Another Crash, Delayed Reaction

After a busy few weeks, I anticipated a crash, but thought I’d gotten away with a single down day. I got busy, cleaning out closets, had stuff out all over my place...and then it happened...the crash.

I went to bed early, woke late the next morning, and had a three hour nap that morning, and another hour and a half in the afternoon. I felt like a toddler, needing her naps. It was early to bed that night, amazing that I could still sleep. For those two nights I had the best night’s sleep I’d had in ages, too bad I had to be exhausted to have it happen.

Now, almost a week later, I’m still dragging, not quite up to whatever speed that is I usually maintain. The cleanup is almost done. I’ve worked at it little by little, and feel some sense of accomplishment.

There is a box of stuff to be donated, garbage to take to the curb, but still too much ‘stuff’ sitting around on surfaces, so cleaning is difficult. I need to dust and vacuum and will get it done, eventually.

The one plus to living alone, this mess is all mine, and I can put up with it where someone else might not. But this kind of mess is getting to me, unlike the mess I can make when I’m in the middle of some creative project. Somehow, a mess in the name of art is okay, because then I’m an artist, not a slob.

That’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it.

An Ounce of Prevention

I’ve been sitting here, wrapped in my towel, for the last hour, trying to get some energy back after having a shower. My back was really bad this morning, tough to stand so I’m glad I had the shower chair.

The hot weather has been bad enough, and now that it’s a bit cooler my back goes,why now? Why today?

I try and think of what I might have done to cause this increase in back pain, and finally remember. I went to do my laundry last night, something I had been avoiding with the last few hot and humid days as I have to walk over to the main building. But last night there was a breeze and the temperature had decreased, so I figured it was manageable.

I keep my dirty clothes in one of those shopping cart things. Not the metal one, but the one with the removable bag. I like that it’s on wheels so I can move it when I’m cleaning. But to do the laundry, I lift the bag off the cart and put it on the walker.

Last night, I remember the cart was behind my new dehumidifier, also on wheels. But instead of moving the dehumidifier, I leaned over and tried to lift the bag off the cart, and of course it got snagged and I had to really tug. So now I'm suffering because I didn't use my good sense last night.

As I’m typing I can feel the pain in my right shoulder and am afraid what my back will be like when I go to stand. I’ll have to do it, need to get dressed.

At least I didn’t fall in the shower. If I’m going to fall, and I know it will happen again, I want to fall with my clothes on.

Crash and Crash Again

It’s funny the way things work. I was so busy last week, visits with the grandchildren, lunch out with a friend, and then Friday night was dinner at the soon-to-be daughter’s in-laws, the night before the wedding on Saturday. Busy time for me, so different than my usual days.

Saturday was a beautiful day, but a shade too hot and humid for most everyone so you can imagine how I felt. The outdoor wedding was lovely, with the slight breeze and shade of the trees. Fortunately, the hall was air conditioned so comfort prevailed. Still, a long and emotional day for me after a busy week.

I figured Sunday for a crash day, and after breakfast out with my brother and his wife, I had a three hour nap and spent the rest of the day in a mental fog.

As crashes went, that one seemed to be short and sweet. Labor Day I felt some renewed energy, some of that, with the wedding over, as I could now get back to some of the things I’d set aside. Like cleaning.

I started in the far corner of the bedroom, where I have a seven drawer stand filled with art supplies. I cleaned out, and not just sorting and purging, but washed out each drawer. With that done, and a new idea of the supplies I have on hand, I’m ready to get back to some art work, but more cleaning first. Cleaning those drawers I sort of, not as thorough though, cleaned some of the others, as it happens when you organize and store like things together.

I packed things from the curio cabinet I’m giving my granddaughter, and that got me off my planned schedule as I had wings broken off an angel statue, an ornament in 2 pieces, and a Royal Doulton in need of repair. So I moved it all to the kitchen and got out my super glue.

While I was in the kitchen I did the dishes, and cleaned out the fridge and freezer as it was timely, today is garbage day. I can’t believe I had so many outdated items in the fridge, I mean February 2013? What was I saving that sauce for?

And I wonder why I never seem to get anything accomplished? I do manage to get stuff done, it’s just with no rhyme or reason, moving from one thing to the next like some pin ball game, never finishing one task to completion. So here it is, the Tuesday after the last long weekend of summer, and for many of us, the unofficial start to fall. It’s still too hot and the humidity is dreadful. Today I feel the crash I thought I’d escaped earlier. The aches and pain are making it an Advil kind of day, my head feels like it’s wrapped in cotton balls and I’m puffy, especially my one eye.

My exuberance for fall may have to wait a few days; it seems my crash is not done with me yet.

Walking Practice

It is a sad state of affairs that I realize I have spent the summer, and spring, I suppose, in bare feet or crocs. I find walking easier in flats,when there is no heel, nothing to throw off my precarious sense of balance.

The fact that crocs are okay for my lifestyle says a lot about my life. The people in Walmart (I know you've seen the videos) don't care that I'm wearing crocs, and I wear black ones so they look more like regular shoes, or so I convince myself.

But in four days I have an event to attend, and I need to dress up. I should buy a pair of rainbow crocs, just to annoy my daughter, my perverse sense of humor showing.

Anyway, today I put on my dressy navy suede sandals, to practice walking. They have a bit of a heel, maybe 2 inches, and I haven't worn any kind of heel in...well, a long time. That much of a heel throws your balance off.

I walked out of one room and fell hard into the door frame. Good thing I don't bruise easy or I would have a big black and blue mark on my forearm. I definitely need more practice, and not just inside. I'll take a spin with the walker and do a circuit of the court, see how I do.

I tried on my new slacks, and they work with the sandals, so no tripping over too long of pant legs.

I pray there will be no incidents, no trips, no near falls, and heaven forbid, no face plant, fall to the floor.

Practice makes perfect, right?