Monday, March 29, 2004
Loving the new place
I really need to unpack stuff but it is hard to get motivated, I am trying to do at least one box a day but even then I will be at it for a month. I just bought some 36 inch tall bookcases on sale and that at least will give me some places to put stuff.
I love the new place, it takes a bit getting use to the stairs but I think in a month or so I will be going up them a lot easier then I do now.... going down may always be difficult.
One nice thing about this place is I am in the outside unit and the way they are designed the only wall I share with my neighbor is the one wall in the living room. Of course I am on top of someone so I am not able to do a lot of stuff when I am most motivated (late late night) like put up shelves and vacuum...LOL
I never realized just how awful the other place was till I was moving out and trust me I have hated that place a long time, the walls never were a decent clean white and having a gas furnace that did not work right did not help them at all. I tried to clean the place as best I could but the fact is the carpet was stained when I moved in and I found when I moved my furniture that anywhere something was against or even near the outside walls there was a type of mold that was imbedded in the paint, even behind a set of bookcases that was 6 inches from the wall. I wonder is some of the horrible cases of bronchitis I had were maybe related to how bad that place was.
The new place is nearly twice as big and it is not just that there is a second bedroom, having tons of storage space is also wonderful, I have maybe 10 times as many kitchen cupboards as I did at the old place.
Book Binge
Ok I am very very tired, my sleep schedule is all screwed up again. I am sleeping in the afternoon and even then it is a bit more like taking a long nap, getting up for a while (few hours, 10 hours) and then going down for another long nap.
I have had a few 24+ hour days recently, the last thing I need is to get manic. I am sure part of it is the fact that I have been on a reading binge, I am now just a few blocks from the mall where they have a really good public library outreach and I can always find a big handful of paperbacks. I go through phases like this where I just read and read till it gives me a headache and start again after a nap, I get so I am not into TV or the computer much.
New Venture
I just started a new business venture with my dad. I am selling vintage costume fun jewelry, right now I am selling it at an antique mall here in town but soon I may expand to antique malls around the area and even to doing a few flea markets. I am also thinking of making a certain type of round purse I have made myself and that I get tons of comments on, this is just some fun side work I can do in my spare time and it is nice doing something with my dad.
I use to have a business making bead (glass and stone) jewelry but the market for handmade jewelry sort of declined and I stopped doing it. One cool thing is some of the necklaces have really funky cool beads and need to be restrung... I have one I really like some of the beads on but it is spaced with these super cheap plastic beads that have gotten all chipped. Part of what I will be doing is remaking some of the stuff, this also includes replacing findings and other repairs. I would never have been able to do this in the old apartment since I would have no place to put anything and now I can set a table up in here with my computer desk and have shelves set up for jewelry and bead storage. It is surprising how just a little change in your living arraignments can make so much difference.
I love the new place, it takes a bit getting use to the stairs but I think in a month or so I will be going up them a lot easier then I do now.... going down may always be difficult.
One nice thing about this place is I am in the outside unit and the way they are designed the only wall I share with my neighbor is the one wall in the living room. Of course I am on top of someone so I am not able to do a lot of stuff when I am most motivated (late late night) like put up shelves and vacuum...LOL
I never realized just how awful the other place was till I was moving out and trust me I have hated that place a long time, the walls never were a decent clean white and having a gas furnace that did not work right did not help them at all. I tried to clean the place as best I could but the fact is the carpet was stained when I moved in and I found when I moved my furniture that anywhere something was against or even near the outside walls there was a type of mold that was imbedded in the paint, even behind a set of bookcases that was 6 inches from the wall. I wonder is some of the horrible cases of bronchitis I had were maybe related to how bad that place was.
The new place is nearly twice as big and it is not just that there is a second bedroom, having tons of storage space is also wonderful, I have maybe 10 times as many kitchen cupboards as I did at the old place.
Book Binge
Ok I am very very tired, my sleep schedule is all screwed up again. I am sleeping in the afternoon and even then it is a bit more like taking a long nap, getting up for a while (few hours, 10 hours) and then going down for another long nap.
I have had a few 24+ hour days recently, the last thing I need is to get manic. I am sure part of it is the fact that I have been on a reading binge, I am now just a few blocks from the mall where they have a really good public library outreach and I can always find a big handful of paperbacks. I go through phases like this where I just read and read till it gives me a headache and start again after a nap, I get so I am not into TV or the computer much.
New Venture
I just started a new business venture with my dad. I am selling vintage costume fun jewelry, right now I am selling it at an antique mall here in town but soon I may expand to antique malls around the area and even to doing a few flea markets. I am also thinking of making a certain type of round purse I have made myself and that I get tons of comments on, this is just some fun side work I can do in my spare time and it is nice doing something with my dad.
