Tag: survival

Fitness, Health, Journal

Don't Wait For The Middle Finger

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white haired man in jacket with watch
Photo by Life Of Pix on Pexels.com

Young ones (well, anyone younger than me, aka 50 and younger), please don’t be like me.

I treated my body like it was immortal: nothing I did or didn’t do would have a lasting effect. Despite the little things (which just kept building up) I felt when I turned 30 years old, I kept right on rolling, downing that Crunch Berry cereal while doing virtually no physical activity. The scale didn’t matter, how my body felt didn’t matter, all I cared about was what goody I was going to put in my mouth next to drown out my emotions. I told myself I didn’t care what anyone else thought and I didn’t. The problem was, I just didn’t care, period.

I only looked in the mirror with “tunnel vision”, seeing only my face to put on tons of makeup (to cover up my blotchy skin and apply contour to my double chin) and fix my highly damaged hair but never looking at my body. I cannot remember ever looking at my body just out of the shower.

The year I turned 42 years old, after YEARS of warning signs, was the year my body stuck up its middle finger at me and said, “I’m done”. Thankfully, I have never had high blood pressure or high cholesterol but I became allergic to just about everything, I got sick if anyone looked at me funny, and I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Through diet and exercise over the past 8 years, I have reduced my A1C from 9.0 to 5.7 (my first ever fasting blood sugar was 400). I am very proud to officially no longer have type 2 diabetes and did it on my own.

Unfortunately, there is only so much proper (for me) diet and exercise can do after 42 years of neglect and abuse. Here is a partial list of the issues I am dealing with:

  • Allergy shots for the next 5 years
  • Gallbladder removal 7 months ago
  • Severe intestinal issues that were not resolved by removing the gallbladder. I am still undergoing testing to figure out what is causing this (upper endoscopy, MRI, so much blood work the technician knows me by name). Next will probably be scheduled for a colonoscopy (if none of the current tests reveal anything).
  • Just had a TIA (mini-stroke) in my eye last week. There was no permanent damage but this means more tests (went to the lab two days in a row this week and have 2 MRI scans next week), more doctors (in addition to my allergist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, primary care, and gastroenterologist, I have an appointment with a neurologist and am waiting for a referral to a cardiologist) AND I had to stop exercising because that TIA could possibly lead to a full-blown stroke (can you say stress?).

To be brutally honest, I have no idea how much of what is still wrong with me could have been avoided if I had cared about myself earlier in life but now, I will never know. All I can do is hang on, say a few prayers, and do whatever I can to get through this so I can (once again) start over on my fitness journey. As soon as I am given some sort of clearance, I am hitting the weights and my neglected exercise bike (there will also be some digging in the yard going on, too, since I was not able to finish planting before this all happened).

So, you young whipper snappers, please. Take a good, hard look at your lifestyle. Take into account that you will not be in your 20’s forever. Our bodies age, whether we want them to or not. How old do you want to feel when you are 30, 40, or 50? Do you want to be able to do whatever you enjoy or would you prefer to get out of breath walking to the mail box? Do what is best (not easiest) for your health now so you do not end up like me.

Current Events, Goals, Journal

To Learn, You Must Do

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It’s rare when I am surprised by anything I read online. The last time I was truly shocked about anything in the public domain was when Trump won the Presidential election. Watching the election night coverage (yes, we watched all night) was true “shock and awe.” That was the best reality show we have ever watched and the reactions were priceless (and gloriously genuine). Virtually no one expected that outcome, especially me. I didn’t vote for Clinton or Trump. I can’t stand any of the Clintons but figured Hillary was going to win no matter who she was running against. See? “Shock and Awe.”

Most of the online election aftermath has caused my eyes to roll way too much. Both sides, with their diehard supporters who never really paid attention to what their candidates actually believed, just irritate me. As much as I love the MAGAs’ dread when they realize Trump isn’t the ultraconservative they assumed he was, I really loathe those Hillary supporters who assumed, because I did not support her (and definitely did not support Obama), that I was a Trump supporter. I knew some of these people for over 20 years, yet they lashed out at me like I had suggested someone needed to start drowning puppies. They chose to ignore the fact that I had never supported any of the chosen Republican candidates that ran against Obama in both elections. All logic and reason left their overly emotional brains and (from what I have seen) has never returned.

This has never been more evident than what has actually surprised me online: they are scared and talking about arming themselves and either advocating for (or anticipating) a civil war. I have even read some hoping for a military coup. It feels like a really bad episode of the Twilight Zone since this is the same talk I saw from ultra-conservatives when Obama was elected to office except then, the “fight” was to preserve the Constitution and now the “fight” is to dismantle it (despite the calls to arm themselves). They just aren’t thinking this through. Why would they want to give up control of their lives (and their right to protect their lives) to the very people they are protesting against?

