Mood Meter

This week I seemed to go through so many different moods I got to thinking about the Mood Ring and wondered how many different colors I'd be showing even in a single day.  The ring (yes I had one back in the early 70s) worked by using a central stone containing thermotropic liquid crystals that changed color in response to body temperature.  The crystals twist and turn with heat, reflecting light differently to appear as various colors.  However, as I suspected and research verified, the ring was not a reliable indicator of one's true emotional state.  During my research I found the Mood Meter; an evidence-based approach to help individuals recognize, understand, and label their emotions, or how they are feeling at a particular time.  It was founded by Dr. Marc Brackett, at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and has been adopted by over 5000 schools across the globe. 

They claim that using the Mood Meter helps with emotional self-regulation, improves decision-making, enhances relationship-building, and fosters empathy.  How it works is to... Recognize:  Perceive emotions in oneself and others.  Understand:  Delve deeper into the underlying causes and consequences of emotional experiences (what triggered your feelings)  Label:  Plot your energy and pleasantness (name the emotion with a precise word to foster clarity).  Express:  Constructively convey emotions in healthy and productive ways, like through verbal expression, creative outlets, or physical activities.
 

Regulate:  Manage your emotions by choosing a strategy (like dancing, horseback riding, working out at the gym, partying with pool peeps, snuggling a kitty, journaling, reading a good book, etc.) to shift to a desired state and achieve your goals.
 

Saturday 9/13 - It was Babe's birthday six years ago.  The memories of this experience were heartwarming.  This was pregnant Mama Styx on 9/12/19.  







And these were her babies.  Babe (the darkest one) was my favorite from the very beginning.  
There was still no sign of Rose or Shadow this morning, dropping my mood meter to concerned.

I met Betty and Joanne at the ranch (the blue dot on the map) before 8am and we tacked up for a ride.  It was cold to begin with, but warmed to a very pleasant mid 70's.  Joanne (seen in the only four photos taken this morning) rode Zorro. 

Zorro has been doing well, with no further lameness issues since he tweaked his back left leg August 15th when Courtney was warming him up for pony rides.  




As you can see from the map, Zorro was ridden 6½ miles.  He held up great, no lameness issues, and seemed to enjoy being out on the trail.  As I type this, right now, I am becoming frustrated because I can't get the text to align correctly.  To temper my anger, I am just going to let it go, move on with my blogging, and give up on how it looks.  

Yesterday Katy had done several little adjustments on Zorro, including his back right hip.  He had swelling there that we have started putting lineament gel on, and also we have been giving him Previcox for pain and swelling.  But he seems fine and Katy said the exercise is helpful, so that we did.  

We went at a leisurely pace, not doing anything faster than a slow gate, although when Zorro was out front, he wanted to speed up as usual.  Joanne did a great job keeping his energy down.

Standing for photos also gave Zorro (along with Rico and Dorado) rest and practice at holding still, which the Pasos struggle with sometimes.  Notice the fall colors starting to appear, as leaves have definitely been falling since the start of the month.  I was feeling melancholy about summer's end.

Oh, Rico and Dorado did very well, although sometimes I felt like Rico was rather sluggish... usually when we were in the lead.  He only had one small spook and all three horses were cooperative.  I was feeling content.

This is not a horse trail, but a walking path on the Peavine Road South designated Hiking Marathon trail, which Joe and I did late in the afternoon.

Once back to the barn and un-tacked, Joanne gave Zorro a Previcox and liniment rub.  I had to rush up to the shop to help Joe with the bush-hog before going home.  Actually Joanne came also because Joe had sounded distressed.  He was aggravated, overheated, and exhausted.  We were only a little helpful.  







I had lunch and read in the sun on the deck, but it was too hot.  I got in a good arm and ab workout at the gym.  Also I noticed that Shadow was back, but Rose is still gone.  I have seen Shadow push her away, to get her food and water, even though he has his own.  This makes me a little perturbed. 

