No Internet

We got our internet back after 36 hours, so here goes. . .

Another day dawns and I’m in quite a pickle. You see our internet is down now and Bob is off with his friends for his weekly men’s breakfast. My schedule is off kilter you see. Normally after I’m up and dressed, I head downstairs for my online Bible study. Some of you more astute readers found a problem in that sentence for “online” is now “offline”. (Yes, this will be posted at another time.) I used a print Bible instead and read the things that had already downloaded, but my pace is off. After Bible study, I check my emails – not doing now – and then go to Facebook. Facebook provides many ways to waste my time. My latest addiction is Word With Friends. (Anybody out there who wants to play?)

Today I can’t do what I normally do and that has set off my whole rhythm. Look! I’m even writing my blog in the morning. (Enter dramatic intake of air!) All of us claim that we dislike boring monotony, but the safety of a routine can comfort many a frenzy.

Let me type up the next five goodies now and I’ll just wait until evening to put it up. Wow! I’ll have something done early. That’s unheard of around here, especially on a day when we are juggling multiple doctor visits around other obligations.

11. Be unique. Do something out of the routine. Sit in a different location at church. Drive a different way to work. Sit on a different end of the couch. All these could get your pacemaker out of joint, but a new perspective can never hurt. This item is considered after my morning without internet. How many routines can you crack in one day?

12. Sit back and watch a couple of old movies on TV. Dim the lights and pop that corn. Use butter since the movie was made before all the horrors of fat became known to society. Pick a couple of black and white romantic flicks and hug your honey.

13. Be a visitor to your own city. We live in Chicagoland. People flock to this city faster than my vertigo whirls, yet Bob and I seldom venture out of our section of suburbia. We need to go see things we haven’t seen in ages if at all. We could even play the whole tourist routine and take our cameras.

14. Catch up with old friends. So many people we love dearly have slipped or are slowly slipping out of our reach. Being on disability, Bob and I seldom have evenings out on the town. We have lost touch with so many people because that yearly Christmas card is just not doing it. With internet, (I know, our’s is down now but we’ll pretend it will soon be fine.) you can send out a more specific email. Check up on people’s Facebook entries. Call them up on the phone. Don’t let the doldrums steal your friends away.

15. Go out on a date. Make your husband drive around the block and come back hopefully with a nice rose in hand. HINT! HINT! Go to some romantic place and have dinner. This might be hard but talk about yourselves without any conversation about your kids or even grandkids. Remember the reason you fell in love. (That’s one fall everybody needs to make!) Concentrate on just the two of you. This might be really tough, but if it is hard, you need this date more than ever.

There’s my five for today – done early. Now I’m off for my same cereal in my same bowl. Then I’ll watch the same TV and ponder how to best waste my day. J I might just have a day without internet. Forget I wrote that for that might be a great 16 on my list. Boy, life sure is good.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good

      -  I get to sit back rather than venture off to work and have the same morning routine.  

Grandma Wants It Now

I just had a chat on the computer with my daughter. She had sent via email four great pictures of the grandsons. I immediately wanted to post them on Facebook or perhaps get a billboard on some nearby expressway. She teasingly commented that it was said that young folks today don’t know how to delay gratification. I let her know that such patience did not pertain to grandmothers. By my age, I didn't and couldn't delay gratification. Who knew what would happen later? With that, she took her dog out and went up to read a book. I think that means that I won.

Some of you might know what I mean. There is that inner thrill with having the cutest kids of the world that you just can’t help yourself. The lady behind you in the grocery store needs to see their little faces. It just wouldn’t be right otherwise. The receptionist at the doctor better look at all the newest prints or else her day could be ruined. Nobody has ever turned me down. It’s my duty as a grandmother to share these vital moments in history.

As part two of my list of fun stuff, let me give you the next five things. When I was thinking over what to write, I noticed that all my initial five items had to do with food. I’m not sure if there is some correlation to need to my need to lose weight, but I figured I better save some of those events until tomorrow if I can still remember them. Here goes.

6.  Get in a lawn chair or lie in the grass and look at the cloud formations. Do you see a unicorn or a hamburger? Those food things just slip in there. The only key thing to note is that if you do lie on the ground, make sure you have a neighbor close by to help you get up. Otherwise some snacks for the ground may be a necessity.

7.  Write a note to someone in your life who might need a smile. It could be to someone in your workplace or church. I sent one out to each child in the kids’ choir once in church. Last year, one of the high school graduates said he still had my note. Now I know my gift of gab is special, but simple notes of thanks can go a long way. Plus folks are so used to getting any mail from the internet that an actual item from the slow mail will blow their minds.

