Decorating for fall

I'm so thankful to see cooler temps now. We've actually had night temps in the mid 60's! What a pleasant change.

I got some fall decorations on Saturday and did what decorating I'm going to do, I guess. We have a store called Big Lots that has very reasonable prices. They receive overstock from here and there and so you never know what they'll have. But they had lots and lots of fall decorations so I bought a wreath and a few things. I'll put some photos up tomorrow. I bought a little bale of hay and a cute scarecrow to put on the dining room table. Needless to say, I wasn't using my head because the moment I took the bale out of its plastic wrap I had tiny bits of hay everywhere! So, that little decorating scheme was relegated to the table out on the porch. I just decorating the table with some silk autumn leaves. My son emailed me a couple of fall photos of scenes around their home in Vermont and I made one into a desktop for my computer. So my decorating is complete!

I had my massage on Friday with some disappointing results. The last time I had one I felt miserable the next day. Massage releases toxins I'm told and you have to drink lots and lots of water. I thought perhaps I didn't drink enough last time so this time I drank and drank and drank. The next morning I felt like I had been hit by a truck and I felt awful. Every morning since I've awakened more stiff than usual. Maybe the therapist just does too much deep tissue work, I don't know. Maybe I'm just very sensitive to massage. For whatever reason, I think I'll save my money. At least I tried.

We are down to 6 residents at work but more may be coming this week. It makes for an easier time at work since all the residents have been there awhile and are settled in and none are death imminent. But it also makes the evening go by slowly. A lot of my co-workers are having family difficulties. One CNA's husband is in the hospital and another's mother is dying. I'm thankful that our lower numbers make it easier to cope since these ladies obviously need some time off.

Not much else going on. I'm going to my SIL's on Friday with Doc to see how he does over there. She is going to watch him for me when I take Mom to Disney at the end of October. Yesterday, I trimmed his hair and cut his toe nails (always a traumatic time for him!) He sits very still for the hair cut but absolutely hates the toe nail thing. I hate it too because I'm always so concerned about cutting too close to the quick. After that, he got a bath and now looks like a cleaner, more well-groomed funnier-looking dog. I think I may splurge and take him to a groomer from now on. Probably better for him (and for me too!).

Hope you all are having a lovely day. Until next time.

An achey day.

I thought I'd post a picture of Doc in my post this morning. It's hard to get a good photo of him because whenever he sees a camera, he does everything but pose. He looks a bit ragged and needs to get to a groomer.

I've been getting the bug again to change the graphics on my blog. I see all the pretty fall decorated ones out there and I get antsy.
Judi did such a great job with this one and I hate to change it. Besides the fact that I paid for the design as well. Not sure what to do. It must be the autumn temps making me want to redecorate the "nest".

I ordered a DVD from the National Fibromyalgia Association. It took about 5 weeks to get but it is worth it. It is documentary done by a lady whose mother has FM and she interviews different people with the condition and it is very informative and actually uplifting. There really wasn't a lot of new information in it but the way it was presented was encouraging to me. I remember going a couple of times to a support group for FM at our local hospital. Everyone talked about how much they hurt and how their doctors weren't listening to them and it was so negative that I felt worse after I left and I never went back. This DVD presented people who have FM in varying degrees but showed how they coped and what they did and that they still live a full life. I'm so thankful that I my condition isn't as severe as some of theirs. At times, though, I think I fight through the pain as sort of a denial instead of nurturing myself and it makes things worse. I've felt for some time that my time of nursing may be ending because of the physical demands of it all. And now, with the emotionally draining aspect of Hospice nursing to boot - it just seems that I have more flare ups more often now. Just yesterday I noticed some increase in soreness and last night I hurt off and on all night. Today, I feel fatigued and aching and I have two more days to work before my weekend. The good thing is that I made an appointment with Becky, the massage therapist I've gone to and I can see her Friday. I let myself get down sometimes when I dwell on the fact that being a single lady with no other income, I have to work. My condition is just not bad enough to warrant trying to get SS disability and so I have to soldier through the flare ups. I tell people that since I like eating and living indoors, I have to just continue! These are the times when God really holds my hand.

