Saturday: Listened to spouse's ear wrenching coughs (antibiotics are kicking in as the coughs are more modulated today), went to Smith's several times, stopped at library, did 3 loads of laundry (made aerobic by sprinting into laundry room 6 separate times to observe that drain standpipe didn't overflow!), filled big Tupperware bowl with washed and cut up veggies (if you wash and cut it, they will eat it, even veggies), made whole wheat pizza loaded with vegetables, black beans and canned salmon. I walked downtown in the evening.
Sunday: Went to Smith's and library. Walked 4 miles on sewer plant road. Saw two bicyclists "walking" their dog. The dog would have enjoyed checking me out but couldn't because it had to run fast to keep up with its owners. Across the Pueblo Canyon sewer effluent wetland, saw a dead ponderosa's top branches laden with birds. At times, the birds would plummet from the tree like autumn leaves.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Winter Walk Up Bayo Canyon
I went all the way up Bayo Canyon today, starting at the bottom of the Main Hill Road, walking 2 miles in on the sewer treatment plant dirt road and than 4 miles up snowy Bayo Canyon. It's a pretty canyon in the winter. The trunks of the tall ponderosas look so red against the white snow. The sky was a brilliant blue.
About 2 1/2 miles in from the Main Hill Road, the road I was following continued on but my passage was blocked by a locked gate and a fenced-in area. I obediently detoured around it on the Bayo Canyon Trail as a few other hikers had before me but the snow was deeper than on the road; so, I gave up and stepped over the top of the barbed wire fence to continue walking on the old road.
Bayo Canyon is fenced off here because there is an area of buried contaminants from radiolanthanum (RaLa) experiments during (?) and after WWII. It's been cleaned up several times in the past.
In my wisdom, I didn't wear my SnoSeal-ed hiking boots because I truly didn't believe I would go all the way up to the roundabout between North Mesa and Barranca Mesa. I was sure I would probably give up due to deep snow but it wasn't that deep on the road and there were footprints from other hikers that I could step in. My shoes and socks got wet but the day was warm and I kept moving. Other than two joggers and a dog that I saw when I started out, no one else was on the trail.
When I got up out of Bayo Canyon and onto the Bayo Bench Trail, it was well-trodden and even icy in spots. My two ski poles were invaluable!
The vampire movie Let Me In is being filmed in Los Alamos. They were supposed to be filming at the roundabout and pedestrian underpass this week (definitely not why I walked up Bayo Canyon!). I was afraid the filming would force me to detour around it but I didn't see any film personnel. However, as I walked into the pedestrian underpass, there was a cameraman at the other end shooting footage and I said "Oh, oh," because I was afraid I was messing up a movie scene but he said it was fine to walk through. I told him I had walked 6 miles and he seemed impressed!
I started walking around 11:45am and called spouse around 3pm so it didn't take that long. Obviously, snow conditions were decent for walking because I made fairly good time.
I called spouse to pick me up but he was busy at work so I walked to an Atomic City bus stop on Diamond Drive across from the golf course and waited. Two big buses passed me by but finally a tiny bus chock-full of middle school students picked me up. There were no seats and I guess I don't look frail enough to be offered one so I stood and braced myself during all the various stops and ingress and egress of passengers until we got to the transit center at the lab where I got off. I called spouse again and he was ready to leave to pick me and take my back to my car. I ate a snack while waiting for him.
I enjoyed today's adventure. Tomorrow, though, I will take a tame road walk.
About 2 1/2 miles in from the Main Hill Road, the road I was following continued on but my passage was blocked by a locked gate and a fenced-in area. I obediently detoured around it on the Bayo Canyon Trail as a few other hikers had before me but the snow was deeper than on the road; so, I gave up and stepped over the top of the barbed wire fence to continue walking on the old road.
Bayo Canyon is fenced off here because there is an area of buried contaminants from radiolanthanum (RaLa) experiments during (?) and after WWII. It's been cleaned up several times in the past.
In my wisdom, I didn't wear my SnoSeal-ed hiking boots because I truly didn't believe I would go all the way up to the roundabout between North Mesa and Barranca Mesa. I was sure I would probably give up due to deep snow but it wasn't that deep on the road and there were footprints from other hikers that I could step in. My shoes and socks got wet but the day was warm and I kept moving. Other than two joggers and a dog that I saw when I started out, no one else was on the trail.
