On the Better Track Now

My goodness...things have been troublesome lately with me having acute bronchitis.   However, the meds prescribed to help me did.  Much better though not completely. The chest is still a bit tight. However, I can allow Miss K. up on it for her to doze a bit before I assist her off to my side.  The steroid pills totally work miracles.  The antibiotic as well.  The cough syrup...the amped-up kind was a necessity.  I could not stop useless coughing without it. 

I am starting to wrap Christmas presents.  I have three done.  I decided to do a few a day until they were complete.  I will do a few more however before I stop wrapping for the day. Present wrapping is not my forte.  I never learned growing up as my background did not lend itself to that type of thing. When I made a half-baked attempt to learn I was too impatient and really not that interested so I never succeeded in wrapping a pretty present.   I never will.  The kids and I used to really start laughing at our pitiful efforts and have said for years that doing it the way the boys did as boys...putting whatever it was into a paper bag, wadding up the top, and saying "HERE!" as they presented it was the best way for us.  As a joke between just us boys and me, sometimes we do that. 

I'd rather run nekkid down Main street than wrap gifts.  

 I just had a cherry smoothie for lunch.  If I get another gift or two wrapped, I will make a few pieces of cinnamon toast!  That will be my reward.  Need one.  This is the third week of incessant rain.  Gloom.  Temps in the '50s...and just dark all the time.  Sigh.

She's looking forward to doing this.  Too cold to have the front door open, no sun..gee whiz! 

See my flowers?

Biggafy for a nicer view.  

I bid on these flowers at an auction for the benefit of the local animal shelter...no kill.  I thought I lost the one bid, so I bid on the second one.  I won both.  Didn't mean to.  But aren't they pretty?  That's Admiral there on the chest of drawers next to the pink flowers and the little girl holding a cat in front of the urn. 

About Micah.  I saw the tire light staying on, on the dash after I got back from over the mountains. I took him to his hospital, Car Fix, and they easily found why his tire light stayed lit on my dashboard.  It is the sensors.  So they will have to be replaced.  The cost is more than I wished for, of course.  Somewhere in the 300's.  I will call to make an appointment today sometime.  Maybe they will have time next week before the holiday.  Still trying to get a video to load right.  Not sure what's going wrong.  Meanwhile the temperature has struggled up to 30 F so after getting myself situated with dressing, combing my hair and etc, I will go out to freeze for a few miles.  You're always grateful to open that door to the house and feel the warmth envelope you. 

Not getting out the door any faster sitting here with you, though I love to do that.  So, think I had better go finish my self up to be ready for forming an ice film on my face and ears as I trot around the track.  Wanna join me?  

Video failed again.  Sigh. 

Oh my GOSH!

 We were looking forward to taking the train and heading to uptown Charlotte.  There are some new sky- scrapers and I wanted to see them.  So we drove to one of the stations and bought our three tickets. 

In order to do that we parked the car of course and walked to the elevator to ride up to the ticket buying area.  (I couldn't do the stairs unless I had to, as my knees were painful).  We got to the Smellavater 😷.  We called it that, as it reeked extremely strongly of urine.  Someone-or several  people had urinated on the floor; but since the elevater was already in motion so...we covered our noses and powered through it.  I used the stairs when we got back to the station later for the trip back home so as to go down to the parking area...you can be sure of that.

When we had ridden uptown, the street lights were starting to come on so it was late afternoon.  We had just gotten out and started to walk when within 10 minutes or so, it rained all over us.  Having no gear for rain, we chose to give up for the day, catch the train that had just gotten there and go back to where our car was.  BIG disappointment. 

Shopping- and the spending of money took place however early in the day.  My friend and I, taken by my son to all my fave places, spent money and lots of it, in the last place we shopped.  I got an area rug, a present of a jute and sisal rug for Katie and 3 kitchen rugs for me that MATCHED.  Not that nightmare I had on the kitchen floor up to now. Several hundreds later I stopped roaming in the store.  My friend bought sheets, comforter, pillows, decorative pillows too. Seems like something else.  Towels!  The consignment store I love going to didn't have anything that made me  want to fork over my wallet.  That's new!  Nor anywere else we went.  We went to an Applebees for lunch.  We only went back to his home after another hour or so and then, headed out to catch the train for uptown.  That was a bust as I said, because of rain.  There's always next time.   I'd loved to have bought these deer though.  That's my friend looking at the tag.  

If I had somewere to put these I would have bought them.  They had some Waterford Crystal too.  Not too bad in price.  An entire set of dinner ware..Lennox, for $500. 00. Now that I would have bought if I could make myself do it.  It was gorgeous. I just don't have enough people eating often enough here to warrent that expense. 

Well, this blog is longer than usual.  Micah, my Toyota, is ailing some.  His tire light on the dash won't go out even though all four tires were filled up yesterday- so he's going to his hospital by noon today.  $$$$$ I am sure.  

By the way, it rained like a hurricane was coming through. There was tornado watch for all of western NC and man, we paid for that with blinding rain, constant construction stoppages and more.  It was horrible getting the Charlotte. Worth it to see Bruce. 

XXOO

It's Another Gorgeous Day

Here it is, yet another beautiful temperate day.  You'll see in the first picture. Not supposed to get above the 50's in temp. 

