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Watcha' Doing - 2021
We are in our third day of heat wave. Hopefully tonight's storm will end this pain. It is supposed to be nicer on the weekend so we are planning to do some patties and sausages in the grill and invite some friends in. Trying to profit of outdoors socialization while still possible.Also helping child #1 rent an apartment in Madison, since she starts a new job there in October, and also helping child #2 getting ready to move into his dorm next Friday (he is a freshman!), so a very busy, but specially a very moving and emotional week for me. The house will seem empty when they are gone...
Are they your first kids to move out Sandra?
No, my daughter, the one moving to Madison, just graduated from college. She moved out for college, but because of the pandemic she has spent a lot of time here in the last year and a half.
Good luck with it all, Sandra. Must be hard after having everyone back home for the past year and a bit.
Aww Sandra, a tough week but exciting for your elder kids!
It is tough but it is also lot of fun, to be honest.
A while ago we talked about those virtual challenges. I know Kristie is doing them, and I think some other people as well.I finished my first two by now, and just started the third. It's a lot of fun! Also, it means that since the end of April I walked 479 km (not counting daily steps, only actually going for walks), roller skated 70 km, and cycled 46 km.
I had a hard time sticking to the roller skating. I like it, but it's also a bit scary as I have so little control over them and I only did it when Rob was home so he could come pick me up if I would fall very hard ;-) So I've now started a couch to 5k program. It's meant for running, but I hate running, so instead I'll do power walking (which is walking at 6-9 km per hour). I also bought a new way too fancy smartwatch to keep track of it all.
That is great, Peggy! I checked now and I walked 390 km since the end of April. I am also trying to run more often.
Nice Sandra!I know it will get harder for me in a while when the new school year starts and days are getting shorter. I don't like to go out in the dark.
On the upside, we'll be doing mostly actual classes instead of online, so I'll get a lot more regular exercise during the day.
Yes, winter is usually what gets me. :/You are right about getting more regular exercise. We move a lot during "normal" life.
Peggy wrote: "I also bought a new way too fancy smartwatch to keep track of it all...."Ohhh, what kind?? I love smart watches and tracking all my activities. I am a Garmin fan myself.
I have not walked near as many kms as you, only 171 since April (353 for the year sounds much better!). 183 kms of kayaking this year and 82 km of cycling. My 3 favourite activities.
I have finally decided to sell my roller skates as I apparently over estimated my capacity to stay upright on shoes with wheels. :)
I have a garmin too. Spoiled myself and got the venu 2s :)Wow, so much kayaking!! I really like the idea of water sports but don't have the possibility to do it. Or at least not easily. So I settle for including streams, creeks, lakes, ponds and rivers in my walks ;-)
Dawn wrote: "183 kms of kayaking this year"That is amazing, Dawn!
You did go fancy, that looks like a great watch. It has a touchscreen, that is awesome. I have the Fenix 3 Pro, a little old now with all the new technology but still a great watch. I want the new solar fenix 6 but those things are $1200 Canadian.
I love kayaking, a friend got me into it a few years ago and now I am out all the time. I drive a mini cooper and I have managed to fit up to 3 kayaks on top of it, now I want a bigger vehicle so I can get down some dirt roads to better access.
Any water sports for you Sandra? Or are you only into the walking and running??
Yes, that's pricey. This one was 350 euros (515 canadian dollars) and I'm not that sporty at all, but I like all the health functions too. I was looking at the vivoactive 4 as well, which is the same with a few exceptions and almost 100 euros cheaper, but this one was prettier, especially the screen, so I just went for it.
Haha, I'm now picturing your mini with the kayaks on top, looks really cool! :D
Dawn wrote: "Any water sports for you Sandra? Or are you only into the walking and running?? "No, no water sports for me so far. My husband is thinking in buying a boat, but it didn't happen this summer. Maybe the next one.
Peggy wrote: "and I'm not that sporty at all, but I like all the health functions too...."Despite what it may sound like, I am also not sporty. I like the GPS maps I get and the heart rate info. So I can feel like I'm really working out and can then go get more chocolate.....I might possibly be eating more chocolate than I'm burning off, or else the scale is defective.
Lol, I'm with you on the chocolate!My favourite brand (tony chocolonely's) has something new: a chocolate subscription. Each month you get two bars in the mail that are made uniquely for people with the subscription, you can't get it anywhere else. Way overpriced, but clever marketing leading to FOMO (which I'm usually quite resistant to) so I fell for it.
I have seen those subscriptions but not any that shipped to Canada for a decent price. Thought they would be fun. Of course, now that I have googled it....there are a few.....but none with the unique new chocolate bars like yours.
So I started the couch to 5k powerwalking. During the third time I went I suddenly felt the urge to run. I ignored it. During the fourth time it happened again, and I ran for 5 seconds (that's when I saw other people so went back to walking) but it felt nice. Weirdly.. Then today I went again and I ran 2x 1 minute! It was actually quite fun. Leaves me in some sort of identity crisis though, because for 37 years I absolutely hated running (well, maybe not as a kid, but definitely since high school).
Lol, Peggy. I hated running for 35 years. I can't say I love it now, but it feels good.Good for you!
Good for you, Peggy! I wish I was a runner; I used to love it as a kid. Like you, I lost any interest by high school. I think it would be exceptionally difficult to start now.
my husband was very into running in his 20s but then stopped. Now, in his 50s, he's taken it up again and runs most days - it's been a godsend for him over lockdown.
Sorry, I thought I'd started that post with "good for you Peggy" because that's what I was thinking ;-)
Thanks all!@Margo: I think a lot of people took up running during lockdown. It was about one of the only things you could do to get out of the house!
