Getting in shape

Getting in shape for what, I can't say.  I'm loving the treadmill, and rather than overdo it and then not use it consistently, I've been walking 5-10 minutes at a time throughout the day, and averaging about a mile a day.  I plan to raise it now every day and keep track of how I'm doing.  I think I feel better, although it's not translating to working harder!

I had started a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle that I just couldn't do more than get the outline of the puzzle.  My eyes just don't see those tiny variations in color any more.  Jeannie gave me a puzzle I had given to her kids, which is 300 pcs.  I started on it last night, worked on it now and then throughout today, and will no doubt finish it tomorrow.  At least I know where I stand and what my limits are.

So I have all my tomatoes planted and I'm sure I have them too close together.  I hate to dig some of them up - does anyone have suggestions?  Should I or shouldn't I replant them?  Tomorrow I hope to plant marigolds around the perimeter of the beds - that will keep the destructive insects away, I hope.  I think I'm going to plant a couple of squash seeds, and then maybe a couple more in another week.  Keeping Rocky out of the garden is going to be my problem this year - he hasn't harmed anything - just checks it out and leaves his footprints.

And speaking of the boy, I feel so terrible for him.  He wonders why we walk out to the mailbox and then come right back to the house.  Why don't we take walks anymore.   I've been throwing a ball for him to catch which helps him exercise, but it's not like a nice walk through the neighborhood.

This is the second day in a week that I've stayed in pajamas all day long.  There isn't much incentive to get dressed since I'm not going anywhere.

How is everyone else coping?  Is your area under quarantine, and if so, how is that interpreted?  All my good wishes go to the people of New York City and surrounding areas.  It looks pretty certain that we will all eventually be in that same boat!  Take care everyone, and if you have any tips for staying sane while being in virtual isolation, I'd love to hear them.  Thank goodness for the internet that allows us to stay in touch.

Social distancing -

 - whether I like it or not!

This is already getting old, and I'm tired of it!  It is so difficult for Rocky and me to not even be able to take a walk through the neighborhood, but I'm not taking any chances.  Rocky is lucky, in that he spent an afternoon at Jeannie's house playing with the kids recently, and they have invited him back this afternoon.  He is taking the isolation with a lot of difficulty, I can tell.  His personality is beginning to take on a new side, and that is one of perplexity, uncertainty, and whatever you might call doggie anger.  He wants his normal puppy life back.

An animal organization in Sacramento just put out a plea for assistance for the dogs in their care.  They desperately need supplies, and I found out they have several large dogs, so I'm waiting for someone to pick up a 30# bag of dog food.  Rocky is wondering why I pushed the box into the living room, and he'll be even more perplexed when someone comes to pick it up.  I can always order another, and if there is a wait for it because of high demand, I have enough on hand to last a while.  

I went out and  checked on the tomato plants I set out yesterday, and it looks like a large four-legged creature has already been checking!  At least he didn't nibble on them.  I still have 12 plants to go and will try to get them in the ground today.  I am really looking forward to my tomato harvest which will probably overtake me, once it gets started.  I think I may have planted them too close to each other, and don't know whether to pull a few out and plant them in another spot.  I hate to disturb them as they seemed to do well overnight.  I'd like to trellis them so they would grow up rather than out, but that is way beyond my current capabilities at this time.

I am loving  my treadmill, and trying to take it easy at first.  I set it to about 3 to 3.5 mph, but only walk about 5 minutes at a time.  I'm about brain-dead trying to correlate mph-distance-etc.  I would like to keep track of my progress each day, and also want to start some other floor exercises such as sit-ups, plank, etc.  Nothing too strenuous.

I quit trying to work the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, and traded it to Jeannie's family for one that is 300 pcs.  I think I recognize it as one I had given them in the past.  My eyes are too far gone for those smaller pieces of a large puzzle.

Living alone with only a dog, and having no visitors, I'll admit I am becoming extremely lazy.  My house certainly shows it, but I can't work up a sweat about it, or even a bit of embarassment!  If I live through this pandemic I swear I will clean house every day from morning to night!  (Not!)

My new toy!

Actually it isn't exactly a toy - it's a serious piece of exercise equipment.  I'm talking about my treadmill.  Donald came by yesterday afternoon and set it up.  I walked on it a bit last night and again this morning.  I love it, and am determined to get in shape, and since I don't feel safe even walking Rocky out on the streets now, I'll do my walking indoors!

Donald took Rocky home with him when he left, and Jeannie said he was a perfect angel, even when they were eating dinner he didn't beg or whine.  He played with the girls out in front of their house and I'm sure he thought he was in heaven.  I've noticed his behavior change since we haven't gone anywhere lately nor have we been in close contact with other people  or pets.  The poor thing doesn't understand what is going on, and his natural friendly labrador retriever personality is at a loss.

I have photos I want to add to this post, however I'm having great difficulty with them.  Evidently Google updated the blogger program, or maybe it was something to do with my photos, but I hope they show up clearly.  So frustrating!

 The first one shows the simplicity of the controls and the second is a photo of the unit.  As you can see, it is much smaller and more compact than the type you see in a gym, but it's perfect for me.   The quality of the photos is something I cannot do anything about.  I keep the wall-to-wall curtain closed most of the time for privacy.  This room was created from a garage, so instead of blocking in part of the front wall they just added a huge, garage-sized window.  There is a door set into the window, but I keep it closed and locked. This room is sort of a catch-all room - my printer and desk, bookshelf, art table (the kids love to sit at this when they come to visit), Rocky's supply of dog food, and even some boxes I still haven't unpacked from the move almost a year ago!

