Looking for my piece of the pie that was promised to all Americans when the new administration was put in POWER! I read through that whole stimulus bill (HR1) that Congress passed earlier this week, and there is nothing, nada for which I qualify. Bummer.
So, I'll move on, knowing that I'll have to pay for any cruise I take myself, knowing I'll have to purchase my own food, knowing that my condo fees are not covered by the stimulus, and knowing that anything I put in the bank will probably disappear or be gobbled up by the original bailouts of the banks.
Knees -- better, small ouch.
Back -- small ouch
Fibro -- very ouchy
Activity: I won't talk about the activity I did this a.m., but let me say it was with a toothbrush, in the bathroom, but not on my teeth.
All laundry is folded and mostly put away. I'm working on scrap-booking today. Concepting my pages ready for the Stamper grandchildren album, and gluing the pictures from the tea last August into that album -- it was concepted last August and all set up, but I never put glue to picture to paper. I don't really use glue, I use tape runners which mean you can never remove the picture after they set -- in about 5 minutes.
Recipe from last night, which was delicious:
Two pork chops, boneless (but you could use bone-in chops)
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 cups bow tie pasta
1 cup peas
In frying pan drizzle 1/4 cup olive oil. Heat the pan and while the pan is heating, sprinkle all around garlic salt and seasoned salt. When the pan is hot, put in the two chops (or however many you need for your family -- actually two chops was too much for Alan and me) and let them cook on that side for two minutes, then turn them over and reduce the heat in the pan to low. The residual heat will give them nice color on the bottom side and will slow down the process.
Next get your pasta ready. Boil enough water for 1-1/2 cups of pasta -- I usually use a 4 quart pot -- and when the water comes to a boil add the pasta, a teaspoon of salt, and the peas. Yes cook the peas with the pasta.
While the bow ties are cooking, move the chops either to the side of the pan or to a plate, add the heavy cream and cheese, use a whisk to mix them together and get the pan drippings into the sauce. Put the chops back in. Turn the heat up to medium and bring the cream to a simmer, then reduce the heat back to low. Stir occasionally.
Drain the pasta and peas. Once again remove the chops, and take out 1/4 of the cream mixture. Put the pasta and peas into the cream mixture and stir so that all the pasta is covered. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Cut the meat, spoon some of the sauce you kept back over the meat, and plate the pasta. I had enough pasta/peas/cream sauce left over for another meal, but I put it in the freezer, so I can have it in a week or so.
Served with a greens salad, my mama's dressing.
I'm telling you, it was so very good. I'm going to put that meal into my "guest" meal recipe file.
Dessert? Left over lemon pound cake with a dollop of lemon curd on top.
ttfn
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I wonder if I can get some stimulus money
Let's see. I'm not an illegal alien. So I don't qualify on that count.
I don't approve of the work Acorn does, so I don't qualify on that count.
My art work wouldn't be accepted by the National Endowment for the Arts. So I don't qualify there.
I like to spend money. I do qualify there.
My bank isn't on the TARP list, so I don't qualify there.
I have no children that would qualify for free health care. So, I don't qualify there.
I do qualify for medicare -- but that's not in the stimulus package. Go figure.
I do collect social security -- but that's not in the stimulus package.
Given what I've read of the bill, I wouldn't qualify for any stimulus money. So Mr. Obama is doing nothing to help me. He isn't paying my mortgage. He isn't increasing my SS payments. He did increase the amount of the medicare payment I have to meet each month in order to qualify for medicare, and for which there is no choice. Bet you didn't know you have to PAY money to medicare even if you're qualified for the benefits, which I still haven't figured out how to collect.
Enough.
The good news is, I did get all the paper packed up, so I'm down to three boxes of CM supplies and all those boxes will be put in the attic and pulled out whenever someone says they would like something. I still have lots of small albums (8x8) and papers for those albums. I reduced the 12x12 papers to about 1/2 box, the other 1/2 is papers I see using in my grandchildren albums. I have a few large albums left, which I probably will never use. So, please let me know.
So far I've had one taker, and you know who you are.
And, I finished packing up the Christmas decorations. All that's left to box up are the snowmen.
I also folded all the unfolded laundry and did two loads of what, only one of which has to be folded. It's still drying.
The knees? Ouch!
The back? Ouch!
The shoulder? Double ouch!
Otherwise, all is well!
ttfn
I don't approve of the work Acorn does, so I don't qualify on that count.
My art work wouldn't be accepted by the National Endowment for the Arts. So I don't qualify there.
I like to spend money. I do qualify there.
My bank isn't on the TARP list, so I don't qualify there.
I have no children that would qualify for free health care. So, I don't qualify there.
I do qualify for medicare -- but that's not in the stimulus package. Go figure.
I do collect social security -- but that's not in the stimulus package.
Given what I've read of the bill, I wouldn't qualify for any stimulus money. So Mr. Obama is doing nothing to help me. He isn't paying my mortgage. He isn't increasing my SS payments. He did increase the amount of the medicare payment I have to meet each month in order to qualify for medicare, and for which there is no choice. Bet you didn't know you have to PAY money to medicare even if you're qualified for the benefits, which I still haven't figured out how to collect.
Enough.
The good news is, I did get all the paper packed up, so I'm down to three boxes of CM supplies and all those boxes will be put in the attic and pulled out whenever someone says they would like something. I still have lots of small albums (8x8) and papers for those albums. I reduced the 12x12 papers to about 1/2 box, the other 1/2 is papers I see using in my grandchildren albums. I have a few large albums left, which I probably will never use. So, please let me know.
So far I've had one taker, and you know who you are.
And, I finished packing up the Christmas decorations. All that's left to box up are the snowmen.
I also folded all the unfolded laundry and did two loads of what, only one of which has to be folded. It's still drying.
The knees? Ouch!
The back? Ouch!
The shoulder? Double ouch!
Otherwise, all is well!
ttfn
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Knee killer
This weather, which I love, is a knee killer. I have hardly been able to walk since Sunday or was it Monday? Today was the day I was going to get my office cleared of all things Creative Memories. I got one box packed up and that was an order I had to fill. I have four large boxes that need to be sorted out and divided up to give to folks that requested items, the rest I'll put in the attic.
I have gotten as far as getting the boxes out of the attic in order to put away the rest of the Christmas decorations and my snowmen, last count 122 (not including tree decorations, which are put away). Maybe tomorrow I'll get that task accomplished. I also need to do laundry (again), and I'm three loads behind in folding and putting away. So most of the stuff that's been pulled out of the dryer will have to be put back in to get the wrinkles out. I assume everybody knows that trick -- stick a wet washcloth in the dryer along with the laundry you want to "iron" and it comes out unwrinkled, as long as you get it while it's still warm.
Tomorrow. I'll do it all tomorrow.
mtf
I have gotten as far as getting the boxes out of the attic in order to put away the rest of the Christmas decorations and my snowmen, last count 122 (not including tree decorations, which are put away). Maybe tomorrow I'll get that task accomplished. I also need to do laundry (again), and I'm three loads behind in folding and putting away. So most of the stuff that's been pulled out of the dryer will have to be put back in to get the wrinkles out. I assume everybody knows that trick -- stick a wet washcloth in the dryer along with the laundry you want to "iron" and it comes out unwrinkled, as long as you get it while it's still warm.
Tomorrow. I'll do it all tomorrow.
mtf
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Now, this is my kinda weather
It snowed! We actually got more than a dusting. So far about five inches with more on the way, or so they say. But before we get another 4-6 inches we have to go through a period of freezing rain, predicing 1/2 inch of ice. That means no electricity. And, it's cold. But I'm not going to panic until it happens.
