Day by Day

  Yesterday I didn’t write because I was in a flurry about taking the sotalol half time and sure enough, my numbers were afib last night and this morning.     I don’t know yet if that is going to matter, but it seems like it.     Today I will try to ignore the numbers and continue but It's disappointing.     This happened to my therapist, and they gave her another small procedure that made the afib leave.     Today I will just try to calm down and not let the afib bother me.     I’m going to do my walk and take it easy, but I don’t feel so good.     Thursday I was ecstatic, now I’m worried.     This is the kind of thing that can happen, and I’m still on the medicines that are good for me, but I sure wish this hadn’t happened.     Oh, well, setbacks are part of the process.

  Today I had my one-month checkup after my Catheter Oblation.     Things are looking good.     I feel great and have no lingering side effects.     I hope to be able to stop the sotalol.     For 2 weeks I’ll do half a tab then hopefully discontinue it.     Let’s see how it goes! Today we had the cleaners here in the morning, then we took our walk after that was over.  I had lunch, and then rested until the conference call.   Now I don’t exactly know what to do about the rest of the day.  I guess I’ll try to call someone and talk.  Deb or Sharon, perhaps.  

  Today was much better because I had slept better, and We exercised, went for a walk, then treated ourselves to lunch at Tutu’s. I had a veggie scramble and Bill had a cobb salad.     I read until I went to Sandy’s house for a walk.     We had a good walk, as it was the warmest part of the day.     Sandy is such a relentlessly cheery person.     Despite her cancer treatment, she handles herself so well, and keeps so positive.     We talked about the usual suspects, but not in a bad way.     It’s as if we tried but could not affect the outcome of stuff like her cat’s liking me and disliking Derek (her grandson).     We went over our upset about certain people whom we hoped to effect but didn’t.     As I get older, I think 90% is hereditary and 10% is nurture.     I wish this was not the case, but it so often is.     Anyway, we chatted away until she dropped me back home.   What ...

  Bill just returned from seeing the collision person and it will take 3 weeks to get the front bumper and other stuff to arrive, but the car is drivable.     So, it could have been much worse.     He’s doing the dishes now while I do my blog.     We exercised and had lunch, and I will go to the store later to get potatoes, carrots, fruit and a couple of other things.     Bill is supposed to pick up our prescriptions later this afternoon.     I am wiped from the last day, but I suppose I’ll feel better if I get a good night’s sleep tonight. I am grateful that it looks like my oblation may be okay and I’m feeling better and no obvious side effects.     I missed walking with Deb today, as she called at 10 and Bill and I were just going out the door.     I felt like it was the right thing to do.        I know she has a busy life, but I feel like my life is important too.  

  Today began calmly, and after doing exercises and walking with Bill, I went over to Ronnie’s and visited for 45 minutes.     We had a nice time having tea and talking.     Then I went home, had lunch and went to the studio to read.     When I returned to the house at 3 to have a power bar, my husband came back from his trip to Ace hardware on Grand Avenue in Oakland, and he had had an accident with another car – so he just finished calling the Insurance people and filing a claim.     He said the other guy was great, and hopefully it will not be too big a deal.     My poor husband, first he must drive everywhere because I can’t, and now all this.     What a mess.    

  Today was crazy, as the last few days have been. First our TV arrived at 8:00 am.     Then after breakfast, I did my meditation with Anam Thubten online, then the dharma talk, which was about equanimity.     It was a good one.     I also tried to eat a salad, two peanut butter sandwiches and a pear.     Then I rushed inside so we could be ready to follow Jessi, Scott and the boys to a pumpkin patch an hour away.     It was a great place, but very windy today with a lot of dust being kicked up.     We met some friends, and then did our best to keep track of the two grandsons, two other kids, and various adults.     Lewis and I had a great time listening to the music, and he really loves it.     We saw bees, piglets, bunnies, chickens, a burro and a cow.     We saw a frog and caterpillars and pumpkins galore.     I got very tired, from the wind, the dust and other things, so after we...