8. This is kind of like the last one, but take the opportunity to brag about an employee to the boss. Maybe the grocery clerk was extra nice; talk with the manager. The UPS driver always is good with your packages: send a letter to the UPS headquarters. (I did this once and had the president of UPS call me up to thank me for the unique note. Apparently notes of praise are pretty nonexistent.) After great service from a waiter, email the boss. Tell a wife that their husband brought you guys great drinks. (Ha Ha! Get it! Let the boss know that someone was good.) You get the idea. It’s easy, cheap and fun. What more do you want?

9. While you are at the grocery store, buy two bouquets of flowers. Give one to a neighbor and keep the other for yourself. They always help brighten the day. I don’t have flowers often and love the grocery store ones lots if my husband surprises me. That’s a hint Bob. Will someone call up my husband and tell him?)

10. Here is a food one – eat your way through the alphabet. The next time you go out to eat, pick a restaurant that starts with an A. It doesn’t have to be a whole meal, maybe just a drink and an appetizer. Try Applebee’s or Auntie Anne’s for example. Then the following time, go to a B place. Buena Beef, Ben and Jerry’s or Burger King are three simple choices. Bob and I were always going to do this, but never followed through. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. What a great excuse to eat out. Good luck on some of those harder letters. Some creativity or travel may be needed.

Well there you be. Pretty good for one post! You got five more items to add to your bucket list and input about the grandmaternal instinct that needs instantaneous gratification. Enjoy your day for life is very good.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good

        -  Who else can eat your way through the alphabet and say it is for health reasons? Have local French fries; use less ketchup. A diet chocolate milkshake is one with no whipped cream. Get the idea? Boy, life is good.

Sudsy Cookies and Bugs

The highlight of my day was right after our cleaning lady left this afternoon. She had started a load of wash before heading out. I was upstairs when I heard a loud crash. Upon investigation, boy did I find a mess. You see, our washer is aging just like the rest of us. It likes to dance around the room while working. All that excitement had our new jug of Tide go crashing to the floor and those plastic containers can break open. We had laundry detergent everywhere. You should have seen me try to clean up the mess, for the floor gets mighty slippery with all that soap. I was doing disco moves I hadn’t tried since the 70’s. My yoga instructor would surely have a special name for some of my positions. It’s sad when cleaning up a mess is the major attraction for the day.

I wrote yesterday about compiling a “bucket list” for those of us over 29 (or 49). There are multiple computer sites describing events and activities for families to do during these summer months that take little money and resources. Some of them would be fine for Bob and I to do without kidnapping any youngsters from the street, but I think all that commotion would be too much for us. We have done some of these things, want to do some others and probably won’t accomplish the rest. I want to give you a few such items each day for about a week. Wish me luck.

1  Go for a long walk around the neighborhood, probably after dinner. Make the effort to greet neighbors. We actually make some new friendships, plus had the good opportunity to comfort strangers of my sobriety when walking. I’ve seen a lot of relief this past month from people comforted that I hadn’t consumed a couple of bottles of wine before 8:00 AM.

2. Take some goodies to the local police or fire department. You can use your baking skills or buy them fresh from your local grocer. I do the latter for two main reasons. First of all, they don’t have to worry that some psycho put weird things into the batter. Secondly, the fire department will not have to make a trip to my home in case a couple of trays get too crispy.

3. Buy some frozen juice things for neighborhood kids. The two little ones next door even know where I keep them stashed in the freezer. It’s fun to see their excitement.

4. Try to catch a jarful of lightning bugs just like you did when you were a kid. Your antics will amuse your spouse and any neighbors watching, plus the activity can count as exercise for the day, or maybe month.

5. Read some classic book that missed you as a child. Gone with the Wind or Uncle Tom’s Cabin would be great starters. Avoid Moby Dick! I disliked Ishmael for a whole semester my junior year of high school. I actually downloaded War and Peace on my Kindle. We’ll see.

Well, there is the first five for my suggested activities. Stay tuned tomorrow for other goodies.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good
         - The neighborhood is amused at your antics when trying any of the above.

Good Morning Mr. Dinosaur

I’m not really sure where the time has gone and am somewhat aghast that it has been four days since I last wrote on this blog. There is really no excuse or no marvelous adventures for the days are just silently ticking by. We’re getting used to the change of seasons and constantly bless our air conditioning that is running away. Our salt-water tanks really heat up the house, particularly the family room and add humidity that is not needed at this time.

