Catherine Coulter's Blog: I'm Baaaack!, page 36

September 14, 2020

Monday, 14th September: Do you know what I was thinking when a football team won yesterday and everyone was hugging -- how bad will the virus get? Toes crossed, but -- what do you think?
So far I'm 1-3 -- tonight is the Steelers vs. Giants. I'll report out my score manana -- Come Steelers, save mama from a 1-3!!!!
Work today, as always -- finishing up another very small plot for VORTEX (needed an excuse for Sherlock to come to NYC -- interesting mystery)
We still have bad air, but hey, tomorrow it's supposed to be MODERATE. For the first time since last March, eating out with friends from San Francisco -- outside, of course, but what a treat.
Home gym today -- 30 minutes -- every day with no hiking, otherwise 3 days a week. I hope you have a bike or tread mill at home so you can use it while watching TV. And free weights? Everyone has free weights, right? If not, GET SOME -- If where you are is without rain, snow, sleet, ice, hail, smoke -- get out there.

September 13, 2020

Sunday, 13th September: Everyone on board with FOOTBALL CONTEST?
My match-ups and picks for WEEK ONE:
Steelers over Giants
Buccaneers over Saints
Patriots over Dolphins
Eagles over Washington (don't know yet what their new team name will be yet)
Remember, you can use all 4 of my match ups or 3 of my match ups and your team. Write down in your Football Book.
No out doors today, crappy air quality, well over 200, but it's also the first day of football so I'll start wrapping CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. You might think that's rather sick, but hey -- I have really cut back, totally reduced number of presents -- there won't be more than 100 this year. All of you are witnessness. No more wrapping insanity.
Oh yes, 1:00 E.T., Clippers/Nuggets 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. The Lakers destroyed the Rockets last night (Which I applauded) but what I really truly want is for the Clippers to beat the Lakers for the Western Conference and Play who for the Eastern? Probably the Celtics. We'll see --
Everyone, it'll be a splendid day. Do take some time to ride your stationery bike or get down on the floor for leg lifts and stretches, roll your arms, SBB, -- keep flexible, keep healthy, keep me happy --

September 11, 2020

Friday (yet again), 11th September -- Please do not think I'm putting crack cocaine down Peyton's adorable throat, nope, CAT CRACK is a brand of catnip. So DO NOT call Cat Welfare Services.
Chiefs won last night. So this was WEEK ZERO -- make down a 1 or a 0. Again, Sunday morning I'll post the 4 match-ups for WEEK ONE.
We still have crappy air quality today, so no walking outside, only a minimum, like Safeway for a meds prescription. You guys sounds like you're finally getting cooler weather -- we're a high of 66 degrees today. The sky is still an opaque gray.
What an interesting time we live in --
Stand in front of the mirror andshoulders up to your ears, then pull back (SBB) hard, then drop. Do this 6 times, or as often as you think of it. GREAT for your posture. The more you do it the more you'll remember SBB --
Celebrate this glorious day -- and it is glorious, new cases of Covid are really down -- now we'll see what happens after the first football game -- digits crossed.

September 10, 2020

Thursday, 10th September -- Tonight is the first football game of the season. Let's do something different. Pick either the Chiefs or the Texans and we'll label this WEEK ZERO. On Saturday a.m. I'll post the 4 match-ups for week one. You select three of my match-ups for WEEK ONE, then one you select. Enter in your football book. Everyone knows the rules? Honor system --
Also, tonight is the game between the Rockets and the Lakers -- which one will you record?
Right now the sky is opaque, dirty gray. The high will be 70 degrees. Aren't those photos from yesterday incredible? Like being on Mars.
Foot -- planter fibroma, that is a collection of scar tissue forming a little lump. Good walking shoes, pads around the little lumps, if it hurts, then Aleve or whatever -- all will be well.
Today, get on the floor or on your bed, lie flat on your back and bend both knees. One hand on your abs while you slowly lift your right foot -- 12 times, slowly. Don't move anything else. You'll feel your stomach muscles. then other leg. Really, try to hold still, moving only the one leg up and down.
Having a birthday party for a very very close friend today, only 4 of us in a "bubble" -- Chinese -- and she's picking her own birthday cake? Pie? Scones? I don't know -- but it'll be great. Hey, maybe a TACO.
Outside, folk, big smiles, and start walking. Swing arms, or roll them, and talk to people.

September 9, 2020

Wednesday, 9th September -- Announcement: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
Click on this link and enter to win a copy of DEADLOCK. You already have a copy, you say? Well, there are friends, maybe family who might not have read it (but then why would you associate with someone who didn't read the FBI series?) In any case, think birthdays, Christmas and punch the link. Good luck.
ELI: Vet verified he's got melanosis -- that is when the pigment overflows the Iris -- you saw him, "Pirate's" eye we're calling it. He's fine, took a photo of him and we'll observe, take another in say 3 months -- if it begins to look "velvety" -- or different, then it would have perhaps progressed to cancer. There's about a 20% chance. He's fine, really stressed out from yesterday, but back in fine form today -- and no, he hasn't yet forgiven me. If it does go to cancer, they remove the eye, evidently it doesn't bother the cat. On the other hand, you can ask the cat if he's bothered but I doubt he'll answer in words you can understand. So, all digits crossed. Eli will be super fine. I know it.
DO DAILY:
1) arm rolls
2) stand straight, l) lift shoulders to ears 2) pull back shoulders to your backbone and 3) just drop shoulders. Lots of snap, crackle and pop, no worries. do this at least six times a day -- takes seconds. GREAT for your posture.
Hike for me -- a minute is all I ask. Oh yes, I've asked very nicely, really, but the head hiking minion in Southern Marin refuses to send out a notice that I'll need exercise minutes for a while. Jerks.