Alan has a doctor's appt. this afternoon, one he's had for three months. Should we go or should we be safe and not go. I'm for the "safe" scenario. Alan is opting for the go and pray scenario. However, since we haven't been dug out yet, I don't know. I hear the shovels working nearby, but that's just to dig out the cars, not to clear the streets, which haven't been cleared yet.
That's one advantage to living in a condo complex, we don't have to dig outselves out, as long as we're patient. Our first really big snow storm came and went and we weren't dug out for four days, but I have to say that was a storm in which we had not 1/2 inch of ice, but several inches of ice and they had to use jack hammers to get through the ice. It seems our building is always the last building to be cleared and today is no exception.
What I don't understand is why they're digging us out when it's still coming down at the rate of about one inch per hour. The units they dug out before dawn are already in need of another shovelling.
Stay tuned!
Alan has a doctor's appt. this afternoon, one he's had for three months. Should we go or should we be safe and not go. I'm for the "safe" scenario. Alan is opting for the go and pray scenario. However, since we haven't been dug out yet, I don't know. I hear the shovels working nearby, but that's just to dig out the cars, not to clear the streets, which haven't been cleared yet.
That's one advantage to living in a condo complex, we don't have to dig outselves out, as long as we're patient. Our first really big snow storm came and went and we weren't dug out for four days, but I have to say that was a storm in which we had not 1/2 inch of ice, but several inches of ice and they had to use jack hammers to get through the ice. It seems our building is always the last building to be cleared and today is no exception.
What I don't understand is why they're digging us out when it's still coming down at the rate of about one inch per hour. The units they dug out before dawn are already in need of another shovelling.
Stay tuned!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I love snowy Sunday afternoons
We had a "surprise" snow this afternoon. I don't know when it started to snow, but I know the sun was out this a.m. when I headed into the bedroom and then the bathroom and then threw-up. So, I went to bed around 11:00 a.m. and it was still sort of sunny, although I could tell it was going to get cloudy. Alan annoyed me around noon and I don't think it was snowing yet, but when I woke up at 2:30 there was a nice covering on the ground.
We're under a winter storm watch -- that means nothing. Whenever we get one of those things, we get little to no snow. It's the surprise snows that make the winter pretty. This "watch" is not the kind of "watch" we want to hear about, though, because it is supposed to change from snow to rain with the air temp around 25, which means instant freeze. We've going through that many times before and the ice is awful. I hate the ice because I know I'll be home bound for days.
Being home bound isn't anything I need to be concerned about, as I'm basically home bound anyway, but the thought of being home bound, not because I can be home bound, but because I have to be home bound is a different scenario. That's when I get cabin fever.
At least knowing I'm home bound because I don't actually have anything I need to do to put me outside the home is different, because I know I can get out if I want to. Is that clear? And, since it's so cold, I'm not about to head out to get in supplies in case the weather prognosticators are correct this time. They haven't been right one time this whole winter!
We'll have soup and sandwiches. I made a big pot of vegetable soup, and frankly I loved it. Alan, not so much. But then, Alan isn't a soup fan unless it is cheese soup or split pea soup, neither of which do I care for. But I have lots of canned cheese soup for him and the veggie soup for me. I am so glad the back porch is really cold and I can use it as a refrigerator for that big pot of soup. There is no room in the refrigerator for that big a pot. And even if I broke it down into smaller packages, I still wouldn't have room in the fridge for it.
I was pleased that Ms. Indiana won the Miss American contest for 2009. She was actually my first choice. I rarely pick the right one.
So, I'm back to bed, still nursing the upset stomach, with my ginger ale.
And Amy, if you read this, yes, I would love to read the first in the brotherhood series. And I'm really bummed about having to wait until September to get the next book in the series. I didn't like the way this book ended. I won't tell you about it, because you haven't read it, but I didn't like the ending.
ttfn
We're under a winter storm watch -- that means nothing. Whenever we get one of those things, we get little to no snow. It's the surprise snows that make the winter pretty. This "watch" is not the kind of "watch" we want to hear about, though, because it is supposed to change from snow to rain with the air temp around 25, which means instant freeze. We've going through that many times before and the ice is awful. I hate the ice because I know I'll be home bound for days.
Being home bound isn't anything I need to be concerned about, as I'm basically home bound anyway, but the thought of being home bound, not because I can be home bound, but because I have to be home bound is a different scenario. That's when I get cabin fever.
At least knowing I'm home bound because I don't actually have anything I need to do to put me outside the home is different, because I know I can get out if I want to. Is that clear? And, since it's so cold, I'm not about to head out to get in supplies in case the weather prognosticators are correct this time. They haven't been right one time this whole winter!
We'll have soup and sandwiches. I made a big pot of vegetable soup, and frankly I loved it. Alan, not so much. But then, Alan isn't a soup fan unless it is cheese soup or split pea soup, neither of which do I care for. But I have lots of canned cheese soup for him and the veggie soup for me. I am so glad the back porch is really cold and I can use it as a refrigerator for that big pot of soup. There is no room in the refrigerator for that big a pot. And even if I broke it down into smaller packages, I still wouldn't have room in the fridge for it.
I was pleased that Ms. Indiana won the Miss American contest for 2009. She was actually my first choice. I rarely pick the right one.
So, I'm back to bed, still nursing the upset stomach, with my ginger ale.
And Amy, if you read this, yes, I would love to read the first in the brotherhood series. And I'm really bummed about having to wait until September to get the next book in the series. I didn't like the way this book ended. I won't tell you about it, because you haven't read it, but I didn't like the ending.
ttfn
Friday, January 23, 2009
Finally...
I finally got a haircut. I'll tell you, oh journal, it was about time. The last time I had it worked on was way before Thanksgiving. It was getting long enough to put into a French twist.
After thinking about it, I decided I would keep it long in the back, short in the front and then I can pull it back into a "pony tail" or get one of those big clamps and just clamp it back when it gets gnarly looking. Today it looks great. Tomorrow, who knows? If I can't comb it to look reasonably like the way it looks today, I'll go next week and get it cut lit I normally do. Short!
Walking from the car to the shop was a bit of a problem, but I did it! I also hit the Seafood Shop and picked up some bruschetta topping, a nice loaf of french bread to go with the topping, and they now carry the Barefoot Contessa products so I stocked up on them as well. Got some lemon curd, yummy and some red orange marmalade -- that's a new one. Can't wait to try that one.
I also got my favorite balsamic vinegar. It's so sweet and thick. It's actually a Greek balsamic rather than an Italian balsamic. But it does taste good, and Alan informed me the other night that he very much prefers the "sweet" dressings I make (when I use balsamic as opposed to wine vinegar) and since I don't mind the sweeter dressing that much, I stocked up since I don't get over to that part of Cincinnati very often.
Then I went to Servatii's -- a local bakery that everyone raves over. Frankly? They're okay, but Kelly's bakery they're not. Kelly's bakery was the bakery in Glendora, about two miles from home, that I would religiously walk to just to get one cream-filled donut. Their baked goods were wonderful. They had no french bread so I settled for a loaf of Italian. I also got Alan his "sweets" and got myself two large soft pretzels, not Philadelphia pretzels, mind you, but a reasonable substitute.
So that was my early day. Now it's mid afternoon and I'm ready to read the next book by Neta Jackson. It's a follow up to the Yada Yada books, but not with the sisters. I can't wait to get into it. Thanks Amy!!!!!
ttfn
After thinking about it, I decided I would keep it long in the back, short in the front and then I can pull it back into a "pony tail" or get one of those big clamps and just clamp it back when it gets gnarly looking. Today it looks great. Tomorrow, who knows? If I can't comb it to look reasonably like the way it looks today, I'll go next week and get it cut lit I normally do. Short!
