Bruised from a Vax

My shoulder is still sore from the Prevnar vaccine my doc administered to me on Wednesday. Today, I realized that there's actually a discoloration, an actual bruise. Welp, that's never happened before! Prevnar is supposed to prevent pneumonia. I've had walking pneumonia once. It was not pleasant to feel like you're drowning in your own secretions. We discussed the shingles vaccine and my hesitancy with the two-shot protocol. It is the one vaccine shown to prolong life and prevent dementia. Maybe my sciatic flare-up right after the first shot was a coincidence?

One shot reduces the shingles risk by 65%. Two shots has an effective rate of 95%. But the second shot has to be given within 2 weeks and it's been at least 2 years. So I'd have to do 2 shots. And there's no guarantee it won't make my sciatica worse because it's a nerve inflammation. Shingles aka herpes zoster aka chicken pox virus lives in nerve cells. I've had shingles three times, and each time it was more painful with less to show (almost non-existent rash). 

My sciatica is noticeably and progressively worse these days. My doc sympathized with me not wanting to subject myself to surgery and suggested acupuncture. She even had a named provider the next town south. There's also the chiropractor. I might start with him and still make an appointment with the acupuncturist. The doc tells me that now health insurance covers those visits. Cool. The one good thing I got from my semi-annual exam is that my BP is 114/72 so we are all happy about that. 

The doc took blood and urine, and ran a new lipid test for a genetic LDL issue. I doubt I have that but since my cholesterol shot up 40 points in a year, it doesn't hurt to check. I'm hoping that filtering my coffee, quitting half & half, most hard cheeses (still want parmesan in my pasta), eating lots of fiber and taking red ginseng will have helped. Only the tests will tell me if the efforts have been worth it. 

I got to the gym late and there was hardly anyone there. Because it's Friday, and mostly nice out. The HS kids still wander in later as the skies darken and threaten rain. I got to use the elliptical machine, starting off slow but eventually building up momentum. Pedaling this machine does not seem to aggravate my sciatica. Pull-ups are good for the first dozen, and then the pain creeps down my right leg. But it was better today than on Tuesday. The step machine did not feel good at all so I kept it at the slower pace. My big toe started to throb a lot, a noticeable progression in my sciatica. 

The Aerobics Room was pleasantly chilled  and I made it through my routine, although I skipped the Bird Dog planks because they make my foot go numb. The only other movement that causes me a lot of pain lately are the Dead Bugs: right side ache and the foot goes numb. I've considered skipping them until my sciatica is better, but then what would I do for core? I've already given up crunches and sit-ups. 

Tomorrow we drive to Long Island to check out the house where my kid will have a room for the summer duration of the unpaid internship. It doesn't help at all that someone I know from the Dog Park started telling me what a horrible place the town is where the house is located. Never mind that this person is basing that on living there while in college 50 years ago. I tend not to put a lot of stock in this person's opinions based on their bigoted, sexist, racist commentary and them being an exceptionally poor judge of character. (Joe Mancin? Seriously?) But their dog is sweet and gets along well with my dogs, so... we all make allowances for our pets and kids, right? 

29 May 2026 1:42-3:18

Sciatica Friday

Painful

Precor elliptical #1 (2:19)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5232)

Distance: 2.73

Cal: 297

Precor HR: 144, 212

Fitbit: 40-141

HGPU 17

(Sciatica makes this really painful.

Right big toe throbbin.)

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:30-2:45)

Manual timer 13 + 2:35

Speed 3 (38-36) / 2 (24) / 1 (20)

Steps 542

Floors 33

Cal: 86

Hr 118

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

  Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

  Skip Standing Cross Body Knee Elbow

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Remission Over

LF Recumbent Bike

Out of the blue, on a day I had things to do other than go to the gym, my sciatica awoke and kicked me in the butt, clenched my calf and sent an angry message down my foot to the first metatarsal (big toe). I'm back to gulping several ibuprofen tablets each morning and again at night. I haven't been to the gym since last week. I managed to go today, after the long holiday weekend where it mostly rained. Also over the weekend, my dogs participated in a terrible game of pass the not-quite-dead juvenile squirrel that another dog had somehow caught at the dog park. 