I use to have a business making bead (glass and stone) jewelry but the market for handmade jewelry sort of declined and I stopped doing it. One cool thing is some of the necklaces have really funky cool beads and need to be restrung... I have one I really like some of the beads on but it is spaced with these super cheap plastic beads that have gotten all chipped. Part of what I will be doing is remaking some of the stuff, this also includes replacing findings and other repairs. I would never have been able to do this in the old apartment since I would have no place to put anything and now I can set a table up in here with my computer desk and have shelves set up for jewelry and bead storage. It is surprising how just a little change in your living arraignments can make so much difference.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
The new place
Well I am finally actually LIVING in my new place.
I can not believe I was in the other place so long when I realize I am now paying only a little more for a much nicer place.
Living upstairs is going to be interesting that is sure, while I have no problem going UP the stairs (other then being slow) going down is a bit an effort since my balance is not so great and I have to do that great two-step thing, both feet on each step. At least I know it will be great exercise and automatically more then I have been getting everyday...LOL
Living upstairs from people is going to be a bit odd since I am a total night owl, I am trying to keep it down and not keep them awake.
OK one thing I did not think about when I moved in here is the fact that my apt looks right out on a Mental Hospital for teenagers.... can you say noisy recess??? Thank heavens for double paned windows, when they are closed you don't hear much at all.
It is going to be interesting to be living in a big apartment complex but in a way I am lucky since I live in the very front and so my bedroom and computer room look out over the street and only my living room and kitchen look out over the complex but none of the other buildings are right across from mine, they are all caddy-corner so I don't end up looking in anyone's bedroom only a tiny bit of living rooms and vice versa.... this is a bit of a change for me since I have to remember to put on a robe if I have not closed the blinds since I am not use to wearing much at home. ((if you live alone what is the point))
I am kind of drowning in packed boxes and have no idea where most of my stuff is, but I figure I have plenty of time to unpack and get organized.
I can not believe I was in the other place so long when I realize I am now paying only a little more for a much nicer place.
Living upstairs is going to be interesting that is sure, while I have no problem going UP the stairs (other then being slow) going down is a bit an effort since my balance is not so great and I have to do that great two-step thing, both feet on each step. At least I know it will be great exercise and automatically more then I have been getting everyday...LOL
Living upstairs from people is going to be a bit odd since I am a total night owl, I am trying to keep it down and not keep them awake.
OK one thing I did not think about when I moved in here is the fact that my apt looks right out on a Mental Hospital for teenagers.... can you say noisy recess??? Thank heavens for double paned windows, when they are closed you don't hear much at all.
It is going to be interesting to be living in a big apartment complex but in a way I am lucky since I live in the very front and so my bedroom and computer room look out over the street and only my living room and kitchen look out over the complex but none of the other buildings are right across from mine, they are all caddy-corner so I don't end up looking in anyone's bedroom only a tiny bit of living rooms and vice versa.... this is a bit of a change for me since I have to remember to put on a robe if I have not closed the blinds since I am not use to wearing much at home. ((if you live alone what is the point))
I am kind of drowning in packed boxes and have no idea where most of my stuff is, but I figure I have plenty of time to unpack and get organized.
This was written on Thursday the 18th
Stupid Phone Company
The first of the week I called the phone company and asked them to turn my phone off at the old Apt on Saturday the 20th... and turn the phone On at the new apt on the same day.
First they tell me that the same day I ordered the service that I would lose the DSL service for a week and that I would have to wait to get it turned on at the new place for up to 3 weeks.
OK I can live with that but the reason I wanted it off on SATURDAY is I am living here at the old place until then... so what do they do???
TURN THE DAMN THING OFF ON THURSDAY!!!
Not only do I NOT have Internet access but no phone at all, I know a lot of people out there don't have phones, but I have had one since I was like 20 and it really bothers me that I am here alone and don't have a phone. I have never really felt uncomfortable in this place as a safety issue other then a few seconds here and there as I had to listen to drunk screaming college kids outside and a locked door and moving the portable phone to my side took care of that. BUT I hate this feeling of discomfort I have knowing I can not call out if something happens.
It is like a mild version of the feeling when the phone line gets cut in the horror movie...LOL
Yeah I know I am over reacting but so what
Love Line,the SYSTEM and censorship
I seldom listen to love line ((they really need to get some older callers.... I can only take the sexual question of 16 to 22 year olds so long)) but it was on when I came out of the bookstore this even and SYSTEM OF A DOWN was on (well 3 of the 4 anyway) and they were such interesting people. They talked a lot about the Armenian Genocide an issue they are very serious about... I love knowing there are still a few bands out there who have serious thoughts and are willing to express them.
One of the subjects they talked about was the increasing censorship issues.
I am very serious and somewhat shocked and worried about how the media is being censored. I am not a fan of Howard Stern BUT I have to say this, he has a right to say what he says, his show always has warnings that it deals with adult topics and yet as he himself said it is unlikely he will be on the air much longer since the censors are after him for ANYTHING. He made a very good point when he said basically that if you think all this scrutiny and the canceling of his shows was based solely on his language then you are mistaken. There is simply no doubt that he, as well as people like the wonderful Bill Mahr are being censored for their political beliefs. ABC/DISNEY canceled Mahr soon after 9-11 because he was a dissenting voice about going to war and worse because he provided a forum where others could express opinions both for and against the war and the governments actions.
