A few Measly Steps a Day

A lot to learn. I'm using the sleep machine in the daytime to get used to it. The machine tends to wake me up every few seconds.

Wait, D, a co-effect of a sleep help machine is it wakes you up!?

Day 43 of post-work. No one could tell. The place is filling with boxes for when the right mood strikes and I want to haul some things out of here and organize the rest. That part is going in slow motion.

Then, there's my Pro-Am role as Board Prez supposedly winding down. It's a mystery who will step up to the task. Even my friend seem eager to see me stuck and unable to escape ... what happens if no one else volunteers? Well, the world awaits developments.

About a week into re-setting priorities with a routine 55 minutes for myself, first thing. Ah, it's great.

Beginning to take steps for a Hot Air Ballooning trip to Albuquerque (I'll switch to the airport shorthand: ABQ). This will be about 30 days in October. Someone will have to manage without us. ###

Hot air ballooning - way to go, R.

Re sleep machine. - the machine wakes me up. I think apnea is the first diagnosis they come up with because it's the easiest to treat, and for most people it works great. The one night I slept with the machine on (four hours. couldn't take anymore) was the worst sleep I had in years. I think my problem is that I'm a light sleeper and anything and everything wakes me up. There aren't any good answers for that. Don't eat late at night. (sometimes helps) get exercise (sometimes helps; sometimes adds to pain and makes it worse.) take Tylenol usually helps. Aleve and similar stuff damages my stomach. I'm not ready to take oxycodone and be a junkie. Not worrying (how do you do that?) And apparently, I do have sleep apnea. The first time I was tested, I had a great night sleep - best in years - and the test came out "moderate sleep apnea." The second time I tested, I had a terrible night's sleep and the result was mild sleep apnea. Add to that - as Kenny Rodgers said, "The best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." Now, I'm not ready for any bucket kicking yet. But this body isn't get any healthier, and when I do take the elevator, hopefully upstairs, I'd rather go sleeping than spend years in a memory unit, or other possible whatevers. I'm using the sleep machine in the daytime to try to get used to it. I watch TV in the evenings with it on until I nod off and the machine wakes me up. I'll call Apria and then my doctor today, and see if they have any good advice.

Meanwhile, editing "Through Unfamiliar Waters" is fun.
For what it's worth, head of condo board sounds like using a sleep machine.

Good luck.

Reading "Through Unfamiliar Waters" is fun, too!

My CPAP is reporting that its motor reached the end of its service life. I've been using it for over 6 years, nearly every day. I've had the fans in air purifiers last only two years before I'd have to service them.

I might be getting used to the CPAP.

I'm glad you're enjoying Unfamiliar Waters, It was fun to write.

I think of you two as I work on it. Yes. I'm improving it (I hope). Every time I hit "control J" I remember that you taught it to me. There are bits and goodies in there that came from Barbara's Boards, but I'm not going to mention them incase you haven't gotten to that part yet.

I never know when my work is "good enough." I wish I'd waited before publishing "Temporary Address" until it was good enough. But if I wait until it's good enough, I may never publish anything.

quandary!

I think I might be getting used to my sleep machine. Fingers crossed.

I've finished reading all three books! I remember the excerpts of "Through Unfamiliar Waters" that I read on the Barbara Sher board, especially Vivian's response to the mugger.

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Today I reviewed the poems in my online "gallery." I wrote some in the mid 1980s; others in mid 2010s. There are only 18 that I'd include in a book. That's not enough IMO. I was hoping that if I had twice as many I might self-publish my first book. I don't think I have it in me to create new material right now.

I'd completely forgotten about many of the newer poems. It was as if I were reading someone else's poetry. A few were inspired by joking around with my daughter.

Hi denizens of MSAD. I had to look up CPAP. I'm in sympathy with your sleeping struggles. D, you joked about worrying ... but that might offer a clue. [Creaking sounds of spotlight rotating] For fun spotlighting "worry" and dialing it down might show up something. Personally, it's a dance. My partner seeing my head on the pillow starts rattling off a bunch of stuff we will have to deal with ... during waking hours. Jeez. And then, first thing when I wake up there's chatter about stuff that need attending. Well, that's at least after I've slept. Here's an article with some tips like I've had to use to get some sleep.

At short notice, I told a couple of bridge buddies about an open casual game on Sunday and we arranged to play. It was great. About 30 people, 28 playing 2 or 3 watching.

Added up for a delightful weekend: Friday: enjoyed the Korean spa, a Cubano sandwich, a Wim Wenders movie (Perfect Days, just out), and talking about the movie at a bar; Saturday caught the Shake Shack BOGO [buy one-get one] shake deal then spent 90 minutes talking about Jung and astrology.

