I was lying in bed feeling sorry for myself last night and thought about the people in my "Better Balance" class and how they deal with the limitations of pain and aging.  I know what Cleo would say.  She is a lovely, gracious woman with a walker in about her late seventies.  She just got out of a two day stay in the hospital for a urinary track infection.  She was glad she was around people who cared about her and didn't let her go to her apartment to lie down when her symptoms presented (they are different for us old folks).  She is sweet and kind and counts her blessings.  She doesn't lament that she has to use a walker; she is glad she can walk.

So what if I am almost housebound.  I have a house--one that is cozy, warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  So what that there are things I can't do well.  I have family and friends who help me and sufficient funds to hire help when they can't.  I have lots of "cans" and "haves" in my life and really very few "can'ts" and "have nots".

I've always thought that I'd like to be gracious and grow old gracefully.  I want to be like Cleo when I grow up.

Dislocation trauma

Yesterday was a frustrating and somewhat traumatic day. Frustrating for me, traumatic for Bingo and Puddin'. I got up at 6 to greet the floor workers but they didn't arrive until 1. Then, after making sure we agreed what was to be done, I packed up the kiddies and headed to Elaine's. Puddin' peed on me as I put her in her carrier--not an auspicious start. I got a small box of litter on the way out to Florissant and a treat for me and Bingo. Traumatic times give license to treats, right? Two Twix bars and pizza for supper, not to mention sunflower cookeis. I will get back on track when I am ensconced in my new living room!

Last night was a bit of a mess. Puddin' wouldn't come out from under the bed and Bingo followed me everywhere. At least he got right off the bed when I told him to. Puddin' finally came out exploring during the night. She was able to jump up on the bed and she found her litter box. She was restless and I woke up several times to her pacing and mewing. At one point she perched on my back (for warmth?). Bingo woke me at 5 to be fed and I finally got Puddin' to eat. (She missed her supper meal the night before). I was able to give her insulin which was a big relief to me. The trauma of being somewhere other than home can't be good for her. Went back to bed to wake up to Bingo barking at either thunder or someone driving by. So that we wouldn't wake up Elaine, I took Bingo into the family room. I slept on the couch until I smelled coffee. Elaine said she didn't hear Bingo at all. Not a restful night. Oh yes, my legs and hips hurt, too. No where to go but up!

I'm going to go check on the floors soon, leaving the kiddies behind. Bingo likes Elaine and Elaine and Puddin' have agreed to ignore each other, so all should be well.

8 minute walk

I did an 8 minute walk today. It was supposed to be a seven minute walk but I didn't have my timer with me. I was hoping to see a egret or two but all I saw were people. Young people, old people. and one dog who was having a good time chasing a stick. 8 minutes was really my limit. My hips said no more! I have, however, recovered nicely.

Today a was a doodle around day: Weight Watchers, chiropractor, hair butchering, I mean hair cut. I have started packing to go to Elaine's tomorrow assuming the floor people come. No one has called me to show me color samples. I am not feeling the love.

Buying a new swimming suit

I didn't do a five minute walk today so I decided to punish myself by getting a new swimming suit. I promised myself that I would get one when the Y pool was closed for cleaning. Well, it opened today and I still had not got the suit. I went to my new favorite place to get a suit. I tried a couple of suits that were significantly smaller than my now too big suit. Too optimistic. I finally found one that fit, that encased the girls as well as could be expected. (Those little cups they put in suits are a big laugh!) It is two sizes smaller than my last one and, amazing to say, it is exactly the same style and color! It was all I could find! The only way anyone will know I have a new suit is because the trim on this one is not all raggedy. But it meets my basic requirements: no cleavage (no one, including me wants to see cleavage on an almost 70 year old woman), my rolls do not look too prominent, I can get in it without a major struggle. It does have little bows on the side. I think I will cut them off. Give me a break.

I celebrated by getting a Diet Coke in the MickieD drive through.

The renovation went forward a little and then stalled. The carpets got ripped up today but the refinishers are not going to start until Thursday. It is not to the point of being annoying yet but Bingo and I are really looking forward to getting out of the bedroom.

