It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, what the rest of the family and I have been reading and watching, and what I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.
My blood pressure was high this week. It’s been an on and off issue for a few years now but seems to get better when I relax and take my time to take the reading the correct way.
It doesn’t want to go down at all when I am anxious, however, no matter what I do.
I’ve been anxious a lot lately, for a variety of reasons, one being the fact I needed to go to the doctor this week.
Long story short, I canceled the appointment when I found out a doctor I’ve heard very good things about actually takes my insurance. I’ll probably end up on medicine but at least I’ll feel like I can talk to this doctor about it unlike the other doctor I had the appointment with.
That appointment is a couple of weeks away, so I plan to monitor my blood pressure until then and do all I can do reduce stress (that might not be possible with a couple of situations going on but I’ll see). I started monitoring it off and on in June.
This week I couldn’t get it to an acceptable level until Thursday night after I’d been praying about it and after I sat down to watch Murder, She Wrote.
That’s right, readers.
I am crediting the significant drop in my blood pressure Thursday night (more than 15 points on top!) to Murder, She Wrote and Jesus.
I was so wrapped up in the mystery I didn’t focus on my worry about my blood pressure. It’s almost as if Jesus reminded me that I hadn’t watched Murder, She Wrote in a few days simply so I would finally stop worrying about everything all of the time and finally relax.
That’s my tip for any of you with high blood pressure: Pray to Jesus and watch Murder, She Wrote. (*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I only play one on my blog. Do not actually consider this medical advice. Please consult your actual doctor. *wink*)
I just finished Spill the Jackpot by Erle Stanley Gardner. It was a Cool and Lam Mystery and I didn’t like it as much as the first book in the series I read a couple of years ago. Getting it through it was a bit of a slog actually. I will try another book in the series, but this one was not a favorite of mine.
I’m reading Murder She Wrote: Killer in the Kitchen by Donald Blain, The 100-Year-Old man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, and Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis.
The 100-Year-Old man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared is . . . uh . . . weird, but I have to find out what happens.
I hope to finish Dave Berry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down at some point, but I like reading a chapter here and there and I haven’t read it in a while because I’ve been wrapped up in mysteries.
Books I want to read soon include My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, A Penny Parker Mystery: Whispering Walls by Mildred A. Wirt (Benson), and another Nancy Drew book but I haven’t decided which one.
Little Miss is reading The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene (A Nancy Drew Mystery).
This past week I watched Please Murder Me with Angela Lansbury and Raymond Burr. I also watched three very good Murder, She Wrote episodes, a movie with William Powell called The Canary Murder, and an episode of Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I never watched Scarecrow and Mrs. King when I was younger so it’s fun to discover the show, even though I’ve heard of it and seen parts of episodes in the past.
I’m actually progressing on Gladwynn Grant’s fourth book. It’s a miracle. I know.
This week on the blog I shared:
- Summer of Angela Summer of Angela: Please Murder Me (with tiny spoilers but not big ones)
- Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot July 17th
- Hardy Boys Episode Recap: Wipe Out (Did the Hardy Boys just rob the hotel?!)
- Little, used bookstores are the best and an anniversary outing
- Saturday Evening Chat: A little pool, a little busy, and some photos to look back on
I am listening to The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon on Audible.
I have also been listening to a lot of Harry Connick Jr. songs, including this one:
The piano solo that starts at 1:50 is absolutely brilliant.
Now It’s Your Turn
What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to, or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.
This post is linked up with The Sunday Post at Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, The Sunday Salon with Deb at Readerbuzz, and Book Date: It’s Monday! What are you reading hosted by Kathyrn at The Book Date. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Reading Reality.
Lisa R. Howeler is a blogger, homeschool mom, and writes cozy mysteries.
You can find her Gladwynn Grant Mystery series HERE.
You can also find her on Instagram and YouTube.
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Glad that murder she wrote helped you, you do whatever you feel works. That’s all that matters.
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thank you!
