title explained

Onward and upward! something that you say in order to encourage someone to forget an unpleasant experience or failure and to think about the future instead and move forward.

My e-mail: jjmiller6213@comcast.net

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

A Truly Lovely Day

I woke up to a bit of haze that turned into nice, warm sunshine and 58 degrees.

I was even inspired to do a bit of vacuuming and dusting and straightening up.  Not in the mood to run up to Walmart, but I needed to take in two bags of pop bottles to return, the cats needed wet food and I needed one last batch of squirrel food and bird seed.

After I got underway, I kind of enjoyed myself.  The Walmart was pretty quiet and calm.  No little kids running around and screaming, just a lot of old people like me, strolling along and looking at everything.

After I left there, I stopped at the Tractor Supply store and got a couple of bags of peanuts, a larger bag of shelled corn, sunflowers seeds and a medium size bag of bird seed.  It was all pretty heavy, but I got it all unloaded, filled up the feeders and put away the groceries.

I got a lot of liquid stuff to drink, some orange Popsicles, and orange jello, chicken broth, some Gatorade and lots of water--in preparation for my two day preparation for the colonoscopy next week.

Then Karen called and wanted to know if I wanted to go out for supper!  We haven't done that in quite a long time so I was excited.  We went to an authentic, hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant.  She had General Taos (?) chicken and I had my usual beef and Chinese veggies.  Of course we had the obligatory hot Oolong tea, white rice, soup and egg roll.  We both brought more home than we ate.

We had a wonderful catch-up conservation.  Of course, we talked a lot about her grandbaby, Della.  Della will be baptized April 2.  The other grandma may not come as, come to find out, she is a bit miffed about the whole thing.  Luckily, her son, the husband/Daddy doesn't mind at all.  He doesn't care if the baby is raised Jewish or Catholic.  

Now we all went to the Jewish naming and blessing event the other grandma had and although none of us understood the Hebrew words or the whole ceremony, we found it very interesting and lots of fun.  I like the Jewish grandma and I hope the she comes.  I told Karen, she could sit with me because I won't be going through all the "rigmarole" of kneeling and crossing and getting Holy water sprinkled on me.

Personally, I think it is wonderful that Della will enjoy all the traditions of the Jewish faith and also all the traditions of the Christian faith.  She will learn all the prophecies of the Old Testament and see them come to fruition in the New Testament.
and probably disappoint both grandmas when she grows up, discards both religions and becomes a Methodist.  HAH!

I felt so good today, both emotionally and physically.  I can tell I am standing straighter from the PT and walked all over Walmart, tall and with a firm stride.

I felt alive!!!!!!!!

Monday, March 20, 2017

Whew!

Friday afternoon--late, I got a phone call from my doctor's office.  I did not pick it up and let it go to voice mail.  I was going to wait until Sunday, go into my Patient Portal and read the results myself.

So all day Saturday I reasoned, they wouldn't have called me so late on a Friday if they had bad news and wanted me to come right in.  Then I reasoned that perhaps they had called to set up an early morning appointment on Monday.  Then I just quit reasoning and cross stitched and watched the basketball tournament.

Up early Sunday morning and clicked into my Patient Portal--still the report was not visible.  So I reasoned that they weren't going to allow me to access the report until my doctor cleared it and since I hadn't answered his call on Friday..............................must be something bad showing on that CT scan.

Then, I just quit reasoning, said a prayer of 'whatever will be, will be" and cross stitched and watched the basketball tournament.  I am real good at denial.  If I don't know about it, it doesn't exist.

Then around 2:00, I got real brave.  My anxiety was gone and so I dialed into my voice mail.  

"Hello Miss Judy, this is Michelle from Doc Vassallo's office.  I just wanted to call and let you know your CT scan is normal.  There are no lesions, inflammation or COPD in your lungs.  One teeny nodule, in the lower right lobe, which is nothing and most people have...kind of like a small scar from a bout of the flu or a bad cold you once had. I know when you and I talked, you were expecting something to show up, but.........you're still as healthy as a horse. (laugh).  Have a great weekend, my friend.  Oh, it says here, you can have another one in six months, if you want to.  Byeeeeee."
======================
Now to prepare my mind for my first colonoscopy on the 30th.  I will think about that next Monday.  This week I have two sessions of PT and nothing else--so far.

Happy Spring!!

Friday, March 17, 2017

Friday--again!

How did I miss Wednesday and Thursday posting?

I went to have my CT lung scan.  It took less time than a mammogram!  Then off to get my hair cut.
It was the Idea of March so I was thinking and missing my Mother a lot.  She has been gone 47 years and I still miss her!
Then I checked my Patient Portal to see the results of the scan and it said, "Pending until March 19th."  Now that freaked me out!  With blood work, I can get the results in 2 hours.  With the x-ray, I got the results the next day.  I am wondering why this is taking so long.  Is there something bad on there and they are going to let my doc know first?

