Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Stayed Home... mostly

This morning I drove just down the road, maybe a kilometer, to visit with a man who raises large numbers of birds. From what he told me, he used to raise Budgies & Cockatiels, now he just raises the 'tiels and is even getting out of them. He's 60 and has back problems so it's time to retire. Anyway, what I went there for was to see how he makes shipping crates. I want to sell my 4 Peach-faced Lovebirds and advertised them on the internet. A gal in Kitimat BC wants them so I'll have to ship them by plane. Now that I've seen his, I will be able to make one very easily, just need some 1x6 board and some 1/4" plywood. My little saw will be perfect for the job.

Other than that short trip, I spent the day at home. While here I did actually manage to do a bit of cleaning (don't worry, didn't do enough to hurt myself, lol), spent some time with birds, did some computer work for the Centre (made up a Birthday List for all members of the Centre, and did the program for Sunday, now tomorrow just have to go to town to print off the programs so Lorraine can assemble them). I also played too many computer games and wasted time I could have spent more wisely elsewhere.... sigh.

Dan came by to visit for a short while on his way home from work. I don't see much of him anymore now that he's working full time, and on afternoon shift at least until Christmas. Oh... speaking of Christmas, there are only 4 more months until the big day! Time sure is flying!!

So now, with all that done, I am off to dreamland. Hope your day was good.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Today...

Thanks for the nice comments on my last post. I am healing very nicely now. I stopped putting a band-aid on the incision and for the last 2 days have left it open to the air. It seems to be doing well. I don't expect anything but good news from the Pathology report. It was a 'fatty cyst' that was removed and it was just sent in as a precaution, not because the Dr. thought there was a problem. I've had the lump for a long time now and if I had thought it was 'bad' I would have gone in ages ago. It stayed the same size all that time. I only got it removed because it was pressing on a nerve head so hurt a lot often, like every time it was touched. Got tired of going through the roof from the sudden shock of the sharp pain, lol. All is good, I'm sure.

Today I went to town for my Mast Mind meeting. Two gals from the group were away today so it was just Lynn & I there. Even with just the 2 of us it was awesome!! A very powerful meeting. It's based on "Wherever two or more are gathered, there I am"... a Spiritual Support group where we talk about what is happening in our lives, what we want to change, affirm & support each other in the changes/growth they want to make, and do prayers together. WOW!! It is powerful every time.

Next I ran an errand then went to the Dog Park with Reba. It was great to be able to take her along today. Where it's too hot or raining I don't take her so love it when it is a warm but not too hot, sunny day. I left early & quickly when escaping from an uncomfortable situation. If someone wants to talk to me about Spirit I am all for it... IF they want to listen to my beliefs as well as sharing theirs. What I greatly dislike is when someone wants to preach to me and try to convert me to their way of believing giving no consideration to me or my beliefs, just all about theirs. Cut me off when I try to talk, tell my mine is wrong and theirs is right, telling me that I don't believe in this or that or else I'd believe like he does. I just get angry and that is not where I want to be. I have to work on that some more. I want to find a way to shut this man up without being rude or angry, not that being rude or angry shuts him up mind you. It seems that nothing does. I'm going to have to pay more attention to who's walking down the paths so I can run away if I see him I guess.... NOT. There 'must' be a better way.

I then drove home and had some coleslaw, pumpernickel bread & cheddar cheese for dinner. I was supposed to go out to a Mona Via (or something like that) tasting and ended up staying home. Back and neck stiffened up and didn't feel good. It was nice that I stayed home as my friend Tuggy phoned. He's been trying to catch me at home for awhile now I guess and not being very successful, lol. I am not one that stays home a lot, especially in the summer with its long days that I love so much. Now days are starting to get noticeably shorter :o( and I still won't be home a lot, heehee.

