WEIRD DAY

Today was a weird day. After working a bit, I took Lucky on a car ride to the pet food store. We got some containers of dog food. I bought some last week but I bought the wrong flavor and she got a bit sick. I may try them again this week. 

Then after working a bit more, I got a call that my taxes are complete. Just in time to make my IRA contributions. 

Hours later my ex-foster kid called to say someone he knew passed away. I think it was his first person who died. He was very upset. We all have to go through our first death. I think it is part of life to learn how to work through your grief and trauma. 

Until tomorrow...

SECOND ARTHRITIS MEETING MISHAP

Today was our arthritis meeting. I was early to the meeting so I could set it up. I looked and looked for my link as a facilitator but no luck. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to log on does the facilitator then I went on as a participant. Turns out in the past couple weeks another member took the training to also be a facilitator. She figured out how to go on and host the meeting and then I went in as a participant. 

We had a good meeting where people shared ideas of different tools to open jars and cans. It was very enlightening. 

After the meeting the other facilitator and I looked at the correspondence and found out that somehow or another my email got switched with someone else's and that person is probably getting my invitations. So that's why last time and this time I was not able to log in and be the facilitator.

FINISHED A PROJECT

I am so happy! I finished one more big project for work. These projects are behind schedule but I'm getting them done before my trip. 

Tonight I watched some videos of my camper van in the cold weather. It made me feel more confident about camping in very cold weather. 

Lucky seemed better today. She isn't shivering like she was. She isn't cold, I think it is pain. I've also increased the gabapentin dose. 

I walked 5,120 steps today and my foot/heel is feeling a bit better. I think I found something that makes it feel better: I'm using a facial roller on my calf. A facial roller is a stone roller that you run across your face to get rid of wrinkles. Since my calves are so tight and painful, I thought I would try running my facial roller and it seems to be working. I'm still wearing the night boot to keep my foot in the right position and doing my physical therapy exercises. 

Until tomorrow...

HOW FAR DID I WALK?

I was supposed to work today but I didn't get any sleep last night. I was up about 10 times. I tried my audiobook, a meditation, nature sounds, reading a book and watching TV. Nothing worked.

I really tried to work but I kept falling asleep! 

I wanted to put these totals of the distances per month that I walked: 

* January I walked 143,028 steps approximately 64.34 miles

* February I walked 139,820 steps approximately 62.90 miles

*March I walked 169,801 steps approximately 76.34 miles. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY THREE WITH BROTHER

This day started out so nice and ended so badly. 

My brother and I went to another neighborhood to walk around and get my glasses adjusted. We had Vietnamese food again but this time at my favorite place. I thought they had closed during COVID but they didn't. I have had dreams about their vegan banh mi sandwiches. 

Then after walking around we got ice cream at a particularly good ice cream place. I couldnt resist and I got two scoops of vegan ice cream. We took our ice cream to the park and sat in the sun. 

Once we got home we played game of Battleship. My brother used to always beat me and today was no exception. 

Then it was time to take him to the airport. We decided to stop at a hiking path first and take a little hike to see a lake. 

After I took my brother to the airport, I started driving back home when at an exit some car almost hit the side of my car when he decided to merge right into me while driving on the left shoulder. Then he pulled up next to me on the right and started beeping and yelling at me. He was calling me all sorts of not nice and four letters names. Then he pulled in behind me beeping and yelling at every stop sign and stop light for 2 miles. It may not seem like a far distance but when you are in bumper to bumper traffic it seems like a long time. I tried to lose him but he followed me each time I changed lanes or made a turn. Finally, out of fear for my life, I drove to my local police station. I also kept an eye out for cop cars on the way but there is never one when you need one! 

When I got you the police station, there was a loading zone parking spot, I pulled in and turned off the car, unhooked my seatbelt, grabbed my keys, unlocked the door, before opening the door and getting out. Over my shoulder I locked the door with my key fob and ran across the two lanes of traffic. I went into the police station and out of the corner of my eye I saw his car blocking traffic half pulled in behind my car. 

I went in and told the police there was a guy following me. I was shaking at that point. I didn't know what this guy was going to do. Did he want to yell at me? Did he want to punch me? Did he want to shoot me? He obviously wanted to follow me home and at least intimidate me. 

I stayed in the police station for about 25 minutes. I was hoping I would not get a parking ticket and that the guy would leave. Finally it was clear there were no cops available to escort me to my car so I peaked out and the crazy guy seemed gone. The cop at the desk said to come back if he was still out there or followed me again. It was just luck that I found a parking place right across the street the first time! 

I went out and he was gone. I quickly got in my car and drove around a bit and then home. I half expected to see him pop out from an alley or parking spot. 

I can honestly say I was scared. Who gets that crazy over a merge? That guy clearly needs anger management classes. If didn't think the world has gone crazy, I do now. I'm not sure I will sleep tonight. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWO WITH BROTHER

Today we both did our PT, then we walked around the neighborhood. We had lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant. The food was okay. 

He helped me figure out the GPS and helped me unscrew my mailbox for my trip. I need the mail to fall into a box so my friend can come collect it. 

I made a vegan dinner for us. Barbecue tofu, green beans and a special couscous dish. It was delicious. 

He introduced me to the show Hacks on Max. We watched two episodes and I liked it. 

Until tomorrow...

MY BROTHER IS VISITING

I had a particularly hard day at work and right after work ended, my brother came from the airport. He flew in from the East Coast to stay with me for a couple of days. 

He was super respectful and wore a mask until he tested himself for COVID. Then we ordered a vegan pizza for dinner. 

Until tomorrow...

I SAW MY VAN🚐

I got going early and did the few items I had to do . I moved a meeting to the afternoon and I took off. I drove 40 minutes in my car. Yes, it made it there and back easily. I found the rental place and the employees were so nice. They took me through a van and showed me everything. They also answered my questions. 

I wanted to check out the storage since this van is smaller than the one I originally rented. There is storage but we will have to see how much when I bring it home. I am going to make a pile of necessary items and a pile of "would love to bring" items. 

I also wanted to find out about the fridge. Some RV or van fridges only run when the RV/van is not running. Since I have a bunch of orencia, I need to have constant refrigeration. 

Lastly I wanted to find out about the heat. How does it run and will it be enough for the cold weather. Will the pipes freeze? No. The water heater heats the pipes. 

Now I just have to wait three weeks to go! 

Until tomorrow...

MADE A MISTAKE

Fir months Lucky ate boiled chicken that I boiled. When I went away and left her with the dog sitter, I boiled chicken in advance and froze it.  Well, with this trip coming up, I had to find an alternative. I tried four different brands of people-grade chicken in a can.  She only really liked one of them Stella & Chewy. I got two cases today. One was chicken & chicken liver and the other was supposed to be plain chicken. It wasn't. It was chicken and salmon. I now have an unhappy doggie with an upset tummy. I'll have to get the plain kind tomorrow. Poor baby's tummy is making the same noises my tummy used to make when I would eat dairy products more than 10 years ago! It sounds like the food is going to crawl right out of your tummy! 

Until tomorrow...

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

I just looked back at last week and I was going to say the same thing this week. I'm drowning in work. I just worked until 10:00 at night to catch up.

Although it is April fool's Day and Cesar Chavez Day, I went to a doctor's appointment. After the chip incident, I had a sore throat for a long time. But I also had sort of pain underneath my jaw. My doctor decided I should go see an ENT. The ENT was very nice and listen to me. He did a lovely test where he put a little camera down my throat. It was easier than I thought. He didn't see anything but he definitely said that if I don't feel better when I come back from my trip, he would order an MRI.

Until tomorrow..