Wow, Long Time No See!!

True I haven't written on either one of my blogs for a long time, till today.

I'm sure I lost all my followers but, you know, things happen.

"It's Always Something"!!!

Today it's like zero degrees out and will be for the next couple days so I'm holding up in the house.

Of course I have to do my cat and chicken care out in the "barn", but no going off the acre!!

I've had a year (or more) of belly and digestive issues.  

Numerous stints in the hospital and every test in the book.

Have they solved my problem?

NO!

I did find out my gallbladder is only functioning at 27%.

But my symptoms were never really typical GB symptoms.

So NO surgeon, you can't yank out my GB!!

So, enough of that!

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I found a new social media platform that I really like.  

It's Periscope!!

And I'm fairly active on there.

I try to "scope" a few times a week.  I don't have many followers but it's fun and my sister always watches the replays if she doesn't catch it "live"

Yes, "Live broadcasting"!!

Periscope is owned by Twitter, so if you have Twitter, download the Periscope app.  It's free.

Of course, like them all, it's very addicting!

My name on there is the same as on Twitter,

"Hoofprints"

Looking for a Positive New Year

I'm praying all my medical issues showed themselves in 2014 and I'm done with them.

I'm more aware of how to do better with my diet and this will be the year I will

start to get myself to be the more active person I used to be just a short 18 months ago!

With arthritis (like everyone my age) and my back problems I guess 

I will just have to play through the pain!

I'm starting the new Year by joining "Silver Sneakers".

Here in Medina we have a wonderful Rec. Center that I have never taken advantage of.

Well, with a "Silver Sneakers" membership, all the senior activities are free.

(That's always good!)

So today, the last day of 2014 I went to the Center to look around and I signed up for my membership.  I also met two really nice ladies already.

That's a great part of this . . . socializing with people my own age.

There are so many activities for seniors.

Exercise classes, use of the pools, indoor track, exercise equipment and a senior walking club, senior yoga classes, senior lectures twice a month about all kinds of things and lunches. There's even ping pong and something called pickleball?

*So that is my plan for this new year to help me become more active and have more strength so I can get back on my horses and actually ride!!

What are your plans for the New Year?

Whatever they are, have a Healthy New Year.

Shirley

Update on Dermatology Visits

This sun bathing is not good!!

(and neither was that perm!!!)

When my husband Jack was alive, we had a house down in FL.  

It was on Anna Maria Is. on the Gulf, just across the street from the water!

I sold it after Jack died about 7-8 years ago.

We went down there sometimes a month at a time and back then, it was thought that it was really good looking to have a dark tan.

We were either on the beach or on the boat. IN THE SUN!

Now days, I look at people strangely that are really tan!!

It's not "in" anymore.

Mainly because of the education on the sun and skin cancer.

You never heard about that back when I was young!!

We slathered on oil to fry even darker!

I think the worst sunburn I ever had however was when I was in my early 30's and my two girl friends and I went to the Bahamas!

It was after my divorce from my first husband and was actually my first time flying!

Anyway, it was a short vacation package so we thought we had to get as tanned as we could in a very short time.

I looked like a boiled lobster!!

I could barely stand to wear clothes.

It was not attractive!

I learned a lot from that however!

But still didn't stay out of the sun, I just didn't use oil!

The real sun damage to you skin comes years later.

It starts showing up as just age spots, if you're lucky, or as skin cancer.

I, of course should have gone to the dermatologist a long time ago but waited till I thought I really could have a problem!!

And yes, all the "things" they removed and biopsied were either basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

Now more follow up treatments have to be done.

Bummer!

So, just saying, if your one who liked to tan or you see anything weird on your skin, go get a yearly dermatology exam.

I know, it's easy to just ignore, but don't be like me!

Shirley

Inflexability

It seems as I age, I am becoming more and more inflexible.

It doesn't really bother me but it seems to irritate other people!

I realize that being somewhat inflexible has made my world a little smaller than it used to be.

That doesn't really bother me either!

I'm comfortable here.
It doesn't mean that I'm not doing things and moving around a lot.  I don't just sit and watch TV!  In fact, I watch very little TV.  I seem to find things around the house or running errands that keep me quite busy!

I don't really want to travel anymore.
Since I've been posting "Parts of My Life" on face book's Throwback Thursdays, even I am amazed at the things I've done and the places I've been!

I do seem to have to plan things more now however.

I'm not one to just pick up at the drop of a hat and go somewhere out of my comfort zone unless I plan for it at least a couple days beforehand!!
My plans for the day are written in my datebook and on the calendar on my iPhone.
My comfort zones consist of going to town and to the barn.
I know that does sound small but I do go other places too, but there's rules.
I have to plan ahead of time, I like to get started before noon and get back home before dark!
Boy, that does sound "old"!
Well, I have my dog to feed and my chickens to put away after-all!!!
Of course, unexpected things happen in life and we all have to adjust but, I'm saying, it's harder now than it used to be.

Shirley

You can also find me on my main blog here:
http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/

And on Face Book here:
https://www.facebook.com/shirley.corwin?ref=name