In the second picture, you can see I have long hair blowing in the wind and...boot cut bottom pants on.  Equally blowing in the wind.  So was my jacket. (blowing in the wind)   It was 48 F. when I started. 

Hey, the mystery is over.  Last night Katie horked up a record sized, extremely large and wet return of the merchandise.  I heard it start when she was in her recliner.  I had a small cake in a paper plate in front of me, as I was sitting in MY chair.  It was her or me.  I jumped up with the paper plate and made it just in time.  Horked all over the plate and of course the little cake.  Sigh. I aso heard a hork in the night.  Got up the usual time  this morning and after turning on the light, I looked around the bedroom and there it was...in the middle of the threshhold.  This one was kibble, the size of a jumbo egg and fairly easy to get up.  I no longer have my breath held as to when she will un-do the carpet cleaning.  That time came yesterday. 

Have to leave the house at 1330 to get my flu shot.  I took too long to call about it. I usually try for early in the month.  My Dr. doesn't seem to feel I should get the newest pneumonia shot. I have the one they gave what...20 years ago?  But when I asked him about the whoopty-do one of now, he didn't think I should because of could-be problems relating to my heart surgery.  My surgery was far more complex than what most think of when they think of heart surgery. Not the valve thing.   I read about it all, and of course, he is right.  That shot's side effects and consequences-- once you read about it in their own brochure-- is enough to make a crocodile run. Assuming you threatened him with a pew-moany shot, that is. 

Here I go...just getting started

Got my little leather bag and a baseball hat at my side. 

OH MY!

 I'm fuller'n a tick.  Stuffed all the way up.  Had a thick home made tuna salad sandwich.  Then I went back and cleaned out the bowl of its remaining tuna,  maybe quarter of a cup--- but boy, it pushed me all the way over the edge.  

Was out on Blankenship Field this early morning, where high school football is played and hoofed it around the track.  I have just started that up agan  (walking) after a very long absence away from walking etc. All I have been doing when I had time and energy to do so, was aerobics.  I was so covered up this year I didn't even do that much.  BUT now I am starting again.  Not quite as fast as I was but I will be.  

I should be in the kitchen doing the wood floor.  I am so stuffed, I feel as torpid as a cold turtle.  (probably look like one too).   Since I started this blog I have steadily sneezed about every 10 seconds.  All the way to now.  There went another.  It's a wonder I haven't scared the cat.  Can't be the tunafish.  Had it for supper yesterday.  Ah.  Seems to have quit. Probably maybe 15 or so.  

Last night..rather the night before, I woke in themiddle of the night with Katie's arms holding my upper arm.  She'd laid her head and throat on my arm as well.  Who wouldn't go straight back to sleep, and  that, smiling.  Warmth and love.  Can't beat that.

OK  The tub awaits it ceaning...the floor await's IT'S.  Oh I am stuffed.

Grr...But Only About the Television

My gosh,  I got interested all at once and to the nth degree in watching Walker, Texas Ranger.  I happened on it a few weeks ago..at a very opportune part so it would seem and I have been hooked on it since.  LOVE it.  Couldn't miss any of the shows the past several weeks I have been watching.   I always swore I wouldn;t like it, that show but it's right up my alley.  And I see that H&ITV is no longer in the channel line up on antenna type TV.  I cut the cord a long time ago and saved thousands by doing so.  I have internet...and that's it.  I have Magic Jack phone service, an internet protocol provided phone service-- complete with 911.  The entire years charge of/for that service, is what I had to pay for one month of Comcast phone service when I quit.  One month's payment amount now pays the entire year. 

I am sad when I can't see several favorite shows because of antenna TV but I see plenty, regardess.  There is something wrong these past several weeks with H&I channel- which went "out" so much one could hardly look at it at all.  Once they fix it, it will be back.  To save thousands, it's worth the inconvenience.

My dearest furriends and friends here in the CB have lifted me up very high with the cards, the love they wrote and shared with me, and calls.  I am so grateful for each and every one of you, and I always will be.  Everything you sent, even some flowers is in Erich's memory book.  Thank you.

I started my low impact aerobics again.  UTube upped and took away my Premium status, so that caused me to miss one!  I wrote UTube  and it was reinstated quickly.  I was allowing everything to keep me stilled as though everything else was not important but that has lifted thanks to all the love.  Guess what?  A dear friend and her husband are coming to see Katie and me Nov 1, 1 I think it is.  My home is still a very small plain one; as I never saw much use in fancying it up.  But they don't care.  We are grateful for one another's friendship.  Who cares what the house looks like?  The cat is the most impawtent.  And her is a beeyootee! 

Hey...want to show you a present I got.  A sterling silver little basket from Imelda Marco's house in Manila.  I don't  think I showed you.  My middle boy brought it and other things back as souvenirs. from the Philippines.  They sell little things to help support that museum.  Lemme go take the pic.  I won't polish.  May bend it. 

Another Day...and I got Very Irritated

 Howdy!  Just got back from Face Book whereupon a person decided to  take it upon themselves  to tell all and sundry others  on a posting *I* had made-- that I must have been in a convenience store because everywhere else, prices were lower so I had to have been wrong.  Snarky in tone  I have bourne snark from that person for years, but this time, it flew all over me.  I can take so much--- and my Patience Cape I  mentally tie on for occasions like this (it's red, I guess)  is ragged and tattered, so until I mend it, it won't keep someone's snark from bothering me.  I was and am, p-i double s'd.. 

