Spoonie Retirement — Life Love and Temperature Intolerance

Welcome fellow spoonies and other sentient beings to another edition of

Spoonie Retirement. The week has gone by, as weeks tend to do. After the hub-bub of the last few weeks it’s been nice to relax a bit.

Above buttermilk skies in the morning, here at the Ranch

If we were having coffee this week, I’d wish you a happy Beltane, then I’d brag that all of our de-winterizing is done on the RV and we’re ready for Spring. Hang on just a minute … this is summer weather! We seem to have by-passed spring this year. Two weeks ago we had snow, this week we have highs in the 80’s. Summer craziness has already begun here at the RV park. Sections of the park that have been closed all winter are open once again and are fully occupied, as people come out to celebrate the good weather. Humpffff, good weather in deed, too hot for my liking.

Trees bursting with buds

As Spoonies, Superhubs and I both suffer from temperature intolerance, and it changes. In the winter I find 59-60f perfect indoor temps, in the summer I’m freezing at 68, sweating at 78. Yeah, I have a teeny tiny thermal comfort zone. So while two weeks ago I was putting on extra sweaters to keep warm, I am now stripping off layers and wandering about in shorts. Symptom management requires constant adjustment. Regrettably, I also loathe air conditioning which complicates things a bit more. Don’t misunderstand me, I still USE the A/C, I just don’t LIKE it.

Lilacs are already in leaf, blooms can’t be far behind.

Like a lot of Spoonies, a sunny day can wreak all kinds of havoc with my immune system, triggering flares from my feet to my eyes. This is the time when simple, easy meal plans involving little to no cooking become essential to our well-being. Big batch oat porridge, prebaked frittata cups and fruit with or without yogurt are breakfast basics. Lunches are salads and wraps. Dinners are mostly foil wraps, outdoor grill or “slow cooker” meals.

With heat intolerance, the main problem we face is afternoon fatigue, so we plan around it. Chores, exercise, and activities take place in the mornings. Once 3:00 pm hits, that heavy, can’t breathe, can’t move, OMG-I’d-die-but-it-would-take-too-much-energy fatigue just crushes the life out of you. A cool shower in the afternoon will revive enough spoons for a light supper, movie, and bed. On the menu tonight, greek chicken casserole. This low carb version is “baked” in the slow cooker with side salads or microwaved vegetables from our local organic coop. Hope you’re having a wonderful week, do come join us at the weekend coffee share hosted by Natalie for sips, quips, shots and talks.

Stuff I’m watching and doing today

til next time ~Have a Blessed Beltane ~JP

Spoonie Retirement – Life, Love and Covid – Weekend Coffee Share

Greetings fellow Spoonies and other sentient beings to my contribution for Weekend Coffee Share hosted by Natalie. I got my second Covid vaccine injection last week. Wiped me out for a few days but, all in all, I think it’s worth it, especially now that I’m feeling human again.

If we were having coffee, I’d brag that we started Spring cleaning, clearing out the last (hopefully) remnants of Winter.

Above a shot of the back of our media cabinet. You can see several inches of frost along the top and corner. Those 10+ days below zero did a number on our little home. That’s one of the things about being a full-time RVing Spoonie, you’ve got to pick your battles. We do everything we can think of to keep our place warm (skirts around the base, plastic overlay on the windows, etc.) but honestly, RV’s are just not designed for extreme weather. We did fine, no busted pipes or anything but there was a good deal of set up and crisis management involved, such as several days without water due to the heated water hose freezing up.

And, of course, I’d have to tell you about the weather. The cold has departed, being replaced by the winds that are common here in the Black Hills leaving the skies bright blue with little wispy clouds. My personal harbinger of Spring.

The grass is greening, the snow is gone, Spring has sprung.

Flowering annuals are poping up, campers are arriving and it looks like it’s going to be a wild ride this summer.

