First. Bens birthday. I made coffee. Cleaned the cabin. Did his kitty litter duty and his chores. Then we went to historic Yorktown. Ate at a yummy reataurant. Oh met the dock masters. A great group of guys! Another storm came in. We watched it from under the big bridge. We took the trolley Now ben and I will end with games and movies clips like cartoon shorts. See not too much excitement. Oh wait we picked up our first moorings. That was new and exciting. It only took us two trys. Amazing. Ben is at the bow with the boathook. I am trying to stop the boat on a dime. So he can hook the little white ball with a rope to attach our line to. I can't see the mooring due to me being in the stern. Infront of me is a mast, main sail neatly flaked, a staysail, an open hatch, big bow sprit, ben standing there, and the boat is 48 feet long. ben says forward and gives hand signals. Plus there is a current, waves and winds at 8 knots. All a mystery to me how we did it. I'm happy to be at a mooring!!! rather than Sarah creek and slipping in the mud with the anchor! And having to recite Isaiah 41:10. Smile.
So now for something totally random!
People ask me
"why do you make life so hard?" they usually are referring to the following ... At the shanty I walk 1/4 mile in, carry water and backpack ... For vacation I go walking in the woods,caneoing, active stuff. (why not live it up in a hotel? Lay around and spoil myself?) I'm sailing a big boat which is a lot of physical work. We pump our own water and try to do as many physical things as possible. Hoist sails, winch sheets, climb up and down steep stairs, pull up anchor, sometime fight with a wheel and much much more. At home I park far away to places whenever possible. I try to nordic track Etc.
Well I like outside to start with but many years ago I was in the waiting room to the neurologist and across from me was a woman my age, she told me she was in so much pain she couldn't do anything. She could not even keep a job. I felt sorry for her. She went in first then me. I said to my dr. Wow that poor lady. My doctor replied, "you and her have about the exact same diagnosis. I don't know what makes one person so different than another but you are in the top one percent of functioning adults. So whatever you are doing keep doing " (who can explain God and healing)
Hummm I thought. I like exercise but it is hard to be consistent unless I have a goal or a buddy to workout with. If I know I go to the bwca I start working out slowly six weeks before so I can make it. The mountian trip six months beforehand. If I put physical activity in my day, everyday, then I feel better. The moment I stop physical activity and sit at a desk day in and day out( and let me tell you it happens often. Every summer I do well and every fall I go back to work and crash by October. My back goes out etc) so sailing around the world is adventerous and also active. There have been times I have been not willing to take the harder trail but the easier trail (If I had my wish I would lay around more) but I know when I get into a more convient easy life. I get more tired, I get more pain, the pain keeps me from doing more and I get in a ficsious downward cycle of pain begats pain. That is part one.
Here is part two.
Ben came to me three years ago and said read this book "the Makers Diet" (not a weight loss book a different way of eating book) I read it and we promised to follow the recomendation in the books six week body cleanse. No processed food. It was amazingly hard. In the first two weeks of not drinking pop (which just about killed me) all feelings of carpul tUnnel left me! To this day I can have one pop or so but the next day I can feel my wrists. Now I have no wrist pain while interpreting. My head aches are now to once in a while not every week. I have more energy. I used to take many vitamins but never felt it made a difference. Now I take a few vitamins and my body uses the energy in the vitamins and i really have seen a big difference in health and energy. Myback aches less. I actually have days without pain more than with. Now when my back or neck go out. They usually only last for one to ten days. Where before it would be two weeks to three months with many types of pain meds. I have not had any pain meds for over one year! So you all can laugh all you want. And many do. I try to eat organic but organic is not the diet. It is all about putting the right enzymes in your gut so you can digest and use the food for good use. I try to be 90% good. I have eaten out a few times and yes i had mcdonalds once this summer - it happens- and it is still yummy! This summer I know I have lost my stupid ten pounds I have been complaining about all winter.
So the things I do help me to function. Pushing myself to do things is a way of lifestyle that is more adventageius than a sedimentary lifestyle. Yes sometimes I push myself too much and I suffer for it but on the flip side when I don't do enough I suffer for it too. It is quite the balancing act. I know my own body the best. I live in it. So many people say don't do this or that. Sometimes they are right but most times I am right about what I can and can't do. Like I know when my back is "solid" and can back pack 25 pounds and when it can't take picking up an ounce. Most back doctors say if your back is sore the best thing is walking not laying. Sometimes I can only walk to the mailbox and that is good for the day other days I can walk ten miles and still can go more!
I can lounge around for three to four days but if more then I start to lose the little muscle tone I have and I will start acheing the aching will tell my brain to lay around more, lies all lies, I need exercise not rest at that moment.
So when I'm laying around it is because I know rest is the answer in that situation on that day. Or I'm just enjoying my lounging time. Ben and I have enjoyed going to bed-and-breakfasts and PAMpering (ha ha look my name is in pampering! Funny it is in my nature and name to do that) ourselves once in a while. And if I eat too much processed food my body tells me the same thing, more yummy more junk, lies all lies, what I need to feel better is good food.
I'm not sure how to spell many of these but it is close. Her are my diagnosis' from doctors.
Carpul tunnel
Fibromyalgia (a diagnosis everyone with unexplained pain get -or so I think)
Condro myalsia (left knee rub with soon to tear)
Ottcipical (sp) nerve damage and headaches ( car accident)
Migrains (lose vision on left peripheral)
Dystonia thoratic ( overuse in the back rib area from holding up my arms for work)
Trigger thumb
Tennis elbow
Disk derrangement all levels of neck (car accident) the worst!!!
T-5 crushed and flattened disk (I think the T is neck) pain down arm. Pinky n
Ring finger numb
Two of neck disks are buldging
L-5 herniated lower back
L-6,7 buldging
Arthritis in my spinal area it is rated at a 62 year old
Whiplash tears from car accident
I'm sure there is more but can't think of them all. So this is why I sail. If my back goes out sailing I'm sure Ben could sail me somewhere. If he gets motion sick I'm sure I could sail us somewhere if we both are in bad shape at the same time I'm sure the boat will sail us somewhere.
So There you have one reason why sailing is on top of the options. It is for a short time in life. It is for fun health and life I love and miss all my kids, family and friends. I won't be gone forever.
Another random blog will be to continue why I love adventure. But another time.
Got to go. It is bens birthday you know.
Good night Gods blessings to you all!
Pam
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