So I got my canine trick or treater

 

In case you can't read the shirt, it says "Pretend I'm a Breadstick".  The two hats have buttons on them that proclaim the restaurant delivery:

"Carl's Pizza Home of the Pupperino"

And of course, Carl is sporting a child's Halloween outfit, as the slice being delivered.

You can see that the trees are late turning this year, from the background.  This really was taken today, October 31, 2021.

Carl ate the whole bowl of doggie treats I prepped ahead of time, and was full of energy, as he usually is.  He showed off his tricks to earn them.  Spoiled doggie.  But he makes his grandma smile.

Now they are back in the car, on their way to GF's parents, and they are taking treats with them.  Son can hobble around a bit without the crutch by now, but he used it in stair climbing here.  Healing continues!

The mythical son had to show off his "Pizza Delivery man stiffed of his tip" face:

Yeah, it's a calm and collected Halloween Day.  Cloudy, cool, but the "kids" went shirt-sleeved in the noon hour.  They had been driving by Halloween decorated homes on their way to visit and trick or treat.

I have some treats available for small ghouls and goblins, should any show up, quite different from what is offered to the canine set.  Chocolate for humans!  Very bad for doggies.

Carl managed not to knock over the burning candle on the porch rail.

That's about it from here.  Hoping my fellow Spark refugees have a plan for their day, and are savoring it!

Life is Good!

Cats cozy up

 The cats have invaded

I may well live to regret this, but Wednesday was another gray and drippy day outside, and they came in wet and chilly... so when they invaded the master bedroom, I let them stay, while I got up and went to other parts of the house.

It's now Thursday morning, and I didn't wake up any worse than usual, so I'll consider that an allergy bullet dodged.

It is going to be a quiet week ahead

Not only did my kid sis declare this a "bye" week, for reasons related to her own family responsibilities, but my trainer is taking a mini-vacation up to Colorado for a long weekend, too.  So, I had the water softener salt delivery Wednesday, and then nothing where I have to leave the house until next Tuesday!  

The delivery dude didn't show up until after 3 p.m., so yeah... it was a "no bones day" for those of you who speak that language.  Translation for those of you who don't, that usually means nothing much to write about.  Self-care the focus.

It's not Spark

So here we are, a full two months since the demise of Sparkpeople.  The weather has been changing, but it's not like a year ago when we got snow.  Instead, it's a steady rain, watering everything that has been parched over the hot weather.  But I'm finding that NOW is when I miss Spark.  I miss seeing the regular bloggers.  There's another set of bloggers over here, with only a smattering of cross-over, but I miss several who have dropped off on their frequency.  I have absolutely NO EXCUSE to complain, though, because I have dropped off on my frequency, too.

Just sayin', I miss it.

But we can keep on Sparking, anyway

So let's do our best to live a healthy Thursday, October 28, 2021.  After all, it's the only one we'll ever get!  And we are each and every one of us worth taking care of!  Life is good.

Chilly Wet Morning

 

Would you believe they are out there running a Half Marathon this morning?

I believe.  They moved the Good Life Halfsy to this weekend.  This is to dove-tail with the bye week for the football team.  It was generally the first weekend in November, which can be dicey for weather, for sure.

I find it hard to believe is that I used to do that.  Whatever the weather was on race day, I showed up.  Then I got older and started deciding I have nothing to prove... when the weather doesn't feel right... well, it looks as though I've become a "fair weather" athlete.  And I'm OK with that.

As it turns out... they canceled the race due to weather!  They also canceled Ironman, California, where a friend of mine was going to race today.  First they cut the bike distance in half, then they canceled the whole race.  My friend posted this weather map, with the caption, "we're tough, but not THIS tough".  

So I am cozied up inside my dry house.  The cats are both inside, and The Prisoner is curled up in a ball in his chair, keeping warm as he sleeps.  Thunder is rumbling overhead.

The steel cut oats were a-simmer on the stove, adding to the cozy "cave" atmosphere.  

As the day wore on...

My running friends started posting on Facebook just where they were on the course when word went out that it was canceled (the local race), and how far they continued.  At least one of them finished the entire course.  A lady a year older than I was at mile 3 when it was called off, and went another couple of miles before she threw in the towel.  A story for every runner.  One fellow was at mile 5, running as a "pacer" (which is a person who runs at a specific target pace to help other runners achieve their goals).  He continued on and paced the whole 13.1 miles on to the finish line, despite the cancellation.  

Isn't that the way things go in life?  Things change, we react, we listen to our bodies, and we respond accordingly!  Hope you all had an OK Sunday, October 24, 2021, making the best decisions you could manage in this gift of this day.  Spark on!  Life is Good!

