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

I'll Take Blisters

It's May 1st and I made sure to hit the gym today. A friend wasn't sure I'd make it only because I was out late yesterday, having trekked into the City to see a showing of Bat Out of Hell. I've wanted to see it ever since I read about the production a few years ago. Going into NYC is much more doable than driving to Kingston or other towns because the show is at night and I have trouble driving at night on unfamiliar roads, and I'm infinitely comfortable taking the train in after years of commuting, even though it's been over a decade. I got home well past midnight and the dogs acted like I'd been gone for days. Yes, I did walk them right before I left in the late afternoon so it's not as if they'd been alone for days... They're just drama queens. 

There's a brand new parking lot that's spacious, well-lit and very under-utilized. It's also a bit of a hike to the train station, but nothing horrible or dangerous. I had an inkling to buy a Jamaican beef patty once I got into Grand Central, but sadly, the cheap eats are all gone, replaced by very trendy and expensive bites. Nothing appeals to me or my budget. I had purchased a one-way Senior train ticket for $10.75, only because a round-trip option wasn't available. If I wanted an "all day" ticket, just good for the day but with unlimited stops, it'd cost $39. Instead, I just bought my return Senior ticket once I got off the train, knowing that I probably wouldn't have time to make a purchase after the show was over. The night trains run hourly and if you miss one, it's a long lonely wait for the next one. 

I was quite pleased that even the cheap seats in the nosebleed section had good views of the stage. The theater or the production made sure to fill the house by discounting remaining tickets on the last two days to just $39. Which meant a lot of seats were filled by students and actors hoping for callbacks. I know because I was seated between two groups of such people. I paid more than $39 but not a huge amount. These are some awesomely talented singers and dancers with amazing voices. 

I had a wonderful time. I also had to speed walk back to GCT because I didn't know when the next train home would be. As it was, I made it with just 4 minutes to spare. I also got blisters on the soles of my feet while wearing hiking boots with alpaca wool socks (the fit was good). It's just how I walk when I'm in a hurry! I got the same sort of blisters when I was a kid.

I'll take the blisters over sciatica, because my sciatica didn't bother me at all yesterday with the exception of some morning stiffness. Because I have lax ligaments and am mildly flat-footed, the blisters formed on the second and third metatarsal heads, or the ball of the foot. The right foot, the lead foot, the bunion foot has had its blister pop and drain, leaving deflated skin. The left foot just has a pink sore spot. I was thrilled that I had regained my ability to walk really quickly through NYC pedestrian traffic. This is how I grew up. I'm more than thrilled that my sciatica seems to have gone into remission. I just need to not aggravate it with hubris about my physical abilities. 

I was shocked to see Wind Breaker on machine #4. A big bald fellow was sizing up the rest of the machines and I was prepared to hop on the Stair Master if he chose machine #1. Instead, he clambered onto #3 and I was relieved. My blisters didn't bother me because pedaling means you don't lift your feet up and slam them down, like walking. I did develop a weird cramp in my left forearm though, and that worried me about pull-ups. But it was a silly worry because the pull-ups were fine. Actually, better than fine because I added two more reps from last time.  

Afterward, I was tempted to do time on the Stair Master, but the free weight area looked enticingly empty. I figured I'd done enough cardio so it was time to push some weights around. Granted, not a lot of weight. Not heavy weight. I need to be mindful of glaucoma limitations although I'm less careful about bending down (also a glaucoma no-no). 

I had a Visual Field Test at my glaucoma doc's office on Wednesday, and I felt as if I was seeing better, or rather, seeing more of those pinprick flashing lights. That made me feel more confident about my vision, although I can still see where I've lost upper quadrant vision in my right eye. There's no repairing that. Yet. I'm  hopeful that groundbreaking research will lead to improvements in vision restoration. 

