Friday the 13th

A good luck day

Friday, October 13th, turned out to be a lucky day for me. I started physical therapy, beginning my road to better health. My physical therapist was awesome. He listened to me, treated me with respect, and cared about my health, all which should be a given. But considering the bad luck I had with Dr. Do Little, I was so grateful to have a rock star physical therapist.

He taught me exercises designed to strengthen my core and stretch my back. He gave me exercise assignments, accessed through a portal, that I have to do and record twice per day. These exercises come with video demonstrations. And he gave me encouragement, saying that physical therapy would help me immeasurably.

I’ve been doing the exercises and recording in the portal which times they cause me pain, as well as the pain intensity. I know it will take awhile to get better, and I will be patient with myself. 

Soon after my session, I had my flu shot and picked up my daughter at school to get hers. I had a very busy day, running errands and doing tasks throughout the day, so it’s no wonder I was so depleted by the end of Friday. But it was a productive day.

However, this weekend has been anything but productive. I spent some time speaking to a physical therapist friend, who also gave me advice and exercises. Yet I’ve spent most of my time napping and taking it easy and reneging on my promise to myself that I would paint. Truth is, I didn’t feel the stamina to paint this weekend. Of course, I’m hard on myself about letting painting go for the weekend, but I’m so tired, I can barely stay awake. I am doing my physical therapy exercises and went grocery shopping (packing each bag lightly), but that has been all I can muster this weekend.

I also have been avoiding the gym this weekend. Too tired. I will go to the gym the rest of the week, just to walk on the indoor track. 

However, I stayed on top of the Inktober drawings. Here they are. 

The word for Day 12 was Spicy. I drew a hot pepper and the state of Louisiana, the heart of spicy food. I’ve been to New Orleans twice and loved it.

The word for Day 13 was Rise, and I couldn’t help but try to convey that women can rise with and to power, launching themselves upward as if ignited by rocket fuel.

Day 14’s word was Castle, so I drew one with a moat, of course.

Today’s word is Dagger. Why I have only one drop of blood from it, I don’t know, but I attribute it to the fact that I don’t like violence. Or daggers for that matter.