✨💖🔥👟

Getting in the spirit

 

I did not buy these in October

Some who have read my blogs for several years will recognize them as having joined my closet in February, 2015, when I ran the Gasparilla Half Marathon in Florida.  I made the mistake of going to the expo with a young cousin.  👀  And I'm old and shameless enough that I still wear them!

The Gasparilla event, by the way, has a pirate theme, thus the skulls.  I wore them Thursday with a Halloween themed shirt I swiped from my brother's closet once he was no longer going to need it.

Anybody else having issues with comments from Jofraarchara?

I don't recognize the name, but it seems every day I get an e-mail notification that this ID has put a comment on one of my prior date blogs here on BlogSpot.  The comment does not actually appear when I go back to that blog, and the e-mail notifying me of the comment is a list of links to other blog spots.  Since I don't recognize this person, I am NOT clicking on the links, suspecting a phishing attempt.  Just wondered if anyone else was getting this?

The first time it happened, I clicked through to my post and deleted the comment, which at that time did appear, selecting "delete forever", and since then the comments have not appeared on my blogs, but the e-mails are still coming.  Seems like a robo-spam thing to me.

Meanwhile, Mom's Taxi Service has been re-started

What with the son's ankle sprain, his Dr. appt today, and his GF having just got her Covid-19 booster and feeling the side effects, I am useful!  For run #1, I got to his house, texted him I was in the driveway, take his time, and he rang my phone... "Do you remember my garage code?"  "No"  So he gave it to me... "I need help getting Carl into his kennel."

So I got inside, was greeted by a very enthusiastic pup, who was about ready to tackle me for the chance to go do something fun!  

I wrangled him into his vest and leash and took him outside, as requested, so the passenger could finish putting on a shoe.  Carl was on alert outside, wanting, I'm sure, a longer outing than he was going to get.  His "daddy" came out the front door, having got his shoe managed, crutches and all.  We let him pee, then I took him in and invited him into his kennel.  He was obedient, if not exuberant about it.

I'm thinking when we take the son home, I'll take Carl for a little longer neighborhood walk, 'cause he's been so impacted by his humans being immobilized for separate reasons.  Anyway, that's my intention!

Then we made the drive across town to the VA, dropped son off, and he told me to "go on home" and he would call when his medicalizing stuff was done.  He has lab work and a face to face with the doctor today.  He is breaking this new doctor in, his primaries had retired in the past year.  My house is a lot closer to the VA than his is.

So, I'm writing my little blog, and will later head back for Mom's taxi run #2 to take him back to his house.  Update on the ankle?  It's looking like the diagnosis of sprain was valid, in that there is some healing taking place.  He still can't put weight on it, but he's able to put his foot down for balance.  Still moving slow, and doing his best to follow standard sprain care instructions.  Carl does not always make this easy.

Pep talk:  the value of self-care

OK, troops:  the rest is standard pep talk--let's get out there and live the best Friday, October 22, 2021 we can manage, whatever life is tossing our way today.  Taking care of ourselves, best can do, is the best way to ensure that when loved ones need us, we can do what needs doing.  

Life is good.  Spark on!

✨💖🔥🐶😷

So you get up, take a shower, and start your day

Memories and new things, too.

I had my elbow jogged by a friendly sister Sunday, who was lending me a book I hadn't yet read, but wanted to.  We ended up going for a nice walk as a side trip.  It was a pretty day and the colors were outstanding.  It is that time of the year when half the tree has turned, but not the other side of the tree.  Beautiful, but I failed to take photos.

One of the topics that came up peripherally was the movie, Crazy Rich Asians.  I had never seen it, but it has become such a trope of pop culture... and this afternoon, I found it in my streaming service as a selection, and watched it!

I started reading the book, which is a bit of a horror story, appropriate for Halloween!  So taking it a bit slowly at first, I got sucked in.

Then as the evening came on... a blast from the past:  Donovan's Reef.  An old John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Caesar Romero and Dorothy LaMour picture.  Made me think a bit about how we train  children in "romance" and gender roles... how many movies did John Wayne spank his co-star in:  The Quiet Man, McClintock, and this one, to name three.  

Little things happen in a week

Little things like spotting a small praying mantis hanging out by your front door.  I've always found these insects fascinating.  Perhaps they have been the model for some of the aliens in science fiction movies.  Think about it.

Yesterday some workmen came by and painted the fire hydrant on the corner.  Once upon a time it was red.  As of yesterday afternoon, it is now green.  I saw a news clip that the city was painting them to color code something... now I've forgotten what they were coding... capacity?  Pressure?  I've seen blue ones other places in the city.  Mine's green.  I'll have to pay attention as I go walking to see if others in the neighborhood have been similarly changed.