Well, sorry, I didn't mean to get on such a somber note. I'll eat lunch and take some more Ibuprofen in a few moments and I'll feel better. Hope you all are having a lovely day. The temps are cooler and it feels so good! Take care.

Pondering long distance friendships

I enjoy visiting other's web sites. There is such a lot of creativity out there and so much of interest. Throughout the months, I have narrowed my visiting down to a few that I visit on a regular basis. In the process of this, I have found friendship and look forward to seeing what's going on in their lives. I have friends in Australia, California, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado and in my home state of Florida to name a few. I get concerned when they're ill, when they're in the path of a storm and although I may never meet them face to face, I feel like I know them fairly well through their blogs. In the process of all this, I have felt myself more comfortable opening up to them on my blog as well. Some of the friends I visit also visit among the others that I visit and in fact that is probably how I found some of them in the first place (as "referrals" from ones on my list). This is all sounding very complicated but I think you know what I mean. They are friendships that I treasure and I wish I could meet each one and have lunch!

I think I can finally admit that our weather is beginning to cool off if even just a tad. Saturday late afternoon, I sat outside talking to my daughter on the phone and was enjoying a very cool breeze. Yesterday it was hot and muggy but this morning, it was a little cooler and breezy - so pleasant in fact that I decided to take a walk instead of get on my treadmill. Maybe autumn is really going to come!

Speaking of autumn - I went to K-mart on Saturday because my mother wanted to go there. I was looking for some fall decorations. Halloween they had in plenty but no fall! However, there were rows and rows of Christmas decorations out already. Can you believe it?
Walmart has a few fall decorations but I think I'm going to have to go to Ocala on Friday or Saturday and visit a craft store. Or maybe I should just skip fall all together and start decorating for Christmas. K-Mart could help me out there! Anyway, when and if I ever get any decorating done, modest as it will be, I'll take some photos.

Hope you all are having a good beginning of the week. Until later.

Cooler temps on the way?

Perhaps it's my imagination, but I really think the temps have been a bit cooler the last two mornings. We also have had a bit of a breeze and that makes it even more pleasant. Yesterday I went to a friend's house for lunch. She and her husband live out in the boonies and this is the first time I've been to her home. It started out as a weekend retreat home that has turned into a permanent arrangement. Right now they live in a single-wide mobile but are in hopes in the next year or so to build. She collects cows and there are cows everywhere you look inside. It so cute and fits her cute personality as well. We had a pleasant time and she even drove me around their property (which is extensive)in their golf cart with their dogs running along side. It was a very pleasant part of the day and I look forward to going there many times in the future. So peaceful!

I've been buying up a few exercise DVDs for my collection. I've toyed with the idea of going to the gym and taking a spinning class and in the future, I might. But right now, I'm much more comfortable to work out in the confines of my home. When temps are cooler, I may walk outside as well. But I like the "interaction" I get with DVDs as long as the instructor is not too annoying. I found a great site for work out DVDs called Collage Video which I love. I forget who told me about this site - it may even have been one of you and if so, thanks! They let you look at at clip of the video and have a rating as to its difficulty and even reviews from those who have gotten it. I check out the video clips etc and then sometimes order it from Amazon. It seems to be cheaper there.

I have my bi-weekly groceries to get today. I do the bulk of my grocery shopping every two weeks when I get paid. Then, the other weeks I buy things like produce and other stuff I forgot to get the week before. It seems to work out well. Yesterday before lunch with my friend I had my hair appointment. I decided to go shorter this time and already I regret it. I remember before when I had it this short I wasn't happy but apparently I didn't remember that yesterday. Holly does a great job but I guess I just prefer to have it a bit longer. I'm going to try to hold off until vacation is over with before I get it cut again. My hair always seems to be a sore spot with me!

Not much else to talk about. I'm looking forward to vacation - just 5 weeks! Mom is also very excited. Hope you all have a great weekend. I'm off to do some visiting.

And yet another change in vacation plans!

