ELECTRICITY DEBATE

This week my partner, Brenda, and I got into a heated debate about electricity.  Brenda is concerned about electricity leaking appliances.  That means appliances that are plugged in and turned off but are still running in the background.  Appliances like computers, coffeemakers and microwaves.  Even if they are off, they are still running because they have a clock or some sort of thing running in the background.  Here is a List of 30 Electricity Leaking Standby Appliances. 

I tried to tell her that not all appliances leak electricity.  Lamps, lights, old fashioned coffee makers, blenders, etc do not leak electricity.  They have an off switch.  The off switch is the same as unplugging the appliance. 

The professionals say we should use a power strip but I don't want to plug my TV or DVD player into a power strip and then turn the power strip off all the time.  I would have to reprogram the TV and DVD player over and over again.  I think that is silly.  I know it sucks power but who wants to reprogram their Wii all the time?  Who has that much time? 

Anyway, I guess until I can convince Brenda that lights don't leak electricity, we will continue this debate!

Until tomorrow...

I WANT TO POST SOMETHING BUT I CAN'T

Let's play MadLibs.  Since I can't say what I want to say,  I will put spaces where I can't put words.  I will give you numbers and you list nouns.  Then you put the numbered nouns where there are spaces.  Then read it out loud and see how funny it reads. 

Nouns:
1.____________
2.____________
3.____________
4.____________
5.____________
6.____________
7.____________
8.____________

Okay, I got a phone call from a 1._______ today to talk about 2.________.  I can't tell you what it is but it is killing me!  It was a hard phone call to get and harder to hear.  But I can't tell you.  I don't want to write anything that could get me into trouble.  The 3._______ was not very nice.  Almost made me cry.  But then I got angry, very angry!

I have to call a 4._______ so I can deal with the 5.________ and 6.___________.  Then I will be much calmer.  The 7._________ will take care of the 8.____________.

Until tomorrow...

RA APPOINTMENT

Today I went to see my RA doc.  She didn't do many of the usual things like take my blood pressure or test my hands.  Instead she just wanted to hear about the cruise.  She was upset to hear it didn't go well.  Shocked, really, that I couldn't find food for the first few days.  Then I told her about the fall.

She looked at my knee and read the emergency room papers.  She said, "they must have been frightened with this amount of antibiotics they gave you."  I guess they must have given me a mega dose of the IV antibiotics at the hospital. 

Then she looked at my knee and said it looked like I should get an MRI.  She is also concerned about the indentation in my lower leg.  She said all sorts of medical terms but I couldn't keep track. 

Only four more days until I see the doc.

Until tomorrow...

BUSY WEEKEND

Yesterday we went to the park to see our neighbor "flag" that is where you take, usually, tie-dyed fabric and wave it around while you dance. It is fun to watch.  It was fun to spend some time in the park. 

Then it was movie night and we watched "Salmon Fishing ion the Yemen", which was good.  We were laughing. It was different than I thought it would be. 

Today I went to a sort of street fair. I got some free treats for the dogs, bought my book club book and spoke to a guy in a bike store.  It was nice to get out and be outside.

Then I went food shopping.  I was tired then so I relaxed by watching more of The Game Of Thrones Season Two. I am catching up. Before I took a long hot bath. 

I think I over did it. My knees and hips are killing me.  I had the chance to borrow a bike at the street fair but I turned it down, I didn't think my first time riding a bike in 20 years should be at a street fair with little kids all over the place on scooters and dogs everywhere. Also, I was by myself and that didn't seem safe. I did feel like I was chickening out but with my record of getting hurt, it is probably better if I played it safe. 

Tonight I will just relax and go to bed.

Until tomorrow...

MOVIE NIGHT CHANGE UP

We were all set to watch The Call at movie night this month but the only person to show up had already seen it. So we picked another movie Salmon Fishing on the Yemen. It was really good! It was funny and had a great story.   

Today we went to a flagging event. It had such wonderful colors and patterns. I brought a picnic.

I am so tired. I am falling asleep typing.

Until tomorrow...

BICYCLE

I told Brenda about my idea of buying a bicycle and she got excited.  She thinks this is a great idea.  She wants to go shopping too.  This weekend we have a bunch of stuff planned. Let's see if we do any of it.

Until tomorrow...