When I got up out of Bayo Canyon and onto the Bayo Bench Trail, it was well-trodden and even icy in spots. My two ski poles were invaluable!
The vampire movie Let Me In is being filmed in Los Alamos. They were supposed to be filming at the roundabout and pedestrian underpass this week (definitely not why I walked up Bayo Canyon!). I was afraid the filming would force me to detour around it but I didn't see any film personnel. However, as I walked into the pedestrian underpass, there was a cameraman at the other end shooting footage and I said "Oh, oh," because I was afraid I was messing up a movie scene but he said it was fine to walk through. I told him I had walked 6 miles and he seemed impressed!
I started walking around 11:45am and called spouse around 3pm so it didn't take that long. Obviously, snow conditions were decent for walking because I made fairly good time.
I called spouse to pick me up but he was busy at work so I walked to an Atomic City bus stop on Diamond Drive across from the golf course and waited. Two big buses passed me by but finally a tiny bus chock-full of middle school students picked me up. There were no seats and I guess I don't look frail enough to be offered one so I stood and braced myself during all the various stops and ingress and egress of passengers until we got to the transit center at the lab where I got off. I called spouse again and he was ready to leave to pick me and take my back to my car. I ate a snack while waiting for him.
I enjoyed today's adventure. Tomorrow, though, I will take a tame road walk.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Never-Ending Holiday Break
Spouse is sick so didn't make it into the first day of work after the involuntary, unpaid Christmas break that the lab enforces every year when it closes between Christmas and New Year. When he gets sick, he develops a thunderously loud cough. He doesn't have a fever - just some sniffles and the dreaded cough.
I did various chores today - library, dropping off records at the Medical Center, shredding receipts and statements from 1999. (It was a hard fought battle but I won the right to shred records every year from 10 years ago!)
The bank's shredder has a defective door. I had to push my foot against it to keep it running but other than that, it worked smoothly and it was easy to find someone to give me permission to use it. That's always the hardest part - finding someone in the basement to ask if I can use it. They would like me to just put it in their locked bins they send out for shredding but I had to promise spouse I'd do it myself as part of the negotiations leading up to the deal.
Two more comments about grandson: I complimented him on his taste in music. I overheard him telling spouse not to touch the CD except by the edges. Grandson really loves his first music CD! I was looking for a cassette tape I thought he might want to hear by Crash Test Dummies but couldn't find it anywhere. Not sure what happened to it.
Sundry comments on recent walks: When I walked on Camp May Road Christmas Day, someone screamed Merry Christmas at me as they drove by. This was a variation on the puerile trick car occupants indulge in of screaming at walkers to watch them jump out of their skin but at least I could appreciate the message. In contrast, walking on Trinity Drive last night, someone screamed at me as they drove by but the intent wasn't quite as nice.
When I walked downtown on the evening of New Year's Day, vehicular traffic was wondrously absent and the moon was wondrously big and bright. I appreciated the quiet and felt like I owned the world. Last night, even though it was a Sunday night around 8pm, there was the usual parade of cars going who knows where in Los Alamos on a Sunday night.
Today, after chores were finally done about 3:15pm, I walked the road to the sewer treatment plant. Right after passing the old sewer treatment plant, I took the right turn toward Bayo Canyon. The dirt road is snow-covered but people and dogs have walked on it. I only walked about .2 mile on it before turning around but would one day like to walk further to see how far I could up Bayo Canyon before it gets too snowy or icy. It would be far pleasanter to walk it this time of year than when the canyon is steaming hot.
I did various chores today - library, dropping off records at the Medical Center, shredding receipts and statements from 1999. (It was a hard fought battle but I won the right to shred records every year from 10 years ago!)
The bank's shredder has a defective door. I had to push my foot against it to keep it running but other than that, it worked smoothly and it was easy to find someone to give me permission to use it. That's always the hardest part - finding someone in the basement to ask if I can use it. They would like me to just put it in their locked bins they send out for shredding but I had to promise spouse I'd do it myself as part of the negotiations leading up to the deal.
