It's Christmas

Yes, well, it's Christmas in Chicago, but Christmas left our neighborhood a half hour ago. However, I'm still on Christmas time.

I slept a lot today, mainly because I had taken so many pain pills that I was knocked out a lot of the day. Otherwise it wasn't too bad a day.

I got five loads of laundry done. Not a spectacular achievement, but for me the folding is. I still haven't put the clothes away, though. They're in the basket waiting to be put where they belong! Quite a pile, by the way.

This is how lazy I have become. I dress in the laundry room. I undress in the laundry room and put the dirty clothing in the washing machine. When the machine is full, I wash a load. If I want to do whites, which I do about twice a month, I hold out the underwear until I get a load of whites, then I do the whites.

I know, that's not the way my mother taught me. She always did whites at least twice a week. Since I only launder once a week at most, I think twice a month is plenty to pull out the white clothing. You have to know that I wash and rinse with cold water and unless I have something new to put in the laundry which is brown or red or black, I mix up all the clothing. If it's something new, I wash it separately so that all that excess dye gets rinsed out.

And I did prepare a spectacular duck la'orange dinner. It was really, really good. I couldn't finish the amount I had given myself to eat, but I almost did. I really only had a few slices of the breast meat and the wing. The rest of my half of duck I put into the soup pot. Alan made fast work of his half, but left me some for the pot.

I cut it with kitchen shears -- which I have never used before -- and I cut it into quarters, with the back the fifth piece. So Alan ate his wing quarter entirely, then went back for his leg quarter, but only twisted off the leg, so I could put the rest into the soup pot. It was certainly easier to cut the bones with the shears than with a knife or cleaver.

I think duck soup (the food, not the movie) is the best soup that I make. I make an awesome vegetable beef soup, but my duck soup is better than that. I'm looking forward to eating it tomorrow, and if there are left overs the following day. Yummmmmm.

I watched several Christmas movies and saw a couple I had never seen before. I thought I had seen them all, but apparently there are a few that I haven't seen. So, since they're showing seasonal movies longer this year, I'll have to check very closely the listings to make certain I catch all of them.

And to all a good night!

Addendum to busy, busy, busy

I had four near misses today while we were out on errands. People are in such a hurry today. The parking lot at Kroger's was the most treacherous. I don't like parking lots.

I go very slow backing out of a parking place because most times I'm wedged between two SUVs and can't see a thing on either side so I "peek" out and slowly back up. Today, there were two ladies unloading a car behind mine on the other side of the driving lane, and were talking and walking around into the middle of the driving lane as I was backing up. I saw them in my mirror, so I only backed up about 1/3 of the way into the driving lane, then pulled back up, and turned my wheels tightly, and backed up 1/3 again. It took me three back-ups to finally get out of the parking place because the ladies were there. Then there were three cars waiting for my parking place. I didn't see who finally got the space, but I'll bet it was that SUV waiting for a space!

I also had a really near miss at an intersection. I went through on a yellow light, and I was going straight so I had the right-of-way. But the guy coming the other way in an SUV (they know they can kill cars, those drivers) was turning left and he turned in front of me. The light turned red and I was in the intersection. The person on my left on the main road I was crossing was on the phone and didn't see me in the telephone until....

Well, let's say he had 2 inches before my bag would have blown up! Then there was Walgreen's parking lot. I usually do okay in there, but today, there was a car going the wrong way, not following the arrows, and again, a near miss.

Tonight I burned the chicken, so I called it blackened chicken. Alan loved it, I hated it. I couldn't believe he wanted more. He doesn't like chicken. I guess I found the key -- just burn it and then let it get dried out. He'll love it.

Not only did I burn the chicken, I burned my hand and my arm.

Not my best day ever.

ttfn

Busy, busy, busy

That's what I've been, b..., b...., b.... And I still have a pile of gifts to wrap! But I made a small dent in the pile, and there is now room to get a vacuum into my office. After the Christmas things are all dispersed, then all I'll have to do is have a sale of the excess scrapbooking samples and my office will once again look like it did shortly after we moved in -- cute, homey, cozy. I'll be so glad to be rid of all the mess.

We had a wonderful time at Cyndi's last night. I was feeling so good in the a.m., then I fizzled by around 2 p.m., but was able to go on again by the time we had to be at her home, which looked beautiful, I might add.

Today is another good day. Alan and I went out and ran several errands -- bank, hair cut for him, Kroger's (he went in, I didn't), Walgreens (I went in, he didn't), etc. And now we're back home and getting ready for a nap.

When you're a baby you take a nap, then you get too "big" to take a nap, then you get old, and "nap time" is one of the joys of your life. Is that what is meant by "the circle of life?"

ttfn

Argh!

Okay, I want to know how they know that I'm cooking dinner and am not real close to a telephone?

It happens almost every night. No matter what time I fix dinner, whether it's between 5 and 6, or 6 and 7, or 7 and 8. It seems I no sooner get started on the cooking part, you know the part where you can't leave the stove because you have to turn the meat, or stir the rice, or lower the boiling potatoes, or something like that? And, ring, ring, ring, off goes the telephone with someone calling to tell me to vote for somebody, or would I please give to this charity or that. And, yes, we're on the list of "don't call me."

Well, tonight, was no exception and it went downhill from there. And because I was having a bad walking day, Alan bore the brunt of my angst. Poor thing. I feel so sorry for him. First, he has to eat whatever I prepare, which is almost always something I like, and rarely something he likes (like ham). Then he really has no input as to what sides he can order, he gets what he gets. And I rarely do dessert, which he loves.

Well, tonight it was the clicker thing again. I mean it's so annoying when he wants to see what's going to be "on tonight" during the last five minutes if NCIS, you know the part when they wrap up the show and let you know "who done it?" So that was irritant number three or four, I had lost count by then. And then when I got up to put the dishes into the kitchen, he wanted me to walk back and get him the clicker before I headed into the bedroom and back into bed. Well, I blew up. And he didn't understand why. And I couldn't explain it.

All I could say to him was I don't know why I blew up, it's just that I hurt really bad and you wanted me to walk those extra steps to get you the clicker. What I didn't say was, he could have gotten up and gotten the clicker just as well as asked me to get it.

Then, as I was turning my body and going out of sight (that's a play on Santa's actions in The Night before Christmas) I said to him that I needed to give him a shot and I would do that after CSI, at which point he told me I also HAD to put drops in his eyes and rub the rub on his chest. Whereupon I retored, I don't HAVE to do those things if I choose not to. You can do them yourself. And he could and has had to when I've been away. But he really couldn't give himself a shot.

So after the blow up, which I'm still fuming over -- and not because of Alan, but because of those stupid phone calls which started the whole thing -- I went into the bedroom and laid down to watch CSI (Because I thought it was the last one with Grissom) and low and behold I fell asleep before CSI started and woked up around 1/2 hour ago.

Will I sleep tonight? Probably not! But I didn't get up until 2 p.m. today, and after only five hours of being awake I was zonked out. It must be my hybernation season. I go through those seasons.

And, one more thing (to my dear diary), I am so very glad that it is almost December 21, because on December 22 that means that the days will be getting longer (daylight hours) and I will be a much nicer person. I know that because daylight makes me happy, and it seems these nonsensical political/seasonal give to me calls only happen after dark.

ttfn

Four wonderful days

NOTE: AFTER I WROTE THIS EPISODE, I published the pictures of my home on the Runnemede Remembered website (link at the side). I've included one of those pictures here.

Well, the Lord gave me four wonderful, relatively pain-free days. Praise Him!

Even with the fall down the steps, I was able to walk without aid and pain. However, this morning I was wakened in pain again. Another flare up? We'll see. I've drugged up and I'll know shortly if that works. I hate drugging up, because I don't see well, I'm in a fog, and the only benefit is that the pain is reduced.

We went to a church small-group Christmas party last night. I did nothing but carry in a vegetable tray that my personal shopper picked up for me to bring to the gathering as my contribution to the food table. I also had a tray of cookies to take with me, but I forgot them! Duh!

My neck is very stiff today and that could be from the fall. After a bout with dizziness yesterday, which laying down seemed to clear up, I have had no ill effects from the tumble.

My little elf -- decorator -- finished what I started on the stairs and my "vision" is really pretty. I'll have to take a picture and post is. In fact, I'll have to take several pictures and post them because my home looks really, really nice this year, even without a big tree. The small ones are just enough, and while I would like to have a tall tree, we just don't have a place to store it when Christmas is over. So, I'm content with such things as I have.

I thank God for the days of relief he gave me and pray that today will pass quickly and relief will come back.

