Not much _ QUICK UPDATE!

I don't have much to say this evening.  I think everything going wrong is now coming together and it makes me depressed.  I don't like to be depressed, and fortunately when I am it doesn't last long.

The dentist made some excellent adjustment today but it probably needs a little more tweaking, so I will be going back in two days.  He told me to leave the lower denture in except when brushing my teeth, even overnight.  He wants to see where there may be rubbing against the gums.  I hate the thought of sleeping in this thing.  It's the best part of the day after supper when I can take it out for the night!  When it is perfectly adjusted I'm going to love it (but I still won't want it in overnight)!

I am really sick about losing my phone.  I can't make calls to see if anyone turned it in; can't call to make appointments; can't even call to get a replacement phone.  I hadn't noticed but most websites seem to be giving phone numbers and not email addresses any more.  Maybe it's just the sites I need right now, but it is making life difficult.   My daughter jokingly told me I should have a smartphone rather than my little Jitterbug.   I'd have to have a smartphone surgically implanted into the palm of my hand, so that I could look at it any and all times of the day.  And I would never lose it!  And the cost per month compared to my Jitterbug would make my eyes bug out!

Still no word on my thyroid test results.  I think the doctor may have been away for a few days,  and doctors certainly earn time off work once in  a while, but the blood was drawn last Wednesday and it takes a day, or two at the most, to get the results.  Unfortunately they have to go through my doctor before I can access them.  So what is wrong with me that I have negative zero energy and don't really care about much these days.  It's either low cholesterol or a thyroid problem, or something else.  Looks like I'll be in the dark for a while longer.

I hope I am in a more positive mood tomorrow.  Something is wrong and until I know what it is, I can't begin to fix it.

UPDATE:
I once was lost, but now I'm found!  Amazing!  
(I was hiding on the floor of Jeannie & Donald's van, and they missed it when they looked the first time.)   

I haven't picked it up yet and hope Great Call hasn't cancelled the service on it, but they will just have to reinstate it.   This might be a better day by far than yesterday was. 

This morning the big fire engine and the smaller fire dept. van showed up in front of my next door neighbor's house (Ed).  He has been taken away in an ambulance several times in the last year or so.  A private transport company just brought him back, but I wonder how he can care for himself, or even what caused him to be taken away in the first place.  I'm glad he's back, but still wonder how he can manage.  He rides his bike for a few minutes now and then, and was out riding it yesterday.


I can't find my cell phone and may have left it in Jeannie's car when we were out yesterday.  I'm thinking maybe I should just get a land line for home, and buy a cheap disposable cell phone for the rare times I travel these days.  I don't have the feeling that I have to be connected all the time, as I spent most of my life using the phone only at home or at work.  Also, it is no doubt part of a hearing problem I have but I don't hear well on a cell phone.  Most of the words are garbled and I have to constantly ask the person to repeat what they said.  



Since I have a Jitterbug cell phone that doesn't do anything except act as a telephone, I only pay about $40 a month.  I've been debating this question in my mind for a few years and don't think I'm any closer to a solution.   But it's a nuisance trying to keep up with it and I refuse to get one of those gigantic things you carry around in your hand all the time.  But at least those folks know where their phones are during all their waking hours!  That is more than I can say for myself.

I did vacuum the rug today.  It is a large area rug slightly larger than 5' x 7'.  It  is new and was shedding some fibers, so I'm glad to finally get them swept up.   Now that job is taken care of I can relax.  I've tried to talk myself into doing it all the past week!

My legs are too achy from all the exercise to go anywhere today, except to the nearby Dollar Tree store.  I love that store and it's amazing what you can find for $1.   The folks who manage and work there are so helpful and friendly, much more than most stores in the area.

 I go back to the dentist tomorrow for an adjustment.  I'm hoping it will take care of the problems - I'm wearing them all day but they hurt when I eat certain foods.  I think that will go away in time with the proper adjustment.   I knew it wouldn't be easy, and it hasn't, but I am totally dedicated to making it work well.

I wonder if I'll ever be normal and fixed up again.  Sometimes I doubt it.  So this is old age?

Mother-Daughter day

That's what it was for a part of the day.   Jeannie and I went to the gym and I finally did a real workout plus the walk.  My legs are sore!

