Meet Lydia.

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Good morning! Meet Lydia, my nap time companion.  Lydia is a pink Dino that I discovered in the youth bedding section at Target.  She is just the right size to cuddle and weighted so she offers some comfort that weighted things do and she doesn’t slide all over.

I brought her home (yes, I paid for her) and she has taken many naps with me in the recliner.  If I put her up on my shoulder she keeps my head from falling over and giving me a crick in my neck.  She is also very calming.  She is also great for propping up my Kindle. 

I haven’t used her a lot in recent days for a couple of reasons — my anxiety is improved and I don’t feel the need to be weighed down and I have also learned that sitting, reclining, for hours on end is probably what is making my hip hurt worse.  So, I am just sitting in the chair, and it is helping, and with less anxiety I am making it a point to get up and move around every hour.  The hip feels slightly better.  Girls, being sedentary isn’t all it is cracked up to be.

However, my next trip to Target is going to net me this —

Very fitting to honor our outdoor residents, don’t you think?  Then, I think they will have to be moved someplace besides the coffee table in the living room.  They will probably go on the guest beds — not that I ever have guests but you know, seems reasonable.

I am still thinking about the rollator.  I did better walking around at church yesterday (even though the Hubs tried to fall down, standing still in the communion line) but I still think that some situations might warrant having something of this nature.

Of course, I am not as svelt as the lady in the photo but I do fall within the weight range.  There is a heavy model that is a little sturdier but since I don’t “hike” (except to the grocery store and the communion rail!) I am thinking this one would serve my needs well.  In baby blue.

So, today marks the beginning of another week, the last in October.  Is it my imagination but has October just flown by?  In Texas we aren’t really having much autumn weather yet — you can feel a change in the air but it is quickly hidden by high 80’s and low 90’s during the day.  And, this upcoming weekend we have to deal with daylight savings time — I wish somebody would put and end to all that foolishness — 

I like to look at this picture and imagine this gentleman is my ancestor — would be fitting since I have indigenous lineage and so wise — so, so wise!

So, I am preparing for the jolt to my mind and body but hopefully my sleep will be ok — I didn’t sleep well last night for no good reason so I am hoping the time change doesn’t throw me into some sort of insomnia loop - don’t you hate it when that happens.

Have a good Monday, all!

The Rollator

 I will put the picture here — maybe it will work — having trouble loading pics but anyway, I am contemplating this —

In baby blue — thoughts?

Having Fun!

 I just love autumn.  The vibe just energizes me — even if it was almost 90 degrees a couple of days ago.  You gotta love Texas.  But, some of the trees are turning (or dying from the heat) and the changes in the air are undeniable, even on our hot days.

I have been having a good time, lately.  I have had more energy and, even though my back is really bothering me, I have been encouraging (forcing) myself to ACCOMPLISH! I don’t have the stamina I used to but I am hoping that by taking one thing at a time and cheering myself on I will be able to get back to at least a shadow of my former self — I have just given in to the arthritis pain so much that I have done myself absolutely no good and now am trying to rectify the situation — I even did some exercise before I got out of bed this morning.  Didn’t see that coming!  I have come to the conclusion that part of my back problem is sitting for hours reclining in a recliner.  I did some research on it and yes, it can cause hip muscle issues and I think that is what it has done — so when I was sitting yesterday I didn’t “recline” and my back felt better.  So, yeah.  Who knew.

 Anyway, I digress.

I have had a difficult time with books lately.  I haven’t had anything resonate with me and have actually taken a break from reading but I ran across this book on a Kindle Unlimited sale —-The Last Bookshop in London.  It is historical fiction featuring two young women, Grace and Viv, who always dreamed about living in London and they found themselves there, through no pleasant circumstances, at the beginning of WW2 and it follows their lives, mostly Grace, through the Blitz and documents her survival, strength, and growth through the ordeal. It was really a good book.  REALLY good and I recommend.  There were heart wrenching parts but it was worth it.  I recommend.

Then last night I decided to watch a movie because, honestly, if this election doesn’t get done soon I am going to unplug all my media devices.  I am so tired of hearing these people drone on and on and, here in Texas, we have a particularly contentious Senate race and I am really disgusted with
the whole thing.  Two things keep coming to mind — in my younger years it didn’t seem like politics were as “in your face” or “dirty” as it is now, people seemed classier and less common — I don’t know, I think it is a sign of getting old. I also wonder how, in this huge country with millions of people, we have so few to pick from.  Hmmm?   I don’t know, not really a political person but I know it is definitely time for Nov. 5 to get here!

Opps, I digress — again —

So the movie I chose was “About Time” (2013) with Bill Nighy and Tom Hollander — two of my favs.  It was about Tim and Mary and Tim is able to time travel, a genetic trait.  It was fun and funny and confusing and I really enjoyed it.  Another recommend but you have to pay attention. 

