A down time! 04-06-23

It has been a slowwww time since I came back from Empty Spools a week ago.  I very much over extended myself to go and to return so I was wiped out and just wanted to sleep.  Which I did - one night I did ten hours, with several woozy trips to the bathroom.  Dogs sleep a lot, so KoKo wasn't bothered.  As long as he had his meals and two walks a day he was happy I was home and he could just sleep in my lap.  During my trip my right shoulder started giving me trouble, perhaps the old rotator cuff injury, but Heidi, who gives massages at Empty Spools, thought I might have a tear.   Once I relaxed at home the pain was worse and I could hardly use my right arm.  Perhaps that is why all the sewing equipment has not been unpacked and put in place.  I also had a car problem - "check engine light" lit up while I was still going north on I-5.  I called my mechanic in Placentia and explained, he said it was okay to drive as long as the light wasn't flashing.  So, I drove it around PGrove a bit and after class on Wednesday went to a mechanic in PGrove.  He ran the computer test and said it was the catalytic converter and okay to drive home - unless the light started flashing!!  I was nervous, but made it home without a problem.  However, I had to skip the meeting in San Diego on Saturday, although I doubt I was physically capable of doing that 2+ hours down and 2+ hours home.  Sooooo tired!  The local mechanic could book me on Tuesday, so I was without a car Tuesday and Wednesday.  I took a few naps.  The physical therapist worked on my shoulder and gave me some exercises specifically for that.  They have worked quite well and I have not made an orthopedic appointment.  Hoping that I can just use heat and exercises to make it well again.  All this has kept me off the computer and not blogging for all these days.  I am still working at editing the pictures, which has been painful just sitting and balancing my arm so that the shoulder doesn't hurt.  I am a complete Tylenol junkie now.  I will continue to whittle away at the editing and post about the trip and the class.  Bear with me, please.  

Here is the super Sue Benner teaching.  She looked extra sharp this day with black boots, B&W polka dot tights, very short black skirt, black top, black sweater, B&W Jane Sassaman silk scarf and  her funky hairdo.  A classy lady and an excellent teacher. . 

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Christmas approaches 12-06-22

At a meeting last week a friend went all out for Christmas!

KoKo is indifferent to these giant dogs in a neighbor's yard. 

They do have dogs, I think two, but every year they add more to their blowup decor.  

And there is this light display that went up before Thanksgiving.

I am off to PTherapy this morning.  Same therapist, same problem - sciatica, and she will tell me I MUST so the exercises at home.  Soooo hard to do. 

A little rain this morning, but not enough to offset the drought.

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Kind words/actions 07-22-21

We have all heard about or experienced some little kindness changing someone's life.  This didn't change my life, but improved my day.  I went to Physical Therapy this morning and it was especially painful.  Probably because I hadn't been for a week and have not been faithful about doing the exercises at home.  On my way home I stopped at the Starbuck's I usually go to and placed my order at the drive up sign.  Some of the employees remember my name (and KoKo's) which is always so gratifying.  At the pick up window the girl started to hand me my latte and then turned back.  When she handed it to me there was a little red star on top.   "What's with the star?" I inquired. "It is because you are a rock star, Del", she replied.  It was very sweet and immediately made me feel better.  As an old lady I usually feel that I am invisible, so it is nice to be recognized and for someone to remember my name.  

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It is a KoKo night 07-15-21

 Such a good dog!  

He looks so sweet and innocent curled up in his fuzzy bed with Froggy. 

But he bugs me when I am sewing until I put him up on the table and then he creeps closer and closer to where my hands are.  He just wants me to pay attention to him, not to my project.   He doesn't make any attempt to get closer than this, but I am always prepared to get my foot of the pedal FAST.  After a while he seems to realize he isn't going to get any petting and he wants to get down.  

I am so fortunate to have had his company during the Covid isolation.  Now that I am going out more and it is too hot to leave him in the car for even a few minutes, he must stay home alone and is not happy about that at all.  I don't wonder why dogs who are home alone all day while their people work create big messes.  