Thursday, I kept expecting to get a phone call from my doc all morning and I vowed I would not answer it!  I want to know the results first.  If it's bad, I can prepare myself.  When I had my chest x-ray last summer, he called and said, "I want you to come in and talk about your x-ray."  I was a nervous wreck for two days.  When I got into his office he asked, "Why do you get these?  They won't show anything important.  You need to get a CT scan."  Nothing had shown up on the x-ray.

I took off outta here at noon to drive the 45 minutes north to have lunch with my Old School Gal Pals.  There were 8 of us today.  Missing Bethie who now has a Chamber Commerce meeting the third Thursday of every month.  So I campaigned for her that we change lunch days.  I thought the third Wednesday instead, but one of the gals baby sits her great grand kids on Wednesdays and another one goes to a quilting group every Wednesday.  So, we just moved the lunch day up to the 2nd Thursday of every month.  All those in favor, say Aye.  Those opposed? (None). The Ayes have it.

Then out to The Farm to visit with little sister.  We had a really nice conversation and I dropped off her birthday prezzie.  Home by 6:00 with daylight to spare.
============================

The few Irish ancestors I have came from Northern Ireland and were "Orangemen".

We never celebrated St. Patrick's Day, but the guy does deserve some credit.  He rid that land of snakes, so he's a good guy in my opinion.  
===========
Today both University of Michigan and Michigan State University played basketball games in the NCAA March Mania tournament.  One at noon and one at 9:20 tonight.

You know what I'll be doing during that time.  You do know?  Then, pretty soon it will all be over and I can concentrate on Major League baseball.  I do love to watch baseball.  It is a nice slow game and a lot of cross stitching can be done without having to look up a lot.  (insert smiley face).

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Hanging tough on a Tuesday..............

The warmest February on record in the Mitten State.  Then March arrived.

Single digit temps at night.  In the 20's during the day and.....snow.  Oh not as much as that N'orEaster heading to the right coast.  We were on the north edge of it and only got 2" up here, Detroit (south of here) got more--about 5".  We are expecting a little bit more, but no big deal.

I actually drove out into the snow for my PT yesterday afternoon.  The visibility was poor, but the big road in front of our park was fine.  They salt it heavily, so it is always clear.  That's why every few years, I have to have an all new undercarriage put on my car--from all the salt caused rust.

The appliance repair guy got her 4 minutes after I got home at 4:00.  He not only lit the pilot light, but put in a new thermo-couple...just in case, so the gas would keep flowing like it is supposed to.  The guy that came last year, about this time, did the same thing.  That should keep me for another year, unless we have another gale force, 60mph, wind gusts.
================
I saw Dar's friend come and pick her up again Monday morning.  They were back in 90 minutes.  I felt kind of bad that Dar still can't get around, but then, 15 minutes later, she and her Daddy hopped in her car and took off.  Back in an hour, and as I was leaving for PT, she was in her car driving out ahead of me.  I wondered why her friend picked her up this morning, as Dar and Daddy were in and out half a dozen times over the weekend.
==================
Today's agenda--get my hair cut and eyebrows trimmed!!!!  This is imperative!  

Monday, March 13, 2017

Monday Moaning

The beginning of the dreaded Daylight Saving Time AND a full moon?

The full moon I can handle.  I love it and will do my monthly ritual of going out on the porch and howling at it.  The DST will affect my Circadian Clock for at least three weeks.  It always has and I suspect, it always will.

My neighbor/friend Pearl, isn't affected by it at all.  She doesn't even notice the time change.  Dar gets bat s*** crazy from the time change.  Even more so than normal.  HAH!  I just feel a bit discombobulated for half a month.  The sun now comes into the rooms at a different angle than what the clock says.

I thought maybe, I'd try something different.  Saturday at noon, I went through the house and set my clocks ahead an hour.  Then, when the cuckoo clock cuckooed 11 times, I went to bed.  When the alarm went off at 8:00, I got up.  I concentrated on what the cuckoo clock "said" and tried to ignore the sun angles.  It did seem to help.
==============
Five days with no hot water.  Dar was out too and her brother came to light the pilot light on her water heater.  She e-mailed me later to say, "I'm sorry.  I forgot all about your pilot light.  I should have had him come over and light yours."
Yes, that would have been nice, but since it is always all about her............

I have an appliance service plan through my electric company.  The service man was to arrive this morning between 7-11:00.  I got up at 7:00 to empty the closet, get dressed and get ready for the call that he was on his way.

It is now 10:30 and I just got the call.  "Because of the snow (1") he will arrive between noon and Two."

"I have an appointment at 2:30 and won't be back home until 4:00.  It's just a pilot light that needs lighting--it will only take a few minutes."

"Okay.  I'll put him down for before 2:30 or after 4:00."

<sigh>  It would have been nice to get a shower in and wash my hair before PT.  Guess I will warm up some water and wash down the important parts.  The hair will just have to be wild.

The electric had 900,000 customers without power since Wednesday--mostly in Detroit.  So I guess I am at the bottom of the list for my insignificant issue.  Maybe I should switch over to the appliance service plan my gas company offers?
===============
Other than that and a dishwasher filled to the brim with dirty dishes, a laundry basket filled to overflowing with dirty clothes and a cat that is on a diet and keeps meowing for food--everything is fine.

