I walked down Los Alamos Canyon about 4 miles RT, starting from the ice skating rink. The fall colors of red and yellow of the different shrubs and forbs were beautiful. I saw where Deadman's Trail comes down from Los Alamos Mesa and considered going up it on the way back but I had enough to do with walking uphill into the wind on the way back. I could see snow blowing around over Pajarito - bet it snows tonight. I saw a lab worker at the locked gate into Los Alamos Canyon and he said it snowed 3" last night in Gallina.
Every time I walk middle Los Alamos Canyon, I get the urge to walk it all the way to NM501. After you get past the decommissioned Omega Reactor and the paved road, the canyon is more natural. The cliffs on the north side of the canyon are astoundingly high!
Amazingly, my right foot did beautifully. I had two separate quick twinges of pain but it was like a miracle otherwise. I wore the Brooks Adrenaline GTS-8 (not a winter shoe with all the mesh) and a pair of orange Stupidfeet that I bought yesterday at REI. The box for the orange Superfeet says that it's for medium to high arched feet and has extra shock absorption in the forefoot. My feet are like pancakes, with a slight arch so I fail to see why these insoles worked so well for me. I normally use the green Superfeet. I wonder if it's the extra shock absorption in the forefoot which allowed me to move my toes more normally in my gait stride? Dunno but I hope the miracle reproduces itself tomorrow!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
K-2 Article
I read an article yesterday about this year's climbing disaster on K-2, from Men's Journal magazine. One of the climbers who survived, Wilco Van Rooijen, a Dutch climber, walked away from his two partners after they had summited K-2 very late in the day and had been forced to bivouac at 27,000' overnight. In the morning, there was some confusion amongst the 3 climbers as to the way down and where the ropes were. Van Rooijen, who was badly dehydrated, said to his partners that he didn't want to discuss anything anymore and started down by himself. He got lost on the way down which, in a way, saved his life because it kept him out of the Bottleneck where people were getting killed by falling ice and being tangled up in shoddy ropes and left to dangle and die.
It disturbs me, though, that Van Rooijen abandoned his teammates. Just " See you later - I gotta go save my own butt!" One of his teammates, the first Irishman to summit K-2, Gerard McDonnell, was killed by ice fall on the way down. Since Van Rooijen had such an obviously well developed sense of self-survival, could he perhaps have somehow altered circumstances and prevented McDonnell's death if he had stuck with his teammates? The third teammate, Marco Confortola, an Italian, stuck with McDonnell on the way down.
It's true that I'm engaging in armchair mountain climbing and I don't know what I would have done in the same circumstances. The article has a photo of Van Rooijen, his frostbitten feet still healing from K-2, dandling his 9 month old son on his lap. He had a lot to live for but so did his teammate, McDonnell.
It disturbs me, though, that Van Rooijen abandoned his teammates. Just " See you later - I gotta go save my own butt!" One of his teammates, the first Irishman to summit K-2, Gerard McDonnell, was killed by ice fall on the way down. Since Van Rooijen had such an obviously well developed sense of self-survival, could he perhaps have somehow altered circumstances and prevented McDonnell's death if he had stuck with his teammates? The third teammate, Marco Confortola, an Italian, stuck with McDonnell on the way down.
It's true that I'm engaging in armchair mountain climbing and I don't know what I would have done in the same circumstances. The article has a photo of Van Rooijen, his frostbitten feet still healing from K-2, dandling his 9 month old son on his lap. He had a lot to live for but so did his teammate, McDonnell.
Don't Know About Continued Swimming
As the weather gets colder, I get less and less interested in jumping into an icy cold pool (temps kept in the LOW 80's - brrrr). I did figure out, though, that rinsing in a cool shower afterwards helps to stop the itching from the chlorine but that's a further brrrr! I just don't know if I want to continue with water aerobics.
