Thoughts About The Holidays

I thought I would just write some thoughts about the holidays.

• Why do people try to hide a re-gifted present when it is painfully obvious it was re-gifted?  (Hey, I have re-gifted in my time and most times I tell the person if it is clear it has been re-gifted!)
• Why do people feel they must give a present even if all they can get is a Chia pet bought at the local pharmacy?
• Why do people come to the Post Office at lunch time and then get annoyed when the line is long and huff and puff every few minutes?  Especially when they are the person in line who 1) doesn't have their forms filled out correctly, 2) didn't bring any tape to seal their box, and 3) showed up on the same day they got the notice their box was delivered and didn't read the notice that they have to wait until the next day to pick up their box.
• Why do family members feel the holidays are a good time to discharge all the feelings they have been holding in all year?
• Why do people have to put their Christmas tree out days before the tree pickup occurs so everyone has walk around their trees on the sidewalk?
• Why do Christmas tree lights stop working AFTER they are put on the tree and the tree is fully decorated?
• Why can't folks get back to what this holiday is about: family, friends and spending time together and NOT about getting the cheapest flat screen TV?
• Why can't my dog Lucky learn that everything under the tree is not there for her to chew on?

I will leave you with a video of my dog Happi opening a present.  Happi LOVES to open presents.  Anyone's present.

The Power of the Tiara Works Again!

Today is a good day!  The tiara worked!  That is always a good day.  I got up early to be at the health center at 8:15 am.  I changed into the lovely top they give you and then sat down to wait for my turn.  Finally they called me (it was probably only 5 minutes but I was so anxious that it felt like forever) and in I went.  Yes, I had the tiara on my head and everyone was commenting on it.  It helped to alleviate the stress.  I got the mammogram done and went back to waiting.  Once again it seemed like forever but it was probably only 10 minutes.  Then the tech called my name and I followed her out into the hallway.  Before we get barely down the hallway she turns to me and says everything is fine and she will see me in one year.  YEAH!  The Power of the Tiara worked again!

This evening Brenda and I went out to eat to celebrate.  I think it is important to mark most occasions with fattening food!  Speaking of which I am about to have a piece of vegan chocolate cake leftover from Christmas.  It is the best chocolate cake you will ever have!  Yum!  You would never know it was vegan.

Today I went out and bought myself a new slow cooker/Crockpot.  I had one that I got about 23 years ago.  It is a small (about 3 qt) pot and it made cooking rather difficult.  I went and bought myself a new 6 qt. slow cooker.  It will make slow cooking much easier.  Can't wait to make something fantastic!

Update on my foot: I think it is feeling better.  I don't think it is my imagination.  I give it a hesitant yay!

Mammogram tomorrow

First thing tomorrow morning is my 6 month check up mammogram.  Ever since I had a mammogram where they "found something" almost two years ago, I have to get check ups every six months.  It turned out to be benign masses but for a few days it was a scare I would not wish on anyone.  I had some great friends who took me out and helped me through those days.  I also have my tiara to ward off the evil spirits.  What?  You don't know about the power of the tiara?

When they told me that they had "found something", I was devastated.  My mother has had breast cancer twice so I feel I am destined to have breast cancer.  I was tested and don't have the BRCA1 (breast cancer 1, early onset) gene.  So when they found something during my mammogram, I was convinced it was my time.  My friends took me out and got me a tiara because nothing bad happens to someone wearing a tiara, right?  The doctor's very quickly had me in for a biopsy and sent the tests to the lab.  I got the results very quickly.  I didn't have any cancer and now get tested every six months.  The power of the tiara worked!  Now I wear the tiara to all my tests.  When I had my MRI last spring, the tech kept calling Princess Adrienne.

Tomorrow will be another test to get through.  I will wear my tiara and  Brenda and I are planning to celebrate the good results by going to PF Chang's for dinner.

Do any of you have good luck charms?  Or things that help you through the bad times?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  It has been quite a day.  Phone calls with family, eating with friends and presents with Brenda and babies.  I am sitting here, well, more like laying here on the couch.  Like a stuffed pig... Writing this before we watch A Christmas Carol. Not the George C. Scott version but the Jim Carrey Disney version.  I have been wanting to watch it since it came out but have never gotten around to it.  It is on Netflix streaming.

My art project arrived in one piece and now I am ready to share it with you.  Last December and this November my niece and nephew were born.  On the day they were born I went to the magazine store and bought the newspaper and some magazines.  I bought Time, TV Guide, People, Wired, Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, etc.  I bought these items so years from now my niece and nephew will be able to look back and see what was going on the week/day they were born.  I was given the Life magazine from the week I was born and I treasure it.  It is cool to look back and see the advertisements and articles from the week of my birth.

I made a treasure chest for my nephew, Greyson, and a suitcase for my niece, Reese.  I put the magazines in the cases.  


 Treasure Chest for Greyson

Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Inside Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Side Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Back treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

Side Treasure Chest for Greyson photo by adrienne

 Suit Case For Reese
 

Suit case for Reese photo by adrienne

Inside Suit case for Reese photo by adrienn

Suit case side for Reese photo by adrienne

Suit case back for Reese photo by adrienne

Suit case side for Reese photo by adrienne

I worked really hard on these projects.  They turned out great! 

