Getting Out…

…of the bed, the bedroom, the house, my head. All apply.

I wrote in my previous post that depression had hold on me again. And, if I’m being honest, it was totally preventable.

Due to some issues with my provider’s new portal (they couldn’t provide me with the forms needed to continue my tele-health visits), I got frustrated and stopped trying. I was doing well and didn’t feel I needed the regular check-ins. Of course, that meant no medication refills. But hey! I’m doing good, staying active and engaged. My body had built up a tolerance to the medications so they probably aren’t doing anything for me anyway. Right?

Duh-duh-duuummm!!! Hear that “to your doom” sequence of notes we’re all so familiar with? … Yeah. Just so.

Needless to say, I’ve been back into my full treatment, including the medications, since August. We’re working out the dosages and just began titration of the latest addition—an addition because, of course, my depression is resistant to standard treatments. ☹

I’m definitely starting to feel and see the difference now!

This past week I’ve been on the move. Had lunch with my friend, Kathy—AND signed up at Planet Fitness. (That was a step!) Got my truck into and out of the shop and repaired. Met Kathy again on Saturday¹ and went to Ft. Parker State Park for a hike in honor of national Take a Hike Day. Caught up all my statement reconciliations. Requested an appointment with a Realtor. Requested an appointment with a financial advisor. Researched and developed strength and conditioning programs for myself and Kathy. (Planet Fitness, remember? More on that in another post perhaps.) Washed clothes, washed dishes, sorted and repacked camping gear for return to storage. You know…life stuff!

This all sort of started at the end of October. My friend, Noemi, got me out to Garner State Park and Lost Maples State Natural Area for a long weekend. We’d had it on the calendar since July. I soooo wanted to cancel, but I knew it would be good for me and I didn’t want to disappoint Noemi. It was a challenge. Noemi commented many times on how quiet I was. Yet, I enjoyed it in spite of myself.

She and I always end up setting one another off with a laughing fit several times a day. I can’t help having fun. Then, I was shocked (and delighted) at how “in to” a challenging hike up Old Baldy Trail, I got. I was totally “in the moment,” which is one of the things my therapist and I are working on.

My friend, Gisela (aka Gigi) wasn’t able to join us, but still wanted to make a camping trip during November. That and an attempt to “Just Do It” in order to keep getting myself out of the house, I decided to book two or three weeknights every week throughout November. Then I shared the calendar with most of my will-camp (or might-camp-in-a-shelter 😜) friends and left an open invitation to join me on any of my planned trips. With company or not, I fully intended to visit each park solo, if necessary. I was determined to get back to my active lifestyle and get some trail hiking/running in during the cooler November weather.

The first trip was to nearby Ft. Parker SP, about 30 minutes away. I had a screened shelter and my setup was nice and comfortable. Although, I thought to bring a small fan, I didn’t think to bring a small space heater. That first night it was cold! Mid-40s. Thankfully, I’d taken my down sleeping bag, and other than a cold nose, I was pretty comfortable.

The first trip was to nearby Ft. Parker SP, about 30 minutes away. I had a screened shelter and my setup was nice and comfortable. Although, I thought to bring a small fan, I didn’t think to bring a small space heater. That first night it was cold! Mid-40s. Thankfully, I’d taken my down sleeping bag, and other than a cold nose, I was pretty comfortable.

The only hiking I did was the 1.3 miles Kathy and I got in on the River Bluff Trail after meeting in Mexia for lunch. Otherwise, most of my time I was on the cot, with my phone in my hand, doing exactly what I’d been doing at home—playing with phone apps or sleeping. Although, I did get further inspired and took time to book a 9-day trip down to three parks within an hour drive of Houston. My main target was Galveston Island SP. I’ve been wanting to go back to Galveston in December again. I found it very enjoyable off season in the area. Too, I’ve got family living in Friendswood and Pearland that are due for a visit.

My fourth and last day at the park, I was packing up and went to move my truck so it would be closer to load. It wouldn’t crank.

It does this randomly. My brother-in-law had already replaced the clutch switch. That did the trick for a month or so. Then at Garner SP it failed to crank twice. The first time it cranked after about 5 tries. The second time, it refused to crank. However, I was on an incline so was able to roll it and pop the clutch to crank it. Finished out another day and several local trips without any further issues.

At Ft. Parker SP, I tried to push start it. Yes, pushing it by myself. LOL I managed to roll it out into the road, but couldn’t get it going fast enough. When I popped the clutch it would stop dead.

Talk about a workout. I pushed it three times and my pulse was pounding in my temples. Heart rate through the roof! I haven’t worked that hard in a l-o-n-g time.

I had to get the BnL to come help me (I was only 20 min. or so away.) As usual, he had the magic touch and it started for him after only a few attempts. I didn’t have to push it again.

This time he decided it was actually the starter failing. Confirmed when I took it to the dealership for repair under the extended warranty I’d purchased on the 7yo truck.

That’s when plans had to change. My deductible was $200, which wouldn’t fit into my available funds with all the camping trips I’d booked. <sigh> So I canceled $260 of camping reservations—the additional $60 was what I had to pay in cancellation fees. I don’t get too upset about the cancellation costs. I just consider it donations to the parks.

I was able to keep my reservation at Galveston SP, at least. I’ll have more money and availability after the first of the year.

1. The actual date for Take a Hike Day was on Sunday, Nov 17, but the forecast said rain. Here’s a link to an NPS video. ↩︎