The smallest changes

I am very very too very comfortable in my rut. Or ruts, I should say. I love being in my house, by myself, jes doin' this an that. I like keeping things tidy and making stuff and internetting. I don't generally seek out changes or new things or new people.

And, by the same token, I'm so pleasantly surprised by something that happens outside my ruts. People or things that are different. Last night I had country ribs for dinner. I hadn't had them in a really long time and they were delicious. This morning, instead of my usual english muffin, I had toaster corn cakes. Just delightful and different.

I really need to work at mixing it up.

The other day, my financial adviser called to let me know what he was doing with my finances and why. Conversations with him are always interesting and thought provoking. He's planning on my living a long long time. I'm not. But, it's fine. Better that way than the reverse.

But, it makes me revisit old decisions to make sure they are still good. I don't have a bucket list. I've been so very fortunate to have done and experienced so many wonderful things in my life. Now I'm enjoying the luxury of being lazy. I think I'd like to go back to New Zealand but only if they move it closer. Ditto with Europe. Or even England.

I'm happy here. With what I have. No bucket list. No New Years resolutions. I'd be delighted with another year of lazy. But, if another year is too much to ask, I'm cool with that, too. I'm fine with my ruts and delighted with curveballs.

Oh - changing the subject here - I just learned that the new poke bowl is chirashi which appears to be the same thing but a way to make poke ghetto. There is no world more chock full of snobs than the foodie world.

The shirt I have on today has a kind of criss cross wide lapel collar and every time I look down, all I see are boobs. I think my todo list today should include the addition of a button or a snap.

I have a couple of loads of laundry going. I have three packages arriving. A squeegee for cleaning these windows which are apparently intent on being dirty. Some new underwear. And some thread.

And I do want to take a walk. Maybe out to get a sandwich. Around the block at a minimum.

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• 08:14: It feels like UPS and USPS are still in Xmas rush mode. Each said my pkg would be delivered tomorrow. Both are now… https://t.co/nHixKZBkfk

The Plan

I have COPD which is kind of a catch all term for Your Lungs Suck*. It might be asthma, emphysema, or it might be We Don't Know But It Doesn't Matter, Your Lungs Suck and they are only going to get worse.

My COPD manifests itself in fits of coughing and shortness of breath. At least so far. The plague I had earlier this month was a lovely combo of both. Now the cough is gone but actually the breath is, too.

This morning, I had to stop at the side of the pool several times in the first 15 mins of my swim, just to catch my breath. Today for lunch, I walked up to the teriyaki place (.5 miles) and back and it was tough going. Really tough. I had to stop and breathe more than once and when I finally did get back it took me a while to recover.

This, I'm pretty sure I can fix. At least I was able to last time I had a bad bout. And the fix is walking. 15 minutes a day. Not even all in one go, if I don't want. Around the block or two is fine. Every Single Day.

So, that's what I'm going to do. Along with a steady diet of my albuterol inhaler. It should all be fixed by January 15 when I go to the lung doctor. If not, we're going to have a discussion.

*I was raised in the heart of the tobacco country in a town economically dependent on the sale of cigarettes and carrying the name of two well known brands - Winston and Salem. (The town had the name first but I'll bet most people don't know that.) My parents smoked unfiltered Camels. I started smoking when I was 14 and cigarettes were $2.00 a carton. I smoked without apology or ever trying or wanting to quit until I was 54. There was a lot of love about smoking. I made tons of friends in smoking sections. It was a great excuse to take a break. It was a nice alternative to eating a lot of the time.

My Lungs Suck because I smoked for 40 years. I'm paying the price now and, honestly, I'm not sure it's not a fair price.