My Weblog

Lowest Price Ever.........

When you're going to save $150, it's a good deal, right? Except I can't spend what it takes to save $150, LOL. On FB there is an announcement that the Silhouette Cameo together with the starter pack is being offered at its lowest price ever. "Just" $194.99. Rebularly $344.95. That's quite a savings. But, I have yet to push the button to order a new featherbed and THAT (the featherbed) is something I NEED and costs far less, not just something I want. Sorry, Amazon, I just can't take you up on your offer.........

Lately (the last few days), I can't stay out of bed. I don't know what is going on here. If anything, I should sleep less--after all, my thyroid meds have increased a bit and that should help me to have more energy. It's possible my body is putting forth extra effort to recuperate from the siege of ill health the last few months. We all know the body "heals itself" during sleep, right? Or maybe I'm going downhill fast....... Or maybe I've just turned into one very lazy woman. I don't know the answer to the mystery, but if I'm going to have a productive day, I need to figure out a way to stay out of bed. 

Just got an e-mail from the store owner (at the new store where I'll be selling my stuff). Darn it all, she will be going on vacay til May 4. That means I can't begin uploads or any of that good behind the scene stuff til she comes back. That sure puts a wrinkle in my plans.......

So, here's a fun fact. After all these years, I still use AOL. I'd love to ditch it, but it's the e-mail address my clients have so, not wanting to lose a client, I've held onto it. Yesterday or the day before, I got an e-mail from them saying they'd made updates to the program to improve the browser. Well, yes, that's a really good thing as their browser stinks. One of my really fun activities is buying something for design, getting partway through the download and having the AOL browser dump me. So, yes, bring it on! I downloaded the "new, improved" browser and installed it. And this morning, while following a link to something on Pinterest, guess what................. The "new, improved" browser dumped me. So much for "new and improved", LOL.

I told you that I actually ordered food from Von's for delivery, right? Yeah, I know I did. Well, it was delivered yesterday on time and with everything I ordered. Yay, Von's. The driver was a great guy too. His name was IONA. I was surprised at that. I actually thought that was a woman's name........ Anyway, I got a survey in my e-mail today asking about the delivery. And, for completing the survey, I got a coupon for another free delivery. Well, bless my socks! I have already thought of a couple of things I should have ordered, so.......... I just might be able to use that coupon! 

Anyway, my big treat for the day yesterday was eating an English Muffin. They were on sale so I had a package delivered. I couldn't begin to guess when I last had an English Muffin, but it would have to be sometime in November or before...... Tasted good with my homemade cherry jelly, too! 

I was thinking that I should have had a cup of tea with my English Muffin. I could have called it "tea time", yuck, yuck. 

Well, today I am working on finishing up the kit I've been working on. I'm down to alphas and maybe 1 more word art (if I can fit it in). I need to get to work on creating new previews for the kits which will be used to open the new store. That process, the preview making, is still a bit of a mystery (it's a weird size) so I need to allow myself time for that........ Also, I will be trying to allow myself time to choose which kits should be included. I have about 500 to choose from, LOL. That could take a while......... I created a fancy new siggy for use in the forum at that store. I could play with getting that uploaded too. Being a hoity toity designer, I can't just settle for any old signature, KWIM? 

Then I need to switch hats for a while and try to finish up two tax returns that are within a hair's breadth of being done. That will bring in some nice $$$$$. Then, finally, I really WILL go to the bank and deposit the money from tax season.

As usual, I need to work in the kitchen. And, as usual, this desk needs help. And, as usual, I need to unzip and organize files. I think I will try to get some more dusting done in the living room. And, I did not make it out with the trash so that needs to be on the list of things to do. Sounds like a full day to me! 

YOU be BLESSED!

 

Biting the bullet.............

Well, the food situation here came to a crisis point yesterday. I am out of a lot of things, not the least of which is dog food. That whole dog food thing had me analyzing and chasing my tail for days. By yesterday, I was out of time for such nonsense. I ended up placing an online order from Vons, a local grocery store. I was pretty conservative about what I ordered because, it seemed to me that the prices were high. However, what the heck do I know? I've only been on two official grocery shopping trips since November. Oh, sure, I've picked up a few emergency supplies here and there--you know, like milk, or like some prepared foods when I ran out of the stuff my friend bought when I came home from the hospital. And, in a way, I guess this was really another one of those purchases, just enough to plug the holes. 

Anyway, there was an online coupon code for free delivery. So, I "shopped" yesterday and it will be delivered today between noon and 1PM. I am anxious for that to happen. Dog food, yes. Batteries, yes. People food, yes. You see the priorities there, right? 

The batteries in my oxygen meter went kerflooey yesterday. No more charge left. So, yes, those batteries rank right up there at the top of the list. I need to be making progress with the amount of oxygen in my blood stream, strengthening my heart and lungs and/or healing them. I measure that using that meter. So did it improve any yesterday? I'll never know. 

