Exercise or Write

Hello

 

Writing wins on a cool windy day. Where did all this wind come from? Did the trees protect us more in the past by blocking much of the wind? Or is there just simply more wind being created? Such deep question, but no answers from me.

 

I should do some exercises because those can be done inside. I have a tough time doing them if I do not get it done early in the morning. It used to be perfect for me to get up at 5:30, walk the dog, come back and do yoga with Lilias on TV. It was great to be done before almost anyone else was out of bed. It was my time. Plus, back then if I did not do it when it was programmed, I seldom taped it to do later. Oh discipline where did you go?

 

This morning I did some reading which I almost never do early in the day. It seems to have thrown off my schedule and my will. Does that mean I am inflexible?

 

I should get out and walk some. Leroy rode the bike today. It was almost rainy when he left, but he did it anyway. I should see him as my guide and motivator.

 

This morning I met with my spiritual guide so that was a satisfying and uplifting time. All is not wasted.

 

Paula

 

I walked and could not stop so I have logged 10000 steps today.

Getting it done

Hello,

 

Finally I made it to see a new doctor. I believe I am satisfied with her. I will soon have appointments for mammogram and bone scan. They have not been done for a long time. Apparently I will not need to have a mammogram much more because of my age, however I can still choose to have that done. There are some advantages to getting older. Maybe I will not have to have another colonoscopy. Now there is a good deal. Because of that exam I had in the fall, for getting some insurance I did not have blood work done today. That is nice too. I was happy to have the paper work for that as well as my vaccine card and other shots listed on a card. More than one person in the office commented on the fact that I do not take any medicine and that I move so well. The doctor was quite happy to learn that I do yoga and tai chi regularly. That helps to keep me on task. I do know that those classes help me to feel better. On the post-visit papers it was noted that I was alert and coherent. Good to know about that too.

 

After this visit, I did clean out some of the paper in my health notes file. Some things are good to have at the time, but not so pertinent ten years later.

 

This morning when doing tai chi on line we were cut off ten minutes early. One of my coworkers must have started the next meeting ten minutes early, nice for them, but not so nice for us. I will have to check the schedule more carefully ahead of time next week and let them know that we generally meet until the hour, but if it is needed we can quit early. Knowing the end time helps to organize the class.

 

Paula

Nice Day

Hello,

 

March is living up to the old rhyme of “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”. The last two days the winds have been quite strong.

 

Leroy and I walked down to the lake today. On the way Leroy commented as we struggled to keep our sun protection hats on, “We may have a hard time coming home with the wind more in our faces.”

 

It was great to see just a few geese, ducks and gulls. There were a number of families out with children walking or riding bikes. Good for people to choose this way to spend leisure time. We did stop once to rest and then later one of our granddaughters called so we sat on a bench while we responded to that call. Even though we did not log more steps we surely used more energy to make forward progress and sometimes to remain upright.

 

I have to confess I did not do that yoga routine again today. I will surely be ready for it again tomorrow. Especially if I do not think about it too long and just do it.

 

Leroy lifted weights for a time this morning. He has not done that recently that I know about.

 

Paula

Bested by an 85 Year Old

Hello,

 

Who would have thought that an 85 year old woman, whom I have not even met, could get the best of me? Who knew it would be so hard? The story in the yoga magazine talked about how her life has changed since she is now 85. She still leads yoga classes, but has modified the moves somewhat so they fit her body. Well, my 73 year old body had a tough time getting it done. One of the difficulties is that each move is held for two minutes. You might think that two minutes is a short time, but I can tell you two minutes is an eternity. There was one move that I have never been able to do very well and holding it for two minutes was frightful. There are some tough old people out there, beware.

 

Now, I have to confess that I did not do the last three poses even though only one of them looked hard to hold or take two minutes. I will try again tomorrow because I am seriously considering using this with my group, all of whom are younger than I am. Some even quite a bit younger.

 

On the other hand there is an amazing switch when you have to ask your youngest grandchild, nine years old, how to do something on the online platform and she knows the answer without thinking much at all because she uses that for school. Coming and Going!

 

Just in case we did not know it is officially spring, the tree on our weather station now is covered with pink flowers. It changes with the season.

 

Paula

Storm Lives On

Hello,

 

Yesterday while walking on the trail, I came close to a business that was doing some clean up from last summer’s derecho. One of the guys was in the mood to talk after I complimented him on how much better it looked around there. Besides the cleanup they have a new roof and new siding.

 

He said that their company, which does some construction work, is booked for nine months yet. He added, “People call and they want an estimate. But I have to tell them there are only so many hours in the day and we cannot do that yet. It is still so hard.”

 

Then he told about his wife getting her derecho damaged car’s body work done. He said, “The car body shop said they are booked through January.”

 

I know there are still many damaged cars sitting around, but I had no idea about the repair lines. That storm raised my consciousness in many ways.

 

Today I again heard about storms coming, but to the southern USA. I have new feelings of empathy for what they might be facing. If they were talking about our area, I would be seriously preparing.

 

Leroy has to increase his level of meds back to the former level. His blood work showed an infection. He has also been experiencing some headaches. Hopefully this will take care of that.

 

On a side note, would you believe I went to the store for a gallon of milk and come home with $25 worth of groceries?

 

Paula

Tai Chi Me?

Hello,

 

Our tai chi leader is in Arizona for some months. It has not mattered because we meet on line so it is still possible. I have appreciated that.

 

They are not changing clocks for day light savings which means they would have to be ready at 6:00 to meet with us. They will be home after Easter. In the meantime we are still meeting, “led by me”. I am not totally comfortable with that. In the past when they were out of town another member of the group led it, but she does not do the on line classes, so it came my way. This morning, the group was quite good at offering opinions and help along the way. I did the Qigong for the heart moves. It helps that I have a sheet to follow with the names and a short description.

 

I was also quite comfortable leading the ten movement form. We did have a lively discussion about where and which direction to breath, you know, in or out at what point.

 

We also spent a little time on the calligraphic form which I do not have such a good grasp of the last segment of that. I asked one of the other participants if he would lead that since he is way ahead of me. He did a fine job. It seems strange to me, but I have learned it more since we have been doing the online classes. Part of the reason for success is because I have my cheat sheet in front of me and when we met in person I could not have that there.

 

One thing is for sure, I would not want to lead this class for a long time without much more training.

 

Paula

Sunday Squirrel Day

Hello,

 

The squirrels seem to be more ready for day light saving time that we are. They are getting up earlier and earlier but that is governed by the sun and its arrival each day. It is great to see them in the trees at the second floor level.

 

This afternoon I looked out in the backyard to see a squirrel rolling around on the side walk and then going off onto the grass. It was acting very oddly indeed. Leroy came to see it and declared, “It looks like it might have fallen and broken its back or have a hurt leg.”

 

I went down to get a closer look from the back porch. It tried to stand up but just collapsed and rolled some more. I called my downstairs friend to come see. He was concerned about rabies, but agreed it was acting more like an injury. That was confirmed when we got close enough to see the side of its face which looked quite damaged. Speculation was that perhaps a car had hit it.

 

We had a discussion about what to do. Death would be a kindness, but how to achieve that? In the meantime he gave the squirrel some water as well as sunflower seeds which it did eat. He then told us that his wife had learned something we could do. He did not explain and we did not ask, but I no longer see the squirrel. My heart just went out to this poor injured creature.

 

Paula