2/13/24

 Tuesday, February 13, 2023

In bed at 10 but unable to fall asleep, awake at 3:30 and up at 3:40, unable to sleep.  29°, high of 35°, partly to mostly cloudy day ahead.  Wind NW at 10 mph, 4-10/16.  Wind chills today are 18 to 30°°.  Sunrise at 6:52, sunset at 5:19, 10+26.  Solar noon at 12:05, altitude 34°.  

Treadmill: pain.  Woke up with considerable shoulder and wrist pain, and not enough sleep.  I will see the hypnotherapist this morning, with my fingers crossed.  I believe I have been experiencing some incipient pain in my right shoulder for the last few days.  I hope it's not a sign of things to come.  I took a slow, short walk on the treadmill at 5 p.m., 20:02 & 0.38.  The painful wrist & shoulder situation has kept me off because I hold on to the side bars while I'm on it and tend to lean on my arms; not good but better than losing balance and falling off.

I'm grateful for Tom and Sue's visit and for their happiness in moving to a new home close to their son and grandchildren.  I was happy to hear their report on cousin Georgie O's 90th birthday celebration in Orion with almost all of his vast family there with him and Janice.  Happy to spend 9 hours in enjoyable conversation throughout the afternoon and evening about family matters, sharing medical adventures of old age, political matters and our fears for the country and its impact on our children, grandchildren, et al.  Tom turns 80 on 4/5/24.

Hypnotism!  I attended my hypnotherapy session with Erica this morning.  She's originally an occupational therapist by profession but also a certified hypnotherapist.  It was an interesting experience and one I will repeat.  Nothing spooky, nothing exotic,  very much like a guided imagery process with some personalization.  I took a ride on some of the 'back roads' of the VA campus, roads I haven't driven on before, and was again impressed by what a huge operation it is.  When I got home, I played the recorded copy of the session for Geri, Tom & Sue, who wanted to hear it.  I'll listen to it again, hopefully, several times.

Long nap this afternoon - almost 2 hours.  Two nights in a row waking up at 3:30 a.m.  My head has been at least semi-shut down since this shoulder/wrist arthritis or whatever pains.  Not many thoughts, even with much national and international news happening.