We managed to get the dogs secured and scooped the injured critter into an unused dog bowl while we frantically called every animal rescue and rehab we knew. We did make contact with the wildlife division of the DEC who connected us to the answering machine of a local rescue, but ultimately said that "Maybe let nature take its course." The squirrel expired. The woman whose dog caught the squirrel first was so upset she might not come back to the park for a while. We did try to help it. Juveniles get squished by cars all the time. Or eaten by foxes, coyotes, bobcats, bears, hawks, feral cats. We have them all. 

It's that season where miniature versions of woodland creatures wander into the road to play in traffic. I encountered a suicide squirrel on my way to the gym today but I hit my brake in time to allow it to run directly in front of me for several yards before it wisely decided to make a sharp jag into the woods. The pickup behind me probably thought I'd lost my mind, unless they had witnessed a tiny creature darting off the passenger side. Unlikely though. But this is the season that if the car in front of you suddenly hits their brakes, there's a good chance there's a juvenile in the road. It could be goslings or a cygnet. Or a family of possums or raccoons. 

I got to the gym late and my sciatica made me limp. The elliptical machines were all occupied, as I knew they would be--I didn't bother waiting for them. Instead, I did an easy 15 minutes on the step machine (dropped the speed from 5 down to 3), wrestled with a few pull-ups (but damn that right leg really hurt doing it), and then settled into a lazy recumbent bike for another 15 minutes. I did not work up a sweat, but my cheeks flushed from the effort. Later, when I checked my FitBit, it registered a high of 122 bpm, hardly considered an exercise-worthy rate of respiration. 

The gym was instructing a new cleaning girl when I entered. By the time I got to the Aerobics Room, she was in there with her vacuum cleaner. I managed to push my mat out of her way with all my gear on it like it was a pool raft. Got everything done but skipped the Bird Dog planks because those always seem to make sciatica worse and there's no reason to aggravate an already inflamed injury. I do not feel better having gone to the gym. I just figured I needed to stay active to keep from descending into a complete slug. 

Common Milkweed

Meanwhile, my college kid has an internship that starts in a few weeks, in a place where they know no one. It will be quite challenging for them, but at least I think I've secured a reasonable place for them to live for the summer, not too far from the company. It's not walking distance, but doable by public transportation or taxi. Kids are different from when I was their age. 

Sundews

I remember going out to California or Florida with a duffle bag, some savings and a bus or plane ticket. I would know one person and maybe they would put me up, but mostly not so I'd find a summer sublet and a job. And made it back to the East Coast in time to start the Fall college term. My parents weren't involved because I didn't want them to be. In hindsight, terrible things could have happened to me, but they didn't. Now, I worry about my kid, wanting them to be independent, but worried about terrible things that might happen. 

Meanwhile, I've put half my venus flytraps outside with my fingers crossed that marauding woodland creatures will not be grazing on them. I've kept the other 3 pots inside under a grow light, along with some sun dews (also about to flower again) and my kid's nepenthes (pitcher plant) which seems happy enough to form new pitchers at the end of its leaves. Something has already taken bites out of the milkweeds popping up all over my yard. It's been so hot that the milkweeds are budding before they're barely 2 feet tall. Normally they don't flower for another 2 feet of height. We got some weird weather coming this summer.  

Nepenthes

26 May 2026 1:56-3:05

Tuesday post 3-day holiday

Sciatic flare up w toe & calf & glute

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:00-2:15)

Manual timer 13 + 2:35

Speed 3 (38-36) / 2 (24) / 1 (20)

Steps 542

Floors 33

Cal: 86

Hr 119

HGPU 15 (right leg!)

