Lawd, the trials and tribulations of a gay man...
First off, this post is about a medical issue, so you might want to bail out now if you don't like medical topics...
Secondly, I'll skip directly to the punch line -- I'm fine, no medical issue here.
This post is about how uncomfortable examinations can be.
Here's the deal...for a long time now I've had a minor itch in a private area...and sometimes in the shower, I could feel a very small lump there.
So, you know where this is going, right?
The thought crossed my mind that I might have a wart there. The only problem is that I could not SEE anything if I examined myself in the mirror.
So, that's when I made an appointment with my family doctor. My family doctor is a man that I've been going to for about 15 years. The only problem is that my familiar, male family doctor is out of the office for an extended period, so the office is now staffed by several unfamiliar-to-me, female doctors.
Although I was uncomfortable, I was basically okay with the idea of having a female doctor examine me -- she's an M.D., so it is what it is...
So, the doctor walks in, I tell her the story, and then she tells me this -- whenever a female doctor has a man drop his pants, she has to ask the office nurse come in as sort of a witness!
Um....okaaay...huh....that makes me more uncomfortable. I've known the nurse for as long as I've known my family doctor, lol!
So, I ask point blank -- does she have to have a witness, when I'm a gay man? I mean, it's not like any sexual issue will develop, right? She says yes, blame the lawyers.
I made a disgusted noise, and said okay, that this was a medical issue, so go.
So, the nurse comes in, I drop my drawers, bend over, and the doctor examines me. She could see the lump that I was feeling, but it was not a wart -- not an issue at all -- just how some skin had grown back together. And I guess the bike ride chafing made the skin visible to me.
So, I'm glad I went because it set my mind at ease. The women reading this are all probably saying "try being up in stirrups once a year"...I know, I know...but women have to learn to deal with private exams very early in life -- men don't start having them until later in life. My family doctor told me once that he had men in their 50s who would not come in for a physical because they didn't want the routine prostate exam. I told him that that was ridiculous -- it's a medical procedure, fercryingoutloud.
I also mentioned to the doc that I was really glad about how this turned out, because I wasn't going to have to tell my ex about this -- I mean, if it had turned out differently, I would have felt like I should tell him, not to mention C.
First off, this post is about a medical issue, so you might want to bail out now if you don't like medical topics...
Secondly, I'll skip directly to the punch line -- I'm fine, no medical issue here.
This post is about how uncomfortable examinations can be.
Here's the deal...for a long time now I've had a minor itch in a private area...and sometimes in the shower, I could feel a very small lump there.
So, you know where this is going, right?
The thought crossed my mind that I might have a wart there. The only problem is that I could not SEE anything if I examined myself in the mirror.
Until 2 weeks ago....
I had gone on a long bike ride and gotten chafed (I still haven't broken down and bought padded shorts), and when I got out of the shower, I could see a couple of red dots -- right where I had the itch, right where I could feel the lump.So, that's when I made an appointment with my family doctor. My family doctor is a man that I've been going to for about 15 years. The only problem is that my familiar, male family doctor is out of the office for an extended period, so the office is now staffed by several unfamiliar-to-me, female doctors.
Although I was uncomfortable, I was basically okay with the idea of having a female doctor examine me -- she's an M.D., so it is what it is...
So, the doctor walks in, I tell her the story, and then she tells me this -- whenever a female doctor has a man drop his pants, she has to ask the office nurse come in as sort of a witness!
Um....okaaay...huh....that makes me more uncomfortable. I've known the nurse for as long as I've known my family doctor, lol!
So, I ask point blank -- does she have to have a witness, when I'm a gay man? I mean, it's not like any sexual issue will develop, right? She says yes, blame the lawyers.
I made a disgusted noise, and said okay, that this was a medical issue, so go.
So, the nurse comes in, I drop my drawers, bend over, and the doctor examines me. She could see the lump that I was feeling, but it was not a wart -- not an issue at all -- just how some skin had grown back together. And I guess the bike ride chafing made the skin visible to me.
So, I'm glad I went because it set my mind at ease. The women reading this are all probably saying "try being up in stirrups once a year"...I know, I know...but women have to learn to deal with private exams very early in life -- men don't start having them until later in life. My family doctor told me once that he had men in their 50s who would not come in for a physical because they didn't want the routine prostate exam. I told him that that was ridiculous -- it's a medical procedure, fercryingoutloud.