The only other photos I took today were from our late afternoon hike.  I asked Joe to be in some of my photos to make them more interesting.  


This is all Joe had for me when I asked him to smile.   



Not only is it good to monitor your own emotions, it is most beneficial to be in touch with the emotions of others.  I would say on the mood meter, Joe was at red/orange - annoyed.  





So I quit asking him to stop and pose in my photos.  There is a serene feeling about this moss covered log, maybe because it matches that color of the corresponding mood meter box.  






This photo looks down at the metal bridge we had crossed and the rock steps we had just climbed.  This was a new trail that is still under construction so it was just an out-and-back hike for the marathon, totaling three miles.   








Here was the turn around point.  I had my weighted vest on and was feeling the 'burn' for sure (fatigued on the mood meter).  

Joe was following me going back down to the bridge, so took this photo for me.  The very bottom of the stairs consisted of very steep steps.  

And then Joe stopped for me to take one more photo of him coming down the steps.  






I snuck in this shot of Joe off this (video) as I was going up this very long 'staircase' of huge rocks that was on the other side of the bridge, going back to our SUV. 

Actually these next two photos are also from the video.  The rock work was amazing.  

I like the sun rays in this photo.  It was getting low in the sky.  I'm not happy about it getting dark so early, already, and how much sooner dark will descend on us in December and January.

It was a late dinner for all.  Maggie has stopped limping but we want to give her more rest, so she had stayed home.

Sunday 9/14 - Shadow looks like a hole in the ground in this photo.  No Rose as of yet.
I worked at the pool from 10:15 - 5:15.  It was my last day and I actually had a really fun day.  The regular pool peeps had a potluck so I spent much time visiting and eating with them.  I figured I'd be fasting tonight, so why not eat up.  Also, Patty and Shirley spent a good part of the day enjoying the sun so I visited with them too.  It was the perfect ending of (what I thought at the time) was the conclusion of my summer pool job.

Monday 9/15 - Amiga and Zorro getting a drink following their breakfast.  
After fasting all night again, I was back at the lab for a blood draw at 7am.  There were two people ahead of me and I was in fairly quickly.  Immediately the phlebotomist said I didn't need a blood draw because I had one in August.  That was the one I had with Dr. Davidson who was checking my iron and did a tumor marker test.  (Which both were very good.)  Anyway, she said insurance wouldn’t cover another blood draw, but that she would double check with my doctor to see if there was anything in the blood panel that wasn’t checked that needs to be checked. 

I headed to the ranch, again having a power bar, but drinking milk and not tea because Betty and I were going for a ride and I didn’t want the tea to kick in out on the trail.  As soon as I arrived, the lab technician called to tell me I did need to do a blood draw for  something not tested in August and that insurance would cover it.  So now I get to fast again for a blood draw tomorrow morning.  I was quite annoyed.  




Betty and I had a great ride, going just over nine miles.  The horses were wonderful.  They were exposed to a few things they hadn’t seen before and handled it very well.  At one point, Rico kind of floundered in a deep muddy hole we had to walk through cause it took up the whole road.  He does not like going into water.  

It was a lot deeper than I expected because he had stepped off to the side (into a deep rut or hole, hidden by the murky water) to try to go into the woods and not have to walk through the water.  He stumbled but caught himself.  It was nothing like this photo, which I got a kick out of, but I did get splashed a little.  




Back at the barn I saw that Rico did get his back leg all dirty, and  just after Joanne had given him a bath the day before. 😳
But something odd happened.  After I picked Rico's back right hoof, when I put his foot down, he didn’t set it on the ground.  In fact, he bent it over front ways, resting the top of his hoof on the ground.  Like the below photo (off of Facebook) shows.  He just stood there with his foot like that for quite awhile.  It was weird. 

