Category: Health



Per Linda: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “a repeated story.” Include in your post a story you’ve repeated again and again or a story you’ve heard again and again. Or write about the phenomenon itself. Have fun!
What did you do all day? Why are you so late to the blog?

Well, it’s the same ole story. Yesterday I found a mistake a few rows back and today I’ve been Tinking back. I still haven’t reached the boo-boo. And I find the number of stitches on each needle is so different I’m going to have to get creative to get the number to match. Or tink even farther. Ugh!

When I was a young adult, my grandmothers had Alzheimer’s. Yeah. Both maternal and paternal. So when you all wonder why I work so hard at languages and learning new things and puzzling things like Sudoku, that is a fight I’m on. I’ve not been diagnosed, but at 74 I’m being as vigilant as I can.

And yes, I do repeat stories. I have since I was a child. Most people do. Maybe they don’t realize it. Or maybe they are trying to work something out in this retelling. I remember my grandmothers would tell a story once again and folks would criticize them. But I listened and saw they changed the story a bit each retelling. Sometimes I learned something new about them or others. Sometimes it just was their story. A thing that made them. How I’d love to hear them repeat one of their old tales to me again.

Think about how kids love hearing a book read to them for the umpteenth time. They’re working the story out. The rhythms, the rhymes, how it all works.

I have learned to reread or rewatch things as each time I pick up just a bit more. Not only the story but about writing, directing, acting. Or maybe more about how people differ in their relationships.

Old stories are still packed with nuggets we can learn from. Whether we are telling them or an audience member.


Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “chicken or egg.” Use the “which came first” conundrum in your post, whether about the chicken and the egg or about a real-life situation that fits the question. Or just talk about chickens and eggs! Enjoy!

Found on Facebook just yesterday by our personal astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Like he knew the prompt for SoCS.

There are so many times in life that you wonder what came first the pain or the fear. Sometimes the very thing you fear brings the pain you most dread. Worried about stepping on glass you bump your head. Ya know what I mean? The thing you were alerted to had you blind to something you never thought of.

We’ve just finished bingeing Cesar Milan’s show on Disney. I’m trying to train myself to get ready for my new fur baby when the time comes. Cesar sees many people who have been traumatized by dog bites. And those animals were traumatized by past people. Now the new pet and parent have to overcome their fears and learn to trust each other.

The lesson is to control yourself in the moment. Be present. Trust you’ll know what to do.


Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sum.” Use the letters “sum” in a word in your post or use the word “sum.” Enjoy!

Summer used to be my favorite season. To sum it up: swimming. I would be in the water 24/7 if I could. From the time of my first lesson, I think I was 11 or 12, I knew my inner spirit was a mermaid.

I challenged myself to swim from one end of the pool to the other in one breath.

Though I took the diving challenges, low board or high, I hated the time it took me out of the water. Although overcoming my fear of heights was tough, once mastered, I gave it up to be in the pool.

In seventh grade I was able to take lifesaving and be a part of a swim team. I didn’t get to finish the course. Nor did I get to continue the competitions. I suffered a severe case of swimmer’s ear that put me to bed the rest of the summer. It wasn’t the earache that caused the most pain. I cried daily for what I was missing. I’ve since learned how to keep my ears dry between swims.

Summer also meant camp and camping. Every year my folks took the family on 3-week vacations. To save money it was always camping. Our favorite system was to go to Sequoia, Yosemite, and Bass Lake. Swimming in the lakes made me happy.

As a teen, Sunshine Superman played as we had many trips to the beach.

I found I loved the beach as much as the pool. Salt water. Sand. Bodysurfing. It became my favorite spot. But laps are too long in the ocean! And swimming under water wasn’t as much fun.

Living in the small community with no pools has been hard. Beaches are too far away. It is Lake County but we’ve yet to see the lakes. And they seem more for fishing than swimming. The one I plan to investigate this summer is actually a reservoir. But we’re told there are leeches. Ugh!

Another sad issue with summer now is the fires. Breathing becomes an issue.

But this summer is starting with the possibility of a really fun road trip. And maybe a swim? Our fears are fires and or snow. I know! But tonight we have to drip. A freeze. June!!!