One more thing: If you haven't read the book: Multiple Blessings by Kate Gosslin (of Jon and Kate plus 8 fame), get a copy and read it. What a wonderful book. Best I've read in ages. And it tells how God got them through the ordeal of birthing 6 healthy children (all at one time) and how their reliance on our Savior for their daily lives through that and since then has been what has upheld them in the past 5 years. It's a great book. For you non-readers, or moms who think they don't have time, this is a quick read -- it took me three hours, start to finish.

ttfn

I always knew...

that the extra padding I have on my body would come in handy. Actually, it has come in handy many times.

Today --

Well, let me begin at the beginning. I was feeling really good again this morning, so I went to the Post Office and took care of some mailings I had to do, then I went to Busken's and got some really good Philadelphia Cinnamon buns. Yummmmm.

Then after finishing a bun and some coffee, I decided to finish decorating. I was going to put something on the landing shelf that was Christmas-y, and take away what I have there now.

Well, I got the lights, the angel hair, and the bubble wrap down to the landing, but I forgot there was an extra step, that turns the stairs around. It's been a long time since I've gone down the steps. My exercises were taking me up the steps.

Anyway, I missed the step and fell down the rest of the steps, all 8 of them. Bang, bump, boom. I hit my head, hurt my wrist, but nothing else. In fact, my legs and knees are fine and except for maybe a stiff neck tomorrow, I'm fine. No concussion (I was worried about that because I saw stars when I hit my head), and no broken bones. At least if I have any they don't hurt, so I'll just leave them alone.

It was difficult, however, getting myself back up. Poor Alan. I scared him to death. He thought I was a goner. After a struggle of about five minutes, I wedged myself between the wall and the floor and pushed myself into a sitting position on the bottom step, then Alan was able to give me the leverage I needed to stand up.

Then I walked up the steps and Alan forbade me to touch the Christmas things on the steps. I am to leave them for Tamara or Rachel to work on. Okay. I'll try to stay away from them, but I hear them calling me. And I don't think I'll take a tumble again. Once burnt, you know.

So, I'm okay. Like you needed to know anyway.

10 DTC

I did it!

I cannot believe how well I feel today. I started feeling really good last night (after dinner) and have improved so much since then.

Now what is it that makes this happen? One day I can barely move, the next, I could almost kick my heels together (not quite, but almost). Today was such a day. I think it's because I slept clear through for 7 straight hours and I didn't toss in the bed as I usually do, which means the legs don't move where they're not supposed to and that causes those joint bones to rub the wrong way.

Anyway, I decided I would take advantage of the well-being. I love Chinese. Alan hates for me to just go to the Chinese restaurant and get food -- according to him it's a waste of gas. But today, I decided to hit two places and see how I stood up to it.

First, I went to the Hallmark store, which is practically next door to the Chinese restaurant. I overspent, but I had to get individual Christmas cards to put in the mail for each of the grandchildren. Do you know how much cards cost? I won't go there! Anyway, I qualified for several of those snowmen things that you can get for $14.95 instead of $25. I bought two! One for me, and one for someone else.

Then because I parked halfway between the Hallmark store and the Chinese place, I walked to the car, dropped off the Hallmark purchases and went into the Chinese place. It smells so good in there. And I ordered up -- stuff to freeze, and things for lunch for me for a week, as well as dinner for tonight!

And, here's the best part. I'm still walking. Still sitting. Still laying down and no pain. It's just amazing. Somebody out there has been and is praying for me, and to them, I say THANKS!!!!!

DTC-11

What a nice break!

Well, I did it. I actually made dinner for more than Alan and myself. Yes, my son, Phil and his wife, my dear daughter-in-law came over for dinner -- at my invitation -- and I cooked. I made a veal roast with mashed potatoes and corn and some cranberry relish. I didn't do a salad because I'm the only one who really enjoys a salad. I don't think Amy really likes salad, but she eats it to be polite, so I just didn't make one.

We had water and Summer Wine with the meal, and lots of good conversation.

We were able to do this because tonight was "free" night at Phil's and Amy's church. They were able to have free baby-sitting for three hours, just enough time for dinner and some chatting. And I'm so glad we were able to have them over. I really am. It was a nice break.

I felt like my bones were broken by the time we sat down to dinner, but by the time dinner was over and I was able to relax for a while, I felt pretty good.

Amy is obviously not over pneumonia. Phil has bronchitis. And my dear Amy was so tired, just walking up our steps exhausted her. I should have sent the elevator down to the foyer for her. Well, we all took the elevator down when they left, and I went out to their car with them and passed several bags of goodies from my car to theirs -- things I've been carrying in my trunk from Becky and Cyndi (for Amy) for over a month. I also had a bag of sheets that don't fit on any of our beds, which will fit hers.

All in all I was very, very pleased with the evening. Oh, I said that, didn't I?

DTC - 12

I'm back for a short while

Well, I was away from the computer for five days. I didn't miss it much, either.

Well, yes, I did. I am getting caught up on the 10 BLOGs I read every day -- if they are updated. And then I'm off to bed.

It's been a very painful five days, but in that time, the house was cleaned again, and it smells so nice and fresh. A young lady put up my outdoor lights and decorated the inside as well. It looks rather nice. She was selective, and told me frankly she thought some of my stuff was, well, dated. So we got rid of the "dated" stuff. Pitched it. That should make my children happy -- getting rid of junk.

I still have a box of Christmas tree ornaments that will either go to one of my children, or one of my grandchildren, or be pitched. I want to get it out of the minuscule attic I have.

Back to the pain. I had another fibro attack and am leaving most of the pain behind. Again, I over did, and the doctor told me I need to really learn to pace myself. But who can pace themselves at this time of year. It's rush, rush, rush, and then when you think you've got it under control, someone throws in another party or two and you're obligated to make something to take with you, which puts pressure on someone for whom cooking is the most painful task of all the tasks that have to be done. And then anxiety sets in and the circle starts all over again.

I MUST learn to pace myself. I MUST learn to pace myself. I MUST learn to pace myself.

ttfn

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ

I was laying in bed thinking about Mary and what it must have been like for her in last month of pregnancy, carrying the Son of God, and then delivering the baby.

I know with my first child, every little movement my son made, every tightening of my belly, every cramp was a little frightening. Was this twinge the beginning of labor. How long would my labor be? Would it hurt a lot? (Yes, it did.) Would it be a long labor? (No, it wasn't.)

Did Mary have any fears or was she so aware of God presence with her during that time of her life that she had perfect peace knowing that soon she would deliver God's only begotten son?

When it was time for delivery, was it a quick labor? Did she even have to go through labor? Or, was God merciful to her and she delivered her baby with some Braxton-Hix (not yet invented) contractions and then with just a few cramps? Did she even have any cramping before she delivered our Lord, Jesus Christ?

Was she embarassed to deliver her baby with her husband's assistance -- a husband who did not "know" her?

After she birthed our Lord, was he a "good" baby? Did he cry a lot? Did he sleep through the night, or did Mary endured what all new mother's endure -- sleepless nights and sleepless days?

We know so little about Mary and her birth of Jesus, but we know it happened, because it is recorded in God's Word.

These were just a some of things I was wondering about a few days ago.

mtf

The days pass swiftly

The older I get, the faster the days speed by. Today was another one of those fast days. I mean some days -- rarely, though -- are slow days, most are speeding by at warp speed. It is just me, or is that something that happens as one gets older and older and older? Life goes faster and faster and faster.

I went to the doctor today. All is well. My BP was down and so I'm on a new lower dose BP medicine -- yes! And I didn't go up on any of the other meds. I told her (my doctor), and I'll tell my "diary" that I think I've found a good mix -- at least it seems to be working pretty well.

I still hurt when I walk too much, but I did walk a bit today and, while I've been suffering leg cramps when I walk a lot, I am not having any today, so maybe I just needed to walk more and get some strength back. You see, I forget, and I should remember, because Alan has the same problem -- when you don't walk much you lose the ability to walk well and need to get those muscles working again. Even if it hurts, I have to make myself walk even if it's only 10 times around the house.

I did quite a bit today -- after I went to the doctor, I spent an hour at Dollar Tree. I love that store. I got more stuff for our Christmas bash -- more costume stuff. I mean if the children are going to act out the Christmas account as told by Luke, I needed some angel wings because there were angels in that account. And shepherds -- I got a couple of beards! I figure shepherds have beards. I hope the kids enjoy this "play" they're going to put on for me.

Then Alan had made an appointment for ME to take the Hyundai into the service center to get a part replaced. That was real special -- NOT! I had just gotten situated in the waiting room, and they told me it was fixed already. I was glad it went fast, though. I don't find those waiting room chairs very comfortable.

And, I made a superb dinner tonight. At least I thought so. And, Alan finished his whole plate and would have had more if I had made enough for more than two people.

