What's Happening Tuesday?

Post away. I'll be back. . . .

Let's see. .  .Remember me? The one who just loves to make plans, any kind of plans, all kinds of plans, often months, sometimes years in advance? So, this past weekend was the "rent a place at the beach" weekend. Our two grown kids and their spouse and significant other (two kids, two DIFFERENT specials!) and our twin grand daughters. Planning lots of love, laughter, eating, playing on the beach, long walks, picking the tons of blackberries that will be ripe, shopping in little shops. . . Making "Kodak moments!" for my memory album.

Well,"the best laid plans" sometimes just go south. And I do mean way south this time. We had a day with the twins before heading to the coast. Mike's ankle was a bit sore, but he has peripheral neuropathy so nothing unusual. By the time we got to the beach "a bit sore" had turned into a miserable, painful gout attack. Our condo had a full set of stairs so basically he got himself situated and only went down the stairs about twice a day: up in the morning, down at bedtime. Thank goodness there was a bathroom on each level!

Here comes the next fun part. . . We brought the truck so we could drive down on the hard packed sand. Mike would be able to put out a chair and enjoy the ocean with the rest of us. Would you believe our power steering pump went out and then the ignition switch was also bad. So $800.00 and a day spent at a repair shop. .  Not my idea of a fun time.

I tried to "make lemons out of lemonade." Or rather "blackberry jam out of blackberries!" Tons of ripe berries absolutely everywhere. Picked them at the beach close to the condo, picked them close to the car repair shop today. Probably picked about 3 quarts so I hope to  make freezer jam and a berry cobbler like my mom used to make.

But. . . talk about a disappointing weekend. Still got to see the kids but I love  exploring little coastal towns. A big truck is hard enough to handle and without power stearing? Just about impossible for me!

What an expensive weekend. Might as well have stayed home. I'm bummed! Came back to Erin's as we didn't get out of the repair shop til 5pm and it's a 5 hour drive home. We'll leave in the morning.

We did get to see the girls again tonight. And yesterday oh my gosh! We took them to the beach. (Erin and Josh's truck before they went home later in the day. The sun was shining, we had buckets and shovels, a glorious sunny, just right day. Put them down and Hannah headed straight out to sea. I think she would have just kept going. Holding her hand, she giggled, stomped, kicked. and splashed. The northern Pacific is still cold even in August but she didn't care. She wasn't the least bit afraid. Clara, on the other hand, just loved to sit and shovel and dump,and shovel and dump.  I'll post pictures when I get home.

So I guess when I look back it was worth it for those few hours. . . .

 

 

 

awww karen...i'm sad right along with ya--except--you DID make kodak moments for your memory album!!! i can picture both of the girls in their respective love of the beach!!!!

good morning world!even our birds think it's too early for me to be up!!!

work then whatever....
did NOTHING last nite....well- took the dogs to bed after work - we checked to make sure all of the pillows and blankets were in the right places!!! had an enjoyable rest but no sleep-and then last nite, when it was really time for bed, brody rearranged just about ALL of the covers to get his spot just right!!!! i love that big brute!!!
i'll check in later to see everyone's day...
hugs and prayers....

aww, Karen...I'm so sorry that your plans didn't work out exactly.  However, you still managed to have some fun with the babies. I do hope that Mike's attack of gout passes quickly. You know they do say that gout is "a rich man's disease". That being said, I am no doubt that poor Mike did have a painful episode.

Today, JB and I drove up to Toronto to see my WLS surgeon, Dr Hagen.  Because we can never predict the rush hour traffic in Tornto, we left early and were surprised to see how quickly we made it there.  Then we had two hours to wait, so JB parked and I studied my textbook while he studied (finally) the manual for his new Cadillac DST and discovered numerous amazing facts and tricks that thre new car can do!  Too bad it doesnt do housework though.

And I finally finished the book, The Divided Mind by Dr John Sarno. The amazing thing is that I fully and completely understood it! Who says that you can't teach and old dog new tricks!  Four more textbooks and review and I have my certification!!

While JB was parked there in a shopping mall parking lot, I used the electronic device for the seats and moved my seat way back and attempted to have a nap.  I'd forgotten just how noisy a big city really is. I'm such a country mouse.

When the time came, I saw Dr Hagen and questioned him about the ROSE Procedure.  He said that it is still experimental and that he doesnt recommend it (darn!)   and that my health coverage will not pay for it...around $10,000.00 US.  And so, no easy way out of this,  I simply have to use my "tool" which is still set in place and do what I can.  To assist me in this, he is referring me to an Obesity Specialist in Toronto named Dr Lance Livy and that he has had great success in helping those of us who have had some re-gain.  He did say that he considers me still as successful having lost well over 100 pounds.

On the way home, we stopped for an early dinner...I ordered fish and asked right away for a take-out container and put half of my lunch in it right away for later.  JB and I had quite a discussion on pertion size and "portion distortion". I know that I still take too much and after a few bites, find myself wishing that I hadn't.  Will I EVER learn?  I'm thinking that there is some psychological issue here. 

When I was young, money was very tight.  Mother came from a very poor family during the "Great Depression" (nothing GREAT about it, as Mother used to say).  I always heard stories of the poverty and hunger then.  As well, my Dad spent all of his childhood in prisoner of war camps in England and New Brunswick and that also was a time of hunger.  I'm thinking that my childhood was imprinted by those stories and that I still have that mentality to eat when it's there because you never know when you will eat again. I think that perhaps this has signifigance.