We picked up the girls and took them to Barnes and Noble, as they had some Christmas gift cards from B&N to spend.  I had some great discount coupons, plus a $5-off coupon, plus my regular discounts for being a member.   On the way in I stopped at the Nook counter (Nook is B&N's version of Amazon's Kindle), and I found one that I like.  Since I will need some instruction on using it, programming it, and loading it, I will go back on Tuesday when the clerk I talked to will be working.  She told me I can always bring it in and she will load any books I want, even the free ones.

I like the idea of buying it locally and having help at hand, rather than from an online company.   Because we were with the kids I couldn't take the time to look as thoroughly at it, but I feel sure it is going to work for me.  As it is I can't read a book, and as an avid reader I am ready to give in and join the move to the electronic readers (or whatever they are called.) 

I think I'm feeling a little better each day and attribute it to the magnesium, although that might not be it at all.  I haven't gotten the results of the thyroid test yet.  As Jeannie said, the doctor may have had a day off yesterday, or gone for a mini vacation weekend, or whatever.  I can wait although I hope I hear something definite on Monday.

I'll be back tomorrow.  Have a good evening.
 

Nearby accident

I thought the sirens I heard last night around 8pm would never stop.  More and more vehicles kept coming with their sirens blaring, and I thought it was probably a police matter rather than a fire, but it was big!

This morning on google news I read a short piece about a man trying to cross Sunrise Blvd near Coloma - about a block from where I live.  He was hit and killed; the report says the driver tried to stop but ended up driving on.  Bad move!  No other details have been made available.   I think about when I can no longer drive and want to walk to the various stores/restaurants in the vicinity, but having to cross Sunrise Blvd.    It wouldn't be easy at the best of times.

I am really taking it easy today, with no appointments on my calendar.  I slept a little later than usual, ate my breakfast, and have been waiting for a bit of energy to come my way.  I don't think it works like that, so maybe if I'd get a move on, I would get some energy.  Does that sound logical?  It doesn't to me, either!

I'm feeling pretty good today although it hasn't resulted in more energy to DO things, but I certainly THINK about doing them!

I hope everyone out there has a great weekend.   I'm going to try.

No more P.T.

I drove to Folsom for my 2nd of 4 sessions with the physical therapist, and was looking forward to it.  My kids howl with laughter because I leave so early for appointments, but there is a good reason for it and I hate to be late for anything!  I was raised to believe it is rude to keep someone waiting, but I didn't convey that to my children very well, or else the outside influences were stronger than mine.

I drove along the main street in Folsom for about 20-25 min. , pulling into this parking lot and that, and couldn't find the place.  If the buildings put their street numbers in plain sight I would have had no problem, but I couldn't find a number on either side of the road.  The traffic is always heavy in that area as there are many shopping centers with stores that usually have big crowds.  I made it to my appointment with 5 minutes to spare and thought, "This is it!"  I stayed for today's session but cancelled the next two.  The therapist printed out several pages of instructions with drawings of exercises I can do at home.

My vision wasn't as sharp today as it normally is, and it can hardly be called "sharp" at the best of times.   I hope to never have to drive to Folsom again and would like to keep my driving within a 10-mile radius of home, and only in areas I'm very familiar with.

I think I will take a nap and hope to find a msg from my doctor about the results of my thyroid tests when I wake up.  If I do, I will add an update to the blog.  I know I said I wasn't going to write any more about health issues, but the thyroid question is a big one.  If there is a positive result on the tests it sure would explain a lot, but I'm really hoping it is negative.  I don't want to be on medication the rest of my life, if I can even tolerate it at all. 

A Welcome Day!

Today has been a beautiful sunny day, especially after all the rainy ones.  We're not finished with the rain yet!

I went to get blood tests run this morning for a thyroid problem.   My mother had it and now my daughter does, so it's a possibility that I am suffering from some of the symptoms.  I should know something tomorrow, although I was told there are a couple of the tests that might take a little longer to process.

The magnesium/calcium/zinc that I've been taking has made some difference in how I feel, but I have a long way to go before I can even vacuum my living room carpet!

This morning I set out a steak to thaw, and after I had blood drawn went to the grocery to buy a potato for baking, mushrooms to saute with the onions, and I haven't decided if I will have another vegetable or not.   By the time I load up my baked potato I probably won't want any other veggies!