Well, off to feed critters now and head to bed. Have a wonderful week.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Minor Surgery

For some time now, over a year probably, I've had a small lump in my low back. It was not painful unless it was touched. If my low back hurts I tend to put a hand there for support, or to rub a bit attempting to relax muscles... if I touched the lump, as I often did, I'd jump out of my skin from the sudden sharp shot of pain. Sometimes, when I sat down I would hit this nasty little lump on the back of the seat and go through the roof... or a friend might rest a hand on my low back and OUCH. I decided I'd had enough of it and had it removed on Monday. I hadn't expected it to be a big deal and I got a big surprise. I went to the hospital as an out patient and while laying on my stomach was given a shot to freeze the area. Man, that HURT!! Then I started to feel a bit light headed and as the surgeon dug around inside my back I got increasingly light headed, dizzy, and somewhat nauseous. At some point I actually fainted. When I came to the surgeon was asking if I had taken the day off work and at first I couldn't even answer. I tried to think and to speak though all that came out was unintelligible mumbling, it took some real effort to form a thought then words to tell him I'm not employed. I don't know if he knew I'd been out or not. He left and the male nurse came in to put Steri-strips on the incision to hold it closed, and a little bandage. I was still very light headed and nauseous but had to get out of that room to make way for the next patient, so went and sat in the waiting room for a short time, though it was busy and noisy so I went out to my truck in the parking lot and sat in there, napping for awhile. When I felt safe to do so I drove to the Centre to meet with some friends, then left early to come home to bed as I started to feel sick again.

That evening I put my hand back there and found my pants were wet with blood. I had bled through the bandage, so I put a face cloth onto the spot and hold it in place with a tensor bandage. I planned to go to town to the walk-in clinic on Tuesday though ended up staying home and going in there on Wednesday. The bandage and Steri-strips came off completely Tuesday evening, so I did the best I could looking in the mirror and reaching back behind me, putting on new Steri-stips. As a former first aid attendant I was not happy with the job, though I knew it was better than nothing. On Wednesday, I went to the walk-in clinic to have it properly rebandaged. The Dr. there was not at all happy with the surgeon not sewing it shut. Where it is, every time I move it puts pressure there and pulls the incision open, so it was even still bleeding at times by Wednesday. The Dr. glued it shut as it's too late by then to stitch it, and he put a new band-aid on it, telling me I could shower after 24 hours, but no bathing. Since then, it has been improving and today is even starting to itch a wee bit, a sure sign it's healing. It's hard to put a band-aid back there though I have managed it more or less. I've been taking it fairly easy this week as I've wanted to give it time to heal. When I sit or bend down to feed/water the dog, or pick something up, or even when I sleep (on my side with knees pulled up a bit) that area gets stretched and pulls on the incision, so I want it healed as soon as possible.

Oh ya, the 'little lump' that I'd have said was the size of a pea.... it was a lot bigger than I thought, what I felt with my fingers was just the tip of the ice burg. It was put into a little bottle of fluid to be sent to the pathology lab for testing. Oh, and I have a bladder infection so am on meds for that this week too. Haven't had one of these in many years. Go figure. Now I joyously accept a return to good health, grateful that this has only been a minor little blip in life.

Thoughts & Catching Up - 3

When I got home, Monday August 10th it was a big job to pull everything together for the Pasta Productions I had committed to putting on... on Saturday the 15th. As I didn't have enough volunteers (only had 1 in fact) I knew I'd have to do all the work myself. I decided to buy pasta sauce in jars and just fry up some onions & peppers to add to the sauce, and some ground beef to some of the sauce (have to have meat and vegetarian), then Linda was bringing Alfredo sauce, homemade, as well as helping cook the pasta & make the salad, etc. in the kitchen at the Centre. I also would set up tables & chairs, dress the tables, etc etc etc, then clean up later & set up for Sunday Service the next morning. Talking to a friend, George, he asked how I planned to do the sauce & I told him. He suggested I let him come do the cooking, LOL. I accepted. Dinner was late getting onto the table, but it was delicious!! A fabulous meal. I would prefer things to run on time, and I am grateful when they run... period. The concert was awesome!! Master guitarist Chris Madsen opened for the guest of honor, Anthony Burbidge. If you'd like to hear some of Anthony's music, you can do so on his web site. The next day, he performed a song at Sunday Service as well, and I bought a copy of his newest CD which he autographed for me "Alice - Queen of Pasta, Goddess of Love. Thank you. Anthony" Also on Sunday Patric Creelman performed 2 songs. He's been a regular at our Centre all summer as he's been up from New York City visiting his parents here. WOW can that man SING!! He even got a standing ovation, which he deserved. He's promised me he'll do a Pasta Productions for me when he's up here again so I look forward to that and will build a special production around him.