I am waiting for President Bushwack to stand up at a lectern ((though it is just as likely he will send his VP to do it)) and hold up a folder with blank paper in it and say "These actors, artists and politicians are a danger to our homeland security and are possible members of el-quida" ALA McCARTHY and we see a great black listing happening.
Personally I think the conservatives should get down on their knees and kiss Janet Jackson's ass for giving them an excuse to start enacting draconian measures all in the name of protecting the innocent little kids who might be listening to LATE night radio and TV and who might watching cable shows that their parents are more then capable of blocking on almost ever cable/satellite service out there. Personally I think ever cable/satellite boxes, as well as all new TVs, should come with a V-chip that parents can set.... the tech is out there, let the parents take a hand in shielding their OWN children. You don't want them seeing anything rated for 13 and older or for 17 and older then set the device, the ratings are there for a reason.....OR how about watching TV WITH your kids?
The first of the week I called the phone company and asked them to turn my phone off at the old Apt on Saturday the 20th... and turn the phone On at the new apt on the same day.
First they tell me that the same day I ordered the service that I would lose the DSL service for a week and that I would have to wait to get it turned on at the new place for up to 3 weeks.
OK I can live with that but the reason I wanted it off on SATURDAY is I am living here at the old place until then... so what do they do???
TURN THE DAMN THING OFF ON THURSDAY!!!
Not only do I NOT have Internet access but no phone at all, I know a lot of people out there don't have phones, but I have had one since I was like 20 and it really bothers me that I am here alone and don't have a phone. I have never really felt uncomfortable in this place as a safety issue other then a few seconds here and there as I had to listen to drunk screaming college kids outside and a locked door and moving the portable phone to my side took care of that. BUT I hate this feeling of discomfort I have knowing I can not call out if something happens.
It is like a mild version of the feeling when the phone line gets cut in the horror movie...LOL
Yeah I know I am over reacting but so what
Love Line,the SYSTEM and censorship
I seldom listen to love line ((they really need to get some older callers.... I can only take the sexual question of 16 to 22 year olds so long)) but it was on when I came out of the bookstore this even and SYSTEM OF A DOWN was on (well 3 of the 4 anyway) and they were such interesting people. They talked a lot about the Armenian Genocide an issue they are very serious about... I love knowing there are still a few bands out there who have serious thoughts and are willing to express them.
One of the subjects they talked about was the increasing censorship issues.
I am very serious and somewhat shocked and worried about how the media is being censored. I am not a fan of Howard Stern BUT I have to say this, he has a right to say what he says, his show always has warnings that it deals with adult topics and yet as he himself said it is unlikely he will be on the air much longer since the censors are after him for ANYTHING. He made a very good point when he said basically that if you think all this scrutiny and the canceling of his shows was based solely on his language then you are mistaken. There is simply no doubt that he, as well as people like the wonderful Bill Mahr are being censored for their political beliefs. ABC/DISNEY canceled Mahr soon after 9-11 because he was a dissenting voice about going to war and worse because he provided a forum where others could express opinions both for and against the war and the governments actions.
I am waiting for President Bushwack to stand up at a lectern ((though it is just as likely he will send his VP to do it)) and hold up a folder with blank paper in it and say "These actors, artists and politicians are a danger to our homeland security and are possible members of el-quida" ALA McCARTHY and we see a great black listing happening.
Personally I think the conservatives should get down on their knees and kiss Janet Jackson's ass for giving them an excuse to start enacting draconian measures all in the name of protecting the innocent little kids who might be listening to LATE night radio and TV and who might watching cable shows that their parents are more then capable of blocking on almost ever cable/satellite service out there. Personally I think ever cable/satellite boxes, as well as all new TVs, should come with a V-chip that parents can set.... the tech is out there, let the parents take a hand in shielding their OWN children. You don't want them seeing anything rated for 13 and older or for 17 and older then set the device, the ratings are there for a reason.....OR how about watching TV WITH your kids?
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Jonesing for DSL
Since I am moving I called to get my phone set up at the new place on Saturday and to get a new phone number. Well I found out that by ordering that I would loose my DSL at the old place and since the new place is not set up for it that it will be a couple-three weeks before it is set up there.
SCREAM
I have had DSL at the house for the last 2 years and a T1 at school before that, I forgot how horribly slow a 56K connection is. I am use to having 4 or 5 windows up and running at the same time, I think that having the "you are not connected right now (work offline) (Try Again) and then maybe 10 seconds to get back on DSL and pull up my first page is a long time.
Now for between a week and month I am back on dial-up. SIGH it takes about a min to load my MY-YAHOO page which sucks since I use it for TV listings...LOL. It takes about 4 mins to dial in.
