My Walk In Winter Wonderland Today

The path to somewhere and back again in winter wonderland. Today for the first time in months I decided it was time to start walking. The temperature was 11 degrees, the sun was shining and the sky was bright blue. I was reminded how much I love walking and don't mind the cold weather when dressed properly. I had on my new long underware, 2 pairs of winter socks, heavy boots, flannel lined jeans, fleece shirt and hooded sweatshirt. I was warm the whole time I was outside. The only thing missing was a hat and something to cover my nose and mouth. I am officially a heart patient, the cold air was a killer. On Friday I have to get to the sports store to get a hat and mask.

Here are photos of my walk

The Bunk and BBQ

Two of three Bunk and BBQ watch dogsWho is in there?Miles walkedSteps taken on walk

Debbi
Proud Parent of a U.S. Marine and U.S. Soldier
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

Color Guard, Spring Flowers and Walking

Tonight was our high school Knights Gymnastics Invite and my son JB and fellow cadets did the color guard. JB is on the team and the head coach always wants JB and his NJROTC unit to do the color guard. This is new for the NJROTC unit to do sporting events at our high school. Last year JB asked the athletic director and now it has become a tradition for the NJROTC unit.


The past two days it has been warm in Chicagoland and my flowers are popping out all over. Here are a few from my gardens. This is the first year that I am unable to work in my flower gardens and they are showing the lack of loving. I have not done a spring cleaning, turned the dirt or edged the beds.

Yesterday and today I went to my favorite walking path for the first time this spring. I could not walk the path all winter because the snow on the path was not plowed so I had to walk on other paths. Yesterday I walked around the path twice for a total of three miles. Today I walked around four times for a total of six miles. Before my heart attacks I was walking six miles each day and it took almost three hours and each step was a struggle. I was not having chest pains but I was always out of breath, my legs hurt and each step was just hard to take but I kept at it for eleven months. All winter long and after each angioplasty I started walk taking very easy at first until I was up to three miles. With the warmer weather today I felt like I need to walk more and so I did. I am not having any chest pains but I do feel a heaviness in my chest. I am not sure what this means but it did kill me. When I walk I listen to quilting podcast and music on my Ipod. For me walking is an escape from the troubles of my life and a time to let my mind relax.

Last year I met a man who also walks on the same path as I do. He walks much faster than I do but once in a while he would slow down and we would walk together. We walked and talked a bit and off he would go. We never gave each other any personal information about who we are. We did this until winter and said we would meet up again in the spring. Yesterday I did not see him and today he walked up from behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and said hi. I still do not know his name so I will call him walking man. We walked and talk for an hour today and off walking he went. When I was done I sat on a bench to cool down and today walking man sat with me. We talked for another hour and we still do not know anything about each other. After we went our separate ways I started thinking about who he is. Maybe I should at least ask him his name. What would he think about me calling him walking man? Maybe he calls me walking women.

Tomorrows plans: Walking, Passover Postcards, Lunch with BB and Shopping.

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

Walking and Riding

Yesterday I went for a three mile walk very early in the morning. It was about 50 degrees and felt good to be outside in the Chicagoland weather and not freeze.

These photos are from Busse Woods in Elk Grove, Illinois. This is another great path were I ride my bicycle.

The guy in the kayak stopped paddling in the middle of the lake and started fishing. I watched him as he drifted for a while then I got back on my bike and headed home.

These kids were having fun fishing, not sure if they caught any fish.

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with friends. We all had a great time and it felt good to have the sun shinning on us and the wind in our faces. La Cosa Nostra is what it is all about.

This week I have put my mind to spend time in the studio sewing. I have a few projects I want to finish before I have my next surgery.

I have another doctor's appointment today to talk about the Echo I had of my heart last week and a follow up from my last angioplasty. I can not believe how fast the past four weeks have flown by since I had the angioplasty. I feel great except for the heavy feeling I have in my chest and the problems with my low blood counts. I know I have said this before but being sick sure does suck.

I am trying to live each day to the fullest with family, loved ones and friends.

Hope everyone has a GREAT day and enjoy it.