Moving on, look at what a dear friend had sent to me.  

They are notes in linen...sealed in a linen envelope and each note is different and beautifully written.  I will not open more than one a day and I will carefully save them to re-start when I have opened all of the notes.  Look at the  small perfect envelope in the back, with each sealed with a touch of adhesive-- and I have shown it in front too. The gift box it came in has that sweet open window in front.  I shall save that as well.  

Guys, it is a beautiful day.  One of a string of those beautiful days.  I am usually in bed before 2200 and rising at 0700.  A big departure from my bed-to-be normal. Amazing.  But for all that sleep I am still yawning and burning eyed by very early evening.  I wonder if it will take a lon time to get fully rested? Seems like though it hasn't been that long ago that I was  finally able to get to sleep through the night... a few weeks.

 Now...I need to get out in the beautiful day starting tomorrow and whiz around the track.  I am very out of shape now.  Someone come with me.  More fun talking and stuff. 

One of Katie's other fave brothers, along with my fave DIL and my fave grandson James, are in the very well known beach area of Myrtle Beach,  SC. for a space of time.  They must have gotten there a few hours ago.  If anyone deserves that vacation, they do.  Unless something awful happens, I won't even text them just to give them a complete break from here and all they left behind temporarily. 

Thanks for letting me say I got mad up there in the first paragraph.  

Saying my Gratitude

 Saying my gratitude, my thanks for all the expressions of love and concern and care for me and the rest of the famiy during this hurtful time.  Blessings on each of you, and love as well from me and the rest of us here.  I am letting this be my post for today, and I will be back with the usual jokes, diatribes,  apreciations, pictures, news, lack of politics, and so on.  Same old me.  XXOO

See you in a couple days.  

Some of the cards from many of you. We thank you.

She misses both favorite brothers a LOT.  Believe me  

Love This! I Should Post it in My Car.

 Good advice and should be given to ALL passengers who are in your car! 

 Oh.  Got the front end on the car fixed.  You may recall that its grill was loose and in danger so to speak as well as everywhere else it was attached.  Car still has that scuff mark way down at the bottom tthat the perp made when they hit my car.  Do you even KNOW what a body shop charges for a  paint touch up?  I asked for an estimate for the small (really) scrape I made on the back fender area when I cut too close to the fence post coming into my drive way!  $1781.00.  I need defibrillation after THAT!  I said I'd learn to love it.  When things calm down, I will call around other places to make an appt. to get an estimate. 

Hotter than whodunnit still.  Will it ever cool and will it ever stop raining?  

My boy (teacher) just returned from the Philippines.  His post card from several months ago just got here.  For pete sake! 

Vishus Deer!

And vishus babies too.

I was on my way to the grocery again, and as I came around the corner a mom and her two spotted fawns were crossing the street.  The were slow about it, which I loved, and the babies just stopped to look at me.  Another car came too quickly up behind me but got slowed down in time. The babies walked slightly faster  then, and mom came up alongside of them.  They stopped and ate after they got off the roadway.  She was sightly reddish in color cast.   The babies were fully dappled.  SO pretty.  All of them.  By the way, I have come back and edited a lot of typos. 

Things like this always make me happier for the rest of the day.  Even just the does alone. But a little family...oh my.  

I stopped even trying to make a decent mustard potato salad some long time ago, but I happened on some in a grocery store a week ago and it was outstanding.  Bought me some more today.  Oh what a treat.  NOM. Oh, and I bought a dozen eggs...so-called large.  I opened them and substituted 5 eggs out of the box for the actual large ones in another and put the medium to small ones- into the vacated box! 

Have a problem with my car front end.  Someone either backed into it or front eneded it in a parking lot.  I saw it and made an appt. at a body shop.  He said the grille was also loose- and he make me up an estimate.  After when he was inquiring about my deduction ($1000.00) and showing me his estimate,  I saw I would be self- paying.  Won't kill me.  (Arrrrgghhhh) I would like to get it going though as I worry, not unreasonably  considering the look of it, that the whole shebang will fall off on the road. 

Have to go to the big  city tomorrow...wish me luck on the interstate with the loose front end. 

Hm.

Gents and Ladies...another electrial storm...torrents of rain and drenched everything.  You ought to see the yard so over grown in just a week. 

When I did the blog yesterday, I was whining.  I edited that out.  Whew. 

This is her, sitting there counting her little toesies. Thinking.  

Anyway, this is the third week- going on the fourth- that it has stormed every day with drenching rain.  Flooding as well.  July is always wet here, but this has been past any July in rainfall and electrical storms in my memory.  Usually it was 5-6 inches for July,  We get that per day now just about.   

Oh I am buying bee guards for the feeders.  Talking about bees, I don't think these are honey bees.  I wonder if they are yellow jackets because they dart and fly fast.  Squirrels will likely pry off  the bee guards too. I can still hope.

Busy busy here.  Have a great week end. 

Outsmarted

Howdy and good morning!!  Well, the squirrels ripped off the flowers, drank the nectar and ruined two feeders for the hummers.  It was even worse when they chose to attack when the hummers are having families.   So, thinking hard and lookingfor a solution I found another feeder.  After a week or two I found one with painted ON flowers around the opening, not raiswed priable ones.  I thought that worked, but soon squirrels were trying hard to drink out of that too.  Scared the birds into not visiting.  