I admit I am a spoiled brat but I WANT MY DSL!!!!
MY BRO
My Brother is in town for spring break from grad school so I took him to a local Mexican place and we split an order of vegetarian Fajitas. I ordered a extra set up (shells, beans, cheese and sauces) for $3.50 and for so $11 the two of us could not even finish it and this is considered a meal for one. I am to the point now of asking for a to go box as soon as the meal gets there and splitting it in half at some places.
TWO YEARS OF SPAM
I have never actually used the @MSN e-mail address I have to have for my DSL set up... and since I am on dial-up I have to have the little MSN-explorer thing up and it just told me I have 4342 e-mails... and that is only 52% of the mail box space....LOL
I think I will wait for DSL before I delete all these since it takes a few min just to pull up each of the 42 pages of messages much less mark them and delete them. Of course they are all spam, 2 years worth of spam....lol
SCREAM
I have had DSL at the house for the last 2 years and a T1 at school before that, I forgot how horribly slow a 56K connection is. I am use to having 4 or 5 windows up and running at the same time, I think that having the "you are not connected right now (work offline) (Try Again) and then maybe 10 seconds to get back on DSL and pull up my first page is a long time.
Now for between a week and month I am back on dial-up. SIGH it takes about a min to load my MY-YAHOO page which sucks since I use it for TV listings...LOL. It takes about 4 mins to dial in.
I admit I am a spoiled brat but I WANT MY DSL!!!!
MY BRO
My Brother is in town for spring break from grad school so I took him to a local Mexican place and we split an order of vegetarian Fajitas. I ordered a extra set up (shells, beans, cheese and sauces) for $3.50 and for so $11 the two of us could not even finish it and this is considered a meal for one. I am to the point now of asking for a to go box as soon as the meal gets there and splitting it in half at some places.
TWO YEARS OF SPAM
I have never actually used the @MSN e-mail address I have to have for my DSL set up... and since I am on dial-up I have to have the little MSN-explorer thing up and it just told me I have 4342 e-mails... and that is only 52% of the mail box space....LOL
I think I will wait for DSL before I delete all these since it takes a few min just to pull up each of the 42 pages of messages much less mark them and delete them. Of course they are all spam, 2 years worth of spam....lol
Monday, March 15, 2004
The Movies are ganging up on me
I love going to movies and I wish I had unlimited funds so I could afford to go see them at the big full price theater when they come out and have access to the stadium seating and the chairs with the arms that go up. Sadly that is not the case and I have to wait to see them at the cheapy theater.
That is not the issue though, the thing is all the good movies show up at the same time and then for months there will be maybe only one decent movie the entire time.
Right now the cheapy theaters in Boise have:
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Last Samurai, The
Big Fish
Lost in Translation
there are also a few more... I am going to try to go see these in the next week or so
That is not the issue though, the thing is all the good movies show up at the same time and then for months there will be maybe only one decent movie the entire time.
Right now the cheapy theaters in Boise have:
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Last Samurai, The
Big Fish
Lost in Translation
there are also a few more... I am going to try to go see these in the next week or so
Urban Sprawl
Sunday Grandma and I drove out to my cousin Amy's new house for my cousin Naomi's baby shower. I have never been to one of their baby showers before which is kind of funny since Amy has five kids and this is Naomi's first.
Amy and her husband have built this BIG fancy house which would be great but it is way out in the middle of nowhere. Boise may not be the biggest city around but I am a city girl, hell the Apartment I am moving to is the farthest I have lived from downtown in 20 years and it is only like 4 miles out of the middle of town and still dead center of Boise (which apparently is the urban sprawl capital of the northwest) I don't care how amazing a house is I just could not live that far from town or in a tiny little but the way growth in Boise is if you move out in the boondocks you can get nearly twice as much built for the same price.
I would not want to live in a city like LA or New York, I do like that if I want to get out in the middle of no-where I can do it in about half an hour and be right up in the mountains or out in the desert. I would not mind Boise being a bit bigger, with more variety in the stuff to do but I hate the idea that someday it could be half a million or more people and swallow all these little burgs around here.
I think all Boisions need to start telling everyone how awful it is here so people would stop moving here.
Amy and her husband have built this BIG fancy house which would be great but it is way out in the middle of nowhere. Boise may not be the biggest city around but I am a city girl, hell the Apartment I am moving to is the farthest I have lived from downtown in 20 years and it is only like 4 miles out of the middle of town and still dead center of Boise (which apparently is the urban sprawl capital of the northwest) I don't care how amazing a house is I just could not live that far from town or in a tiny little but the way growth in Boise is if you move out in the boondocks you can get nearly twice as much built for the same price.
I would not want to live in a city like LA or New York, I do like that if I want to get out in the middle of no-where I can do it in about half an hour and be right up in the mountains or out in the desert. I would not mind Boise being a bit bigger, with more variety in the stuff to do but I hate the idea that someday it could be half a million or more people and swallow all these little burgs around here.