Veggie stir fry for dinner--weigh in tomorrow.

A five minute walk

So, inspired by Kristann, I decided to start walking again with a five minute walk. I went to Forest Park, which was packed with Labor Day frolickers. I lucked into a parking place near the Muny where there was a Veterans' Festival with a band that was channeling Johnny Cash. I doodled around a bit, quickly using up my five minutes and then some. So, Day 1 of walking.

Forest Park is my favority place to walk. There are lots of paths and wonderful landscaping. My favorite quadrant is the area bounded by The Boathouse, The Art Museum, and the pool at the base of the Art Museum's hill. More later, perhaps even pictures.

Doctor Who

This afternoon I finished watching Season 2 of Doctor Who. I have to admit it took me a while to get into it. I love the way the Doctor looks serious and hopeless one minute and then decides to look the opposite. The big disarming grin. Love it. It's the old "change your point of view"routine. (Does anyone remember the "Change your point of view" song from Square One? Here's the YouTube for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlqEVnSmBNY
The long goodbye to Rose was a little much. I caught the end of another episode where all the Doctor's companions unite to save him so I know they meet again at least once. I did like Rose, however. She was quite resourceful and spunky.
As long as I'm doing YouTubes of favorites from kids shows, here is one of my favorite songs from Sesame Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LAVVGJtrRM

Harry Potter explains it all

I have been trying to figure out why I fell (hard!) on July 17. Reading Harry Potter it finally was clear to me that it was a hex, curse or jinx. Since I have no memory of a cause, I wonder if it was an Imperius curse. The other possibility is a leglock curse. I wonder how many other unexplainable things in life could be explained if we found the witchie cause? The current economy and contentiousness in Congress is obviously due to the ascendancy of the Dark Lord. He must still have some Horcruxes around since we have certainly been through this before. This bears further thought and investigation.

What to do on a hot day.

It is supposed to get up to 102F today so I am planning indoor activities. The first will be to work on the Focal Point web site. I think there is a nap for me in the plans. It is also time to pay my Visa and balance my Quicken. When the sun goes down, I'll take in the wash I put out at 8 this morning.

Current foci

I was going to title this "current obsessions" but I need a less intense word than obsession. Oh well.

Current foci:

1. Weight Watchers I will reach goal weight in my lifetime.
2. Veganism: I am almost a vegan. I still succumb to cheese occasionally.
3. Reading: I keep "buying" free books for my Kindle but am not reading them. I am going to get it filled up with unread books if I am not careful.
4. Re-reading the Harry Potter books. I am up to Order of the Phoenix (I'll finish it today).
5. Staying cool. I am housebound by the heat. I do the "do something for 15 minutes" thing so I don't become welded to my recliner.
6. Recovering limited mobility. Since I fell two weeks ago, I have been dealing with upper back pain. Back spasm make the lower back pain feel like nothing.
7. I just checked out a book about Beethoven's symphonies and the first two symphonies from the library. I want to teach myself something
8. I have a gazillion books to teach myself drawing checked out from the library.
9. I am slowly clearing the living room in preparation for room remodeling.
10. I have, once again, made the resolution to blog regularly. Consistency is NOT my middle name.

Later dudes and dudettes.

Christmas cookies

Sue Grafton's L novel was annoying. So much so, that I didn't finish reading it but jumped to the last chapter after reading it over half way. Aside from Kinsey, the characters were totally unlikeable. I'd rather not read about characters I don't like. I haven't started a new mystery yet but have been reading the latest Valdemar anthology. Perhaps I will devote a different blog to it. It has been a satisfying read.

No, my obsession du jour is Christmas cookies. First I tried twiddling with the toll house cookie recipe a la Alton Brown but was dissatisfied with the results. When not stored in an airtight container the cookies became rock hard. Not Good Eats. But AB is not necessarily to blame since I didn't follow his recipe exactly. Next, I made them the way I usually do according to the recipe on the package substituting 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar for the 3/4 cup each in the recipe. I used Brooke's scoops to portion the dough and was pleased with the results. I like using the scoops--they made for more uniform cookies that were well shaped. I am not compelled to eat them one after another. What's up with that?