But I plan on challenging summer this year. Please bring water and fresh air!

Tuesday’s Tidbits


I don’t talk much about Duolingo and my 10 languages. Maybe you think it’s a bad idea to do all of them. But both of my grandmothers died from Alzheimer’s. I want to learn as much as I can while it all still works. Still, some days I work on every one. Some days I might barely make it through one little lesson.  I’ve managed to stay at the Obsidian level. For me, the great take away is I feel more and more confident — until I feel I suck. I would say more positive times than negative. And I love the feeling of growing, getting better. Hearing words on TV or while reading that I understand just thrills me. I must admit Navajo and Hebrew are the hardest of all ten. I keep starting over. I think I need books or tutorials on these.

The other tidbit is the achy muscles from < 5 miles and < 30 minutes on the stationary bike. Before I hop on the bike I do 20 pushups on the door, 10-15 floor/ceiling touches, and side to side bends. That doesn’t make me sore. But my son and I have started our afternoon walks of two miles. The energy is there to do these. But my legs are protesting quietly. Again, I’m amazed at how little things can build to make a body or mind, or habit grow. Why did it take me so long to understand that?

Not me. Not my bike. But I feel her smile.
Almost finished!

Floundering February


After National Novel Writing Month in November, then the birthdays, Christmas and cold, and the occasional editing and keeping up the journal, somehow, January needed help. Linda G. Hill gives us Just Jot It January. The prompts help make sure we write something every day. I have done those for a couple of years now. I am grateful for the push to Just Jot.

Thank you, Linda, for the fun of JusJoJan.

But always, in the past, I found myself floundering in February. Hence, the fish:

He is a quick sketch, and the eraser was smudgy. He’s a little cross-eyed. That’s how I feel in this short month that lasts a couple years. Let’s think about this guy. He is the bottom feeder. He lays on or under the sand, both eyes looking up to catch whatever morsel floats down to him. I’m sure he is grateful for the tension that occurs above. That is how I feel about the tidbits of passion the muses drop to me.

It’s too cold for walks. But I am being steady on the stationary bike. Knitting is to keep the hands busy during TV or chats. When I am nearing the end of the day, Duo calls me, and then I do my blog. Whatever comes to mind. I’m trying to go earlier on these, so there is enough time and energy to build callouses on the uke and stretch the fingers for the soprano and alto recorders. Learning how the music theory I learned and applied to the piano and voice can apply to these other ventures.

To help me get back into playing scales, which will help with getting back into piano playing, I picked up one of these roll-up pianos to play with in my bedroom. It has an earphone plug-in, so no one has to put up with the noise but me. So these are my musical flounderings. Right now, it is just mechanical. But I am hoping that my tidbits of time and energy will spark a real musical enjoyment.

My diamond painting area is now open as the dragon is being shipped to his friend. I don’t know which one will be next. But I intend to flounder and fuss about in there and seek the enjoyment.

So that is what my Flounder Feb is all about. Finding enjoyment, if not passions, and hoping that all the flotsam and jetsam of tidbits build a healthier me. We’re not looking for perfection. That’s what happens up topside.

What is your Flounder doing this February? If you choose to play, use my pic and link back here.


I’m going to make the call. Somehow I got food poisoning. The middle of the night was not pretty. Today I’m exhausted and on a brat diet. Ugh! Yay for Pepto. I’m going to go back to bed.


Snow is one of the most captivating weather I love to watch. Last night we had clear skies, star twinkling brightly. I went to bed a little discouraged. But lo and behold this morning the driveway is full of the wonderful white stuff.

If you have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD you recognize captivating behaviors. Either every thing has you flitting from one idea to another, or you are captured, or hyperfocused by something.  I love when I am held in that rapture, when I am learning something new.

I hate the flitting between captures. Spinning my wheels. Not getting anything done. But put up Duolingo and I can play for hours.

I used to sit in front of my piano and play and sing for hours. I wish and how I get captured by that again.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 4th, 2024 is “captivating.” Use the word “captivating” any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Thank you, Linda, for the Just Jot It January fun. Click on the JusJoJan above to learn about how it all works.