I hope you all had a merry Christmas filled with joy and love.  I am off to watch A Christmas Carol.  Oh, we ended up playing Just Dance 3 for 1/2 hour.  Just what I needed to work off all the food I ate.  I feel less like a piggy...  You talk about a workout!  My goodness.  Once my foot heals that is my new workout.  They say dance is a great way to work off the pounds!  I will turn into a stick playing that Wii game.  Whew!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

I am not sure if my foot is feeling better or I am getting used to the pain.  I know I said this the other day but I am still not sure.  I have not been walking on it as much so that could also be why it is not hurting as much.  So how do I judge if it is getting better?  Once I start walking around again, will it start hurting again?  I guess we will have to wait and see.  Stay tuned for the continuing drama of The Pain In My Right Foot.

I was texted that the art project arrived and tomorrow it will be opened.  I will post photos as soon as the intended have viewed it.  I am so excited.  I hope it arrived in close to one piece!

Today is Christmas Eve and I have the best neighbor.  Every year on Christmas morning since we moved in there have been freshly baked breakfast goodies on our doorstep.  It is the nicest treat.  Even on the years when we were away, our house/dog sitter called to tell us that scones appeared on the stoop on Christmas morning.  This evening our neighbor brought them over early.  They are apricot scones!  Yum!  I am so excited.  I just think it is such a treat to get baked goods for the holidays.  We reciprocate with my semi-homemade cookies.  (I might add he said he loved them and gobbled them down in one afternoon!)

I gave Brenda our Christmas Eve present.  Our yearly Christmas ornament.  She loved it.  It is a sterling silver locket engraved with Merry Christmas 2011 and all of our names with our photos inside.  It will join the rest of the yearly ornaments on the tree.

Time for me to go to sleep so Santa and all the reindeer can come drop down our chimney for a visit.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

1 Day Until Christmas

Da-hoo Doray, Da-hoo Doray!

Just sitting here watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  The Jim Carrey version not the animated version.  I watched the animated version two nights ago.  "Maybe Christmas means a little bit more."  "Max, help me, I'm feeling!"  "The Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day."  So many great lines.  Jim Carrey overacting.

Of course the movie is all about commercialism and how Christmas is about being together as a family or community and not about the ribbons and bows and presents.  In our small family, Christmas is about getting together with friends and welcoming those who can't be with their families.  We try to buy locally and with some thought though the year and not in a horrible rush in the last few weeks.

I saw an article that talked about some pressing Whoville issues: Are the Who's of Whoville rude?  What if a Who in Whoville was a vegetarian?  What would they eat? What if a Who can't sing in tune?

Are the Who's rude?  The Who's made a lot of noise and bothered the Grinch.  They were noisy neighbors.  But did that give him the right to steal all their toys, trees, decorations, etc.?  No, I don't think so.  He should have gone to the town council or something.  If it only happens one day a year, he should just put up with it.  Come on, one day a year.  Suck it up!

What if a Who is a vegetarian?  Since the Who's eat roast beast, I have never heard them say they were serving roast tofu so I think any vegetarian Whos are out of luck during the big feast.  They may need to bring their own tofu to the feast.

What if a Who can't sing in tune?  I can't say I would notice since the words aren't even real words: Dahoo Doray.

What does Dahoo Doray mean anyway? I think it means "Welcome Christmas" in the made up Dr. Seuss language. Or it could mean "the Tree is on Fire", what would we know?

Just like the Who's and the Grinch, I hope your Christmas will mean just a little bit more this year!

2 Days Until Christmas

When One String of Lights Won't Light

Today was an okay day.  I am not sure if I am imagining it or getting used to it, but my foot may be hurting less.  I didn't walk as much today so that may be why it hurts less.  Let's wait until tomorrow and see what happens.

I finished making the cookies.  I probably made 5-6 dozen cookies.  Okay, I fess up.  I use the pre-made sugar cookie dough and I roll it out, cut out the shapes and decorate them.  I call them my semi-homemade cookies.  So far I have never had one person say, these taste like they are pre-made cookies.  It is tiring decorating them myself.  Red, green, red, green, it got a bit monotonous.  I mean how many red Santas can you decorate?  How many green Christmas trees?  I realize that I need new and different cut out shapes.  I was going to use some of my other shapes, like my chicken.  But then folks would ask me why I have a Christmas chicken.  Or my hippopotamus.  What does a hippo have to do with Christmas? you may ask.  Instead I stayed traditional this year.  Tree, Santa, gingerbread person, angel, snowman, candy cane and heart.  And lots of red and green!

