I GOT MY CAR BACK

Today I walked 6,600 steps. It was raining so I had to walk in between rain showers. 

The good news is that my car is fixed again. Coil something, injection thingamajig. I don't know. 

My new portable washing machine arrived today. It is a round barrel with a crank. You put the clothes, soap and water in the barrel and crank. Then there is a spout to drain the water. It claims to be able to wash a sheet but I'm going to use it on my trip to wash underwear, socks, shirts. 

I found out a staff person of one of my clients is bad mouthing me. The manager was quite upset to hear someone was bad mouthing me. They called me to make sure I was okay. It is annoying to hear the comments. 

Until tomorrow...

FOOT BRACE

I walked 8,200 steps today. It started out when I walked to and from physical therapy. It is 1.1 miles each way. I'm in Physical therapy right now for my feet. I was in boots and one crutches for 8 weeks. They say my legs and feet have become weak. 

One fun thing is a brace I wear on my right foot at night. Nothing is more romantic than a person with night guards and a brace on my foot.

Until tomorrow...

PAINT SHELF

I walked 5167 steps today. That is 2.5 miles. I'm really trying to get out and walk up hill or stairs every day. I found out one of the places I am going has 700 steps. I'm getting tired just thinking about it. I also found out one of the places I am going, will have the main attraction closed this summer. 

It's been a long day. The highlight is that my handyman built a shelf for my paint. I used to have a pink cabinet but it fell apart.

Until tomorrow...

TRIGGERING POST

Today I went back to the podiatrist for my foot. This maybe disgusting to some people so you can skip. 

Back in September I fell while hiking in Yosemite. I broke my right foot and tore the ligament in my left ankle. I also smashed my big toe nail. It was all bruised and then over the months, the nail started to almost bubble up with blood underneath. 

A few weeks ago, I went to the foot doctor about my broken foot and she looked at my big toe. By that point, my nail had started to hurt and the nail looked funny. The doctor said I cracked the nail down at the base of my nail. She clipped the part of the nail that was cracked and starting to stick up with some fancy clippers. 

Fast forward to today. She decided that I probably cracked the nail further down below the skin/cuticle. She took some fancy metal thing and started digging under the skin/cuticle to pull out the broken part of the nail. It was not fun. She found these little pieces of nail under the skin that were poking me. It was quite painful especially since the area was already sore. 

Hopefully this fixes it but if it doesn't, I need to return two weeks before my next trip so she can be more aggressive and I will have time to heal before my next trip. 

I now have a brace that I sleep in to hold my foot perpendicular. I have pads in my shoes under my toes. I have gel heel pads in my shoes. Nothing makes you feel old like orthodic items in your shoes. I guess nurses shoes are next. 

Until tomorrow...

16 MILES IN ONE WEEK

Today was a walk to get my DVDs from the library. Yes I still watch DVDs sometimes. I can watch new movies months before they come out on streaming. You can't beat free movies. 

On my way back I stopped by the hardware store to buy Coleman fuel. I need the Coleman fuel for my super old Coleman stove. I camped with this stove with my family as a kid. I plan on cooking on my stove when I go camping. 

I came back, and after a bath, I worked on my taxes again. 

I walked 8,200 steps which is 4 miles today. I'm trying to increase the number of steps each week. Last week I walked 39,883 Steps. That is 16.62 miles. 

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER HIKE

I started today with a 2.8 mile hike. It was almost all the way uphill. I had to walk to the park uphill and then the park inclined 530 feet about sea level. It had beautiful views. 

I was supposed to work on my taxes but instead, I made chocolate-peanut butter protein bars. 

Lucky needed a bath and since it was our first sunny day in weeks, in the bath she went. She is now fluffy and smells nice. 

I decided to make a vegan bake with potatoes, sweet potatoes, kale and vegan hot dogs. Delicious! 

Until tomorrow...

INVISALIGN RETAINERS?

I had another sunny day so I went for a hike. Since I walked earlier, my step count was 2.5 miles today. 

I went to the dentist office because they called to tell me there were Invisalign retainers for me. I didn't even know I was getting invisalign retainers, because I already have a mouthguard. There seems to be a bit of confusion as to why they suddenly showed up. But I took them and I can use them in the future to keep my teeth straight. 

I sent my ex-foster kid present in the mail since he moved into his own apartment. It is two teenage cookbooks so he can start cooking food for himself.

Until tomorrow...

9 WEEKS UNTIL MY BIG TRIP

I am not sure if I mentioned this before, but I am going on a big trip. I leave in 9 weeks and I am so excited. 

Every day I do more planning for the trip. I have maps and books. I've made spreadsheets and I have a box with things I need to bring. 

Today was moving day for my ex-foster son. He moved into his own but supportive apartment. I could not assist in the move but we video called and I got to see his place. I bought him two presents a month ago. The present is two cookbooks for teens. 

Today was finally mostly sunny. I went for a two mile walk. 

Until tomorrow...

