Posts Tagged With: INR

Day 5003: Encouraging

Posted on September 13, 2026 by Ann Koplow

While the human brain can often focus on what is discouraging, I am choosing, here and now, to focus on what is encouraging.

What’s encouraging to me is that I seem to be past my jet lag in time to return to the work I love facilitating therapy groups.

It was encouraging to me last night that a server at my favorite restaurant asked to see photos from my solo trip to Switzerland and I had these to show him.

It’s encouraging to me that I get to see the amazing baritone Thomas Hampson starring in the opera Nixon in China in Washington D.C. this November with my bff Jeanette.

It’s encouraging that there may be encouraging changes in Washington D.C. before I get there in November.

Let’s see if there is anything encouraging in my other images for today.

It’s encouraging that the plumbers were able to replace the leaking fixture in the bathtub.

It’s encouraging that I can travel in different countries and maintain a healthy INR.

It’s encouraging that both Joan and I are back to our usual routines.

It’s encouraging that Joan has so much to say.

It’s encouraging that my Twitter friend Eric responded to my posting a video about Joan with his video about Joan:

https://x.com/yakeeric/status/2098824373989990423?s=46

It’s encouraging that you may be able to see Eric’s video by clicking on the above link.

It’s encouraging that my favorite local restaurant, Brassica Kitchen, has so many great dishes.

It’s encouraging that the tomatoes Michael planted this year are doing so well!

It’s encouraging that his other vegetables are doing well too.

Here’s an encouraging song I wrote a few years ago.

Thanks to all who stayed to the end of this encouraging post, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: “I’d Like to Win a Grammy as Best New Artist”, cats, delicious meals, home garden, INR, September 13 2026, Thomas Hampson in “Nixon in China”, trip to Switzerland, Twitter and Bluesky | 10 Comments

Day 5002: For Those Who Celebrate

Posted on September 12, 2026 by Ann Koplow

For those who celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Shana Tova!

For those who celebrate everything, here are my other images for today.

My INR is okay after my trip to Switzerland. 🎉

The ceiling where the leak was hasn’t gotten worse. 🎉

This might cause a leak on the future but not for now. 🎉

I got my daily dose of vitamin K (and Joan didn’t). 🎉🎉

I’m not going to die from eating too much cheese. 🎉

Joan spoke on video for her fans. 🎉

Raul and Nick from Super Service Today did a great job yesterday and Nelson is a real dog. 🎉🎉🎉

Nick is learning from Raul and he loves all animals. 🎉 🎉

Bagpipe players were in Boston yesterday for 9/11. 🎉💙🎶

We got to see the Great Elephant Migration in Boston. 🎉

Joan is always ready for her closeup. 🎉😻

We were back for our traditional Friday evening meal at Fuji Sushi. 🎉

We saw rabbits on our post-meal stroll. 🎉

I’m going to see Thomas Hampson perform in Washington D.C. in November. 🎉

I found special honey for a special occasion. 🎉🎉

For those who celebrate the Daily Bitch, here she is. 🎉

For those who celebrate, September 12 has many options (although these lists don’t include the Jewish Holidays).

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “for those who celebrate.”

For those who celebrate the day by visiting this blog , thank you! 🎉🙏💕

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston, cats and other creatures, Happy Tuesday to those who celebrate!, INR, Rosh Hashana, September 11 2026, September 12 2026, Super Service Today, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Great Elephant Migration, Twitter | 4 Comments

Day 4925: Big Deals

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, I was talking to a patient who reported that she was able to drive again for the first time after sustaining an arm injury. I said, “That is a big deal!” and she agreed that it was.

Last night, I saw this sign, which reminded me of that conversation.

My other association with “big deals” is my late father telling me how perplexed he was that my late mother made “a big deal” about certain things. I think it’s a big deal to realize that what’s a big deal to somebody might not be a big deal to somebody else.

My mother made a big deal about my father being on Warfarin, which she found very anxiety-provoking. She would probably make a big deal about her daughter being on Warfarin for the rest of her life. I definitely want to make a big deal, here and now, about my INR finally being back in range after many weeks of being too low or two high.

That is a big deal and a big relief! 🎉

Are there any big deals in my other images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “big deals” on YouTube.

Feel free to make a big deal about anything in the comments section, below.

Thanks to all who are here for this big deals post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: bbclearningEnglish, cats and rabbits, Forgiveness Day, INR, June 27 2026, my daily dose of vitamin K, self forgiveness, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, Warfarin, What does “big deal” mean? | 4 Comments

Day 4878: First Things First

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Because yesterday was Mother’s Day, I’d like to honor my late mother by sharing one of her favorite sayings: First Things First.

First Things First: I sometimes don’t know what first things are, but I do find it very helpful to prioritize.

First Things First: my first things this morning are blogging, checking my INR (which was surprisingly low on Friday), and leaving for my in-person day at the hospital.

First Things First: Here are my images for today.

First Things First: Because I’m on warfarin and have to watch my INR for the rest of my life, I can’t always eat what I want (even on Eat What You Want Day), but I could eat a Hostess Cupcake.

On National Women’s Check-up Day, I will be checking my INR momentarily, but first things first.

The last thing in this first-things-first blog post is my gratitude to YOU.