Back to PTherapy this morning after a week's hiatus and I am a bit sore tonight.  Gotta keep moving - walking twice a day with KoKo, doing the exercises the therapist recommends, not sit too long at the machine or just reading.  That old saying "Use it or lose it." keeps me moving, just not very fast! 

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Lemon tree 02-13-21

It is citrus season here.  The orange, lemon, mandarin trees are weighted down with fruit.  At the same time the buds are setting for next year's bounty.  Kind neighbors share bags of fruit and I pass some on to others.  I could never use the 20+ lemons someone left on my porch last year.  

This little tree has been growing here for at least six years, but it gets no fertilizer and apparently only natural water.  The previous owners did not pick the fruit, so what wasn't rescued by neighbors just rotted.  Sad.  New owners seem to be taking better care. 

See all the tiny white blossoms coming on.  Hope a lot of them survive and the lemons will be abundant next winter.  

We are doing okay.  I am just so very, very tired and spend a lot of time resting, reading, and snoozing.  We did the loop both morning and evening today and I continue with the PTherapy exercises.  But then have to rest up.  BP is all over the map; I am taking it three times a day per instructions.  

Hope you have a special Valentines Day.  One of my neighbors brought me a heart shaped balloon.  It bumps along on the ceiling with my movements and KoKo growls at it.  I think he has accepted it now.  Funny guy.  

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KoKo and exercise 01-29-21

 

I am so lax at doing the Physical Therapy exercises, even though I am sure that they help my body.  So, I made a pledge to Sharon, my physical therapist, that I would do the exercises once a day for a week and send her an e-mail assuring her I had done them. And maybe I will make the pledge weekly until my time runs out.  On Wednesday I did the exercises, but couldn't find her card with the e-address!  I greeted her on Thursday with "I'm hope you didn't lay awake all night waiting to hear if I kept my pledge."  As if I am the most important patient she has!!  She had a laugh.  I do my exercises on the double bed in the guest room because if I get down on the floor I can't get up again!  KoKo is not accustomed to seeing me on that bed, so he has to get up there and "supervise".  Mostly by sitting on my stomach and staring into my face.  I'm hoping he gets tired of that in a few days.  Since I have a big soft stomach he is not very stable, which is why he is leaning in the lower image.  It is the end of the month (already?) and he needs a trip to the groomer this next week.  I rather like him with this shaggy look, but there has to be a regular trim or he is soon too shaggy.  He is such a good dog. 

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Stress 01-07-21

I know I am not the only one who is feeling the stress of yesterday's horrendous events in Washington, DC.  Twenty-four hours later it is still stressing me.  I feel that I am waiting for the other shoe to drop and it is not a good feeling.  But the day rolled by with KoKo walks, meals, reading, phone calls and lots of e-mails.  Several people in, or associated with, the Book Group have Covid,  Fortunately I have not been in their company for weeks.  I have a PTherapy appointment in the morning and that is also stressful.  Not just because of the exercise and massage, but because there is possible Covid exposure.  They do clean constantly and everyone keeps their mask on appropriately.  But still .... I am in there with at least a dozen other people.  Worry, worry, worry.  

Friend Carol dropped a bag of supplies on my porch this afternoon.  So, I used them for dinner.  Rather a green and white dinner, although the avocado looks rather bright gold it was really greenish.   Cooked broccoli with a sprinkle of cheese, an individual container of cottage cheese (I didn't know they made such a size), half a perfectly ripe avocado with a pinch of salt, and a glass of Lactaid milk.  It was quite a tasty meal and I will add it to my possibilities for the future.  And I think I will buy the little cottage cheese packs, I find it hard to finish a regular carton before it goes past date.  

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Flowers in winter 12-27-20

The camellias are starting to bloom.  This one in a neighbor's yard is always one of the first.  It is against a west facing brick wall and protected by a shallow overhang high above.  I think everything in this yard in on drip lines, so the extended drought hasn't much effect.  We are supposed to have rain tomorrow, but the prediction has changed so much in the past few days I sort of doubt that rain will be forthcoming.  We need it so badly.  

