I had planned on doing anyway, but my husband and our friends thought this might be a ruse to go into the clubhouse to watch the Masters! (They have adult beverages in the clubhouse, so I'm sure they had that in mind, as well.)

Now, I am trying my damnedest to take this little glitch in stride, but I have to admit, these nagging little things that keep happening are starting to take their toll on my good nature. I admit to being crabby, so believe me, all this stuff is starting to wear thin. I don't want to start having to get up in the morning wondering what's gonna fall apart next. Getting old is really getting suckier and suckier!! However, as my friend pointed out, this new pain certainly took my mind off of my sore, bruised butt. Guess there's always a positive side if you look long enough, and hard enough. :)

This morning at the chiropractor, I mentioned my bruises, received an appropriate amount of sympathy, then made him try to fix my foot. I told him he owed me that much. :0 He did an adjustment, but thus far I'm not noticing a great deal of improvement. Gotta go get another gallon jug of BioFreeze, I think.

In spite of everything else, my food and exercise has been pretty darned good. I did sample a couple of fried artichoke hearts yesterday, but didn't go overboard. This coming Saturday will be a tailgate opportunity!!! It's the annual Spring Football Game for my beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers, so we'll all be going to the game for food, fun, frivolity and football. This is the one game each year that all of the kids and grandkids get to go to, so the tailgate is centered around kid food. It is so much fun, and this year will be particularly fun as it will be our grandson's first Husker game. He is very excited. He wants strawberries and yogurt for the tailgate. Smart kid, huh? Obviously gets that from his grandmother.

A Rare Saturday Post

I just had to tell you about my deep tissue massage yesterday! I will spare you the pictures (there are none) of the bruises on my hips, my butt and my thighs. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I opted for only the 30 min. massage!! Ed is beginning to wonder why I continue to do this to myself. I have two bruises the size of the palm of my hand, and several other half dollar sized ones. "It does feel better, though, doesn't it?" I was asked. What was I to say? Apparently I have a considerable pelvic tilt to the right because my right leg is shorter. This is what seems to be the root of all my evil. That and one of my vertebrae in my sacrum has partially fused to another. And my sacrum tilts to compensate for the other tilt. Well, it was just a morning of pure delight!!

Even with my new "look", I feel pretty good. I'm not going to admit it to the chiro, or the masseuse, but I think things are, in fact, loosening up. We'll take it for a test drive this afternoon when I go to play golf. Fingers crossed.

I'm still pretty well on track, but I did take a "day trip" yesterday with a few adult beverages with dinner. I'm saying it was pain management, but since there really isn't any pain, I'm imagining that the bruises really, really hurt. I forgot to include in my bio, that besides being old, fat, and lazy I am also a bit of a liar. Well, no body's perfect. :(

Happy Weekend to ALL!!!

Never Brag Too Soon!!

Yep, it's Weigh In Wednesday, and yesterday I posted all about my almost perfect week. Well, Karma did kinda "nibble" at my butt. Didn't really bite me, but did put me in my place. I did lose weight, 2.4# worth, but after regaling everyone with my stellar week, I had anticipated just a trifle more. Lest this sound whiny, I am NOT complaining!! Just sayin' that I was hopeful for a smidgen more of a loss. But I know, a loss is a loss, is a loss. I'm perfectly ok with 2.4#. After all, I did at one time in the not to distant past proclaim that any moron could lose one pound per week, then proceeded to gain regularly for 3 weeks. Now, after two weeks of losses, I'm feeling like a real smarty pants.

I resolve not to let this 2 week success roll go to my head. I am feeling better, I'm watching my foods, and I'm out and about more. Even tho' cooler weather and overcast skies have returned, I am still attempting to remain in a "sunshiny" mood. Today is my deep tissue butt massage, so that is taking a little bloom of my rose, but I'm sure it's going to be beneficial. My last whole body deep tissue massage was ok, except for the excessive number of bruises I had running up and down my spine. Hubby Dearest, was quite shocked to see all of them, and was glad I don't wear revealing tops, as he was sure he'd be questioned by someone about the abuse he was inflicting on me.