Thoughts on yesterday's appointment with Dr. Miller: He was very busy and I was the last patient before his lunch and only saw him after waiting one hour beyond my appointment time (had a 10:30am appointment and saw him at 11:30am).
Also, when I did see Dr. Miller, he seemed "half there", probably as a result of exhaustion and hunger after seeing patients, one after another all morning. I told him several things about how my foot was doing and then, in the course of the visit, he asked me several questions that I had already told him, like where was the pain in the morning. I feel rather low on their list of priorities.
I checked the Aircast website and there are braces that would be more specifically appropriate for my condition, posterior tibial tendinitis and plantar fasciitis (both these terms are currently outmoded as the process in the tendon and the fascia has been proven to be more a degenerative one than inflammatory). I'll ask his office Friday if they have those braces. If they don't, I may reconsider the Aircast as it began to hurt my knee in the short time I wore it in the house yesterday (I'm not wearing it now per their instructions so they can re-use it.) I'm going to call Aircast, they have good customer service - that's how I found out Dr. Miller's office gave me the wrong size - and ask them about the knee pain.
I just now called Aircast about the knee pain. They said be sure to use normal gait when wearing the Aircast and that I'll be able to more easily use normal gait when I have the correctly sized one. She concurred with the doctor that the immobilization provided by the under the knee Aircast would be helpful for the posterior tibial tendon problem since my pain extends above my ankle. They have the best customer service!
Dr. Miller's office has a semi-ogre named Joseph. He looked annoyed because I dared to question them about how I could get my medical records. I can't get them directly from their office by signing a release and, in fact, can't even sign a release for their office to send to medical records so medical records can send me the records. I have to either take a shuttle to medical records or write them a letter (I'll choose that method) asking them to send me the records. I understand the system now and won't annoy him in the future. Then, when Joseph was giving me the physical therapy referral, he gave me this haughty, fake "I'm sorry!" when I asked about the fact the referral read Santa Fe and I may want to see someone in Los Alamos. I reassured him that I had merely misunderstood the form and thought that I was constrained to see someone in Santa Fe. I need to call some physical therapists to see who treats plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendinitis.
Thoughts on yesterday's appointment with Dr. Miller: He was very busy and I was the last patient before his lunch and only saw him after waiting one hour beyond my appointment time (had a 10:30am appointment and saw him at 11:30am).
Also, when I did see Dr. Miller, he seemed "half there", probably as a result of exhaustion and hunger after seeing patients, one after another all morning. I told him several things about how my foot was doing and then, in the course of the visit, he asked me several questions that I had already told him, like where was the pain in the morning. I feel rather low on their list of priorities.
I checked the Aircast website and there are braces that would be more specifically appropriate for my condition, posterior tibial tendinitis and plantar fasciitis (both these terms are currently outmoded as the process in the tendon and the fascia has been proven to be more a degenerative one than inflammatory). I'll ask his office Friday if they have those braces. If they don't, I may reconsider the Aircast as it began to hurt my knee in the short time I wore it in the house yesterday (I'm not wearing it now per their instructions so they can re-use it.) I'm going to call Aircast, they have good customer service - that's how I found out Dr. Miller's office gave me the wrong size - and ask them about the knee pain.
I just now called Aircast about the knee pain. They said be sure to use normal gait when wearing the Aircast and that I'll be able to more easily use normal gait when I have the correctly sized one. She concurred with the doctor that the immobilization provided by the under the knee Aircast would be helpful for the posterior tibial tendon problem since my pain extends above my ankle. They have the best customer service!
