Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Sure it's still Christmas, if you go by the Christian calendar and not the secular one. So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Besides, if you knew me, I am notorious for sending my greetings well after January 1st. My intentions are good. I purchase what I need, stamps, cards, stickers, etcetera, early, usually before Thanksgiving. I am all ready to fill the cards with love and wishes, but then they just sit there taking up valuable real estate on a desk or counter. This year was no different, except I had (have) a good excuse. I injured my dominant wrist. De Quervain's Tendinosis is the diagnosis by the ER, my PCP, and a specialist. It's an overuse injury of the thumb tendon and it hurts like heck. After suffering since October with it only seeming to get worse, I decided to see the specialist my PCP suggested. The PA and Specialist, Dr. Tim both were shocked at the severity of my injury. Apparently, I done it up good - no, that's not a typo, just good ole Maine talk. Dr. Tim highly recommended I should have a steroid shot in which he could do promptly right then and there. I opted for the slow recovery and took the immobilizing brace instead. After 10 days with it and next to no use, my wrist is starting to hint at healing. Typing is not too comfortable, but I wanted to start the year off right with logging a blog.

My year has started off wonderfully, it usually does, mostly because I choose to see it that way. I could itch and moan about all the unexpected break downs and expenses over the last several months that have put a choke on the fun agenda but what good would that do? Fun just has to take on a different meaning. No new gear yet, and hikes are close to home, aka out back. Not the Outback as in Crocodile Dundee, but that would be amazing to go there for a walk-about.

We ended the year with a winter wonderland hike outback up in the woods and began the New Year with a similar hike outback just bushwhacking a different trail. We didn't tackle any mountains our wonderful state has to offer or hike in a wilderness far from civilization, but once we ventured a mile into the forest it seems like we are in a world all our own and we didn't have to pay almost $3.50 per gallon for gas to get there.

The main trail we did will sound familiar if you've been around for awhile, it was Mollie's trial. Off of that, we have different treks we do that we blaze from memory. Mollie's Trail is an old grown-in, short, logging road that dead ends. Within the last few years we have developed our compass skills with the help of navigational apps on our phone and have been able to hike through the woods to another old logging road that is still in use but usually quiet this time of year. From that road we connected to a snowmobile trail that has not been used yet since there isn't enough snow. We didn't even need snowshoes. It's just so lovely to be out there.

With the New Year comes new year resolutions. I don't really make them any more, rather, I choose a word to focus on for the year. With all the problems I have been having with my declining health, mostly weight gain and mental state, I chose the word HEALTH. I have decided not to try any fad diets or extraneous fitness routines. I almost chose MODERATION. I struggle with that big time in all facets. I could almost use those two words interchangeably because you can't really have one without the other. But, it's a one word deal and HEALTH won on paper and hopefully it will win this year in all five areas of my health - physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual.

Fun may be put on hold for now, but my health will no longer take a back seat. Sure, I am still going to treat myself, just not every minute of every day. Good choices have already taken place in 2022. But fun won't be tucked away for too long. Adventure awaits again for spring and my health needs to be at peak.

This came! You know what that means. Another Appalachian Trail adventure is in the making. No, not a thru-hike for me, I wish. Just a bunch of section hikes. I know it isn't feasible for Prince Ziggy to do a complete thru-hike yet, so we are just going to hit the trail at some point and just do what we can hiking, bouncing around meeting hikers, visiting favorite spots, going to Trail Days, and just having fun.

I'd like to drop about 20 pounds before hitting the trail and then the rest will just fall off - one of the many wonderful benefits of long-distance hiking. If you remember, I was trying to be accountable and post my weight loss. Well, I failed and stopped posting. Shame on me! But I would like to take you on the journey with me again because my health is at stake now. Maybe I can be an encouragement for anyone else who is also struggling with similar issues. But lets make it fun. I don't hold any answers, just a desire to be different from what I am right now.

No, this blog isn't going to turn into another how to become ripped in 10 days. My days of being ripped have passed. The only thing that is ripped for me now are my pants that I have squeezed into one too many times. My blog theme has not changed. It's still about ordinary life with adventures thrown in. In Fact, I want to start season II of Ziggy Tails. A lot has happened since the first season. Since I need to get out on trail with him for some serious backpacking, I thought you'd like to tag along and see what kind of mischief, challenges, and adventures take place as I try to figure out backpacking with a pooch, even if it is just out back.

Before I wind up my first post for 2022, let me, not so proudly, say that this 5' 3 1/2" frame topped the scales on Saturday with a weight of 176.6 pounds. Ouch!!! That's almost as much as when I was pregnant. Yeah, I feel like crap. I am tired all the time, and 90% of my clothes don't fit. I wear the same 3 outfits. I refuse to buy larger clothes when I have a closet full.

I must don my wrist brace now before I over do it. In the mean time, stay tuned for Season II of Ziggy Tails and for the struggles of weight loss for me.

Merry Christmas again, Happy New Year, and

Happy Hiking,

Emily