On the health front the dyshidrotic eczema blisters on my feet are improving enough that I’ve gotten out for short walks most days and my yoga routine adaptations (to not use feet) are coming along nicely. Spring vegetables are slowly showing up in our local coop and the farmers market should be opening soon. The local produce is still of the “hoop house” variety as we will likely have more snow sometime this month, but we are hoping for the best. I did get a bunch of gorgeous radishes and asparagus which I must say are definitely at their peak right now. Hoop house, hothouse, or ITG (In The Ground), they taste great after a winter of mostly frozen produce.

I’d talk about next week, which includes 4 medical appointments and one maintenance appointment to get new tires on the car, total of 5 appointments in 5 days. Yep, that is what it means to be a Spoonie, the “human pincushion” thing. I’d share that BIL #1 (the one with Covid) developed pneumonia and got an infusion of antibodies. He is doing much better, thank goodness.

I would undoubtedly whine a bit about the looming tax deadline and kids and grandkids who still expect me to have the answers to anything tax related. But then, I’d wax rhapsodic about the simple joy of watching the robins and rabbits in the yard. Come Spring, and welcome, bring your light to gently wake us from Winter’s slumber.

Til next time ~Stay Wild Moonchild ~JP

 

Spoonie Retirement — Life, Love, and Covid Vaccine

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. — Robert Burns

So have gone the past two weeks here at Chez Spoons, awry. If I were to describe my life in six words, they would be “it did not go as planned.” It all started with a minor back injury, just a strain really, but OMW I did not realize how much lower back pain affects day to day life. Ouch! A series of prolotherapy injections over a 4 day period combined with some muscle relaxers, took care of that problem. Then, there was the skin cancer. A biopsy came back positive for cancer cells, requiring a bit more excising and freeze therapy to remove the rest of the onerous cells. OK, I got this! THEN, there was the medical shrug about the dyshidrotic eczema, we have run out of ideas and I decline more steroid therapy, so back to my standard “ignore it until it goes away” treatment plan. I wrap my toes in wool roving for padding before going on walks, soak my feet daily, use a good moisturizer and a non-steroidal ointment if necessary. THEN, guess what …. no go ahead, guess. I’ll give you a hint, I’ve been on a waiting list for the Covid vaccine for a few weeks now and, yep, you guessed it, my turn came up in the middle of all this. So, I got the pfizer vaccine, 1st injection. Not as bad as I expected but let me tell you, my immune system went to town. Sore arm, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, mild fever and chills subsided after day 2 and were completely gone by day 3. Not too bad but I lost a couple more days to aches and utter exhaustion. plllttttt! ;-p

Anyway … the worst is over and my routine is slowly returning to “normal” and I must say, thank goodness. Chronic illness is like a marauding dragon that shows up at the least appropriate time, wreaks havoc on carefully laid plans and demands a virgin sacrifice. But for now, it is appeased, the sub-zero temps have gone, the sun is shining, the snow is mostly gone and the weather is just lovely. Temps will be dropping again in the near future and that’s fine, but for today, My Dragon is safely slumbering and I think I’ll go have a bit of a walk about.

Til next time ~Stay wild moon child ~JP

What Day is it Anyway? — Getting Real

Linking to Linda G Hill’s WDIIA. From Linda:

Why I’m writing this post:  Because if you’re like me and stuck at home already, or if you’re going to be like me soon, the days of the week are going to be hell to keep track of. We have a wonderful community here on WordPress and all over the Internet as well, and I’m sure many people are feeling nervous and/or isolated. I want to make sure every one of us has somewhere to congregate and someone to talk to.

I want everyone to know that you can start discussions with each other in the comments, and if you’d like to write your own “What Day is it Anyway?” post, you can link to this one. Hashtag #WDIIA.  Let’s keep in touch!