The next experiments where shape cookies. I used AB recipe for sugar cookies but wasn't thrilled with the taste. I used Joy of Cooking's Gingerbread people recipe. I haven't tasted it yet. Brooke had a little cookie cutting and decorating party at her house for which I supplied the dough and cutters and she supplied supper, icing and guests. It was an enjoyable time but I pooped out before everything was finished and came home. I need to pick up my portion of the results later. I discovered that, like painting pottery, decorating cookies is not my forte. Brooke, Virginia and Nadia, however were pros.

Next on my list will be Mexican Wedding Cakes (Joy of Cooking) and Date Nut Balls. If either of those fail to please me, I'll know something is wrong; they are two of my favorites.

I still need to get a gift for Ali (I know what I'm getting him) and something for the other relatives (I have no clue) but I will wait until I feel better--maybe Thursday.

It's a mystery to me.

Well, I am nine months away from C.H.I.P. and I am back to being a carnivore. I have cut back on the amount of meat I eat. For example, I used only 1/4 lb. of ground beef in the pot of spaghetti I made the other day.

Over the past year, I have dabbled in several thing (see the subtitle of this blog). The one up for discussion today is mysteries. Yes, along with most of the female population that I know, I have started reading, rather obsessively, mysteries. I'm not sure which author I began with but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Nevada Barr. It was either her or Rita Mae Brown. I like to check with my favorite website: Fantastic Fiction . The web site gives lists of the series written by each author listed and in the order they were written.

I found that I could not read one Nevada Barr novel after another. They are too intense. Elaine maintains that the best qualities of a good mystery are characters and plot. Nevada Barr's novels are tightly plotted and loaded with wonderful characters. What's more, the main character, Anna Pigeon, grows quite a bit as the novels progress. Barr's big hook, however, is setting. Each novel is set in a different National Park. Given the dangers our hero encounters is enough to put you off camping! And that's another thing. The heroes of mysteries seem to fall into some peril in the last chapter of the novel. Anna, however, gets royally beaten up or almost killed in every book I've read so far. I would think that she would have lasting physical effects from all the trauma. (I think she does have to get away from it all in the novel after the next one I'm due to read.)

The next author I tackled was Rita Mae Brown and her Sneaky Pie series. I liked all the characters but I found the series quite a bit lighter than Barr's and not so tightly plotted. I read her as much for the story as for the mystery. One really does need to read this series in sequence to keep up with all the changes. I liked the way Harry mellows and begins to get along better with characters that were drawn rather harshly in the early novels. The hook for her novels--talking animals who contribute to the solving of the mysteries. They only talk to each other, so don't rank these books with fantasy.

I got into Laura Lippman throught the AARP Page Turners Book Club on the web. Lippman's hook is the city of Baltimore, which she obviously loves. Her main character, Tess Monaghan, goes through quite a bit of development. I loved her boyfriend, Crow, but didn't find him as believable as all her other characters. For plotting, she is denser than Brown but not as intense as Barr. Definitely re-readable.

Now I am reading Sue Grafton. I thought her A and B novels were weak and her character not very well developed but she has grown. I'm up to J now and am enjoying the mysteries more. One thing that bothers me is the amount of trivial detail. Grafton lets us know every time Kinsey brushes her teeth or locks her car. Maybe she's trying to impress us with Kinsey's methodical, cautious ways. Getting into these characters is like having friends you meet in the books. You feel sorry when the series is finished. Since all of these books are on my Kindle, it will be easy to visit them again.

Elaine is going through the mystery section of her library, reading women authors alphabetically. Following that lead, I have been exploring the Fantastic Fiction lists alphabetically, choosing authors that have four stars (too many, otherwise). I've read Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews. It went well enough that I will read more but the plotting was loose. I think its what you call romance mystery. We'll see. I also read the first Agatha Raisin novel by M. C. Beaton. I am familiar with the Hamish Macbeth series from the TV series. I loved the characters but never really saw the episodes as mysteries. The characters in the Agatha Raisin novel are wonderful. Agatha is a crusty, quirky delight and the people who surround her likewise. I think I will read Beaton and Grafton in tandem with a Barr novel thrown in once in a while for variety.