Last night, we were the guests of friends at the local baseball game. They are a non-affiliated team with lots of fun competitions between innings. We saw water balloon fights, knock the head off a costumed foe and rolling a tire from first to third base. No, that wasn’t Bob after sipping a brew. They are all goofy stunts from volunteers that still bring smiles to those in the stands.

I’m lacking motivation and need to get my tush moving more. When I stayed with my little grandsons, they greeted me each morning by sneaking in my room for early snuggles. They didn’t want to lay and chat about the day as I envisioned by my past experiences with my grandmother. Beware of jumps on my stomach, racing cars careening up my legs and dinosaurs roaring 3.2 inches from my blinking eyes. I loved it. I frequently took a head break for a short time in the afternoon. There were no chances of sleeping too long for a toddler would soon be wanting me up to play. I got my exercise from races down the hall, pushing swings at the playground and tackling toddlers. Bob is not too interested in climbing on a nearby swing, so my days are now much more sedate on my own turf.

There’s a lot that I should be doing so perhaps I need to write more frequently as a daily accountability. Who wants to read a blog to hear the adventures of someone who naps most of the day. Even relaying my exciting games of Words with Friends might be a snoozer for those not closely involved.

I’ve been reading on Pinterest some free and easy activities to accomplish with your children now that summer has arrived. Although many of the activities would have our neighbors shaking their heads in disbelief, I’m sure that I can come up with two or ninety things to accomplish around the house. I guess you will just have to stay tuned.

So I will do my best to be more exciting tomorrow. The challenge is on. I hope you can somehow manage to sleep after reading this thrilling page. I will work on a summer bucket list that even you might find interesting.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good

        -  I am able to arrange my own day into boring or exciting. I get to be the one to help people say that life is good.

Still Spinning

Admittedly, my brain cells are decreasing at an alarming rate, but I am still able to jabber away. Thus this blog! I began writing at this site to describe vertigo, tinnitus and migraines to those of you who have not had the displeasure of experiencing them. I took detailed notes of my days up at Mayo and have since slightly veered off course. Tonight, I will head back there.

I’ve tried to figure out what sets my path into circular motion. I still far too frequently walk as a little drunkard and have my eyeballs dancing around to the beat. People have become accustomed to my wayward ways and hardly blink an eye as I bounce off walls or other obstacles. My doctors urge me to figure out the cause of my twirling paths and I long to know why I continually dance to a different drummer. Some of the triggering or precipitating causes follow.

Wind – If wind or even a slight breeze catches hold of my protruding ears, beware!

I wear my hood throughout the winter season, but the heat of summer makes this harder to avoid. My parka looks a little crazy when the mercury reaches into the 90’s.

Waves – As I was wading in the Gulf of Mexico last week, my head started spinning like a top. This was repeated after a trip to a wade pool at a Mississippi water park.

Maybe I personally have unconscious fears about a tsunami crossing my path, but my head spins faster than kids splashing in the waves.

Migraines – Initially, my migraines triggered the release of vertigo into my system. This has not diminished. There is a strong link between the two. If I get a bad migraine, I know that vertigo will soon follow. If my dizziness finds me first, beware of an upcoming headache that scores zero on the fun meter.

Loud Music – Everything from our church organ to the background piped in music at Five Guys all send vertigo my way. This is pretty darn close to the migraines that I mentioned earlier. Any days of being a band groupie are now gone.

Weather Man – When a big front passes through town, the meteorologist notices my resemblance to the silver pinball being diverted throughout the game.  At least that also can be seen as a positive. I could rent out my head to the highest bidder.

Tired – If sleep escapes me, it is replaced by vertigo symptoms. Usually that is not a problem because I easily head upstairs for more beauty rest. With the amount of snooze time required for any sliver of non-ugly, this can have me spinning away for weeks on end.

Emotions – if my lack of abilities frustrates me, vertigo comes a knocking. Then I get bewildered by the vertigo, so the vertigo spins faster, which makes me sadder, which increases the rotations, etc, etc.

The Bends – Anything that is accidentally dropped to the floor stays there. Our family room and kitchen show a unique path, but if I bend over, I better not ever stand up. I would look even crazier bent 90 degrees or more, so up and around I go. It makes it highly amusing to try to imitate picking up any scattered papers in my less than tidy home. I turn into a bowling ball slowly careening down the lane.

Needless to say, I still have my vertigo. My medications really haven’t addressed these symptoms because they are more aimed at my migraines, so I’m still bouncing off the furniture or sitting in the grass. I definitely stop to smell the roses unless I’ve squashed them all by my awkward steps.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good

       -  As long as I am down on the ground, I’m great at finding lost coins or earrings that have been MIA for quite some time. Wow! Life is good!