I also mentioned to the doc that I was really glad about how this turned out, because I wasn't going to have to tell my ex about this -- I mean, if it had turned out differently, I would have felt like I should tell him, not to mention C.
- Music:Soul Spaceship (Me'Shell NdegéOcello)
Lazy day so far...clouds, and the marathon, 1/2 marathon, and 8K is today, so it would be a hassle to get out in the car right now. I usually go out and clap for a while, but I have this feeling that I'm just going to hang out inside today. I only know a few people who are running, and who knows when they will come by. Last time that I actually looked for a particular friend, I saw everyone except her!
Anyways, I was disappointed with my my cholesterol level on my recent blood work. Here's the deal -- over the last few years, I have had a particular negative side effect to every statin I tried -- nothing life threatening, but also not something that I will put up with. So, I won't take any more statins.
Given that I was not on meds, I knew my level would not be in the proper range. But considering how much biking I have been doing, and that I have lost about 10 pounds since the last time I was there, I expected the level to have gone down a bit. Instead, it rose 25 points!
Since the doctor knows about my statin side effects, the suggestion is that I start taking fish oil, which I have now started.
I have no real plans today, except to do some errands and get a bike ride in. I might head out to J. Emerson to grab a bottle of Barboursville Nebbiolo -- it's one that I like very much, and I might take it with me to an upcoming get-together.
Anyways, I was disappointed with my my cholesterol level on my recent blood work. Here's the deal -- over the last few years, I have had a particular negative side effect to every statin I tried -- nothing life threatening, but also not something that I will put up with. So, I won't take any more statins.
Given that I was not on meds, I knew my level would not be in the proper range. But considering how much biking I have been doing, and that I have lost about 10 pounds since the last time I was there, I expected the level to have gone down a bit. Instead, it rose 25 points!
Since the doctor knows about my statin side effects, the suggestion is that I start taking fish oil, which I have now started.
I have no real plans today, except to do some errands and get a bike ride in. I might head out to J. Emerson to grab a bottle of Barboursville Nebbiolo -- it's one that I like very much, and I might take it with me to an upcoming get-together.
- Music:Make Me Wanna Holler (Me'Shell NdegéOcello)
I have today off. It's been 20 years since I have worked at a place that had Veteran's Day off. It's an odd holiday because it has never been moved to Monday -- so this year, it falls smack dab on hump day.
It's been rainy and cool, but I got out early to get some blood drawn for my annual checkup...The damned place now requires a credit card in addition to your insurance information -- just in case the insurance doesn't pay everything. That just pisses me off.
So, the damned teabaggers (don't they research names before they use them?? -- it amuses me that they chose the nickname for a sexual activity) are anti national health care? I'm glad they like the crappy insurance situation we have now in the US. They are such tools.
Anyways, afterwards I went to Carytown with the laptop for coffee and quiche and to surf the web a while.
Then, ran some errands and have been doing some online Christmas shopping.
Tonight, I'm looking forward to dinner with a friend.
It's been rainy and cool, but I got out early to get some blood drawn for my annual checkup...The damned place now requires a credit card in addition to your insurance information -- just in case the insurance doesn't pay everything. That just pisses me off.
So, the damned teabaggers (don't they research names before they use them?? -- it amuses me that they chose the nickname for a sexual activity) are anti national health care? I'm glad they like the crappy insurance situation we have now in the US. They are such tools.
Anyways, afterwards I went to Carytown with the laptop for coffee and quiche and to surf the web a while.
Then, ran some errands and have been doing some online Christmas shopping.
Tonight, I'm looking forward to dinner with a friend.
- Music:Better Get To Livin' (Dolly Parton)
Got my road bike back...unfortunately, I can't go biking! My knees are sore -- I did a 1/2 split maneuver the other day (to get to something that had rolled deep under the car, but without getting on the ground and getting my pants dirty). I think that's when I hurt my knees :(
As a friend said...not a very lady-like maneuver!
Gotta give the knees a rest! Dang, I get tired of my new found aches and injuries! Is this what it means to be 40 sumthin'?
****
I have a CD renewing at the credit union. OMG! The new rate is going to be low. What happened during the last year?? I mean, the rate they want to pay on the CD renewal is like what a standard ole' savings account would have made a few years back!
