Week 5: 1/29/2018 - 2/4/2018

Monday:  (1 Walk) Not a great day.  Jax humored me and we went for a mile walk, mostly with the purpose of depositing some Gus poop into the First National Poop and Trust.   We were successful and Jax enjoyed stopping to smell everything and make his own deposit.  It was snowing and really rather nice with the headlamp making the snow look more like glitter.  Jax is not big on leash walks; he’d rather hike in the woods or chase the mountain bike.  I think it’s the control thing; he really doesn’t like it when someone else is in control or tells him what to do.  Gus pretty much goes along with whatever; Diesel was like that too, everything was a fun adventure for him.  The others, not so much, skeptical about what that command REALLY meant and they would unwillingly follow direction.

Runners Love Their Beer @ Mt Washington 2017

Tuesday:  (15 Spin + Core) A little better of a day.  Dinner out with the in-laws was on the schedule for the evening.  We met them at the casino so it was smokey and I coughed the whole time.  There is something going on, probably a cold or asthma and the smoke wasn’t helping.  Even my rescue inhaler wasn’t subduing the coughs.  It happens. 

My Mom grows some beautiful Bougainvillea, this was early in the season.

Wednesday: (15 Spin) My cough is close to nonexistent but I didn’t want to tempt fate and run in the cold so I took the spin class.  If I’m going to use a piece of exercise equipment the bike is my preference.  As I told Eric while he was on the bike nursing his not quite healed yet foot, “Bikers have better legs.”  He said, “For sure they have better calves.”

I think I can say this worked!  Or my lack of running is contributing to my lack of knee pain.

 Thursday:  (15 Spin + Core)  I contemplated running.  Next week I can get back at that, let my lungs get back to some semblance of normal. 

That's a big rock! - Gus

Friday: (0) Really not feeling much of anything.  At this point, I can't quite remember why.  #1 Smart Guy announced he is retiring on 3/31.  That was kind of depressing, but he's got 35+ years and is 58 this year and his wife is a breast cancer survivor and he has a pup with one eye.  I think the guys been put through is paces and deserves to be on his own schedule!  This leaves me with Jackass, Dr. Done, Garbear, and Howie...  I will truly miss his level-headedness.  He was a fair boss for the short while I worked for him and someone I truly enjoyed working with. 

Play with me! - Jax

Saturday: (8 Mountain bike) Dave was off with the guys to go to Big River and that meant I needed to sneak out to avoid the patient getting agitated.  I was not successful...  I had a good ride along icy carriage roads in Barn Island.  I wasn't up for much, a little concerned with whatever is going on in my lungs.  I'm chalking it up to a Lupus thing and moving forward.  The ride didn't result in hours of coughing so I'll call it good.  Seems like the coughing sessions happen when I don't exercise - Friday was a bad one. 

Pretty much

Sunday: (4 Run) I could take a deep breath with no pain or coughing.  Off I went on a run.  I wasn't sure how far, but 4 was probably the limit.  So nice to start running on the downhill versus uphill.  I saw quite a few other runners, walkers, and a couple bikers.  All in all a good run and I felt good, and no pain. 

Snoozing in the sun!

Mileage:

Another not so great week if I were a real athlete, for a rank amateur trying to hold it together with bubble gum and binder twine I'm winning!

Feet: 5 Week /  47 YTD  
Saddle: 53 Week / 157 YTD

Gus:  I'll give him his own section, so you can skip it or read it!

Gus has a slipped disc or discs.  With his heart condition putting him under to get a complete diagnosis is not possible.  He is on 24x7 crate rest for 4 - 6 weeks, and it is showing results!  He was walking much better and has an occasional whappa whappa (head shake)! He certainly is ticked off being in the crate all. the. time.   I would be too at his age. I don’t think dogs get consequences, that the fact he feels better is because he is in the crate so he can work his way to forgiving us.  Instead, we get the stink eye.  At least he is not destructive and tearing apart his new fancy orthopedic bed!  This will continue minimally for 3 more weeks, likely 5 more weeks.  We can re-assess at 3 weeks and see how he is moving.  Maybe give him some non-crate snuggle time.  Far cry from Monday where we were considering we may need to put him down.

Pets are an emotional roller coaster.  They try their best to communicate with us and we with them.  For now, he seems content enough, not at all happy about being confined.  However, we are lucky he trusts us.  

Knitting:

Finished the Lilac sweater, started a brown and will trim it with a deep rose to break up the montony of brown, plus I have a few more Beatrix Potter buttons!

I was having a stress fest over my closet of yarn, it was actually stressing me out.  I collected so much pretty yarn and did not identify a project for it and finally, it got the best of me.  I took an undisclosable amount of yarn to a local yarn shop.  The owner has a relocation plan for this yarn and it will be made into scarves, hats, and mittens for SE CT homeless population.  

Books:

"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

A cute short juvenile story, perfect for escaping the realities of being an adult.

"Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman
Started

This one is slowly unfolding with Eleanor's past and how it impacts her present.  Seems like she has had some very horrible experiences in her short life and does her best to compartmentalize them.

Summary:

It was a week, a week in the normal life of a work a day dog mom trying to hold it together and not stress out a geriatric injured pup or her ill parents with too much drama.

Sincerely, 
Beth, honestly wondering why people take and post pictures of food.  It always looks so unappetizing to me...  maybe it is just me, but it keeps me from snacking!