I should never make plans too far in advance because either I change my mind or someone else changes my mind or things happen. There is a family birthday conflict the weekend that Mom and I were going to Disney and so after much deliberation, I've once again moved up our dates to near the end of October. We also are knocking off a night because of the expense and because Mom really is more comfortable only being away for 2 nights rather than 3. All in all, it works out better in the long run but it took some scrambling for me. I was able to change my vacation days at work (thanks to a very understanding supervisor). Getting the right resort room at Disney was the tricky part. Our original plan to be gone Friday and Saturday night wasn't going well. Only two resorts were available for those nights and neither one I wanted. One, Saratoga Springs, offered a studio room with a queen bed and sofa sleeper and I really feel that I was paying enough for that room that both of us should be able to sleep in a "real" bed. The other one is usually busy and very spread out and I hadn't read good reviews for it. The Disney reservation specialist was not very helpful with any alternative suggestions. But when I got online I discovered that by changing our days to Saturday and Sunday, all sorts of resort choices opened up. I was able to get us at Wilderness Lodge again without a problem. Apparently Friday night is hosting "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party" and that was the issue. I'm really looking forward to this vacation but frankly there has been so much thought and planning into it, I'll be glad when it's here and then done!

Tomorrow morning I have to be up at an "earlier than usual" time to get my car in for an oil change. I didn't want to do it on Friday, my day off because I already have a hair appointment and then lunch with a friend. I'm still taking the car to the dealership for the changes because it is under warranty but someday I think I'll branch out to other places again. The dealership is very courteous and treat me very well but are always trying to "sell" me on other services that their "maintenance specialist" is recommending for the "long life of your car".

Temps are still quite warm and muggy here. I keep waiting for that first morning when the air is cool and you can smell the change in the air. I want fall so badly!

Hope you all are doing well. I'm looking forward to a weekend of not having to watch for...anticipate...monitor any upcoming tropical systems. Another reason, I want fall to come! Take care.

Where's autumn?

I've been watching news coverage off and on since yesterday about the hurricane devastation in Texas. It just boggles the mind to see some of the pictures and realize that the pile of rubble there used to be some one's home. I can't imagine losing everything I own just like that. My prayers are with those people who are homeless or coming back to a home or business with such extensive damage.

I put up my autumn icon today because I'm really tired of the hot weather. There is a cool front coming down later in the week and though it won't come this far down it will pull our temps down from the low 90's to the mid to high 80's. I'm ready for summer to be over with!

I really don't have much to report today. I have my usual chores to do before heading back to work today. We're full right now at the hospice house with actually one more patient than we are staffed for so we have had an extra nurse from the pool coming each shift. There is one patient who may be going home very soon and if so, that will take away our pool nurse. So, we'll see how that goes.

Not much going on at the home front. I have several projects I should get started on but just don't seem too motivated right now. I suppose it's the heat. I do have to get the oil changed in my car - it's overdue. And that's about it!

Hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday and hope your upcoming week is a good one. Until later...

Praying for Texas

I usually write my post in the morning with my cup of coffee but decided to put one in tonight. My thoughts all day have been with those in Texas getting ready for Ike. This seems to be a "weekend event" lately, watching storms somewhere. Even though it's not affecting where I live, my attention has been on the Weather Channel etc off and on. I remember watching a TV program a long time ago - might have been a PBS special- about the hurricane of 1900 at Galveston. My mother remembers my grandfather talking about it even. The special talked about the devastation and the huge amount of lives lost. It was a Cat4, if I'm correct and this one is expected to be a strong Cat2 but it is feared that the storm surge will be at record heights. I think that probably a lot of people think that the biggest danger from hurricanes is from the wind but I've learned in the past few years that the storm surge is what can cause the worst property damage and loss of lives. Our weather predictions are so much better now than in 1900 and so people are able to evacuation well ahead of the storm. But I understand that they think there are still about 20.000 people who decided to weather the storm at Galveston even though authorities have said that they could face "certain death". A pretty sobering thought. I just pray that the storm will not strengthen. One of my blog buddies, Tracey lives right in the path of Ike and that it could be a Cat1 when it gets to her area.