I used my best mean voice to scare them off.  The birds have come back, but...now I have the beautiful outdoor only cat from next door curled on my deck rail right under the feeder.  Perfect fur circle.  No hummingbirds.  

Next year I will stop trying.  I did set out something close by for the squirrels per suggestions, and they completely ignored it.  Afer a few weeks I gave up on that.

It has rained along with severe thunder and lightening storms each day for three weeks.  Town had flooding.  I am in the highest point of town- so that is not a problem for me.  Only if I need to be in certain areas.  Now I don't need to go in that area or on those roads.  

Happy Sunday to ye.  I am determined that it be one for me too.  😊

  

Won't Do That to You

 Oh, guys, remember when I said I did a face plant when my feet slipped out from me and I pitched straight forward to the floor.  Flat.  My left leg was injured more than I knew.  My shin, starting just under my knee cap and leg  came into comtact with the metal threshold from the outside door to the kitchen. It hurt very badly.  Then next day, I saw the doctore.  He said keep ice on it.

Now you ask, "what was it you won't do to us out here in blogland"?  It's showing you what it looks like now --and that starting right after the fall.  I took some pictures to send in a file to my Dr. through the Patient Portal.  

My  calf in front is totally bruised.  That nasty pea green now.  There is a puncture wound upper shin where it got the worst of the threshhold.  Very  red, angry and extremely painful.  Katie keeps headbonking my legs, and she is just at the right height to KILL me bonking that sore place.  My ankle is almost black, as is my entire foot except my toesies. 

I was gonna put a picture in here and decided not to after all. (I heard that groan of relief!!) 

See ya soon.  BTW, and update. I am putting antibiotic cream on that place on my shin and it iS better,  Starting to be itchy which is a great sign. 

 

 

How I Survive Light in My Eyes

 Not a lot worse for me, someone who does NOT sleep well at all in a bedroom with any ambient light seeping in than being in a bedroom with light seeping in off and on.

Katie's favorite brovver is here and in the spare room  When and if he gets up in the night, though he is quick to close the door right across from my room as quickly as he can. the light escapes straight into my room and wakes me.  This may happen 3 or so times per night, and I have a hard time getting back to sleep.   

Why is my door not closed, you ask? Because Katie Isabella is in and out all night long.  She sleeps with and on me...goes to her box, has a snack, bring me toys to play with and sings lulabyes to me.  All night long.  I can't close the door on her.  It would break our bond which is very tight.  So I suffer.  

However- I finally thought of this eye mask that my middle boy gifted me with years ago.  It's a little heavy, but it is an eye mask for night.  I always had it on the mirror of the dresser.  It's adorable. Finally tried it one night, and slept all the way through till Katie got me up.  Filled with silk and flax and made in Nepal. But it is still a little heavy.  Takes getting used to~ but hey...better than light blaring into my eyes. 

Above is my back yard.

This's and thats...

 I swiped this from somethere off Face Book.  It's perfect!  I have always enjoyed Carol Burnett.  To me, she is the best of commediennes.

I always watched that show when it was on, no matter what.  I only didn't like the outside on the front steps segments in skits that depicted  she and her hubby arguing horribly.  I used to go find something else to do until it was over.  There was no one in that show I didn't love seeing.  And their guest stars were perfect!  I would never have thought that Steve Lawrence and his wife Eydie Gorme´ could be so FUNNY! And all of Burnett's entertainment was right on the mark.  (except the arguing skits). 

Constant rain here...seems never stopping.  Torrential rains and thunder and lightening too. Sigh.

Here I am 3 winters ago on a walk up the street.  Thought my shadow was funny so I took the picture. Wearing a coat and...my bootcut jeans.  LOVE them suckers and glad they have made a re-appearance.  No wide flares for me.  Just bootcut  

Rotten News About Duck Duck Go

https://www.reviewgeek.com/118915/duckduckgo-isnt-as-private-as-you-thought/

I went to Duck Duck Go to avoid a bit of invasiveness but...of course, it is all a farce.  They're apparently trying to do damage control.  If I put this on Face Book they would do their phoney so-called  fact check and either get rid of it, or publish a book under it saying how it isn't true. 

Meanwhile it is in the very high 90's every day.  Has been, still is. Hottest ever this early.

One of my kids has just left for the Phillipines.  He just texted us from Los Angeles.  I don't like it but..it is an honor for him.  But I don't like it at all. 

On the CB we were talking about the Fill-Ins we do once a week.  I recall several of us mentioned certain styles of the 70's and 80's including those Green Bay Packer shoulder pads for women and true bell bottoms, not boot cuts. I like bootcut pants.  But those shoulder pads...please! 

Don't Know Where but....

 One of my boys found this and posted it in FB.  Likely that is where he found it...don't knwo but I LOVED it.  Hoped you would enjoy seeing it.   Might biggafy it.

Wonder where that weather tower is? 

I love Weather.  Any time, any where. 

And I swiped this off Face Book a few days ago.  

Busy Bee

 My oldest went to his place for the weekend.  My middle one came to see us before he heads to the Philippines.  Another Fulbright Scholar time.  The Government of the Philippines sent Fulbright these shirts for the scholars arriving there in Manila July 7.  One the back it says, in their language, "Teacher". 

