Radically Retired

Category: Health

  • “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

    “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

    Every year at this time, McAllen, Texas (our neighbouring city) hosts “The Golden Age Olympics”. It runs over several weeks and includes every event from race walking to jigsaw puzzles (yes, you read that right – it’s a timed event) and winners come away with medals as well as bragging rights.

    Each year, there is a different overall theme, and this year, as you’ve no doubt guessed already, the theme is Mardi Gras.

    My feature photo was shot at the community hall where hubs registered for the poker event.

    The title of my post, translated to English on this banner, is always the theme for New Orleans Mardi Gras – and is so appropriate for the fun and games happening daily at the
    Golden Age Olympic Games

    I had planned to enter the 5K race walk this year, and am ready for it. Unfortunately, it was downsized this year to a 1.6 K (one mile) race. That’s about the distance I walk at my warm up pace.

    I could figure out a way around it, I suppose, but decided not to this year. I’d have to find a warm up spot close to the race path and then work on it. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do that this year.

  • Slick and Easy

    Slick and Easy

    Before Christmas, I asked my FaceBook friends and family if any of them had any experience with the Chef Preserve Vacuum Sealer.

    I was looking to vacuum seal a good lot of Swiss Raclette cheese that would be left from our Christmas Eve meal. The cheese is dear in price, so I sure didn’t want to lose any of it to spoilage. Vacuum sealing was the number one suggestion.

    A nurse friend of mine from at home in Canada was the first to reply with a detailed and thorough positive review. This gal is a great cook and a thrifty homemaker, and an honest, sincere person, so I trusted her opinion. I gave it a few more days and no one else replied with personal experience, but another nurse friend gave the system a very good review via her friend who uses it. She said she planned on buying this for herself. This is another gal whose opinions I trust.

    Although I always check them, I’m never sure of online reviews by folks I don’t know.

    I ordered the sealer, and immediately vacuum sealed and froze the leftover cheese.

    Raclette cheese saved for next time

    I was thrilled with how slick and easy it was to operate. I love that the unit is small and that the bags are reusable.

    ** I’m in no way affiliated with the company, so this review is unsolicited and unpaid**

  • New Year, New Approach

    New Year, New Approach

    There’s something about a new year that drives us to want to make significant improvements in our lives.

    Resolutions for a new year are usually made with the best intentions.

    Unfortunately for me, and almost anyone else I’ve spoken to over the years, these New Year’s Resolutions all too often morph into New Year’s failures, disappointments, self-doubt and self-chastisement.

    I later moved on to setting goals. This was somewhat less discouraging, but still never 100% successful.

    This year, I’m trying yet another approach. This one is about asking intention questions and then working with the answers to set daily affirmations. The affirmations are a guide instead of a hard and fast rule or goal. I like that.

    These are my questions and affirmations for 2026 and beyond:

    1. How do I want to live my life? Affirmations: I’m thankful for my many blessings. I’m happy, I’m healthy, and I’m eager to continually learn new things and develop new skills.
    2. What personal qualities do I want to embrace? Affirmations: I continue to care about my health and that of others around me. I share what I know and learn, in hopes of helping others.
    3. How do I want to experience relationships with others in my world? Affirmations: I make regular contact with friends and family. When necessary, I set healthy boundaries. I experience joy in my interactions with others.
  • Birdseed for Folks

    Birdseed for Folks

    This container of Nut and Seed Brittle weighs in at 0.645 Kg (1.4 lbs) and costs $10.99 CDN ($7.91 USD)

    Besides being a great source of fibre and nutrients, this treat is healthy in another way … the clamshell packaging is almost impossible to break into! I know I could put it in another container, but I decided to reseal it in this one every time.

    The brittle, although quite sweet, is so full of a big variety of seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, flax) and nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios), and coconut, that it’s surprisingly easy to bite into and chew, and one piece always tastes like more.

    Best to leave it locked down like Fort Knox.

  • A Necessary Detour

    A Necessary Detour

    Recently, I’ve been hearing and reading about an exercise trend, called the Japanese Walking Method.

    I decided that it’s more appropriate for me (while I continue with recovery from the accident injuries) vs returning to my previous power walking too soon.

    So, for now anyways, it’s a bit of a detour, but a worthwhile one, according to my research.

    You can read more about this walking method here .

  • Decisions

    Decisions

    This past week, I finally felt recovered enough from my injuries to bead back out to the hiking/biking trails. Until now, I’ve been either just circling the block or doing laps at the indoor track.

    I felt a strong yearning to get back out to the many rewards of nature offered in our trail system here.

    On the first trail, at about the 1K (2/3 of a mile) point and at a fork in the road, I came across this barrier pushed off to the side (feature photo).

    Now what? Do sinkholes get filled in? Do they miraculously resolve? Who pushed the barrier to the side? Should I turn back?

    I decided to forge ahead and was happy I did. There was no sinkhole to be seen on the path I chose at the fork. Whew!

    This was what greeted me:

    Wild roses lining the trail gave off the most heavenly scent
  • Happy Places and Spaces

    Happy Places and Spaces

    This is just a wee glimpse of my home office.

    The centre framed piece is a poem I had published around 40 years ago.

    I have an arm chair and footstool in there that fits me perfectly. It’s a great spot to read, knit, meditate, and crochet.

    The decor is all about memories that fill my bucket. It’s my space.

    Do you have a happy place inside of your home?

  • On Hold

    On Hold

    For the past couple of days, my outdoor walks have been on hold because winds carrying forest fire smoke from hundreds of miles away have created air quality issues here.

    That brownish yellow sky isn’t normal here, thank goodness.

  • Aroma Therapy

    Aroma Therapy

    It’s working!!