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

It Is Spring in Chicagoland and Time To Get Outside

I know it is spring in Chicagoland but what is with the snow and cold weather. Early today it was cold, the sky was bright blue, the sun was shining and I went for a walk. I only walked a mile because I wanted to ride my bicycle later in the day. All my life I have been an avid bicycle rider and for the past four years I have not been able to ride because of knee problems. I rode for a few miles and it felt great. I am so happy my butt, my knees and heart are doing fine. I am still having tightness in my chest and it did not get any worse when I walked or rode my bicycle. I did take a three hour nap this afternoon and had to be woken up for dinner.

This photo is from when I was on a bike ride with my family on Chicago's Lake Front.

The date on the photos is 04/25/2004.

This is just three weeks before I was diagnosed with MDS.

I am still reading "Blood Covenant" by Michael Franzese. I have only 20 pages left and will finish it tomorrow. If I have a bad dream again tonight, I will finish the book instead of laying in bed shaking for hours. I still can not remember what the dream was about, but it did have me scared. This book had touched me in many ways and I can see how it can change a persons life.

Most of my day was spent downloading CDs to my computer. When I had to replace my hard drive and external backup drive I lost all of my music. I was very upset today when I was downloading my songs to my iPod when it had a disk error and locked up. I have been trying all evening to unlock it and just about threw it against the wall when it finally unlocked. It just finished downloading 759 songs, 1.9 days and 2.59 GB and I am only half way thru my CD collection. I will have to count my CDs but if I had to guess I would say I have at least 300 CDs.

When I walk I listen to quilting podcast and today it was not any fun walking without Alex Anderson. I have had my iPod for four years and it may need to be replaced. If only I could find the money tree growing in my backyard. Until the money tree does grow I will have to deal with it locking up as long as I can keep unlocking it I am happy.

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

Winter, Walking Trail, Signs and Markers

The sights from Lake Arlington walking trail. I have come to love walking and this is the first time in my life when I make time to walk almost each day. This year I am even making a real effort to walk outside on the coldest days here in Chicagoland. This past month some of the days the temperatures have been in the single digits and low teens with wind chill temperatures below zero.

I am heading to Pike High School in Indianapolis, for a NJROTC Drill Meet. I will be back very late on Saturday so I most likely will not post tomorrow.

Enjoy your weekend!

Get out and walk it is good for your heart!!!

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

Sunday's Walk In Chicagoland

Today I walked around Lake Arlington in Arlington Height, Illinois. The path is 1.75 miles. My goal for this week is one mile. I over did it. When I got to the one mile mark I did a happy dance because I did not have any pain, my walking pace is much faster than in the past and I did not have any chest pains. When I finished the whole 1.75 miles I felt great. Tomorrow I will be doing another path that is only 1.5 miles

Here are photos from todays walking path.

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

Saturday's Walk In Chicagoland

One of the places I walk is Twin Lakes in Palatine, Illinois. This photo is of the island on one of the lakes. The path around the lake is about half a mile. Before getting sick I would walk around the lake 10 times. Now I go around once and it feels so good not to have a heavy heart or chest pains. Today I am going to increase my distance to a mile.

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2008 DubiQuilts

Sunday and Monday

Sunday: Was a very lazy day for me. JB left for NJROTC BLT Book Camp early in the morning and will be home on Saturday. After JB was off, I went back to be and slept until noon. I went back to bed again at four in the afternoon and slept until seven. I went back to bed again at ten and had no troubles falling asleep for the night. I hate when I sleep to much.

Monday: I got up at seven and putter around the house. At ten I took BB to the train and then went for a walk. Today I added another lap around the park and now I am up to four laps or 6.0 miles. Each lap is one and a half miles. It is 10:12 pm and I am going to log my steps for the Women Challenge and todays total is 14514 or 6.86 Miles. I am so happy I walk as much as I did because I did not move very much when I go home.

When I got home I worked in the yard and took a nap. I sat outside tonight and watched the Cubs game. I have a TV in the screen porch by the window and turn it to face the backyard table and chairs. The game is almost over and the Cubs are winning. OH SH** the Rockies just took the lead in the 9th inning. I should not of said the Cubs are winning.

Tomorrow I am going to iron and fuse more fabric so I can take it out side and cut for a new project.

Debbi
dubiquilts@dubiquilts.com (email)
©2006 - 2007 DubiQuilts