Thank you, Wendy, for the prompt of the day. Check out her “Wendy’s Waffle” blog by clicking captivating above.

Me, on any given day, ADD.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 1st 2024, is “train.” Use it as a noun or a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Thank you, Linda!

Train

Some people wake up and see their day full of organized plans like this.

It’s peaceful to know where the train is taking you.

On a good day I wake to

Mostly my trains have a spiderweb network of tracks that overwhelms me.

This blog helps me focus. In case you think yarn and weather is all I deal with, just know it’s just about all I concentrate on before life and distractions take me elsewhere.

Oh, speaking of weather

This is how 2024 started in Christmas Valley. Freezing Fog. It looks like snow. But it isn’t. And you can only see just beyond the porch.
Rosey at 20 finally likes me and my lap as much loved as her main human’s, my hubby.
Leg warmers are getting more colorful. Wow, they’ve reached 10 inches of 24. Among other projects.

So, I need to train my brain on the personal possibilities of this new year.

My stationary bike goal has increased from 5 miles in 30 minutes to more miles in less time. Today I reached 5 in 28. So win!

I know last year I planned on podcasting. Stagefright won. So it goes back on the list of things I still feel I want to do.

Besides German, Spanish, Italian, French, Scottish Gaelic, Latin, Esperanto, Japanese, Navajo, Hebrew, I’d like to add a couple more to my Duolingo list so that I am always doing 10 lessons a day. And I want to get more serious about my American Sign Language classes. My brain loves working on languages.

Hello editing. You are cruelest of all. I’ll do what I can and finished products will go see the light of day on the podcast.

I still will continue working on getting healthier.

My diamond paintings are calling so tomorrow I will play.

Why did music find itself this far down the list? With a new ukulele, I’m trying to learn to make my fingers fit the chords needed. But daily practice might get me there, right?

The recorder is calling. No more trying Carols. Now I can enjoy whatever music strikes my fancy.

Okay, piano. I hear you. I will turn around from the diamond painting table and tickle you on occasion.

Singing loud and proud and dancing like no one is watching sneak into this list.

And that’s not including the bins of organizing I’m already doing.

And I want to get over my phone fear and try to enjoy socializing a bit.

There are only so many hours in a day but all these trains want to leave the station and make their way to improvement and new possibilities. There has to be a way. Some things must be daily Duolingo and blogging (no longer on a struggling list but on the ‘it happens’ like eating list).

The list looks like last year. More has been added. Few trains ended their tracks. My brain and strength expand to meet the fun.

Train-ing is fun

One-Liner Wednesday


Home safe and sound, many doctors appointments ahead.

Part of Linda’s One-Liner Wednesday

Happy Boxing Day


We don’t celebrate this here in the states. But I found a movie on Amazon called Boxing Day. Similar to Love Actually.

Maybe you will like it.

Meanwhile, my husband went grocery shopping. He came home and called 911. He was having chest pains.

We were air flighted out and 20 minutes later we are in the emergency room. He’s feeling better. Lots of tests. No heart attack per first test. But they have a bunch lined up.

I’ll let you all know when we know.  Send your prayers and good thoughts.

THE AVOERIA ARCHIVE

The Depth Behind The Ordinary

Life of Chaz

Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.

Pieces Of My Heart

"Words & Wonders - Where thoughts meet art

💫The Afterlove Voice💫

Justice, Channeling,Spiritual,Astrology,Truth- Seeker.

Amin Academy

Education, Information, Motivation

Luso Loonie — Devin Meireles

Exploring Portuguese Culture, Azorean Heritage, and Luso-Canadian Identity Through Writing

UNDER THE WILL... OVER THE DRAMA...

Inheritance. Narcissism. Turf. Welcome to the family.

Selma

Finding the extra in the ordinary

Sip, Snack, See

A Blog About Food and Travels

Golu lodhi

I upload photos & videos Golu lodhi village pairakhedi

Creative

Travel,Tourism, Life style "Now in hundreds of languages for you."

intricate cantrips

twisted yarns, unraveled

Introverted Growth

The Introvert's Roadmap to Self Discovery and Growth