****
So, I've lost a bit of weight, right? I don't shop for clothes a lot -- I have a standard set of clothes that I wear -- when an item wears out, I buy the same thing again, lol! (I know, not very gay, but I think I missed a fair number of days at gay school...)
Well, every guy needs something sort of dressy for Christmas party type events -- more than "business casual" but less than "dressing to the nines." I had 2 outfits -- a green herring bone jacket with black or brown dress pants and a brown suede jacket that I wore with black dress pants (or sometimes with blue "Docker" type pants).
Last night, I hit Macy's with a coupon. I bought exactly one pair of brown and one pair of black dress pants -- to replace the ones I had that were too big.
I tried them on with the jackets tonight -- and now I think the jackets are too big!! I have switched down to the next sized shirt...so I guess it makes sense that the jackets are too big. I guess I need to do some more shopping. This weight loss thing is not all it cracked up to be -- it's getting a little pricey!
****
I don't have any big plans for this long weekend. Heading to a cookout tomorrow during the day. I have this desire to get out of town for a day..but nothing has really caught my fancy yet.
As a friend said...not a very lady-like maneuver!
Gotta give the knees a rest! Dang, I get tired of my new found aches and injuries! Is this what it means to be 40 sumthin'?
****
I have a CD renewing at the credit union. OMG! The new rate is going to be low. What happened during the last year?? I mean, the rate they want to pay on the CD renewal is like what a standard ole' savings account would have made a few years back!
****
So, I've lost a bit of weight, right? I don't shop for clothes a lot -- I have a standard set of clothes that I wear -- when an item wears out, I buy the same thing again, lol! (I know, not very gay, but I think I missed a fair number of days at gay school...)
Well, every guy needs something sort of dressy for Christmas party type events -- more than "business casual" but less than "dressing to the nines." I had 2 outfits -- a green herring bone jacket with black or brown dress pants and a brown suede jacket that I wore with black dress pants (or sometimes with blue "Docker" type pants).
Last night, I hit Macy's with a coupon. I bought exactly one pair of brown and one pair of black dress pants -- to replace the ones I had that were too big.
I tried them on with the jackets tonight -- and now I think the jackets are too big!! I have switched down to the next sized shirt...so I guess it makes sense that the jackets are too big. I guess I need to do some more shopping. This weight loss thing is not all it cracked up to be -- it's getting a little pricey!
****
I don't have any big plans for this long weekend. Heading to a cookout tomorrow during the day. I have this desire to get out of town for a day..but nothing has really caught my fancy yet.
- Music:This Time I Know It's for Real (Donna Summer)
My HIV test result was negative.
This is good news as this test was not just precautionary. I needed to get the test because, about 3 months ago, I had unprotected sex with someone I didn’t know well.
I know…it was the wrong thing to do. Believe me, I know. I beat myself up about it for a few days afterwards, until my emotions stabilized. If you’re a Facebook friend, you might remember a status update about me beating myself up.
The acquaintance and I had talked about what we were going to do before anything happened. And we talked about the expectations of using a condom, but in medias res, he switched things up on me. And my sex drive just TOOK OVER – not for very long…but for long enough.
Funny thing is that I have always gotten a little angry with young guys who seroconverted, thinking that they KNEW better at their age. But I hadn’t been thinking enough about how strong the sex drive can be when you are being intimate.
I really was quite upset with myself at the time...and then there is the waiting for an appropriate length of time to get the test. I took a test first at 5 weeks, which was a bit early. So this 3-month test was the proof of the pudding. I think I'll take another in 3 more months, but I don't have any worries at this point.
I’m writing this as sort of a cautionary tale – so people realize what might happen, even if they have planned and discussed things with their date.
And I’m relieved.
This is good news as this test was not just precautionary. I needed to get the test because, about 3 months ago, I had unprotected sex with someone I didn’t know well.
I know…it was the wrong thing to do. Believe me, I know. I beat myself up about it for a few days afterwards, until my emotions stabilized. If you’re a Facebook friend, you might remember a status update about me beating myself up.
The acquaintance and I had talked about what we were going to do before anything happened. And we talked about the expectations of using a condom, but in medias res, he switched things up on me. And my sex drive just TOOK OVER – not for very long…but for long enough.
