Keep on Moving Club: August 2017

[Sunshine]

Well, we didn't know the Wounded Warriors were coming to the beach today. They come annually. Those guys really do it up with marching, playing the bagpipes in cool Scottish kilts, and their cameraderie and stoke is priceless.

So we moved down the beach. Today was the day I tried to go without a wheelchair, and good thing because the warriors had all of them.

With my rescue team at ready, I was stoked that I could do it at all. I have increased my strength to surf on carefully selected waves to 40 minutes.

Sure, the waves were only shin to knee high at best. But, with good friends, glassy turquoise waves, a deserted peak, and tarpon breaching, what could be better!

....when you see yourself slipping away, it's such a shot of stoke to be able to surf, empty your mind, and connect with the energy of the ocean...

[Virginia]

BBS, beautiful! Wish we could all be there to see you surf.

I was not feeling well at all today, but went to take middle brother and his wife out to dinner tonight. Yesterday was his birthday. Everyone was out of town because my golfing nephew had a big tournament he was participating in located in Charlotte. He had about half of Raleigh there including family because it is only about 2 1/2 drive. He played Thursday, Friday, Saturday and tomorrow Sunday.

So going out to eat was about it for me today. Of course I did have to wash and do my hair and dress. Even that takes energy when one is not feeling well.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Andy came at 10:30 and bathed Lacy, mowed the yard,picked mangoes, and blew off the driveway. He left at 12:30. I was asleep when he got here and went right back to bed when he left. I slept until 7 PM.

I have been very tired lately and I guess I needed the sleep. I hope when I go to bed I can sleep again. I did NO exercise at all. Jeanie :)

[agate]

There are days like that, when exercise just isn't part of the picture.

Virginia, every day I get up and dressed and set my hair, and that's it for me. If I have to go somewhere special, I don't do much that is extra. They just have to accept me as I am. I'll try to wear my best clothes if the occasion calls for it, and that's about it for my attempts at dressing up.

High heels and jewelry are in the past. Special hairdos at a beauty salon never did happen very often and certainly haven't happened in the last 40 years or so.

Plain and simple, and too bad if that isn't the style. MS has got in the way of style.

I still enjoy nice fabrics and appealing colors and especially comfort when it comes to clothes or shoes. Easy care is another big plus.

I hate wearing double knit pants and fleece pants. They seem too heavy and substantial. Permanent press things are nice in not needing ironing but I wear a lot of cotton things that do need ironing.

Some even need starch. I'm willing to do the ironing and the starch for the sake of looking halfway presentable, and I don't ever go around in bedroom slippers or housecoats.

(Or thongs.)

[Howie]

Thongs? Did someone mention thongs?

[Sunshine]

:) Andy came at 10:30 and bathed Lacy, mowed the yard,picked mangoes, and blew off the driveway. He left at 12:30. I was asleep when he got here and went right back to bed when he left. I slept until 7 PM.

I have been very tired lately and I guess I needed the sleep. I hope when I go to bed I can sleep again. I did NO exercise at all. Jeanie :)

Aw Jeanie. Hang in there.. maybe see PCP to figure out why so tired lately?might not be due to MS?

[agate]

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[Howie]

Agate, when are you going to try it?

[agate]

Let's say I've tried it by watching the video. Armchair surfing is a bit less tiring, and you don't get all wet.

[Howie]

You have a point there! I couldn't do it now, but maybe a few decades ago, provided I lived near the ocean. Did you notice in the first photo of a wave, and way at the base, if you look hard, is a tiny human surfing. That had to be a 50 foot wave at least. That, crashing down on you.....no thanks.

[agate]

BBS often mentions her surfing buddies. I have an impression that a person doesn't just venture out surfing totally alone--? Wouldn't it be a good idea to have at least one person who is a good swimmer on the lookout somewhere, so that if you go under and aren't coming up again fast enough, something can be done?

In the photos each surfer looks all alone out there, and so I'm wondering.

[Howie]

That person was getting ready, and in position, to "shoot the tube". BBS would know what I'm talking about!

[Virginia]

I'll leave you guys to the surfing, but I did enjoy the article Agate posted.

Agate, it takes a little more for me when going out. I have to wash and blow dry my hair, then use a curling iron that blows hot air, except the top where I put hot rollers. I let the hot rollers stay there while I put on make-up and do a couple of other things, then I do a comb out.

I always wear bedroom slippers in the house. However, I started that long before MS. I would come in from work after being in high heels all day and it felt so good to put on slippers, and I got so use to it that I have never thought of not doing it. It is one of the first things I do after going out. Also, it is good for keeping the house cleaner. I have heard on several TV talk shows that it is a good thing to do because it helps keep the carpet much nicer. My husband only did it when he was wearing work shoes, but I just wanted to get comfortable after working in heels all day. Now I almost have to because I can get a pair of shoes and wear them only a few times and the toes are so scuffed that they look awful. It is because I cannot walk correctly and I have foot drop and when I get in my car or go up my steps I hit the toes of my shoes. And these are now low heels. Another thing is that I swell, so all shoes are uncomfortable for me now.

There are days that I might bath, put on just a touch of make-up, and wear a caftan around the house. I have a number of them and they are very comfortable. It also saves on the ironing. I almost always wear cotton blouses that have to be starched in the summer. I love them, but if I wear one every day you can easily see how much ironing I would be doing. As it is, I still have a lot. Anyway, I have to go out 2 to 4 days a week, so of course I go the whole route then.

[Sunshine]

Most surf alone with no issues. They see it as superior, being alone in nature. It is appealing.

I used to. But so many things can go wrong so quickly. On the other hand, even a few months ago, I surfed alone for ta n minutes just to get wet. I corralled a stranger walking on the beach who spotted me and hit on me. So, I asked him to keep an eye out just in case.

For me, I like the social aspect as well.

[Sunshine]

Big wave surfers are a different breed and are very skilled. There are some at our beach, although only hurricanes leave big waves in their wake locally.

The biggest wave I ever rode was 6' and I tell you the power in that wave was stunning. I will stick to 4' waves.

One of My fave DVD is called Riding Giants, which shows the history of big wave surfing