Wednesday April 15, 2020

Weight 123.2, WW Bluepoints 11.

So weird that it is April 15 already. In some ways it feels like I have been in Floria forever but in other ways I feel like it was so short because we were able to do so little. But the weather in March and for at least the next two weeks is unusually hot and humid - like August instead of spring. Having that weather with no swimming has been very difficult. We can't even take Justice for long walks during mid-day because it is just too hot.

I have set up weekly Zoom chats with our walking group at 10 am on Wednesdays and with our other SIL on Fridays at 5. At least there will be some socializing!

ETA: I got my coronavirus stimulus payment this morning - it was $2400 which I thought it would be if based on 2019 taxes since DH was alive all year. Did you get yours?

Stay safe, stay home, stay healthy!

Where is everybody? I'm missing Ann too.

I'm feeling much better than yesterday!

It's another beautiful day here. Paint stuff is out, but I have yet to have an inspiration.

My cousins set up a Zoom call for the family with my aunt tomorrow morning. After the first resident tested positive at her facility, no one else has tested positive until a CNA did yesterday. The staff have all been wearing masks since late March so they hope she didn't infect any of the residents, but you never know. I do have to applaud them for keeping it from being an outbreak there so far. The CNA also had another job elsewhere, plus the staff don't live on site so it's inevitable that they will come in contact with others.

Does anyone else find wearing a mask incredibly claustrophobic? I feel like I'm trapped and can't breathe with one on. I am trying not to think of having to wear one for the next year. It's a good thing I never wanted to be a surgeon! Or a scuba diver...

I'm not eligible for a check, Liz. Bummer.

Yes, definite mask claustrophobia!

Interesting that the CNA was allowed to have 2 jobs. My neighbor here is a CNA and after the coronavirus outbreak they were told they could only work at the assisted living site (no secondary jobs allowed). They did have one coronavirus case (resident) early on but no one else caught it. She said that with no visitors, everyone masked and pretty much all workers just going from home to work she feels very safe.

That's a smart rule!

Can't say about mask claustrophobia- other than trying on Diane's mask purely for fashion's sake (and they are, indeed, lovely!), I have been no where where I have needed one. In fact, Ive been nowhere to speak of at all that hasn't been outside. A true C-19 poster child!

Our county is requiring them in grocery stores/pharmacies etc. and strongly recommending them when outside walking. So I wore one last Thursday to go to the grocery store for the first time in 13 days (before I felt sick) and again yesterday on a dog walk given I wasn't feeling 100% this week. I didn't wear what Diane sent, but what I have is similar and I just felt like someone was smothering me with a pillow. So I'm not going to wear them on dog walks, but I'll have to if I want to go to the store.

I don't feel claustrophobic when I wear a mask. I do HATE that my exhalation breaths sneak out the top of my mask and fog up my glasses! LOL! That is a pain in the ass, if there ever was one!

After several weeks of slug-ery, I went on a lovely country walk yesterday with Lucky in tow. It wasn't vigorous exercise, but enough to moisten my brow and do me a world of good mentally. Today's exercise goal is to use the resistance cables. Let you know how that goes.

I am getting the groove of the online teaching thing. I am now enjoying this taste of retirement. I can see that after 40+ years of working, retirement is going to be a gift, IF I manage it well. If I don't, I will end up a depressed mess. I am going to have to approach management with a plan. I am not a Diane O. or a Liz or David. I am more prone to slip into non productivity, I think. Or maybe it's because I am always working that when I do have free time I don't feel like doing projects???? I'm not sure. What I do know is that I will need to keep a level of productivity going to feel good.

Food has been okay for several days now. I decided I didn't need any more comfort food to mourn Ella's passing. It served its purpose when I needed it, but I could feel the need for comfort slipping over to a sense of habituation and complacency. That was my signal for "time's up"! time to reel it back in. Interestingly, with that type of awareness and logic, the reeling in has been easier than normal. Honey Crisp apples help, too!

Made a great "stir fry" last night. Shaved steak (from Trader Joe's) quick fried with garlic, carrots, green beans, and finished with a chopped Persian cucumber and chopped peanuts. Just a touch of soy sauce and Sriracha for flavor. (FYI - the cucumber doesn't cook. I just threw it on at the end to warm it up. It was still very crunch and deliciously fresh tasting.)

Puppies are enjoying the outdoors. We are having a few days of above average temps before it cools back down for the weekend. It's lovely to sit in the shade. It's almost too warm to sit in the sun! Not really. I suppose it's more that I'm just not used to it yet.

Have to get ready for afternoon office hours. Toodles!

My online teaching has not felt like retirement :) yesterday I started with a meeting at 7:15, and kept working until 8:30pm (with breaks), to finish some special education paperwork. Stupid paperwork that basically told parents that their children weren't getting face to face service anymore. And it took 3 different forms per student to give them this information. And then they were asked to agree to the service change. One parent emailed me, I don't like it, but what choice do I have? I told her I felt the same way. What a colossal waste of my time.

I do like starting the day slowly. I get up, get dressed, log into my computer, get a cup of tea, check email, respond, get more tea. I try to take a quick break frequently. I might stop and make the bed, or empty the dishwasher, and of course, more tea and snacks. I try to eat lunch at the dining room table.

I am so jealous of everyone's weather. Feels like February. Looks like February. In the 30s here, with snow on the ground. At least the sun is out today. Snow should be melted by the weekend.

I am thinking I need to plan something"fun" for the evening. I'm not going outside into the winter weather, so I'm going to need to do something to change gears from work to off work right here in the house.

Surprisingly, I don't find wearing a mask confining. I was pleasantly surprised to find it so comfortable. Maybe it felt better than my previous attempt using a bandanna. The bandanna just made things worse, it kept slipping off my face, and I kept wanting to adjust it, which defeats the purpose.

Good Morning

Just finished my last physio session for the week. She is really happy with me. I am 120+ degrees whilst sitting - a huge jump from last weeks 95 and have more flex so she thinks I will get to 130 which is over what they say is the goal. The best bit is I can lift my leg off the bed from a sitting position. Its something I have truely struggled with (many do) - its the weirdest feeling when you will your brain to do something and your body wont respond. Im on the exercise bike and did my first forward circle today with her help. Working on it. Oh and I was cleared to drive yesterday so I went and posted some birthday cards and picked up some groceries quickly. The freedom :) Feeling a lot more positive than I have been after my quads seized - Ive caught up after my setback

Weight is still up a little but Im finding my leg is swollen after a day sitting at my desk - so not overly worried 172.04

Today will be work. Then helping DH plant out the rest of the pea plants in our new veggie patches. I will try and get some of the veggie seedlings planted into pots too. I have ordered some beetroot & turnip seeds as well. Cant wait for them to arrive. Have wanted a veggie patch at our city house forever but havent been able too - as our dogs love to dig and lay over everything.

Dinner is the mince mum made last night - I will make it into a shepherds pie I think. So essentially a second night off cooking. I like it.

Missing Ann - Hope she is ok? Does anyone have a contact number that they could check in with her????

Love to you all and have a wonderful evening

S