I was looking through some old videos of Puerto Rico and found this one of the Pulguero or Flea Market in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico when we were there in 2009 (you can read about this trip here if you missed it). It is one of the larger weekend markets with quite the exotic and eclectic assortment of items. We can’t wait to go back to Puerto Rico; it has been too long!
Well today I was given a challenge (not unlike most days).
Objective: Go to the bank.
Challenge: It is 16F degrees.
Challenge: No driving.
I knew it was cold, but just wasn’t sure how cold it was until I started riding. I put on all my snowboarding gear (gloves and helmet) and when I did this in the house, I thought…”Oh this is silly”. When I got out on the bike, I thought “I am SO glad I put this stuff on”.
Spaceman?
I figured it was only about 3 miles there. I do that easily in the summer all the time, no problem.
Holy cow! My lungs hurt so bad by the first 1/2 mile or so I thought I was going to die. I figured this may have been because I was out of shape, but…no…It has to be the cold air. I ride miles upon miles in the summer and don’t ever have that much trouble…ever. I made it to my destination and back, but it was pretty intense. At one point I had the thought that my lungs were totally screwed and “if I died at least I have my wallet so they would know who I am”.
Maybe I over-reacted a bit, but it hurt…lol. I am back home now and feel pretty good to have gotten some exercise. I also have a new respect for the ability to drive a car and how easy it makes everything. Without a the use of a car in society you are truly hindered. I can still get stuff done, it just takes about 100 times more effort!
Also I had the thought. It will NEVER EVER EVER be this cold in Rincon.
Update: I had some other errands to do this afternoon. It was 40 degrees out and I figured I’d give it another shot. I went 9.5 miles, no problems. I’d say conclusively that my lungs did not like the cold..lol.
Due to my recent medical emergency, I have been directed by my doctor to take off two months (FMLA) from work in order to rest, recover and do tests and treatments. I am also supposed to avoid driving, if possible. I have just started my second week and while I have gotten a lot better with more sleep and less stress, I still feel compelled to do something, anything! with my day besides watch daytime TV. So I have become a house-husband.
I have always been the tidier of the two of us and I don’t mind doing the dishes, mopping the floors, and cleaning the counters as well as taking on the “traditional” male activities of mowing the lawn and fixing stuff around the house. Yes, I know, Cassie is very lucky to have such a helpful husband! 🙂
So even though so far it’s only been a short time off, I have been able to get into some “deep cleaning” projects that we were planning on hiring a cleaning company to do when it came time to move to Puerto Rico. Things like cleaning behind the stove and the fridge. Washing the curtains. Cleaning out the cabinets. Washing the outside and inside of the windows. Some of these were LONG past due. I have also started to sort through more of our stuff and look at what should be sold, given away or trashed.
Nastiness Hidden Behind the Wall
Nastiness Gone
Even got new drip pans
I have begun to have a routine where I read a Spanish-language instruction booklet in the morning, take a walk and start on a cleaning project or two. Cassie meets me for lunch at home when she can. If I need something Cassie can drive me there or I can walk or ride my bike to the store that is about 2 miles away. It has been refreshingly simpler with more time to think and rest and no rush except for tasks that I choose for myself.
My new friend Perico
We are normally DINKs (Dual Income No Kids) and so our first priority is on work and second on our after work goals like our rentals and third on everything else, including housework and health. So this has been a nice shift to reshuffle priorities a little and get healthy, ready for Puerto Rico and back up to speed.
Moving out furniture. The living room was packed!
It has also been a good experiment for what it will be like when we live in Puerto Rico. We will be in charge of the activities of our day, which is both exciting and intimidating. Overall, I think it has taught us that we are just naturally “productive” and will feel compelled to do something with some sort of tangible result/improvement for our having been there. While lying on the beach is great, we crave that feeling of accomplishment and achievement. So, no matter what our “titles” or spheres of influence, this break has shown me that we are sure to stay busy.
We have had Schnoodle for a long time, since we bought our house ~10years ago. Schnoodle moved with Cassie from Nunn at my request. She was such a cool dog and we had a good link from the first time we met. In fact she wouldn’t ever let me stop petting her and always wanted more attention. I knew she would be a good dog, and she always was.
She made friends wherever she went, and with whomever had food..lol.
Schnoodle and her friend Nikki at Christmas time
She always just fit in with us. She could camouflage herself like a pile of black clothes when needed and didn’t hardly ever complain about anything. She was happy to be with us and was easily trainable by those with hot dogs.
Schnoodle in the Snow
We always tried to treat her like one of the family. When she was younger we would take her with us everywhere. To the store, to friends houses and she would even dress up for Halloween! We thought (and still think) she was the coolest dog ever.
Schnoodle and Cassie as Rabbits
She was already pretty old when she moved in with us and she lived a long life. We think she was born sometime around 1997. Cassie’s family got her as a pound puppy so some of her history is unknown. It’s possible that she was saved from certain doom by Charlotte and the Davis family. Justin wanted a chiwawa but got a Schnoodle instead, which I am extremely grateful about!
Over the years she started to slip further and further from us. She used to sleep with us on the bed at our feet. Then she started to not be able to jump up on the bed. So she started to sleep on a pillow on the floor. She liked that quite a bit as she was always looking for the softest places to sleep. Eventually she moved out to the living room and slept on an old leather couch we had. Then when she lost her eyesight and hearing she was sleeping in the kitchen right next to her food and water. It was in these later years that she passed away after wanting to be let outside just as she had normally done. I didn’t think there was anything unusual but went out to check on her and found that she had passed away peacefully.
Schnoodle’s Grave Marker
I learned a lot from Schnoodle about living and old age. Even in her old age without being able to see or hear, she seemed pretty content to still be hanging out enjoying her routine of food, sleep and going outside. I also am reminded that life, no matter how long, is too short.
She will be missed and unfortunately for other dogs will be always used as a comparison to all dogs. I am sure we will always say things like, “Well Schnoodle wouldn’t have ever done that, she was patient”. You will be missed Schnood and I hope you are just continuing on your journey.
Update On Me: I have my memory back and am just in a stage where I am going to try to figure out what is wrong and how to best treat it. I have some time off work so that we can focus on it which is nice. This is a big event for Cassie and I and I appreciate hearing from my friends and family. It is a reminder that I’ve had a really good life and I don’t see that changing. Just another step, another lesson and another thing to experience on my own journey.