Posts Tagged ‘Nashville’

Labor Day Weekend

September 7, 2017

This is often considered to be the end of summer weekend.  For us it is very warm and with more fires all around us, very hazy, smokey and hot.  Sinuses are not happy but not a lot we can do.  Meanwhile, my two sisters are having Seattle summer weather.

My younger one in Nashville had rain from Harvey but no flooding; my older sister on the Jersey shore is also having comfortable weather and some rain.

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Ocean Grove, N.J.

We are having spectacular sunsets and sunrises because of the air quality.  Some people think people in Seattle are wimps because it seems we are  never satisfied – not enough rain, too much rain, etc.  I would not trade places with anyone, this is definitely my place.  People with all kinds of chronic illness are having difficulty with the weather and conditions, it is tough on the body physically, especially with a compromised immune system.  What I also know is that so far my survival rate from difficult times is 100% and I will make it through this as well.  Patience has been something I have had to learn – I will admit to times when it is stretched to it’s limits.

I was looking back at the beginning posts I wrote back in 2009 – I had forgotten a lot of it and it was a good reminder to me.  It also gave me a subject for my radio show this week – I wouldn’t be surprised to find quite a few more.  My contract with the radio station is up at the end of October, I have been working on finding sponsors to continue the show for another year.  I have three possibilities that I hope will come together.  We now have a metaphysical shop in Burien and they are an oasis for me.  I was there last week and one of the owners was saying that by tomorrow when Mercury goes back home and several other planets and eclipses occur, things will come together.  It is a matter of patience.  My problem is that I want it all settled and “in the bag” right now before my deadline.  I will see what unfolds in the next few days and weeks with as much patience I can muster.

THURSDAY

Tuesday morning I left for my show and it looked very odd outside – almost a green tinge similar to the eclipse.  When I came up the hill, the sun was a red disc – very odd.  I had never seen it that way before.  The fires are getting worse and growing – it has been so difficult for the firefighters to access the slopes and put out the fires.  For several days the smoke has made the sun red, there was talk the moon is also red – hard to see it.  I have sinus headaches and once again I am coughing with a dry, scratchy throat.  I hate to think what it is like for people with major respiratory problems.  I’m having a hard enough time with my body.  My rheumatologist’s office called yesterday because they were concerned my sed rate went up after finally going down.  I told Jennifer my body has been very uncomfortable since the fires started and the smoke hasn’t helped my sinuses.  She said a lot of patients are having trouble as well.  I am hoping when they do blood work again at the end of October, I will have lower labs again.

Now when I look at Texas and Florida, this is no big deal – it just feels that way at times.  I can’t imagine losing everything or the threat about to arrive as it comes toward Florida.  I was in one hurricane in Connecticut – spent the time curled up in a fetal position on the sofa.  Eddie was out of town and driving back – I wasn’t sure he would make it.   I didn’t want to be in the hurricane alone, but if I had to, I could do it.  To take my mind off it, I taped windows – wow, I had no idea how many we had!  Just as things began to rock and roll, Eddie got home.  I was so glad to see him.

I also saw my first Nor’easter there, we were in East Haven on the shore.  I sat and watched from my dining room window.  The Sound came up to the fence on the other side of the street – one of those days when I was glad we didn’t have beach front.  Things were flooded out on both ends of the street, but we were okay.  Afterwards it was a little tricky in places, never quite knew what would be flooded and what wouldn’t.  There have been other kinds of weather I’ve been through, I can certainly relate a small bit of how it is.

I know this too shall pass, I just like it to get on its way a little faster and bring some rain the clear and clean the air and help put out the fires.  The pictures I’ve seen are horrendous.

1st Barbecue of the Season

March 27, 2016

Friday I had to go to Wound Care again – what a lovely day it was.  Eddie left in the morning for work with clouds a bit of rain; when he came home to pick me up, the sun was out.  For the first time in a long time, I had the car window open and it felt quite warm.    More rain today and tomorrow, then they promise the sun for several days – does Mother nature agree?  We will see.

I am back wrapped up again – my legs swelled again – and wouldn’t you know, my compression socks arrived and were sitting in the mailbox as we drove out.  Well, I won’t be wearing them for a couple of weeks, then I will take them with me to have them help me learn how to put them on.  This means spit and duck baths again; so far the hair doesn’t look too bad.  It does tend to stick up a bit when I get up in the morning, I will have to run the shower with my head in to have the steam tame those wonky parts.  I have an appointment on Wednesday afternoon to remove sutures, then I can lean over the shower chair and wash my hair at least.

My forehead has been numb since the first plastic surgery, yet at times I feel it tingling, sometimes as if something is walking on my head.  It is an odd sensation but not unpleasant.  I asked the doc about it last Monday before surgery, he said it will take a long time to  go back to normal.  I expected that answer because I found that with the hip incision.  It was numb and I would get sharp pricks when I least expected it – that was unpleasant.  Seems to be  fairly normal now, four years later.

I am determined to drive again after Wednesday, I don’t like being so dependent – at least I can see a lot better now, that makes a difference.  When Eddie comes back from the Car Museum, he is taking me to Bartell’s – it is sometimes difficult to explain to him what I want.  I think he is very uncomfortable buying “lady things”, but does a pretty good job.

