BEFORE THE REMODEL

I can hardly remember how my downstairs used to look. Notice how much my Snake Plant has grown.  I started working on this blog earlier today.  Some how I got a couple of pictures on and even got a comment from Rachel and now those pictures have disappeared from my blog.  Now it is so nice downstairs.  Not much else going on.  Had my physical therapy yesterday.  My leg was really sore today but I am much better.  I have an idea this is going to be a lifetime job keeping my legs working right. I am sure I will have to keep doing the exercises forever.  Whatever I can do to keep on my feet I will.

MORE THERAPY

I had another physical therapy session today.  I think this is my 6th one.  I have always in my mind questioned things like Chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists wondering if they really help people..  It seems like for a couple of days after a session I hurt worse but today it was like I had a breakthrough.  Shelia, the therapist, still did this pushing, stretching etc. but today it did not hurt as bad.  I have not only the weakness in my right leg but in the thigh of my right leg I have a mass that is like scar tissue and she is working on getting that broken up.  After the pushing and moving my leg around she took me to the exercise room and I was on a step-on for 10 minutes.  It is kind of like being on an exercise bike but your legs just go back and forth on the pedals.  The reason I said it was like a breakthrough is that today  I could really feel my leg loosening up and it did not hurt when I stepped down.  I could feel my leg was much more relaxed.  Sheila said my leg is a little stronger. I am still using the belt but the time might come when I don't need to.  I told her I have an exercise bike and she said by all means use it but not overdo. Anyway, I just wanted to share this news.  I guess there is still hope for old people like me.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Today I saw the physical therapist.  She claims the problem is still my sacroiliac nerve and that I have probably had this problem for some time.  She said my right leg is very weak.  That is the reason I limp.  I have been making my right leg do all the work.  I had another deep tissue massage and then she did a lot of pushing on my leg.  Now that I am home it is really hurting.  I have an exercise that I have to do at least three times a day.  She will add another one Friday. Also she wants me to use my cane and get the weight off the right leg.  She claims the limp will get better if I do that.  Of course, the thing  we are all supposed to do is walk tall, suck in your stomach. So much to remember.  She claims I am not to old to make my legs stronger.  She still wants me to wear the belt for awhile yet.  I will have to admit that my leg is doing much better even though it is sore where she did all the pushing.

EASTER

George and Marge took me to the "Old Mill" for an Easter breakfast brunch.  We had to wait awhile but it was very nice.  When we got back, there were two deer in the yard pruning Donna's Rose bushes.
     It was very nice to get out.  I have been putting up with pain in my right leg.  I had actually made an appointment with the doctor for Monday but Donna called and got an appointment for me for Thursday.  It was so bad I could hardly walk.  Donna arranged for Eloise (my visiting teaching companion) to take me to the doctor.  It is good she did that.  I always hate to bother other people so that was why I wanted to wait until Monday when Donna was back.  The doctor thought it was my Sciatica. I had to make an appointment with a Physical Therapist and they were able to get me in Friday.  Marge took me.  The Therapist after doing many painful things to my leg said it was my Sacroiliac joint.  He gave me a deep heat massage.  That really felt good.  Also he let me use his loaner Sacroiliac belt.  I went into the the Therapist using my cane and after he put the belt on I was amazed at how it almost immediately stopped the pain. He wants me to wear it until I have my next appointment (Tuesday) and if it has been helping he will sell me one at cost.  He says that is the only product he sells his patients.  I see there are a lot of them on line.  That belt really helps.  Even when I take it off at night I am not having near as much pain so maybe I am healing.  The Therapist said I should wear it at night too if I can but I found I can't.  I am one of those people who can't sleep if there is a wrinkle in my sheet.
        I had a doctor Thursday I had not seen before.  She was looking over my chart and said "You're 84" and I said "Yes".  She said "You are in such good health."  It struck me funny because I am sitting there in all this pain.
        In case you are wondering what a Sacroiliac belt is--it is stretchy material with Velcro straps.  You put it on so that the bottom of the belt is resting right on top of your thigh bones and around your buttocks.
        Of course, I am sure everyone knows by now that Michael and Rachel have an adorable new baby girl.  You can see the darling pictures on Rachel's blog.

          I hope everyone is having a Happy Easter.

CATCHING UP ON A RAINY DAY

Pictures we took last Summer on our way to Atlanta in the Kia Rio.  We stopped to see these sites on the Lincoln Highway.  Imagine driving all the way from New York to San Francisco in a Model T Ford.  We have such comfortable cars now and of course much better roads.

