Saturday 9

SATURDAY 9: God Bless America 

Unfamiliar with Connie Francis' version of this song? Hear it here.

1) Irving Berlin's lyrics celebrate our mountains, prairies, and oceans. Which of these geographical features is nearest your home? I'm a midwesterner, surrounded by prairies. When I used to travel to downstate Illinois to visit my client, I would look out onto vistas of soybeans.

2) Berlin donated his royalties from "God Bless America" to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. Were you ever a Scout? Brownie, Junior and Cadette. 

3) While this week's song has been recorded many times, we're concentrating on Connie Francis' 1959 version. It was never intended to be a hit, released as the B-side to her popular "Among My Souvenirs." But it took off when it was played at school rallies and patriotic events. Do you know all the lyrics to "God Bless America?" Could you sing along with Connie? Yes.

4) After she wrote her autobiography, Connie said she wanted Valerie Bertinelli to play her in the movie. Even though Valerie isn't known for her singing, Connie liked that they were both Italian-American and 5'5". If we made a movie of your life, who should play you? My stock answer to this was Carrie Fisher. Now I'll say Jamie Lee Curtis because we are exactly the same age.

 

5) Connie had a passionate romance with Bobby Darin, and their relationship is included in the Broadway show about Bobby's life, Just In Time. While Connie expressed her support for the production, she never saw the show because hip problems made flying difficult. How about you? Are you dealing with any aches or pains today? Nothing major, which is fabulous because I've been battling Achilles tendonitis. To not have anything special bothering me is a delight.

6) The Fourth of July means we're in the middle of summer. Are you careful about applying sunscreen? I thought I was, but I guess not. I was just at the dermatologist this past week and he spotted rosacea on my nose.

7) More beer is purchased for the 4th of July than any other holiday. What beverage will be served with your July 4th meal? Just ice water. Maybe Coke.

 

8) Emergency rooms expect an increase over the July 4th holiday. The most common causes are sports injuries (like jammed wrists and wrenched knees) and the unwise use of home fireworks. Have you  been to the ER or Urgent Care during 2026? No, knock wood.

9) New York is home to Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year on the 4th. Will hot dogs be consumed in your household this weekend? I'm going with hamburgers this year.

 

 

 

Gratitude Challenge: Day 29

I first took this challenge in November 2014 and I think now is a good time to revisit it. Click here for a list of the Gratitude Challenge prompts.

Day 29: Self care. I started my week with attention to my feet. First, my summer pedi. Then a trip to the chiropractor for an adjustment and what I envision will be the last laser treatment on right heel. The Achilles tendonitis only bedevils me first thing in the morning and I predict that, with exercise, even that will fade. When I think back to the April pain and limp, I am so relieved and pleased with my progress. We could have taken the easier route but I've done this without meds or injections and I'm so pleased.

  

Gratitude Challenge: Day 25

I first took this challenge in November 2014 and I think now is a good time to revisit it. Click here for a list of the Gratitude Challenge prompts.

Day 25: Movement Today I walked .7 miles between my train and the restaurant and it took less than half an hour each way.* This is a big deal because, frankly, from the waist down I'm pathetic. Spinal stenosis, arthritis in the right knee, meniscus tear in the left, and Achilles tendonitis that extends to my left heel.

Yet today I was fine! For that I am grateful.

No pain killers to mask the pain. Just yoga stretches every morning and a trip to the chiropractor every week (or every other week) for an adjustment and laser treatment on my heel.

As recently as March I was icing my knee or my ankle, or my knee and my ankle, and applying an OTC camphor/capsacin/methol cream every night (much to the chagrin of my cats and their sensitive noses). I was worried that I wouldn't be able to comfortably get around at the TCM Film Festival in late April. 

Today I was walking at a brisk pace in the sunshine with few ill effects. My knees are still bad when I take stairs, but I am 68 years old and my original parts are wearing out. Shit happens.

But, as my yoga instructor tells us, quoting Ghandi, "Movement is life." I'm grateful I work with her and listened to her. I'm better for it. (And so are my kidneys because daily ibuprofen can't be good for them.)

  

*Actually I wish it had taken a little longer because it was a beautiful day and I miss The Loop.

Gratitude Challenge: Day 4

I first took this challenge in November 2014 and I think now is a good time to revisit it. Click here for a list of the Gratitude Challenge prompts.