LF Recumbent Bike

Manual 15 min + 3 cool down (18 min)

Level 1

Distance 1.36

Calories 67

HR n/a

FitBit Hr: 44-122

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

   Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Standing Cross Body Knee to Elbow 12 each side

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

MidWeek and It's Still Too Hot

Temps peaked in the 90s yesterday. It was too hot. Even my dogs thought so. Today hit mid 80s so a tad better. I made it to the gym late. The gym wasn't too crowded but it was kind of warm. I actually made it to 2.8 on the Precor and I was shocked as I hadn't done any cardio since Saturday. So it's been 4 days. Apparently 4 days is good for me. I didn't quite make 19 reps on the pull-ups, but much better than Saturday when 15 reps felt weak. Also climbed some steps on the stair machine. 

The Aerobics Room was moderately cool, but not frigid. After doing Dead Bugs, Bird Dog planks, push-ups and air squats, I was actually beading up unpleasantly moist. And since I'm still not getting enough sleep, I lost focus doing boring repetitive things. Like counting reps. I can't actually tell you how many push-ups I did today. It was more than 20. I just don't know how many more than 20. 

Well, at least my car doesn't squeak anymore. I took it to the dealership service station even though the labor costs might be cheaper at a local repair shop. My car is old and rusty, and past experience says shops will have to order parts from the dealership anyway, and they won't be able to give you a loaner vehicle should there be something seriously wrong. Also, while some shops will save you money with an after-market fix, other shops will insist on taking everything apart to do the repair "by the book" just to be safe. I know plumbers like that too. 

I had a rear axle bracket break. It prevents fluids from leaking out. The rear axle is horribly corroded and the service rep looked apologetic. The mechanice then simply said he could use an after-market bracked and install it without having to dissemble the entire assembly. Whew! But I also needed rear brakes. And while I was there, I had them rotate the tires cuz my local oil change shops aren't equipped to provide that service anymore. 

The only thing I declined was the engine filter. It really didn't look that dirty. And I don't think it's the reason the car stutters at low speeds. I'm sure that's a more expensive issue that I'm not ready to address just yet. Especially since I had to have the pump in our septic system replaced last week. Everything costs double what it should and no one is happy.  

Meanwhile, my blighted rhododendrons have bloomed weeks past everyone else's. At least I have a few beautiful flowers. And the milkweeds have started to put on height so I'ml be less worried about them getting mowed or trampled. 

I wrote some product reviews for dog stuff I ordered from Chewy and the company was nice enough to refund my money on the one item that my dogs hate and refuse to eat. It's been opened so I can't return it, but they asked me to donate it. If anyone can use a container of PetLab ProBright to help with canine tartar, contact me and you can have it gratis. Chewy has the nicest customer service and reminds me of LL Bean, which also has stellar policies. I'm glad some companies still value customer loyalty. 

I stumbled across a YouTube post about AI agents left to their own devices for two weeks with some minor parameters. It was quite surprising and entertaining, and a little disconcerting. Especially Grok. The agents are definitely the children of their creators. Click here for the link. (The option to embed wasn't available.) 

 

20 May 2026 1:22-3:02

Heatwave Wednesday

Cooler Storm Coming!

Precor elliptical #1 (2:00)

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5466)

Distance: 2.80

Cal: 308

Precor HR: 144, 190-95

Fitbit: 45-147

HGPU 18.5

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:15-2:30)

Manual timer 13 + 2:35

Speed 5 (50-45) / 2 (21) / 1 (29)

Steps 698

Floors 43

Cal: 105

Hr 149

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (losing focus)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 40 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25 or 27?

Air Squats 25

Standing Cross Body Knee to Elbow 12 each side

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Sleep Deprivation Hangover

I had a wonderful time at the Ridgefield Playhouse where the reggae band The Wailers exhorted the audience to stand up and dance along. There were several familiar songs like One Love, I Shot the Sheriff, and Burnin... But we got back late and then I had to walk the dogs (again) before settling down to wait for my kid to return from college with a friend who drove up to help with the packing and transport. They had gotten a late start with an over-packed vehicle that interfered with backing out of the parking lot, and there was a fender bender and insurance info exchanged and an accident report... 

My kid got back well past 2 AM Friday morning and I still haven't recovered from the sleep deprivation. I had just fallen asleep at 1:35 but the dog started barking at 2:15 and didn't stop until the car had been fully unpacked and its driver went home. Meanwhile, my kid was up when I took the dogs to the park at 8:45 but asleep by 11 AM. It's two days later, Saturday, and I'm still not feeling quite right. Skipped the gym Friday because sleep deprivation gives me mild vertigo and a vague sense of unease, like I might be dreaming but I'm not entirely certain. It's very disconcerting. 

Felt okay at the dog park today, took pups to the dog boarding facility for their semi-annual bath, and then headed to the gym. The day started out chilly but quickly hit temps in the mid 70s. Next week promises ridiculously hot weather into the 90s. Craziness all around. The gym was quite empty and that meant I could pedal elliptical #1. Wind Breaker was not on #3. Instead there was a younger fellow I'd never seen before. (Wind Breaker showed up much later.) 

I'd already decided to do an abbreviated workout because at some point I'd have to retrieve the dogs from their grooming appointment, and the less time they have to wait, the less stressed out they'll be. So today was just bare basics: cardio, pull-up, and core stretches. Pull-ups were quite disappointing as my fingers felt swollen and my body heavy and dull. Glad I made it as far as I did! 

I skipped the step machine, pushing weights, and other non-essentials, like Bird Dog planks and Air Squats. My phone buzzed just as I got back to my car. The dogs were ready. Of course today, being a lovely sunny day, also had a local road closure, not due to road work but because there was a street fair. 

Street fairs mean detours. No problem. Except that some people don't understand the size of their own vehicles. Drove past a big silver SUV that had just smushed its own passenger side front fender into a smaller sedan. The driver was exiting his clearly-in-the-wrong vehicle as it was obviously making a left turn at the blocked off intersection. The vehicle it hit was most likely coming from the opposite direction and had completed a right turn. There's no excuse for the big silver SUV. Except maybe stupidity and inattention.  

On a cheerier note, I discovered some lovely new teas at the grocery. The local Stop & Shop, known to be overpriced and never quite the best quality produce or meats, sometimes surprises shoppers with a brand or flavor not available at other shops. Like these British teas from Taylors. 

The rose lemonade is really nice with a distinctive rose fragrance and flavor. The mandarin & ginger is equally flavorful. Both are enhanced with a teaspoon of raw honey. Highly recommend if you're looking for a different herbal tea that's not a traditional mint or a sour zing of hibiscus. (The only hibiscus tea I like is Black Cherry Berry by Celestial Seasoning. With a dollop of honey, of course.)

16 May 2026 12:43-1:50

Sunny Saturday Abbrev / Dog Baths

Temps forecast to hit 80°F?!

Precor elliptical #1 (1:20)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5422)

Distance: 2.79

Cal: 306

Precor HR: 163, 212

Fitbit: 43-141

HGPU 15 (sore fingers/feel very heavy)

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 40 x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Standing Cross Body Knee to Elbow 12 each side

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Is It the Humidity?

I finally made it to the gym this week. Unfortunately, the weather can't make up its mind as to whether it's sunny and hot or cold and rainy. It's both in quick succession, repeatedly. I got in early enough to snag the elliptical and pedal program #2. The gym was hot and humid and I felt as if I wouldn't be able to pedal with much vigor. I did almost make it to 2.8 though so I must've done better than it felt. Cuz it felt bad. Perhaps the high humidity made me feel as if I was drowning a little. 

My hands hurt as well. Maybe too much sodium in yesterday's meals? Which meant a reasonable set of pull-ups but not what I would consider great. And once up on the Step Mill, I found my lower lip going numb as well as parts of my calves. Immediately, I thought that I'm drowning in the humidity and not getting enough O2. By minute 9, I drop from level 5 to 4 to slow the machine down slightly. It's not that I needed to catch my breath, but I was certainly worried about other parts of me going numb and would that lead to fainting? Not cool.

Allium

I look over at the free weight area and there are a few kids there, but I am not feeling super enthusiastic about pushing around DBs and BBs. So, I skip that and head into the Aerobics Room. It's cooler than the rest of the gym, but not by much. My routine is very routine except that my sciatica doesn't bother me during Dead Bugs and just a vague tingle with Bird Dog planks. I can knock out push-ups and air squats with ease. The hamstring stretches and following "nerve floss" movement is still very unpleasant but I do them anyway. After all, my sciatica is mostly in remission now and that's a good thing. I'm not complaining!

Spanish bluebell

Everything is very green from all the rain. Pale pink Spanish bluebells have sprung up at the dog park again. It's only one clump that reappears in the same spot each year. I planted some alliums behind my house and they have flowered, surviving the near frost-freeze nights. Meanwhile, the sea of yellow dandelions have magically become white fluffy "poofy heads" (yes, that's what my kid used to call them) amid the purple carpet bugle, ground-ivy, herb robert (that's what it got identified as) and wild common violets. There's a lot of purple blue flowers right now. I just wish my nose didn't run as soon as I step outside. But the fragrance of lilacs is still in the air, so I don't mind all that much. 

13 May 2026 12:58-2:38

Cold Gray Wednesday

Rain? Sun? High humidity? 55%

Precor elliptical #1 

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5418)

Distance: 2.79

Cal: 307

Precor HR: 153, 196

Fitbit: 46-141

HGPU 18 (sore hands)

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:50-2:05)

Manual timer 13 + 2:35

Speed 5 (50-45); drop to 4 after 9 min (40)/ 2 (21) / 1 (29) numb lower lip / calves

Steps 666

Floors 41

Cal: 101

Hr 135

20 Piriformis/Hip flex 

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (vaguely tingly foot)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Standing Cross Body Knee to Elbow

12 each side

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

First Bite of the Season

I was in my yard for the past few days, and as I was tying hot pink surveyor ribbons to the milkweed seedlings popping up all over the yard, everywhere except where their parent plants were established, I got my first bug bite of the season. Initially, it looked like a weird bubble, a blister or pearl under the skin. Then as time passed, it grew larger, more diffuse, bright and hot and itched like crazy. Several smears of hydrocortisone cream later, the itch lessened and the bump reabsorbed into my hand. Itchy hands can be aggravated by gym gloves so I'm glad the bite is gone today. 

It's the Friday before a pseudo holiday, Mother's Day and I was worried that the gym would be crowded, but it's more likely to be full on the day after a holiday. So Monday will probably be miserable. I hadn't any plans for this weekend except to cook and eat things that I like since the kid has finals until next week, and the spouse has been away at a job site for the past several weeks. I might still do that but I've been invited to re-watch a movie, The Devil Wears Prada in preparation for the sequel which opens this weekend. The movie I really want to watch is, of course, Sheep Detectives. But this weekend is not the weekend to go to the cinema cuz it'll be full of families and kids and I'd rather not deal with all that chaos. 

The gym isn't very crowded and I'm able to clamber onto elliptical #1. At first I'm really cold because weather-wise, it's cold and rainy. (The dogs were happy with the colder temps while we were at the park.) But after 10 minutes of pedaling, I can't wait to strip off the hoodie. I almost made it to 2.8 as well. I don't quite hit 20 reps at pull-ups but better than last session. I got on the Stair Master and tapped in 13 minutes at level 5. Normally the console reads between 48-45 steps per minute, but today it popped up to 52 and mostly stayed at 50. So, today I climbed more steps. 

The free weight area was mostly empty so I decided to do the same routine I had done on Tuesday. The exact same routine. Today, the right shoulder twinged during the first set of triceps as did the left elbow. But like magic, those pains disappeared for the remaining 3 sets. Articles about fitness now proclaim exercise variety to be a key ingredient to human health. All I can say is, Well duh. 

The Aerobics Room again feels warmer than expected. There was a Senior class in there earlier. I do the same routine, noting that my sciatica has been very quiet these past several days. My foot tingles briefly during Dead Bugs and Bird Dog planks. I'm leery of adding new movements because experience has shown me the error of pushing my limits. Suffering for months with sciatic pain is too great a price for a mild spinal over extension. Today, I added one gentle new movement: standing, bring a bent knee up across the body to tap the bent elbow of the opposite arm. I see most people do this laying down but I want to minimize potential issues with the dormant sciatica. So far, doing a dozen today felt okay. Keeping my fingers crossed that there are no repercussions. 

 

8 May 2026 1:07-3:17

Cold Gray Friday

Rain? Sun? Both?

Precor elliptical #1 (1:44)

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5446)

Distance: 2.79

Cal: 307

Precor HR: 152, 184-75

Fitbit: 43-138

HGPU 19.5

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:55-2:10)

Manual timer 13 + 2:35

Speed 5 (52-45) / 2 (36-33) / 1 (29)

Steps 687

Floors 42

Cal: 104

Hr 167

Skull Crushers/RipSkulls (2:17-2:47)

30 lbs x 24 reps x 4

S/s with

DB Laterals w/u 10 lbs x 15 reps

15 x 15 x 3

S/s wit

DB Alt Curls w/u 10 lbs x 12 ea

15 x 12 x 3

20 Piriformis/Hip flex 

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (mild tingly foot)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (mild tingling)

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Standing Cross Body Knee to Elbow

12 each side

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

A Blistering Hot May Day

It seems appropriate that today is blisteringly hot since it is Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Mexican independence from French domination. It was definitely cold last week, and the temps will cool down as the days pass. Yesterday was pleasant enough for me to dig out my electric weed wacker to pulverize all the wild garlic mustard and other weeds along my driveway. I also started a plan to trim those problematic driveway hedges, but that will take more than one day, and since my driveway dips but I'd like the hedges to look straight, some fluorescent pink surveyor tape to draw a line across the privets. This to guide my snippers since it's difficult to determine a horizon line if the ground keeps changing elevation. 

It would be easier if I stood in my neighbor's parking area since their ground is higher and actually level. Ugh. But I really hate the woman who lives there so we don't speak. I think she is a terrible person for adopting cats and then turning them loose to abbreviated lives as ferals without medical care. One died of a huge tumor in my basement. The other had kittens in my woodpile but the animal shelter wouldn't accept them and told me to leave them for mama cat. I'm sure that they didn't survive even after mama moved them. We have owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears... 

She has done this reckless release of cats several times but not lately. Still, there were at least 4-5 cats that started off in her house (I could see them in the window as I walked by with my dogs) and the next thing you know they're in my yard and she's banging a tin of cat food. And of course, No Habla Anglais. If she accidentally gets our mail, she tosses it on the ground. Someone comes by in the morning to pick her up for either shopping or work. She doesn't own the house as it's a rental. The fellow who used to share that space was very nice and hard working, but he died suddenly while sitting in his truck. He has not been replaced with a permanent new tenant. 

My forearms are a bit sore today from hacking back the wild roses that threaten to take over portions of my yard. We've had a lot of rain, the lakes and reservoirs all look very full so it's puzzling to get persistent warnings of an outdoor fire ban. Everything is wet. What exactly is catching fire? The lilac bush across the road wafts a fragrant perfume down my driveway. I see small milkweed plants popping up in an area of lawn that didn't have milkweeds before. But the area previously populated is barren of such seedlings. However, dandelions and carpet bugleweed keep the yard humming and buzzing. I can hear a catbird in the trees. 

Today, there are a lot of cars in the parking lot so I'm really surprised that the gym is mostly empty. People must be at the Mexican restaurant next door! I claim elliptical #1 and pedal program 3. Wind Breaker is already on machine #3, and the Inverted J fellow shows up after I've ascended the Stair Master. Pull-ups weren't quite as good as last week, and I blame my sore forearms and yard work. I notice a middle-aged guy standing next to the cable machine. He always looks lost, like he's hoping someone knowledgeable will rescue him, but it's not the first time he's been to the gym. 

It's much too hot today to do anything outside. The dogs went to the park, socialized a bit and mostly waited for squirrels in the trees. My pups are happiest when temps are in the high 30s to low 40s. I worry a bit about one of the dogs as he seems to be panting a lot, except when he's sleeping. Is this a sign of a heart or lung problem? They go for their annual exams in June but truly, they are so stressed that their hearts are racing and I don't know that a heart or lung defect can be detected. 

I cannot get my dogs to like the PetLab dog dental powder made from special seaweed and other exotic items, so the jar is mostly unused. It's a lot of powder that needs a better delivery system. Putting it on their food just means they won't eat their food. Wrapping it inside soft white bread and making a giant pill out of it can work, but honestly, that's a lot of work and I'd rather not be stuffing things down their throats every day. It's bad enough I have to do that with the monthly Simparico Trio (cuz it's not really a tasty chewable like HeartGuard). 

However, I can get the bigger dog, the one with the worst dental tartar, to eat a "snacky" dental chew from ProDen PlaqueOff. It purportedly contains the same magic seaweed to assist in minimizing dental plaque build up. Between that, the edible doggie toothgel after dinner, and the DentaLife chicken sticks after lunch, I'm hoping to see an improvement in their oral hygiene. 

Back at the gym, I also do 15 minutes on the step machine, and because I'm already "primed" I'm drenched when I step off. The free weight area was empty and that's always a temptation. I opted to do the Tricept BB routine with added DBs for shoulders and biceps. Not planning to be back at the gym until Friday so this should be okay. 

The gym starts to fill with kids and I'm ready to step into the Aerobics Room. Disappointed that it's not ice cold. Nope. Feels a bit like a greenhouse. Everything is routine, except for push-ups. I can't keep track of how many reps so I have to guess. Air Squats go better as I count aloud. Sometimes you need the sound of your physical voice in order to register the count. I'm sure not getting enough sleep is a large part of the problem... 

Inside the locker room, someone has left a backpack on the counter. I glance at it as I'm drying my hair after showering. It says Hogwarts. Oh my! I know there's a remake of the Harry Potter series that will be truer to the books. My kid and I read all the books. My kid's last day of final exams is next week, sooner than expected. I guess I should start planning where we will be stopping on the long drive to and from Buffalo.  

5 May 2026 12:51-3:12

Blazing Cinco de Mayo Tuesday

Heatwave post yard work

Precor elliptical #1 (1:29)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5282)

Distance: 2.74

Cal: 299

Precor HR: 151, 188 max

Fitbit: 51-135

HGPU 18

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:43-1:58)

Manual timer 13 + 2:32

Speed 5 (49-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 661

Floors 41

Cal: 100

Hr 152

Skull Crushers/RipSkulls (2:04-2:35)

30 lbs x 24 reps x 4

S/s with

DB Laterals w/u 10 lbs x 15 reps

15 x 15 x 3

S/s with

DB Alt Curls w/u 10 lbs x 12 ea

15 x 12 x 3

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (steamy!)

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (mild tingly foot)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (mild tingling)

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25? completely lost count!

Air Squats 25

Supine lower bent knee twist 10

Neck Stretch / eye yoga