I guess I'll see how the rest of the day pans out before I get too anxious.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Missing these two a lot......................

Daughter Karen Helene and her grandbaby, Della Helene

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Ticked Off

Friday started out just fine.  The sun was shining.  The wind had settled down.  It was cold, but it was a shiny day.

I had to go to Walmart and pick up a prescription.  On the way there, driving on the 2-lane, plus left turn lane, plus 2-lane road--50 mph speed limit, some guy in a big pick-up drove out of a driveway right in front of me.  I had to slam on the brakes, or I would have T-Boned him.  He glanced at me as he headed the opposite way.  I sooooooooo wanted to flip him off!  
=========================

Got to Walmart parking lot and there was a nice spot, near the door, with a car backing out.  I put on my blinker light to let everyone know I was going to pull into that nearly vacant space.  The car left, I was about to make my move and a guy, in a pick-up, came around the corner and into that space.  He got out and glanced my way.  I sooooooo wanted to flip him off!
=========================

I got home and decided to take a shower before the basketball games started.  The water ran for longer than usual before getting hot.  I had no hot water.  Apparently the gales of wind we had on Wednesday blew out the hot water heater pilot light.  I had done laundry on Thursday and hadn't even noticed because I wash in cold water.  ARGGH!!!

So, I called the electric company, with which I have my appliance service repair plan.  They can get a guy out here on Monday. 
======================
Okay--everything will be fine.  I had some lunch and took my anti-anxiety pill and settled in to watch the basketball tournament.

At 3:00, right in the middle of my Michigan State game against Minnesota, a team we have beaten twice this year, my phone rang.  It was Dar.

"Hi.  They sent me home.  My sister-in-law Mary drove me home, but I need a favor from you."

"What's that?"

"I have prescriptions I need to get filled.  I have to take my dizzy pill at five."

 "Did you drop the prescriptions off on your way home and you want me to go pick them up?"

"No.  I have them here.  You have to take them up to Walmart and sit and wait for them to be filled."

"Well, I can do it in an hour, but right now I am watching the basketball tournament and Michigan State is playing.  Why didn't you have your sister-in-law drop them off on your way home.  You came right by Walmart."

"I know.  I just didn't feel like stopping. I wanted to just get home."

so because it is all about you, you want me to now hop to and do your running.

"Like I said, I can do it in an hour.  You don't need them until 5:00, I'll be over at 4:00 to pick them up."

"Oh.  That's cutting it kind of close.  Why don't you take them up now and then go back and pick them up when they're ready?"

"Because I want to watch this game and my gas tank is almost empty so I didn't want to drive anymore until Monday and fill it up when I go to PT."

"I'll call Sheila and see if she can do it."

"Okay, let me know."

A few minutes later, I saw Sheila pull into Dar's driveway and then out again and leave.  She was gone for well over an hour.  Dar never called me back.
============================
Michigan State lost.
============================
I wanted popcorn and milk for supper.  When I opened the refrigerator, I remembered.  I had used the last of the milk that morning for my Cherrios.

I soooooo wanted to flip off the entire world

Friday, March 10, 2017

This and That

The schedule for yesterday was, cross stitching and watching the Big Ten basketball tournament.  4 games, so it was an all day affair.  My eyes were crossed by 10:00 last night.  Did you hear that the plane the University of Michigan basketball team, cheer leaders and Pep band members were on, had an accident?  On take-off, because of the high winds, their plane couldn't take off and slid off the end of the runway.  No one was hurt--thankfully.  

They were not allowed to unload the plane, everything had to stay in place while the NTSB investigated.  They got no sleep, and arrived in D.C. (where the tourney is taking place) in the morning, and on the floor to play at noon, in their practice jerseys.  They went on to beat Illinois anyway and played like demons!!  Their coach was crying he was so proud of those kids.  I was too, even though I detest the U of M.

My Spartans won too.
=======================
Today's schedule?  Another 4 games, beginning at noon and ending around 10:00 tonight.  You would be surprised how far I am on my cross stitched baby quilt.

I do have to run up to the Walmart to get a prescription for my Celexa--anti-depression pills.  Can't go without taking them.

You all don't want to see me without them!!!
====================
Wednesday, on my way to PT, I saw Dar's friend Sheila, helping her to the car.  Sheila had Dar's arm around her neck and Dar could hardly walk.  

Dar has been in hospital since then.  She is having balance problems.  First thing I thought of was a stroke.  I called her yesterday and she said they had run a lot of tests on her and they thought perhaps she had a blood clot at the base of her skull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She is on blood thinner Coumadin.  How can she have a blood clot?  

Then she said it might be Vertigo, but she isn't dizzy or nauseous, it's just when she stands, she tends to fall toward one side.

Then she said they gave her a little pill called Ativan to help her.

Ativan is an anti-anxiety pill.  Hm-mm.

She wanted me to go over and check on her Dad.  It was 8:30, dark, windy and cold out there, but I went over.  He is doing fine by himself.  

