Catching up

just about the time of my last post, coronavirus (or Covid-19) hit America in full force
now while i believe it is a real illness, a dreaded illness
i also believe that the media certainly played (preyed) upon the fears and worries and fed the frenzy that ensued
a toilet paper shortage
schools closed
events canceled
churches closed
doctor visits became drive-thru moments instead of office calls
business transactions depended on the Internet more and more
restaurants closed dining rooms, even drive-thru's were closed at times
bars were closed
no gatherings of over 100 people, 
then 50,
then no more than 10 were allowed to be together
gyms were closed
we were quarantined, put into isolation
masks became mandatory
washing hands in soap and water until they were raw and sore
for weeks ... no, for months
finally, America started opening back up 
but with great restrictions in place
here it is October 19, 2020 - 8 months later
and we are still being held hostage in America in so many ways

it wasn't until July that i was able to get in to see the doctor for a complete check up
thankfully, the only thing "wrong" was my cholesterol was slightly elevated, as were my triglycerides
not enough for her to warrant medication
but enough to change my diet even farther
i also had an MRI done on my left knee
severe osteoarthritis, no cartilage remains, baker's cyst appears to have exploded, and there is a "rare fluid in the ACL"
surgery is being discussed, but neither the ortho nor i am anxious to have this done 
a knee replacement is good for about 10 years, and in a lifetime, a person can only have 3
that would leave me at 89 with no other options
so for now, therapy, exercise, and continue to lose the weight
looking for a brace that will be the size i need - think i have finally found one
had a hearing exam 
ears have not decreased in hearing
he said he was amazed that i can hear as well as i can because usually with such sensitive ears, by 59 years old the hearing has taken a decidedly turn for the worse - but my hearing is just as sensitive and sharp as it has always been ... with the one exception being when there is a lot of background noise, i cannot hear as well to distinguish sounds

i continue to work on losing the weight
and it is coming off, slowly
i have about 85 more pounds to lose to reach my first ultimate goal
hoping that i can do that by January 1, 2021
eating less, and less often
doing my best to eat better, make healthier choices
drinking more and more water
less sweet tea - perhaps one glass a week, at the most these days
using more of the Splenda, but trying to choose water over that
i need to get more walking in -
hoping now that the weather is cooling off, 
and the Census work is finished,
will encourage me to get out and WALK!!!
i still need to get into the gym and see how much they can help me build the quad muscles above my knee, and the muscles on either side of the knee - seems every time i make a plan to go to the gym, something happens

the last something was me getting sick with the coronavirus 2 weeks ago
i was horribly sick for about 7 days
then the next 7 days was absolutely exhausted
just now i am feeling better, as in much better! 
i thought about going for a walk today, but haven't yet - 
i did cook a pot of hamburger stew & fixing to fix a pan of cornbread! 
i get tired so easily 
everything i have heard and read says that is completely normal for having been so very sick
i hope to build myself back up because i am missing my walks!!! 

so for now, that's where i am
stumbling and bumbling thru this thing called "life alone"

After being sick with Covid-19 for 2 weeks, October 2020