  Today was another mess.     They could not order our TV, so we had to begin all over again.     This time we choose Amazon Prime and ordered a different TV.     It’s coming Monday, and another DVD player is getting here tomorrow.     That, taking our walk and changing Bill’s bandage were the highlights of the day.     Maybe Riyad will stop by this afternoon. He hasn’t yet.     Otherwise, a complete wash for our day.     Oh, well.     At least today was sunny and better to be out.     I hope it doesn’t get as windy as they are saying.     I don’t want to see wind for the rest of my life.     It hasn’t turned out well for me.

  Yesterday was hard for us.     Bill was impacted by his visit to the dermatologist.     He had more scraped off his forehead, and it made him exhausted, and he needed Tylenol to cope.     He still went to CVS with me and brought groceries up to the house.     But he was majorly grumpy.     I hadn’t realized, and neither did Bill, that he was supposed to take it very easy.     Today we are doing that.     No running around and Bill is better.     It’s a crappy day anyway.     Overcast and cool.     I took a walk but only did half of it, as I was cold, and it was dreary.     We’ll just take it easy the rest of the day.     Also, our TV won come until tomorrow.     We're having a time of it getting what we want.     Oh, well, that is how it goes sometimes.

  Today My daughter and I took a quick run to the Walk shop across town, and I bought two pair of sneaker shoes, and she got one pair.     Mine were green and gray.     Hers were brown.     Then we came right back.     It felt great to go into a shop and buy stuff.     Both of us picked a bigger size than we would have if we had to shop online.     Also, my poor husband had to go to the dermatologist to take off his basal cell carcinoma.     And we got our delivery for our tv put off until Saturday.     I also talked to my nutritionist briefly and set up two more sessions in three weeks plus.     Bill and I walked this morning as well.     Now I’m basking in my new shoes.     What great fun!     Bill is doing his puzzle and thinking about whether he wants to try going to CVS to get some stuff for his bandage and other stuff like nose spray, and a new toothbrush. ...

  Today I talked to my friend Sharon on the phone and agreed to see Jessi and the boys at 4:30. I walked with my friend Marianne this morning first.       After I talked with Sharon, and we discussed a book she thinks I’ll like:     Frances Mayes, nonfiction work about home, ‘Alone in the World’.       Jessi and the boys are coming to walk around our neighborhood to see the Halloween decorations in my area around 4:30. I felt a bit nuts this morning, partially because when I walk, I often need to use the restroom, and so after my walk with Marianne, I didn’t linger, but went right back home.     Walking right after I have breakfast makes it certain I will need to pee more than once, so after 45 minutes I left her.     I need to explain that fact to Marianne.     The crazy foibles of my universe right now.     Oh, well, what can I say?

  Today would have been my daughter’s 52 nt   birthday.     She had the greatest laugh.     She was a force of nature, and so many people loved her to pieces.     To all of us who miss her I know she is irreplaceable, but we go on.     But our lives are altered forever.     Today my younger daughter and Bill and I are going out to lunch to talk about her.  We of course never forget her.  But we are looking up and out these days.  My friend Deb and I walked this morning.  We talked about her a bit, but we know she won’t be forgotten by any of us.  I will call my siblings today.  I already spoke to Riyad and left a message for Nate.  I will call John and Ofelia later, when she is back home from school.  Dearest, dearest Ramiza, we love you forever.

  Today I thought a lot about Ramiza, as her birthday is tomorrow.     She would have been 52.     She died at age 49.     She was a force larger than life, and we all adored and feared her a bit.     I miss her so much.     She would be so proud of the other kids, and how they have coped.     Jessi, Nate and Riyad have really been amazing.     They are so thoughtful and kind. Ramiza, your daughter Ofelia is amazing.  She looks more and more like you, and she’s quite the young woman, now that she is 14 and in high school.  I know she must miss you, but she is doing well.   Today I walked with Bill and did my exercises and then read until my therapist called at 1 pm.  She had some helpful ideas about what to see and not see.  Bill is going to not go in this semester, but watch from home, and then go in next semester, when I will be further from my oblation. ...