I blanked  out his face, as I don't have permission to post it.  I am nervous about him going.  This is the fifth Fulbright trip in as many years.  He just left here to go back to his home and then~ get ready for the trip.  I am always a bit uneasy with the places he has been to.  But he loves it and deserves to go. 

Oh.  I got the new smart TV..but we didn't hook up the "smart" part.  I don't want it listening to me and storing my converations etc. on its servers, and I can change my own channels, thank yew!  AND I have Siri, not Alexa  Don't want any infighting going on between the two on who is boss.  It's Siri. (she said). 

I got the sound bar too.  Very nice.  I love the bass.  I think women by default like that better than the treble parts of sounds.   That is what I have read many times-many sources. 

While B. was here, he got APPS going on the TV so I can watch bunches of things.  I gave up Netflix this morning as they were forced to take off the very programming I watched Netflix for.  No use in spending the money for something I'm not using.  Paramount is streaming all its own things now and if you want to see your fave programming, fork over.  Cathy C., if you see this you probaby know which programming I mean.  

By the way, that is an Indian Blanket Flower whose picture I took in a community garden here. 

Gotta fix supper.  See ya in the funny papers.  (as Dad used to say). 

All Good Things....

 For pity sake.  *insert rolling eyes emoji~ if I could that is...*  I was sitting after a good deal of work, ready to enjoy Rawhide.  Not sorry to say I LOVE that show, and it's Gil Favor played by Eric Fleming that I love, not Rowdy.  What happened?  The visual disappeared.  It was like listening to the radio.  Visual never came back.  The TV died an unlovely death.  I consulted all three boys who  agreed and said, "it's dead".  

Not knowing anything about anything of that sort,  I told them I don't know what I want..they could choose one, and while you're at it, send me a link because I am not going to a store and handling getting it home, into the house and unboxed. Not dealing with ridding myself of the old guy and the sound bar.  

One was chosen and a new sound bar too.  It will arrive today between 9-12.  Placed inside the doorway here in the house.  Not on the porch.  It's worth paying extra.  

A boy will come over this evening and install the new one and take the old one.  10 to 1 it will not go right.  Never does when someone tries to help at night, after work, and after the grandson is in bed.  But I have my fingers crossed.  He never wants to miss being there for bedtime.  It's special to him. 

I don't have sciatica at this time as far as I know but I DO have a bad muscle ache at the waist area in my back.  I was fine until I did my aerobic dancing.  After three times, it did me in.  I will see  the PT person this afternoon and maybe with his help I will get to sleep at night again.  Dr. and he both said try to resume.  PT said do it while going there to him so he can fix it if it comes up.  It's come up.  :-) 

I wrote in FB that the police and I got a good look-see at one another.  I..and really the other person did the wrong thing too, and at a time when the police happened to turn into the street we were on.  

They rocketed out of a side street and plowed toward me after I had made my last check (I do 3 checks ) of who is coming ---if there is anyone, and so not having seen anyone as I looked again to my right..here they come.  I was already half out so I judged I could make it the rest of the way.  I did.  Police turned on the blues and talked to me.  I had an extremely good listen-talk.  He could not have been nicer.  Neither could I.  The Dept. and I share some things so I am aware of how it is.  Nonetheless, I got a  nicely worded warning.  

My excitement for the week.  

This pic was in FB a few days ago.  If I had thought of it, I would have wanted to do this for each of my three who are gone from me now.  

Wondering...

 I know this is a weird thing to write about, but is makeup the latest politically correct thing?  I say this because I am a natural redhead, complete with the paper white skin, a zillion freckles all over, blue eyes, blonde eyelashes and brows.  I use something to darken lashes and brows of course.  

I haven't been able to find what was always there in every brand. i.e. "pale" foundation and concealer.  It is at the very least, the next shade darker or worse...two shades darker making it unusuable.  The slots for what I am looking for are empty and have been for several years.  I imagine the next step will be for the stores to remove those slots for the lightest makeups.  What is up I truly wonder, with the loss of the light shades of foundation~ but masses of the other shades.  I will add that through the years I have always noticed that the palest shades used to sell out the fastest when they were for sale...now they aren't there to buy.   So I am not the only pale face around.  

Started the low impact aerobics yesterday afternoon.  I wondered if I could finish that busy half hour.  I did, and I will tell you everything feels/felt so much better the rest of the day and all night.  My lower back hurts but I am used to that; though it is something I wish would pass from me. Only thing is, with the resumption of much physical activity...the horrible hamstring and shin cramps are back.  I know to do stretches, but that has never been much help.  I take magnesium according to the doctor's doseage advice. Gets me straight out of bed!  And I had someone on my head when I got back in, until I moved her off.  

Calvin and Hobbs.  And so accurate.  

Jiminy Gee

 Tell you what!  I make a great meatloaf if I say so myself.  But I changed the recipie in several regards and now, I swan, I think it could earn a blue ribbon.  Well, maybe not but *I* think it oughtta have one.  

I made one for the oldest today as he loves my meat loaves.  I changed up the recipient and while the "old" one was delicious..oh MY!  This is even better.  He's here so he'll love supper.   Can't wait for supper time and trying it out. Him I mean.  I cut a narrow- not more than half an inch strip off the edge and tasted it.  Good gosh!  DEE-LISH-US! 