I think I'll take a nap and hope I wake up hungry!

Hooray!

I've had enough problems lately so something good happening is a cause for celebration.

I visited my dentist's office this morning for a cleaning and my new lower dentures had been delivered earlier this morning.  Just as I thought my mood couldn't go any lower I was pleasantly surprised.

My dentist is a very patient man and insists that everything be as perfect as possible, so he tweaked the lower partial until it was an absolute perfect fit.  They feel wonderful, and I came home and of course, I had to eat something.  It is almost like having my natural teeth - not quite, but fit wise and being able to chew, they are just about perfect.

I need to go fill up the gas tank before it starts raining again.  Right now there is sunlight but dark clouds as well.  I'm going to make a run to Costco and get gas in my car, and then come back home to eat again!  Something chewy this time.  Considering the difficulty I had getting used to the upper partial, this is going to be a piece of cake, I hope.

What a difference!

The years certainly make a difference.  I desperately need and want to go to the gym, and keep going to the window to see if the rain is still coming down.  I look out and say, "No, Marty, you can't go out in this!".  

There was a time many years ago when no weather issue would keep me home if I wanted to go somewhere, especially on a Friday night.  I've been known to head out on streets coated with ice, and there must have been plenty of other idiots doing it too because the dance/bar/party - whatever I went to - was always crowded.

Now I look out and see a few people go walking by in the rain and I wonder when did it happen that I became so cautious and afraid to just live my life as I want.

I'm glad I waited a few minutes because now it is raining heavier again.  Without a TV I have no clue what is happening in the rest of CA, but I hope all the dams and levies hold.  A lot of rivers are rising pretty quickly though, and will undoubtedly go over their banks.
 
There is certainly no excitement to this day, and I can't even look forward to the circulars that usually are the only mail I get!
 

Back to the old!

Over time my cast iron cookware has settled to the bottom of the stacks in my cabinet, and I've been using a couple of non-stick skillets.  Yesterday when I was frying my steak and onions I got out one of the cast iron skillets, and I think I will start using them for just about everything.  I fried an egg for a sandwich in the little one this morning.  I hope to get some benefit of what little iron transfers to the food.  You sometimes forget how good the products are that have been tried and true.

Ara is having the family over for Cincinnati chili this afternoon.  Poor Steven (the b.f.) will undoubtedly take a log of good natured joking from Ara's uncles.

I had planned to go through the house today and get rid of things I don't want or need, and put the rest of the clutter in it's proper place (wherever that is).  I took a good look around and decided I'd do it tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, if I had stayed married to the kids' dad, and if he had lived, we would be married 47 years tomorrow.  But I didn't, and he didn't, and we aren't!  Tomorrow is also the birthday of my beautiful sister-in-law Wilma, who is married to my oldest brother, Bill.  They have been so gracious to me when I've stopped at their house on the way to and from NY at various times.  Happy birthday, Wilma!

I'm looking forward to the gathering this afternoon.  It seems like along time since everyone has been together.  I can't wait to see how baby Quinn has grown.  Meg sends me videos so that I can see her progress.

I wish everyone a good week ahead.  Maybe if we weather the coming storm it will be the worst of winter and we can begin to look forward to spring.  I see that New York and Wisconsin have warmed up and I hope their snow has melted.

 

Eating Healthy

I think I spent way more money on food today than I had planned.  I first went to the farmer's mkt., and decided to try a dozen farm fresh eggs.  I had an egg sandwich for lunch and it sure tasted good.  That was the most costly item at $6/doz., and I was encouraged to try some yellow beets.  I don't know about that though - the farmer kept telling me how sweet they are.  I'll try anything once.

Next, to Costco where I always spend more than I intend.  I bought a package of steaks, each one so much more than I could eat in one sitting that I will probably cut them in half and freeze them separately.  I haven't eaten a steak in years probably and don't ever crave it, but this is in the interest of raising my cholesterol.  I also bought a bottle of red wine to enjoy with the steak, since red wine is good for you as well.  Fresh fruit, strawberries and blueberries, are going to be on my breakfast menu starting tomorrow, topped with a splash of whipped cream which I also purchased.  I might even squirt a dab of whipped cream in my coffee, although I usually only do that when I am drinking coffee with my daughter or granddaughter.  (Who am I kidding, just squirt a dab into my coffee?  I will squirt several dabs before the cup is empty!)