It has taken me a long time to learn to cook for two. When I was growing up I cooked for six, then it was the two of us, and I really never learned to cook down as we almost always had someone (a hungry student or two) drop in for dinner. Then we started having babies, and before I knew it I was cooking for five, and now it's two, and has been two for many years, and I think I finally got it right. Oh, sometimes, I make too much, but then we just eat the left overs the next day.

Now, how did I get off on that tangent? Well, it's late at night. I'm tired. I've been up and moving since 7 a.m. I think it's time I turned in.

ttfn

Eye okay

Well, today was Alan's second post-surgery visit to the doctor. He's clear for another month. The eye is healing nicely, but still not well enough to get examined for glasses, if necessary. So, we still do the drops-in-the-eye thing four times a day and the patch at night. Last night, Alan forgot the patch and promptly poked himself in the eye. Duh!

I was up again at 5:30 a.m. Don't know why my body is getting me up so early. I haven't gotten up that early since I had to when I was working. Of course, I hit the hay at around 11:00 p.m. and am out like a light, so it's okay to be up so early.

Am I getting more things accomplished? No, of course, not. I did get out some snowmen today, though and got them set up. So, I'm starting to get my home decorated for the season. My season lasts until mid-February, because while everyone else decorates for Christmas, I decorate for the season -- WINTER. I put snowmen all over the place, and I put up trees with lights on them -- small trees, four-foot-high trees. No large tree for us.

First of all, it takes up too much storage space. Second, it is too hard for us to put together anymore. The last time we did the large tree thing, Alan was so exhausted it took him a week -- no joke -- a whole week to recover. And that was with my help. I couldn't do it alone, nor do I want to do it alone. So, while I don't have a large tree, I have mini-trees, and I think they look nice.

So, I'm slowly getting boxes out of the attic. Very slowly. If I hurt, I don't move any boxes. If I don't hurt, I move one box. And, I'm limiting myself to two boxes per day. That way, I figure I won't injure anything.

I guess I did accomplish something in the wee hours this morning. I did two loads of laundry. That's something, right?

ttfn

Lovely weekend

Well, I spent a great day plus with my Indiana grandchildren. When I arrived at their home, mom and dad (my daughter and son-in-law) left almost immediately to do their annual Christmas shopping. The children and I "went to town" so to speak.

First, it was decided that because they had waited sooooooo long for me-mom to show up and teach them to knit, that would be the first project. Even Dan, he's 10, wanted to learn how to knit. The girls, Annie and Grace caught on right away. Dan? Well, let's say that 10-year-old male hands are not as coordinated as 9-year-old girl hands, and poor Dan just got frustrated and went back to writing his book.

Oh, yeah. He's writing a book. He's on Chapter 1! I can't tell you what it's about because right now it's in the "developmental" stage. But watch for it. It's about swords.

After the knitting lesson, we got something to eat for dinner and watched "Anne of Green Gables" (Part 1) while we were eating. Then we made a mess -- we made Christmas cards and did a "sprinkles" sprinkling art project with them. I tried to keep the sprinkles all in one place so they wouldn't get all over my daughter's kitchen floor, and I think we succeeded. By the time we finished it was almost 10 p.m. We all went to bed at the same time.

Mom and dad were still not home, and I have no idea when they came in. I fell asleep right away, and slept until around 5:00 a.m., then leg pain caused me to get up and move around and get going for the day. I know that's extremely early for me, but sometimes that happens. Dan was up at 6 a.m., and Annie was up around 6:30 a.m. We played a computer game until their mother arose around 7:30 a.m.

Finally, I was able to spend some time with my daughter while the family got ready for church. It was a very, very nice visit.

I did well physically, also. I'm wondering if wood floors are helpful to my legs. We have cement board under our carpeting and bathroom and kitchen floors, which has no give whatsoever. Anyway, I didn't have to use the walker at all, and my knees were in good shape except for the early morning wake-up call, which is not unusual.

So, dear folks, it was a nice weekend. Oh, yes, oh the way home I stopped by a former co-worker of mine's home to see her new baby. What a cutie! And, it was nice to see my friend again as well.

ttfn

Off to Indiana

Well, it's Saturday -- it's been a few days since I last posted. Not so busy, just not wanting to get attached to the computer.

I'm leaving in a few hours to visit my daughter and her family in Southern Indiana -- about 75 miles from here. The grandchildren and I are going to make Christmas cards, and I'm supposed to teach the two girls how to knit. We'll see how that goes. Probably very well, as both girls are very coordinated.

I'm praying that my leg, knee, hip, and back hold out and I am able to walk without much difficulty. Since the last "flare up" I've been doing quite well. Since then I prepared a full thanksgiving dinner, which my husband enjoyed so much he had seconds. He rarely has seconds of anything, not that I make enough for most meals for him to enjoy that possibility, but when I do, he doesn't partake. So, it was a compliment to the chef that he asked for more.

Of course, the pies are being rationed, otherwise, they'd be gone. He seems to not know that you have to monitor your intake of food or you'd be in bed and weigh over 500 pounds. As soon as he hits 275, I panic and starve him, which means I take away all bread and sweets. Since he doesn't like veggies, he eats very little until he realizes that I mean what I say, and then he ingests vegetables as well as meat. eggs. and cheese.

But, I'm heading out. I hope Alan can cope for 24 hours without me. He will probably not eat anything but the two pieces of pie that are left, and drink a couple of cups of coffee. The fridge is full of things for him to eat, but opening the refrigerator door might be more than I could ask for.
Oh, well, a day of fasting won't hurt him.

I'm so looking forward to seeing Annie, Gracie, and Dan again. It's been, what? Two months? At least that long since I saw them. So, it will be to much fun to be with them again. We always have fun. Dan is a hoot, so grown up, yet such a little boy. Annie and Gracie are growing into young ladies, and I keep pushing on the tops of their heads to try to keep them from growing up.

I have one regret -- I didn't spend a whole lot of time with them when they were babies. Alan was so sick with cancer that I really couldn't' even get away for 24 hours. As it is, this 24-hour time is something I relish and enjoy to the fullest.

mtf

Wonderful day!

I just can't comment enough on how great today has been. Really no pain at all, not even on standing, which is usually when it hurts the most. I really don't understand what my body is doing, but I guess the "flare up" has flared down. Thank you all, again, for your prayers for me.

I did several things today that I haven't been able to do for over a week. First I could stand up without the aid of the walker, and have almost decided we don't need a "pop-up" chair (yes, we do and Furniture Fair has them at a reasonable price.) Second, I went to the funeral and it meant a lot of walking in a big church and outside from the parking lot to get into the church, and it didn't hurt. Then, I went to the meat market. And while, that really isn't much walking, it's a lot of standing while my order is filled, because I didn't call it in ahead of time. And still my leg was feeling good. No trouble driving or getting in or out of the car. I did have my "crutch" (walker) with me all the time, and that really does help, but I was strolling along at a rather rapid clip today.

Also, it doesn't hurt if someone gives me a hug, or if Alan touches me, or when I'm in bed in any position but flat on my back.

In all this, I realize that my kidneys really aren't working as well as they should be. I can tell this because I'm drinking tons of liquids and not expelling very much. Another prayer request? Yes, by all means.

If it weren't for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and his healing power, I know I would be so much worse off than I am.

I talked with a couple of my neighbors today. All of us were using walkers and talking about having walker races. I'd opt out of that event. But, we also all agreed that while we are housebound a lot, even chair bound, or bed bound, we could be in a much worse position than we are from time to time. God gives the strength we need when we need it, and it seems that He does that more often than not. It's just that the "down" time goes so much slower than the "up" time.

Well, time to go praise and pray -- it's night time -- bed time -- and I still have a very long list of folks that I need to pray for, including Alan. His eye looks really, really good now, and the pressure seems to have lifted some. He goes to the doctor next Monday.

mtf

Thank you all for praying

I can actually walk today without much pain. It's marvelous. I also slept well last night and didn't have the pressure point pain I get from the fibromyalgia. So, thank you all for praying about that for me. I know that's why I'm feeling better. God has helped me get through another fibro attack.

In a few minutes we are going to a funeral service for another one of our neighbors who died. Ken lived downstairs, right under us, and has been a help to us personally, and the entire building collectively. His wife, Teresa, hasn't been well for several years, and she and I would "walk" using our scooters on summer evenings. So, today we say our final farewell to Ken. He was also a veteran of the Korean war and he and Teresa have five children (well, they're adults not in their 50s).

I shall miss Ken and the status of whether Teresa is going to continue living here is up in the air. I hope she stays. I would miss her a lot.

mtf

How much have you done?

