Hi All!
It might be a bit late - just a few hours! - but I am actually posting for today. And that, my friends, is a bit of an accomplishment for me today.
If you will remember I woke up yesterday feeling a bit under the weather. Well, today, that weather turned into a storm! Once more I woke up with a sore throat (the neck is getting better - slowly) and despite drinking several glasses of orange juice, it just didn't seem to get any better.
The morning walk did happen - I thought that maybe getting up and moving would work things out and help me feel better. I thought wrong! Anyway - I finished the walk and then realized that there was no way that I was going to stay upright long enough to blog and chat with Mom on IM. A short phone call to Mom later (explaining why I wouldn't be chatting) and I was asleep again.
Sleeping has been my major activity for today and . . . I will probably engage in it again in just a bit. I did get up to make some soup (broccoli and cauliflower puree - very good!) and watch a few DVRed shows (The Big Bang, and The Human Target which I didn't quite finish before heading back to bad).
When Hubby got home (bearing more OJ!!), I rolled out of bed and have now been up for about two and a half hours so far. A major deal for today!
I believe that I am the proud receiver of my father's cold - which he had all during the time I was visiting. Aren't I lucky?
It doesn't help things that there is a lot of Mountain Cedar spores in the air as well.
What a wonderful day I have had . . .
Trisha
Voice Update: Despite my short vertical time today, I did manage to do a little massage this morning. Hopefully, I will get in some more this evening before heading to bed for the final time.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Oh! My Aching Neck!
Hi All!
This morning I woke up with a sore throat. Actually it was a doubly sore throat - inside and out!
Yesterday I went to see Susan, my speech therapist. While I really enjoy seeing Susan I must admit that when I am not as diligent as I should be with my exercises I find myself in a bit of pain! This is because my neck gets "crunchy" or tight and Susan has to work hard to get things loosened up again. The hard work leaves impressions (literally and figuratively) on my neck. For the next two to three days my neck will hurt where Susan was doing her work.
Yes, my voice feels better but . . . my neck hurts! It makes doing my massage difficult because . . . well, my neck hurts just where I need to massage! However, I do work through the pain to do my massage.
This morning, I woke up expecting my neck to hurt but I wasn't really expecting my throat to hurt as well. It felt as if the left side of my throat was on fire. After thinking a bit I decided that this was likely due to drainage. My nose was a little blocked when I went to bed.
For breakfast I had two glasses of orange juice and two oranges. This seemed to cut through the drainage and solved one of my two pains. The pain in my neck . . . it will be hanging around for another day or so to remind me what happens when I don't do my exercises and massage faithfully!
Today was day four of my walking routine and I even added on an extra ten minute loop to the end of my walk for good measure!
While I am writing this morning I am listening to an episode of Gunsmoke (radio version) from May 9, 1953. This is thanks to my podcast obsession. I found a great source for these Radio Westerns called Old Time Radio Westerns. This podcast provides episodes of Gunsmoke, The Cisco Kid, Tales of the Texas Rangers, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Have Gun Will Travel, and Challenge of the Yukon. These are fun to listen to and always have an interesting story.
I never thought that I was a fan of westerns but this podcast changed my mind and these episodes are some of my favorite things to listen to while walking each morning.
There is another podcast called Old Time Radio Thrillers which has shows like Dick Tracy, The Whistler, The Avenger, Inner Sanctum Mysteries, and The Shadow. Again - super listening while I walk.
If you like listening to stories I suggest you try out these two podcasts. They are well worth it!
Trisha
Voice Update: I pretty much said it all above but - my voice is doing really well now that my throat is loosened up and I plan on keeping it that way!
This morning I woke up with a sore throat. Actually it was a doubly sore throat - inside and out!
Yesterday I went to see Susan, my speech therapist. While I really enjoy seeing Susan I must admit that when I am not as diligent as I should be with my exercises I find myself in a bit of pain! This is because my neck gets "crunchy" or tight and Susan has to work hard to get things loosened up again. The hard work leaves impressions (literally and figuratively) on my neck. For the next two to three days my neck will hurt where Susan was doing her work.
Yes, my voice feels better but . . . my neck hurts! It makes doing my massage difficult because . . . well, my neck hurts just where I need to massage! However, I do work through the pain to do my massage.