In the meantime, I have already got plans under way for the next Pasta Productions. It will be October 16th, to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Centre in our city. I have a lady, Dawn, who asked a few weeks ago if she can do a reading of something she's written at an upcoming production... and my friend Cheif White Buffalo Man Many Feathers wants to do some of his traditional native singing & dancing, all painted up and in full regalia. That should be very interesting. Not sure who else will be performing yet, but I do know it will be fabulous... and as always I will be the MC for the evening. I also know I will have enough voluteers for this next one, they'll come as I need them so long as I trust and don't doubt. As much as I loved having George do the cooking and it was fabulous!!, I don't want to use him for the next one. I am honest and have told him that I am not ready to settle down into a committed relationship, just be friends and date and he seems cool with that for which I am grateful. When he's there I feel I have to be somewhat attentive to him and I know with Cheif there I won't want to be attentive to anyone but the Cheif. We don't see each other all that often and when we do it's special time. I've always felt a strong connection with him, even back when I knew him as Dean. He's a native spiritual man, a shaman, and he's told me that I was his wife in a past life. I believe him as my heart tells me it's the truth.

Thoughts & Catching Up - 2

So, what are some of the things I've been doing with my time? If you read my blog often you know I went to Omak WA for the Stampede & Suicide Race on the second weekend of August. I drove down there Friday Aug. 7th, (my nephew Denny's 43rd birthday... or is that my brother-in-law Randy's birthday? Always get those 2 mixed up, one is the 7th, the other the 10th... but I digress.) I got to the stampede grounds about supper time & found Mike at the motor home, waiting for me. I knew exactly where he would be parked as it's the same place we've parked every year for the last 5 years, lol. Usually I drive to Mike's, about 15 - 20 minutes north of the border, leave my truck there & go in the motor home. This year he went down a day early so I drove my truck right to Omak. I really enjoyed that, actually. This night, Mike cooked dinner for us rather than going to a restaurant as we so often do, then we walked over to 'vendor row' as I call it, to have a look around and to let Jerry know I had arrived. Mike had already told Jerry I was coming down. It was really cool to see how happy Jerry was to see me when I got there. He is a friend that runs a lemonade & kettle corn stand at various functions, including the stampede. I usually leave Omak on Sunday morning, right after the parade, though this time I saw Mike off then went to say good-bye to Jerry & some other friends I've met through him, Robin & Marnie. Well, I got talked into staying an extra day... ya, okay, my rubber arm got twisted, lol. It was a wonderful trip & I still think of it often. I am already looking forward to going again next year... and to think I almost didn't go this year, sheeesh! I had some US money left from my earlier trip to the US, so had spending money, though gas money was an issue. At the last minute Mom gave me $60 for painting her railing for her, so I went. As I'd been driving up there, I had told the Universe that if I 'found' $50-60 for gas I'd go to Omak. I took it as a sign, and I went. I will make sure to save some up this year so there will be no doubt come next summer, and I will drive my truck all the way to Omak on Thursday where I will spend then entire weekend in Jerry's motor home. Mike said he doesn't think he'll bother going next year, and I'd already decided I won't be going on any more trips with him. He is just getting harder & harder to get along with, always so negative and getting nasty. It's just not worth the stress, especially when I could be somewhere I'm happy, with someone who I enjoy spending time with. I might even work in the booth next year and make some $$ if I'm going to be hanging out there anyway.

I took loads of photos, including some of Jerry and of Robin & Marnie. Then when I was downloading them from camera to computer I somehow messed up and deleted most of what was on the camera. I was very upset for awhile, though life goes on and so do I.

Thoughts & Catching Up

In past years I often felt like my life was being lived on a roller coaster... the awesome highs and the nasty lows. I envied my sister who seemed to be living on a merry-go-round. Then someone pointed out to me that I would be so bored living on a merry-go-round. They were right, I do tend to like the adventure in life. Now days my life does not have the extremes of the roller coaster... mostly I choose to have the happy times and find I rarely ever have those deep deep down times. I am grateful!! Some days I think I'd have to describe my life as being lived on a treadmill. It seems there is always something happening, some place I'm off and running to. Always busy! And now I see that this is due to the fact that it is what I have created for myself... just as I created the ups and downs of the roller coaster and now choose to create only ups and happy times. What we think and what we say create our lives so from now on I choose to know that there is always enough time, that I am only as busy as I want to be.

This post was getting pretty long so I decided to split it up into smaller ones to make it easier for my visitors to read. I tend to sometimes not read other people's posts when they are too long, so will post this then paste what I cut off into another... and another... well, you'll see.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Stuff....

