Adventures

I'm looking forward to a camping trip with my son and his family this summer.  It's been a very long time.  I found my egg crate sleeping pad but I wonder if I need to find some kind of cot as sleeping and getting back up off the ground is not so easy any longer.  And we're bringing a camp stove.  I haven't cooked over a fire since I was a kid camping with my folks and sharing the smoke bitten dish washing duty with my sister.  Eww!  By the time my kids and camped I had a backpacking gas stove that I could whip up meal for 4 in no time.  We opted for back packer gear since it was lighter and took up less space.  Later when we all took up sea-kayaking the same gear fit nicely into the kayak hatches.  Ages ago.  What I am looking forward to the most is seeing the stars at night without all the ambient light that hides the night sky here at home.

 Secret Camping Spot?

 

Ten days ago I had yet another large kidney stone sonically smashed, the third in eighteen months.  Too bad they aren't gold or silver, I seem to be the mother lode these days.  It's a simple procedure but not without risks and this last time I found myself compulsively telling my kids where my will, medical power of attorney, and all my passwords were.  Post procedure I woke up itching all over and with a headache.  They had changed the anesthetic used the last two times and added morphine, something I don't tolerate well.  I discussed this with the attending anesthesiologist beforehand and I'm angry and disappointed that he seems to have blown me off.  Just another old lady to ignore, such crap!  And I'm angry at my body for not holding up better.  I discussed it with the hospital last week and with my primary doctor when I saw her yesterday.  She made sure it was added to my medical records there.  The effects took several days to wear off, so I was sleeping when I was supposed to be walking around helping the stone bits to go away.  I did get the recommended 10-12 glasses of water down between naps.  That much water is better than an alarm clock, in an hour or so I'd be dreaming about water and waking up dashing for the bathroom.

Monday I am rejoining my old gym.  It's a 24 hour gym, not that I'll be showing up at midnight but it's nice to be able to go whenever I like.  It's clean, inexpensive as gyms go, and they have a variety of equipment so I can start out slow, probably on a recumbent bike.  I usually begin by going every day for a week and spending 10 minutes on a recumbent bike and taking a short breather and doing 10 on the treadmill.  After a winter of kidney stones, flu and asthma, and sitting like a stone in the road it might have to be only 15 minutes.  I've inspired by my friend Merry who has just started up going walking so she'll be able to enjoy her big trip this year.  It's supposed to take three weeks to form a new habit, she's half way there, and Monday I'll be beginning, I will show up for sign up in my old exercise clothes ready to go.