Cold, Puzzle, Contexto

 #1 - I came down with a cold a couple days ago and today I decided to stay home and rest.  I'm just a little sick so I spent about half the day relaxing/working on a puzzle etc, and half the day working on the computer.  I'm grateful to have some wellness leave at my job and also grateful the home visits I missed today were with families that aren't behind and are easy to reschedule with.

 #2 - Speaking of puzzles - I've had a 500 piece sunflower one on the floor of my living room for a couple months.  I've learned in this process the difficulty of puzzles relates to more than the size.  If there isn't a lot of variety of color it is difficult. I was not enjoying this one and unsure I'd finish it, but I'm now in the home stretch. I get a couple pieces a day and I'm confident I will complete it.

#3- My ear is plugged from ear wax which happens to me on occasion. I've had my ears cleaned with water for this issue multiple times, however the last time it happened, almost 2 years ago, I got an infection soon after and it turned into this whole ordeal.  Eventually I saw an ENT who cleaned my ear out with a vacuum thing. I asked her, "If this happen again should I go to the Minute Clinic to have my ears cleaned?" 

 She kind of hesitated in her response, but then said I could come there and I'd get in quicker next time as a returning patient. Still I was thinking I'd just go to a Minute Clinic this week as I can get in quick and it's just seems more appropriate level of care.  However since I was home sick today I decided to try and make an appointment with the ENT and I was able to get one next week.

I'm not sure it is the right level of care, but I am pretty sure it won't lead to another infection ordeal.

#4 - I also took the time to play "Contexto" today.  A game I enjoy, however don't often prefer to spend more time on screens.  Today was a HARD one and took quite a bit of time and breaks and hints.  Honestly I can't recall the answer.  I know I got "wrestle" which was #2 I think, but I could not figure out #1.

#5 - I think I will feel well enough to return to my home visits tomorrow.  My first visit is with a family that has had a LOT of cancellations the last couple months and I really don't want to add to that.  I also might try the new "gentle yoga" class at the fitness center which will be perfect if I am still a little low energy.

Kale, Wealth, Adolescent Boys

Maybe it's because I don't usually make sides?  There are already usually vegetables in my main meal.  For whatever reason, I'd never made a simple kale salad until today.  When I use kale I steam it, or put it in a recipe.  Today I cut out the stems, cut it into little pieces and then rubbed it in about 5 simple ingredients and wallah.  Delicious!  I seriously never knew it was so easy to make kale salads that I love - - gratitude #1.  And #2 - I'm grateful for how much I loved it and genuinely wanted to keep eating it!

#3 - School was cancelled today for the -14 F and -25 C temperature this AM.  I was supposed to have an early morning home visit. I am not happy that family cancelled because they are behind.  However because of this I didn't need to head outside until the afternoon when it warmed up and was sunny.  I am concerned about wild animals however as I learned this weekend how important the layer of snow is that many use to borrow in and stay warm.  We don't have snow for them to do that.

#4 - Usually I keep my heat on the lowest possible setting.  It is not precise, just more hot water or less running thru the pipes, and less water is usually plenty. Today when it was a little cooler inside, I could easily turn it up a little. This is Wealth.

#5 - My friend that I lived with a few months after my partner and I separated called today to ask if I'd stay with her boys a few days in May.  They are in middle/high school now so I spend much less time with them than I used to. I'm grateful to be asked and grateful it works with my schedule.

Pickle

 #1 and #2 - Radio Heartland where I heard two songs I really enjoyed today from unfamiliar artists - 

Rustin Kelly's Black Magic and The Bros Landreth's Firecracker

#3 - One of my home visiting families wants to switch from 2 thirty minute visits a week to a one hour visit a week.  If we do that Wed it works in my schedule, but then I have this hour long gap in my schedule that isn't enough time to do anything with.  Luckily my Monday family agreed to make there visit a little later so they all can line up.

#4 - I walked over to play pickleball, because I live somewhere so close that this is the easiest way to get there even when it's cold, and I stopped to wait for my friend outside and stood there in the cold and looked at the moon.

#5 - Our pickleball skills are rusty as it's been almost a couple years since we played together, so we only won our last game.  The man who we beat said we were fun to lose to.  He said some people's energy is more fun than others, and we were still fun even when they lost :).

Oprah's 110th book selection

is both the most meaningful/important book I know of, and also the only book Oprah has selected for a repeat reading.

New Year 2025

 #1 - Because of the holidays etc, my soccer team has only had 1 game since before Thanksgiving.  That game we lost 9 to 1.  Today didn't seem like it could be worse but apparently (I completely lost count but I looked it up) we lost 11 to 1.  

What gratitudes can I find here?  No one got hurt, we got exercise, my team maybe gets discouraged but no one starts blaming anyone else, our goalie was out sick (so didn't have to play 2 games in a row getting pummeled)...

#2 - This I can't explain - I had a wonderful afternoon with 2 friends that I get together with each year around the New Year.  Somehow I felt sad knowing I didn't have my partner to come home and tell about this today. I'm not sure why.  However when I did get home, I soon descended into a content and quiet space as I read a book (recommended by my nephew) and ate dinner.

#3 - I typed up some poems that I found in a 2019 journal when I was looking for something else.  "These are pretty good," I thought.

#4 - My friends and I did some reflective writing today.  One of them has almost finished her journal.  I guessed how long she has had it, "2014?" I asked.

"2008" was her reply. 

So finishing a journal is a really big deal!

#5 - The salad my friend brought for our lunch, it had veggies, apples, pears, cashews and a delicious dressing.  I love salads and in the winter months, often don't make them for myself so they are especially appreciated.