Monthly Archives: January 2013

It might snow in Georgia!

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I grew up here in Georgia, so I am used to the weather changes and everything else that comes with them. When the weatherman or woman mentions that next ‘four-letter’ word (snow), it sets off the mad rush to the grocery store for bread and milk.  it reminds me of one of those old movies that involves a really good sale. There will be a mass of people banging on the store door waiting for someone to open it and then trampling all over each other to get inside.

I have an appointment in a few hours, I plan to stop at the grocery store for a few things. I’ll take some pictures if I can and post them later.

When I was younger, our weather could get bad, quick. It would shut the entire city down for weeks. Now that technology has improved and the weather is lighter; the need to clear out the grocery store, at the mere mention of snow is long gone.

The other side of this story is when there is a bit of ice and snow on the ground, remember how to drive! There are other people out on the road. If you aren’t thinking of your safety, think about those around you! Everyone needs to get home!

To All My Faithful Readers

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Please forgive the housekeeping issues I have put in place. Have patience with me for a few months and I’ll take the restrictions off. I had an issue I became unhappy with and I felt it necessary to safeguard myself and the comments you all leave for me. I maybe absent from commenting and posting for a while, but this incident had made me realize I need a break. Gonna work on my novel. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you in a bookstore(if they still exist when I get finished). Have a great month!

Find your Voice

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Today has been a bit of an eye opener for me. I had a fairly decent day. Some so so news from the doctor and got to do my favorite thing, SHOP! I love to shop and window shop. They both relax me. If I can’t buy anything, I get the extra exercise.

Today, my shopping trip involved my mother. While out with mom for shopping and lunch, I finally realized why she can make me mad at the drop of a hat. Since the brain surgery, my voice has not been the same. Talking is a struggle at times. I had a good singing voice and I can no longer sing without scaring the neighborhood cats. It’s like my attempts at running, you do not want to see it. My singing, well, you really do not want to hear it. For years, I couldn’t sing a note, but since attending church and singing regularly. my voice is slowly returning. Still not good, but better.

Well, while mom and I were out today, she attempted to finish every sentence I started and talked over me every time I tried to start speaking. She is just attempting to be helpful and not let anything cause me further stress, but what I need to do is talk to her and the rest of my family about letting me speak. I may speak slowly, but give me a chance. Take the time to listen. The old me is still in this body and I have a voice I want to use.

Mom even took a pen out of my hand today to put the cap on for me. I couldn’t believe it. When I left rehab, they told me a few things to keep in mind; keep moving and if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. The ground rules about me will be coming out in a few days. The time has come to get everyone on the same page!

 

 

Insomnia versus Zombie-head

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I have no trouble taking a nap during the day, but I have been up doing housework, running errands, shopping, and/or exercising.Most days, all the above. I get tired easily during the day.

As the day comes to an end, I cannot turn my head off to save my life. My sweet hubby is next to me sawing logs. The dog is at our feet snoring in tune with Barry. Hear I sit, typing up a storm. The universe does not seem to be lining up for me tonight.

You’d think with some of the medication I’m on, I’d be zonked out cold with everyone else in the house.  Mom is even out for the night.

Dad has trouble sleeping, as well as both my sisters. I usually can nod right off, but not tonight.

I had an adverse reaction to one of the drugs I was on and of course, my brilliant doctors have decided to play with my medication again. I call my neurologist brilliant, because he told me he is and that I’m lucky to get to see him.

I can’t wait to see what he wants to replace it with. Baclofen was working wonderfully and my brilliant neurologist wanted to see what would happen if I came off it. I was back on the drug within a month, but now suddenly, my lower extremities resemble those of an 80-year-old woman.

I truly do not like taking the drug, but it took some of my pain away and didn’t give me ‘Zombie-head’. It had other side effects that were pretty miserable.

Now they will be looking for a substitute. I guess this is just part of the plan and I do not need to question it. I need to take one day at a time, read my Bible and pray for patience. A few sleepless nights won’t hurt my too, too bad. After all, I can stay in bed all day if I want.

Sunshine

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MC900441790I love to see the sun popping through the clouds.The birds are active, looking for food in our feeders. I wonder if it is OK to put food out for the birds yet. I’ve soaked the feeders in bleach and cleaned them up. If there were any bird flu germs, they should be gone. I may just start over with new feeders.

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The sun is spectacular today, but it is way too cold too get out and enjoy it. It is so sunny and bright, the light is hurting my eyes as it comes through the windows. My knockout roses on the porch are coming out. We’ll have blooms in no time.

 

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The lantana on the side of the house needs to be trimmed, so that the new growth can come through. Sometime in the early spring, I’ll have to get my nephew to help us with fresh mulch.

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The Chinese Fringe Flower blooms year round. Not exactly sure when to prune it. I have a few small ones popping up, we’ll need to transplant them. Today is giving me a little touch of spring fever. Although, I need to do a few more eye exercises to see if I can get rid of this sensitivity, I’d love to enjoy the day a little more.

