My hip problems have not been resolved but I've now talked with my son-in-law who has me in mind and I can consult him if need be. But I am back at the crosswalk (but can't walk there myself) so I'm not completely immobile. I'm also back at the pool water walking, and all in all, I'm not particularly worried, just frustrated.
The summer was so dang hot and humid!!! I really do not handle Japanese summers well, but in a few months you'll hear me saying how I don't handle Japanese winters well either so I must not adjust to different temperatures very well...
Corona hit Japan hard during the summer and my two English classes have been postponed again for the month of September. Everyone still wears masks outside of their homes here in Japan and we have been vaccinated four times. Still, the cases are rising and I have a few friends who have had mild cases. Tetsu and I are hoping we can hold out.
Artwork gets done on a fairly regular basis though I slacked off a bit this week...
I tried crayon drawing following a Youtube Shibasaki Grandpa tutorial.
A Sandy Allnock watercolor pens lesson which inspired me to grab my own photo of a lighthouse we saw in Michigan a few years ago.
My normal "style" is more of a colored doodle than anything else...
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As for family updates... 
Leiya and Luka actually went off to Texas for two weeks and so I didn't get many photos from her this month.
Luka was taking swimming lessons before they went to Texas so that has been a big step and he seems to love the water. I wonder when Luka will ever get to Japan to go swimming with Grandpa Tetsu and me in our local pool...
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Something equally good and frustrating is that Tetsu and I bought new iPhones with larger capacity and that solves some of the problems we'd been having with our phones... That's great! But these poor, old brains do not comprehend technology and backing up, setting up, renewing passwords, logging in etc. and all of these steps are barely within our abilities. We feel so old and baffled and the three days of headaches to get our phones and everything we've used them for working again has exhausted us.
"Dinner? I don't have the energy to cook. Let's go out."
"I've got to get away from all these devices!!!"
So that was the month of August...
Hi Tanya, I always enjoy your updates. Your artwork is beautiful and I love the pictures of your children and grand children. I agree it was time for August to end and September to bring cooler weather. In fact, I'll be glad to put 2022 behind us. It has not been a kind year here. We have high hopes for 2023. Love and hugs from Ohio!
ReplyDeleteI love your sketching style and how the final product looks. While I know improvement is always a goal, I just can't see what you think is lacking.
ReplyDeleteI so wish Covid could just burn itself out...the seasons will change but this disease just hangs on. Yesterday's news was about a new vaccine that should better protect against the Omicron variant.
I hope your hip pain is resolved soon. Do you have access to a chiropractor? I have found such sessions helpful although I seem to slip out of alignment over time.
love the family photos...... and you drawing is great..... wonder if you could make note cards and sell them????
ReplyDeleteIt has indeed been a hot summer. If you already are suffering from pain, the heat and humidity are even more tiring.
ReplyDeleteHave you had a proper examination at the hospital? You need to get help for that hip pain!
Luka is such a charming boy, I hope he will soon come to visit his grandparents in Nikko.
Yes, why don't you make Christmas cards of your artwork?
Wishing you the best.
Queenie
Love your drawings and watercolors! You definitely have a beautiful style. Luka is so cute and I hope he gets to come to Japan soon.
ReplyDeleteFinally feels like fall here! 72 yesterday morning and 55 this morning! Literally happened overnight!
Maybe you need to have an MRI so that the doctor can see what is going on with your hip. I have some arthritis in my hip joints with some pain but nothing like what you are having. I think Covid is around to stay and may become like the flu. Our world has changed so much from Covid. Love the photos and Luka is adorable. You can see in the photos that he is a charmer. Your doodles look like art work to me.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read your hip issue is ongoing, I hope you can find out the root cause for the pain very soon. No fun being in pain. I think I overdid with sewing/baking/building etc as my right hand now has 3 fingers which are numb and tingling - as if I'd sat on them and they are 'waking' up, you know that feeling? Of course, I knew something was wrong so off to the doctor I went. He says I have an entrapment of the ulnar nerve - sounds like a thing from Star Trek! So now my right wrist and part of the arm are in a brace 24/7 until the nerve calms down. Dr says if rest doesn't fix it then surgery will be required. I did not want to hear that as the recovery time is months! I cannot imagine not being able to sew for months on end. I will send healing thoughts out into the universe for both of us Tanya. Condolences on the loss of your friend, I do remember the earthquake incident very well. Take care, hugs from NC - KittyAnn
ReplyDeleteHuzzah! September! You're finally here!
ReplyDeleteTanya, I have experienced some amazing hip pain for ~ five months (last spring??). I decided that I had become too sedentary (thanks, Covid), and I think I mentioned to you that I Googled, then learned to do lots of hip-strengthening exercises, including swimming. (I even do balancing exercises while I wait in lines.) Well, here it is, September, and I finally am fairly pain-free. What is interesting is that as I go about the town, I see men & women walking "funny", and I think to myself, "I know what that's about!", and I am very empathetic now. This pain-free time may not last, but I would certainly see if exercises will alleviate some of your pain. And it was not an overnight miracle, to be sure. Good luck!
I found that Callanetics have helped with my back and hips. And any time I have to replace phone or computer I reckon on a week of acclimatization!
ReplyDeleteI love your artwork. You are so talented. I don't enjoy the heat of summer either. Yay for September!
ReplyDeleteI always love your posts, and the family pictures that come with them. I have been allowed to go back to school this month... a big change from two and a half years sitting on my sofa. Lots of standing and walking and squatting and bending over. Back and hips not overly happy, but hoping to build up more strength as the school year moves on. It will be a lot nicer when I don't have to walk up the long hill in summer heat and humidity.
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