I think all Boisions need to start telling everyone how awful it is here so people would stop moving here.
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Mom's Moving Company
I have not felt like being on line for a few days, I think it is a combination of tiredness and stress.
Mom and my step father John came over today and moved just about everything over to the new apartment. I am staying for another week in the old apartment both to clean it up and because I am still hurting and don't have the energy to be going up and down the stairs at the new place.
I have a lot of cleaning to do here, stuff like washing walls and I hate that I am so tired all the time.
I am pretty much stopping the pain meds because they have started to wire me and I don't seem to be able to get to sleep and when I do I am just not sleeping well.
I feel really bad that my mom and John had to do so much of the work and that my mom is going to have to help me clean up here.
Mom and my step father John came over today and moved just about everything over to the new apartment. I am staying for another week in the old apartment both to clean it up and because I am still hurting and don't have the energy to be going up and down the stairs at the new place.
I have a lot of cleaning to do here, stuff like washing walls and I hate that I am so tired all the time.
I am pretty much stopping the pain meds because they have started to wire me and I don't seem to be able to get to sleep and when I do I am just not sleeping well.
I feel really bad that my mom and John had to do so much of the work and that my mom is going to have to help me clean up here.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Amazing Mom
My mom is so cool.
I signed the lease today on the apartment I want and now we are getting down to the line on me moving, so my mother came over and helped me pack.
I feel so bad cause I was not a lot of help to her, I worked for about 2 hours and then literally just faded out. I knew if I took pain meds this morning I would be so sleepy so I took them at 1 am and did not take any after that...big mistake. I was alright for a while and then I started to hurt really badly and felt faint.
The problem with this recovery is all I have is three one inch wounds and a three inch wound I can not see easily and there are times I feel fine so I think oh well it is not that big a deal and then I over do it, doing too much or lifting too much and I am wiped out and made to feel like I am never going to get better.
My grandmother came over to help my mom and I hate to admit it but I had to go to bed and sleep with the hot pad on my stomach after taking half my regular dose of vicadin and of anti-inflamation medicine. I would have taken the entire dose but I had to go and sign the lease and do the walk through at 4 pm and I did not want to be dead on my feet. Grandma drove me over to the new place to sign a ton of papers and pay for the rest of March, right now I can not drive since even though the steering wheel does not actually touch my belly it is close and if I stopped fast and hit against the incision I would be in hell, not to mention the drugs make me woozy.
My mom is a dynamo, in the hour or so we where gone she stripped my place down to the bare bones, I wish I had half her energy and get up and go.
I love the new place even though it is on the second floor and I will have to get use to having to climb the stairs, I will also have to get use to having an assigned parking place that is a bit of a walk from my place. I actually think it may prove to be the best for me in the long run, making me get more exercise.
I can not wait to set up my computer/crafts room, I was thinking of putting the computer in the dining room but there is no phone jack in there so it is just as easy to set it up in the second bedroom.
Only thing is I found out that the pet deposit is $300.00 and not the $200 I thought it was but the lady told me if I got my councilor to say I need my pets as part of my therapy that I can get that dropped which will be a big help.
Speaking of the cats they are kind of weirded out by this move, their kitty condo has been loaded in the car already and about 2/3rds of all the stuff I had in the apartment is gone, loaded in my van or my Mom's SUV or my grandmother's sewing room ((I have way too much stuff)) They are wandering around the house trying to figure out what is going on. While we were actually cleaning they kept getting in the boxes as we tried to fill them.
I think they are going to love the new place since it gives them more room but I am sure it will be a bit of a shock for them. The cats and the computer will be the last things that get moved.
I signed the lease today on the apartment I want and now we are getting down to the line on me moving, so my mother came over and helped me pack.
I feel so bad cause I was not a lot of help to her, I worked for about 2 hours and then literally just faded out. I knew if I took pain meds this morning I would be so sleepy so I took them at 1 am and did not take any after that...big mistake. I was alright for a while and then I started to hurt really badly and felt faint.
The problem with this recovery is all I have is three one inch wounds and a three inch wound I can not see easily and there are times I feel fine so I think oh well it is not that big a deal and then I over do it, doing too much or lifting too much and I am wiped out and made to feel like I am never going to get better.
My grandmother came over to help my mom and I hate to admit it but I had to go to bed and sleep with the hot pad on my stomach after taking half my regular dose of vicadin and of anti-inflamation medicine. I would have taken the entire dose but I had to go and sign the lease and do the walk through at 4 pm and I did not want to be dead on my feet. Grandma drove me over to the new place to sign a ton of papers and pay for the rest of March, right now I can not drive since even though the steering wheel does not actually touch my belly it is close and if I stopped fast and hit against the incision I would be in hell, not to mention the drugs make me woozy.
My mom is a dynamo, in the hour or so we where gone she stripped my place down to the bare bones, I wish I had half her energy and get up and go.