Yesterday was fairly sunny and when Eddie came home from shopping, he had hamburgers with him.  He decided to start the BBQ season and I noticed Eric across the street had his big grill on his deck.  Eddie said he could smell someone else getting ready to BBQ.  We have had such a lot of wind and rain this winter, it feels good to look forward to spring.  Each time I go out, I see new things blooming – I almost feel I am missing out on spring.  The Scillas in the beds have abundant leaves up and it will be fun to see all the lavender flower stems blooming.  The grape hyacinths are blooming, not as many this year and the two clumps of yellow daffodils on the bank are doing well

My sister Ellen on the Jersey Shore has had rain, snow, sun and wind – I’m so glad she sends photos of them.  The last photo I enclosed in the blog is now a painting – she is so talented!  She is able to show the ocean in so many different moods and colors – so amazing.

This was the Nor’easter the other week – she had snow as well as windy.

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This was on March 24th – spring is coming.

I have been so self absorb in myself lately, both my sisters reminded me March 24th would be Dad’s 102nd birthday.  I also thought about September 24th, Mom’s birthday – it will be her 98th.  In 2018, it will be her 100th birthday and that year was as eventful as Dad’s in 1914 – so many historic things happened that changed the world during those years.  Because they met, fell in love and married, my sisters and I are a part of this changing world.  They gave us so many gifts – being loved and wanted, integrity, respect for other people, discipline, manners – so many things that have given me a strong foundation.  (I won’t speak for my sisters)  I am grateful for all of it, they were very loving parents.

A blog wouldn’t be complete without a couple of photos from my sister Candy in Nashville.

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She puts lovely backgrounds in her photos

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She has done a series of Christmas photos with flowers and also ornaments.

I have been sleeping a lot, though I still feel draggy,  I need to walk a bit every day – exercise needs to be part of being rested.  I have hesitated to go outside and walk up and down the sidewalk because I don’t want to trip and fall.  Now that I can wear my glasses better, I am willing to give it a try.  Windy and stormy is conducive to walking outside – I seem to have missed the worst of the weather during my captivity.

My posts have been so “me” centered, it is time to focus on something else for a change.  Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

Where Do I Start?

July 28, 2013

One good place to start is with a couple of adorable pictures from my sister Candy while cat sitting.

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      Kittyboy Litterfoot (Petey)      The Zen Purr Master (Emma)

I have been neglecting this blog for a while because of the kitchen remodel – haven’t been able to let those who like my post how much I appreciate it.  I am even more amazed and delighted to find I have almost 60 followers – that means quite a lot to me.

No doubt (or maybe not) you are wondering what I have been doing for the last few weeks.  There is my Mom and where she is at this point.  I have begun to visit her in the morning, not always easy, because after lunch she is ready for a lie down or a nap.  She is a bit more with it in the morning, we have a visit.  She is having trouble saying what she wants, she tends to mumble more and more that I don’t really understand  it.  There are times when she is with it a bit more and I tell her what I have been doing.  I haven’t told her about the kitchen remodel, I am not sure what she understands and I wonder if it would agitate her.  I tend to go with “If you aren’t sure, don’t”.  Maybe I am just chicken.

She is having trouble with arthritis in her knees, one especially.  She doesn’t like to walk or move because she knows it will hurt, though some days she is doing well and uses the walker.  If it is a bad day, they will have in a wheelchair.  They don’t want to make the wheelchair a habit or she will not walk again.  Last Wednesday was her evaluation with DSHS – I learned things I didn’t really know – or didn’t want to know.  Essentially she needs help with everything,  she can wash her face if they give her soap and washcloth ready to go and she can eat by herself but someone needs to be there to keep her on track.  Otherwise, she needs help or have it done for her in everything else.

I knew she had to have help with a lot, but I didn’t realize the extent – threw me for a loop.   I am still digesting it, I am not sure how I feel about it – I am not sure I feel anything at the moment.  I knew it would come to this and she would only go downhill, I am not sure I am ready for it.  Looks as if I will have to be ready for it.  One thing I have learned recently is to do something after I see Mom, even if it is just to go to Lowes for something for the house.  Or wander around somewhere just looking and seeing what’s there.  I am working on doing an errand after I see her, though I sometimes forget.  Then I go earthing on the Allen’s grass because it is softer and nicer than ours.

She can be very feisty sometimes, not wanting to shower, wash her hair or change her clothes.  However, Judy told me when she is having a good day, she is a darling.  I know it is the dementia that is causing a lot of this,  still hard to see it happen to Mom.  My sisters call her, but now it is hard for them and for Mom.    I had an email this morning from Candy, she had called Mom the other week and this was how she described it.

” I can tell that Mom is “disappearing” by our phone calls. She managed an “I love you, too” at the last phone call, but mostly it is a couple of minutes of me talking, and any answer she gives is so garbled it makes no sense. I tell her we are all fine. I tell her she’s been a wonderful mother and is free to leave, that we will be all right. I tell her I love her. I’m not sure she really knows who she’s talking to, though it is made clear at the beginning of the conversation that it’s her daughter from Nashville.”

A lot of other things have been going on as well, plenty of things for several posts.  I always hesitate to  publish things about my Mom, she is a very private person and she might be upset for the whole world to know.  Yet I also hope that writing about what is happening for our family can be of help and benefit to others dealing with a similar situation.  More early childhood training.


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