Quiet week (or so)

Not much has been going on lately. I guess that's a good thing overall.

I've decided I want to try and lose some weight, about 20 pounds. I was never one to gain a lot of weight when I was younger -- in fact, when I was a kid I was downright skinny -- but ever since I hit my mid-20s, it's been the norm to put on a few pounds every year. It didn't bother me at first, but now I'm getting a bit tired of just putting on weight and being OK with that. So I joined a group of online friends in trying to get fit, and have a page set up at Traineo to help track my progress. Getting in exercise is the hardest for me, but I've been doing pretty good at getting up early enough in the morning to get some kind of strength training in. Cardio is another problem, since I don't really have a place for that, other than the exercise bike in the garage, and it seems like it's either too hot or too cold for me to really want to get out and do that.

Plus, I've been dealing with back pain. I don't know how I did it, but a few weeks ago I screwed up my back and have had some pain ever since. It even got to the point where after I'd been sitting at my computer at work for awhile, I could barely get up out of my chair and it took me a bit of walking to move halfway normal. It's a lot better now, though. There's still a little stiffness, but at least I don't fee like I'm 90-something. It sucks how it can take just one little thing -- a twist the wrong way, a wrong step -- to screw up your body, and days or weeks for it to get back to normal. Guess I'm just getting old.

It's turning cold and blustery, and there's a chance for snow over the next couple days. No accumulations being predicted yet, but that doesn't mean it won't be nasty weather. Nipper is dong well, but I worry a bit about taking him for walks when it starts getting cold. He's got arthritis, and for the last few years, he has some problems getting around in the winter. It mostly affects his back or his hips when it gets cold, and there's been times we've been out walking, and we're several blocks from home when he just can't go very far without resting for a while. It hasn't hit him yet this year, but I'll be watching a bit more closely and maybe get him some medicine from the vet before it gets too bad.

Next Tuesday, I have an X-ray scheduled, and the week after that, I meet with my oncologist. At times, I'm confident it'll all be good, and other times I worry. It'll probably be that way for awhile whenever I get close to a checkup. It's never really far from my mind that the cancer could come back, especially when I see people in my support group who are dealing with it again. But we're all survivors, and that's the thing I try to focus on.

Later,
JunO

Hello again

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted. Not much has really been going on.

My brother got here last night to stay most of the week with us for Thanksgiving. It's good to have him around. Mom and Dad enjoy having him around, too. Especially Mom, since it gives her someone new to cook for (admit it, Mom, you love it). And come Thursday, I'll just stay out of her way in the kitchen.

At least the weather will be better. Last year, we had a big blizzard after Thanksgiving and were without power for most of that night. This year, it's supposed to be about 70 degrees Thursday and in the 50s after. Good day to walk off the turkey meal.

A friend and former co-worker who now lives in Indiana stopped by the office yesterday (she's in town to visit her family), so it was good to see her. We might try to get together later in the week for lunch of something.

That's about it. Hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving (or just have a nice and safe day if you're not in the U.S.).

One little, two little, three little ...

There were 10, count them 10, squirrels in my backyard just awhile ago. That's not a record, but I haven't been putting seed out for very long, so it's the most I've seen at once in quite awhile.

There were two on the utility pole at the southeast corner and one on the fence next to the pole; one in the tray feeder, three on the ground around it and one on the wood pile nearby; and four in the small tree just on the other side of the fence. Oops, wait, that's 11 total. They were all being fairly peaceful about eating when one of the ones on the utility pole started chattering, and suddenly ZOOM! There were nine squirrels heading for higher ground! Must have been one of the feral cats wandering into the area.

They still haven't quite made it back to the food yet, and it's been probably 20 minutes since they stopped chattering at the intruder. Funny how they can be so cautious about some things, yet this morning when I went to fill up the tray feeder, the little guy who was there didn't run away until I lifted the scoop full of seed up to the feeder! For a second, I thought I might be able to get him to eat a few seeds right from the scoop.

That's probably my excitement for the day. I'm off since I worked Saturday, and I'm doing laundry and other such exciting things. It's nice out, so a walk with Nipper is on the agenda, too. I'm sure you all wish you had my life.