Reflections of My Life

I went to the store this morning and it was quite busy. Everyone wearing their masks and standing back on the spots that are marked off on the floor. The only trouble I had was that I wore a new mask a friend made for me and it kept slipping down. The other one, my blue one, is the one I like best and from now on that is the one I will wear. Today my glasses were fogged up no matter what I did. When I was paying, I had so much difficulty with the plastic bag thing over the card machine. I could not see anything on it and barely got my pin number in.

You know what bothers me more than this coronavirus is being around cigarette smoke. I was around it on Memorial Day at my boyfriend's house (not him). His daughter smokes and her sons smoke too. We were outside on a deck, but it really bothered me. I tried to be a good sport about it but they all know I cannot tolerate it. They don't care. I was sick from it when I came home and had to shower immediately and put my clothing in a garbage bag. Still haven't washed it yet. It is definitely the last time I go to any of their family meals or anything. To top it off, Sonny has lungs at 50% capacity but he won't mention it to them either. If I do, I am the bad guy. Well........I'm not married to him and I don't live with him. This could be the deal breaker with him and me if I confronted him about it. But for now, I will just avoid going places. Nice thing about my age is I can always say I don't feel good and can stay home.

This makes me think of one good thing to come from this wearing of masks is that most of the people cannot smoke with the mask on. And stores having entrance and exit doors so that nobody is smoking right next to the door so you don't have to walk through it.

Not wearing the mask on my street is not really a big deal as this is a small city, not a lot of people on the street. If there are, I go right past them on Jazzy (my mobility chair) at a pretty fast clip.
They can’t pick their nose in public or spit either, gross people, I hope the mask thing continues.
 

I am feeling better and today my knees are not so painful. I started eating the right foods for me, which is a low carb food plan or Keto actually. I have tried not to eat that way due to eating with others. I have done it before and this is what I really like and want to eat. So if someone eats with me, they will just have to adjust. I have been eating like this for a week now and will be sticking to it. I have a terrible weakness for ice cream so by not buying it, I am not tempted. I have other foods I can eat. It is so strange how so many people will be quick to tell you eating this way is bad for you without any knowledge of what the foods are or your health concerns. Most times they are taking a huge amount of prescriptions and I am not taking one. I am noticing I have a lot more energy. I was laying down and watching videos several times a day when my knees were painful. I have not done that in at least two or three days now. And did not need to take any Tylenol either. So maybe it is in my head that it works (like I have been told) but it is working for me.

It has been difficult to keep my blog going because after I moved here, I did not know what to write about. I had written about homesteading and solar since 2005 and that is what I knew. I have been transitioning it to another subject but still including recipes. I took all my ads off of it because I am living in a senior housing and my rent is based on income. Income from affiliate ads is not consistent and it would be a lot of paperwork for a few dollars. I am working on it now though.
 
I am feeling better and today my knees are not so painful. I started eating the right foods for me, which is a low carb food plan or Keto actually. I have tried not to eat that way due to eating with others. I have done it before and this is what I really like and want to eat. So if someone eats with me, they will just have to adjust. I have been eating like this for a week now and will be sticking to it. I have a terrible weakness for ice cream so by not buying it, I am not tempted. I have other foods I can eat. It is so strange how so many people will be quick to tell you eating this way is bad for you without any knowledge of what the foods are or your health concerns. Most times they are taking a huge amount of prescriptions and I am not taking one. I am noticing I have a lot more energy. I was laying down and watching videos several times a day when my knees were painful. I have not done that in at least two or three days now. And did not need to take any Tylenol either. So maybe it is in my head that it works (like I have been told) but it is working for me.

It has been difficult to keep my blog going because after I moved here, I did not know what to write about. I had written about homesteading and solar since 2005 and that is what I knew. I have been transitioning it to another subject but still including recipes. I took all my ads off of it because I am living in a senior housing and my rent is based on income. Income from affiliate ads is not consistent and it would be a lot of paperwork for a few dollars. I am working on it now though.
I always feel best when I eat a low carb diet but it can be a real struggle at times.

If the urge for ice cream becomes too great try making a batch of cheesecake fat bombs or frozen whipped cream desserts.

This is one simple example but a quick google search will bring up endless options.

https://www.eatwell101.com/cheesecake-keto-fat-bombs-recipe

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Good luck!
 

I always feel best when I eat a low carb diet but it can be a real struggle at times.

If the urge for ice cream becomes too great try making a batch of cheesecake fat bombs or frozen whipped cream desserts.

