Saturday, December 29, 2012

ZOKU HEAVEN

We made Zoku Popsicles tonight. It was really easy. Last night we put the Zoku in the freezer because it takes 24 hours for the machine to freeze. Then we put cranberry-cherry juice in the slots and let it freeze. The we put lemonade in the slots and let that freeze. Once it is all frozen, we used the tool to remove the ice pops. Since we don't have the Zoku storage holder yet, we wrapped them in Saran Wrap. We did eat one and it was good. We ended up making six pops since that was how many sticks we have. We are planning on buying the storage holder since that seems useful. Maybe for my birthday someone will buy me the accessory pack with the designs. I am sure if you have seen Zoku you have seen the pops with the lines and the faces. To do those tricks you need the accessory pack. I want to make sure I use it enough before I buy too much stuff.

My sister-in-law asked me what I thought about Zoku. Brenda and I had a lot of fun doing it. It is a lot of waiting time. When I do it again here's what I would do differently:

1) make sure the ingredients are chilled. The cranberry juice was room temp and that slowed the process because I was pouring something warm into something cold.
2) I would not stand and watch the pops freeze. It was tedious and boring. I would put a timer on and come back and check on the pops.
3) do some research and shopping. Although cranberry and lemonade was fun and tasty, there are so many fun things you can do with Zoku! My next try will be soy fudgesickles.

If you enjoy lots of Popsicles, I would say look into it. Brenda and I reminisced about our days when our mothers made the Popsicles with the Tupperware pop makers and Kool-aid. Those were the days!

Until tomorrow...

BREAST EXAM

I am waiting to get my favorite thing: my breast exam! My yearly deep mammogram. I am wearing my tiara. For those of you new to this blog, my friend gave my this tiara when I had a breast cancer scare a few years ago. I now wear it to all breast cancer appointments. I call it The Power of The Tiara. It words off all bad things. The women at the desk always ask how I would like to be addressed. I say Your Highness. A tech years ago addressed me as your highness through the entire appointment. It cracked me up.

There are a bunch of women here, including one who is reading The Hobbit. We had a lovely chat about the book vs. the movie. I am surprised the office is so busy considering it is a Saturday and New Years weekend. I guess others are in a hurry to get a mammogram before the end of the year.

The tech who did my mammogram was not too warm and fuzzy. I accidentally got my chin in one of the X-rays and she had a conniption. You would think she was paying for the X-rays herself. Probably my worse mammogram experience in my 17 years of mammograms.

I have to wait two weeks for the results so fingers crossed! I am always on edge until I get the results.

To help make the day better we went to the movies. We saw This Is Forty. I thought it was so funny. There were stupid moments but some really funny moments too. It was so much more funny than Pitch Perfect. I would have not thought that by the previews but I don't ever find vomit scenes to be funny especially when I am eating! This is Forty had one stand out and that was Melissa McCarthy. She was hysterical. Turns out she was also in a preview for a movie Identity Theft. It looks very funny.

Then we came home and watched Big Miracle, the movie about saving the whales in Alaska. It was such a moving movie. We have been on a movie kick recently. We watched Madeas Witness Protection, Ted, Cold Light of Day, and Arbitrage. Plus I watched almost the whole season of Weeds.

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, December 27, 2012

THANK YOU NOTES

I am very old school. I believe that if you are given a gift, you should thank the person with a note. A handwritten note. Not a text, not a tweet, not even an email (except in extreme situations). I believe a handwritten note shows that you took the time to appreciate the person and the gift.

I like to get the thank you notes completed as soon as possible after receiving the gift. Not that it is a task I want to get done as soon as possible but I want to complete the task while my excitement about the gift is still fresh in my mind. I enjoy writing how wonderful/useful the gift is.

I have a pet peeve about folks that don't say thank you at all. No note, no phone call, no email, no nothing. You never know if the present arrived at all. I guess that is why the USPS created delivery confirmation.