Out of 14 comments to moderate, 12 of them were spam!!! Yup, 10 from Anonymous, not in English, and 2 others. It was wonderful that Quilly & Thom left comments that were welcomed.

I had an awesome time in Omak (already looking forward to going again next year), then when I got back it was right to work on Pasta Productions (sumptuous pasta dinner followed by an amazing concert). Dinner was on the table late, though it was incredible when it got there. My kitchen staff did such a great job of cooking that dinner!! I already have plans underway for the next Pasta Productions which will happen October 16 as a celebration of the Centre for Spiritual Living being here for 18 years. I already have people asking to perform in the next one. More about all this later....

This being Thursday is my day to go to TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly). We always weigh in then have a meeting. For me the two best fat burners are walking and swimming. I've not done much of either lately :o( Walked lots in Omak so did manage to counter balance any damage from holiday eating so that much is good. I've lost wee bits but not anything substancial. I must get back to swimming and walking. I'd tell you some of my excuses except I have to get out of here to make it to TOPS on time.

Love & Hugs to all.... See ya later.

Friday, August 07, 2009

I'm Out a Here!

Sheeesh.... I must be running on Hawaiian Time, I'm hours behind in Pacific Time. I am finally all done my chores, the truck is clean & loaded, I am showered & dressed. Now hitting the road!! I'm leaving my laptop at home (nail biting experience) and will see you all on Sunday.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Stuff & Such

Hmmmm.... just had to moderate 4 posts. Rejected them all. They were all from 'Anonymous' and in another language. Like I'd allow any of those on my blog. Sheeeesh!! It is because of spammers like this that I have to moderate my blogs all the time instead of just letting them all post automatically. Anyway......

In early July I went to the US, to Washington State to be exact, for the 4th weekend. One the way back, I picked up a porcelain tile that says "My House Was Clean Yesterday, Sorry You Missed It." It has a drawing of a house that is terribly messy. Kinda reminds me of my place :o(

And on a more cheerful note.... I'm going to Omak to the Stampede & Suicide Race! In all the times I've seen the Suicide Race, I've seen a couple times where a horse fell, though none where any horse was hurt. Just now as I was over at YouTube getting a movie of the race for you to watch, I watched one done by the Humane Society. They only showed 2 crashes, though they showed them over & over & over as they talked about how cruel this event is to the horses and that over the many years of the race, there has been 15 recorded horse deaths. Now I'm not so sure I want to see the race any more. I do love horses. From what I've seen I didn't really think it was so bad, though that video sure makes it look/sound cruel.

Here is a video for you that is not by the Humane Society or any other group of that nature. In this there aren't any bad crashes or horses injured. This is more like the races I've seen over the last 4 or 5 years and I usually watch 2 races each year.



I was thinking I would not be going this year, however, I do have just over $70us left from before, so there's spending money... just need gas money. Today as I was driving to visit Mom, I sent thoughts to the Universe that if I found some money for gas, like maybe laying on the street or something, I would go. It takes about $50-60 for gas to Oliver BC, then I go down to Omak with Mike in his motor home. While at Mom's I did some work for her. I scraped old paint off the railing along the wheelchair ramp, then painted it and later swept the area. It needs another coat of paint, in my opinion, and I will do that next week when I go up there again. Later, Mom hands me 3 $20 bills and insist I take them for doing the work for her. GAS MONEY!! So I phoned Mike to tell him. He's leaving a day early as he didn't think I was going, so now I have to drive all the way to Omak in my truck and meet him there. Oh well, not all that bad. I think it's about a 45 minute drive, give or take a bit. You'd think I'd know, having gone there 4 or 5 times, but I wasn't driving and didn't pay attention to the time it took. I know Mike often drives to Omak just to shop, so can't be all that far. I actually rather like the idea of having my own truck there. Guess I better clean it all out before I go as there are a lot of things in there that don't need to be, I've been planning to clean it for some time now. Better not to cross the border with anything more than needed.

Well, off to bed now. I have to get up tomorrow and head north to my TOPS meeting, then come back and clean the truck, pack, take care of my animals, and head out. Or I might wait until Friday morning to leave even though Mike will likely be expecting me sometime tomorrow. Maybe I'll try calling him when I get up and see if he's left yet.... hmmmm.

TTYS.