Today's measly steps are to reach a 'smilestone' marker on the last of the complicated business taxes: double check my account records to make sure I've included all deductible expenses. I have 3 remaining. I'll start with the longest and work to the shortest. Might try for another BOGO shake deal with different flavors ... if all flows well.

Sigh, my 55 minutes for self are about up. Time to sharpen a few pencils and get to work.

HI, Guys,

Square Peg, how do I find your poems? I don't remember your blog site address.
R, Glad you had a good time.

Me - a couple of blah days, and then more fun scheduled.

Hi D, I've kept my art off my blog. The poetry is here on DeviantArt:
Geak-of-Nature - Hobbyist, Photographer | DeviantArt

Thanks for asking. I highly recommend that you visit if you're bored and have insomnia LOL

I excavated my notebooks from the 1980s and spent two hours going through them, only about 15 of them (there are 90). I found one poem that I recited at the writer's club I belonged to. For some reason I didn't post it online; it needs a lot of work, but I will use it.

I found a few more Haiku that I could fill a page with. And other little bits that I would sprinkle about. Still other longer one I'd alter a bit.

If I need more content, I could either add my artwork or collaborate with my artist daughter.

But that two hour review wore me out. I was in a "bad place" in the mid 80s when I was writing a lot; re-reading some of it depressed me quite a bit. I spewed so much negativity, angst and hopelessness, and I behaved poorly. How did anyone put up with me?

Hmm, "Negativity, Angst and Hopelessness" sounds like either the title of a book of poetry or the name of a law firm. LOL

Hi R, you've reminded me how lucky I am that I sleep alone. Yes, I am still married, and I live with my wife, but we sleep in separate rooms.

She can't stand the Darth-Vader-like CPAP machine, and lying down is painful for her, so she sleeps in a recliner. And her involuntary jerking movements interrupt my sleep.

Hi buddies, when she starts ticking off her todos I finally helped her figure out it had nothing to do with me. It's her way to remind herself. And yes, we both have lists everywhere.

SPG: thanks for the link to your pages. My iMac is so enduring I'm getting "we don't support your browser" messages. Oh well, I can't upgrade any more ...

Today, continue with taxes—the next phase: collating totals before entry onto the forms. Partnership forms due the ides of March; personal ones a month later.

Then, as long as it takes (maybe a couple of days) slogging through emails I let stack up over the long weekend. I'm luvvin' letting email alone from Fri 5 pm till Monday or Tuesday morning.

Playing soft listening covers of popular songs. A 12 hr mix tape! Who ever does it puts in a lot of work: time marks with the name of the covering artists are included.

They are not responsible for the ads, however.

Hi, Guys,

I looked on Deviant Art, and I pasted in your link, but I don't think I found your poetry.
Me - writing is going very slowly. But at least it's going.
Health - I see the sleep doctor tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
I have a friend who is trying to get hip surgery. He's in bad shape hip-wise. I looked up the doctor who did mine - I liked him - good doctor , good personality, and he's cute. Anyway, as I was browsing, is saw that he did biotherapy for joints. I don't remember the exact word for it. Anyway, they can laser away dead tendons. As in the scar tissue on my shoulder. I've been told that these methods don't usually work, but . . . Would be very cool if it worked.

My daughter is looking for a new home for three elderly chickens. Their tennant might be allergic.
That's all the excitement - or lack thereof for me.

Hi supports, our package to owners for the condo annual meeting ships this week due to state law that requires 15-day notice. Devoted all day to getting it as right as I can as a draft to send to the board for a last looksee and approvals. O, the tedious steps. I'm retiring from service at the end of my term mid-March.

Good things, I suppose, I've done of late:

Our business taxes are complete. Due March 15. Allowing myself a break before getting to the 1040.

Decided together with Signif. Other NOT to attend a series of quick-production plays. In 2 round across 2 weekends, they produce 14 plays in 48 hours. It's called 14/48, and it's a blast. We devoted our weekends last year and about $160 ($40 per late show, 4 times). This time, we need our time!

Went to a fun art museum show opening on Friday.

Spent nearly an hour searching for a class to take at the state U. Some law the legis. cut where us over 60s can take, er, audit classes for $5 each. My first choice was filled-up with regular students. So, I had to scroll through the class offerings again. Though I prefer seminars, ended up with a lecture course. But it's on movies, so that will help me with my contributions in my informal film chat group. There was plenty of room left, so I'm likely to get a seat.