And things happen with loved ones that impact your day

The phone rang early this morning.  I got out of bed to answer it... the mythical son apologized for calling so early, but did I still have the crutches?  He'd rolled his ankle and needed to borrow them.

I didn't even put on my glasses as I felt my way down to the garage to check.  I muttered to myself, "Now, Barb, don't roll YOUR ankle rushing".  "No, no," responded the son, "don't make things worse!"

I immediately spotted... ONE crutch.  Where would its mate be?  Probably somewhere close.  I extracted the one and set it over by the wall to consider where "somewhere close" might be... and sure enough, it had fallen down beside the box from which I'd extracted the first.

Took them out and put them on the porch, asking my son what time it was... "5:40" he responded.  Oh, well, I thought, I have the heating check coming today and they didn't give me a specific time range, other than 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  So, I got up, took my shower, and started my day.

The kids came and got the crutches, I collected the story of the slip and fall in his own kitchen... it's always something silly, isn't it?  And they went off on their way to urgent care.  I've never been more grateful for his having a partner to help in these situations.  And grateful in all my de-stuffing of the house, that the crutches were not among the casualties.

✨🔥 Life is good.  Spark on!

Thursday thankfulness

 

If you ever wonder how cold it is?

Check out how tight a ball the cat is curled in as he sleeps!  This is a 40℉ morning.  

You've seen the over 90℉ afternoons, no doubt, also dubbed as "play dead".

Today's gratitude:

Today I gave the nod to my periodontist and her whole office.  Yes, because it was on my calendar for today, and because this office got me past the planing and root scaling back in 2002, and has tenderly cared for me through the entire journey... weight loss, running, triathlon, all of that has been on display for them at a visit every six, then eight, now ten months, over time.  I've watched their staff add babies to their families, and seen them grow up.

Today, Dr. A herself came in, and introduced me to a different hygienist, referencing (as she always does)... "Are you still running... of course you are, it's part of who you are!"  And she told the transformation story.

The first year, when we were going through the initial cleaning and learning to care for my gums, I think it was the second half of the planing and root scaling process (they broke it into two appointments, and I was so freaked out we did the laughing gas thing), they had a problem with the power / hydraulic equipment, so Dr. A. had to do my treatment totally manually that day.  Her staff clearly love her, and said she should get the "golden wrist" award for the yeoman's effort that day.

She's not afraid to roll up her sleeves and work alongside her people, either.  In May, 2020, when they were just reopening after the initial Covid shutdown, Dr. A. was only coming to check in with people if there was an issue, because she was doing hygienist work to catch up the appointments of folks who had their appointments deferred by the shutdown.

I am sure that there are hundreds of dental and medical offices, thousands, with similar work ethic and patient focus.  That's the kind of people that are attracted to this type of work.  I am grateful for every single one, but I reserve a special level of gratitude for my own!

Pep Talk:

Now let's all get out there and live the best Thursday, October 14th, 2021 we can manage, right where we are in life's journey.  Because it's the only one we'll ever get, and because  each of us is worth taking care of.  And at the end of the day, whatever we have done, whatever small action to be healthy in mind, body or spirit?  It is enough... let it go, and rest well in the knowledge that this day was LIVED.  For Life is Good!  Spark on!

✨🎇💖🔥

Only a ninety year old...

 Well, maybe you don't have to be 90, but I think once we get past a certain decade and once we start losing the "immortals" in our personal lives, many of us cast a thought or two toward the great beyond.  Shatner's comments following his brief foray above the atmosphere this morning touched on that: how thin the atmosphere is, and the blackness of space, beyond it.

He mused whether this represented death, and below, the earth, with its thin envelope of air and water... life?  How quickly it went by, being rocketed into space!  How much this parallels our own individual journeys on this orb?

We are not young things any more... we are mature.  We are experienced.  And as we age, we become more philosophical.  Whether we have a religious framework in which it is cast or not, we contemplate the next chapter(s).

Perhaps because of today's flight, our steps might be a little lighter, we might be a trifle more positive in our outlook for the future.  Space flight does that for me, even though as the years pass it is less and less likely that I will ever experience it for myself... it boosts hope!

Now let's go live life on this one and only Wednesday, October 13, 2021 we'll ever get.  Let's make the best choices we can manage given the circumstances we find ourselves in... and let's be kind, one to another, and to ourselves, as well.

For we area worth taking care of, each and every one of us:  physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Life is good.  Spark on!

