Hold your breath
Thursday in the pool, I did something I've never done in my life - swam a complete lap (end to end) and on a single breath. Not only did I do it once but twice. What an amazing feeling: 1) to swim properly even with a bum leg and 2) accomplish challenging physical feats even as I age. I admit it was no Uncle Al but it's still something special.
Walking longer, sweating more
There's still only two of us in loopgroep on Thursdays and our new routine has been to walk outdoors. This week, I walked a good bit further and, I think, a whole 40 minutes (maybe a bit less).
Driving with two left feet
Well, I wish this was the case but it seems I will have to take a driving course to learn to drive either using both feet or just my left foot. When using both, my right would take the gas, left would own the brake. The trick with this of course is my right foot's ability to respond quickly and smoothly enough to be safe. If this doesn't work, I will be trained to drive with the brake and gas switched (left to right) then learn to work them with my left foot only. Of course, I don't plan to get a car here. And rental car agencies probably won't provide a car specially equipped for my left foot. But regardless I'll be able to keep my driver's license.
By the way, the woman I met with said driving a car with pedals in normal configuration using left instead is not allowed - that goes for Netherlands or U.S.
Two hours fitness Friday
Yes, two hours as I sweated through all the machines. What a good week!
The remainder
Friday after Blixembosch, I went to the sports store and shopped the sales rack for short and shirts. This was the first time I've shopped for clothes by myself. It's always exhausting even when I wasn't recovering from a stroke. I did well looking and trying on for almost two hours. Then Nico and I went grocery shopping and I managed to make paella. I think you can now say I'm doing great.
Last night I wanted to use some precious time to commemorate our nation's Independence Day. So, Nico and I did what so many Americans do - went to a Sandra Bulloch movie. You know, The Proposal (it was that or another Ice Age movie). Then we got a pizza from a Moroccan place on the way home. And while we were sitting on my balcony, someone was nice enough to put on a short fireworks display. I guess they're a fan of independence everywhere.
Today, Nico and I went "bike" riding where we used to go daily but haven't been in almost a year. It's just a parkway path that runs along a canal with wild flowers and community of private gardens. Hazel hadn't been on a run like that in ages. He loved having a dip in the waters though Mommy didn't having to clean up his muddy butt afterwards.
Balcony blessings
My balcony just keeps on giving. The first tomato arrived on the vine this week. I think it will eventually grow into a roma. The hanging strawberry gives between one and five berries a day that I've begun just eating straight off the vine. Nico's wild scattering of morning glory seeds are really paying off as they've begun to wind around whatever's nearby. And the beans and lettuce just keep coming. I'm still killing the lice from my pepper plants but they continue to spread like crazy. I need a hungry mob of lady bugs to come and get 'em!
Here's to nature taking care of itself as it was so beautifully designed to do. And thanks for keeping in touch!
Swimming a lap on one breath is truly an amazing feat. Congratulations to you! I'm glad to hear about the possibility of you driving again-- did the lady say why driving with your left foot only isn't allowed? If you can physically do it, why can't you legally do it? Makes no sense to me, and seems discriminatory. I think it's awesome that you got to see some fireworks. I'm always a little taken aback when I see them in another country, regardless of the time of year-- somehow, I seem to have it in my head that it's something only Americans do (even though I know for a fact it's not). I'm so impressed with your little patio garden. I'll have to keep you in mind as inspiration for next year, as I think I'm too late for anything this year. :) Right now I'm concentrating on keeping alive an orchid I got last week. So far, this one has lasted twice as long as the last one, which I killed in three days straight.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Did you swim it all in one breath because you were testing your lung power, or because it's hard to do the swim/breathing thing w/o ending up swallowing a bunch of chlorinated water? ;-) Brava in eiter case!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom drives with 2 feet all the time. I'm not saying it's fun to drive with her, but I'll bet a good amount that you'll be able to do it more smoothly than she does ;-)
Forget about Ice Age, if you want to see a cartoon in amazing 3D, watch Up. Warning: It's not all sunshine and puppies. There was a woman in the back of the theatre who was sobbing in the first 15 minutes. I hope she stuck around for the rest. (It hit me a bit, too, because of Grandma. Still.) I recommend it anyway. Good work, Pixar!
Aw, clothes shopping... I had so much fun shopping with you last time I was there. Hope to be able to visit and do it again since most of what I got doesn't fit anymore! (In the good, lost-weight sort of way as opposed to the reverse ;-)
~S