This morning, I woke up expecting my neck to hurt but I wasn't really expecting my throat to hurt as well. It felt as if the left side of my throat was on fire. After thinking a bit I decided that this was likely due to drainage. My nose was a little blocked when I went to bed.
For breakfast I had two glasses of orange juice and two oranges. This seemed to cut through the drainage and solved one of my two pains. The pain in my neck . . . it will be hanging around for another day or so to remind me what happens when I don't do my exercises and massage faithfully!
Today was day four of my walking routine and I even added on an extra ten minute loop to the end of my walk for good measure!
While I am writing this morning I am listening to an episode of Gunsmoke (radio version) from May 9, 1953. This is thanks to my podcast obsession. I found a great source for these Radio Westerns called Old Time Radio Westerns. This podcast provides episodes of Gunsmoke, The Cisco Kid, Tales of the Texas Rangers, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Have Gun Will Travel, and Challenge of the Yukon. These are fun to listen to and always have an interesting story.
I never thought that I was a fan of westerns but this podcast changed my mind and these episodes are some of my favorite things to listen to while walking each morning.
There is another podcast called Old Time Radio Thrillers which has shows like Dick Tracy, The Whistler, The Avenger, Inner Sanctum Mysteries, and The Shadow. Again - super listening while I walk.
If you like listening to stories I suggest you try out these two podcasts. They are well worth it!
Trisha
Voice Update: I pretty much said it all above but - my voice is doing really well now that my throat is loosened up and I plan on keeping it that way!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Through the Fog
Hi All!
This picture isn't really from today since I forgot to tote my camera along with me on my "shiver walk" this morning.
This picture isn't really from today since I forgot to tote my camera along with me on my "shiver walk" this morning.
However, the rainbow just barely peeking through the storm clouds (can you see it?) reminded me of this morning.
sdfgjsfj
Fog was settled over the lake and was so thick in places that you couldn't see the other side of the little "bay" (that isn't the right word - what is the water between two peninsulas called??). Normally you can see the other shore and houses, trees, and a golf course. Today . . . only fog with the very tips of a few trees piercing its surface.
djhdfhj
Birds appeared to be enjoying the fog as they darted in and out of the fog multiple times before finally getting down to business - feeding on bugs and fish from the surface of the lake.
sfj
It was mesmerizing.
sfj
There is just something about fog, isn't there? It can be mystical or it can be menacing. Today it was mystical. It felt like a tall ship with its sails unfurled to catch the Texas wind would burst forth from the fog at any moment. Or maybe a Pegasus would swoop out of the fog and bring a handsome prince to our world.
sdgh
There are just so many possibilities for fog.
sdgh
I can see why they use it so much in stage productions!
sdghsdgh
This morning I walked again (in case you missed that fact from the first sentence!). That makes three whole days in a row! Wow! Unfortunately, I did end up eating a bit more than normal yesterday - basically because we stayed up late watching the Sugarbowl - Ohio State was playing so we HAD to watch! I am trying to keep my eating under control (to hopefully lose some weight!) but . . .it is slow going. Currently, I am trying to write everything I eat down in the hopes that that will encourage me to moderate. It has worked (except for yesterday) so far!
sfjsfj
While I write this blog (and IM with Mom) I am trying to work out my new schedule for this semester. I will (hopefully) be taking two classes - both of which meet on Tuesday and Thursday - and will also be responsible for more practicum hours - this time doing some actual interpreting! I still want to visit with some friends one day a week (last semester it was Friday) but might need to change the day in order to optimize everything.
sgjsfj
There are also some workshops that I would like to attend but they are on three consecutive Saturdays and I don't know that Hubby would enjoy me being gone that much!
sfg
Life can be so complicated!
sfh
Trisha
h
Voice Update: Today I have a speech appointment at which I fully expect to be chastised for my lax exercise routine over the holidays. No doubt Susan will have to really work on my crunchy throat and she won't be too happy. Then again - she may be slightly happy that I still have a pretty good voice considering . . .
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Putting One Foot in Front of the Other . . .
Hi All!
Despite some heavy resistance from the home front, I actually completed my second day of walking in the morning!
Now for another shocker - last night Hubby and I actually walked! I know - pretty amazing,huh?