 Here you go.  I may have put this in before but in case I didn't...I think it is true.  Even in my 20's, I turned the blasting music down when I got into a strange city and didn't know my way.   I always wake in the morning thinking that  I AM in my 20's.  It's still a terrible shock to see the mirror reflection.  Who the heck is THAT! What's she doing in my bathroom!? 

Hear Ye! Hear Ye.

 

I have rarely been more earnest.  It deserves ME making the announcement.  

Mama's sciatica is 99% a memory. (nightmare that is has been!)  She has had therapy from a premium place with Therapists having a Doctorate in the field.  It's been great.  Oh, she has muscke aches that really hurt, but not a lot more than she has had to live with for years.  So, those will calm a bit.  But Mom is rid of that sickening nerve pain.  YAHOO!   Just saying. 

XO

Next Episode of the Continuing Saga..."As the Pain Pains"!

 Not too bad this time.  I had a start at exercises and moist heat and TENS and a thorough physical assessment at the therapy place Thursday.  I had to do a lot of movements while there, but he kept them do-able by saying only as I could do it.  He gave me homework of doing back bends every 90 minutes during waking hours.   I have been excellebt at that and kept a record to show him.  The difference in 2 days was amazing.  Oh, the pain IS still there, but masked enough that I can walk, slowly, yes, but I CAN walk, and make the bed plus a few other things.  The bed was unmade for 3 weeks and my DIL changed the sheets for me.  *I* did it two days ago,  I was so proud!  I even tried to clean the tub! 

He showed me how to roll a towel and what to do to make lumbar support for my back while driving as I told him driving is so painful during and especially afterward, that I gave avoided it aas much as I can. Time will tell me if it helps. 

Most tellingly, I now just take a lot of tylenol and the prescribed amount of muscle relaxer- and no strong pain reliever.  I have been able to stop that stuff totally, though I have to grit my teeth a lot in the morning and at night.  VERY glad of that as I HATE that stuff.  But nerve pain (sciatica)  is the worst there is, along with childbirth and kidneystones.  Ya gotta do something or spend all your time yelling in pain. 

So, just saying.  See ya soon I hope.  

Mother's Day.

 Happy Mother's Day all of you.  Those of you  Dads who are both Mother and Father...Happy Mother's Day to you as well.  💖

I had 2 boys here, and the other one called me from Charlotte.  His call distracted me from pain too, which was wonderful.  The other ones came bearing food and gifts.  XXX to them all.  And he brought the other one with him.  The one I write of so often.  

Guess what?  My boy in Charlotte sent me some diamond roughs!  I am a gemstone rough person.  I have many many many.  I like them in that, their natural state.  No tumbling.  Just displayed in their natural beauty.  I have sapphires, rubies, now diamond roughs too, citrine, peridot, garnet, you name it, I have it. Emeralds too. I have lots and lots of natural crystals as well, like large rose quartz, amethysts, big stones of natural formation-- other gemstones I mentioned above  So, he added to my collection. I have many fossils as well...and many things from the Roman era including a piece of the Appian Way.  Been collecting for some time now. 

So, I got a superb book about the city I live in, which is very very unusual and special.  So I am enjoying it very much and..some gorgeous color photos of hummingbirds. 8X10's from Katie's oldest favorite brother. 

The tiny tiny diamond roughs sparkle, regardless of just being roughs.  These are from a diamond mine in India.  I have them in a small small glass vial. 

Guys, I am going to a chiropracter as soon as I can get an appointment.  Ain't nothing working, so...that is where I am going.  

Chapter Next...

(A few of my middle boy's 8th grade class.  He gave them a special cat face pizza for last day of school last year). 

 Don't know the chapter number I referred to in the title,  but likely 4.   The continuing saga of:  Sciatica.

Will it end?  Yes, one day it will.  This will be week three of it coming up.  This Saturday will be three weeks since it started.

Dr. won't give me any more pain pills so I am taking too much Tylenol to keep the pain down to where I can at least whimper my way to my feet and take a few steps.  

One of my dearest cyber friends...Mary Roever and her cat Mariodacat are much on my mind.  Mary passed away May 2, and reading it in FB made me that feel thunder AND lightening struck.  Mary was very dear to me and loved.  I was going to fly on up there to see her in person but her personal illness got in the way of that as she went to a nursing facility.  The sorrow of her passing is on me and I will miss her always.  Katie's blog gave one example why, earlier today.  She was unselfish and loving to everyone she knew on Twitter and BlogSpot.  

I was called by therapy and my appt. was changed from tomorrow at close to 5PM to today at 2 for the therapy place. Bed news is, and totally unexpected, there will be no treatment.  Just paperwork.  Who knows when next week I can finally get to go.  Meanwhile with no pain relief for this nerve pain but Tylenol...lots of suffering to continue.  Well..eventually it will get better.  Poor Katie KILLS me when she climbs up to sleep on my chest or hips at night.  It fires that deep nerve pain to the max.  I have to ask her to stop.  I hate doing it, but it's just too much to bear.  I can't close the bedroom door on her. She would cry, and never understand. 

Trying to arrange someone to help get Katie's fave brovver to his two appt. times at the University Medical Center Friday.  It is incredibly painful to drive...to sit hours while there  and then wait more and and to walk.  What's not to dislike?  So I just asked my DIL to find if there is anyone in her contacts that will accept $200.00 for doing that for me. My boy is worth it.  I'm in pain..so...hopefully someone will step up.  DIL is completely tied up in the mornings which is when he needs to leave here to get to the Big City, as is my son with his work, so likely they can't.  Next boring chapter to come  (I love you all...so thank you for staying with me through all this drama). 