' Lately, I have been engaging in a hobby that I have done since childhood but I got really involved during ablation recovery.  I am coloring.  No longer using crayons but five sets of various colored pencils — my medium of choice.  I have about 8 coloring books and I flip around through those. What do I do with them when done?  Probably bin them but for now it is fun.  Here are a couple of examples of what is taking up my time — 

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My father was an artist and portly, my mother was tiny and really cute and had zero artistic talent and I always joked that I got my father’s build and my mother’s talent and that was really a cruel trick of nature! So, I can’t draw but coloring allows me to feel a little creative, at least. I am having a good time and it is good for calming the anxiety beast in me.  

I have been doing some reading about earthing/grounding and, while I sort of skipped through the hippie era, it sounds like something good to try what with my pain level and anxiety.  So yesterday every time I went outside with Trixie I took my shoes off and enjoyed the ground.  I understand putting your hands in dirt - ie. gardening — it helps too and you can also touch water, like sitting in a bathtub so I am going to give it a go.  I can touch water — not sure about dirt but I can try.  I might try planting something in a pot.  But I think you have to be bare handed to get the benefit of the dirt. Uh, I will think about it.

I am also looking at buying a new rollator.  I only have my mother in laws and every time I look at it I see her and it isn’t pleasant so I am looking at this one but in a baby blue .. well, I guess you will never know because I can’t seem to get the photos to load — what has happened to loading photos?  I will try again later.  

Anyway, that is what I am up to so I will be back soon — sewing many Girl Scout patches to a blanket — a grandma’s work is never done!

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New Decor — So Overwhelming!

 Feeling pretty good these days and we are in my absolute favorite season so I want to make the most of it and not waste a second of it so I decided to do some online looking for pillow covers and cozy things.

WELL…..I have never been so overwhelmed!  My colors are the same sorts of colors I had when we first got married.  Why you say?  Well, because I still have a lot of the stuff I had when we first got married — 52 years which put us in the early 70’s and we all know what colors were popular then — greens, golds, and orange/rusts.  But, since autumn is my fav season it still works for me.  So, I visited several places online to see what sort of pillow covers I could find and I did find them — lots of them — lots and lots of them — all this for the person who really does best with only two choices — the right one and the wrong one!

So, I am watching a youtube video called “Fine Living” — a vlog based in New England and the say has lots of vintage furniture and decor and it is a really good resource if you, like me, still have a house full of Early American furniture.

Tomorrow I am making a Target run and I am going to look at some new throw pillows — my husband hates them but nothing cozies up a room more than pillows so we will see what I come home with, if anything.  And I have to go upstairs and get my favorite throw.  It was a gift from my cousin and it is so cozy and useful — you can cover up in the recliner, use it like a shawl or drape it over the sofa — it is a lovely caramel color so I need to see what pillows will go best — even though my brain is thinking rust, my heart goes to sage/olive green.  

It will be a surprise!

Book Banning

 Hi, all!  How are all my bloggy friends this almost-autumn-Wednesday morning?  I am doing well — had a lengthy bout of aFib yesterday so doctor changed my meds, I feel tip top today.  This will all get sorted out — still healing — it is a process and I think I am doing well.  

In recent months we have had an issue here in our community concerning book banning.  Parents want certain books banned from the school library — some I understand, some I feel are an overkill.  So, a young woman (age 16) was talking to me about a book she had to read for school.  She goes to a private Christian school where you feel like the standards might be different than public schools.  The book is called “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman.  I hadn’t heard of the book, much less read it, but the girl seemed to be a bit disturbed by it so I decided to check it out.

I won’t go into the book here since I haven’t read it — yet — but I have bought it and intend to read it.  The synopsis, however, is disturbing.  I will probably not get through the whole book, we will see.  Is is dystopian in genre and involves some pretty grisly story lines.  I don’t generally enjoy dystopian novels and I have read a few but really not my preference.  This one is part of a series and I doubt I will get past the first but, if you decide to look into it, just know there is more than one.

Has anybody read this book?  If so, opinion?  

I have never believed in public book banning.  I feel like it is up to the parents to know what their children are doing, watch, reading, etc.  I mean, whose place is it to decide what I let in to my life other than me. I know, controversial view point.  Your thoughts? Is banning a good thing or a bad thing?  Who should be allowed to make that decision and where do you draw the line as to what is banned — i.e. The Holy Bible.  Does banning squelch our kids ability to make proper choices?  It is a sticky wicket for sure.

Anyway, as I read the book I will post again to let you know how I feel about it.  It looks icky, to be honest but we will see.  

Well Darn, the sequel

 Last post had me recovering from a cardioaversion.  It lasted a month.  Back into aFib and back into the hospital — chemically converted.  I did it a third time but converted by myself on the way to the hospital.  Spent a couple of hours there and was sent home — with an appointment for an ablation.