I love the new place even though it is on the second floor and I will have to get use to having to climb the stairs, I will also have to get use to having an assigned parking place that is a bit of a walk from my place. I actually think it may prove to be the best for me in the long run, making me get more exercise.
I can not wait to set up my computer/crafts room, I was thinking of putting the computer in the dining room but there is no phone jack in there so it is just as easy to set it up in the second bedroom.
Only thing is I found out that the pet deposit is $300.00 and not the $200 I thought it was but the lady told me if I got my councilor to say I need my pets as part of my therapy that I can get that dropped which will be a big help.
Speaking of the cats they are kind of weirded out by this move, their kitty condo has been loaded in the car already and about 2/3rds of all the stuff I had in the apartment is gone, loaded in my van or my Mom's SUV or my grandmother's sewing room ((I have way too much stuff)) They are wandering around the house trying to figure out what is going on. While we were actually cleaning they kept getting in the boxes as we tried to fill them.
I think they are going to love the new place since it gives them more room but I am sure it will be a bit of a shock for them. The cats and the computer will be the last things that get moved.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
reading
I am reading my grandmothers copy of EAT AND HEAL
This is a great book that has information on the health benifits of whole foods... it als tells you which foods are not so good for you and how to combine foods for better health benifits. I know that I have got to start eating better, the gallstones are made up of cholesterol and the fact that my gall bladder was so bad it took a FOUR HOUR surgury (not 2 1/2 like I first thought) to get it out makes me think that this is a sign.
This is a great book that has information on the health benifits of whole foods... it als tells you which foods are not so good for you and how to combine foods for better health benifits. I know that I have got to start eating better, the gallstones are made up of cholesterol and the fact that my gall bladder was so bad it took a FOUR HOUR surgury (not 2 1/2 like I first thought) to get it out makes me think that this is a sign.
Monday, March 08, 2004
overdid it
Grandma came by at 3pm and we went to the Brick Oven Bistro to get a bowl of hand mashed potatoes and corn gravy and a bowl of sage nut dressing and corn gravy, I ate most of the mashed potatoes and about half of the stuffing but then my body was telling me if I ate any more I would end up losing my lunch so I gave up on finishing it. I would not mind always having such a small appetite a;; the time though.
Anyway we had to park in the garage below the restaurant and then walk to it, I am using one of the staffs I decorated years ago to help me walk since I am kind of off balance, I have one that is about a foot taller then your average cane so it is perfect. After eating we drove to a dollar store and walked around and then stopped at a liquor store to grab some boxes for packing.
The dr called in another scrip for vicadin so we went to the drugstore to pick it up and I also bought a rubber tip for the cane I am using, it is a big help since it is super sturdy and I can use it to get standing when I have been sitting for a bit, it also really helps when getting out the car which is when I am most off balance.
I went to grandmas to shower, my shower does not have a wall mount showerhead and it is just too much right now to hold the sprayer in one hand and try to wash... I feel so much better being clean but now I am totally wiped out and I ahd to take a full dose of all my meds cause I had let them wear off, I am fading quick and it is just as well ther is nothing on TV worth watching since I know I am going to sleep for quite a while.
I am a little stressed knowing there is so much packing to do and that I am not able to bend and lift things over 10 pounds right now.
Anyway we had to park in the garage below the restaurant and then walk to it, I am using one of the staffs I decorated years ago to help me walk since I am kind of off balance, I have one that is about a foot taller then your average cane so it is perfect. After eating we drove to a dollar store and walked around and then stopped at a liquor store to grab some boxes for packing.
The dr called in another scrip for vicadin so we went to the drugstore to pick it up and I also bought a rubber tip for the cane I am using, it is a big help since it is super sturdy and I can use it to get standing when I have been sitting for a bit, it also really helps when getting out the car which is when I am most off balance.
I went to grandmas to shower, my shower does not have a wall mount showerhead and it is just too much right now to hold the sprayer in one hand and try to wash... I feel so much better being clean but now I am totally wiped out and I ahd to take a full dose of all my meds cause I had let them wear off, I am fading quick and it is just as well ther is nothing on TV worth watching since I know I am going to sleep for quite a while.
I am a little stressed knowing there is so much packing to do and that I am not able to bend and lift things over 10 pounds right now.
sunday food
Today I tried to eat more so my stomach will not be so upset by meds and juice.
I ate 2/3rds of a cup apple sauce, two pieces of dry raisin toast dipped in apple juice and a single serving packet of instant apple oatmeal made with apple juice instead of water.
I ate 2/3rds of a cup apple sauce, two pieces of dry raisin toast dipped in apple juice and a single serving packet of instant apple oatmeal made with apple juice instead of water.
Sunday, March 07, 2004
pain meds
Every 4 hours.
Without fail I end up in pain, serious pain, it hurts as bad as the pain I had before the surgury but I am surviving because I know this pain will pass, I know I will heal and get better and hopefully the pain will not be a problem like it has been.