8 MILES THIS WEEK

I went for a a 1.5 mile walk today during lunch. I need to train for my trip. I think I have walked over 8 miles in the last week. Pretty good but I need to walk more. The walking is making me super hungry. I'm trying to eat better so that could be why I am so hungry. No sweets or junk food (my type of junk food is tortilla chips). 

It was finally a sunny day after a week of rain. 

Until tomorrow...

TOLD CLIENTS ABOUT TRIP

I honestly don't have much to write about today. I was loaded didn't with work. Last Friday I told my clients I am taking a trip. So far two are excited for me. Two seem freaked out and I haven't heard from the other.  They took it better than I expected. 

I walk 2.5 miles today. It was not raining as much. 

Until tomorrow...

PRESIDENTS DAY

Another stormy day. I lost wifi for awhile. Luckily I paid for a month of my Travelfi. Travelfi is a way to have Wi-Fi through a portable system. It is helpful sometimes. 

I started my taxes today. It will take next weekend too. 

I went on another walk but it had to be short because of the rain. Only about mile. 

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER MONTH OF INVOICING DONE

Today was a boring day. I had to invoice my clients. It is my least favorite task. If you have been reading for a while, you already know this. I got it done, so I am happy. 

I went on a 2.5 mile walk in between the rain storms. I took Lucky with me in her carriage. 

I watched Oppenheimer today. It was a loooong movie. It took me a while, with some breaks, to get through it. It was good. 

Until tomorrow...

RAIN & COOKING

I decided to cook today. It is pouring on outside. I made a fennel and sweet potato au gratin. Then I made kale, chickpea and broccoli soup. So incredibly tasty. I used the Instapot. The soup was ready in 22 minutes! And I didn't have to do anything except chopped veggies and open a can. 

Unfortunately I used a mandolin and cut my finger. It was so stupid. I didn't use the guard. 

I walked 3 miles. 

Until tomorrow...

BACK TO ACUPUNCTURE

I also started acupuncture again after a short pause.  Unfortunately, I keep having nerve tingling in my left arm and my lower back. 

I lay down and the needles are put in. Then about 3-5 minutes later, my left leg starts jumping all over the table. It was not relaxing and ruins the whole experience. 

Until tomorrow...

STARTING PHYSICAL THERAPY AGAIN

I went to my first physical therapy today. The place would not let me continue from my physical therapy last fall so I had to start over. 

I need to work on my feet, shoulder and back. Do you ever feel like you are falling apart, one piece at a time? 

Until tomorrow...

NOT FEELING TOO GOOD

I started having a stomach ache this morning. I spent the whole day on the couch. Not much to report except nice way to spend Valentine's Day. 

Until tomorrow...

WHATS THE TEMPERATURE?

I got a new thermostat. The thermostat I had was bought before the time change of daylight savings time. For you younguns, daylight savings time used to be the end of April and the end of October. Currently daylight savings time is March 10 and November 3. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed daylight saving time (DST) to the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.

With my old thermostat, I had to change the clock four times a year. With my new fancy thermostat, I will never have to change the time. Plus my new one has fancy screen colors! Now I will be warm and comfy for my joints. 

My arthritis group met tonight. We had all sorts of technology issues but once we got going, I made my presentation on the Blue Zones. People seemed very engaged and I was told it was good. I was a bit thrown by the tech issues. 

Until tomorrow...

COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT

I got up early and went to the foot doctor this morning. I wanted her to look at my toe from when I fell in Yosemite. It still hurts. Turns out the nail on my big toe was cracked and she had to cut it off. I still have a nail but now it doesn't hurt. Then she looked at my heels. You know when you get old when: you have to wear braces on your feet at night. They are supposed to stop the pain in my feet. She also looked at where I broke my foot. She thinks I am starting to get a callus. Ugh!

After a short stop at home to take Lucky out, I went to my cognitive assessment. I spent 3.5 hours doing cognitive tests. I had to repeat words for what seemed like hours. There were puzzles, items to draw, and problems to solve that made my brain hurt. 

At the end I was told that they will review the test results, strategize a plan, and the next time we meet I will get some answers. I have to wait three weeks. 

Until tomorrow...

HIKE #2

I woke up early and went on a hike to another park. It was a long way down a hill and then a tough walk back up (in sand!) I did not bring Lucky because she would never had made it. 

I watched the Superbowl. Ugh! I did work while watching the game. Invoicing. My least favorite task. 

I have to make a presentation on Tuesday and I am not ready. 

Tomorrow is my memory assessment. I'm a little anxious about it. 

Until tomorrow...

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year.  There are lots of fireworks going off tonight. 

Since the contractor decided to not show up again, I went for a hike. I went to a wonderful hike in a park 15 minutes from my home. I only went there once before but I had Lucky so I couldn't hike very far. To day I hiked 8,200 steps. That is about 4 miles! I have to get in shape for my hiking trip in a few months. 

I watched Nyad tonight.  I thought it was really good. Jodie Foster was really good. Annette Benning too. 

Until tomorrow...