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

PUFFY KNEE

I woke up with a swollen knee today. ugh. I went to my final physical therapy appointment and I didn't do any of the exercises that would irritate it. I rode the bike for only 5 minutes. Then my hips started getting sore. We spoke about my ski trip in a few months. I am forbidden to ski or ice skate but she said I I can snow shoe and inner tube. I can also sit by a fire and sip hot soy cocoa. I went home and rested until my rheuma appointment.

My rheuma doc was shocked that my knee was swollen. I rarely ever get any visible swelling. In fact she could not remember the last time I had a joint that was visibly swollen. My joints get red a hot but not too much actual swelling. She is putting me back on Plaquinel and we are hoping to taper me off Prednisone once my knee is better. We will see how that works out. I have wanted to decrease the Prednisone for years. I would love to be able to lose the steroid weight!

I spent the rest of the day on the couch with my knee propped on a pillow. I was very tired and napped the day away. I guess I am flaring pretty bad today. Tomorrow is another day! May it be flare-free.

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Things that went wrong and right this holiday.

While making cookies, I dropped the "gems" not once but twice. The first time the gems went all over the table and some went on the floor. Luckily the dogs were in the other room. Then when I was cleaning up, the bottle of gems fell out of my hands and fell on the floor at the top of the stairs. About a quarter of the gems flew out and down the stairs. I was not a happy camper! Hundreds of the gems all of the floor again.

We made cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries. Now that I know how easy it is to make, I will never buy cranberry sauce from a can again. It tastes so good fresh.

We put the wrapped presents under the tree on Saturday and caught Happi trying to unwrap them. We had to watch her like a hawk. She just loves to unwrap presents!

I waited until the last minute to purchase our yearly ornament. I had to go to many stores to find a frame ornament to put our photo in. I finally found one out of pure luck at a Hallmark store. It is on our tree.

My parents came to visit and they were ill. Now Brenda isn't feeling well. Cross your fingers I don't get it.

I got a Zoku! It is a Popsicle maker. I am excited to make some Popsicles.

I bought a pond pump so I would not have to use a bucket to remove water out of the pond. It worked once and then the second time the hose kept slipping off. I need a clamp. I bought one but it was too big. I have to take it back.

The Little Dog has been a pill all day. She is a growly dog. Spent a big bit of the day in her cage.

Until tomorrow...



MY VERSION OF THE CHRISTMAS EVE POEM

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (or a rat).
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The 3 and 4 legged children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of pork chops danced in their heads.
And Brenda in her ‘kerchief, and I in my mouth guard,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the sidewalk there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the blinds and threw up the window.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, December 23, 2012

RAIN HAIKU

Rain, rain go away
Please go to another place
Want to see the sun

Christmas means snow white
Not these cold and rainy nights
Bring me the Heat Miser

My hips and joints ache
From all this walking around
Spreading Christmas cheer

In spite of the rain
Wish you a Merry Christmas
And Happy New Year!

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, December 22, 2012

MY PRECIOUS, MY PRECIOUS

We had a fun time with my parents. First when they arrived my dad fixed my door handles on my French doors. The handles have been loose for months. So I am grateful that the handles are now fixed.

Then we jetted off to the movies to see The Hobbit. Since it was nice we decided to take public transportation. It was a bit tough on my knees.

The movie was okay. First there were at least nine previews. All but one of the previews was about the world ending. It was horribly depressing! Oblivion, The Croods, Pacific Rim, After Earth, Escape from Planet Earth and more. I know the two of these movies are animated but each of these movies has something to do about the world as we know it ending.

Finally the movie began. I am not always a fan of the 3D movie. The glasses get on my nerves. I wear prescription glasses so the double glasses are a pain. They slide down throughout the movie.

The 3D was not overdone which I appreciate. But the movie was 3 hours long. The beginning was a bit slow. I will admit I dozed a bit in the first third of the movie. It picked up as the story went along. Overall, I liked the movie. I didn't feel ill like some of the reviews reported. Once I woke up I was entertained. Oh, I was not the only person in the group, I won't name names, who napped also! It was either a slow beginning or we were all tired.

