Dismissed and glad, also socks

Last week Gary arranged to drive me today to the ortho who did Hippolyta a year ago, annual checkup. I called him to confirm this morning and he had forgotten. But he said he'd still do it. Then he and another neighbor showed up at the door -- she was taking over! Fine by me. 

And the surgeon told me my X-ray this morning was excellent, asked a few questions, manipulated my joint around, and said, all's well. If you feel like it you can come back in five years. I pointed out that this was a bit optimistic at this point but he said, correctly, you never know! 

So I did a happy dance on the way to the car.  Yay me.

And while I wait for the longnameshuttle which is in transit, to start weaving,  I started a pair of socks, using yarn I found while I was sorting out what to use in the weaving.

I think almost all my yarn is variegated. This one has cheerful colors and it's machine washable, fine for the Sock 'n Glove 'n Whistle Ministry.

Once home I took a walk to the pond and saw the first turtle of the year, cruising around, head above water, then diving and showing their underwater skillz.

A heads-up for May 1, on Friday. Traditional day for workers to celebrate, even a canonical Catholic feast day, St Joseph the Worker. This year there's a national shutdown on work and spending. Some people simply can't take the day off, but we can all do something. Sand in the gears. Make employers notice. Make everyone notice.

This blog will honor our workers and send my part of the message to big money. We'll go dark on Friday.

Happy day everyone, let's hope your joints are jumpin'.

Hip, hip oh well, physio, socks and reading

Recently I've had a bit of a thing with Hippolyta, or more likely adjacent muscles. I blame the many icy days I couldn't get out to walk, though I exercise indoors, and the temperature and humidity swings.  

I'll be seeing my rheumo soon but meanwhile I've been checking what to do.

I did a moderate level strength training yes2next video last evening, iced and even took ibuprofen, amazing, I never think of that. Result this morning not exciting.

So I remembered one of my favorite physios on YouTube, Will Harlow, and checked whether I have a touch of sciatica and if so what then. 

The exercises he suggested and demo'd were among the ones my own physio taught me during my recovery last year.  He'd noted I had a bit of a sciatic issue then, aside from the hip thing.

I like this guy a lot because his demos are excellent and he understands the difference it makes when you're older. 

So I did some of his suggestions, largely about strengthening muscle groups to relieve nerve and joint stress. So we'll see.

In other gripping news, I had a chat with Michael the Artist Contractor about my bathroom and it's definitely going to happen.

But first, he has to be in the South for a bit because his mother is going into heart surgery.  It's complicated and worrying and talking about her reminded me I don't have much to fuss about. 

He still doesn't have a vehicle, a bit of a problem for a contractor, but he's been making do. And he's getting his mother's old vehicle to drive home. She has a new one, so this works.  Anyway the bathroom will happen and it's not yet urgent. And he knows I'm still interested. 

Meanwhile, the spiral knitting is moving. It started as a little experiment, and now I think it may as well be another pair of socks, why not.  

One ball of yarn has made one pair and part of a second, so this second ball will be plenty. Maybe enough left over for a lanyard, too. 

I've been reading a genre I usually don't have much patience with, but this one works pretty well.

It's a mystery in the style of Austen, with characters from various Austen novels, a generation later, Darcy and Elizabeth's son and someone else's daughter are featured. There's also the Knightleys the Brandons and the Bertrams, all old married couples now, some with children, from various novels, in a country house party. Enter the villain Mr Wickham! Perfect arena for murder.  

It's quite well written by someone who knows her Austen and writes with restraint. Up to now, it's going well, aside from my wanting to poke everyone with a sharp stick to get on with it, do.

I just watched a YouTube video about meals the channeler made when they were broke. Several pretty much like my usual stuff. Hm. Except she buys at Wal***t and the dollar store. But I may swipe her baked pasta idea. 

Happy day everyone, swipe only the best. If you're going to commit a crime, do a worthwhile one.

 

Not sure we'll ever get the bloodstains out, but we're working on it.

Mail call and Misfits

Awake again at dark o'clock, and I went to get ice, then on the way to the kitchen, noticed a piece of mail in the basket above the shoe rack. Evidently brought in by Handsome Son and put down for a minute! 

Anyway I found and opened and love it. Handmade! Lovely. Thank you so much, C 

In a place of honor on Walker Two-step's tray.

And this morning HS put out the bags and icepack for Misfits pickup. 

I've been doing well on the food I cooked ahead and now I'm ready for a change of pace. 

Here's Kareem arriving with the box

Handsome Son brought it in and I unpacked and washed the produce 

More of the small gala apples I have midmorning, a bag of trailmix to share with HS, yogurt to go with blueberries, a freebie can of pineapple chunks, also to share, wholegrain bread because my energy isn't back up to baking yet, diced tomatoes for all sorts of use.

All set now. I was tired after prepping the food and putting it away, but it's good to get back into ordinary tasks. 

Speaking of ordinary I had an accidental adventure this morning. I was distracted by something I needed to take care of, unrelated, amazingly, to Hippolyta, and  needed something from the kitchen. 

And absent-mindedly walked there and back completely unaided, forgetting about the walker, till I got back. It felt okay but I trust I didn't do any damage. I'm officially not walking with even a cane without company, so this was a black diamond run. Doh.

Gary has made a bedside step for me, and I hope Emil approved, so I can start sleeping in bed. My back will be happy to get off the sofa. 

Happy day everyone, have you ever managed something successfully, because you didn't know you couldn't?  

Ted also sez, keep on including our trans siblings 

Hello from Hippolyta

 See far so good. We arrived at dark o'clock and I'm now in my room, recovering. I'm told I'll be standing and walking today. We'll see!

Anyway I'm here alive and not quite kicking but getting there.

Room with a view.

Happy day everyone!!