A thousand varieties of green. The subtropics in summer after rain. In winter it's a dozen shades of bleh, but once the rains come, one could gather together all the green varieties of paint, coloured pencils, pastels and inks, use them alone or in a thousand combinations and still not record every green nuance seen from this one window.
Next day: We've done it. Dropped the price on the house. Suppose many people have an inflated idea of what their house is worth. I was certain this would sell for $419,000. Heck, I thought it'd sell for $475,000. Wrong wrong wrong. So now it is $399,000 or will be when the realtors get around to changing the price. Now it had better sell. In April it will have been two years on the market. That long and prospective buyers wonder what's wrong with the place. Not a thing. It's a little piece of paradise and everyone who has been here comments on how beautiful it is, inside and out. Even people who came and didn't buy it.
Have to admit I've been stubborn about it. We could've sold it for $395,000 (the value of hindsight) but I was certain of it's worth. Now I have to come off my high horse and admit I was wrong (something I'm no good at). The property, as much as I love it, needs to go so we may go. And to do that we may have to take substantially less than planned.
Richard is also a sticking point. "Four hundred thousand no less" was his mantra. Had to convince him that we would still be okay financially if less money is accepted. We do need money in the bank and we do need money for perhaps a dog fence around the house, a shed perhaps, tank replacement, who knows? We'll just have to play it by ear.
I'm going this weekend to Currumbin to catch up with Helen and have a mini-break. Am trying to organize an inspection of the Cobaki house (http://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi-rural-nsw-cobaki-120545057 ). Wasn't going to look at any more houses until we had a solid offer/contract on this one but why waste a trip? Am so SO looking forward to seeing the sea. Tried to explain this need to Kathy but as she has an aversio to water, I may as well try to be convinced of the cuddliness of spiders by an arachnophile.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Saturday, January 2, 2016
More FISM
FISM is going to be a bit more difficult than I thought for Richard. What I didn't realize is the very thing we are trying to, if not cure, at least ameliorate, is the very thing which prevents him from getting his heart rate up to a significant level. He just cannot pedal fast enough and of course, walking on the treadmill is challenging enough for him without asking him to run. Would like to try him on the cross trainer but suspect, as it involves fast movement of the legs, the same hurdle will present itself.
So we have to up the level of difficulty. On the bike we raised it from 4 to 12 and managed to get his HR up to 85. The target is 134 for a 70 year old man but right now we're just shooting for 90. He did get a little breathless and turned a pale shade of pink so we're on the right track.
I am very proud of him as being outside his comfort zone like this is really...out of his comfort zone. He is not an athletic, sporty person and has never been interested in any sport beyond getting the State of Origin final score so as not to look like a complete doofus when talking to other men. Consistently going to the gym, using strange machines, getting sore - all alien to his nature.
But worth it. People spend a fortune on insurance. They insure their houses, the house contents, the car, have medical insurance, even insure their pets but as far as taking out insurance on future health by the lifestyle lived today, for many people it's not on the radar. We're taking out a bit of insurance, happily paying a higher premium to have, hopefully, the big pay off while we cruise to the end. Health.
So we have to up the level of difficulty. On the bike we raised it from 4 to 12 and managed to get his HR up to 85. The target is 134 for a 70 year old man but right now we're just shooting for 90. He did get a little breathless and turned a pale shade of pink so we're on the right track.
I am very proud of him as being outside his comfort zone like this is really...out of his comfort zone. He is not an athletic, sporty person and has never been interested in any sport beyond getting the State of Origin final score so as not to look like a complete doofus when talking to other men. Consistently going to the gym, using strange machines, getting sore - all alien to his nature.
