Thursday, November 1, 2012

HALLOWEEN






So we only had 14 Trick or Treaters last night.  This is the lowest number we have ever had in this house.  (31 years)  Which led me to remember Halloween growing up.

Homes crammed next to each other (although bigger yards than now), one after another make for a
lot of families with kids.  Growing up, my 2 older brothers and I would take off with large grocery bags as soon as it got dark and RUN (seriously run) house to house.  I remember it was hard for me to keep
up.  They were constantly yelling at me to hurry up, since they couldn't leave me.  This probably started when I was 6; and my brothers were 8 and 10.  And it continued until I
was deemed old enough to go by myself, or to be stuck taking my younger brother.  We had those stiff plastic masks held on with a thin elastic band, that were sweaty inside 5 seconds after putting them on, and had tiny eye holes.  So you're sweating, running, and you can't see where you're going.  And you're trying to hang on to a paper sack that's getting heavier by the minute.

We hit as many houses as we could before dinner; and returned home to eat and dump out our bags.  Anything we didn't want or that was unwrapped, we donated to the bowl by the front door to be given out again. After dinner, we took off again until we had hit every house in the large neighborhood.  Blocks and blocks of houses.  When we would get to a front door, there would most likely be 15 other kids there and more coming up the sidewalk.  I know that when I was put on front door duty it was difficult to close the front door because just as you finished handing out candy to one group, there was another bunch.  Typically, we had over 300 Trick or Treaters every Halloween.  The light was turned off when we ran out of candy, or it was decided it was late enough.

Certainly different from today's Halloween.  I can't imagine letting my small children go out by themselves; and for hours at a time.  Now it's politically incorrect to even call the holiday by its
name.  It has become the Fall Festival or some other name; and the kids aren't even allowed to wear
costumes to school anymore.

I predict in 10 years (or less) the door-to-door Trick or Treating will be no more.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

PAIN

The pain is so bad today, I just want to cry.  But I know from experience that it won't help.
I need to be calm.  Besides, crying upsets the dog.  But I find myself whimpering a lot.


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

EGGS

Sometimes I just crave scrambled eggs.  But I'm too lazy, or my back hurts too much to stand
at the stove for 15 minutes to cook them.
(Never install ceramic tile on your kitchen floor.  It's just like standing on cement - very hard on
your back.)
So, today I decided to experiment.  Three eggs, salt & pepper,  and a little milk whipped with a fork.
Paper towel over the top.  Put in the
microwave for 2 minutes.  Lovely!
And easy to eat when your face/teeth hurt with Trigeminal Neuralgia.



Friday, September 28, 2012

"ELEMENTARY"

So, we watched the new series "Elementary" last night on CBS.  TERRIBLE!  It could have been
an interesting show, except for 2 things.

1)  The sound quality was so poor it was unbelievable.
If you wrapped a muffler around your head three times, and then tried to listen it would be about the
same as this show.  This made the female lead very difficult to understand when she wasn't yelling.
We kept turning up the volume; but it didn't help.  That just made it loud and muffled.

Harv and I kept looking at each other.
"Am I going deaf?"
"No, the sound is really bad."

2)  The thick accent and staccato delivery of the male lead made him IMPOSSIBLE to understand
90% of the time.

Obviously, this made for a frustrating viewing experience.  The only reason we watched for the
whole episode was because there was absolutely nothing else on to watch.  (I'm so happy I pay
through the nose every month to my cable service, only to have nothing worth watching!)
A complete waste of 60 minutes of my time.  Next week we'll turn off the TV, and read a book.
I predict a quick demise for this series.

Friday, September 21, 2012

THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS

The good news is that I have had very few migraines in the last 2 months.
The bad news is that after 8 weeks of a Trigeminal Neuralgia episode, I only had 2 weeks respite before it started up again.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

SLEEP OR LACK THEREOF


Having a hard time sleeping these days.  I'm used to sleeping on my side; and right now spine
issues are giving me pain in both upper arms.  So I lay on one side until the pain wakes me.  Then
I switch to the other side until pain wakes me.  Then I lay on my back.  Hmmm, that won't work.
Then I look at the ceiling.  Too tired to get up; but can't sleep.  So then I start obsessing about
things because everything looks worse in the dark of night.  This doesn't make for a restful night.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

SPIDERS

I completely understand.

We used to have these big hairy spiders in our basement.  I'd go down there to do something, and
out of the corner of my eye I'd see something scuttle really fast across the floor.  Now the thing with
scuttling is that you have first the startle, and then the screaming meemies as you realize what it was.
HATE spiders!  And these suckers were HUGE!  As in - you could saddle and ride them.

