12 Oakdale

Three days before I was to fly to California, a Florida judge vacated  the CDC’s nationwide mask requirement on public transportation. Immediately, all the airlines and TSA said they wouldn’t enforce it while the Biden administration decided whether to appeal (they did, updates to follow). I was so happy. The New York Times readership was aghast. The couple sitting next to me on the plane wore their masks periodically, I guess to cut their odds of catching something, without actually having to wear their masks all the time. Didn’t seem rational to me, so absolutely appropriate to these crazy times. In any case, off to see Mary and grandbabies. I am still hobbling, considered getting a wheelchair at the airport, and would definitely used one at the zoo, but we decided to skip that this trip. We did go to Bella’s dance class, then picnic at Balboa Park and a short walk through the rose garden. A medium sized hawk with a striped tail landed in a tree there, perhaps a red shouldered. M...

It was the mosquito bite that was the one last pain that put me to weeping as I leaned against our bed, barely able to shuffle off to the bathroom. I was back to what I call T. Rex arms because I have to keep my elbows next to my sides to avoid sharp, stabbing pains. This is from having to lift myself up, rather than using my legs to stand. I tried using my walker, but my shoulders ache too much. I hadn’t found a place I can sit, and sleeping is impossible: I couldn’t lie on my back and turning from one side to the other was agonizing. I was a mess. And we have another damn set of screens out in the pool screen house. After more than 5 weeks of aching legs and a sore, but slightly better, upper back, I gave in and made an appointment with Kirsten at physical therapy and another one with my doctor. Thank goodness. I now have small exercises that relieve some of the pain in my legs, and which Kirsten says will strengthen my muscles and realign my pelvis. Don’t care how they work, I feel ...

I went out to get the paper this morning, and when I turned to go back to the house, Gracie was standing on the front porch. I scooped her up and tossed her inside. Wait, Gracie was inside. This is another cat, obviously from the same litter. A little bigger, perhaps because he’s a male, but just as friendly as Gracie. Is someone throwing  them out one at a time? Annie is disgusted. We are absolutely not keeping 2 new cats. The no-kill shelters aren’t taking new cats, so I guess he’s going to the Orange County Animal Shelter. Why won’t people take care of their pets? In the meantime, all three cats are roaming the house having trouble getting settled. First it was the lawn guys with their mowers and leaf blowers. Now it’s Terry replacing the 5, yes, 5 panels of screens that blew in during a windstorm a couple of weeks ago. He also reattached a piece of frame that had come unscrewed which he hopes will keep the whole huge screen house from being so wobbly. Dang, I hope so. I shudder...

I have reached my weight goal of 165# (down to, not up to). Now to try on the pants that were way too tight and see if they are worth hemming or should go to the thrift store. I used for Noom, a fairly pricey app that includes lots of reading about approaches to more than just food. Meals are recorded, encouragement given. Through the app’s social media platform, one could share thoughts with other Noomers if one were so inclined. I’m not. In a week, I have to decide where to pay for another two months. On the one hand, I got the results I wanted and think I’m good. On the other hand, perhaps I should continue recording what I eat and reading their helpful lessons, to be sure the philosophy has really taken hold. The renewal is automatic unless I cancel. Good planning on their part. Five weeks later, and I still haven’t recovered from wrestling that heavy kayak out of the car and carrying it to the porch, having to turn it sideways to get through the door. My upper back, between my sho...