12/31/2018 - 1/6/2019
Monday (6 + 1) - We had big NYE plans, ha! Hardly. I got out on my mountain bike and explored more in Woody Hill, found 'the monument' I see noted in Strava posts. I felt pretty psyched actually finding it. I also found the remains of a deer, the hunters clearly took the good parts leaving the rest for the ever-growing coyote population of Westerly.
I was laughing to myself, as I'm winding through tight turns between the trees, about Razz and his 800mm bars being too big and me saying to Dave that I have 800mm bars would I break my knuckle too? He said you don't ride aggressive enough to run into a tree like that. I thought aggressive enough no, he is quite on point with that comment, but clumsy enough, yes, and I clipped a downed branch on my pedal and jerked to a standstill and didn't topple over or smash into a tree, PROGRESS! But I need to remember my knee pads, just in case, I do topple over.
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| Goofy Jax |
Took Jax out for a quick walk, hoping to get done before the rain, he wanted to sniff and piss and the mist started and then the rain started. It's his walk, but really can we wrap this up Little Black Dog? Chop Chop. I got the usual teenage girl scowl and he tromped towards home.
Tuesday (4 + 3) Quick ride at Woody Hill, I had about 2 hours to ride and shower before taking Jax on a hike. It was a good ride, I forgot my gloves, fortunately, the temperatures were in the 50's so my hands weren't cold, a little scratched up from the brush on the side of the trails and sore from my death grip on the handlebars. I managed to get back in the area by the quarry with the plethora of "Do Not Enter" "No Trespassing" "Keep Out" signs and guided myself back to where I was supposed to be and here comes a medium-sized yellow dog in an orange vest. Wonder how this is going to go? I got off my bike and moved off the trail. The owner was coming up over the rise and the dog was completely not paying attention to her. Fortunately, nothing horrible happened and the young dog was interested in checking out the new person, not gnawing on her.
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| That face... I have a similar picture on the same day with him and Gus giving me that face. I was probably eating peanut butter out of the jar. |
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| The purpose of this was to show how tall the scrub tree was next to me. The trails are fairly overgrown. You can't really see the tree. I'm pretty obvious in the orange, though! Jax is on the lookout for something. |
Wednesday (5 + 1) Back to work and back to a schedule. I do like schedules and routine, I'll admit it. Hills with Ro before she and her fiance are off to New Zealand and Australia for a month. They are doing retirement right, for sure! I'll miss her for the next month, maybe I can find someone to do Wednesday hills with me... you know that routine thing, gotta stick to it.
Jax finally learned how to get me to take him for a walk! I'm so proud! It took him a while to finally put it all together. Get in front of the Girl Peep and make your noise. Diesel stomped and barked, Gizmo decided sitting in front of me and whining was more effective, Gus picked up on Giz's signal and I'd have both of them sitting in front of me Gizzy whining and Gus grumbling, the whole time Jax was running around in the background flinging toys this way and that. Sage didn't much care to go on walks, adventures to the beach, yes, she was all over that but a walk, nah, she'd amble for a 1/4 mile and stand on the sidewalk completely uninterested, with me standing there perplexed on how to get us home. I wasn't going to carry her, eventually, her brain would turn and she'd amble back home looking at me like why did you think THIS was a good idea. Anyhoodles, Jax stood in front of me and nose whistled, that is his noise. When I didn't immediately respond he picked up on another one of Gizzys tricks (who knew he was actually paying attention) and threw himself on the floor and flopped around distraught his need wasn't being met. We walked down to the park and back, a mile and a million things to smell, it is his walk NOT mine. Yes, they are spoiled, they live for such a short period of time.
Thursday (1) Elliptical for a mile and then Booty Core Day 7, this was more core and stretching, kind of a relief I was not feeling all that into anything, life, exercise, work, nothing... not even chocolate...
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| Part of 12 days of Milkshake Stout from Rochester Mills Brewing Little did I know all 12 cans were different! It's been enjoyable trying their different creations. |
Friday (5 + 2) Nice 5 mile run on the Mikey B route. Nothing stellar pace-wise, but it was nice to be out in the sun and fresh air. Mostly I needed the escape before a meeting on the ongoing issue I'm having at work. At the end of the latest correctional meeting, I was told that I rocked and was probably the easiest person to work with. Thanks? For Fucks Sake I really want to get this nightmare behind and not to have to interact any governmental agencies. Krikies, I thought I volunteered for an easy peasy assignment, nope, fortunately, the contingent assigned to this case is also easy to work with. I can imagine how these meetings can go horribly wrong with combative personalities, someone who can't take the least bit of criticism or be questioned. Of course, I mentioned this observation, just to see what sort of reaction I would get. Have to say I may miss this group once this is cleared up.
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| Bored. |
Dave waited so we could take Jax on a night hike. We got about 1/2 way there I realized I left my headlamp at home. Dave said, "I have my, oh shit, it's in my coat at home." Turned around, we did. The crazy orange cat was sitting on the front porch and Jax was all "WAHOWIEEEEE I've been dreaming of this, let me at him." the look of utter disgust as Dave left him in the car was priceless. Poor guy was heartbroken he didn't get the chance to chase the cat. We had a lovely hike and crossed paths with someone having a mountain bike ride. Quite the adventure!
