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
- 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.
- 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 gradually improving.
- I try to spend 55-60 minutes a day, five to six days a week on the NuStep.
- I continue to work with my personal trainer on balance and strength.
- 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
- Weight
- I was keeping steady on the .9 lbs a month loss from last year until the latter half 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.
- It’s an average of .7 lbs a month I’ve lost since May of 2022.
- I’m trying to be much more proactive about the kinds of things I eat.
Friends and Community
- Gazebo Group – We meet regularly once a week
- Greisser Girls Gab – This is sacrosanct time for me
- 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. Maybe one day…
Learning and Knowledge
- 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.
- 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 I’m looking forward to a course in Finding, Telling and Sharing Life Stories taught by the same professor as the Memoir class.
Travel and Culture
- Visit Harriet (upstate New York) and/or Betty (Texarkana)
- Visit Kennewick and Bill’s Family
- Visit Chicago and Ray’s Family
- Visit Victoria, Canada
Hobbies and Creativity
- 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 Sleeves – reading
- Writing
- I am still writing, but more sporadically.
- Memoir – I took a course on Journaling in May
- Personal/Family Stories – starting a course the end of June that will last into July
- Blogging – 5 Things that Made Me Happy Today continues daily
Spirituality
- Bible Study – I attend remotely on Tuesday mornings – We are in the season of Ordinary Time
- Bethany Presbyterian Church – I attend via You-Tube every Sunday
- Sadly broadcasting the service live is very expensive, and will end at the end of June
- PCUSA Nominating Committee – No meetings scheduled
Money and Finances
- 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, but I’m not breathing easily yet.
- 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.