COVID-19, An Account, March 22, 2020

Today, Mayor Garcetti announced the shut down of Los Angeles, I think including all of LA county too. Parks and beaches are closed, at least until April 19. Moving around away from home is limited to necessities. He even said there would be fines and possible jail time for offenders. Wow. Things have really become serious.  What next? Martial Law?
A very sweet friend of mine mentioned that he had seen another friend who seemed offended that he didn't want to hug her in greeting.  He offered a hip bump, but that didn't seem enough.  The sad thing is that when you love someone, and this is difficult some times, you shouldn't expect them to always act the way you want them to, especially with what's going on. You should respect their feelings (or need) to follow the rules. Being on that high risk list myself, I'm not about to take a chance.
I recently read a first hand account of what this disease does to you, and it's horrifying. It's definitely NOT like catching an ordinary flu. As miserable as the flu might make you feel, this sounds a hundred times worse. It attacks your lungs and for days, or even weeks you could feel like you are suffocating. Then there's the high temperature in addition.  I'll pass, thank you...not that I'd have a choice. Yes, you might have the milder version, but you don't always know if someone you care about has a condition and might be way more susceptible to the more serious effects. There are many chronic diseases that are "invisible", meaning there are no visible symptoms that signal a person has it. So for now everyone needs to assume that someone in their circle of family and friends might be on that high risk list.
Getting back to the subject of hugs, I do miss those...so much. I'm spoiled I guess. The majority of my family and friends hug every time we see each other. We're a huggy group. I have a huge family and lots of theater friends among others. I also have two beautiful grandsons whom I'm afraid will grow up too much while we're apart. Still, I don't want to infect them or be infected, so I have to wait for awhile.  Waiting sucks, for everyone, but getting this thing...COVID-19, sucks more.  So I'll wait.

Tired if You Do, Tired if You Don't

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "Danged if you do, danged if you don't." (PG version) Sometimes I feel like it's a statement about my life. There are times when I feel like no matter what I do, I can't win. A neighbor friend of ours used to say "If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."  All of this to say that these days, just getting through the day, is a constant battle. Every time I start to notice something positive in regards to my health, something else seems to fall apart, or something I thought was gone comes back. It's frustrating. I have figured out though, that whether I go for a walk or exercise, or not, I'm pretty much wiped out at the end of the day.  So a couple of days ago I decided, that since I'm going to be exhausted come sundown in either case, I may as well go down in flames, so to speak.  I started pushing myself to go for a walk everyday, as far as I can physically go, even if it's just around the block.  The dog is, of course, thrilled to no end, because he benefits from my decision too. I take my music, my dog, and zip around the block a few times. Afterwards I'm tired, but frankly, if I didn't go I'd be...tired.  So really, this isn't too tough. Hopefully someday I'll feel great, and I'll be so used to going out everyday, it will be the norm. And if that someday never comes, at least I will be a smidge healthier than if I did nothing, and that makes it worth it. It's getting harder to say "Tomorrow will be a better day," but I hope that a better day is coming...I have to believe that it is.


Caren E. Salas









(photo by William Salas)

Really?

Just when I was thinking that I pretty much have met my quota for doctors, now I get to see someone new. Seems that in the middle of having the virus from hell, dealing with the side effects from the medications to combat said virus and coping with the usual fallout of my MS symptoms which show up any time I get sick...
what they thought was a related symptom is...not.  Apparently, I have TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) If you have it, you probably aren't allowed to try and say it. I've been told not to eat anything I have to chew (wow, that sounds...bland) and not to yawn, talk much, or open my mouth wide for any reason. (Shut up, I'm not going there.)  Needless to say, I'm thrilled. Seriously. I really needed something else wrong with me.
Okay, enough whining. Good news, I guess, is maybe I can push myself to drink those diet shakes for lunch, and eat healthy alternatives...maybe. Who knows? Maybe I'll lose a few pounds. It will force me to relax (de-stress) to some extent, like it or not. Not that I have time to, of course, but I'm going to try.  Meanwhile, I did have a fairly active day, working on my garage (AKA The Black Hole) and hopefully I didn't hurt my back doing so.  I have decided to try and write here more often, so I apologize if I'm rambling, I think I just need to get back into the swing of it all.  Thank you for stopping by and wish me well...please.