I am trying to do the PTherapy twice a week, but the holidays sort of mess that up.  I should do the exercises every day at home, but don't often manage that.  It isn't that I have so much to do, I just have never been good at exercising.  KoKo and I do the loop twice most days, so that is two miles (more or less).  So I am not a complete couch potato! 

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Time off 12-14-20

I didn't mean to take a week off and I am sorry I caused some of you to worry, but  I have been struggling with keeping on my feet and trying to get back to "normal".   Couldn't do PTherapy because I was running a temp.  Seems to have been the UTI that has been haunting me off and on for the last few months.  Just generally feeling rotten on top of my sciatica problems.  I did see the orthopedist again last Friday and he thinks I should have another epidural.  I doubt that will happen until after the first of the new year.  I am waiting for a call back from the injection doc.  If I continue to feel better each day I will probably pass on that.    KoKo and I continue to walk twice a day and sometimes, like today, we do the loop both times.  I do think it makes an improvement in my aches and pains, but sometimes I don't have the energy.  I continue to do the exercises at home.  

I have been driving locally, to the market, the drugstore, takeout food, Starbuck's, but last Thursday I drove to Oceanside to have lunch with my friend Beth.  Oceanside is about halfway between us, an hour from San Diego and an hour from Placentia.  We each take our own lunch, park next to each other in the OMA lot,  roll down our windows and have a lovely visit while we eat.  Not the same as sitting in a restaurant and hugging on arrival/departure, but better than not seeing each other at all.  The traffic was mostly light, but I was whipped when I got home.  KoKo had stayed with Cherie and Jim overnight and I picked him up on the way home.  Needless to say I needed a nap and he joined me, as usual.  

Two special cards in the mail today.  I have always been fascinated by the 3-D folding cards and this is a very nice Snowman.  Also a quilled bluebird (of happiness) which was accompanied by a nice long letter HANDWRITTEN!  Haven't had one of those in years.  I will respond, but it will have to be typed as I can not even read my own cursive anymore.  

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Light Wheels 11-30-20

 

KoKo and I have started walking after dark again.  I always enjoy seeing the Holiday lights and he doesn't seem to mind that it is dark.  Since we walked after dark last spring one of the neighbors has installed these solar walkway lights.  I think they are super cool.  The dark curved line is the edging on their walkway.  

He almost didn't have a walk tonight.  I went to PTherapy this morning and had to have a nap when I came home.  I'm super sore tonight, but he needs his walk and it actually made me less sore.  Exercise does that, doesn't it?  I only need the cane some of the time.  But I have been carrying it for protection from coyotes for several years, so it is sort of a habit anyway. 

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Pushing for Christmas 11-24-20

Christmas lights and decorations all over the place!  I am surprised there are so many as usually people wait until after Thanksgiving.   I know several families whose tradition is to gather the weekend after Thanksgiving to share the work of  doing the outside decorating.  I don't remember seeing a lot of palms decorated this way, but there is an entire neighborhood that has already put up their palm tree lights.  Some are more successful than others. 

They look a bit like fireworks, don't they?

I suppose someone must have a "cherry picker" to get to the tips of the fronds. 

Wednesday is trash day and the cropped image was terrible, so here are the palm trees and the trash.  The basketball hoop and background are not lighted, it just reflects the light.  Now, if I had Picasa I could take that out.  Oh, how I miss the great easy-to-use program. 

By the way, I started  PTherapy again today.  Hope it helps. 

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Still healing, walking 11-23-20

KoKo needs his walks every day and it helps me get stronger, so we haven't missed a walk since he came home last Tuesday.  I need to use either the cane or the walker because I am pretty wobbly on my feet and sometimes need to sit down when there is not a low wall handy.  We haven't gone all the way around the loop, which would be a mile, bit I suppose we walk something like 2/3rd of a mile.  The weather has been on the cool side - sixties and low seventies with night time into the mid forties.  So, we do see some autumn color, but the temp hasn't gotten down far enough to have the cold snap that causes riotous leaves.  This is the liquidamber/sweet gum in my neighbor's yard.  The previous owners trimmed it just before they moved and for some unimaginable reason cut the top of it off.  It should have a pear shape - narrower at the top.  Sad.  Anyway, I love the star shaped leaves.  They don't hold a candle to those where some of you live, but we take what we can get!!