Funny thing is that I have always gotten a little angry with young guys who seroconverted, thinking that they KNEW better at their age. But I hadn’t been thinking enough about how strong the sex drive can be when you are being intimate.
I really was quite upset with myself at the time...and then there is the waiting for an appropriate length of time to get the test. I took a test first at 5 weeks, which was a bit early. So this 3-month test was the proof of the pudding. I think I'll take another in 3 more months, but I don't have any worries at this point.
I’m writing this as sort of a cautionary tale – so people realize what might happen, even if they have planned and discussed things with their date.
And I’m relieved.
This article mentioned swearing being a part of the fight or flight response...I don't normally curse very much, but I remember several times during my life when I've had a shock, and the first word out of my mouth was "Fuck!" A couple of examples of those times are being in a car accident, or when I broke my ankle.
According to neuroscientists from Britain’s Keele University, dropping the f-bomb can actually relieve physical pain.
In the upcoming August 5th issue of the journal NeuroReport, the researchers say swearing is a different phenomenon than most language. It activates emotional centers in the right side of the brain, rather than those &#*@ing cerebral areas reserved for regular #$#y communication in the left hemisphere.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=profanity-bleeps-physic al-pain-09-07-13
I don't have anything planned for the 3 day weekend, but I'm looking forward to just being off! I used to be able to see fireworks from my house, but there won't be any at the Diamond this year :(
I am thinking of going down to Green Front in Farmville tomorrow -- I'm thinking about buying a bed frame for the guest room.
***
I am back to walking 6 miles several times a week. Last night, I got caught in a bit of rain, so I ran the last 1/2 mile back to the house. The nice thing is that, although I was out of breath at the end, I was able to run just fine and could have run longer. There was a time when I would not have been able to run a 1/2 mile -- the biking seems to be improving my lung capacity!
****
Since it is the end of the week, I'm posting the "Friday" eye candy tonight :)
I am thinking of going down to Green Front in Farmville tomorrow -- I'm thinking about buying a bed frame for the guest room.
***
I am back to walking 6 miles several times a week. Last night, I got caught in a bit of rain, so I ran the last 1/2 mile back to the house. The nice thing is that, although I was out of breath at the end, I was able to run just fine and could have run longer. There was a time when I would not have been able to run a 1/2 mile -- the biking seems to be improving my lung capacity!
****
Since it is the end of the week, I'm posting the "Friday" eye candy tonight :)
- Music:Namah Shivaya (Krishna Das)
Went on a bike ride with T today.. This was the first bike ride since I landed face down on the trail 3 weeks ago! The thigh muscle is still weaker than it should be, and I could tell that the left leg took more of the weight than it should have.
I have this sinking suspicion that the right thigh is going to be pretty angry at me either tonight or tomorrow morning! But I have to get back to it sooner or later. Hopefully, it will be ok.
Afterwards, we went to the Vegetarian Festival over in Bryan Park. It wasn't too bad in the shade, but it was hot as the hinges of Hell in the sun! I think this is the hottest day so far this year!
Some live music --
I have this sinking suspicion that the right thigh is going to be pretty angry at me either tonight or tomorrow morning! But I have to get back to it sooner or later. Hopefully, it will be ok.
Afterwards, we went to the Vegetarian Festival over in Bryan Park. It wasn't too bad in the shade, but it was hot as the hinges of Hell in the sun! I think this is the hottest day so far this year!
Some live music --
- Music:Underappreciated (Christina Aguilera)
Well, I'm still dealing with the bruising on my leg. What was weird was that I got a brand NEW bruise on my ankle yesterday - 9 days after the original bike accident!
The Physician's Assistant wasn't too worried about it -- she said the blood was just pooling (force of gravity), and that I probably just injured the soft tissue again when I walked to lunch yesterday.
She told me to keep the leg elevated and to take Advil for swelling.
She also sent me downstairs for an x-ray of my femur, just to be on the safe side. I'll find out tomorrow if there's anything fractured -- although it's really hard to fracture your femur -- usually car accidents or falls from a height is what it takes to break that particular bone.
Anyways, here are some pictures from the yard --
I think this is Echinacea 'Rubinstern'. I have really developed a liking for coneflowers...