True Peggy but in Petes case it was about 5 years ago. I got The Fast Diet: The Simple Secret of Intermittent Fasting: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, Live Longer as an audible deal and he picked it up and ran with it - literally! He was pre diabetic then he lost 3 stone in a year and all of bloods fell back into the normal range. The combination of diet and exercise really suited him, I didn't get on with diet at all.
Excellent Peggy! I get what you mean! I bought myself a set of kettlebells and dumbells about a month ago and have been doing weight workouts rehularly. And I really enjoy them! And I've even started having protein shakes afterwards to minimise any muscle soreness afterwards. I would never have thought I'd be into anything like that!
That's great Sarah! I think starting small with something enjoyable will make you more motivated to try out even more :)
I need to get on the fitness thing. I have my casts off now, It is really shocking how easy I get winded. I think I will start with some yoga and go from there.
Peggy wrote: "That's great Sarah! I think starting small with something enjoyable will make you more motivated to try out even more :)"For sure. And when it's your own choice (rather than thinking you should), like you with the running, you're more likely to stick with it too.
I need to get on it too Renee. My blood sugars are creeping up. I've just come home from a visit to the nurse to get a dressing changed. I had my big toe nail removed on tuesday, it was ingrown and I had it operated on a few years back and it didn't heal right so the surgeon decided to take it off altogether. It's a bit sore and I'm not supposed to change the dressing myself.Anyway, while she had at a disadvantage, she gave me a good telling off about my blood sugars. I have to admit my diet has been poor lately and, because of arthritis pair, I'm not getting any walking done. Pre-covid I want swimming 3 times a week. The pools reopened here two months ago but I haven't got around to rejoining. Guess what's been bumped up on my agenda??? It seems ironic given the conversation here yesterday ;-)
My mum has been having some health problems since she had the chest infection at the beginning of the year (which still might have been covid). The NHS have fast tracked scans and tests which hhas veen great. They found a nodule on her lung and thought it might be lung cancer. They are saying not now, although it could be a slow growing one, so ahe has to have another scan in 3 months. They also found mild emphysema (she already has a COPD diagnosis). And it seems she has atrial fibrilation and heart failure. Hopefully the meds will help her heart and bring the BNF number down, although I know it won't reverse it. So feel pleased on some aspects of the findings and not on others.
Oooh - that sounds painful, Margo!Sarah, I'm sorry to hear that your mother has been having some health issues. I hope the medications help.
On my own front, my son took me for a test drive the other day. I did pretty good though there is still some distortion in my vision on the left side. I can compensate for it by positioning my body and my head. I was white knuckling it, but my son said he felt comfortable. Not once did he pound on an invisible brake or reach for something to hold on to. I had to navigate tight quarters pulling into my driveway because "somebody" parked his truck really close to the edge, and he said, "See! You did that like a pro." I am going to go out today on my own and see how that goes. I'm nervous, and need to build my confidence up. Already it has had an impact on my attitude. I didn't hesitate in suggesting supper out tonight with a friend. Usually, I wait until she suggests it. It feels really awkward to me to suggest meeting up with someone and then stipulating they'll need to pick me up.
Margo, I hope your foot starts feeling better soon!Sarah, I'm sorry about your mom. I really hope the meds help.
Janice, Great news! I'm sure your confidence will grow a little each time you drive by yourself.
I was about to type the exact same message as Sandra. So, what she says!
Great news on the driving front Janice. I bet it will make a difference when you have a bit more of your independence back.
Well done Janice, the first time is the hardest! I hope your confidence will continue to grow 😊Sarah, I hope your Mum isn't feeling too poorly. It sounds like she's had a tough year.
Sarah wrote: "My mum has been having some health problems since she had the chest infection at the beginning of the year (which still might have been covid). The NHS have fast tracked scans and tests which hhas ..."so sorry, I hope the meds will help.
Janice wrote: "On my own front, my son took me for a test drive the other day. I did pretty good though there is still some distortion in my vision on the left side. I can compensate for it by positioning my body..."Way to go!!! Now that you know you can do it, your confidence will follow.
Sorry to hear about your Mum, Sarah. Here's hoping that the meds help with some if not all of her troubles. Fingers crossed she heals up well.
Fantastic news Janice! Sounds like the truck placement may have been to show you how much you can do (i'm trying to excuse his dodgy parking).
Are they upping the water treatment in the pools, Margo? I am not sure if they did here (not that they are open anymore), and am unsure what the advice is with water. I remember when we had a meningococcal outbreak here when I was in high school. They kept the pools open but upped the cholrine in the pools. A friend was a state swimmer and she came to school one day with really red eyes. They had upped the chlorine so much that morning that her black swimmers had turned orange!!
@Margo: I hope that your foot will heal soon. It sounds very painful.@Sarah: Hopefully the meds will help your mum very fast.
@Janice: that's a gerat boost for your confidence.
Rusalka wrote: "Fantastic news Janice! Sounds like the truck placement may have been to show you how much you can do (i'm trying to excuse his dodgy parking)."He was trying to accommodate my neighbor who parks on the street. If you crowd the driveways, you can get two vehicles parked in front of the duplex.
Rusalka wrote: "Are they upping the water treatment in the pools, Margo? I am not sure if they did here (not that they are open anymore), and am unsure what the advice is with water. I remember when we had a men..."
I didn't think about that Rusalka. I can't start til my toe heals as I'm not supposed to get it but I'll check that out first. My eyes are slightly sensitive to chlorine anyway so that'd be me finished!
Ok. I'm tired of this year. I don't want to keep waiting for it to get better. I just want it to be 2022 now. Where do I submit my request?
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You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
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You can pre-plant in your green house. The seeds have time to grow then and are allready little plants in the spring. The other persons who have a veggie garden here, do that in there garden house."
Thanks, but I don't have a greenhouse. My plants are outdoors.