Yesterday turned into another "lost" day. Well before noon, I became aware that my back was trying to spasm, right over my left hip. Now, really, did I need that? Hardly. Anyway, I was able to kind of control it with ibuprofen. I have misplaced my "stay awake" muscle relaxers so all I have left are my "put me to sleep" muscle relaxers. I couldn't risk taking those as I had clients scheduled for last night. So, I marched through the house quoting scripture at myself, things like "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". I did not attempt "all things", but I did do a few things that were a challenge. Gosh, even getting out of my chair was a challenge! So, gimpy me during the daylight hours and clients all evening really cut into my ability to accomplish much. Well, to quote Scarlett, "tomorrow is another day". So here we are at tomorrow.

I did finally take a "put me to sleep" muscle relaxer last night when I went to bed. It did indeed put me to sleep, and I woke up pain-free. However, I woke up less than 4 hours after going to bed. Once those groceries arrive, I'm going back to bed! Actually, I'd like to go back to bed right now, but I don't think that will work all that well.

I've been working diligently on a kit. I really like it and I think I am about to call it "done". It's been slow going. Sometimes when it's slow going, it's because I am really uninspired by what I'm doing. This time it is more that many of the elements in this kit are really time intensive. For example, I've spent several hours this morning extracting an image. Extracting is, I think, slow going for just about everyone. However, my hands tend to "twitch". I will have the eraser positioned exactly where I want it. Suddenly, there's a twitch and I'm erasing what I didn't want to erase. Then I have to undo what I've done and start over. That is not a happy event! However, I fought the extracting this AM and I won. 

I did do some work on unzipping and organizing files yesterday and on this desktop as well. Not enough, but some. I'll stay after that today. 

I can't hang around today. I've got some tasks to perform in conjunction with opening a new store for my digi designs and I want to get those done ASAP. There is a substantial time difference between where I live and where the store owner lives. If I don't hurry, I'll be waiting however many hours she sleeps to be able to accomplish my next sleep. Yup, when I'm asleep, she's awake and vice versa. So, let me tend to business and YOU be BLESSED today...........

Face Palm..........

I have been wracking my brain over a knotty problem: How do I get around 40 pounds of dog food for the pups when I am not yet fit to go to a "real", (big) grocery store? 

I thought about calling Mr. Fixit. He got dog food for me once before, but he did not buy exactly what I asked for and was not very careful about what he spent (of my money) to get it. That kinda rules him out.........

I thought about calling Costco, speaking to a manager, and trying to negotiate having an employee grab a bag or two after being entrusted with my membership card and $$$. Trouble is, I'm not real comfortable with that "entrusted" thing.

I've explored Vons online. They have some and they deliver in this area. There is even a code for free delivery.

But, lo and behold, Amazon has it with free shipping. You can't beat that. Particularly since my experience with them as to delivery has been so spot-on. I feel an order coming on..........

I have to tell you about my "little" girl dog. I am amused at how her personality is developing. If you remember, she seemed to be mad at me after Joe died. Although she had always slept with us, it took me 3 years to coax her back into the bedroom. Now she leads me down the hall, LOL.

And, now, she actually she does her own weird little version of a "cuddle". It wouldn't be a "cuddle" for anyone else's dog, but for her it is. She will position herself so that her head (just the top of her head, mind you, no other part of her body) is positioned against my arm. When Joe was still with us, if we wanted to pet her at night, he'd have to grab her and tug her up within reach. And she would stand for it for just a minute or two and back to the foot of the bed she went. So, you can see that her current "cuddle" is an improvement.

But, just the last little while, there's another change. She's taken to "talking to me" when I leave the house. She has never done this before. She ALWAYS knows when I am leaving. I don't know for sure HOW she knows, but she knows. I am sure that sometimes she hears me pick up my key ring. Or, she also seems to think that if I put my hand in my pocket that's a sign. (That's where I usually keep my keys.) But without either of these "signals", she still knows. She's always followed right behind me when I head for the door, but now that is "embellished" with "conversation". It is so darned cute and so "out of character" for her weird little personality. She's always been more stand-offish than the most stand-offish cat you've ever met. Whatever is going on, I'm thrilled with it. And, it's only taken 8 years.......... I honestly think maybe she'd like to go for a ride, but I'm having a hard time adapting to that concept since, for years, she's been a huddled mass of frightened flesh when she was taken in a car. I'm gonna have to give her a shot, I suppose. Maybe on one of my short "search and destroy" missions while it's not yet so hot around here............

Joe used to lock her in the kitchen just to get a leash on her. Then he'd try to get her to the car. Now, Joe weighed about 205 and Punkin edges over 60 somewhere. She is extremely strong and would turn him into a pull toy flying along at the end of a leash. It was hilarious. 

(Just so you know, she was accidentally injured as a pup and that's part of that personality. She has the cutest "damaged" nose to show for it. And, we boarded her at a vet's office for a 4-day weekend when she was about 9 months old and I'm convinced they abused her in some way. Thus, we learned just to let her be herself..........) 

