Test Results

I don't have time this evening to write a regular entry, but I did want to share my test results. Everything was just about perfect, and I still can't believe it. Maybe my lightheadedness is due to not eating enough nor at regular intervals. I can't think of anything else.

The real shocker to me was my total cholesterol level. All my life it has hovered around 240 and usually above that. Last year it came down to 192 and I was thrilled. Anyone want to take a guess what it is now? 156 !!! Since I eat anything I want (although I have just tended to get away from red meat but still eat it once in a while), I don't use anything called lite, lo fat, or lo cal, but pour 1/2 & 1/2 into my coffee, use real butter, cheese, etc., so I can only attribute the gradual lowering of cholesterol to the fact that for the past 5 or more years I have taken 3 fish oil capsules a day, 1000mg each. I use Kirkland brand which I buy at Costco although I have used other brands when there has been no Costco nearby, such as when at Savannah last year.

For those who are fighting cholesterol problems and think they must do without decent tasting food, maybe you should try the fish oil capsules. Drugs such as Lipitor may work a bit faster although there are side effects that I've never experienced with the fish oil. Of course my experience is my own and others may not derive the same benefits, but I'm sure happy about this reading. I am in no way trying to give medical advice, but just to share what I've encountered. YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Baby shower this weekend

Wednesday, 7/28
I went with Jeannie this evening (Wednesday) to Babys-R-Us to shop for things for the upcoming baby shower we're having for Megan, Steve & Baby Liam this coming Saturday. I'm always totally amazed at how this industry has grown since my kids were babies, and it's fun to look at what is available now. I'm just glad I wasn't faced with the high cost of things today.

Tomorrow morning I am going to try to see the doctor at Urgent Care, after talking to my sister who is a nurse about my possible potassium deficiency. She convinced me that I shouldn't self-diagnose or self-treat in this case, so I will bite the bullet and see the doctor. About 3 years ago I needed a doctor while in CA and went to Urgent Care, which happens to be less than a mile from Jeannie's house. I really liked and trusted the doctor there at the time, and a google search for him showed he is still at that location. Maybe I'll get lucky and find him on duty tomorrow.

Then I will get all the ingredients I need for two dishes I'm going to contribute to Saturday's festivities. I haven't made either of them since I was still married to Bill and living in Cincinnati, which would be before 1983, and I just hope I haven't lost my touch. They were sort of specialties of mine, which hurts double when you can't make the grade any longer.

My heart sank when I arrived home about 10 pm, as the guy next door and the couple upstairs were all outside talking (loudly) and obviously sloshed. I figured it would be a rowdy night ahead, but miraculously an hour later I don't hear a thing. I hope they've all passed out for the night.

I started this blog tonight and will pick it up tomorrow. It's much easier to type it as it moves along than to try to remember what happened.


Thursday, 7/29
Jeanne was off work today so we spent the day at Costco and other stores, shopping for the last minute food items for the shower. I brought my ingredients home and am now making tons of little meatballs in a chili sauce/grape jelly sauce. Many of you will remember this old standby - it always went over big when I served it and I'm hoping the magic will be there still. Tomorrow morning I'm doing a cream cheese ring topped with chili sauce and crab meat. I haven't made the meatballs in years, and Bill always wanted to help. He was great in the kitchen and minced the onions much finer than I would have had the patience to do it. We always got along great while cooking and traveling - otherwise we had a tough time which was probably the fault of both of us.

I went to the Urgent Care center this morning promptly when they opened. The doctor I hoped to see wasn't on duty today, but the one who was there was equal if not better. He took lots of time to chat with me, including talking about my difficulty in finding a doctor since I've been traveling. He wrote out a paper with the name of a local doctor who he thought I would like. He understood completely that I needed someone to call "my doctor" even though I was not living in any one area most of the time, so I think he must feel the recommended doctor will be the same.

I came out of the Center walking on a cloud, as if a great weight had been lifted. They drew blood for numerous tests, including a metabolic panel and others I can't remember. I should get the results by tomorrow evening or over the weekend. The Urgent Care Center is open 24/7, so I can call them to find out the results if I haven't heard anything by late tomorrow.

It is ironic that although I am bone tired this evening and will be even more so in the next 24 hours, I feel great! It's a matter of having a purpose and being enthused about something. It probably has a lot to do with looking forward to finding a doctor who I trust to diagnose what has been causing me problems, and then helping to fix it. I must have been in quite a fog lately, because several readers have recommended seeing a doctor but I still wasn't convinced. It took my R.N. sister (Julie) telling me in no uncertain terms what I should do. I'm 18 years older than Julie and I normally don't take telling what to do from many people, much less my siblings, but for some reason all the voices came together and I'm glad I was able to listen. So I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.

