I was about to say this has been the coolest summer I’ve spent in California, but technically, it’s not summer yet. Hmmm. I told you spring was trouble.
Sometimes it does feel like getting older is about what happens between medical appointments. And I’m healthy!
Dale and I got the latest Covid booster and both doses of the Shingles vaccine. My wrist appointment was last week, and I’ll get to that, but I had a little skin scare in the meantime. And I’m not talking about the routine scary stuff you see in the magnifying mirror.
For the record, I go to the dermatologist every two years for a full body exam. At my last check-up, I had a small scaly patch above my left ear just at the hairline. Hard to even see. The doctor said it was nothing. But then a few weeks ago, it got thicker and uglier, and I was terrified.
I had to wait weeks. Just enough time for me to imagine strike three on the cancer front. I had already decided I wasn’t afraid to have half my face carved off as long as it wasn’t cancerous. Anyway, as the doctor previously said, it was nothing. Or benign keratosis, which passes for nothing one presumes.
The physician’s assistant zapped it with the freezer gun before I could say boo. Seriously, it went down like a shootout at the O.K. Corral. There was an unattractive scab, but it’s pretty much gone now.
She said never think you’re going to look stupid for getting something checked out. Just do it. Good advice for all of us.
As for the wrists. I broke both of them in 2012 when I fell off my bicycle. The right one was in a cast, but we didn’t know I broke the left one, too, so it didn’t heal properly. That said, it’s my right one that hurts the most. But it’s a sporadic thing, depending on how I choose to abuse myself.
Golf and swimming aren’t problematic, but some of that yoga I experimented with back in the fall was not good. Hyperextension is the killer. That’s like downward dog and planks, which I hate anyway. I know now not to do that, but as per usual, I had to learn the hard way, and it took months to recover.
I had seen this ortho about four years ago, so we could compare old x-rays to new ones. He said I have mild arthritis resulting from the old injuries, but it hasn’t progressed much at all. The only new thing was arthritis in my right thumb.
Thumb arthritis! Who knew?
That’s my phone scrolling thumb, which gets quite a workout with all my games and puzzles. They always ask if this is a work-related injury, but I guess they don’t care if it’s a retirement-related injury. No retirees compensation fund.
The doc said I don’t need to stop playing but try to hold the phone in my left palm and use my right forefinger to play. He said I might feel better using a thumb splint, but the one he recommended is $100, so I’m going to wait and see if my behavioral modifications make a difference.
Other than that, he said do what I want, avoid hyperextension.
In other news, my 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid just went over 100,000 miles. For its age, that’s relatively low mileage, but I commuted by bus for four-plus years, so it spent a lot of time in my garage. Anyway, I’m on the fence about getting a new car. I like this one just fine and am hoping it will go another 50,000 miles at least. I drive like an old lady and have always kept up with maintenance, so there’s a good chance it will hang in there.
While I have money set aside for a new car, the timing is terrible. Aside from shortages and astronomical dealer markups, there’s the question of whether to go electric. Even if I do, I’d like more time to see how the market shakes out. Personally, I like the plug-in hybrids, but there are mixed reviews and even with that, none of the dealers I’ve visited even have them on the lots.
We weren’t Costco members because we shop at a military commissary, but for $60 bucks a year, I decided to join and can take advantage of their auto purchase program. I got a very nice email from them updating me on shortages.
One of the cars I’m interested in is the hybrid 2023 Honda Accord EX-L. There were none on the lot when I visited, but later I contacted them through the Costco program, and a sales rep let me know one is in transit, expecting to arrive in July. Wait and see. And I will definitely wait rather than pay a ridiculous dealer markup.
All that to say, I’m tired of thinking about it for now. So, I’m back at square one. I’ve scheduled the 100,000 mile tune-up for the Fusion and will hope for the best.
On the entertainment front, I made a list (the magic elixir of peace and serenity) of my fixed entertainment costs and online subscriptions, and they actually don’t add up to as much as I thought. Roughly 10 percent of my Social Security check, and that includes the annual fee I pay for unlimited golf!
I did a free trial of Apple TV+ and am keeping it for now. That’s $6.99 a month. I’ve enjoyed High Desert with Patricia Arquette. Where has she been all my life? I particularly love that she has crooked teeth and never got them fixed. My role model.
Next on the list is Slow Horses.
One hundred thousand miles on your car seems an absolute baby to me. My husband’s last truck had over 400,000 miles and could have kept going but he wanted something new. I have my weaknesses (books, flowers, pretty clothes) but luckily cars and large houses are not among them. We have owned four different houses, and our current 1100 square foot retirement house is, by far, my favorite.
Making lists. I live to make lists. I believe it also proves that women are superior to men. Men make the very occasional list, women live by them.
I would agree about the car except it was the first year they made the hybrid, so there’s some unknowns about how long they’ll last. I’m inclined to go for 200,000!
Mostly I’m with you about lists, although my highly valued male readers might take issue. They really need to get on board.
I have an appointment to get a scaly patch (on my jawline) checked out too. It is reminiscent of the basal cell carcinoma I had surgically carved out of my cheek when I was 30. Hopefully I won’t need such a dramatic removal process this time as I think I have caught it early. (In my defence, back then I was told it was “definitely not skin cancer as you are too young” so it was let go for almost a year while I tried various creams to get rid of it.)
You might want to put Ted Lasso on your Apple TV list. I really loved that show.
Deb
Glad you’re getting that thing looked at! Bob Marley was 36 when he died of melanoma, so you are right to be vigilant.
I believe you are the one who got me watching Schitt’s Creek, so you have some creds here. I’ll add Ted Lasso to the list.
Great post. I have been dealing with two arthritic thumbs for at least 15 years (I’m 72). But I wrote a LOT during my work years, plus I spent some years rehabbing an old house, which was a whole other way to harm my thumb joints. You’re right – who knew?!? But about that thumb splint. I bought one for about $80 probably 10 years ago, so about the same price as yours. I LOVE it. Whenever my hands hurt more than usual, I pop it on and sleep with it on, and presto, much improved the next morning. Combined with things like Penetrex (thank you for that recommendation) and CBD lotion, it doesn’t bother me much.
Nina
I forgot about Penetrex! Just ordered a jar. I suppose I’ll spring for the thumb brace. Thanks for the recommendation, and I’m sorry you’re stuck with this, too. Although it sounds like you have it figured out.
I have had two basal cells on my nose removed by Mohs surgery…not fun. I go get checked out every 6 months, even more often if I find something suspicious. I don’t hesitate to go.
Watch Ted Lasso on Apple TV. I think it is my most favorite show ever.
I’ve heard some stories about that Mohs surgery. Definitely not fun. My husband had the blue light chemo on his head. I’m actually pretty lucky in the skin department, but I take no chances.
I watched the first episode of Ted Lasso and will keep going. Looks like this will be quite enjoyable.
Good to hear it turned out to be “nothing” and was easily dealt with. I had a couple of those on my cleavage – both on the “cancer” breast. Turned out to be the same – nothing. But felt far better after having it checked than in the worrying about it before.
You’re about to watch Slow Horses – yay! Gary Oldman is both utterly loathsome and completely magnificent in it. Really enjoyed both series, and have also subsequently read the first two books. And – in a first – have decided to let my book first rule slip in order to fully enjoy the TV series, as it is so good. They’ve been almost entirely faithful to the books so far as well, but as they’re so well written, they’d be mad not to.
I had the first Slow Horses book checked out from the library and didn’t read it. I decided to go with the TV series. It’s next up in the queue. I appreciate your endorsement. Books versus movies are always tricksy.