  Yesterday a wonderful thing happened:     My nephew Wesley and I had been a bit estranged because a month ago he acted out while his parents were away, and although I wasn’t responsible, Bill was, Wesley had been a little off with both of us.     But yesterday, when Jessi, Wesley and I were downstairs while Lewis was taking a nap, we decided to have teatime, and Wesley joined us for tea, and then when we asked what we should do, he wanted to just talk to each other.     Sure enough, we first talked about getting a cat for Wesley and Lewis, then I talked about looking for a dog for Bill and me.     We discussed possibilities and had a grand old time.     So later yesterday, when I returned home, I got an email from Jessi and Wesley saying they had had a great teatime.     What sweeties they are! Today I went to my women’s group at Jane’s house, and Deb and I walked the whole way there.  We had fun, the 5 of us, ...

  I am so happy that I got my fifth booster shot at CVS today, as did Bill.     I was a mess last night thinking about getting the shot.     However, everything went smoothly.     I’ve been lazing around ever since, afraid of a reaction, but so far nothing.     I feel great that I’m kind of boosted now.     I keep thinking maybe we should take a little walk or do something to celebrate, but maybe not.     We have steak and potatoes for dinner, and we’ll watch a movie.     Tomorrow Bill and Scott are going to Best buy to get a TV screen and other stuff for the sonic.     I’m going to help babysit Jessi’s kids at her house.     Our women’s group meets Sunday morning, and we will no doubt enjoy the experience tremendously.     For all of you folks, remember to do the obvious:     get the boosters and be prepared for what might come next.    

Today My daughter Jessi and I spent the morning at my GP’s office and then to LabCorp for a test.  It was fine, but exhausting.  By the time we returned home we were both sick of each other.  I had an early lunch and then at 1 pm Bill and I walked.  It was not as lovely as it might have been, as we were both too tired from last night’s lack of sleep, but when we returned, I changed and went back to Dark Carnival, to get a few new books - five in fact.  Then I read until now, and at 4:30 we are going to Jessi’s to play with the kids and have an early dinner.  Scott will be late because he went to Mountain View for work today.  So hopefully we can help with the kids before their bedtime.  Boy, it’s tough work being a grandparent.  Tomorrow morning, we go to get our super booster shots.  I can’t wait.

  Well today I went with my two friends, Ronnie and Maggie, to the Oakland Museum to see the exhibition on Hellafemininist.     It was a huge show, with more than I could register, but I had a great time.     The voices, what ones I heard, were amazing, and there was a huge variety of kinds of things to see and admire.     I specially loved the abortion talking, the various women about what Feminism means to them, the Juicy fruit game stuff and the History of feminism throughout the eras.     We had a great time and decided to come back another day for the Angela Davis show.     We had lunch at the museum, and that was terrific as well.     I had green salad with chicken and a Pellegrino.     When I returned home, I played Scrabble with Bill and now am doing my blog.     That’s it for today.     Dinner later and a movie.    

  Today I went on a walk with my friend Deb, who suddenly had to babysit her granddaughter Rosie, so it was the three of us, walking along College Avenue.     We stopped at a coffee stand and Rosie got a croissant.     She was such a happy camper the whole way.     She is a very calm and happy one year old.     When we returned, I asked Bill to take me to Trader Joe’s, and I quickly got fresh stuff and toilet paper and olive oil.     Somehow, wherever we go, there is no regular salt.     Go figure!     Then we had lunch = kale, chicken and veggie salads, that even Bill didn’t object to.     I will probably watch a movie, rest and read the rest of the afternoon until dinner.     Tomorrow, I plan on going with my friends Ronnie and Maggie to the Oakland Museum.     That is a big outing for me.     My mood is good – I feel closer to my old self these days.

  Well, I’ve decided to go back to a day-by-day blog, with whatever happens to me that day being my source of the blog.     Pretty simple, if not too clever.     I’ve done the blog about the right speech issues, and more recently the blog about how my past has changed after my strokes, so this new blog will be very mundane, about whatever occurs to me each day.     Today I did my exercises, walked with my husband, then we had lunch and I watched part of a movie, then finished my last blog, and now here I am, being a new fresh person with only the thoughts that occur to me right now.     I have been excited about reverting to something superficial, and that includes allowing the fear of not much to say be foremost if it must.     Today I wondered again how much I might need to show that I have a mind that is active and occasionally exceptional.     I am worried this week about what to do and not to do.     Do I vi...