Anyway, she's changing and I'm loving it and I wanted to share that with you.

 

Calling Mr. Universe......

So, when the docs announced I had pneumonia and fluid in the second lung, I bought an "oximeter". This is a little battery-powered thingie that slips on your finger and measures how much oxygen you have in your bloodstream. You've seen 'em, right? At the doctor's office when they check your vitals? 

Well, anyway, mine is this one: 

I started getting funky/scary readings on it this morning. Geez...... I should be on the verge of falling down or seeing things or something with those readings. Well.......... let's not panic yet. It seems the darling little thing needs new batteries. The problem is I've pushed on the cover for where the batteries go and it won't move. I've even tried to pry it open, but that doesn't work either. It seems I need a strong man to open the darn thing, just so I can replace the batteries. This is one of the least expensive models and it's worked just fine til now. Now, though, I am a bit frustrated with it! 

I do have clients coming tonight. Maybe I can get Mr. Client to open it????? 

I am going to have to get after my yard guys. I noticed yesterday that Parker was staying outside a lot. He even stayed outside during some rain we had the day before. Then I figured out what the attraction was out there......... the back gate was open. Now, there is still one more gate between him and the big wide wonderful world, but if he gets that one open, somehow, he's gone. Of course, having the back gate open means he can go stand at the front of the house and see every little thing that happens on our street. Quite the attraction. But, since his little vagabond heart can't be trusted, it's an issue. Besides, the wrought iron gate is heavy and when it is left open, it pulls against the concrete block into which it is mounted. Sooner or later, it will break those blocks again as it has in the past. And I paid good $$$ to get the darned thing fixed. Latching it properly puts some of the weight on the left side of the wall opening instead of all on the right side which is what happens when it's not latched............

Well, darn it. The dogs were barking and since it is early Monday morning, I knew the yard guys were next door. (They only come to my house every other week......) I took my Oximeter outside, hoping to get them to open it. I ran into the Head Guy coming up the sidewalk with another bill. Geez...... It seems I just get him paid and another bill shows up, LOL. Anyway, he got the darned thing open, I was so happy I forgot to speak to him about the gate, and now my spare batteries are no good. It's always something, LOL.

I really wanted to go to the bank today, but that will take a while. Do I dare combine that with a stop to buy batteries? All without oxygen hook up? We'll see how I feel when the time comes. I really do not want to be without a functional oxygen meter and getting to the bank is becoming more important (urgent) as the days pass........

I got lots of little stuff done this weekend, but did not accomplish my goals from Saturday. So, I guess I'll work on those today. I wanted to make some Greek yogurt and chop up and freeze some celery that is aging in the fridge. I don't really want to do the yogurt til tonight. Then it can "cook" overnight and I can strain it tomorrow. I'm not going to put it together this morning, wait 8-12 hours and stay up all night to strain it! I did manage to pretty well pull the sink side of the kitchen together. Next up out there is celery chopping and then I have a couple of plants I'm going to have to deal with. They look awful--the result of me being in the hospital when they needed a drink....... I'm going to have to significantly trim them back and get rid of dead leaves. 

I dusted what was left to dust in the living room EXCEPT the wall units. Well, I guess those are on the list for today.

And, of course, there is the desk.........

And, it's drag the trash to the curb day and once again the trash cans under the desk are full to overflowing. 

I've been faithfully slogging my way through unzipping, deleting, and organizing files. I was tempted by a "Buy my store" deal on digi supplies over the weekend, but so far I've managed to control myself. The thought of that many more files to unzip and organize is daunting. Besides, we have a big sale weekend coming up next week. 

I am expecting instructions on how to connect with and upload to my new store to arrive today or tomorrow. Guess I'd better get started trying to make new previews for a bunch of kits. I asked the Creative Ladies to tell me which kits they particularly loved and thought would sell well and a few of them actually answered that question. So, I have to look at what I have available and analyze it by color palette, theme, and so on to see what goes in the store first, second, etc. I would like to open the new store with at least 10 kits. We'll see how that goes, LOL. 

I am now the proud owner of 2 space heaters that do not work. It is exasperating to be continually buying those things every year or two. I plugged the second one in, it worked for about a minute, and that was it. Well, dragging them to the trash will get some more junk out of this house. And, we're looking at 80 and 90 degree highs in the next 10 days. I sincerely doubt we will have any more "cold" snaps this year til October. So, buying a new space heater can wait...........

That's it for now. I need to get to work. Much to do, as always. YOU be BLESSED today!

Wash your face!

Yeah, well, the problem is that it isn't dirty. It's getting ready to peel. Right now, skin is peeling everywhere. My arms, my chest, my feet, my calves and now my face. I noticed something "dark" along the chin line kind of from the edge of my mouth all the way to the hairline on both sides. At first I thought some sort of age spots. Nope, If I lightly scratch that area, dead skin cells fall like snow. The same is now true of the other areas I mentioned. Well, hopefully, I'll be bringing healthy new skin to the fore when this is over....... 

