Saturday, March 8, 2025

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Day 207

Good morning, friends, family, and curious internet wanderers.

The Perks of an Uncounted Audience One thing I appreciate about this blog is that it doesn’t count how many people read it. There’s something comforting about that—it still feels like an intimate space, which makes it easier for me to write honestly. I’m still typing away on my iPhone, and I plan to keep it that way. I’ve tried using my computer, but there’s just too much intimidating white space staring back at me. At least with my phone, as long as my hands can still grip it and my fingers can find the letters without too many embarrassing typos, we’re in business.

Therapy vs. My Ego Yesterday, I had both occupational and physical therapy. I’ve spent plenty of time questioning the benefits of therapy—not because I don’t believe in it, but because it makes me feel, well… old. Nothing bruises the ego quite like needing structured exercises just to maintain basic movement. After years of training my body (with some intermissions along the way) to run races and keep the weight in check, it’s tough to accept that my biggest workout now is making sure I don’t overdo it by walking too much or spending too much time on my computer.

Yesterday was a bit of a wake-up call. As simple as these exercises seem (if I didn’t have ALS), they’re specifically designed to help me hold onto as much function as possible for as long as I can. My therapists keep drilling the same mantra into my head: energy conservation…energy conservation. Im starting to get it…yes, I am stubborn and thick-headed.

The Great Staircase Negotiation So, no more casually running up and down the stairs multiple times a day. In fact, I’m now limited to three trips:

1. Getting dressed (which seems fair—I assume the world still expects me to wear pants).
2. One mid-day trip (as long as I don’t waste it going back upstairs just to retrieve my phone, which I absolutely will do).
3. Bedtime ascent (the final battle of the day).

That’s it—three trips. No bonus rounds, no spontaneous extra laps. I suppose that means the Willis Tower Stair Climb is out… or does that still count as just one trip?

Step Count Reality Check Then there’s the step count. Ideally, I should stick to around 1,500 steps per day. Lately, my tax preparation days have been pushing me up to 4,000 steps and by the time I hit the stairs at bedtime, my legs are staging a full-blown protest. Those days scare me…I worry any wobbly movements near the staircase. I fear the same results as what happened on the Georgetown stairs in The Exorcist.

Moving Forward (Literally and Figuratively) Anyway, I’ve got a whole set of exercises to keep up with, and I’ll stick to them until I can’t. And when that happens, we’ll just find new ways to keep moving. That’s the plan.

Construction nearly complete. I’m hoping this is the last weekend of the bathroom remodel. Painters are here at 7:00 and that will leave the bathroom fixtures as the last step. Taking place during the week? Either way…the furniture is going back in the bedroom tomorrow!!!

Have a great Saturday.

Love you guys!❤️