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I’m glad “Murder She Wrote” had such a calming impact for you! I also enjoyed Scarecrow and Mrs. King way bac when! Fun reminders!
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Glad to hear something helped your blood pressure. Mine jumps up when I’m at the doctor’s then is absolutely normal at home. White coat syndrome, I have it even though one young whippersnapper MD told me it doesn’t exist. Ha! Once you’ve sat in a doctor’s office to hear you have a cancer diagnosis, I know you can have “white coat syndrome” because I experienced that 20 years ago and it’s stuck with me ever since. Anyway, listening to Harry Connick Jr would lower my BP as well as Michael Buble. 😉
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Michael and Harry help me too. I know I have white coat syndrome and it can take a couple hours to come down after I go home. That MD doesn’t listen to his own profession then because there are papers written about it!
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I am so sorry you’ve been dealing with these health issues, Lisa. But I sure understand about those times when the Lord points us to something relaxing, that doesn’t make sense! He nudges me to watch gardening youtube’s that help me to take my necessary afternoon naps! 😂😂 It seems so crazy that He would say that, but He knows what we need, and how we are put together. You are in my prayers this week! ♥️♥️
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Thank you, Bettie and I’ll be praying for you too!
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I have also been dealing with some blood pressure issues. It was slightly elevated when I was at the doctor last week. I try taking it at home but that usually makes me anxious. I will try watching some TV to get my mind off of things. Have a great week.
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Mine has been more than slightly elevated but it’s down when I just sit, take my time, and then take it.
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Mike has high blood pressure and has been on medication for years. I tend to have low blood pressure, but it’s been creeping up. He swears by the manual method. He has one of the monitors here at home, and it’s always higher at home than the doctor. Hope that helps.
How are you liking the Yarn book? I really loved it. I loved the message and the plot. Did I know how it was going to end…kinda? But, I didn’t care. It was just such a lovely book. I’m reading not-so-nice books right now (like almost the p-word). But, the idea behind them helps me to skip over the other parts. It’s serial killers hunting serial killers…weird, right? We have been watching “Ginny & Georgia.” I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with kids though I’m almost sure that’s who it’s marketed to. It’s more adult than CW (gosh is that station even around any more). I’m just kinda bored with tv right now. I’m also procrastinating from writing my monthly article for our church!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Anxiety and anger are bad for your blood pressure, Lisa. When you are feeling anxious, please concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in the scent of roses (or whatever your favorite flower is) then gently blow out the candles to the count of 4 for each inhale and exhale. Walking is also good for your blood pressure – I listen to audiobooks as I walk.
Take care and have a great week!💐
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Great tips. Thanks, Sandy! I just read that breathing through your nose can help with anxiety the most.. That might be why I have more anxiety when my nose is stuffed. ha! have a good week too!
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My blood pressure goes up just with thinking about the doctor although mine is really nice and understanding – he even understands why my blood pressure goes up. I’ve had to take medication for many years now because it also has to do with my kidney, but at least it’s kept in check.
I didn’t write it in my blog post “reading to cats”, but actually activities (if you can call it that) like that help as well. It has to be the right book, though. So whatever helps. If you found something that works for you because it helps you relax, keep it up!
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I would read to my cats but they look at me like I’m the most boring thing ever. lol
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Don’t all cats think that? 😆
But you don’t need to do that, anyway, if you have already found the right thing for you!
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I loved The Unlikely Yarn and still need to read Sharon’s second and third books (both of which I own). My BP has been out of whack the past year or so, and yes, stress does a number on us. I have been on BP meds since my late 20s (no medical reason could be found). Hopefully, with a low dose you will be good to go. Have a great week.
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I think a low dose is all I’ll need at this point. I have read Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals by Mondragon and really liked it.
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It looks like your daughter is at one of our naturalist group presentations on alligators! lol And whatever works to lower your blood pressure. I know my mom’s always went sky-high every time she visited her medical professionals.
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She was at a fun event hosted by the local library and she was so excited to hold him. She loves all reptiles and keeps trying to talk us into getting one.
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