I'm Fine

I'm around. Just not talkative. I've been busy, and not being able to keep up with everything, so writing here has been one of the things that hasn't gotten done. Other good things are. I have read and thought and realized that I am not taking advantage of what opportunities I have available to me on many levels. Most specifically, if I truly want to hike the Appalachian Trail there is a lot that I need to do first. Those things aren't packed away in some vacuum somewhere just because I'm out in Washington State now. I am back to being committed to doing something, at least one thing, each day to be the person I need to be to hike the trail. Yes, 3 years ago I set a date, this week coming up, to start my hike. I didn't do the things I needed to in order to be hiking now. So, I'm here instead of there.

Today I walked 30 min on the treadmill. I am finding weak places in my body. Right now it's my right knee. I think I sit and walk in an uneven manner. My body needs to straighten out as it gets stronger, and that hurts. Steady and slow as I strengthen the muscles that have been stretched out of balance.

I also didn't make that 3rd mug of coffee. I need to cut down, not stop, my coffee habit. I mostly don't drink soft drinks now, except when I'm at the Casino (I'm not getting into that subject just now...). I made a healthy dinner. Not quite as good as I had hoped, but definitely doable as a healthy meal. My tastes need to be realigned along with my body.

I have many areas that need attention before I can head off for 8-9 months on a trail. Financial, health, what to do with my stuff, my pets. I have at least a year's worth of work, maybe another 3 years. If I really want to make it happen, I need to do the things that make me the person who can go off hiking.

On February 12 I have an appointment to have my broken tooth extracted. It will be a surgical removal, and I can't drive while on the medication I asked to be given. The dentist office is about a mile down the road, so I'll walk down there and plan to arrive about an hour before the procedure so I can take the Valium. Then either Cindi or Lori will pick me up on their lunch break from work and bring me home. I am under orders from them not to walk back. This is a big step in getting my dental health in line. Next up, even as I continue the dental stuff, is to get new glasses and maybe contacts. I'll make that appointment by the end of February.

This is all part of what needs to happen for me to get on the trail. Or, pretty much whatever else I end up doing. Mostly if I just show up for life on any given day I'll be doing something to further my goal of the hike. Which means that I haven't been showing up on a regular basis lately.