My friend, Stacia, put this list on her BLOG and so I'm putting it on mine (she got it from her friend, who got it from another BLOG). I (as did she) bolded the things I've done in my life. How many have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World/Disney Land
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

So, I've done a few things in my life, and some on the list I would love to do, but probably never will (visit the land of my ancestors in Abruzzi Italy), but I'm happy with what I have done in my life. And, of course, there those items on the list which I really don't care to even think about doing (rock climbing? bungee jumping?)

Just a little levity for a dreary, raining/snowy afternoon.

mtf

Thanks

Thanks to those who told me how to spell "cupboard." As soon as I saw it, I knew that was it. As a child I won spelling bee after spelling bee after spelling bee. I never lost one that I entered, but lately, since having several strokes, I find that spelling is not one of my best subjects. Bummer.

I've been away for a while -- not out of town, just away from the computer. Is it the weather that is causing this absence? Don't know. All I know is that walking has not been happening and over the weekend Alan and I made several decisions.

First, we're getting a pop-up chair for me -- pushing myself up with my legs is so very painful any more I know what people mean when they say they "blacked out from the pain." Once I get walking -- after about 10 or 11 steps, I can bear the pain much better, but getting to that point is not happening very often.

Second, we have hired a dear lady to clean for me and to do my food shopping. In a panic over the weekend, after not being able to reach my daughter-in-law, Amy, I called my best friend, whom I hate to burden with my problems because she has enough of her own, and asked her to please do some food shopping for me. As I mentioned in my last post the "cupboard" was bare, truly. It's still mostly empty, and I really need to get out to the butcher, but at least I can order what I need and it will be waiting for me at the door, and Alan can go inside and get the package. And my new "personal shopper" lives near the butcher and that will be handy as well.

Third, I'm going to have a teenager come in and get my attic cleaned out and put up my Christmas decorations. That will be fun for her and for me.

Fourth -- and really this should have been put first -- is that I'm asking all of you to pray for my health. I know that pain causes stress and can lead to all kinds of other things not connected to the cause of the pain. I would like to be a little more pain free. It was so bad this weekend that when my friend gave me a hug, or should I say "tried to give me a hug" I pushed her away because the touch hurt so bad.

Fifth, if Medicare will pay for a hoover-round chair for me, we'll get one. We have a wheel chair, but that requires me using my arms, which are very sore from using them to keep my legs from full pressure on the floor. And, I'm wondering, how do I cook or do anything like that from wheel-chair height. The hoover-rounds have me sitting about six to 10 inches higher than the wheel-chair does.

I have to say, I never thought I would be in this state of disrepair at such an early age -- yes, younguns, 65 is an early age when most of your neighbors are in their mid-80s. Alan and I are the "kids" of the neighborhood.

I'm happy that God has still given me breath, and that I'm able to be here for Alan's recovery from eye surgery. And, for those of you who asked, he's coming along, slowly. The eye isn't as red as it was, and it's not weeping and gunky anymore. It still hurts him, and that along with a mild shingles flare-up is making him very uncomfortable. The stitches come out in 7 days. I can actually see these tiny stitches when I put the drops in his eyes. It's amazing what doctors can do these days. And the cornea is clear now, not cloudy as it had been for the first few days, so I'm praying that it is attaching itself properly and that he will have good sight in that eye.

Well, I'm going to be at the computer as long as my back holds out today. So, I may have a more happier post later in the day.

mtf

The best thing about today

Well, today it snowed. That's the best thing about today.

I was supposed to have Becky visit me and go food shopping with Tori, but that was not to be. I woke up with a migraine -- full fledged migraine, including the barfing. It lasted until around 7 p.m. tonight -- at least that's when I realized it was gone.

Alan's eye seems to be healing nicely. He goes back to the doctor on December 1 for post-op, stitch removal. He says he sees some things, but we still have the patch on the eye because he wants to scratch it, and that's the only way we can keep him from doing that. I know he's supposed to have it exposed to the air, but which is worse, no air or tearing out the stitches?

The eye is much better today than yesterday. No gunk build up like yesterday. And he says the pain is gone. If the itching stops we'll remove the patch except when he sleeps.

Tomorrow is our Community Thanksgiving dinner. I guess I'll have to make green-bean casserole because I am not up for going to Kroger's, and my cubbard (how do you spell that, I've spell checked it three times and nothing comes up) is almost bare -- I mean really almost bare. I was supposed to go Krogering with Tori -- my personal shopper -- today, but puking and shopping don't mix. So, I'm between a rock and a hard place as far as food in the house is concerned. At least tomorrow's meals are taken care of, and maybe I'll be up for going to Kroger's, but I'm not holding my breath.

mtf

Cornea transplant

Alan's surgery went just fine. He was in the hospital at 8:30 a.m., and out, all finished by noon. St. Elizabeth's has a separate center for in/out surgery. We really liked that concept a lot. And, there is very little walking to do for the patients -- another plus.

He's wearing a patch, and tomorrow we go back to the surgeon to see if it took. He will be on drugs/drops for a month, and we'll know tomorrow if the vision has been corrected. Right now, his right eye has 20/20 vision, except he needs glasses to read. If the surgery took, the other eye will be 20/20 as well, and the best news is no more contacts. And, he'll be less of a hazzard when he drives the car.

We did have some snow (again) overnight, and I saw a few flakes this morning as we were driving to the hospital. That's three days in a row for snow flakes. I love them. They're so Christmas-y, seasonal (?), friendly (like daisies), etc. Snow flakes without tons of accumulation in which I have to drive are one of God's pleasures to me. So, it was a pleasure to see them this morning, and I had hoped we would have had an inch or so, but it was not to be. Now, we just have the cold weather. Tonight, we're supposed to dip down into the high teens. We'll see.

Alan is off to play Euchre with one eye, but other than the headache from using just the one eye, he is fine. I'm off to open my last Creative Memories box. I've officially put myself on leave, and I doubt I will undo the leave when my leave allowance time is up. I have enjoyed the boxes as they arrive, and I will miss that aspect of CM, but I have enough supplies to last me through the rest of my proposed scrapbooks.

Also, in today's shipment were two large albums for babies. One is for a friend of mine who recently had a baby boy, and the other one is for my new grandchild, whatever sex that is -- I'm covered with covers of both colors, so if it's a girl, I have a cover, and if it's a boy I have a cover, and I thought ahead and got the "all in one" kits for both boy and girl.

That's it from N. KY for now. Enjoy the evening.

ttfn

Making Christmas Cards

How stupid can a grandmother be? I forgot to take pictures of the event, so I have only my memory and writing to remind me of this day.

I got up really early, around 6 a.m. I wasn't tired and I slept well from midnight to 6. I got myself a cup of coffee and took my meds. I purposely didn't take any at bedtime last night because I wanted to see if it made any difference in my sleeping ability and pain relief through the night. No noticeable difference, so I'm opting out of the drugs again tonight.

I was feeling very well, as I mentioned, so I called Amy and asked if she could bring her three oldest over to make Christmas cards. Well, there was a minor glitch, so only David and Rachel came over. Each child made 6 cards. They were cute cards and they did a good job, both of them.

Rachel, I must say, does have artistic talent, and she's ambidextrous. She was flipping those pencils and markers back and forth between both hands, and for a 5 year old, she does an amazing job at what she sets out to do. (She might be 6, but I think she's 5)

After the card making the children colored for a while, and Rachel's coloring was amazing -- I mean she didn't go out of the lines at all, and all the color inside the lines was neat and even. I don't think I could do any better than she did.

So, it was a good afternoon with those two grandchildren. Hopefully next week, I'll see some of my other grandchildren and get to make cards with them. But sickness keeps cropping up, and to protect Alan before and after surgery, we keep sick children away from him.

I'm so looking forward to Christmas. Rachel loves jewelry. So I gave her some dollar-store stuff that I had put away -- I keep a drawer of dollar store items for the grands, and let them choose what they want. It's difficult, however, to find things for boys -- at least my boys -- at the dollar store. Girls are easier to please. But I try to keep the drawer stocked. So, back to Rachel -- I'm going to make her a jewelry box for Christmas -- I bought some plain boxes at the dollar store, and I can decoupage one of them and put her name on it in gold glittery letters and put a neat "lock" on it and she'll have her own jewelry box. She told me she wished she had one because Rose -- her older sister -- has one.

That's how the day went.


I make plain old hamburgers for dinner, and Alan said they were the best hamburgers he's had in ages. Who knew? All I had to do was pat some ground round into a patty and salt and pepper it and fry it up in a pan (no fat added) with some onions on the side and he was happy. I'm glad I could make him happy. I try to do that at least once a day. :)

mtf

Alan's surgery

Well, it looks like we're all set for Alan's cornea replacement -- a long-overdue procedure. It's been put off twice now in three years. First, because he was sick. Then, second because the only hospital where it was performed, our insurance would not cover the hospital fees, which, we were told would be around $16,000. So, Alan decided he'd stay blind in the left eye. Well, this year, his eye surgeon is working another hospital in addition to the one that wouldn't accept our insurance. So, Alan will get his cornea transplant, assuming he is healthy for another few days.