The Aerobics Room was pleasantly cold and my routine was quite routine. Dead Bugs still makes my right foot mildly tingly and Bird Dog planks makes it a bit numb, but only temporarily. Push-ups are okay as long as I use a wide stance for both arms and legs to spare my elbows and sciatica. I shot a quick video just to see if the push-up looked decent cuz it's hard to tell when you're staring at the floor or wall. Form looks okay but the DB workout did make the last few reps a bit strenuous. (Difficult to post one's own vids on this format but try clicking here for the link. I had to toss it into YouTube but not sure if it'll be viewable.) I saw my head started drooping during the session. Always got to be vigilant about form, but keeping the head up is the hardest part for me. 

The weather's been beautiful with flowers everywhere. My yard is full of really big fuzzy bees buzzing about the dandelions, wild violets and carpet bugle. Lilacs are starting to bloom. I'm enjoying it before the heat of summer and biting insects arrive. 
 

1 May 2026 12:46-2:48

Sunny Friday post Bat Out of Hell show NYC

Just do everything

Precor elliptical #1 (1:24)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5448)

Distance: 2.79

Cal: 307

Precor HR: 153, 186-75

Fitbit: 44-131

HGPU 20 (sore left forearm)

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys (slow & EZ)

10 lbs x 25/15/25 (1:41)

15 lbs x 25/15/30 (1:49)

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 reps

Set 1 (1:57); Set 2 (2:06)

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 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Sooner or Later?

Stair Master

I tried very hard to get to the gym earlier, and still found elliptical #1 occupied by the odd new guy. He pedals slowly because he has it set to a full incline (level 13 is the steepest angle). I sigh and resign myself to other cardio machines and start with 15 minutes on the Stair Master. After a set of pull-ups, I glance at the row of cardio machines and he's still trudging on the Precor. Wind Breaker is on machine #3 and will be for the next several hours. I look around and see that there are 5 recumbent bikes available. Do I need to come even earlier, or later? (Suddenly I'm reminded of a song by The English Beat. I'll paste that below.)

It takes me a minute to readjust the seat and pedals and after 2 minutes, I see the odd elliptical guy walk past me with his water bottle. Which means he's done. If he had left his stuff on the equipment, like Wind Breaker does, I'd know he was merely taking a break. He's not old, maybe in his 20s but his head is bent forward as if he's already developed a dowager's hump or the disintegrating spine of a senior after a lifetime of being hunched over books or close work like watch repair. 

I grab all my gear and initiate Program #1 on the elliptical. Less than halfway through, I see my phone light up and it's the dog boarding place calling to confirm. Ugh. My earbuds disconnect from the iPod and sync with my phone so at least I'm not screaming at the caller. But it's interrupted my cardio routine. I'm glad I took the call though, because they have an internal communications problem and set up baths for the Monday that I'm actually coming to pick my dogs up early. That's not right. Baths rescheduled for Sunday. 

It all gets sorted but now I need to pause my program and grab my iPod out of my gear bag (on the ground next to the pedals) to resync my earbuds with the music. If I could figure out how to transfer all MY songs (songs that I own the CDs to and converted to MP3s to put on the iPod) to my phone, I'd do that. But I refuse to subscribe to Apple Music streaming services. Why would I want to rent music I own copies of? Yes, I am stubbornly old-fashioned and maybe in danger of becoming a Luddite. 

I get a second set of pull-ups done, and then, as the gym starts to fill up with kids, I saunter off to the Aerobics Room. It's not as cold as I'd like. Odd, considering that there was no Senior class there this morning. Temps have gotten warmer, but nothing like the blazing summer heat a few weeks ago. My sciatica has been very mild lately and I don't want to do anything to aggravate it. Still taking 400 mg of ibuprofen in the morning. 

I have a doc appointment to take a new Visual Field Test. I'm pretty sure I haven't regained any lost vision in my right eye. I'm not sure about my IOPs or the peculiar thing happening to my skin: patchy dry areas where it feels hard to the touch. It could just be how my IV (ichthyosis vulgaris) is aging. Or it's how my body is dealing with an allergic reaction to one or more of my eye drops? 

