Sleep observations

There is nothing quite like a good night's sleep!
I managed 6+ hours of sleep last night with one wake-up about halfway through it.
I feel great this morning.

My watch tracks sleep and breaks it down to REM sleep, light sleep, and deep sleep. It also shows periods of restlessness. One weird thing I noticed when we were in Colorado doing the dog-sitting gig was that I never went into deep sleep after Chris came to bed.
I typically go to bed around midnight; Chris comes to bed around 3 or 4 in the morning. That hits around a natural wake-up time (between cycles). After that -- there were no more deep sleep periods.

It makes me wonder if that was a way of being more alert to listen for the dogs when nobody was awake or just a part of sleeping in a strange place. I will say that I appear to have more deep sleep earlier in the night than I do closer to morning, but that's a normal part of sleeping -- more deep sleep early; more REM sleep later.
It just seemed odd that I had no deep sleep later when we were there. 

It's probably weird that the function of my watch that I am most interested in tracking is sleep. 
While sleep is a vital part of the overall health picture, most people would look at the activity part of a smart watch or fitness watch more than the sleep data. 
I should probably do that, too. 

I'm awake and there are things to do! I guess now would be a good time to think about being active. The sun is shining on this fall Sunday so I am going to enjoy it!

John

November

In the past, November has been National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). While it is no longer a nationally supported thing, many bloggers still work on posting daily through the month of November. 
It was originally created to go along with National Novel Writing Month. I guess it was to encourage non-novel writers to write daily even if they were not writing a book. I have mostly kept up with the annual posting challenge, and will make the attempt to do the same this year.

November is also Movember -- Men's health awareness month. 
Many men observe the month by growing a mustache to remind each other to check on the issues such as prostate and testicular cancer, as well as mental health issues including depression and suicide. 
No shave November is another way to participate. So is making a financial gift to an organization that is dedicated to working on these health conditions.

My annual physical was in September and I seem to be in pretty good health for a fat guy.
I do need to work on getting the weight down and on getting more active. Aging has a way of emphasizing the poor areas of health that doctors and others will never have. 

November is also National Diabetes Awareness Month, National Native American Heritage Month, National Veterans and Military Families Month, and my personal favorite -- National Gratitude Month.

That is a lot to take care of this month! 
Happy November!

John

Is Loneliness a Health Concern?

I'm reading through a 2023 publication by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy entitled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. 
I have to admit that I find the information to be both concerning and yet somehow fascinating. 

The reason I find it fascinating is likely because I should probably be more concerned about my very small circle of people and the simple fact that I enjoy being alone and don't feel lonely.
Is there a line where being alone crosses into being lonely?
How few people must one have to be lonely?
Certainly, it can't be a matter of trust because I really don't trust anyone.*
How is it that some of us can be alone and not lonely while others can surround themselves with their "friends" and experience great loneliness?

It seems that having some connection with others is more important than being with others.
And we are becoming a very disconnected society. People from all ages and backgrounds are disconnected and lonely. Social media has created a kind of trap that not only isolates people, but also gives us a negative image of ourselves by comparing us to non-existent realities and expectations of others.

Even though the internet can be a great place to meet people and connect, great care must be taken because it is also filled with predators seeking to exploit the loneliness of others from young teens to vulnerable senior citizens.

If you were alone (I'm assuming you are not), where would you go to make connections?
I don't go to school and don't have kids in school.
I don't go to church.
I'm not much of a bar/pub guy.
And I'm pretty low tech.
Where would a person like me go or what could I do to find connections? 

Do we (that are not lonely) have a social obligation to be aware of the loneliness that exists around us and to help people find meaningful relationships with others?

The article calls it an epidemic.
How should we address it?
How do we cure it? 

John

*Actually, I trust that everyone will do whatever they think is best for themselves at that moment. 

Good Health and Happy Living

Yesterday was my annual physical.
Although I remain pretty healthy for a fat, old guy (personal assessment, not a professional one), there are still many areas of life that could use vast improvement.

