We chose Mount Charleston to hike yesterday as it was much cooler with a high of 79 degrees. We stopped to pick up our friend, Colleen, for this trip.
I only took a few photos since I had the hiking poles. I think I was enamored of the blue sky day, the flowers, and the trees. We were hiking up the mountain so I was grateful for the poles. For once I wasn’t dizzy.
I managed to close both circles on my Apple Watch. The move and the exercise rings during this excursion. And we enjoyed it. Maybe Ralph didn’t do much as his heart began palpitating. We turned back before we got to the end because he wasn’t feeling well. Usually I am the one who needs to turn back. When we finally make it to the end it’ll be worth it.
It was a fun day. We stopped for lunch at this Cuban sandwich shop, Cubanidad, in Vegas on our way back. I had Cuban Nachos with black bean hummus. So delicious. And something I am paying for today… Empanadas. Yummy!
I am a bit drunk. Maybe a lot. I drank a whole bottle of wine tonight. (Monday) It seems to me that me that I am dreaming with my eyes wide open.
I know that bad things exist. Still I choose to believe that the good will prevail. There will always be blue sky days!
No matter how much bad things happen around you, keep the faith… the good will prevail. This is what keeps me going. 4 years ago when I watched the election results come in as tears rolled down my my cheeks, my faith kept me going. Though my family rallied around me to ensure that I didn’t do anything stupid, my faith kept me going.
Sometimes that is all we have got. Even if it it is in us alone or just feels that way. We just need to persevere until we find what we are looking for. Other times we need to fight for what’s right. Right now is the time to fight!
Once I start to fight with my eyes wide open, I will win! Even if it’s a small battle. And every small battle can win a war!
My Physical Therapist recommended a Thera Cane or one of its look alikes. Since I have muscles in my shoulder and back that I can’t massage properly.
I bought a LiBa back & neck massager. They are all about the same price, so it’s up to you if you want to buy one for yourself.
Perhaps the blue shirt is a poor choice to wear to demonstrate this massager.
I was able to try the one at the PT’s office, so I had an idea of what I was getting. It is amazing. I can work on those sore knots in my shoulders & back. It is so nice.
I highly recommend it if there is no medical reason you shouldn’t.
As much as I was looking forward to this view, I couldn’t do it. My panic attacks were waking me up too often. The unknowns with this virus are too frightening for my brain to process.
Despite having plane tickets, I called and canceled my trip. I, also, made a decision that my husband needed to decide for himself. He was getting stressed because I was, not because of the virus situation. Even though he’s the one who said no separate vacations, he is going without me. And I am okay with that.
I think we both need this vacation, even though I am staying home. Yes, I will miss going away with Ralph, but we would have both been miserable if I had forced him to stay due my anxiety.
My friend, Donna Caddess, sells Younique on her Facebook page, Purple Pony LV. She asked me to model the Moodstruck Epic Mascara, so here it is in the first set of pictures. The 4D is in the send photo. I bought the 4D and was given the Epic. So in a way this is a paid advertisement.
I think the Epic looks more natural than the 4D. I actually prefer it. Though my lashes look amazing in the 4D, it’s not quite me. As you know I rarely wear any makeup at all. I may only wear these occasionally.
I want to say the seemed to wipe off easily with soap and water. And my MakeUp Eraser, however upon awakening I had smudges under my eyes. Fortunately that did wipe right off.
My KrogerRxSC card is paying off. I spent $100 for a family plan when Ralph lost his job, knowing he’d be without insurance. He’d still need his high blood pressure medication. I have a supplemental insurance through Medicare for medication. Today my Albuterol was going to cost over $74.00, so I tried this card. It didn’t help with the Albuterol. However, my Montelukast was free. The Smith’s pharmaceutical technician was able to find my Albuterol for $25 through GoodRx.
For both of our scripts we ended up paying only $37.06. As you can see this card is paying of already and we’ve just used it twice. And I have insurance. There is something wrong with our system. Even if you don’t have a Kroger, download the GoodRx app it may save you money.
Someone said to Google Angel Number and the current time. So I did.