I will just have to remember to eat early enough this afternoon, before I lose my appetite and any interest in cooking.  Lord, I don't know if I can even fry a steak it's been so long!

This hasn't been a bad day as the sun has shone off and on; Monday is the day to watch out for, and I think the same storm that will blanket the entire west coast will also extend into Texas!  We should worry if one of our neighbors is spotted building an ark.

California Storms

I know there are readers who live in California and I'm sure there are many in the southern part of the state.

I hope you stay safe during these storms, and please stay off the highways if at all possible.   
I'd really appreciate comments especially from Californians with an update of your area.  I worry about all of you, and especially those in mountainous areas or near rivers.  And I know other states have problems as well due to the weather this year.  

Call me  crazy, but I think I'd rather be looking out at snow than at all this rain, which is becoming depressing.

Be safe.

No news.

I really don't have anything to write about.   Donald hasn't ever returned my pictures taken down by the river, but I found out he has been really sick.  My daughter has been ill as well, but I think she recovered faster.   They are having Ara and her boyfriend over this evening for dinner, so I'll have to ask Ara how they are.

I took Ara and Steven (the b.f.) to Straw Hat pizza last night.  That place has superbly good pizza!   As life would have it, she started on her new job the day after Steven flew in, but she gets home at a decent hour so they have time together.  I think they are planning to go sailing in the S.F. Bay area this weekend - just hope the weather cooperates.

I heard at the store this morning that this coming Monday will be a humdinger of a bad stormy day.   

I visited the physical therapist recommended by the doctor, which I wasn't looking forward to at all.  Once my heartbeat got back to normal after worrying about finding this place, I really liked the therapist assigned to me.  I told him I detected a slight Irish accent, and he said he was from Dublin.  He must have been here for a long time because it doesn't jump out at you right away.   He thinks I'm in pretty good shape, but found 4 or 5 things to work on.  One thing that isn't at full strength is my quadriceps (thigh muscles) so I'm using the leg press at the gym starting this morning.  I used a fairly low setting with not too much resistance.  While I was at it I did a fairly complete upper body workout, and hope I can see results soon.   I have 3 more phys. therapy sessions.  At first I planned to only go to one and skip the rest, but found that I enjoy it, so I will complete all 4 visits.

There is a giant black cloud moving in from the west and I hope it just keeps on moving.

 

Checking out our river

I thought I would see if I could get close to the American River on my way to the gym, and I never made it to the gym, by the way.  I turned over several roads that have river access and they were all closed due to flooded conditions.

I finally found a road leading to near where we used to live, and was able to walk a little ways.  I really didn't recognize what I was looking at - things are so different now than they were in the 1980's when we had a big flood that reached the backs of the properties across the street from us.

I took a few photos, including one of the footbridge during drought conditions.  That was one of the spots I couldn't drive close to today, but I can tell you water has breached the bed of the bridge and very little of it shows above the waterline.

It was a beautiful sunny day and a lot of people were out walking and riding along the bike trail.

I read a good explanation of why CA is still in a drought condition in many places.  The rain falls and fills the reservoirs, dams, and rivers, as well as the surface areas all over the state.  But there isn't enough of it to replace the ground water lost during all those dry years, with more and more people and businesses pumping ever deeper to reach it.  So technically when you consider the amount of water held in the ground, we are in a drought.  One of the problems, so I've read, is that the weight of the surface has pushed the ground levels down so there isn't the space for as much water to collect underground.  It's all nearly too much for me to understand, but I thought this explanation is as good as I'm going to hear.

I talked to my son, Steve, a few minutes ago and he says they are fine.  He doesn't think he is in any danger.  His in-laws are still with them.

My camera is broken where the battery compartment lid keeps popping off, so I couldn't use it to take photos at the river.  I used my Jitterbug phone, but what you can do with a photo is very limited, so the easiest thing is for me to send them to Donald's phone, and he downloads them and sends them back to me in a format I can use.  I'm sure there must be a way for me to do it, but it's probably contained in the instruction book I received with the phone years ago.  I don't read instructions unless all else fails, and by then I usually can't find them!  I'm going to go ahead and  publish my blog, and if I get the pictures back within the next hour or two I will update the blog.  I'm hoping to get to sleep early tonight as I have to drive to Folsom tomorrow morning for a physical therapy appointment.