This is new territory for me. I knew what to ignore when Obama was first elected as mostly grandstanding (or in my off-line words, idiots being keyboard commandos) but I don’t know this new crop of people. I am not sure how serious they are or are they just typing all of that to make others think they are serious.What I do know is there are too many people within society who do not understand that just because they think (or say) something doesn’t mean they will always win. These people also do not understand that with every loss, there is a lesson that can be learned if they are willing to remove emotion from the equation.

I do know that, outside of the anti-Trump groups, I have noticed an uptick in worry and a desire to begin preparing for … something. I am not sure exactly what the impetus to prepare is. I do not think it really matters. Whether people are preparing for some sort of civil war, civil unrest, disruption in the food chain, nuclear war, natural disasters, or any other imagined scenario, the path toward independence and security is the same:

To Learn Must Do

You can have all the books in the world but if you have never grown a tomato plant, you will never be able to grow all the fruits and vegetables you need to sustain your family. This also applies to splitting your own firewood or baking bread (you know, actually cooking) or sewing a shirt or repairing your appliances or any number of skills you think you will need to survive any of the disastrous scenarios people can imagine.

This also goes for life in general (which was the original intention of this post). If all you do is read books without putting into practice what you read, you have learned nothing. Online marketing, SEO optimization, building your email list, writing (and publishing) a book, improving your health, losing weight, increasing your strength … none of the knowledge you acquire from any book, course, or video will do you any good if you don’t physically DO anything!

So, where do you begin? Go through everything you have learned over the course of the last year and figure out what one activity you can do today, right now. Choose just one. Then tomorrow, choose another. Slowly build up until you are practicing what you were taught (and learning what will work and what won’t). Not everything you have been taught will lead you to your ultimate goal (or end up working the way you intended). So, you set aside those things that are not working for you and move onto another activity.

The most important thing to know is you cannot control everything. You will not get everything you think you want (or things will not go the way you have planned). This is called life. You either embrace that fact or you will end up just spinning around in circles, blaming others for life not going the way you intended.

Even if you believe that the climate changing is caused by humans, what can you really do about that? Can you, personally, eliminate all excess carbon emissions from the planet, allowing your tomatoes to grow better this year? No, and even if you could, what would happen if the climate didn’t change back? What if all the scientists who support human caused climate change are proven wrong? What would you do with your life then?

We all need to focus on what we can personally change: our sphere of influence. Plant a tree, get your yard equipment serviced so it burns fuel more efficiently, stop using so many weed killers or bug sprays, pick up the garbage on your street (then the next street, then your entire neighborhood), dig up your lawn and plant food, vote for a city councilperson who embraces your way of thinking, etc. These are the types of acts that will ultimately change the world, not blocking traffic or hiding in your house waiting for the end of the world.

Crafts

What is Art?

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I’ve been making an inner journey.  It’s a journey that I am willing to share the basics of, soon.  This journey has led me to let go of so many of my doubts when it comes to exploring my abilities.  That is now in the past.

Yesterday morning, I stumbled onto a set of You Tube videos.  These videos were, “How to Paint a Sunflower in Watercolor”.  Here’s the first video:

I sat there, watching, and thought, “I can do that.  No, I will!”  So, I grabbed my child’s art set, my sketch paper (you know, those large pads of paper that you can get in just about any store), and I started.  No, first, I snagged a photo from my prolific photo-taking friend, Melana Hiatt (she takes some of the best photos).  Then, I got started.

AND here’s my result.  My first painting:

S4010004

I love it!  I made mistakes but they are lessons for what to do next time.  I can’t wait to do another one (thinking maybe something about Montana).  I loved the freedom of watercolors.  You just put some paint on the brush and let the brush do its magic.  So, what do you want to do?  Don’t let anything stop you.  If you love it, it’s art!

Crafts, Fiber Arts

Cordage

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So, I’m “THIS CLOSE” to finishing my woman cave (well, as finished as it can be until I can make some looms and such).  The last thing I need to do is make some plant hangers so I have room on the desk.  I have two skeins of some funky, fuzzy yarn and thought that would be fantastic, macramed into some plant hangers (yes, think 1970’s child here).  My problem is this isn’t the strongest yarn.  Although the pots aren’t huge and heavy, I don’t want to take the chance of them snapping and raining dirt all over my work.  So, while trying to figure that out, I thought, “Well, I’ll just read up on card weaving.”  That’s when I stumbled onto Lucets.  Take a look at this:

That tool … aside from the sanding, I could whip one of those up really quick.  What do you think about making cordage with that, THEN macrameing that into a plant hanger?

