Long Weekends

They are nice, but I wind up thinking I will do more than I actually do. Graded papers - check! But of course, not all of the ones I planned. Visit the Y - check (actually more than I planned). Beyond that, nope. Just lazying around.

Over the past couple of weeks, my mother-in-law has been in constant pain. She has some pretty severe scoliosis, worsened by age and osteoporosis. It has come to the point where she needs surgery, but at her age it is risky. So you have the choice of constant pain, not mitigated by pills (that by the way Medicare won't fund, aside from 10 a month) which eventually will wear down her health and quality of life. On the other hand you have surgery that she may not survive, then a month to six weeks of physical rehabilitation, with hopefully no pain at the end, and increased mobility. Again, the pain and recuperation could put her closer to the edge. Mortality and the choices we make to extend our span or improve our quality of life. This is my wife's last parent, while I still have both, and she is just up the street, making her a constant presence in our lives. No good choices, only choices that seem better than others.

On a lighter note (you will laugh in a minute), I hate our scale. Today it gave me an obviously low reading, and then added 3 pounds each of the next two times I stepped on. See what I mean about the lighter note. Going to ignore it for the time being (I can use the balance scale at the Y) since my belt feels looser on a tighter setting. Aside from the bloated feeling from muscles pushing against my subcutaneous fat, I am feeling better. Bored yet with the dull recap of the same old fitness song?