Day 4: Something I do every day My stretches. I do two each morning – one for my back from my orthopedist and one for my feet from my yoga instructor.* I've shown both of these moves to my chiropractor and she approves. Reflecting on this makes me doubly grateful that 1) I have a team helping me improve without depending on meds and 2) I'm able to do it. 

I have watched my oldest friend – my classmate beginning in Kindergarten – put all her faith in pain killers. ("Better living through chemistry!") Her balance is shot, her ankle causes her chronic pain and she can't walk even short distances without her cane. I've asked her what's wrong with the ankle but she has a hard time explaining it to me, leading me to believe her doctor hasn't explained it well to her.

So while I'm certainly not glad I am dealing with Achilles tendonitis and chronic spinal stenosis, I am grateful for my slow, steady improvement. I am grateful that I was able to learn from my oldest friend. During each yoga class, we are encouraged to dedicate our time on the mat to someone. In my heart, I think of her. I wish she could enjoy the benefits of the small, specific movements.

 *I find myself doing the one for my feet when I'm fidgety while working online or watching TV. While the pain from tendonitis is lessening and will hopefully cease, I think this stretch will always be a part of my life.

A much-appreciated shout out

 

My right foot has been killing me. Since February. It's Achilles tendonitis. My recovery has been steady but slow – chiropractic adjustments, massage, laser treatments. I'm trying to avoid anything more drastic (like cortisone treatments). I shared this with my yoga instructor, Rachel, and she gave me a new move ("nerve flossing") to add to my morning stretches.

During yesterday's yoga class, Rachel was discussing how yoga can help forestall or even avoid surgery altogether. She told us about her brother-in-law, who seems to view elective procedures as a quick way to relief but she wished he would try movement instead.

"Of course, to move through the pain you have to be a warrior. Like The Gal over there."

I'm a warrior! I like that.

  

 

Illustration by Muhammad Afandi on Unspl

I'm sorry I looked

I went to the dentist yesterday. It was a quick, painless appointment. X-rays, a cleaning, a baggie filled with free toothpaste and mouthwash, and I was on my way. This may seem run-of-the-mill to you but it was a cause for celebration for me. I haven't had a dental appointment this uneventful since 2019.

I've had teeth pulled ... gum surgeries ... root canals ... implants ... veneers ... That's countless hours in the chair.

And $22,506.25. That doesn't include meds.

Now I have had good dental insurance – both through my employer and now on my own. (But dental is not included in Medicare.) And it still came to $22,506.25.

When I worked I had paid time off. If I didn't have good insurance, if I didn't have sick days, I couldn't have afforded to do what it's taken to get my oral health in order. While I'd be lying if I didn't admit some of this dental work was handled the way it was because I wanted a nice, white smile, it's also true that oral health is important to one's overall health. Diabetes, heart disease and sepsis have all been linked to untreated dental issues.

Well, my dental issues have certainly been treated. To the tune of $22,506.25. (Or $3,215.15 a year every year for 7 seven years.*) I hope that the hardest work is over and, from here on out, all my dental appointments will be quick, painless and uneventful.

  

*If I'd invested that every year in a HYSA earning 2.5%, I'd have an extra $35,000. Like I say, I'm sorry I looked.

Photo by Quang Tri NGUYEN on Unsplash 

Thursday Thirteen #461

Younger than Springtime. Flipping through the April/May issue of AARP Magazine,* I came upon many tips to slow the aging process. I augmented their list with other info I found on the web. Some were common sense, some were surprising. 

1. Walk faster. Those of us who walk slowly tend to be at a higher risk for falls and weakness. With my knee and heel issues, I'm doing the best I can.

2. Maintain your balance. Again, the goal here is to reduce falls. My balance has never been good – not even as a child – because of my scoliosis. But my yoga helps. 

3. Stay social. Ding! Ding! Ding! I got one! I'm lucky that I make friends easily and with my little job at the card shop, I see people I like as often I as wish to. For me, the challenge is to remind myself that my friends aren't just fun, they are a support system for my physical and mental health. Which leads me to ...

4. Make mental health a priority. Many of us seniors (it's hard to believe I'm in that group but I indisputably am) accept loneliness, isolation and depression as a natural part of our lives. I don't. God did not put me here to be unhappy. While I accept that there is unhappiness in every life, it's not our baseline. I'm glad I'm in therapy.