✨🎇💖🔥

Happy Tuesday

 

Sunrise... well, a little after sunrise

Grounding myself in the present with a photo from my back deck.  

I binged on the Boston marathon yesterday.  Not just the live streaming, but in the afternoon, the Olympic channel was re-running the 2019 race.  I remembered watching the replay coverage of that race from my hotel room in Boston.  I remembered noticing the moment as the elite women rounded the corner at Kenmore Square the background of the McDonald's, where Kevin, Laura, and I were spectators.

Kevin was wearing a disposable, bright yellow poncho that day, as it had been rainy in the morning.  Here he is with Laura.  

We are a mile out from the finish line, planned carefully for our own needs and the weather, since he was in an air-boot and we did not want it to get wet, and we needed nearby access to restrooms, since standing through a marathon as a spectator is a four hour thing!  Kevin picked our spot... where the runners need a boost in morale.

He said, "at this point, they are feeling pretty beat up.  By the end of the block they will see the sign that tells them there is only a mile to the finish line and they will start to feel a whole lot better!"

The elite women come by after the wheel chair athletes, and before the men.  As the lead women rounded the corner, we saw the leader striding by, with her accompanying photographer on a motorcycle.  I snapped this photo at the time.

Yesterday, I was looking for that moment on the replay.  Alicia asked me for a screen shot, but it's hard to catch!  I took a snapshot of the TV screen... and in that bright area where the sunshine washes over the McDonalds sign, a bit behind the runner... you see a bright yellow poncho.  That's where we were standing.  If you click on the photo and it gets bigger, you might be able to see the red dots where I circled our group.

It was good to relive that memory, and now I can relive it with yes, sadness that he is no longer with us, but more of the joy that we had of sharing those times together.  

And life goes on

After that deep one yesterday, I was looking for a simple thing to be grateful for this morning.  I found it in the warmth, aroma, flavor of my morning brew.  I had put together a mug of the Amaretto.  

The heat kicked on in the morning chill.  It was a cool 44℉ morning.  

Next, I spotted the little boy across the street, so full of springs in the cool crisp day.  His dad and he were apparently looking for something... for school?  But what I was noticing is the energy in that little guy.  Dad gave him a kiss on the top of his head, buckled the son into the car's backseat, and then off they drove!

The pep talk

Life.  Amazing thing, isn't it?  Those could well become cherished memories for their future, the simple act of having a morning routine.  Cherish yourself and your family, your neighbors and friends.  Cherish the nature around you.  Cherish the things that make your life possible.  Cherish both routine and breaks from it.  Cherish the recovery process you may need following "binge" things like my memory trip yesterday.

Let's get out and live it today, best as we can, making choices to support our health, physical, mental, and spiritual.  Because each and every one of us is worth it, and this is the only Tuesday, October 12, 2021 we will ever get!  Life is good.  Spark on!

✨🎇💖🔥

Memories triggered on the day

I am live streaming the 125th running of the Boston Marathon.  The calendar is still turned on its head, due to the pandemic, as this is a race that is normally run in mid-April.  It is also the first time it's been run (other than as a virtual) since my brother's passing.  Boston holds a special place in our hearts.  

I'm at home today.  The last time they held this event in person was April, 2019, and I was there, with my brother, cheering on other runners, as he was in an air boot, recovering from a metatarsal injury.  The three years prior to that, he was a runner, on the course, while I was there "for him" as a supportive sister.

I find myself with goose bumps watching the coverage, recognizing places on the course, and as they ring the bells as each division finishes with a champion crowned.  

I'm watching the women's race for Des Linden, as I watched her win at the finish line in 2018, in pouring rain!  After watching the pros over the years you get to recognize them and appreciate their stories.

Local friends are of course out there, too.  MAGGIEROSEBOWL (Spark name) has a son running there today.  He's running well, more than halfway along the course, with an average pace of 6:48 per mile.  It's not following Kevin, but it has the same flavor, and I am so happy for Pam and her family, because it's such a thrill to see a runner reach a personal goal.

It's not the same, but it triggers our memories!  Celebrate in heaven, brother of mine!

Celebrating the Autumn weather in my walk

 

The trees are starting to turn

The bright yellow is starting to take over the deep green of late Summer in the leaves of this tree in my neighborhood park.  Some folks have already seen their peak colors, I haven't seen it here yet... but I can see it coming!

The cooler temperatures and the stiff breeze this morning started to stir the echoes of "Pioneer Woman", too, as I walked in a Northerly direction.  

This implies:  (American) football weather!  Out here in Nebraska, it just doesn't seem right to play football when the temperatures are in the upper 80's and 90's ℉.  But as it gets cooler, the game that comes to mind is just that!

