Tag Archives: Walking

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, California, camping, cancer, cooking, Uncategorized by

A nice walk this morning and no one was there but us. Sweet! This last week we had some new people show up which is fine, it’s very nice walking early.

Yesterday I did some errands in town. I had my knives sharpened at the grocery store and while I was there, I picked a few things I needed like a red onion. Based on the few things I bought and the prices, I wonder how long Bel Air will stay in business, especially with the new Costco 15 minutes away.

From there I went down to the pet bookstore and was looking for more Craig Johnson but no luck. I might peruse eBay and see if I can get a few there. I picked up a few Sue Grafton, which I’ve read about 100 times but still like them. I found a fun cookbook from a restaurant in Brooklyn called Spuntino.

It’s a fun book to look through and I might make their basic marinara sauce. I checked on Amazon and they have the canned tomatoes they use called Valla from Italy. After we’re back from Tahoe I’ll order some. They also recommend using white pepper which I thought very interesting so I’ll do Amazon for that too. They had a good recipe for gnocchi which didn’t look too hard so I may try my hand at that.

Today I’m going to Anytime gym and that’s it. When I get home I need to mop the floors and tidy the house so it’s ok for when we’re gone. No cooking today and I don’t have a plan for dinner yet. Maybe an omelet with some greens.

I dried another batch of oregano so I think I’m done with drying herbs. BTW, the cilantro did come out smelling like cilantro. I don’t know how it’ll be in cooking but it did dry ok.

Simple Sunday and Happy Mother’s Day

Posted in California, home stuff, knee injury, Myeloma, swimming, Uncategorized, Walking by

It’s a beautiful day here in N CA. The weather is just great. We just got back from our walk and the park was empty except for the many Canada goose families. Yesterday I did 1.6 miles so I’m getting close to my 2-mile goal. My knee did feel a little stressed after that but it seems to pass more quickly now. I’m also wearing my brace less and less.

A Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there of human kids or furry kids.

My son plans to do a lunch BBQ for us all and then head off to Sacramento to move more stuff into their apartment.

The week ahead looks good. I have my doctor appt on Thursday and I will want to discuss the dex stuff and my thinning hair from either dex or Velcade. I’ve lost almost 40% of my hair and it’s quite upsetting. I’m not sure if it’s dex or Velcade or both. I checked on the Facebook myeloma group and a few people did say it was a side effect of Velcade. But a couple of people said Dex. And then I vaguely remembered going to my primary care doctor years ago when I was in treatment(2015) for hair loss and I remember him saying probably dex. The biggest problem with dex is raising my blood pressure so that’s what I’ll focus on. Either lowering the dose or dropping it and see how my numbers go. Of course, I’ll see what his expert opinion is.

Other than that I plan on swimming and the gym and the library.

We haven’t heard from the people who were going to do the bathroom so I guess we’ll need to start over looking for someone to at least get the plumbing done. sigh:(….

Rainy Saturday

Posted in books, California, cooking, home improvement, home stuff, husband, reading, Uncategorized, Walking by

We were able to get our walk in before the rain started. It’s supposed to rain all day and quite a bit. Well, we always need the rain maybe not the wind but certainly the rain.

Today is a home day and not a swim day. I plan on making a big pot of broccoli cheddar soup. I need to use the big bag I got from Costco. We’ll probably have that for dinner plus baked potatoes. I got the bakers at Costco too and plan on doing twice-baked potatoes. I usually start with 12-14 potatoes and then after I bake them, cut them in half and fill them with the cheese, and potato mixture. I usually end up with 12 half potatoes because I mound the filling. These do freeze great and are an easy meal with salad.

B got the new window in yesterday and it looks fresh and clean. We opted for no grids. All of the other windows( except the sunroom)have grids but as we replace the windows we are going for gridless windows.

We’re working our way through watching Inspector Lynley. We have the 3rd season to watch. It’s a great show and Lynley is a good character. I’m reading another Longmire book now. I am so impressed with the way he writes and how he brings in so much cultural stuff about the Cheyenne and Crow. Very different from Hillerman and the Southwest. In this one” As the Crow flies’, he takes part in a peyote ceremony. It was pretty accurate in his description. I’ve done peyote 3 times( B says, he thinks it was only 2) and it is a very mind altering/spiritual experience. Of course, I was in my 20’s and early 30’s and very much into the whole Native American thing. We also have had 2 teepees. The first one was given to us by a friend and it was painted with different Indian motifs. That one finally fell apart and we bought one from a company in Oregon. When we moved here we set it up and used it till it too finally deteriorated. We used to smudge our house and ourselves with sage as a way to cleanse negative energy. I haven’t done that for years but I still have some abalone shells that we used for that purpose. Longmire is in his early 50’s when he does peyote and also the character is very tuned into the whole spiritual side of the Native American, Cheyenne in his case. Anyway, I digress, they are great books!