I also had a bout of restless legs syndrome occur in the first one-third of the movie. That is always tough. I can't get comfortable and I feel like I am annoying everyone around me.

My final review is if you love Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, you will probably like the movie. It is part one of the trilogy of Hobbit movies.

After the movie we went to eat at a Mediterranean restaurant. The food was good. I love me some falafel.

Now I am resting my knee and hips. My knee is swollen. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow.

Until tomorrow..

Friday, December 21, 2012

FAMILY IN TOWN

It is raining and cold but my Dad and Step-mom are in town. We met and went to dinner. Tomorrow we are going to go see The Hobbit and have dinner. I better go to sleep or I will be napping through The Hobbit!

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

O' CHRISTMAS TREE

Today we bought our Christmas tree. We went all the way across town to get it.  There are closer Christmas tree places but they are more expensive and their service is less than stellar. The place we went to had a bunch of trees and they were patient when we changed our mind.  The guy cut the tree, wrapped it and then put it in the plastic bag. I have a convertible so we have to put the tree in the car. We drove it home and put it in the stand. After doing some work I put on the lights (this year I remembered to check them BEFORE putting them on the tree) and decorated it. I decided that this year would be a Disney year. I have a bunch of Disney decorations so I put them all on. But first I put all our decorations. Each year Brenda and I have been together we have gotten a decoration so we have twenty decorations on our tree. I also have some sparkly decorations to fill in the holes.

We have also had some Christmas presents arrive so It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I got Happi's test results back: Happi is healthy. Now we just have to see how she is tonight. We put her back on dog food. No more chicken and rice. She will miss that chicken!

I went to physical therapy. My ankle has been feeling much better. The exercise has been working. Riding the bike and walking the dogs. Who knew?

Until tomorrow...


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS

The presents for the family are all wrapped and sent. The Christmas cards are signed and mailed.  I started baking the Christmas cookies. All the shopping is done.

I guess it is time for Christmas to arrive!

Today I took Happi to the vet. He said Happi looks great. She didn't get sick last night so that is a good sign.  He took blood and such and I will get the results tomorrow. The vet thinks she has an intestinal virus. She is a gutter eater and she might have eaten something bad on a walk. As the doctor calls it a "burrito fritto".  It is hard to keep track of two dogs on a walk.

Some more good news: the hot tub may be ready next week! Yay!  I need a hot tub soak.

Until tomorrow...

Monday, December 17, 2012

HEAD IN A VICE

I have had cluster migraines for days. They are so unpleasant. Every day a migraine one or two times a day. So annoying. I just want to stick a spike through my forehead. Hopefully the cluster will end soon.

Poor Happi has been getting sick for the last few nights. We switched her to chicken/rice mix to see if she stops getting sick. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow. She is also refusing to go out back again. Last time we think she encountered a raccoon. She goes out the door, sniffs and runs back inside. Poor thing holds her pee all night.

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, December 16, 2012

HIPS

I went to an arts and crafts fair today. It required a lot of walking although it was a lot of fun. Then this evening I went to a Christmas party. There was limited seating and I stayed for 1.5 hours before I had to leave. My hips were killing me. I was also hungry, there was only carnivore food to eat. So I came home and heated up some food and sat down. About 10 minutes after eating, I was sound asleep.  I guess i pushed it too hard.

Until tomorrow...

Friday, December 14, 2012

NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT

Nothing to say.

Saddness.

Wanting to cry.

Thoughts going out to those in Newtown, CT.


Until tomorrow...

Thursday, December 13, 2012

DR. VISIT HEARTBURN

I went to the doctor today and he gave me a wake up call about my heartburn.  I didn't think heartburn could do anything long term.  Well, I was wrong.  Long term heartburn can cause esophageal cancer.  That sounds awful.  I certainly don't want that!