It Happened Again.

 You may recall my having told you that I went into a store to find things opened after I got home.   The last was a loaf of bread and a bag of bagels as well which also had several missing from it.  

The past 8 months or so, I increasingly find bottles with the tops having been opened...lost their seal.  I have found jellies unscrewed and lightly put back on.  Just enough to fool you into buying it.  Vitamins missing from bottles at the pharmacy..one was half empty altogether.  Liquid soap last week that had been turned to the open position and some squirted out.  

Yesterday along with other groceries, I bought some unsalted Swanson's Beef Broth.  Got home with it and  today when I was about to make me a veggie stew...I discovered the lid had been opened.  Took a fly's weight to open the flip up lid.  That should never happen.  And it was soiled right inside the opening showing something with went in or out.  Better watch yourselves.  Once I even got a half gallon of milk that I had no idea had been opened till all it took was a slight twist without woman power, to open it.   Seal was broken.  I may get into the habit of checking everything  Looks like it's beginning to be necessary. 

 Be careful friends.  Seriously. 

Meanwhile, Sciatica still has me in its powerful unrelenting grip.  I am taking a powerful pain reliever, but because of abuse of addicts and recreational users, those who genuinely are in severe pain and who need the pain relief, only get a few tablets.   Cancer patients  however,  largely do get what they need with no problem as it is written that they may. At least "they"  in the decision making process are decent enough to make that exception.   I start physical therapy for alleviation of my sciatica pain on Thursday. 

Well...about to dish out my veggies.  I have them cooked.  I found another container of Swanson's in the pantry,  all tightly closed and safe. 

I'd like a Do-Over

 I have a rip snortin' case of sciatica for the past 2 weeks this Saturday coming.  Got to see the Dr. Monday.  I was his first appointment.  Fortunate for me.  I had held out hoping I was wrong with my self diagnosis.  However, he said acute sciatica.  

As it is nerve pain, it is intense.  One of the meds, a prednisilone pack, starting with 6 tablets then descending in number seems to have been a good help.  I was allowed a few pain pills thank goodness.  Those of us who need them are punished because of those who abuse.  But I have a few and I am using them as little as possible.  If you have ever had sciatica you know how intensely painful it is 7/24.

Hey, I should have started my opening sentence with "So, I have...."  😊

I still have things I must do aside from household chores, so I "power through" best I can.  About to head to the store.  Glad I still can.

I brought on this painful condition by trying to pull the 5'x7" carpet  toward me to ease the appearance of its accumulated wrinkles under the heavy oak dining table.  I got away with it for a few months.  Then I got what I deserved doing so wrong a thing. 

Kate was an associate "star" in Two Spoiled Cats bloggie yesterday and today.  She and I are both thrilled!  Look at the gift Miss Dingleberry, the cook at Ding Dong School gave her.  AND the compliment! 

Sure is the Truth!

 In a minute I will post a thing I saw in Face Book that is the complete total truth to THIS woman right here, that it made me laugh when I sawe it and it assures me I am not the only female who ever thught this or said it.  I have never escaped...not even when I sneaked out to get gas for the car with someone else in the family pumping it...here they come!  I'll show you:

It's amazing!  Yeah, I know before you tell me. Some women don't care, or don't do their hair and face. Some women do, and  I do.  That suffices to explain why this made me laugh.  Loved it. There are women like me, and women who aren't.  It's OK both ways. But that looking like Jack Nicholson in the Shining has me sitting here in my desk chair laughing again!  I remember once, when I went to a place to get gas, I had just washed and set my hair.  I covered it with a scarf I'd  tied around it, took a kid, and had him pump.  When he went in to pay, the attendent at the cash register told my son she was coming out to look at me after asking why I was sitting in the car and  had sent him in.  She's never seen me less than totally done, she told him, and always smelling of Chanel.  ( I was always working it seemed with huge amounts of OT tacked on, so that was part of it, and the rest is...I'd just rather).  

She came out...pointed and laughed and went back in.  I told Bruce it was not necessary henceforward to always tell the truth like that!! 

I had to tell an admirer here at the house last year- who persisted in dropping by unannounced, and was always left standing out on the porch, that "I don't handle drop-ins well".  The admirer said they had noticed that.  I mentioned a small, even 5-10 minute heads -up would result in an open door.  Eventually I got it thoroughly across that indeed, I don't handle drop-ins well unless it's old old friends or family of course.  They don't care if they caught me shampooing my hair, doing heavy housework or just stopped exercising and dripping with sweat.  Or just outta the shower, not expecting anyone..blah blah blah.

 One of the many coup-dee-gracies was a knocking on the kitchen door last Fall when I was wearing old old house stuff, making two home made coconut cream pies in my small galley kitchen.  I opened the  kitchen door not knowing who was there, thinking it was the mailman.   And I could not stop to be hospitable as I was stirring the filling on the stove and adding cornstarch here and there as needed, reading instructions and there trying to get it right, etc,  They stood there implanted, just past the threshhold talking- while I laboured on.  I truly had no choice but continue.  And having to listen and respond to the  passing the time of day...and yet and get my one crust out of the oven and the other crimped and IN the oven, and stirring the heck out of the filling, and reading the recipe left me no time for my unexpected guest who hadn't the thought to say "see ya later when you have more time." 