But worth it. People spend a fortune on insurance. They insure their houses, the house contents, the car, have medical insurance, even insure their pets but as far as taking out insurance on future health by the lifestyle lived today, for many people it's not on the radar. We're taking out a bit of insurance, happily paying a higher premium to have, hopefully, the big pay off while we cruise to the end. Health.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
More Fit in 6 Minutes or FISM
We've begun. Yesterday at the gym we started the Fit in 6 Minutes (FISM). Unfortunately I can't remember what my heart rate went to: was it 150? 146? as I was paying more attention to how Richard was going. He was trying but not hard. His HR got to 81, not nearly high enough. Trying to tread that fine line between encouragement and nagging, I did convince him to up his game enough that he actually became a little breathless for the final attempt. We have to do four sessions of 30 seconds, 3 times a week.
So. Today I showed him the charts regarding age appropriate heart rates. Fifty percent capacity for a 70 year old is 110. Took his resting HR last night, 62 BPM, which is good (mine 72, above average). Suggested that someone he doesn't like, who will remain nameless as this is a public space, was chasing him to 'have a chat'. Brought up the transcript from the Catalyst program and read him appropriate parts. Why wouldn't the FISM program be helpful for Parkinsons as it is also a disorder of the nervous system? The segment on the mice who have been genetically engineered to age faster (how cruel is that? that's a whole 'nother post) and who, with a tailored exercise program (running on a treadmill) didn't age at the same speed as the non-exercising control group, is very telling.
Richard has never been sporty since I've known him. He walks with me and is going to the gym, which is so outside his comfort zone and something he would never do under normal circumstances, and I'm very proud of him for that but he needs to be keen enough to experience real discomfort. For instance, on one of the arm press machines, where the bar is pushed up, he was still on the lightest weight. In all the months he'd been going it never occurred to him to push the weight up a little and he's been going for a few months longer than I! So I encouraged him to increase the weight. Ditto the bike. Suggested that he could go higher than level 2. Yesterday he was on level 7. Yay!
He is also an old hand on the quadricep machine, the treadmill and the cross trainer, machines he avoided because they were too hard. Therefore I am confident that with practice and getting used to the fact that working out hard for 30 seconds hurts, he will master FISM.
In April, after four months of FISM, it will be interesting to take our resting heart rates again. I trust that both will be improved, that we'll have less abdominal fat and more muscle. And that maybe I'll notice that Parkinsons (and/or Alzheimers) will have less of a grip on Richard.
I am excited by the prospect. This might be the answer. No cure for old age and death but if we can feel good, stay active and mentally capable until we keel over, terrific. Can't ask for more than that (except by the time we die all the animals are or will be looked after and loved and if I go first, that Richard is also looked after and loved). Happy New Year!
So. Today I showed him the charts regarding age appropriate heart rates. Fifty percent capacity for a 70 year old is 110. Took his resting HR last night, 62 BPM, which is good (mine 72, above average). Suggested that someone he doesn't like, who will remain nameless as this is a public space, was chasing him to 'have a chat'. Brought up the transcript from the Catalyst program and read him appropriate parts. Why wouldn't the FISM program be helpful for Parkinsons as it is also a disorder of the nervous system? The segment on the mice who have been genetically engineered to age faster (how cruel is that? that's a whole 'nother post) and who, with a tailored exercise program (running on a treadmill) didn't age at the same speed as the non-exercising control group, is very telling.
Richard has never been sporty since I've known him. He walks with me and is going to the gym, which is so outside his comfort zone and something he would never do under normal circumstances, and I'm very proud of him for that but he needs to be keen enough to experience real discomfort. For instance, on one of the arm press machines, where the bar is pushed up, he was still on the lightest weight. In all the months he'd been going it never occurred to him to push the weight up a little and he's been going for a few months longer than I! So I encouraged him to increase the weight. Ditto the bike. Suggested that he could go higher than level 2. Yesterday he was on level 7. Yay!
He is also an old hand on the quadricep machine, the treadmill and the cross trainer, machines he avoided because they were too hard. Therefore I am confident that with practice and getting used to the fact that working out hard for 30 seconds hurts, he will master FISM.
In April, after four months of FISM, it will be interesting to take our resting heart rates again. I trust that both will be improved, that we'll have less abdominal fat and more muscle. And that maybe I'll notice that Parkinsons (and/or Alzheimers) will have less of a grip on Richard.
I am excited by the prospect. This might be the answer. No cure for old age and death but if we can feel good, stay active and mentally capable until we keel over, terrific. Can't ask for more than that (except by the time we die all the animals are or will be looked after and loved and if I go first, that Richard is also looked after and loved). Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Physically Fit in 6 minutes per Week
When information is presented to you which is the information you need right now, it can be nothing but proof that the Universe is connected to you in a personal and unique way. Yesterday, a Sunday, a day for not doing too much, the telly was on while I attempted Technique #2 Wet on Wet with water soluble coloured pencils. The ABC's Catalyst was on. And the information it had was a showstopper. Richard was doing the after lunch dishes. I called him in to watch it.
You can find the transcript or video here : http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4319131.htm
The program was about the benefits of doing six minutes of flat chat cardio a week. Not six minutes all at once but twelve 30 second sprints. Sprints on the bike or running up hill or whatever. It all has to do with improving mitochondrial function in the cells.
Narration
"In fact, in all of us, mitochondrial function gradually declines as time wears on."
Professor Mark Tarnopolsky
"Although they're very efficient at repairing themselves, eventually we can't keep up and the cells start to drop off in energy. When they drop off in energy, they lose their resilience and the cells end up dying and we can't replace our cells."
Professor Mark Tarnopolsky
"More recently, we've discovered that there can be acquired mitochondrial dysfunction that can occur in the presence of more common diseases such as Alzheimer's, obesity, type 2 diabetes and, in fact, human ageing has even been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction."
But, happily, research has shown that going flat out, to quote one of the researchers, as though you are running for your life, can reduce or reverse many of the effects of aging.
This is huge. Enormous. Literally life changing. And Richard watched it with me. We are going to the gym 3 times a week so the basis is already there. Now to convince him that he needs to start going hard at it.
He just came in and I outlined a plan. If he tries to go flat chat for 30 seconds four times tomorrow he won't. It will be too hard and the experiment will be over before we've started. We've worked out that he will try to go 5 seconds as hard as he can four times. Then on Friday, he'll try for 7 seconds (or 10 if the 5 second attempt wasn't that hard). At any rate, build up to the 30 second interval.
This is so exciting. Kept giving thanks for the information, that we were there at the right time to catch this episode of Catalyst.
There was another bit of information which was interesting. I've wondered why I have this spare tyre around my middle that I can't shake. I'm pretty active, my weight is ok (55kg for 5'4") yet this ring of fat sits around my waist. Catalyst explained that it is because of menopause. It's common in menopausal women to have 'visceral fat', bad fat because it coats my internal organs. And it doesn't look good either and makes fitting clothes that bit more difficult. This explains much for it seemed to appear out of nowhere and my basic shape, that I've lived with all my adult life, had significantly changed without the changes in my eating/exercise habits to account for it.
I'd already started, not knowing what I was doing, 15 second 'sprints' on the cross trainer, first legs, then next 15 seconds, arms, with 15 seconds of light exercise in between. Yesterday, before watching the program, I upped it to 20 second sprints with 20 second rest in between. Tomorrow I may go for 30 seconds - although I'm not sure I'm fit enough to go as hard as I can for a full 30 seconds. Maybe, like Richard, I'll build up to it and try for 25 seconds. At any rate I'll try.
I am so excited about this as I suspect this will really help allay the effects of Parkinsons in Richard and if I'm correct in thinking he has the beginning of Alzheimers, it will help that too. There is hope for us after all. Our future is looking much brighter. Thank you Universe.
You can find the transcript or video here : http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4319131.htm
The program was about the benefits of doing six minutes of flat chat cardio a week. Not six minutes all at once but twelve 30 second sprints. Sprints on the bike or running up hill or whatever. It all has to do with improving mitochondrial function in the cells.
Narration
"In fact, in all of us, mitochondrial function gradually declines as time wears on."
Professor Mark Tarnopolsky
"Although they're very efficient at repairing themselves, eventually we can't keep up and the cells start to drop off in energy. When they drop off in energy, they lose their resilience and the cells end up dying and we can't replace our cells."