I take hydrocodone (Vicodin) every four hours, I only have 20 so I am hoping that it is my Drs way of making sure I come to see him for a follow up.
I have been taking phenergan which is to keep me from throwing up and it also helps me sleep
I am also taking some Tussin syrup since I am having a hard time getting the crud out of my lungs and coughing hurts me really badly so anything that loosens it up will help.
the big problem is walking... I have to walk every few hours and my Apt is tiny and it is freezing outside so I have been walking a "lap" between the bedroom and the front door (ten steps each way) so I count them off everytime I touch the front door... 25 laps at a time.
Without fail I end up in pain, serious pain, it hurts as bad as the pain I had before the surgury but I am surviving because I know this pain will pass, I know I will heal and get better and hopefully the pain will not be a problem like it has been.
I take hydrocodone (Vicodin) every four hours, I only have 20 so I am hoping that it is my Drs way of making sure I come to see him for a follow up.
I have been taking phenergan which is to keep me from throwing up and it also helps me sleep
I am also taking some Tussin syrup since I am having a hard time getting the crud out of my lungs and coughing hurts me really badly so anything that loosens it up will help.
the big problem is walking... I have to walk every few hours and my Apt is tiny and it is freezing outside so I have been walking a "lap" between the bedroom and the front door (ten steps each way) so I count them off everytime I touch the front door... 25 laps at a time.
peaches
lets see on Saturday I had a cup of broth, a popcycle, a half cup of jell-o, juice, mint herb tea mixed with cranberry juice, a quart bottle of powerade (Artic Shatter the white one is the only one I like) and a small can of chopped up white peaches.
The white peaches are not as nutritional as orange peaches but they are softer and easier on the tummy... they taste a bit like bartletts but have a softer texture. It is the first solid food I have had in about 5 days, so far my tummy is not killing me much but we will see how it goes.
The white peaches are not as nutritional as orange peaches but they are softer and easier on the tummy... they taste a bit like bartletts but have a softer texture. It is the first solid food I have had in about 5 days, so far my tummy is not killing me much but we will see how it goes.
Jersey sheets
Grandma did something really sweet for me, I usually make my Queen size bed by tucking in a king sized flat sheet and just redoing it everyday, but since my bed is against the wall in a corner it is not easy to do when it hurts to bend over. I have a extra 2 inch foam pad on my bed so regular sheets come loose so she bought me a set of Jersey knit sheets and pillow cases.
Leopard Jersey Sheets...LOL
When she came and got me at the hospital she told me all she could find was baby blue with little puffy clouds ((think alley McBeal PJs)) and she hoped I did not mind... so when I saw the leopard I was thrilled.. it is also nice to have something that does not have cat hair all over it yet.
Leopard Jersey Sheets...LOL
When she came and got me at the hospital she told me all she could find was baby blue with little puffy clouds ((think alley McBeal PJs)) and she hoped I did not mind... so when I saw the leopard I was thrilled.. it is also nice to have something that does not have cat hair all over it yet.
Saturday, March 06, 2004
Hospital stay
Wow what a week plus....
looking back at the blog this bought of stomach pain started on the 25th or so and the only difference between this bought and the one I had in January is that this one would fade and come back really bad so I would think it was going away and then it would hit me again.
Finally on the 2nd I was in so much pain I could barely drive and I was not able to keep any food down so I called my Dr and tried to move my appointment up to this week and when the nurse called me back I could barely keep from crying so she told me to go to the hospital, my grandmother came and took me to the ER. They saw me right away and sent me down to have a Ultrasound and it was the ultrasound tech who told me that I had had gall stones in January and as he said "they don't go away on their own"
I wish someone had told me in January that I had gall stones, I would have come in when I first started getting really bad pain again instead of trying to treat it by doing clears and softs. By the time I got to the ER the Dr told me that my gallbladder was all inflamed and the walls had started to thicken and that debris from the gall stones had worked their way into my bile ducts and before they could do anything about the gallbladder they needed to clear the ducts.
They first did an ERCP ((Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography )) and used a balloon to open the ducts and clear the bile ducts. They put me out and put a tube down my throat and cleared out the ducts from my liver to my intestines... actually that surgery only caused my throat to be sore and tender, it relived a lot of the pain right off and not just cause of the demerol...LOL Dr Baehr was wonderful, very reassuring and the kind of guy who holds your hand as you are getting ready to be put out.
I had to have only water and that day and then from midnight till they operated on my Gallbladder at 3 pm I was not allowed even ice chips. Man talk about thirsty.
I was knocked out and they used a laparoscope to take out my gall bladder, it is quite amazing that they were able to do that much of a surgery leaving only 4 small cuts that they did not even have to put stitches in, they glued my wounds with surgical glue, they said that even though it should hurt and take 10 days to heal it should only take a few days for the outside wounds to heal. I can not lift more then 10 pounds or do too much stretching or bending which sucks since I need to pack so I can be moved out of here by the end of the month AND get this place clean.