I'm reading about how the Shingles vaccine might serve as a protection against dementia and that tempts me. Every time I walk into the CVS, the pharmacy wants to know if I'm game for a vax for pneumonia or RSV. I'm not feeling the need for that just yet. I mean, yeah, I'm getting older, but damn, I don't really feel old. 

The wild lilacs on my property haven't bloomed yet, but I see other places with lilac trees in full flower. I haven't caught any of their fragrances on the breeze. There is a lovely Lily-of-the-Valley shrub (Japanese Andromeda) with cascading white flowers that perfumed the road for the past several weeks, but those blooms are done now. Wild turkeys gobbling in the woods at dusk have been silent the last two evenings, but the peepers are still trilling. And there are dandelions, wild violets and other purple flowers everywhere. It's lovely. 

 

 

 

28 April 2026 12:47-2:34

Didn’t Get Here Early Enough Tuesday

Basics w sciatica

Matrix StairMaster (R) (12:50-1:05)

Manual timer 13 + 2:32

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

Steps 681

Floors 42

Cal: 103

Hr 122

HGPU 19

Recumbent Bike #5 (right)

Program Manual L1

Time: 2 min

Distance: 0.

Cal:

Avg Hr:

Precor elliptical #1 (1:20)

Program 1

Interrupted by pet boarding call

Time: 30 + 5 (5214)

Distance: 2.735

Cal: 29

Precor HR: 145, 180-97

Fitbit: 42-144

(1:57)

HGPU 17

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:10)

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (no sciatica)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (foot tingling)

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Just Do It All

I made a point of getting to the gym earlier just so I could access the Precor elliptical #1. I'm glad I did since later the gawky fellow who spends more than an hour painfully trudging showed up later and was on machine #4, right beside Wind Breaker on #3. I don't think it matters to him which machine he's using, so better for me to arrive early and use the one machine that accommodates my needs. I actually almost made it to 2.8 today. And I did feel sufficiently warmed up afterward. 

I hit the Stretch Cage twice, ostensibly for pull-ups. Although I did think about hanging from one arm the second go-round. But that felt so difficult that I wound just doing a bunch of quick pull-up reps. I also did 15 minutes on the Stair Master. It's Friday and very pleasant outside. The gym isn't very crowded. I'm game to push some weights so I find a flat bench, grab the 30 lb solid BB, and a pair of DBs. 

It starts to get crowded. I notice a loose bolt under the bench, but none appear to be missing from that piece of equipment. (I'll bring it to the front desk later cuz I'm pretty sure something is going to shake loose at an inopportune time.) Again, the first set of Rip Skulls/Skull Crushers makes my left elbow click and twinge. But the next three sets are fine. Must be that need for warm-ups. I'm always much better after a decent warm-up. 

And while I'm okay with DB Lateral Raises, the Seated Alt DB Curls makes my arms tired. I was worried when I enter the Aerobics Room that all this arm stuff would make me fall on my face when I did push-ups. So I was surprised when I could knock those out with no issues. I got a mild tingle in my right foot while doing Dead Bugs, and again during Bird Dog planks. Otherwise, everything felt okay, and I am not at all tempted to stretch more or add anything new. I'm still taken 400 mg of ibuprofen when I get up in the morning, but otherwise my sciatica appears to be appeased and mostly dormant. I'd like to keep it that way. 

Tomorrow I get to take a desk lamp with questionable wiring to the Repair Cafe, a group of retired folks who provide repair services for free every few months. So much better than trashing a perfectly serviceable item that just needs a bit of know-how. Sunday, my friend and I have tickets to see Temple Grandin speak. I read her books some years ago, and recently watched the Clare Danes movie. Yes, I have eclectic interests. 

Next week I have an appointment to have another Visual Field test to see if my glaucoma has progressed. It's much worse in my right eye. My left eye feels stable, but I can see what I don't see in my right eye. It's very disturbing. And the weirdly dry scaly skin surrounding my eyes signals to me that I'm still having an allergic reaction to one of my meds, probably the last one added... I wonder what other medications I can try cuz I'm going to avoid having an Ahmed shunt implanted as long as possible. It's likely that my body will create too much scar tissue to make it an effective solution to the eye fluid pressure problem...  