The Fair and other things

First of all I need to address the comments I've received about turning on my a/c. It is 12:30 pm as I'm writing this, and 72F inside my apartment, 73 outdoors. It won't begin to get hot outside until around 3-5 pm, and usually reaches the peak at 6:00 or later. This morning it was 51 and I was actually cold when walking Lady. My apartment almost always stays cool the entire day - it's when I need to go outdoors that the heat just kills me, and that would be exacerbated by coming from a/c. Unfortunately, it's when I have to walk the dog around 4 pm that I really suffer. Also, the outside temp keeps me from wanting to go anywhere, and having a/c on in the house wouldn't help much. I simply could not bear it at night, although the noise would help block out the upstairs shenanigans. Unless you've ever lived in Sacramento in the summer you can't imagine the difference between day and night here, with the coolest being in the early morning hours, and that's when I open the front door to catch as much fresh cool air as I can. Normally I can leave the windows open throughout the house, and if I can feel heat coming in one of them I merely shut it.

Yesterday was the first time I've been to a state fair since the 1970's/1980's. We tried to go to the Ohio State Fair every year, but oh, how different it was then. We started off with the sheep & goats, dairy animals, swine, cattle, and horses. Each of those had its own huge building plus outdoor exhibits. The highlight for Bill and me, and of course the kids, was that each building featured a mother with babies. The little piglets were probably the cutest, but they all were mesmerizing to watch.

We usually took in a commercial building or two, sat in the Niagara chairs, stuck our hands in the Calgon soft water exhibit, and listened to the incredible product descriptions. Believe it or not, I found some of the best products I ever tried right there at the fair. We first heard of and bought a T-Fal skillet that lasted nearly forever. And a kitchen knife demonstration convinced my husband to buy it, and although it was an ordinary knife to me, he loved it. In fact, when we were separating in 1989 and dividing the household goods, Bill first called the knife. I don't know which of the kids has it now, but they will no doubt pass it on to their children for sentimental reasons.

We never went near the rides. The Massey Ferguson exhibit was enough to keep my kids happy. They were in their teens before they ever heard of a Midway! They still can't figure out how I steered them clear of it. Bill was enough of a kid to probably want to go to the Midway, but he never said a word - I led the family through the maze of buildings, exhibits, food stands, etc., just like a dictator, and no one ever argued with me!

California's fair has a lot of food stands, some of which are plain disgusting. This year's new hot item is chocolate covered bacon, and I can tell you the two aromas don't mix well so I can only imagine the taste. There are lots of stages set up with live entertainment, and the downside of that is the huge speakers which are designed to ruin your hearing, if it hasn't been ruined already. The upside is that big fans are everywhere with misters that spray a fine mist of water, thus keeping things a lot cooler than they would otherwise be.

Here is a picture of Autumn's ballet group - she is about 4th from the left, with the yellow tutu. I think it is so funny to see that these little girls are all doing something different and facing in different directions.


Here are the tap dancers - this time Autie is about 4th from the right. They did a Shirley Temple number - "Baby Take a Bow".


The dance studio teaches ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics, ages from about 3 to 22, and the hour-long program featured some of the best I've ever seen in young folks. The gymnastics was saved for last, and boys and girls of all ages went through the most incredible demonstration of agility and grace. It was also refreshing to see the older kids perform classical ballet, to honest to god music fit to hear. I get more rock and rap than I care for, and it was nice to hear some classical music as well as to see the kids enjoying it. I'm very glad I went, and it was not easy for me to drive over, park the truck and then try to find my family, with the worst being the loud music you could hear throughout the park.

There was also a building that had an exhibit of art work done by ages from approx. 9 to 18. I am stunned by how talented some of them are, and again it's a look at some of the best of youth, which we often forget is there.

California State Fair

I went over to the State Fairgrounds at CalExpo this afternoon, as my granddaughter's tap dance and ballet class were featured on one of the stages. I am too tired to write a blog this evening, so I will cover it tomorrow.

Also, I realize there are a number of comments I've recently received on my blog that I need to respond to, and I promise I will get to it as soon as I can. There will be a baby shower for Steve & Meg and baby Liam on Saturday at Jeannie's house, and I will be trying to help with that, so I expect this week is going to be pretty much taken up with family stuff.

I have been having an awful time with my internet connection lately - it takes forever for anything to load, and it is usually pretty fast. I don't know if it's something in the atmosphere or in the computer, but it's driving me crazy.

I'll catch y'all tomorrow.

Some online research leads me to think I may have a potassium deficiency, so I was off to Costco early this morning. It turns out they don't sell potassium supplements OTC. While I was in the store I bought a cushy kitchen floor mat, reasoning that if I am more comfortable standing in front of the stove, I may be apt to do more cooking. It sounds like a good idea anyway.