I was concerned about being the person going with him because of my walking difficulties. Apparently, they have valet parking and you go right from the front door, into a waiting cubicle where there is little walking. We'll see. If worse comes to worse, I'll have to get a wheel chair at least for Alan, who definitely won't be able to handle any long walks.

We've been talking about going to Bermuda in April (the 17-24) of 2009, but I still haven't booked the cruise because of how badly we're both walking. I don't want to spend the bucks to go to Bermuda if I can't get off the boat. I don't mind spending the money for a cruise, but I hate to miss seeing Bermuda -- again. We went there 42 plus years ago for our honeymoon. I'm hoping I can still operate one of the scooters. I think they have golf carts now for rental to get you from place to place.

The biggest most best thing we wanted to do during retirement was travel and had saved money for several LARGE, expensive trips. It's not that the money has disappeared in the economic/banking debacle, it's just that we don't want to spend money on something we wouldn't enjoy. So, we do enjoy cruising, and wouldn't mind going on a cruise to no where particularly, or even going to some place we've been before, and just staying on the boat. But the way we both are feeling and walking at this point, we're just putting all travel on hold.



Today I'm feeling very much like I have a bad case of the flu without the throat/cold symptoms. Just the terrible aches. Another fibro flare up? Who knows. This week hasn't been a good one.

I was, however, able to get everything done outside the home that had to be done and even did a little Christmas shopping.

One final note: A dear friend of ours, Evelyn Cole, went to be with Jesus this morning. She was our pastor's wife -- our original pastor here in Cincinnati -- he was retired a few years ago, but was still active in the church. She was a wonderful mentor to me, and I shall miss her very much.

ttfn

Cooking shows

I have simply got to stop watching cooking shows (or reading books where food is discussed) just before I go to bed.

I just watched Top Chef and am now starved -- well, not really, but all those dishes that made me salivate, and now I THINK I'm hungry. This happens often at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. when I'm reading in bed, and the author is describing a dish the hero or heroine is cooking, listing all those wonderful ingredients and spices and how it is cooked to perfection, and describing how it tastes. I almost have to get up and get something to eat. ARGHH!

The best thing is: I don't keep junk food around, so that's not an option at these "hunger"moments. I'm not about to go cook myself a three-course dinner, or even one- course for that matter.

So what do I do? Well, if I'm fortunate, I have some bubble gum around and I can chew a piece of that, drink a glass of water, and I'm fine. If not? Well, I turn the light out and hopefully go to sleep thinking about breakfast!

mtf

No news

No news on Alan's MRI. We're assuming (I had a boss who told me over and over, never assume) that Alan's MRI is unchanged from last year. If there were a problem we should have heard from the doctor by now. An unchanged MRI is good news.

I am trying very hard to get myself walking well enough to get to the butcher's so I can get some lunch meat and cheese and bread and milk, all of which we are without currently. And for dinner, we're down to either chili or meatloaf -- Alan's preference is definitely meatloaf, but it's a chili day. The weather is dreary and rainy, and even the house feels cold, even though the thermostat temperature reads 70 degrees -- the temperature at which we keep it in winter.

My toes are cold as are my fingers as I type, and my nose. It will soon be earmuff weather. I wear earmuffs indoors because I get earaches frequently in the winter and the earmuffs seem to keep the earaches down. I know it looks stupid and may even be stupid, but if it works, I do it.

People have suggested a hat with ear flaps, but the air seeps in and that just doesn't work as well as plain old earmuffs. Unfortunately, I don't recall where I put my earmuffs, but I do remember that I was down to one pair, all others having broken. Maybe I will make a pair for myself which would tie under the chin and wouldn't have the plastic head-band type connector. Nah!

I slept very little last night, but I don't feel tired. Of course, I have been on a sleep run this past week, so maybe my body has caught up and now I'm back to my normal 5-6 hours a night.

Well, I went through two plastic buckets of "small gifts" -- those are gifts I give to friends and neighbors for Christmas and which I stock from year to year. I think I have plenty for this year. Some are nicer than others, and I even have several I can use for "prizes" at our Christmas week games this year. We do games rather than stuff stockings.

So, it's a day for reflection, indoor projects, and I'm off to make a few more Christmas cards. I have started addressing the envelopes, and I find that I have so many to address. I never used to do cards at Christmas time, but when Alan ran for the local board, I sent cards to all the residents in our small community, and that was 6 years ago. Since then the list of our friends and neighbors has decreased due to those who have passed on, but the list of our friends from other areas of our lives has increased, so the list is higher than it was six years ago.

I know I've written about my mother taking so much time to do Christmas cards, but she always included a small message in each card. I just sign "Alan and Judi Hahn" and that's it. No messages. That says a lot -- we are alive, we can afford to send you a card, we miss you, we hope you have a great Christmas, etc., etc., etc.

If you don't get a card it's just an oversight, my BLOG will reflect that we are alive, we can afford to send you a card but lost your address, we miss you, we hope you have a great Christmas, etc., etc., etc.

ttfn

MRIs

Alan had his 18th MRI -- full body -- in 9 years. He goes through this torture minimally once a year, and back when he was in full cancer treatment, four times a year. Needless to say a full-body MRI is expensive, a lot of it not covered by insurance. But, it's the only procedure he will agree to have each year, besides his quarterly blood tests. I say torture because a full-body MRI is quite long, although Christ Hospital's full body seems to take a lot less time than the full-body MRIs he's received in the past. I was expecting him to be at the Hospital at least until 3 p.m., and he was home by 11 a.m. While he was in a lot of pain, his biggest complaint was a headache. I can understand that. That drum, drum, drum of the MRI machine makes me nuts.

I've noticed a bulge in the area where he had shingles, and he is constantly complaining about the pain from this. Hopefully, this MRI will give us some light as to what is causing this pain. He also had a bone scan.

He went in at 8:00 a.m. and requested someone to wheel him to and fro, which Christ Hospital provided for him. He used valet parking as well. I just couldn't go with him. My legs weren't moving by 7 a.m., even though I had gotten up at 5 a.m. and was trying to get them functioning. I'm finding that it is taking me longer and longer each day to get mobile. But once I get mobile I have a two to three hour window of opportunity to get things done. Today I got four loads of laundry done. Folding the dried laundry is the most problematic, as it pulls on the sciatic nerve each time I bend over to retrieve the clothes from the dryer. And standing for the amount of time it takes for me to fold and/or hang a load of laundry after it's dried is also more and more hurtful to the knees.

I also was able to cook a decent dinner tonight. Now, it's 8 p.m. and I feel like I've been dragged behind a horse as my whole body feels like it has road burns even the parts that aren't touching anything. Still mid-flare up I suppose. Seems like the meds haven't been working for a few days. And I don't want to up the dosage. So I wait as long as I can before I take another dose of the meds.

I have a dear friend who is in her last few days on this earth. She is in such awful pain that I cannot complain about my pain which is nothing like what I believe she is enduring. She's at the stage where unless she is placed in a drug-induced coma, which isn't in her nature to ask for, she is in the top level of pain. I can only pray that God will ease her pain in these waining hours of her life, and take her home to be with Him where there is no more pain.

mtf

Another day is gone from my life

And, I'm glad it is. Not that it wasn't a good day. It was a fine day. I got up earlier than usual because I had to leave the house by 9:15 a.m. to be at Grandparent's Day at the Hahn kids' school. (See http://www.runnemederemembered.blogspot.com) It was, therefore, a good day. I got to spend time with Rachel -- she was my assigned grandchild for the day. I was supposed to go and watch Ellie after that, but Cyndi called and apparently Tori had fallen down the basement steps -- she's okay -- but wasn't feeling like she wanted to go to gym class today. So it was cancelled for her and therefore her brothers. I was also supposed to do Christmas cards with them, but after walking through the school building, and then to my car -- two directions -- which was quite a long walk, even though I parked in handicapped parking -- I was so sore that I felt I couldn't do justice to any Christmas card -- or helping design any -- today. So I came home and, once again, laid on my back for several hours. Seems to be a trend in my life.

I get up, do what I HAVE to do for the day, and then am prone, flat on my back by around 3:00 p.m. each day. I am not liking that lifestyle.

Alan has a full-body MRI tomorrow, and we don't have a clue where we're going, except that it's at Christ Hospital. We are to go to the info desk -- which is in the front of the building, and the MRI room could be anywhere else in that huge hospital. Boy am I going to hurt after that walk. And Alan, will probably have severe wobbling problems. At least I can get him a wheelchair if that happens. Then the wheelchair becomes my walker. That's the way life is these days.