I've had my 3rd slightly higher dose thyroid pill. No, I don't feel any better because of it. Just marking the passage of time..........

I thought you might enjoy this little story...... At the time my thyroid dose was cut, the dastardly deed was done by two trainee doctors whose specialty was cardiology, NOT endocrinology. In other words, they had very little knowledge of what they were doing. Truth be told, even endocrinologists don't know much about thyroid stuff. Endocrinologists at least get some training in thyroid disease, but the reigning "queen" of glandular problems is diabetes. They see more diabetes patients than thyroid patients and thus have more experience with diabetes than with any kind of thyroid disorder. AND, the big money is in treating diabetes, not hypo or hyper thyroidism. Need I say more? Anyway, I referred to the two trainee docs as the twin dimwits. I hypothesized that they only went from one room to another together as being necessary because if you superglued the two of them together, you might get one intelligent being. Well, my new doc had a different explanation. I'm going to have to ask him for more details as to how this works, but his explanation is that traveling together like the two dimwits is simply a function of what trainee docs do when they're lazy. I don't have that figured out, but I'm thinking he might know something about it, being a doc himself. In any case, laziness does not explain their messing in a specialty for which they were not trained without diagnostic blood tests. 

Today is designated as "in the kitchen" day. I bought some whole milk at the store the other day. It's warming up (well, not today, but in general) and greek yogurt is beginning to look like a nutritious addition to breakfast or lunch plans. A little greek yogurt, some fruit, maybe a random veggie or two when no one is looking, a blender--sounds like the answer to "what shall I eat?" for breakfast or lunch. Also, I have some celery that will go south if I don't do something with it. So, today, I'll get that chopped up and freeze it. It will still work great in soups and such.........

Dead. My space heater is dead. It only lasted two years. Drat! Now what am I supposed to do with the chill I wrestle with in the mornings and evenings? I have another one, another little space heater, that is. I guess I'll see if that can be fired up and used. If not, I'm either going to have to experience vast improvement in body temperature (NOT gonna happen on a 12 mcg dosage increase) or buy a new space heater......... Maybe I can just waddle around the house in a parka and mukluks? I guess the good news here is that I can get rid of the one that doesn't work, thus carrying one more piece of junk out of this house........

Speaking of junk, I am thinking of hiring one of Mr. Fixit's big strong boys for one purpose only--to carry a bunch of stuff to the curb. There are 4 TVs in this room right now. Two are small TVs that Joe used. One is the TV from the living room. And one is a "big screen" that is the one I would use if I ever get an antenna or re-up cable TV. There is also an old computer here that is pretty much worthless. I am itching to get this stuff out of here. But even in better days, I don't think I'd have trusted myself to carry this stuff to the curb. There is almost certainly stuff in other rooms that also needs carried out to the curb...........I think I should make a list to ensure I get it all out of here at once..........

Spring in Nevada. It's always a puzzle. Today's high is forecast at 73 with 21 mph winds. That might actually feel pretty chilly. Five days from now we are supposed to hit 97 degrees. It really does boil down to needing to check the weather report before getting dressed this time of year. 

Reward? Yes, I need one. It has been a tradition around here for many years that at the end of tax season, I got a reward for surviving it and for not killing any clients along the way. I used to get some goooooooood rewards. One year I got a swamp cooler installed. One year I got a new dishwasher. Quite a few years my reward was a drive to Southern Utah for a weekend spent in beautiful surroundings, living in a hotel and eating high on the hog at IHOP. There is something about driving out of town. The destination doesn't have to be fancy. Just crossing the city limits seems to lift a load of stress. Well, no trip to anywhere for me anywhere in my future (or budget). But, still, there's the reward. Okay, well, I've had a food dehydrator on my wish list for months and months. And, considering that for the next 6 months produce will be at its cheapest and best, I decided it was time. I've also had the urge to make my own beef jerky. So, I ordered it and it will arrive Tuesday. From now on, I'll be scouring the food ads to see what is on special that I can dehydrate and use later..........

I got what I think is a good one. It's not an Excalibur which is probably top of the line as far as I can tell. But, it is a 1000 watt model and it's upgradable--you can add more drying trays, etc. I don't know that I'll need extra drying trays or anything like that right now. After all, it's just me around here and a limited amount of money to spend on food, even food "bargains". But, it's nice to know the upgrades are available. 

I've been eating some of my canned goods that I canned last fall. One night I got hungry for something "sweet" but I had nothing--no cookies, no cake, no candy, etc., and at that point I wasn't well enough to stand in the kitchen long enough to "cook" or "bake". Then it occurred to me that I had jars of applesauce stashed that I'd canned with my own little hands. Suffice it to say I now have 2 fewer jars in my stash, LOL. 

Well, I need to get to work. YOU be BLESSED today. 

 

Not much help..........