Then I had a small catastrophe.  One half of one string of lights burned out.  I thought it was just one light bulb that blew.  NO! That would be too easy!  Almost all of the lights on that half of the sting blew.  At the same time.  This can't be good.  I replaced all the lights that were obviously blown but still the half of the string doesn't work.  It was a string that I tested prior to hanging on the tree.  It worked just fine.  I bought one of those light testers a few years ago but I can't remember how to use it and of course I don't have the directions.  I think I have another one in the box of Christmas things in the garage and I will look for it tomorrow.  Plan B is to string another string of lights on top of the non-working one.  Oh, well, these things happen.  If only it was not the string in the exact middle of the tree that is already decorated! 

Isn't this a metaphor for life and how things can go wrong no matter how much you plan?  I thought I pretty much had my life laid out in front of me.  I had time to do all sorts of things that I wanted to do. Travel, hike, ski, etc.  Then almost 20 years ago, BAM! out of the blue, RA hits me right between the eyes.  Well, actually hits my hands and my feet and hits me with such fatigue I could barely function.  Suddenly every thing was changed.  Did I have all that time?  Would I be able to do all those things?  I had to think of a different plan.  I could travel but in a different way.  Maybe I couldn't hike but I could walk.  Okay, I can't ski like I want to but I can go to ski resorts and be with everyone and still have a good time.  I had to rethink how I see my life and what part I play in it.

The Christmas lights may not work but I can choose to cry over it or fix the lights or string a new set.  I got RA and I can choose to cry over it or change my life to figure out a way to work with RA. I have chosen to change my life and work with RA.  And I am damn well going to fix or string a new set of lights!  Those lights will not beat me!

3 Days Until Christmas

Doin' Some Cookin'

Today I finally sent my last package!  I had been waiting for something that I had ordered to arrive so I could send it on to my family.  Completed!  Now I can focus on other things.

I decided to bake some cookies.  Just some sugar cut out cookies.  Something I can do while sitting down.  I finished about 2 dozen and then I stopped.  Any other time I would have pushed myself and kept going.  Today I just knew I had to stop and I would have time tomorrow to finish up.

I have had this sweet pumpkin for a few weeks and I have been wondering what I could do with it.  I found a recipe at my doctor's office yesterday for pumpkin risotto.  I decided to try it tonight.  Instead of using canned pumpkin puree, I used fresh pumpkin puree.  This also allowed me to try (for the second time) my Cuisinart food processor.  I got the food processor about 9 months ago and used it once.  It was a disaster and I have not touched it again.  Today I used it to puree the pumpkin after I cooked it.  The risotto is delicious!  I pureed the rest of the pumpkin and froze it so I can make the risotto another time.

I bought the ingredients to make more roasted root vegetables.  I have potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and beets.  I can't wait to make them. This is my first time using parsnips.  I want to use celery root but they didn't have any at the store.  I don't put in garlic since I can't eat it and I use fresh rosemary.  Just remember to wear rubber gloves when pealing the beets!  This is yummy!

Any special fall/winter recipes you love?  Please share! 

Foot Update

I went to see the doctor today and she is concerned about my foot.  She wants me to put some topical cream on it to see if it helps with the inflammation since I can't take ibuprofen. 

I went online to look at shoes.  Didn't find any that I am in love with.  I will keep looking.  If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Have you seen the Chia Pet commercials?  Spongebob, Obama and Chia Cat.  What will they think of next?

Busy As A Bee

This has been a very productive weekend.  Even though I still have a very painful foot and have to wear the ugly boot, I stuck it out and got some things completed.  You can see the beautiful boot to the right.  People keep asking what happened and I wish it was ski season so I could come up with some great story about coming down the slopes and wiping out.  It would be much more exciting than a Morton's Naroma.  People don't have to Google a ski accident!

This weekend I bought a Christmas tree.  I got a smaller tree than usual.  I decided that with this stupid foot thing, I needed to scale back on my decorating.  So, a smaller tree will make it easier.  My partner and I have gotten one ornament each year we have been together.  This year I decorated the tree with those ornaments and a few sparkly balls.  That is it.  I didn't drag out all those ornaments.  Then I took some silver garland and put it on the tree.  Put some lights and voila!

Then I worked on two art projects.  I finished The Project that I have been working on for weeks.  I will be mailing it tomorrow.  As soon as the person opens it I will post a photo.

The other art project I worked on is an ornament.  A few years ago I bought a sterling silver ornament that opens and holds photos.  I got the ornament engraved a few weeks ago.  Today I printed out the photos and put them in the ornament.  Santa will give it to my partner on Christmas Eve.

I am doing lots of things where I can sit down.  My foot is not feeling any better.  I thought by now I would be feeling better.  I really don't want surgery on my foot...

One good bit of news: the little dog, Lucky, is finally feeling better!  She is back on regular food.  Oh, yeah, we also had a little scare.  We were sitting watching TV and Happi began barking uncontrollably.  I went to see what she was barking at and Lucky was outside (not in the backyard!)  Lucky had sneaked out and was standing on the front stairs barking to be let in.  I was shocked because she has never been outside alone before and we always joked that if she ever got out she would take off and run away.  I guess she knows where she lives after all.  We were so happy that she didn't run away and we called Happi a hero for barking to get us to let her in.  Those dogs DO love each other!