Then, I have a friend.  She scares me sometimes.  I hadn’t posted anything about lucets at all yesterday.  That’s when she posts this:

http://www.historicum.eu/product/flettehjul-3045/

Of course, I don’t speak (nor read) Danish but did a search for “flettehjul”.

That’s when this page pops up (with a lucet on it)!

It’s all about cordage!

And, here’s how to use that handy little gadget:

I found this pattern for making the lucet forks:

lucet

http://lildog-blog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/lucet-patterns.html?m=1

All I have to say is, thank goodness I’m not doing this to make money!  They are ugly but they work!  I used a Rotozip (because I couldn’t find the blades to my scroll saw) and boy oh boy, does that thing like to go everywhere!  But they are sanded and I’m finally making my cordage.  So, perhaps some time tomorrow, I can make my plant hangers?

Crafts, Fiber Arts, Weaving

Basic Weaving (101)

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I’m back on my weaving tangent, though I’m not even finished with my woman cave yet. This is how my Attention Deficit works. I was given a link quite a while ago (Wayback Link to original weaving page). That tab has been sitting there, open, this entire time. I finally decided to go through all the links, download what I wanted, then finally close it.

Well, imagine my surprise when I found these .pdfs! It’s Weaving 101, with instructions for building a full-sized loom, tablets, board looms, and table top looms! Not just that but exactly how to use them! I’m thrilled (and properly distracted from finishing my cave). Actually, I have hung my embroidery hoops on the wall and thought, “You know, I could do the same for the tablets I was given and even make some small frames and store them on the walls, too.” That one though gave me permission to embrace this tangent again. 🙂

These were all written by Luther Hooper and are a fantastic resource for anyone to have (who is interested in this or think they may be in the future).  To save these to your computer, right-click on the links below, click “Save Link As” and choose where you would like it saved on your computer.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I am!

Weaving For BeginnersDownload
Weaving With Small Appliances Book 1Download
Weaving With Small Appliances Book 2Download
Weaving With Small Appliances Book 3Download
Hand-Loom Weaving Plain & Ornamental Part 1Download
hHand-Loom Weaving Plain & Ornamental Part 1Download
Bread, Recipe

Breads Made With Lard

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These came into my inbox and I just had to share.  I don’t see too many recipes out there that specifically call for the use of lard.

Pueblo Oven Bread

Approximately 9 cups of white flour

1 Package of Dry Yeast

2 Tablespoons of Salt

2 Tablespoons of Lard (you can substitute with butter)

2 Cups of Water

AND

Native American Bread

1/2 -ounce active dry yeast (2 (1/4-ounce) packets)
1 1/4 cups warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)
8 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup salt
1 cup lard

Health And Wellness, Medicinal

Basic Liver Tonic

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Well, today is day 4 of my parsley tea and it’s working!  I feel much better (and think it may be a small kidney stone … sure hurts and moves like one).  So, I can’t do much moving around.  I’ve decided to finally finish cleaning up my website and found this little tidbit hiding amongst the huge numbers of text files I have stored on my server.  I do not know who originally shared it nor who wrote it (if you do, please let me know).

Liver Tonic

* 2 T Wild Yam root
* 2 T Milk Thistle Globes
* 2 T Oregon Grape root
* 2 T Dandelion root
* 2 T Chicory root
* 2 T Goldenseal Root (optional)

Simmer in water 20 min, Golden seal may lower blood sugar and may be deleted from this remedy.

Crafts, Metal, Wood

Welding and Wood Carving

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I have found two You Tube channels (actually, hubby found one) that are fantastic and I need to share them!

The first one is what has been occupying my time.  I’ve always ‘dreamed’ of working with wood.  I have chisels, a scroll saw, band saw, router, drill press, plans, two Dremels, etc. but never quite got around to it.  That is, until I finally committed my brain to learning something.  This guy is one of the few channels that teaches how to do wood carving with power tools.  So, on the days when I’m supposed to be doing cardio (cough, cough) I’ve been in the garage playing.

And this guy hubby found last night.  The way we both see it, no matter how long you’ve been doing something, it can’t hurt to continue to learn and perhaps learn techniques that will make your work better.  Welding.  I’ve done a good job splattering molten metal (and burning myself) but like the idea of learning to do this more (take a look at the plasma cutter … I want one!).