Coping with COVID-19 – Day 3, 4 and 5 — Getting Real

Things seem to get crazier every day as we all attempt to “flatten the curve” so to speak. We’re holding our own here in the Black Hills with only 1 confirmed case in our county and no community transmission (how they determine that I’m not sure.)

I slipped into my protective introvert shell for a few days so if I’ve missed posts, comments and such, I apologize. Problem is I can sink deep, fast, become apathetic and depressed which is kind of scary in and of itself.

It’s part of the whole INFJ/HSP thing. The vibes that surround me right now and just plain scary, stores are filled with angry, frightened people. The internet, my primary source of outside contact is equally alarming. The cough I have is irritating and maybe spooky as well. I lost my voice for two months last year from a chronic cough, arrrrgggghhh! Not it’s not virus related, mostly allergies and perhaps a minor spring cold. So that’s the “real” part, I’m OK but honestly I’m not handling this as well as I had thought I would. Must remember to be on guard against the dreaded “blahhhh’s.”

After talking with a friend yesterday (on the phone) and a few long conversations with Superhubs, I’m feeling much stronger emotionally. Still a little weak, wheezy, and coughy (gosh I sound like a bunch of dwarfs) but I don’t feel as bad about it. Both my dear granddaughter and Linda have expressed it well. Good can come of this crisis if we just remember to look for it. So for today, I will find the good hiding in the bad and I will cherish it.

Can’t Stop the Feeling — from Trolls the movie

Til next time ~Hang in there baby ~JPP

Spoonie Sunday – JusJoJan 19 – Gratitude and gobbledygook

For Linda’s JusJoJan prompt for January 19th, 2020, “gobbledygook.” Use the word “gobbledygook” any way you’d like. Today’s prompt is brought to us by Jim.

Spoonie Gratitude

“Gratitude is a choice I can make every day.” My dear Mother sent me a kitchen towel with that slogan on it many years ago during a particular low point in my life. Back then I was an arrogant 30-something with a career, children to raise and stuff to do. I regarded that precious slogan as a bunch of gobbledygook, nonsense meant for the weak willed.

The Decade Tag – 2010 – 2019

There’s a new tag challenge going around 😉

Play Along Guidelines
Please share a link to the creator of the tag-jesusluvsall.wordpress.com
Share some highlights for you over the past decade and if you want, a few low points
Tag whoever you wish to.

Thanks to Di for the tag this is an awesome chance to reflect on a decade of ups and downs. To paraphrase, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, a decade of joy and a decade of loss. Mostly it has been a decade of deep personal change.

In the 20teens (between 2010 and 2019) we’ve had some low points.

The Really You – Really Scary

Rory as this new thing going called ‘The Really You’ where he asks three questions, just three. OK, I’m game (again) c’mon it’s kinda fun and rather enlightening. 😉

How well do you handle stress?

Depends. Mostly, I don’t. I internalize. In an emergency situation though, I’m cool as a cucumber. A couple of months ago, SuperHubs had a Grand-Mal seizure. I got his unconscious self down onto the floor, protected his head, called 911 got the paramedics on the way, got him to the emergency room. I stayed with him the two days he was in ICU got him back home and got him sorted back out. No problem, I can do this. He’s back to himself, been released back to normal activities, NOW my immune system has collapsed, I’m sick, I’m exhausted and am having one of the worst auto-immune flares I’ve had in many years. It’s taken me weeks to get myself sorted out and I’m still suffering from the flare. So …. I handle stress really well, until the crisis is over and then I collapse.

How well do you handle your anger?

I don’t do anger. It’s uncomfortable and I don’t like it, at ALL. I avoid anger at all costs. Anger is dangerous for me, it can send me into panic attacks, tachycardia and arrhythmias real fast, too fast. I practice a little thing called the INFJ door slam. I don’t get angry, I don’t get even, I get nothing which when you think about it is really a lot more scary.

When was the last time you really lost your temper through stress?