7 Days Until Christmas

Are You A Procrastinator?

I find that I have an awful habit of putting things off.  I put off taking my medicine.  I put off going to the doctor.  I put off paying bills.  I put off doing work that I don't like.  I put off reading my book club books.  I put off so many things.  Some would call me a procrastinator, I like to call myself a person that prioritizes the important things and some of these things just aren't that important to me.  I usually get the book club book read before the meeting. Okay usually at the last minute but I get it done.

I am not always like this.  I go through phases.  For months I will be so on top of things.  I am organized and have a clean desk.  I try very hard not to put things off.  Or maybe I just put other things off.  Things that are less important.  Like refilling the refrigerator with soda. 

Then I don't know what happens but I lose interest and I start to put things off.  My desk gets messy, I don't keep ahead of the piles of paper.  My work makes a lot of paper work.  I have many piles of paper that can get very disorganized very quickly.

One thing that makes me put things off is when I get sick.  If I am ill for a week or two, I am thrown for a long time.   I can never seem to dig out of the pile of mail that collects, the pile of laundry, the pile of paperwork.  It is all I can do to keep it together day in and day out.  Just doing the little things like eating, taking my meds, working, and going to doctor's appointments are about all I can do.  The rest is so extraneous.  I focus on what I have to do and not on what I could do. 

Are you a procrastinator?  How do you handle procrastination?  Let me know your story.

10 days until Christmas

Work of Art

Today I was invited to a museum by a client.  It was their annual Holiday party and this year they held it at a museum.  First there was a luncheon where we each got to choose our own selection.  Then I got to play Santa by handing out their Secret Santa gifts.  Yes, I brought a gift for the office: some coffee, yummy Lil' Debbie snacks shaped like Christmas trees, and some assorted Christmas chocolates. Then a docent took us around the museum.  It was really interesting.  I have never had a docent take me around a museum before. 

I saw some interesting pieces of art.  There was this one piece from a guy who collected rocks and then cast some of them in sterling silver.  (see to the right)  I don't know his name but the installation was quite striking.  Then there was this ceramic pink lady carrying a monkey.  I got the pink lady part but could not figure out the monkey!  She looked like she should be carrying a Paris Hilton dog.

There was also what I call yard art.  One piece was a giant peace sign.  It looked amazing in the garden.  (see below)

I spent some time in the museum store and bought a little person in my life a book and my brother a birthday card. 

The only downer of the day was that my foot was killing me.  I kept sitting down and resting it.  I just wanted to stay sitting down!  I guess that is why they have wheelchairs. Tomorrow I will have to rest this foot after getting the last of the Christmas packages over to the post office. 

Speaking of the Post Office, I had such a hard time printing USPS.com labels today.  I spent more than 20 minutes trying to print a label from the website but no labels printed out.  I was frustrated beyond belief.  I tried Online Chat and guess what message I got after sending my message?  "Online chat is unavailable at this time."  What?!  I can't make the website work and online help doesn't work.  NICE!  I finally got one label to print.  Yippee!  It is funny how such a little accomplishment makes me celebrate and dance a jig!

When They Ask "How are you doing?"

I have an issue when people ask "How are you doing?"  I am never quite sure if they really mean it or if they are just casually asking how I am doing.  You know the casual "How is your day going?  How you doin'?"  Where you are required to answer "Fine."  or "Great".  The person doesn't really want to know or want you to go into a long drawn out story of how you are doing.  They just want you to respond in the socially acceptable answer: Fine. 

So, how do you know when to really answer?  I know I am really conservative (probably the only time in my life) when I answer.  I lean toward the "Fine" more than I should.  I find it easier and less painful than starting to really answer and have the person cut me off or be disinterested. 

I rarely answer directly unless the person is a really close friend or they really prod me.  Even with this cast on my foot, I find it difficult to answer with more than "I have a foot problem.  It is fine."  Today I was on the phone with a friend and the first time she asked how I was I said "fine."  Later in the conversation I told her about my foot problem and she googled it while we were on the phone.  She was sweet and expressed how sad she felt that I was in such pain.  But it was still hard for me to say anything.

Does anyone else have this problem?  Does anyone else have a hard time speaking about their medical issues?  Or do you find it easy?  What is your secret?  I would love to hear.

Planning For The Holidays

Today I had a painful day.  My foot doesn't seem to be getting better or less painful.  I thought the stupid air cast was supposed to make it feel better!  It is not!  It still feels like a sharp, hot knife is being plunged though the ball of my foot with each step.  I find this whole thing frustrating.  Wearing an air cast is annoying enough but then to have my foot hurt anyway, well, it doesn't make it worth it.  Especially during the holidays.

I was going to have a holiday gathering between Christmas and New Year's at my home but now I am rethinking the idea.  I can't imagine organizing a party with this stupid cast.  I have not even bought a tree or done any decorating.

Tomorrow is a new day.  Remember I have a project to finish!