Coreopsis
Lavender, being crowded out by my stand of Rosemary --
Platycodon Mariesii -- Balloon Flower
The Physician's Assistant wasn't too worried about it -- she said the blood was just pooling (force of gravity), and that I probably just injured the soft tissue again when I walked to lunch yesterday.
She told me to keep the leg elevated and to take Advil for swelling.
She also sent me downstairs for an x-ray of my femur, just to be on the safe side. I'll find out tomorrow if there's anything fractured -- although it's really hard to fracture your femur -- usually car accidents or falls from a height is what it takes to break that particular bone.
Anyways, here are some pictures from the yard --
I think this is Echinacea 'Rubinstern'. I have really developed a liking for coneflowers...
Coreopsis
Lavender, being crowded out by my stand of Rosemary --
Platycodon Mariesii -- Balloon Flower
- Music:Tonight and the Rest of My Life (Nina Gordon)
I'm starting to see some swelling down my leg from that bike accident. That, plus the fact that the bruise is spreading (evidently, not unusual according to online sites) prompted me to call my doctor today. They want me to come in on Monday to see the physician's assistant.
So, I plan to spend as much time as possible this weekend with my leg up and on ice.
The weird thing about this injury is how delayed my symptoms have been - several days before the bruise, then several days before swelling.
***
Finished the first week at the new gig. It's going to be a challenge, but it feels good to be at a more responsible job again.
***
The local Democratic primary is Tuesday. The guy I'm thinking of supporting has an accent that grates Southern ears -- my ears included. So, I wonder how he will do in a general election.
So, I plan to spend as much time as possible this weekend with my leg up and on ice.
The weird thing about this injury is how delayed my symptoms have been - several days before the bruise, then several days before swelling.
***
Finished the first week at the new gig. It's going to be a challenge, but it feels good to be at a more responsible job again.
***
The local Democratic primary is Tuesday. The guy I'm thinking of supporting has an accent that grates Southern ears -- my ears included. So, I wonder how he will do in a general election.
I was weak this past weekend...I admit it. I wanted something sweet, so I threw a cobbler together, using some frozen fruit from the freezer. It definitely cured my sweet tooth! Oddly enough, I did not lose any weight over the weekend -- I wonder what the cause might have been?? Greek Festival? Cobbler? Brunch?
In the same color palette, I decided my bruise was gross enough to be photo-worthy, lol! Remember, this is on the OPPOSITE side of my leg from where I actually hit -- I'm sort of dreading what the front of my leg will look like...
So, now do you see why I've been whining about how sore my leg has been, lol?!
I have been very tired the last couple of days. I started the new gig yesterday -- I've probably met a 100 people...the project is very complex...I'm a bit overwhelmed, but that will pass as my mind grasps all the 3 letter acronyms being thrown my way, and as I come to understand all the players and their roles.
I'm starting to scope out the veggie-friendly restaurants and food carts in walking distance. Today, a co-worker and I ate at the Valentine Museum's café. Yesterday, I got some Indian food from a cart. So, there are definitely some options.
In the same color palette, I decided my bruise was gross enough to be photo-worthy, lol! Remember, this is on the OPPOSITE side of my leg from where I actually hit -- I'm sort of dreading what the front of my leg will look like...
So, now do you see why I've been whining about how sore my leg has been, lol?!
I have been very tired the last couple of days. I started the new gig yesterday -- I've probably met a 100 people...the project is very complex...I'm a bit overwhelmed, but that will pass as my mind grasps all the 3 letter acronyms being thrown my way, and as I come to understand all the players and their roles.
I'm starting to scope out the veggie-friendly restaurants and food carts in walking distance. Today, a co-worker and I ate at the Valentine Museum's café. Yesterday, I got some Indian food from a cart. So, there are definitely some options.
- Music:Mad World (Alex Parks)
Remember how I said a delayed bruise usually meant it would get ugly? Before I went to bed tonight, I still did not have a bruise -- this is Monday, and the accident was Saturday.
So, I got up in the middle of the night, and boy oh boy, it's gonna be a shiner!
The bruise has started, but on the inside of my thigh and towards the back -- nowhere near where I actually took the hit -- so, the sorest part of my thigh still doesn't have a bruise yet!
Now, I'm glad I have some 9" inseam shorts to cover this!
If it gets really, grossly ugly, then I'll take a picture -- right now, it's just a big red-black bruise all over my inner thigh.