I am alive and Alan is alive, and while we are both in pain most of the time, we are grateful to our Lord for the time he gives us, and I thank him for the time I can spend with my grandchildren, even if it hurts afterwards.

ttfn

It's been a while

Today was election day, 2008. It was a beautiful day here in northern Kentucky. Kentucky does NOT have early voting, which I think is best. It just seems to me it's too easy to have false results when you can vote everyday for two weeks prior to the actual election day, which I believe is SUPPOSED TO BE the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Not the last two weeks of October up to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

I also think we should use the Iraqi system to make sure no one votes more than once. I mean, when a city has more people voting than are in their actual ADULT population, there's something wrong there. If we used the Iraqi system where you put you finger in indelible ink, ink that won't wash off for 30 days, it would be very easy to make sure no one votes more than once. At least part of the various fraudulent voting would be eliminated. I wouldn't mind wearing a blue finger for a few weeks, I'd wear it proudly, more proudly than that little sticker they give you.

So, it was a beautiful day. I made it to the polling place. Alan worked the polls today and he was exhausted when he got home as it was quite a day here in KY as far as turn out goes. I walked right through, no long line at all. I checked in with my PHOTO ID, went right to a booth and pushed the touch screen. Another thing that bothers me. I think we should have the old fashioned ballots where you mark it with a pencil and fold it and place it in a ballot box. And YOU HAVE TO SIGN YOUR NAME TO IT.

I also had a fibro flare up today and so I've been in a lot of pain all over my body all day long. I didn't sleep last night at all. Alan had to get up at 4 a.m. to get to the polling place by 5 a.m. and I had to get up to make his lunch and get his coffee ready and the thermos filled. Then I couldn't get to sleep after that. Don't know whether it was anxiety or excitement. I didn't sleep all day either -- I hurt too much.

And now, it's 10:20 p.m. Barak Husein Obama has been elected, and the SS will be collected in the next few weeks. I hope you all read about his idea to have a non-military military to control the citizenry -- hmmm I thought that was the job of the National Guard, not a new brown-shirt type police body. That's what has me most irritated about this whole election -- the suppression of so much of what Mr. Obama really believes should be the way this country should be run and changed over to Communism, clear and simple -- skip the socialism. His plans sound so Hitlerian to me.

However, that said, he is the president. He is the person God has ordained to be the President for this time, and as such we are to respect him. Believe me, I will be praying for him every day.

Take heart, folks. If this is the end of the USA as us older folks know and love it, so be it. The Lord's return is close. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To HIM (the Christ) be all honor and glory. Amen.

ttfn

Autumnal beauty and the flu

I was thinking today as I look out the porch windows, how much I was missing my sister, because she really does love my sun porch, and the view this time of year is beautiful. I think the colors are more vivid this year than any of the seven previous years we've lived here. And, that's surprising.

We had so little rainfall this past summer, and while it wasn't excessively hot, it was dry. They tell us we'll have a very cold, not necessarily moist, winter. I'm really looking forward to that -- NOT!

My hands already hurt, and I told Alan today that I thought this was a foreboding of a bad winter. My hands haven't hurt this much since when I had the flu back in 1960. I know you want to know why I would remember that particular flu season.

Well, it was called the Hong Kong flu and it hit school kids the hardest. It took days to recuperate from it. And it was exam week when I was afflicted. Fortunately, so were over half the school kids and as many teachers, so exam week was postponed for two weeks. I was one of the first that got the flu that year, so I was one of the first back into school, doing nothing waiting for the rest of the students to return from their bouts with the HK Flu.

I saw something on line the other day that described the difference between a cold and the flu. First there is a high fever. Second, you feel like you just got run over by a Mack truck and all your bones feel like they're broken. And third, was the sore throat, boy was it sore, from the top of the mouth to about half-way down the esophagus.

Today, my hands hurt like someone hit them with a hammer in a mean-spirited attempt to break all the bones. So why am I typing? I'm a glutton for punishment I guess. And, I had to keep my faithful few readers informed. :)

ttfn

Why is it?

I was noticing that my niece's site meter counter is almost caught up to mine. And I was thinking she's just so much more popular than I. That's okay. I'm not bitter about that!

Then I got to thinking. I'm a 60-plus person. In my age group, few people use computers, and even fewer read BLOGs. So, what can I expect? Also, since we moved to this community we've lost so many of our friends and neighbors who MIGHT have looked at my BLOG. I'm also at an age when I am definitely losing readers because of their passing on.

Also, I turned off the site meter counter to block out the times I go into my site to read comments or do corrections or things like that, and I'm sure my niece has done that as well. Maybe I should turn it back on so it looks like a lot of people are reading my BLOG.

So, again I ask, why is it that her counter is almost caught up to mine, and she's only been BLOGging for a couple of months, whereas, I started the site meter last March. I figure that it's because she's young, funny, has lots of computer savvy friends, and frankly her BLOGs are more interesting than mine.

So, if those of you who read this BLOG want to give me a boost in my self esteem, click into my BLOG, from a fresh start, several times a day, not necessarily to read it, just so my site meter clicker will advance, and I'll feel popular.

mtf

Whew!

Well, today was busy. I first visited three -- count them -- three drug stores or pharmacies -- I don't know what the politically correct name for drug stores is any more. I was looking for a hat. That's what they call that thing you put under the toilet seat so when you're a woman you can collect the urine into that thing and then pour it into the 24-hour jug. It looks like a hat, so I suppose that's why they call it that.

Well, none of the three "chain" drug stores had them in stock. I was told to go to the outpatient clinic at various hospitals and see if they would give me one. Yeah, right!

So, now, I'm hitting the small pharmacies, but I'm letting my fingers do the walking this time, because walking to the back -- that's where the windows for the pharmacist and assistants are -- is hurtful to my legs and knee.

After that I went over to sit with Ellie. Who, once again, went into her crib, and I didn't hear a peep out of her. At least today, I saw her for a few minutes before she went to nap time. She's so cute. The cat (Pippin) wanted to cuddle with me. As did Fair Mare (still don't know how to spell that). Now, I'm allergic to cats, so cuddling with a cat is not my idea of a good time, and by the time I left Cyndi's my throat was itchy and burning, but that's as far as it went. I know I'm not nearly as allergic as I was as a teenager and young adult. While listening for a peep to come from Ellie, I read Martha's newest Living magazine, and by that time the children and Cyndi were back home, as were both Shandons. The family was heading out to do some shopping, as was I.

Off I went to Hobby Lobby. 50 percent off scrapbooking supplies was too good to resist. And I had $100 in cash, and I spent 101.24. Not bad, especially since if everything had been full price, it would have cost me over $200. But I got all the supplies I need for the Christmas Card makers, and other craft events for the Christmas season.

I hurt so bad by the time I was through that I thought I was going to be sick. Did you ever hurt that bad? But, I got home, laid down for about an hour, and was fine.

And, ta-da, this is the third day in a row that I cooked a really good dinner. I generally get one good meal a week prepared, but this week, I'm three for three! Tomorrow won't be good, I know that because I'm out of supplies again, and, of course, I didn't' think ahead to getting more fresh meat.

However, if the Alexandria Pharmacy has a "hat", tomorrow I'll pick it up and go next door to the butcher. I need to remind him (the butcher) that I need my duck for Thanksgiving, and it's coming up fast.

So, journal/diary, that's today. I'm seeing quadruple right now, which means I'm really, really tired. I'm off to la-la land, and to sleep, per chance to dream.

ttfn

Stairs

I know you're all wondering how I'm doing with the stair climbing. I'm not. 'Nuf said.



mtf

How stupid is this?

Last night my sister called me and asked if I knew what kind of critter had taken up residence under my niece's (Lori's) patio. She (Lori) had been BLOGging about this problem and even has a poll-taker on her BLOG giving us all the opportunity to guess what the critter is. Is it a skunk (my guess), a badger, a fox, or some other creature of the night?

You see, Lori's computer crashed and is in the shop being repaired -- which she thinks might take weeks, and after only an hour of thinking about not having a computer she (Lori) was going into withdrawal, or so she wrote in her last BLOGging effort.

So Lori is without a computer for a while, and we are wondering what kind of critter has taken up residence under that patio of hers.

In order to find out what the animal is, I wrote her an e-mail asking her. Now for the stupid part.

If she doesn't have a computer to write a BLOG to let us know about the animal, she certainly doesn't have a computer to reply to any e-mails. DUH!!!!!