Dr Macha thought the surgery was only going to take about an hour or 90 mins but it ended up taking nearly 2 and half hours since my gallbladder was in much worse shape then they had thought it was. Dr Macha said it was a good thing I got the surgery when I did since I could have ended up having emergency surgery on it really in a very short time, I am hoping that since he says it looks like my gallbladder has been badly damaged for quite some time now that the pain I have had over the years will be much lessened by having it removed, he also suggested that my dairy problems may be a lot less, not that I am in a hurry to try it out.
The nurses were great, very kind and no one not even the Drs made me feel bad about my weight. I had to wear T.E.D.s ((tight white stockings that don't have any toes and help your circulation)) and it took 3 different pairs to find ones that would fit me and yet the nurse was very sweet about having to find a pair for me. They also sent a spare pair home with me.
I kind of surprised the hell out of the orderlies who were trying to figure out how to lift me into the bed from the Gurney.. I told them to hold the gurney in place and put one arm under me on the gurney and one on the bed and just lifted myself up and over... grandma said that their jaws just dropped. Especially since I fell back asleep in about a minute. Being drugged to the gills probably made me able to do it cause hours later I had a hard time sitting up.
They were surprised by how fast I recovered, I was walking around the hallways in a very short time.
I am tender as hell now but I am confident I will heal alright.
looking back at the blog this bought of stomach pain started on the 25th or so and the only difference between this bought and the one I had in January is that this one would fade and come back really bad so I would think it was going away and then it would hit me again.
Finally on the 2nd I was in so much pain I could barely drive and I was not able to keep any food down so I called my Dr and tried to move my appointment up to this week and when the nurse called me back I could barely keep from crying so she told me to go to the hospital, my grandmother came and took me to the ER. They saw me right away and sent me down to have a Ultrasound and it was the ultrasound tech who told me that I had had gall stones in January and as he said "they don't go away on their own"
I wish someone had told me in January that I had gall stones, I would have come in when I first started getting really bad pain again instead of trying to treat it by doing clears and softs. By the time I got to the ER the Dr told me that my gallbladder was all inflamed and the walls had started to thicken and that debris from the gall stones had worked their way into my bile ducts and before they could do anything about the gallbladder they needed to clear the ducts.
They first did an ERCP ((Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography )) and used a balloon to open the ducts and clear the bile ducts. They put me out and put a tube down my throat and cleared out the ducts from my liver to my intestines... actually that surgery only caused my throat to be sore and tender, it relived a lot of the pain right off and not just cause of the demerol...LOL Dr Baehr was wonderful, very reassuring and the kind of guy who holds your hand as you are getting ready to be put out.
I had to have only water and that day and then from midnight till they operated on my Gallbladder at 3 pm I was not allowed even ice chips. Man talk about thirsty.
I was knocked out and they used a laparoscope to take out my gall bladder, it is quite amazing that they were able to do that much of a surgery leaving only 4 small cuts that they did not even have to put stitches in, they glued my wounds with surgical glue, they said that even though it should hurt and take 10 days to heal it should only take a few days for the outside wounds to heal. I can not lift more then 10 pounds or do too much stretching or bending which sucks since I need to pack so I can be moved out of here by the end of the month AND get this place clean.
Dr Macha thought the surgery was only going to take about an hour or 90 mins but it ended up taking nearly 2 and half hours since my gallbladder was in much worse shape then they had thought it was. Dr Macha said it was a good thing I got the surgery when I did since I could have ended up having emergency surgery on it really in a very short time, I am hoping that since he says it looks like my gallbladder has been badly damaged for quite some time now that the pain I have had over the years will be much lessened by having it removed, he also suggested that my dairy problems may be a lot less, not that I am in a hurry to try it out.
The nurses were great, very kind and no one not even the Drs made me feel bad about my weight. I had to wear T.E.D.s ((tight white stockings that don't have any toes and help your circulation)) and it took 3 different pairs to find ones that would fit me and yet the nurse was very sweet about having to find a pair for me. They also sent a spare pair home with me.
I kind of surprised the hell out of the orderlies who were trying to figure out how to lift me into the bed from the Gurney.. I told them to hold the gurney in place and put one arm under me on the gurney and one on the bed and just lifted myself up and over... grandma said that their jaws just dropped. Especially since I fell back asleep in about a minute. Being drugged to the gills probably made me able to do it cause hours later I had a hard time sitting up.
They were surprised by how fast I recovered, I was walking around the hallways in a very short time.
I am tender as hell now but I am confident I will heal alright.
home from the hospital
I just spent the last 4 days in the hospital getting my gallbladder out and getting my bile ducts repaired.
I will talk more about my stay and stuff later but right now I am in a lot of pain and pretty dopey.
I will talk more about my stay and stuff later but right now I am in a lot of pain and pretty dopey.