Flooding in CA

I think I'm fairly safe from the water that could threaten if the dam in Oroville gives way.   Of course one can never tell.  My d-i-l Megan has opened their home to her parents, a niece and her friend - all from Yuba City which has been evacuated.  Steve & Meg's home isn't in the most protected area from flooding, but so far so good.

I noticed the American River on my way to and from my chiropractor appointment this morning and the water levels are higher, nearly covering a footbridge close to the Sunrise Blvd bridge that I was on.   I'm sure they are letting water out of Folsom lake to prepare for more rains that are expected later this week, plus when the snowmelt begins in the Sierra it's going to be phenomenal this year.  There is still 12 ft of snow in some areas from what I've read, and the snowmelt is when "my" side of Sacramento will be threatened.  I give credit to the water management people in the state government though , and know they have a monumental job to do that involves some degree of guessing.  I'm no expert on this matter by any means, so if any of you know something about it please comment.

I'm determined I'm not going to blog any more about my health issues, so if that is the only thing on my mind you won't see a post for that day.  I thank you all for your patience.

Saturday again!

I guess I should be happy to live to see another Saturday roll around, and I am, but I just wish they wouldn't roll around so fast.
I apologize for all my long replies to comments on yesterday's blog.  That's my Gemini at work!  (My rising astrological sign is Gemini, which indicates that I talk a lot and love to write a lot.  Other than that, I am very much an introvert!)

I did laundry today and just finished drying the 2nd load across the street.   I'll be glad when it's warm enough to hang things out to dry.  The management doesn't take care of the laundry and there are machines that have been out of order for at least a year, probably longer.  There also must be some washing machines that leak because there is always water running across the floor.  At least I have a washer and if I ever get this place releveled I'm going to buy a new washer&dryer set.  Steve said I have 220 electricity to the outlet in that area so it will be no problem to hook up a dryer as well.  I still prefer clothes air dried.

Now I have to put all those clean clothes away and I'm going to put it off for a while, and hope I don't trip over one of the baskets!   It is so good to see the sun all day although I'm still wearing my fleece jacket indoors and out.

Ara got the official word she starts work on Monday morning.  Poor girl, her boyfriend is flying in from Missouri tomorrow to spend a week with her.  I think she has a couple of family get togethers planned so everyone can meet him, and of course he will have to pass the gauntlet with Joey and Steve.

I have an appointment with phys. therapy next Wednesday and I'm actually looking forward to it.  I hope I can learn some strategies to stay on my feet instead of nearly tripping over them.   It's sad because I was very graceful when I was young, and now I tromp around like I'm wearing Army boots!

Time to start thinking about supper.  I cooked a lot of chicken today and need to divide it up for future meals, but tonight's meal is on my mind.  I feel like I'm starving and I have actually eaten well today!  I have been thinking I would love to talk to a nutritionist about what I really need to be including in my diet to try to get my numbers back in order, but I doubt they would have much sympathy for me especially if they've been brainwashed about getting your cholesterol below 100.

Enjoy the weather, wherever you are.  I'd love to see some snow, and would love to experience some of the warmth in parts of the country.  But I'll take what I have and be happy with it! 

Test Results

Those of you who read my blog with any regularity know that I've been complaining about lack of motivation and energy for some time - probably up to the last year when all my dental issues started.   I got my blood test results back that show such a degree of anemia that it's a wonder I can still stand up.   And I can see how I was hurting myself trying to walk 2+ miles a day at a fairly fast clip, at least for someone my age.

I must have sensed something is wrong because as you know I was considering just going to a lab and having the testing done, and paying for it on my own.  I'm so glad I found the doctor I did and can now maybe work out a plan for me to improve without taking iron or something that leaves as many problems as it solves, and requires more pills to overcome the side effects.  I've been down that road before and I'm not going there again.

So I feel like a new person with hope that I can get back to some semblance of my normal self.  It's almost hard to realize what that self was like, but I'm sure I'll find the "old gypsy" somewhere in there.

There were a couple of other outliers in the test results, but nothing that looks too bad to me, and certainly nothing that will require more than a slight change in diet to fix.  The high protein count, for example, is probably related to drinking protein shakes after exercising, but I can't imagine it being harmful.
 