The angel number 535 is a message of hope, love, and encouragement. Your guardian angels are sending you this message so that you can take life in stride and deal with your challenges with grace and positivity. The next time you see this number, pause for a moment to say thanks to your guardian angels.
Sometimes I need to stop and remember to be positive. My natural tendency runs towards the negative. I have been able to turn this around for the most part by using a simple trick my friend, Amanda Hitchcock, taught me. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
This requires mindfulness. It means that I need to be aware of the times that negativity creeps in. That is not to say I throw caution to the wind. I just need to see the good in my life and in myself. And I try to see the good in those around me.
The turmoil our country/world is in has gotten to me a bit. So I need to start centering on the good again. It’s still out there. I just need to find it. I need to begin with me. In reality I am the only on I can control. So I choose to see the good in the world.
I saw a meme that said “I’m not Superwoman, but I fight Meniere’s, so close enough!” I think this applies to everyone who fights a chronic illness. It takes superheroes to battle chronic illnesses and still function.
We may not be able to do everything we want to do. Sometimes getting out of bed is an achievement. I force myself to shower and dress whether I feel up to it or not, unless I can’t stand.
There are people battling chronic illnesses who hide it well. They are the true superheroes. The ones who go to work with chronic pain or dizziness or whatever and most people are none the wiser. They are the amazing people. I don’t know how they do it.
Yes, I get up. Walk, exercise, but I can opt not to do so if I simply cannot. And I have the option to take naps. I don’t have to worry if my my migraine or vertigo or pain acts up, because I can go back to bed. I don’t have to pretend to be okay.
I know how to fake it. You can see in my photos that I can put a smile on my face and people can’t tell how I’m feeling, unless they look deep in my eyes. Most people don’t look that deep.
Occasionally I do have pretty good days. Though I always have pain due to arthritis and the pinched nerve. It’s not difficult to see the arthritis, since my fingers are effected.
I meant to take this post to tell you to not judge others based on what you see. We have no idea what battles people fight. I know people who work with chronic illnesses, but can barely move at times. That’s not to say they cannot go to concerts or games. We all need to be able to have fun. Some of us may pay later for enjoying ourselves.
Vacations put me in bed for a few days. Not being able to work, makes it easier to be able to push my boundaries. Work used to be all I could do. Some days it was all I could do to drive myself home when I worked.
If you know someone with a chronic illness, you may know a super hero. Remember just because you see me taking walks, it doesn’t mean everyone with my diagnosis can. We are all different.
Physical Therapy started with moist heat therapy. I did some exercises… Therapy ended with a massage. That’s my kind of therapy. Yes, masks are required.
I have been doing my therapy on my own, though I’ve been sorer since beginning. I need to get this arm to straighten up. In order to do so… I need to move it!
It is getting easier though it hasn’t been that long. I still cannot raise it up without assistance. Though I did it with a gadget in therapy today.
I almost forgot to tell you. I saw the hand surgeon yesterday. I don’t need surgery. I have Dupuytren’s Nodules which isn’t as bad as a contracture. It shouldn’t cause me anymore problems than it already has. The arthritis is the main problem. She recommended I get into see a rheumatologist.
So that is what I’ve been doing. Sorry I’ve been neglecting my blog. How are you?
There is a nasty trend on social media and in real life lately… people freely give others labels. I have found myself doing it too. Oh, you’re a Republican. LOL! As if that’s a dirty word.
Being a member of a political party isn’t a bad thing. It’s just a philosophy. Hopefully, we are able to still make decisions outside of our political affiliations. I have in the past. Not this year.
My entire adult life I have been sneered at for being a liberal. I don’t see being a liberal as a bad thing as I believe in basic human rights, that we all are equal and that we all deserve respect. I just ignored the ignorant statement that people (my father) made, knowing that liberals care about others.
That is not to say non-liberals don’t, but my experience is that liberals do. Much of my efforts have been engaged in defense of others against non-liberals. Still I don’t resort to name calling.
It saddens me when others sink to the level of name calling because they cannot defend their position. That includes calling me a liberal. Remember I am not offended by this, but they say it like it’s a dirty word.
Somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten to respect each other. I am going to try to do better. I am not always successful, though I should be. Especially when it comes to politics as I am a liberal surrounded by conservatives in my own family,
