Five things that made me happy today – 8/31/23

This is a time for straying, for losing one’s way, for asking new questions. A sacred activism. A slowing down that knows enchantment is not in short supply. 

Bayo Akomolafe

1. Another grey morning with promised (threatened) rain and 59 deg. According to my weather apps (yes, I have three of them) it’s been raining all day. I guess, maybe, if you hold your head just right, and squint a little and don’t look too closely you might be able to call what we have going on is rain, but it looks and feels more like mist to me – barely wetting the pavement (no puddles at all). Temperature is stuck firmly in the mid 60s.

2. I spent most of the morning doing my Intentions Review for August.

3. Al had an appointment with a “medical” group who is contracted with the Veteran’s Administration to verify claims of injury. More paperwork and a 10 minute interview and test of his hearing. They agreed that he had significant hearing loss (no duh!). When his $5.400 hearing aids that we paid out of pocket for need to be replaced, the VA will give him some new ones. (If they haven’t changed the rules again by then.)

4. While Al was at his appointment, I was at the Wellness Center. I finally got a chance to listen to HCR’s Politics Chat from Tuesday. Al picked up lunch before he picked me up – it’s Thursday, so it was Burger King for lunch today. Whopper for me, Whopper with fries for Al.

5. There’s a new episode of Dark Winds that dropped today. I’m planning to watch that later this afternoon. I think this is the last episode for this season, but a new season of The Morning Show is starting next month.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Intentions Review for August 2023

My Star Word for this year is REJOICING.

I’ve been struggling with setting some intentions this year. After my heart attack on December 21, 2022, I realized that I really don’t know what I want for this year, or even for the rest of my life. At age 78-and-a-half, I could have another 20 years left, or I could easily not even have another year.

I’m tired of the pandemic, I’m tired of politics, I’m tired of pushing myself to DO SOMETHING. I’m ready to just let life happen and observe for a while. I’ll keep on writing my “5 Things”, and I’ll stick with my regular groups and activities, but I’m ready to find out why I’m REJOICING. Maybe I’ll try just REJOICING about my regular, ordinary life.

Therefore, I’m leaving the same general categories that I had last year, and I’ll use them as a wish list and fill in markers for a “diary” of events and activities.

Health and Fitness

1. Recovery – I’m feeling fine after my heart attack.
   • I had a blood test in late February and my cholesterol numbers were exactly where they should have been all along.
   • I went to Cardiac Rehab early in March, and the nurse agreed that my personal trainer can do everything they would do, so I should keep on working with him. If I ever want to go to Cardiac Rehab my referral is good for a year.
   • I had my 6-month follow-up and the cardiologist said my heart sounded fine.
   • I had an Echo Cardiogram in July. The tech said there was no need for me to schedule an earlier appointment than my 1-year follow-up in December with the surgeon who put the stint in.
   • I had a little scare in July that turned out to be nothing except a UTI.
   • August has been uneventful, health-wise (TBTG).
2. Exercise
   • I continue to work with my personal trainer on balance and strength.
     • While working on balance in May, I stumbled and fell on my knee. I didn’t do any permanent damage, but my leg was bruised and swollen. It’s still bruised but no longer swollen.
   • I try to spend 55-60 minutes a day, five to six days a week on the NuStep.
   • My trainer has added long walks instead of too much strength training.
   • We are starting to try walking on uneven surfaces like grass. Fear on my part is the biggest obstacle.
3. Diet
   • I’m trying to be much more proactive about the kinds of things I eat.
     • The dietitian who counseled me, said the same things the dietitian said when I lost the 70 lbs back in 2014. It was good to have a reminder.
   • Three fruits and two vegetables every day – limit red meat – eat more fish.
   • The blood work they did diagnosing the UTI showed I was slightly anemic, so I’m trying to include more “leafy, green vegetables and beans” in my diet.
   • I’m deliberately including more sources of iron in my diet, including at least one meal a week with beef.
   • Weight
     • I was keeping steady on the .9 lbs a month loss from last year until the latter half of February. Living in temporary housing, and not being able to cook made March a total loss. In fact I gained a pound.
     • I was back on the weight loss wagon in April and finished the month .4 pounds lighter than I started March.
     • I seem to have hit another plateau, and haven’t been able to lose any more weight in May, ending the month exactly where I ended April, but at least I didn’t gain anything.
     • I lost a pound in June – Hooray!!
     • I lost another pound in July – Whoohoo!!!
     • I managed to regain a pound and a half in August. Combination of the Annual Picnic, and my personal trainer being on vacation.
     • I’ve lost 9.4 pounds since May 2022, an average of .6 pounds a month.