So, I got up in the middle of the night, and boy oh boy, it's gonna be a shiner!
The bruise has started, but on the inside of my thigh and towards the back -- nowhere near where I actually took the hit -- so, the sorest part of my thigh still doesn't have a bruise yet!
Now, I'm glad I have some 9" inseam shorts to cover this!
If it gets really, grossly ugly, then I'll take a picture -- right now, it's just a big red-black bruise all over my inner thigh.
Went to brunch at Buddy's with a couple of friends. Had a nice time, and after that I have pretty much been a couch potato all day! They gave me a couple of books to celebrate my new gig (which starts tomorrow) -- ad that was very nice of them!
And my thigh is SO stiff! I've been icing it and trying to bend my leg to stretch it. It's feeling better, but I suspect it will be a few days before the stiffness subsides. The bruise has not shown up yet. It is my experience that the deeper the bruise, the longer it takes to show -- so, it's probably gonna look pretty bad in the next couple days!
And my thigh is SO stiff! I've been icing it and trying to bend my leg to stretch it. It's feeling better, but I suspect it will be a few days before the stiffness subsides. The bruise has not shown up yet. It is my experience that the deeper the bruise, the longer it takes to show -- so, it's probably gonna look pretty bad in the next couple days!
Went on a bike ride with a friend today who has relatively recently moved back to Virginia from Switzerland. He's a bit out of shape, but I think he'll come back up to speed pretty quickly, and it'll be nice to have someone in the neighborhood to bike with -- maybe to push me past my limits.
The first thing he did was lift up my bike to check the weight, so I returned the favor, lol! I hadn't really given much thought to the weight of my bike, and his was considerably lighter! I suspect I hadn't given much thought to the weight because my budget at the time for a bike was limited to the mostly steel bike that I have. Lighter bikes cost lots more!
After we parted ways, I rode on one of the trails and had a little spill -- I came across a small log -- really more like a branch. It was too big just to ride over, and I thought, "why don't I try to jump my front tire over it?" Well, all I really managed to do was to flip myself sort of over the handlebars! Got a scrape on my shin, and what is going to be a nice, deep bruise on the front of one thigh, but otherwise not too much the worse for wear.
I probably should be more careful -- I'm not a spring chicken anymore, lol!
***
I've been doing some shopping lately, right? More than I have been in the recent past -- new clothes, that sort of thing. Today, I got a call from the fraud division of my credit card company -- it was an automated call that listed out about 10 transactions and asked me to confirm that they were indeed mine.
The transactions were all mine -- no problems there, but what struck me as funny was, as I listened to the transactions, I could see how it might have triggered the alert. One was for gas at a place I don't usually buy gas, then an online catalog order, then a home improvement center, then a fast food joint...all the things you might expect someone to do with a stolen credit card, lol!
***
Tonight, Deege and I are supposed to head over to the Greek Festival. I don't go every year, but it is a pleasant event.
The first thing he did was lift up my bike to check the weight, so I returned the favor, lol! I hadn't really given much thought to the weight of my bike, and his was considerably lighter! I suspect I hadn't given much thought to the weight because my budget at the time for a bike was limited to the mostly steel bike that I have. Lighter bikes cost lots more!
After we parted ways, I rode on one of the trails and had a little spill -- I came across a small log -- really more like a branch. It was too big just to ride over, and I thought, "why don't I try to jump my front tire over it?" Well, all I really managed to do was to flip myself sort of over the handlebars! Got a scrape on my shin, and what is going to be a nice, deep bruise on the front of one thigh, but otherwise not too much the worse for wear.
I probably should be more careful -- I'm not a spring chicken anymore, lol!
***
I've been doing some shopping lately, right? More than I have been in the recent past -- new clothes, that sort of thing. Today, I got a call from the fraud division of my credit card company -- it was an automated call that listed out about 10 transactions and asked me to confirm that they were indeed mine.
The transactions were all mine -- no problems there, but what struck me as funny was, as I listened to the transactions, I could see how it might have triggered the alert. One was for gas at a place I don't usually buy gas, then an online catalog order, then a home improvement center, then a fast food joint...all the things you might expect someone to do with a stolen credit card, lol!
***
Tonight, Deege and I are supposed to head over to the Greek Festival. I don't go every year, but it is a pleasant event.