He is such a gentleman.  95 years old and yet he got up to answer the door, we chatted and when I got up to leave, he got out of his chair, walked me to the door, opened it up for me and thanked me for checking in on him.  

I called Dar back.  She thinks she is coming home today.
==============
900,000 people with no power in south-east Michigan.  The worse outage in history.  The power company "thinks" they will have power restored by Sunday night.   The temperatures have dropped and it is mighty cold.

Thank goodness, I live in a place where all power, phone, gas lines are buried.  I've been here almost 14 years and the only power outage we have had, is when a truck  ran into a transformer pole and snapped it off.  We had power restored in 3 hours.

My sister and BIL have a whole house generator, so they are fine.  My son Mark and Pam, who live out by sister, had power restored yesterday morning.  Karen has a generator that will run their furnace and water pump, so they are pretending they are "camping".  LOL

.....and here I sit.  Warm and toasty and watching basketball games all the live long day!

Thursday, March 9, 2017

P. T.

The tendons and muscles of the rotator cuff.

The dark stars are the bad spots.  They are also where she puts her thumbs and presses until they come out my pectorals in front.

4 yelps yesterday, so I did not reward myself with a treat.


Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Logical thinking--I am all for that.......

Let's be logical and reasonable here, okay?

The wooden monster has hung way up there for 14 years next Wednesday, March 15th.  Why would it suddenly decide now was a good time to fall?  Or does that mean the odds are turning in favor of it dropping?  Of course, you know what they say about March 15th?  

Beware the Ides of March!

I will be taking the Monster down when I get this room painted--hopefully the first part of May.  Unless of course, I am in the midst of chemo from the bad colonoscopy from the bad stool sample test.  
I just know that dang test was a false positive!

I suppose I could hang it over my couch? Under the Ocean painting?


I need more clutter on that wall!

Over the fireplace/TV stand?




BTW--I have given up on the curtain  musical chairs.  The kitchen ones will stay where they are and one set of these in the den will go on the bedroom window.  I think.

Physical therapy yesterday.  I was doing pretty well until she rammed her thumb into the muscle by my rotator cuff.  I dang near fainted and let out a "Yelp".  Couldn't help it.  She caught me by surprise.  One nice extra--I get there 15 minutes early so I can do my exercises to warm up my muscles before she attacks them.  I ride the stationary bike for 10 minutes, even though that is not part of my therapy.  I can tell already--my legs are getting stronger!!!

So today--I gotta make the 3 mile jaunt up to the Walmart.  I have prescriptions to pick up.  Cat food--AGAIN and stop at the bank.  

I FINALLY--got that gift card fiasco straightened out.  They closed the card and sent me a $50.00 check instead.  It has only taken 2.5 months and a dozen phone calls. Good thing I got it.  I will need it for the prescriptions and cat food and gas for my car.

ARRGH!  Prices keep going up.  My health insurance doubled and my car insurance went up $20.00 a month.  

Oh well--get into happy thoughts.  Put a smile on my face and off I go...............................

Monday, March 6, 2017

Unforeseen Contingencies

Now, you all have me nervous about the Monster on the Wall.  I keep looking up at it, wondering when it is going to come crashing down, killing my monitor, a window and a cat or two who love to sit on the wide window sill below and no doubt, decapitating me with its long "tail".

I can see the newspaper headlines now.  "Local woman killed by falling driftwood."  Should make an interesting obituary read.


Look at that "eye".  It does look menacing!!!

You asked how far I am on the Nativity Scene cross stitch?  No?  You didn't?  Well, I'm going to show you.  With an explanation, because, there is always an explanation.

I do like to work a cross stitch from the right side to the left.  BUT--to start, one must first find the center point of the cloth and the center point of the pattern, start there and work outwardly.  This cloth is 25 inches wide.  The pattern comes on five different pages.

I could not count the teeny squares over to the right side of where the pattern starts on the cloth, so I started at the middle point--which is Joseph's head.  I did the top part of part of that section.  Then jumped up to the ivy border and did that over to the farthest right point and down a bit so I could count on where to start the Wise Guys.  That guy on the right is one of them.

Now, IF I have counted correctly, I can work from the right of the cloth/pattern over to the left.  IF I have NOT counted correctly?  

Saturday, I got the other Wise Man started.  His crown of golden metallic thread starts just below this guys red head scarf.  Got his crown done and all of a sudden---I was tired of it all.  

I took it out of the hoop, folded it up nicely and stowed it, the thread and pattern in the lidded box next to my chair.

Sunday morning, after TV church, I opened up the NEW, sealed Noah's Ark baby quilt.  There was no thread included!!!!!!!  On E-bay the description read, "NEW!  Sealed in its original packaging." On the front of the packaging it stated, "thread included".

Someone lied to me.  So, not to be deterred, I entered the color numbers in a Excel spreadsheet, sorted them from lowest to highest number, printed out the list and headed to Michael's.  I got 26 out of the 29 colors I needed and walked up two stores to JoAnn's to get the other 3.

Came home, ate a bit of lunch, and sat watching movies on TCM while I wound the floss around the paper bobbins--4 hours!!