I got a few groceries and went over to Mom's house today. Her cell phone was not charging and so I took it into the AT&T company to see what was wrong. Come to find out, she had grabbed the wrong charger. I have no idea what this charger was for but it certainly wasn't for her phone. Problem is, I didn't realize it either until I got to the store and they told me the problem. I bought her another one and now things are okay. The maddening thing is after I bought the new one and took it out of the package, she found the other one. So, now she has two chargers! I kick myself because I should have checked further before buying the new one. Oh well, live and learn.

Guess that's all for now. Hope everyone is safe and having a good weekend.

Please pardon my vent.

I contemplated whether to post today. September 11th always has me experiencing a range of emotions. It is a day of remembrance of a national tragedy but it is also the day of my wedding anniversary. I remember the morning of 9/11/2001. It was the first anniversary I encountered after Alan passed away. I went to his grave on the way to work and just sat a moment. Then at work, when everything started happening, my thoughts were all turned to what was going on. I remember that evening just wanting to go home and be with our son, Mike and calling my other two children.

I remember our wedding day. It was so full of promise and we were so happy. I had been through a devastating, abusive marriage and his first one had been an unequally unhappy one. We both felt that this was our second chance at happiness! We didn't have much money, our wedding and reception was very simple and much of it supplied by friends and church members. But we didn't care. We were so happy! And it's strange, but when we learned of Alan's cancer diagnosis and as the days progressed and he began to die, so many of the memories I relived were from our wedding day and honeymoon. Last year would have been our 25th anniversary and no doubt we would have done something very special, like perhaps take that cruise we always talked about or maybe even save for a vacation to Hawaii, another dream of ours.

September 11 was day that took a lot away from us! We lost thousands of loved ones and a feeling of security that so many Americans like me had felt. A lot of us baby boomers and younger were not here when Pearl Harbor was attacked and I couldn't fathom the feeling of being under attack as we were then. I used to get angry that a date that brought so many precious memories to me was now marred by such a devastating tragedy. That may sound a bit like a pity party but it's one of the emotions I encounter on this day.

A lot has happened since September 11, 1982 when I was a bride, and September 11, 2001 when I celebrated our anniversary alone. I think I've grown as a person. And I hope our country has grown as well. During this political season, I hope we can put away petty slander and focus on issues. I hope we can remember how much our differences didn't matter as we banded together against vicious terrorism.

And I hope I can again reclaim this day as a sweet memory of a love lost but not forgotten.

Cloudy and breezy

I always enjoy visiting blogs that have photos so I thought I'd add one today.


This is my buddy, Doc-Boy, my silky terrier. You can see a variety of his doggie chews all over the rug. He's not learned to pick up after himself! He's a geriatric fellow- about 13 and unfortunately getting the worse for wear. His eye sight is dimmer and he doesn't hear as well as he used to. In fact, sometimes the door bell will ring and he doesn't jump up and bark which tells me that he didn't hear it! He's also having some arthritic pain or perhaps back pain due to inter vertebral problems. But 90% of the time, he's full of life and loves what's going on. I need to talk to the vet about maybe some maintenance pain med to keep him comfortable. It's difficult to get a good picture of him because he just won't sit still.

It's cloudy today and breezy. The weather people say that we may begin to feel some outer bands from Ike as it comes up into the gulf. It looks like Florida is getting wide berth with this one for which I am truly thankful. But my heart goes out to Cuba and Haiti. I understand the devastation is enormous!

I haven't mentioned work lately. As of today we will be full, even one more than we would normally have so we may be given an extra nurse by staffing. Except for the new one coming in today, our patients have been there awhile and have settled in well. Their medication schedule is set and so they aren't as agitated and they seem happier. Last night though, for some reason, a few were very agitated and it took an extra dose of medication to help them settle down. I just hate that the only way sometimes to help these people is a pill but what can I do? One lady was due to go home Sunday but her daughter became ill so that has been put off for a week or so. She is actually one of our easier patients. There are a couple I would rather go home! But that's the way it goes.