I hope you all take care and stay safe.  Please don't take chances - it is costing lives and many could have avoided it by staying confined to home.  Until next time - - -

Rerun

I just watched on YouTube, a rerun of the greatest horse race in all history.  I am talking about the Belmont in which Secretariat won the Triple Crown!

I saw it on TV when it happened, and I can tell you there was great happiness, celebration, and drinking in all the country after that race.   It was fun to be there, and I relived it again today, making me forget for a few minutes the awful state the country is in right now.

The sun can't make up its mind whether or not to come out today - and I can't decide if I should go outside and try to pull some more weeds from the garden.   All the rain we've had this year has made for an abundant crop!

I have been taking Rocky for a walk twice a day which really helps him get rid of some energy.  I read this morning that everyone should stay indoors as the virus can remain in the air for something like 3 hours.  That sort of gives me pause - I thought because I walked when there was nobody else around, that we would be safe.  Now I don't know.

I made up my mind when this whole thing started that I was going to survive it - mostly by quarantining myself and being very careful.  So now do I need to worry because I have stepped outside the boundaries of my dwelling to walk the dog?  I almost give up on everything and wonder if we are all doomed, except I'm NOT going to give that Lt. Governor in the state of Texas the satisfaction of watching me die for the sake of the economy!  I have never, ever heard anything so outrageous, and I'm calling on all my readers who are "of a certain age" to join me in surviving, just to piss that guy off!

Maybe I should just go watch the Belmont Race of 1973 rerun again, and hope I forget about all the total jerks in this country.

Interesting info

 I am always interested in knowing the country of origin when I buy a new product.  This can prove very difficult to determine.  I came across a great web page that I'm linking to below, which tells you how to find this info from the 1st 3 numbers of the barcode of the product.  I'm adding the link here in case any of my readers is interested.

https://theheartysoul.com/how-to-read-a-barcode/

 I don't know about you, but I am already sick of being alone.  I do enjoy walking Rocky and greeting/waving to other walkers, but I miss my kids and grandkids.  Rocky misses them and is really showing the effects of our isolation.  I have gotten really angry with him lately, but realize he has no idea what is going on except that he has no one to play with!

I will make this short as I want to go pull more weeds in the garden.  They are growing exponentially with the recent rains.  I'd love to start planting the tomatoes, but the temps are really chilly so I have to hold myself back. 

Have a good day to the extent you can!  I'll be back soon.

Could things get worse?

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse, there is news of a virus that has now killed one person in China.  It's one that sounds familiar, is called the hantavirus, and is spread by rodents.

It is cool today but the wind has died down some.  When I took Rocky for a quick walk I was stunned by the beauty of the sky.  It is a gorgeous shade of blue lately, I suppose because there is less air pollution?  Right now the clouds are gathering and we will probably get rain.  I should go out and pull some more weeds in my garden before it begins - I can only do a little bit at a time which is kind of frustrating.  Also, I cannot find the spade/shovel anywhere and I'm having to use a small hand trowel.

I was hoping to get some topsoil delivered but it is almost impossible to do it by ordering over the phone.  I can order it, but someone has to stop in to pay for it, and it won't do to give a credit card number over the phone.

Is it me, or have any others of you experienced difficulties at every turn lately?  And where is it all going to end. 

 I'll admit that I'm getting discouraged.  I'm missing human contact and personal conversations.  I have trouble hearing on a cell phone so I don't really like to use it unless it is absolutely necessary.  Maybe when all this passes I should get my hearing tested.  I would have done it a couple of years ago if insurance paid even a small cost of a test and hearing aid.  Well, this isn't the time to try to do anything about it - maybe when the virus abates and we can get back to normal.  

When is poetic justice going to visit the officials who tell us we should get back to work and save the stock market?  And of all things, I read this morning that someone (a mayor or a governor in the Southwest) has urged seniors to get out and fill the necessary jobs in the country, because they are going to die anyway.  (I'm paraphrasing, but I think this is just about what he said.)

I hope you are all doing better at keeping a positive attitude than I am at this point.  I might just turn off all the news & noise, and clean my house!

Sunday Morning

I just got back from a great walk with Rocky.  It must have made him sleepy because he is stretched out with his eyes closed.  What a beautiful morning, and not too many folks out yet.

One thing I always noticeis trash everywhere, and  way too much of it is along the school property.  Remember the old anti-litter slogan - "Give a hoot, don't pollute".  They would do well to bring that back again.  I cannot imagine one of my kids ripping open a bag of candy or chips and throwing the empty bag on the ground.  Imagine what these kids will be as adults.  I've often felt like writing to the school board, but realize I should mind my own business.  I don't want my yard trashed in retaliation, and those who openly throw their garbage on the ground would be the sort who would want to give "payback".

I had ordered an extra 30# bag of dog food just to be safe, and it came today, one week after ordered.  Delivery is usually the day after the order is placed, which shows how many people are thinking of their pets and preparing for the worst.  I sure don't want to run out of food for Rocky, although he is a little overweight!   Of course he goes ballistic when he sees the "Chewy" box and knows it is for him and him alone!

I'm so anxious to get my tomato plants into the ground - it's warm enough in the daytime but still gets down into the 40's at night.  I would hate to lose them to the cold after nurturing them for all this time.  I have my eye on April 1, but may have to do something with the taller plants before then.  I ought to get an outdoor thermometer that I can stick into the ground so I will be sure what the overnight temps are.

I hope everyone has a pleasant day.  When the sun is shining and the air is warming up, it's hard to realize the disaster that is going on all around us.  I wish we had decent leadership to get us through this, and there are some good leaders scattered across the country, but I'm afraid the worst is yet to come.  Most of us could see this coming, which is a bitter pill to swallow.