Anyway, as I was brushing all the dirt off of him, I sort of massaged his hip a little bit and it just seemed like the muscle kind of moved some.  I don’t know, I can’t explain it.  Then, when I went to lead Rico out of the barn, as he pivoted on his back right leg, he gave on it.  He proceeded to favor it, walking stiffly and with sort of a limp.  Now I felt frustrated and concerned, when just moments earlier, upon dismounting, I had felt happy and pleased.  

After Rico rolled in the paddock and got a drink, he seem to 'walk it off' looking more normal.  He proceed about his business, heading out to the back pasture.  I was a bit perplexed... what had that foot/leg issue been all about?

Before heading home at 3:30, I checked on Joe and Dave, who were working on fixing the trailer light.  Thankfully, just the bulb needed replacing, but they had to dismantle part of the panel to get to it.  






I went home for a quick, late lunch and then Joe (with truck and trailer) picked me up.  We went to Shirley's to get a few things she was giving to us for the ranch.  





We loaded the bench in the trailer and this huge milk canister in the truck (and also an iron horse planter not photographed).  We went straight back to the ranch to unload and then we were done for the day.

While doing chores, Karen reported that Rico was walking fine when he came in for dinner.
 

Tuesday 9/16 - The day wasn't a complete wash out, although my colon was by the time I went to bed at 10:30 after my completed colon prep. 

First thing this morning I saw that Robert Redford and died.  This (video) photo-montage is a nice flash in time of some of his accomplishments.  What a great actor, horseman and person. 

For the second time this week (third time total) I had fasted since dinner and went to the lab at 7am for a blood draw.  This time after the draw, I was not allowed to eat anything all day long as part of my colonoscopy prep.  


Monita


From the lab, I went right next door to the gym and had a great, total body workout.  I was a little depleted of energy and feeling apprehensive about the actual laxative part of the prep.  I was also worried about possible tumor detection.  But seeing old familiar faces I haven't seen in awhile (because the afternoon gym goers is different than the morning crowd) and visiting with friends, helped lift my mood.


Babe


I hit Food City on the way home, really wishing I could eat, but buying food I knew I'd enjoy tomorrow.  I did buy apple/pear juice I had when I got home, but my tummy hurt.  I needed milk and crackers which settle my stomach, but both weren't permitted.  Only clear liquids (no coloring) were on the menu.  Later I had ginger-ale.  

Mama Styx ↓

The actual 'laxative' part of the prep that I started at 2:00, went very well.  I took one pill every 5 minutes (12 total) over the hour while drinking at least 16 oz of water.  I started trips to the bathroom at 2:40.  32 more oz of water were to be consumed over the next 90 mins.  Then the whole thing was to be repeated at 7pm.  I never felt nauseous, but man was I bloated.  I started the second go round at 6:15 so I wouldn't be up too late making trips to the bathroom, which seemed to occur almost every five minutes for a few hours after each 12-pill sequence.  By 10:30 my gut had slowed, and it seemed safe to go to bed. 

Wednesday 9/17 - The only photos I have today are from this (video) Joanne sent after she and Betty had taken Rico and Dorado for a ride.

I was up to use the restroom several times after going to bed.  At the 2am awakening/restroom trip, it took almost two hours to get back to sleep.  Then I woke on my own at 5:12 and got dressed to go.  Joe was up shortly after and we got to the clinic for my 6am colonoscopy time slot.  When asked how I was doing, I said 'great, except I am afraid to fart'. 😧  It was 6:25 when they were wheeling me back to the procedure room.  


I was waking back up at 7am and Joe and I were on the road for home at 7:15.  
The great news:  My colon was clean (no tumor or polyps) and I don't have to have another colonoscopy for two years!!!  One big happy dance and my mood was a mixture of relief and giddiness.   
Once home I had breakfast while savoring two cups of tea.  I thought I would nap, but wasn't sleepy (probably the tea) so got this blog started, waiting to nap when needed. 

My mood meter reading registered at a tad bit lethargic, effects of the anesthesia.  Since I'd had a great workout Tuesday morning and because the prep took so much out of me, including not much sleep, I decided just to take the whole day off, so spent most of it blogging, playing with my kitties, and laying around or reading.