Walking from the car to the shop was a bit of a problem, but I did it! I also hit the Seafood Shop and picked up some bruschetta topping, a nice loaf of french bread to go with the topping, and they now carry the Barefoot Contessa products so I stocked up on them as well. Got some lemon curd, yummy and some red orange marmalade -- that's a new one. Can't wait to try that one.
I also got my favorite balsamic vinegar. It's so sweet and thick. It's actually a Greek balsamic rather than an Italian balsamic. But it does taste good, and Alan informed me the other night that he very much prefers the "sweet" dressings I make (when I use balsamic as opposed to wine vinegar) and since I don't mind the sweeter dressing that much, I stocked up since I don't get over to that part of Cincinnati very often.
Then I went to Servatii's -- a local bakery that everyone raves over. Frankly? They're okay, but Kelly's bakery they're not. Kelly's bakery was the bakery in Glendora, about two miles from home, that I would religiously walk to just to get one cream-filled donut. Their baked goods were wonderful. They had no french bread so I settled for a loaf of Italian. I also got Alan his "sweets" and got myself two large soft pretzels, not Philadelphia pretzels, mind you, but a reasonable substitute.
So that was my early day. Now it's mid afternoon and I'm ready to read the next book by Neta Jackson. It's a follow up to the Yada Yada books, but not with the sisters. I can't wait to get into it. Thanks Amy!!!!!
ttfn
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's over
Football season is over...almost. There is that Super Bowl Game and the all-star game, but for all intents and purposes, the season is over. I don't know what Alan is going to do. How is he going to get in his afternoon nap on Sunday?
Yes, he usually falls asleep about 2 minutes into the game -- whatever game he's watching -- and wakes up after the game is over, and hasn't a clue who won. He even fell asleep last Sunday when he and Phil were watching the Eagles/Cardinals game. I think it was Eagles/Cardinals. Phil wasn't quiet either. I was working on my computer and I could hear him snoring (Alan) and Phil cheering. Go figure. I woke him up so he could see the last two minutes of the game.
Football used to be a sport I really enjoyed watching. When Alan came back from Kenya and started his first year at Rutgers, he and I went to most of the Rutgers games, because they were free for students and one guest. That meant I had to get on a Greyhound bus on Friday night, stay with a friend at Douglas (the women's college across town from Rutgers, the men's college), go the football game on Saturday, stay again at Douglas on Saturday night, and then get on the Greyhound back to Philly early on Sunday morning. For the Rutgers away games, I was only able to go to the West Point Games (same scenario to get to Rutgers), the Princeton game, and the U of PA game. It wasn't until Alan's sophomore year that I finally got a car.
We were married just before Alan's junior year and the love for football hadn't diminished any. We went to ALL the games, home and away, and on Sunday afternoon we settled in to watch the NFL games. At that time there was only the NFL, not the NFC and the AFC. Those conferences were set up after we left Rutgers, so there weren't as many games, and the Super Bowl was earlier in January because there weren't as many playoff games. That was the time when Broadway Joe Namath was the quarterback for the NY Jets. The Eagles was always our favorite team, but the Jets came in second, Giants third.
When did I stop watching football on Sundays? I don't recall exactly, but it was probably sometime when the children were in their teens. It doesn't matter when, I just lost interest.
Back when Alan was younger he never fell asleep during a football game. But age takes it toll and now, while he will not miss a game, and I must give up the TV for most of the day on Sunday, he sees very little of the games he watches.
Now I have free access to the TV until the NCAA basketball tournamet begins in late March. Yuck. I dislike basketball even more than I dislike football.
ttfn
Yes, he usually falls asleep about 2 minutes into the game -- whatever game he's watching -- and wakes up after the game is over, and hasn't a clue who won. He even fell asleep last Sunday when he and Phil were watching the Eagles/Cardinals game. I think it was Eagles/Cardinals. Phil wasn't quiet either. I was working on my computer and I could hear him snoring (Alan) and Phil cheering. Go figure. I woke him up so he could see the last two minutes of the game.
Football used to be a sport I really enjoyed watching. When Alan came back from Kenya and started his first year at Rutgers, he and I went to most of the Rutgers games, because they were free for students and one guest. That meant I had to get on a Greyhound bus on Friday night, stay with a friend at Douglas (the women's college across town from Rutgers, the men's college), go the football game on Saturday, stay again at Douglas on Saturday night, and then get on the Greyhound back to Philly early on Sunday morning. For the Rutgers away games, I was only able to go to the West Point Games (same scenario to get to Rutgers), the Princeton game, and the U of PA game. It wasn't until Alan's sophomore year that I finally got a car.
We were married just before Alan's junior year and the love for football hadn't diminished any. We went to ALL the games, home and away, and on Sunday afternoon we settled in to watch the NFL games. At that time there was only the NFL, not the NFC and the AFC. Those conferences were set up after we left Rutgers, so there weren't as many games, and the Super Bowl was earlier in January because there weren't as many playoff games. That was the time when Broadway Joe Namath was the quarterback for the NY Jets. The Eagles was always our favorite team, but the Jets came in second, Giants third.
When did I stop watching football on Sundays? I don't recall exactly, but it was probably sometime when the children were in their teens. It doesn't matter when, I just lost interest.
Back when Alan was younger he never fell asleep during a football game. But age takes it toll and now, while he will not miss a game, and I must give up the TV for most of the day on Sunday, he sees very little of the games he watches.
Now I have free access to the TV until the NCAA basketball tournamet begins in late March. Yuck. I dislike basketball even more than I dislike football.
ttfn
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
No sleep
Well, I finished the series of books written by Neta Jackson about the Yada Yada prayer sisters. What a great series! I have so enjoyed them. Walking with the sisters as they learn how to pray, watch the answers God gave them to their prayers --not always the way they wanted the prayer to be answered -- and finding out that God was good, all the time. I highly recommend the books. And the recipes are now included in the new printings of the books. The food prepared by the moms in the books sounds so yummy.
Why the title of the BLOG: "No Sleep?" Well, I finished the last book at 6 a.m. and got up at 8 a.m. because today was the day Tamara came to clean and shop for me. So I had to get up and clean the house before she got here. I know, that's stupid, but I did what little I could to make her not think I was a slob. In other words, I stripped and made the bed, which is a chore I think I'm going to have her do from now on, it wears me out! I emptied the dishwasher and cleaned up the sink (usually a job she does -- clean the sink, that is), I did a load of laundry, I cleaned the stove, usually something she does, and I cleaned the refrigerator.
So it's now almost 8 p.m. and I just know I'm going to fall asleep while I'm watching American Idol, I'm really wiped. But I feel good otherwise. I'm walking, anyway.
I didn't watch any of the inauguration festivities. Not interested at all. But I did print out a lot of pictures and got my next album concepted and I'm ready to go on that.
Oh, yeah, one more thing. I booked us on a cruise to Puerto Rico, Aruba, Atola, St. Thomas, and St. Marteens. It's a long cruise, 9 days, but Alan said to "go for it" so I did. Whether we'll actually go is not certain, I have until the day of the cruise to cancel because I got the extra insurance which covers backing out because of health reasons and other family emergencies. This time THEY will provide the wheel chair and valet parking. Yeah! I'm really excited and am looking forward to it. We got a balcony room this time. They're the best because you can get room service for breakfast (it's free) and just sit on the balcony and enjoy the ride!
