Places 3

Super fun time in Maboneng, Johannesburg.

Voted one of the hippest neighbourhoods in the world.

Can understand why and would wholeheartedly agree!

Trendy, artsy places, international influences.

Would fly here for a long weekend dose of fun, no hesitation.

There is a caveat.
This artsy community is a manufactured bubble,
with obvious poverty around its 24 hr secured streets.
And warnings not to go beyond.

I did anyways, to the surprise of people sitting outside
and working inside of the variety store,  pharmacy and supermarket.

I happily supported their businesses and calmly walked back
over to "the other side" with their small opaque
black plastic shopping bags, presumably to hide its contents.

Noticed people would look at the bag and then look at me
knowing where I must have been to have one of those.

I got tired of just looking at the real local life scene outside my studio loft window.

As well as standing at a street corner looking at the next block,
wondering what the difference was in that 50 meters, that made it so "unsafe". 

Places 2

Jakarta was an eye opener.  Some parts were glossy and shiny

while a couple of streets in, you'd think you were in Yangon.

I was a bit grossed out by the lower levels of hygiene
but still ate local, just watched myself more than usual.

I wanted to explore the capital, whereas it is mostly
treated as a the gateway to the beaches.

Glad I did as I got to interact with many kind people.

And surprisingly had some of the best peach ice tea ever,

as I had to duck into a cafe for some reprieve from the heat.

(fyi, another place with unexpected great peach ice tea was in Manila)

Places 1

Shanghai wasn't the most friendly place I've been to but the architecture, 

especially along the Bund was gorgeous and so well preserved.  

You'd think you were in Europe.  

Vast waterfront with many places to sit.  

Perfect scale.

----------------------------------

Continued onto Ho Chi Minh after and the contrast was striking.
Found it to be really dirty.  Didn't want to wear sandals even.
The area I was in probably wasn't the best choice
but was convenient for the airport bus.
The modern part of the city would be my pick
should there be a next time.

Results

I did inherit a non functioning gene from one parent that hinders my body's ability to rid itself of excess cholesterol in the bloodstream.  Results in approximately double the length of time the excess gets to hang out in my system, resulting in a chronic inflammatory reaction.

Add to it a bunch of inherited polygenes from both parents, places the calculation of my risk of a sudden vascular emergency at the 75th percentile by age 60, regardless of how healthy my habits may currently be.

As a consequence of those findings, was strongly recommended to be on a "low" dose statin.  Have been taking it for over 3 months now.  Hate being on a prescription drug.  Hate it.  But understand why he would be insistent on it, despite having great results on a myriad of other tests.

Was expecting to start seeing changes at 3 months.  Recent blood test results were surprisingly excellent. Already bettered the target 6 month goal.

So I suggested a lowered dose experiment for the next 3 months and my specialist agreed.  If successful, I'm sure he knows what will come out of my mouth -- A trial on the lowest dose possible.

Am also tracking an inflammatory protein change as well.  And that number dropping has resulted in a noticeable decrease and elimination of the "stressy buzzy" baseline feeling I had been experiencing for many years actually.  Something I had blamed on a number of other factors.  Super happy about this aspect.

Time

This year has been flying and despite having taken quite a bit of time off, the sky hasn't fallen like I had feared for so many years.  The old "why did I wait so long" thing.

Although I would by lying if I didn't admit to the thought that I am slowly committing career suicide.  But the worry of that isn't strong enough to make me change my current ways.

Basically, this is all I have left to contribute right now if I wish to really take care of things inside.

D is doing so well at his no longer new-to-him position, he accepted the offer to go full time again.  Can you believe it?! 

He loves it and it has proven to him that that mythical 37 hrs a week position where people aren't trying to kill each other all the time, does truly exist.  It is quite the comfy bubble his company exists in. 

It is providing both of us the needed time and space to recover from all the years of stress that had built up from this aspect of his life.  We're not quite there yet, but it is evolving.

Year End

Can't say I am upset that this year has come to its end.  Am ready for a new beginning even thought it is really just a continuation.  Thankful for all the plans I put in place as it provided the necessary interruption and break from everyday life.

Next year's broad stroke themes are in place.  Have a ways to go still but feeling like I'm slowly getting caught up, with myself and with life.  Thankful to be at a point in time where I am towards the end of my career and can afford to slow down.

The breakthrough being no longer feeling guilty about it.  Will be taking almost the entire month of February off, something I've been wanting to do for decades.

Will continue to be patient and gentle with myself.  With no real ambitious or difficult plans (still lots of travel) until the thought of them doesn't immediately exhaust.

Wishing Peace and Ease to everyone.

A City worker clearing raw sewage from a stream in central Jakarta

A city that has (mal?)adapted to its main clientele...Chiang Mai, Thailand

Reflection at Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto Japan

Close

This time of year has me dialed up, wanting to have loose ends tied up neatly so I can calmly enjoy the darkening days.  Am very tuned into the loss of light this year and want very much to slow down and do even less.

I'm pretty close to completing all the items that have come to mind, especially all the anticipated bills or "to be purchased" items.  Am not talking about Christmas here.  Just things due early 2019 etc that I don't want to thinking about over the holidays.

Even tried to buy my licence plate sticker in advance while I was getting a new picture taken for my licence but got shut down as I'll need a drive clean test for the car.  Was hoping the program was ending at the end of this year instead of next spring.