Thankful Thursday

Posted in California, Gratitude, home stuff, ikea, travel, Walking by

This has been a super busy week for me with appts. I don’t like so many appts but that’s what had to happen.

I’m thankful my macular pucker is still the same and stable(Monday’s appt).

I’m thankful that the gastro appt was fine( Tuesday’s appt) and she scheduled my overdue colonoscopy. Of course, the wait time is crazy far out but she found a cancellation in May. Oh, joy:(

Tomorrow is my ortho appt(Friday’s appt) and I’m assuming that’s all they can do?? Not sure really but I’ll find out. She mentioned the cortisone shot but I’m not sure I want to add that in.

I’m thankful swimming has gone so well. I overdid it the other day because I forgot to look at the clock and time it. But it was over 30 minutes. My knee feels a little stressed but not too bad. Today I’ll do my PT exercises.

I’m always super grateful to walk and this morning, the first after daylight savings change, and the stars were out. That’s one of my favorite things, starlight.

So far this morning, I’ve swished and swiped the bathroom, washed a few windows, cleaned my office, and moved stuff out. I’m planning an Ikea trip to get a cabinet for my office stuff so it’s not on my desk and scattered.

I’m grateful the sun is out and our temperatures are warming up.

Today, I have a phone appt with Allstate to go over our auto insurance since the premium went up $500. That’s for the exact same coverage on cars that are 10 years old and my son’s 2006 Subaru. Something is really wrong with our insurance system. Honestly, I doubt she’ll find anything to change.

One of my last vintage tablecloths. I used to have so many and now only a few have made the cut. I probably should iron it later.

Two old people!!

This was taken on the new to us trail in Roseville. I was hoping to get back there this week but with everything else, it doesn’t look likely. We leave Sunday for Napa, so that’s all the time there is.

Friday things

Posted in books, budgeting, California, frugalism, swimming, travel, Walking by

Buggie is still in the shop because another part was needed. Hopefully, we can go get her today. Still, it will need to go on a CC and then get paid. 😦 Oh well, whatcha gonna do)!!

I am pleased as anything the walk was great yesterday. The day’s total was 2.2 miles so a real breakthrough for me and the knee. And my knee feels ok this morning. I’m a little sore but that’s just because I haven’t been doing the same amount of walking. Plus some of my stiffness is osteoarthritis which is kind of worse in the mornings but once I start moving, it improves.

I opted not to swim but will do my PT exercises this morning. Next week is a wash with swimming or the gym as I have appts 3 mornings all early so there’s not enough time to get to the pool. I may be able to the gym after Tuesday’s appt as that is the earliest at 8 am. I’ll just see how it is.

We spent quite a bit on food so far this month with 2 Costco trips so I’ll need to try and just use things up and not do another shop except for minor misc things. ( I need some lime juice for a recipe). Of course, some of the Costco food isn’t just for one month but will last 3 months like Panko Shrimp.

The sun is out and it does brighten my mood. We booked a reservation in Napa for the week after next. It looks like the weather should cooperate. The last time we canceled it was rainy and cool. Plus we have 3 nights which is kind of a minimum for me. We’ll mostly eat in the RV but we’ll do a few meals out. At least get some things at Modeles Bakery. I also need to go to the Rancho Gordo store for some Marcella beans( like cannellini) and their Mexican Oregano which is absolutely wonderful.

Nothing else too exciting for the weekend. I plan on the Auburn gym on Sunday and that’s about it. Today, I just have a few house tasks and that’s it and then I’ll probably read some. Dinner is just a frozen pizza with a few toppings I’ll add.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in books, budgets, California, cash envelopes, Gratitude, Walking by

I am thankful I got a good swim in yesterday despite the asshole in my lane that was not moving over and ran into me:( I sort of yelled, get on your own side!!! I think he was new as he didn’t know how to swim very well. Oh well, it doesn’t happen very often.

Then I went to Costco and am grateful I had almost the full amount in cash. I actually did have it all but it was in another envelope and I didn’t want to be rummaging around for it..’

Buggie is in the shop as the water pump went out. That’s going to cost us $1000+ . I’ll have to put that on a card and then pay off in 2 installments. I might be able to do it all if I skimp on other things. We haven’t done a lot services on the VW so I guess it works. Plus buggie is 24 years old so something is going to go. Plus it needs a smog and registration in April but we’ll do that once she’s fixed up.

Today I’m going back to Roseville to pick up books at the library and then B and I are going to walk one of the trails down there. Hopefully, the sun will come out. After that, we’re going to get some lunch somewhere.