How stupid is that?

mtf

Bad night, good day

Well, today is the day I shall get all my card stock cut into sizes for cards. Then on Thursday I'm going to Hobby Lobby -- all scrapbook supplies are 50 percent off this week -- and I'll be stocking up on Christmas stickers. I hope they still have some left. I wish I could go an earlier day, but I can't. So it will be Thursday afternoon, after I watch Ellie May while her sister and brothers go to gym class at the sports center.

The night was awful, that throbbing sciatic nerve was just pulsing all night long. Ouch! It seems to have settled down for now.

Since I did my grocery shopping yesterday, I'm all set in that regard for at least a week. I have enough lemons to last me 8 days. Lemons were 4 for a dollar at the produce store -- what a bargain! Why do I mention lemons? My way of keeping from getting a cold is to eat at least 1/2 a lemon a day -- it seems to be working -- I haven't had a really bad cold for three years. Praise God! Nor flu! Nor bronchitis! Whereas, my dear husband seems to be plagued with bronchial problems 365/24/7.

Another great thing -- I'll be getting the craft kits for the Christmas week party in a couple of days and I will make the samples to make sure they are "child friendly" and the children will be able to work without much help from me or the moms.

I have three more Creative Memory events before the New Year and then I'm taking a leave of absence. I just can't handle it any more. The supplies are heavy, and you just can't have a get together without carrying about 40 pounds of equipment -- at least I can't.

Now, on Monday I'm doing a Christmas card/tag event and that will be with kits, already made up, which won't weight too much. And the rest of the supplies are already in the clubhouse. If I find my legs don't work well on Monday, I'll just move the event to my home -- it's big enough to accommodate 16 women, and we've never had that many attend any of our scrapbooking nights.

So, I'm off to start cutting card stock into card sized pieces. And, making samples, and then the ladies will choose which "card" or "cards" they want to make.

ttfn

Great time was had by all, I think

Well, I worked it all out. I got all the housework done in time, and the set up for my Creative Memories Croptoberfest party last night (Sunday, 10/26). I had 10 ladies come. And they were not all my neighbors. I had a wide spread in ages as well. A young mother who is expecting her fourth child in March, another younger woman and her mother, said mother being one of my neighbors. A lady younger than I am who is the sister of one of my neighbors. The sister came as well. And my best bud neighbor who does scrapbooking. And all these ladies are so very talented.

The project was to make an album out of a pack of fall paper (paper especially made for Croptoberfest activities) and covers which I made out of card stock. They glued, and stuck pieces of paper to the edges to bind the pages, and they tore paper sheets, or cut them, and came up with the most precious albums ever. I wish I had taken pictures, but my camera is worthless right now.

I did, however, order the part to my camera that I lost at the wedding, and hopefully will be back in business by the end of this week.

So, we had a great time. And while I was exhausted after everyone left, and I didn't clean up last night, it was a good exhaustion. I was able, by having the event here, instead of at the clubhouse, to reach any and all products the ladies needed to see or use very easily. Which is interesting, because I've been trying to make sure that I have duplicates of everything at the Clubhouse, but every month, when we get together as a community, I find that SOMETHING is missing, and being in the state of non-walkability that I am I can't run home and fetch the missing items. And I feel bad because the ladies don't have all they need to complete their projects.

Next Monday -- the day before the Election -- is the next Clubhouse event, and we're making Christmas Cards. I'm preparing kits, so that I don't have to run home if something is missing. Each kit will have a card, an envelope, several stickers (my storehouse of previous years' stickers will also be available if they want to switch out), and a saying they can glue into the inside.

Last year's Christmas Card events were well attended and the ladies really did enjoy making those cards. So, we'll see what comes from this year.

I'm feeling very well today, which is unbelievable. My doctor's nurse just called and told me to up my water intake to 64 oz a day -- which is what I've been doing, but she said that I have to be religious about the water intake and that is in addition to coffee, tea, or fruit juices, including cranberry juice. Ugh! I've been feeling like I'm drowning for three months now, and was hoping that I had been taking enough fluids, but apparently not. If I can't process what I've been ingesting at this point, why would I process even more? I don't get it.

So, journal I close again on a down note, but I think I did well at the top of this day's entry with the account of the album making party.

Things I have to do today are: put away the left over papers and all my punches, stencils, and cutters; go to the produce market; and do laundry. I wonder how much I'll actually get done!

mtf

I know you're all dying to know...

I did sleep last night. Alas, I didn't get to sleep until around 4:30 a.m. That's when I finished the book I'd started on Thursday night.

I did get my kitchen floor cleaned and the rest of the kitchen washed down and wiped out, so at least that part of my house is cleaned and ready for "party inspection". Now, I'm waiting on Alan to finished watching football before I can vacuum. I must dust, and clean the guest bathroom. The the GB is best left until tomorrow afternoon.

I'm heading out to pick up a bunch of meds -- one social security check's worth -- for me and Alan, our monthly pick-up. I could have them delivered via a mail service, I suppose, but I'm afraid that they wouldn't get delivered in time, and the prescription that would be missing would be the life-saving one -- not that I'm yet on life-saving medicines, as Alan is.

In just a couple of days all the crafts I ordered for the grands for Christmas will be arriving, and I can't wait to dive into that box and sort that stuff out. I can then get a schedule of when I'm going to do each craft with the kiddies.

I think they're as excited as their grandma about the "party in Tennessee" -- a six-day party. Will I survive? Probably two days of it. Then I'll poop out and have to take a day off, then I can enjoy two more days.

I know it's early in the day, so there may be more mundane things to pass on later in the day. I'll keep you, my dear diary, in the loop.

mtf

Ok, so Today's the 24th

And we showed up for our doctor's appointments -- he, his; me, mine. Got up at 6:30 (again) and headed out around 8:15 -- it was a very rainy, dreary, morning. And the doctor overslept -- her alarm didn't waken her, and she was late and finally showed up for my 9:00 a.m. at 9:45 a.m., almost on time for Alan's 10:00 a.m. But, since we were both together it didn't really matter to me, anyway.

My appointment was basically -- give me more pain meds and take a blood sample to show that my kidneys are working well again and I can take anti-inflammatories so I can walk.

Well, she told me I could take another arthritis medicine that isn't an anti-inflammatory but which was causing me nausea last spring. But, we forget to get the Rx for it, so that I'll have to do without until I complete the 24-hour urine test I'm doing next week (day of my choice), then when I show up at her office again -- I feel like I'm living there -- I'll pick up the Rx for the arthritis meds. Clear?

Anyway, she also gave me an Rx for the Pain Institute thinking that they can do something with the chronic pain I'm enduring on a daily basis. We'll, see. I don't really want to go the epidural route, but that's probably what it means. Maybe they'll x-ray my leg and find out that I do, in fact, have several broken bones around the knee and that's what's causing all this pain. Who knows? Who cares?

I came home and went to bed and got up at 7:00 p.m. That's the longest I've slept in weeks -- 7 straight hours. I missed Rush!

I can almost guarantee all that afternoon sleeping that means I won't sleep tonight (again), but I have a plan. If I don't fall asleep, I'll clean the bathrooms and the kitchen floor in my house-cleaning marathon to prep the house for my scrap-book event I'm hosting on Sunday night.

So, as I am awake now, and I still see that my daily-read BLOGs (except for one) haven't been updated, I guess I'll read some more of the book I started yesterday, and if I don't get hooked into that until 4:00 a.m., then I'll clean the house.

Or maybe, just maybe, I will sleep some more!

ttfn

How stupid can a person be?

Today was Alan's and my appointment with Dr. Caoili. WRONG. Today is NOT the 24th. Today is the 23rd.

Well, Alan and I showed up on time -- that time being 8:45 a.m. Now, you have to realize that our normal wake-up time is around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., so being up and ready and out the door by 8:15 is almost a miracle.

I pulled into the doc's parking lot. Parked the car right near the door. Went in. Signed in. And...

I was told that my appointment was for the 24th. And I said, "Yes, that's correct." And the receptionist told me: "Tomorrow is the 24th." And I said, "That's a joke, right?" And she said, no, today is the 23rd.

How I got it in my head that Thursday was the 24th, I don't know, but it isn't. Today is my daughter Cyndi's birthday -- not yesterday as I thought.

I'm all confused. What day is it? Thursday. What is the date? October 23. Okay, so I sent my cousin a Happy Anniversary note on the wrong date, as well.

As my mother used to say: "Stupid, stupid, stupid." And tomorrow we get to do it all over again!

ttfn

Nothing to add

I have nothing to add to my "journal" today. I got up, did some clearing up of the clutter of scrapbooking, which is a never ending job -- picking up the clutter from scrapbooking, that is. And started getting my piles together in readiness for my next scrapbook event on Sunday night. I hope to have 10 women here for that. I have 8 confirmed so far.

