"Be On Time Chronicles"

Since my ride was late this morning, this was everything I did to occupy myself:

Solved the Wordle

Texted with a friend / co-worker

Checked Facebook

Read a chapter

Went back into the apartment 

Sent an email with attachments 

Used the restroom

Cooked and ate breakfast

Watched an episode of "The Challenge"

Okay, the last two didn't happen. 

Everything else is true.

I'm now in the van, we have three people to drop off, I have to be at work in less than an hour, and the traffic is bananas. 

Paratransit doesn't have to be on time.

But I do.

At least my bladder is comfortable. 

Always look for the good. 

librarianintx

"Be on Time" Chronicles

I am writing this on July 25, but the situation occurred a week earlier on July 18th.

I didn't coin the term "Hell's Front Porch" when it comes to Texas heat, so maybe I'm going to be sued for copyright infringement if I use it in my writing. So let me think of a new phrase. "Climate change hellfire?" "Blazing steam bath?" "Burning skin and brain cells?" Names and titles are not my forte. It was another ridiculously hot day, y'all. Period.

This was my post from Facebook that day, "I'm waiting for my ride in the 'Hell's Front Porch' Texas heat, so to distract myself I decide to start listening to Lizzo's new album 'Special.' I have earbuds in my bag, but I think to myself, "Oh it's just me sweltering out here; I'll keep the sound low in case anyone comes outside or walks up." So I press play on Spotify, and Lizzo starts singing, "Hey, mothaf**ka...did ya miss me? I've been home since... 2020....I've been twerkin'..."

Oops

Better listen later, Lizzo. 

Or find my earbuds."

So now I've used "Hell's Front Porch" twice AND Lizzo lyrics, so how many regulations am I violating?

Anyway, there is more to the story of waiting for my ride on July 18 in the Year of Our Lord 2022.

I was in a Sophie's Choice sort of situation. 

I had to make a decision between:

Risking heat exhaustion by remaining outside but having the ability to sit

Or 

Fleeing to the air conditioning but having to stand for an undetermined amount of time 

I made it for twenty minutes in the fiery sauna before I dragged my sweaty bones and bags into the library. 

I stood in the doorway, watching and trying not to look unsteady, frustrated, and anxious.

Luckily the van pulled up at the end of the Fresh hell known as the thirty minute window. As I relaxed into the comfy, air conditioned vehicle, my driver said, "Its too hot for you to wait outside. Next Monday wait inside and I will come in and find you."

That was a lovely offer that should have resolved my problem and left me awash in relief. 

But it was a promise that I could not rely on. 

This driver USUALLY picks me up on Mondays, but that's not a guarantee. 

If I roll the dice and sit inside to wait, I could get a driver who plays by the rules and leaves my ass because I'm not waiting outside.

It's not a risk I'm willing to take. 

Not only would it delay me getting home, but I could also rack up "no show" points which could result in my suspension.

Then I would truly be f**ked.

End on Gratitude:

I don't have to work outside.

I just have to wait there - 

30 minutes

Twice a day

Three times a week

Minus holidays

Paratransit wants us to live the motto of mail carriers - endure rain, snow, sleet, and hail - They need to add the rain-deprived, Saharan dust and oak pollen-coated, fireball-drenched, record-setting temps of a Texas summer.

librarianintx 

Organizing

Sunday morning has become organization time. This is when clothes worn during the week are put into the laundry basket. Jackets are folded and pants are hung up. Mail is sorted and if needed, bills are paid. The dining room table is cleared of miscellaneous stuff. Containers are taken from the drying rack in the kitchen and returned to the pantry. Clothes and accessories are selected and food is readied for the first day of the work week (unless Monday is a holiday, of course).

I don't think Sunday organizing is unique to me. Likely many people have a similar routine. I wonder if other people dislike doing it. I like it. It makes me feel productive. Calm. Organization makes me happy.

"A place for everything and everything in its place"

It's an old quote but rings true for me.

Nothing is ever perfectly organized on a Sunday, but if perfection were the goal, I would never feel any amount of accomplishment. 

"Better" is the goal I choose.

librarianintx 

Notes from webinar: Building a Movement Mindset

We can change our mindset at any age 

Movement can be a powerful tool to alleviate stress

 

Why are we calling it movement?

           Exercise can be a bad word

                      Too much time

                      Too much effort

                      Have to go to a gym

                      Has to be scheduled

                      Has to be regimented

Movement is just as good as exercise

Willpower can run out

Habits tend to stick

 

Starting small is a good idea – helps to create a habit and change your mindset

 

Some people love movement, and some people hate it

Some people have been punished with physical activity

Or been injured while doing physical activity

 

Advertising affects our mindset 

          

Beliefs

           I’m too big

           I’m too old

           I’m too distracted

           I will get hurt

           I’m too busy

           I don’t know how

           I’m too…

           I can’t… (means we don’t want to)

 We are held back by our beliefs

 

Values also affect our mindset

Moving can help cope with and relieve stress which will make you feel better physically and emotionally

 

Mindset can hold you back

Brain sends signals to the brain for response

           Fight, flight or freeze

           Adrenals activate

           Gut shuts down

           Heart rate increases

           Brain shuts down the prefrontal cortex

                      Higher level thinking

           Sex drive and reproductive system shuts down

 