Friends and Community

1. Gazebo Group – We meet regularly once a week
2. Greisser Girls Gab – This is sacrosanct time for me
3. Other Residents at Franke Tobey Jones
   • Lunch with Jett Brooks
   • There was a new resident in the Duplexes in April who has been attending Gazebo Group pretty regularly recently.
   • With better weather and the relaxing of pandemic restrictions, other folks in the Gazebo Group have been traveling. I’ve vicariously taken a cruise to Egypt, enjoyed a bicycle tour of the Low Countries in Europe and cruised to Alaska in April and May.
   • We had the Annual Picnic in August with great food and a live band. It was delayed a couple of weeks because on an outbreak of COVID in Assisted Living.
4. August tickled my wanderlust, but nothing is planned before April of 2024 when I will visit my Arkansas sister to view the total eclipse (from her driveway.)

Learning and Knowledge

1. Great Decisions
   • January – we met and got our assignments for leading the discussions
   • February – Energy Security – There wasn’t much I didn’t know already, but it was nice to have a conversation about it.
   • March – War Crimes – We basically agreed that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are war crimes, and shortly before our meeting Putin was invited to explain himself at The Hague.
   • April – China and the U.S. – We are fortunate to have an ex-State Department employee who lives here. He was able to give us first-hand insight into our relations with China during the early part of this century.
   • May – Economic Warfare – This discussion was right in my wheelhouse, and I really enjoyed it.
   • June – Political Trends in Latin America – Once again we were glad to have some professional insight from our retired State Department employee.
   • July – we took a vacation in July – we will resume in August.
   • August – the topic was not very interesting to me and I skipped the meeting – opting instead to go to Happy Hour with other folks from FTJ.
2. Creative Writing Classes
   • Al and I took a course in Journaling in May. I learned that my 5 Things is doing double duty as a blog and a journal.
   • In June and July we took a course in Finding, Telling and Sharing Life Stories taught by the same professor as the Memoir class.
   • In August I attended one workshop where we met in small groups and critiqued each other’s story.

Travel and Culture – This has been a total bust. I don’t think I’ve left Pierce County since #2 son and his spousal unit went Whale Watching with us in August 2022.

1. Visit Harriet (upstate New York) and/or Betty (Texarkana)
2. Visit Kennewick and Bill’s Family
3. Visit Chicago and Ray’s Family
4. Visit Victoria, Canada

Hobbies and Creativity

1. Reading
   • This Body of Death by Elizabeth George – finished
   • Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver – finished
   • A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean – finished
   • Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • White Nights (Shetland Island #2) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • The Way of the Bear – Anne Hillerman – finished
   • Red Bones (Shetland Island #3) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • Blue Lightning (Shetland Island #4) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • Dead Water (Shetland Island #5) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • Thin Air (Shetland Island #6) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • The Way of the Bear – Anne Hillerman – finished
   • The Crow Trap (Vera Stanhope #1) – Ann Cleeves – finished
   • The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon – Bill McKibben – finished
   • Hidden Depths (Vera Stanhope #2) – Ann Cleeves – reading
2. Writing
   • Memoir – I took a course on Journaling in May
   • Personal/Family Stories – I wrote small vignettes (300-500 words) every week for the Life Stories class
3. Blogging – 5 Things that Made Me Happy Today continues daily

Spirituality

1. Bible Study – I’m back at Bible Study every Tuesday morning
2. Bethany Presbyterian Church
3. The First Presbyterian Church of Texarkana, Arkansas (my ancestral church)
   • I’ve been attending on-line, regularly
   • I’m considering making this my church.
4. PCUSA Nominating Committee – I resigned in July as I am no longer able to travel the distances required to attend meetings.