Last night, the Huskers once again played under the lights, a night game.  It was looking pretty bad for a while, but it came out closer than I feared... only a 3 point loss.  So we could feel good that our team acquitted themselves well.

Even before the game, some natural aerators visited my lawn.  Crows, I believe.  They are large and black, and lack the purple sheen that grackles have.

The neighbors are starting to decorate for Halloween, but some houses that previously have done a lot have not done as much this year.  I noticed some new and whimsical offerings up this morning, as though to make up for it.

Cooking changes too

Some things I tend to cook more in the cooler months of the year, and feeling the season coming on, I am starting to do so.  Yesterday I made a big pot of turkey chili for the week ahead.  Yum!  

And then there is the aspect of "good sleeping weather".  I went to bed on time, and slept soundly, and lingered in bed until nearly 7.  Sleep, as we all know, is restorative.

Sunday blessing and pep talk

Now let us get out there and live, best as we can, this gift of the one and only Sunday, October 10, 2021 we will ever get!  With each choice based in the love for our common humanity, and based in kindness toward ourselves and others, may we both live the day well, and at its conclusion be blessed with the knowledge that it was enough, it was sufficient to our needs.  Life is good!  Spark on. ✨🎇💖🔥

And Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all who are celebrating!🦃🍲😍

The weekly news reports... OKM edition

 

The coffee experiment / report

I may have mentioned last week that I bought some custom roasted flavored coffee on line from a vendor local to my niece's city.  Some to give as a gift to my son's GF's mom, some for myself.

I gave GF's mom the Classic Italian Tiramisu flavor, and kept the Amaretto flavor for myself.  It took me four tries (one a day) to "get it right" for myself, between my k-cup reusable containers, filters, amount of coffee grounds, and size of mug to fill.  This morning, I hit the sweet spot.

This afternoon, son's GF and her mom are baking, and they brewed up their first pot of the gift bag.  They liked it (or so they told the giver). Between the two, I'm going to call it a success.

Son and the jobs / training report

The mythical son reported in while GF was off at her mom's and he was out walking Carl (the grand-dog).  He is still breathing.  This weekend he talked about his visit with the VA retraining folks, and it looks as though he has a couple of weeks to dream about what he might want to retrain to do, since what he HAD been doing was triggering his disability.  So he bounced ideas off me, while I paced around the house.  

It sounds as though grad school is once again on the table, but the options might be time-limited.  Sleep on it, son, and let the back of the mind work on the puzzle.  Your mom will be your biggest cheerleader whatever you decide!

Once upon a time, I described parenthood as having the best front-row seat in watching a human being grow and develop into whatever they would become.  Once upon a time, when I was the mother of an infant, a co-worker told me to "just wait, it gets better", and I could not fathom how it could, but it has.  The full range of emotions, amplified by wonder, and pride, tempered by sorrow over the "boo-boos" one can never fix, as a mom or dad.  Life is interesting for yourself, but as observed for your child?  Compelling!  Really gives you insight into what your own parents must have felt as you bounced things off them!

The general status report

Speaking of "sleeping on it", sleep last night was pretty good.  I didn't poke my nose out of bed until nearly 8 a.m.  I did head out to walk outdoors after a late breakfast, but part way through the park, I had a moment of dizziness.  Yes, as in... whoa!  I stopped myself, anchored in one spot, then decided the better part of valor was to turn back for home.  As I did so, I paid attention to my vision, and where I was directing it.  Ah-hah!  The glasses!  Depending on which part of the lens I was looking through, I could make the seeming dizziness come and go!

I ended up adding an extra "round the block" when I got back to the park entrance, without a return of that spell.  Hmmmm.  I still stand by making the choice.  Better safe than sorry during "recovery" week.

And of course, the pep talk

It's close of day, rather than beginning, so the pep talk is to accept the day, as it was, give ourselves credit for the good choices we made, and declare it to be "enough".  Pick out your gratitude points for the day.

In the end, exhale, and have a peaceful night's sleep, following this one and only Saturday, October 9, 2021 we'll ever get.  We are each and every one of us worthy of the effort to take care of our health!  Life is good.  Spark on!

✨🎇💖🔥

Just direct your feet

To the sunny side of the street

 It must have been a day like today when those lyrics were penned:  "leave your worries on the doorstep", and just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street.  I mused as I walked this morning that sunshine and the sunny side of the street are most attractive when you are feeling a little cool.  The season has come, with cool Fall mornings, when the sunny side of the street is where I want to be walking.  I'd have to change the lyrics for the high Summer temperatures we had.

