Mind vs Body

Retirement gives me more time to do things but, so far, my body won’t let me take full advantage of it. I did get started on Christy’s TV stand. All the major pieces are cut and primed. Today I began sanding the existing unit to prepare it for the primer. But I get ahead of myself.

The day began as usual, up at 5:30, breakfast while listening to Karen on the radio -reading any E-Mail, placating the cats vying for attention. Then a trip to both Home Depot and Lowe’s - seeking hinges for the TV stand. Then mow the lawn. It is cloudy today so I didn’t beach walk. Per the 10K schedule I needed to walk 35 minutes today so I figure the hour behind the lawnmower satisfies that. I used to have to rest between doing the front yard and back yard. Now I can do both again before needing a break. At least that is some progress. At this point my shoulders are beginning to ache. After a rest and lunch it was out to the shop to do some sanding. I made it until only 2:30 before both my shoulders said it was time to stop. I then did my daily physical therapy (PT), iced my shoulders and now I am writing my blog. When I was remodeling I would not finish many days until at least 8PM; a better sense of accomplishment but also the cause of my shoulder problems.

There are some positive sides to this routine. Now that I have the shop I can just leave every thing in place and pick up right where I left off. I also am currently reading (listening to) 3 books. In the shop I am reading John Grisham’s “The Broker”. In the book the main character has to learn Italian real fast and it actually is a good refresher for the Italian I learned for the trip to Italy. While mowing and doing yard work I am reading Stephen King’s “The Gunslinger”. I haven’t read much of him since my King phase probably 15 or 20 years ago. This book is a much different style – a touch of the Lord of the Rings – mixed with a western – and of course some supernatural. I’m actually enjoying it. The 3rd book is by James Lee Burke. Penny and I listen to that in the car. It features one of our favorite characters, Dave Robicheaux, and if I remember the title I’ll add it in later.

So in my personal battle of mind vs body the mind is doing OK (as far as I know) and the body is hoping to recover at least some of what’s been lost.