Once we got home and since I hadn't slept well at all the night before, I went upstairs to lie down for a few hours (wake me up in 2 hours) and slept  before attending my LifePath group meeting.  I went to bed after midnight but again, cannot sleep, so here I am.  My sleep cycle is so screwed up.

Today I am home until 5pm  and I will first begin by reading and absorbing my next textbook....and then I have to attend my sorority's annual Beginning Day. yep..at a Chinese food restaurant out of town...oh joy!  I've already decided on what exactly I'm going to eat since this place is a buffet...I will focus on shrimp.  

Remember that our thoughts create our reality so think positive thoughts only..

Nancy B

Nancy, I love that last line about our thoughts creating our reality. Like a self fulfilling prophecy.

Good luck with the new doc. At least you have another resource to try.

Well, Karen, let's just forget about the foot and the truck and remember those little ones at the beach and the blackberries, and being with your kids. Dang....nothing worse than car trouble. So darned expensive, too.

Back to School week at the salon is always slow, this one being no exception. I have two clients and will work 2 1/2 hours. One of the ladies I had scheduled is in the hospital so I want to stop and see her some time today. Not much else going on at the old homestead, so it might be the highlight of my day...LOL

Yesterday I made a huge pot of homemade chunky applesause. OMG, it's soo good, used splenda, brown sugar splenda and lots and lots of cinnamon. It was so good last night warmed with a little cool whip free on it. Today it's going on top of my cottage cheese.

That's it for me. Time to go make oatmeal for Gary and pack his lunch. No rush for me to get ready since I still have 3 hours before I need to be at the salon.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Hugs to all!

Good morning Karen and everyone.....

WOW...that MN crud really had me yesterday!!! I am feeling better today but still weak and not much of an appetite.

Nic (grandson) is having his last antibody treatment in Memphis today. Tomorrow they can go home until next month about this time. Nic called me last night. He is really sick of all this and wants to go home even if it means going back to school!!
He is entering his lime green "BUG" in a car show on Labor Day....he is so excited about that!!

Kyleigh (granddaughter) called me me last night too. She sounded so happy and full of laughter.That was just what I needed to hear.

I  spoke with Amanda (Kyleigh's sister/granddaughter) She is fixing up her room at their new place.She was in a great mood too.She had a couple of her girlfriends over. They were all so giggly!! What a sweetie she is!!

I have plenty of work to do today for my job so I best get to it.

I hope we hear something about Linda S today.....I am kind of worried.

Prayers to those in need.

Love and hugs to all.....connie d

Morning Connie,
So glad you are felling better.

The sound of little ones "giggling" brings such joy....I love it.  I saved a voice message on my cell phone from my 4 1/2 year old grandniece.  It's so cute....warms my heart.

If you talk to Linda please her my best wishes.
Have a good day
Ruth

Hi Karen and my OFF family:

Oh Karen, what a sad tale ... but you did get to make some memories at the end, despite the gout and the car troubles (hate car troubles ... I've had my share of them!). The verbal picture of Hannah and Clara on the beach was precious ... I can just see them. My friend Roxane often picks blackberries in northern Wisconsin where she lives and makes jam (sometimes she calls it not so jam because she gets distracted by her kids and it doesn't congeal).

I had a kind of crappy day yesterday and it really was all my fault. I ate too much ... I didn't think I was, but obviously I did because I barfed it all up, and I only barf up my food when I've eaten too much (because nothing bothers me). I had leftover Waikiki meatballs and fried rice. I usually make sure I just have four meatballs and a small serving of rice (brown rice ... just so you know ... I don't use white rice ...and rice has never bothered me). I ate slowly, chewed my food. But anyway, I put extras in there because as I was divvying up the portions, I couldn't get all of the meatballs in the freezer pack, so I had some extras and put them in my individual servings. Bad, bad idea! I think I must have six meatballs in there ... Well, after lunch, I laid down for a nap. I was feeling quite full, but not overly miserable. Felt fine after the nap, but when I was sitting in my recliner, I started feeling really bad. I was sipping on some water with Scooter in my lap and I really felt crappy ... and then I thought, oh, I wish I would just throw up and get it over with it. And two minutes later, I had to throw Scooter off my lap and run to the kitchen (well, limp!) and expell it all.

After that, I still felt lousy for most of the day, like something was caught in my throat. Didn't eat much the rest of the day. I haven't had one of those days for I don't know how long. I won't be eating that many meatballs today, I know that! I'll save them for appetizers or snacks ... I can't eat that many! How stupid I was! Well, at least I know my tool is still working.

The rest of the day ... well, work was work, not much going on there. Went to bed by 1 after staying up to watch an extra-inning baseball game (Giants-Rockies ... rather exciting, actually).

My life is rather boring lately, can't you tell? I don't go anywhere, don't do anything but go to work, come home, clean litter boxes ... man, I need to get a life! Anyone want to give me one? Well, at least I've got a job.

Anyway, have a good day.

Aloha my friend.........Sounds like you had a mixed weekend. So sorry about the pain Mike was in, and then the truck problems. It is so true isn't it that sometimes when everything is planned and sounds perfect that something .... could be a small thing.....but the plans just shatter and you have to get creative to keep some fun in the adventure. I'm glad you got to see your babies and have them romp in the ocean. I KNOW the Oregon/Washington ocean can be COLD. I grew up in Portland and as a kid we didn't care......we also ran into the surf and froze til we got numb and then continued to play for hours.

I hope you filled your tank with baby love to last you until the next time you see them. I talked to my "babies" yesterday on the phone....and even that is so soul satisfying!

Have a good week!!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen