A Productive Morning

I was quite pleased to wake up and find it was a wonderfully cool 60F. Pups went to the park and were bored that no one else was there to play with. I snapped a few pix with my phone. The built-in identification system has advanced significantly! Instead of just telling me my pictures were of dogs (well, duh), it suggested I look up Korean Jindo Dog all by itself. Conveniently, it shows several similar photos it found online and links to more information. 

In the past I have found the ID function very useful in identifying plants and bugs, but less so with mushrooms and other fungus. Now it's giving stand-alone ID apps a run for the money! The only app that has managed to maintain it's usefulness has been Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdNET which allows you record a bird song and have the app analyze it for identification. It's not always 100% accurate but will state whether it's certain or just taking a wild guess.

Dozens of Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies, and other smaller species continue to flitter through the milkweed grove in my yard. My butterfly garden, although mostly single-species (not for lack of trying to diversify with other butterfly favorites), smells wonderful and is host to myriad bumblebees and other fluttering creatures like the Silver Spotted Skipper and the Folded Wing Skipper. I'm thrilled. 

Because it was pleasantly cool and not raining, I spent the morning cleaning out my car. Wiping down grimy surfaces, removing and shaking the dirt and fur from the dog hammock in the back seat, and finally, using a car plug-in vacuum I bought myself last Christmas. Actually, I put the dogs' names on the "from label tag," and as in the case of most wee tots, mom paid for her own gift. The vacuum is made of cheap hard plastic so I wasn't sure it would have enough suction. The attachments were useless but the naked hose itself inhaled all the gravel, dirt, crumbled leaves and other yard debris that had accumulated inside the foot wells. Yaaay me.

This all means that I didn't get to the gym until nearly 1 pm. I was expecting the place to be emptier, but there's a guy (I'll call him Wind Breaker) who is usually on one of the ellipticals when I arrive, no matter what time. He pedals for at least an hour and I don't know that he does anything else. I'm feeling more tired than yesterday so I'm worried that cardio is going to suck. It's actually a skosh better, but just a skosh. I'll take it!

I skip pull-ups since I did them yesterday. I do my full routine for DB Shoulders. The DB area is packed with teenagers. And the UnHappy Couple. Then, suddenly, the area is empty. Except for me, dutifully grinding out my reps and sets. Sweat is dripping off my face onto the hoodie I have draped over the inclined bench. But I've mostly cooled off by the time I enter the Aerobics Room. There's a guy doing a weird balancing motion with a jump rope. But he leaves as soon as I plop a mat down on the floor. I skip push-ups and wall sits. Because not only am I tired, I'm also running late and still have a few errands to attend to after I leave the gym... 

BTW, have you seen the new DeadPool & Wolverine trailer? I'm captivated by those arms, especially the delts. I wish I had delts! I guess they could be CG. How hard does Hugh Jackman have to prepare to play that role? Alas, much like my forearms, I don't think nice round delts are in my genetics. I do have tri's and bi's and somethings better than nothing, right?

28 June 2024 1:03-2:35

Temperate Friday'

Precor elliptical #2

Program 3

Time: 30+5 (5676)

Distance: 2.87

Cal: 320

Avg Hr: 156, 197-84

Fitbit: 53-138

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25, 25, 28 (3 sets)

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Fighting Inertia

The mix of heat, high winds and heavy rains, plus a disrupted sleep schedule is taking a toll on my exercise enthusiasm. I had planned to hit the gym yesterday but I easily acquiesced to my kid's request to buy elastic ribbon from a craft store two towns over. Temps peaked in the mid 90s and we, including pups, were more than happy to stay inside the rest of the day and not exert ourselves too much. 

Heavy rains last night once again pummeled the milkweeds. Those not already supported by tomato cages and peony fences have flopped over. Their thick stems are rigid and the blooms make them top-heavy. This morning I gently pull fallen stems upright and rest them upright against sturdier specimens. The bees are already busy but the fritillaries tend to come later in the day as the sun lays low in the sky.

I get to the gym late today and two out of four elliptical machines are already occupied. I'm concerned that taking yesterday off has slowed my body's adaptation to the timolol. I feel like I'm dragging a bit. Later I check my stats against Tuesday's and see that I'm actually doing better. Whew! My heart rate is still too low but better than it was. When I say it's too low, I mean it should be closer to 135-40. At this lower rate, the FitBit doesn't really register the exercise properly and thinks I'm on a fast walk. Uh, nope. I also don't like the fact that I'm tired so quickly after a dozen pull-ups but I don't know how to fix that. Adding Seated Cable Rows for strength should be helping, but it's not. Maybe it's making it worse?

There's no Senior Class today and I'm taking my time. At the cable row station, Mr and Ms UnHappy are back, with him doing some muscle-ups, and her looking sullen while climbing up on a platform to reach the pull-up handles. The Cable Rows go well and I feel pretty good for combo Skull Crusher/Rip Skulls. This area is now awash in teenage boys and I have to pause between reps as they pass perilously close to my bench. After my three super sets, I look up and most of the boys have moved on to the machines.

The Aerobics Room isn't as cold as I'd like. There are other people in it as well, and the pile of mats is a total mess, as if a dozen people just threw them into a vaguely designated corner. All the exercises are routine, even the Wall Sit. I'm tired and hungry when I leave the gym, but I do feel so much better: calmer, and more clear-headed.

My husband is apparently done with his night shift at JFK for now and he's home next week because it's a short week, with the July 4th holiday spanning both Thursday and Friday into the weekend. I'm instantly apprehensive. Is he
going to remain sober, or do I have to brace myself for wishing I was anywhere but in my own house when he goes on a drunken rant and stumbles through the house like an angry toddler having a temper tantrum. Or maybe he'll remain sober, and I'll be cautiously pleased. My anxiety levels are already rising. 

And for no reason, here's a quick video of my dog's toes twitching in his sleep... 

 

27 June 2024 12:23-2:07

Thursday & disrupted sleep

Precor elliptical #3 (12:58)

Program 2

Time: 30+5 (5636)

Distance: 2.86

Cal: 318

Avg Hr: 151, 205-76

Fitbit: 52-126 (?!)

HGPU 13+ 2/2s

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15 (1:27)

BB Rip / Skulls Crusher combo 30 lbs

(Each set = 24 reps)

12/12 reps x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 20 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150 sec (2:07)

Summer Just Started and I'm Done

Great spangled fritillary
on milkweed flowers

A wild storm came through the area over the weekend. While our only casualties were the bloom-heavy milkweeds, bent over by heavy rain and accompanying winds with sporadic thunder, other locales suffered downed trees, road closures, broken power lines and a few sightings of something resembling twisters. Pleasantly, the temperature dropped down to a cool 66F while I navigated bees on a mission. Tomato cages and peony holders helped to support large fragrant flowers. I can smell them from the driveway and it's one of the best things about summer. Because, in general, I hate the heat and the bugs. But I love the way all the flowers smell.

Milkweeds smell lighter and more powdery when compared to the luscious scent of honeysuckles still draped over the driveway hedges. Very distinctive from the lilacs of early spring. And the No monarch butterflies though. A lot of white "cabbage" sulfurs and great spangled fritillaries visit the pale lavender and pink flowers. I stepped out just now and spied 3 fritillaries flitting and sipping between the bees. But they don't lay their eggs on anything except violets. I'm not sure I have any wild violets left because the lawn guy tends to mow and weed wack almost everything, except the thicket of mugwort that I'd like him to whack.

My sleep is fractured because the husband is working nights at JFK airport this week (and still managing a Boston project during the day from home), commuting to and from the Queens NY airport during the wee hours. He got into bed at 4:30 AM but woke up at 8 for a Zoom meeting with clients. (I'm a light sleeper so I wake up for everything.) At least he's been sober for the past few days -- a huge relief. At least until the weekend when he'll boomerang and drink himself into an insufferable frenzy. 

I stayed up too late one night but had an interesting conversation with my kid who explained to me the nuances of his favorite online game, something called Darkest Dungeon. I feel bad that he isn't able to share this interest with any of his friends (they like other games he finds boring). At least he has D&D friends, although, as he pointedly noted, that's a board game. My kid also makes wry observations that surprise and amuse me, likening a friend couple to an angler fish. I'll embed the YouTube video and you can draw your own conclusions. 

Today is unpleasantly hotter than yesterday. Tomorrow will be worse, with the threat of another wicked storm that might bring hail as well. Ugh. There's no protecting the milkweeds from that. There are few cars in the parking lot and I'm surprised because it's also $5 Tuesday at the cinema next door. The gym is empty but this is the last week of school and mostly half day. The kids start trickling in later. 

I'm having a hard time doing cardio, as if 3 days away has negated my adaptation to the beta blocker effects of the newest eye drops. I'm still struggling with pull-ups as well. But the Seated Cable Rows go surprisingly well. No lower back stress or fatigue. Shocking. Wall Sits at the end of the core routine in the Aerobics Room are also okay. I'm sure everything will be better tomorrow even though I'll be absolutely miserable anywhere except in front of the air conditioner.

25 June 2024 11:59-1:40

Hotter Tuesday & disrupted sleep

Precor elliptical #1

Program 1

Time: 30+5 (5566)

Distance: 2.82

Cal: 313

Avg Hr: 152, 188-80

Fitbit: 51-120

HGPU 13+ 2/2s

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 20 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 120 sec (1:36-1:39)

Still Too Hot

Well, I got to the gym late but at least I got there. One of the towns has been sending kids home from school early because none of their buildings have a/c. I remember wilting at my desk in late June, waiting for school to be over and the open windows offering no respite from the heat. That was over 50 years ago in the Bronx, and unfortunately, some scenarios remain the same. (I believe my town has installed a/c in all their buildings, although not in every classroom.) 

I have to drop off some samples at the vet before going to the gym. There was a concern that one of the pups had contracted a different tick-borne disease in spite of being on the monthly Simparica Trio. Luckily, there was enough blood drawn to send some for further tests and the results are negative. Whew! He has dropped half a pound, probably because he doesn't like to eat when it's hot. And it's been hot. These pups relish the winter temps. Can't even imagine living in a place hotter and more humid than it is now!

The parking lot is crowded but the gym doesn't seem to be. I'm able to get on elliptical #2 and I'm very surprised that my cardio mileage is as good as it is. I seem to have adapted to the new eye drops since the HR is both higher and lower. The drops still make my eyes incredibly sensitive to all my other eye meds so I've decided to change the order I administer them. Instead of applying the Timoptic first, which then makes the rim of my eyelids burn when I use the brinzolomide (generic Azopt), I switch the order. 

This way I can at least "enjoy" one set of drops before my eyes start complaining. The brinzolomide is a white suspension, akin to using White Out. Kidding. But not really. Pilocarpine is still last because it always feels like I've squirted myself in the eye with grapefruit juice. It physically causes the pupil to contract and restrict light. Wide open irises tend to show increased pressures, so night time IOPs tend to be higher.

Pull-ups are serviceable. I manage to squeeze myself onto one of the Inclined Breaker benches in the DB area. There are a lot of HS kids there already since school let out at 10:30 this morning. My face is bright red and sweat is literally dripping off the tip of my nose. I do get all my sets done though. Yaaaay me. The teenage boys spend most of their time on their phones and very little actual effort pushing weights. They've already moved on to another station by the time I'm done. 

I'm in the Aerobics Room  but not alone. Men I've never seen before are there, each one stretching and doing planks by themselves. It's mid-afternoon by the time I leave to do a quick bit of grocery shopping. I'm already stressed by the news that my husband has been told to commute to JFK airport for all of next week. So, he'll be home instead of being in Boston, and driving each day. 

His personality becomes horrible once he starts drinking. Every conversation, no matter what it's about, devolves into him accusing me of being evil and unpleasant. I texted him about our kid's upcoming wisdom teeth surgery and I got a monologue that ended in him accusing me of turning him in to the fascist state. WTF?! So I muted him. Today he'll behave like nothing ever happened, that he's never texted or said nasty, bitter things.

I can ignore him when it's long rambling text messages. It's harder to ignore him when he's stumbling through the house and I wonder what he's going to break, or if he'll fall down the stairs again and break something other than his hand. Which he's still going to physical therapy for, and that injury occurred last November. Because he was drunk. He hides tiny liquor bottles in his cargo pants, lies to me when I ask him if he's been drinking, burns godawful incense when I tell him I can smell it on him. 

He thinks I can't tell when he slurs his words and his eyes get squinty. When he's loud and laughs weirdly. When he starts screaming "Kill him! Kill him!" and worse, at whatever he's streaming and starts pounding the desk and throwing things across the room. The dogs hide. I feel trapped in my own house, so I console myself by figuring out when I'm going to sell it and move far away. 

I won't even tell him. Just leave with the dogs, if they're still alive. Probably after my kid graduates and is settled with a job and his own life. Because I cannot see living the rest of my life with him, with this anxiety and stress. He doesn't think he has a problem so he's not interested in changing. And I'm not interested in growing old like that.

21 June 2024 12:28-2:20

Sweltering Friday 92+°

(Timoptic allergy symptoms)

Precor elliptical #2 (1:06)

Program 3

Time: 30+5 (5688)

Distance: 2.87

Cal: 320

Avg Hr: 153, 195-82

Fitbit: 53-134

HGPU 13+ 2/2s

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges (1:54)

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 20 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose!

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150 sec aka 2 min 30 sec

Not Even Summer Yet

My kid and I had to take the pups for their annual exams yesterday so they needed to be medicated the night before, and the morning of. Gabapentin alone for the smaller pup didn't really have any noticeable effects, but the combo of gaba and trazadone for the bigger dog proved to be more effective, and slightly amusing. I watched the dog wander through the living room with his head tilted as if he were tracking trails in the air, not that he'd ingested anything hallucinogenic. Still, he needed to be muzzled for his exam as a precaution, but at least it didn't require 3 techs to hold him down. 

It was hot and I had the a/c on in the car, but dogs would rather have open windows. Which causes a painful drumming in my eardrums (wobbling air pressure?) so I crack the driver side window to equalize the pressure, and this negates the a/c. But I don't need to do this ordeal again until next year. Pups survived and are fine. Although I think one of them gave me poison ivy because he likes to graze on wild grass along the roadside and there's a lot of the noxious weed everywhere that's green.

It's hotter today and I'm miserable, not only because it's hot but also because the full side effects of the Timoptic drops are becoming apparent. My eyes feel swollen and dry. The weals have reappeared between my eyes and the "bridge" of my nose. And I'm having a terrible time pedaling the elliptical today. According to the FitBit, my peak heart rate was 118. That's ridiculously low. The first quarter (7.5 minutes) of my cardio session felt like I was pedaling uphill underwater in corn syrup. This means I don't even make it to 2.8 today.

I'm barely able to muscle through a dozen hammer grip pull-ups and I'll count the last two as halves. Today is Juneteenth, a Federal Holiday that is only sporadically celebrated. Banks, schools, the stock market, and the post office are all closed. Which means the parking lot is crowded because everyone is at the local cinema next door. It's the best place to go when there's no school and it's really hot outside. The gym isn't too crowded at first but gradually fills up with kids. The Senior class is still on schedule.

After cardio and pull-ups, I decide to do triceps first and then back/biceps via rows, just to change things up a bit. Oddly, my triceps are already a little sore, maybe from wrestling with the dogs yesterday? Maybe because I'm thoroughly warmed up, the Seated Cable Rows go smoothly and without any issues or worries that I'm losing my strength. I enter the Aerobics Room and the Senior class instructor has just loaded all the chairs onto a dolly to cart out. Otherwise, there is no one in the room and I have it all to myself. I lose count during Dead Bugs so I don't know if I did 5 sets or 7. Ugh. However, Wall Squats weren't at all bad today, and I'm surprised.

Tomorrow I take my kid to the oral surgeon for a consult about those pesky wisdom teeth. It's still going to be blisteringly hot and it's not even technically summer yet. I think living in a hotter climate would really kill me. Maybe I'll make it to the gym tomorrow. Because a/c is a wonderful thing.

19 June 2024 11:12-1:17

Sweltering Wednesday Juneteenth

(Timoptic allergy symptoms)

Precor elliptical #1

Program 2

Time: 30+5 (5402)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 306

Avg Hr: 148, 189-73

Fitbit: 54-118 (!?)

HGPU 13+ 2/2s

BB Rip / Skulls Crusher combo 30 lbs

(Each set = 24 reps)

12/12 reps x 3 sets

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15

20 Hip Bridges (12:42)

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 20 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose!

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150 sec aka 2 min 30 sec (1:14-1:17)

One, Two and Still Waiting for Three...

Maybe the imminent heatwave is three? One was realizing late Thursday that we had no water. An inspection of the well tank in the basement revealed an alarmingly low level although the tank was whole. It's 25-years old, which is apparently way past its prime so it's due for replacement. I called my plumber but the answering message sounded strained and unwell. I called again Friday morning but no one ever called back. 

I got a referral from a dog park friend, and that plumbing service showed up within a few hours. But I'd already had to buy gallons of water just to flush the toilet Actually, I went to the dog park, which is closer than the store, to borrow a few empty gallon jugs out of the shed and fill them at the dog park spigot. But some of the ancient idiots who also frequent the dog park decided to tidy up the shed by crushing and tossing most of the empty containers. I found them in the trash can. Which meant they weren't going to be recycled either. Ugh. Luckily, the plumber figured out that the well pump controller had rusted out and could be replaced. But my tank also needs replacement, so that's in the works for next month. 

Two: one of my pups got injured at the dog park on Saturday. And before anyone sounds off about dog parks being dangerous places, this accident was due to an idiot human, not any canine playmate. Who the hell throws a stick into a pack of running dogs having a zoomie moment? Never mind that they felt bad afterward. The stick hit one of my dogs in the face, he cried and his eye swole shut. The perpetrator, still being an idiot, tried to apologize to the dog by grabbing his collar to inspect his face and pet him. Idiot. 

I don't know how many times I need to tell people you need to let a dog decide whether they want to deal with you. You can't force yourself on a dog and expect a positive reaction. Luckily, the pups were fine at home, ate their normal meals, and after several hours, the swelling went down. The fact that said doggo can leap up and snatch bits of pup cookies out of the air tells me his depth perception and vision are unimpaired. Meanwhile, both pups have their annual exams (with shots) tomorrow, requiring pre-medication with sedatives tonight and tomorrow before their visit. That's going to be fun. Not.

My grandmother used to say "Things Come in Threes." So I'm waiting for the 3rd thing. Maybe it's the heatwave. Maybe its the oral surgeon consultation in a few days for my kid with errant wisdom teeth growing at 45 degree angles. Or maybe it's the poison ivy I'm sure my dog gave me since he likes to root around in the weeds looking for tasty grass to nibble.

It's hot today and the heatwave hasn't arrived yet! I get to the gym later than I'd like. Two of the ellipticals are already occupied, but the other two machines have been fixed so I don't have any issue pedaling on #3. And because it's already scorching outside, the a/c is full blast today. I like that. This morning, I started the new prescription drug Timoptic, a name-brand version of the preservative-free timolol maleate. 

My glaucoma doc is firmly believes that the name brands are better quality than the questionably compounded generics, and maybe I'm not allergic to this better quality drug. The pharmacy didn't want to fill the Rx because to them it's the same drug. Except that it's technically a new prescription. Yes, details matter! So they had to fill it once I argued with them. Now I get to see if I'm really allergic or not. Meanwhile, I also get to re-experience all the side effects, like lowered heart rate. Is it going to impact my cardio workouts?

common milkweed

Today, cardio was hard, but not horrible. Pull-ups were okay but I've done better. Still, it wasn't as bad as it could've been. Waited for the Senior class to end by sitting down at Seated Cable Rows and doing that routine. I saw the scruffy chin half of the unhappy middle-aged couple from last week. I think she bailed on him. Kids continue to trickle in. A pair of tiny, scrawny HS girls chatter about wanting to use certain machines that are already occupied. They whine at each other and eventually leave. Good grief.

I'm glad I eventually got to lay down in the Aerobics Room with fans and a/c. My first few exercises work really well to loosen stiff hips, especially hip bridges. Glutes start off tight and sore but eventually relax. The rest focus on core and supporting muscles. Finally, Wall Squats are all quads, supposed to be good for lowering blood pressure (still not convinced it works well), but at least I made it the full 2 minutes 30 seconds this time.

gypsy moth larva

Not making it to the gym tomorrow. Not going to be fun driving my pups to the vet, especially since one tends to bounce off the seats even while medicated. My car is old but the a/c works so I'm thankful about that. The milkweeds are starting to bloom and I'm hoping to see more monarch butterflies. So far only one last week. And two tiger swallowtails visiting the honeysuckles in the hedges. Oh, the gypsy moth caterpillars are out. And they look kinda big.

17 June 2024 12:09-1:48

Blazing Monday it’s gonna be a heatwave week

Started new Timoptic eye drops

Precor elliptical #3?!

Program 1

Time: 30+5 (5636)

Distance: 2.85

Cal: 317

Avg Hr: 154, 190-82

Fitbit: 58-140

HGPU 15 + 2/2s

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15

20 Hip Bridges (1:21)

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 20 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150 sec

AirPod Just Needed Charging

Bark Park today

I skipped yesterday for several reasons, mostly it was the telltale signs of a stressed immune system: burning lower eyelids, a sore throat due to post nasal drip, a burning sensation on the edge of my upper lip. When my body's immune system starts to flag, I'm prone to colds and viruses, especially the ones that already reside inside the body. Like cold sores. Lysine is part of my daily supplement regime, but I stopped taking the black elderberry syrup a few weeks ago. It was a mistake. I double-dosed yesterday, and that seems to have alleviated all those pesky symptoms for today. Yaaay! 

But temps have risen quickly from 57F to mid 80s, so it's bad to be outdoors and good to be inside with a/c. I'm happy that the gym has the doors closed with a/c and ceiling fans running. Next week we're due to suffer from the effects of a hostile heat dome that's moving eastwar

d across the country. I'm really glad I don't live in NYC anymore where the heat radiates from every concrete surface and the streets stink of fetid garbage on non-pickup days. Air-conditioning is my friend. Summer heat is not.

While cardio wasn't as good as Tuesday's, it was still decent. I skipped pull-ups today, preferring to save them for tomorrow when the Senior class will be in session. The gym is mostly empty when I arrive, but fills up with kids during my DB Shoulder routine. I'm happy to report that fully charging my earbuds fixed the problem I had with a silent left earbud. But even with both functional earbuds, I could still hear the couple in the DB area. It's the same odd couple I witnessed when I was at the Seated Cable station.

Now I can see them better because they are literally on benches right in front of me. They're probably married. He's middle-aged with gray chin hairs, and she's not so young, now that I can see her face with her hair pulled back. She still looks unhappy all the time. He's shouting encouragement at her. I can hear it even though I have my tunes blasting in my ears. And I can't wait until one of us can leave the area. He eventually leaves but she's still sitting on the bench when I finish my last set and put my DBs back on the rack. I'm finding that I can do more than the 25 reps for the last two heavy sets, at least for the Reverse Inclined Flys... Not so much with the DB Presses. Weird, right? I think the Reverse Flys use smaller muscles, but I could be wrong.

The Aerobics Room isn't as cool as I'd like. But it's not stuffy. Just not cold. I get through all my exercises fine, but the Wall Squats feel harder than they've been so I quit at just 2 minutes instead of 2 minutes 30 seconds. No need to torture myself. 

Trying a new look

I called my glaucoma doc to find out why the pharmacy still doesn't have my new meds. Turns out the pharmacy was trying to fill it as a generic because it wasn't specifically written to be dispensed as written, meaning, use the name brand as specified. A new Rx was dispensed so I should be getting an alert to pick up the meds any day now. Details matter! I am dreading having to adapt yet again to a new medication and how it will affect my workout. But it always beats going blind!

13 June 2024 12:04-2:03

Blazing Thursday sans Timolol

Precor elliptical #1

Program 3

Time: 30+5 (5604)

Distance: 2.84

Cal: 316

Avg Hr: 154, 188-84

Fitbit: 57-148

Skip HGPU 17.5

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25, 27, 30 x 3

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 x 2 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 120 sec

One Earbud is Better Than None

I got to the gym a bit past noon and was surprised that it wasn't more crowded. The kids didn't show up until nearly 2 pm. I dig my earbuds out the bag and note that the case didn't light up, which is unusual. Then I realized that the left earbud didn't work, although I could still hear my tunes out of the right earbud. Not sure if the earbuds just needed charging, or if it's more serious. So I have music, but only at half volume. Which means I can hear all the ambient noise around me, like conversations, gasps and coughs, the clunking of weights and the groaning of knees.

I'm surprised that cardio is slightly better than yesterday, considering I'm back to just five and change hours of sleep. Not for lack of trying. However, I did neglect to have sleepy tea although I was physically in bed before 1 AM. I just couldn't sleep in spite of being tired. I didn't have an problems doing cardio today, although I felt lopsided, and very self-conscious about singing to myself. If I can hear other people, can they hear me too? There's no Senior class and temps outside are pleasant in the 70s. Unfortunately, that means the gym is warm and stuffy, and there are pockets of human stink in corners of the gym. 

The HS kids haven't swamped the gym yet so I have access to most of the weight room. But I'm only doing BB skull crushers/rip skulls before hitting the Aerobics Room. It's pretty much one set of 24 reps, alternating seamlessly between skull crushers and rip skulls. Somehow, this is easier on my delicate, wonky left elbow. That's the elbow I turn out 45 degrees when doing push-ups because any closer to my body and it clicks painfully. The Aerobics Room isn't any cooler, which is disappointing. I do everything in my routine, except that Wall Squats are harder today. Not screaming quad hard, but harder than yesterday. 

While I'm there, Biz Gal (the regular who is able to shower and change lightning quick), is doing a routine with DBs, an exercise ball, and some yoga steps. Then her phone alarm sounds and she puts everything away. That's the first time I realized she uses an alarm, because normally I've got both earbuds working. Normally I don't hear anyone or anything! I'm hoping that fully charging the case will solve this issue, otherwise I'm stuck with going back to wired earbuds and hoping my iPod nano doesn't short out (from moisture) on me while clipped to my clothes.

After the gym, I tried hunting down the sleep gummies I sampled last week. The CVS where I got the free sample (and a coupon) not only didn't have them in stock, but told me they were phasing that brand out of their store. That seems counterproductive. I guess corporate dictates the coupons and free samples, and each store does what it wants? Actually I was kind of relieved since CVS tends to be much more expensive than other stores, even with coupons. I go to the RiteAid and while they have a whole shelf for the brand, they don't have this one particular product. Then, out of curiosity (because I have this sleep aid in my Amazon shopping cart online in case I can't find it locally) I check out the ShopRite. Because I'm going to buy that Croissant Bread!

It takes me a while to scan all the shelves but when I finally locate the product I'm shocked and pleased to see that it's on sale. By half. CVS wants $20 for a bottle of 60. Online, there's a sale: buy one, get one free. That'd make them $10 a bottle. And then I'd have to have it shipped to me. Ugh. Amazon wants $14.79 and tries to goad you into a subscription for slightly less money. Think a few pennies. The ShopRite has it on sale and a bottle is $8.49 (normally $16.50). I see there's a digital coupon that I didn't load, making the cost $7.49. For the same 60 count bottle. They don't expire until next January. This is an incentive to stock up, right?

I guess I'm buying a few bottles since they seem to work, and they're the only 5 mg (per gummy) melatonin supplements with theanine. I note that there are other brands, but only one also contains theanine, but with lesser melatonin amounts. And for much more money. I did manage to use a lot of coupons to buy a 4-pack of Ensure Max protein 30 gms for $2.49 (normal retail is roughly $14) at the CVS, and the Job Lot has shelves of Creamy Peach Ensure for $4.99. That will expire next month. But Creamy Peach is a pleasant flavor. Not like Cherry Cheesecake. Blech. Still, the Vanilla is the best, and tastes like melted ice cream.

11 June 2024 12:19-1:51

Earbud Dysfunction Tuesday
sans Timolol & short sleep (5h 20m)

Precor elliptical #2

Program 2

Time: 30+5 (5690)

Distance: 2.88

Cal: 321

Avg Hr: 154, 194-80

Fitbit: 57-150

BB Rip / Skulls Crusher combo 30 lbs

(Each set = 12+12 or 24 reps)

24 reps x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 x 2 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150 !!! Gritting it out

The Body Adapts

It's been a week since I stopped using Timolol maleate eye drops and while I don't really feel different, my heart rate is up and my eyes don't itch like they used to. I know there's a Senior class this morning so I take my time doing errands and get to the gym after that class has started. The gym looks fairly empty at this point, but as I start pedaling, it starts to fill up with seniors and kids. I'm happy that my quads aren't burning and I clocked a decent "mileage." 

Better yet, I'm able to focus enough during pull-ups to cross my ankles and keep my legs straight below me (instead of dangling loosely). It makes the movement both harder and easier: if your body is straight it's less likely to waver, which adds drag to the pull. But keeping your body straight with crossed ankles isn't a relaxed position. So easier and yet harder. But ultimately, I'm able to get a few more reps today.

Technically, the Senior class is over at 12:30 and I walk over to the Aerobics Room five minutes past that. Nope. Still full of people and chairs. I sit down at the Cable machine for seated rows to kill time. While I'm doing my reps, I glimpse an odd couple: tall, slender athletic man, maybe middle-aged with a baseball cap (so I can't see his hair or his head) doing a few pull-ups on the bars between the two cable stations. Sometimes he manages a muscle-up as well. 

Then there's the woman. She might be young enough to be his daughter. Or not. She's slender but has some shape to her arms and legs, so fairly athletic. Mostly she stands around looking unhappy. As I'm finishing my last set of Seated Cable Rows, I see the dude sit down and put his arm around the woman, as if to comfort her. (Is he her dad or her boyfriend--I can't tell.) They're both sitting on the moveable platform (people use it to reach the pull-up/chin-up handles on the bar between the cable stations). BTW, those bars are too thick for me to get my hands around and too high for me to reach, even standing on the platform. Yeah, I'm short.

I see the stack of chairs get wheeled out of the Aerobics Room but I need to finish my sets first. Unfortunately, because it's actually a decent temperature outside (70F), the a/c isn't running. Ugh. All my exercises are completed without any issues. Even the Wall Squat feels okay today. No quad burning! My HR is slightly higher and my BP has always been erratic. Some days its normal but most days its not, but not ridiculously high like last summer. I am trying to get more sleep, especially after reading a disturbing article that speaks directly to people who routinely go to bed after 1 AM, stating that they suffer from more psychological disorders even if they're night owls... Ugh. 

I am actively trying to fall asleep earlier! I drink chamomile tea, now take my magnesium supplement around 9:30 PM instead of with the rest of my vitamins after exercising, and tried the free samples CVS distributed last week of the Nature's Bounty Sleep 3 Time-released Gummies with melatonin and theanine (a natural sleep aid). I only eat 1 gummy each time, and I think they work. CVS wants a lot more money for this product (which isn't even in stock on their shelves) than I can buy at Amazon. I think I'll probably order it on Amazon, once I have enough items in my cart to qualify for free shipping. Because I refuse to pay for Prime.

I have some issues with their labeling though: Why is it called Sleep 3 when there are two active ingredients? Front label says 2 gummies, 10 mg per serving. Back label says 2 servings. Which would mean there's 4 gummies? But there's only 2 gummies and no where does it say that each gummy is 5 mg. Instead, it says 1 serving is 10 mg melatonin. As if they can't bring themselves to admit that each gummy is 5. Because other brands also sell 5 and 10 mg doses. But maybe not time-released. And maybe not with 100 mg theanine (per serving). I haven't experienced any sleep hangovers so far. But of course, I've only tried them twice at half dose serving.

Later at the store today, I saw they were having a sale on Thomas Swirl Bread (with raisins and cinnamon) and also, a new product called Croissant Bread. I'm intrigued. For $1.99 a loaf, I think I have to go back and get some just to try. Probably really bad for the waistline, but might be akin to a dessert bread? Who can resist dessert?

10 June 2024 11:49-1:27

Breezy Monday sans Timolol

Precor elliptical #2

Program 1

Time: 30+5 (5696)

Distance: 2.87

Cal: 320

Avg Hr: 153, 186-83

Fitbit: 56-158

HGPU 17.5

(Aerobics 12:35 room still occupied)

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15
(Finish at 12:52)

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 x 2 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150s

Is It Beta Blocker Withdrawal?

The Bark Park

My quads have been letting me down this week, feeling tired sooner than I expect when pedaling the elliptical and definitely screaming at me at the end, during the wall squat. The only thing that's really changed is the beta blocker Timolol maleate eye drops. It's been 4.5 days and the drug should have cleared my system. My eyes definitely feel better, although still dry due to the 3 other glaucoma drops I use. But my eyelids stopped itching, my lash line doesn't burn anymore, and the weals have subsided.

However, I've noticed that my resting pulse is slightly elevated, and my exercise HR peaks nearly 20 points higher. I'm not getting enough sleep either, but that's not really new. What I didn't expect was the burn from muscle fatigue in my quads, both while pedaling on the final stretch during cardio, and also when doing that last exercise, the wall squat. Ugh. 

I struggled to move past the lowered HR effect and succeeded to the point where I was close to achieving the same mileage gains I had previously. Now, I feel like I'm starting over, which is weird. Removing the beta blocker shouldn't have a detrimental effect on my workout, but that's not what's happening, as far as I can tell.

My lower back is sensitive to sitting askew and often when I get up, I'm stiff on my left side. When I wake up, sciatica makes itself known, and later, the tailbone stings as if it's been chafed. Too weird, and I have no answers. So far the only thing I can think of is getting a new mattress, but the logistics are daunting for a heavy 30+ year old mattress. The town lets you schedule bulk pickups but I've seen mattresses parked in driveways for weeks before finally being removed. There's no room in my narrow driveway and honestly, I don't want to prop a nasty mattress up against hedges that line the road either. 

Otherwise, the humidity seems to have dropped even though it's still too hot. Sweat literally runs off my nose when I'm resting between sets during Seated Cable Rows, and Rip Skulls. And I only do sets of the latter because I'm killing time waiting for the Senior class to be over. While the first set of combo Skull Crusher / Rip Skulls bothers the left elbow, the joint calms down enough for me to complete the next two sets without any issues or pain. But I am dripping sweat all over my lap and the bench. 

Weirdly, I don't necessarily sweat during an exercise, but give me a few minutes after I've stopped and then there's a torrent gushing off my head. Not really sure why that happens like that. But I'm so happy that the Aerobics Room is sufficiently air-conditioned and I'm not the only person entering as soon as the room is available. 

Summer is not my favorite season although I just spied the first monarch butterfly in my yard this year. I saw a monarch a few weeks ago at the dog park, which was weird because there's no milkweeds there. My milkweeds are on the verge of blooming, but not yet. They must exude a scent in spite of not being in full bloom -- how else do the monarchs know they're there? And golden aphids are back as well. Yuck.

7 June 2024 11:21-1:12

Blistering Friday sans Timolol

(feels like quad glycogen depletion)

Precor elliptical #1

Program 3

Time: 30+5 (5716)

Distance: 2.88

Cal: 321

Avg Hr: 143, 276-86

Fitbit: 57-154

HGPU 15

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15~

BB Rip Skulls Crusher combo 30 lbs

(Need to kill time for Sr class to exit)

12 reps x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 x 2 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 120s !!! Hurts today (2 min 30 sec actually)

June Bug Crazies

Bark Park today

In the past two weeks, there's been at least 3 motorcycle accidents in my town, one fatal. In all cases, it was an old guy thinking he was an immortal 20-year old. Okay, maybe 62 isn't old. After all, I'm older than that. But trying to pass vehicles on a notoriously windy 2-lane road when there's a clearly marked passing zone on the straightest section of the road just 1/4 mile away, is plain stupid. He collided with a small bus while passing two other vehicles. Nope, stupidity did not survive that. 

Another one lost control of his bike, probably going too fast, around the rather severely angled section of the road that goes past the park. The sign says 20 mph and we mean it. Seriously. (Admittedly, most of us do that section around 30 while covering the brake.) That one wasn't fatal but it screwed up traffic for the rest of us. Another one freaked out on the parkway and bounced off the stone wall. Not fatal, but screwed up traffic again. What do all these incidents have in common besides motorcycles? Male riders in their 60s, which means old enough to know better when it comes to road safety. Ugh. Okay, rant over.

It has been unseasonably hot and unbearably humid. I spent a lot of time in traffic yesterday trying to return an item to the store so that I could use the refund towards a clock. Yes, I know. We all have phones and watches so why do I need a clock? Well, sometimes it's just more convenient to glance up and immediately see what time it is. And the clock I have in the living room, while not brand new, hasn't aged well. 

The clock is difficult to see from across the room even though it has large digital numbers. That's mostly a problem with the color of the digits (blue against black) and the glare on the face of the device. Parts of the digit placeholder are also starting to fade so that some numbers are unintelligible. Ugh. I've since learned that no one carries physical tabletop clocks anymore. I was trying not to order one from Amazon, but I seem to have no choice, unless I want to go miles out of my way to a mall in the next county. And even then, they might not carry it. Because the store I went to yesterday had clocks on their website which said In Stock. But not in actuality. They apparently haven't stocked clocks in years.

I'm trying to buy more items in person, from a bricks & mortar store. Not just for the convenience of being able to try it on right then and there, but also knowing that what I put on the rejection rack in lieu of a different style or size will actually be returned to the sales rack for someone else. Online items tend to be discarded when they get returned. Just ask Amazon. Or Land's End. And I don't need to add to that mountain of refuse of perfectly fine items that I just can't use or don't like.

Today is hot and rainy. It's a tad cooler under the leafy canopy of the dog park. There's literally no one else at the park, not even cars in the lot. It's warmer and more humid when I get to the gym. Even that seems warm and uncomfortably humid. I can still pedal but have to remove my hoodie after 7 minutes instead of 15. I've been really tired. Yesterday I was shocked by the bags under my eyes. Getting 5 hours of sleep will do that. And I wound up napping for an hour in the afternoon.