Two more comments about grandson: I complimented him on his taste in music. I overheard him telling spouse not to touch the CD except by the edges. Grandson really loves his first music CD! I was looking for a cassette tape I thought he might want to hear by Crash Test Dummies but couldn't find it anywhere. Not sure what happened to it.
Sundry comments on recent walks: When I walked on Camp May Road Christmas Day, someone screamed Merry Christmas at me as they drove by. This was a variation on the puerile trick car occupants indulge in of screaming at walkers to watch them jump out of their skin but at least I could appreciate the message. In contrast, walking on Trinity Drive last night, someone screamed at me as they drove by but the intent wasn't quite as nice.
When I walked downtown on the evening of New Year's Day, vehicular traffic was wondrously absent and the moon was wondrously big and bright. I appreciated the quiet and felt like I owned the world. Last night, even though it was a Sunday night around 8pm, there was the usual parade of cars going who knows where in Los Alamos on a Sunday night.
Today, after chores were finally done about 3:15pm, I walked the road to the sewer treatment plant. Right after passing the old sewer treatment plant, I took the right turn toward Bayo Canyon. The dirt road is snow-covered but people and dogs have walked on it. I only walked about .2 mile on it before turning around but would one day like to walk further to see how far I could up Bayo Canyon before it gets too snowy or icy. It would be far pleasanter to walk it this time of year than when the canyon is steaming hot.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Weekend Update (Try Not to Fall Asleep)
First a grandson-ism:
We watched grandson several times this past week. On New Year's Day, his Mom and step-dad went out to eat in Albuquerque to celebrate their New Year's Day anniversary. Grandson brought over a CD his Mom had given him (except he couldn't remember who had given it to him!). The album is Ocean Eyes by Owl City and he particularly likes the Fireflies track, the main reason his Mom bought it for him. We played it on the CD player as he played with his Bionicles in the little living room. As he listened to the music, he announced the title of each song and sung along with some. I was afraid it would be blaring rap music but it was quite pleasant. He's almost 9 so I presume rap music is still to come (but probably not if his Mom can help it!).
Now another:
He finally asked to use my Fitter Wobbleboard. He balanced on it like a pro and even adjusted it to the highest height. I kidded him that good balance would be essential on the hikes he'll go on with me this summer. He said he'd rather go to the Activity Center! Daughter is hoping I'll take him on one hike a week to give him some time away from the AC. I'll try but I'll need his cooperation.
I now have all the results back from my osteoporosis evaluation. I had an appointment to go to Albuquerque on New Year's Eve Day to discuss the suggested treatment plan but woke up and spouse said the roads were snow-packed and icy and it started to snow outside so I called to cancel it and now my appointment isn't until February unless there's a cancellation.
I'm low in Vitamin D, the urine NTx (Google it - I don't completely understand it myself) shows I'm losing calcium from in my urine at a higher rate than I should which translates to greater fracture risk. On the bone mass density, my hips are all right but my spine is osteoporotic.
Obviously years of walking 4 miles a day have helped my hips somewhat but the spine...I need to do a lot more back extensions to make a dent in my spinal bones.
The spinal x-ray didn't show any vertebral fractures if I'm understanding it correctly. I will need help from the doctor in interpreting completely the spinal x-ray report.
What I'm doing so far is to take more Vitamin D3 a day, double my calcium citrate intake, wear my 10 pound weight vest more religiously and develop a resistance program that focuses more closely on back exercises. I may also take a little bit more estrogen. Since I started taking the Barr generic, it seems that it's not as strong as Estrace and that may have adversely affected my bones.
The hard part is that bone only responds to shaking things up in one's physical fitness program. Bones get bored easily and unless you challenge them in new ways, they figure out that they don't need to grow any denser and in fact start losing density.
I've requested a couple of books on interlibrary loan on ways of treating osteoporosis without relying on bisphosphonates - one by Dr. Susan Brown and another by Gillian Sanson. I'm not crazy about the idea of taking so-called bone-building drugs.
After recent blood tests showing a higher than normal fasting glucose, spouse is going to try diet and exercise to control his blood sugar. He has let himself get heavier than he should be. I'm telling him to not crash diet but to try for a lifestyle change in diet and exercise.