Wrapped the Presents, Hung the Lights

Today was a productive day!  I finished my book for book club, hung the lights on the outside of the house, and wrapped some presents!  Now before you get concerned about me hanging lights, I hung them in a very easy way.  I wanted to hang lights under my windows so I opened my windows and hung the lights out the windows.  I used tacks to hang them.  No silly ladders or reaching up.  Just hanging out a window.  They look great.  Glittery snowflakes.

Oh, yeah, the cable guy came today and FINALLY fixed the cable!  We have a new cable line coming into the house and we can view Animal Planet!  yeah!  I had to put the book shelf back together.

Then tonight I wrapped the presents.  I want to get some of the presents in the mail tomorrow.  I am using USPS.com to get them ready to mail so all I have to do is drop them off at the post office. 

And of course, I finished my book club book.  I had to read more than 100 pages.  It was a good book.  The House on Salt Hay Road.

Then to top off the day, I Skyped with my family to celebrate my nephew's 1st birthday.  His cake was so cute.  I got to see my cute niece! 

I have to go give myself my Enbrel shot.  Have a nice night!

Rudolph and Christmas

I am sitting here watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  The other reindeer just called him names and told him he could not join in any reindeer games.  So sad.  Sweet little Clarice is so nice to him and then her bigoted father makes her walk away.

I am so glad I had most of my Christmas shopping done before this foot thing happened.  Really says something for planning ahead when you have RA.  I keep thinking I should be stressed but I am not.  I finished all my shopping for my family today. I had one Christmas gift and one birthday gift left to buy.  Finished it today.  I had the best sales person at JC Penney. She was so nice.  I was looking for something not too expensive but that looked nice.  She showed me something that was on sale and she gave me a coupon too!  I can't tell you what it was because some of my family members read this blog.  It made the shopping experience very pleasant.

I have also been working on an art project for some family members that may get sent on time for Christmas.  They weren't going to be for Christmas but if I get them done, I can send them.  When I finish them and send them I will show you a photo.  I don't want to ruin the surprise!  I have been painting and designing for some time.  I had to design the whole thing in my head first, then buy the supplies and paint them.  It has been fun!

I am thinking of baking cookies but I am not sure I have time or energy.  I figure it is something I can do sitting down.  I guess I should decorate first and buy a tree and decorate that too.  I keep thinking of all the standing that entails and I lose interest.

The Island of Misfit Toys!  My favorite place.  A Charlie in the Box, a spotted elephant. Tee hee.

Well, tomorrow the cable guy comes to fix our cable.  Another thing checked off the list of things to do!  Gonna finish watching Rudolph, Hermey, Cornelious, Clarice, and the Abominable Snowmonster.

Hope your Holiday preparations are stress-free!

What A Pain In The Foot

Okay, I have a boot, that is supposed to make me feel better. Well, it doesn't.  My foot hurts just as much as before.  The boot is a pain in the, well, foot.  I have to take it off to drive (I know, at least I can drive!)  and then put it back on to walk.  It is just very inconvenient.  Especially today when I had to run three errands. Put on boot, take off boot to drive, Put on boot to walk, take off boot to drive, put on boot to walk.... get the picture. 

On to more productive things!  I have to get better shoes.  I am not allowed to walk barefoot or in flip flops (never wore flip flops!) or flat slippers anymore. I used to have these really great slip on shoes that I loved. I can't remember the brand unfortunately.  If anyone has any great ideas of brands of shoes or slippers that have work well for them, I would like the help.  I need to get some new sneakers also.  The doctor told me my sneakers were bad.

Thanks for any help you send my way!

My Tootsie Been Diagnosed

Okay, I really don't feel well physically but emotionally I feel much better because I finally have a diagnosis on my foot!  At the crack of dawn this morning I went to see the BEST podiatrist and she figured out what was wrong with my foot. I have pain on the top of my foot by my toes and on the ball of my foot by my toes.  I got some x-rays and she poked around (almost made me cry!) to try and figure it all out.  She spent a long time explaining things to me.  I had no idea that folks with RA are more prone to these types of issues; I was destined to have these problems.  She used the old medical adage,  "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." What that means is that if you’re in an area where horses are more common, when you hear hoofbeats outside, it's much more likely to be the sound of horses, not zebras. The idea is that when a patient presents with symptoms that are consistent with a common disease, but are also consistent with a much less common disease, you work under the assumption that it is the more common disease until you can confirm it.  What she said about me is that I am a zebra.  I told her "welcome to my world."  I have always been a zebra since I was diagnosed.

I presented with either a stress fracture or Morton's Naroma.  I went for x-rays and I had no stress fracture.  I also saw that I have very little deterioration in my toe joints which is good.  That meant Morton's Naroma.  She gave me a shot of lidocaine and steroids.  It hurt a bit but not as much as I suspected it would.  Then we waited while we talked.  Then the pain got worse.  Tears were in my eyes.  She started poking around again and said that because the pain was also in the ball of my foot, I also have capsulitis.  That means wearing a boot for 4 weeks.  Yippee!  How did she know that was what I wanted for Christmas?  