AND I hadn't my face on, and my hair was scraped back into a pony. Hence my laughing after seeing that on Face Book earlier.  Love it. 

Pee Ess:  I never made my ways a secret from dear close friends.  They know which one of them can come and go with no thought for me.  Just bust right on in.

I, and my closest friends are all either current or former shift rotation persons all in the same demanding occupation, and we know one another and how it is...including rarely knowing the day of the week according to the calender.  If it was Monday and we were off for the next few days, it was Friday to us, and so on.   When we gathered it was and still is shop talk.  We love it. 

They're HERE!!!

 YEA!  My Hummingbirds are here.  Well, I was fortunate by glancing out of the window and I saw one seated at their "table". I love those treasures.  Flying brilliant gemstones.  Perfection on swift wings.  Eyes like beads of onyx, when they hover in front of your face looking at you while you stand there transfixed. That is a rite of Spring that I so look forward to. I love when they bring the young ones over as well and eat as a family.  

It has been horribly windy here each day,  never mind cold.  This has been so all but several days a few weeks ago.  It will be hot very soon.  I love the blackberry winters though.  I like cool and cold weather more than I like sweltering in the heat and humidity.  BUT, I don't get my way. I'm probably the only one who feels this way.  

You know...I was thinking I that should call the non emergency line to the police dept., or write a council person and say that if the city would like to have their cash coffers overflowing with money from traffic fines...simply enforce the "failure to maintain lane".  I have rarely seen a car turn the corner around this town (except on the 4 lane roads with traffic lights) for one thing, without doing so in the opposing traffic's lane.   You about swallow your tongue as you go up on a sidewalk to escape a head on.  And, on the 4 lane through town, let's straddle the lanes with our huge, wide, jacked up high SUV's--- why don't we?  The person with a sedan...oh pshaw...who cares?  They'll move.  And there is nothing like the 'over the center line a good foot' coming down a residential street.  I will not move.  Unless we are within eye gleam of one another  up close and personal on the road there, and they win the game of chicken! 

Standing on my deck this Fall just past...looking into my woods.  Want to come join me sitting out there?  I'll put the market umbrella up.  Coffee and cookies will be served and we'll enjoy all the birds and animals.  I am a fortunate person to own my part of the forest/woods.   

Spring and Stuff

 Yesterday, I put out my hummingbird feeder.  It's chock full of sugar water I made for them.  I have never used commercial food.  It has red dye which is easily researched as not good for them over time.  I like cooking for them.  I bring 4 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar..using the same cup sized cup for water and sugar for measurement.  I bring the nectar just to a boil...let it cool, pour some into the feeder, place the remainder into a glass container for storage in the refrigerator.  Bringing it to a boil helps keep the nectar from spoiling in the summer too quickly when outside in the heat.  Its good for about 3 days or so in really hot water..another day perhaps added if the weather is mild. Nothing is  too good for MY babies!   ❤️  

The feeder should be taken down, every 3-4 days & whatever is in there, poured out; then the feeder  should be washed with soap and water--- and new nectar from your refrigerated storage jar poured in.  They love it cold I have noticed.  No shortage of adorable long beaks poking into the little yellow flower ports.  

Dang if my Toyota hubcap didn't fly off into outer space- or worse.  I snoticed that it thappened on coming home last week.  A black wheel shining up at me was my first clue.  Hadda really hop to find another.  Bought 3! This is the second hubcap to disappear.  First one was caused by a pothole.  This one..who only knows.  Now with 2 spares...I am ready.  Poor Micah won't have to go around not wearing socks and be embarrassed at his ankles showing!  

Look at this!  We had 75 + mph winds blowing as did everyone else in neighboring States.  It blew all the red lights off  slanting to the north, and they are still this way up and down the road.   The ones on cantilever type poles are undisturbed. 

And, look at this:  This small inventory store has many many things and I save at least $10.00 when I go in there.  Walmart and the other grocery stores wanted an obscene $4.20 for a box of even house brand saltines.  I would sooner do without forever, than pay that.  They wanted the same for oyster crackers...a little bag.  Look what I paid in THIS store.  And they are delicious.  Though they are the house brand.  The strawberries are at least a dollar and more less than in all the other grocery stores.  Delicious.  

I paid $1.52 per pound for huge huge red cherries!  

Look at the bread price!  You should see the meat prices, cereals, all cookies and snack items.  $$$'s less expensive.  SO glad my middle boy kept at me to go there.  I will say I have saved a good 40 or so dollars in the past two weeks I've been going. 

Today I bought gasoline.  I saw I only had 2 gallons pumped when I glanced at the pump plus an ounce or so, at an obscene 8 dollars for the 2 gallons,  and I was so  genuinely shocked I stopped the pumping...looked at the price per gallon again, & the amount pumped...almost none...and I did that twice  more, I was so horrified.  Yes, I bought gas a week ago.   Cost me 40 bucks for what...3/4's of a tank?   Be nice if our pipelines were open again.    But I was shocked all over again.  

Well...that's my week outside of constant back and forthing to the Big City racking  60+ miles on the odometer  per time, round trip.  Adds up.  It's a must do.  No choice. 

Come on Hummingbirds!  Can't wait to greet you.