24 April 2026 12:52-3:25

Sunny Friday but…

Just do everything

Precor elliptical #1 (12:53)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5438)

Distance: 2.79

Cal: 307

Precor HR: 154, 115-200

Fitbit: (52-143)

HGPU 18

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:45-2:00)

Manual timer 13 + 2:32

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

Steps 697

Floors 43

Cal: 105

Hr 108

Attempt 1 arm hang / unsuccessful

HGPU 15

Skull Crushers/RipSkulls (2:15-2:48)

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

Was not bothered at all by sciatica!

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:57)

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (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 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Cold Wet Earth Day

I had to talk myself into going to the gym today. I had already skipped Monday and Tuesday, and although I felt guilty about not having exercised for several days, the damp cold weather made me want to curl up under blankets for the rest of the day. I'd already spent close to 2 hours at the dog park so it's not like I hadn't ventured outside already. But, due to my procrastination, I got to the gym past 2 pm and subsequently, never had a chance to use the Precor elliptical machine. I'd be on a different cardio machine when the Precor would free up, but within a minute or two, it'd have a new occupant. Too bad the other Precor elliptical machines aren't worth pedaling. 

That machine (#1) is probably the only cardio equipment that lets me fully max out without any injury to my knees, ankles, shins or feet. My sciatica hasn't been horrible so I chose not to tempt fate with the Life Fitness cross-trainer. Instead, I played with the other equipment, spending 15 minutes on the Stair Master but never really working up a sweat. I took the Expresso Bike for a spin as well. Unfortunately, it now requires an account to access the programs. It does allow you to sample the different programs for a mere 3 minutes, so I did that twice while running the Dragon Island game, but 6 minute isn't enough time for much more than a quick taste. 

Then I ventured onto the Octane. I'm not thrilled with this type of machine due to the lateral movement. While it is adjustable and you don't necessarily need to use the moving handles (just like the cross-trainer), I worry about it aggravating my sciatica. Because it's not a natural movement, I don't fully exert myself so after 15 minutes, I'm just barely warm. 

I did get two sets of pull-ups, and decent push-ups in the Aerobics Room. Otherwise, I'd say I was a bit frustrated cardio-wise and contemplating going back tomorrow just to get some time on the Precor. I was watching a YouTube short by FactsAndFineLiners about apes and how strong they are swinging through trees. And I thought to myself, I'd like to try just hanging off the stretch cage and seeing if I could hang momentarily by one arm, and then the other. Cuz I've never done that but I've always wondered, and it's not like I'm getting younger, or stronger. 

Meanwhile, my kid's Nepenthes plant seems to be on the mend and forming new baby pitchers. And the hubs came home from the office with a wee potted succulent (echeveria) that was being distributed for Earth Day. Yes, today is Earth Day, and it is cold and wet but at least the snow didn't stick. There is also supposed to be comets in the sky after midnight, but of course, it's raining. So I'm not going to see anything. And I'm still suffering from allergic reactions to one or more of my eye drops, with oddly dry flaky skin on my upper and lower lids, and an annoying pin prick sensation on my face. 

Echeveria

My eyes feel swollen all the time but thank goodness they don't look as awful as they feel. I could stop using the newest eye drops but I worry that'll raise my IOPs a lot. I could use the steroid drops to alleviate the allergic symptoms, but that will definitely raise my IOPs. The last time I called my doc's office, they suggested a different eye drop, but it isn't covered at all by my insurance and there's no way I can spend $300/mos on a single glaucoma med when I still have to cover copays for two other drops as well. 

I am on the hunt for a lovely blood orange tea I had at the British tea shop. A friend had her cousins bail on her for the third time so she asked me to come to brunch with her over the weekend. While the tea was great, I was less impressed with the "eggs Benedict over salmon cakes." Poached eggs were delicious. The salmon cakes could use seasoning. Maybe it's a British thing? Just as their Coronation Chicken Salad spiced with South African curry seemed to be lacking any semblance of curry flavor. It's def a Brit thing. 