Let's run the maths: classes run 10 weeks, I'm paying $5, or 50¢ a week, 2 classes each week, or 25¢ per class. About as far as I can stretch a quarter in 2024! It gets better, I'll get "student" status (which is nearly infinite in their library system) and not have to renew my $100 community borrowers card. So for $5, I save $100, a great deal if it all comes out as planned. Maybe I'll toy around with claiming the "student" discounts at the stores on the strip!

The last I heard was that my state allows folks 65 and over to enroll in classes at state colleges and universities for free. Now if I can get a good deal on a quiet dorm room, I'll have finished my retirement planning! LOL

Hi SPG, take a look:

Retire on Campus? Colleges Find Community With Intergenerational Living

I live about 7 blocks away from campus and set feet on it about 2 or 3 times a week. Music, arts, books, lectures, museum openings, and now classes ... what's not to love.

Free would be nice. It costs more than $5 in staff time processing payments.

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Wait, "Entrance fees range from $382,400 to over a million dollars, on top of monthly service fees up to $7,800."

Seems it would be cheaper to enroll as a full-time student!

Oh well, on to Plan B -- to be a Mountain Man

It's necessary to scroll down a bit to where the poetry gallery starts.

Here's a direct link to the most recent poem I wrote, which was in 2014:
Untitled by Geak-of-Nature on DeviantArt

But really, it's not something to read except on the advice on a Sleep Doctor

Speaking of which...What was teh outcome?

Try to avoid anyone named Perdue or Tyson

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquarePegGuy That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Wait, "Entrance fees range from $382,400 to over a million dollars, on top of monthly service fees up to $7,800." Seems it would be cheaper to enroll as a full-time student!

Haha, this is supposed to be a 'smart' move!? Yeah, better yet—move back in with your parents (tho the grave is a fine but quiet place, the rent is frozen in time) and matriculate. Use chat-gpt for writing papers and hire a double to attend classes. Otherwise, get drunk, eat stale pizza, & search for love.

One of the burdens foisted on condo boards by the wise folks in the capital is getting notice of the annual budget out to owners between 14 and 55 days before a meeting of the owners (the Annual Meeting). The 55 days was a lawmakers idea of a joke, the real number, as all know, is the 14.

Well, it's gone! Sent it 2/29 for a meeting on Mar 16. A 2 day margin. Could drive a Cybertruck through it.

Put my email on weekend hold for the 3rd time. I like this idea a lot. Reading some today, will try for the free shake at Shake Shack, and chill. Earned.

Well done, R!

Hi, my partner and I own a classic rocking chair we had re-caned for $1500. This is a case of supply and demand, the supply being just one person left with the skills to do the work well. We had to wait on his pace for a long while. Then we had to wait till my head and heart were relaxed enough to cope with the predictable frustrations of re-assembly.

Today was the day to put the pieces back together. We did pretty well. A couple of anchor screws I got to replace bent ones were too fat but managed to scrounge up a couple more that fit right. It looks beautiful. For the price I dubbed it our Throne Rocker, or Throcker for short.

Otherwise, reading a memoir and novel and piddling about. Ah, is this not idleness?

Throne Rocker -- sounds like a heavy metal guitarist with constipation LOL

Anyway, well done on the completing the Throcker!

Idleness does not involve reading, unless the material is "click-bait" from social media.

Well done, R. That rocker must be amazing.

Me - The doctor gave me some tips on how to stay asleep so that the sleep machine can do its job. Now, the sleep machine turns off after two breaths. I have to call Apria and ask why. I'm sure they'll ask me to bring the machine in. By the way, if the machine turned off while I was sleeping, it would kill me. I'd be breathing the same air over and over. At least, Apria is a half hour away instead of an hour away like my doctor.
I finished going through "Through Unfamiliar Waters." I made a ton of changes. I'm going to start going through it one more time. I'd like to think that I won't find anymore places to change. Yes, I'd like that a lot. Meanwhile, I have a lot of stupid chores that need to be done. I'll write up a to-do list - sigh - maybe tomorrow.
Went to the gym yesterday. Was disappointed. My workout amounted to 250 calories burned. I'd like to work up to 400 calories. Yes, I know that's not a lot, but I can't imagine setting a goal any higher. I have other to-dos. You'd think I could whip them out in a day or two. Well, I did crank out a few things in the last few days. Plus, I voted.
That's about it for me.
Happy stepping.

Oh I hope not! Yikes!

I think you'd wake up as your O2 level dropped, just as we do during an apnea event. Also, masks usually have vents just in case of a power outage. I've experienced a few of these -- I wake up very quickly, before the UPS starts beeping.

The last time I got a machine, the RT came to my house to deliver and program it. Maybe Apria has someone in your area who can pay a visit! Good luck!

Hi, Guys,