It rained throughout the night but today has been cloudy with no rain.  I think maybe we will have some fairly decent days ahead, with temps in the lower to mid 60's.  What a difference just 5 degrees makes.  I'd be happy with 65 or 70 year around.

I've amused myself for a while today checking on National Forest campgrounds, especially those in southern Oregon.  It will take some improvement for me to be able to even consider camping alone, setting up the big tent, cooking outdoors (definitely not the same as indoors with a regular stove, fridge, and running water).  It's too far away just yet for me to do more than read and think about it.  I hope we don't have another heavy fire season this year because that ruins even the idea of camping.  Too soon to tell.

Have a great weekend, and I'd love to be enjoying the snow in the northeast right now.  I really miss a real winter! 

Looking Up1

I think maybe things are looking up a bit.  I spent the morning on the phone with Geico Ins., and was amazed at the policy I got from them.  As a former govt. employee who retired at a somewhat high grade, I got a very good deal.  Now to get that info to the DMV - they told me they send out the new cards to DMV on Saturdays, so I will just hang in there and hope things start going better for me.

It has been a gloomy, pouring-down-rainy sort of day - the kind that can have you down in the dumps!  This afternoon I decided I've had enough of this attitude, so Ara and I spent  about 30-40 min. at the gym and I attempted an attitude adjustment.  Things can only get better now.

Ara will start work on Monday, the day her boyfriend arrives for a week's vacation.  Too bad he couldn't have made it last week, but he loves biking and can find a lot of good places to ride in this area.

I got the blood work taken care of this morning.  The tech was so good I couldn't even feel the needle going in, and I complimented her on her expertise.  Then she darn near killed me taking the needle out!  I exaggerate, but it hurt coming out.  I'm glad that's over with and hope to see the results tomorrow.  The one good thing they always notice and remark on is how good my blood pressure is.  That's one thing to be thankful for.

The weather is getting a bit milder outdoors, and slightly warmer in my house although I still use the small heater when I'm sitting in the living room.

I'm starting to get emails on the National Parks and Forests, and places to camp.  Of course that has me dreaming, and I'd like to find a different place if I can.  I don't want anything too remote, but someplace I can feel comfortable in a tent.  I wish they didn't mix tents and RV's in the same locale, but I guess they will take whomever comes first and pays the fee.  I haven't done much camping in Nevada, but every place seems so empty, unless I stay closer to the Lake Tahoe area which I don't want to do.  Maybe I'll try Oregon, but not Crater Lake.  It's a beautiful place but one of the worst-run campgrounds I've ever been in (privately run).  One of these days I need to check my equipment as I know I've given a lot of it away.

I'm sure I'm not the only one dreaming of spring right now, and getting into the great outdoors.  I'd love to hear from those of you who have started thinking about it and planning.


 

Dreary day

I went to the med center this morning to make an appointment with a new doctor, and they asked me if I wanted an appt. that was available in 20 minutes.  Of course I said Yes as I just wanted to get it over with.  Good thing I finally saw a doctor because what I diagnosed as being wrong with me (and fretted over for weeks and months) isn't the problem at all.   I think I will like this doctor.  I am going to get the whole bank of blood tests including cholesterol, which doesn't mean that I'm going to take any meds suggested to me.  But I won't count chickens before they are hatched, and hopefully I'll be just fine.  They like cholesterol to be extremely low, but that's not healthy either.  It takes cholesterol to heal tissue, which is an ongoing process, and there are other very good things about it.  The drug companies have sold the medical people and their patients on cholesterol being bad for them, so they can sell more Lipitor I suppose.

I am not very happy with the state of CA right now and could just spit nails I'm so angry.  I would live anywhere else if I could, but it would mean not seeing my family often and I don't think I want to forgo the best thing in my life at this stage of the game.

With the health problems and the troubles with my house, and now the troubles with CA, it's hard to keep my good spirits up.     And the rain has been relentless today and will probably stay that way until the weekend.  I guess this calls for ice cream, although if I get my blood tested in the morning I wonder if ice cream could cause a spike in something or other.  Maybe I'll wait until Friday to get the blood tests.

I hope everyone is having a better day than I am at this point.  It was going so well for a while.

Ara, soon to be in the workforce!