My blood pressure was unusually high yesterday morning and even on normal days needs medication to achieve safe numbers. Much of that could be managed by losing weight.
Losing weight could be managed by eating less, eating better, and moving more.

I got my annual encouragement to give up my cigars. 
I haven't been smoking as often this year (typically 3 or 4 per week), but still enjoy the vice in spite of the simple fact that there isn't any healthy benefit from it.
A pour of bourbon or tequila and a cigar are not a daily habit, but it happens frequently enough because it just feels like a right way to observe the completion of another day as I contemplate my blessings and privilege.

Honestly, there are a lot of things about aging that I really don't like.
On the other hand, old age is a privilege realized by far too few people and is usually missed due to our own poor lifestyle choices.
Healthy for a fat, old guy isn't the great assessment I'd like for it to be. It is more of an indictment of the poor choices I've made. 

Eat, drink, and be merry is great for the moment, but the bill always needs to be settled at some point.
I am certain that plenty of damage has been done. I am equally certain that making good choices today will begin to pay off in the future. 

Here's to good health and happy living!

John

Let's talk about June

The Ozarks of SWMO have wrapped up May with a week of cooler temps and quite a bit of rain. While the skies are still overcast this morning, I think the rain will be moving on for a few days and we will see sunshine and summer temperatures around 90 (32 C) degrees.
That works for me.

My head is telling me that I need to make a June plan to get some regular exercise. My body is groaning at the mere thought of it. Working in the yard is an easy out when it comes to being active, but it really doesn't make a good substitute for regular exercise. I think that a daily walk, bicycle ride, or even time on the stationary cycle would be a good start. I'm afraid I will have to make some changes surrounding my slow mornings and early coffee and quiet time.

Now my head is groaning.
I like my slow mornings and easy beginning each day. Changing it seems sacrilegious.
I feel like this is one of those times when the present John needs to think of the future John and make decisions based on what is best for him. 
Something I read recently said that we often make decisions in the present that harm the one person that we should be loving the most -- our future selves.

That hits hard.
The food, the friends, the habits of today all have an impact on who we will be in the future.
I remember an old man telling me, "John, if I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."
I should have paid attention to him 20 years ago rather than waiting until now.

It sounds like that falls into the same category as tree planting -- The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
Oh! That reminds me -- I have some trees I need to plant!

Plant trees
Get exercise
That sounds like a good plan!

John

Mind, Body, Spirit

I feel pretty good in two of the three -- mind and spirit.
That's not to say that they are completed projects. Like a garden, they need regular care and maintenance.

The body, however, is a wasteland of neglect. It's been fed crap and been sitting idle for far too long. My short bursts of activity are no substitute for regular exercise. Even a daily walk would be better than the nothing I have been doing.

Yesterday, I decided to combine the task of mowing with exercise and used the push mower to mow about half of the yard area near the house. I'm estimating it is about 1/2 to 2/3 of an acre. The plan is to finish it today.
I'm not going to lie -- I feel it this morning.

Wile it is true that some yard work/gardening is laborious and makes for good exercise, most of it is just activity. Activity is better than nothing, but I don't know that it is of great benefit to one's overall health and well being. Some time ago there was an old man that told me, "John, if I'd have known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself."

I would like to stick around and enjoy a long life, but I don't want to be miserable and unable to get around or be on a ton of medication.

While Monday Meditation tends to focus on the mind and spirit, today's thoughts are more about bringing the physical body along for the ride.
Reading and puzzle solving games are good mental exercises that I get on just about a daily basis.
Regular meditation and awareness of the life and nature that is around me and within me takes care of the spiritual stuff.
Unfortunately, I really don't do anything for the body.
That needs to change -- not just for today me, but also for future me. 

I recently read that without knowing it, we often hurt the person we should love the most by the decisions we make today. That person is our future self.
Hmmm...
That's probably worth thinking about.

John

Too busy doing nothing...

It has been pretty rare that I have been on my Chromebook or browsing on my phone for these past couple of weeks. While I am certain to have missed many interesting posts and pics, I can't imagine that I would have gained any life changing information. 