So - that means that I am doing pretty darn well with my decisions to improve my health/fitness in 2011. I refuse to call them resolutions because . . . that just makes me think I will ignore them like all of the other New Year's Resolutions I have made in the past. They are decisions which will improve my life!
Yesterday's doctor's visit went pretty well. Nothing bad to report - which is good! I did have the doctor laughing when she was listening to my heart and heard my stomach growl. My next appointment is in the morning!!!
After the doctor I headed to the grocery store for some fruit and vegetables. I decided that adding more of these things to my diet would be a good idea and since I didn't have any at home, I needed to purchase them before breaking my fast! Another good step - right?
Anyway - who knew that getting just fruit and veggies could be so darn expensive?!?
I suppose that there are a lot of servings in the stuff I got so it works out to not be too expensive per serving but I was a little shocked at the check-out yesterday!
After shopping and getting home, I put everything away and then prepared a large salad to go with my pork and potato and sauerkraut burrito - which was very, very good by the way! I am thinking of doing a repeat for lunch today.
Hopefully you are on your way to a healthy and happy 2011 too!
Trisha
Voice Update: Still not up to full speed but hanging in there with the little stuff. I did massage yesterday morning and then read out loud since I didn't have a lot of talking going on during the day. Unfortunately, I forgot the massage at night. Ugh! Just when I was getting back into the groove of things. I guess that just means I need to be more aware of the need for today!
Despite some heavy resistance from the home front, I actually completed my second day of walking in the morning!
Now for another shocker - last night Hubby and I actually walked! I know - pretty amazing,huh?
So - that means that I am doing pretty darn well with my decisions to improve my health/fitness in 2011. I refuse to call them resolutions because . . . that just makes me think I will ignore them like all of the other New Year's Resolutions I have made in the past. They are decisions which will improve my life!
Yesterday's doctor's visit went pretty well. Nothing bad to report - which is good! I did have the doctor laughing when she was listening to my heart and heard my stomach growl. My next appointment is in the morning!!!
After the doctor I headed to the grocery store for some fruit and vegetables. I decided that adding more of these things to my diet would be a good idea and since I didn't have any at home, I needed to purchase them before breaking my fast! Another good step - right?
Anyway - who knew that getting just fruit and veggies could be so darn expensive?!?
I suppose that there are a lot of servings in the stuff I got so it works out to not be too expensive per serving but I was a little shocked at the check-out yesterday!
After shopping and getting home, I put everything away and then prepared a large salad to go with my pork and potato and sauerkraut burrito - which was very, very good by the way! I am thinking of doing a repeat for lunch today.
Hopefully you are on your way to a healthy and happy 2011 too!
Trisha
Voice Update: Still not up to full speed but hanging in there with the little stuff. I did massage yesterday morning and then read out loud since I didn't have a lot of talking going on during the day. Unfortunately, I forgot the massage at night. Ugh! Just when I was getting back into the groove of things. I guess that just means I need to be more aware of the need for today!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Does It Know?
Hi All!
Wow! Three days in a row! I am certainly on a roll with the blogging thing so far this year. We will see what happens when classes and my Practicum appointments start up!
This morning I am feeling really good - well, sort of! I got up (after trying to ignore two cats for about two and a half hours) and got dressed to walk. Yes, I said I got dressed to walk! It has been a while but I am determined to start the new year off right!
Even though I hesitated just a moment when I looked at the thermometer and saw that it was only 37 degrees, I have finished walking for the first day of this year. Actually, I feel wonderful for completing the walk. That stuff about endorphins must be true!
The rest of my exercise plan includes weights and Wii but I am starting slow since it has been a while. Once I get my walking under control (everyday!) I will start with the weights and then the Wii.
Another accomplishment - which may seem minor but is really good for me - is that I am even showered and dressed and ready for the day. Normally I don't shower and dress until after I IM with Mom. Today I got all that done early! Yeah me!
The "sort of" for feeling really good is due to the fact that I am fasting for a doctor's appointment this morning. My stomach is rumbling away and I am trying (in vain) to pacify it with water. Normally I make my doctor's appointments early in the morning to try to avoid fasting for a long time - which causes my blood sugar to drop - but since I have to reschedule this one I took what I could get.