Gotta go. No more to say anyway. Enjoy all that God has done for you today. Thank Him for His goodness and blessings and do something I'm learning in my old age, wait up Him and listen for that still small voice for Him to lead and guide you through your day.
ttfn
Why the title of the BLOG: "No Sleep?" Well, I finished the last book at 6 a.m. and got up at 8 a.m. because today was the day Tamara came to clean and shop for me. So I had to get up and clean the house before she got here. I know, that's stupid, but I did what little I could to make her not think I was a slob. In other words, I stripped and made the bed, which is a chore I think I'm going to have her do from now on, it wears me out! I emptied the dishwasher and cleaned up the sink (usually a job she does -- clean the sink, that is), I did a load of laundry, I cleaned the stove, usually something she does, and I cleaned the refrigerator.
So it's now almost 8 p.m. and I just know I'm going to fall asleep while I'm watching American Idol, I'm really wiped. But I feel good otherwise. I'm walking, anyway.
I didn't watch any of the inauguration festivities. Not interested at all. But I did print out a lot of pictures and got my next album concepted and I'm ready to go on that.
Oh, yeah, one more thing. I booked us on a cruise to Puerto Rico, Aruba, Atola, St. Thomas, and St. Marteens. It's a long cruise, 9 days, but Alan said to "go for it" so I did. Whether we'll actually go is not certain, I have until the day of the cruise to cancel because I got the extra insurance which covers backing out because of health reasons and other family emergencies. This time THEY will provide the wheel chair and valet parking. Yeah! I'm really excited and am looking forward to it. We got a balcony room this time. They're the best because you can get room service for breakfast (it's free) and just sit on the balcony and enjoy the ride!
Gotta go. No more to say anyway. Enjoy all that God has done for you today. Thank Him for His goodness and blessings and do something I'm learning in my old age, wait up Him and listen for that still small voice for Him to lead and guide you through your day.
ttfn
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I realize this is supposed to be my journal, but...
There are just some things that I can't put into this particular journal, and will have to store in the journal of my mind, which is where they may be forgotten.
Family situation. Not good. Not terribly bad, just really, really annoying. And, I can't really do anything about it, even though some members of the family think I can. Now you're all wondering what it is that has me boinked. Well, it's a never-mind, just pray-about situation.
While I've been remiss in writing everyday on this BLOG, I have been feeling quite good, actually. The knees anyway haven't been giving me fits. Still have the fibromyalgia thing going on, though, but it's on the wane, so I can function.
I only wish I could get myself out of bed earlier. Even if I go to bed by 10 p.m., I will seem to be abed until after 10:00 a.m. each morning. It is a rare morning that I see the sunrise -- if there is a sunrise to see. We haven't really had a sunrise for weeks. Clouds cover the rise of that orb. But I'm still rejoicing that the days are getting longer.
Since my clock goes by light and dark, we are eating dinner later. I reminded myself that it was time to cook dinner when it got dark, now it doesn't get dark until six or later, and that's a late time to start dinner.
We're still trying to decide whether we want to go to Florida or not. I want to go, but I don't think my body does. Alan doesn't really care, but I think his body really wants to go to a place where he can really rest and relax, not that he can't do that at home, but he's always tied up with something on the computer, either our taxes, which he is working feverishly on, or something to do with the community funding.
So, it's another Sunday. Another missed church service. However, we do have our house-church meeting to look forward to later in the week. I shall have to be content with that meeting because of my walking problems.
I am grateful to God, however, for his mercy in letting me be nearly pain free in the knees, and the sciatic nerve is in a dormant period. Now, Lord, please take away the burning, gnawing pain of the fibromyalgia. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
I hope you all have a nice MLK day tomorrow and then really enjoy the inauguration of the next president of the USA. I plan not to watch any TV for the next three days. Enough is enough. I think I've been through the upcoming love fest enough in the past few days, and so I'm going to read, read, read or scrap, scrap, scrap. See which wins out -- reading or scrapbooking.
mtf
Family situation. Not good. Not terribly bad, just really, really annoying. And, I can't really do anything about it, even though some members of the family think I can. Now you're all wondering what it is that has me boinked. Well, it's a never-mind, just pray-about situation.
While I've been remiss in writing everyday on this BLOG, I have been feeling quite good, actually. The knees anyway haven't been giving me fits. Still have the fibromyalgia thing going on, though, but it's on the wane, so I can function.
I only wish I could get myself out of bed earlier. Even if I go to bed by 10 p.m., I will seem to be abed until after 10:00 a.m. each morning. It is a rare morning that I see the sunrise -- if there is a sunrise to see. We haven't really had a sunrise for weeks. Clouds cover the rise of that orb. But I'm still rejoicing that the days are getting longer.
Since my clock goes by light and dark, we are eating dinner later. I reminded myself that it was time to cook dinner when it got dark, now it doesn't get dark until six or later, and that's a late time to start dinner.
We're still trying to decide whether we want to go to Florida or not. I want to go, but I don't think my body does. Alan doesn't really care, but I think his body really wants to go to a place where he can really rest and relax, not that he can't do that at home, but he's always tied up with something on the computer, either our taxes, which he is working feverishly on, or something to do with the community funding.
So, it's another Sunday. Another missed church service. However, we do have our house-church meeting to look forward to later in the week. I shall have to be content with that meeting because of my walking problems.
I am grateful to God, however, for his mercy in letting me be nearly pain free in the knees, and the sciatic nerve is in a dormant period. Now, Lord, please take away the burning, gnawing pain of the fibromyalgia. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
I hope you all have a nice MLK day tomorrow and then really enjoy the inauguration of the next president of the USA. I plan not to watch any TV for the next three days. Enough is enough. I think I've been through the upcoming love fest enough in the past few days, and so I'm going to read, read, read or scrap, scrap, scrap. See which wins out -- reading or scrapbooking.
mtf
Friday, January 16, 2009
Debilitating disease
It was 2 p.m. and I was still in bed, just not able to move; and I was freezing, my teeth chattering, even though I had a space heater pumping heat on me. I was thinking about this disease I have. And, not arthritis which cropped up when I was a teenager and my fingers started showing signs of it. Probably too much piano practicing.
Actually there are two diseases that I put up with other than arthritis. They are obesity, which is something I don't understand, given what I eat. I do know when that started. I had Phil. I gained 30 pounds, lost 40. Had Becky. The doctors didn't care how much weight you gained, so I gained 50 pounds. Lost 10. Got pregnant with Cyndi, again the doctor didn't care what I gained. I gained 70 pounds. You see where I am? Up 110 pounds. I eventually lost 35 pounds after Cyndi, but haven't been below 175 since 1972. Try as I might, weight loss just doesn't happen. And I should weigh about 110-115 for my height.
Alan can go on the same diet as I, eat twice as much as I do, and lose 30 pounds. I lose 3. So I gave up on dieting, figuring that the first three letters of the word explained why I shouldn't bother. I'm going to die anyway, and I might as well enjoy what I do eat as long as I'm alive.
In recent years I've gone down to one meal a day. Yes, that's correct, one meal. Maybe a nibble at lunch time, like a piece of cheese, but that's about it. On rare occasions I'll nuke a small pizza, but dinner is the meal I eat. Always a huge salad with a lemon/balsamic/ minimal oil dressing. (no meat or cheese in the salad, only raw veggies) And then a piece of meat, which I rarely finish, and some kind of starchy vegetable or rice or pasta. So I'm obese. They say it's a disease. I wonder about that.
But my new disease -- diagnosed a year ago -- is growing by leaps and bounds. That is the effect of it are. I mean until the lyrica commercials who ever heard of fibromyalgia. Well, actually I had because when the Internet became part of my everyday life, I looked up my symptoms -- feeling like I had the flu all the time, the terrible pain I endured if anyone touched me or hugged me. The pain of laying in bed, even.