Dr. Miller's office has a semi-ogre named Joseph. He looked annoyed because I dared to question them about how I could get my medical records. I can't get them directly from their office by signing a release and, in fact, can't even sign a release for their office to send to medical records so medical records can send me the records. I have to either take a shuttle to medical records or write them a letter (I'll choose that method) asking them to send me the records. I understand the system now and won't annoy him in the future. Then, when Joseph was giving me the physical therapy referral, he gave me this haughty, fake "I'm sorry!" when I asked about the fact the referral read Santa Fe and I may want to see someone in Los Alamos. I reassured him that I had merely misunderstood the form and thought that I was constrained to see someone in Santa Fe. I need to call some physical therapists to see who treats plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendinitis.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Trip to Dr. Miller
Got up at 5:30am. Always have to tell myself when I have to get up early that no matter how little sleep I get, I will be OK and it will be enough. That helps me to get to sleep.
Dr. Miller gave me an Aircast boot to wear to relieve the foot pain. He said I could wear it as needed. Only one problem - the technician gave me the wrong size and my toes hang over the edge and hit the ground when I walk. I have to exchange it this Friday. Spouse has graciously agreed to go down with me.
Dr. Miller recommended Albuquerque physical therapist to make the orthotics. I said I wanted someone who could make orthotics for an active person. Even though he's a physical therapist, he makes orthotics on the side. Jemez Physical Therapy also recommended him. Dr. Miller also gave me a referral for 8 physical therapy visits. He could see that I still have some mild swelling in my ankle area. I have to figure out who to go to.
Not going to 5:30pm shallow water aerobics class anymore. Pool and unisex locker room are way too busy. Besides, I feel so much colder that time of day (it's dark now with the time change) and it coincides with dinner time. I did enjoy the teacher and the music. I'll go back to the noon water aerobics class.
Dr. Miller gave me an Aircast boot to wear to relieve the foot pain. He said I could wear it as needed. Only one problem - the technician gave me the wrong size and my toes hang over the edge and hit the ground when I walk. I have to exchange it this Friday. Spouse has graciously agreed to go down with me.
Dr. Miller recommended Albuquerque physical therapist to make the orthotics. I said I wanted someone who could make orthotics for an active person. Even though he's a physical therapist, he makes orthotics on the side. Jemez Physical Therapy also recommended him. Dr. Miller also gave me a referral for 8 physical therapy visits. He could see that I still have some mild swelling in my ankle area. I have to figure out who to go to.
Not going to 5:30pm shallow water aerobics class anymore. Pool and unisex locker room are way too busy. Besides, I feel so much colder that time of day (it's dark now with the time change) and it coincides with dinner time. I did enjoy the teacher and the music. I'll go back to the noon water aerobics class.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Last Gasp Autumn
I drove up Camp May Road and parked at Shotgun Shell because I wanted to take photos of some beautiful baby aspens that grow in a drainage there. Imagine my surprise to see a parked car and a middle-aged man in a white dress shirt sitting on a rock nearby and looking at pieces of white paper. I heard his car leave while I was in the drainage taking 21 photos of the aspens that were still in yellow, having their last gasp of autumn colors. I had planned to say hello when I was done taking photos. He had studiously ignored me as I walked toward the drainage. I wanted to tell him that he had picked a beautiful spot to park.
It looks like a system is coming in today because this morning, our turquoise blue skies looked milky blue like they do back east in Ohio and Pennsylvania and small, dark bottomed clouds were forming. This afternoon, we're all socked in with high clouds.
I drove to White Rock this afternoon and, on the way there around 1:30pm, I'm sure I saw a ghost going by...but, then again, today is Halloween so maybe it was just someone in costume! : )
I bought a pair of very long, fiberglass, canary yellow ski poles at the Jemez House Thrift Shop for $2. The lady at first wondered if she was supposed to charge me $15 because the poles still had their tag from the recent ski swap held in town. I'll use the poles for my balance practice on the Fitter wobble board. It gives me confidence to know that I can catch myself if I start to tumble off. It's also good to practice closed-eyes balance.