I also cannot say that I have been busy because I have done very little in the way of being a productive human being.
I have been to the beach a couple of times and managed a few long walks.
Yesterday we went to the botanical gardens and spent most of our time swimming in the river. I'll post a few pics at some point. 
I have met with friends for lunch, dinner, and drinks, and a night of karaoke.
I have been to the ballpark for the kids' softball games.  
I did finally get the crowns for my dental implants, which was the main reason for this particular trip.
And I have been in the kids' pool every single day and will be in it again today. I am definitely going to have to get one.

This morning's coffee is at another neighborhood shop -- Providencia Cafe. I find it interesting that many of the coffee shops don't open until 8 AM. A few, like this one, open at 7. 
I have been back and forth between a hot or iced Americano each day and am thinking it might be time to start cold brewing coffee when I get back home.

The springtime garden work is piling up at home and I'm not doing anything here other than lounging in the pool, tormenting the kids, and disturbing their normal life rhythm, so I have shortened my stay to just three weeks and will be going home on Saturday.
I really need to make a plan to get some regular walking or exercise when I get home. That kind of activity has been good for me these past two weeks. I am hoping that I have lost a few pounds on this trip. I have been more active (in spite of my time in the pool) and I am pretty sure that I have been eating less. I guess I'll see next weekend.

It's another beautiful day in Puerto Vallarta. 
I wonder what gems are in store for us today.

John

Sleeping

I would say I am a short sleeper, which is a relatively rare thing. I spent most of my career on 4.5 to 6 hours of sleep and a power nap (17 minutes) or two during the day and evening hours. Even in retirement, I still feel pretty good after 6 hours of sleep.
However, I don't fit the highly driven, energetic, Type A personality characteristics of a typical short sleeper, so maybe not.

I typically wake up once (after 1 sleep cycle) to go to the bathroom and then sleep through the remaining sleep cycles of the night. Last night I decided to not fight the yawns and went to bed a little earlier than usual and slept 6 consecutive hours. I feel good this morning. I am well rested and ready to take on the day.
As a retired guy, I generally say that I get up when I'm finished sleeping. 
This morning that just happened to be at 5:30. 

I've been sleeping out on the deck this past week as it has been really nice weather for that. One night I woke up and saw the constellation of the Scorpion directly in front of me. The back deck faces about 10-15 degrees east of due south and I thought -- Hmmm, must be about 3 o'clock.
I looked at my phone to check the time and it was 2:59!
When I woke up in the morning, the sky was getting light with the rising sun and I thought -- 7 o'clock. It was 6:56.
I was so impressed with myself that I decided to share that here!

I think that sleep is a bigger deal that most people make it out to be. Most people do well on around 8 hours per night, but just as some of us can function well on considerably less there are those that need more. And honestly, most people (at least in the US) don't get enough.
Healthy diets and exercise get most of the dialogue time and good sleep gets very little. 

There are plenty of studies and much has been written about how to get better sleep, but most people pay little attention to that and assume that out bodies will just figure it out. Unfortunately, not all sleep is good sleep. I consider myself fortunate that I am generally a good sleeper as well as a short sleeper. Maybe those two things go together -- I don't know.

How well do you sleep?
Do you get enough sleep?
What can you do to improve your sleep quality and/or quantity?
Do you prioritize getting enough good sleep?

Sleeping well is a very passive part of good health, but it is also a very important part. We should definitely give it more attention than we do.

John

Today is the Day

Today is the day I came here for -- to complete the dental implants I started earlier in the year. 
My dentist was on a nearly month long vacation in Japan so I scheduled the appointment for today, the 18th of November. But I really wanted to be here for the Day of the Dead celebration, so we came earlier for that. Getting to spend time with the kids and having some overlap with my nephew's time here has been a bonus.