September 8, 2020

Tuesday, 8th September: So who did the arm rolls in front of the mirror? Three sets? did you feel it? Good, right?
This is our LAST day of heat, -- 88 degrees -- have you found when the weather folk predict a high, it's always HIGHER? The same with the lows. So we'll see. Still no hike today, foot and heat.
Eli goes in today to the eye doc to verify his eye is indeed melanosis -- and nothing nasty. So all digits crossed. If you can catch a minion racing across your front yard, cross his digits as well.
I wrote the epilogue for one of the plots in VORTEX yesterday, moving today to the next plot, mostly done, thankfully.
Snow in Colorado and Wyoming? Did it help with the fires? We've still got fairly crappy air quality -- well, it all depends on if we get marine air -- right now, there's a solid dirty white haze outside the windows.
Today is a "free" day -- no expectations from me on your exercise -- you can do what you think your bod needs, like leg lifts for abs, up and down stairs for strength and stamina -- all right, I'll shut up.
Everyone, eat some peanut butter -- it'll lift your mood -- and make you sing.

September 7, 2020

Sunday, 6th September -- foot MUCH BETTER -- I'm nearly ready to do jumping jacks again.
Going to be 90 degrees here in Sausalito today. You read me right -- 90 fricking degrees. This is not good. this is not funny, so stop your giggling. This is serious hot and everyone will whine and wish they had AC, maybe cry, and stay indoor, far too hot to hike, so maybe the little lump on the foot was a good thing, kept me safe, kept me from being an idiot.
The Cantina was splendid -- all outside tables filled up -- since it's the Labor Day weekend. Everyone smiling and in a good mood. I hope you shared in the positiveness. And you've got more in the tank for this beautiful (although HOT) day -- I'm going to laze around, talk to people on Zoom, drink (no, not vodka), lots of my special EmergenC -- one packet plus 2 bags Splenda, plus a quarter of a glass of fresh lemon -- then fill glass with Pellegrino and some ice cubes. This is heaven -- plus you won't get a cold from all the vitamin C you're dumping down your gullet.
So Zoom your parents, your kids, your grand kids, Uncle Albert -- check in, let everyone know you're alive and kicking and the world is beautiful and you're in love with life.

September 3, 2020

Thursday, 3rd September
I'll start with answering my own questions about FOOTBALL and entering in my football 2020 book:
1) Yes, I think the season will go all the way
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win the Super Bowl
3) Tom Brady will win MVP
How's that for maybe on the edge of outrageous or it could happen, maybe --- who knows?
It was so neat eating out yesterday and thinking, "Now what will I wear?" Actual flats and pants, not sneakers and jeans. Who likes avocado toast? Now, this is a very fancy restaurant (you eat out on a veranda -- Cavallo Point -- and you're looking toward the Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate and the Bay -- very beautiful) The avocado toast was more than you'd think, lots of interesting ingredients snuck in, and really quite yummy. Also, a goat cheese dish with lots of unexpected goodies and little toast tips. Very good.
It felt strange and very cool at the same time actually interacting with strangers other than a simple hello.
Who's gone out to eat recently? A place where you'd maybe dress up a bit?
I'm glad all of you are enjoying photos of my gardens downstairs -- we have yet another bend to go around and wait til you see this one --
Today, hiking for me and some gym (here at home). What about you guys? Tell me what you're doing for your health and your wonderful bods? Does anyone skip any more?

September 1, 2020

Tuesday, 1st September -- Here we are, guys, in the Fall (at least that's what I think it is when it turns 9/1) Fires still at about 20% containment, so smoky yesterday. Hiked at Cavallo Point, to take advantage of the marine air -- and wasn't bad at all. The photo I posted yesterday of a HUGE tree and the GG Bridge was my effort at being arty -- hope you responded well. Later I'll post my pink Christmas cactus --
Work today, of course, nothing new in that, except it's always new because I'm making things come to pass and characters are flying around.
Has everyone had their flu shot? At the Safeway, you get a flu shot and you get a 10 percent off coupon for grocery shopping. All I ever have is a sort of tender arm for the next day and that's it. I sure hope the vaccine works. I've read they're going to run out, so get out there today, if you can.
Football this year -- well, I believe it begins on the 13th (now that's a portentous date), can't remember who's playing -- shall we do the pool? Everyone, please weigh in --
I'll be watching you -- so get out there and WALK, a little tap dance is always cute, like after you brush your teeth and before you chow down your Grape Nuts cereal --

August 31, 2020

Monday, 31st August -- Yep, showing August out the door. This is the last day to enjoy this lovely summer month --
Guess what: My Christmas Cactus are blooming wildly, I was so thrilled I wanted to wrap presents and hand them out.
Finishing up the first plot in VORTEX this week -- I like it, it's got punch and the characters are interesting people. Well, you'll see -- next summer?
Everyone, outside, even if it's only to lie on a chaise with a glass of tea and one of my books. But if you can, walk a block, three blocks, a mile, and great all the dogs -- their persons will be so pleased.
Back to our normal Sausalito weather, 69 degrees high today -- perfect, well for me, at least.
Stand straight, slowly turn your neck to the left, then back and slowly to the right -- do three times, then dip your chin down, up, make a circle -- and then the other way -- lots of snap crackle and pop, but no milk or spoon. You want to keep your neck limber, so just include this at night before you go to bed, takes 30 seconds.