Here is Frank. He is leading his troopers. I don't know if Frank really knows where he is going...
How embarrassing!
Joan of Arch in Film Noir
Sunday was cold and windy. I had so much to get done in the morning which included electric fence repairs.
My Grand Plan was to head out early to the Reserve and see if I could spot red wing black birds and maybe check out the ponds to see if any geese or swans had arrived.
All that went ka-put. After lunch I had to call my elder friend in Alabama. She was having a bad day so we talked for an hour. She is in her mid 80's and was telling me that she had not gone out to do anything in weeks. She forgets to eat, she is isolated she says, and depressed. She used to be a librarian, so I asked her where the nearest library was. Her answer was 3 blocks. I asked her if she'd go to the library and just go find a book and sit at a table and read.
Why? She asked me. I told her...so she could be around other humans.
I asked her to visit her meal site once this week and text me what she had to eat. I gave her two assignments or as I called them: Challenges for Motivation.
I had to agree to let her set a Challenge for me too. She wanted me to send her a photo of me in Mobility Class.
So today I was at CF and did Mobility Class afterwards. My coach Angie took these photos for me.
Mobility Class:
Last year, I saw an Endocrinologist who put me on another bone med for my severe Osteoporosis.
Per our agreement in May, we decided to go off the medications 'short term' (her terminology ~ mine was...Never!). -- I called that discussion -- What Next?
So with that out of my mind and feeling much better, I went back to the gym and started with Mobility Class and then talked with a coach about doing exercises to Challenge my Bones and improve balance, strength, and increase core muscle strength in my lower back and hips.
After 8 months of working one on one with a coach, I've gone back to the regular classes.
I modify my workouts to suit my abilities. I feel confident and strong. Yippee me!
Then I got this letter yesterday in the mail.
Emily E Peterson, PA-C has asked you to schedule an appointment in April. Please call------ at your earliest convenience.
Talk about out of sight out of mind. I had wished the problem away even though I am well aware of it. Especially while running up the driveway yesterday and leaping over a patch of ice to find myself on another
patch of ice. Boom.
I didn't fall apart. I rolled and came up trotting never giving it a thought.
I guess it is time to have a chat with the specialist again and see what she has in mind. In my mind, I want to wait for another bone scan before anything else occurs. Since I am not on specific medications for severe osteoarthritis, the insurance won't cover a yearly scan but I can have one every two years as part of preventative diagnostics.
I did wear my YakTraks later while hiking as Thursday's rains and snows made things a slippery mess.
The sun is strong this time of year so the ice in the creek area was starting to melt.
I hope to take some time on Sunday morning to go looking for something interesting at the Reserve. I hope to see some birds at least, if nothing else.
March 17th last year, I spotted Swans, Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and Red Wing Black Birds at KVR!
Somehow this week, I became a Social Butterfly.
A few weeks ago, an old acquaintance of mine texted and asked if we could meet for supper in Mid March. She was one of my 4H students from years ago. I think we met when she moved into the area and I rode my horse past her house.
I stopped to say hello and she went nutso over my horse. She joined 4H and I worked with her in the Horseless Horse Program. We worked with my grade gelding as my mare was still pretty green. She was in High School and a great student. She went on to place in the upper 10 slots at State for Horseless Horse walk trot. A lot of other folks helped us do fancy things like doing the mane and tail and they provided her with a show saddle.
We've remained friends through the years. Now her older daughter is in her first year of college, the youngest will be 15 soon. They live near Racine so we don't get to see each other a lot.
We met for supper in Spring Green as that was about half way for the both of us. She was doing a travelling set up for the company she works for and ended up in Baraboo, WI.
We spent a couple of hours at Culvers getting caught up on each others' lives. It was great to have just myself and her at the table without her kids or hubby interrupting.
Hint. I'm not the blonde one. I'm the one in the old sweatshirt and baseball cap.
I drove home in the dark. Hmmm. Now a year ago, I wouldn't have done that at all. BUT!
I could see! I could see even with normal headlights. Things were clear as a bell unless someone with those new fancy LED headlights had their brights on and didn't dim them. I had no visual problems.
Wow. I was so happy and stunned at the same time. I turned up the volume on my Pandora Station and enjoyed the drive. This will be another positive I can report to my eye doctor next week when I see him.
Tuesday evening I did CrossFit, Wednesday I hiked at KVR in the morning and went out to meet my pal in the evening. This morning, I was at another great CrossFit workout and got my errands done before the rains started.
Friday my ex neighbor Teri is going to pick me up and we are going to dinner together!
Whew!
Charlie leading the way
on Wintergreen Trail
[photo taken in IRChrome]
March may be kind of mucky, snowy, rainy, and icky. But this week I'm enjoying it.
They aren't cold, though one might freak out looking at them.
He waited for me to walk ahead of him and then used my tracks to keep moving.
We always walk to this spot. Over the years it is the one place that I continue to photograph over and over to mark the changes that happen in the creek.
2018:
The trees that had fallen across the creek were solid. In the shot above, they are rotting and falling into the creek which is dryer than in years past. More trees have fallen over the past 5 years. The path that the creek follows changes ever so slightly with little flash floods.
However, I had the most realistic and terrifying dream the other night and it bothered me for 24 hours.
I was sitting in an airport and I looked down at my ticket I had in my hand. I knew I was travelling somewhere but Raleigh was not familiar to me. I looked at the departure board and couldn't decide if I was going to Raleigh North Carolina, or should I be going to Raleigh in W. Virginia. I knew if I was flying east it should be to Charlottesville if anywhere. At least I thought so.
In my other hand was a folder with pictures of people in it. I carefully studied the photos and I didn't recognize any of the folks. No matter how hard I looked, nothing was familiar. In my other hand the ticket said Raleigh. The flight board didn't have any Raleigh showing.
Now I was confused. Where was I going and who were the people I had photos of?
People were walking around me and I didn't know want to look as though I were lost or confused so I just kept my head down.
The feeling of dread and anxiety just kept getting worse until I was ready to flee.
I woke up.
I got up and went to sit in the living room. I knew it was a dream. But where was I going and WHO were those people? What was up with Raleigh? Why would I even remember that? Those people! Just strangers!
I made coffee and sat down to have my first cup.
It hit me then. What I had been feeling and the whole dream scenario would possibly be just like what it could be to have Dementia.
It was terrifying. So terrifying that the feeling of loss and confusion over something I should know [even though it was a dream] hung with me all day.
I can't imagine living in that world and coming in and out of memory issues like that. However, I have seen it more than once in my life dealing with elderly folks I know.
Can you imagine it?
-- Well if that wasn't a bummer, I don't know what is.
Oh wait! I have a diversion!
The new motor that was replaced in the heater started making noise again. Enough so that it gave me a headache and I returned to the space heaters for blissful silence on this 2 degree morning.
So the $$$ I spent lasted exactly 6 days. I expect that perhaps that motor was only part of the issue? Just call me a bit disappointed and frustrated.
This was too good not to share with others:
