Spinning Dreidel or Whirling Dervish

 

I am not sure which is the more apt analogy..... the spinning of the dreidel, which is a gently spinning toy, or a whirling dervish which is a dancer who spins in ever more frantic circles..... but.... spinning is the key concept today.  I have been spinning around do so, so many different things that I have a difficult time focusing.  

I am going to try to list in no particular order, a bulleted list of the many things have have been part of my last several days..... some great, some good, some neutral, some bad:

• I BELIEVE most of my challenges physically poor sleep, not feeling particularly up-to-snuff, dry skin, itchiness, lethargy, various aches-and-pains...... are all stemming from my body adjusting and getting "used" to the WINTER.  Winter tends to be quite dry, arid, and cold (except DURING snow storms) here.  Another aspect adding to the dryness is our furnace.  Our home is extremely dry during the Winter.  (By the way.... I HAVE considered having a humidifier of some sort.... but know far, far too many people in my region who do use a humidifier and have either localized development of mold in their homes or considerable mold develop in their homes.  My wife and I do not want to encourage any sort of mold growth, so we feel a humidifier is not for us.)
• To further help my sleep, I have started a new cycle of using a "bite sock" again, in addition to my bite guard.  It seems to be helping me sleep more restfully because it decreases further my clenching my teeth.  But, the "bite sock" does not prove effective LONG TERM, because after a while, it can cause challenges too.  So, I have to alternate between using it and forgoing it.  But, I currently am in a "bite sock" usage cycle.
• Running ended up being a significant challenge last week.  I ran the first few days just fine.  But, one EVENING, I noticed I was feeling stiff, and my right foot felt like it was "drooping" when I would walk.  By "drooping" I do not mean I could NOT lift or move it.....I mean that my GAIT had changed so that I was walking on that foot with the front of my foot striking before my heel..... definitely NOT my normal walking/running gait.  The next morning, the "droop" was even more pronounced.... AND the MEDIAL aspect of my right heel was extremely painful when I would put even modest load bearing weight upon it.  It turns out I had developed a different form of Plantar Fasciitis.  
• For the next several days, I focused on incorporating additional stretches, and also several NEW stretches to alleviate what was in effect a very inflamed heel tendon... on the BOTTOM of the heel (not the Achillies).   With rest and with considerable, slow stretching, the pain and discomfort have regressed from an 8 out of 10 to a 1 out of 10.  I was even able to slowly run 3.1 miles (5km) this morning.  I am hoping to be back at my normal miles by the end of the week.
• My wife has been very busy with work.  I have been very busy with work.  We are both rushing around most of the day.  It feels sad, because she is the one I want to spend MORE time with.... not less, like is happening at this time of year.
• One of my kids ended up losing a teaching position (adjunct) she had for next semester.  The loss was due to budget cuts at the university she is attending for graduate school.  The budget cuts are reflective of government funding challenges due to the current administration, due to the downturn in the economy, and reflective of many undergraduates taking fewer credits due to the economy.  She is extremely sad, and my wife and I needed to talk with her quite a bit to help her recognize she was not at "fault".  Unfortunately, adjunct positions are typically viewed as "expendable" when needed economically.  
• Oh, the Retiree's Cigar Group was a true bright spot for me last Thursday!  A smaller group came, which actually ends up having me be more talkative (folks who are mostly introverts tend to talk less as group size increases)...... and the afternoon was truly relaxing and fun.  It was NOT the same as having a pipe.  BUT, it was a great deal of fun.  
• I spent a huge amount of time on the computer, grading.  I spent a huge amount of time on my phone..... fixing the multitude of student contacts I lost, and I spent a huge amount of time writing and reworking my syllabi for next semestser's classes.  And, I did a lot of work updating my gizmo "Learning Management Systems" for next semester (the electronic storage classrooms we have to use at the U).  
• My wife and I put together "Final Exam Week Care Kits" for each of the two kids who are still in school, and mailed it out to them.  We put together some candy, some other treats (like trail mix), some fancier instant coffees (from Starbucks), and a few other goodies plus a card with a note.
• Due to the desert-like Winter air, I have once again started going to sleep with hand cream covered hands with gloves on top.  I have to wash my hands so much, that that in the winter, the chapping of my hands is difficult to control if I do not do this.  If I do not do this, I get very painful cracks in the skin.  I also feel considerable dryness on the parts of my face that are not furry (forehead, upper-upper cheeks, and around my eyes)... so I put lotion on those exposed areas of my face at night before bed as well.  

That is about all the time I can spend writing at the moment.  

PipeTobacco