Saw my neighbor Irma at the thrift shop and talked with her for a while. She recommends glucosamine and chondroitin for my foot problem. I'm afraid to take it, though, because I know a woman in the Wednesday hiking group that took it but ended up having 2 knee operations anyway. Irma also suggested apple cider vinegar and increasing my brewer's yeast. She says she takes a zillion supplements. I don't know her age but she looks good. She was carrying her little dog, Chippie. He had an operation this week but is doing well.
I walked about 2 miles RT on the lower Water Canyon Trail. My right foot felt good enough on the way out, which is slightly downhill. On the way back, as I got within about 1/2 mile from the trailhead, I had to be very careful not to walk too fast or else it would have caused pain. I'm icing my foot now.
It looks like a system is coming in today because this morning, our turquoise blue skies looked milky blue like they do back east in Ohio and Pennsylvania and small, dark bottomed clouds were forming. This afternoon, we're all socked in with high clouds.
I drove to White Rock this afternoon and, on the way there around 1:30pm, I'm sure I saw a ghost going by...but, then again, today is Halloween so maybe it was just someone in costume! : )
I bought a pair of very long, fiberglass, canary yellow ski poles at the Jemez House Thrift Shop for $2. The lady at first wondered if she was supposed to charge me $15 because the poles still had their tag from the recent ski swap held in town. I'll use the poles for my balance practice on the Fitter wobble board. It gives me confidence to know that I can catch myself if I start to tumble off. It's also good to practice closed-eyes balance.
Saw my neighbor Irma at the thrift shop and talked with her for a while. She recommends glucosamine and chondroitin for my foot problem. I'm afraid to take it, though, because I know a woman in the Wednesday hiking group that took it but ended up having 2 knee operations anyway. Irma also suggested apple cider vinegar and increasing my brewer's yeast. She says she takes a zillion supplements. I don't know her age but she looks good. She was carrying her little dog, Chippie. He had an operation this week but is doing well.
I walked about 2 miles RT on the lower Water Canyon Trail. My right foot felt good enough on the way out, which is slightly downhill. On the way back, as I got within about 1/2 mile from the trailhead, I had to be very careful not to walk too fast or else it would have caused pain. I'm icing my foot now.
Monday, October 27, 2008
I Wasn't Fair
I wrongly doubted the intentions of the staff at Dr. Sauer's office. They called me back this afternoon and said that Dr. Sauer looked at the cd of my right foot x-ray and it was fine. I explained to them that I had just been concerned to make sure they got the cd after going to the effort of faxing a request for it. I thanked his office for calling me back. Anyway, all's well that ends well!
Self-Frazzled
The noon water aerobics had a substitute instructor. He was nice and tried hard but I didn't get as good a workout as from Stephanie. As one part of the workout, he had us do a very repetitive routine with dumbbells. That was good but the rest of the routine intense enough. In part, this is because there were so many people in the class that it's hard to maneuver around them. The other part is that he didn't include any intervals (but nobody's perfect)! It was nice of him to substitute for Stephanie.
Afterwards, I went to the shallow end and water walked 1/2 mile or 18 laps, across the short length of the pool. I think my style needs work as it was hard on my hips because I used too long a stride length and jutted my butt out. That took about 35 minutes. The idea of the water walking is to get my feet ready to exercise walk on land again.
Tomorrow I have an eye exam so I'll just do an exercise dvd in the morning before the appointment. Wednesday, I'll do the shallow water workout in the evening. Thursday and Friday, I'll be back to the noon class and hopefully Stephanie will be back.
I'm not at all sure about getting orthotics from Dr. Sauer's office. This afternoon, I had called the UNM Clinics Film Library to ask if the cd of my right foot x-ray had ever been sent to Dr. Sauer and was told it had been sent on October 16. I then called Dr. Sauer's office and they had no record of receiving it so I called the Film Library again and he tracked the package, giving me all the details regarding the delivery, including who in Dr. Sauer's office signed for it.