————

P.S. First things last: My INR was perfect.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, Consumed By Fire, Eat What You Want Day, INR, May 11 2026, music, National Women’s Check-up Day, planning a trip to Switzerland, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4876: Inspiring

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday’s word of the day means “inspiring.”

That is NOT inspiring me to use the word “psychagogic” when I mean “inspiring,” because I want to be understood.

Do you see anything inspiring in my images for today?

My INR was surprisingly low yesterday morning, but I responded wisely without panicking, which is inspiring.

The warmer weather is inspiring me to take Joan outside.

My inspiring husband is planting many new things this year, including spinach.

My family is very inspiring and nice.

Here’s what I find when I search for “inspiring” on YouTube.

Thanks to all the inspiring ones in my life, including YOU!

Categories: definition, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, ChatGPT, Grit: Power of Passion and Perseverance, INR, May 9 2026, TED talk by Angela Lee Duckworth, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, Twitter | 6 Comments

Day 4819: Suspense

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Ann Koplow

We’re in suspense about so much these days, including inept and corrupt leadership, war, and climate change.

I’m in suspense about people getting back to me, the clicking noises when I talk, what’s going to happen with my music (I dreamt about it last night!), and whether my INR is going to rebound to a safer level today.

I don’t want to keep you in suspense about what images I’m going to share.

Here’s what I find when I search for “suspense” on YouTube:

There’s no suspense about whether I’m going to thank you at the end of this blog post, is there?

Categories: heart condition, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, favorite suspense movies, How to Make Your Writing Suspenseful — Victoria Smith, INR, March 13 2026, Niveaux pastries, reducing my vitamin K levels, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4702: Numbers

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Ann Koplow

While my son, Aaron — who is currently working on his PhD in Mathematics —1st expressed a preference for numbers when he was 7, I prefer words.

However, not 2 put 2 fine a point on it b4 I get to the photos I want to share, I need 2 track numbers to stay alive, especially my INR.

For me (who got a mechanical heart valve in 2016), the numbers for my specific target are actually a smaller range (2.7 – 3.5) because I had 1 TIA in 2022 when my INR was 2.4.

Every 2nd 2sday I need to check my INR, and I spend the approximately 15 seconds waiting for the results worrying that my numbers will be below 2.7 and I will need to inject 2 of these a day …

… until my INR goes above 2.8.

Anyway, I don’t enjoy keeping track of those numbers or these numbers these days:

How many people are listening to my music,
How many people are reading my blog,
How many people are answering my posts on Twitter,

especially if the numbers are low, since I then feel I should do something 2 make them higher.

I am now going 2 practice radical acceptance about all my numbers as I share a number of photos I took yesterday. Before I do, I am going 2 ask you 2 guess 2 things: (1) Will there be a higher number of animals photos or food photos? and (2) How many photos will have numbers in them?

Now, let’s see the numbers of World Observances listed for 11/16/25 (written as 16/11/25 in a number of different places).

Both of those lists have 6 items and I have 2 decide which 1 I am going 2 share on social media. As my teacher Mrs. Whitman used 2 say in the 6th grade, “it’s 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other.”

Here’s what I find when I search for “numbers” on YouTube:

Thanks 2 the numbers of people who are here for this numbers post, including YOU!

Categories: heart condition, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: be smart, Brassica restaurant, cats, INR, November 16 2025, The Real (Weird) Way We See Numbers, the South Shore of Boston, TIA, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4669: One Battle After Another

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, my husband Michael and I saw Paul Thomas Anderson’s spectacular new movie One Battle After Another, after battling wind and rain driving to a movie theatre on a spare tire.

It’s often a battle for me to remember names of movies lately, but it’s easy for me to remember that title, perhaps because life can seem like one battle after another. For example, after I finish this blog my battles include checking my blood INR, trying to get a new tire, and helping many therapy patients with one battle after another.

Do you see one battle after another in my images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “one battle after another” on YouTube.

Thanks to all who are dealing with one battle after another, including YOU.

Categories: movies, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, fighting battles, Film at Lincoln Center, INR, October 14 2025, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ray Greene at cinegods.com, salmon dish, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist’s new single, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4585: The Most Curious Thing

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Ann Koplow

The most curious thing about the USA is how people reelected Donald Trump as President.

The most curious thing about ChatGPT is how it helps me while I’m waiting for INR results and other things.

The most curious thing about that last paragraph is that “INR” links to the blog post I wrote in 2016 after my heart valve replacement surgery, rather than a simple definition of INR.

What is the most curious thing in this blog post?

The most curious thing is the nostalgia I am feeling about this song I wrote last year about EPIC, the hospital’s Electronic Health Record System.

The most curious thing is that you are here for these random thoughts, feelings, pictures, and songs I publish every day!

Categories: heart condition, life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Casual Pi Day, cats, ChatGPT, Epic, INR, July 22 2025, junk food, salmon dish, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 10 Comments

Day 4571: A good place

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Ann Koplow

I try to make my therapy groups a good place for people to share whether or not they are in a good place.

People will sometimes start the group by admitting that they are not in a good place. By the end of the group, they seem to be in a better place, just knowing they are not alone.

The hospital is a good place for me to do my therapy groups in person on Mondays. The rest of the week, my home is a good place to do my virtual groups.

It’s difficult for me to see the USA as a good place these days.

I try to get into a good place before I check my INR, since so many things affect it, including my mood.

This seems like a good place to share my photos for the day.