30 Days of C.H.I.P.

I finished the 30 day Coronary Health Improvement Project and, coincidentally, physical therapy this week. I kept pretty strongly to the CHIP dietary guidelines although I succumbed to sugar in the last week. I didn't lose any weight. My blood pressure was lower but I don't trust the measurement since the cuff was the wrong size. I hope that my doctor's office will call Monday afternoon with the blood test results. If there is no difference, not only will I be discouraged but also I will probably decide not to go the "graduation" on Thursday evening.

I have been feeling better physically. I am able to go up weird stairs (St. Louis front step--irregular high risers) like a normal human instead of step by step with a great deal of effort. I am not content to just sit in my recliner all day. The dark side of that is that I tend to do more than I should. Like today, for instance. I changed the sheets on my bed, did two load of wash (3 trips up and down stairs), de-cluttered the living room and vacuumed and made stir-fry for lunch. All that activity, of course, gave me a back ache so I am relegated to lying on a heating pad or kicking back in the recliner. Some day. . .

C.H.I.P.

Today is the first day of the jump start for the Coronary Health Improvement Program. I had steel cut oatmeal and a banana and blueberries for breakfast. Lacking creativity, I had the same thing for lunch but it was not as satisfying. I only have two days of eating only grains and fruit and I am so glad. I went to the store and got some grapefruit and oranges and fresh pineapple. I also got some Bob's Red Mill 6 grain hot cereal. I am not feeling very enthusiastic about this but I can do it for two days. I would season the grains creatively but I don't really have a clue. Salt is verbotten as well as sugar. Perhaps garlic and ginger?

Fasting in the 2010s

When I got up (late) this morning, I didn't turn on the TV. It was nice and quiet and I decided to fast from electronics: no TV, no computer, no electronic games, no cell phone. I didn't fast all day long--just until about 3:00. This is what fasting is for me. I never understood or got value from fasting as a Muslim. It was stressful and ultimately made me sick. But fasting from electronics was peaceful. I read and was quiet. I'm going to do it again, perhaps when Jim is off in Crestwood, perhaps sooner.

I've started reading Karen Armstrong's The Case for God. I have been reading only fantasy and science fiction for a long time; I doubted I'd be able to read something serious. But with the electronic fast, my mind was quiet enough to become immersed in it. I wonder if being vegetarian helped clear my mind, too.

Nutrition

I have no idea if I am getting proper nutrition. I just eat whatever I can that isn't meat (and preferably not cheese or eggs but I will do eggs in a pinch). I am looking forward to the C.H.I.P. sessions to begin. It will give me the guidance I need. I have had a couple of recipe disappointments. I did find some frozen dinners that look good and seem balanced.

Words, words, words

"Words, words, words. I'm so sick of words." If Professor Higgins really believed that it was Eliza's language that kept her back he would never have dressed her up and taught her to dance.

Going vegetarian

December 12 was my first day as a vegetarian. It hasn't been hard going meatless; I guess I'm ovo-lacto since I do eat cheese for now. I'm not sure I'm getting all the nutrients I need but I'm working on it. I've found that I like my steel-cut oatmeal with raisins and a banana and no sugar! Today, after shopping (in vain) for the perfect recliner, I went to House of India for the buffet. Yum! For dinner tonight, I plan on having spaghetti with Morningstar Farms crumbles and see how I like them. It's an adventure. In mid-January, I hope to be joining a C.H.I.P. group for guidance in going vegan.

Flounder is not just a fish

That pretty much describes what is going on. Ostensibly, I have been doing the WW Core program but with lots of variations. The truth of the matter is that I have lost motivation again. There is a weight above which is unacceptable to me. When/if I reach that, I eat circumspectly that day. Otherwise, my goal is to eat when I am hungry and not eat when I am not hungry and when I want to nibble but know I am not hungry, find something else to do.