I started at the upper, right-hand corner of the quilt and I stitched while I watched/listened to "Mercy Street" and "Victoria" on PBS.  Would you believe it took me two hours just to get one cloud almost finished!  If you have ever done a large cross stitch project, you know how time intensive these things can be.  

I figured, if my colonoscopy comes back "bad", I should try and get this, the last of the 9 baby quilts done.  If I croak, my sister can finish the Nativity Scene.

.................always planning ahead for any unforeseen contingencies.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Monster on the Wall



That, Dear Friends, is a 7 feet long, heavy piece of drift wood, taken out of the Au Sable River up north.

1960--my Mother, sister and I were visiting her brother (my uncle), who had a home on the shore of Lake Huron.

One day we took a road trip to various places of interest in the area and then to the top of the hill with the Au Sable river lying far below.

My Mother spotted it and said, "Judy!  You need that.  Help me drag it up here."

So down we ran and hauled that heavy thing up the steep hill to the car.    Thanks goodness, back then, cars had larger, deeper trunks.

When we got it home, she put some heavy eye bolts on the back of it and hung it over our couch.  It has hung over every couch I have had, in every house I have had, until I moved here.

Now, it hangs over my den window, ready to come crashing down on my computer/monitor/desk at any moment.

It is one of my most prized possessions.   (and at the time, very dusty).  LOL

Friday, March 3, 2017

It's Friday. Again! Time goes so fast......................

I thought Salmon patties sounded good for supper.  It was canned pink Salmon and they weren't all that great.  I prefer Red Sock-Eye Salmon, but I ate one while it was hot and have been having one cold one, dunked into Ketchup for lunch the last couple of days.  The Food Bank only has pink canned Salmon.  "Beggers can't be choosers."


That's one of those new ceramic fry pans.  I'm not impressed.  Sure, nothing sticks to it, but that causes the food to just slide around and seems to me, to make it difficult to get under and flip the meat to the other side.  I had to toss my big 16" Teflon coated fry pan, it was just to heavy for me to maneuver and very worn.  At least now, I'm not ingesting flakes of Teflon--which is probably a good thing?
====================

I got my new tier curtains today.  I'm not in the mood to iron and put them up as yet, because I also have to wash the windows first.  

These are the ones being replaced.  Notice how you can see through the bottom tiers.  Not a problem during the day, but I have had neighbors tell me they can see me sitting at my computer when they drive by.  That makes me feel a bit creepy.

Then, I got to pondering.  

"Oh, Oh."  One of you just said that.  I know you did!

I am not fond of the curtains in my bedroom.


 What if I swap out the curtains in my kitchen to my bedroom?  These have been my kitchen curtains for a few years.  I could put the tiers from the den on this window.


Then put these tie- backs on my bedroom window--I used to have tie backs at that window and liked them.

Then take these curtains at my bedroom window, wash them, fold them and give them to the Salvation Army.




New curtains at the three den windows.  The den tier curtains at the kitchen window.  The kitchen tie-back at the bedroom window.  It would be like I had new curtains in every room.  Are you confused yet?
====================
John stopped in and brought me 12 jugs of Diet Pepsi.  They were on sale for .99@ at Meijers.  6 de-cafe and 6 leaded.  I am a happy camper.  I was down to one jug of de-cafe.  YIKES!!  A near miss there.  I am hoping when I have the colonoscopy, it doesn't show my innards all torn up by my years of drinking Diet Pepsi.  To have to give that up?  I'd have to go into rehab!!
=====================
One tiny political note here.  I didn't watch the State of the Union address, or whatever they call it nowadays.   I don't care to hear what any politician has to say anymore.  I can't do a thing about their agendas, so I choose to ignore them all.  Whatever will be, will be.  And to think--I used to be so involved.  PBTTT.
================
Well, the sun is shining today.  It is cold and snow has covered up my Daffs and Tulips that were about 4" tall, but the sun is shining.  What a weird and strange season this has been.

Enjoy your weekend.  I shall be cross stitching and watching old time movies on TCM or basketball games on ESPN.  Sounds heavenly to me.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

You mean a lot to me.................

When I starting this blog, I never realized how much it would come to mean to me.  Not so much what I write, but the comments.  Yes, I use this as my kind-of journal because arthritis in my hands has kept me from writing anything with pen and paper--that is legible.  Typing is still fairly easy.

I let it all out here because it is almost like having a conversation with friends.  I have to say, I think most of you know me as well or better than a lot of my "real life" friends.  In a real life conversation, a friend might say, "Oh, stop being such a baby."  or "Why would you think something dumb like that?"  Here, the comments might say the same, but I can't see your facial expressions, so any negative comments wouldn't hurt as much.  LOL

To say that on this blog, I bare my soul, would be an understatement.  Sometimes (I have been told), I am TOO open.  There are things I should just keep to myself.  That has been preached to me since I was young.  Consequently, I have kept things to myself that were screaming to come out.  I have a permanent line of sores around the edges of my tongue from biting it.  

I know that I have strange ponderings and thoughts.  I can't really put some of them out there to "audible" friends.  I do have a reputation to uphold after all.  A perception that "they" have of me.