Caren E. Salas


Photo: tmj-solution.blogspot.com

Distractions and Life

Okay, well it's been awhile, and I apologize. Part of it, is that I've been sick, and honestly I'm not 100% quite yet. The other reason I've neglected this blog a bit is that this month is National Poetry Month, and for the past few years I've participated in a "Poem a Day" challenge presented by Robert Lee Brewer on his website "Poetic Asides".  My writing and posting tends to get focused mainly on my poetry and all other writing falls by the wayside.  However, seeing that now, I have to make up for time lost while I was sick, I felt like I should post something here, if for nothing else, to get my bootie up and going again.
Exercising and keeping healthy is difficult for anyone I think. Aside from those people lucky enough to have made it a lifestyle from...birth, most of us have to make a conscience decision to eat right, work out and make other healthy choices. I think the hard thing for me is that I feel like I never get ahead. Just when I get motivated and start some sort of program, something happens to gum it all up. Some event, illness, or unexpected situation seems to derail me. Then I have to brush myself off, and start all over again. Does this mean I should throw in the towel? Nah. You see, one thing I have discovered, is that although sometimes I feel like I'm running in place, at least I'm no longer falling backward.  So there's my inspiration. I'm better off than when I started. So now, after being sick this time, I'm not starting over at the beginning-beginning, but at a new starting point. This works for me. It may take a long time, but eventually, tomorrow will be a much better day.
Until later...


Caren E. Salas

Day 48 - Wish I Could Say...

I wish I could say that I haven't written because I've been busy working out or having some adventure, but no. I know what you all are thinking, and sadly, you are correct. I have totally fallen off the health mobile. It's been a busy and rough last few days. We had a party for St. Patrick's Day which was fun, but messed up my entire schedule and eating plan. If I could count running around to six different stores for various supplies as exercise, then I'd be in business, but somehow, I'm thinking...not.
So here it is Monday, and I'm a little bit down. It's partially because I haven't really gotten enough sleep, or for that matter slept well when I did. It's partially because I ate and drank way too much (but no I wasn't drunk or anything, just not exactly drinking "light" beer.)  And partially, I'm just frustrated with all the stuff I need to do and the lack of time and energy to do it. Same ol', same ol'.  I did take my little dog to "Dog Beach" yesterday, so I got a little bit of a workout getting in and out of there, and playing with him. Today, if I can go for a walk with him I will at least feel like I've accomplished something.  Meanwhile, I have some minor emergencies to deal with and common pains to contend with.  I think I can honestly say, tomorrow will be a better day. It has to be.

Caren E. Salas

Day 32 - Well, You're Getting Older...

Recently, I injured my knee. It felt like it took forever to start feeling better so I asked my doctor about it. She answered, "Well, you are getting older, your body may not be able to heal as fast as it used to." Really not what I wanted to hear.  I mentioned to another doctor that I had gained some weight, to which she answered, "Well, you are getting older, and if you gain weight, it gets harder to lose it, not like when you were young." Ouch.  I find it humorous that two different doctors not only told me the same thing basically, but both felt the need to remind me: you are getting older. Really? Dang. Just when I was starting to believe I could live forever! Kill joys these doctors are, I'm telling you. "If you don't have anything nice to say..." then you must be a doctor.
Haha, just kidding, sort of. (I offer an at least half-hearted apology to any of you who are doctors.)
My point is, that I have found a sort of comfort in the whole idea of things taking longer because I'm getting older. I've been tracking my progress and thinking, darn it! I expected some results by now!! I've lost...oooh, two pounds after a month of trying to eat right and exercise. My goal is ten, total. Just to get to where I was...well, not that long ago. I refuse to believe the other thing I've been told which is: you get to a certain age and then you put on weight, can't do anything about it.  Wanna' bet?
All this to say that when I have an unproductive day, in regards to my "quest for health" I've decided that I need to be a little more patient with myself.  I need to look at what I have achieved so far, and see that as inspiration to keep going. After all, I'm getting older, I can't be wasting time worrying about whether I'm doing it perfectly or rapidly, and just do it.
Besides, tomorrow will be a better day.

Caren E. Salas

Me in college: actress, dancer...full of energy.

Thanks to Robin Harrison for the photo,

 and California State University Dominguez Hills.

Day 28 - Got the Music in Me

All right, the weekend was less productive than I would have liked, but we had some family things to do and other projects that had to be taken care of. I did get a little walking in. Today I made sure I put my dancing shoes on. I worked out for almost an hour!! I'm so proud of myself, I must say. I spent about half that time stretching, and I'm actually starting to see a little improvement in that area. It's always nice when there is noticeable differences. So much of what I do will have long term effects but as far as daily measurable gains, not so much.
I have noticed, I always do better when I have my music ready to go. I have great music by the way. I mentioned before that one of the first things I did was to make a play list to inspire me. Some of you, (if you are younger, especially) may not recognize some of the songs but if you want to have fun dancing for exercise like I do, you should look these up. They are upbeat and have a great rhythm. They are easy to bust your own move to. (At this point my kids would groan "Mom, you're such a dork!") Anyway I'm going to list some of my favorite songs to dance to:

"Let's Hear it for the Boy" from the original Footloose Soundtrack  by Deniece Williams
"Eye of the Tiger" from the Rocky 2 Soundtrack by Survivor
"Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics
"Ghost Busters -theme song" by Ray Parker Jr.

That's just a start, and yes I do listen occasionally to music from this decade. Well, hope all my workout buddies are right here with me as we start a new week. This week will be a better week.
Tomorrow will be a better day!

Caren E. Salas