Finally Spring. Monday was a really beautiful day. Plus a special day. 26 yrs ago my daughter was born. My favorite, of course she is my only, but she's still my favorite. This weekend was a nice weekend, although a little on the cool side.
We went riding a week ago Sunday, (M & I) and put in about 19 miles. I did really well, kicked butt. M was worried about whether I would make it for the bike ride we have scheduled for this coming weekend (the 16th), but she had a lot more trouble than I did. I had been riding inside, with my bike up on a indoor stand, I like riding my own bike much better than riding on our excercise bike, I don't find it comfortable. I admit though that I am bad about procrastinating riding indoors. Call me lazy. that's really most of it. I like riding outside, that's different.
For my daughters b'day we helped her get a new bike. A nice one. She's been working really hard at losing some weight and getting in shape. She has started doing irish folk dancing - which is pretty cool, and a real workout, plus watching what she eats, and has lost around 25 lbs. Good for her! We spent Saturday picking up the bike, and went for a short ride, then on Sunday we met the kids (her and her boyfriend) and went for a ride near their house. We did 20 miles on one of the rail trails. Great ride, but a little chilly. After the ride we took them out for their birthdays (J's is 4/11, his is the 13th). I think we all had fun.
I'm riding pretty well, even with my knees. My knees are bad. But I can ride better than I walk. My main problem is stopping - have to make sure my knee won't give out, that's how I broke my ankle last year. Hills are a problem. Or difficult climbing. I have to remember to shift down, and even if I do in time, if it is a tough hill, I might not make it. I have to judge it right so if I'm not going to make it I can stop and get off and walk it. If I push too far, I take the chance of not making it and not being able to stop, and get off without crashing and burning. How hard can stopping be?
The rest of the week (until today) was rainy, damp, cold and miserable. Or may that was just me that was miserable. My arthritis flares up in the cold damp. My MS feet flare up in cold damp. Maybe you know what I mean? My feet are cold, fuzzy, and it feels like I"m walking on a balled up sock under the ball of my foot. It isn't they are numb. I have sensation in my feet. They just are fuzzy/tingly, whatever. When they are bad, then you can test easily for the babinski sign. My big toe will fly up. When it is warmer, then my reflexes calm down at least some. I know it is the heat that effects most MS people. But it is the cold that effects me. Heat can actuallly help me sometimes. Like soaking in the hot tub. I'm glad too. As much money and effort we put in to installing it, and creating our little getaway with the two decks and fences behind the house. I read something on Lisa's (brass and ivory) blog regarding Uhthoff's Phenomenom, and its opposite - Inverse Uhthoff's syndrome. I think that is me. I didn't really find any other text or information on it, but here is the link to Lisa's blog - http://www.brassandivory.org/2011/04/heat-sensitivity-and-uhthoffs.html
Today, however is a beautiful spring day. Went outside at lunchtime without a jacket - short sleeves. Think the temps were mid 60's. Sun shining. I hope it will be as nice tomorrow & Saturday for our bike ride.
Showing posts with label smiling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smiling. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Cat fun
I posted some video of the cats (well Sonny) playing with the red light. Ruby has no interest what-so-ever and doesn't get what the fuss is about. The other two, seem to enjoy playing. Sonny especially. We got the laser light in hopes that we could help Ziggy become more active. He is getting older, he will be 10 this year. And he is overweight. The vet had said not to worry too much about his weight as long as he seemed active, happy, etc. However I know that with cats, as with people, carrying too much weight is not a good thing. And we have noticed that he is starting to have trouble jumping on the bed. So, in order to help him, we have put the cats on a diet. We were using self-feeders, which is very convenient - for us, and for "piggy" to eat as much as he wanted. Ziggy is the one that has a problem with over-eating. Ruby is if anything underweight. Sonny is very close to ideal weight for his size. He also likes to eat a lot, so he could end up with a problem if he doesn't get enough exercise.
So how do you put 3 cats on a diet? Well, I researched on the internet (google is my friend), and decided we would get food that is for overweight adult cats, and mix in with their regular food. It isn't good to suddenly switch foods without allowing a period for their systems to get used to it. We moved the food upstairs to the kitchen where the water bowl is. Instead of leaving the self feeders out all day, we are now monitoring how much they are eating. And we are limitting the treats.
Exercise is also important. So I bought several toys to try to see if I could get them motivated to play and run around. The laser light is a big hit! Both Ziggy and Sonny will run around and chase it - especially if the room is dark so the light shows up that much more. The light is motorized so you can turn it on and set it down and it will flash the light around the room, but they seem to like it more if we move the light. It becomes more interactive that way. Sonny really loves it. M thinks that maybe he is still young enough to need something like this to help him come out of his shell. Plus there are times that we hear him going around the house crying looking for someone to play with him. Ziggy plays with him, but then gets tired out before Sonny does. So I think the light is helping Sonny as much as Ziggy, even though the original intent was to get it for Ziggy. Ziggy will run around like crazy chasing the light for a few min, then we can tell he gets worn out and flops down, and then just watches. M says it is age and the extra weight. Ok, so I can relate.