5. Remember your cognitive health. I worry about this one a lot. My shrink (see above) assures me she's watching my reasoning and word choices to make sure I haven't declined and if she sees that I have, we will take steps. 

6. Eat more fiber. This is not only important for gut health, fiber helps regulate blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes. As a woman of a certain age, I should consume 22 grams/day. I likely don't. I do take an extra gram each day in 2 fiber capsules each morning. Maybe I should up that.

7. Beans are our friends. Lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans and black beans are all affordable and rich in fiber and nutrients. Unfortunately, I don't like them. I do like cooked peas, though. They're pretty good. Must add them to my meals more often.

8. Watch the processed sugar. Sugar is added to everything from condiments to yogurt. With this in mind, I should eat fewer cookies. I don't. Note to self: pay attention to my snacks. 

9. Establish a sleep schedule. Going to bed at approximately the same time every night promotes more restorative sleep. I do this.

10. Mind your dental health. Good oral hygiene reduces risk for infections, inflammation and heart attacks. No one spends more time at the dentist than I do.

11. Keep an eye on your vision. Seniors are at a higher risk of glaucoma and cataracts. Get your eyes checked regularly so these conditions can be diagnosed and dealt with promptly.

12. Wear your sunglasses. Damage from ultraviolet light has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. Most sunglasses come with built in UV protection. I do this one.

13. Wash your hands. It's not just for during a pandemic. Wash your hands several times a day for 20 full seconds. It will help protect your immune system. I need to do this more often.

How many of these do you do? Are you helping your body resist aging? 

*Not only was I reading an AARP publication, it was in actual printed form. I am a dinosaur! 

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

Sunday Stealing

More Questions from Steph

1) Are you the sort of person who can nap or sleep anywhere, any time? I suppose. I have an easier time falling asleep now than I ever have in my life. I think I'm finally (after three years) getting the hang of of retirement.

 

2) Have you ever walked in your sleep? I was quite the sleepwalker when I was a little girl. I was good at unlocking doors while sound asleep. My mom was completely freaked out about this and dragged me to the family doctor, a man she trusted implicitly. He didn't recommend counseling or a change in diet. He prescribed phenobarbital. Yes, a barbiturate for a seven year old! I don't blame my mom – she was doing the best she could with the information she had. But there I was, a second grader, on my way to The Valley of the Dolls.

 

3) Do you chat with your Uber/Lyft/taxi driver? Yes. I find it awkward to ride in silence.

4) Do you remember what you did on Valentine's Day? Not specifically. But I know it wasn't romantic.

 

5) How many laptops have you owned over your lifetime? 5 or 6 (<< estimate).

 

6) How many countries have you visited? 5 (Canada, France, Lichtenstein, Germany, Switzerland)

 

7) Did you/will you go to work today? Nope. I only work on Thursdays and sometimes Mondays.

 

 

 

Not unhappy

These have not been the best of days. Our President has plunged us into a war of choice with Iran, so people will die to keep us from mentioning The Epstein Files and that word he maintains was just made up: "affordability." No matter that between cuts by DOGE and cuts by the FBI we have lost a shit ton of the institutional bureaucratic infrastructure that keeps us safe from foreign terrorism. The important thing is that the electorate is distracted, just the way Dear Leader likes it. We must never forget that it's all about Donald Trump.

Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash  

And my back is killing me. It started out as a nagging pain in my heel that made walking difficult. Now it's a radiating pain across the small of my back. If I am still, I am fine. But moving is hard. I've seen the chiropractor twice and have another appointment scheduled. I am hoping to feel real improvement soon.

So it would be understandable, I suppose, if my mood were dark. But really, it's not.  

Things are better at the card shop, and I predict they will get better still.  Emily is our temp – and rumor has it, soon to be permanent – store manager, replacing Helena. Emily is, as Belle Watling said of Melanie Hamilton, "a human being." She has commonsense, compassion and leadership qualities. She is in charge of hiring Caroline's replacement, and I trust her judgement.

Also, Emily is a Hispanic lesbian of about 35 who is helping to raise her niece. Kamiliah, the shift manager I've been working with most lately, is a thirtysomething black woman with whom I have bonded over our love of our cats. One of Kamiliah's felines is diabetic and has food allergies. Early in our working relationship I could tell she was embarrassed to be taking phone calls from the vet during her shift. I told her there was no need, that I admire her for making her cat a priority. We've been comfortable and rather fond ever since. There's Mayuko, the lovely sales associate who is working to pay for her IVF treatments and has shared her journey with me. Most of all there's Zoey. A journalism major at Columbia (and a massive Beatle fan), she loves bouncing ideas off me and I enjoy encouraging her as she heads toward a writing career.

Their demographics are important to me. One of the things I missed most about my life in advertising was the diversity. Knowing people with different life experiences, of different faiths, races and ages and different sexual orientations than mine, enriches me and lifts my spirit.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

Survey Asks ...

1. Did you/will you have coffee or some other form of caffeine today? I will consume between 15 and 20 oz. of Coca Cola today. (If I don't pay attention, I'd chug it all day.)

2. Who did you last have a text conversation with and what was it about? Jen, one of the women I know from the card shop. It's Girl Scout cookie season! Jen was sharing her intel on where the local troops will be selling this weekend.

3. Are there regular trains in and out of your town/city? I live along the tracks. I can hear the commuter trains, the el trains and the freight trains (noisiest of all) around the clock. It's a very comforting white noise. We had a big snowstorm in 2011 that halted the trains and, to borrow a phrase, the silence was deafening ... and downright scary. I was so relieved to hear that familiar rumbling resume.

4. Have you ever been hospitalized due to dehydration? Kinda. In 2022 I spent 8 hours in the ER (but was not admitted) after stabbing abdominal pains. I was diagnosed with kidney stones and was dehydrated as a result of the stones. It was not serious in that my life was not threatened, but oh! I have never been in pain like that before.

Self-portrait of me in the ER that night. When I wasn't scared, I was bored.

5. Someone texts/IMs you just as you’re about to go to sleep. Do you reply? I wouldn't see it because my cellphone is either on the kitchen counter or in my purse, nowhere near my bed.

6. Do you grind your teeth?  Yes.

7. When you listen to music with headphones, do you keep the volume low enough to hear surrounding noise, or do you blast it? I blast it.

8. Are you wearing nail polish? I have a pedi.

9. Do you have an ice maker in your refrigerator door? No.

10. Do you have a friend named James? These certainly are random questions! No, I don't know anyone named James.

 

Thursday Thirteen #451

 Me fall down go boom. In late January I fell down at work and landed hard on my forearm. It left me with a big lump and a multi-colored bruise, and its progression toward healing has fascinated me.

1. A bruise happens when blood vessels break but the skin isn't broken.

2. My bruise is a hematoma, caused when a large amount of blood pools under the skin and causes a lump.

 

3. That big lump is my body's way of breaking down the blood that's collected there.

 

4. It could take months for the lump to fully heal and disappear. 

 

5. I should have elevated my arm right after I fell. Since my arm tends to hang at my side, the blood flowed down toward my fingertips, and the injury. Raising it would have slowed the flow. I did not do this. Because that would have inconvenient – I was at the store – and since it really didn't hurt very much, I didn't bother. I'm an idiot.

 

6. Had I iced it right after I fell, the lump may not have grown so big. I didn't do that, either. Again, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

 

7. After two days, I applied a heating pad a couple times a day for a few minutes at a time. Finally! I did something right! Heat can gradually break down the lump and speed healing.

 

8. OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen can help with pain and reduce swelling. I did do this at bedtime the first night I had the bruise. 

 

9. Some websites recommend applying arnica cream to reduce pain and discoloration. I didn't take this advice. I don't have any, the bruise never really hurt that much, and I've kind of enjoyed watching the changes of the colors.

   

10. My bruise started out as dark purple. Now it's mostly brown with a little blue in spots. Other common bruise colors are red and green.

 

11. The color changes as the body reabsorbs the blood.

12. Women bruise more easily than men. It's a hormone thing. Our skin tends to be a little thinner.

 

13. Because I'm (gulp) a senior citizen, my skin is thinner still and provides even less protection to blood vessels.

 

How about you? Do you have any visible bruises right now?

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Up the Ladder to the Roof (1970)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Many people are uncomfortable with ladders. Some feel unsteady on the steps, others have a fear of heights. Then there's the superstition that warns against walking under ladders. Are you afraid of ladders? I love my ladder at home. It's shiny and sturdy and makes it possible for me to change those overhead light bulbs and my smoke detector batteries. Not crazy about the step ladders at work, though. Nothing to hold onto on the way down. 