The worst was when Cal and family (including babies) visited with a baby monitor.  Apparently,
baby monitors emit a frequency that scares the beejeezes out of bugs in the walls and brings them all
out in the open.  When I had seen the sixth big hairy spider in one day, that was it.  Since then we
have sprayed every 3 months for bugs.  Now it is rare to even see a tiny spider or earwig in the house; and they are always dead ones.  These bugs cross the threshold where it is sprayed, go a couple of
inches and die.   HA, take that, Bug!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

PACKING PEANUTS

Packing peanuts are evil!  They escape boxes in all directions.  They stick to anything and
everything - except for the hand trying to pick them up.




Packing peanuts should be banned, if for no other reason than the irritation factor.

Monday, August 6, 2012

GAVIN

On a cheerier note, Grandson Gavin took his very LAST dose of anti-seizure medicine this morning.




That was a long time coming.  He is now a healthy, happy boy.

MORTALITY

About a year ago, one of my friends unexpectedly lost her husband to a heart attack.  It was so out
of the blue with no warning; that it shocked us.  Now, another friend has just found out that her
husband has lung cancer, Stage IV, inoperable.
This kind of news makes us think of our own mortality; that each day takes us a little closer to a
visit with the grim reaper.  That's a rather unsettling thought.
I always felt that death was akin to childbirth in that no one can help you with it.
Your body and mind have to deal with it alone.  Once committed, you can't change your
mind.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

NEURALGIA UPDATE

I'm feeling much better today.  Medication down to every 8 hours instead of 6.  Jaw, neck,  and lower teeth still zinging.  This has been going on since July 6.  Hope it's almost over for this episode.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

BURNED BRIDGES

                                             
                                                     Exactly!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

STILL...

having face pain.  So I'm going to post a couple of pictures here instead of ranting about something.





You know those scrubby holders you have in the kitchen....well this cat is one of them.
This is the little scene I put in the cat.  The cat lady reminds me of my grandmother.  She
had short gray hair, and always dressed in long black dresses.  2 1/2" tall at the tallest
point.

Monday, July 16, 2012

THAT person...

I've become THAT person.  That person who has prescription bottles on her night stand.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

FACIAL NERVE PAIN

The Trigeminal Neuralgia is back with a vengeance.  Nerve pain on the right side of my face includes eye socket, cheek bones, ear, all right side teeth, jaw, chin, lips, neck, and collar bone.  Thank God I
have some pain pills this time around; but they only take out the worst of the pain.
Here's a short description:

"Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also called tic douloureux, is a condition that is characterized by intermittent, shooting pain in the face.
Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. The trigeminal nerve sends impulses of touch, pain, pressure, and temperature to the brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead, and around the eyes.

What Causes Trigeminal Neuralgia?

The most frequent cause of trigeminal neuralgia is a blood vessel pressing on the nerve near the brain stem. Over time, changes in the blood vessels of the brain can result in blood vessels rubbing against the trigeminal nerve root. The constant rubbing with each heartbeat wears away the insulating membrane of the nerve, resulting in nerve irritation.

What Are the Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia causes a sudden, severe, electric shock-like, or stabbing pain that lasts several seconds. The pain can be felt on the face and around the lips, eyes, nose, scalp, and forehead. Symptoms can be brought on when a person is brushing the teeth, putting on makeup, touching the face, swallowing, or even feeling a slight breeze.
Trigeminal neuralgia is often considered one of the most painful conditions seen in medicine. Usually, the pain is felt on one side of the jaw or cheek, but some people experience pain at different times on both sides. The attacks of pain may be repeated one after the other. They may come and go throughout the day and last for days, weeks, or months at a time. At times, the attacks can disappear for months or years. The disorder is more common in women than in men and rarely affects anyone younger than 50."
Now you know.  Here's a picture of the Trigeminal Nerve: 


Going back to bed with an ice pack.  Later...

Monday, July 9, 2012

HOT, HOT, HOT

Yesterday it was 105 degrees F here in Spokane.  This is so weird.  I don't ever remember it being
this hot.  Today promises to be another scorcher.  Just opening the door to let the dog out, it takes
your breath away.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

WASHING MACHINE, PART 3

I got my new machine last night.  I am now in the process of re-washing EVERYTHING.  But so happy to have a machine that actually cleans laundry.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

July 4th

So, today is July 4th.  Harv and I are just chilling at home.  As usual.
I remember July 4th when I was a kid.  My Mom's extended family for years would go to Coeur d'Alene Lake for swimming and a big picnic.  If we rode with an Aunt and Uncle, we
would get there early enough for the parade.  We usually froze our tails off; but I never passed up
an opportunity to swim.
The best fireworks I ever saw were there one year when we were allowed to stay late with cousins.  We stretched out on the sand and watched the fireworks over the water.  Spectacular!  That was when they used to do it up BIG; and the show went on for quite a while.
A close second for fireworks was Spring and Summer 1974.  Spokane hosted the World's Fair; and
I was able to get a season pass for a steal because I was working a second job for the concert promoters for several weeks.  Cal was 4; and we would go downtown to the Fair almost every day/evening.  At 9:00 PM every night they put on a fireworks show.  We would watch that show going off over the river; and it was a great show every night.  It gave me goosebumps.  Wonder if Cal remembers that.
I can't remember when it was I last saw fireworks; but I remember being unimpressed.  Maybe that's my age, or maybe the shows just aren't the size they used to be.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