“When we move…we give this incredibly adaptive system an opportunity to restore itself, to become stronger and more resilient” Sonya Day

 Benefits of movement

           Better focus

           Improved sleep

           Improved mood

           Cardiovascular health

           Supports bone structure

           Less anxiety and depression

as effective if not more than medication

           Self-confidence

                      Feel better and look better

 

Waking up during the night is a cortisol (stress) response

          

Movement releases dopamine

 

Building a habit

           Cue - reminder

           Craving – motivation, desire

           Response - action

           Reward – good feeling

 

Establish your cues

           Believe

           Playlist

           Water bottle

           Workout clothes

           Nutrition – particular foods

           Family

 

Behavior

           What movement gives you pleasure

           If you don’t enjoy the movement, it won’t become a habit

 

Celebration

           Feeling of accomplishment,

           Choose joy

 

5 triggers to make movement stick

           Atomic Habits - book

           Tiny habits - book

           Time of day

                      “muscle clocks” – body craves movement

           Value you, book an appointment

                      Make yourself a priority

           Location

                      Making the movement easy to access

                      Home workouts are easiest

                      You don’t need expensive equipment

           Habit stacking

                      Warm up

                      Drink water

                      Eat healthy

           Emotional state

                      We can train ourselves to celebrate

                      Hardwire yourself to celebrate

 

Emotions create habits

Not repetition

Not frequency

Not fairy dust

Emotions

BJ Fogg, PHD

                     

Surround yourself with like-minded people

Support system

Workout groups / partner

 

How to fit movement into your day

Walking meetings

Housework

Errands

Park and walk

Children’s activities

 

“Get out and walk your dog, even if you don’t have one”

 

Resources - available to everyone

           ERS Walk and Talk podcast

           DPS Daily Workouts: www.dps.gov/section/training-operations-tod/daily-workouts

           Health Select Fitness Program

           ERS Virtual Fitness Calendar

                      Archives: www.gotostage.com/channel/ers-wellness

 

 librarianintx 

 

 

June 2022 Recap

 I have been a Def Leppard fan since I was 15 years old, when their third album "Pyromania" came out, although I also remember their song "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" from their second album "High and Dry." Def Leppard was finally able to start their Stadium Tour with Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett, which had been postponed a few times due to COVID. Def Leppard also released a new album at the end of May called "Diamond Star Halos." I have been enjoying the album and watching YouTube videos from the tour. My favorite new songs from the album are "Kick" and "Fire it Up." They look very happy to be performing live again, and they sound better than ever. I was able to watch their full concert from the Whisky in LA that they did before the tour started. The tour is coming to Houston, but I don't plan to go. Too many people with COVID still an issue, and I don't want to pay high prices when I don't like the other bands as much. I hope they tour again after this one. I saw them a few years ago in Houston when they toured with Journey - that was an awesome concert!

I finished two books in June - "Breaking Free: How I escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and my Father Warren Jeffs" by Rachel Jeffs, and "Every Day is a Gift: A Memoir" by Tammy Duckworth. Both were very good. Tammy Duckworth is an amazing person!

I also watched two multi-part documentaries: "Bobby Brown" on A&E and "Keep Sweet, Pray, and Obey" on Netflix about the FLDS and Warren Jeffs. 

I did a little cooking in June - I made two batches of chicken alfredo pasta in the Instant Pot. 

At the end of June, I looked up Phil Collen's (guitarist in Def Leppard) side band Delta Deep and listened to their first album. Phil has two side bands: Delta Deep and Man Raze. Delta Deep is called a soul / blues-rock band. It was more hard-rock and less blues than I was expecting, but I wasn't surprised considering how Phil tears it up with Def Leppard. Anyway, I like the album. My favorite songs so far from that album are Down in the Delta, and Mistreated. Joe Elliott sings lead on Mistreated, and I love his voice, and the vibe of the song. It is a very long song, though. But yes, Joe Elliott can sing the blues! 

librarianintx

May 2022 Recap

May was the month of medical appointments for me. 

I had a virtual appointment with my new internist, and then had in person appointments with the dentist, eye doctor, and physical medicine specialist. I also had my yearly mammogram and ultrasound. It felt good to get these appointments done, and to have good results. I also picked out new glasses in late May. Visionworks was having a buy one, get one half off special, so I got a pair of glasses and a pair of computer glasses for a good price. This is my first time to wear bifocals. So far I like them better than the progressives I had been wearing. 

I finished two books in May: Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Joard and On the Inside by Kim Cano. The second book was only so-so for me. Suleika's memoir was amazing for me. I am inspired by her resiliency. 

At the end of May, my roommate's brother and his girlfriend visited us from Florida. We enjoyed our time with them. I have not been eating in restaurants due to COVID, but since they were visiting, we went out to eat twice: once on the patio at Chuy's, and the second night at Tokyo Steakhouse in Round Rock. I had been wanting to go to Tokyo Steakhouse, where they cook on the table. We had a good time, and the food was delicious. I had salmon. 

At the end of May, I satisfied my ongoing craving for pancakes. I found a whole wheat mix that was low in sugar. I like my pancakes brown but not burned. They were yummy!

Finally, on May 27 I made a presentation for work. It was a virtual presentation, which I am more comfortable with than in-person presentations. It went well. I co-presented with our Outreach Coordinator. 

librarianintx