Tuesday Ramble

Movement is a medicine for creating
change in a person's physical,
emotional, and mental states.

Carol Welch

Good morning, everyone.  Hope those of you who had the day off yesterday had a good one.  I went out looking for a new purse yesterday.  I use a cane to walk outdoors and hate carrying a purse in my hands leaving no hands free. And the handles on the purse I just bought are too short to wear over a heavy winter coat.  They keep sliding down my arm, and that is downright annoying.  I prefer having a cross-body bag.  So much easier to maneuver.  Problem is, I need something large enough to carry my art supplies twice a week.

I left the house too early, though, and came back empty-handed.  But, all was not lost.  I walked from 60th Street to 53rd and back again.  That's 14 blocks.  And I wasn't out of breath at all.  The pain, too, was a lot less than it once was.  A few short months ago I would have been stopping every other block to lean against a pole to catch my breath and alleviate the pain.  I am so amazed at my progress, and all it took was losing a few pounds.  Imagine how good I am going to feel when I lose the last 50. 

They are calling for some snow here tomorrow.  Hope not.  Have to go back for another field test.  They need a second test to confirm the diagnosis of glaucoma.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I pass this one.  

I've been reading "The Books of Rachel", the second of the Rachel books by Joel Goss.  Actually, this was the first written, but the other took place during earlier time periods so I chose to read that one first.  This is just as good as that one.  I just can't put these books down and plan on re-reading both in the future.

 From the book description:

"The Books of Rachel is a fictional microcosm of 500 years of Jewish history. Since the 15th century, in the Cuheno family, the first daughter born to the family is given the name Rachel and a heritage of faith and courage as precious as the family diamond. A saga sweeping from the Spanish Inquisition to the birth of a Jewish homeland."

Part One was my favorite. It  takes place in Spain during 1484,  Rachel Cuheno lives with her nobel family under the protection of the royal court of King Ferdinand,  She  dies during the reign of tortures of the Jewish people and others during the Spanish Inquisition.  This one really played havoc on my emotions, and I found myself so angry about the cruelty of torturous acts done in the name of religion.

My skin is so darn dry this year that I find myself scratching until I bleed.  Even my hands now.  I've tried everything, but nothing has worked.  My skin has always been dry in the winter, but never like this.  Any suggestions? 

Well, that's about it.  I'm off to the shower and breakfast.