Warming up the gratitude muscles

It's Thanksgiving weekend in Canada (and some other countries around the globe, too, just not in the US).  I generally use the six weeks from Canadian Thanksgiving to US Thanksgiving to strengthen my gratitude muscles.  This tradition began back while my son was first deployed, when one of my sisters started doing the exercise on Facebook.  Each day in November, the "meme" said, one should post at least one thing one was grateful for, that day.  Since early November is a hard month for me, I backed up the starting line to Canadian Thanksgiving so I could have some easy days leading up to the tough ones!  But, the down side is that makes the exercise longer... and it makes it harder to stick to the uniqueness rule:  no repeats over the course of the exercise!  They do not have to be big, can be little things, but there should be no repeats... so I can only be grateful for my morning brew on ONE day!

So for the next three days, leading up to Monday, I'm starting to contemplate the exercise, and "warm up" those gratitude muscles!

Yes, Alicia, it WAS a Canadian flag!

In advance and anticipation, for all my Canadian and other friends:  "Happy Thanksgiving"!

Oh, and I made myself stop walking until the wind blew the right way so I could take this photo on my walk, in honor of the holiday.  Three holidays compete for the date:  Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, and Indigenous Peoples Day.  You can see my avoidance of conflict in choosing to celebrate Thanksgiving!😁

And of course the pep talk

Onward!  Let's do our best with this one and only Friday, October 8, 2021 we'll ever get, making decisions that support our health:  physical, mental, and emotional.  We're worth taking care of, each and every one of us.  We can let the day go, knowing it was enough.  Life is good!  Namaste 🙏  And Spark on! ✨🎇💖🔥

RosesareBlue wants to know...

How long have you had your trainer?  How did that start compared to going to a group class somewhere?

I have been working with this particular trainer (Gary) since the end of my working days, December of 2017.  I started as part of a small group class of fellow triathlon club members with him, then when I retired, I signed on for individual sessions.

This is not the first personal trainer I have worked with.  I have also done group classes at times in the past.  It's a matter of fitting your needs and preferences to what's available at your local gyms.

The first personal trainer I hired was not for me, but for my son, when he was a teenager.  My son was struggling with the life transition associated with becoming an adult, i.e. a high school aged kid.  A doctor suggested personal training for him, so we joined a gym, and hired a trainer for him.

I was resistant to the idea for myself, though.  At the time, I was obese, and strength training wasn't my cuppa tea, nor were exercise classes!  But because I had to take my son to his trainer appointments (he didn't drive yet at the time)... I went along and used the cardio machines at the gym.  As often is the case, being more active made me feel better, and I dropped a few pounds.  

It was at least four years before I hired a trainer for myself.  I bought a "package" of six sessions at the gym, and we spread them out, so that those six sessions lasted three months.  During that time, my first trainer designed workouts for me introducing a new one with each session.  She gave me homework to do these workouts in rotation.  I did this off and on over the years, buying a "package" of sessions at whatever gym I belonged to, when I wanted a new set of workouts.  Usually every couple or three years.  I'd give them to myself as a birthday present.

After having worked with a trainer, I dipped my toe into group classes, from time to time over the years.  I grew in confidence, but they never did become my go-to form of exercise.  I liked working one on one better.

About five or six years ago I changed how I worked out with trainers.  Beginning during the time I was running and doing triathlon training, I found I needed a little more "oomph" to the motivation to work out with strength training.  Starting with "the Boy Wonder", a very young trainer named Dalton, I discovered trainers who would custom design the workouts each time.  I'd just show up and ask, "what are we doing today?" and they would have a variety of exercises just for that one session.  I scheduled this kind of session at least once a week.  Later, it moved up to twice a week.

Dalton was like that.  Later, BJ was like that, too.  BJ was my "recovery" trainer, when I'd had my fall and concussion in November, 2016.  She was an athlete who did obstacle courses.  She was not a young thing, but a single mom, with three kids... someone who had fought the battle of the scale herself, and won.  At our first meeting, my request to her was that during my recovery, when I was forbidden the bike, I did not want to "lose the awesome" of my triathlete days.  My goal was to run the Buffalo run, a five mile footrace, in September, 2017. BJ did her research, so that she designed workouts that would support my swimming, my biking when I'd be able to get back to it, and of course running.

At some point, BJ left the gym and passed me on to another young trainer named Chelsea.  Chelsea kept upping my weights without showing me what she was having me lift!  

Interestingly, I am still Facebook friends with all three of these trainers, and vicariously watched them get married, have children, and in the case of BJ, even ran a couple of events that she also ran, even beyond the trainer/client relationship.  One of the benefits of hiring a personal trainer is the relationship you build, the goals you share with them... it's customized to YOU, it's not just "a Zumba class" or "a yoga session"... it's a true partnership to achieve specific goals.