It has been in the 80's all week in Atlanta, while we have rain. I talked to Diane a couple of days ago.  She said the pollen count is as high as it has been in 30 years.  Diane said the little Kia Rio is covered yellow from all the pollen.  I had read before that if you have allergies that Atlanta is one of the worst cities to live in.

Diane seems to be doing real well in Atlanta.  Diane bought a house in Atlanta.  She paid cash.  She paid $33,000 including closing costs.  Isn't that amazing.  The house does need some work she said  but apparently nothing major.  She said it has a brand new roof, which is a real plus.  The previous owner did take out the air conditioning unit so that will probably set her back around $4000. at least.  But she only has a month and a half on her rental unit so then she will have money to make repairs. It is a four bedroom house.  I want her to put some pictures on Facebook so everyone can see the house.

Nothing exciting going on here.  We are all waiting to hear from Rachel about when Eleanor will make her debut.

EARLY SPRING

Just some more pictures from our little trip to Forks.  We saw a lot of logging trucks but of course, logging is not like it used to be.

On to my topic of an early Spring.  This is an educational topic I am putting on my blog. (I will probably bore everyone but I found this article very interesting)  How I love the Internet!  If I had to have looked this up in the library like we used to, it would take a long time.

Did anyone notice that Spring came early this year?
       Welcome to the earliest start of Spring since 1896.
Every leap year, the Spring will get roughly 30-45 minutes earlier until it peaks at 2096 when Spring will arrive on March 19--at 7:02 am (Pacific Daylight time)
         Why?  It's due to the same reasons we have leap years--the exact length of a year isn't a nice round number.  The length of a year is 365.2422days--or about 11minutes and 14 seconds short of 365 days and exactly 6 hours.
           By adjusting for leap year every four years, it averages out to 365.25 days.  The earliest season start times occur on leap year (because what is March 19 this year would be March 20 in non-leap years.)  Each year after a leap year, the start time of the season gets roughly 6 hours later until the next leap year pulls it back 24 hours.
          But since .25 isn't the same as .2422, the season start times drift just a little earlier each year due to this minor error.
           Remember back in 2000 when there was talk about how it was a rare leap year because usually we don't do a leap year in years divisible by 100, unless it is divisible by 400.  For example--we didn't do leap years in 1700, 1800, or 1900 but we did in 2000 (divisible by 400) but we won't in 2100.  That correction gets us closer to 365.2422.
            So in 1896, we had a Spring start time at 6:23 on March 19 (Pacific Standard Time) because they hadn't thought of Pacific Daylight Time yet)  Spring came about 6 hours later each year but in 1900--when there was no leap year, because 1900 divided by 400 requires decimal points, the Spring start time just kept getting 6 hours later until 1904 when it finally got pushed back 24 hours due to leap year.
            But in 2000, we didn't skip the leap year reset, so the Spring start time will keep getting earlier each leap year until 2096 because in 2100, we won't do a leap year, in essence allowing the Spring start time to keep pushing back another full day on our calendar.
             It's not until we complete the entire 400 year cycle that the equinox start times truly reset and the drift starts over.
             But in the meantime, enjoy this early start to Spring!  Just don't pay attention to the fact that this drift also means Autumn begins a bit earlier as well.

TRIP IN MY CAR

Downtown Forks

We had Icecream cones at this little shop.

Yesterday was such a nice day and Donna had worked on her school work all morning and about noon she decided she wanted to goof off. I have been wanting to put a few more miles on my car and give it a little more exercise than just running to Safeway.  We decided to go to Forks.  I had never been there.  It is a long way.  It was sunny when we left Sequim but as we got nearer Forks the weather really changed. There was even a little snow mixed with rain.  After we went to Forks, Donna wanted to go to La Push.  She had never been there.  It was only another 14 miles to La Push.  La Push is right on the Ocean.  It was really cold and windy there.  Donna got out of the car and took some pictures of the ocean.  My car had gone to La Push last winter with David. David went to look at a boat for a friend of his.  I was going to go but that day it was pouring rain and the wind was blowing so I told him to go without me.  That was the same day that we got the auxilary heat pump in and the worker took off part of the roof.

     Anyway,  we were able to drive right up by the Ocean.  What an amazing sight! We both had such an enjoyable trip.