Tag: walk

The Wandering Hermit: The Mysteries of Katie Lane

Today started much better than yesterday, but a little late as far as I’m concerned.  I was a full hour late on my walking routine, but my head feels much clearer today.  I walked down Burris/VFW Rd, intending to go down to Prairie Rd again, but when I got to Katie Ln, about halfway between Fairgrounds Rd & Prairie Rd, I decided to include it on my walk.  I had never been down that road and assumed it was a short road with maybe three homes, but not only was it about a quarter mile down, but then the road continued down into the trees winding around, crossing the creek and ending at one final house way down in a secluded spot.  In a way, it’s a perfect spot for a home.  I like that they chose to go across the creek, so they’ve insulated themselves on all sides.  Of course, it’s also one of those places where the kids of the people who built it shoot first and ask questions later, but it was early and I didn’t actually go all the way up to the property.  

Since my walk was slightly later, I saw several people outside—two running and one man working in his yard.  I rarely see anyone out on my walks.  I also encountered the three dogs on the corner.  The little pug was the friendliest of the guys, but they were all pretty gregarious.  They tend to act tough when they see me from a distance, but when our paths crossed they were a little pack of sweethearts.  I worry about them being on the road.  Too many dogs have gotten hit by cars out here.  Now that I’ve interacted with them, I’ll probably make a point to walk by to see them in the morning.  

My legs are shrinking, but not very fast.  It’s starting to bother me because I’ve not seen as dramatic a change in my legs as I have elsewhere…. don’t get me wrong, they are definitely smaller than they used to be, but they remain firm when other areas have softened and I’m eager for them to start reducing.  I just don’t know how or even if it is possible.  Maybe this is permanent.  I’m actually okay with that, but I’d like to at least know.

[Walk #69]

The Wandering Hermit: How Can I Complicate This?

I did a short walk this morning; it’s supposed to rain, so I decided to just walk before then.  Of course, now it just won’t probably.  But that’s okay.  My goal is a minimum of 25 minutes each day.  I got in that amount, which means I succeeded today.  I don’t have to overdo it everyday.  I’m also not in competition with past me.

I’ve been thinking about YouTube videos.  I just want to be doing something while I’m doing something… if that makes sense.  I think I’d like to start recording my walks.  Depending on the walk, that might be interesting as a YouTube channel.  I know I like to look up videos of towns in different places.  Usually you’ll just find a short video of drone footage, which rarely gives me much.  Maybe someone would want to see some of the places around here by foot.  I also find those kinds of videos relaxing.  The question becomes do I set them to music or do I talk over them about whatever I want to talk about?  It’s hard to say.

Supposedly most pollen levels are pretty low today.  That concerns me because I have a little congestion going on.  Grass is high I guess; maybe it’s literally just grass pollen stopping me up. 

[Walk #64]

Daily Log: 23 May 2024

Weight: 278.4 lbs

Exercise: 1.14 mile walk (5:41am–6:07am, ☁️62ºF/16.5ºC); 1.37 mile walk (1:30pm–2:04pm, ☁️80ºF/26.5ºC); 1.15 mile walk (6:20pm–6:49pm, 🌬️80ºF/26.5ºC) (3.66 miles total)

Mindfulness: 15 minute outdoor meditation (2:22pm–2:27pm; 6:49pm–7:01pm)

Mood: Great

Food: 2180 calories

  • French vanilla iced coffee
  • horchata oatmeal
  • bean & rice burritos
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade

Daily Log: 22 May 2024

Weight: 275.0 lbs

Exercise: 3.20 mile walk (5:45am–7:01am, 🌧️60ºF/15.5ºC); .26 mile walk (2:47pm–2:55pm, ☀️76ºF/24.5ºC) (3.46 miles total)

Mindfulness: 9 minute outdoor meditation (2:33pm–2:42pm)

Mood: Excellent

Food: 1855 calories

  • horchata iced coffee
  • steamed green beans, chili beans, jalapeños, Taco Bell Diablos Hot Sauce, iceberg lettuce, jalapeño stuffed olives
  • sliced potatoes, chili beans
  • vanilla oatmeal
  • steamed Brussels sprouts, cream style corn, jalapeños, Taco Bell Diablo Hot Sauce
  • steamed green beans, cream style corn, jalapeños, Taco Bell Diablo Hot Sauce
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade

 

Daily Log: 21 May 2024

Exercise: 2.76 mile walk (5:47am–6:48am, 🌬️72ºF/22ºC); 1.44 mile walk (6:59pm–7:36pm, ☀️82ºF/28ºC) (4.20 miles total)

Mindfulness: 5 minute outdoor meditation (9:38am–9:43am)

Mood: Excellent

Food: 1600 calories

  • Chocolate Salted Pretzel iced coffee
  • steamed green beans, chili beans, jalapeños, lettuce, Taco Bell Diablo Hot Sauce, southwest mustard, red pepper flakes
  • steamed cauliflower, chili beans, Roma tomatoes, jalapeños, lettuce
  • KIND Bar, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
  • banana
  • Rockstar Recovery, White Peach
  • sandwiches: lettuce, tomato, jalapeños, mustard
  • steamed green beans, chili beans, lettuce, jalapeños, jalapeños stuffed olives
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade

The Wandering Hermit: Haunted By Threats Of Migraines

An aerobic exercise is so much more intense than my normal morning walks.  And while it does cause me to sweat a lot more, it does not increase my heart rate as much and I find that interesting.  

I woke up not feeling great; I had trouble sleeping through the chaotic weather, especially the hail that hit around 1 or 2.  I did manage to get in my daily exercise, but I felt like I was starting to get a migraine, so I decided to just chill out for the rest of the day.  I never did develop a full migraine, but I did feel like a lump all day.  Some days are just like that.

The Wandering Hermit: Walks With Mom In The Morning

I had a nice walk this morning; I decided to go East on Burris, which I hadn’t done.  I think I’ve only driven that way once or twice and I live on the corner.  I liked it because of the hills; the only concern I might have walking that way is those two little dogs that live across the street on Fairgrounds.  I’m not concerned about what they might do to me—they are far too small for that—but I don’t really want to distress them unnecessarily.  I’ve been saying I need to go meet them, but I walk so early that I don’t think about it.  I think it might be better if they knew who I was walking by.  In order to walk that direction, I have to walk in their line of sight for a while.  As long as I keep that part of the morning to before 6, I should be okay.  They get let out when the sun comes up.  I have a strong preference for not walking in front of people’s houses if I don’t have to.  I can walk half a mile that direction and only cross one driveway, and that house is set pretty far back.  

It’s been six years without Mom, but honestly I don’t feel like that exactly.  She’s my constant companion, especially on my morning walks.  It’s interesting when we dwell on those we miss.  Mom is my morning companion.  Dad is with me in the late evening.  I know that has a lot to do with my associations with when they were active, but I’m not sure it’s only that either.  Why do my grandparents each have their own full season on the calendar, like some kind of mythology I’ve formed?  We are in the midst of the transition from Mimi to Pap in fact.  Why?  When I think about that, Mom being dawn and Dad being dusk feels pretty natural.

The passing on a calendar of a day doesn’t really cause me any extra stress.  I don’t need to be reminded; I never forgot.  But I have had a stressful week otherwise.  I know that weight loss can cause hormonal issues, so I’m not sure if that is what has been going on, but I have been all over the place mentally.  And I lack the patience I usually have.  Everyone else has managed to make that about themselves, and I cannot help that.  Sometimes I just need space and quiet.  On paper it would seem like I have those things.  In practice, I do not.  I’m not entirely sure how to set proper boundaries anymore.

[Walk #59]

The Wandering Hermit: No Excuses

I had to keep reminding myself that there are no excuses; walking daily is mandatory.  I was not very into it.  There was a nice fog again, so I was able to enjoy that, but really I just tried to get through my walk this morning.  By the end, I did feel pretty good.  That didn’t keep my mood elevated all day though.

[Walk #58]

Daily Log: 18 May 2024

Weight: ?

Exercise: 1.85 mile/2.98 km walk (6:23am–7:06am, ☀️60ºF/15.5ºC)

Mood: Meh

Food: 980 calories

  • French vanilla iced coffee
  • candy apple oatmeal
  • russet potatoes, green beans, jalapeños
  • russet potatoes, cauliflower, Prozis Teriyaki Sauce
  • mandarin oranges