After getting through the triathlon season in 2017, I was preparing to retire from the workplace.  I thought I wanted to do more in triathlon, and that's when I moved over to Gary, who is a level II certified triathlon coach.  He's raced Kona (years ago)... for those who don't know, Kona is where they host the Ironman World Championship long course triathlon, a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, followed by a full 26.2 mile marathon run.  It's the race that hooked me on the sport.  Gary is a local treasure.

Gary understands the aging human body (an important feature for me), and he trains not just me, but several other senior women who mainly want to remain functionally fit and active as we continue to ripen!  His little boutique style gym turned out to be a total blessing during the pandemic, as it's easier to control and know that health standards are being met.  It's been hard on his business, at once point he told me he'd lost 60% of his business at the gym during the worst of 2020!  But I'm glad the gym has survived, and I hope it stays as long as I might need it.

A gray misty morning in the suburbs

Hope that answers your questions, RosesAreBlue!  Probably more than you wanted to know, but there it is!

As for today, status and the pep talk:

Post-vaccination, I did not sleep well.  I felt chills while trying to go to sleep, and later, around midnight, warm.  Took temperature, and it was 99.9℉, which for me is a low grade fever.  So I popped another Tylenol.  I repeated this at 5:15 a.m. as I was getting up, when it read 99.5℉.  I've been tired this morning.  But:  no headache, and breathing well... so I'm thinking I go work out this morning with Gary, but ask him to take it easy on me.

It's a foggy morning, but starting to burn off, with little peeks of sunshine starting to appear.

So... here we go... pacing ourselves to how the body is willing/able to contribute to the effort, let's do our best to make decisions that support our health, mental, physical, and spiritual, on this one and only Thursday, October 7, 2021 we'll ever get.  Bless us with knowing what ever effort we put in is sufficient for the day.  Peace be with us, Life is Good, Spark on!

✨🎇💖🔥💉

Listening to music

 I have once again turned off the news

I ventured out as planned this morning, to get my third dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

It was at the big arena, downtown, the "booster" clinic was.  This is the same place I went for both shot #1 and #2, back in March.  But as you can see from the waiting area, there was "no crowding".  The first one, we had a hard time keeping that 6 feet of "social distance" there were so many of us.

From that one, I learned that the philosophy of "first appointment of the day" was not a good one for such events, and started taking slightly later ones, when getting in and getting out was so smooth.  The RN who gave me shot #3 was the same one who poked me with shot #1... she recognized her own handwriting on my little card.  

After I got home, I took a Tylenol, as directed by the nurse at my doctor's office when I asked about whether it was OK to keep my appointment today.  Since I had a fever in reaction to shot #2, she said the doctor said to take Tylenol before getting the shot.  I didn't, because I didn't want it affecting my temperature for the check... but took it as soon as I got home.  I kept hearing different advice about this from different sources, and did the "experiment of one" this way.

So far I feel fine, except of course for having flipped on the news at lunch time, and finding myself face to face with coverage of yet another school shooting, this time in Texas.  So I turned it off, came upstairs, and put on a calming piano music playlist.

"if ignorance were bliss, 't were folly to be wise"... The old Shakespeare quote actually argues for wisdom, as it's a conditional.  Still, I think I'm going to choose restful ignorance, because getting stressed out does NOT help!

Take good care of you!

Once again, let us make the best of this one and only Wednesday, October 6, 2021 we'll ever get.  Remember to be kind to yourself, whatever decisions or road you choose.  The choices we make, even little ones, deserve credit.  And we deserve some rest so that in turn we have the inner calm needed to help others in this crazy world and time we inhabit.  Peace be unto you... Life is Good.  Spark on!  ✨🎇💖🔥

The Prisoner plays Jeopardy

 What is the Jeopardy thing?

I know I'm not the only Jeopardy fan in the blog-o-sphere!  I learn when I watch it, and since I've featured Rubia's photo in the last couple of blogs, I figured it was The Prisoner's turn, and as you can see, Jeopardy is in the background.

A sort-of symptom-free day

I woke much freer this morning, and while I did do the hot-shower, get it draining drill, and started with a little sinus puffiness, I did not have the nasty headache, and within an hour or so of rising I was breathing normally, so I opted to take the mask and go do my workout with the trainer.  Everybody masked, and with the confidence of that negative test, and the freedom from symptoms, it went well.