Professor Mark Tarnopolsky
"More recently, we've discovered that there can be acquired mitochondrial dysfunction that can occur in the presence of more common diseases such as Alzheimer's, obesity, type 2 diabetes and, in fact, human ageing has even been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction."
But, happily, research has shown that going flat out, to quote one of the researchers, as though you are running for your life, can reduce or reverse many of the effects of aging.
This is huge. Enormous. Literally life changing. And Richard watched it with me. We are going to the gym 3 times a week so the basis is already there. Now to convince him that he needs to start going hard at it.
He just came in and I outlined a plan. If he tries to go flat chat for 30 seconds four times tomorrow he won't. It will be too hard and the experiment will be over before we've started. We've worked out that he will try to go 5 seconds as hard as he can four times. Then on Friday, he'll try for 7 seconds (or 10 if the 5 second attempt wasn't that hard). At any rate, build up to the 30 second interval.
This is so exciting. Kept giving thanks for the information, that we were there at the right time to catch this episode of Catalyst.
There was another bit of information which was interesting. I've wondered why I have this spare tyre around my middle that I can't shake. I'm pretty active, my weight is ok (55kg for 5'4") yet this ring of fat sits around my waist. Catalyst explained that it is because of menopause. It's common in menopausal women to have 'visceral fat', bad fat because it coats my internal organs. And it doesn't look good either and makes fitting clothes that bit more difficult. This explains much for it seemed to appear out of nowhere and my basic shape, that I've lived with all my adult life, had significantly changed without the changes in my eating/exercise habits to account for it.
I'd already started, not knowing what I was doing, 15 second 'sprints' on the cross trainer, first legs, then next 15 seconds, arms, with 15 seconds of light exercise in between. Yesterday, before watching the program, I upped it to 20 second sprints with 20 second rest in between. Tomorrow I may go for 30 seconds - although I'm not sure I'm fit enough to go as hard as I can for a full 30 seconds. Maybe, like Richard, I'll build up to it and try for 25 seconds. At any rate I'll try.
I am so excited about this as I suspect this will really help allay the effects of Parkinsons in Richard and if I'm correct in thinking he has the beginning of Alzheimers, it will help that too. There is hope for us after all. Our future is looking much brighter. Thank you Universe.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Another Christmas
Another Christmas. How they whirl past, one after another. We have, save for a quick gift delivery to neighbours, spent it at home. We had planned to drive to either Picnic Point or the Range Lookout this morning, while the roads were still quiet, to have a coffee and enjoy the view. Rain, however, put an end to that. The promised rain has not eventuated, this morning's drizzle not counting for much so it's been quite a pleasant day - although I would've preferred a cozy rain confined day at home. The grass has recovered but still we are in drought. The soil is bone dry beneath a very narrow band at the surface.
The last vestige of small talk and small writing; the weather. I have these thoughts I want to explore when I am no where near the computer (or a notebook) and have no chance of pursuing them.
One of them is the nature of guilt and punishment. Again. I'm not Catholic but repeatedly I return to this train of thought. If I don't get what I want or something bad happens, is it punishment, is it karma? Am I not holding my mouth just right? This house still hasn't sold and there's a part of me that believes it's my fault, that I don't deserve to live in a place more suited to me than here which is, although beautiful, killing me slowly as I watch the .... have to say it, environmental vandals/philistines/rednecks destroy it by degrees. For years I've watched as the bush is chipped away through burning and now, tree clearing, which seems to be the new tool of the cognoscenti farmer.
I cry when I see, almost daily, the results of the latest attack. Or at least my eyes well up with tears. Perhaps I now qualify as a silly old woman for crying about the loss of the bush. And maybe it's selfish to not want to feel bad when I see the new piles of freshly bulldozed trees waiting to be burnt. But I do. So I feel guilty because I'm still here, the house hasn't sold and I must be doing something wrong.
Or am I being selfish to influence Richard this way? He'd stay if I said I'd stay. He doesn't ride through the bush so he doesn't feel as strongly as I do about its demise. If I talk about the creatures who die when they burn it hurts him so I don't talk about it. So I suppose I am being selfish in pushing for this but in the end, I have to. Being old here is out of the question (or should I say older). Is it sinful to want more (or something different) when I already have so much and billions of people have next to nothing? There is much guilt attached to that.
The other side of me says, I am already blessed in being well fed, clothed and housed. I just want to change locations, spend Christmas in the Tweed Valley rather than the Lockyer Valley. So get over it, stop feeling guilty and just get on with it!
The last vestige of small talk and small writing; the weather. I have these thoughts I want to explore when I am no where near the computer (or a notebook) and have no chance of pursuing them.
One of them is the nature of guilt and punishment. Again. I'm not Catholic but repeatedly I return to this train of thought. If I don't get what I want or something bad happens, is it punishment, is it karma? Am I not holding my mouth just right? This house still hasn't sold and there's a part of me that believes it's my fault, that I don't deserve to live in a place more suited to me than here which is, although beautiful, killing me slowly as I watch the .... have to say it, environmental vandals/philistines/rednecks destroy it by degrees. For years I've watched as the bush is chipped away through burning and now, tree clearing, which seems to be the new tool of the cognoscenti farmer.
I cry when I see, almost daily, the results of the latest attack. Or at least my eyes well up with tears. Perhaps I now qualify as a silly old woman for crying about the loss of the bush. And maybe it's selfish to not want to feel bad when I see the new piles of freshly bulldozed trees waiting to be burnt. But I do. So I feel guilty because I'm still here, the house hasn't sold and I must be doing something wrong.
Or am I being selfish to influence Richard this way? He'd stay if I said I'd stay. He doesn't ride through the bush so he doesn't feel as strongly as I do about its demise. If I talk about the creatures who die when they burn it hurts him so I don't talk about it. So I suppose I am being selfish in pushing for this but in the end, I have to. Being old here is out of the question (or should I say older). Is it sinful to want more (or something different) when I already have so much and billions of people have next to nothing? There is much guilt attached to that.
The other side of me says, I am already blessed in being well fed, clothed and housed. I just want to change locations, spend Christmas in the Tweed Valley rather than the Lockyer Valley. So get over it, stop feeling guilty and just get on with it!
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
watercolour and graphite and ink
One way to overcome my art paralysis, which occurs because of wanting things to be perfect and not make mistakes, is to teach myself watercolour. Have always been terrified of watercolour. The ultimate anal retentive bugaboo; uncontrollable watercolour. Watercolour that dribbles and drips, runs and leaks, smears and smudges. Watercolour that works from dark to light so you'd better decide where your highlights are because once painted you can't change your mind.
Happily with my book collecting tendencies I have instruction. Actually thought I'd start with water soluble coloured pencils. The resulting disaster shown on the previous post. Figured if I did an exercise a day from Painting with Water-Soluble Coloured Pencils by Gary Greene I'd have to improve. Plus, it doesn't hurt to form good working habits. As it is I'm a bit haphazard in my approach to art.
And time is running out. I'm 60 and if I want to learn how to draw/paint I'd better get at it. (A sad comment on getting older. Went to the local reject shop looking for cheap watercolour brushes. At the checkout the young man said that if I had a Seniors Card I'd get a discount. That was sad enough. What was sadder was that I did indeed have a Seniors Card to produce! There is no escape. Old age and death awaits and the clock is ticking.
Anyway, I have finished a drawing. It's mostly graphite with some ink. The photo has cut off parts of it. One day I'll learn to take good photos with a good camera. It's called Metamorphosis.
Happily with my book collecting tendencies I have instruction. Actually thought I'd start with water soluble coloured pencils. The resulting disaster shown on the previous post. Figured if I did an exercise a day from Painting with Water-Soluble Coloured Pencils by Gary Greene I'd have to improve. Plus, it doesn't hurt to form good working habits. As it is I'm a bit haphazard in my approach to art.
And time is running out. I'm 60 and if I want to learn how to draw/paint I'd better get at it. (A sad comment on getting older. Went to the local reject shop looking for cheap watercolour brushes. At the checkout the young man said that if I had a Seniors Card I'd get a discount. That was sad enough. What was sadder was that I did indeed have a Seniors Card to produce! There is no escape. Old age and death awaits and the clock is ticking.
Anyway, I have finished a drawing. It's mostly graphite with some ink. The photo has cut off parts of it. One day I'll learn to take good photos with a good camera. It's called Metamorphosis.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
A Gasp from the Past
Kathy, a childhood friend, sent a link to the Sentinel Leader, the newspaper for Sparta. I have spent most of today doing searches for references to Mom and Dad and Sparta Aviation.
A couple of things of note. When Tam was 9 months old, Mom and a woman called Irene Heft rented a house in Ft. Myers Florida for a few months. Why? I know Mom and Irene were friends and then had a falling out. Over what I don't know. Perhaps Tam does. I did meet her, have a vague memory of going to her house when I was young. Met her again in later years and have a somewhat dim recollection of her being a bit overbearing or gush-prone. She is mentioned another time in the paper with Mom, a social visit to another woman.
Mom had obviously come to know a columnist on this small paper, Carol Holmes Kurtz. Perhaps because Mom for a time wrote a small column called Hangar Talk. Anyway, Mike, Mom's last cat came from Mrs. Kurtz. She writes about it here : http://spartahistory.org/newspaper_splits/The%20Sentinel%20Leader/1958/The%20Sentinel%20Leader%20-%2007_1958%20-%20Page%2015%20.pdf
Another issue: http://spartahistory.org/newspaper_splits/The%20Sentinel%20Leader/1945/The%20Sentinel%20Leader%20-%2012_1945%20-%20Page%2018%20.pdf has a photo of Dad and his grandmother Mrs. Combs after he had taken her for a flight on her 84th birthday.
Found too that Dad had been a Captain in the RAF. If he mentioned that during my childhood, I missed it. Dad was many things but he wasn't one to skyte about his achievements. He loved his time in the Transport Command, said it was the happiest time of his life, but he didn't brag about it. He flew bombers to England and to Africa. Would've been a pretty thrilling time, to say the least, especially flying the North Atlantic, notorious for its storms.
I was mentioned once,when I was 2 and known as Cupcake.
A couple of things of note. When Tam was 9 months old, Mom and a woman called Irene Heft rented a house in Ft. Myers Florida for a few months. Why? I know Mom and Irene were friends and then had a falling out. Over what I don't know. Perhaps Tam does. I did meet her, have a vague memory of going to her house when I was young. Met her again in later years and have a somewhat dim recollection of her being a bit overbearing or gush-prone. She is mentioned another time in the paper with Mom, a social visit to another woman.
Mom had obviously come to know a columnist on this small paper, Carol Holmes Kurtz. Perhaps because Mom for a time wrote a small column called Hangar Talk. Anyway, Mike, Mom's last cat came from Mrs. Kurtz. She writes about it here : http://spartahistory.org/newspaper_splits/The%20Sentinel%20Leader/1958/The%20Sentinel%20Leader%20-%2007_1958%20-%20Page%2015%20.pdf
Another issue: http://spartahistory.org/newspaper_splits/The%20Sentinel%20Leader/1945/The%20Sentinel%20Leader%20-%2012_1945%20-%20Page%2018%20.pdf has a photo of Dad and his grandmother Mrs. Combs after he had taken her for a flight on her 84th birthday.
Found too that Dad had been a Captain in the RAF. If he mentioned that during my childhood, I missed it. Dad was many things but he wasn't one to skyte about his achievements. He loved his time in the Transport Command, said it was the happiest time of his life, but he didn't brag about it. He flew bombers to England and to Africa. Would've been a pretty thrilling time, to say the least, especially flying the North Atlantic, notorious for its storms.
I was mentioned once,when I was 2 and known as Cupcake.
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