Hard to say. When I lose my temper, particularly from stress I’m scary cold. Many years ago I lost it with my ex. I was sporting yet another black eye and I watched him slip under the bath water (he was so stoned he didn’t ever realize it), I felt … nothing as the bubbles rose. It took some time for me to decide to grab him by the hair and drag him back above the water line.

When I get truly angry, I door slam the offending individual. I kill them off in my mind, I grieve and mourn but I speak not a word to or about them, have no contact whatsoever. Unless and until they are able to make sufficient amends and my anger has cooled enough for me to accept those amends. It takes years.

My son says “Do NOT piss off my Mom, she will grab you by the ear, kick open the gates of hell and personally escort your a** right on in. And she will do it with a smile on her face.”

So that’s me, how about you?

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP

JusJoJan 9 – Scrumptious

Linda’s JusJoJan prompt for January 9th, 2020, is “scrumptious.” Use the word “scrumptious” any way you’d like. Have fun! Today’s word was given to us by Maggie at From Cave Walls. Thank you Maggie!

It’s no secret that I’m a foodie, a spoonie foodie at that. So when I see the word scrumptious, one would tend to believe my mind will wander to baked salmon fillets, topped with garlic butter and lemon, or a wildly decadent black forest torte (both of which are particular specialties of mine). But no, when I think of scrumptious, my mind inevitably goes directly to my SuperHubs. Yeah, yeah I know sick and twisted. He is the sweetest, kindest human being I have ever had the honor to know. Yesterday we spent all day at a VA medical clinic undergoing evaluation for a disability claim. The question here is not whether or not he is disabled but whether it is “service related.” The outcome is entirely inconsequential to us but the evaluation is a requirement. So there you have it. It’s a long, grueling, and annoying process. Yet we manage it some modicum of grace, style and yes, humor. At the end of the day, his smile and laughter is scrumptious like a breeze across the bay.

Truly Scrumptious – from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP

SoCS – The Key to Her Success

For Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “key.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Image by TeroVesalainen from Pixabay

The Key to Her Success

The skinny little wretch sat there on the barstool, mocking me.

“Oh the key to my dieting success? I just forget to eat sometimes.” She said it calmly while scarfing down an order of wings with blue cheese and one of those silly froo-froo cocktails with enough sugar to put someone like me into a coma.

I may have rolled my eyes just a little while she polished off the double order of grease and goo. I mean honestly, forget to eat? Really? Lady you gotta be some kind of stupid to forget to eat.

Now I’m in my 60’s, and I’ve forgotten a LOT of things. I’ve forgotten the budget report the day I was supposed to present it to the board of directors. I’ve forgotten my keys, forgotten where I parked my car (once when I was at home). I’ve forgotten my parents anniversary, I’ve forgotten my own anniversary. I’ve forgotten my children’s names, I’ve forgotten my purse, my phone, my bra (yeah let’s not dwell on that one). I’ve forgotten to unplug the iron, I’ve forgotten how the heck to open that stupid child-proof zip lock bag and had to get my grandson to help me. But never, ever, not once, have I forgotten to EAT.

“You don’t look bad honey, you should just get so busy you forget all about eating for awhile.”

I smiled my best Monalisa smile, snatched the last wing off the plate, chugged the last of my light beer and belched. “Sorry girlfriend, just won’t work.”

“Why ever not?”

“Eidetic memory.”

Skinny people, bah …. humbug.

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP

Thanksgiving

For the second time in 12 years, I find myself NOT cooking dinner for 200+ people. No really, I made Thanksgiving dinner at an RV park we stayed at. Park bought the turkey, gravy, ham and potatoes. I shoveled stuff in and out of ovens, peeled, cooked and mashed 60 pounds of potatoes! Yeah, kind of glad that’s over with 😉 Last year we were in New Zealand where in February they celebrate Waitangi Day a national day of thanksgiving. Ahhhh the memories.

A special treat from the old memory archives

Happy Thanksgiving one and all ~JPP