Maandag tot Dinsdag

Yesterday
My time in duurbelasting is winding down. Next Monday is a holiday so no therapy and the next Monday is the last time. I could possibly come to one more time on Wednesday but I'm not super keen on it anymore. Part of me just thinks, "let's begin real work and see how I manage it."

Since I have more time for fitness this week, I want to try to do more minutes of cardio exercise instead of machines. This is because my focus is to keep fat reduced not necessarily to build muscle. Today, I ran up over 20 minutes total on the loopband, a real workout. We'll see if I meet my goals this week.

I had King 'fish' today again for fysio. I'm really missing Titia - she's training some people this week.

In ergo, I walked with heavy backpack and then with suitcase carrying similar weight (about 7 kilos or 15.4lbs). Carrying the weight both ways was taxing but, naturally, the suitcase carried alternatively in each hand was especially tiring. Of course, this is in preparation for my coming holiday. We also spoke about riding escalators - this is something I still have not brought myself to do (scary moving stairs!).

My new cushy mattress was delivered yesterday afternoon. And, as expected, it fit well. Since you asked, the size of a European mattress is 55" × 79" while in the US it is 54" wide x 75" long. Not so different but enough that is puts a stress on my sheets.

Today
First night on the mattress was good. I expect it to get better as I get used to it. However, I tend to wake up in the night and turn over (which, I have figured out, is what gives me the backaches).

It was a late morning into Blixembosch which was nice, as I got an extra hour's sleep. Tomorrow will be even better as I have no therapy and no particular things going on except cleaning gal and rolstoel (wheelchair) delivery.

The painting is continuing. I had a thought today that a good way for me to perhaps continue on after Blixembosch would be to post some paintings and 'prices' (on yet another blog) which would include the cost of a canvas, supplies and postage. But let's see how it goes with the Shinholster paintings first, then we'll see. It would be one way of keeping things going. I wonder if canvas sizes here are the same as there? Good question, Nancy Drew.

The meditation was great for being the first time. The teacher told a great story about herself and her journey from physiotherapist to yoga instructor to now 'lifegroep' leader. She is perfect, I couldn't have wished into being a more perfect meditation leader. She listened to each of us as we told our reasons for being there, then nodded her head thinking deeply, giving each of us her complete attention. Then we each laid on our own mats and she took us through a complete body attention/grounding exercise. It was great. I would love to record her voice. Hm. That's a good idea...

Archery, loopgroep and fysio also came and went. Archery fell after meditation so I was feeling a little wonky. My shooting was all over the place. Loopgroep and fysio were the same as usual - getting better and still missing Titia, respectively.

Finally, this afternoon, I booked my flight to U.S. and also an evening send off in Amsterdam. The flight will leave Saturday, May 9 and depart again on May 30. Three weeks vacation, approximately. Sadly, May 9 is also Nico's 31st birthday. So on evening of the 8th, I'll be taking him to the swanky Okura in Amsterdam. This hotel boasts the only Japanese restaurant in Europe with a Michelin star rating. Probably, it's too late to make reservations now but we'll at least have some phenomenal sashimi at the sushi bar. A nice birthday celebration for him, a nice send off for me. Then Saturday morning, he'll take me to the airport - 14 hours later, I'll be in St. Louis.

I have to have a rest now. Just thinking about 14 hours in an airplane makes me tired. Love.