I guess I have to take that nasty Carafate.  Yuck.  

I am tired and still have to do my Enbrel shot.  I better get going. 

I already did 90% of my Christmas cards, so I am happy.  I might get them posted before the 15th!  yay!

Until tomorrow....

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

HMMM... HOW CAN I EVER DECORATE...

Did you ever think, Hummm, how can I ever decorate my house as well as my neighbors?  Okay it may be a litttle hard to see but some woman just could not compete with her extreme Christmas house decorator neighbor and decided to come up with a fantastic response: "Ditto".  If you look on the left side of the photo she hung (with her neighbor's help) a ditto sign.  I thought this was brilliant.  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!



Here is the whole article.

I have decoration envy.  I don't have the correct talent or tools to be an extreme Christmas house decorator. I can decorate the inside well enough but the outside I have to settle for lights up the bannister and outside the windows.  Nothing fancy.  I am not saying I want blow up Santa on my roof or Reindeer flying down the front of my house, but some nice icicles off the edge of my roof or a big wreath would be nice.  I just don't have a ladder long enough.  Every time I ask to borrow my neighbor's he wants to do the task for me (he is so nice) that I hesitate to ask him.  Last time I wanted to borrow his ladder to power wash my windows and he did the whole task for me!  Nice, I know.  I just feel guilty.  He has his own stuff to do. 

For now I will have to settle for my sparkly snowflakes and colored lights and mini Christmas tree.  Merry Christmas!

Update on USPS: The postman picked up the packages but I have to say, I don't know if it was the barking dogs (they were behind a locked door) or if he was just having a bad day but he had no Christmas cheer or even a smile!  He looked nothing like the smiley USPS man on TV!  

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

Tonight I wrapped almost all the Christmas gifts.  I wrapped all the gifts that needed to be shipped.  I got them all wrapped and in boxes/packages and ready to ship tonight.  Then I went on the USPS website and paid for the postage AND arranged for the USPS pick up.  Tomorrow it will all be shipped!  Yay!

If it all works out, I will be a happy girl.  I just have a few gifts left to buy online.  Then the gift buying for others will be over.  Then I can go to the mall and just walk around.  That is what I love to do during the Christmas season.  Walk around and see Santa and buy some chocolates and see the decorations.

Until tomorrow...

Monday, December 10, 2012

BOOK CLUB DINNER

Tonight was the book club potluck dinner at my house. It seems to have been a success. The food was good, the dogs behaved, my dish came out great.  I made roasted  Brussel sprouts with a mushroom sauce.

It was such a great time that no one wanted to leave! They were here for almost four hours.

I have to go to sleep!

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, December 9, 2012

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS

I spent the weekend decorating for Christmas.  I put the lights outside, sparkly snowflakes on the front of the house and colored lights going up the stairs.  I put a little Christmas tree (I used to put it in my office when I worked in an office) in our entry way.  Lights going across the fireplace.  I have more to do but I did what I could this weekend.

I had movie night on Saturday night.  Okay, it wasn't as successful as I wanted it to be.  I was told to find a funny movie.  Now, my opinion of funny movies is that everyone finds a different thing funny.  Brenda and I find very different things funny a lot of the time.  She loves the Three Stooges and I can't stand them.  It is like pulling out my fingernails to watch them.  I spoke to a few people and was given the recommendation "Rock of Ages".  It went over like a lead balloon.  The group is between 60 - 35.  The older folks didn't know most of the music and one of them hates Tom Cruise.  The younger folk had some chuckles.  The movie was not a hit with this crowd.  No more funny movies!  We agreed to meet up again in January.

My bookclub holiday potluck is tomorrow and I decorated.  I have not yet figured out what I am making.  I have to bring a vegetable.  I need to work that out in the next few hours.  I have to set the table and go get the flowers for the table.  Then make the veg dish.  I already bought the wine and drinks.  I also need to get some appetizer type thing.  My day is already planned out!

I will give you an update on the dinner.  I am just happy I am staying healthy through this time of the year.  I got a flu shot last week so I feel like I have the shield around me.  Like a superhero! 

Any ideas for a veg/grain side dish, let me know!

I have 5 endorsements!  Don't forget to  nominate me for 2012 WEGO Health Activist Unsung Hero Award!  I need those endorsements!!!

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, December 8, 2012

CHRISTMAS CARDS

I love to send out Christmas cards. I love to get Christmas cards.  I love everything about Christmas. I have been wearing Christmas clothing since the day after Thanksgiving.  Enough said.  I enjoy the Christmas season.

As I said I like sending out Christmas cards.  I know it is hard on my hands but I try really hard to make it as easy as possible.  I have mailing labels that I update year to year.  I have return address labels that I print out.  I make one sentiment and use it for almost all of the cards so I don't have to think too much.  I just take my time and write the same thing over and over. 

Occasionally I get creative and do something big like a few years ago when I made homemade cards.  I invited my friend Ana over to help me.  She has down syndrome and she was really excited to help me make cards.  I even made stickers with a photo of she and I on it to put on the back of the cards saying made by...  We glued a photo and  put glitter around it and stuck labels. It was an all day project.  Ana did the glittering and she had that glitter everywhere!  But boy did we have fun.  We had the music going and we danced.  The people getting the glitter cards were less than delighted when the glitter went all over their house.  Hey it is the holidays.  Glitter is a must!

This year I have a new strategy.  See, every year we have cards left over.  Well, you can't send the same card the next year, can you?  We don't.  We go out and buy new cards.  Since I am a crazy tree hugger, I have to find 100% recycled paper or some sort of non-tree paper cards to send and that takes time and money.    This year I came up with a wonderful plan: we are going to send out all those cards left over from previous years!  I wrote a little note to put in the card telling everyone about our marvelous plan to be economical, environmental and entertaining by sending them cards from previous years.  Some folks will get photo cards of the family from a few years ago. Some will get a humorous card we sent out five years ago when we first moved.  It should be funny.  We will see if anyone remembers the cards from previous years. 

Anyway, the cost from Christmas cards this year - 0.  Except the stamps and my time to print out the notes.  Well worth the time to clear out the boxes of old cards.  At any rate I am having fun!

Don't forget to  nominate me for 2012 WEGO Health Activist Unsung Hero Award!  I need those nominations!!!

Until tomorrow....

Friday, December 7, 2012

PASSWORD CONUNDRUM

Don't you hate it when a website refuses your password?  Because I know I put the correct password in.  I know the password was phonecall.  I know it was.  But for some reason the website will not recognize this password. 

So I have to press the "reset" button.  I HATE the reset button.  Why?  you ask.  Because some websites send you the new temporary password right away, boom there it is in your inbox.  And on you go with your task.  But others don't.  It is a crap shoot and here I am waiting to buy something or do something and now I have to wait.  For who knows how long.  The steam is going out of my energy in performing the thing I was going to do.  Today I was going to buy office supplies.  I made the list, checked it twice, and sat down to log in.  No luck.  Either your user name or password is incorrect.  Huh?!  I know what they are.  I enter it in three times, no luck.  I have to hit the reset button, ergh...

It just arrived.  I timed it.  It took 12 minutes for the temporary password to arrive.  Twelve minutes!  Usually by now I have moved onto another project because, frankly, who has 12 minutes to wait for a temporary password to arrive?  I sure don't.  I had allotted 12 minutes for this entire task. 

What in the world takes 12 minutes for an automated system to send me a temporary password?  They already know it is me and my user name and email match up.  It should take 30 seconds to 1 minute to send a temporary password.  It can't be that they are suddenly inundated with users that need temporary passwords.  All of a sudden thousands of users forgot their password and need temporary passwords... 