Here is my safe place.  Well, it is safe now that my kids don''t know how to find it.  Remember a few years back when someone in the family told my daughter Jennifer of something I had posted about something she had said?  She quit speaking to me and forbade me to see her children?  Remember that fiasco?  The person who told her loves to spread hurtful gossip.  Jennifer had quite misunderstood what I had posted.  Well. anyway.  I feel a bit safer here now that this blog is no longer findable on ANY search engine.  Anyone who finds me, finds me from another blog where I have commented.

That being said--or written, I get such help from your comments!!!  It could be an affirmation or it could be a different way to think on something.  Sometimes an "I disagree", or an "I know just how you feel."  Either and all of your comments just make my day.

I know that sounds trite, but it is the truth!

Guess what?  My Bestie, who doesn't comment, but sends me comments via e-mail, my Bestie, Bethie, is also have a colonoscopy on March 30th.  She's an old hand at it--getting one every 5 years like she is supposed to.  Too bad we aren't having it done at the same place.  We could ride together and commiserate with each other.  LOL   Misery loves company and all that.
===========================

I woke up this morning to my big cat Buddy, kneading my left shoulder.  He was right on the spot that aches and his kneading felt sooooooooooo good.  Of course, the minute I moved and he sensed I was awake, he stopped and came around to nose my cheek with his cold, wet nose.  I had over slept and he was hungry!  It was a nice massage for a moment anyway.

I love that animal more than I should allow myself.  Growing up on a farm, I learned early on, it was not wise to love an animal too much.  Just about the time I became used to a pet, it either died or got run over by a piece of farm equipment.  I never became attached to a calf or lamb, because they were sent off to market.  So, I never had an inside pet.

Then---in my 50's, I got an inside cat.  I didn't want her, but she was going to be sent to the pound, so I grabbed her and she was mine for 13 years.  When I had to have her killed, it tore me up for weeks.  I swore that would never happen again.

Then I met Fred and in he came with his 12 year old dog, Tootz.  She was a love!  Then a few years later, Fred was in hospital, I woke up one morning and the dog couldn't move.  I couldn't get her in the car so I called the vet.  They came out and while Fred was on the other end of the phone talking to her in her ear, the technicians put her down.  Right there, in front of me.

I swore.  "No more pets!"

Six months later Fred suggested we get a cat.  or rather, "Two cats.  One for each lap."  I wasn't about to deny him anything, so off we went to animal control.  I got Buddy and he got Maggie.  Six months after that, Fred died and left me with one lap and two cats.  I've never quite forgiven him for that.  LOL.

Buddy has always been my favorite because he is so gentle and calm.  He sleeps right by my head every night.  Maggie was a frantic cat--hissing, clawing, biting.  She now has turned into a lovable cat.  She sits on my lap and pats my face with her paw until I pet and cuddle her.  She sleeps by my feet.  I have become so attached and in love with both of them now.

ARGGH!  I'm sunk.
=======================
I bought a brand new black inkjet at Staples.  $49.95.  Can you believe that?  It's because my printer twins are old and the ink isn't manufactured every much.  It worked perfectly in my printer so up to the refill place I went to turn in the ones that didn't work.  We had a long, informative conversation.

The cartridges can get old, of course, and although they test them before they sell them, if not used soon, the sponge can dry up and the ink won't come through.  Probably not too many people buy that kind anymore, so who knows how long they hang on the shelf.

I asked if I could get my new cartridge filled when needed.  Yes.  It might take them a few extra minutes to refill it, but at least I would know it was fairly new and had only been used once before.  That is the way I am going to go from now on.

I got store credit for the black ones that didn't work.

They also have a March Special on an HP Envy printer and flat bed scanner, copier, fax, all in one for $99.99.  The ink refills on that one coast $18.00 for the color and $13.00 for the black.

My refills cost, $29.00 for the color and $22.00 for the black.  Plus I have that $25.00 store credit.  

Hm-mm.  
============
Theresa--thanks for finding me!!  Where are you from?

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Predictions

My predictions for 2017 was it was going to be a year full of change.

One of those changes will be happening on March 30th.

Have you ever gotten news and you felt a cold band wrap around your mid-section?  That's the way I felt.

My doctor called.  My Colo-Guard stool sample test came back positive.  I have to have my first and I hope last, colonoscopy that day.  I'm not worried about the prep.  It will be spring-time by then and as my Grandma would say every spring, "You need a good cleaning out!"  My Mother would bring out the worm medicine and laxatives and if that didn't work, a warm soapy enema was in the offing.  

I am worried about the results.  I have had bouts of severe diarrhea and then constipation since July.  That's one of the "signs".

Every year I have the FIT test, which is a stool sample smear and all have been negative.  Then, on reading about this Colo-Guard test, I see there are a lot of people who have had false positives and clear colonoscopies.  But still.........................................

I have my lung CT scan on the 15th.  I sure hope that one goes okay.  My voice is still hoarse and that too is one of the "signs".  My chest x-ray last fall came back good, but chest x-rays don't always show tiny lung tumors. So....................................