I’m grateful the PT was effective and although my knee is not back to where it was, it is much improved. The PT said I could do 1 more session if I wanted but also clarified that it would just be doing the same exercises so I declined. I see the ortho PA next week so I’ll see what she says about it all.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, California, cancer, cooking, knee injury, Uncategorized, Walking by

Yay, I walked one round in the park. This week I plan to try and walk 3 times. It’s slow going but I need to build up to my regular walking schedule. Hopefully, I can at least get up to a mile.

I plan on going into the Auburn gym this morning. I haven’t been there forever. After that just come home and do Sunday things. I want to meal plan the week and I want to do the bathroom and bedroom zones.

Okay, back from the gym. It went ok. I’m glad to be back to my Sunday routine. Once home, I prepped the stuffed peppers and got them in the crock pot. I’m pretty sure I’m going to buy another instant pot. The one I like is the new version that’s more oval. I haven’t seen it physically but the pictures look good. Maybe in March. I did check marketplace but they all seemed overpriced for used.

Tomorrow, I have PT and my monthly labs. This is the first month on monthly Velcade so hopefully, all is good. Dr. L wasn’t too worried and that’s why he scheduled a follow-up for the end of March.

Today is Super Bowl and we are not watching. We don’t have the networks that play it so I guess unless we subscribed we’re out of luck. That’s ok, I’m really not into football although it is the SF 49ers:)

Sort of good news.

Posted in knee injury, Uncategorized by

So I saw the PA in Ortho yesterday and she was very informative. She explained things very well although I probably only really understood half of the medical terms.

But the jist is NO SURGERY!! She explained that with a torn ACL you can still do most of the things you want in terms of walking etc. and even light jogging which I did find a little incredulous. Because my meniscus IS INVOLVED ( which the PC doctor said it was only age related degrading) and is actually what is causing the instability.

She also said even down the road if all else fails and they did do a surgery it would be knee replacement not repair of an ACL.

Basically, it will be physical therapy to strengthen the ligaments on both sides of my knee. She also said there was no acute trauma to the bones which is what the x-ray showed. In other words, no fractures etc. So I guess that’s good.

I just got back from my first PT appt and it was also very good. The PT was excellent in explaining the meniscus tear and ACl tear. Basiclly it boils down to strengthen the muscles around the knee to create stability. She advised not walking for a while yet since I’m walking favoring my right leg and so it offsets my gait and can cause other problems( hip) etc. She did say swimming is ok but start slow which I was planning on doing anyway.

All in all I’m encouraged and glad to have a full picture of the problem and what can help me. There is no healing of a torn ACL or meniscus so it’s a matter of living with it and getting my knee stable and strong.

Thankful Thursday

Posted in budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, cooking, Gratitude, Uncategorized, Walking by

I’m glad it’s the Winter Solstice and we can start getting lighter in the afternoons and mornings. It doesn’t really start to turn around much til January but still.

I’m thankful for our walk this morning. Very mild temperature and misty.

I’m grateful my 2nd shot went well and I am now set up for the monthly maintenance starting at the very end of January. I’m still not sure if this is the best course of action as it might lead to getting more resistant to Velcade. I plan on asking in the Facebook group what are people’s experiences on monthly and for how long.

I’m grateful I prepped most of Christmas dinner. I made the cheese spinach manicotis yesterday with home canned tomato sauce. I have a meat lasagna from Costco for meat eaters. We had one a while back and it was surprisingly very good. I went to Trader Joe’s yesterday after infusion and got Christmas specialty foods like the fondue for Christmas eve, a baked brie( something new to try) , some gluten free things for my daughter and whatever jumped in my cart. It came up at $123 so pretty good and that’s all the money spent this week. So no/low spend will continue into next week. Just basics, gas, food, essentials.

Our cash reserves are pretty low so I’m grateful to get SS next week.

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cooking, Flylady, home stuff, meal planning, Uncategorized, Walking by

A cloudy but not too cold of a morning walk. The park had a few people showing up to do things Christmas related at the community center.

We are expecting quite a bit of rain this week so we’ll see how the driving to Roseville goes. The only day I have to go is Wednesday for infusion. If it’s miserable out, I probably won’t drive down to the gym/library.

On the agenda today is to tidy the house, vacuum, do the bedroom zone(done), and do a meal plan for the week with freezer /pantry meals. So far I have cheese tamales, mushroom spinach crepes, the meatballs from Costco, and baked potatoes. I might do a spaghetti night too.

I plan on doing some decluttering around the house. Mostly, misc stuff that just needs to go or seems to be unneeded. The end of the year is a perfect time to look around at what is being used and what is just in the way. Especially since I’m neurodivergent when it comes to visual clutter or even just visual things around me. I don’t like and/or get stressed at too much color, and patterns or things on the surfaces of things. Right now with Christmas, I’m stressed about the added stuff around which is probably why I put some of it away already. Well, it’s always a good idea to look around our homes with a fresh perspective.