Well, my doctor, after I had had it, so to speak, gave me lyrica. It worked for a while, then I started getting flare ups, which I'm told I will have to endure for the rest of my life. Yippee.
Which brings me back to getting up at 2 p.m. today (and yesterday and the day before). I just don't want to move, movement is so painful, so I stay still, as still as I possibly can, because I guess I'm numb to certain pain points, but the burn that accompanies the disease doesn't go away. Burn as in I have a very, very bad sunburn including the chills and aches that accompany that type of burn.
I am grateful, however, that I have had days when I can hold my grandchildren without pain, days when people can hug me, without pain, but people are now asking if it's a good day for that (hugging), and I'm grateful that my dear husband is putting the dishes away that are in the dishwasher. And I'm grateful that I still laugh when I find the things he put away in the most illogical places I (me) could think of, but to him seem so very logical, like putting the salad spoon and fork in the knife drawer. Go figure.
The pain is waining and I'll be okay for several hours. In those few hours I'll get some things accomplished, which will make me feel like I'm worth more than just a blob on the face of the earth.
God is so good, He's so good to me. Praise his Holy name.
If you want to read something more uplifting, visit http://www.runnemederemembered.blogspot.com.
ttfn
Actually there are two diseases that I put up with other than arthritis. They are obesity, which is something I don't understand, given what I eat. I do know when that started. I had Phil. I gained 30 pounds, lost 40. Had Becky. The doctors didn't care how much weight you gained, so I gained 50 pounds. Lost 10. Got pregnant with Cyndi, again the doctor didn't care what I gained. I gained 70 pounds. You see where I am? Up 110 pounds. I eventually lost 35 pounds after Cyndi, but haven't been below 175 since 1972. Try as I might, weight loss just doesn't happen. And I should weigh about 110-115 for my height.
Alan can go on the same diet as I, eat twice as much as I do, and lose 30 pounds. I lose 3. So I gave up on dieting, figuring that the first three letters of the word explained why I shouldn't bother. I'm going to die anyway, and I might as well enjoy what I do eat as long as I'm alive.
In recent years I've gone down to one meal a day. Yes, that's correct, one meal. Maybe a nibble at lunch time, like a piece of cheese, but that's about it. On rare occasions I'll nuke a small pizza, but dinner is the meal I eat. Always a huge salad with a lemon/balsamic/ minimal oil dressing. (no meat or cheese in the salad, only raw veggies) And then a piece of meat, which I rarely finish, and some kind of starchy vegetable or rice or pasta. So I'm obese. They say it's a disease. I wonder about that.
But my new disease -- diagnosed a year ago -- is growing by leaps and bounds. That is the effect of it are. I mean until the lyrica commercials who ever heard of fibromyalgia. Well, actually I had because when the Internet became part of my everyday life, I looked up my symptoms -- feeling like I had the flu all the time, the terrible pain I endured if anyone touched me or hugged me. The pain of laying in bed, even.
Well, my doctor, after I had had it, so to speak, gave me lyrica. It worked for a while, then I started getting flare ups, which I'm told I will have to endure for the rest of my life. Yippee.
Which brings me back to getting up at 2 p.m. today (and yesterday and the day before). I just don't want to move, movement is so painful, so I stay still, as still as I possibly can, because I guess I'm numb to certain pain points, but the burn that accompanies the disease doesn't go away. Burn as in I have a very, very bad sunburn including the chills and aches that accompany that type of burn.
I am grateful, however, that I have had days when I can hold my grandchildren without pain, days when people can hug me, without pain, but people are now asking if it's a good day for that (hugging), and I'm grateful that my dear husband is putting the dishes away that are in the dishwasher. And I'm grateful that I still laugh when I find the things he put away in the most illogical places I (me) could think of, but to him seem so very logical, like putting the salad spoon and fork in the knife drawer. Go figure.
The pain is waining and I'll be okay for several hours. In those few hours I'll get some things accomplished, which will make me feel like I'm worth more than just a blob on the face of the earth.
God is so good, He's so good to me. Praise his Holy name.
If you want to read something more uplifting, visit http://www.runnemederemembered.blogspot.com.
ttfn
Thursday, January 15, 2009
BRRR....
Global warming, it ain't? Another ice-age? Maybe. Climate change -- who cares? It just plain cold, and getting colder. The temp has warmed up a degree today, it's now 10 degrees, but it's supposed to sink to way below zero tonight, with wind chills I don't even want to think about.
I've been mulling a lot of things in my mind the past couple of days but suffice it to say the ideas pop up in my mind at 3 a.m. when I'm trying desperately to get to sleep, and I only hope I can recall them in the morning when I get up. So far, no (yes, "NO") good. I can't recall any of my super interesting ideas for BLOG reports.
I recall when we first moved here that first winter we suffered through several below zero days and I thought, "hmmm, is this was Cincinnati winters were like?" And since it got so cold, I thought maybe we'd have lots of snow. Cincinnati has never had lots of snow. Oh, there have been storms, but a winter of snow-covered ground? Nah. Anyway, I then detected a pattern. Each year, either the second or third week in January, the temps fall very low, they stay there for a week, and then we bounce back. So, I'm waiting it out. Next week or the next after that we'll be back to lows in the 20s and days in the 40s or 50s. Maybe a good snowstorm thrown in there for good measure, who knows.
I noticed another thing today. Most important, it wasn't cloudy; so this isn't a true judge of things. It was sunny all day. And I noticed that it wasn't dark at 5 p.m. Does that mean the days of daylight are getting longer? Oh, happy day! I despise the dark gloomy days of winter. I don't mind the heat, nor the cold -- well, not too much. But I do dislike immensely the darkness that covers the earth during this time of the year.
So, I rejoice today at noticing that light is coming back. Yip, Yip, hooray!
ttfn
I've been mulling a lot of things in my mind the past couple of days but suffice it to say the ideas pop up in my mind at 3 a.m. when I'm trying desperately to get to sleep, and I only hope I can recall them in the morning when I get up. So far, no (yes, "NO") good. I can't recall any of my super interesting ideas for BLOG reports.
I recall when we first moved here that first winter we suffered through several below zero days and I thought, "hmmm, is this was Cincinnati winters were like?" And since it got so cold, I thought maybe we'd have lots of snow. Cincinnati has never had lots of snow. Oh, there have been storms, but a winter of snow-covered ground? Nah. Anyway, I then detected a pattern. Each year, either the second or third week in January, the temps fall very low, they stay there for a week, and then we bounce back. So, I'm waiting it out. Next week or the next after that we'll be back to lows in the 20s and days in the 40s or 50s. Maybe a good snowstorm thrown in there for good measure, who knows.
I noticed another thing today. Most important, it wasn't cloudy; so this isn't a true judge of things. It was sunny all day. And I noticed that it wasn't dark at 5 p.m. Does that mean the days of daylight are getting longer? Oh, happy day! I despise the dark gloomy days of winter. I don't mind the heat, nor the cold -- well, not too much. But I do dislike immensely the darkness that covers the earth during this time of the year.
So, I rejoice today at noticing that light is coming back. Yip, Yip, hooray!
ttfn
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Snow
Again we were promised a couple of inches of snow and barely got a dusting! I hate when the weather men do that. Can't they even get it right three hours before the "event" is supposed to occur? It is very cold and getting colder and windier so that the wind chill factor puts the temp around zero and dropping.
We have life group tonight. I'm not looking forward to going out in the cold. I just know what it's going to do to my knees which have been good for two days now.
I keep asking Alan why my body is so erratic. He just looks at me and says nothing. It's weird. I can be so fine one day and the next I'm flat on my back and I don't know what triggers the pain. if I did, I do everything I could to control it.
