Even good for 20-something

I got up this morning early enough that I even had time to get out the rake and start to pull some of the remaining dirt (that had come from the trench we dug last autumn for the internet cable to the house) back into the trench (it had frozen into place before they actually laid the cable into the trench, so we used some of the dirt from the pile by the road to fill the trench, but, of course, now that the ground has thawed, the fill has compacted, and it is in need of more). I managed about 15 minutes of that before David arrived to take me into Porsön on his way to work, and from there I caught a bus to town for my appointment. It turns out that this is one of those doctor’s offices where one doesn’t need to check in at arrival, so I had time to do a bit of nålbindning until it was my turn. The exam consisted of my filling in a health questionnaire (to which I felt compelled to add one more question—in the section on sleep, I reported no problems at all going to sleep, nor with waking up at a bad time and lying there not able to sleep. However, they failed to ask about “how often do you fail to go to bed at a reasonable hour because there are too many interesting things to do?” (Often. Pretty darn often.) Then she pricked my finger and took a blood test, and while the computer analysed that she took my blood pressure, which she said was good. Then I got to do a condition test, where I sit on an exercise bike and pedal for four minutes at an easy (too easy, actually, it was hard to keep to the target of 60, I kept going over, and then, of course, when I tried slowing down again it would drop under) pace for four minutes, followed by another four at a much harder level of resistance (hard enough to actually change my heart rate and breathing rate). Before I started she had strapped a monitor around my ribs, and put another on my wrist.

When I was done she explained that the numbers that the monitors report mean different things depending on one’s age and gender. According to her chart my numbers put me in the “really excellent condition” category. I couldn’t resit asking what categories the same numbers would put me in if I were younger. Had I gotten this score while still in my 40’s, that would have dropped me down one notch into the “really good condition” category, but these numbers for a 20-something would be one notch lower yet into the “good” condition category. I can live with these scores. :-) She also said that the blood tests came out at the best possible level for everything except for cholesterol, for which my numbers are at the bottom end of good. She went on to say that she wouldn’t worry about that—that there are two types of cholesterol, “good”, and “bad”, and that in general women tend to have higher levels of the good cholesterol, and if she were to do further tests on me that is likely what she would find.

In addition to the various tests we had a fair bit of pleasant conversation (all in Swedish!), so that by the time I was done it was nearly 10:00. I have been avoiding going into town to get stuff, because, town, for weeks now. So I decided to stay a bit longer and run my errands. While walking towards my first stop I called David to report on the exam and ask if he could remember any other errands I should do while in town. He couldn’t think of any, but was still in my ear when I got to the shop, which wasn’t open yet. There was, however, a little old lady standing outside the door, under the cover of the porch (it was raining, gently), and as soon as I walked into range she begun talking to me (in Swedish, of course) She clearly needed someone to complain to, and I would do. David was quite amused to listen to her go on. When she got to the part in her rant about church, how people aren’t going often enough these days, and asked me if I go to church regularly (nej), she then replied “that one should go regularly”. I couldn’t resist asking her varför det?, which got her to stop and look confused for a moment, before deciding to ignore the question and resume talking to me like I had said nothing out of the ordinary.

Luckily the shop then opened, and I could buy my couple of packets of nutritional yeast (after asking where they are this time—the down side of buying two packs at a time is that by the next time I need to head to town to get more they have re-arranged everything and it is in a totally new place). Then I went on to the camping store and got some new Marino wool tights, my last pair having worn through the knees (which now makes three pair with no fabric left on the knees). I choose a pair of men’s extra large, because that was only ones that felt long enough—the ankles of the woman’s large and extra large both miss the bottom of the ankles. I will need to take them in at the waist, of course, but I always have to do that with the wool tights.

Since I couldn’t remember any more errands I took the bus back to uni, arriving there with just enough time to eat a little before meeting Johan for acroyoga at 11:00. After that I finally got to start my work day, and worked till the car place called to say the car was ready (well, other than a short nap on the camping mat on my office floor, because I needed it). So I wrapped up what I was doing and did the 20 minute walk over to pick up the car. At that point I could have returned to uni for Phire practice, but it was much too tempting to just take the car home, so I did, and enjoyed an hour relaxing before deciding that I would return to uni for choir. But it wasn’t quite time to leave, so that meant that I had time to unpack my lunch box, wash the dishes (which I had, of course, rinsed at work), and tidy up a bit before heading back. As it turned out Phire was still there when I arrived, so I got a few hugs, and did a tiny bit of handstand practice. Julia, who has finally finished the sign language class that conflicted with choir, was able to stay, so it was her first week to attend, and my first week back since before the trip to Ireland. We both enjoyed it, and afterwards I gave her a ride home, since the next bus would have been quite a while.

Tomorrow I have a technician coming to do routine laser maintenance, so I had best do my yoga and get to bed…