Earlier in the month when I had my annual walk through for renewing the lease of my house, the property manager person said that she was in contact with the owner about getting me a new stove. But, so far I've not heard anything. I've found that things don't progress fast with those kind of things. I do have to say that they do respond quickly to things that are important like when my air went out last year. But since the stove is still in working condition, it's not high on priorities, I guess. Hope I hear something in the not too distant future.

Well, I guess I'll see what I can get accomplished before I go to work today. Hope you all are having a good day. For any of you in Texas or that area, you are in my thoughts as Ike approaches.

Just some chit chat.

I hadn't checked in here in a few days so thought I'd better. Not much going on really so not a lot to report. I've had a rather quiet weekend except for a visit with Mom and then yesterday an afternoon visit with my SIL. I got groceries on Friday and a few more yesterday. I watched my Netflix DVDs last night and this morning I'm doing laundry. As I said, not much happening.

Of course, I've been checking the hurricane advisories a couple of times a day. Hurricane Ike looks like it's heading more for the central Gulf or even Texas. This has been such a busy season! Weather here the last couple of days has been hot and muggy with no breeze. A business near my SIL's yesterday that shows time and temp had 105 degrees. Later as I passed it again, it read 97. Ike no doubt will be bringing some showers to us later in the week and that may cool things off a bit.

This is a pretty boring post, I must say so I guess I'll close out for now and do some visiting. Hope you all are having a lovely weekend. Until later.

Storm watching

It's very cloudy and breezy outside this morning and I expect that we'll have some rain again in awhile. Of course, my eyes are on the storms out in the Atlantic. Hanna will miss us but Ike I'm concerned about. It all depends on some high pressure system or something out there. They expect to curve north at some point and depending when it curves is depending how much my area may be impacted. We're still about5 or 6 days away from possible landfall and it's so hard to predict what it can do at this point. I'm going to get more water today and probably some AA batteries and some more canned food just in case.

If you've been visiting me lately, you probably think I'm obsessed by the weather. Truth is, hurricane season is a nervous time for me. I think that I feel more "in control" if I can monitor the storms right along with the meteorologists. I've never been through a true hurricane head on, only tropical storms and they were bad enough. I was talking with a co-worker last night about Andrew that came through south Florida years ago. She went down there about 2 or 3 days after the storm to check on her father in law who lived in the area. She was describing the devastation. It's really difficult to imagine. It would be no different for those in the path of a tornado either, I'm sure. The whole landscape is changed and you don't even recognize familiar places. I think my main stressor for storms is trying to get my mother safe (who stubbornly feels that her 30 year old mobile home is perfectly sound) and then try to be at work. My employment's attitude is that there is no excuse for not reporting to work, storm or not. They are not realistic in many cases. It's just a stressful time for me. Thanks for letting me vent.

I started on my diabetic medication on Wednesday. I'm not seeing any major changes in blood sugar yet but then it's a bit too early. I'm tolerating it well so far though and that was my big concern.

Well, I guess I'll get going. Maybe I can check on Mom and get groceries before the rain sets in. Hope you all are having a great day. Until later.

Hanna, Ike, Josephine and a doctor's appointment!

I do live a busy, interesting life! Besides watching three storms coming across the Atlantic, I have high blood sugars. So, today I am going to see my doctor. I've wanted to do this without medication but I can't be stupid. My doctor and I don't always gel together and today will probably tell the story if I continue with him or find another. I don't want a diabetic medication that will bottom my blood sugars out and I have to scramble for some orange juice or the like to treat it. My job just doesn't lend itself to medical emergencies while on the job. So, I really hope we can find something that will work without the strong side effects. The trouble with being a nurse is that you read and re-read about everything including medications and as a consequence you don't want to take any of them.

As far as the tropics.....Hanna I don't think is going to impact us. Ike and Josephine - it's too early to tell. This has been a very active season in the Atlantic basin, reminiscent of 2004 when we had Charlie, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Only that time, three of them hit Florida. I'm so thankful for New Orleans and the gulf coast that Gustav wasn't another Katrina.

I really don't have a lot of news to tell right now. I'm going to make a few visits and then get ready for my doctor appointment. He's only 5 minutes away so not a long trip.

Take care and have a great week.