Best event of the day....a visit to my eye Dr. I have been having trouble reading with my old glasses, and my distance vision has diminished. At first I was really worried about this because I thought I had just been to the eye Dr. not too long ago. Well, we've been here in DM for 3 yrs, and I've never been, and when I looked at my records, my last exam was 5 years ago. I can now understand why my vision seemed to have changed. I am anxious to get some hip and happenin' new frames....plus I'll be able to see better, too. Not sure which is the bigger deal. :)

So, after 2 weeks of doing the right thing, I'm ready to stay on this path and continue my journey in a happy, healthy frame of mind. I feel as tho' I have finally turned a corner......hope I don't run into a wall!!

Dare I Brag A Day Early?

Well, I'm going to anyway. Karma be damned!!! My past week has been one of my best thus far. My mood and my food have been really good. My Greek inspired Easter dinner was simply wonderful. Ok, in keeping with my total honesty promise, I did have some strawberry shortcake for dessert (I KNOW it's not Greek!), but I did not indulge in the whipped cream everyone else heaped on top, and my strawberries were sweetened with Stevia. Plus, the shortcake was the sugar free Angel Food cake they had sitting next to the strawberries. So, I'm thinking I was not really so very far off of my caloric plan. I even accounted for my glass of wine to go with the racks of lamb.

Barring a real fall from the roof, calorie wise, today, I am anticipating another good Weigh In Wednesday. I remain hopeful.

Today I awoke with a little twinge back in my calf and my butt. It is certainly not severe, and it's not really a bother, but after several days of not having it, I'm a little disheartened. I'm hoping once I begin doing my "walk about" today I'll be getting rid of it. Tomorrow is another deep tissue massage concentrating on my butt, so that should be interesting. Never have I done anything like that before! I have to admit, I am actually a little massage phobic. I have never been a big fan on being touched by people I am not close to. I'm working through that, I guess. Growth is part of this journey, too, so guess this signals a little growth for me.

I am just so happy to finally feel positive about my journey again. I feel able to do the things that need to be done, and enjoy doing it. It's a lovely change from the previous few months. Amazing how a positive attitude, and a body that cooperates, will turn a lousy week into a successful one. I am going to do my best to continue with this positive new ME. I think I could grow to like this person very much. :)

Positively Giddy!

I really am positively giddy with delight!! I slept without pain, I woke up without pain, I played golf without pain, and I'm still wandering around waiting for today's tee time without pain! Ok, so my bad knee is a bit on the "wobbly" side, but with my knee brace strapped on, I'm ready to roll. I am so darned happy, I can hardly stand it.

That, coupled with the fact that I've been behaving myself food wise, has lifted my spirits enormously. I didn't realize how really down in the dumps, crappy I felt, until this fog of pain and dreary weather lifted. Yipppppeeeeeeee Damned Skipppppppeeeeee!! I'm feeling like a whole new person. Oh, yeah, I'm still a fat person, but at least now I can move around and work on remedying that situation. I think I've done well this week, so I'm now planning my Easter dinner to accommodate the calories that are acceptable. At the moment, I'm planning a Greek inspired dinner centered around a rack of lamb, and a tomato/cucumber/feta/olive/onion salad. I think I can make it all work, because we've added a round of golf to our afternoon activities. I can work off at least one or two calories that way!

I go again to the Chiropractor today for another spinal decompression, but I really don't feel as tho' I'm in need. I'm gonna go a time or two more and see what happens, but I feel so darned good I'm tempted to just get on with life. I don't suppose an extra adjustment or two is gonna hurt, so I might as well go ahead and do it. And, to be honest, the spinal decompression feels really good, and very relaxing, so it's kinda nice just lying there being "stretched". I'm only 5'4" now, but I'm almost positive I'll be around 5'6" or 5'7" when I finish this pulling compression thingy. I'm counting on it, as a matter of fact.

A happy byproduct of this new lease on life, is the new found energy I now have. I actually feel like doing "stuff". I've put things off recently cuz I've felt so lousy, so now, slowly and carefully, I'm adding things back onto my "to do list". Feels good, believe me. Even tho' I profess, proudly, to be lazy, I still like to be able to do things for myself. Now I'm feeling as tho' I can do those things, and not pay for it the next day with pain and stiffness. Hallelujah!

Everyone have a very Happy Easter Weekend. Whether you celebrate Easter, or not, enjoy the weekend!! I am certainly going to, for a change! :)

Finally!!

At long last, I woke up this morning without the horrible pain I've been experiencing in my back, my butt and my calf. It was a wonderful surprise. I also cut down on the medication I was taking, so I'm hoping this is a good sign that I'm on my way to recovery. I have slight twinges now and then, but the excruciating pain is gone. (I hope verbalizing that doesn't prove to be a problem.)

Plus, in spite of myself, I managed a successful Weigh In Wednesday! I actually lost 3# this week. And as is usually the case when I'm successful, I wonder what might have been if only I'd not been limited by the sciatica. Is that what they call "Looking a gift horse...."? At any rate, I have been very conscious of my food and the exercise I could do, so I'm more than delighted to see that it paid off this week. Feel kinda like a kid getting positive reinforcement.

Feeling perkier than the dickens has prompted me to contact my golf buddies and see if anyone is thinking of hitting the links this week. I would very much like to at least get out and try a few holes. I'm well aware that I might not be ready for all 18 holes, but a swing or two here or there, would do wonders for my melancholy mood. Temps in the 70's and maybe 80's have me chompin' at the bit to get out and about doing something out of doors. After the chiro today, I'm planning a walk. He recommends that after I have the spinal decompression, I remain active for at least an hour afterward. I think a walk in the great outdoors fits right into that recommendation.

In anticipation of the lovely day ahead of me, I have even donned my shorts and a golf shirt!! Can't tell I'm anxious, can you?

I can also feel the excess salt in my system slowly dissipating. All of that sitting around, and not being able to move freely, really allowed water buildup in my body. My feet and hands felt like little Easter hams. Fortunately, I am losing that excess water and can really tell the difference.

I'm anxious to get moving again in a normal fashion, but I'm going to go slowly and do it little by little. I am certainly not ready to have a repeat of the sciatica problems any time soon. The weather has improved, my back has improved, my mood is improving, and life in general is looking good. I'm anxious to resume my healthy journey, the way I originally intended to do it. Oh, I'm sure there will be more bumps in the road, after all I'm old, but I'm still excited to get busy and resume my "real life" again.

Dare I Hope?

The past two mornings have seen a great relief in my sciatica!! Dare I hope the end is near? I actually feel semi-human again, and am very hopeful that I'll be able to resume my regular schedules again. I am partially convinced that by playing Dr. on the Internet, I found that the medication I use for restless leg is also an anti-spasm, anti-seizure medication. Dr. Me thinks why not try these little jewels on this particular problem. AHA!! Since I've begun using these drugs, I've had steady improvement. I will have to be very careful because these are narcotics and could be dangerous. But for right now, they are a God Send!! I assure you, I will be careful using them, and will begin weening myself off of them VERY soon.

I've been able to monitor my foods, and even the little bit of exercise I've been able to do. The weather has turned delightful, so I'm ready to get out and walk about. I do have residual effects from the drugs (they make me slightly drowsy) so I have to pick and choose my walking times carefully. I am even giving serious consideration to a trip to the golf course for a few practice swings. That, my friends, is REAL progress. That little picture up in the corner is the golf course, and I'm anxious to go and reacquaint myself with it.

I told Hubby Dearest that the only positive that has come out of this mess has been that I've caught up on all my reading, and that now we must go to Barnes and Noble for a restocking of the shelves. Needless to say, he was delighted.

It's hard to explain how much one misses what one cannot do. I'm basically a really lazy person, so one would assume I'd be happy to lie around all day bemoaning the fact that I cannot get things done. Not so, it drives me crazy. Getting enough energy, and being pain free long enough to get just one task completed it absolutely the pits!! Bending over to fold clothes just about killed me the other day. Yesterday, I did it without incident!! That is how I am measuring my success. Baby steps, but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel.....and I can hear everyone saying "Be sure it's not an oncoming train". Fear not, I'm going slow, but marking my progress and being thankful for it.