I had the ablation on 8/21.  I will spare you the gory details because there weren’t any.  It was a simple procedure that went well and they are confident they got all the “spots”.  I have felt really good, much more energy, sleeping well, and, aside from a few flutters and thunks, my heart is behaving much better than it has in the last 25 years.  

So, in case you have been wondering where I got off to, that is what is going on.  I am still on top of the dirt and feeling much better thank you.

The first week after I just sat and rested and binge watched “Everwood” and “Heartland”.  I finished both series and would recommend both as well.  Clean, family entertainment — well Everwood has it moments but still pretty universal — and have now moved on to Chesapeake Shores for the second time.  

After two weeks I was back in the doctors office for a follow up and was declared doing well.  Went back to church because the Bean was giving a program on her Girl Scout Bronze Award that she has been working on.  We go to an older church — 100th anniversary this year — and it comes with a complete and complex disarrayed set of archives from several rectors during that 100 years.  So, her goal, as laid out by our current rector, is to organize and catalog all the hit and miss records, talk to the Adult Bible Class about her efforts and show some of the more interesting documents and photos that she found.  I would include a photo but I can’t seem to get it to work — ah, there we go!

Anyway, life has gottten pretty much back to normal.  I am back to climbing stairs and doing housework — who knew I would be grateful for housework but I am — and life goes on.  Hopefully I will stay in as good of shape as I am right now.

I really didn’t abandon my blog — I’ve just been kinda busy!  Question tho, why can’t I post a pic?  Have they changed things? Never mind, I figured it out.

Well, Darn!

 Ok, the last post was about Bean’s birthday.  We joined her for her party and the next day I went into raging AFib.  I was hospitalized on 7/1, they tried to correct my heart rhythm with chemicals — it didn’t work — so on 7/3 I had a cardioaversion and zapped my heart into submission. 

AFib runs in my family — both my parents, my aunt and two cousins had/have it.  

I am fine now.  If it does it again I will have an ablation which isn’t as quick as a cardioaversion (10 seconds).  So far so good, hoping it stays that way.

So, I thought I should check in. 

Can’t believe school is almost ready to start.  Doesn’t seem possible.

Birthday Girl!

 I don’t usually post pics of the kiddo but since it is her birthday I will make an exception.  She was born at 9:42 in the morning and each birthday her mother takes a photo at 9:42 and posts it.  So, here was today’s photo—

Good Morning! It’s Been a Hot Minute

 I am still here.  WE are still here, Things have been going ok, trying to stay busy and not worry — that is me — Hubs is definitely staying busy and not worrying about anything and sort of driving me crazy but I will take it.

Yesterday was our “First Date Anniversary” — June 26, 1965.  That evening we went to the movie at the neighborhood theater and saw “Dr. No” and “From Russia With Love”.  Every year we celebrate watching one of those movies — last night it was “Russia”.  Fifty Nine years ago —- where did it go?  

Tomorrow is Bean’s birthday.  She will be 14.  FOURTEEN!  YEARS1 OLD!  Again, where did it go?

She will start high school in a month.  She has a boyfriend — her fourth since the 7th grade — but this one seems to be sticking — a frightening thought.  He has even started going to church with her and has trained as an acolyte and they acolyte together.  Who knew?  God works in mysterious ways.  But, fourteen?  

It is hot here in Cowtown — or Funkytown — whichever you prefer.  I mean really hot — heat index of about 112.  I don’t go out.  Well, except when I have to.  I miss my young life in San Antonio where it was hot but not so hot that we didn’t spend lots of time in the lawn chairs outside.  Not possible here unless it is October. 

I FINALLY finished “Homewreckers” by Mary Kay Andrews.  I generally like her books but this one just didn’t grab me but I don’t give up easily so here we are.  Do I recommend?  Sure, it was ok, maybe it was just me not being able to settle my mind down.  But, it is done and now on to the next thing.

So, all in all, life is going on as usual.  We aren’t dwelling on Hubs health, or the weather, or the kid growing up — we are just putting one foot in front of the other and getting on with it.  Hopefully I can get back here better than I have been.  

Update

 Yes, it has been a month — and what a month it has been.  Long story short all the grafts from my husbands bypass surgery have disappeared — they are gone.  He only has one working artery in his heart, everything else is completely closed up.  No place to stent and not a candidate for more bypass.

Things have definitely taken a turn …

So far, we are fine

Update

 Ok, so we visited our cardiologist yesterday to get the lay of the land for the Hubs.  Seems there is an issue with one of the grafts from his previous bypass surgery.  They don’t last forever and it appears one is failing hence causing a blockage of some sort.  So, on April 4 he will be going in for a heart cath and possible a stent.  He has had a catherization before so it isn’t totally foreign, this will be the first stent.  I expect favorable results.  Of course there are risks but hopefully he will skirt all of that.  He is pretty strong so I expect a good outcome.

Now, breathe, Melissa.