When I called Dr. Sauer's office back, suddenly they admitted they had received the x-ray but it was still in the envelope as Dr. Sauer hadn't had time to look at it yet. That wasn't why I was calling, just to check-up on if he looked at it, but what I was trying to do was to follow-up that they had actually received it since the last time I saw Dr. Sauer, they hadn't. This incident gives me a bad feeling like I've done something wrong and I get the distinct feeling that his office staff just considers me a bother. I feel like they told me they hadn't received it when they knew they did because they were afraid that I was going to ask if he had looked at it yet.
Afterwards, I went to the shallow end and water walked 1/2 mile or 18 laps, across the short length of the pool. I think my style needs work as it was hard on my hips because I used too long a stride length and jutted my butt out. That took about 35 minutes. The idea of the water walking is to get my feet ready to exercise walk on land again.
Tomorrow I have an eye exam so I'll just do an exercise dvd in the morning before the appointment. Wednesday, I'll do the shallow water workout in the evening. Thursday and Friday, I'll be back to the noon class and hopefully Stephanie will be back.
I'm not at all sure about getting orthotics from Dr. Sauer's office. This afternoon, I had called the UNM Clinics Film Library to ask if the cd of my right foot x-ray had ever been sent to Dr. Sauer and was told it had been sent on October 16. I then called Dr. Sauer's office and they had no record of receiving it so I called the Film Library again and he tracked the package, giving me all the details regarding the delivery, including who in Dr. Sauer's office signed for it.
When I called Dr. Sauer's office back, suddenly they admitted they had received the x-ray but it was still in the envelope as Dr. Sauer hadn't had time to look at it yet. That wasn't why I was calling, just to check-up on if he looked at it, but what I was trying to do was to follow-up that they had actually received it since the last time I saw Dr. Sauer, they hadn't. This incident gives me a bad feeling like I've done something wrong and I get the distinct feeling that his office staff just considers me a bother. I feel like they told me they hadn't received it when they knew they did because they were afraid that I was going to ask if he had looked at it yet.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
More Hopeful Today
Tonight I walked part way toward the Los Alamos Airport and back - almost one mile per the step counter but probably really did walk a whole mile all together if I count the walking up and down the block while monitoring the water hose that was running full blast under the spruce tree - watered the street anyway!
It would be good if, before the appointment with Dr. Miller next week, I could walk a full 2 miles. Six weeks ago, I could walk about 2 miles before the foot pain would begin.
I'm not entirely pain free and can't really give all this rehabilitation effort a fair evaluation until I can try a longer walk. Will work up to it by next Tuesday.
Daughter and son in law enjoyed trip to Durango, Colorado. Apparently it's a very liberal town and much support of Obama was in evidence during McCain's visit on Friday! Spouse joked that with all we've lost in the stock market crash, we could have bought a condo at Durango Mountain Resort!
It would be good if, before the appointment with Dr. Miller next week, I could walk a full 2 miles. Six weeks ago, I could walk about 2 miles before the foot pain would begin.
I'm not entirely pain free and can't really give all this rehabilitation effort a fair evaluation until I can try a longer walk. Will work up to it by next Tuesday.
Daughter and son in law enjoyed trip to Durango, Colorado. Apparently it's a very liberal town and much support of Obama was in evidence during McCain's visit on Friday! Spouse joked that with all we've lost in the stock market crash, we could have bought a condo at Durango Mountain Resort!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Recovery Lasted One Day
I was so happy yesterday when I tried a mini-hike ( probably less than a quarter mile) and it seemed that my right heel and medial instep wasn't hurting. I used two ski poles and only took careful steps.
This morning in White Rock, I walked from the White Rock branch of Mesa Public Library, crossed Rover and started down a gravelled path that runs beside Cañada del Buey. I hardly went very far at all, less than a couple of blocks, and realized that there was the same "twisting" feeling in my right hindfoot and that it was causing pain under my medial arch and in my ankle. I used my ski poles for support but that didn't seem to make any difference.
This is very disheartening. It's been 6 weeks since I've exercise walked or hiked. I'm wondering about the suitability of the Dean Karnazes SOLE heat moldable insoles for faster paced walking. They are very comfortable and very supportive to wear around the house but, once before when I tried walking to the end of our block, they seemed less comfortable when using a normal, brisk walking gait. The green Superfeet seemed more comfortable.
I was in White Rock to go to the Jemez House Thrift Shop to look for more ski poles but didn't realize they close at noon on Saturday. I missed that deadline by 1/2 hour. Then I went to the White Rock Mesa Public Library to check the non- return box.
I drove to the Española Walmart Supercenter instead of driving to Santa Fe. I bought some foot related items, including an Mueller adjustable ankle support, a PediFix arch bandage and a MediTemp ice pack. Both the ankle support and the arch bandage are too tight, even though they are one size fits all. I'm evaluating the ice pack (one treatment for tendon damage is to ice it and this was suggested by Dr. Sauer to help the posterior tibial tendon heal).
This evening, I also tried out the Hapad posting heel wedges and the longitudinal metatarsal arch pads. I'm trying to recycle all the Hapad Comf-Orthotic Sports Replacement insoles that I have by modifying them with the Hapad pads to make them more supportive. The posting heel wedges seem to work well but I couldn't get the arch pads to be comfortable so I may need a smaller size.
Tomorrow I'll try a mini-hike using the green Superfeet. I really am not overdoing it but need to have some normal, brisk walking to evaluate how the foot is doing so I can report that to Dr. Miller on November 4.
This morning in White Rock, I walked from the White Rock branch of Mesa Public Library, crossed Rover and started down a gravelled path that runs beside Cañada del Buey. I hardly went very far at all, less than a couple of blocks, and realized that there was the same "twisting" feeling in my right hindfoot and that it was causing pain under my medial arch and in my ankle. I used my ski poles for support but that didn't seem to make any difference.
This is very disheartening. It's been 6 weeks since I've exercise walked or hiked. I'm wondering about the suitability of the Dean Karnazes SOLE heat moldable insoles for faster paced walking. They are very comfortable and very supportive to wear around the house but, once before when I tried walking to the end of our block, they seemed less comfortable when using a normal, brisk walking gait. The green Superfeet seemed more comfortable.
I was in White Rock to go to the Jemez House Thrift Shop to look for more ski poles but didn't realize they close at noon on Saturday. I missed that deadline by 1/2 hour. Then I went to the White Rock Mesa Public Library to check the non- return box.
I drove to the Española Walmart Supercenter instead of driving to Santa Fe. I bought some foot related items, including an Mueller adjustable ankle support, a PediFix arch bandage and a MediTemp ice pack. Both the ankle support and the arch bandage are too tight, even though they are one size fits all. I'm evaluating the ice pack (one treatment for tendon damage is to ice it and this was suggested by Dr. Sauer to help the posterior tibial tendon heal).
This evening, I also tried out the Hapad posting heel wedges and the longitudinal metatarsal arch pads. I'm trying to recycle all the Hapad Comf-Orthotic Sports Replacement insoles that I have by modifying them with the Hapad pads to make them more supportive. The posting heel wedges seem to work well but I couldn't get the arch pads to be comfortable so I may need a smaller size.
Tomorrow I'll try a mini-hike using the green Superfeet. I really am not overdoing it but need to have some normal, brisk walking to evaluate how the foot is doing so I can report that to Dr. Miller on November 4.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wild Woman Wishes to Embrace World
Today I brought the Tina Turner "Simply the Best" cassette to water aerobics class because Stephanie plays music on Thursdays. Everyone seemed to like it. They thanked me and the instructor for the music.
Fortunately for them, I didn't have a whole lot of breath leftover for singing although I got in a few breathless lyrics. Certain songs made me want to exercise like crazy while others were forgettable. Her "Tina Turner Greatest Hits" cd is better but I didn't want to bring a cd to class - I'll stick to cassettes.