22 April 2026 2:12-3:43

Cold Wet Earth Day Wednesday

Basics w sciatica

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

Manual timer 13 + 2:32

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

Steps 671

Floors 41

Cal: 102

Hr 87

HGPU 18

Expressing Bike

Dragon Island Game 6 min

3 min per session w/o subscription

Octane #2 (right)

Program Manual 1 / 3 width

Time: 13+2 (strides 1670 / 27 flrs)

Distance: 0.88

Cal: 84

Avg Hr: 105, max 145

(3:10)

HGPU 16

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (3:21)

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

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Breakfast Interference

Pups don't care about TV

I stayed up much too late because I wanted to finally be done with Stranger Things and watched the last 3 episodes in a row. It's nice to have closure, but I was more pleased by the fact that the show played Sweet Jane by the Cowboy Junkies (yes, I have that CD). Yes, it's a Lou Reed song (I have that CD too) but there's a lot more Cowboy Junkies than there is Lou Reed. They also ended the series with Bowie's Heroes. And that's a great song. So, I didn't go to bed until 2:30 AM. 

It's been summer-time hot for days, and every night it's rained with thunder and lightning. The first two nights I had to dose one of my dogs with "calming chews" that contain melatonin, chamomile, tryptophan, ginger, passion flower and thiamine mononitrate. Basically, the same stuff humans take to chill out before bedtime, but formulated to be tasty for dogs. Of course, I haven't put away the winter stuff yet as there is a forecast for frosty weather next week. April is crazy. 

What's really crazy is that I made the mistake of actually eating breakfast before I went to the gym. Which meant instead of just eating half a banana with my morning vitamins, I put banana slices on top of toasted ciabatta bread smeared with peanut butter. It's been my staple breakfast for a few weeks now, but usually when I plan to skip the gym. It might've been the chunky peanut butter, but I felt a bit stodgy, as if I hadn't been able to fully digest the meal. Normally I use creamy peanut butter, but super chunk is what was in the cupboard. 

My routine was askew as well since there was an unknown person on elliptical #1 and Wind Breaker was of course on #3. Machines #2 and #4 aren't worth using. They're just spacers. Yes, they operate but don't display their info properly so they might not be programmable. I opted to do 13+ minutes on the Stair Master, then popped onto the vacated elliptical for 35 minutes. Pull-ups weren't great. I felt the heaviness of chunky peanut butter weighing me down in the pit of my tummy. Next time I'll just stick to half a banana and a cup of instant coffee. Yes, instant coffee does not contain those nasty LDL-raising diterpenes (cafestol and kahweol). 

Because it's Friday, I wanted to push some weights. The bench I like was available so I did most of the DB Shoulder routine, skipping the last set just as a cascade of kids flooded the free weight area. My cue to exit. Happily, the Aerobics Room was completely abandoned. It wasn't as cold as I wanted, probably because there had been a Senior class earlier. But what I did notice was that my sciatica wasn't being horrible today. I did take 600 mg of ibuprofen this morning, but other than my foot going numb during Bird Dog planks, that nerve bundle was fairly quiet today. Yaaay! 

I have learned my lesson though: no tempting fate by pushing the limits of my stretching abilities. I did get the name of a recommended acupuncturist but he's down in Chinatown in NYC. My brother's wife's cousin spoke quite highly about this doctor's treatment for chronic allergies, as well as sciatica. While I'm probably never going to venture to Chinatown for acupuncture, it's always good to keep options open. Just in case. 

The Merlin ID bird identification app on my phone has upgraded and is less clunky and loads more useful. I bought a few Hawaiian shirts from a Hawaiian outfitter, Hilo Hattie, and I'm apparently a boy's size M. They have some patterns I really like but the women's shirts are all cut for people not like me: too blousy or weirdly off the shoulder (completely uncomfortable and impractical). 