If I add up how many weeks I have worn a boot this year, I think it comes to more than 20 weeks.  That would be 5 months, almost half the year.  At least it is not surgery which was my fear.  I didn't want to have surgery over the holidays, well, I didn't want surgery at all.  There is still a chance I could have surgery if it won't go away or if it keeps coming back.  But we will have happy thoughts that the boot will work! 

There you go, the latest diagnosis.  No more walking barefoot around the house.

Makin' Mistakes

Waiting until tomorrow and I go to the doctor's office.  I can't wait to get some relief.

I made a mistake today.  It was a big mistake.  I am not happy when I make mistakes, especially big mistakes.  I know we all make mistakes and it is natural to have a slip up every now and then.  It is just hard when other people don't see it that way.  Other people who think that every thing I do must be perfect.  Who is perfect?  Not me! I make mistakes, that's who I am.

Going to sleep to get ready for the podiatrist.  Yeah!

100 Posts and Cable Needs A Fixin'

This is my 100th post!  When I started this adventure I wasn't sure how far it would go.  It has gone pretty well so far. I enjoy the writing and I think you all enjoy the reading.   

Today is the day I go see the doctor about my foot.  Update to follow!

CABLE, need I say more?  We have had problems with our cable for a long time.  I mean years.  Some of our channels pixelate when the wind blows or it rains or the fog blows in.  It is annoying when you want to watch Animal Planet and it doesn't come in.  Or Bravo and it pixelates so much you hear about 1/3 of the words.  Over the past three months it has gotten worse and now when you try to watch Animal Planet it doesn't even pixelate, it just gives a message that says "call your cable company".  I finally got fed up and called the cable company and got someone to hear me.  I have tried to get the outside line replaced for years.  The guy that came last week changed the cable box and the outside line but the channels still didn't come in.  No Animal Planet.  The cable guy could not check one of the inside cable outlets because I had a bookshelf in the way.  He left me with a bunch of new cable wire and I promised to move the bookshelf over the weekend.  I moved the bookshelf and changed the wire, still no channels. 

I called the cable company and the cable guy came back out.  He checked the outlet behind the bookshelf and then changed the cable box yet again.  Still no channels.  Then he ran a cable line directly from the cable connection in the garage to the box and voila! Animal Planet appeared.  So it turns out the cable outlet behind the bookshelf is the problem so I need to have a new cable outlet put in.  It isn't the best solution but it is the fastest solution.  At least my annoyance with cable will be over.  For all the money I pay each month, I want to watch all the cable channels I pay for!   Now I am waiting for the guy to arrive and finally fix the problem.  Now when I am sick and lying in bed, I will be able to watch Animal Planet or HSN or any channel I want without being annoyed that the movie I want to watch will not come in.  Yeah! 

What is your favorite channel to watch?  Mine is probably USA.  I love Psych, loved Monk, really like a lot of their shows.  I am a character.

Dining Out

After writing, labeling, and stamping almost all the Christmas cards for this year, we decided to got out to dinner.  We had this restaurant.com coupon I got from last year's white elephant party.  I read about this restaurant online that had my kind of food (locally grown, organic, vegetarian/vegan options) and it took the coupon.  I also read some of the reviews and they were mixed. I was not expecting Tavern on the Green and we didn't get Tavern on the Green so I was not disappointed.

I called the restaurant in the afternoon and asked if I needed reservations.  The guy who answered the phone said it would be a good idea.  I said we were coming in early at 5:00pm (we were skipping lunch) and he said it would be better if we came at 5:30pm.  That should have been a sign.  A BIG NEON SIGN.

We arrived at 5:30 and no one was there.  The place was completely empty.  Now I understand that we were eating early but still...  We sat down and looked at the menu.  We ordered and the first thing Brenda wanted they didn't have tonight.  The first thing I wanted, they didn't have tonight.  The second thing Brenda wanted was bacon wrapped prawns with white beans.  They told her that they could not get those ready for her until 8pm.  WHAT?!  They tried to explain that the prep would not be done for 2.5 hours.  We were dumbfounded.  They could not prep four prawns and white beans in 15 minutes?  Give me a break. Brenda says out loud What kind of restaurant is this?  Then the manager/owner came out and told us they would make one serving of the prawns and white beans for her.  Thank you!

As it turns out, my food was really good.  I was happy with my second choice, quinoa and tofu.  The restaurant finally had some other customers show up so we were not the only people in the place.  I would not go back but the food ended up being okay in the end.  Brenda had a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake that was delicious but the rest of her food was so-so.  Final verdict: it was an experience but not one I would repeat.

Update on my eye: it is really much better.  Not perfect yet but much better.  Heading in the right direction.

Update on my foot: it is not much better.  It is not as painful because I rested it most of the day.  Tuesday is Dr. day.

Thanks for all your good wishes!

Getting Ready for Christmas

Now that Thanksgiving is over and I have eaten all the leftovers, it is time to get ready for Christmas.  Last year I was creative and made all our Christmas cards.  This year I went online and made a photo card with four photos.  Sent it to Walgreens and it was ready in an hour.  Today I printed the address labels and I am ready to go.  I just have to write the notes on the cards and off they go.