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

I have a job where I get to meet a lot of people. Some of these people are not at their best. Recently I came in contact with someone in a domestic violence situation. It was hard to sit and listen to them explain their situation and tell me their fears. It was hard because years ago I was in a situation where I was not physically hit but mentally "hit". So I understand how difficult it is to untangle yourself from that situation. But how important it is to get out. 

I took a bit of time to talk with her about how strong she was and how she could do anything she wanted. I helped with resources and told her they would help. Restraining orders, therapy, legal assistance.  I told her when you are in it it seems too enormous but it only took one step for me. If I could get out she could do it too.  He didn't like it but that didn't matter. I found out I was stronger than I thought. 

I don't know what she will do but if she does get out it leads to one ending and I don't want to hear she was killed.  

Anyway I hope it helped in some small way.

Until tomorrow...

EATING AND MASTER CHEF

Today I called and made an appointment to see my doc next week.  I saw a story on ABC news about a stomach virus that has hit 6 states across America.  It is a cyclospora infection.  The reason I am worried about it is that starting on 6/30 when I got off the cruise I have had serious stomach issues.  I thought it was from the horrible antibiotics I was taking but I have been off them for weeks now and my stomach is still not settled down.  It is better but not great.  I also want to see an orthopedic surgeon about my knee.  We will see what he says.

After yesterday's grilling adventure, I had five ears of corn left and I had to cook them before they went bad.  So I opted to boil them.  I liked the grilling a lot (and so did Happi!) but I got home late and I didn't have the time to do the grilling thing.

I am watching one of my favorite cooking shows, Master Chef.  I fantasize that I could go on that show.  But then they have to make something crazy like eclairs and I know I would suck because I don't know how to make eclairs.  I am rooting for the vegetarian.  It is the first time they have a vegetarian on the show make it this far.  She is such a trouper.  I could never cook some of the things she has cooked. Oh, no, my girl just got voted off!  How sad.  I wanted a vegetarian to win.

But Master Chef makes me hungry.  I basically eat through the whole show.  All that food.  Especially if I am hungry, forget it!  In fact right now I am thinking about the soy ice cream in the fridge.  Yum!

Until tomorrow...

PHYSICAL THERAPY, GRILLING & BIKE RIDING

I went to physical therapy today and the PT looked at my knee.  She felt my knee and said I should definitely see a knee specialist.  It is possible that I injured my tibial tubercle.  The technical term for the bone below the knee cap.  That is where I landed when I fell and it feels different on the knee where I fell.

Last night I sent the letter to Celebrity Cruise letting them know officially that I was injured on the cruise.  I know you are thinking what took so long?  The first week, I was without the internet so I could not send it.  The second week I was just getting my life back on track and I had the doctor's appointment and the breast cancer biopsy.  I really could not think of anything else.  Last week I wrote the letter and this week I sent it with all the forms from the hospital emergency visits.

Tonight I decided to grill some stuff on the grill.  I grilled some corn, grape tomatoes on a stick, a yam cut into slices and some apricots.  The apricots didn't come out so good.  They stuck to the grill even though I put oil on the apricots and the grill.  I think peaches are better grilled.  I just love to grill.  I really need to read the vegan grilling book.

I have been thinking of riding a bike.  Knowing my history, how much trouble can I get into riding a bike?  I don't want a fancy bike.  Just a bike I can ride.  I am thinking of asking my friend and neighbor to help me get a bike and go riding with me.  She rides everywhere.  In fact she is going to be in a long ride  in the fall.  You know one of those rides from Seattle to San Francisco or New York to Boston.  I just want to ride down the street!  And back.

Until tomorrow...

ENBREL

I got my first call from my new Enbrel distributor today.  The Insurance-Company-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named felt it necessary to yet again change my distributor.  This will be my fourth distributor since I have been on Enbrel.  They seem really good and they were really helpful when I left for vacation by getting me my prescription a week early before I left the country.

This week I called a week in advance just like I used to with the old distributor and I got a really nice surprise.  I was told the Enbrel would be arriving tomorrow.  What?!  I don't have to wait a week to get my medicine?  Now I really like this distributor. 

Then they asked me a bunch of questions that were different from the previous distributor.  One of the questions was: Have you had an infection in the last month?  Well, yes I have!  I told her about my accident and infection and she questioned me about it.  Was it gone?  Was I sure?  How long did I take the antibiotics?  Did I get cleared by a doc?  I was kind of impressed.  Once she felt confident that I was cleared, she said she would send the medicine.  I like them more and more.

Until tomorrow...