I read somewhere that middle-aged Asian women tend to dress like boys. Not just dress like them. I find myself barely unbuttoning my flannel shirt and just pulling the shirt along with the long-sleeve T underneath off all in one movement. Just like a 10 yr old would. Much less fussy, much more efficient. Much easier to put on that way too. And I'd probably wear the same shirt and pants the next day anyway... Perks of having super dry skin and not sweating very much. Unless it's blistering hot. 

The dogs think it's much too hot to run around outside, although the multitude of new smells keeps them occupied when we go for walks. Peeper frogs are trilling, and cicadas are much too early this year. I'm still not putting away my snow shovel just yet. 

17 April 2026 1:03-3:18

Sunny Friday but Late Night

Basics w sciatica & breakfast

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:07-1:2)

Manual timer 12 + 2:24

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

Steps 610

Floors 38

Cal: 93

Hr n/a

Precor elliptical #1 (1:26-2:02

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5394)

Distance: 2.77

Cal: 304

Precor HR: 151, 194

Fitbit: 45-144

HGPU 17 (not great)

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

10 lbs x 25/15/25 (2:20)

15 lbs x 25/15/30 (2:29)

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 reps

Set 1 (2:38); Set 2 (2:47)

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:53)

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (no sciatica!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (foot tingling)

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Summer in April

A couple of YouTube weather channels have reported substantial temperature fluctuations in the next several days, courtesy of a very strong El Nino. Today my indoor/outdoor thermometer read 92F before I even got out the door to drive to the gym. It certainly was very warm, too warm at the dog park earlier in the day. Pups are happiest when temps hover in the brisk high 30s-low 40s. They are not going to be happy this blistering summer. 

The gym wasn't too crowded so I was able to hop on my preferred elliptical machine. I was worried that it would be too warm but only the Aerobics Room seemed under cooled. I was hoping to do better at pull-ups but the shoulder started twinging toward the last few reps. Still, it wasn't horrible. It's also amazing how easy push-ups feel when you haven't pre-exhausted your triceps with weight lifting. 

I got my steps in on the stair machine and then trudged off to do core and sciatic relief stretches. Popping three 200 mg tablets of ibuprofen each morning seems to work keeping the most egregious sciatic pain at bay. It worked Saturday morning when I convinced my husband to join me on the Salamander Stroll, which was more of a moderately strenuous hike through a model forest only a few minutes from where we live. 

It was a very large group of over 30 people, including toddlers (one riding dad's shoulders and another in a backpack carrier), an infant (in a chest carrier), several seniors with hiking sticks, teenagers and middle aged adults. The weather was brisk and sunny, and if we weren't overheated from scrambling up boulders, then we were chilled by breezes coming off wetlands and vernal pools. 

We were lucky enough to spy a few tiny salamanders under rocks and boards, where they normally hide. The woman with her infant strapped to her chest was the only person wearing leggings. But she was also wearing work boots. My FitBit says we racked up a lot of steps, but not quite as many as the day before, when I went to the gym and then did grocery shopping. Oh well... 

It's April. Spring peepers are trilling in all the wet swampy spots behind our house. Last night, other frogs were making their way across the roadways. It's always a treacherous time for them. The eye gnats are awake and flit around me at the dog park, which means I have to protect myself with sunglasses. There are also biting insects so of course I'm wearing my hooded, long-sleeve bug jacket, long pants and boots, and I have a small bottle of picaridin in my pocket. 

Meanwhile, I'm still having an allergic reaction to some of my eye drops. My eyes are teary and slightly swollen. OTC allergy drops aren't helping and I can only use steroid drops for a limited time as they have an adverse effect on glaucoma. One of the techs in my doc's office recommended switching to preservative-free latanoprost, but of course, my insurance company doesn't want to cover that. Which means they want to charge me close to $300/mos. Do you wonder why we cheer for Luigi Mangione?