We made a short trip to Costco this morning and when we got back to her house she offered to fix me lunch, which I readily accepted.  While we were eating she got the call she has been waiting for - all the required paperwork is in for her new job, and she just has to get a medical and TB test.  I finished eating and excused myself so she could take care of that this afternoon, and hopefully start to work on Monday.

I need to get my own medical appointment and ask for the blood tests. After finding several labs nearby that don't require an order from a doctor, I decided I don't have $85 to spend on it right now, so I might as well have insurance pay for it.  I looked at several doctors' bios who are at the clinic nearest me and selected one I think I might like.  If I don't care for her I will just get the lab work done and not go back.  I will certainly refuse to go to the main building for a lot of heart tests.  It doesn't make sense to take them because I can't tolerate the meds they want to give me for it, and it's so irritating to argue with an arrogant doctor.  I'll just do my best to live and eat healthy and not worry about when my time will come.

Jeannie, Ara, and I are going to the gym this evening, and I'm looking forward to a walk and mild work-out.  The big reward for our efforts is always the hydromassage beds and chair, but I think if I use the massage I will put it on the lowest setting.  I don't use a high pressure setting, but the last time was the evening I was awake all night with leg cramps.  The guys at the front desk like us so if no one else is wanting to use that equipment they will ask us if we want to continue.  The hydromassage runs about 7 minutes and the chair is probably the same.

It's up to 62 degrees right now but I'm still not feeling it, at least not indoors.  I guess the outdoors could be called "mild", but I'd sure love another 10 degrees added to what we have at present.  On the other hand we are probably in for a blistering summer, so I would rather have the present conditions.

 

 

Disappointment!

I was eagerly looking forward to going to the dentist this morning, but when I got there I found I had misunderstood.  This was to be a fitting of the basic framework, to make sure it would be compatible and would fit properly.  Next week I go back and they will fit the entire partial plate, and it will be ready for me the next week.  That is two more weeks to wait.  I could have cried.  He explained to me that this will fit securely and won't move around like so many of them do, and that I will be very satisfied with the finished product.  I have no doubt of that and of all the dentists I've ever been to I think his work is far superior, but I was hoping to have this ordeal over with.

So I came home in the rain and after about 15 minutes I went back to bed for a long nap.  I was exhausted when I woke up this morning because last night I was up every 45 minutes with cramps in my legs.  Now I feel much better after a good lunch but the rain that has been falling since early last night doesn't make me want to do anything else.  I've already decided to skip the gym, and I might as well skip Costco too.   That leaves me with the option of eating a big bowl of ice cream, after which I will have to wrap up in blankets!

I just realized it's the 1st Monday of the month and I'm missing pizza at the gym.  Tomorrow morning (1st Tuesday) they have bagels between 6 and 8 am, although that is a bit early for me.   After two big bowls of cheese-broccoli soup and some ice cream, I don't now why I'm even thinking of pizza and bagels!

Nothing happening here today - just trying to stay warm, dry, and relatively happy.  Hope everyone out there has the same.



 

Miss Snappy

Ara had the girls stay overnight at her house to give Jeannie & Donald a break.  Arianna brought along "Miss Snappy", the class pet, a turtle.  One of the maintenance men found it a year or so ago trying to cross the street, picked it up and gave it to one of the teachers.  Most of the classes have a pet which they can bring home for a weekend.  I believe Autumn was the one who brought the crayfish, and ended up keeping him over the summer and I guess he's hers now.  It has grown to be huge, and even got out of the big aquariuum they bought for him - they found him under the couch!

Here is a photo of Miss Snappy (click to enlarge)

It's a wonder she is still alive - Arianna handles her constantly, turning her over, putting her in the doll bed, etc.  I think the doll bed idea wasn't such a good one as the turtle soiled it :-)  Now she is pretty much confined to the big tub they keep her in when Arianna isn't holding her.

Ara sent me a picture this morning of the girls.  They all slept on the fold-out couch, and Arianna must have kicked Ara throughout the night.  We had a good laugh about having kids crawl in the bed with us and sleeping in our parents' bed when we were kids.  

My husband and I slept in a double bed and by morning we had 4 kids with us wherever they could find a space.  Those memories are so precious to me and can never be matched.  My husband hated it but I loved every minute of the closeness.  And I love it when I hear my kids complain about the interruption of their own sleep now when their kids climb in bed with them during the night.  I just laugh and tell them, "What goes around, comes around".  It's ironic that some of the best memories are the ones that could have driven you crazy when they were happening!