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| Dave's headlamp is brighter than mine and I cast a gigantic shadow. Maybe that helps frame the photo so you can figure what you are looking at, you can see my head and one arm up towards the top left of the photo. Jax is the glowing thing to the right in the photo. It really is a 'you had to be there' moment. But it's fun pretending I'm the 60-foot tall woman chasing Jax down the trail. |
Saturday (1) Rain rain rain... did Booty Core Day 8, Jax helped, this is completely out of character for me to exercise in the house and he was quite concerned and wanted to help and stop me all at the same time. Gus and Giz were always good about helping me with my PT exercises, but this was far more than Jax could comprehend, he was truly perplexed.
He got me rousted for a walk once the rain stopped. He is a little dubious of one of the local folks who wander around talking on a cell phone. Tonight we encountered him walking the same direction only on the other side of the road. Made for an interesting adventure. I wanted to go down to the river and see where the drunk drove in, Jax was good with a lap around the park TYVM.
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| See the ball there Girl Peep? Pick it up and toss it for me, nowish. - Jax |
Sunday (4 +3) - Took myself on a mountain bike ride to Woody Hill, the local Mountain Bike club has been busy building trails in part of the management area and naming them after beers, and grading them like ski courses, green, blue, black, easy, medium, difficult.
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| Dave's coat matches the yellow blaze! |
Since we had about 3/4 of an inch of rain on Saturday the trails would most likely be squishy and if they were flooded I would leave them be, it is better to be a good steward of the forest rather than the fun of getting muddy. Although I did get a little muddy on some of the double track roads. There were one or two wet spots on "Naughty Nurse" another rider had gone through them earlier in the day, and left minimal ruts, still I should have walked my bike through.
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| We couldn't walk over this section, Jax was not quite meant to scramble up and over boulders. We took the spur. |
I enjoyed exploring some different parts of the management area, at one point the gunfire got louder and I was clearly riding toward the hunters, so I turned around. It was a short ride but I managed to get over a stone wall I have had to walk in the past and up a steep hill, I have also had to walk, progress!
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| Jax conquering his apprehension of bridges |
As for the hunters, one of the guys setting up for his ride asked about mine and I mentioned the gunfire seemed to be coming from that direction (pointing). He said there was a gun range back in that direction. Oh DOH! That would be why there was so much gunfire, I couldn't imagine why something needed to be shot that much but then didn't think anything more about it. I'm pretty much concentrating on watching the trail and not crashing into things or launching myself off my bike, mountain biking it is a great way for me to completely unplug from my overactive brain.
We got out late for our hike with Jax, I wanted to see some of the 666 Mountain Bike Time Trial course and suggested that for our hike, while we weren't going to have time to do the whole course, we could intermingle that with some other trails. Dave pondered this on the drive out to Arcadia. The hike was good. Part of it was on the North-South Trail, while I may never do the whole 78 miles, it has been fun sort of section hiking it (that really stretches the term). This had the big boulder section. Why on earth someone thought a trail through the middle of all those boulders was a good idea is beyond me. Jax clearly wasn't going to be able to navigate this, he tried but wasn't having much success. We used the cut off to go around that section. Still, it was pretty rocky and wet and about then the light mist turned to snow. Quite the weather variety in a short hike.
Knitting - I got the blue sweater sewn up and some of the buttons on it.
The experimental sweater continues. I am going to need to buy some more wool for the sleeves. The question becomes how much will I need.
Reading - George Washington is fascinating, both him and the government and how things really haven't changed since the 1790s, well people are far crasser, however, the media still aligns itself with a side and politicians are out for their own self-interests above anything else.
1/7/2019 - 1/13/2019
Monday (4 +1) - Good run at lunch, went out to Jupiter Point and back, the Mikey B Route, to avoid the wind, well there is no avoiding it but at least have the south wind work in my favor back up that long slog on Shennie I despise.
Dave and I took Jax out to Burlingame for a night hike, Dave forgot his headlamp, again. We decided to try a new loop, it would be short and easy, but with all the rain and freezing temperatures, there could be some dicey spots on the bridges. It was good, and I now remember where I "lost" a sock on a long run in Burlingame when I used to be able to run long.
Tuesday (1) - Not a running day. Beefcake tracked me down to let me know that I should have been running, thanks pal, but my body won't let me run every day, don't get old was my advice to him.
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| Jax and Maxine Some sort of dog moose yoga, I'm not really sure. |
Booty Core day #9 with a mile warm up on the elliptical. I think I'm starting to figure out how that thing works.
Wednesday (4 + 1) - Windy run with my favorite hat. Not a great day, not even a good day, a crap day, frankly. Wait, I did get some of my favorite 603 beer, and a new to me Moat, and Jax was very entertaining flinging Maxine the Moose all over the house, the important parts were fun, it wasn't all crap.