I'm still tired today but the bags don't look as pronounced. No timolol for 2 days now. My eyes itch so much less. I'm waiting to see how this affects my BP and HR. The FitBit feels unreliable. It didn't log Tuesday's workout as an exercise day. It tells me that my HR has dipped down to 36 at some point but can't tell me when. And then it continues to buzz my wrist with irrelevant notifications, as if I needed a pat on the head for accomplishing steps. Good grief, I'm a grown up! I don't need all this blather. I've turned most of those annoying notices off, but apparently not everything. And perhaps something I've turned off has affected the device's record keeping? Ugh.

I give my forearms another day of rest so no pull-ups until tomorrow. After cardio today, I grab one of the inclined benches and do my DB Shoulder routine. People do a few reps and then leave. I don't think I'm there for a long time but long enough to see 2 or 3 different folks do their routines and leave. The only people who are still there when I'm done actually have spent almost all their time gabbing. Figures. That's why I don't talk to anyone when I work out: too distracting and I lose momentum, get cold and nothing is done.

I do greatly appreciate the a/c in the Aerobics Room. I walk in and it's empty, cool and dry. Perfect. I get all my exercises and stretching done, but the Wall Squat is unusually unpleasant today. Still, I make it to 2 minutes 30 seconds.

6 June 2024 11:24-1:17

Rainy Hot Thursday sans Timolol

76°F and 77% humidity

Precor elliptical #1

Program 2

Time: 30+5 (5664)

Distance: 2.86

Cal: 319

Avg Hr: 156, 194-79

Fitbit: 55-152

Skip HGPU 15

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25-27 x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 x 2 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg each

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 150s  more difficult today

A Slight Tricep Modification

The smart dog is in the dirt

It's hot. Too hot. Hot for June in the northeast and I'm not happy. Neither are the dogs, but it's at least shady and cooler in the morning when we go to the park. Today there are dog friends so everything is good. But it's still too hot. It was hot yesterday as well, but yesterday I had a glaucoma appointment where I complained about how my eyes have been bothering me. The IOPs are good at 13/14 though. And I can see all the tiny letter on the eye chart as well and the background hasn't suddenly changed color from grainy yellow to grainy pink.

Even the doc can see that the skin is swollen around my eyes, and very tight and dry. She tells me to stop the Timolol for 2 weeks, and then to try a different version of the same drug. I have a follow up appointment in 6 weeks. My current Rx is generic but apparently the name brand is also covered by my insurance. I'm shocked. Because my insurance routinely objects to all sorts of medications and tries to substitute other drugs even though it's in my history that those drugs have either stopped working, or I'm allergic to them. 

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what to do with the sealed, unopened 1-month supply of Timolol that I already own. The pharmacy isn't allowed to take it back and refund my money. They can only put it in a discard pile. What a waste! I want to donate my unused meds to people or animals who can use it because not everyone can afford their medication! I'm thinking of bringing my meds back to my doc at the next appointment because maybe they know of a charity that can use this. I've emailed a few senior dog sanctuaries as well: dogs can get glaucoma, and they can use timolol. Suggestions welcome, readers!

She also tells me about a new implant that dispenses the drug Latanoprost. Now, I've taken Latanoprost as an eye drop for years (it's a prostaglandin analogue like the Travaprost my insurance doesn't want to cover). Somehow, having the med dispensed inside the eye makes it more efficacious. But the doc has to see if insurance will cover it. Of course. 'Cuz it might be considered too "new." Non-glaucoma patients will know Latanoprost as that drug that makes your eyelashes longer/thicker although there is some evidence that Bimatoprost works better for that purpose.

I get to the gym early enough to snag an elliptical. Yaaay me! It's hot outside and the a/c is struggling to keep the gym cool. I've resigned myself to doing poorly but the cardio actually isn't too bad. I've improved a tiny bit on the pull-ups as well. But of course, the little voice in the back of my head tells me that if I were lighter, this would be so much easier. Well, maybe.

I get my Seated Cable Rows done, but I spend a lot of time between sets starting at my phone. Sweat keeps dripping off my nose onto the floor, and my phone when I look at it. With my earbuds in, I'm fairly oblivious to everyone around me and the gym is starting to fill up with kids and fat old men. So I'm a bit shocked because I don't notice right away when young man with great shoulders/arms asks me how many sets I have left. Because I'd just finished my last set and was logging the data. No one ever talks to me. I probably should've asked him if he'd been waiting long, but naw... besides, he was smiling so it was all good.

A flat breaker bench is available but the 30 lb BB is missing from the rack. I get some wipes for the bench and the bar is back. I'm very happy to take advantage of coincidences. Just like sitting at the cable rows and the pin is already set at 50 lbs. I used to alternate sets of Skull Crushers and Rip Skulls, but I'd take a rest between the two movements. Last week I did a set that started with a Skull Crusher immediately followed by a Rip Skull and called that one. Got all 12 done in one motion with no rest. I think this might actually be less stressful on my wonky elbows although I don't know why. Weird, right? Three sets of 24 total reps and I'm good to hit the Aerobics Room. Nothing exciting or different there... Back tomorrow.

4 June 2024 11:08-1:05

Blistering Tuesday sans Timolol 

Precor elliptical #2

Program 1

Time: 30+5 (5668)

Distance: 2.86

Cal: 319

Avg Hr: 153, 189-95

Fitbit: 51-142

HGPU 15

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15

BB Skull Crusher/Rip Skulls 30 lbs

12/12 rip/skull combo x 3

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 x 2 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg ea

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 2 min 30 sec