Money and Finances

1. Quit obsessing
   • I finished the 2022 taxes and sent the return off in early February
   • I planned very well last year, and owed $3.00 that was deducted from our bank account on April 18.
   • I need to look at increasing the amount I send to the IRS a little bit.
   • Apparently my obsession was warranted as the country barely seems to have averted a crisis over the Debt Limit.
     • We retired counting on five US Government checks every month – Al’s Air Force retirement check, his VA Disability payment check, his Air Force Civilian retirement check, his Social Security payment, and my Social Security payment.
     • The settlement in Congress seems to be all right, and we did receive our first of the month checks for June, July, August and September. I’m still worried about what will happen in the fall at budget time.
2. Keep Al informed – I try to let Al know where we stand.
   • Al may be eligible for the PACT Act. If so, it will increase his VA check to up to 100% disability.
   • We mailed his paperwork off to the VA. We sent it Certified Mail and know they received it.
   • We mailed and additional batch of paperwork off to the VA August 30, and they should receive it September 1 (according to the Post Office.)

Five things that made happy today – 8/30/23

Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.

Mary Oliver

1. Clouds, overcast and low 60s when I woke up this morning. It got up to 74 today with sun breaks in the clouds. RAIN is promised for tomorrow!!!

2. Over to the Wellness Center to ride the NuStep and watch my streaming show of Vera.

3. Lunch was ham, sweet potato and Bush’s baked beans.

4. We took MORE paperwork to the post office to send to Veteran’s Administration about the PACT Act and Al’s health problems. I think we’re fighting a war of attrition. But I WILL outlast them.

5. Al had an eye appointment this afternoon so I had to ferry him. He couldn’t drive home with his eyes dilated. I saved almost an hour from my streaming show to watch while I waited for him. It wasn’t long enough…

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/29/23

The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places. But still there is much that is fair. And though in all lands, love is now mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater. 

J.R.R. Tolkien

1. Cloudy and upper 50s this morning. It’s not supposed to get out of the 60s today. It’s damp and threatening rain, but none has materialized.

2. In Bible study today we looked at Matthew 16:21–28. This is the first time Jesus tells the disciples that he will be killed, but “don’t worry about it.” Peter, of course, does worry and gets fussed at by Jesus.

3. The housekeeper came today and took care of the bathrooms, kitchen, floors, and carpets, etc. While she was here I got out of her way by going to the Wellness Center. I made a dent in my steps for today.

4. The Bistro had pulled pork sandwiches for their special, so I got two of them (one for me and one for Big Al). Very tasty.

5. Greisser Girls Gab this afternoon. It will be nice to talk to them.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/28/23

When change comes, you gotta slow down and take note of it. In the midst of that change is all the possibility in the world. 

Bertice Berry

1. Warmer this morning – 62 deg and cloudy when I got up. It still hasn’t gotten much warmer, currently 69 deg, headed towards 72 before nightfall. The AQI is Moderate, TBTG.

2. I got over to the Wellness Center in time to get half an hour on the NuStep, followed by a full hour with my personal trainer. My new New Balance shoes are really helping me improve on my balance.

3. We had pork chops, cinnamon applesauce, and corn on the cob for lunch. I had broccoli, and Big Al had little green peas.

4. The laundry is all washed, dried, sorted, delivered, folded and hung up!

5. Gazebo Group this evening. I warned everyone to bring an umbrella and/or jacket in case the threatened rain materializes. I don’t have much hope, though.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/27/23

Human beings must always be on the watch for the coming of wonders. 

E.B. White

1. 58 deg and breezy when I woke up. The smoky haze is still with us – AQI was 63 – Moderate this morning. By mid-afternoon the AQI was at 61 although we had been threatened with over 100. 80 deg instead of 85. I’ll take it.

2. Church at First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas, on-line. I love the organ music and the familiar hymns. Nice to see my sister in the choir, too.

3. We went to dinner at Moctezumas. I had a Mexican chopped salad and Big Al had two chicken enchiladas. They’ve got a new menu, and NO ground beef (which is what Al likes in his enchiladas). I almost had a rebellion on my hands, but I’m afraid he will think twice before returning.

4. We stopped at Trader Joe’s on the way home and I picked up some milk and some peaches. Al also encouraged me to get some cut flowers as well.

5. Had a nice phone conversation with #2 son. I haven’t talked to him for any length of time since he got back from China, and it was good to catch up.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/26/23

We should appreciate the beauty in the diversity. It would be a boring world, if every flower were the same shape, color, and size. 

Muhammad Ali

1. A little smoky this morning with a bright red ball of sunshine hanging over the Cascades – upper 50s when I got up. With sun all day, it should get up to 84 by nightfall. AQI of 98 – just on the verge of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The smoky haze is keeping the temperature down.