We were going to have daughter and son-in-law over for dinner tonight but they may be backing out. They will go on a delayed honeymoon trip to New Orlean's soon and are afraid that spouse may give them a cold. He doesn't have a fever, and perhaps his sniffly symptoms are caused by the new, tighter fitting C-PAP mask which really dries the air out, but they don't want to chance getting sick and ruining their honeymoon. I already roasted some carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic. Later, we'll cook the small leg of lamb roast and I'll make a huge salad. I told them they could always come over and get plates of food to take home.
Lately I've been walking my 4 miles at night downtown. I did walk part of it yesterday with spouse on North Mesa. Lots of non-icy sidewalks to enjoy there and tremendous views of the Sangre de Cristos! This afternoon, I'll do some end-of-year chores and walk tonight again.
We watched grandson several times this past week. On New Year's Day, his Mom and step-dad went out to eat in Albuquerque to celebrate their New Year's Day anniversary. Grandson brought over a CD his Mom had given him (except he couldn't remember who had given it to him!). The album is Ocean Eyes by Owl City and he particularly likes the Fireflies track, the main reason his Mom bought it for him. We played it on the CD player as he played with his Bionicles in the little living room. As he listened to the music, he announced the title of each song and sung along with some. I was afraid it would be blaring rap music but it was quite pleasant. He's almost 9 so I presume rap music is still to come (but probably not if his Mom can help it!).
Now another:
He finally asked to use my Fitter Wobbleboard. He balanced on it like a pro and even adjusted it to the highest height. I kidded him that good balance would be essential on the hikes he'll go on with me this summer. He said he'd rather go to the Activity Center! Daughter is hoping I'll take him on one hike a week to give him some time away from the AC. I'll try but I'll need his cooperation.
I now have all the results back from my osteoporosis evaluation. I had an appointment to go to Albuquerque on New Year's Eve Day to discuss the suggested treatment plan but woke up and spouse said the roads were snow-packed and icy and it started to snow outside so I called to cancel it and now my appointment isn't until February unless there's a cancellation.
I'm low in Vitamin D, the urine NTx (Google it - I don't completely understand it myself) shows I'm losing calcium from in my urine at a higher rate than I should which translates to greater fracture risk. On the bone mass density, my hips are all right but my spine is osteoporotic.
Obviously years of walking 4 miles a day have helped my hips somewhat but the spine...I need to do a lot more back extensions to make a dent in my spinal bones.
The spinal x-ray didn't show any vertebral fractures if I'm understanding it correctly. I will need help from the doctor in interpreting completely the spinal x-ray report.
What I'm doing so far is to take more Vitamin D3 a day, double my calcium citrate intake, wear my 10 pound weight vest more religiously and develop a resistance program that focuses more closely on back exercises. I may also take a little bit more estrogen. Since I started taking the Barr generic, it seems that it's not as strong as Estrace and that may have adversely affected my bones.
The hard part is that bone only responds to shaking things up in one's physical fitness program. Bones get bored easily and unless you challenge them in new ways, they figure out that they don't need to grow any denser and in fact start losing density.
I've requested a couple of books on interlibrary loan on ways of treating osteoporosis without relying on bisphosphonates - one by Dr. Susan Brown and another by Gillian Sanson. I'm not crazy about the idea of taking so-called bone-building drugs.
After recent blood tests showing a higher than normal fasting glucose, spouse is going to try diet and exercise to control his blood sugar. He has let himself get heavier than he should be. I'm telling him to not crash diet but to try for a lifestyle change in diet and exercise.
We were going to have daughter and son-in-law over for dinner tonight but they may be backing out. They will go on a delayed honeymoon trip to New Orlean's soon and are afraid that spouse may give them a cold. He doesn't have a fever, and perhaps his sniffly symptoms are caused by the new, tighter fitting C-PAP mask which really dries the air out, but they don't want to chance getting sick and ruining their honeymoon. I already roasted some carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic. Later, we'll cook the small leg of lamb roast and I'll make a huge salad. I told them they could always come over and get plates of food to take home.
Lately I've been walking my 4 miles at night downtown. I did walk part of it yesterday with spouse on North Mesa. Lots of non-icy sidewalks to enjoy there and tremendous views of the Sangre de Cristos! This afternoon, I'll do some end-of-year chores and walk tonight again.
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