Goodbye, 2021!
Goodbye, 2021! Don't let the door hit you on the way out!
Health
This has been a year of health challenges, but luckily it's ending on a good note.
Health
This has been a year of health challenges, but luckily it's ending on a good note.
- I started off January having a big atrial fibrillation attack, and I got put on even stronger meds to try to keep my heart in rhythm. I was taking nearly a dozen pills a day, and my heart was still going to crazy highs and lows.
- In February, my heart procedure was rescheduled again due to Covid.
- In March, I managed to have my heart procedure, which lasted over five hours and meant spending the night in the ICU. (Spoiler alert: it worked! But the recovery was much harder than I had expected.)
- In April, I got diagnosed with sleep apnea, a surprise since my husband says I don't snore.
- In May, I cracked a tooth and had to have a temporary crown put on.
- In June, I went off all my cardiac meds - and nothing happened!
- In July, I got a permanent crown.
- In August, I got what's called an oral appliance. It's like a mouthguard that stops sleep apnea.
- In September, my husband and I came down with breakthrough Covid. Even after getting Regeneron monoclonal antibodies, it took me out of commission for a couple of weeks. I still can't smell certain smells - like food that's burning - but at least they are all unpleasant smells.
Friends
In 2021, I also lost two good friends, one to cancer and the other to suicide. (National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255)
In 2021, I also lost two good friends, one to cancer and the other to suicide. (National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255)
Books
In 2021, I had two books come out and started work on two more. I also got to do some in-person school visits and lots of virtual ones.
In 2021, I had two books come out and started work on two more. I also got to do some in-person school visits and lots of virtual ones.
Working out
I got an Oculus - a virtual reality headset - last Christmas and it saved my sanity. Seriously. In Oregon we were locked down for months, and I missed Brazilian jiu jitsu so much. My favorite workouts are Thrill of the Fight (very realistic boxing) and Supernatural (swinging bats, boxing, etc.) in hyper-realistic, 360-degree photos of beautiful scenes from around the world.
I did go back to BJJ (including teaching) in late May (although I had to take off about a month due to Covid). (We roll fully masked, and I know I rolled when I was probably contagious, but there have been ZERO gym related transmissions.) And on December 23, one of the best things of the year happened: I got a stripe on my blue belt!
I got an Oculus - a virtual reality headset - last Christmas and it saved my sanity. Seriously. In Oregon we were locked down for months, and I missed Brazilian jiu jitsu so much. My favorite workouts are Thrill of the Fight (very realistic boxing) and Supernatural (swinging bats, boxing, etc.) in hyper-realistic, 360-degree photos of beautiful scenes from around the world.
I did go back to BJJ (including teaching) in late May (although I had to take off about a month due to Covid). (We roll fully masked, and I know I rolled when I was probably contagious, but there have been ZERO gym related transmissions.) And on December 23, one of the best things of the year happened: I got a stripe on my blue belt!