My kidneys seem to be working much better, but that could be because I'm drinking more than the required amount of water.
And once again they're telling us we should get a good dousing of snow tomorrow. Yeah, right! I'll believe it when I see it. But, I hope I do see it!
My D-I-L, Amy, called today. I need to pray more for her. She's still sick from the pneumonia she had since Thanksgiving. The pneumonia is gone, they tell her, but the after effects are still lingering. I know the feelings she's having about her ability to maintain her home. There is none. She's does something as simple as getting lunch for Rachel and Matthew and she's pooped. There is NO energy left to do anything but get back on the sofa. I only wish I could help her.
I haven't heard from my other daughters for several days. I'm not concerned, but they haven't even added to their Facebooks, so I haven't a clue what's going on with them, except that Cyndi's suburban got a window knocked out. It's been replaced, but I don't know how it happened or where? I sure hope it didn't happen while she was driving with the children in the car.
Well, I'm going to sign off for now. I think I'll rest until I have to get dinner ready. We're having "chicken something" for dinner tonight. Poor Alan. He doesn't really like "chicken anything".
Gotta go.
ttfn
We have life group tonight. I'm not looking forward to going out in the cold. I just know what it's going to do to my knees which have been good for two days now.
I keep asking Alan why my body is so erratic. He just looks at me and says nothing. It's weird. I can be so fine one day and the next I'm flat on my back and I don't know what triggers the pain. if I did, I do everything I could to control it.
My kidneys seem to be working much better, but that could be because I'm drinking more than the required amount of water.
And once again they're telling us we should get a good dousing of snow tomorrow. Yeah, right! I'll believe it when I see it. But, I hope I do see it!
My D-I-L, Amy, called today. I need to pray more for her. She's still sick from the pneumonia she had since Thanksgiving. The pneumonia is gone, they tell her, but the after effects are still lingering. I know the feelings she's having about her ability to maintain her home. There is none. She's does something as simple as getting lunch for Rachel and Matthew and she's pooped. There is NO energy left to do anything but get back on the sofa. I only wish I could help her.
I haven't heard from my other daughters for several days. I'm not concerned, but they haven't even added to their Facebooks, so I haven't a clue what's going on with them, except that Cyndi's suburban got a window knocked out. It's been replaced, but I don't know how it happened or where? I sure hope it didn't happen while she was driving with the children in the car.
Well, I'm going to sign off for now. I think I'll rest until I have to get dinner ready. We're having "chicken something" for dinner tonight. Poor Alan. He doesn't really like "chicken anything".
Gotta go.
ttfn
This may be a rant
I was thinking last night about this executive order that P-E Obama is planning to issue his first day in office. You know, the one that will close down Gitmo. I was wondering how he could do that? Doesn't that require an act of congress? Of course, I'm sure if it did, congress would go along with it, but it's scary to think that the President of the US can just write an order and shut down a military base. And what are they going to do with all those terrorists that are being housed there? I say housed, because it doesn't seem that they are being brought to trial or whatever is supposed to happened to a POW. I would just say they are POWs and move them to some really, really secure prison, or put them in with the inmates we have in our prisons and let them fend for themselves. I have no sympathy for any of them. Is that wrong? I don't think so. Alan thinks they should move all the prisoners to the US Senate building. A talk radio host thinks they should be moved to the ACLU office building in DC.
But, then I asked Alan how he could do that, and he said PE-O probably could do that because there was no one to give him or any senator or congressman money to keep the place open. That's how it works. A base is located in Texas and all the Texas Congress people in both houses fight to keep the base open and if a President wrote an order to close it, there would be hell to pay in Texas because the economy would falter. No economy in Cuba, so we close the base.
So, here's what I'm thinking. If the president can just write an executive order and close down a base, then surely he can close down anything else he wants, like my Kroger's or Macy's or maybe even claim my condo by eminent domain. That's an even scarier thought.
I think the next four years are going to be the worst years I've ever lived through. A person who has little experience in government, a person who spent 75 days in the US Senate and a couple of years in the Illinois state house is the president being led by a bunch of groupies who may or may not have this country's best interests at heart. How stupid are the people who voted for this man? And they said Sarah Palin had no experience? I think she would do a better job. At least we know she'd be thinking for herself.
I was reading a book yesterday and it brought back to mind Hurricane Betsy which hit New Orleans in 1965. The same events that happened with Katrina happened in that hurricane, but the people of Louisiana cleaned it up themselves and didn't moan and groan and beg the federal government for big bucks (billions of dollars, as President Bush said in his last press conference. $2.8 billion has been poured into New Orleans). And why? Because they had a puppet mayor, just like we now have a puppet President Elect. Woe are we!
ttfn
But, then I asked Alan how he could do that, and he said PE-O probably could do that because there was no one to give him or any senator or congressman money to keep the place open. That's how it works. A base is located in Texas and all the Texas Congress people in both houses fight to keep the base open and if a President wrote an order to close it, there would be hell to pay in Texas because the economy would falter. No economy in Cuba, so we close the base.
So, here's what I'm thinking. If the president can just write an executive order and close down a base, then surely he can close down anything else he wants, like my Kroger's or Macy's or maybe even claim my condo by eminent domain. That's an even scarier thought.
I think the next four years are going to be the worst years I've ever lived through. A person who has little experience in government, a person who spent 75 days in the US Senate and a couple of years in the Illinois state house is the president being led by a bunch of groupies who may or may not have this country's best interests at heart. How stupid are the people who voted for this man? And they said Sarah Palin had no experience? I think she would do a better job. At least we know she'd be thinking for herself.
I was reading a book yesterday and it brought back to mind Hurricane Betsy which hit New Orleans in 1965. The same events that happened with Katrina happened in that hurricane, but the people of Louisiana cleaned it up themselves and didn't moan and groan and beg the federal government for big bucks (billions of dollars, as President Bush said in his last press conference. $2.8 billion has been poured into New Orleans). And why? Because they had a puppet mayor, just like we now have a puppet President Elect. Woe are we!
ttfn
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is Sunday, or as my father always said, "It's the Lord's Day." Well, yes, Sunday was always the Lord's Day, but The Psalmist said that "This is the day that the Lord has made (i.e., the Lord's Day), let us rejoice and be glad in it." No specificity was made as to whether it was Sunday or Wednesday or Friday. So, tomorrow is Sunday, but today, as everyday is The Lord's Day.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it being another Sunday in my life. I pray I can get out and about and get to church. That's not something that happens very often, unfortunately. I miss church.
The church we've attended for over 25 years is now meeting in a school and the walk from my car to the "sanctuary" (auditorium) is quite long. And even if I take the walker, I'm exhausted and hurting very badly by the time I get to a seat. The same can be said for the church Alan prefers. Only the pain in that church occurs because of the pews. That old nerve shoots me from hip to ankle throughout the whole service.
These "excuses" are not something I enjoy talking about. I really would prefer being with others of "like precious faith" as my dad said (and I think the Apostle Paul said), but unless and until I have more mobility it isn't going to happen, so I have to rely on God's Word alone for my "food". Not a bad diet, I must say.
I'm told not to worry about tomorrow, because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Who knows? Maybe it will be the glorious appearing of our Lord! Wow!
mtf maybe
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it being another Sunday in my life. I pray I can get out and about and get to church. That's not something that happens very often, unfortunately. I miss church.
The church we've attended for over 25 years is now meeting in a school and the walk from my car to the "sanctuary" (auditorium) is quite long. And even if I take the walker, I'm exhausted and hurting very badly by the time I get to a seat. The same can be said for the church Alan prefers. Only the pain in that church occurs because of the pews. That old nerve shoots me from hip to ankle throughout the whole service.