The moon is visible at the top of the picture.  

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Plumeria 09-12-20

We have not been able to walk much for a week because I developed sciatica.  It is VERY painful and until I had a diagnosis I was unable to do much of anything.  Tylenol in large doses, of course.  And I tried not moving my hip or leg, for a couple days, that didn't accomplish anything.  Then I did some of the exercises from the PTherapy I have had in the past.  That seemed to help some and I managed to walk KoKo up to the corner and back so he could do his business.  Finally got in to see the PA at my doctor's office and she knew immediately what the problem is.  So, more Tylenol and exercises specifically for sciatica.  Seems to be working.  These pictures were taken a couple weeks ago at a house down the block.  

                                                     

When I lived in Huntington Beach in the 60s I grew plumeria in pots and rotated the flowering plants into the entryway inside the house.  I had no idea that people here in north Orange County grew plumeria trees in their yards.  They come in a number of colors, mine were all white, but I understand that the very dark pink plants are the most fragrant.  I especially like the color on this plant. And the fragrance is very strong and nice.  I may ask if I can take a cutting.  The new plants start very easily.  At least, mine always did.    

     

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With all that is going on with laptop and sewing machines and physical therapy for my hips, I still have a quilt to finish for a deadline, which is fast approaching.  I suppose I was not thinking clearly when I decided to quilt the top part with "matchstick quilting", lines that are about 1/4" apart.  Now that I have my machine back and the walking foot engaged I am making some progress.  But there are all those other things to interrupt the flow!  I will have to apply myself seriously in the next couple days as I am going to be doing a program at Los Osos, CA, which is near San Luis Obispo, on Monday.  I find that my 80 year old body needs a day to recuperate after two days on the road.  So, I won't be back up to speed until Wednesday.  Oh, my, gosh!  Gotta get busy.  

FedEx delivered the hard drive from Carbonite, but I wasn't up to spending enough time to get things going today.  Something else to do tomorrow.  Too bad I don't have a 7 year old grandchild to take care of these computer things for me!

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On the Road - Santa Rosa, NM - Holbrook, AZ 05-31-11

When I woke up in the wee hours this morning this truck was parked right outside my second floor window - if it had been any closer I could have just stepped out on its roof.  I Googled Puratos, just curious to see what a company with such an elegant truck had to offer. 

http://www.puratos.us/about/default.aspx

This is about a 10am view of the view along I-40 in New Mexico.  Not a lot to look at.

And then there are a few juniper trees.

And more of the same, with more distant trees.  It is a rather uninteresting offering, but then there is all that sky!

I stopped in Albuquerque to find a USPost Office or a FedEx so I could mail a package - I found FedEx first and also a Starbuck's near the University..  I've always been impressed with the adobe colored cement used in the abutments and overpasses and ...  Very distinctive.

They have also introduced various outdoor art related to the local culture.  These two sculptures have the designs cut all the way through and appear to be wired for night viewing also.  They are along an on ramp to I-40.

Forty or more years ago when I first traveled extensively in the Southwest there was a lot more cavalier attitude to what happen when the road was under construction.  In NMexico and, to some extent, in AZ they just ran a grader around the affected area and one drove on dirty, rocks, mud or whatever popped up.   The "modern" way is not a lot better.  I felt as though there wouldn't be enough space for me to get through as this detour off the road become more and more narrow.  But the big trucks fit, so surely must I.

 

The yellow line on the left is normally the line marking the shoulder and just to the right of that is a strip of those teeth shuddering ridges meant to awaken drowsy drivers.   To avoid those I was right on the white line and feared I would scrap the guard-rail.  The speed limit said 55 - HA!  I was going about 35 and the trucker behind me was probably cursing me out.  I don't get scared whilst driving usually, but this raised my heart rate a bit.  