Kate might bring in a Ricky Skaggs album one day. This afternoon I'm previewing various cassettes to determine how fun they'd be in water aerobics class.
I sure am going to miss the class when I finally start walking and my pass expires! My skin, however, won't miss it. Right now I'm stinging from all the places where I've scratched myself to death. I'm not sure if it's the chlorine or the coconut oil. I'll wash the chlorine off thoroughly tomorrow (usually I just give myself a rinse) and apply the coconut oil and if I still feel itchy, I should switch to the olive oil next week.
I saw Barbara swimming laps at the deep end. She's the one I always run into at the library. She went for a dip in the therapy pool afterwards. She told me she's hard of hearing in both ears and should wear hearing aids but doesn't.
I ate 3 squares of unsweetened chocolate this morning, spread with peanut butter and topped with a medjool date. Chocolate is like speed for me so I'm fairly supercharged at this point. Problem with it is that you have to keep taking the addictive substance every day because otherwise, you crash the next day. Unfortunately, I'm out of chocolate so it will be black tea tomorrow. Hmmm...I do have some cocoa! : )
I'm so supercharged that I'd like to just keep typing and typing but either I've ran out of things to say or I don't remember what I wanted to say!
I know, I know...I watched the PBS show, American Masters last night. It featured the life and career of Charles Schulz, the Peanuts creator. This was a complex man and I'd like to read a biography of him one day. He died of colon cancer at age 77, in part because he didn't believe in getting regular checkups. (I'm glad now that I have scheduled a colonoscopy.) After having a stroke and the colon cancer, he had decided to put away his pen and end the Peanuts comic strip. He died at home, in bed, while his wife thought he was napping. She commented in an interview that she was amazed at how he had managed to die the day before the last Peanuts comic strip was to appear.
Fortunately for them, I didn't have a whole lot of breath leftover for singing although I got in a few breathless lyrics. Certain songs made me want to exercise like crazy while others were forgettable. Her "Tina Turner Greatest Hits" cd is better but I didn't want to bring a cd to class - I'll stick to cassettes.
Kate might bring in a Ricky Skaggs album one day. This afternoon I'm previewing various cassettes to determine how fun they'd be in water aerobics class.
I sure am going to miss the class when I finally start walking and my pass expires! My skin, however, won't miss it. Right now I'm stinging from all the places where I've scratched myself to death. I'm not sure if it's the chlorine or the coconut oil. I'll wash the chlorine off thoroughly tomorrow (usually I just give myself a rinse) and apply the coconut oil and if I still feel itchy, I should switch to the olive oil next week.
I saw Barbara swimming laps at the deep end. She's the one I always run into at the library. She went for a dip in the therapy pool afterwards. She told me she's hard of hearing in both ears and should wear hearing aids but doesn't.
I ate 3 squares of unsweetened chocolate this morning, spread with peanut butter and topped with a medjool date. Chocolate is like speed for me so I'm fairly supercharged at this point. Problem with it is that you have to keep taking the addictive substance every day because otherwise, you crash the next day. Unfortunately, I'm out of chocolate so it will be black tea tomorrow. Hmmm...I do have some cocoa! : )
I'm so supercharged that I'd like to just keep typing and typing but either I've ran out of things to say or I don't remember what I wanted to say!
I know, I know...I watched the PBS show, American Masters last night. It featured the life and career of Charles Schulz, the Peanuts creator. This was a complex man and I'd like to read a biography of him one day. He died of colon cancer at age 77, in part because he didn't believe in getting regular checkups. (I'm glad now that I have scheduled a colonoscopy.) After having a stroke and the colon cancer, he had decided to put away his pen and end the Peanuts comic strip. He died at home, in bed, while his wife thought he was napping. She commented in an interview that she was amazed at how he had managed to die the day before the last Peanuts comic strip was to appear.
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