2. I was saddened to learn of the death of Bob Barker. That’s another piece of my childhood and teen-age (and later) years gone.

3. While I was at the Wellness Center, I was treated to the spectacle of the guys taking down the big tents that we had for the picnic. Entertainment for me while I worked out on the NuStep.

4. Al made himself a ham sandwich for lunch, and I had cottage cheese stuffed in a tomato. We also shared a peach. Summertime.

5. While I was watering my big pots on the front porch with the coleus, a friend stopped by and asked “Does coleus do better in sunshine or shade?” I, of course, gave her the only answer you ever get from an accountant – “It depends…”

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/25/23

Do whatever you want now. The past? That’s what we call our memories. The future? That’s what we call our imagination. Neither exists outside of your mind. The only real time is this moment. So, live accordingly. 

Derek Sivers

1. Upper 50s with hazy smoke when I got up this morning. It started raining shortly before breakfast, and continued until mid-morning. Then the sun came out and it really warmed up. It’ll be in the 80s by nightfall.

2. I went over to a farewell party (cake) for the head of maintenance. He’s been very helpful to us, particularly when the house was being refurbished in March. I had started out the day in a T-shirt, but I changed to a long-sleeved shirt before I went over because the party was outdoors.

3. After I ate my cake, I went in the Wellness Center and used the NuStep for a hour, trying to get rid of the cake I had devoured.

4. I fixed PF Chang’s Home Menu Signature Rice for lunch. I added 4 (cooked and frozen) shrimp to each of our plates. I also fixed some PF Chang’s Home Menu Mini Veggie Egg Rolls. I warmed the shrimp and the egg rolls in the Air Fryer. They turned out just fine.

5. Ice Cream on the front porch of Lillian Pratt this afternoon. Their COVID outbreak is a thing of the past, so we got to meet there instead of in the back like the last two weeks. (I’m back in the T-shirt I started out in.) It’s a 2-shirt day.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/24/23

Surrender isn’t a sacrifice of the known, but rather a celebration of the infinite. 

Nipun Mehta

1. The beginnings of a beautiful day – mid 50s first thing in the morning with a bright orange sun hanging in the east. The sun came out mid-morning and it warmed up to the mid 70s for the picnic. PERFECT!

2. We had the annual picnic here at FTJ today. Hamburger, hotdog, pork rib, red skinned potato salad, coleslaw, and mountain berry ice cream with chocolate sauce for me. Hamburger with tomato slice, potato salad, and baked beans for Al.

3. Not too crowded this year. We thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the sunshine while we ate. We chose to sit at a table in the sun instead of under the tent. Wally and the Beaves were the entertainment, and they played all the good old songs from our era, for people to dance to.

4. I met with my personal trainer, and we took a little walk to help break in my new shoes, and then we worked out for a little bit. He was gentle with me because he has been on vacation for a couple of weeks, and, besides, I was super full from the picnic food. I could have done more, but he didn’t push me. Just wait until Monday and he’ll be back to making me work hard.

5. After I finished with him, I picked up an order from Safeway of stuff like milk and eggs.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Five things that made me happy today – 8/23/23

I’ve found that there is always some beauty left – in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you. 

Anne Frank

1. It was a little warmer this morning when I woke up – mid 50s. The sun has been out since just after noon and the temperature has gotten up to 74 deg. WONDERFUL!

2. I’m going to be really busy for the rest of the week, so I went through all the paperwork I had and messages that had come in this morning.

3. Because we have the FTJ Annual Picnic tomorrow, we decided to have our Burger King hamburgers for lunch today.

4. Big Al had an appointment at 1:45 this afternoon, so I went over to the Wellness Center about 1:15 and rode the NuStep before it was time to go to Owen Beach. I got on the bus just before 2:00 and had a wonderful hour sitting in the sunshine and looking at the water.

Unfortunately there wasn’t any wildlife swimming past, but the ferry made a couple of trips and there was somebody in a canoe. I also indulged myself and got a Nutty Buddy Ice Cream cone from the snack bar. Sunshine and ice cream – what more could I ask for?

5. My new New Balance shoes that I ordered a couple of weeks ago came in, and Al took me down to the store to pick them up. They FIT! I love New Balance!

How about you? What made you happy today?