My night owl tendencies are getting out of hand. Lately I've been headed to bed after 2 AM and not even close to being asleep until nearly 3. It's been so cold that I've delayed taking the dogs to the park until temps at least hit double digits. No reason to chance frostbite and yes, even winter-hardy pups can get frostbite even if they insist on being outside. They're not huskies or malamutes, after all. They're mixed breeds, and while they have double coats, their undersides are fairly sparse of coat. They are super lazy at home, preferring to dine like Romans, in the reclining position.
All this means I'm barely getting 6 hours of sleep and probably less. At least most of my carnivorous plants are doing well (Venus flytraps are flowering, tiny new sundews are making dew) except for the lone pitcher plant that needs exceptional babying. It's in a plastic bag to maintain high humidity, on a heat mat, under indirect light. Fingers crossed. I'm told they hate being handled, and that I need to be super patient with it. Okay...
I've started to notice some odd side effects since starting the "new" glaucoma drops. Technically, Alphagan-P (brimonidine) is not a new medicine. It's just new to me. I'm sticking with the name-brand since I have a vague recollection of being allergic to the generic about 30 years ago. The side effects don't affect my eyes although they are much drier now, as is all my nasal membranes and mouth. What's odd is that now when I administer a different eye drop, brinzolamide (brand name Azopt), there is an unpleasant metallic taste afterward. But I've taken brinzolamide for years without this effect. I believe it's been precipitated by the Alphagan-P. And I space my drops almost an hour apart so it's not that my meds are mixing in my eyes.
Another side effect of Alphagan-P, is a lowered heart rate, and possible shortness of breath. This might translate to feeling overly fatigued. Like I felt at the gym today. Except that 2 hours prior, I'd been trudging up and down the dog park hill and had to shovel out two more gates (we arrived late and a dog that one of my pups doesn't like was in the main area so I had to access a smaller side enclosure until that dog left). It's been too cold for the snow to melt even a little, and because the snow is powder fine, it's loose and slippery and great for skiing, but it doesn't clump, so bad for snowballs and making snowmen, and difficult not to slide down when descending steep hills.
Which means there are several reasons why cardio was difficult today and my quads burned with fatigue early in the session. My sciatica has been actively annoying, aching before noon and reminding me how very little activity aggravates it. The ache extends up to my lower back and makes laying flat in bed uncomfortable. Sciatica makes pull-ups harder than they should be. I'm good for the first several, but struggle with the last 3-4. I can still get over a dozen so perhaps I should just be thankful about that.
I forgot that the cleaning lady wipes down the equipment on Saturday afternoons. It's more than annoying when you're laying on a mat in the Aerobics Room doing Dead Bugs and she's mopping the floor by your head. There's no reason for me to be exercising while breathing in cleaning fumes! I actually complained to the front desk as nicely as I could. I'm glad the gym is being cleaned. But seriously, no one wants to be panting cleaning solvents while trying to do healthy things. I skipped the neck and shoulder stretches because of this.
I finally got approval and an appointment for a lumbar MRI since the sciatica isn't any better and it's been almost 4 months. Is it a disk issue or stenosis or something else? I had to wait for approval from my health insurance company. Then, there was a question as to whether the micro stents in my eyes were MRI safe. I also have Durysta implants in each eye, but that might either have completely dissolved or is made of something other than non-reactive titanium. Depending on what type of MRI device is being used, titanium devices could generate heat, which would be very bad. Pacemakers, etc are a no-go. Not sure what a patient does if they have one of those.
Meanwhile, we are breathlessly awaiting a nor'easter that might dump more snow on us tomorrow night into Monday. I am giving serious consideration into getting a snowblower. Not those monster gas-powered ones, but a smaller, more manageable rechargeable electric. There are several posts on YouTube with recommendations. Of course, this is absolutely the wrong time of year to buy one, but it's not to soon to research. Cuz this isn't the last year for heavy snowstorms. It'll be the Year of the Horse, a year of tumultuous and interesting times.
31 Jan 2026 2:13-3:24
Frigid Saturday
Bare Basics (w sciatica aggravated by dog park ski snow hill)
Precor elliptical #1 (2:50)
Program 1
Time: 30 + 5 (5164)
Distance: 2.71
Cal: 293
Precor HR: 186-77, 146 avg
Fitbit: low battery
HGPU 15 (w/ sciatica after 11 )
20 Piriformis/Hip flex
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
Push-Ups 30
Air Squats 25
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