Look Mom!

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I decided to nap after that last post. And boy did I nap. It must have been about 17:00, maybe 18:00 when my head got pillow road rash. *crash* And I slept well. I woke at about 1:00 or 2:00, rather rested as well. But more, I went without the air conditioner. And without the fan! I may have done that once or twice before medicine, since I have been here! That is what the title is about. No feverishness that I could detect for the first time in nearly a month!

I will have to look at my list again, see what I did and what I need yet to do. I did get a good bit of it done though, so that is good. Getting the air conditioner returned and calling my Coralville bank are the two big ones which were not done. I should be able to do more today, maybe a lot more. I will need to rest a bit before the day officially starts again though. I do not think that will be too difficult.

I am still in Genesis. That is a much longer book than I remembered. And, I think I only read selected passages from that last year (or the year before) when I last attempted it. There are some odd things in there. Everything from Abram cum Abraham having his wife say she was his sister and being taken as a bride by foreign kings and such, to the circumcision thing *ouch*, to his buying of land for Sarai cum Sarah to be buried in, and even to his meetings with what is indicated as the Lord, on several occasions. Oh, even Sarah laughing at the Lord's suggestion that she would yet bear a child, and in a year (when she was quite old). She thought it funny that she would bear a child, and funnier still that she would, at her age, enjoy such pleasures altogether. Then she denied it, when heard by the Lord, in fear. And, I am not yet done!

It is not difficult reading, if it is sometimes easy to lose track with the Armalites, and Caananites, and... about a hundred fifty other 'ites. The people involved, sometimes only mentioned once to various lengths, while other people and peoples come and go throughout, so far. It is dense, much like the Lord of the Rings (written) trilogy. I see now, and again, more clearly where some of that came from. I have to think both Old and New Testament figures are easily the druids, as well as the various popes. Their stories are just as complex, and sometimes unbelievable seeming as that of the bible figures.

I am quite sure many have walked, with the surety of the Lord, doing His bidding while only knowing some but more than most yet not being truly able to do more than what they were called to do. All of those have, at times, come near to complete destruction, through time they have come to times where the cultural itself has lead to great weakness in the Church, and there have been times where the Church operated (from the beginning but even later) in exile. I see plainly where man, God, the Church, and enemies are very well described in the Lord of the Rings. I did, even more, in my youth, but I had forgotten how many ties there were between the two.

Oh, about my visit today. I think the doctor (an intern actually) was surprise that my feet were in as good of shape, considering, as they are. He HAD to have read the description of them given by the previous visits in Iowa City. Back then, they were covered in a thick sheet of dry skin that was hard and thick. They spent an hour scraping stuff off. And though it hurt, it did not bleed. This time, only the heals were slightly callused, along with a callus on both big toes, and on my left footpad. Not only that, but I have excellent circulation and sensitivity in my feet, even through the calluses. They are not pretty feet, but they are still good. He kept thinking that he would find serious problems. Every doctor I meet there is amazed I am still kicking, it seems. Really really. And more, that I seem twice as healthy as normal people, and way beyond what they think I have any right to be. For as weak and messed up as I am, I honestly do try (other than the recent fast food and regular soda binge, which I have ended). As well, I seem to have a way of just not dying or decaying or physically weakening as might seem probable in my state (mothballed, it seems). That will end someday, but not today.

I am, however, out of shape. As the world cools, and as I am pushing into handling the weather, I will tend this. I have not, for several reasons, started swimming again, or doing other home workouts. The weather is beginning to shift. Starting next Monday, and for perhaps a week, it will be cool, in the 70's F or so. I may begin planning some hiking trips in that time. One of the trails, about 7 miles of it anyway, is right along a common fishing area. That might make for a good all day event. It would end up being 14 miles, up and back. Quite a trek, but with fishing for the hotter part or when I become tired, it would not be too bad. Taking enough water, something to eat, and perhaps something to take a nap upon would be in the plan. As out of shape as I am in, if the weather is cool, this would not be beyond me at all.

On that same path, if I really begin to do well, I could take it further and pack a couple of days in and a couple of days back as the path cuts across to the next canyon if you are ready for it. My neighbor discussed the path the last time we drove to the canyon. It was this side (Logan Canyon) where his uncle and himself hunted a deer (one he shot and gave to his uncle). And the path he showed me on the other side is where it comes out. Horse back or on foot is the only way to take the path, he said. ATV's will not make it. That has been on my mind since.

I am getting better on these medicines, if I will never quite be up to snuff fully. But if I can push and pull and hammer it into some kind of compliance, perhaps it will be enough. This month was tough with the medicine. Last month was tough just getting used to this place. And the next months, hopefully, will be tougher still as I expand my world however it finds me. I was not meant to be idle. I have hated the last twenty years, and fought where I could to be among the living again. We will see what we will, I suppose. But hope springs eternal, and out here, hope has found a home, a will, and maybe a way.

Time to dinker, then read, then rest a bit.

Have a wonderful sleep or a great day. (*But never say I did not warn you! Ha!)


*warning: The Surgeon Captain
The good life may require a lot of work, patience, and willpower, often beyond what you think you have. Go, do, and hush. (though you may freely complain on your own blog)