 

2) In this song, the Supremes advise us to go up the ladder to the roof to be closer to Heaven. While poetic, that's not really why most homeowners climb onto the roof. They're more likely replacing shingles or cleaning the gutters. Have you ever been on the roof of your building? I've been up there twice, both times to discuss the condition of the roof with contractors and fellow condo board members. Both times I nodded sagely and pretended I understood what was being said.

 

3) The record was the Supremes first and biggest hit without Diana Ross. When Jean Terrell replaced Diana as lead singer, the two ladies appeared together at a press event to launch this new iteration of the Supremes. Have you ever met your replacement at a job, or perhaps the person you replaced? Yes. Advertising in Chicago can be a surprisingly small world.

 

4) Mary Wilson was a member of the group when it was formed in 1959 and stayed through 1977, when the Supremes officially disbanded. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American stays at a job 3.9 years. Looking over your job history, how long did you typically stick with an employer? I worked full-time for 48 years. Answering this question accurately would require entirely too much math. My best guess is around 5 years.

 

5) The third Supreme performing on this record was Cindy Birdsong. After the group broke up for good, Cindy finished nursing school and practiced at UCLA Medical Center. When did you last interact with a nurse or nurse practitioner? This week! My nurse practitioner sent me the good news about my annual mammogram and refilled a prescription for me. I love how available she is.

 
6) In 1970, when this song was popular, TV shows about doctors like Marcus Welby, MD and Medical Center ranked high in the Nielsen ratings. Medical shows are still popular today, with Grey's Anatomy entering its 22nd season and The Pitt earning critical accolades. Do you have a favorite TV doctor? Dr. Michael Rossi of Peyton Place. He was the best person in the sin-soaked town. He truly cared about every horny teenager, frustrated housewife, wife-beater, nymphomaniac and alcoholic who entered his office. Yet for some reason he couldn't get laid. His first lady friend was frigid, his second dumped him for a man from her past, his third got hauled away to prison for perjury, his fourth tragically ended up at the bottom of a cliff ... and all before he could "kick it through the goal posts," if you will. 

 

Won't someone please sleep with this man?

7) Also in 1970, when this song was popular, audiences were lining up to see the movie Love Story. Without looking it up, complete the film's most famous line:  "Love means _______________." I don't have to look it up. I had this poster on my bedroom wall. I don't know why, but in the summer between 7th and 8th grade, my friends and I just loved movies that made us cry.

 

 

PS Ryan O'Neal, aka Oliver Barrett III in Love Story, got his big break on Peyton Place. It's like a Peyton Place reunion around here.

 

8) Slumberchums™ were all the rage among pre-teens in 1970. These sleeping bags had attached pillow "heads" that made it look like you slipping into sleep inside a plush bear. When did you most recently sleep in a sleeping bag? Approx. 25 years ago. My niece's Brownie troop needed another "mother" for an overnight camping trip and I was pressed into service. My niece is now a mother herself.

 

9) Random question: Did you take a multivitamin this morning? If yes, did you swallow it or chew it? Swallowed it. I have two temp crowns and under the circumstances, chewables would do more harm than good.

 

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #447

13 of the most common dental procedures. I'm in the midst of another dental adventure. I had a dual crown lengthening in December and if it heals according to plan,  I'll have a pair of new, permanent crowns before the end of February. 

 

This inspired me to find out what happens to most patients when they settle into the dentist's chair. These are the procedures mentioned most (beyond routine exams, x-rays and cleaning):

1. Filling

2. Root canal

3. Crowns

4. Implants

5. Extractions

6. Bridges

7. Scale and polish 

8. Fitting dentures

9. Whitening

10. Veneers

11. Sealants

12. Bonding

13. Night guards

Did you spend much time in the dentist's chair in 2025?

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

I like the beard

Yesterday I had another dual crown lengthening.* The oral surgeon and I have been down this route at least twice before. This was our smoothest procedure yet – minimal bleeding, my face isn't swollen, the anesthetic and pain meds worked.

What disturbed me was my reaction to the surgeon. A man I've seen at least three times since 2023. 

When he came into the room, it was like a rom-com. Under the harsh fluorescent light, surrounded by picks and scalers and drills, I heard music swelling and birdies singing. I was in love.