Now on to today's question. I have a Christmas Cactus that I have been nursing along for many years now. It has gotten repotted and trimmed and I have tried and tried and tried to get new plants rooted. Not that I have succeeded! Due to my failures to get new plants started, and due to the fact that parts of the old plant seem to drop off daily, the cactus doesn't look too good.
It looks so sad that recently Hubby and I have been talking about getting a new Christmas Cactus and getting rid of this one.
Then, while I was in Ohio and Hubby was still at home, he told me that the plant was getting ready to bloom.
This is what I found when I got home.
Wow! Three days in a row! I am certainly on a roll with the blogging thing so far this year. We will see what happens when classes and my Practicum appointments start up!
This morning I am feeling really good - well, sort of! I got up (after trying to ignore two cats for about two and a half hours) and got dressed to walk. Yes, I said I got dressed to walk! It has been a while but I am determined to start the new year off right!
Even though I hesitated just a moment when I looked at the thermometer and saw that it was only 37 degrees, I have finished walking for the first day of this year. Actually, I feel wonderful for completing the walk. That stuff about endorphins must be true!
The rest of my exercise plan includes weights and Wii but I am starting slow since it has been a while. Once I get my walking under control (everyday!) I will start with the weights and then the Wii.
Another accomplishment - which may seem minor but is really good for me - is that I am even showered and dressed and ready for the day. Normally I don't shower and dress until after I IM with Mom. Today I got all that done early! Yeah me!
The "sort of" for feeling really good is due to the fact that I am fasting for a doctor's appointment this morning. My stomach is rumbling away and I am trying (in vain) to pacify it with water. Normally I make my doctor's appointments early in the morning to try to avoid fasting for a long time - which causes my blood sugar to drop - but since I have to reschedule this one I took what I could get.
Now on to today's question. I have a Christmas Cactus that I have been nursing along for many years now. It has gotten repotted and trimmed and I have tried and tried and tried to get new plants rooted. Not that I have succeeded! Due to my failures to get new plants started, and due to the fact that parts of the old plant seem to drop off daily, the cactus doesn't look too good.
It looks so sad that recently Hubby and I have been talking about getting a new Christmas Cactus and getting rid of this one.
Then, while I was in Ohio and Hubby was still at home, he told me that the plant was getting ready to bloom.
This is what I found when I got home.
Do you think the plant knows that we were planning on getting rid of it?
dghsj
How can you get rid of a plant that blooms so nicely for you?
dfhjdfj
Trisha
dfhdh
dfhdh
Voice Update: Still not totally on the ball but I did do my massage again this morning. Small steps. Small steps!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
It's a Start . . . . Right?
Hi All!
I hope everyone is settling into 2011 and getting ready for the wonderful year ahead. No doubt it will be full of adventures and new, exciting experiences for everyone. There will probably be a few "less palatable" moments thrown into the mix to make things interesting but . . . hopefully they will be few and far between.
Yesterday I listed a bunch of stuff that I hoped to do in 2011. Well. . . I think I am off to a slow but steady start.
My vocal exercises - I haven't really done the exercises but I did give myself a four minute laryngeal massage last night. The throat is pretty darn "crunchy" but I guess that is what happens when you try to ignore your dance partner (SD) for too long. No doubt we will be back "in step" soon!
Walking/exercising - umm. . . yeah. Not happening yet. I had good intentions but when there is a choice between that and staying inside the warm house . . . There was some walking done when Hubby and I went to Sam's club. Does that count? We went down almost all the aisles!
Blogging - Doing great so far! This is my second post of the new year and it is only January 2nd! Now if anyone would actually read my blog . . .
Getting Hubby on board for walking/exercising - hasn't even appeared on the horizon yet. My fingers are still crossed!
So - how are YOU doing so far in the new year?
Trisha
Voice Update: See above to realize that while my voice is doing "okay," it could be much better if I had kept up with my exercises and massage during the holidays. It was interesting to talk to old friends from high school and to explain what SD was and what I had to deal with as I learned to "dance" with this new, unexpected life partner (that sounds wrong but I don't know what else to call SD - the incurable little disorder that it is!).
I hope everyone is settling into 2011 and getting ready for the wonderful year ahead. No doubt it will be full of adventures and new, exciting experiences for everyone. There will probably be a few "less palatable" moments thrown into the mix to make things interesting but . . . hopefully they will be few and far between.