14 April 2026 1:32-3:06

Blistering Heatwave Tuesday

Basics w sciatica & eye allergy

Precor elliptical #1 (2:09)

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5410)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 305

Precor HR: 147, 178

Fitbit: 47-131

HGPU 17 (rt shoulder)

Matrix StairMaster (L) (2:22-2:33)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

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

Steps 576

Floors 36

Cal: 87

Hr 90 (?!)

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:43)

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

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 (foot tingling)

Push-Ups 30 (lEZ cuz arms not tired)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Taking It Easy Friday

pockets!

I got a confirmation email this morning about the "Salamander Stroll" scheduled for tomorrow morning. It was reassuring to read an admonishment regarding proper footwear and clothing, long sleeves, long pants, insect repellent and sunscreen, water and a packable lunch with a carry-in/carry-out policy. 

Years ago, I was on a Scout hike where a parent showed up wearing bejeweled, thin-soled sandals more appropriate for the poolside than a trail trek. I don't know what she was thinking. (That family didn't last long in Scouts even though we tried very hard to encourage their participation.) If anyone shows up tomorrow wearing leggings, I'll probably smirk to myself because even though BSA Scouts now sells leggings for female members, I doubt if they're recommended for camping or hiking. But I have seen the Amazon review post of a large woman falling and rolling down a rocky hill and remarking that the leggings were still intact. And then she claimed to have purchased more because they were indestructible. 

I didn't notice any soreness from Wednesday's workout until I reached overhead during Dead Bugs in the Aerobics Room. Those triceps feeling a teensy bit tight. Cardio was fine although the gym seemed a bit warmer than usual. What I didn't expect was my fingers to be sore and tired, and that reduced my rep count down by 3 on the pull-ups. I got less steps on the Stair Master too, but that's arbitrary since all I do is set the timer and the level (speed). The machine itself speeds up or slows down all on its own so the step count will be different. It says my HR is way up there at 169, although not as crazy as the elliptical reading 209. Of course, the FitBit says "Calm the fuck down, your peak HR was only 144 today." That makes more sense. 

I wore new gym pants today, the pants that cost me as much in hemming as it was to buy them (I bought them at a steep discount). I like them because they're soft, drape nicely, have wide legs like palazzo pants, and most importantly, they have pockets! However, I will not be wearing them to go hiking, especially since I'll need to douse myself in DEET or picaridin because it's baby tick (nymph) season and Lyme disease is endemic to the area. Synthetics should not be doused in bug repellent chemicals if you want them to last. 

good lighting

I've become quite enamored of a newly discovered TV program called Your Friends & Neighbors with Jon Hamm. I hadn't actually watched Mad Men when it was popular and have only started the first season, but I know who Hamm is, mostly from his role as Gabriel in Good Omens with David Tennant and Michael Sheen. That was an excellent show and I'm excited to watch Season 3 although it's been abbreviated to a single 90-minute episode. Yeah, I probably watch waaaay too much TV... 

10 April 2026 1:27-3:19

Sunny Friday Before a Hike

Basics w sciatica & allergy

Precor elliptical #1 (2:05)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5412)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 306

Precor HR: 150, 209-92

Fitbit: 44-144

HGPU 16 (Tired fingers!)

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:18-2:31)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

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

Steps 586

Floors 36

Cal: 88

Hr 169 (!)

12 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:43)

12 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica)

12 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 (foot tingling)

Push-Ups 25 (legs shoulder width)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Muscle Memories

Love pockets!

I'm beginning to think that my body really needs 4 days off to feel recuperated. I meant to go to the gym on Monday but my eyes were so swollen and the rims of my lids burned with every eye drop application, so I called my glaucoma doc and got an appointment for that afternoon. Apparently, having an allergic reaction is considered an emergency. I slotted 30 minutes to drive there, knowing that the road I normally use would be closed due to a drainage culvert being replaced. Unfortunately, the main road where all traffic was being funneled to, was also suffering from road work! It took me 20 minutes just to leave town, and I was really late to my appointment. 