Medical tourism is really becoming a growing industry for many countries that decide to meet the needs that the US healthcare system fails to meet at a reasonable price. For anyone needing dental implants and wanting to vacation in a tropical beach town -- I was able to pay for my two implants and two roundtrip airfares for less than the cost of the implants back home!
And I can recommend a fine dentista here in Puerto Vallarta!

Elective surgeries are also big on the medical tourism front. Many cosmetic surgeries, gender affirming healthcare procedures, and other things that are not covered by many insurance plans in the US are much more affordable here and in other countries that have learned to capitalize on our healthcare failures. 

I'm going to go out for coffee this morning and then a morning walk to begin the day. My dentist appointment isn't until this afternoon so I imagine another easy day in the life of John.

John

Sleep, health, and random stuff

I seem to be getting back to my 6 hour per night sleep pattern. I'm sure if I went back to bed at my natural wake up time I could easily get another full 90 minute cycle, but I've been getting up and making coffee to get the day started. I will admit to taking a brief nap at some point in the late afternoon or evening. 
It works.

I feel fortunate to be a good sleeper when I know that many people have a difficult time sleeping well. I think that a good night's sleep is a vital part of good health. Admittedly, I haven't always thought that way. Typically, I go to bed between midnight and 1 am, and get up between 6 and 7 or whenever I've finished sleeping for the night. I tend to fall asleep quickly and also wake up easily. 
People have asked if I am more of a morning person or night person. I am usually just awake and have no real preference. 
I started getting a little bit of exercise recently(walking or exercise cycle), and have noticed that I sleep more soundly on days that I have exercised, even if the exercise is earlier in the day.

I had my annual physical yesterday and it turns out that I am pretty healthy for a fat guy. The Doc reminded me that there are no real health benefits from smoking cigars and drinking alcohol (even in moderation), and there can definitely be negative consequences.
I have cut back on both, but will probably continue to indulge in the occasional sip and smoke afternoons on the deck that seem to soothe my soul.  
He did not suggest cutting out my daily coffee, but did suggest being aware of my caffeine intake and how it can affect blood pressure, anxiety, sleep, and other aspects of health.

In a strange juxtaposition, retirement has found me being more attentive to my mental and spiritual well being and less concerned with my physical care. I think our Western culture is more the opposite way. I need to find a better balance.
It is interesting that we have doctors to care for our physical well being, but tend to shun the practices and practitioners of mental care that many other cultures embrace.

So, I'm curious...
Do you sleep well or struggle to get a good night's rest?
Do you have a nighttime ritual to help you sleep better?
How does diet impact your sleep quality?
Do you reduce your sleep time to make time for awake activities?
Do you consider good sleep to be a vital part of good health?
Are you willing to make changes to your awake time to allow for better sleep?

I am truly interested to hear what different perceptions people have about sleep.
My -- I'll sleep when I'm dead -- perspective has definitely changed even though I am still pretty much a short sleeper.

John

It's Medicare Day

June 1st of the month I turn 65 is my Medicare birthday. 
It's weird.
It's also a bit of an Uh-oh moment as I realize that there is no good end that can come from my current health path and I really need to make some lifestyle changes or look forward to facing some unpleasant consequences. 

I shouldn't need any diet apps or exercise apps to get started on a better way of living -- I know enough to be healthier, but maybe the routine and regular encouragement would help. Our local community center accepts Medicare Silver Sneaker memberships and I could take advantage of that, or I could just decide to begin using the exercise equipment we have at home and walk around the neighborhood regularly.
That and quiet quit eating so damn much crap.

I'm no newbie when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape. I've done it before. I just need the motivation and desire to get going again. Maybe the thought of an early death from heart attack or stroke, or a miserable existence as a diabetic amputee or something would help. 
Personally, I think living on tacos and tequila while sunning daily on a Mexican beach would help, but what do I know?`
Medicare would be of no use in Mexico, but if I'm going to be living better, do I really need it?

I probably just need to focus on today.
And today I am not in Mexico. I'm sitting on a porch in a retirement community in Metamora, IL.
It's 50 (10c) degrees and I'm wearing an effing sweatshirt in June!
Definitely not Mexico!
But -- I can walk. I can eat better. I can make choices to live a longer, more healthy life.

As a timely encouragement to what I just wrote -- one of the senior residents of this community just rode past on the main circle drive on her adult tricycle. She was wearing a big puffy coat with the hood up and bright red gloves, but she was getting her ride in at 7am on a cool Sunday morning in Central Illinois. 

Damn.

Well, 65 in two weeks.
They say it's better than the alternative. 
I'm thinking that's only true if you make it that way.
Wish me luck (and good health).

John

February 1st -- finally!

Maybe February has only 28 days to make up for the fact that January seems to be so much longer than its 31 days.

I think that February 1st finds me in a pretty good place spiritually and emotionally, but I need to do a little work on the physical part. I believe that overall mental health is very much tied to the physical health and see the societal problems we have with both being in generally poor condition in the US. 
Personally, I don't have issues of depression nor anxiety, and I live a pretty stress free life, but better physical health would be of great benefit to my overall well-being.

I have been giving some consideration to my spiritual health lately and have been wondering if I am being faithful to certain parts of Christian obligations. I no longer feel compelled to force others or to convince them to accept my Christian beliefs, but I do feel like I should still be living and teaching the things that Jesus taught. 
Preaching or teaching in a church setting isn't really available to me and I don't think that is the best venue for me anyway. I really don't know what an effective teaching/preaching ministry would look like anymore. I am a much different person than I was as a Southern Baptist Evangelist, and I don't even feel the need to go to church regularly myself.
I've become pretty anti-religious over the past few years, and yet I am learning much from the teachings of other "religious" leaders.

The ancient shamans of Mesoamerica, the Buddha, Native American medicine men, and many ancient European religions all taught many similar life lessons as what Jesus taught. You can say what you will about his divinity and about your beliefs on heaven, hell, and eternal life, but as far as how to live day to day and treat our fellow human beings -- well, his teachings were much the same as those that came before him.
By and large, today's evangelical Christians are the poster children for the saying of being too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good. And as it turns out, I really don't believe they understand heaven at all. What they understand is -- control.

Obviously, I still have a lot of work to do on John and figuring out my place in the world. Maybe another day or two on the beach will help.

John

Healthy Habits

At 60 (15c) degrees outside it is comfortable on the deck this morning. It has been raining overnight and cloudy skies with rain is the forecast for the next couple of days. I didn't venture out yesterday, nor did I watch any news. It was a nice, quiet day in isolation.
Maybe I'll make it out of the house today. Maybe I won't. I'm comfortable either way.
There is a fundraiser concert for the cold weather shelters this evening and my favorite local band is playing. Maybe we'll go.

I've gone a couple of days in a row without any walking or exercise so I need to get that taken care of today. The daily walk thing isn't a habit yet (obviously) and I really need to make it one. A few years and a few pounds makes a difference in the motivation to get out and do something. While there isn't much I can do about the years, I can certainly attack the extra pounds. The diet/exercise motivation is just tougher than it used to be. There seems to be an inertia about exercise and motivation. An old friend used to tell me that motion is motivation -- just get moving!
The light rain will keep me from taking a long walk, but I do have the exercise cycle in the basement and should probably put it to good use.

Motivation on dieting is a little tougher. I don't want to wait on a heart attack or stroke or other malady due to being overweight to do something about it. Self-motivated weight management might be harder than forced weight management, but it certainly has the benefit of preventing many health issues. The pay me now or pay me later maxim should be enough to keep us healthy.
Why isn't it?
Is it because we feel we are invincible?
Yeah, here's a news flash -- we're not!

How do you stay healthy?
What are your eating habits that are beneficial?
What are your healthy lifestyle activities?

John

Gratitude

Gratitude.
More and more, my meditation/reflection times turn to gratitude. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's this attitude of gratitude that gives me peace or if it's having found an inner peace that gives me gratitude. Either way, they seem to go hand-in-hand.