He's grown a salt-and-pepper beard since last year. It's changed his look completely and for the better.

My reaction was disturbing, but not unpleasant.

 

*From Healthline: The periodontist cuts the gums to pull them away from the teeth, exposing the roots and bone. In some cases, only the gum tissue needs to be removed. The surgeon then washes the surgical area with salt water before suturing. They suture the gums back together, sometimes placing a bandage over the area for additional protection. 

Photo by Caroline LM on Unsplash 

A welcome addition

I like having a medical team, a group of pros who I like and trust and, just as importantly, are willing to communicate and coordinate with one another. Chiropractor, dentist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, oral surgeon, orthopedist, shrink, urologist ... I look to them to advise me and help keep me healthy. 

But just before Easter, I lost my QB. My primary care physician left to join a practice about a half hour away. I was bereft. All those specialists I listed above – I can walk to their offices. This is very important to me. Yes, I adored her because she got me through covid and communicated so freely with the specialists, making sure my care was coordinated and right for my whole body. But I don't drive, and coordinating a rideshare or public transportation is too unreliable for when I'm not feeling good. I want care as close to home as possible.

All these months later, I finally have a replacement! I met a nurse practitioner who is willing to slip into the role. She's on a first-name basis with my orthopedist and is in the same practice as my urologist. When I asked her if she would review pain meds and antibiotics before major dental procedures, she said, "of course." Like it was no big deal!

Her office is in the local hospital. An easy ride on the bus or a 20 minute walk (it took longer yesterday because I stopped for a hot dog on the way back). 

She called in my prescription refills and said she wants to see me in January – new insurance year – to do blood work. Now I can have the mammogram and urine test I'd been putting off until I had a PCP.

Phew. I have a QB. I like her. Now my team is complete and I am so relieved.

Photo by mahdi chaghari on Unsplash 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Come See About Me (1964)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Diana Ross sings that she's given up her friends for her boyfriend. Have you ever had a lover your friends disapproved of? Has a friend ever dated someone you didn't care for? Throughout my 20s I was involved with a man some of my friends adored, but my oldest friend couldn't stand him. Or more precisely, she saw through him. She was right. Spectacularly right. I'm very grateful she never did the "told you so" dance, though she deserved to.

 

 

 

 

2) Without her man at her side she feels uncertain. Let's be more positive: what's something you're sure of? "The sun'll come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun." Yeah, I know, it's corny. But I truly believe tomorrow can be better than today. There's always hope. Really.

3) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elegant hair and wardrobe. When was the last time you got dressed up? A year ago. My friend's daughter's wedding. I wore a coral pantsuit. It was flattering, but I unexpectedly stood out in a sea of blacks and grays. I am still a little ambivalent about it when I see the photos. I look pretty enough but boy, I'm conspicuous!

 
4) The Supremes went on to have a dozen #1 hits. This must have been hard for Betty McGlown, the fourth Supreme, who left the group before they recorded their first song. Can you think of an opportunity you missed? A friend offered me a job about 20 years ago. I would have made more money, to be sure, but she would have been my boss. I was afraid that would be weird, so I passed on it. I'm pretty sure it was the right choice, but I think longingly about that salary sometimes.

5) After she left the Supremes, lead singer Diana Ross went on to have a successful solo career. But it hasn't always been easy. She stumbled in her high heels and broke her ankle as she left the stage after a November 2012 concert. Have you taken a tumble recently? Over the summer I took a tumble in front of the grocery store. Cars turn into that lot very fast so I had my eyes on the traffic ... and I missed the uneven pavement. Bloodied my leg and scraped my arm but I did not break the jar of tomato sauce I had just purchased to donate to the local food pantry.

6) Ever the trooper, she honored her commitment to perform at a White House-sponsored Christmas concert just weeks later, even though her leg was still in a cast. Tell us about a time when you "played hurt." There was the spring I had sporadic coughing fits and was tired all the time. I had to spend time with the guys in the lab and while they were explaining things to me, I couldn't stand anymore and was leaning on walls and file cabinets. This was weird because I was 29 and otherwise healthy. Finally, after about four weeks of this, I suddenly lost my voice. Since my job required a certain amount of speaking, I just couldn't do it anymore and finally went to the doctor. Walking pneumonia. I was off for a week (at 29 you bounce back pretty fast). But here's the thing: I was contagious. It was outrageous that I tried to work through it and even worse that my bosses were more upset about the week off than the viral droplets I'd been dispensing with each cough. That's one good thing that came out of the covid lockdown: no one thinks you're heroic anymore for coughing and sneezing at work.