Well, the thermostat is set at 78 degrees and here I sit in a fleece jacket. Sure enough, that extra 12 mcg of levothyroxine I took yesterday hasn't made much difference, LOL. Of course, it wouldn't. That is a medication that has to build up in your bloodstream. I'd hate to differ with my doc. He thinks it takes 6 weeks. It really only takes 3. At least this doc has a clue. A faint clue, to be sure, but a clue. But, in any case it surely does take more than overnight. So, IF an increase of only 12mcg really does help long term, it's not gonna make a difference today. I'll just keep on keepin' on and bundling up at the weirdest of times, LOL. 

Well, I didn't exactly revolutionize my world yesterday, but in the grand scheme of things, I didn't do too bad. I did manage to get the carpet vacuumed as far back as the far end of the hall. I even vacuumed the hard floors in the hall bath and the entry. Right now, the vacuum cleaner is sitting in the kitchen, waiting to tackle that floor. 

I paid bills and updated the budget system yesterday here at the desk. That budget system really does need daily updates and I frequently don't get there and then I have to play catch up with it. But, when it's updated, it's a BIG help, knowing where my money is going.

In the kitchen I cleaned little stuff--time intensive things like taking the blender apart and scrubbing the residue around the blades, etc. The kitchen will always have more for me to do. I can remember when Joe had the idea we were going to take out the wall between the kitchen and living room to "open up" the space. I know that goes great with current theory, but it would have killed more than half of my storage space and left my teeny tiny kitchen open for all to see. It's so small that just one or two things out of place makes the whole space look messy. Hey, a solid wall and a door that closes appeal to me, TYVM. 

I did some work unzipping and organizing files yesterday. I musta been productive as I emptied 11 GB out of the recycle bin last night. I organized a small project that my creative ladies are helping me with. I created a template and instructions for creating a new style of kit preview for my digital scrapbooking kits. And I landed a gig in a new scrapbooking store since ACOT is closing their digital store.

I guess I musta done a job on the surface of the desk as well. In any case, there are two full trash cans under my desk. The only trash that ever hits those trash cans comes from the desk. So, if the cans are full, I spent time wading through stacks of paper on the desk. It's a tangible way to measure whether I've been doing what I ought to be doing there. 

I read blogs, but I don't read "fashion" blogs. I could care less about "fashion" these days and frequently see things that are fashionable in which I wouldn't be caught dead. However, I just had to share this with you. 

 

That photo is from a blog called The Blissful Bee. I followed a link from somewhere else and ended up there and began to giggle when I saw this lady. She's attractive and I wasn't giggling at her. I was giggling at her outfit. No, there's nothing funny about it unless you live in my head.

I had the kind of job that required a "professional" appearance, and the more "professional" I looked, the easier the job became. What got me when I saw this photo is that THIS is exactly how I looked for a decade in the 80's and for part of the 90's as well. I owned a BUNCH of suits. Not pant suits like Hillary, but REAL skirted suits. I know I owned at least 10--none of them fancy or terribly expensive but all of them reasonably well made. I used to wait til Spiegel had their seasonal sales and buy them then. I had suits in navy, red, black, yellow, green, teal, royal blue, hot pink, pastel pink, beige, and more. And I had pants in neutrals--black, beige, navy, white, etc. I even had some stray jackets. I remember one plaid jacket in particular which was yellow, red, royal and green. And, I had bazillion little silk or poly shells/blouses in every color imaginable, in solids as well as prints.

My specialty was mixing and matching those pieces to create hundreds of different outfits. I had index cards created for each "bottom". On the index card, I listed every combination of jacket and blouse I could imagine or think of that would coordinate with that "bottom". The cards got rotated so it seemed as though I had an infinite wardrobe. I would wear the beige slacks, a red jacket, and a red and cream striped blouse on one day. And another day, weeks/months later, I'd wear red slacks, the red and cream striped blouse with a beige jacket. And, then, later, I'd wear that same blouse with the red suit or with the beige suit. Or, instead of wearing slacks, I'd wear one of the suit skirts with the blouse and a jacket. 

I used to get the government to pay to have my suits cleaned, LOL. I'd get sent out of town, for weeks/months at a time. While you're TDY with the government, if you've got dry cleaning to be done, the government pays. (At least that's the way it used to be. Don't know about now.) So I would travel with 6 suits, stray pairs of slacks and a plethora of carefully selected blouses. Each week I would wear 5 of the 6 suits and send one suit to the cleaners. I had such fun doing all this. I really did! So, that's why I giggled when I saw that photo. It brought back fond memories.......

Most of what happened to me in the 80's and 90's I wouldn't relive on a bet, but this was the fun stuff and I'd do it all again on a bet! 

So, there's my little walk down memory lane for today, LOL. Today, though, I need to pretty much do a repeat of yesterday. More work in the kitchen, more work on this desk, more unzipping and organizing, more design work, and vacuuming the floors in the kitchen, the master bedroom, and the master bath. I'm trying to get into position to use the steam cleaner on the hard floors next. A client whose tax return has been extended dropped off the info I needed to finish that return up yesterday. I should probably try to work on that too. And, tomorrow is trash day so I'd better be dragging trash to the curb today as well. I think all that will pretty well keep me busy. If not, I can always attach the hose to the vacuum cleaner and go after the corners and edges. There's always stray dog hair the vacuum can't get to. And occasionally a cob web. Southern Nevada doesn't have mosquitoes, fleas, ticks or that sort of thing but we have an overwhelming supply of spiders..........

