Gift of RA

This could be called a catch up post, pictures of things from the last 2 or 4 months.  It feels as if most of what I have written lately is not so positive stuff, but there have been a  lot of bright spots as well.  There has been a lot of talk about the number of days of rain opposed to the few days of sun – those sunny days were delightful and very much appreciated it.  The sun pops out quite often, it seems the clouds have more strength at this point than the sunny.  The weatherman says a sunny, 70 degree day on Wednesday – we will see what arrives.

Brad has been here working on the bathroom downstairs and it is probably in the last quarter of finishing.  The sticky part is the shower door – will it be late?  Eddie wants it all done before he uses it.  He is excited to see it come together and see the big changes Brad has made.  He feels spoiled using the bathroom upstairs, I think he will revel in his new one.

We have had some spanners in the works getting my car fixed – first they kept saying they had to establish responsibility – my insurance company has no problem.  Then they weren’t going to cover all of the rental car and finally they wanted to put “gypsy” parts to repair it.  When Pat’s group took the car apart, there was twice as much damage inside than they first thought.  We are hoping they will be finished this week.  The Toyota Corolla is okay but I prefer my Subaru Imprezza.

My poor car

We just replaced the front bumper because some daft pillock put a hole in it.

Bent the grill and later found more damage.

The front bumper was in the street and a very nice lady brought it over to the gas station.

Would you believe this is all that happened to her car?

As for me, I am fine after the accident.  I have been going to my chiropractor to help me integrate it and release the tight stiffness.  It has been quite a while since I saw her last, feels so good to have adjustments from her.

I am feeling much more comfortable with my radio show, I think I have a focus for it now.  Instead of just saying there is a gift in every difficult situation for one to uncover, I need to give some ideas and ways to the finding.  I am still working on that, it is simmering on the back burner until I have a clearer picture.  Also, I talked to the station manager Erik about sponsors and what I can offer them.  This feels as if it is the hard part – if I had money to fund it myself, I wouldn’t have to look for sponsors to stay on the sir after October.

I just went outside to enjoy the sun while it is here.  I looked at the garden and took some pictures – amazing how the flowers come up and I didn’t do anything.  How cool is that!

The dark purple lilac is beginning to bloom along side the Scillas.

Blueberry blossoms – may have a good crop this year.

The dogwood has more blossoms this year, always spectacular.

Scillas all over the beds by the porch.

We had a couple of snowfalls  this winter, enjoyed the beauty but happy not to have several more.  I took pictures from the bathroom window and also on the porch.

Looking south to Allen’s house

The front yard from the porch

From the bathroom window

From the window toward the fruit trees in the back.

Pink dogwood with a snowy mantle

I need to open up the kitchen remodel site and add the bathroom pictures.  I think there is a link on this blog to get there.  I want them to be in chronological order, though it means the last ones will be first.

A bit of catch up about things.  Yesterday I went to a memorial service for the Celebration of Life for a friend I met through Charlotte.  There were a group of ladies who got together for birthday lunches and Charlotte invited me to join them.  I met Joyce and got to know her over several years – a real lady and very special.  I am not big on going to church and I didn’t really want to go.  I went to be there for Charlotte and support her – her friends are slowly disappearing and losing Joyce is a real blow to her.  They were like sisters, shared an apartment together and did all kinds of things together.  There were some happy moments – when she found several of the youth group came back, looking at the pictures and talking to people she knows at the church.

Time to close, I’m working on re energizing and building stamina to be able to do the things I want to do.

Thank You Candy!!!  It’s not been comfortable this week, every time I see this character, he makes me smile.

I have no idea what happened, but Monday and Tuesday were miserably uncomfortable days.  I was stiff, sore and nothing really helped to lessen it.  Monday I went to see Dr. Cheryl to see if she could help with things.  I was feeling so beat, I went home for a nap.  I did feel better afterwards.  I did my show on Tuesday, but came home right after for another nap.   Wednesday was better, so I went to Breakfast Club.  I enjoyed it as usual – the pouring rain all day wasn’t a deterrent – simply Seattle weather.  I stopped at a couple of places to talk to people being on my show.  When I finished, I came home to meet Eddie so we could go do something together.

As I came to Ambaum on 128th, the light was red.  I waited for the green light and was crossing the first lane when a car came right in front of me.  I tried to stop, but I hit her and I saw her make a very graceful 180 turn, stopping right in front of a truck going the opposite way.  I was in the middle of the street and decided to park in the gas station.  It shook me up, I noticed stiffness in my neck and across my shoulders.  I was shaking and trying to gather my wits.  I called 911, called my insurance agent and finally called Eddie.  He came over – missed lunch with the guys at the archives – and  saw my car.  Not a happy camper!  It took me a bit to finally get out and look at the damage.  The front bumper is gone – the one we just fixed from the hole.

Actually, the bumper came off as I drove out of the intersection.  I called Pat’s to have them tow the car – they will fix it.  The woman admitted she ran the red light and apologized – she also told the sheriff’s officer when he arrived.  There was a woman who heard it and then the other car came right up to the front of her truck.  She was gathering information and  making shut everyone was all right.  It seemed as if there were people talking to me and people on the phone – I definitely needed my wits then.  Also Eddie answered some questions and also talk to the other woman.  She was upset and it scared her 3 year old son.