No surprise with how stressed and crappy I felt over the summer that my cholesterol levels were found to have risen.  They have since fallen back down to their slightly high levels again.

Had my appointment with the lipids genetics Dr and it turned out we were doing research studies in the same place back in my university days.  A lot of blood was taken and results will be shared in the new year.

Based on what he knows about me, I'm not considered high enough risk to talk about medication.  That may change as I get older or if we find out something genetic that could indicate future risk.

Because I've been privy to so much news about people developing illness, dying, dealing with a lot of serious health struggles, my emotions are embarrassingly right up at the surface these days. 

As for any disaster relief work (have gotten notified of 5 opportunities so far), have conceded that I am not in any shape for that.  Too easily overwhelmed right now.

Only have a handful of work days left until the end of the year.  I've renewed everything licence related to work as I don't want the pressure to make a decision about retirement by a certain deadline like I placed on myself this summer.  That was a really bad way to go about it for someone like me.


Will end with some pictures from Kuala Lumpur.  Had a surprisingly relaxed and lovely time there.

Light

July was a dark month for me.  Hadn't had one that emotionally bad for decades.  Hope to not have to repeat it any time soon.  Wanted to step away from it all.  Magically the curtain lifted at the end of that month and it has taken since then for me to feel like me again.

Took time off, cut back on work, spoke to colleagues about filling in, got some push back from work, went ahead with it anyway.  No one knew how fragile the string that was holding me together was.  I can hide some things well.  Increased my workouts thinking it would help neutralize stress but it just made my heart hurt more.  Kept with it anyways.

It has felt like a waste of a summer.  But it wasn't.  Lots of personal growth.  My cardio got better.  Getting back in touch with my intuition was a necessary thing.  Hadn't realized I had gotten so detached and was living primary guided by my well meaning left brain.

Started writing on paper again.  How I've missed it.  Forgotten how important that organic process is versus typing.  Spoke less.  Felt more.  Made all the difference.  And I'm staying with the reduced work schedule.

Didn't cancel any trips.  Just didn't demand anything huge from myself while there.  As a treat, added an "easy" destination to remind myself what that's like.  It was spring time and the light was beautiful.

Leh

Our first introduction to India was an astounding success.  Book ended by time in Delhi which we also took to immensely, despite the 45 - 50 C temperatures.  However our goal was to get to Leh.

It was like another planet there.  High and very dry.  At one point we got permits to travel to one of the well known passes "Khardung La" and hung out there for a while at over 5000 m. 

Lugged home one of those gaudy bright thermoses that saved my life in Nepal and Mongolia.  It keeps water steaming hot for 24 hours.

Not a surprise that our locales made it impossible to reliably have power or hot water, much less send and receive email, during the initial sales listing of the cottage.

It's so peaceful there.  I miss it.

Close

The amount of stress and emotional aggravation associated with what we consider to be an "easy and straightforward" sale has been surprising and irritating.  We were finally contacted by our lawyer's office to come in to sign the papers 2 business days(!) before closing.  Neither of us remember cutting things this close in either of our previous real estate transactions.  Good thing we were both around.

I've had to open another non registered investment account for the proceeds of the cottage sale.  After sheltering everything we can and planning for 2019, there is still a need of a place for the remaining.  I had one but closed it a few years back for one reason or another. 

Going with D's bank (TD) this time around, mandatory to be able to buy certain funds offered by his bank that he is a big fan of.  It took an hour to get it set up.  I had to go in in person!  Very repetitive with nothing that could have been done online ahead of time.  Was very old fashioned considering it is actually an account via their brokerage TD Waterhouse.

Am not supposed to get charged for having the account if you meet a minimal amount.  And there is supposed to be a 3 month window for new deposits so will keep an eye on that.  Having to chase after an incorrectly applied fee is something I really don't want to do.  I did specify I was opening this account in advance, in anticipation of proceeds from a real estate transaction.  But it likely won't matter to the computer program.

The sale closed successfully.

Loss

Members of my family have been dropping like flies over the past few years.  As there exists much familial fracture that I am unwilling to tackle, I end up finding out news about surgeries, cancer diagnosis, death much later.

Was particularly shocked I lost my aunt who would have been maybe 60 and cousin (her daughter) who was 35, in separate unrelated causes.  My mother's side of the family haven't fared very well in the longevity department.

Then there is the news that the husband of the couple who I rented their "nanny suite" from during my post grad years, who I've previously referred to as my surrogate parents, has progressed sufficiently in his neurological disease to not be who I would remember anymore.  I wept and continue to at the thought.  We knew the time would come, but symptoms the last 6 months have been much accelerated.

In light of the above events, loss of use of a really fun vehicle doesn't even cause a blip to our day.  It's only a thing.  The Outback is fine.  The only blip with it, is that D is bringing him back in for a "just in case" check already.  Something about feeling a vibration when it is at a certain speed range. 

Made me think of alignment, which the service adviser mentioned as a possibility along with wheel balance as well.  There's warranty and we'll get through it.  Update:  Was a wheel balance issue and is running well according to D.

A very pleasant surprise was the gift of a dozen yellow and deep red roses and giant gift basket full of gourmet treats.  Never received any gift with buying a vehicle before (house yes), especially considering it isn't new!  It brought a smile on an otherwise mostly sad day.