I am just about done with all my shopping.  A few years ago I bought an ornament and dropped it off to get engraved.  Each year we get an ornament with our names and the date.  This ornament will have photos also.

Gift giving has been a big discussion in our family this year.  Due to economic reasons and because folks are really busy, the gift giving talk has occurred.  Should everyone buy gifts for everyone or should adults buy just for the kids?  Should there be a grab bag gift giving situation?  Should there be a dollar limit?  We have a pretty big family so if you wait until the last minute, you will get stuck at Walgreens buying Christmas presents.  I suggested being creative with gift giving.  It is not about the amount of money spent on a gift, it has to do with the thought and the energy that went into the gift.  I would be happy with a drawing from my nephew or a bracelet from my niece rather than a sweater from Ross.  I would rather have a new turkey baster (ours died) than some do-dad that I don't need.

Anyway, tomorrow is Christmas card day.  That way I can sit with my foot elevated.  Good news: my eye feels much better today.

What does your family do about Christmas gift giving? 

My Eye, My Eye

World AIDS Day, December 1

Getting to Zero

I went to see an eye doctor today to see what was wrong with my eye.  I thought I had a blocked tear duct.  I was wrong.  I have a blocked oil duct.  I didn't even know eyes had oil ducts. I have inflamation under my eye where the oil is gathering and not releasing.  Doesn't this sound fabulous?  See below to explain:

Posterior blepharitis or rosacea-associated blepharitis

The most common type of blepharitis is often found in people with a Rosacea skin type.  The oil glands in the lid of rosacea sufferers secrete a modified oil which leads to inflammation at the meibomian gland openings which are found at the edge of the lid.

 

I went to the eye doctor after a few days of having a gritty and swollen eye. I had put hot compresses on my eye but it only made it hurt more.  The doctor tried to open the blockage.  You can only guess how one does that.  First he used this soft Q-tip type thing.  That didn't work.  They he took the Q off the Tip and used just the Tip.  Boy did that hurt.  Think: toothpick scraping against the inside of your eye lid.  Yup!  That is just what it felt like.  After doing that for about 5 minutes, he gave up. He was unable to open the blockage but he was able to make me tear!   Yeah! 

 

I left his office with my eye feeling worse than when I got there.  It did feel better during the rest of the day but now it hurts again.  Time for a hot compress. 

 

My foot still hurts and I can't see a doctor until next Tuesday.  I am trying to keep off my foot as much as possible.  Yeah, right, during the holiday season.  Just means more online shopping and movie watching!

It's Over - Play That Horn (#NHBPM Day 30)

Yippee!  It's Over! 

The 30 blogs in 30 days challenge was really hard for me.  Writing so many blogs was quite challenging.  Sure, I had a hard time keeping up with blogging each day but the harder part for me was coming up with so many things to say.  I don't think I am that much of an interesting person or have that much of an interesting life.  It helped that we were given topics to write about but some of the topics were just plain weird.  I mean really hard to write about.  Some nights it took more than one and one-half hours to write my piece because I had to think about it and write some, delete it and then write some more.  I would look at the topic the night before so I could think about it all day.

Some of the posts I just didn't do what the assignment suggested because I just couldn't do it.  "Title of my own book."  "The future of online activism."  "My Personal Brand."  "Elevator blog." Come on!  What would be the title of my book?  The Life of a Lady with 2 Crazy Dogs.  Luckily my niece was born in the middle of this task and that gave me other things to write about.   The easiest three blog assignments were "Three Truths and a Lie", "The Fear of Hitting Publish" and this one.  Today I am supposed to be writing three things I love about myself or that I am great at.  Okay, here goes:

1. I am really good at my job.  I have a stringent ethical line which makes me really good at being an HR consultant.
2. I have patience.  When we adopted Lucky anyone else would have given her back in a week.  I have enormous patience to deal with things when I know the other person/animal/etc. has no ability to control it.  I have less patience when the person/animal/etc. does stupid things.  Example: holding and talking on a cellphone while trying to park a car in a parking lot.  Just drives me crazy! There are so many examples of stupidity that I could fill a blog!
3. I can see the good side in things, the humor in things (okay maybe the sarcastic humor but still humor), and the the bright side in things.  I used to be more of a glass half empty person and then I got sick. Now I try very hard to be more of a glass is full kind of person.  Yes, my foot hurts but I have a foot.  Yes, my eye is swollen but I can still see out of it and it doesn't hurt as much as my foot!!  Ha ha!

There you go the last assignment is complete.  I don't know what this means for my blog.  I thought I would be able to keep this up without much effort and that didn't happen.  I think I will try to keep up writing every day but without the assignments and see if I can keep it up.  I find it easier when I just write from my head. Although I am not sure the posts are as interesting...

So tell me, was this exercise interesting for you as a reader?  Did you find the topics interesting?  Did you find out more about me? about anything?  Did you enjoy it at all?  What was your favorite blog topic in the last 30 days?  Should I continue with the same types of topics occasionally?  Let me hear from you.  I am interested in your feedback.  Thanks for your comments in the last 30 days.  They certainly kept me going.  Thanks!!

