Wednesday Weigh-in

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I should start a book called "The Trike and I".  Because of it, I'm finally doing what I wanted to do, which was to see the city in which I dreamed of moving to.  I'm able to ride the trike and whomever I'm with just walks along with me.  I'm really respectful of people on the sidewalk, not zooming along like a tiny Honda amongst a bunch of SUV's.  Hank sold his bike cause he'd rather walk the hills, and there's so many stairs in this city - he doesn't like carrying it.  So he walks with me and I carry the load of our adventures in the bike basket.  So Handy.  

Hank, Annie and I are out on the bike, exploring the city.  I'm trying to find the Trans America building.  You'd think it'd be easy to find.  It's my third journey downtown, specifically to find "downtown".  It doesn't ever occur to me to look it up on a map beforehand - it seems like it would be easy to find, so who needs a map?  Exploring is the name of the game, right?  Hank, typically hates to ask for directions, so he's mute on the subject, which works for my exploring gene. 

But there's a problem with all this exploring on the bike.  I've been averaging at least 4 miles a day, and there's been a couple of days where I've done 8 and 10 miles.  

The problem?  

I get HUNGRY.  I haven't been hungry in a long time.  Evidently, I've been keeping myself well protected from that particular feeling.  

The evidence?

Can you see it?  On top of the bucket?  It's proof that it DOES exist in San Francisco, despite my earlier belief that large, corporate chains don't exist in this city. 

It's Wal*Mart that isn't allowed - because of it's poor ... I can't think of the word.  Something about it's poor treatment of it's employees.  I hear there is a Target coming to town.  There's already a PetCo, Whole Foods galore and a Burger King.

As we walked down the street, I told Hank, "hmmm, smells like a McDonalds near by".  We looked around, and sure enough... there was a McDonalds!

Dun dun dun.

Despite it being weigh-in day at Weight Watchers later on that evening

Hello, six pound weight gain.  

Sheesh.

Updated Thursday Morning:  The points for this McDonalds meal?  52.  Points I am allowed?  27.  Ahem.  

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Lessons Learned

Things I Learned Today on a Bike Ride that Started Out as A Dog Bathroom Break But the City Lured Me to Keep Pedaling:

1.   Bring a map.  I ended up under the Bay Bridge, and the Ferry Building.  And took the LONG way around.  I in no way planned to go there.  The street I kept looking for never showed up, and I kept going. 

2.  Bring the camera.  When you find yourself in areas of the city you hadn't planned on but suddenly you're at places you've been wanting to see... it'd be nice to have the camera.

3.  Bring money, debit or EBT card.  Today's ride was 8 miles.  I got HUNGRY, and passed a million cheap places to eat.  A lot of restaurants will take food stamps too.

4.  Always, always, always bring water for the dog.  Luckily, I ran across two parks that had water bowls for dogs next to the people fountain, which Annie didn't think was good enough for her (none of my animals like San Francisco water unless it's ice cold).

5.  Always bring a jacket.  Weather changes from neighborhood to neighborhood.

6.  Always bring an umbrella, for the same reason.

7.  Always wear the weird toe shoes.  The other shoes don't work - by the end of the ride today, my ankles were two joints made of jello and kept collapsing.  The toe shoes will work better than clogs.

8.  Don't wear twirly swirly skirts without shorts underneath - the wind is a factor in San Francisco. 

9.  Go again tomorrow cause it was so fun.




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Fourth of July

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Uhhhhh.... Happy Fourth? 

TTFN
Hanging in there,

FatGirlonaTrike@gmail.com

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Farmers Markets. Who knew?

I had the best time this past Sunday!

One of my dog park friends, Zill, and I went to the Heart of the City Farmer's Market. And I was FLOORED at all the great looking produce for GREAT prices!  I've been to a couple of other farmer's markets where the prices were more expensive than the grocery store.  Plus they didn't take food stamps or debit cards.  I pretty much never carry cash.  So my belief that I would be able to eat cheaper in San Francisco because of the corner markets (where the produce spoils very quickly), and the many farmer's markets were expensive didn't pan out.

I told Zill that I couldn't give a definite answer until the night before, and even then I might need to cancel Sunday morning, depending on this shit disease I may have mentioned once or twice.  I wanted to walk in order to give Annie practice with her new harness, but remembered that I never want to go thru that horrible fatigue phase ever again, so I rode my bike.

Have I mentioned that the bike (trike) is making a HUGE difference in my life?  Today I made it up the slight hill on my block, all the way, without having to get off and walk!  It's easy to gauge one's progress around here... just pick a damn hill!

Anyways, Zill walked, and I rode my bike next to her, and I had so much fun.  I was overwhelmed with the amount of selections - even the fish was priced well within my price range.  And walnuts?  One pound for $2.50!  It's over 8 dollars at Safeway!

I found out that this particular farmer's market DOES take debit cards and food stamps.  By the way, whenever I say food stamps here, cashiers look at me confused.  It's called and EBT card, and works like a debit card, only for food.  Food only, too.  No toothpaste or cat litter.  

It's a good ride on the bike - mostly no hills at all, and if I went by myself, it'd take about 15 minutes to get there.  So it's not like it's an all day ordeal.  I'm just so excited. 

My son strongly believes that diet has something to do with my MS flare-ups, and after the fatigue one, for the first time, I want to track my diet and symptoms to see if is a factor.  But of course - just eating better will improve my health overall, duh.


I got up at 8:30 this morning and rode the bike around and threw the ball for Annie, before the heat comes.  There was a "heat wave" of 2 days.  Still makes me laugh.  But for me, anything over 70 degrees is too hot for me, so the earlier I can get out, the better.

I feel like I'm actively take charge of this shit disease I may have mentioned before.
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Hanging in there,

FatGirlonaTrike@gmail.com

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Way To Go Wednesday!

Today I accomplished several errands on a 3 mile trike bike ride:

• Applying for another Energy Credit.  Tore my apartment apart looking for a recent power bill, cause that's what they ask for, as well as proof of income, and proof of address.  Finally, it dawned on me that I don't get a power bill!  I was thinking of Idaho's requirements.  I will be getting $226.00 sometime in December.  It's no wonder California is going broke. 
• Finally got Annie's dog license.  Wish someone would have told me I should have done it within 30 days of moving here, cause there was a $25.00 late fee.  But I have to have it cause the lease requires it and the landlady sent me a letter.
• Picked up Annie's proof of getting her rabies and distemper shots.  Again, for the landlady.
• Went to library to print out ADA (American Disability Act)14 page document regarding Service Animals rules and guidelines.  Received yet another card for my wallet... a "copy card", much like a debit card, only I stick it into the machine, feed the machine cash/debit card to load copy card with $ balance to use to make copies)  
• Went to ... somewhere to apply for my disability bus card, called the Clipper Card, which will enable me to ride public transportation free.  
• Mailed another application to apply for ... another card that allows me to use cabs or door-to-door transportation, in case I can't managed public transportation.  Which sometimes I can't, depending on the errand.  For instance, it's hard to go shopping for 2 boxes of cat litter with a hand cart and Annie on the bus.
• Called 2 friends back in Idaho.  

Tonight I compose a informative, friendly letter to the San Francisco Housing Authority, educating them to the fact that there is no weight limit restrictions on Service Animals, and Service Animals do not have to be "certified" or have proof of training.  The lease says no animals over 50 lbs.  Annie is 60 lbs.  A smaller dog can't do the bracing she has to do, in order to help me when I fall.  

It was also the first day I left the apartment without consulting a map to figure out my route.  I'm getting a sense of where I am, and where to go.  

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