I don't know what takes so long but if I were in their marketing department, I would take a long look as to why.  I know that if I was any busier, and didn't have this blog post to write, I would have moved on and would not have bought my office supplies today.  It would have been their loss.  I think I missed my calling to work in Marketing.  I could just go around and tell companies what their problems are and how to fix them in order to increase their business.  A Fixer!

Okay, well, I got my temporary password, time to get back to business and purchase those office supplies and keep America's economy rolling right along!

Don't forget to endorse me for Health Activist Unsung Hero!

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, December 6, 2012

VISIT TO THE NUTRITIONIST

Today I went to the nutritionist and faced the music.  I didn't lose any weight.  I was supposed to lose at least 5 pounds.  I lost not one single pound.  Not one.

Why you ask?  My excuses are 1) my ankle, 2) the weather, and 3) Brenda's surgery.  I know these are not good excuses. 

So this time we didn't set a goal.  We spoke about how to have snacks that are nutritionist and that I can keep in my bag.  I have a problem because I get hungry sometimes when I am at a clients and I have nothing to eat.  I need something to keep in my bag that won't spoil and that is nutritious.  His suggestion is SoyJoy bars. I am going to try them.

Don't forget to nominate me for 2012 WEGO Health Activist Unsung Hero Award!  I need those nominations!!!

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

NEIGHBORHOOD HOLIDAY PARTY

 Today was our neighborhood holiday party potluck.  As you may remember I am co-captain of our neighborhood watch.  The other co-captain hosted the party (he has the bigger house.) 

I decided to make Modern Cheese Balls.  That is what the recipe is called.  They are basically goat cheese rolled into balls and then rolled in various things.  The four things are chopped up wasabi peas, granola, ginger snaps and Parmesan cheese & fennel seeds. 


They were a hit.  Well, once people knew what they were they were a hit.  I should have made a sign.  I had to explain what they were to each person.  Once they tried the goat cheese balls, they loved them.  The wasabi ones were gone first.  Then the granola, then the Parmesan cheese.  This was a good thing to bring to a party for gluten free people.  I am not sure about the ginger snaps and the granola but the Parmesan and wasabi balls are gluten free. This was a really easy recipe to make, it was just a little bit time consuming.

The best thing at the party was a vegan, gluten free chocolate cake.  It was SO good, you would have never known it was vegan.  YUM!

I also got some positive comments on the Santa plate.  It is a cute plate that I think was my grandmothers. 

The party was a lot of fun.  I always have a good time with my neighbors.  We have a good group of people in our 'hood.  I also think I may have recruited a new book club member.  It is a new person in the neighborhood.  She seems real nice and she is interested in books. 

Don't forget to nominate me for 2012 WEGO Health Activist Unsung Hero Award!

Until tomorrow...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

FEELING BETTER TODAY

I don't know what happened but I feel better today.  I drank some tea.  Went to bed early last night.   Today I feel better.   Today I took it easy and drank tea and soup.

It makes me wonder how that happens.  How is it I can feel like total crap at 8 pm on Monday and 8 pm on Tuesday I feel just fine.  I know with my RA that happens all the time.  I feel like I was run over by a truck one day and 12 hours later I feel just fine.  Also the reverse happens where I feel on top of the world one day and 12 hours later I feel like I was run over by a bus.

But how is it possible that I can have a sore throat and feel like I have a fever one day and the next morning I feel fine. Just like any other morning.  Sore throat gone, no fever.  I thought colds lasted for days.  Let's see how I feel tomorrow.

Don't forget to nominate me for 2012 WEGO Health Activist Unsung Hero Award!

Until tomorrow...

Monday, December 3, 2012

COMING DOWN WITH SOMETHING

Today I felt it. That tingle in my throat. Oh, no, is it a sore throat? Maybe. Aches in my neck, back, arms. Stiffness in my joints. Could it be anything else?  Even my scalp hurts.