I wasn’t mad or scared, just shaken up and upset my car needs to be fixed.  things were friendly all around – the sheriff officer was amazed.  He had just come from an accident where both people were angry and ready to come to blows.  If I get angry and ream the lady’s tush – what have I accomplished?   Eddie isn’t as mad as I expected, he was more worried about me than the car.  The tow truck came, the papers were all filled out and we were able to leave.  We went to Pat’s and they arranged for a rental car, plus did a estimate for the damage and repair.  I have a Toyota Corolla and it isn’t too bad.  Much better than the Chrysler 200.  I drove it home and went for a nap – it wasn’t difficult to fall asleep.  He did the errands he planned to do and then came home.  Not quite how we planned to spend the day.

Thursday I spent the day at home resting.  Eddie spent the day up north at the Women in Aviation Conference.  He was quite impressed with the women there, learned things as well.  Another day with people who love aviation.

Friday, Saturday and today have been quiet.  Eddie went to the Museum of Flight this morning, hardly anyone there.  No doubt having Easter dinner with family.

Last week was the first week of retirement for Eddie – except he wasn’t sitting on his tush watching tv.  He has been calling people, having lunch or making plans for lunch and also, he has an appointment Monday with Steve to talk about Eddie doing some research.  We have no idea how it will unfold, just watching what happens as it comes.

It was a medical week for me – again.

I saw my dermatologist Monday to find out if I had to make a visit to the MOHS surgeon or not.  At the time she thought I would, but I opted for her to freeze it, then if she needed to do a biopsy, we would talk about MOHS.  I am so glad to find out I don’t have to, everything is fine.  Next fall or winter she wants to do a face peel to get rid of the tiny bits that will turn into cancer.  I can hardly wait.

I had a call from the cardiologist’s office about my scoring.  Of course, no one will tell me anything one way or the other, I have to come in for an appointment.  If there was a serious problem, I’m sure they wouldn’t wait 2 weeks or more for the appointment.  More things to cross off my list.

I found out Medicare doesn’t cover orthotics, so that is out-of-pocket.  I have an appointment in May, not sure if I will keep it or not.  I did make an appointment with the clinical psychologist on Wednesday afternoon – Medicare doesn’t cover it, but she does half price for Medicare patients.  I’ll see how it goes and work from there.

I finally have an appointment with Dr. Cheryl, my chiropractor, tomorrow.  I haven’t seen her for ages and I am feeling rather stiff not very flexible.  I always enjoy going to see her, she is so gentle and her fingers know exactly where it hurts.  Something else on my To Do list.  I have to see the eye doctor Tuesday for my yearly check up.  he gave me a new prescription for glasses last year, so it will be a while before I need to do that again.  Sometimes I think there is more preventative maintenance every year I am older.

Last week was also the beginning of the downstairs bathroom remodel.  Brad has been doing demolition – the shower is gone as well as the toilet.  Eddie has moved to the upstairs bath with me – taking a shower up here is so much more luxurious that downstairs.  Thursday morning they went to choose tile, floor, fixtures, faucet, sink with cabinet, etc.  Ed is choosing because it is his bath.  The plumber was here on Friday – we still have galvanized pipes that have little bit flaking off inside, all that goes through the rest of the house.  Better to do as much as we can now rather than later when some of the bath would have to be torn up again.  I have some pictures as it has happened, so I will put them on the house remodel blog.

My networking breakfast group had to move because the owner of the building sold it.  So the catering business also had to close.  We are meeting at a restaurant that is next to a hotel – they gave us a good deal.  Also, this week is the change of officers for the next 6 months.  I volunteered to be a Member At Large – don’t really have to do anything except show up at a board meeting.

We still have rain and chilly weather – oh my, is that the sun?  Wonder how long it will last?  The trees and flowers are blooming like crazy – temperature doesn’t see to phase them.  Flowering fruit trees, forsythia, camellias and rhodos in some places.  Lately the moles have been quiet – maybe they are resting for the next assault on the lawn.  Eddie has noticed dandelions blooming – Spring is definitely official now.

I have been doing my radio for 5 months – the first set of 3 months was such a learning experience.  Now I feel I have more of a handle on it and what it is about.  I also have to talk to Erik about sponsors so I can stay on the air.  I have asked people to be guests and it has worked out quite well so far.  Most of the shows are just me with topics about Loving Yourself and the components that seem to comprise it – like a jig saw puzzle but without a picture on the box.  I’m working on how they all fit together – unless there is a different, better way to approach it.

Both Eddie and I are stiff runny, stuffy with sneezing.  I have quite a cough the past week, I need to check with Doc Pierce to know when it is just a cough or bronchitis.  Eddie and I keep each other awake at times – night-time seems to be the most uncomfortable time.  I have been drinking a lot of hot lemon or lime water – seems to help but it also means trips to the throne.

I have had to resort to 2 finger hunt and peck – so far it has worked pretty well, not many mistakes.  My little finger keeps changing sensations – right now it feels as if the nerve is just covered by skin and any  time I touch it, I can it feel it.  Then, at times it suddenly feels cold on something – not necessarily metal, porcelain, etc.  I’m hopeful it means the feeling is coming back.

I need to upload pictures from my camera so I can post snow pictures and also the remodel photos.