This is one simple example but a quick google search will bring up endless options.

https://www.eatwell101.com/cheesecake-keto-fat-bombs-recipe

View attachment 108867

Good luck!
Thank you, Aunt Bea! I have made those before. I have gotten to the point where I am not hungry between meals. For right now I am not going to eat sweets at all. I find if I don't eat any I don't start wanting more. My body (or brain) is funny like that.
 
Yesterday I was so happy to be going to get my hair cut finally. Hadn't had it cut since Valentine's Day. I try not to go out on hot days, well it was 82 degrees yesterday. So of course when Sophie, my hairdresser took my temperature it was 100.4!!! I knew I was not sick and hadn't been sick like that. I have not felt good but that is just my knee pain. So she had me sit in the car while Sonny had his appointment first. I had the air conditioning on and just sat there in front of the blowers listening to the radio. After she was done with his appointment, they came and got me and my temperature was 96.1 or something like that. So I finally got my hair cut and it feels so much better. They can't use blow dryers for now but I always wash my hair at home first anyway. She uses a blow dryer to style it only. I kept thinking while I was waiting, "I can't have the COVID-19! I have felt pretty good lately."

Today a woman from an agency that works with Office for the Aging and Social Services is coming to interview me about what I need help for in my apartment. I am going to have an aide that will come and help me with cleaning and running errands or whatever I need. I really just need the help with certain cleaning jobs in my apartment that I can no longer do. I am hoping that eventually I will be able to do them again as I improve my ability. She called me while I was sitting in the car to make the appointment. She is bringing another person with her and asked if that was okay with me. I said yes. She said we will all have to wear masks during the interview and asked if that was okay with me and if I had one and I told her yes. So that is good.
 
Yesterday I was so happy to be going to get my hair cut finally. Hadn't had it cut since Valentine's Day. I try not to go out on hot days, well it was 82 degrees yesterday. So of course when Sophie, my hairdresser took my temperature it was 100.4!!! I knew I was not sick and hadn't been sick like that. I have not felt good but that is just my knee pain. So she had me sit in the car while Sonny had his appointment first. I had the air conditioning on and just sat there in front of the blowers listening to the radio. After she was done with his appointment, they came and got me and my temperature was 96.1 or something like that. So I finally got my hair cut and it feels so much better. They can't use blow dryers for now but I always wash my hair at home first anyway. She uses a blow dryer to style it only. I kept thinking while I was waiting, "I can't have the COVID-19! I have felt pretty good lately."

Today a woman from an agency that works with Office for the Aging and Social Services is coming to interview me about what I need help for in my apartment. I am going to have an aide that will come and help me with cleaning and running errands or whatever I need. I really just need the help with certain cleaning jobs in my apartment that I can no longer do. I am hoping that eventually I will be able to do them again as I improve my ability. She called me while I was sitting in the car to make the appointment. She is bringing another person with her and asked if that was okay with me. I said yes. She said we will all have to wear masks during the interview and asked if that was okay with me and if I had one and I told her yes. So that is good.
That’s great. My mother has two aides who work different days and the state pays for the them. I still have my difficult husband who has to do things for me, 🤣.
 
I will be having one for 3 hours a week. So far I only need one for basic housecleaning, things I cannot do. Now I have to go find one to hire!
I would call and ask for referrals from the senior housing people. A lot of the aides work several places due to the lack of hours for anyone person.
 
I would call and ask for referrals from the senior housing people. A lot of the aides work several places due to the lack of hours for anyone person.
They gave me a list of aides to use. It tells what they do and the hours and areas they will work. I am also going to ask some of neighbors who they use. I do not want a person who smokes. They can't smoke in our building and grounds but I can't tolerate even smoke on a person. I think all of us here are using Office for the Aging. They gave me a lot of ideas today for other things too. Looking forward to checking stuff out as soon as the quarantine is over.
 
They gave me a list of aides to use. It tells what they do and the hours and areas they will work. I am also going to ask some of neighbors who they use. I do not want a person who smokes. They can't smoke in our building and grounds but I can't tolerate even smoke on a person. I think all of us here are using Office for the Aging. They gave me a lot of ideas today for other things too. Looking forward to checking stuff out as soon as the quarantine is over.
Glad you were able to get a list. Make sure you like the person, lol, you want someone you can talk with as well. Probably a lot of them don’t smoke as not smoking is common around seniors.
 
Glad you were able to get a list. Make sure you like the person, lol, you want someone you can talk with as well. Probably a lot of them don’t smoke as not smoking is common around seniors.
I have seen a number of other people's aide out beyond the parking lot grabbing a quick smoke when taking out their garbage. That is what made me think of not hiring a smoker. I am very sensitive to smells and smoke is a biggie for me.
 
I am happy to be an introvert in this world today. I do not like anything I am seeing anymore. The internet has turned out to be way to spread hate among people. I will not be part of it anymore. My mother was right when she said you should not discuss religion, politics or your finances. As of today, I am going to do my best to follow that advice. Working on my own life and not supporting any of the social media and news media hype.
 
I have seen a number of other people's aide out beyond the parking lot grabbing a quick smoke when taking out their garbage. That is what made me think of not hiring a smoker. I am very sensitive to smells and smoke is a biggie for me.
Yup, besides you don’t pay people to smoke. If there is only a 3 hour day, the aide won’t even get a break so no need to turn a 10 minute trash run into a half hour smoke break.
 
I realized when I responded to the post about show me your front door that I could not find the door to my apartment. So today I took some new pictures of it. My apartment is right across from the elevator (so if I am being nosy, I can see who is out there talking by looking through my peep hole on the door! lol). It was very convenient when I moved in though.

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The light at the end of the tunnel is finally within my sight! I was really down because my doctor had left and that means they will give me a new one. But she hadn't found anything really wrong with me except for the osteoarthritis. So I started watching YouTube videos by doctors and took notes. Almost all, the first thing they said was to lose weight. And find a form of exercise you can do and would enjoy. So that is why I am waiting for the YMCA to open back up. For the exercise. My biggest problem with eating low carbs or keto is eating with others. Now that I have not been eating at the activities we have downstairs or going to restaurants with Sonny, I can follow it easily. Believe me I can feel the difference. This week is my 3rd week on it and I have stuck to it. I just keep trying on my favorite black pants to gauge my loss and it is coming along......slowly, but surely. I also feel more energy.

I just finished a book by Dr. Wayne Dyer and found it to be so helpful. I had read all of Dr. Vincent Peale's books long ago and guess I had forgotten about it. But the book by Dr. Wayne Dyer brought that all back to me. Now these book are steering people toward businesses and jobs and I am past that. I am focusing on my age now and what I can do to improve my life. I am not about to say that it is too late and my life is what it is. This book is how to find happiness or something like that. Though for the most part I am happy. I will be happier if I can improve my mobility issues. I am not looking to run a marathon but going downstairs to do my laundry with my walker instead of "Jazzy" would be nice. Being able to walk around the block with the walker for exercise would be fun. Going into a restaurant or someone's home without a walker would be nice too.

Well, that is my thought for the day.
 
Yesterday, Sonny and I went to Waterloo, NY, to meet his cousin who he hadn't seen in over 40 years. His cousin and his family met us at a diner along their journey back to their home in OH from VT where they had been visiting family. His wife has cancer and was given about 3 months to live. She is a beautiful person and I loved meeting her. She had become great friends with Sonny on FB, though it is actually her husband who is related to Sonny. Her parents, their daughter and three grandchildren were traveling with them. We had a good time with them.

After we left them, we went to the Turning Stone Casino because Sonny wanted to show it to me. He used to watch them building it years ago when he passed by on the highway when drove truck. It was beautiful from the outside but when we went to go inside, wham! The smoke hit me like a ton of bricks. I was in the process of showing my ID and all that and he had already gone through it, but I just could not go in. I had to get out. I could not breathe and my eyes were tearing like crazy. A security guard told Sonny there was a different entrance and rooms for nonsmokers, but by then I just wanted to leave. I could still smell it. Even outside people were smoking and butts were everywhere. I guess it makes sense since they are known for selling cigarettes on the reservation. By the way, I am not judging people for smoking, it is just a fact of life for me, that I cannot be around it at all. Even the smell of it on someone gets to me (including from my son).
So I told Sonny, we can go there another time. But I really would rather go to a park or something that is outside than a casino.
 
I am doing my best to stay off FB today. It is not just the politics or the COVID-19 stuff, but there are some people that whatever you post on your timeline, group or a business page, someone always has to post a comment that is sarcastic, political or know-it-all and has nothing at all to do with what the post was about. Just got to get their two cents in. On my own timeline though, they do that and they are history. I just deleted one who had made those type of comments a few times now. Whatever I post, she has to make that comment that irritates me. Yesterday, I posted a photo I took of the new toll gate being built over the highway and I said that I was glad I was not a man because I would not want to do a job like that. So she comes back with women do those jobs too. So what? I still would not want to do a job like that. The other one that I can think of is that I posted about the restaurant near me that was doing take out during the quarantine. I said that was nice and all but I could never afford their prices which was about $20. per meal. She had to point out how it helps to buy from local businesses. I am sure it does. But I still can't afford it. Sometimes you put a photo up and you are not looking for whole debate on the topic. I usually delete their comment and tell them put the debate on their timeline. It seems people just want to argue these days, whatever the subject. I did my morning hellos to everyone and now have been on Ancestry the rest of the day. At least my ancestors don't argue with me.
 
