I woke up early. I feel great. Rob slept off and on until midmorning and feels as though he might be getting sick. He often gets sick when he doesn’t get enough sleep. Sleep is the best medicine.
Donna’s doctor recommended that we stay away for 24-48 hours. I am eager to see Donna and Nathan and see their new home, but we all agree this is a good idea.
With exposure to all sorts of foreign germs, traveling beside face-masked Chinese tourists, traipsing through wildlife parks, only God knows what types of microbes have piggybacked on us.
So I read some books that I have queued up in my Kindle library, talked with Amy who is with her Grandpa all day today at the hospital, and fixed chicken sandwiches with toasted white bread for lunch. Rob said that it was the best chicken sandwich that he has ever had.
Rob and I have a to-do list of errands so we went to Best Buy (replacing a broken Fitbit wristband), Bed Bath and Beyond (replacing a Bucky/40 winks eyemask) and lastly Cabela’s for a new pair of boots.) Did you know that shoes have an expiration date?
The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends changing your running shoes every six months to one year, as shoes lose shock absorption, cushioning, and stability over time, which could lead to an injury. Even shoes sitting in the back of your closet expire. They just take a bit longer.
Well, we have really put our shoes to the test. And I doubt that they were talking about walking over 10 miles per day.
I had noticed even prior to this trip, that when I get a tired back or feet, it is time for a new pair of everyday shoes.
Here is a list proposed by an Internet “expert”
- Pillow – 2-3 years
- Shoes – 6 months to 1 year
- Spices – 3 years
- Makeup sponges – 3 months
- Towels – 3 years
- Hair brush – 6 months
- Tooth brushes – 6 months
- Bras – 1-2 years
- Power strips – 1-2 years
Rob had a favorite pillow that he used for over 20 years. One of the signs that you may need a new pillow is sneezing a lot especially upon waking. Check and check.
When I was working at the flavor factory, I learned that bump caps and hard hats have an expiration date. Eventually, the plastic wears down and would give you a false sense of security. Who knew?
Now here is the dilemma: how does one do this if you are trying to cut down on throwing things away? Most if not all of these items cannot be reused or recycled. Hmmm. This will require more research.
At Cabela’s I was getting very tired. I sat in a cozy chair next to the fire. On the drive back home, I was very snoozy.
We laid down for a nap at 5:30pm. I went right to sleep and didn’t wake up until 2:00 am. Now what?
I missed out on life: texts from daughters, brother and sister-in-law.
What if Donna was in labor? What if Grandpa was in trouble?
I saw this welcome mat at Bed Bath & Beyond, and it took on a new meaning for me. I thought about getting it for my dad!!! Ha
Hi Brenda and Rob–I am glad to read that you all returned safely to the states, found a cute BNB, & catching up on sleep . Oh the great stories you’ve told, places you’ve seen, people you’ve met, hikes you’ve taken, foods you’ve eaten and learned to prepare, worship experiences. (to be continued, I know) For now: Thinking of you all being together in N.C. for Donna and Nathan’s big event. Thinking of Jeff getting things worked out with his Dad and rehab team and Amy enjoying a chance to “refresh”. Love to all, L&B