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Greeting card post! (#NHBPM Day 29)

I am having the weirdest things happening.  I have a severe pain in my right foot.  I had my dermatologist look at it and she thinks I injured a bone on the bottom of my foot.  It is incredibly painful with each step.  It has been going on for more than a week.  Then today my left eye is having some weird pain and is a bit swollen.  I know I have Sjogren's so maybe that is what is going on but it feels weird and it kinda hurts.  The question is Am I going to fall apart?  Just bit by bit, will my parts just fall off?  I am sure tomorrow things will feel better.

Today I am supposed to write a greeting card post! If I were going to write a greeting card for someone who is newly diagnosed, it would say on the front:

Arthritis is not just all aches and pains!

and inside it would say:

It's lots of pills, heating pads, funny gloves, sensible shoes and silly questions from loved ones.  

I am here for you when you need a friend!

Okay,  I will not be changing careers any time soon!  I think I will stick with my day job. Card writing is tough stuff.  I won't tell you how long it took me to come up with those three lines.

What would your card say? 


This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Say WHAT?! (#NHBPM Day 28)

I am still not feeling well.  I have a slight fever and don't feel like myself.  Let's hope it is nothing serious!  Gotta internet shop today, right?!  Ha ha  or is it Ho Ho Ho.

 I used to work for a person who thought she was very empathetic.  You know the type.  In her opinion she was very caring and giving but in reality, she wasn't.  In fact if she read this, she wouldn't think I was writing about her ("You probably think this song is about you, You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you Don't you? Don't you?" You were singing it, I know you were!)  When she hired me I told her that I had RA but I told her I didn't want anyone to know about it and I was not comfortable speaking about it at work.  I would need time off to visit doctors appointments but that she would never have to worry about me making up the time or ever slacking off because of my illness.  In my four years working for her, we never spoke about it at any length except when I was ill she asked if I was okay. 

Then all of a sudden one day, out of the blue she decided to have a conversation about RA. One thing I have not mentioned is that she was a nurse in a previous life.  Prior to becoming a president of a company, she was a nurse for many years.  She has some medical training and some would think, some compassion.

As we were talking she asked me questions about RA.  I look at all questions as a time to educate people who may not know anything about RA and it's effects.  Then I heard it.  The comment that made my eyes bug open:  I know you say you have RA but you don't look sick.  Aren't you lucky?  This coming from a supposed educated medical professional.  It just shows you that even medical professionals can be ignorant about RA.  Much of my pain is not evident from the outside.  I do not yet have crooked fingers or other telltale signs of RA.  Not to mention that many of the signs of RA are not always seen on the outside.  I explained to her that not everyone had crooked fingers and that everyone had different symptoms.  I also was put on medication early which should slow down the progression.

I have heard others say to me, you don't look sick, and it didn't bother me so much.  But that time, I guess I expected something else. 

What is your Say WHAT moment?  What did they say that made your head snap back or your eyes roll back?

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Supposed to be Quote Unquote (#NHBPM Day 27)

Today I am still not feeling well. In fact as soon as I write this I am going to bed.

Today I am supposed to be writing about Quote Unquote. I am supposed to grab a quote from this site (type in any word – see what comes up!) and use that quote to set your writing.  Yeah, that would be nice if I felt better and had that much initiative on day 27 of a 30 day blog challenge.  Okay, I am a bit burned out on the challenge today and I don't feel well.  So this is going to be my post.  It isn't cheery or exciting or hip or interesting.  It is just the truth.  Write more tomorrow!

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

I still remember… (#NHBPM Day 26)

I still remember when I could eat food without taking medication 30 minutes beforehand.  I know it has not been that long ago but it seems like forever.  I can remember when I could just eat food whenever I wanted.  No medicine.  No preparation.  No planning to take medicine 1/2 hour before eating.  I could just eat food, go to restaurants and order food, and eat lunch without waiting 30 minutes while I am starving.  I wish I could go back...

Today was an interesting day.  I still feel pretty crappy.  My feet and hands still hurt but I didn't let this deter me because today was the first sunny weekend day in weeks.  I was determined to finish the backyard.  I went out and cut down the rest of the vines and the backyard looks great!  Unfortunately while we were outside, the little dog tore apart the pillow on her bed.  I was shocked because normally she loves to be outside with me but today she wanted to be inside.  I was also shocked because she was given that pillow back months ago and has shown no interest in chewing on it.  Today she chewed the pillow open and pulled out the billowy insides.  She also ate some of it.  She came outside and vomited but I didn't see what she vomited and didn't know she had tore open the pillow at that time.  After I found the pillow, she vomited again and this time we saw the "stuffing".  I rushed her to the emergency room.  They did x-rays and she has some of the stuffing in her stomach and intestines.  This is concerning but they want to take a conservative approach and try giving her Metamucil and baby food for a few days and see if she passes it.  If not we will have to think about surgery.  So that is what I did with the second half of my day.  Second time in one week...

This dog is a gold mine!

What do you remember?

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J