I got into bed with some tea. I hope I will feel better tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD

I got a very surprising email this weekend.  I have been nominated for a 2012 WEGO Health Activist Unsung Hero Award.  The Unsung Hero Award is "The member of your community who may not know how amazing and valuable they are."  ME, Amazing?! Really?  I need people to endorse me to get the award.  If you wish to endorse me, click on the WEGO Health badge, enter your email and click Endorse Me
 

This is so exciting!  First Happi gets first place in the dog show and now I get nominated for a Health Award!  Whoever nominated me, thank you.  You really made my day.  I had to insert this award badge into my blog, so I learned something new too!  Today has been a wonderful day.

So much makes today a great day.  The rain came and went and nothing floated away, drowned, came crashing down and we didn't lose electricity.  I fixed my table top all by myself.  Okay, my brother did an over the phone consult and the guy at the hardward store bore out the holes but besides that I did it all myself.  We had a table top made years ago that fits over our current dining room table.  When I bought the table second hand the person lost the leaf.  I hired a guy to make a table top that seats 6-8 people.  It is very nice but when we moved one of the pieces that holds the table top on the table fell off, okay got ripped off.  I thought I would have to have a professional person put it back on.  But I consulted with my bro and he said he thought I could do it.  Today I sanded, filled the holes, sanded again, glued, and drilled.  All fixed.

I also cleared out more stuff from my office (it is never ending, it feels like) and went food shopping.  The store looked like everyone thought a hurricane was coming.  Store shelves were empty.  It was a storm for goodness sake.  

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, December 1, 2012

NEW FRIEND

Today I met in person a business associate I have been talking to on the phone for a few years. I will call her H. H and I have been "phone friends" for some time. She is associated with one of my clients so I talk to her quite often. We have talked many times about getting together but this and that has always gotten in the way. But today was the day!

We met at a mutually located restaurant. She lives about 2 hours away so we found a favorite restaurant at a mid-point.  I sent her a photo ahead of time so at least one of us would know what the other looked like.  As soon as I heard her talk I knew it was her.  She has a very distinct accent.

We had the best time!  We talked about work, family, the holidays. I brought some photos to show her. We had great food; which always makes it a good time!  Then 2.5 - 3 hours later we said good-bye with a promise to meet up again soon.

Isn't it interesting how some work associates make the jump to friends and others don't?  I work in a sensitive area in my work so I am not always afforded the luxury of having work associates become friends. I have to be very careful who I associate with outside work hours.  H is removed enough from my clients that there is no conflict in my friendship.

But back to my question, who makes the leap from work associate to friend?  Some work friends are friends as long as you work at that location but as soon as you leave, the friendship doesn't survive.  I have two friendships that survived my last job and no friendships that survived the previous job.  The two friendships have survived for many years and both people left the job prior to me leaving.  At first we would talk about what was going on at the company since they left but once I left we had to find other topics to talk about. Those two relationships survived the transformation.

I hope this friendship continues. H was very nice and quite fun. We had a lot in common.

Until tomorrow...

POOP IN THE HOUSE

No, not my poop! It is the little dog Lucky's poop. It has always been tough to housebreak Lucky. Don't get me wrong Lucky loves to go out side. She just doesn't always like to "go" outside when it is raining. Both our dogs have an aversion to the rain. I know most dogs don't like the rain but our dogs will hold their pee for 12 hours just so they don't have to go out in the rain.

Lucky has a special kind of dislike of the rain. She will stand by the door shivering with her big eyes begging to be let in. I will force her to go down the deck stairs and she keeps running back up. Then as soon as she gets inside she will skulk off and poop in my office or in the kitchen. Real sneaky-like. The kind of walking dogs and cats learn to do where their license doesn't jingle on their collar. You don't even hear them coming. We call it creeping or skulking. Lucky has mastered it. That is why I have to keep her tied up at night. If I don't she will creep off and poop somewhere and get into trouble.

Anyway with all this rain, Lucky has been in punishment three times today. She just won't poop outside when it is raining. Our pets we love them. This rain is not stopping any time soon so Lucky better get used to it.

Until tomorrow...