I've gotten up to 6 miles on my walk -- which is about as long as I'm willing to walk. I mean, I love the walk, and it has been most excellent exercise for me, but 6 miles takes me like an hour and 40 minutes! I don't want to be walking around the neighborhood for much longer than that each day!!
I'd love to run it, but I have that metal plate and screws in my ankle (from the "unfortunate incident" in 2001), and when I run, I can feel the boom, boom, boom on the plate as my left foot hits the ground -- it's not really, um, pain, but just discomfort. So, I tend to avoid running much.
So, what I've been doing is adding a bike ride whenever I can. Today, I got about an 11 mile ride bike ride in. It's only about an hour, so I'd like to build up the mileage on that.
Anyways, I have an iPhone app ("iMapMyRide") that I've talked about before, but wasn't terribly enamored of. I think it was because it kept telling me that my GPS was weak, and then the mileage didn't agree with Gmaps Pedometer (which I have verified).
But I used iMapMyRide again today to test it out, and it was nice that it gave me a map of where I had ridden. It's hard to remember where you ride on a bike (walking is different -- I can usually remember where I walk and use Gmaps Pedometer to figure out the mileage).
I didn't think about iMapMyRide until I was already riding, so I'm not sure the exact mileage from today.
So, I'll probably use Map My Ride again in the future.
I'd love to run it, but I have that metal plate and screws in my ankle (from the "unfortunate incident" in 2001), and when I run, I can feel the boom, boom, boom on the plate as my left foot hits the ground -- it's not really, um, pain, but just discomfort. So, I tend to avoid running much.
So, what I've been doing is adding a bike ride whenever I can. Today, I got about an 11 mile ride bike ride in. It's only about an hour, so I'd like to build up the mileage on that.
Anyways, I have an iPhone app ("iMapMyRide") that I've talked about before, but wasn't terribly enamored of. I think it was because it kept telling me that my GPS was weak, and then the mileage didn't agree with Gmaps Pedometer (which I have verified).
But I used iMapMyRide again today to test it out, and it was nice that it gave me a map of where I had ridden. It's hard to remember where you ride on a bike (walking is different -- I can usually remember where I walk and use Gmaps Pedometer to figure out the mileage).
I didn't think about iMapMyRide until I was already riding, so I'm not sure the exact mileage from today.
So, I'll probably use Map My Ride again in the future.
- Music:Danger (Erykah Badu)
Water on the rooftop
We have gotten SO much rain lately!! Like a Facebook friend said -- when exactly did we move to Portland? Anyways, it's hard to see, but this is water that has collected on the rooftop of the building next door at work.It looks a little like a swimming pool because of the curved ladder, but it's not -- the flagpole is just sitting in water!
I'm assuming the drains have clogged.
Reconciled with friend
I have lately reconciled with that friend from last Fall, where our friendship broke down. The relationship feels somewhat different, which is probably good, but it feels good to talk to her again.I didn't say too much at the time, but that situation really hurt me. I had always pictured us together into our old age (she will have a shock of gray in her hair, I think), so it bothered me a lot when we broke.
Roses
The roses are not flushing yet, but they've started blooming! With all this rain, I expect a heck of a flush!This is Artistry --
This is Just Joey --
Courtesy flush
The place where I work has been nicely remodeled. The bathrooms are fully automatic -- flushing, soap, water, towel dispensing, etc.The thing I was thinking about today -- it makes it hard to do the "courtesy flush" when the toiler is automatic. You know what I mean, right? If you are there, blowing the whole bathroom up, it's nice to do an early flush -- to reduce the, um, vapors, lol! With an automatic flush, it's pretty hard to do that!
- Music:Danger (Erykah Badu)
I know that the flu can be very series. But newscasters & politicians keep bringing up the flu of 1918. And I think that's not a comparison point yet.
It's my understanding that the spread of the 1918 flu was most likely related to the soldiers of World War I.
The soldiers would be drafted, brought into centralized places for training (meaning people from around the country coming together to spread their germs), then got sent overseas for battle and (hopefully) return to their families.
I guess what I'm saying is -- although the flu is certainly serious, and we should keep an eye on it, it just seems that newscasters and politicians are spreading fear and concern which I don't think is warranted yet.
It's my understanding that the spread of the 1918 flu was most likely related to the soldiers of World War I.