 
Soon after Albuquerque the highway rose up even higher and rock mesas and just piles appeared.  Thankfully, there was little wind, but lots of traffic in stretches, more than I have seen on this entire trip except for the Denver area.   I drove on to Holbrook, AZ, where I have stayed before.  I had hoped to do a marathon drive and be in Lake Havasu City tonight, but I only drove 363 miles today.  I seem to run out of energy very easily.  My back aches, my butt aches, my hands hurt - I have to stop somewhere and walk around, doing some squats and stretches. I don't know if the car seat has something to do with it or not.  It is probably just my ageing body.  I have only been in motel pools three times along the way and don't think it is very helpful.  First of all the pools are not hot enough, and secondly, at five feet they are not deep enough for the most helpful exercises which require floating vertically in the water.  Additionally, there is no railing to hang onto to do the squats and jumping jacks and "scissors" (or whatever the therapists call that).  So, I have done what I can, including just "water walking" and then spent a bit of time in the hot tub/jacuzzi.  I'll be glad to get home just so I can go to aqua therapy! 

Therapy clothes 03-18-11

I don't know how to draw a line between wanting to look gorgeous and wanting to have coordinated clothing.  I do have a thing about being clothing coordinated, but no inclination to worry about being gorgeous at my age!   My major concern about what to wear in the therapy pool was that I be covered adequately, secondly I always desire to have things go together. 

 
So, I am clothed in blue and white - just like my kitchen!  The colors were chosen from what was available.  I had the blue tank top, found the blue/white pj bottoms (which I cut off and did not hem) at Ross and the 'shower shoes' at CVS.  I will have bathing suit to wear - soon, I hope.
 
Therapy went well today.  The therapist cranked up the difficulty and I had a hard time with a few of the exercises.  Especially the designed to strength my 'abs', which don't have much to say for themselves.  Tonight I am a little stiff in my upper arms and, of course, my abs.  I did have to take a nap in the afternoon.  Three sessions next week.

Morning Exercise Pool 03-11-11

Since I was late for my therapy session on Wednesday I wanted to be sure I wasn't late again, so I left a half an hour earlier.  Still had to wait for a train, but the traffic was not at a standstill - not the entire trip anyway.  I arrived about 25 minutes before my appointment time, shed my clothes and discovered there was nobody there yet.  What to do?  Nobody allowed in the pool until the therapist arrives.   

I got out my camera and walked around the pool.  I can't read the clock, but it must have been about 7:45am (I know, you don't believe I was really there - it was the 'middle of the night').  A little hazy from the heat from the pool, but look in the window reflections - the sky is really blue.  There are clocks on all the walls, most about two feet from the floor.  Plus the minute timer right at the corner of the pool.

A few minutes later it is more clear and you can clearly see the pretty pictures at the other end of the pool.  I was surprised to see them - is this standard for therapy pools? 

Here at the five foot depth is a pile of the torture implements used in the pool.  Mostly things one holds in hands and waves around in the water with enormous effort to strengthen muscles.  I've only used the easiest ones.  But those pool noodles are great when I am floating on my back - I put one under my neck for support and it keeps my neck from hurting.  And I just float and float until I'm told to stop - it feels so wonderful.

 

The vicious steps - it is the third one from the bottom that reaches up and bites one on the .. tush!  But I did better today, I got out of the pool verrrry slowly. 

One odd touch is this miniature disco ball hanging at one end of the ceiling.  It seems that a decade ago they played disco music during sessions and some unidentified wit hung the ball.

 Is there a trick to getting one's clothes on after showering? The air is so moist I can't pull anything up or down without a struggle.  It took me almost a half an hour to get out of there.   Maybe I should just put on a muu-muu (remember those?) over my nekkid self, but I couldn't stop anywhere on the way home.  Today I had brunch at my favorite place - Kemmie's in downtown Orange - before delivering a gift to a friend's front door.  I meant to stop at the Auto Club which is near my friend's house, but I forgot.  Later in the afternoon I had to go out again to pick up maps and tour books ... and a decaf latte.   Next therapy session is next Wednesday - meanwhile I exercise.  