These "excuses" are not something I enjoy talking about. I really would prefer being with others of "like precious faith" as my dad said (and I think the Apostle Paul said), but unless and until I have more mobility it isn't going to happen, so I have to rely on God's Word alone for my "food". Not a bad diet, I must say.
I'm told not to worry about tomorrow, because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Who knows? Maybe it will be the glorious appearing of our Lord! Wow!
mtf maybe
Friday, January 9, 2009
Yesterday
Well, I hate to be moribund (is that a word?) but yesterday was a "don't get out of bed unless you want to make things worse" day.
I woke up around 3 a.m. (on Thursday morning -- January 8) with such very bad nerve pain that I knew I was having another flare-up, and I took medicine to counteract it right away, but never recouped until almost dinner time.
Alan and I had decided we were going on a date come what may and so I pushed through and we went to one of the nicest restaurants in the Cincinnati area -- the Greyhound in Fort Mitchell. We had a great table with a spotlight right over it, which was good, because most tables are lit only by candles, which I admit is more romantic, but Alan can't see in that type of light, so I was very grateful to be "in the light" so to speak. We both ordered a Kentucky Brown -- not a heavy dinner, but enough for us. We seem to be eating a lot less than we used to. We did take our dessert home, because we were both full.
So, he and I had a really nice, companionable dinner. We talked about our next "dream" vacation to Florida and including a cruise in that trip. And we talked about our dream summer vacation -- a train trip from Chicago to Seattle to get on a boat to go to Alaska. Prices on cruises are down right now and it's a good time for us to finally take the trip we've been talking about for years.
However, we both realize that travel for us may not happen any more. Each trip we take gets more and more difficult for both of us. But I can't complain, we've had five good years (except for the summer he got shingles) of travel and have been on more cruises than I could ever have imagined, and seen more of the Caribbean and Mexico and Central America, including Panama, than I ever hoped to see. We've done things I never thought we'd do together, mainly because until we sold our home and realized a profit on it, we had little money to spend on such frivolities, and Alan's surprise to me of saving for years and not telling me so that we could travel, if our health allowed, after we both retired. So, I thank my husband for that. And I thank God for the years he has given us to travel -- not in our dreams, but for real.
ttfn
I woke up around 3 a.m. (on Thursday morning -- January 8) with such very bad nerve pain that I knew I was having another flare-up, and I took medicine to counteract it right away, but never recouped until almost dinner time.
Alan and I had decided we were going on a date come what may and so I pushed through and we went to one of the nicest restaurants in the Cincinnati area -- the Greyhound in Fort Mitchell. We had a great table with a spotlight right over it, which was good, because most tables are lit only by candles, which I admit is more romantic, but Alan can't see in that type of light, so I was very grateful to be "in the light" so to speak. We both ordered a Kentucky Brown -- not a heavy dinner, but enough for us. We seem to be eating a lot less than we used to. We did take our dessert home, because we were both full.
So, he and I had a really nice, companionable dinner. We talked about our next "dream" vacation to Florida and including a cruise in that trip. And we talked about our dream summer vacation -- a train trip from Chicago to Seattle to get on a boat to go to Alaska. Prices on cruises are down right now and it's a good time for us to finally take the trip we've been talking about for years.
However, we both realize that travel for us may not happen any more. Each trip we take gets more and more difficult for both of us. But I can't complain, we've had five good years (except for the summer he got shingles) of travel and have been on more cruises than I could ever have imagined, and seen more of the Caribbean and Mexico and Central America, including Panama, than I ever hoped to see. We've done things I never thought we'd do together, mainly because until we sold our home and realized a profit on it, we had little money to spend on such frivolities, and Alan's surprise to me of saving for years and not telling me so that we could travel, if our health allowed, after we both retired. So, I thank my husband for that. And I thank God for the years he has given us to travel -- not in our dreams, but for real.
ttfn
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Snowy day
It was a snowy day. Off and on snow showers which accumulated to dust. But it looked pretty.
I don't know what happens to me. I was doing so well for three days, yes three, then today, boom, there I am again, flat on my back with severe back pain and that right-knee just not cooperating at all.
It takes me so long to get up from either a sitting or lying position (or is it laying position?) because I have to very slowly straighten out the right leg, hear it pop, endure the popped-in pain, and then I can move on. Not fun. At least today's setback wasn't a fibromyalgia back-up.
We had a busy day yesterday. My helpers with my cleaning came in and of course, I can't sit still while they're here cleaning. No siree! I must be one step ahead of them so they don't think I'm a dirty housekeeper. Of course, the whole purpose of having someone to clean for me is so that I don't have to do the cleaning, but I just can't give it up.
I know I can't get things clean because I can't get down and dirty, but I still try. I guess I'd feel better more often if I'd just led the ladies who are helping me do their job and not try to butt in and try to help them do my job. Yes, that makes sense if you read it sixteen times!
So, I have to try to be more willing to let others see my dirt, and more willing to let the place be a mess for a few days after it is spiffied up. I love having it clean, and I don't like having it a mess or not clean.
I haven't mentioned my office recently. Well folks, it's cleared of ALL Christmas stuff which means you can see the floor. My cleaner was actually able to get into the room and vacuum it yesterday. I still have several boxes of Creative Memories papers and albums that I need to get rid of (anybody want any?) and then I'll have my office back.
I'm still scrapbooking, don't misunderstand, it just that in 100 years I wouldn't use all the materials I've received from Creative Memories because I was a sales consultant. I could open a store, but I won't. My biggest problem with the CM items is that I don't know what I really want to let go. I know there are albums which I will never use -- the 8x8s. Not into the smaller albums. And I have several of the larger albums which I doubt I'll use. That means that all those 8x8 papers I won't need either. And I have to decide which if the 12x12 papers I want to keep, and which I want to get rid of.
I'll probably work on that tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
ttfn
I don't know what happens to me. I was doing so well for three days, yes three, then today, boom, there I am again, flat on my back with severe back pain and that right-knee just not cooperating at all.
It takes me so long to get up from either a sitting or lying position (or is it laying position?) because I have to very slowly straighten out the right leg, hear it pop, endure the popped-in pain, and then I can move on. Not fun. At least today's setback wasn't a fibromyalgia back-up.
We had a busy day yesterday. My helpers with my cleaning came in and of course, I can't sit still while they're here cleaning. No siree! I must be one step ahead of them so they don't think I'm a dirty housekeeper. Of course, the whole purpose of having someone to clean for me is so that I don't have to do the cleaning, but I just can't give it up.
I know I can't get things clean because I can't get down and dirty, but I still try. I guess I'd feel better more often if I'd just led the ladies who are helping me do their job and not try to butt in and try to help them do my job. Yes, that makes sense if you read it sixteen times!
So, I have to try to be more willing to let others see my dirt, and more willing to let the place be a mess for a few days after it is spiffied up. I love having it clean, and I don't like having it a mess or not clean.
I haven't mentioned my office recently. Well folks, it's cleared of ALL Christmas stuff which means you can see the floor. My cleaner was actually able to get into the room and vacuum it yesterday. I still have several boxes of Creative Memories papers and albums that I need to get rid of (anybody want any?) and then I'll have my office back.
I'm still scrapbooking, don't misunderstand, it just that in 100 years I wouldn't use all the materials I've received from Creative Memories because I was a sales consultant. I could open a store, but I won't. My biggest problem with the CM items is that I don't know what I really want to let go. I know there are albums which I will never use -- the 8x8s. Not into the smaller albums. And I have several of the larger albums which I doubt I'll use. That means that all those 8x8 papers I won't need either. And I have to decide which if the 12x12 papers I want to keep, and which I want to get rid of.
