• In a fit of ADD, I forgot to load Aleve into my weekly medication reminder box (I loaded my other medications, but couldn't find the Aleve. I said to myself, "I bet it's downstairs again; I'll bring it up later..." but got distracted and forgot to do so.) As a result, after Tuesday I was in too much pain to do my stretching, but couldn't figure out why... I felt better in the mornings, too, and couldn't figure out why (it was because that's when I scheduled the aspirin I have to take for my heart condition.)
• I tried biking in the Sepulveda Basin on Thursday; "What's a little mud?" said I. Well, they were still trying to clear Burbank Blvd. from having been flooded Tuesday and Wednesday (N.B. This is normal; the Basin is DESIGNED to be under water during rainstorms because it's part of L.A.'s flood control system.) but the bike paths were lower priority. Southern California mud is mostly clay and VERY slippery -- and my little Dahon is not designed for it. Momo-chan is a city street bicycle, NOT a mountain bike, thankyouverymuch. She slipped, and I fell into a (fortunately) very large, soft, and sticky mud bank after only half a mile. I had to take Momo-chan home, hose her down, and right now she's in the shop getting checked out for mud and rust problems. Bummer.
• I went for a short hike Saturday (yeah, New Year's Day. I don't care for the Rose Parade, and I really didn't want to be around the men watching football) up Dead Horse Trail. ... Southern California mud is mostly clay and VERY slippery. I got up the ridge and back down without falling, but I was extremely sore. This is when I looked in my medicine organizer to take my evening meds a bit early (thinking the Aleve was in it)... No Aleve. Ok, that explains a lot...

Still, the hike was worth it. The canyon was hushed, the hills were riotously green, and every tiny gully had a small tinkling waterfall. Marvellous! After 24 hours back on the Aleve, I may be ready to resume my stretching routine tonight.