I like these compression socks! I don’t know if they’ll help with the cramping (internet says don’t bother with them at night, they don’t help when your legs are horizontal) but they do feel good during the day, no aching at all, whereas I do remember occasional daytime aching before using them (should probably experiment to double-check that). At $30 a pair I can’t change them daily, but I’ll try one pair for seven days, if that gets too stinky then two would be OK, possibly three if I continue to like the effects a lot. Getting them on can be a challenge, but not if you use the recommended procedure, that went pretty smoothly. Will wear them today with boots when I go to the doctor, but most of the time it’ll be with the Crocs or nothing at all, should help limit stink buildup.
Today’s tasks: doctor visit, clean up office, organize camping gear. Don’t think I need to add them to Things, but maybe that’s a mistake.
I have the Persuasion newsletter in my feed. Really well-written stuff, three or four times per week, including transcripts of weekly podcast interviews. But I won’t sign up as a paid member because their overall mission (championing old fashioned liberalism) doesn’t interest me, partly because it’s politics and partly because what they champion only strips back one layer, taking us back to a time which had its own deep problems (which admittedly the new layer does nothing to improve and much to worsen). Still, I’ll keep them in the feed and skip half or more of the stuff, the rest is good.
Right now they’re on break and running some greatest hits. This morning there was a good long essay on the current epidemic of estrangement, with links to a couple of other articles on the topic which I saved to my inbox, thankful that Readwise Reader seemingly can bypass paywalls often. I wonder if MAS thinks of himself as estranged. He left ten years ago, communicated only with his mom for a few years and tersely even there, then for many years nothing at all even though D emailed every birthday and Christmas. It caused D grief, she often wondered what we had done to cause it. I told her I’d gone over his entire upbringing in my mind, couldn’t think of anything obvious. Don’t know if that comforted her at all, but I don’t think she knew of anything herself. I last saw him in person in El Paso in 2014, when he stopped by to visit my dad. One day we went to Carlsbad Caverns, a long drive there and back, and we chatted comfortably the whole time. I haven’t communicated with him since, and haven’t tried to contact him. Whether or not he thinks of himself as estranged, I don’t know. I’d be curious to know. But I’m not doing anything to find out. If he does, I think the reasons are almost totally in his imagination — but imagination is a powerful thing. Anyway, it’s his choice and I’m fine with that. And I’m fine with it if he changes his mind and wants to un-estrange, there would be no hard feelings on my part. I think some of the kids would have a hard time forgiving him for not getting in touch when his mom was dying. I hope they can find their way there.
This morning I had a well-check appointment with Sara Reno. The reason was solely to stay on the books at the UK clinic, after three years not seeing you they delete your account and you have to start again with a new patient appointment. No screening, no bloodwork, just vitals and a little probing — ears, breathing, poking at my abdomen. And a nice chat. She’s good, and pleasant, and perfectly OK with me not wanting to be screened.
It’s E’s 22nd birthday today. She started a video call with M just before I left for the clinic, was still on when I got back. Gave her the Gooloo car jumper for her birthday (actually, ordered one which will be here tomorrow, but I loaned her min for today). M and J close on their house next week. Unfortunately they didn’t notice that the seller struck out the “swept clean” requirement, so I’m guessing they’ll have to clear out the junk themselves. Oh well. Overall a pretty exciting development for her, a whole new life phase to follow her long stint at the farm.
Fired up the weedeater, tended to the front perimeter and some of the back. Tripped on a gopher hole and fell, no damage, but one more reminder that I should really give up yardwork. Decided to use those 30 minutes as a substitute for rowing. Still wearing the compression socks, still comfy, no leg achiness, nice and warm but not overly so.