I want to get rid of some stuff and that's one way to do it. Have some ladies come over, put the stuff out with price tags on them, and let them go at it.

We're making an album -- a small album -- which will hold 16-32 pictures, depending on how they are arranged. The papers are beautiful and full of fall colors and leaves and things like that. I think the ladies will love what they are given to work with. Then my next HOME crop will be in early December and it will be a Christmas event. Lots of goodies being set aside for that one as well.

My friend Stacia will be having a baby in a few days and I have to get an album set of stuff ready for her as a baby gift, which I'm way behind on. Her baby will probably be three years old before I get it to her, but my heart is in the right place.

So, life moves on. Walking doesn't move me much. Tomorrow is my youngest child's 36th birthday. I guess you know how old that makes me feel. I guess it could be worse. She could be 40 instead of 36, then I'd really feel old.

Actually, since I AM old, I don't feel old until I have to move, then I feel old. Otherwise, because my mind is still in my 20s, I feel like I could do anything, until reality sets in -- or rather bone pain sets in, and I realize I AM old and I need to deal with it.

mtf

The Weekend is Over

Well, the weekend is over, and it was very, very busy. Busy-ness means that I suffer.

First, one of the best things that happened this weekend was that Rosie climbed up on my lap and it didn't hurt! That's the first time I've held a grandchild on my lap in over 10 years. Thanks to the fibromyalgia meds I'm taking, I was able to have Rose on my lap and there was no pain. It came as a big surprise -- very pleasant -- to me.

Second, Alan and I took our granddaughter, Rosie, with us up to Goshen, IN for the weekend to attend my niece's (Emily's) wedding. She's a sweetheart, but she is strong willed and wants to do things her way right away, which isn't always possible, and she doesn't seem to understand that this grandmother and her husband cannot run, jump, skip, and can walk only with great difficulty. But we worked it out, after several pouting sessions, and I think she enjoyed the whole weekend even though some restraints were put on her wishes for activity.

My son, Phil and another one of my grandchildren, David, came to the wedding and they stayed in the same room as Alan, Rosie, and I. It was crowded, but it was only for one night. When you're 65 plus you forget that children don't put their disrobed clothes anywhere but where they removed them -- and when two people in a small room have difficulty walking, hoping they don't fall, it can lead to, well, hardship. But we got past that as well. And David cooperated readily when told that he needed to keep his lose clothing off the floor.

Check-out was like watching an old silent movie where everyone is running around in circles trying to get a task accomplished, but getting further and further behind. We DID make it to church and entered just as the Doxology was being introduced.

Lunch was at a buffet in Goshen, IN, and I just closed my eyes to what all the children were doing. They were well-behaved, I believe. I mean, we had 11 children, the oldest of which was 10, and he considered himself an adult, and didn't associate with the younger children. (LOL)

The ride home was very painful for me. The sciatic nerve was pulsing the whole way. It was a five hour drive, so when we got home, I laid down and fell right to sleep.

I know this sounds like it was a horrible weekend, but it wasn't. Except for a few minor glitches it was a wonderful time of sharing with family members, and cousins enjoying cousins, which makes me happy. I just can't wait until the next event. Really, I mean it. I get over the pain after each event and am ready to go again. I guess you could say, I'm a glutton for punishment. But it's my grandchildren, and I love them to bits. Can't get enough of them, no matter what.

Oh, yeah, Matthew (he's 3) came over for about an hour before we left on Friday, and he was so good. He and I are looking forward to another play date real soon.

mtf

Thursday, already

Well, I can't believe it's already Thursday -- the weekend is coming -- and I haven't gotten a whole lot accomplished this week.

I was able, I hope, to get my Medicare/medical insurance provider debacle straightened out. I was on the phone for nearly two hours accomplishing this feat. Man, dear.

I thought our medical insurance people were the primary providers, and they say they are, but Medicare says they are and my medical insurance people say they are. So, I hope we got it correct this time. I still have one more call to make to ascertain if all the phone calls I made relayed the correct information.

The thing is, I don't even want Medicare. I don't want to take money from the government as long as I am able to afford my own medical insurance. But the US Government won't allow me to be medicare free. I HAVE to receive the benefits. What benefits? Do you know that they pay $2.89 for a doctor's office visit? Do any of you know of a doctor that gets only $2.89 per visit? I don't. In fact, I can't recall even back in the 50s that a doctor's visit was that low. It was at least $5 back then. And so since March, when I qualified according to the government for Medicare, nothing has gotten paid. Medicare has paid nothing, nor has my health care insurance provider.

So, one more phone call, and hopefully, all will be set up.

mtf

Day 8

I blew it. I was just too tired and hurting too badly to climb today.

My dear, sweet Tori helped me shop at Kroger's. Here's how that works. I ride around in one of those carts they provide for people who have difficulty walking, and she pushes a shopping cart around near me and she pulls things off the shelves as I remember them. The thing is, I always forget something. Today it was butter. Oh, well. I'm not desperate, yet, but I will be out of the stuff in a couple of days of toast for breakfast. Oh, yes, I always have a list, and butter was on the list.

Then she came over and did some printing of items for a gift she is making for a friend.

I put the fridge food away but that was it. I don't know why some days I just can't seem to move at all. Today was one of them. I'm glad it's time for bed because tomorrow will surely be better.

Tomorrow is my day to watch (or rather listen for) Ellie while the other children are at their gym class down the road. Afterwards, tomorrow, I'm going to make Christmas cards with the boys and Tori if she wants to join us. I'm not sure she wants to make any cards this year, but the boys surely do.

I'll definitely get my stair climb in tomorrow.

mtf

Day 7

Well, I did it again, but this time it was at my son's home. He has several steps to get into the house, and then, because he lives in a bi-level, there are several steps to get up to the main living area where my granddaughter, Rose, was celebrating her 9th birthday. So, I got my 16 steps in, but, I tell you, it was difficult, mainly because their handrail doesn't go all the way to the top, so the top three steps have no means for me to support my weight -- which is what I use the handrail for. But I made it -- both up and then back down. Yippee!

It's a beautiful fall day here in Northern Kentucky. The leaves are finally turning, and falling in masses. Cleanup will begin later this week for those who have to do that kind of thing. Fortunately, we live in a condo community, so that's done by our "landscaper" and not by me!

I recall the children, when they were little, loving to jump into the piles of leaves that my husband and I had scraped up, thus spreading the piles around the yard so that we'd have to scrape up the leaves again. We didn't really mind, we knew it was part of our children's early lives and growing up experience. It was fun for them, that's for certain.

At this time I'm about to make dinner -- short ribs. Alan likes them and since he hasn't wanted to eat for the past few days, I thought I'd make something I know he will enjoy. So I'm off. ttfn.

Day 6 - climbing

Well, I got in my stair climbing at my daughter's today. Up and down her back steps (there are five of them, if you count the one that goes into the sun porch) -- up three times, down four times. I figure that's as many stairs as I have in my house, so it counts. I also had to walk across the grass field -- not easy to do when you have to walk like Peg-leg Pete -- which hurt like *(*#$ -- it hurt a lot.

And, I noticed as I was climbing my daughter's steps that it was so much easier than it was last Monday, which was day one. So, it must be working. Now, if I could only get the knee -- the bad one -- to bend in such a way so that I could go up and down steps like a normal person, and not like a 95-year-old bent over elderly person. Of course, I don't have much longer to go to get to that age -- 30 years -- which in elderly time is very, very, very fast.

I must add to this "diary" entry that Indiana is beautiful this year -- the leaves have changed and the colors are vibrant. It was a very, very pleasant drive out to Becky's and I'm really glad I went.

ttfn

Day 5 stair climbing

I missed yesterday. Yesterday, however, I was cleaning house like a banshee. I was doing laundry, changing out the bed linens and installing the winter covers, washing the summer spreads, and finally putting away the stuff from our vacation the last couple of weeks. The mess was getting to me. And the mess in the kitchen was the worst. Now, anyone can come see me and at least the bathrooms and the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom are cleaned and ready to appear in Better Homes and Gardens. My office is still a mess, but I've got something coming today from Creative Memories which will help clear that up quite a bit.

Next week CM is starting a new almost give-away of organizers on the main webpage. I can't get these items at a discount for my customers, but they can get them at really big discounts. I'm bummed because I purchased the one organizer that is selling for $21 and I paid full price for it last month. Also, the sticker holders are going on sale for dirt cheap prices. So, after October 15 -- while supplies last -- and I dont suppose they'll last very long -- you can get these organizers at my website only: http://www.mycmsite.com/judihahn1

Now, I'm on my way to my stairmaster for today's workout and make-up for yesterday. I may be back, I may die on the way up, who knows.

ttfn