WASHING MACHINE, PART 2

So, if you read my post of June 12, you know about my HATE for my new washing machine.
The good news is that Lowe's will trade out this machine for a new large-capacity, AGITATOR one.
The bad news is that it had to be ordered; and I will have to 'wash' my clothes in the crappy one for 2 more weeks.

Friday, June 22, 2012

SCOOTER

So, Harv bought this little beauty for me.  It has a lot of zip, which surprised me.  It can be taken
apart into 5 pieces; the heaviest is only 28 pounds and it will fit easily into the car trunk.  This will save my back in large stores and long hotel hallways.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012



Now, THAT'S a father!

FATHER'S DAY - NOT SO MUCH

So Father's Day was this last Sunday.  Now, Harv is a father; Cal is a father; Harv has a step-father.  End of my thinking about the subject.  Wait...I had a father too.  No, I didn't.  There was a person who
lived in the same house I did growing up.  He was an adult male.  He was a bastard.  He was a harsh, mean, egotistical, cheating, controlling, sadistic asshole.  And that's the good stuff.  I can feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about him.  He made my growing up years a pure hell.  When he would enter the house, you could feel the tension descend like a thick fog.  Your safest bet was to hide out in your room.  Out of sight, out of mind hopefully.

I never considered him Dad.  That's how my mother would refer to him:  "Your Dad...".  But he never
interacted with me in a positive way.  He never considered me anything but slave labor and someone he could push around and snarl at.  I was always envious of my cousins who had nice dads.  Dads who would speak kindly to them and take an interest in them.

He colored my thinking about men.  They say girls marry men just like their fathers.  I sure didn't want
to marry anyone like him.  I went the exact opposite way, thank God.

Because of him, I planned from the age of 11 how to get the hell out of that house as quickly as possible.  Because of him, I didn't go to college; but took every secretarial class in school I could.  That way I could get a job as soon as I graduated; and escape.  Which is what I did.

After my mother died, I never had to deal with him again.  And I didn't.

So it was 2 days after the holiday that I actually spared him a thought.  And it was accidental because
I had been reading about other people's fathers.  I only think of my father with a deep, dark hate.
So, Father's Day - not so much for me.

Monday, June 18, 2012

So Puck is shedding.  No.  He is SHEDDING!  Hair everywhere.  Who knew a short-haired dog
could leave so much hair laying around.  Apparently he has a double coat.  I can feel the hair in
my eyes, in my throat and mouth, in my nose, and on my bare arms.  Ick!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Am I the only one who is irritated by e-mails and e-Books that are apparently written by
illiterates?
I read a "book" last night that seemed to be written by a 9-year-old.  And not a smart one.
The "book" turned out to be only a sample.  It was a good thing because I wanted to strangle
the author by the time I was done.  The author had no clue about past tense.  Where was the
editor?  Aren't they supposed to correct grammar and spelling?  Reading is supposed to be
relaxing; but it just seems to frustrate me when I'm reading e-Books.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Leafy Trees

I really love it when my backyard trees leaf out in the Spring.  Because then I don't have to look
at all the crap in my neighbor's yard!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

PUCK


We got Puck when he was 4 years old.  We learned about him from a friend of a friend; and were told what a nice and friendly dog he was.  (I don't know what dog they saw; but it wasn't Puck!)  We  had lost Murphy (our Golden) the year before; and the house was empty.  We love Puck to death; and he is my husband's constant companion.  But if we had known all his issues; we would have passed.  Puck HATES people.  Especially men.  He loves me, my husband, our daughter.  He tolerates our 6-year-old grandson.  He dislikes and distrusts our son-in-law.

When we got Puck (2 years ago), he had a serious ear infection which he had had for several years apparently.  We finally got that cleared up after many vet visits, ear flushes,  and medication.  However, there were many more issues.

He loved Harv when he was with him.  But if Harv was out of his sight for an hour or more, it was like Puck forgot who he was.  There was growling and barking; and I would have to restrain him.  Every day when Harv came home from work, we would go through this all over again.  (Doggy dementia?)  It took about 2 weeks before Puck 'remembered' Harv.