Ziggy is my buddy. If playing games with him and putting him on a diet will extend his life and make it more enjoyable then it is more than worth it.
So how do you put 3 cats on a diet? Well, I researched on the internet (google is my friend), and decided we would get food that is for overweight adult cats, and mix in with their regular food. It isn't good to suddenly switch foods without allowing a period for their systems to get used to it. We moved the food upstairs to the kitchen where the water bowl is. Instead of leaving the self feeders out all day, we are now monitoring how much they are eating. And we are limitting the treats.
Exercise is also important. So I bought several toys to try to see if I could get them motivated to play and run around. The laser light is a big hit! Both Ziggy and Sonny will run around and chase it - especially if the room is dark so the light shows up that much more. The light is motorized so you can turn it on and set it down and it will flash the light around the room, but they seem to like it more if we move the light. It becomes more interactive that way. Sonny really loves it. M thinks that maybe he is still young enough to need something like this to help him come out of his shell. Plus there are times that we hear him going around the house crying looking for someone to play with him. Ziggy plays with him, but then gets tired out before Sonny does. So I think the light is helping Sonny as much as Ziggy, even though the original intent was to get it for Ziggy. Ziggy will run around like crazy chasing the light for a few min, then we can tell he gets worn out and flops down, and then just watches. M says it is age and the extra weight. Ok, so I can relate.
Ziggy is my buddy. If playing games with him and putting him on a diet will extend his life and make it more enjoyable then it is more than worth it.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
what is real?
I got a comment on an earlier post regarding the outcome of surgery I recently had, and it made me think of the topic of this post. When you meet people online, either via chat rooms, message boards, blogs, etc, there is talk of this being a "virtual world" vs the "real world" which is the one we live and breath and work, etc.
Sometimes, I think the people in the virtual space can be as real as those in real life. For example, I just had a virtual stranger ask me how I was, if I was ok, after having some surgery. That to me is a show of concern. I don't think imaginary or virtual people are that real. Also, Diane seems very real to me, I read her blog, know (I think) quite a bit about her from her blog, so she seems like a friend. Of course someone can watch a TV show week after week, and get to know the characters and they can also seem like people you "know", almost like friends. But the difference here is that online, there is an interchange. I read her blog and can comment, and she can comment back on my comments, and she reads my blog and leaves comments for me as well. Mine is not near as interesting as hers, and I don't write near as often. So by exchanging comments it becomes a form of conversation, and we can get to know each other, at least superficially. which makes it more real. I could also argue that I have friends (acquaintances?) that knew I was having surgery and haven't made any effort to check on me in real space, so having someone do that in the virtual world, is a nice thing.
One of my favorite books is a kids book. The Velveteen Rabbit. In the book toys become real through the love of their owner. I think I had a point here somewhere, but I think I lost it. So instead I'll just say that maybe virtual space is sort of like that too, it becomes as real as those who participate in it. And yes, I know there are many fake people on the Internet that are out for no good. My mother always warned be about those people. You know the ones out for no good. I think they should wear a label or sign. I don't believe everything I read or see. But on the other hand, I don't doubt everything or disbelieve it either. So I will continue to write my blog for my own reasons, and continue to feel a part of a community. Which is a really nice thing.
Sometimes, I think the people in the virtual space can be as real as those in real life. For example, I just had a virtual stranger ask me how I was, if I was ok, after having some surgery. That to me is a show of concern. I don't think imaginary or virtual people are that real. Also, Diane seems very real to me, I read her blog, know (I think) quite a bit about her from her blog, so she seems like a friend. Of course someone can watch a TV show week after week, and get to know the characters and they can also seem like people you "know", almost like friends. But the difference here is that online, there is an interchange. I read her blog and can comment, and she can comment back on my comments, and she reads my blog and leaves comments for me as well. Mine is not near as interesting as hers, and I don't write near as often. So by exchanging comments it becomes a form of conversation, and we can get to know each other, at least superficially. which makes it more real. I could also argue that I have friends (acquaintances?) that knew I was having surgery and haven't made any effort to check on me in real space, so having someone do that in the virtual world, is a nice thing.
One of my favorite books is a kids book. The Velveteen Rabbit. In the book toys become real through the love of their owner. I think I had a point here somewhere, but I think I lost it. So instead I'll just say that maybe virtual space is sort of like that too, it becomes as real as those who participate in it. And yes, I know there are many fake people on the Internet that are out for no good. My mother always warned be about those people. You know the ones out for no good. I think they should wear a label or sign. I don't believe everything I read or see. But on the other hand, I don't doubt everything or disbelieve it either. So I will continue to write my blog for my own reasons, and continue to feel a part of a community. Which is a really nice thing.
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