Still residual swelling

The doc said that the latest drop I'd been taking was known for delayed allergic reactions, stating that one patient had been on it for a year before suffering enough to call it quits. I'd managed almost 3 months. Now I have an Rx for prednisolone to reduce the swelling for the next 4 days, then start with another old drug, Travaprost. Except the CVS has the prednisone but no record of the second Rx. Finally, I get a second notice but it's for latanoprost, which is in the same family as Travaprost, but not quite. Ugh. I call my doc's office. Someone will get back to me. But they never do. Never. I'll have to call again to find out if I'm waiting for a new Rx, or if I should use what's been stocked. 

I get to the gym and am very happy to be able to access elliptical #1. Afterward, I get a decent set of pull-ups and don't quite make it to 19 only because my right shoulder is twinging. My joints are finicky like that. I do a few minutes on the Stair Master and realize that the free weight area is really empty. Which means I can grab a bench and the 30 lb BB as well as a few DBs. I haven't done a triceps workout in months and almost forget how I'm supposed to do this. 

Happily, muscle memory kicks in once I lay down and get the bar positioned over my chest. Touch my forehead the first rep, then reach past my head for the second rep. That's a one count. I do this 12 times for three sets. At first, my left elbow clicks and aches a bit but warms up and by the end of the routine, there's no pain whatsoever. I'm really pleased that my sciatica is not an issue at all while doing this. (At this point, I've actually forgotten that I have sciatica! I credit the Step machine for that.) As filler between tricep sets, I grab some DBs and do lateral raises and then seated DB Alt Curls. Kids are starting to filter in but since Spring Break is over, and it's brightly sunny outside, it never gets very crowded. 

BSA pants & belt

The Aerobics Room is empty and ice cold. I know push-ups might give me trouble cuz of the triceps workout, but I make it to 25. Everything else is as anticipated, with Dead Bugs causing my sciatica to flare up, and Bird Dog planks making my foot go numb. I've been taking ibuprofen in the morning before taking the dogs to the park just because the ache when I wake is more than annoying. 

Still, I signed up for a "salamander stroll" through the Cornell Cooperative Extension to explore the Clearpool Model Forest on Saturday. It's a family thing so I'm sure there'll be a lot of little kids. If I'm actively walking through the woods, I should be okay. And because I hate being unprepared, I started looking for my hiking boots today (found them!) and pants that aren't stretchy knit fabric (bad for thorns and brush) that still fit me. 

511 work pants

Digging through my dresser, I found several pairs of pants that I viewed with skepticism, perhaps because I know I've put on some weight (although I've been trying to shed a few pounds). I'm actually really happy and surprised that while none of the pants were baggy, they all fit, as in I could zip up, button the waist and still drop into a squat. 

Even my slim BSA pants fit! Those are women's pants. [The shirt is an XL boys though, cuz the women's shirts are too roomy in the chest and just looked weird on me (back when my kid was in Scouts and I was the Advancement Chair).] Having a good belt helps though, and I still have my BSA webbing belt which is great because it's totally adjustable without the rigidity of notches. I am just soooo pleased! 

8 April 2026 1:04-3:12

Not A Bad Wednesday

Basics w Sciatica & Ophthalmic Allergy

Precor elliptical #1 (1:41)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5374)

Distance: 2.77

Cal: 305

Precor HR: 153, 188-82

Fitbit: 44-140

HGPU 18.5

(rt shoulder twinge & rt calf throbbing)

Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:55-2:08)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (49-45) / 2 (33) / 1 (29)

Steps 611

Floors 38

Cal: 91

Hr 151

Skull Crushers/RipSkulls (2:10)

30 lbs x 24 reps x 1

S/s with

DB Laterals w/u 10 lbs x 15 reps x 3

15 x 15 x 2

S/s with

DB Alt Curls w/u 10 lbs x 12 ea x 1

15 x 12 x 2 (2:37)

Was not bothered at all by sciatica!

20 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:48)

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (foot tingling)

Arm rotations 20 

Push-Ups 25 

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga