I have been reading a blog lately, by a sweet Christian woman who lives in a small town in the mountains of Vermont, very enjoyable. And I realized I have not blogged in five years! And I miss it! So much has happened since 2018.
Foremost, of course, the pandemic, which was a little scary because of my age (76 now) and a couple minor comorbidities - overweight and high blood pressure. But I found some recommendations online for natural prophylaxis and treatment. When I did finally contract Covid, on Thanksgiving 2020, it turned out to be just a bad cold. No fever, no aches, just a sore throat and runny nose, then a lot of mucus in my throat that was so annoying. And I lost taste and smell for a day. But I was still able to walk my dog 3 times a day, as always. And I gained natural immunity. So despite pressure from my daughter, I gave a hard pass to the vaccine. I'm now so glad I did, because it seems to have been causing more problems than the virus.
I did have a health problem last year, when I had a bad episode of vertigo, followed by loss of hearing in one ear, as well as related balance problems. But they haven't caused any real issues. I injured my knee, and though it's much better, it hurts at times, and I use a cane for both the knee and balance. I walk almost as much as before, usually about an hour a day with my dog.
Speaking of whom, Daphne is doing well, and has become almost civilized. She loves the three cats, but still tries to terrorize them at times. Bibi, the boldest of the felines, has taken to spending his days atop the refrigerator, where he can monitor the dog and my kitchen activities. He is so very funny, they all are a constant source of entertainment.
It's March and doesn't seem at all like spring yet. Today was a bit of an exception, as it got up to 60 degrees in the afternoon, a welcome change. We've had almost no snow, but warm weather seems slow to return. As always, I'm very tired of the cold but will be complaining of the heat before I know it.
A valuable discovery last year was how using electric heating pads when sitting or in bed does a great job of keeping me cozy without turning the thermostat above the usual 60 degrees (52 degrees at night). Much better than heating or warming blankets. I just place a heating pad over my legs or back, and it seems to keep me warm all over somehow. A big money-saver, compared to turning up the thermostat. I often used to feel very cold in the house, in the winter, when I wasn't moving around. It was very uncomfortable, despite layering sweaters, afghans, and so on. But since I started using these little electric heating pads, I can always feel cozy, and I never get into an icy bed.
I think the chilly weather is affecting many people. Several students and their family members are sick, a couple hospitalizations. All are OK so far, but I am worried about Mirta, who came down with a virus and then a kidney infection. Spring and warm sunshine, hurry up!