I'm on my way to Ara's now - we will do the gym and then the NYT puzzle.  Love those kinds of Sundays.

 

I might get used to eating out!

Yesterday in all our running around, Ara treated me to Chipotle for lunch, which is probably one of the few places I really enjoy eating at.  Mostly I prefer home-cooked, and we were both thrilled to go have Donald's great burgers for dinner.  

Today I bought a lot of produce at the market and gave Ara some of the ingredients called for in a recipe for tortellini soup.  She is making it this afternoon and I'm invited to try it out.  It has chicken, lots of veggies, and of course, tortellini.

I want to thank S.G.Smith for the recommendation that I walk slowly enough on the treadmill that I don't have to hold on to the side rails.  I think it's really helped and I haven't had the pains in my upper legs that I was having before.  I was just trying to go too fast so I could rack up more distance, and I realized I don't need to do that.  If I walk just about every day, and work out at least three times a week, all at my own pace, I'll be doing the best I can do for myself.

I need to take some time and compose a review for the new gym.  I don't often review products or services unless I'm really impressed, and I am so impressed with this place and its employees.

We only had a bit of rain this morning and then the sun came out among all the fluffy clouds.  Right now it's looking like some dark skies in the west, which means another storm coming off the Pacific.  This is the way I remember California when I lived here in the 1980's.  It's a bit warmer today but I'm still in a cold house!  When my fingers ever warm up I will get back to sketching and painting!

Just bumming around

I've been mostly bumming around with Ara the past few days, and her Mom as well at times.  Today we played hooky from the gym as we went out to Sunrise Mall where I got a new watchband put on my very old Timex at the Sears watch repair dept.  Across the street from Sears is Barnes & Noble, so of course we shopped a bit there.

She took me to lunch at Chipotle - mmmm!  and we came back here where she helped me put down a good size area rug that Martha was giving to me, and set up a lamp that she had no use for.  Now I have 2 lamps in my living room and plenty of light!

She wanted to start fixing the Tiffany style lamp with a new cord, which requires a new switch and new plug.  I had asked Steve to fix it but I finally let Ara at it.  We've been invited to supper courtesy of Donald in about two hours or so, and I fully expect Ara will have the lamp ready to go!  I had it sitting in the corner of my living room for so long now and it's amazing how Lady immediately came to mind when I glanced in that direction.   I will sort of miss her.

We had some heavy rains today mixed with periods of such bright sunshine it could take your breath away!  It is also much warmer but I soon found out I still need my jacket when going outside.

I'm going to grab a few minutes rest before leaving for Jeannie & Donald's.  See y'all tomorrow.

Update:  I just got a msg from Ara along with a photo - she has the lamp wire, plus, and switch fixed and working!    I didn't give her enough credit for doing it.  Now she needs to drill a hook into one of the studs in the ceiling to hang it.  (It is sitting on the rug).  Dang, that girl is good!

 

Last clear day for a while

It has been overcast all day, but the rains haven't started yet.  Ara and I spent about 35 min. at the gym (I walked 1.5 miles today) and then went to Costco.   Filled up my gas tank and got some good stuff for both of us.  I'm really going to miss that girl when her clearances finally come through and she starts working.   She thinks it's pretty close now and I hope for her sake it is.

I have developed an almost insatiable appetite and the only reason I can figure is resuming workouts at the gym.   I don't recall the walking ever making me this hungry.   Or maybe as some Moms tell kids, "You're growing"!

I just got a message from Jeannie saying she made it to town and her chiro appointment easily and safely.  Coming home is what I worry about - the headlights in the dark and increased traffic.   I'm just an old mother hen when it gets right down to it, and I wish she didn't have to drive so far.   I'm noticing there is half an hour more of daylight than when I started driving her to her appointments, and  I'll be glad when it stays light for a longer time in the evening.  I'll also be happy when it gets warmer and i can have the sliding door open during the afternoon, although it will just invite the dust and dirt to come in!

I will be so happy when the weather warms up and I can get out and do outdoors things.  I don't know if  I will ever get back to camping - I sort of doubt it since I don't have a canine camping companion.  

I hope everyone has a nice evening, wherever you are.