GEEZ!!!  I'm falling apart!!

Well, if I'm going to talk the talk, I am going to have to walk the walk and put all of this in God's hands.  Not that He causes any of these health problems, but that He will help me get through whatever the future brings.
====================
Yesterday we had strong thunderstorms, high winds and a nearby tornado in Michigan.  Today, we are expecting snow this late afternoon.

I have to deal with the inkjet refill place again.  The black refills do not work!  Neither one!  I have tried them both in both of my printers, so I know, it is not a printer problem.  I should just break down and buy a new black inkjet at Staples and then---I'd know for sure.  They are so expensive--the new ones.  The refills are about half the price.  Oh---I just don't know what to do!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that, I go to the torture chamber.  So far all the maneuvers have done is cause my nerves to become more inflammed.  I don't think my left shoulder will ever get back into it's correct position--it comes forward a bit, but I am in it until the end of the treatments.
=====================
So, today is Ash Wednesday.  I'm not Catholic so I don't get to have ashes on my forehead, dripping down my nose and I sure hope I don't tell someone they have a "smudge of dirt" on their forehead, like I mistakenly did last year.

I did learn something last night, as I watched Mother Angelica on TV.  The ashes are a sign to make us remember death.  That we all are going to die and return to ashes.  That knowledge seems to be an everyday thought in my life as I age.  I don't need a one-day reminder.

I know that Lent is a time of atonement and sacrifice.  We Methodists never "gave up" stuff for Lent.  When I was in the 9th grade, before going into my Algebra classroom, I stated to my friend that I was going to "give up Algebra for Lent".  Not realizing that my teacher was right behind me and heard that comment and was not pleased.

I rather like to take on something new for Lent.  Like calling a friend just to say I thought of them, or an e-mail or a note.  I think one day I will go over and visit Dar and her Dad and one day visit Merle and Pearl and one day visit Jackie.  

I never have quite understood why Catholics have the 40 days of Lent at this time of year.  Jesus went out into the desert for 40 days BEFORE He started His ministry, not 40 days before He went into Jerusalem and His death.  

Although, it IS a good time to have a period of thought and atonement BEFORE His crucifixion.  After all, He did it all for us.  Then the joyousness of Resurrection.  Christians would have no "religion" without His Resurrection.  

Sure, His birth was significant, but our church year begins on Resurrection Sunday--Easter.  If He hadn't come out of that grave alive, He would only be a great prophet.  He would not be the Son of God and we would not have all the promises He gave us to believe in.

So, March is coming in like a Lion.  Many will be anointed with the sign of the cross made on their foreheads with ashes mixed in oil and the rest of us have spring-time to look forward too.  A time of new life, as baby animals are born and flowers come up out of their cold, dark winter graves.

I'd say, there are a lot of reasons for celebration!

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

A Fun Day--mostly..........

A nice day yesterday.  I dropped off the genealogy book that needed binding on my way to Physical
Therapy.  When I walked into the PT office, I thought I recognized the coat hanging on the rack.  Then I heard the loud moaning and a couple of loud, "STOP!"  Dar was on the therapist's table.

As I walked past to get to the exercise bike, she reached out her hand and said, "Judy!  Save me!"
I turned and looked down at her and said, "Pick up thy mat and walk, my child." and made a sort of sign of the cross over her.  I thought Lori, the therapist was going to fall down laughing.  Dar just moaned and said, "Oh, get away!"

Just last week, she had made fun of me and scoffed, when I told her the therapist had hurt doing the maneuvers.  She had never had my therapist---until today.  HAH!!!  

As she walked past me, she was barely moving.  "My turn," I called cheerfully and then helped Dar on with her coat and held the door open for her.  She grunted and moaned as she walked to her car.

Then it WAS my turn and I clenched my teeth and never let one moan escape.  HAH!
======================

I have been wanting new tier curtains for this computer room.  At night, with my lamp on, you can see me quite plainly from the outside.  So after PT, I stopped at Bed, Bath and Beyond and of course they didn't have the ones I had seen on-line, but the very nice sales lady said she could order them there and have them delivered to my home--free shipping.

As we put all the information into the computer, she asked if I had brought my 20% off coupon.  I hadn't and could see it sitting on my desk at home.  I told her that I also had an e-mail one which was the same.

She said, "Don't tell anyone I did this," and commenced to click away on the computer--adding the discount and special promo codes.  I had seen the original total and inwardly groaned at the $100.00, thinking I should not spend that.  When she was done clicking away, the total was down to $68.79--now that is a good price for curtains for three windows.  

The curtains are cotton, so they will keep any after-dark walkers from looking in and seeing me sitting at my computer.  
==========================
Then I stopped at Taco Bell and ordered 3 soft tacos--I had such a craving for them.   I stopped at the print shop and picked up the book and was home.