Creaky but Happy Bones

I have arrived home after a busy two weeks away. It seems strange not reading a nighttime story or helping anyone with his pajamas. With those fun filled days, I feel more invigorated to keep moving. There is nothing like the force of a toddler pulling on your hand and heart to get you moving in a hurry.

Teddy didn’t understand why I called Bob so frequently. His mom doesn’t call Daddy when he is gone because the phone reception on a submarine is lousy. He also thought that I drank an awful lot of water. We hit three more states to Teddy’s challenge to visit all 50. Calorie laden foods like French fries, po’ boys and beignets were snarfed down at some of these sites. Teddy knew there was always time for puzzles and trains plus trips to playgrounds and pools.

I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with these cuties. While in Mississippi, they slept in my hotel room each night.  I love the snuggles and early morning hugs. We listened to Ollie and had a Caillou marathon each night at bedtime. Can there be a better way to bring happy dreams? Basically, we were together 24/7 and I wouldn’t change a second of it.

I do have to admit that my speed was starting to slow down as the calendar pages kept turning. I tended to be the caboose while herding children more for my benefit that theirs. I could drift off to sleep if I got too comfortable reading a book but would awaken with Teddy’s nose approximately two inches from my own.

My suitcase is staying packed until tomorrow after church. I’ve got lots for which to give thanks to God. How blessed I am to have such a wonderful family to visit and the finances to pay for it. Stay tuned for more tomorrow. Life is good.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good

       I’m slower and creakier getting up from the floor.

Back to LIfe

Hurray! I have returned from chilly Mississippi and am currently finishing my visit with Stephanie and those cute little grandsons. My body has started to remind me that I have some physical, and perhaps mental, disabilities, but has done remarkably well for what I have put it through. I creak, groan, fold and moan when I attempt to train for an Olympic feat like breathing.

I purchased compression socks after Bob’s orthopedic surgeon got a glance at my ballooning ankles after my last airline flight. I’m not sure what caught his attention for my legs haven’t captured the attention of any males for over a century. I used to think world records could be stomped out if my ankles were measured in hot weather after an airplane ride, however that was before my daughter and I just watched a TLC show depicting a man with a 200 pound leg. Yep. (Check out one of these sites for those of you curious about my exaggeration of any part of this tale.)    http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/05/man-undergoes-surgery-to-remove-200-pound-tumor-on-leg/

OR

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57353897-10391704/vietnamese-man-has-massive-200-lb-tumor-removed-from-leg/

It’s just too weird for even me to make up. Anyway, I decided my pudgy ankles were not wonderful to lug around Mississippi and didn’t want to confuse Ollie, my little animal lover, by having him think I was partially cloned with an elephant. Although hardly a fashion statement, these lovely legwear were worn resulting in minimal water retention. Success!

Now, back to the main reason for my trip south of the Mason-Dixon line. The commissioning of a submarine is awe inspiring and something more Americans should get to observe. The majority of the program was listening to multiple senators, governors, mayors and high ranking military officials congratulate each other for a job well done. Security was tight. Helicopters hovered overhead, and small ships with huge guns circled through the surrounding waters. About 8,000 folding chairs had been set up with the use of lasers to insure proper placement. (That’s a heck of a lot of seating.) We were ushered to our seats by members of the crew after somehow surviving a definite logjam of vehicles that extended as far as the eye could see, delaying the ceremony for a good half hour. Even with that timing, many people didn’t make it to the submarine. Here are a couple of great pictures from the day:

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/06/crowd_building_for_mississippi.html

OR

http://www.sunherald.com/2012/06/02/3983950/uss-mississippi-joins-the-navy.html

My favorite part by far was after all the speakers had finished. The commanding officer addressed the crew who had been standing at the rear for about two hours. They were commanded to, “Man the ship and bring her to life!” With those simple eight words, the crew in their dress uniforms dashed up the main aisle, down the ramp and aboard the waiting submarine. The surprised crowd cheered away as they saw their loved ones about to partake in what they had long been trained.

I wonder what I would need for me to come to life. I got back to Connecticut with Stephanie urging me to head to bed. My ankles weren’t swollen, but I think my brain got washed away. My blog has been postponed for even today she insisted that I return to bed. My eyes have been glazed and pills have been popped. I pray that tomorrow I will also “come to life.”

That’s enough for today. There’s a lot to talk about now that I am attempting to get back on track to the living. Thanks to God, my life is good.

God Uses My Chronic Pain to Prove that Life is Good

       -  My body attempts to assume a Sleeping Beauty imitation after any travel.