I'll probably work on that tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
ttfn
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Phone calls
It's amazing to me that we only received one phone call while we were away. Of course, that was from some collection agency wanting their "fair share" of the over $1,000,000 in past and present bills we owe to various medicos. Actually, we don't owe that much, it only seems that way. But Alan's bills, if we had to pay them, and if we didn't have some insurance -- I have to say that our insurance is good, but still there is that gap that leaves us gasping for breath after each visit to either the doctor or the hospital -- would add up to more than that over the past almost 10 years. Cancer is an expensive disease, and if the Lord is gracious and you don't succumb to it, the after-care costs are enormous.
Anyway, I started out with phone calls. Well, today is Sunday, and as usual, Debbie called and we chatted for about a half hour about our after Christmas get togethers and New Year's events. I'm glad she sort of had a respite from work this past week. She certainly sounded more chipper than she has recently. I know how tired she gets. I remember how awfully tired I would be when I came home from work, only to have to be full-time wife, mother, housekeeper, nurse, maid, etc. after that. It seems I never got the rest I wanted unless we were on vacation, and even then, most vacations I had I worked.
Computers are wonderful, but when the laptop became something that was standard office equipment, and the Internet and e-mail was SOE as well, the true vacation went out the window. I remember even the few years before all the techo stuff was part of our everyday lives, when I worked as a paralegal, I would take a week off, leave home with a ton of books to research for upcoming briefs that needed to be prepared, always being no further from the office than a phone call. How stupid was that?
Oh, for the days (which I can NOW enjoy) when I could just rest and not do anything if I was of a mind to. Maybe that's why I had a stroke when I was 58 and that was the end of my full-time commitment to any company or firm. Oh, I worked off and on for a few years after that, but mostly, off.
My husband still thinks I do too much. I feel like I don't do enough. Who am I trying to kid? I don't do enough, no matter what Alan thinks. I do as much as I can with this frail/feeble/pain-wracked body, but the mind thinks I can do more, and I always plan on more things to do than I'm able to follow through with. That's frustrating.
Just today -- all I wanted to do was get some items from the van because the pantry was bare and I knew there were a few remnants left in the van from our trip. Not happening. I went down, painfully walked across the garage floor, opened the hatch on the van and the box I needed was backed against the rear seat, out of reach of my hands and the grabby thing we keep in the car wasn't moving that box for any love or money. And there was no way I was going to be able to crawl up into the back of the van to get that box. So what was I going to do for lunch and dinner? Well, lunch was for Alan only. I had three slices of american cheese left in the refrigerator and I made him TWO grilled cheese sandwiches. He knew not to complain!
I had a lemon, cut in 1/8s. That was enough. My daily dose of vitamin C. I got a couple of crab cakes out of the freezer, heated them in the oven, and they tasted awful. Figuring they might make me sick, I threw the remaining pieces away. So now, I'm waiting for my hasty spaghetti sauce to finish simmering and then I'll plate up some spaghetti for dinner.
Shopping day isn't until Tuesday. I'm going to have to feed Alan eggs until then.
mtf
Anyway, I started out with phone calls. Well, today is Sunday, and as usual, Debbie called and we chatted for about a half hour about our after Christmas get togethers and New Year's events. I'm glad she sort of had a respite from work this past week. She certainly sounded more chipper than she has recently. I know how tired she gets. I remember how awfully tired I would be when I came home from work, only to have to be full-time wife, mother, housekeeper, nurse, maid, etc. after that. It seems I never got the rest I wanted unless we were on vacation, and even then, most vacations I had I worked.
Computers are wonderful, but when the laptop became something that was standard office equipment, and the Internet and e-mail was SOE as well, the true vacation went out the window. I remember even the few years before all the techo stuff was part of our everyday lives, when I worked as a paralegal, I would take a week off, leave home with a ton of books to research for upcoming briefs that needed to be prepared, always being no further from the office than a phone call. How stupid was that?
Oh, for the days (which I can NOW enjoy) when I could just rest and not do anything if I was of a mind to. Maybe that's why I had a stroke when I was 58 and that was the end of my full-time commitment to any company or firm. Oh, I worked off and on for a few years after that, but mostly, off.
My husband still thinks I do too much. I feel like I don't do enough. Who am I trying to kid? I don't do enough, no matter what Alan thinks. I do as much as I can with this frail/feeble/pain-wracked body, but the mind thinks I can do more, and I always plan on more things to do than I'm able to follow through with. That's frustrating.
Just today -- all I wanted to do was get some items from the van because the pantry was bare and I knew there were a few remnants left in the van from our trip. Not happening. I went down, painfully walked across the garage floor, opened the hatch on the van and the box I needed was backed against the rear seat, out of reach of my hands and the grabby thing we keep in the car wasn't moving that box for any love or money. And there was no way I was going to be able to crawl up into the back of the van to get that box. So what was I going to do for lunch and dinner? Well, lunch was for Alan only. I had three slices of american cheese left in the refrigerator and I made him TWO grilled cheese sandwiches. He knew not to complain!
I had a lemon, cut in 1/8s. That was enough. My daily dose of vitamin C. I got a couple of crab cakes out of the freezer, heated them in the oven, and they tasted awful. Figuring they might make me sick, I threw the remaining pieces away. So now, I'm waiting for my hasty spaghetti sauce to finish simmering and then I'll plate up some spaghetti for dinner.
Shopping day isn't until Tuesday. I'm going to have to feed Alan eggs until then.
mtf
Saturday, January 3, 2009
It's good to be home
While I really enjoy being away from time to time, this past week was very hectic, but I think I survived pretty well. If you readers want a more up-to-date analysis of the week go to http://www.runnemederemembered.blogspot.com.
I really held up until New Year's Eve. Then I crashed, and New Year's day, I pretty much stayed on the sofa. Was that just yesterday? No, it was Thursday. Well, Friday wasn't much better. Today, though, I seem to be in pretty fine shape. I drove all the way home with only one dose of Advil, which I'm not supposed to take, but it takes the edge off the pain and it doesn't make me drowsy.
So, I'm home. I have 133 e-mails to read and about 1/2 to respond to. Yikes! I have to send out a broadcast e-mail to my ladies about scrapbooking on Monday night. I have to unpack. Wash a weeks load of wash. And yes, I'm still breathing.
The car will get unpacked as I unpack each box that's in the car and put the stuff away. Two of the boxes, the children's costumes and the games/prizes I'll leave as is and put them in the attic for another day, probably Mother's day. I don't know, maybe I'll have a valentine's party for the grands, if I'm still in Kentucky and not in Florida (a dream I have for 2009 -- Florida and a cruise in Feb/Mar).
So, that all for now. mtf
I really held up until New Year's Eve. Then I crashed, and New Year's day, I pretty much stayed on the sofa. Was that just yesterday? No, it was Thursday. Well, Friday wasn't much better. Today, though, I seem to be in pretty fine shape. I drove all the way home with only one dose of Advil, which I'm not supposed to take, but it takes the edge off the pain and it doesn't make me drowsy.
So, I'm home. I have 133 e-mails to read and about 1/2 to respond to. Yikes! I have to send out a broadcast e-mail to my ladies about scrapbooking on Monday night. I have to unpack. Wash a weeks load of wash. And yes, I'm still breathing.
The car will get unpacked as I unpack each box that's in the car and put the stuff away. Two of the boxes, the children's costumes and the games/prizes I'll leave as is and put them in the attic for another day, probably Mother's day. I don't know, maybe I'll have a valentine's party for the grands, if I'm still in Kentucky and not in Florida (a dream I have for 2009 -- Florida and a cruise in Feb/Mar).
So, that all for now. mtf
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