I'd really like to say that I have no worries in life, but there are a few things that occupy my thoughts in troubling ways from time to time. I am fortunate that my privileged status brings me back to this place of peace and the worries tend to dissipate or at least, regain some perspective on a solution or acceptance. There really aren't any big issues in my life at this time.

I do think that I need to change my meditative time to something more active. Perhaps a meditative walk rather than sitting on my ever widening ass while meditating would be a good thing. I've walked our property line a few times this past week. It's just short of a half mile -- .47 miles. 
If I begin by going down the deck stairs at the back of the house and walk around to the street it gives me the additional distance to make it a half mile. A second lap around and back to the deck stairs makes 1 mile of up and down, hilly terrain. It's not much in the way of exercise, but it is a starting place for a fat, old man. 
Walking the field doesn't seem very adventurous, but it is pretty mindless and there are no worries about traffic or other distractions. And there is a natural connection to the earth that doesn't always come when walking on the road. Maybe I'll try it barefooted and see how that goes. I know it will be slower, but the retired guy has the time for slower. 

Mobile meditation.
Thinking about better health.
And I'm grateful to be able to enjoy the mobility.

John

64 years, 2 months

Today is a new day and a new experience. Unfortunately, it's not really a good one. It's not unexpected, but it's not good.

I had my annual physical this morning and I am now, for the first time, on a daily prescribed medication. 
As the weight has slowly piled on, my blood pressure has been slowly creeping upwards. Perhaps the daily dose of medication will do more than just reduce the high blood pressure. Perhaps it will inspire me to get off my otherwise fairly healthy fat ass and finally lose some of this weight. I'd like to be able to drop the weight, lower the BP naturally, and do away with the prescription. I have a follow up appointment in 6 months. 
While high blood pressure isn't inevitable for all of us, the simple truth is that nearly half of US adults have it. It's not surprising when you consider that about 43% of US adults are obese. It's time I work to bring my part of those stats down.

On the plus side -- I've got good insurance and the meds come out to just pennies per day. 

Happy Monday

John

Aging -- Definitely not for sissies

In 10 days I will be 64 years old. That's 23,376 days.
I'm hanging in there and pretty healthy for a fat guy, but I definitely need to make some changes if I plan on making it for another 25 years or so.

The motivation to actually be more mindful of diet and exercise should be plenty, but it has become more difficult--both mentally and physically--to do anything that really has an impact. Just 10 years ago it didn't seem as big of a deal as it does today.
It is as if there is a gravitational inertia to remain inactive. When you combine that with the aches and pains of a little arthritis and normal wear on a fat boy's joints, it becomes a nearly irresistible force.

While it might be a little late in terms of damage done, I really need to look forward and take action to be more comfortable and mobile in the coming years. I have had some minor success in focusing on improving my mental and spiritual beings in the past few years. I need to apply some of that to focusing on my physical well being, as well.

Ten years ago I was finishing up a successful year of losing 54 pounds in my 54th year. I actually lost just over 60 pounds and was below 200 pounds. Today I will need the same kind of +10% of my goal to lose 65 pounds in my 65th year to reach 200 by June 13, 2025. 
Sacrebleu!
I mean it's only a little over a pound a week, so it is so very doable with minimal change in lifestyle and diet. It is in many ways more difficult than getting serious and just doing it -- say in half that time.

For me -- this kind of thing takes some mental acceptance and will. I need to move from -- I'm pretty healthy for a fat guy -- to I'm a fat guy and nothing good is going to come from that. In fact, too many bad things are probably in that fat guy's future -- diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, poor circulation, and so many other maladies associated with old, fat people.
Where most people think of physical health first, I seem to have put it off to the end. It is definitely time to add my physical well being into the picture. 

What are you thinking about today?

John

Monday Meditation

Learning to quiet the mind and engage in fruitful meditation takes practice. The link between mind and body is real. A stressed body can make meditation more difficult and a strong mind can relieve the stresses that impact the health of the body.
The Eastern world has been aware of this for centuries, while the West is just learning that the two practices go hand in hand. From the East we get mindful physical practices (like yoga and Tai chi) that bring the body and mind into a harmonious practice.