While I'm working on all that, I will be praying that YOU be BLESSED today.........

Ready for a big surprise?

I ran some errands today and I did it wearing shoes, real shoes......... True they are a little oversized, my not quite bedroom slipper shoes. But, they still have a hard sole and a leather upper and I think that qualifies them to be called shoes. And I was actually gone from home for quite a while. I started out at CVS. They were supposed to have milk and eggs on sale. Yes on the milk, but no eggs to be found. Then I collected my 3 prescriptions (another $36 spent on meds........). Then I went to Walgreens because I needed one item that CVS doesn't sell. Then I drove through Jack in the Box (thankfully, no line!). Then, finally, I went to Discount Tire and had them check the air in the tires. They've been  low for a while now. They came up with the miserable news that my front left tire has a leak in it, in the sidewall--not repairable. By this time I was feeling the need to get back to my oxygen supply so I rejected their best efforts to sell me a new tire. They also offered to put my "spare" on, but my spare is a donut. I don't want to drive on a donut. The mileage limitations on those things are pretty tight. I figure I can go a while on the tire I've got. At least til I can either solve the "portable" oxygen problem, or til my lungs have healed enough that I don't need "portable". I was grateful to get home and stick this silly thingie back up my nose! 

I am getting a bit discouraged with my skin. Good heavens--even the palms of my hands are now peeling. I absent mindedly started scratching my arm last night and my shorts looked like I'd been in a snow storm. 

So today is my first day on my minutely higher levothyroxine dose. I don't expect much change if I feel any change at all. But, I just keep telling myself that after two years, it's a step in the right direction. 

Okay, primarily, I wanted to share the news about my multi-stop errand running and the shoes. Now I need to get back to doing other things. Later, maybe...........

Do you remember.......

how I wanted to plant a garden this year? I really wanted to grow my own veggies, both as a matter of controlling what goes into what I eat and controlling cost. Of course, I got hit with the news that I had pneumonia and fluid in my right lung just about the time I would have needed to plant. And, here we are, 2.5 months later and I am still recuperating from what turned out to be double pneumonia with fluid in both lungs and a grand assortment of medical bills. Needless to say, a garden didn't happen and now won't happen til next year. THIS does not put a smile on my face! 

My original plan was just to buy some concrete blocks and lay them out in one layer to give me a place to call a "garden". Just recently, I ran across a unique wooden design where no sawing, hammering etc was required. Instead the 4 corner pieces were designed so that the boards for the sides just slipped into the corner pieces. Both of these seemed like a good idea til I considered the dogs. My dogs will eat just about anything including veggies. I can just picture, in my mind's eye, Punkin standing in the middle of the "garden", munching on a zucchini. Oops. And that doesn't even take into account that they just might decide that was the place to do their business. Also, a garden created with either of these options would mean "stoop labor" for me. I'd be down on my hands and knees trying to pull weeds or harvest veggies that grow close to or under the ground.

So, those two options have been ruled out. Recently I ran across an idea to use what I guess are "horse troughs". Or at least they are galvanized troughs. They look like this:

 

 

They measure 2 feet x 2 feet x 3feet. Which means I would be working at least 2 feet above ground level to weed and harvest and the pups would be hard put to do any damage. They aren't cheap though I found one that's 71 gallons with free shipping on Amazon for about $110. In that they're galvanized, I think they would last at least til I am "too old" to be able to mess with a garden. The idea gets kind of exciting when you think that you could buy these in multiples and really have a lot of raised growing space. Of course, I would probably be stuck buying one a year til I had "enough" but still........it's a fun concept to consider. And, though I'll bet most people find the concept difficult, Las Vegas does have a feed/seed store. I wonder what one would cost there? Surely I could haul one home in the van! 

Anyway, they come in all sorts of sizes. I found one that's 6 feet long x two feet wide x two feet deep. That amount of planting space would certainly give a beginning gardener a good start. I'm not exactly a beginning gardener (I had a garden when DD was small.) but it's been a long time. How I long for the taste and quality of home grown veggies..........

Oh, well, wishing for something that is at least 10 months away is not a great use of time or brain power. I should think about today!

I may have mentioned here that after 8 years, I am being dumped from my ACOT store. I'm not alone and I'm not being punished or anything. Fact is, ACOT is closing it's digital side come April 30. I've been doing a bit of store shopping, but not much really. One of my creative team ladies is a designer in her own right. She recommended the store in which she sells to me and recommended me to them. So, I now have a destination. They love my designs and say they will be "thrilled" to have me. I like a good many things about the store including that they seem to have a sense of "community" about them with an active forum. I do not love their previews, LOL. They look good, but they're a funky size as compared to what I'm used to seeing in other stores. This means redoing my previews. And before they can be redone, I have to figure out how to adapt what I have to this size. Yes, this has kept me busy for quite a while this morning! 