I then made my way to a store that I know carries a lot of supplements and found what I wanted. They only come in 99 mg tablets, which the label says is only 3% of RDA. I bought a bottle and when I got back home I did more research which informed me that the government doesn't approve anything higher than 99mg so that's the strength they come in, while requirements can be in the range of 3500 grams a day! I will start out by taking 2 with every meal, and then I plan to see a doctor when I'm in NY, and possibly get prescription strength potassium, if in fact that is what I need. The list of deficiency symptoms covers a lot of what I've been noticing, especially leg cramps throughout the night.

Further research shows that a banana contains about 450 mg of potassium, and I try to eat them several times a week but I still have problems. So I really do need to get something that is prescription strength.

Now I need to clean the kitchen floor so that I can use my new mat. While I doubt I will love it to the extent of wanting to slave over a hot stove all day, I think I will like standing on it, and it certainly will give some pizzazz to my kitchen.

I'm going to go back to my map studying. I've already altered the route somewhat to get me off a long stretch of interstate. Thanks Sandie for your recommendations. This is almost as much fun as the actual trip, but only "almost".

Noise Reduction Problems

I think I'm having difficulties from using the earplugs to minimize the night-time noise here. (The TV upstairs was still on at 5 am, although at low volume. But if I can hear it, it isn't low enough.)

Nearly all day yesterday I had quick dizzy spells and sensed a loss of equilibrium. A google check indicated that dizzy spells aren't usually life threatening, but can be from a couple of different causes, including vertigo. I have never had vertigo but I don't think my symptoms matched it. What I was feeling could have been due to allergy problems which are rampant now (my black truck is yellow from the pollen ) and possibly something to do with the inner ear.

I tried a fleece headband that is among my backpacking gear, but it doesn't work. There are sound-reduction headbands available but they seem to start at around $60. I'm going to try the plugs again but not insert them very far into my ear, and see what happens.

At one point I thought about going to the emergency room, but decided against it. I have to be pretty convinced that I'm dying to go anywhere near the medical profession. Things are better today, so I'll just wait and see.

I know some would suggest I complain about the noise, but look at it from my perspective as well as how everyone else here would view it. An older woman complains about the stereo and TV of 20-something neighbors. You know where the sentiment would lie. I hope I wasn't this inconsiderate when I was in my 20's, and I fervently hope this isn't payback.

By the time I set off on a trip my new maps are going to be pretty dog-eared. I sat out in the cool morning in my lounger and looked longingly at my planned route as well as the state maps to see where I might be able to switch to some of the back roads. There seem to be a lot of unpaved roads in Montana, and I'd like to steer clear of those if I can, although my F-350 would certainly be up to it.

A New Friend, and Triptik arrived!

What a day this is turning out to be! This morning Susan (What's up with Susan and Company) and I met at The Bistro in Fair Oaks Village, where we talked non-stop for 3 hours! Susan is in the process of researching and planning to be a fulltime RVer, and it turns out that she lives only a short distance from me. Thank you Judy (of Travels with Emma) for noticing and getting us together.




When I got home I checked for mail, and to my delight my AAA Triptik had arrived. I have given it a quick glance through and am beyond satisfied with it. Together with the Regional and State maps, plus my GPS, I will have a wonderful trip around the country assuming I have something to make the trip in, such as a nice truck camper, T@B or other small trailer. I've even seen a small Airstream that I could envision myself traveling with.

As always, it usually doesn't matter what my plans are, whatever I need will unfold when the time is right. Too bad my patience falters all too often.

Again I would like to thank the readers of my blog for hanging with me, and especially to thank those of you who comment on what I write. Often a comment will make me go back to read what I wrote and I am sometimes surprised at the way I came across. I try to be aware of what readers might think, but don't always realize the different meanings that can be gotten from a paragraph.

As a case in point, I wrote that I am unreasonably tired and lethargic, which is true except for when I have something to do. I also think back to my workamping jobs at Lassen and Ft. Pulaski last year, and I certainly had enough energy to spare. I am beginning to realize that a big part of my problem is not having anything to do, or not being needed. It can also be just plain boredom, which can open a tiny crevice through which depression can work its way in. And as I have said previously, the heat is getting to me, and I don't have the desire to cook so I often don't eat enough to keep up my energy. I just don't know what to do about that.

I have been an optimist at the core of my being for nearly all my life, and I just hate it when life's situations can sometimes make me forget who I am. So thanks again for all who stay with me through the good times and not so good times, bear my rants and raves (you can always just opt to not read a post) and rejoice with me at the very high points of my life and travels.

And for all my complaining about Sacramento, mostly the summer weather, I have loved being so close to my children and grandchildren here. And now, after just getting the latest portraits of my two grandsons in NY, I can hardly wait to see them in a couple of months. So I know that travel in some form or another will be what I live for, as long as I can do it.