Yesterday I listed a bunch of stuff that I hoped to do in 2011. Well. . . I think I am off to a slow but steady start.
My vocal exercises - I haven't really done the exercises but I did give myself a four minute laryngeal massage last night. The throat is pretty darn "crunchy" but I guess that is what happens when you try to ignore your dance partner (SD) for too long. No doubt we will be back "in step" soon!
Walking/exercising - umm. . . yeah. Not happening yet. I had good intentions but when there is a choice between that and staying inside the warm house . . . There was some walking done when Hubby and I went to Sam's club. Does that count? We went down almost all the aisles!
Blogging - Doing great so far! This is my second post of the new year and it is only January 2nd! Now if anyone would actually read my blog . . .
Getting Hubby on board for walking/exercising - hasn't even appeared on the horizon yet. My fingers are still crossed!
So - how are YOU doing so far in the new year?
Trisha
Voice Update: See above to realize that while my voice is doing "okay," it could be much better if I had kept up with my exercises and massage during the holidays. It was interesting to talk to old friends from high school and to explain what SD was and what I had to deal with as I learned to "dance" with this new, unexpected life partner (that sounds wrong but I don't know what else to call SD - the incurable little disorder that it is!).
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year, 2011!
Hi All!
Sorry about the lengthy silence but . . . life sometimes gets in the way of blogging, you know! I was visiting my wonderful parents in Ohio (with all of the snow and the cold - what in the world was I thinking?????). I had a fabulous time and Hubby and I enjoyed the holidays among family and friends.
Now I am back and ready for a new year and a "fresh" start. A fresh start at what . . . I am not sure yet. I do plan to do a couple (at least) of the following.
1. Get back to a regular exercise schedule including walking and weights and Wii!
2. Get back to a regular vocal exercise schedule. The holidays really set me back a bit!
3. Get back into a regular blogging schedule. For some reason I think that if I am not able to blog in the morning that means that I can't blog for the entire day!
4. Somehow survive TWO classes this semester - one of which is the second part of Practicum where I go and actually do some interpreting under the watchful eyes of certified interpreters (scary!).
5. Convince Hubby that he needs to join me in my regular exercise schedule in some way.
6. Actually write down an exercise plan so that I might (might) stick with it.
7. Wish all of my bloggy (and blog reading) friends a wonderful, happy, and healthy 2011!
Talk to you soon (see number 3!).
Trisha
Voice Update: Well, if you remember number 2 above, you will know that the holidays haven't been good for me and exercises - of any kind! I did do a lot of talking (sometimes over doing it a bit) so that I got THAT exercise but I didn't do much massage and I am certain that Susan will yell at me when I see her Wednesday (I think it is this Wednesday - I am not out of vacation mode yet!).
Sorry about the lengthy silence but . . . life sometimes gets in the way of blogging, you know! I was visiting my wonderful parents in Ohio (with all of the snow and the cold - what in the world was I thinking?????). I had a fabulous time and Hubby and I enjoyed the holidays among family and friends.
Now I am back and ready for a new year and a "fresh" start. A fresh start at what . . . I am not sure yet. I do plan to do a couple (at least) of the following.
1. Get back to a regular exercise schedule including walking and weights and Wii!
2. Get back to a regular vocal exercise schedule. The holidays really set me back a bit!
3. Get back into a regular blogging schedule. For some reason I think that if I am not able to blog in the morning that means that I can't blog for the entire day!
4. Somehow survive TWO classes this semester - one of which is the second part of Practicum where I go and actually do some interpreting under the watchful eyes of certified interpreters (scary!).
5. Convince Hubby that he needs to join me in my regular exercise schedule in some way.
6. Actually write down an exercise plan so that I might (might) stick with it.
7. Wish all of my bloggy (and blog reading) friends a wonderful, happy, and healthy 2011!
Talk to you soon (see number 3!).
Trisha
Voice Update: Well, if you remember number 2 above, you will know that the holidays haven't been good for me and exercises - of any kind! I did do a lot of talking (sometimes over doing it a bit) so that I got THAT exercise but I didn't do much massage and I am certain that Susan will yell at me when I see her Wednesday (I think it is this Wednesday - I am not out of vacation mode yet!).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)