I easily jerryrigged my wrapper. No problem with that. However, figuring out how to resize my saved preview files to fit the new size is proving to be a challenge to my brain. I probably need to be wearing my oxygen thingie. Perhaps more oxygen to the old brain cells would make solving this problem easier, LOL. (These days, I tend to strip that thing off while I'm sitting at the desk and only put it back on when it's time to wander about the house for some reason.) If that doesn't work, maybe I need more caffeine? 

Actually, I may have solved this particular brain teaser. I'm just going to have to experiment a bit more to see if what I think will work will actually work, LOL. So, that's one of my design-related tasks for the day. 

I need to go to the pharmacy and pick up my new prescriptions. I am pretty anxious to get them. There is another round of Lacix which will hopefully help with the swollen feet. They are much improved but I want them "normal" as of NOW. And one prescription marks the beginning of increasing my thyroid meds so that my whole body becomes more functional. The thyroid is like the traffic cop of the body, regulating respiration, heart beat, metabolism, and much more. I love imagining myself with more energy and not being cold all the time! 

There is much that needs done around here. But, with my current energy level, all the big stuff looks positively overwhelming. I am frustrated with projects that should be done in one day taking multiple days. More energy/strength would certainly be a help. Particularly now because I am unnaturally "weak" after battling pneumonia for nearly 3 months..........

So, plans for today. Well, I started vacuuming "the whole house" a few days ago. This turned out to be one of those "projects" that take multiple days when they should be able to be done quickly. I guess I'll try again........

Of course, the kitchen always needs help. And, the desk.......... Today is "payday" for my SSI so I can now pay bills with gay abandon. And, then, if I can make progress in those areas, I think I might try to do some dusting in the living room and dining room. It's well past time for that! 

There will also be deleting of e-mails, unzipping and organizing digital files, and all my usual chores. 

So, that's it for now. I'm off to get started on my quest for answers to my digital design problem as well as my quest for cleanliness and order in this house. YOU be BLESSED today in whatever you do!

Better Day.......

 

Well, folks, yesterday was a tough day. I woke up with something resembling a side stitch which hurt whenever I took more than a shallow breath. I prayed about it; I rebuked it; I took ibuprofen. Nothing budged it. It felt for all the world like a muscle spasm. I don't know if that is even in the realm of possibility. Are lungs made of muscle tissue? I haven't been able to find an answer to that. You can probably guess how much I got done yesterday. And, God forbid I needed to sneeze or cough. OUCH! However, I kept a close eye on my "oximeter" and the level of oxygen in my blood stream did not suffer and it's still good this morning. So, I've thrown out any thought that the pain is indicative of a pneumonia recurrence. Ain't happenin'!

I was supposed to do a tax return last night. I love these folks and they are BAC's so if we had nothing else to talk about, we'd still be able to hold an exciting conversation about Jesus. Besides, I was really looking forward to their arrival for a selfish reason. I do not have anyone hanging around here with whom to agree in prayer. However, the Bible indicates that praying in agreement with someone multiplies the effectiveness of our prayers. So, before anything else, I planned on asking them to agree with me in prayer over this pain. 

Well, the husband was sick. So, they called to cancel. We rescheduled for next week, same time. However, I did get her to pray in agreement via phone over the "side stitch". And it did get better. Breathing, as long as it was not a deep breath, became pain free. 

I finally gave up fighting in favor of a muscle relaxer at bedtime. That took care of it. So, if lung tissue doesn't have the capacity to "spasm" then I would have to think maybe the muscle tissue that surrounds my lungs was in spasm. Otherwise, what difference would a muscle relaxer make? None at all, I suspect. It is still with me this morning but only when I cough or sneeze. Of course, we know that the lung tissue is still trying to recover from double pneumonia so it's not hard to believe that a spasming muscle squeezing on the lungs would hurt........... Who knows? I'm an "expert" on MY muscle spasms, but this it totally off the beaten trail and a far cry from my area of "expertise". 

My feet and legs are still swelling. The swelling is less severe than it was a few weeks ago, but my poor feet and legs are sore from swelling yesterday, the day before, three weeks ago, and like that. So, even the lessened amount of swelling I'm experiencing now hurts. But, this too shall pass. 

My skin......... My skin is wrecked. Just totally wrecked. I knew it was bad on my feet and legs where they've been swollen. What I didn't realize is that it's wrecked pretty much everywhere. I can't vouch for my buttocks or back, but my arms, chest, etc., are all peeling, just like the feet and legs. My comfort is that once I finish "molting", I'll have fresh new soft skin in all those places. 

I did do a little work around the house yesterday, but very little. Just some kitchen clean up and some desk straightening. Mostly I worked on design. I started a new kit. Ran across a very pretty photo with great colors in it. I couldn't resist pulling a color palette from the photo. And, once I had that, I couldn't resist playing with it. So, I now have 16 patterned papers waiting for some solids and some elements. 