7) In 1964, when this song was popular, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was born. What was in your most recent Amazon shipment? My OTC allergy meds will be delivered today.

8) Also in 1964, women still routinely wore white gloves to complete a outfit. Short gloves that ended at the wrist were popular for everyday wear. What fashion trend do you wish would come back? Shoulder pads! Every woman suddenly appears to have a waist again. 

 

9) Random question: If you were in the witness protection program, what new name and occupation would you choose for yourself? Lottie Zisk, dogwalker.

 

 

Pinched nerve and brain fart

I woke up Tuesday morning unable to move my left arm without great difficulty. This happened once before, at the end of 2024, so while I hurt I wasn't frightened. I knew it was a pinched nerve in my neck. Painful but not dangerous. As luck would have it, I already had an chiropractor appointment scheduled for today – Friday, three days later. Since this wasn't an emergency, I could see no reason to move the appointment up. 

I am an idiot. 

For three days I was uncomfortable. If I was still, my arm was fine. But I couldn't raise it without pain. Everything – showering, grocery shopping, feeding the cats, laundry – was arduous. I had a hard time finding a position to sleep comfortably. The nerve was not responding to OTC pain killers. So I was sleep deprived and hurt.

And from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon we were without hot water, so there's that. 

To say I was not at my best would be an understatement. 

Chronic pain and lack of sleep made me stupid. Yesterday, instead of taking money out of my high-yield savings account and depositing it into my checking account, I did it the other way around. I was not paying attention as I clicked. I fucked up.

This morning I got an alert from bank that my checking account was overdrawn. I was terrified, afraid I'd been hacked. No, I just made a stupid, stupid mistake. (AGAIN!) After spending time on the phone with both banks, I finally got it ironed out and hopefully, by end of business Monday, all my funds will be where I want them.

I realize that working decades for big companies, I've been infantilized. Funds just appeared in my checking account twice/month. Left to my own devices, I mess up.

Just as I thought my self loathing had reached a fever pitch, I dialed it up to 11. I went to my chiropractor and she felt where my neck meets my shoulder. 

"Of course you hurt!" she said. I got on the table and she twisted, pressed and popped and I was fine. No pain, full range of motion restored.

"You should have called me," she said. Duh, Gal. I went through 3 days of pain for no good reason. Really, she remedied the problem in minutes! 

I'm such an ass.

Here's to an uneventful, enjoyable weekend. I need it!

 

Photo by Klara Kulikova on Unsplash 

Thursday Thirteen #429

 

 

 

Brrr! Our water heater suddenly crapped out and I was relegated to cold showers for 2 mornings in a row. I hated it. But I learned that while uncomfortable, I was actually doing my body good.

1. Typically cold water out of the tap is between 45º and 60º. That may not sound cold, but trying showering in it.

2. Cold showers leave you alert. You relax in a hot shower or a warm tub, but you emerge from a cold shower with eyes wide open.

3. Regular cold showers can help fight acne, because cold water tightens pores.

4. It can undo the damage of the night before, because cold water reduces eye puffiness.

5. Some chronic skin conditions respond well to cold water. Patients with eczema and hives report that it helps. 

6. If your hair tends to be dry, cold showers might help. It's believed that hot water can strip your hair of natural oils, while cold water doesn't.

7. Your hair will be shinier, too. Cold water helps seal the cuticle, or top layer of the hair strand. A flat cuticle more effectively reflects light and your hair will appear glossier.

8. Cold water gets your blood pumping. It's believed cold showers bolster your circulation.

9. Your muscles may thank you. Cold showers may soothe aches, the same way an ice pack does.

10. They can be a good choice during cold and flu season. Here's the theory: cold showers speed up your white blood cell count, and those white blood cells will help your body resist illness.

11. A cold shower can enhance your workout because it boosts your metabolism.

12. It can naturally increase your oxygen intake. A cold shower stimulates deep breathing, which can help with anxiety or depression.

13. Cold showers are good for the environment. They tend to be shorter – I know mine were! – and no gas or electricity is used to warm the water up. 

All this is well and good, but I will forever prefer my nice long showers.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.