Happy hip-a-versary

A year ago yesterday, about this time, I was being prepped for surgery. My hip joint was replaced a few hours later, and all I can do now – as then – is echo what so many other surgical replacement patients have said: Why did I wait so long?

For me, I waited so long because the notion of needing a hip replacement never even crossed my mind. I thought that was for old people, or people who'd been in accidents or had a fall. I was a runner (well, at least until my hip started hurting). Even after I stopped running, I continued to walk five miles a day. I wasn't old enough, or injured enough, to need a new joint.

Until I was.

I'm not where I want to be, health- or mobility-wise, a year later. I still have trouble putting shoes and socks on. I still walk up and down stairs one at a time, like a toddler. And I weigh five pounds less this morning than I did one year ago, which is about 40 pounds too many.

But my hip doesn't hurt. I'm walking, slowly but pain-free, as many days as the weather allows.

I'm using real-life situations as excuses for not eating right, but also trying to be realistic about it. At age 65, it's not likely I'll suddenly be cured of emotional or stress-eating tendencies. But I could be making at least a few better choices.

This winter has been rainy so far, resulting in a muddy parking area near the creek where I love to walk. Yesterday as my husband and I set out for yet another boring walk on our road, I suggested we drive down to the creek and park in the mud anyway. The sun was out (for a little while, anyway), and the temperature was moderate. The idea of walking along the creek on the anniversary of my surgery was very appealing.















So we did. And it was a lovely walk.

And it was just what I needed. I'm filled with dread for the future. Mr. Trump will take the oath of office tomorrow at noon. Republicans control Congress and are determined to pull the social safety net out from under anyone who isn't a rich white man. (YES, I'M EXAGGERATING. But only slightly. I've seen NO evidence otherwise.)

People are going to be hurt during a Trump (or Pence – I fully expect Trump's impeachment or resignation prior to completion of his term) administration. I hope the pain isn't debilitating.

Just nagging enough to require a replacement.

The penultimate day

Today.

Tomorrow.

That's it! Whole 30 will be done and dusted Thursday night, just in time for me to head out for a short trip on Friday.

Why would I want to change what I've been doing, since it works so well? The answer is, I don't. But moving from a strict Whole 30 to the less-challenging but basically the same paleo/primal plan makes it a little easier to manage when I'm not the cook.

Most people – I think, I'm not sure – who eliminate grains/dairy/sugar/legumes do so on an 80/20 basis. If they're compliant 80 percent of the time, the other 20 percent off-plan doesn't bother them. I try to keep that principle in mind when I'm not doing the cooking, but I think I've finally learned my gluten lesson. Since we are all our own science experiments, my conclusion for me is that grains – especially wheat – aren't my friend.

Also … why would I want to change to anything other than THIS for breakfast?

If we're not Facebook or Instagram friends, you missed my most favorite walking pictures so far this year. My friend Lynne and I used to walk on Indian Creek Road several times weekly. Yesterday, we did it again, for the first time in far too many months. It was SO beautiful – a perfect spring day – and we solved all the problems of the world in 90 minutes.

Well, at least in our little personal worlds.

The wild phlox was especially lovely, and walking alongside Indian Creek is almost as nice as walking along the ocean. Maybe better … we didn't get sand in our shoes.

Day 28 DONE!

If you've got nothing to say, don't say it

The title of today's post explains yesterday's absence from blogland. I posted the photo to keep the NaBloPoMo streak going, but not much else seemed noteworthy enough to write it down.

Today, there are a couple things.

First, beneath the ad in the left sidebar are links to blog posts. I think BlogHer randomly throws them up there, and my posts have been featured several times. Not because they're so great, but because they get picked randomly, and I write a lot. The one that's up there now (it will change soon, they don't stay up for long) has the same title as one from 2012. And probably the same title as a hundred other bloggers on any random day.

Creative title FAIL!

Next, Denise commented on yesterday's photo, not about the photo but about finding a printout of an old, old, old, pre-Knit Run Repeat blog post, back when I was the Shrinking Knitter. Ah, those were the days. I'm so flattered that she printed something out and saved it. I'M IN PRINT! Heh. What's interesting is that the post was written a couple days after Christmas in 2007, and I talk about starting over the day after Christmas instead of on January 1. I wonder what I weighed then? Certainly it was less than what I do now.

So, how's that starting over on December 26 working for you, Shrinking Knitter?

And finally, Foursquare sent me an email all about a new feature that suggests places or events you might like, based on previous check-ins. I've always thought that feature should have been built in from Day One. Which is probably why I've never used it. I've had the app for a long time, but I don't think about checking in because, really, WHERE DO I GO? I did, however, check in today and learned that I joined Foursquare a year ago today.

How weird is that? I also got their NEWBIE badge – my first check-in!

So that wraps up the thoughts rattling around in my pretty little head this morning. I'm going to leave you with the photo I took on yesterday's walk. These walking photos are always hit or miss. Frequently the sun is shining so brightly I can't even see the screen on my phone. I literally point and shoot, hoping for the best. This one … the lighting, the composition, the dreamy quality of it … I just love it. And I wish you all had been walking with me, because it was four miles of babbling brooks and chirping birds, and you would have loved it, too.

February 10 - 3 o'clock

My husband and I in years past and my friend and I in weeks past have missed
seeing this guy, perched in a tree along Indian Creek. Until yesterday. At 3 o'clock.