This morning, I am behaving like a sane person. I am finishing up the Mother's Day kit so that I don't have 3 going at once. It has been quality checked and the solids are made so now I am working on alphas. 2 down, 3 to go. It's a really pretty kit with what I think might be a unique color palette for Mother's Day kits. 

I'm not planning to even think about what needs done in this house til I get these alphas done and the working file for the alpha preview made. I don't want to be distracted. The only thing I am doing around here, so far, is trying to make sure SOMETHING in each room I enter is in better shape when I leave. It's not much, but, for now, I'll take it.

In my spare time, I am reading a new book. It's called Love the Home You Have. It talks about how many of us have a "dream" house and do not appreciate the home we have because it doesn't measure up to our "dream". Well, that would certainly describe my home. If I had thousands, oh the things I could improve! However, I think I DO appreciate this house, no matter how much I don't like the way it looks. This house was a gift from God and has been exactly what I needed for many years. I might wish for some other house, but I have a sneaky suspicion this is my "forever" home. I just need it to measure up to God's standards of cleanliness and order. And, THAT, my friends is a me problem. Whatever comes beyond that is gravy. Anyway, the book is written by Melissa Michaels and is a good read. You can find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

So, that's it for now. I'm going to get back to making glitter and creating alphas for the Mother's Day kit. YOU be BLESSED today!

Oh, THAT doctor........

Yes, he did actually FINALLY show up. It was way more like 3ish than like 11ish. His office personnel took the hit for "forgetting" to call me to tell me he had been held up. Okay, giving him the benefit of the doubt. He was actually congenial yesterday. Phew! I was not looking forward to spending time with the pissed off person he was last time. 

He concurs that the lungs are clear. He re-upped the lacix prescription in an effort to deal with the swelling in the feet and legs. And, wonder of wonders, he was shocked at my TSH reading. I have known for two years (ever since the two pretend doctors at the local university hospital changed my dosage) that it was not right. But, let me tell you, it was WAY off. Endocrinologists recommend a reading between .42 and 4.12. My reading was 31. I'd say that's WAY off! So, slowly, we're going to raise the dose of thyroid meds. I would say we're raising them REALLY slowly, but that generates more Medicare billings, you know? But, at least we're raising them. Bit by bit, I should start to become something more like the person I used to be. This computes in my little brain to something akin to miraculous. Thank God for Medicare which paid for the lab test! 

Saturday Morning: I am COLD. I am often cold when there is no logical reason for it. Right now I have the heat on and the thermostat set at 78. Right. Cold with no logical reason. Now I know there is a logical reason. Being illogically cold is a side effect of an undermedicated thyroid. That means that there is hope. At some point in my future (perhaps more than a year in my future, given the snail's pace at which this doc is working to correct the problem) I will no longer be undermedicated and my body will react more normally. I crawled into bed last night, covered by a sheet, a down comforter, a quilted bedspread and my wubby and, yes, you guessed it--I was cold. Isn't this fun? Chills that took quite a while to fade..........

So, what will I do with this gift of a day? Well, hopefully, more than I did yesterday. Come to think of it, getting that thyroid dose squared away will help with the lethargy that is my constant companion and with which I struggle day in and day out. I should turn into a real fireball one of these days. Can't wait and can't wait for the thyroid "brain fog" to lift.........

In the kitchen, I want to work on clearing the counters and vacuuming the floor. I have to go stand in front of the counters and stare at them with the sole purpose of seeing what's there that ought to be somewhere else. Then I can proceed to put whatever it is away. And, I want to vacuum in preparation for scrubbing the floor. I have been too unwell to do much cooking out there so there are no spills to scrub up, but plenty of dog hair, LOL. 

Speaking of vacuuming, I meant to hit that hard yesterday. Yeah, well, "meant to" is the operative phrase there. It didn't happen. So, general vacuuming and then around the house with the edge tool. There is always dog hair that settles around the baseboards..........

And, of course, the surface of the desk. Yes, a daily struggle. I should be able to improve it somewhat. 

I think, too, I will try to do some shredding. I haven't gone after that in a while......... And I want to get the piles of shredable stuff on the other side of the office gone! 

IF I get all that taken care of, perhaps I can work on that pile of stuff that's been sitting at the back end of the hall for months. I decided to sort out some toys back in January. Then I got sick, and the stuff has been sitting there ever since. It would be lovely to have that gone, like bagged up and into the van, awaiting the moment I can take it all to the charity drop off..........

The Good News and The Bad News:

The Good News: I have discovered that the Chevron convenience store at the end of the street sells Krispy Kreme donuts, my absolute favorite.

The Bad News: I have discovered that the Chevron convenience store at the end of the street sells Krispy Kreme donuts, my absolute favorite. 

Just finished uploading the latest kit to ACOT. I'll be back to show that to you later. In the meantime, YOU be BLESSED.