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| And what do you think you are looking at Girl Peep? You should be scratching my back. -- Jax |
Thursday (2) - Therapy on the elliptical with Mikey. It's nice to talk to someone who gets it. I don't know which is worse to have the world crash down all at once (Mikey) or to have it slowly get worse (me). Then I did Booty Core day 10, christ how did Leslie do this every day for three weeks. I honestly don't know if it is making a damn bit of difference, but the exercises are getting less awkward and my balance is returning. Not being one for classes (says the ex-step aerobics instructor) or videos or home exercise equipment, I am liking this online class and may consider something else from Daily OM, maybe.
Follow up appointment with my Rhuemetologist in the afternoon. Inflammation levels back up to nearly pre Prednisone heights. I knew I wasn't feeling quite like I did when I first started on the 10 mg of Prednisone (that was only for 2 weeks). The 5 mg wasn't holding the inflammation at bay so he upped to 7.5 mg and we will see what happens. I was a wreck before this appointment. I saw my test results and knew what they meant, the current protocol was not working. We had a really great conversation and I had to remind myself it is the practice of medicine and to take it one day at a time. I do like and trust this doctor.
One interesting thing was he now has a scribe to take notes during our appointment. Versus him scribbling down notes. It was nice to look him in the eye when we spoke versus him behind a tablet making notes. A friend of mine has a doctor for a spouse and she posted an article on doctors and technology and how that is damaging the patient relationship. I think Yale is making a good step forward in having a scribe. Granted in this age of data privacy I should probably be more concerned with my privacy. However, I found this made it easier to talk to Dr. D, not feeling like he was trying to figure out when to write things down, versus listening to me, the patient. Yes, this all roots back to billing, with anything follow the money and you can see why things are done. BUT for me, it was a good change, following the money or not.
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| The BEST windblocking hat, ever! |
Friday (3 + 2) - Windy nasty cold, long tights weather, a balaclava would have been nice also. My bum didn't warm up for the rest of the day. Night hike with Jax, the usual Friday night old camp loop, order pizza, have a beer, and binge watch Netflix. We are in season 4 of Homeland. I don't think my bum ever warmed up.
Saturday (4) - Jax allowed us to put a blanket on him and he had a much better nights sleep. Stilly dog was cold on Thursday and won't snuggle under the covers. Hopefully, we've solved this problem. He is the only one who won't burrow under when he is cold. Made for a pretty rotten day for him on Friday as near as we can tell.
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| It was a gorgeous day! Tillinghast Pond I caught him not moving or avoiding having his image captured by the camera. |
I took him out to Tillinghast to do the pond loop and what I thought was going to be a field loop. The field loop was anything but! Yeah! Very nice rolly trail. I suspected the pond loop to be pretty popular and hesitated to even take the crazy boy on it, but we did, and only ran into 3 other hikers and a dog. Definitely worth the drive and I'll take him out there again some time in the near future.
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| Warm winter coat! |
Sunday (6 + 3) - Drove Barney out to Woody Hill to ride and come up with another perverse ride title, but the parking area was full and it seemed like there wasn't a legal place to park and I didn't want to put my car on the road. I guess I really didn't want to ride there anyhow. I went over to Burlingame and rode the Wildlife Trails, got lost because I haven't been on those trails in a while. Funny it's the same way I got lost the first time I ran the loop I rode. I also think they have new markings, but I'm not sure. Anyhoodles. I managed to get myself, while on Barney, up some hills I had to hikeabike in the past. That was a nice accomplishment! Mountain bike riding is definitely interval work, and I was thoroughly enjoying feeling like my heart was going to explode and I'd never catch my breath. I haven't enjoyed feeling like that in a very long time.
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| Very cool ice formed on the running stream. |
We took Jax out to Arcadia for a hike, mostly new trails to Jax and I. Slowly I'm seeing how things fit together. The only part about this hike was being next to the busy road with a crazy dog who likes to chase cars, I swear he kept going close to the road, just because he knew it made me nervous. Actually, I am certain he was, he'd turn and give me that look, and then veer towards the road doing his galloping goofball move. UGH..
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| Dorky. Who says balaclavas need to be black and boring! Although I still need ear warmers, the wind whips through at speeds over 10 MPH! |
We all were definitely ready to chill for the rest of the night.
Reading: George Washington continues! I was a little irked with the second presidential election and Chernow saying "It was the most contested election", it was the second election!!! All in all, a really good book and I am going to miss hearing about George and Martha when it ends.
Knitting: Finished up the last of the Icelandic wool and manage to track down the original farm for the wool only to find the owner sold off her business to someone and that person is also selling off the business. I hope the sheep find good homes. She sent me to the daughter of a friend of hers, she didn't have the weight wool I needed, shoot. Googling around I found another farm in Montana with Icelandic sheep and the right weight wool. Fingers crossed this works and the weight is similar, I'm not worried about the color, it is natural white, not dyed, wool, plus it is already three colors of natural wool so even a slight variation in the white won't matter.
To pass the time waiting for the wool to arrive I finished up the last batch of baby sweaters and then pulled out a new project. Colorwork, something I haven't done since the fair isle vest. It took a few rows but my hands remembered what to do and so far so good!
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| This will be a sock, and then there will be another sock. |
Sincerely,
Beth, who think's it's pointless to recommend she take a remedial writing class at this age. *wink*