This dog is very aggressive and protective of me.  He is a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix.  (His mom was Belgian Malinois; and the vet figured the German Shepherd part.)  So if he hears, sees,
or just thinks something/someone is near his territory, he goes ballistic.  God forbid someone comes to
the door!  I always hated it if I went to someone's house, and their dogs were barking their furry butts
off on the other side of the door.  Now, I have that dog.  We have tried everything to break him of this, without success.  If I have a friend come to the house, he feels he has to be between me and the new person.  He was going to go after the UPS guy the other day when he advanced toward me.  I thought
we had finally got him over this because on Halloween after about 3 groups of kids came to the door, he calmed down and enjoyed seeing them.  However, on reflection I realized Harv was opening the
door to these strangers.  I wasn't.  He is so protective of me, that I can't go to his Agility classes.  If I'm there, Puck keeps his eyes constantly on me instead of what he's supposed to be doing.  At one point, he jumped over a short fence to get to me.  I guess he figured there were too many other dogs and strangers about; and he felt compelled to be at my side.  Just in case.  There is a puppy next door that
Puck likes.  But if I'm within 10 feet of the fence and puppy, Puck attacks the fence to keep the puppy
away from me.

Puck was immediately started in obedience classes after we got him.  He had a few commands; but we wanted him to be more than a dog who could just sit on command.  He has progressed through many
classes and trainers, and has now been doing Agility for months.  We have had at least 4 dog trainers tell us unsolicited that he was abused before we got him.  That would explain a lot.

So, he had commands when we got him; but no vocabulary.  We had to teach him "outside", "treat",  car, upstairs, etc.  Now, if he is asked "Do you want to go to class?"; he runs to the car.  Once Harv
is home from work, Puck thinks Harv is on his watch.  If Harv is going to leave the house, Puck thinks
it's just not right unless he gets to go too.

During the day, Puck can be found close to me.  Apparently he feels I need supervision and protection.

In November Puck developed a growth on his leg; and after surgery, it was discovered that it was cancer.  The vet told us that it will probably grow back, more aggressive this time.  Since the tumor was surrounding tendons etc.; the vet was unable to get it all.  So right now we're just hoping that Puck
has many more years with us.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Just sayin'...


Last night we had a terrible thunder storm.  For over an hour there was rolling thunder that came closer and closer; and then the downpour and after that, hail.
Today, the clouds look really odd, dark and close to the ground.  Right now, more rolling thunder.
The dog is NOT happy.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012


So the prices have gone up and up on eBooks.  WHY?  There are no printing, binding, paper, or distribution costs.  So why are we being gouged by the publishers and retailers?  Because they CAN.  No other reason besides greed.

Then to add insult to injury, the editing is half-assed or none at all.  When reading a book, I don't appreciate being constantly pulled from the story because of poor grammar, spelling or mis-placed sentences.  So, People, here is my protest and I hope yours:



JULY eBOOK FREEDOM


FREEDOM FROM HIGH PRICES AND

POOR EDITING.

DON'T BUY ANY eBOOKS IN JULY.

SEND A MESSAGE TO PUBLISHERS &

RETAILERS.

Rant of the day:
We just bought a new washing machine.  I HATE THIS MACHINE!  WITH A PASSION!
It is a:
GE Hydro Wave Washing Machine, LoWater Wash & Infusor 3.6 CU FT, Model: GLWN50509M1WS
This was not a cheap machine. I LOVED my last GE Washer; but it gave up after about 5 years. So I needed another washer right away. I sent my husband to Lowe's; and they had no
GE agitator washing machines that were large capacity.
So my husband came home with this. I've had it for less than 2 months. I HATE THIS MACHINE.
It makes a LOT of noise. Not "whoosh" as GE claims. It is a very loud squealing.
It doesn't hold nearly as much as my last machine, even though it is advertised as 3.6 CU Ft. because you have to
stack the clothes around the sides so they don't cover that center infuser.  Also because there is
so little water in the wash load, things do not get clean.  
It has already sliced up a King comforter. Apparently because during the spin cycle the fabric made contact with the top inner edge of the tub, which is rough plastic. It sliced ribbons in the comforter like a razor blade.
Because of the low water used, I couldn't use my powder detergent, even though it was HE. The machine just WOULD NOT rinse it out. So I bought liquid HE detergent. I kept using less and less of it; and the machine still doesn't rinse the detergent out of the clothes. When you take them out, you can feel that detergent residue on them. That's with using the
2nd rinse on every load. So I end up NOT using less water because I have to rinse twice instead of
just once as I had before.
Because of the way it washes, it crams the clothes into a small space on the bottom and wads them together. It presses deep wrinkles into the clothes; and I now have to iron everything when before I could get away with no ironing.
I don't think it is too much to ask from an expensive machine to get clean clothes without soap scum and damage!  Just because it's NEW and HI-TECH doesn't mean it's good!

This blog is blah, blah about various things that bother me, I find interesting or funny, or whatever.  If you don't like it, take a hike.