I cooked a bunch of food (good stuff) and froze it so I have meals for a few days. I am enjoying cooking again. The trick is to get rid of the baked goods by foisting them off on someone else as soon as I can after baking them, but I do like to bake! My geology class was the recipient of muffins (which I said displayed metamorphism). I think Jim likes the yummy banana bread I just made. I have blueberries for muffins (and to enhance my oatmeal).

This weekend is a work-both-days weekend so I won't be doing much cooking. Next weekend, Hassan is coming; I intend to cook a lot then if he wants to or not. We can cook together or I can cook while he visits with his dad and his brother. Whatever.

One week on Core

I made it through, imperfectly, one week on the WW Core Plan. It's ok. I still have cravings for things like candy corn or bagels with butter but on the whole, its not bad. Whole wheat pasta will take a little getting used to--its the texture, not the taste. I made a pot of chili today that I will eat tomorrow and the rest of the week. I did it by cooking up 2 lbs. of ground beef, mushrooms and onions. Approximately half of the mixture went into the chili (Bush chili beans are core), along with other seasonings, a can of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes with green chilis (I didn't even realize I had bought that kind of diced tomatoes until I saw something green in the pot). For lunch, I took some of the ground beef mixture, put it over polenta and added taco sauce. It was quite tasty.

I am finding that I like to have my main meal at lunch. It makes sense. I eat a hearty lunch and when I get hungry again, I can have a lighter evening meal. Since I had lunch so late this afternoon, I'm still not ready for supper.

It is viciously cold out tonight. I will think twice about going out for aquasize. I have pretty much decided to drop out of both classes but use the techniques that worked well for me on my own. The teachers get bothered when I don't do exercises that cause me pain/discomfort and want to help. I just want to be left alone to do what works for me.

Soup--it is soup weather. Cauliflower soup. Chicken barley soup sounds good too. That will give me a project for the evening.

Maybe This is OK

I started the WW Core Plan on Tuesday. I must admit that I am not being rigid about it. This week, I want to get used to it so I am not counting things that I eat that are not on the Plan. In defense of myself, I have to say that there is very little that I am eating off-core. For example, I am totally on core today so far.

What makes the plan work for me this go-around is the fact that I eat almost all of my meals at home, that, and the fact that a) I like to cook and b) just about everything I like to make is core or can be with slight adjustments (e.g., less oil). This morning, I cooked three entrees that I can use throughout the week: chicken chop suey, the sauce for lubya pollo (an Iranian chicken and green bean dish), and chicken curry (a dish I made up: chicken, onions, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, frozen green peas and lots of seasoning). I'm pooped.

I am aware that this is the "Honeymoon" period where it is all new and interesting. Snacks are a bit of an issue. I have plenty of fruit and popcorn but I need more. I had some cherries last night that were tasteless. I need to research through all those magazines I have.

Yesteday, I made polenta for the first time. I can't believe how easy it was! I had a large slice of the fresh warm polenta with guacamole that I bought from Whole Foods. Technically speaking, I shouldn't be eating polenta for a snack but it was so good! I can't get over the fact that avocado is a core vegetable. Whole wheat couscous is another newfound treat. I like it with the chicken curry dish that I make.

My activity for the day will be the cooking and doing the laundry. We'll see how it goes--I might get in 10 minutes on the stationary bike. I went to my aquasize class last night but only lasted 35 or 40 minutes. It was bothering my knees and back. I went Tuesday and have decided to drop out of that class. The exercises that instructor has us doing are far too strenuous for me-- too much twisting plus strength training that is more than I can do and that hurts my hands. On Tuesdays, I'll just go to the pool later and workout on my own. This Sunday, I should be able to make it to my Sunday class.

I have gotten off track as far as activity goes. I need to review the Choose to Move e-mails to re-motivate myself. I use the stairs on the days I go to class--that is at least 3 flights, more if I park on the 2nd or 3rd level.

The dogs are barking; I guess I'll let them in. It is so warm out, I wish they would stay out longer. It gives them something to do and wears them out. I have Loki every day for the next week.