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A tale from my past work history…..all names have been changed to protect privacy

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alphabets-bear-2-864032I honestly do not remember any names to tell, so I’m really protecting privacy. I used to work for a local mental-health agency. I was part of the walk-in crisis team.

alphabets-bear-2-864032One bright sunny day, a woman walked in the front door, walked up to the desk an proceeded to take every stitch of her clothing off. Next she picked up a half-gallon container she had brought with her and proceeded to pour it all over herself and the front desk. She pulled a lighter from somewhere and lit it. She stated’ they are following me and if you do not get my some help, I’m gonna take you up with me.’

alphabets-bear-2-864032The receptionist ran into my office in a panic. I walked out front of the front desk. The lady proceeded to repeat what she ha told the receptionist and poured more liquid on herself. The lighter was still flaming. 

alphabets-bear-2-864032I walked over to the young woman, leaned in and blew her lighter out. I took it away from her, as well as the jug of liquid. I suggested to the woman to have a seat, I’d get yo her as quick ad I could. Needless to say, she was next.

Daily Prompt: Breaking the Law

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Think about the last time you broke a rule (a big one, not just ripping the tags off your pillows). Were you burned, or did things turn out for the best?

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Backseat Betty made me do it! My stepson graduated from basic training and we took a road trip to Kentucky to watch the ceremony. My mom (Backseat Betty) went with us. 

After the ceremony there was a problem with his orders, so he could not leave. Barry stayed with him waiting for his orders and mom, I and Frank’s then girlfriend headed back to Georgia in the dark. We had an eight-hour ride ahead of us with my mother at my side. 

By the time we hit the Georgia State line, I was ready to get out of the car. Fortunately, we were now only three hours from home. The closer we got to home, the faster I drove and mom kept telling me I was speeding every thirty seconds. By the time we got to the Tucker, Ga. City Limits, the police stopped ignoring me. I was pulled over almost immediately. 

I tried to explain the situation to the officer, with my mother chattering to him behind me telling him I’d been speeding since Kentucky. I got the largest speeding ticket, I had ever received, from this officer. I said ‘Thank you’, slowed down and headed home with mom in my ear lecturing me on the dangers of driving fast.

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We were at my house within 30 minutes. I got her bag out of the car, put it in hers and said ‘Go Home Now!’ She didn’t argue, she left quickly.

I definitely felt burned by mom, not the cop. If Backseat could have kept her mouth shut, it might not have been so bad. Today, I flat-out refuse to be in a car with my mother longer than one hour! Let my sisters take her on long trips! 

A Little Girl’s Red-Fringed Boots

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I met the sweetest little girl tonight while attending church. Our church is always bustling with children, from wee-little ones to teenagers ready to hit the world running. The teenagers all dress alike, but they have so many personalities. They all seem to be incredibly good kids.

The wee little ones are always the most precious. Dressed by mommy or daddy in Sunday’s finest. Hairdo’s adorable enough to match their cute little outfits. Bows or flowers for the little girls and the little boys with their ‘spit-shine’ side part trying to make them look like little men. Just adorable.

Today was baby dedication Sunday, and everyone was all dolled up. The color of the day appeared to be red and black. Maybe it had something to do with the falcons playing this afternoon, maybe not. They were just eaten up with cuteness!

This young woman walked in with her mom. She had to be around 6 years old, tall and thin. As she walked past us, I noticed her boots. They did not match her dress, but they were the coolest red-fringed boots I had ever seen. The boots matched nothing she was wearing, so they really stood out!  As she was passing, I called out to her that ‘I love your boots!’

A few minutes later, she came back and started talking to me. Until this point, I had felt the kids just thought of me as the woman in the wheelchair. They were nice, but just ignored me. Almost like they were scared of me. I can be scary, I guess. after all I do walk and talk funny.

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I could not find a picture of red-fringed boots.

Her name was Michelle and she was full of questions about why I needed a wheelchair and what was wrong with me. I answered as many as I could appropriately for someone her age.

Then it was my turn for questions. She thought I was silly when I asked if I could borrow her boots. She giggled said, ‘your feet are too big.’I tried to convince her they would look good with my purple wheelchair, but she just would not give them up. I tried a trade next.

I told her I’d swap my wheelchair for her pretty boots. Her comment was ‘I can’t take your chair, you can’t walk.’ Just adorable. She told Barry he needed to take me shopping and ran back over to her mother.

When church services were over, she ran up behind me, hugged my neck and said I was cool. Made my night, but I still want some boots!

How many one-handed people does it take to change out headlights on a car?

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0511-1201-1903-1206The answer to the above question, at least around here, is two plus one dog to supervise.  Mom has had so many little bumps and bangs to her front fender, that it made it close to impossible to remove the headlights.

Barry tried for over an hour before giving up. He came in defeated. I suggested that he give it one more shot with a little help. In no time, we had the new lights in and working well.

This is just s good example of not getting discouraged and giving up. Barry and I both have weak left hands, but between the two of us we had one good set of hands and got the job done. Making us feel good and saving mom some money.

When I let her know we finished, I suggested she quit hitting things with her front bumper. Her claim was, ‘I didn’t do it’. I just love how she will never admit to doing anything wrong. It is always someone else’s fault. You gotta love her!!!! 🙂