Now, mind you, it was only 3:45 and you know what I did?  I sat there and wolfed down all of those Tacos.   Consequently, when 6:00 and supper time arrived, I wasn't a bit hungry.  I had some Cheerios and milk.
======================
I got a private FB message from Dar.  She said she was really sore and thought that Lori (the PT) was too rough on her.  I wrote back that Lori is the best one there and no pain, no gain, and that in the long run, she'd feel better for the deep, tissue massage and acupressure.
==============
I am ashamed to have such critical thoughts about Dar.  I know that she is really hurting.  It's just that she brags about what a high tolerance to pain she has, "I can withstand a lot more pain than most normal people."  She tells how hard it is for her to walk and yet, she and her Dad and her friend spent 6 hours walking around an historic town north of here and said to me, "You wouldn't have made it."

I need to readjust my thinking and become more sympathetic, caring and understanding.  I can be such a nasty, witch with the unsaid thoughts that go on in my head.  I don't like that about myself.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Nutzy Cuckoo Neighbors

It felt awfully early, Saturday morning when the alarm went off.  8:00--time to get up.  It was a struggle and I looked out the window.  Our record setting temperature from the day before, was now in the 30's and it was snowing.

I got the cats fed and went to the bathroom and so wanted to lay back down, but....8:15 is good enough to stay up.  Put my mug of milk in the microwave, got the milk nice and hot, two scoops of Nestle's Quik stirred in and came in to turn on the computer.  

I glanced down at the lower right hand corner to see what day it was and the time said: 7:20.

Wait.  What?

I trudged back to the bedroom.  My bedside clock said: 8:21.  Back to the kitchen to check the stove, microwave, my weather station.  All clocks read: 7:23.  

Oh Good Grief!!!!!  When I set the alarm, I must have pressed one time too many on that button and set it an hour early?

You would have thought I'd get a lot done, waking up an hour early.  That was not the case!
======================
I did have an interesting day Sunday though.

My neighbor Tammie came to visit.  She is the girl next door who claims to be a Wiccan.  At one time a Catholic and later a Seventh Day Adventist.  Her husband deals in magic, so when she met him, she started getting involved in that and the worshipping of different gods and goddesses.

She came over to inform me she has had a miracle sent from God and now belongs to a "Women for Jesus" group.  I have noticed lately, that her belligerent attitude and her penchant for FB arguing with people has tapered off.

Apparently she had a bill that was due, had not been paid for six months.  She has reacted to the company she owed in her normal angry way, but decided to get a bit humble and try and negotiate with them.  Glory Be--they are working with her and the pressure is off.  She sees this as a miracle because God knew she needed help.

Now, her life plan is to convert her husband from his "wicked ways".  "Can't he see that all his illnesses and surgeries the last two years are because he was worshipping the devil and being punished by God?"

I tried to explain a couple of things to her, but she is filled with the "fire", so I decided to let the Women for Jesus' group counsel her.  

"All you have to do is ask and God will give you everything."

I tried to caution that, "Sometimes His answer is 'No'," and encouraged her to keep praying because, "God and prayer WILL help you get through hard times easier." but, as I said, she is filled with the fire of a new convert, so best I let her find her own way.
===============
On the other hand, my other neighbor, Dar, who has claimed that Jesus sits on a chair next to her bed, seems to have fallen by the wayside.  She was over for a visit Friday night and I noticed crude words and a couple of "damn's" slipped into her conversation.

That would not have happened a year ago.  She found a church that she really liked, she said.  She went twice.  It was difficult because she sometimes had to work on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights when they had services.

She hasn't worked for 10 months and I had inquired as to how she liked her church.  

"Oh, I haven't been."

"Why not?  You have lots of time now."

"They didn't have any groups I wanted to join."

I guess to her, church is like a social gathering place.  She wants to be involved and for people there to "know" her good works?

When her Dad, a self proclaimed Atheist moved in, it was "God has sent Dad to me to show him The Way.  I know that is my mission."  She even got him, a life-long Democrat, to vote for Trump--which she took great glee and credit for.

Now she says she has doubts because God allowed her to be in that accident and that's when her troubles began.  She is in pain.  She can't work and God knew how important to her it was to work and be out and about everyday.  God seems to have left her.

I tried to counsel her in the same way I did Tammie.  "God never said you'd have a life without problems, but He will help you get through them.  Continue to pray."
==============
Both of these women are nutz!  I've thought that from the minute I met them.

I do not have enough training in theology to counsel either of them, or anyone else, for that matter.

I only know what works for me.  What I have witnessed in my last five years.  Things that could never be, "just" a coincidence and had to be a God whisper.  I guess both of them will have to find their testimony too. 
=================
Then, there's Merle and Pearl and Jackie.  Strong, yet quiet Christians.  Merle and Pearl can't attend church anymore, but they watch on TV Sunday morning and read the Bible every day and pray.  Jackie attends church every Sunday, but doesn't feel the need to get involved in the groups.  She reads her Bible every day and prays.

Tammie and Dar wouldn't do a thing for anyone, unless they got credit and praise for it, and they'd tell everyone what they had done.  Merle/Pearl and Jackie would give you their last slice of bread and wave away any sign of thanks.  

If you asked, they would give you their testimony and a God Bless You, to go along with it.  

I think I prefer the ones who lead quietly by example.