I am doing my best to stay off FB today. It is not just the politics or the COVID-19 stuff, but there are some people that whatever you post on your timeline, group or a business page, someone always has to post a comment that is sarcastic, political or know-it-all and has nothing at all to do with what the post was about. Just got to get their two cents in. On my own timeline though, they do that and they are history. I just deleted one who had made those type of comments a few times now. Whatever I post, she has to make that comment that irritates me. Yesterday, I posted a photo I took of the new toll gate being built over the highway and I said that I was glad I was not a man because I would not want to do a job like that. So she comes back with women do those jobs too. So what? I still would not want to do a job like that. The other one that I can think of is that I posted about the restaurant near me that was doing take out during the quarantine. I said that was nice and all but I could never afford their prices which was about $20. per meal. She had to point out how it helps to buy from local businesses. I am sure it does. But I still can't afford it. Sometimes you put a photo up and you are not looking for whole debate on the topic. I usually delete their comment and tell them put the debate on their timeline. It seems people just want to argue these days, whatever the subject. I did my morning hellos to everyone and now have been on Ancestry the rest of the day. At least my ancestors don't argue with me.
I totally understand. My father would come back at me with something every time I posted something he didn't like on my own page. You say anything anywhere and get your posts jumped on by whoever disagrees or gets offended. It's a PITA. To me it would be rude to block my father so I began to just send him funny pics in email for a couple days.

My folks just want something once a day to make sure I'm ok. I haven't been wanting to talk on the phone because I've been too stressed out. After a couple of days of seeing that would work I deactivated my FB acct. I'd finally had enough. We email a little back and forth and I don't discuss anything that's going to set him off. If he tries to start a discussion I just don't respond to it. It's working better that way.

I got a new page under a completely different user name and I have zero FB friends and nobody can comment on crap. I do my thing and go on. I had one of my mom's friends who would get mad and start fights with my other FB friends. LOL! I ended up deleting her.

Have a good day Kat!
 
I totally understand. My father would come back at me with something every time I posted something he didn't like on my own page. You say anything anywhere and get your posts jumped on by whoever disagrees or gets offended. It's a PITA. To me it would be rude to block my father so I began to just send him funny pics in email for a couple days.

My folks just want something once a day to make sure I'm ok. I haven't been wanting to talk on the phone because I've been too stressed out. After a couple of days of seeing that would work I deactivated my FB acct. I'd finally had enough. We email a little back and forth and I don't discuss anything that's going to set him off. If he tries to start a discussion I just don't respond to it. It's working better that way.

I got a new page under a completely different user name and I have zero FB friends and nobody can comment on crap. I do my thing and go on. I had one of my mom's friends who would get mad and start fights with my other FB friends. LOL! I ended up deleting her.

Have a good day Kat!
That sounds like a great idea making an account with no friends! I thought of making one with just my cousins and just family stuff. To be honest, I was never political at all till FB. For one thing, I think people didn't know all this stuff going on whether true or not. Years ago now, I watched one local news show and not even the national news. I read our local paper to see the obituaries and local arrests and that was it. I was busy and the only thing I did was to vote in the elections. But I wasn't into all that stuff. Now everyone is an expert on everything. I admit I got caught up into but I am getting out of it. That is how I ended up here on this forum. I try to avoid the news boards that have a political twist. I figure everyone can make their own choices of what they want to believe, be it for the COVID-19 or the "peaceful protests". Nothing you can say will change someone else's mind anyway. They have to learn on their own. I know that is true because I had to learn on my own when I made the wrong choices in my lifetime.
 
Saturday was Sonny's birthday and he picked me up and we went to his house. He helped me color my hair, since it has gotten so hard for me to stand in one place for long or to hold my arms up to get the top (and that's the most important place to get it). I don't have a lot of gray, but I can see it. I think it looks better being once I color it. I have done it since I was 13.

I am working on this trunk of clutter so I can use the trunk to store things I use. It is right here in my sitting area and it is stupid to have it full of stuff. I have been going through my photos and am going to take the ones that my soon to be ex-husband will want to him. Then mail the ones to my cousins that I know they will all want. I have a bunch of cookbooks I am going to take pictures of and sell on FB Marketplace.I was selling a bunch of things on there till this quarantine happened.

When I get done with that.........then my storage area downstairs! It is a disaster.
 


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