 

More pool therapy 03-09-11

The new swim suit from Land's End finally arrived today.  Why did I pay for two-day air?  Won't do that again.   And it doesn't fit!  Oh, I can get into it, but I feel like a sausage!  Guess I'll try for the next larger size, which is what Michigoose told me to do in the first place.  Sorry, I should have listened.   Meanwhile, a friend sent me several pages of new, inexpensive suits.  I'm sure she doesn't think they are appropriate for a fat, old 72 old broad, but it was nice of her to think of me.  If I were 24 I would buy this one, but would never get into the pool

 

The session in the pool today was great.  He still has me doing gentle exercises and in between he told me to just relax for a certain number of minutes, so I leaned back in the water and just floated around in the pool on my back.  I bumped into a couple people until I found a space of my own at the far deep end of the pool.   It was heavenly - something I always used to enjoy when I did go swimming.   When I got to that third step I was okay.  I could feel the gravity, but it didn't knock me to my knees today.   And I didn't collapse when I arrived home, but after several hours I took a little nap - more because of the 6:30am alarm than the exercise.  I thought I could make it to the facility in about thirty minutes, but I had to wait for two trains going different directions and the traffic on the freeway was less than a mile an hour most of the way.  So, I was twenty minutes late - something they really frown on 'cause it screws up their schedule.  Guess I better try leaving the house at 7am on Friday - I know that some of you will at that.  But I REALLY want to solve this muscle problem and be able to live a normal life again.

Okay - Into the Pool! 03-04-11

8:30am - First session of aqua therapy.  I should have taken a picture of myself in my blue tank top, which I only wear when it is very hot and I am alone in the house, and cut off pajama bottoms that I bought yesterday at Ross-for-Less.  I don't really care what I look like as long as I am not in danger of being 'exposed'.   However, I did order the bathing suit recommended by Michigoose in a comment on my Feb 24th post - it should arrive on Monday. 

Since I haven't been in a pool for many, many years I felt like I might need one of these supports.  But I did fine in the shallow end.  When I had to move into the "deep" end (5 feet) the therapist made me wear a ski belt - haven't worn one of those in about fifty years!  I think I would be more comfortable without the belt.
 
Naturally, the exercises didn't include diving - I know I have forgotten how to do that.  He started me off with side stepping, knee lifting - gentle stuff.  Then in the deeper section - sort of jumping jacks, walking up the side of the pool while holding onto the railing, other exercises.  My problem is going to be the same as with the floor exercises, I need a cheat sheet to refer to every single time.  My short term memory is a minus.

  

There were three other women in the pool, all of whom just started their routines without any assistance.  And two guys who did the same.  We are all old and apparently all have different problems, or maybe I haven't gotten to the hard stuff yet.   

 

When I first got in the pool the therapist gave me the introduction which included pool rules and cautions and ended with a warning to hold onto the railing when I got out of the pool.  He said I would get to the third step and suddenly I would feel like I couldn't take another step.  He was right - as I took the third step it felt like a giant mattress had fallen on me.  I stopped and took a couple breaths and, with difficulty, took the final two steps.  Whew!  Not a feeling I have ever had before.  He explained it was gravity kicking in after I had been supported by the water as I exercised.

I felt like doing this!  But, instead, I washed off and dressed and staggered to the car.  I even wondered if I should call someone to come for me - should I be driving?  But I drove home, threw my wet things in the washer and collapsed into bed.  My "lights" were out for two hours - like I was d-e-d.  Complete exhaustion.  But then I got up and got busy.  I had some errands I had planned to do on the way home, so I went out and did them.  But this is still an early night for me so that I can be up and about early.  I'm going to meet Liz for coffee in the morning, she has a quilt completed she wants to share - a UFO of several years mellowing.