Besides, I had to stay home because I wasn't allowed to drive and Joe had gone golfing.  Also, I still couldn’t trust my farts, so wanted (needed) to stay close to the restroom.  They fill you with gas to scope you, so I was doing more than my fair share of breaking wind.

I got news that the pool was staying open another week because it was forecasted  to be so nice.  Not that I wanted to give up any of my free days, but I was glad to help out to make the pool peeps happy. 

I never did feel the need to nap, but got very sleepy right after dinner.


Linda, who took this turtle's photo, made it into a postcard.  She sent it in celebration of my good news.  








At feeding time, the big, dark tabby, tom cat was in the process of starting a fight with Shadow, so I sent Maggie out to break it up.  Shadow ran off and Maggie chased the tom in the opposite direction.  I still have not seen Rose.
I was in bed turning the lights out early.

Thursday 9/18 - The majority of the photos I have for today were sent by my kids at dinner time.  All three of them had met up for the meal together.  Courtney with Layla (already 3½ months old and growing up so fast.  

The whole gang: Vale, Britney, Joe, Courtney, Layla, Dan and Ava.  I was feeling a little guilty and regretful for not making the trip to Nashville with Joe to pick up Britney.  But I just hate riding in the car, had a list of things to do, and would be going there the first weekend of October.  

I really enjoyed relaxing with my morning tea.  I had rushed a late cup driving to the ranch Monday morning and skipped it Tuesday and Wednesday.

My 8am doctors appointment went well.  All my blood levels were on the good side of the normal range.  Except vitamin D was a little high, but that’s better than being a little low.  My calcium, my thyroid, my sugar, my good cholesterol, my bad cholesterol... everything was in great shape.  This makes me joyful, knowing that my diet and exercise have helped put me at good blood counts. 

While at the doctor's office, Patty, who was at the ranch, left a voicemail; 'call me back as soon as possible.'
 

When I called Patty a little later, she immediately said 'we’ve had an issue here at the ranch.' My heart sank and I was full of dread.  I always worry that something may have happened to Amiga or Rico, or any of the animals.  Thankfully it wasn't anything horribly bad.  Evidently, Brooke left Banner and Rico in their stalls all night.  Not a good thing, especially since they had very little food and water.  Since Wednesday night was Brooke’s last night to do chores before leaving with Banner, I did not make a big deal out of it, but I did inform her about her mistake.  She was so sorry and did offer to clean up both stalls, which was nice of her.
 

I went to the gym, right next door to the doctor's office, and had a super good arm and ab. workout.  I thought I’d be low energy after the fast and colonoscopy, but I think the cleansing of my system had me feeling in great shape.  I was very enthusiastic and also quite upbeat chatting with folks.  

I made a trip to Food city to get items for Britney’s visit plus restock on things we were low on.  And I had one impulse buy, can't resist these $2.99 bags of popcorn.  I came home for a big lunch and then tried to do some more blogging but also did some reading because my book is really good and it has me captivated.

While at the ranch for afternoon chores, I picked kale, watered plants, mucked the upper and lower paddocks, and filled feed bins and Rico’s food bags.  

Joe picked Britney up at the airport and meet the rest of our clan for dinner at Hickory Falls restaurant. 

I did some house cleaning once home, got word from Joe we had an over-nighter with two horses coming to the ranch, but Patty was going to handle that.  I was in bed reading when Joe and Britney arrived at 9:30.

Mood Meter experts say: 'Check in with the state of your mind and body. Ask yourself: At this exact moment, what is my emotional state? Am I feeling up or down? Pleasant or unpleasant? Energized or depleted? Don’t search for the precise emotion but rather discover the general area where your mood exists in the Mood Meter. This practice will help you build your emotional vocabulary and enhance your emotional wellness.'   
This can be tricky for me, especially when some of my mood changes are so quick.  They remind me of the song Hot N Cold by Katy Perry.  😆