My thoughts this morning seemed to be focused on the fact that I have greatly neglected the physical part of my health and need to do something about it. Just being more active would be a step in the right direction. 
Speaking of steps, my past practice of daily walking has long since vanished and I find it difficult to motivate myself to re-engage in it, An old friend used to tell me that movement is motivation -- you just have to get started. Maybe I'll go with that.
Walking and meditation work well together. I could bring my mala and make it a mindful practice or just pop in my earbuds and listen to some good music while I walk my way to better health.

That's it.
I'll finish my writing, finish my coffee, and I'll take a walk and continue my meditation.

Do you have a regular practice for your physical health?
Do tell.

John 

Cold

Not the frigid kind of cold, but the sick kind of cold.
Man, I've been trying to shake this thing for about a week now. I don't think that last week's cold weather and work schedule have helped any, and I am growing weary of the nasal congestion and coughing.

Although tonight looks like another miserable night, it does appear that we will get a break from this extreme cold weather pattern this week. I feel like I need a little outdoor time and the warmer temps and no overnights should help with that. I don't typically get colds or flu. The exposure from working at the shelter is most likely the issue. This is my second bad cold this season.
I haven't been wearing a mask at the shelter, but I may start. There is a lot of coughing, sneezing, and other germ spreading going on there.

Today I will be resting, healing, and thinking about spring.

John

Sunday morning reflections...

Just a few things I'm thinking about in this morning's quiet time...

*It's good to be home. 
I slept very well last night and am enjoying the calm and quiet of coffee on the deck. I did miss this time over the past few days of travel and visiting. 

*What I didn't miss was the time spent scrolling news and knowing about the ever growing dysfunction in our federal government. Sure, I kept up with some of the news, but not nearly as much as I usually do. I might need to consider that as I move forward.

*I'm also thinking that I really need a reset when it comes to diet. I have been consuming way too much crap food lately. I need to eliminate (or at least moderate) the junk food and increase the wholesome stuff. I know that we have gone back to eating out more often and our choice for dinner out often is for something quick and easy just because it's dinner time and we don't feel like cooking. Even planned meals out would help with making healthier choices.
*I also really need to do some daily exercise -- even if it's just getting back to a daily 2-3 mile walk.

*I've got a pretty neat little world that I live in. It's not too big and I probably need to work on expanding my exposure to the rest of the world a little more. I'm not sure why I feel that way, but I do sometimes get the sense that I should have more people interactions than I normally do.
Even as I write that my head is screaming -- bullshit!
It's pretty counter-intuitive to my usual behavior and I'm not sure what is behind this crazy thought. I just know that it's there.

Just a few random things in my head this morning.

John

It's Just September -- step away from the pumpkin spice!

Okay.
Pumpkin spice is fine if that's your thing. 

I will admit that I am enjoying the cooler nights that we've had these last several days, but we're back to daytime temps in the mid to upper 80s for the next week or so. That's fine with me. I plan on continuing to work in the yard as September is an ideal time for planting to allow plants to establish a good root system prior to winter. We generally have a long fall season and roots will continue to grow even after the foliage has stopped or dropped. Continued watering to what appears to be a dead or dormant plant is important for new stuff.

This is the rose bush that I thought didn't survive last winter and I mowed it down. Apparently it was just late getting started this year as I started to see some new growth on it in mid July. I dug it up and potted it so that I could take better care of it and will need to find a place to replant it in the coming days.

I have several other plants that I am caring for in pots and may winter them that way. I really need to build or buy a greenhouse. All of our deck succulents come in for the winter, too. 

In other September stuff --
Over the past two days, I've posted about some September fitness/weight goals over on my other blog, Healthy Living (by an unhealthy guy). This healthy living stuff is going to cut into my sitting and doing nothing time. Hopefully, the pay off will be a longer (and healthier) life to sit and do nothing later.

Time to walk.

John