The trainer knows I'm up for shot #3 tomorrow and if I have side effects after, he'll get a text from me bowing out of Thursday's session.  But I will try the nurse's advice to take Tylenol right after I get the shot, as a preventative from the fever I got with shot #2.  A couple of people I've talked to have not had bad side effects after shot #3, so I'm hopeful for a similar outcome for me.

Provided tomorrow morning is at least as free as today, I'm up for this next adventure.

The pictures that made me aware of what I missed on Saturday.

I swear I played these obstacles at the sister course in Lincoln, Nebraska, when I was a teenager.  The outing was to the course at St. Joseph, Missouri, one of the reasons I was extra cautious and bowed out, not wanting to expose folks to "whatever this misery is" during an hour and a half drive down and another such drive back.  But you have to love the Eifel tower, the competing putter, and the classic dragon... and of course the happy crew:

The mythical son, his Girlfriend, her dad and mom.  It was her mom's birthday outing.

The classic dragon, as trusty as in the 1950's and 1960's when I played the sister course.

Can you believe they didn't let mom win on her Birthday?  GF's dad beat the mythical son by one stroke!

This one rebuffed me several times, back when I was a teenager!

 Y'all know the rest, the pep talk:

Best wishes and hopes that all my fellow Spark refugees have made good decisions today, supporting your health and well-being this one and only Tuesday, October 5, 2021 we'll ever get.  I'm having a hard time accepting the calendar date as we have a reprisal of warm weather.  However, the shrinking minutes of sunlight remind me, when I "wake up with the sun" and find the clock says it's after seven a.m.!

Remember as the daylight shrinks that you're still worth taking care of, body, mind, and spirit!  Spark on!  Life is good.  ✨🎇💖🔥

What are those things?

What are those things?

I had a hard time getting Rubia to pose...  She was sleeping, and I grouped the mini-pumpkins next to her, so of course she moved and gave me a dirty look.

The medical / health adventures

I've been dealing with my seasonal woes since last Friday overnight.  Mainly swollen sinus, headache, and draining (runny nose).  One of the things I noticed in reviewing my 12 years of Sparkpeople blogs was how often I blogged about having been ill with this sort of thing.  But then again, 12 years of twice a year, would add up to at least 24 blogs, more if it lingers and I whine!

Anyway, this resulted in my deciding on the better part of valor, considering the overlap with Covid-19 symptoms that such things have.  I have read/seen enough horror stories of folks "assuming" allergies and then passing Covid along to others, so I bowed out of the planned miniature golf trip on Saturday.  It looks like they had a great time, even without me, so I'm glad I took the high road.

Facebook is down or I might have swiped one of several snapshots of the crew down enjoying a classic course, owned by one of son's GF's parents' friends.  It was GF's mom's birthday celebration, and on Sunday we did a contact free package swap on the porch so the flavored coffee I ordered for her mom would get delivered.  They dropped off a cupcake (carrot cake) and the mini-pumpkins pictured above as a treat for me.

I was feeling somewhat better yesterday afternoon and had visions of waking up clear this morning, but that was not to be.  With my third covid shot (otherwise referred to as the "booster" but some health folks are saying Pfizer is really a 3-dose vaccine, anyway) scheduled for Wednesday, I decided I wanted to know for sure that it's not covid, and went to the Urgent Care for the test.  They concluded it's not with the rapid antigen test, results in 15 minutes.  They sent me home with instructions on how to care for a cold, which I pretty much know, anyway, as do all of you.  Our individual remedies might vary slightly, based on individual differences, but by the time we reach "my age", we pretty much know how our own bodies react.  She said I was doing all the right things, keep it up.

She also referred me back to my regular primary care provider to answer the question about "how long after my symptoms go away should I wait before getting shot #3?".  I waited out the on hold phone call to talk to a nurse at that office, and she looked up the CDC guidance and couldn't find the answer, so was going to message the doctor, and I'm waiting on a call back.  Deal is, if I'm all better tomorrow, would it be OK to take the shot on Wednesday, or should I cancel the appointment for the shot and wait a week or two before re-upping for it?  I'm OK either way, just checking!

Covid has changed how we deal with these things a bit, since the research on it is still ongoing.  More up-front checking, less "going anyway and assuming allergies", better protection of the community beyond my front door.  Welcome to the Golden rule as applied in this day and age.

The good news amidst the other:

These things usually end any binge-y behavior, and this episode was no different.  I'm back on a healthier eating style again, although today is the first day of tracking again.  First day spending hours upright, too.

Here's hoping my fellow Spark refugees are making good decisions for your health this one and only Monday, October 4, 2021 we'll ever get!  I can't believe it's October already.  But, regardless, LIFE is good!  Spark on!  ✨💖🎇🔥