The soldiers would be drafted, brought into centralized places for training (meaning people from around the country coming together to spread their germs), then got sent overseas for battle and (hopefully) return to their families.
I guess what I'm saying is -- although the flu is certainly serious, and we should keep an eye on it, it just seems that newscasters and politicians are spreading fear and concern which I don't think is warranted yet.
What's notable about the 1918 pandemic was that the second wave was much deadlier than the first. During the first wave, which began in early March, the epidemic resembled typical flu epidemics. Those at the most risk were the sick and elderly, and younger, healthier people recovered easily. But in August, when the second wave began in France, the virus had mutated to a much more deadly form in the trenches of the first World War.[36] This was because, in civilian life, evolutionary pressures favor a mild strain. Those who get really sick stay home, but those with a mild strain continue with their lives, go to work and go shopping, affording the mild strain many more opportunities to spread. But in the trenches of the Great War, the evolutionary pressures were reversed. Soldiers with a mild strain weren't so sick that they needed to leave. Only those who were severely ill were sent back, on crowded trains, to crowded field hospitals, which afforded the deadlier virus the most opportunities to spread. So the second wave began in France and quickly spread around the world a second time.[37] It was the same flu, in that those who recovered from first-wave infections were immune, but it was far more deadly, and the most vulnerable people were those who resembled the soldiers in the trenches — young adults, who were otherwise healthy[38]. Consequently, during modern pandemics, health officials pay attention when the virus reaches places with social upheaval, looking for deadlier strains of the virus.[37]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic
I am posting this from Panera Bread -- waiting for my car's oil to be changed and tires rotated.
I didn't have a lot planned for this weekend, and so I was afraid it would be sort of a dud...especially since it was supposed to rain or be cloudy all weekend. But so far, the weekend has been pretty good!
Yesterday morning, I went with a new friend bike-riding out at Westcreek. It turned out well. Although I think I'm a bit better at riding than he is -- he has some extra weight on him and couldn't handle the hills as well -- it was still a pleasant enough ride.
Since I had reached my first weight goal yesterday (of getting back to my Fall weight), I sort of just inhaled whatever I felt like. Um, there's not much left in that ice cream container that I bought yesterday, lol!
Then last night, I actually had a "real" date with someone else that I met -- the first one since O and I broke up. What I mean by "real" is a date where you go out, have good conversation and spend time together.
This next bit of conversation may be a little too frank for folks, so I put it behind a link (an "lj-cut" as Livejournal's tag is called...)
( Read more... )
Anyways, as I sit here, I am also trying to mentally prepare myself for going to work tomorrow morning. First time in many months! Good thing for my budget...but also, it means my little vacation is over! I expect I'll miss my mid-afternoon naps, right? And I KNOW I will miss riding my bike or walking in the sunshine during the day!
One good thing about being in the sun a lot is that my face and neck has gotten pretty tan -- but my chest and back is still as lily white as the day I was born, lol! I have what I would call a "farmer's tan."
I didn't have a lot planned for this weekend, and so I was afraid it would be sort of a dud...especially since it was supposed to rain or be cloudy all weekend. But so far, the weekend has been pretty good!
Yesterday morning, I went with a new friend bike-riding out at Westcreek. It turned out well. Although I think I'm a bit better at riding than he is -- he has some extra weight on him and couldn't handle the hills as well -- it was still a pleasant enough ride.
Since I had reached my first weight goal yesterday (of getting back to my Fall weight), I sort of just inhaled whatever I felt like. Um, there's not much left in that ice cream container that I bought yesterday, lol!
Then last night, I actually had a "real" date with someone else that I met -- the first one since O and I broke up. What I mean by "real" is a date where you go out, have good conversation and spend time together.
This next bit of conversation may be a little too frank for folks, so I put it behind a link (an "lj-cut" as Livejournal's tag is called...)
( Read more... )
Anyways, as I sit here, I am also trying to mentally prepare myself for going to work tomorrow morning. First time in many months! Good thing for my budget...but also, it means my little vacation is over! I expect I'll miss my mid-afternoon naps, right? And I KNOW I will miss riding my bike or walking in the sunshine during the day!
One good thing about being in the sun a lot is that my face and neck has gotten pretty tan -- but my chest and back is still as lily white as the day I was born, lol! I have what I would call a "farmer's tan."
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
