Post-op checkup: No driving until March. Wear neck brace until at least March. Need to keep my head held up high to stop scrunching of new parts.
Anyone know of a great (and cheap) sanitarium?
Neurosurgeon is a cool dude. Very matter of fact. Wears a turban. Knows his stuff. Raised in New Albany, IN, right across the bridge from Louisville, KY, where our daughter/SIL and their brood live.
I'm exhausted.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
First post-surgery checkup and...
Today, I'll have my first post-surgery check-up. It's been 3 weeks and two days since surgery.
I'm still experiencing a great number of muscle spasms across my shoulders. I've been "good" and worn this awful neck brace every day. Only take it off for bathing. The best part of that is having hubby wash my hair. He does a great job with the shampoo and conditioner.
Fixed my first supper yesterday. Nobody's favorite, but something I could put together without cutting myself, breaking anything or burning the house down. Lentil soup in the crock pot. We don't like it, but at our ages must eat it for the fiber. Getting old ain't for wimps.
Some of the Fibro BURN has subsided. It now only covers my lower back down to about six inches below my waist-line - well, the waist-line I had before being forced to slow down by osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Pre-surgery, the burn creeped down to about 3 inches above my knees.
This surgery has done nothing for my hip-lock problem, so I'm sure "something" will be done about that at a later date. Still can't walk the length of a block without my hips locking up. Makes it extremely difficult to put one foot in front of the other. I'm thankful for the "freedom" chair we bought a couple of years ago.
I'm also having to re-learn how to use my hands and fingers. If I've covered this before here, please understand that Fibro Fog is still present. Pre-surgery I had to consciously order my hands to do most activities that most just take for granted because their brains are on auto-pilot. Now that my hands are almost working right again, I catch myself trying to over-ride the sub-conscious movements. Note to self: Stop that!
I'll find out today how long it will be before I can drive again. Being house-bound isn't so bad when I have deadlines looming, but it sure would be nice to be more independent.
Will update after my checkup.
On another note: Somehow, a lark I'm sure - or divine intervention - my domain name has been wrested from Tripod/Lycos and my website should be back up and running with GoDaddy today.
Speaking of Tripod: If you sign up with them for their "free" domain offer, THEY, not you, will own that domain name. Then, if you ever want to move your site for, say, the fact that their customer service is nearly non-existent, you'll have to "rent" YOUR domain name from them for the life of the website - or until the Second Coming - whichever occurs first. It was a fluke that my transfer went through on August 26th by me hitting the "transfer" button about 3 dozen times. All were denied except for one. It took Tripod until December 17th to recognize the transfer and they shut down my site on December 19th. Need I say more?
I'm still experiencing a great number of muscle spasms across my shoulders. I've been "good" and worn this awful neck brace every day. Only take it off for bathing. The best part of that is having hubby wash my hair. He does a great job with the shampoo and conditioner.
Fixed my first supper yesterday. Nobody's favorite, but something I could put together without cutting myself, breaking anything or burning the house down. Lentil soup in the crock pot. We don't like it, but at our ages must eat it for the fiber. Getting old ain't for wimps.
Some of the Fibro BURN has subsided. It now only covers my lower back down to about six inches below my waist-line - well, the waist-line I had before being forced to slow down by osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Pre-surgery, the burn creeped down to about 3 inches above my knees.
This surgery has done nothing for my hip-lock problem, so I'm sure "something" will be done about that at a later date. Still can't walk the length of a block without my hips locking up. Makes it extremely difficult to put one foot in front of the other. I'm thankful for the "freedom" chair we bought a couple of years ago.
I'm also having to re-learn how to use my hands and fingers. If I've covered this before here, please understand that Fibro Fog is still present. Pre-surgery I had to consciously order my hands to do most activities that most just take for granted because their brains are on auto-pilot. Now that my hands are almost working right again, I catch myself trying to over-ride the sub-conscious movements. Note to self: Stop that!
I'll find out today how long it will be before I can drive again. Being house-bound isn't so bad when I have deadlines looming, but it sure would be nice to be more independent.
Will update after my checkup.
On another note: Somehow, a lark I'm sure - or divine intervention - my domain name has been wrested from Tripod/Lycos and my website should be back up and running with GoDaddy today.
Speaking of Tripod: If you sign up with them for their "free" domain offer, THEY, not you, will own that domain name. Then, if you ever want to move your site for, say, the fact that their customer service is nearly non-existent, you'll have to "rent" YOUR domain name from them for the life of the website - or until the Second Coming - whichever occurs first. It was a fluke that my transfer went through on August 26th by me hitting the "transfer" button about 3 dozen times. All were denied except for one. It took Tripod until December 17th to recognize the transfer and they shut down my site on December 19th. Need I say more?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Venturing out for Bob Evans Breakfast
We ventured out yesterday morning. I managed to sit in the seat without being packed in pillows to absorb road bumps. Went out to a leisurely breakfast. Then stopped at a couple of places to pick up necessary items. The last stop - to replace my electric mixer that burned up while mashing spuds for our Thanksgiving supper - Michael had to haul out my wheelchair. My hips were done moving. My back ached. My neck was throbbing. It was time to go home.
After a 4-hour nap, life was looking like it was worth the effort again.
I have an article due on Friday and most of the folks I need to interview are on vacation. This is the toughest time of year to write for a construction magazine. But, my article will get turned in on time, regardless.
My website. Dang. I'm hoping to be back up and running today. Just have a few final edits and then I'll be on the phone with GoDaddy. If I didn't hate Tripod enough before, well, I hate them triple now. However, I did have the good sense to NOT use their site-builder, but Front Page, so my online life wasn't completely destroyed.
I'm healing. Slowly. Very tired of the neck brace. Tired most of the time. Fewer meds for pain. Still have some dizziness issues. See my neurosurgeon on Wednesday.
After a 4-hour nap, life was looking like it was worth the effort again.
I have an article due on Friday and most of the folks I need to interview are on vacation. This is the toughest time of year to write for a construction magazine. But, my article will get turned in on time, regardless.
My website. Dang. I'm hoping to be back up and running today. Just have a few final edits and then I'll be on the phone with GoDaddy. If I didn't hate Tripod enough before, well, I hate them triple now. However, I did have the good sense to NOT use their site-builder, but Front Page, so my online life wasn't completely destroyed.
I'm healing. Slowly. Very tired of the neck brace. Tired most of the time. Fewer meds for pain. Still have some dizziness issues. See my neurosurgeon on Wednesday.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Post Christmas Bluesies
Christmas was quiet. Too quiet. We couldn't go to Louisville as planned because daughter, son-in-law, and a couple of their tribe of kidlets were too germ-y for me to be around so soon after surgery.
Plus, we'd taken a trial run by packing me in pillows in hubby's truck, and it was miserable - and a much, much shorter trip.
I'm healing well, albeit slowly. Fingers are working much better, but still not quite up to speed. They'll probably never reach full capacity, but I can live with the use I have now. No one would hire me as a typist, which is understandable, but some of my frustration is gone. Lightly tapping my thumb knuckle or a fingernail on something hard no longer drops me to the floor from the searing pain.
Michael, my dear hubby, made a pot roast for our supper. It was wonderful. He used veggies we'd grown right here in our little garden and home-canned. You know, veggies that still had flavor and vitamins intact. Son was home and his new friend, Kathy, came over for awhile.
Speaking of son - he and Kathy delivered 3 very large teddy bears to the local childrens' hospital, specifically to go to children who, perhaps, didn't have a great Christmas. Being in the hospital is bad enough, but there are worse things - like being completely ignored by family while you're there. As a foster mom and foster grandma I've seen it too many times. I'm sure these bears were as big or bigger than the children who received them. Just something he picked up in his travels about four months ago, knowing his plan.
Well, back to seeing if I can get my website set back up. Tripod dumped me. Probably because I dared tell them their customer service sucked. Where has my diplomacy gone? I'll work on that. Right after my website is back up and functioning.
In the meantime, my email is also down. If you've emailed me at linda at lindajhutchinson dot com and it bounced back at you, try hutchlj at yahoo dot com, but don't spam me. I tend to get even with slimy spammers.
Plus, we'd taken a trial run by packing me in pillows in hubby's truck, and it was miserable - and a much, much shorter trip.
I'm healing well, albeit slowly. Fingers are working much better, but still not quite up to speed. They'll probably never reach full capacity, but I can live with the use I have now. No one would hire me as a typist, which is understandable, but some of my frustration is gone. Lightly tapping my thumb knuckle or a fingernail on something hard no longer drops me to the floor from the searing pain.
Michael, my dear hubby, made a pot roast for our supper. It was wonderful. He used veggies we'd grown right here in our little garden and home-canned. You know, veggies that still had flavor and vitamins intact. Son was home and his new friend, Kathy, came over for awhile.
Speaking of son - he and Kathy delivered 3 very large teddy bears to the local childrens' hospital, specifically to go to children who, perhaps, didn't have a great Christmas. Being in the hospital is bad enough, but there are worse things - like being completely ignored by family while you're there. As a foster mom and foster grandma I've seen it too many times. I'm sure these bears were as big or bigger than the children who received them. Just something he picked up in his travels about four months ago, knowing his plan.
Well, back to seeing if I can get my website set back up. Tripod dumped me. Probably because I dared tell them their customer service sucked. Where has my diplomacy gone? I'll work on that. Right after my website is back up and functioning.
In the meantime, my email is also down. If you've emailed me at linda at lindajhutchinson dot com and it bounced back at you, try hutchlj at yahoo dot com, but don't spam me. I tend to get even with slimy spammers.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Whine, whine, whine - You've been warned.
It was -21 with the wind chill yesterday. Today it is supposed to warm up so it can snow. Great weather for, hmmm, bears? The cold certainly doesn't help my pain levels. Our house is warm and cozy, but I still have to let the dog in and out, and son is in and out while trying to get his fuel lines thawed on his big rig, and hubby was in and out this morning. Oy.
We went grocery shopping last night. That was after Michael drove me to Ohio Health for the 2-week post surgery X-rays. What a sight we were. Knowing there would be no available electric carts, he pulled my wheelchair out of the truck and I steered the cart while he pushed my wheelchair.
For Christmas, we'll be having pot roast. Not my favorite, but something hubby can do well - since he's still doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, AND bathing me/washing my hair, etc. All this while working his backside off to build a Walgreen's store that normally takes 8 months - in 4 months. He's good at what he does, obviously.
I'm sad that we can't go to Louisville for Christmas. The weather is supposed to be ugly and even packed in pillows, riding in a car/truck for any length of time, is hell. We had all the grandkids here, except the two in Seattle, and the one in the military, at Thanksgiving, so I should stop feeling selfish for wanting to spend Christmas with them, too. But, it's tough.
I'm still fighting with Tripod to get my website moved to GoDaddy. It is completely down while they screw with me by withholding the DNS unlock code. This is day SIX of my site being down. Tripod sucks. Even after finally being able to move my site, I'll still have to pay Tripod annual "rent" of $12.95 for the use of my "FREE" domain name. Did I already say Tripod sucks? Please learn from my pain of dealing with them and do NOT ever set up your website with them.
Since my website is completely down, so is my website email. If you have sent me an email at linda@, I didn't get it. Please use hutchlj at yahoo dot com until this whole completely needless mess can be cleaned up. Please don't spam me, though.
Monday, December 22, 2008
My website is still down.
This is day 5 of my website being down. Tripod's "FR*E" domain name is NOT FR*E if you every want to leave their web hosting - which I've been trying to do for a very long time. They won't give me the DNS unlock code until I've paid a $12.95 "rental" fee on my domain name - and agree to pay it for the rest of my life.
My site was never set up on "Fr*e" to begin with. I paid them $8.95 for the Pro plan every month for 5 years. One would think that I would own my domain name. However, I do not.
And, of course, their "customer service" is only open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 - and it takes at least 3 days to get a response from them via email.
So, I've not only got a website that is non-functional STILL, but all of my website email is down, too.
I will say LOUDLY once again, "Do NOT use Tripod/Lycos as your webhost!" Ever.
GoDaddy is ready to give me telephone support - 24 hours per day !! - if Tripod will ever get around to giving me the DNS unlock code so I can move my site.
Tripod/Lycos sucks.
I'm sure this will not be the end to this particular rant. The BS never seems to end when your webhost is Tripod/Lycos.
Beware, be wary!
All of this on top of trying to heal from major spine surgery. Please excuse typos and mis-spellings. I haven't had my meds yet today.
Spine surgery report: It's slow going. Hate the neck brace. When I put on my CPAP mask on top of the neck brace I look like something out of a bad horror movie. Hubby is doing double duty - working more than full-time and still cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and even bathing me and washing my hair. But then, I knew he was a keeper 18 years ago.
My hands are working and they don't hurt - most of the time. My surgery wound hasn't hurt at all. My neck hurts all the time from all the digging around in there. Still not sure if I'll pick up any traits from the former owners of the cadaver bones my neurosurgeon replaced my badly deformed discs with. Hmmm. Anyone know anything about this? Might make for a good story!
I'm required to take two naps a day, plus I'm sleeping about 10 hours per night. No lifting! No sleeping on my stomach - ever again.
So that's about it. Tripod is the suckiest webhost on the planet. I'm not completely myself yet - and may become someone else. I may be happier when my website is back up and running, but I'll still warn everyone I meet up with to stay away from said sucky webhost.
My site was never set up on "Fr*e" to begin with. I paid them $8.95 for the Pro plan every month for 5 years. One would think that I would own my domain name. However, I do not.
And, of course, their "customer service" is only open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 - and it takes at least 3 days to get a response from them via email.
So, I've not only got a website that is non-functional STILL, but all of my website email is down, too.
I will say LOUDLY once again, "Do NOT use Tripod/Lycos as your webhost!" Ever.
GoDaddy is ready to give me telephone support - 24 hours per day !! - if Tripod will ever get around to giving me the DNS unlock code so I can move my site.
Tripod/Lycos sucks.
I'm sure this will not be the end to this particular rant. The BS never seems to end when your webhost is Tripod/Lycos.
Beware, be wary!
All of this on top of trying to heal from major spine surgery. Please excuse typos and mis-spellings. I haven't had my meds yet today.
Spine surgery report: It's slow going. Hate the neck brace. When I put on my CPAP mask on top of the neck brace I look like something out of a bad horror movie. Hubby is doing double duty - working more than full-time and still cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and even bathing me and washing my hair. But then, I knew he was a keeper 18 years ago.
My hands are working and they don't hurt - most of the time. My surgery wound hasn't hurt at all. My neck hurts all the time from all the digging around in there. Still not sure if I'll pick up any traits from the former owners of the cadaver bones my neurosurgeon replaced my badly deformed discs with. Hmmm. Anyone know anything about this? Might make for a good story!
I'm required to take two naps a day, plus I'm sleeping about 10 hours per night. No lifting! No sleeping on my stomach - ever again.
So that's about it. Tripod is the suckiest webhost on the planet. I'm not completely myself yet - and may become someone else. I may be happier when my website is back up and running, but I'll still warn everyone I meet up with to stay away from said sucky webhost.
Friday, December 19, 2008
On another rant
Still no reply from Tripod. Thank God for my naturally very low blood pressure.
Shoulders are still hosting those pesky fencing elephants, but I was able to sleep in my own bed last night, which made hubby very happy. Now I understand why all the kids and company like our guest bed, though. Very comfortable.
Went without my neck brace for a little while yesterday. Won't do that again. Hubby washed my hair. There is just something about having clean hair that is always nice, even if no one sees it. Barbara Walters made a comment about that many years ago. She said it didn't matter what her dress looked like when she was on camera as long as her hair was clean. I heartily agree.
Dear husband and I will be going to Cincinnati this afternoon to a mandatory health insurance meeting. Probably won't be good news. His employer has graciously paid a large amount of our premiums and also paid into our HSA account. That might change. Just what we need is higher costs for my care.
On that note; I heard a rumor yesterday that when an employee is laid off for even a short while, the employer can no longer continue to pay the employee's health insurance - that it must go through COBRA - which not many can afford. That sucketh, folks. While Michael was temporarily laid off this past year, his employer paid our insurance. Beginning in February 2009, if the rumor is true, he won't be allowed to do that anymore. So if this rumor is true, the newly unemployed, even during temporary unemployment, will be doubly screwed.
We need to impeach everyone in Congress and the House and start over. Shut off their health insurance. Shut off their pension plans. Clean out their 401-K plans. Ours has been dismally attacked.
We the people, may never be allowed to retire.
Re the 2-hour ride to Cinci for this meeting: I'll be propped into position with at least 3 pillows to absorb some of the bumps in the road. Just going shopping for an hour 2 days ago has made my body ache. I felt every little crack in the road, every lurch at a stop light, every corner no matter how slowly taken.
Shoulders are still hosting those pesky fencing elephants, but I was able to sleep in my own bed last night, which made hubby very happy. Now I understand why all the kids and company like our guest bed, though. Very comfortable.
Went without my neck brace for a little while yesterday. Won't do that again. Hubby washed my hair. There is just something about having clean hair that is always nice, even if no one sees it. Barbara Walters made a comment about that many years ago. She said it didn't matter what her dress looked like when she was on camera as long as her hair was clean. I heartily agree.
Dear husband and I will be going to Cincinnati this afternoon to a mandatory health insurance meeting. Probably won't be good news. His employer has graciously paid a large amount of our premiums and also paid into our HSA account. That might change. Just what we need is higher costs for my care.
On that note; I heard a rumor yesterday that when an employee is laid off for even a short while, the employer can no longer continue to pay the employee's health insurance - that it must go through COBRA - which not many can afford. That sucketh, folks. While Michael was temporarily laid off this past year, his employer paid our insurance. Beginning in February 2009, if the rumor is true, he won't be allowed to do that anymore. So if this rumor is true, the newly unemployed, even during temporary unemployment, will be doubly screwed.
We need to impeach everyone in Congress and the House and start over. Shut off their health insurance. Shut off their pension plans. Clean out their 401-K plans. Ours has been dismally attacked.
We the people, may never be allowed to retire.
Re the 2-hour ride to Cinci for this meeting: I'll be propped into position with at least 3 pillows to absorb some of the bumps in the road. Just going shopping for an hour 2 days ago has made my body ache. I felt every little crack in the road, every lurch at a stop light, every corner no matter how slowly taken.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Frustrations, muscle spasms, and need to sleep a lot
This has been a horrendously difficult day, both physically and mentally. I've been on the verge of tears since this morning. And once again, it can all be traced back to my webhost. Add the pain from recent spine surgery and the picture becomes clearer.
I've wanted to switch to another host - one which would provide some semblance of customer service - for some time. I've not taken the chance that Tripod/Lycos (my nemesis) would register my domain name properly since they do so little properly that I've been registering it myself with NameCheap for years. Well, this year, Tripod caught that and decided to boot my site. They gave me two days notice.
Except that they will not release the authorization code or unlock the DNS code to do so. They will also not respond to emails, as usual. They do not provide telephone support.
So, my website is down. My email is down. And I have no hope that either will be back up anytime soon.
Several of my friends with more website building experience than I have have explained how simple it should be and that there should only be an hour or two of interruption. That I should just be able to dump Tripod and move to GoDaddy and be back up and running quickly. They've never dealt with Tripod/Lycos.
So, today, none of my meds are helping with muscle spasms or pain because I'm so stressed out. I want to sleep but can't. I want to take a shower and wash my hair, but can't because I can't raise my arms up over my head.
I'm going to write today off as a feel-sorry-for-myself day and move on.
Since Tripod is only open for business about 30 hours a week, my site may be back up and running sometime after Christmas, or New Years, or Easter.
In the meantime, if you'd like to contact me (DON'T SPAM ME OR I'LL SEND LUCIFER HIMSELF AFTER YOU! I'm in no mood to be messed with!), you'll need to use hutchlj@yahoo.com.
After almost 5 years of putting up with Tripod's crap because it was such a hassle to move my site, I truly, truly, understand why some go postal.
And hubby will have to drive me to have X-rays of my neck on Saturday so I can take them to my neurologist next week. Hubby will have to take time off work to drive me there, too. I haven't felt this trapped since I was 8 - the old tractor or my horse always got me where I needed to go.
To top it off, our Louisville family is falling by onesies and twosies with the flu, so dear hubby and I will probably be BBQing steak for our Christmas supper. Hope son can be home. He's always got a few friends who'd like a good meal.
Tomorrow has to be better.
I've wanted to switch to another host - one which would provide some semblance of customer service - for some time. I've not taken the chance that Tripod/Lycos (my nemesis) would register my domain name properly since they do so little properly that I've been registering it myself with NameCheap for years. Well, this year, Tripod caught that and decided to boot my site. They gave me two days notice.
Except that they will not release the authorization code or unlock the DNS code to do so. They will also not respond to emails, as usual. They do not provide telephone support.
So, my website is down. My email is down. And I have no hope that either will be back up anytime soon.
Several of my friends with more website building experience than I have have explained how simple it should be and that there should only be an hour or two of interruption. That I should just be able to dump Tripod and move to GoDaddy and be back up and running quickly. They've never dealt with Tripod/Lycos.
So, today, none of my meds are helping with muscle spasms or pain because I'm so stressed out. I want to sleep but can't. I want to take a shower and wash my hair, but can't because I can't raise my arms up over my head.
I'm going to write today off as a feel-sorry-for-myself day and move on.
Since Tripod is only open for business about 30 hours a week, my site may be back up and running sometime after Christmas, or New Years, or Easter.
In the meantime, if you'd like to contact me (DON'T SPAM ME OR I'LL SEND LUCIFER HIMSELF AFTER YOU! I'm in no mood to be messed with!), you'll need to use hutchlj@yahoo.com.
After almost 5 years of putting up with Tripod's crap because it was such a hassle to move my site, I truly, truly, understand why some go postal.
And hubby will have to drive me to have X-rays of my neck on Saturday so I can take them to my neurologist next week. Hubby will have to take time off work to drive me there, too. I haven't felt this trapped since I was 8 - the old tractor or my horse always got me where I needed to go.
To top it off, our Louisville family is falling by onesies and twosies with the flu, so dear hubby and I will probably be BBQing steak for our Christmas supper. Hope son can be home. He's always got a few friends who'd like a good meal.
Tomorrow has to be better.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Lycos/Tripod gives me the boot
Well, it seems my nemesis, Tripod/Lycos is screwing with me again. Got an email yesterday that said I have two days to move my website because I had registered my DNS?? elsewhere. Funny, that, because Tripod has refused to allow me to move my site for the past two years and would not give me the unlock code to do so. I have absolutely no idea how to "register my DNS" elsewhere.
I strongly suspect this is because the service I've been paying $8.95 a month for for almost 5 years is now $12.95.
I have had a hate/hate relationship with them for years. This is only because of their total lack of customer service. It takes 24 to 96 hours just to get a canned BS email that usually isn't even relevant to the question asked.
So... I've been given license to move my site. Have no idea how to do that but I will be going through the GoDaddy link at The Writer's Chatroom to get some help with moving it. The little bit Audrey gets as an affiliate helps to pay the chatroom's bills. She's had no problems with GoDaddy and it has been recommended to me by many others. They actually have telephone support. What a concept!
Fortunately for me, my site has been built using FrontPage and I keep a copy on my laptop and on a jump stick.
I strongly suspect this is because the service I've been paying $8.95 a month for for almost 5 years is now $12.95.
I have had a hate/hate relationship with them for years. This is only because of their total lack of customer service. It takes 24 to 96 hours just to get a canned BS email that usually isn't even relevant to the question asked.
So... I've been given license to move my site. Have no idea how to do that but I will be going through the GoDaddy link at The Writer's Chatroom to get some help with moving it. The little bit Audrey gets as an affiliate helps to pay the chatroom's bills. She's had no problems with GoDaddy and it has been recommended to me by many others. They actually have telephone support. What a concept!
Fortunately for me, my site has been built using FrontPage and I keep a copy on my laptop and on a jump stick.
Oops! Forgot to post yesterday
How did I forget to blog here yesterday? My mind must have been flushed along with my now-working-again intestines. So much potty talk here. Sheesh.
Our trip to Louisville for Christmas has been canceled. Seems my Jeffrey, our much-loved son-in-law, is down with the flu. In a household with two adults and 5 kids, three dogs, two cats, and two goats, bugs get shared quickly. Nick was also home because he was feeling poorly. School was out due to snow. Daughter is attempting to stay well enough to work (she's the major bread-winner) and to pick up the two youngest at pre-school on her way home.
They came for Thanksgiving two years ago with 3 sick kids and one sick adult. I'm not up to doing that again. Dear hubby and I have both had our flu shots - which are medically mandatory for me, along with the pneumonia shot.
Our 2300 square foot home, which is usually large enough for the whole crew plus friends is beginning to feel very small. And that's with just the dog and me here. Michael is taking me shopping tonight to fill the list daughter sent, and to get me out of the house.
One year, about six years ago, I broke with tradition and didn't buy socks for everyone in the family. Daughter had a snit-fit as she headed to the store. Everyone complained. We didn't realize what a big deal it was.
It seems I've also created some sort of tradition for buying grown son underwear in August. Have no idea how that started, but he starts the man-talk in July about needing underwear. He's perfectly capable of going to the store to choose and pay for his own underwear, but says it just isn't the same thing.
They never really leave home.
Never.
On another note, I started reading Hope Clark's manuscript yesterday. This is the agricultural suspense/thriller she's shopping to agents. It's good! Hear ye, hear ye, o' agents of marketable authors! This one is worth a read!
This blog is worth the read just for the meta tags. HA!
Our trip to Louisville for Christmas has been canceled. Seems my Jeffrey, our much-loved son-in-law, is down with the flu. In a household with two adults and 5 kids, three dogs, two cats, and two goats, bugs get shared quickly. Nick was also home because he was feeling poorly. School was out due to snow. Daughter is attempting to stay well enough to work (she's the major bread-winner) and to pick up the two youngest at pre-school on her way home.
They came for Thanksgiving two years ago with 3 sick kids and one sick adult. I'm not up to doing that again. Dear hubby and I have both had our flu shots - which are medically mandatory for me, along with the pneumonia shot.
Our 2300 square foot home, which is usually large enough for the whole crew plus friends is beginning to feel very small. And that's with just the dog and me here. Michael is taking me shopping tonight to fill the list daughter sent, and to get me out of the house.
One year, about six years ago, I broke with tradition and didn't buy socks for everyone in the family. Daughter had a snit-fit as she headed to the store. Everyone complained. We didn't realize what a big deal it was.
It seems I've also created some sort of tradition for buying grown son underwear in August. Have no idea how that started, but he starts the man-talk in July about needing underwear. He's perfectly capable of going to the store to choose and pay for his own underwear, but says it just isn't the same thing.
They never really leave home.
Never.
On another note, I started reading Hope Clark's manuscript yesterday. This is the agricultural suspense/thriller she's shopping to agents. It's good! Hear ye, hear ye, o' agents of marketable authors! This one is worth a read!
This blog is worth the read just for the meta tags. HA!
Monday, December 15, 2008
One Week Post Surgery
I have a call in to Jack Hanna at the Columbus Zoo to remove these fencing elephants from my shoulders. It they would go away, along with the muscle spasms they've caused, I'd feel almost blissful.
My typing is still slower than normal, but after a year of having my hands and fingers mis-fire under a boatload of pain, I'll take the slower typing pace and be happy.
The weather in Ohio is typically cold and gray. I've threatened to smack Ohioans who complain about my beloved Seattle's rain and gray periods. At least it's green year round there. Here, everything is either gray or brown. UGH!
A friend sent me a very cute poem about winter. It's posted at http://lindajhutchinson.blogspot.com. Beware: That site is where I spout off about wrong-doings, ill-gotten gains, and politics in general - usually all in the same breath because they are all so intertwined.
My choices these days are: hold off on the meds and get some work done, or take the meds and go back to bed. The latter is the better choice, I'm sure. I'm also hoping my neurosurgeon isn't reading this blog.
My typing is still slower than normal, but after a year of having my hands and fingers mis-fire under a boatload of pain, I'll take the slower typing pace and be happy.
The weather in Ohio is typically cold and gray. I've threatened to smack Ohioans who complain about my beloved Seattle's rain and gray periods. At least it's green year round there. Here, everything is either gray or brown. UGH!
A friend sent me a very cute poem about winter. It's posted at http://lindajhutchinson.blogspot.com. Beware: That site is where I spout off about wrong-doings, ill-gotten gains, and politics in general - usually all in the same breath because they are all so intertwined.
My choices these days are: hold off on the meds and get some work done, or take the meds and go back to bed. The latter is the better choice, I'm sure. I'm also hoping my neurosurgeon isn't reading this blog.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
I could get real used to this...
Slept most of yesterday. Had given hubby explicit instructions re how and when to make the mortgage payment online. Yeah, right. Realized it hadn't been done today, the 14th.
Hubby is making breakfast. I haven't been real hungry. Have lost 9 pounds since surgery.
Have to say, though, that I'm liking living in pajamas all day and night. I could get used to this!
The elephants are still practicing their fencing moves across my shoulders. Thinking of calling Jack Hanna to come load 'em up. I'm sick of them. They're friendly enough, they just move around a lot on my sore and spasming muscles. Actually, I'm hating them a little more each day. Hubby just thinks I'm being humorous...
This neck brace is a royal pain. Sliding my CPAP mask over the neck brace is even more fun. Makes me have some empathy for the actors in Space Odyssey who spent hours each day getting their makeup and costumes just right.
My hair is a fright. No need for makeup - would just be another irritation - since I can't move my head. Ever tried putting on mascara when you can't move your head, hold your mouth just so, or tilt the wand? At least I can hang on to the wand now. That's an improvement!
No one argues with me when I say I'm heading off to take a nap. Even if they're hungry. Even if they need clothes washed. See, I trained them both very well, and they know that I know that they can both cook and do laundry.
Seems breakfast is almost ready. I'm going to watch TV while eating and then my plate will be promptly picked up and put in the dishwasher and the kitchen will somehow get all cleaned up while I'm napping.
I could get used to this.
Hubby is making breakfast. I haven't been real hungry. Have lost 9 pounds since surgery.
Have to say, though, that I'm liking living in pajamas all day and night. I could get used to this!
The elephants are still practicing their fencing moves across my shoulders. Thinking of calling Jack Hanna to come load 'em up. I'm sick of them. They're friendly enough, they just move around a lot on my sore and spasming muscles. Actually, I'm hating them a little more each day. Hubby just thinks I'm being humorous...
This neck brace is a royal pain. Sliding my CPAP mask over the neck brace is even more fun. Makes me have some empathy for the actors in Space Odyssey who spent hours each day getting their makeup and costumes just right.
My hair is a fright. No need for makeup - would just be another irritation - since I can't move my head. Ever tried putting on mascara when you can't move your head, hold your mouth just so, or tilt the wand? At least I can hang on to the wand now. That's an improvement!
No one argues with me when I say I'm heading off to take a nap. Even if they're hungry. Even if they need clothes washed. See, I trained them both very well, and they know that I know that they can both cook and do laundry.
Seems breakfast is almost ready. I'm going to watch TV while eating and then my plate will be promptly picked up and put in the dishwasher and the kitchen will somehow get all cleaned up while I'm napping.
I could get used to this.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Slept most of yesterday. Hubby fixed supper and then cuddled with me while we watched the news. Can't wait to get this neck collar off. Supposed to wear it for 3 months. Yuck. Sipping coffee from a straw.
One of hubby's subcontractors gave us a beautiful poinsettia. It is very lovely. Will probably be our only Christmas decoration this year.
Daughter wants us to come to Louisville for Christmas. Our holidays are always re-arranged to work around work schedules. Don't know if I can make the trip. Four hours in a car doesn't sound like much fun. I also haven't been able to do any Christmas shopping this year. That sucks. Our grandkidlets will understand, but it still doesn't seem fair.
If we had waited to do the surgery after Christmas, we'd have to pay our $4K deductible again.
Anyway, I'm healing, but can see that it will be a slower process than planned.
One of hubby's subcontractors gave us a beautiful poinsettia. It is very lovely. Will probably be our only Christmas decoration this year.
Daughter wants us to come to Louisville for Christmas. Our holidays are always re-arranged to work around work schedules. Don't know if I can make the trip. Four hours in a car doesn't sound like much fun. I also haven't been able to do any Christmas shopping this year. That sucks. Our grandkidlets will understand, but it still doesn't seem fair.
If we had waited to do the surgery after Christmas, we'd have to pay our $4K deductible again.
Anyway, I'm healing, but can see that it will be a slower process than planned.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Afternoon report
I've slept most of today. Feels good to sleep. The pain in my shoulders goes away for that time.
The dog has decided it's best to move her arse out of the walkway. Difficult to do when she's 120 pounds, but she must have gotten tired of being stepped on. She doesn't leave my side much except to go outside to do her business.
I'd actually feel almost good if the pain in my shoulders would go away. It's total debilitation. However, my lower back has eased up some and so has the pain in my hips. That could be due to my lack of walking or due to the surgery. We'll have to wait and see. I'm still too drugged to read much, so if you've sent me an email and haven't gotten a response, that's why.
Fibro sucks. Maybe when my mind is less littered with drugs I'll be able to come up with a better analogy for that.
The dog has decided it's best to move her arse out of the walkway. Difficult to do when she's 120 pounds, but she must have gotten tired of being stepped on. She doesn't leave my side much except to go outside to do her business.
I'd actually feel almost good if the pain in my shoulders would go away. It's total debilitation. However, my lower back has eased up some and so has the pain in my hips. That could be due to my lack of walking or due to the surgery. We'll have to wait and see. I'm still too drugged to read much, so if you've sent me an email and haven't gotten a response, that's why.
Fibro sucks. Maybe when my mind is less littered with drugs I'll be able to come up with a better analogy for that.
Day 3
Day two of being home. Day three post surgery. Hate the neck brace, but terrified of taking it off. Wish Jack Hanna would stop by to pick up the elephants stomping across my shoulders and take them back to the zoo.
I'm woozy. I'm exhausted.
Throat felt like I had bronchitis cough for the first two days. That has gotten better.
My plan for using the recliner isn't working out well. To recline, it takes using pressure from both my legs and neck. HA! So, I'm propped up in the corner of the guest bed with about a dozen pillows.
Papa brings me the coffee thermal carafe with creme brulee creamer and a sandwich every morning. It is hard to swallow, even liquids, so this is working well for now.
Thank you to Renee' Barnes and Teddy in Poland for their warm wishes! Audrey Shaffer, Dina Malki, too. If my spelling sucks, it's because my pain level sucks.
If you have nothing better to do, or just 3 free seconds, send a book to Teddy for his library. You'll find the mailing address on the Past Showcase stars at http://www.lindajhutchinson.com. He'll be so grateful! While there, you can also buy my e-book, The Bare Bones Basics of: So You Want to be a Writer. That's all the marketing I have energy for.
Off to take another nap.
I'm woozy. I'm exhausted.
Throat felt like I had bronchitis cough for the first two days. That has gotten better.
My plan for using the recliner isn't working out well. To recline, it takes using pressure from both my legs and neck. HA! So, I'm propped up in the corner of the guest bed with about a dozen pillows.
Papa brings me the coffee thermal carafe with creme brulee creamer and a sandwich every morning. It is hard to swallow, even liquids, so this is working well for now.
Thank you to Renee' Barnes and Teddy in Poland for their warm wishes! Audrey Shaffer, Dina Malki, too. If my spelling sucks, it's because my pain level sucks.
If you have nothing better to do, or just 3 free seconds, send a book to Teddy for his library. You'll find the mailing address on the Past Showcase stars at http://www.lindajhutchinson.com. He'll be so grateful! While there, you can also buy my e-book, The Bare Bones Basics of: So You Want to be a Writer. That's all the marketing I have energy for.
Off to take another nap.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
First post, post-surgery
Monday, 8th, had surgery. Immediately after time in the recovery room, my hands stopped hurting. So did my wrists. HOWEVER, I had the worst muscle spasms marching from my left elbow, across my shoulders, and down to my right elbow, I could ever have imagined. Should also note that hospital had cut back staff - nearly all aides were gone. Nursing staff was bombarded.
What was planned as a 4 hour surgery turned into 6 hours because of the amount of arthritis in my spine. It took them 2 additional hours to scrape away all the bone spurs that hadn't shown up in the films.
Dr. Mallik rocks! Not only is he easy on the eyes, but he is very personable. When one has a conversation with him, it is clear that we have his undivided attention. He's also very young to be running the neurology department, but he is. He also teaches. And has a thriving practice. Amazing man.
Ms. Audrey Shaffer called me on Sunday so we could talk before surgery. She said she had to talk to me rather than send an email. I'm thankful she is my friend.
Ms. Renee' Barnes called twice post surgery. The first time, I wasn't all that coherent, so she called again yesterday as hubby was driving me home. So nice to have friends who call to tell you they love you.
Daughter called to tell me her brother had done a superb job of keeping family updated. She was so proud of him for doing that.
Poor son had to help me to the toilet and also in removing some items of clothing. It made him very uncomfortable, but he did it because he was helping mama. He talked to the doctors and nurses and had my Michael on speed dial.
Had to spend the night in the hospital because of the extra surgical procedures. I was definitely ready to come home yesterday!
I'm a bit light-headed from the pain and meds. The meds aren't helping much. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, my pain level this morning is an 8. It's the spasms in my shoulders that hurt the most. Vicadin, Flexerill, and Valium just aren't getting it done.
I'm sitting in the recliner in our guest room. We don't have a TV in our bedroom, so I've set up shop in here. Slept, actually attempted to sleep, in the recliner until about 3 this morning. Tried to get up to go to the bathroom, but our bull mastiff had spread out in the walkpath and nearly dumped me on my arse. Michael heard the commotion and came running to my aid. She's a sweet dog and just wants to be near me, but I can't see well enough with this neck brace on, to step over her.
I doubt Michael has slept much. I doubt son has slept much. I know I haven't slept much.
Pneumonia is the big issue here, also the scare of staph infection. Either of those could prove fatal.
Anyway, I'm going to kick back and rest. Don't have much choice. Sure do hope these pain pills kick in sometime soon.
Dr. Mallik thinks Fibro kicked in with the trauma of surgery. I believe him. Fibro is worse than the surgery pain right now.
Thank you to my friends around the world who have prayed for me. I've heard from Hindis, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians alike. Thank you. Prayer is so very powerful.
What was planned as a 4 hour surgery turned into 6 hours because of the amount of arthritis in my spine. It took them 2 additional hours to scrape away all the bone spurs that hadn't shown up in the films.
Dr. Mallik rocks! Not only is he easy on the eyes, but he is very personable. When one has a conversation with him, it is clear that we have his undivided attention. He's also very young to be running the neurology department, but he is. He also teaches. And has a thriving practice. Amazing man.
Ms. Audrey Shaffer called me on Sunday so we could talk before surgery. She said she had to talk to me rather than send an email. I'm thankful she is my friend.
Ms. Renee' Barnes called twice post surgery. The first time, I wasn't all that coherent, so she called again yesterday as hubby was driving me home. So nice to have friends who call to tell you they love you.
Daughter called to tell me her brother had done a superb job of keeping family updated. She was so proud of him for doing that.
Poor son had to help me to the toilet and also in removing some items of clothing. It made him very uncomfortable, but he did it because he was helping mama. He talked to the doctors and nurses and had my Michael on speed dial.
Had to spend the night in the hospital because of the extra surgical procedures. I was definitely ready to come home yesterday!
I'm a bit light-headed from the pain and meds. The meds aren't helping much. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, my pain level this morning is an 8. It's the spasms in my shoulders that hurt the most. Vicadin, Flexerill, and Valium just aren't getting it done.
I'm sitting in the recliner in our guest room. We don't have a TV in our bedroom, so I've set up shop in here. Slept, actually attempted to sleep, in the recliner until about 3 this morning. Tried to get up to go to the bathroom, but our bull mastiff had spread out in the walkpath and nearly dumped me on my arse. Michael heard the commotion and came running to my aid. She's a sweet dog and just wants to be near me, but I can't see well enough with this neck brace on, to step over her.
I doubt Michael has slept much. I doubt son has slept much. I know I haven't slept much.
Pneumonia is the big issue here, also the scare of staph infection. Either of those could prove fatal.
Anyway, I'm going to kick back and rest. Don't have much choice. Sure do hope these pain pills kick in sometime soon.
Dr. Mallik thinks Fibro kicked in with the trauma of surgery. I believe him. Fibro is worse than the surgery pain right now.
Thank you to my friends around the world who have prayed for me. I've heard from Hindis, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians alike. Thank you. Prayer is so very powerful.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Monday is surgery day!
Well, tomorrow's the day. I'll need to be at the hospital at 8:45 a.m. for surgery at 10:45. I was told by my neurosurgeon's office on Friday that I won't be coming home the day of surgery as my son-in-law did after both of his neck surgeries. I may not even get to come home on Tuesday.
It is my plan to chronicle each day of recuperation as soon as I'm able to type. Nothing but gibberish may show up as I'll be drugged heavily to keep me as immobile as possible, but I'm not planning to let that slow me down... much.
If everything goes as planned, my fingers should start working right again. My hands should follow suit. Both should perform better with much less pain.
Pain. I've been told I'll have the worst sore throat of my life, post surgery. Yeah, that makes me really wanna go through with this.
Okay, I'm off to pack up what little bit I'm allowed to take with me and to get a good night's sleep.
Yeah.
Right.
Drugs?? Now! Please.
Life with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia is just one freakin' picnic.
So, if you're of the persuasion, kind thoughts and prayers are being gratefully accepted. Moral support would be good, too.
After all, I'm only allowing a surgeon I've only met once cut open my throat to rip out parts of my vertebrae while he reams out the spinal cord opening, shaves off bone spurs, and re-builds connective tissue and bone.
I intend to ask him what's in that paste he cooks up with the ground up cadaver bones. If it's silly putty and they try to charge me $50K for it, there's gonna be some very loud yelling.
Once I can talk again.
I may have to wait until getting back home to update this blog for the first time. From my stint in the hospital with home-grown meningitis two years ago I'm fully aware of how snitty they get when I remove that little oxygen monitor from my finger and place it on my toe so I can type.
Okay, off to bed...
It is my plan to chronicle each day of recuperation as soon as I'm able to type. Nothing but gibberish may show up as I'll be drugged heavily to keep me as immobile as possible, but I'm not planning to let that slow me down... much.
If everything goes as planned, my fingers should start working right again. My hands should follow suit. Both should perform better with much less pain.
Pain. I've been told I'll have the worst sore throat of my life, post surgery. Yeah, that makes me really wanna go through with this.
Okay, I'm off to pack up what little bit I'm allowed to take with me and to get a good night's sleep.
Yeah.
Right.
Drugs?? Now! Please.
Life with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia is just one freakin' picnic.
So, if you're of the persuasion, kind thoughts and prayers are being gratefully accepted. Moral support would be good, too.
After all, I'm only allowing a surgeon I've only met once cut open my throat to rip out parts of my vertebrae while he reams out the spinal cord opening, shaves off bone spurs, and re-builds connective tissue and bone.
I intend to ask him what's in that paste he cooks up with the ground up cadaver bones. If it's silly putty and they try to charge me $50K for it, there's gonna be some very loud yelling.
Once I can talk again.
I may have to wait until getting back home to update this blog for the first time. From my stint in the hospital with home-grown meningitis two years ago I'm fully aware of how snitty they get when I remove that little oxygen monitor from my finger and place it on my toe so I can type.
Okay, off to bed...
Friday, November 14, 2008
Doing business in today's world - when you're exhausted
This week has been filled with frustration. Frustration equals stress. Stress is hard on those of us with FM and/or OA.
The highlight of the week was on Monday when my primary care physician told me that all my tests showed I'm free of cancer, free of high cholesterol, free of RA. WOOHOO~ I was given a go for surgery in December that is supposed to stop my arms and hands from going numb and to get my fingers to stop short-circuiting - and working again.
It went downhill from there.
Tuesday left me with little energy, but projects called. I've been laying a new floor in the kitchen. What would have taken me a day and a half 5 years ago has taken 2 weeks. Two very slow weeks of laying a few 12x12 tiles at a time.
Then the dishwasher would not drain. Took the hose off that attaches to the garbage disposal to see if it was plugged. Not plugged. Dipped what I could out with a measuring cup and then resorted to using the turkey baster. No bad stuff in the filter to keep it from draining. Washed all the dishes by hand. Got done just in time to discuss it with hubby as I lay on the sofa, exhausted.
Wednesday, after 14 hours of sleep I was more tired than I had been on Tuesday. The water softener in the garage began to make funny noises. Checked the salt level, which was fine. Called a repair company for the dishwasher.
The repairman showed up and made his diagnosis: "The pump is bad." The dishwasher is not yet 2 1/2 years old. He said he'd be back on Thursday with a new pump. I did as much as I possibly could before finding the sofa again.
Thursday came and went without a peep from the repairman. No phone call. No show. The garage began making clicking noises again. Clicks like a circuit is not connecting right to turn on the water softener, however a lot louder than the circuit-breaker in my neck that turns on whatever it takes to make my swollen hands and fingers work. I watched Survivor from a prone position and then went to bed.
Today, Friday, after 12 hours of sleep, I crawled out of bed (with hubby's help since I had no feeling from the elbows down and my right hand was about half again as big as it should be) and had 4 giant cups of coffee before calling the repair company - to be informed the repair was scheduled for "before noon today". The repairman showed up on time and went to work on the dishwasher.
I called the company we had ordered our pellet/corn burning stove from three weeks ago, only to be told that it is now on back order until March.
The repairman put the new pump in and got the dishwasher all back together and full of water only to discover that he'd forgotten to put the flange back in. Good thing he'd brought his shop vac to suck up the water that was now all over my new floor.
Waited until the bookkeeper came in so I could request a refund for the pellet/corn stove. She put me on hold and then said she'd have to call me back. That was an hour ago. In 10 minutes I will be back on the phone to her. If she gives me a song and dance rather than telling me a full refund check is waiting, I will drag myself out to my car and drive over there in a much less happy mood than I'm currently in. We need the refund to pay for another stove from another vendor who promises they have 16 in stock in their warehouse.
Hubby took a good look at my hands this morning and told me he will bring home KFC for supper tonight. No wonder we've been married so long.
I could go to bed right now and wake up sometime tomorrow afternoon. I'm too tired to deal with the noise in the garage. Come to think of it, I've been too tired to mention it to hubby ...
However, rather than the rain-mixed-with-snow that was forecast for today, it is sunny and 60 degrees. Certainly a mood-enhancer.
The highlight of the week was on Monday when my primary care physician told me that all my tests showed I'm free of cancer, free of high cholesterol, free of RA. WOOHOO~ I was given a go for surgery in December that is supposed to stop my arms and hands from going numb and to get my fingers to stop short-circuiting - and working again.
It went downhill from there.
Tuesday left me with little energy, but projects called. I've been laying a new floor in the kitchen. What would have taken me a day and a half 5 years ago has taken 2 weeks. Two very slow weeks of laying a few 12x12 tiles at a time.
Then the dishwasher would not drain. Took the hose off that attaches to the garbage disposal to see if it was plugged. Not plugged. Dipped what I could out with a measuring cup and then resorted to using the turkey baster. No bad stuff in the filter to keep it from draining. Washed all the dishes by hand. Got done just in time to discuss it with hubby as I lay on the sofa, exhausted.
Wednesday, after 14 hours of sleep I was more tired than I had been on Tuesday. The water softener in the garage began to make funny noises. Checked the salt level, which was fine. Called a repair company for the dishwasher.
The repairman showed up and made his diagnosis: "The pump is bad." The dishwasher is not yet 2 1/2 years old. He said he'd be back on Thursday with a new pump. I did as much as I possibly could before finding the sofa again.
Thursday came and went without a peep from the repairman. No phone call. No show. The garage began making clicking noises again. Clicks like a circuit is not connecting right to turn on the water softener, however a lot louder than the circuit-breaker in my neck that turns on whatever it takes to make my swollen hands and fingers work. I watched Survivor from a prone position and then went to bed.
Today, Friday, after 12 hours of sleep, I crawled out of bed (with hubby's help since I had no feeling from the elbows down and my right hand was about half again as big as it should be) and had 4 giant cups of coffee before calling the repair company - to be informed the repair was scheduled for "before noon today". The repairman showed up on time and went to work on the dishwasher.
I called the company we had ordered our pellet/corn burning stove from three weeks ago, only to be told that it is now on back order until March.
The repairman put the new pump in and got the dishwasher all back together and full of water only to discover that he'd forgotten to put the flange back in. Good thing he'd brought his shop vac to suck up the water that was now all over my new floor.
Waited until the bookkeeper came in so I could request a refund for the pellet/corn stove. She put me on hold and then said she'd have to call me back. That was an hour ago. In 10 minutes I will be back on the phone to her. If she gives me a song and dance rather than telling me a full refund check is waiting, I will drag myself out to my car and drive over there in a much less happy mood than I'm currently in. We need the refund to pay for another stove from another vendor who promises they have 16 in stock in their warehouse.
Hubby took a good look at my hands this morning and told me he will bring home KFC for supper tonight. No wonder we've been married so long.
I could go to bed right now and wake up sometime tomorrow afternoon. I'm too tired to deal with the noise in the garage. Come to think of it, I've been too tired to mention it to hubby ...
However, rather than the rain-mixed-with-snow that was forecast for today, it is sunny and 60 degrees. Certainly a mood-enhancer.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Just a little less stress ... please.
Stress and Fibro don't go well together. I've been real worried about my friend, writer/editor/author Ed Easley, who's been in a Seattle hospital for 3 weeks, has undergone 3 brain surgeries, and seems to be recovering well enough to be moved to a hospital closer to home soon. Thank God! It's been a rough road for Ed, his wife Patti, and their family.
Ed swears he's agnostic. Wait until he fully understands just how many dozens, if not hundreds, of cyber-friends have been praying for him. I think he'll come around. He walked today! What more might it take to convince him? We'll wait to see.
We're tryng to get our floors re-done in the kitchen, dining room, and back foyer before Thanksgiving. Because of the arthritis in my spine, hips and knees, it takes me a very long time to do these things. Michael helps a lot. In fact, Michael does all the heavy stuff, the tugging and pulling, the hauling, and the prying. We decided to go the easy route and use commercial tiles. (Only because they don't look like what you'd find in a grocery story or hospital.) It's much easier on me to complete small areas at a time.
The whole crew will be here for Thanksgiving. Sounds like there will be around 20 for supper. No problem. Uh-huh. Would be a huge problem if hubby, son, son-in-law, and my two great-cook-grandsons, weren't planning to help me in the kitchen. For all the barbs I withstood when Jeremy, now 19, was two - and insisted on helping me cook every meal - we'll just BBQ those barbs and call it a day. He was destined to be the one who helps me in the kitchen now that I can't do it all by myself. And Nick is well on his way to being the best kitchen helper in three states. We'll do just fine.
Stress. The MRI from what appeared to be nasty infection/cancer in the lymph nodes in my neck turned out to be not so nasty. However, it gave us some ugly pictures of my neck. Now I understand why my hands aren't working well, or often.
My primary care doc sent me to a neurosurgeon. Surgery to replace C-4/5/6 is scheduled for early December. Then I'll be in a neck/collar brace for three months. It's amazing what can be done these days with ground up cadaver bones and silly putty. Sure will be nice to have a few less bone spurs poking at nerves, and for my spinal fluid and cord to not be pinched. (Bonus: Some chiropractic circles believe that treatments to repair/place C-4 in optimal mode is the cure for Fibro.)
One of the things I had to NOT tackle right now was Karina Fabian's Leaps of Faith Virtual Blog Tour. If you like sci-fi, you'll love this anthology. If you believe in God, you'll like this anthology. Check out the schedule at The Review Hutch.
Ed swears he's agnostic. Wait until he fully understands just how many dozens, if not hundreds, of cyber-friends have been praying for him. I think he'll come around. He walked today! What more might it take to convince him? We'll wait to see.
We're tryng to get our floors re-done in the kitchen, dining room, and back foyer before Thanksgiving. Because of the arthritis in my spine, hips and knees, it takes me a very long time to do these things. Michael helps a lot. In fact, Michael does all the heavy stuff, the tugging and pulling, the hauling, and the prying. We decided to go the easy route and use commercial tiles. (Only because they don't look like what you'd find in a grocery story or hospital.) It's much easier on me to complete small areas at a time.
The whole crew will be here for Thanksgiving. Sounds like there will be around 20 for supper. No problem. Uh-huh. Would be a huge problem if hubby, son, son-in-law, and my two great-cook-grandsons, weren't planning to help me in the kitchen. For all the barbs I withstood when Jeremy, now 19, was two - and insisted on helping me cook every meal - we'll just BBQ those barbs and call it a day. He was destined to be the one who helps me in the kitchen now that I can't do it all by myself. And Nick is well on his way to being the best kitchen helper in three states. We'll do just fine.
Stress. The MRI from what appeared to be nasty infection/cancer in the lymph nodes in my neck turned out to be not so nasty. However, it gave us some ugly pictures of my neck. Now I understand why my hands aren't working well, or often.
My primary care doc sent me to a neurosurgeon. Surgery to replace C-4/5/6 is scheduled for early December. Then I'll be in a neck/collar brace for three months. It's amazing what can be done these days with ground up cadaver bones and silly putty. Sure will be nice to have a few less bone spurs poking at nerves, and for my spinal fluid and cord to not be pinched. (Bonus: Some chiropractic circles believe that treatments to repair/place C-4 in optimal mode is the cure for Fibro.)
One of the things I had to NOT tackle right now was Karina Fabian's Leaps of Faith Virtual Blog Tour. If you like sci-fi, you'll love this anthology. If you believe in God, you'll like this anthology. Check out the schedule at The Review Hutch.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Bare Bones Basics of: So You Want to be a Writer
It's finally finished! Well, probably not, but it's been pdf'd and is available for purchase. At $6.95, it's a heck of a deal. Page after page of ideas, advice, instruction, examples, lessons learned, and links. It started out at 43 pages before the Muse con. It's sitting at 63 pages now. I've also added the Bare Bones Basics Submission Tracker and the Don't Lie to Yourself Time Tracker to the e-book, plus offering them as living Excel attachments at no additional charge.
I thought it was done until members of my workshop and forum at the Muse Online Writers Conference kept asking for things to be added. And so, they were.
As happy and relieved as I am that the e-book has been finished, getting it to that point meant many, many, many hours of sitting. If you've been reading this blog, you know that severe OA in my neck is causing my hands and arms to go numb with no warning - on top of the Fibro issues that affect my hands and arms. Losing the use of one's hands is a frustrating thing for a writer accustomed to typing 75 wpm.
I'm stiff and sore from sitting. My right hip feels as though it's been dislocated by a mule.
I've just posted the final contest at the Writing for the Trades forum at the Muse. The workshop was held on Tuesday evening and the forum has been running all week.
I've met so many wonderful writers from around the globe, many of whom will become long-term friends.
Re the con, the only things left undone are the three one-hour live one-on-one chats that were given as prizes this week. I'm looking forward to them.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Don't "Drop In"
I’ve been feeling a little guilty for the past couple of days. Guilty because I don’t like to have "drop-in" company. Guilty because I didn’t get to see my relatives. Guilty because some things are just too deeply embedded in my brain to “get over”.
To hell with that. Want to know why? Because I’m exhausted. And I hurt all over.
I would love for this blog to be all cheery, with uplifting thoughts and kind words, and smiley faces pasted all over, but life just ain’t like that all the time when you have Fibromyalgia or Osteoarthritis. Having both is exasperating for someone who has always pushed through whatever – and everything.
I’m a reforming type-A personality. That means “in the process of change”. I have a long way to go. And some things just ain't gonna change.
Only another person who has to deal with extreme fatigue and un-ending pain can truly understand.
From the time I was a little kid, I swore that when I had a home of my own it would be clean. I’m not talking about corners that have been scrubbed clean with a toothbrush. I’m just saying that it should be tidy and neat, with things where they are supposed to be, floors that look like they’ve been swept/mopped/vacuumed recently. Furniture that has been dusted. Clean toilets.
I won’t go into the why of this, but I can assure you that IT is deeply rooted in my psyche from the deep humiliation I felt every time someone showed up at my childhood home.
Because I have mobility issues and must use a wheelchair part of the time, vacuuming and dusting my 2300 square foot house takes a whole day. Changing the linens on the guest beds and washing same takes at least half a day. Washing windows (on the inside only - because my hands don’t work well enough to open them to wash them on the outside – from the inside) takes half a day.
I must get to the grocery store early enough in the day and during the week to be able to snag a handicapped parking spot and motorized cart. That means that I also get home with the goods long before hubby is off work – meaning that I then have to off-load the groceries and carry them into the house. Again, mobility issues make this a long process.
After tossing what must go into the freezer or refrigerator into available spots, I must rest before putting the remainder of the groceries and household goods away. I do not have the energy to fix a big meal for extra mouths or to load or unload the dishwasher, to set the table, to entertain.
I also don’t have the energy or mobility to scrub toilets/tubs, or to do extra laundry, or to mop floors. Some things just don’t get done on time, every time. I'm learning to live with that. But it's not something I wish to impose on others.
Because I have advanced OA throughout my spine, OA in both hips and both knees, chronic bursitis in both hips and one shoulder, obstructive sleep apnea (which means I don’t rest/sleep), restless leg syndrome (which means I don’t rest/sleep), a full-fledged symphony-in-stereo-with-surround-sound tinnitus in both ears 24/7, near-deafness in one ear from chronic infections and meningitis/mastoiditis, irritable bowel syndrome (which means I spend much time in the bathroom), COPD from chronic bronchitis and several bouts of pneumonia - HELL YES, I want advance notice before having a house full of company.
Sure, I could hire someone to come in to clean. I could do that if we didn’t have to spend so much on medications for me. We have insurance, great insurance, but we have a huge deductible. We also must plan and save for our “senior” years – which aren’t that far off.
When the kids and grandkidlets are here, everyone pitches in to help out. Jeremy (19) has been cooking with me since he was 2. Nick (13) loves helping out in the kitchen. Jeffrey, our son-in-law, is a great cook who will step in to help with anything. Daughter can’t cook – and CAN burn water even if we’ve been told that is scientifically impossible – helps with everything else. Son, when he’s home, also helps. The younger grandkidlets don’t even complain when it’s time to pick up toys or to put away games.
But these are my kids and grandkidlets. They understand that I can’t do it all anymore. Even Jacob (4) tries to push Grandma’s wheelchair when I can’t walk anymore because my hips have locked up.
It’s different, at least I think so, when there are real GUESTS in the house. I’d never think to ask them to mop a floor or clean a toilet or fold laundry. I was taught that by my grandparents, especially Grandma Ruth Kramer, who was the epitome of the perfect hostess. She was the diva of entertaining long before anyone had ever heard of Martha Stewart. She taught me well.
And so it is that I want my home to be ready for company. I want to not be exhausted from a trip to the grocery. I want time to plan meals to see what I can cook ahead of time to reserve energy for visiting.
I work from home. Sometimes my office gets messy. (Hubby’s is eternally messy.) He doesn’t touch my desk and I don’t touch his. It’s a mutual respect thing.
Hell, YES, I want to know when company will be here. If anyone has a problem with that, too bad. Please call before “dropping in”. Please give me at least two days notice if you’re planning an extended stay. I’ll do the same for you.
I’m done feeling guilty about this.
To hell with that. Want to know why? Because I’m exhausted. And I hurt all over.
I would love for this blog to be all cheery, with uplifting thoughts and kind words, and smiley faces pasted all over, but life just ain’t like that all the time when you have Fibromyalgia or Osteoarthritis. Having both is exasperating for someone who has always pushed through whatever – and everything.
I’m a reforming type-A personality. That means “in the process of change”. I have a long way to go. And some things just ain't gonna change.
Only another person who has to deal with extreme fatigue and un-ending pain can truly understand.
From the time I was a little kid, I swore that when I had a home of my own it would be clean. I’m not talking about corners that have been scrubbed clean with a toothbrush. I’m just saying that it should be tidy and neat, with things where they are supposed to be, floors that look like they’ve been swept/mopped/vacuumed recently. Furniture that has been dusted. Clean toilets.
I won’t go into the why of this, but I can assure you that IT is deeply rooted in my psyche from the deep humiliation I felt every time someone showed up at my childhood home.
Because I have mobility issues and must use a wheelchair part of the time, vacuuming and dusting my 2300 square foot house takes a whole day. Changing the linens on the guest beds and washing same takes at least half a day. Washing windows (on the inside only - because my hands don’t work well enough to open them to wash them on the outside – from the inside) takes half a day.
I must get to the grocery store early enough in the day and during the week to be able to snag a handicapped parking spot and motorized cart. That means that I also get home with the goods long before hubby is off work – meaning that I then have to off-load the groceries and carry them into the house. Again, mobility issues make this a long process.
After tossing what must go into the freezer or refrigerator into available spots, I must rest before putting the remainder of the groceries and household goods away. I do not have the energy to fix a big meal for extra mouths or to load or unload the dishwasher, to set the table, to entertain.
I also don’t have the energy or mobility to scrub toilets/tubs, or to do extra laundry, or to mop floors. Some things just don’t get done on time, every time. I'm learning to live with that. But it's not something I wish to impose on others.
Because I have advanced OA throughout my spine, OA in both hips and both knees, chronic bursitis in both hips and one shoulder, obstructive sleep apnea (which means I don’t rest/sleep), restless leg syndrome (which means I don’t rest/sleep), a full-fledged symphony-in-stereo-with-surround-sound tinnitus in both ears 24/7, near-deafness in one ear from chronic infections and meningitis/mastoiditis, irritable bowel syndrome (which means I spend much time in the bathroom), COPD from chronic bronchitis and several bouts of pneumonia - HELL YES, I want advance notice before having a house full of company.
Sure, I could hire someone to come in to clean. I could do that if we didn’t have to spend so much on medications for me. We have insurance, great insurance, but we have a huge deductible. We also must plan and save for our “senior” years – which aren’t that far off.
When the kids and grandkidlets are here, everyone pitches in to help out. Jeremy (19) has been cooking with me since he was 2. Nick (13) loves helping out in the kitchen. Jeffrey, our son-in-law, is a great cook who will step in to help with anything. Daughter can’t cook – and CAN burn water even if we’ve been told that is scientifically impossible – helps with everything else. Son, when he’s home, also helps. The younger grandkidlets don’t even complain when it’s time to pick up toys or to put away games.
But these are my kids and grandkidlets. They understand that I can’t do it all anymore. Even Jacob (4) tries to push Grandma’s wheelchair when I can’t walk anymore because my hips have locked up.
It’s different, at least I think so, when there are real GUESTS in the house. I’d never think to ask them to mop a floor or clean a toilet or fold laundry. I was taught that by my grandparents, especially Grandma Ruth Kramer, who was the epitome of the perfect hostess. She was the diva of entertaining long before anyone had ever heard of Martha Stewart. She taught me well.
And so it is that I want my home to be ready for company. I want to not be exhausted from a trip to the grocery. I want time to plan meals to see what I can cook ahead of time to reserve energy for visiting.
I work from home. Sometimes my office gets messy. (Hubby’s is eternally messy.) He doesn’t touch my desk and I don’t touch his. It’s a mutual respect thing.
Hell, YES, I want to know when company will be here. If anyone has a problem with that, too bad. Please call before “dropping in”. Please give me at least two days notice if you’re planning an extended stay. I’ll do the same for you.
I’m done feeling guilty about this.
Monday, September 22, 2008
An update to Yada, Yada, Yada
I've been fighting extreme fatigue today. Actually, for several days. Part of it is hubby's weird work schedule, but part of it is just the pain level wearing me out.
An update: heard from my cousins today. They called from "somewhere in Ohio" to tell me there had been a change of plans so they weren't going to be able to come by for a visit this trip. Can't help but wonder if they read yesterday's post ...
Anyway, I was genuinely looking forward to visiting with them and to having them share a meal or two with us. I'm sorry they won't be stopping here on their way through. It will be at least a whole year before the WA portion of the family is here again. I've grown quite fond of the Griffith clan.
Unfortunately, as I was afraid would happen, if they had been planning to stop, this afternoon's phone call would have been my first notice that they were in town.
Perhaps it's better this way. I'm so tired I can barely hold my head up, so will be making this short.
I've signed up to work on Karina Fabian's Leap of Faith virtual blog tour happening later this year. Writing is an important part of my life and helping my fellow writers is part of the deal we all signed on for. More about that later.
I'm thinking all those clothes hubby folded yesterday, that are now on our bed, will be stacked to be put away tomorrow.
An update: heard from my cousins today. They called from "somewhere in Ohio" to tell me there had been a change of plans so they weren't going to be able to come by for a visit this trip. Can't help but wonder if they read yesterday's post ...
Anyway, I was genuinely looking forward to visiting with them and to having them share a meal or two with us. I'm sorry they won't be stopping here on their way through. It will be at least a whole year before the WA portion of the family is here again. I've grown quite fond of the Griffith clan.
Unfortunately, as I was afraid would happen, if they had been planning to stop, this afternoon's phone call would have been my first notice that they were in town.
Perhaps it's better this way. I'm so tired I can barely hold my head up, so will be making this short.
I've signed up to work on Karina Fabian's Leap of Faith virtual blog tour happening later this year. Writing is an important part of my life and helping my fellow writers is part of the deal we all signed on for. More about that later.
I'm thinking all those clothes hubby folded yesterday, that are now on our bed, will be stacked to be put away tomorrow.
Yada yada yada
I didn't blog here this weekend because I couldn't get in. That 404 Error Not Found message just caused more stress than I thought I could handle. I also didn't Twitter for much the same reason, although Twitter doesn't 404 at will.
Went over to the neighbor's yesterday with my John Deere riding mower and trailer and brought back another 4 5-gallon buckets of pears. Even after several others have been there to harvest what is on the ground from the storm, there must be 40 bushels of apples and another 40 bushels of pears right there for the taking. It's sad to watch it go to waste, although the other neighbor's church members are supposed to be here today to get apples for their applesauce festival. The pears I harvested are laid out on a piece of plywood to ripen.
I also managed to harvest the chives that were in the front flower bed and they are now in the dehydrator. Note to self: post drawings and instructions for building this dehydrator that works so well.
Took a 2 hour nap because everything that didn't hurt wasn't working.
Hubby planted most of the plants we got from another Freecycler, but he was so tired from the extended double-shift workweek that his knee gave out before he could get it all planted. My husband is a wonderful man who has just enough aches and pains (with an artificial knee from '68) to understand my inability to work through the pain only too often. He did, however, re-lay the black plastic in the back flower bed that Ike tore up last Sunday.
Still don't know if my grandpa's cousins will be here this week. Even though I've retired from working a corporate job, I still work from home - and more hours than an employee would - I still fail to understand why retired folks think everyone should just drop what they're doing to do something else because TA-DA WE'RE HEEEERRRRE. I love my relatives, but ...
Ann Landers often wrote of her feelings about drop-in company and I feel the same way. Many years ago I got so fed up with drop-ins that I posted a "QUARANTINED!" sign in the front year. My former husband made me take it down saying the neighbors would have me committed. Oh well, it worked for awhile.
We're slowly accumulating glass for our to-be-extended porch/outdoor room and greenhouse via Freecycle. Freecycle is such a wonderful organization! It keeps millions of tons of reusable goods out of the landfills and helps save money for the recipients, all while helping others get rid of what they no longer need.
I have a pot of black beans and de-fatted ham hocks in the slow cooker. We don't really like them, but eat them because they are so good for us. It's all about fiber at our ages.
My friend, funny-man Horace J. Digby, is on vacation in Italy. He's been sending very short snippets via email. Actually, he's sent two. In the first, he and his wife Sharon were in Genoa. The second let me know that as they were re-boarding their water taxi in Portofino - which just happened to be moored next to the Dolce and Gabbana yacht - Mark Anthony and his lovely wife Jennifer Lopez were debarking the yacht.
My response? "I surely hope you aren't running around Italy dressed in black socks with sandals, plaid shorts, and a fanny pack if you're going to 'run into' such notables." Haven't gotten a response to that. Will keep you abreast of happenings there. Should also mention that Horace and I have been friends since I was 5 and he was six. He was an 'older man' then - and I tell him often that he still IS.
Okay, need to get back to real work. Will be updating Linda's Gifts and Decor today with new sale items. You can also keep up with that at my website.
Which means that I'll also be updating my website, which is never-ending.
My friend and pen pal Teddy, in Poland, has only received a few autographed books. He's desperately trying to build a library there and needs help. If you have any books you no longer need, please send them to him. If you're an author, please autograph a few books and send them to him. His address is on the "In the Showcase" page of my website.
I've opened a Cafe for Non-Fiction Writers at Savor the Success. We now have about 9 members who are working hard to make their writing careers soar. We don't inundate one another with emails either. Guess it's the "like-minded" thing at work.
Okay, back to business. I'll keep going today until going nose-down. It's the resolve that keeps us all going.
Went over to the neighbor's yesterday with my John Deere riding mower and trailer and brought back another 4 5-gallon buckets of pears. Even after several others have been there to harvest what is on the ground from the storm, there must be 40 bushels of apples and another 40 bushels of pears right there for the taking. It's sad to watch it go to waste, although the other neighbor's church members are supposed to be here today to get apples for their applesauce festival. The pears I harvested are laid out on a piece of plywood to ripen.
I also managed to harvest the chives that were in the front flower bed and they are now in the dehydrator. Note to self: post drawings and instructions for building this dehydrator that works so well.
Took a 2 hour nap because everything that didn't hurt wasn't working.
Hubby planted most of the plants we got from another Freecycler, but he was so tired from the extended double-shift workweek that his knee gave out before he could get it all planted. My husband is a wonderful man who has just enough aches and pains (with an artificial knee from '68) to understand my inability to work through the pain only too often. He did, however, re-lay the black plastic in the back flower bed that Ike tore up last Sunday.
Still don't know if my grandpa's cousins will be here this week. Even though I've retired from working a corporate job, I still work from home - and more hours than an employee would - I still fail to understand why retired folks think everyone should just drop what they're doing to do something else because TA-DA WE'RE HEEEERRRRE. I love my relatives, but ...
Ann Landers often wrote of her feelings about drop-in company and I feel the same way. Many years ago I got so fed up with drop-ins that I posted a "QUARANTINED!" sign in the front year. My former husband made me take it down saying the neighbors would have me committed. Oh well, it worked for awhile.
We're slowly accumulating glass for our to-be-extended porch/outdoor room and greenhouse via Freecycle. Freecycle is such a wonderful organization! It keeps millions of tons of reusable goods out of the landfills and helps save money for the recipients, all while helping others get rid of what they no longer need.
I have a pot of black beans and de-fatted ham hocks in the slow cooker. We don't really like them, but eat them because they are so good for us. It's all about fiber at our ages.
My friend, funny-man Horace J. Digby, is on vacation in Italy. He's been sending very short snippets via email. Actually, he's sent two. In the first, he and his wife Sharon were in Genoa. The second let me know that as they were re-boarding their water taxi in Portofino - which just happened to be moored next to the Dolce and Gabbana yacht - Mark Anthony and his lovely wife Jennifer Lopez were debarking the yacht.
My response? "I surely hope you aren't running around Italy dressed in black socks with sandals, plaid shorts, and a fanny pack if you're going to 'run into' such notables." Haven't gotten a response to that. Will keep you abreast of happenings there. Should also mention that Horace and I have been friends since I was 5 and he was six. He was an 'older man' then - and I tell him often that he still IS.
Okay, need to get back to real work. Will be updating Linda's Gifts and Decor today with new sale items. You can also keep up with that at my website.
Which means that I'll also be updating my website, which is never-ending.
My friend and pen pal Teddy, in Poland, has only received a few autographed books. He's desperately trying to build a library there and needs help. If you have any books you no longer need, please send them to him. If you're an author, please autograph a few books and send them to him. His address is on the "In the Showcase" page of my website.
I've opened a Cafe for Non-Fiction Writers at Savor the Success. We now have about 9 members who are working hard to make their writing careers soar. We don't inundate one another with emails either. Guess it's the "like-minded" thing at work.
Okay, back to business. I'll keep going today until going nose-down. It's the resolve that keeps us all going.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Over-doing by the over-achiever
I didn't journal here yesterday. In fact, other than fix a couple of simple meals for hubby, I didn't do much of anything yesterday. The "why" is simple. I overdid everything the day before.
We're still involved in storm cleanup here in Ohio. I've also been busy trying to find homes for about 500 pounds of apples and not-yet-ripe pears that are on the ground. I'm sure the neighbors to the east thought I was exaggerating when I told them to please take what they wanted. They were out there yesterday with milk crates loading up pears to lay out in their basement to ripen.
It also doesn't help that hubby has been working double shifts, which means that he isn't home at night, which means that I don't sleep much at all. (He's in the guest room now trying to take a nap. Why the guest room? Because he sleeps better when the TV is on. I've never been able to understand that, and so after many years of exasperation on my part, TV has been officially banned from our bedroom.)
Today is starting out better pain-wise than yesterday did, so I'm off to finish up a few things in the living room, dining room, kitchen - and THEN my office. Hopefully, yesterday's pain level will keep me honest about over-doing today.
We're still involved in storm cleanup here in Ohio. I've also been busy trying to find homes for about 500 pounds of apples and not-yet-ripe pears that are on the ground. I'm sure the neighbors to the east thought I was exaggerating when I told them to please take what they wanted. They were out there yesterday with milk crates loading up pears to lay out in their basement to ripen.
It also doesn't help that hubby has been working double shifts, which means that he isn't home at night, which means that I don't sleep much at all. (He's in the guest room now trying to take a nap. Why the guest room? Because he sleeps better when the TV is on. I've never been able to understand that, and so after many years of exasperation on my part, TV has been officially banned from our bedroom.)
Today is starting out better pain-wise than yesterday did, so I'm off to finish up a few things in the living room, dining room, kitchen - and THEN my office. Hopefully, yesterday's pain level will keep me honest about over-doing today.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Maxine as President Would Reduce My Stress!
Sometimes I think Maxine should run for president -- she's usually right on with ways to solve problems.
Here's what she has to say on some topical issues:
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately -- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida ..
... not me -- I concentrate on solutions for the problems -- it's a win-win situation.
* Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
* Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the leve l of the levees.
* Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today? Yes!
Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... it creates a hostile work environment.
Also, think about this ... if you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
It is time for America to speak up!
Yep, I passed it on!
Here's what she has to say on some topical issues:
Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately -- illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida ..
... not me -- I concentrate on solutions for the problems -- it's a win-win situation.
* Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
* Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the leve l of the levees.
* Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve today? Yes!
Think about this:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments
COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.
THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this -- you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... it creates a hostile work environment.
Also, think about this ... if you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
It is time for America to speak up!
Yep, I passed it on!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Big Storm, Big Stress
We were without power for 20 hours due to the remnants of Ike. Hard to believe that a hurricane that swiped hard at Haiti and then veered left to cause great destruction to the coast of Texas, could cause so much damage in Kentucky and Ohio.
There are still nearly half a million homes in Ohio without power two days after the storm hit - and many won't have electricity again until the end of the week - or later. Many schools are closed. Many roads are impassable.
Hubby isn't even growling about not having cable. He's been too busy cutting up the tree that fell on his big red truck.
Why is all this info showing up on a blog about Fibromyalgia? Because big storms cause big stress. And stress sends Fibro into overdrive.
We watched, Sunday afternoon, as the wind began to nip and tear at the roofs on our sheds. I headed inside to stow away water for drinking. We're on a well, so no electricity means no water.
Hubby was alone on the back porch when the only tree in our parking area, in slow motion, tore away from the ground and fell directly onto the side of his truck. Big stress.
The tree lodged one bough straight into the ground while another stood in the middle of the truck bed. He was able to turn the truck slightly and drive out from under the tree with only a couple of small scratches on the side and a big glob of pitch on the cab.
We were thankful the tree had been lush with pine needles. We felt blessed. The storm finally died down and we went to bed.
Sleep usually helps ease Fibro. It would have been wonderful to sleep half of Monday but ... I had an article due an editor. An article that required electricity to finish and to email. We rode to hubby's jobsite together, where he has a generator because temporary power hasn't yet been hooked up. Made my deadline. Barely.
Then we were able to get through to our daughter and son-in-law in Louisville. Their power had been restored but they were missing parts of the roofs on their house and a rental house, and the top of a tree in their back yard had plummeted to hit Jeff's new closed trailer that he uses to haul wood, kid's camping gear, and essentially everything but the kids, the dogs, and/or the goats.
Damaged stuff, but our family is safe. Much stress relieved.
I'm feeling every knotted muscle, nerve, joint, and tendon. My skin hurts. My hair hurts. It's the initial reaction to stress that does the most damage to Fibro sufferers.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
My Chair and Me
I managed to not take a nap today. Probably because hubby pushed me in my wheelchair at the Country Living Fair. That's just one of the many venues and happenings that I'd be unable to attend if I didn't have that chair. Because he so graciously took me to whatever booth held interesting treasures, I had enough energy to work alongside him weeding in the flower garden, when we got home.
I was even able to walk for a short distance while we shared a chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. That's a favorite dessert for us, but it wouldn't have tasted quite as good if we hadn't been sharing.
It was my near undoing after the Art Walk in the Short North area of Columbus, OH, three years ago that caused us to buy the chair. Michael and I had looked forward to making the rounds of all the neat little trinket shops and artsy-fartsy, as well as, fine art stores that make up the area for a couple of months. We'd walked one and a half blocks when my right hip locked up. Our evening was ruined because I couldn't walk another step, and I was plunged into the depths of despair and despondency.
A short time later, we bought a used chair from a home medical store for $150. From then on, it has either been in the trunk of my car, or transferred to whatever vehicle I'd be riding in, for use as needed.
I don't use it, or need it, all the time. Most of the time, I push it rather than sit in it while being pushed. Until recently when my right shoulder and arm started into their run down the pain road to hell, I could maneuver myself just about anyplace I wanted to go.
Last week, I drove to the grocery store three times before a motorized cart was available. The first two times, there was no choice but to go back home. It was disheartening because I knew there would be no way I could maneuver my chair around the store while pulling a shopping cart behind me.
It's frustrating at times. Sometimes, like last week, I go home and cry. For someone who has always been so independent, this is unbearable. The only thing that keeps me going at times like this is that I know there are others so much worse off than I.
When you're fighting a disease that causes chronic fatigue, like Fibromyalgia, and also have an auto-immune disease, like osteoarthritis, it's best to celebrate the little victories.
Today, I felt victorious.
I was even able to walk for a short distance while we shared a chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. That's a favorite dessert for us, but it wouldn't have tasted quite as good if we hadn't been sharing.
It was my near undoing after the Art Walk in the Short North area of Columbus, OH, three years ago that caused us to buy the chair. Michael and I had looked forward to making the rounds of all the neat little trinket shops and artsy-fartsy, as well as, fine art stores that make up the area for a couple of months. We'd walked one and a half blocks when my right hip locked up. Our evening was ruined because I couldn't walk another step, and I was plunged into the depths of despair and despondency.
A short time later, we bought a used chair from a home medical store for $150. From then on, it has either been in the trunk of my car, or transferred to whatever vehicle I'd be riding in, for use as needed.
I don't use it, or need it, all the time. Most of the time, I push it rather than sit in it while being pushed. Until recently when my right shoulder and arm started into their run down the pain road to hell, I could maneuver myself just about anyplace I wanted to go.
Last week, I drove to the grocery store three times before a motorized cart was available. The first two times, there was no choice but to go back home. It was disheartening because I knew there would be no way I could maneuver my chair around the store while pulling a shopping cart behind me.
It's frustrating at times. Sometimes, like last week, I go home and cry. For someone who has always been so independent, this is unbearable. The only thing that keeps me going at times like this is that I know there are others so much worse off than I.
When you're fighting a disease that causes chronic fatigue, like Fibromyalgia, and also have an auto-immune disease, like osteoarthritis, it's best to celebrate the little victories.
Today, I felt victorious.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Savor the Success
After a late-afternoon nap, courtesy of chronic fatigue, things look much clearer. This is for my writer friends who also have either FM or OA, or both. There are many - they just aren't as vocal about it as I am:
Join a serious social network, where networking actually ... works. Peter Shankman at HARO sanctions this one. Go to Savor the Success and use Code F44FC to sign up.
If you're a serious non-fiction writer, join the Non-Fiction Writer's Nook. Many of us also write fiction, but that will be discussed in a separate Cafe, run by someone other than me.
Have I ever mentioned that you can follow me on Twitter?
Join a serious social network, where networking actually ... works. Peter Shankman at HARO sanctions this one. Go to Savor the Success and use Code F44FC to sign up.
If you're a serious non-fiction writer, join the Non-Fiction Writer's Nook. Many of us also write fiction, but that will be discussed in a separate Cafe, run by someone other than me.
Have I ever mentioned that you can follow me on Twitter?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
StandUpToCancer
I've started getting "involved" again. About time, my family would say. (I'm not sure how they figure in the 4 plus years at The Writer's Chatroom.)
Anyway, back in July I responded to a query at HARO about StandUpToCancer. Here's the link to the backstage action after the TV cameras stopped rolling: http://su2c.standup2cancer.org/sutv/afterhours
Cancer isn't cool, but raising money to fight it is.
Three years ago my next-door neighbor's daughter got a new man-made bladder when her own was found to be cancerous. Ten years ago, my daddy died of bladder cancer.
Enjoy the footage. Wish I'd been there.
Anyway, back in July I responded to a query at HARO about StandUpToCancer. Here's the link to the backstage action after the TV cameras stopped rolling: http://su2c.standup2cancer.org/sutv/afterhours
Cancer isn't cool, but raising money to fight it is.
Three years ago my next-door neighbor's daughter got a new man-made bladder when her own was found to be cancerous. Ten years ago, my daddy died of bladder cancer.
Enjoy the footage. Wish I'd been there.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Constructive Pain Management
I know, I know. I promised to post here every day for a month. Well guess what? Blogger wouldn't let me in again. Finally made it in after re-booting twice.
September is all about pain. My life is all about constructive pain management.
If I take enough drugs to not hurt, my brain doesn't function. My editors get cranky when I'm not on deadline, so I write through a lot of hurt and then collapse into sleep to get away from it for a few hours.
Having been an insomniac most of my adult life - clearly before the symptoms of OA or FM began to show up - sleep is often what I will myself to do. No matter what medications I take at night, even though I keep sleep apnea at bay with a CPAP machine, pain rouses me from sleep. Or, if I'm in one position too long, I'm awakened because a part of me has gone numb for a short time and is then hurting. Or a muscle has decided to cramp - usually in my feet. It doesn't really matter, because Fibromyalgia keeps us tired no matter how much sleep we get.
My job this week is to not only get my story in on time, but to get my office cleaned up and organized. Then it will be almost time for the Muse online writer's conference where I'll be a presenter this year - and I'll have another story due for the construction magazine I've been fortunate to write for for the past three years.
In between, we'll have out of town relatives here for a day or so. And son will probably roll through with his trainee in tow. (Son is an owner-operator trucker who trains new drivers over the road.) Or, one of his previous trainees will roll through because he has come to think of our place as the best bed and breakfast in the continental U.S. (They're really easy to please when they're tired, dirty, hungry, and in need of a laundry room that doesn't cost them $5 a load.)
I really wouldn't have it any other way. If there wasn't so much physical pain in my life, and if chronic fatigue wasn't ever-present, I'd still be exhausting myself climbing the corporate ladder. And then I wouldn't have time to stress over all the other "stuff". Besides, I'd be too tired, anyway.
September is all about pain. My life is all about constructive pain management.
If I take enough drugs to not hurt, my brain doesn't function. My editors get cranky when I'm not on deadline, so I write through a lot of hurt and then collapse into sleep to get away from it for a few hours.
Having been an insomniac most of my adult life - clearly before the symptoms of OA or FM began to show up - sleep is often what I will myself to do. No matter what medications I take at night, even though I keep sleep apnea at bay with a CPAP machine, pain rouses me from sleep. Or, if I'm in one position too long, I'm awakened because a part of me has gone numb for a short time and is then hurting. Or a muscle has decided to cramp - usually in my feet. It doesn't really matter, because Fibromyalgia keeps us tired no matter how much sleep we get.
My job this week is to not only get my story in on time, but to get my office cleaned up and organized. Then it will be almost time for the Muse online writer's conference where I'll be a presenter this year - and I'll have another story due for the construction magazine I've been fortunate to write for for the past three years.
In between, we'll have out of town relatives here for a day or so. And son will probably roll through with his trainee in tow. (Son is an owner-operator trucker who trains new drivers over the road.) Or, one of his previous trainees will roll through because he has come to think of our place as the best bed and breakfast in the continental U.S. (They're really easy to please when they're tired, dirty, hungry, and in need of a laundry room that doesn't cost them $5 a load.)
I really wouldn't have it any other way. If there wasn't so much physical pain in my life, and if chronic fatigue wasn't ever-present, I'd still be exhausting myself climbing the corporate ladder. And then I wouldn't have time to stress over all the other "stuff". Besides, I'd be too tired, anyway.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Still ticking along, but ...
We, hubby and I, just returned home from a family mini-reunion. It was held at our daughter and son-in-law's home in Louisville, KY. The main reunion was held in Kelso, WA, in July, but the KY and OH branches of the family weren't able to attend, so we made up our own plans.
I'm tired and sore from the packing and prep, sitting, standing, limping along, traveling, and living without naps - however short. It's good to be home.
While I'm sure to pay for it all tomorrow, seeing 3rd and 4th cousins again was nice. Meeting their children for the first time was very nice. I'm sure I'll recover from all the hugs and snuggling we managed to do with 7 of our 10 grandchildren. Thankfully, fibro fog has been kept at bay, so when the pain sets in I'll re-live all those hugs as pain relief.
I know I'm behind on my commitment to post here every day for a month. I keep thinking about the article I read online about the couples who commit to have sex every day for a year. Yep, for real. How do they find the time? Do they not work? Not have children? Not ever need to sleep? They surely don't have osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia!
Tomorrow I'll be hosting a Virtual Book Tour stop at The Review Hutch for Jane Bernard. Please stop by at The Review Hutch to say hello to Jane and to find out how she does it all. (However, I won't be asking her about any questions about sex commitments.)
I'm tired and sore from the packing and prep, sitting, standing, limping along, traveling, and living without naps - however short. It's good to be home.
While I'm sure to pay for it all tomorrow, seeing 3rd and 4th cousins again was nice. Meeting their children for the first time was very nice. I'm sure I'll recover from all the hugs and snuggling we managed to do with 7 of our 10 grandchildren. Thankfully, fibro fog has been kept at bay, so when the pain sets in I'll re-live all those hugs as pain relief.
I know I'm behind on my commitment to post here every day for a month. I keep thinking about the article I read online about the couples who commit to have sex every day for a year. Yep, for real. How do they find the time? Do they not work? Not have children? Not ever need to sleep? They surely don't have osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia!
Tomorrow I'll be hosting a Virtual Book Tour stop at The Review Hutch for Jane Bernard. Please stop by at The Review Hutch to say hello to Jane and to find out how she does it all. (However, I won't be asking her about any questions about sex commitments.)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Update on shoulder pain to needles to numbness
I've already missed 3 days of blogging here. I promised to blog every day for a month. You get 3 blogs today to make up for it. And I won't have cell ISP service Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. OY. This is gonna be tricky!
The formidable pain in my right shoulder has eased a bit. My insurance won't pay for an MRI to pinpoint whether the cause is a pinched nerve in my neck or a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder until I've had 4 weeks of physical therapy.
The physical therapy folks won't give me PT until the cause of the acute pain is pinpointed.
My right arm goes numb after a hundred thousand needles work their way from my shoulder down to my thumb and half of my index finger. Yesterday I noticed my right leg, between my knee and ankle doing the same thing.
Whatever the cause, this is miserable. Even writing is harder than normal as I deal with the pain and needles-to-numbness. Some might call that a blessing.
The formidable pain in my right shoulder has eased a bit. My insurance won't pay for an MRI to pinpoint whether the cause is a pinched nerve in my neck or a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder until I've had 4 weeks of physical therapy.
The physical therapy folks won't give me PT until the cause of the acute pain is pinpointed.
My right arm goes numb after a hundred thousand needles work their way from my shoulder down to my thumb and half of my index finger. Yesterday I noticed my right leg, between my knee and ankle doing the same thing.
Whatever the cause, this is miserable. Even writing is harder than normal as I deal with the pain and needles-to-numbness. Some might call that a blessing.
Virtual Book Tours in September
What I do to (help me) forget pain:
Jane Bernard on 9/8 right here at The Review Hutch
Jane Bernard on 9/8 right here at The Review Hutch
FINE TUNING, Connecting with Your Inner Power is Jane’s own journey to reconnectwith her passion for Life. She started writing it for herself and quickly learned that her journey was to a universal destination.
Jane Bernard's unique blend of Samurai Zen and common sense presentations create excitement in the audience. Packed with anecdotes and strategies her customized keynotes and seminars produce results every time. She entertains with natural humor and a relevant message to inspire a mental shift. And she has fun.
For the past 20 years Jane paid her dues in the trenches as professionalwriter, professor, lecturer, communication specialist, educational innovator and mother. After receiving her BA in Philosophy from The New School for Social Research and her MS in Special Education from The Bank Street College, Jane began working for educational think-tanks on the East Coast where she implemented innovative interactive techniques that are now used all over the world.
She later worked as a writer and communications specialist for companies such as IBM, Random House and The Interway Corporation. Her writing experience continued to expand as she worked on a freelance basis scripting technical material, ghosting books and speeches and writing for education television.
Anna Maria Prezio on 9/15 right here at The Review Hutch
Anna Maria Prezio, author of Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster, is a professional Feng Shui Consultant. She has audited hundreds of Feng Shui sites. Her clients include: Hollywood producers, directors, actors, doctors, architects, and corporate executives.
As a marketing consultant in health care, entertainment, and the non-profit sectors she has incorporated her knowledge of Feng Shui and its effects on personal environments to enhance people’s lives.
Ms. Prezio’s mission is to help people gain the knowledge and tools of Feng Shui to improve and enhance their wealth, health, creativity and relationships.
Ms. Prezio is a writer. She has published screenplays, articles and books. Her love for the visual arts has led her to produce feature films, film shorts, music videos,and photography. Her experience, Feng Shui knowledge and highly intuitive talent gives her the ability to sense people, places and things which help to nurture and facilitate her clients’ lifestyles.
Ed Green on 9/29 right here at The Review Hutch
Purchase info available at: ed@edgreen.com or www.edgreen.com
ED GREEN is one of the industry's leading voice-over talents. For many years, he has been the voice of major sporting event projects, motion picture trailers, and television narrations, as
well as the voice for the most familiar commercial and product advertisers in America.
His commercials have currently passed the 30,000 mark, and are still climbing. This includes his well-known work as an audio personality for Fortune 500 Corporations - working on their national campaigns while creating a unique image for internal corporate projects and shareholder meetings.
Join us for these virtual blog tour stops!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
September: National Pain Awareness Month
September is National Pain Awareness Month in the United States.
I would have given this designation little thought before being diagnosed with high-end-pain illnesses five years ago. I have not one, but two, disorders/diseases/illnesses - with all of each one's accoutrements. I also have osteoarthritis in varying degrees through my spine, both hips, both knees, and possibly - one shoulder.
The National Fibromyalgia Association has done a great job of getting the word out that Fibromyalgia is not only real, but affects millions of the world's citizens.
The makers of Lyrica have done more to turn the tide regarding how this disease is perceived than any other promotion in my recollection.
Having said that, I must also say that Fibromyalgia affects short-term memory. It affects thought processes. However, the television commercials have run often enough that I can safely say I haven't been hit with "isn't that the one they said was all in your head", nearly as often. It still happens from time to time, but not every other time the subject is brought up.
I must also say that Lyrica has helped me to cope with my symptoms. You see, we who have Fibro tend to live with constant pain. The severity fluctuates, but never goes away completely. I pray every day that a new study doesn't find that Lyrica is detrimental in another way, as the Cox-II medications were found to be.
If you read this, please take a cruise on over to www.fmaware.org and read about the disease. That way, you'll already be armed when someone you know is diagnosed. It will happen.
And please remember to say a prayer or two during September (and throughout the year) for those of us who may not appear to be the happiest persons you've ever met. Happiness may be a state of mind deal that can be altered by a positive outlook, but it's a whole lot easier to be "sunny" when you don't hurt.
I'm daring myself to post here every day during September and to use this forum to keep a running journal. If you choose to follow this to see if I can do it and I screw up and forget to post ... email me to let me know I'm not holding up my end of the bargain.
I would have given this designation little thought before being diagnosed with high-end-pain illnesses five years ago. I have not one, but two, disorders/diseases/illnesses - with all of each one's accoutrements. I also have osteoarthritis in varying degrees through my spine, both hips, both knees, and possibly - one shoulder.
The National Fibromyalgia Association has done a great job of getting the word out that Fibromyalgia is not only real, but affects millions of the world's citizens.
The makers of Lyrica have done more to turn the tide regarding how this disease is perceived than any other promotion in my recollection.
Having said that, I must also say that Fibromyalgia affects short-term memory. It affects thought processes. However, the television commercials have run often enough that I can safely say I haven't been hit with "isn't that the one they said was all in your head", nearly as often. It still happens from time to time, but not every other time the subject is brought up.
I must also say that Lyrica has helped me to cope with my symptoms. You see, we who have Fibro tend to live with constant pain. The severity fluctuates, but never goes away completely. I pray every day that a new study doesn't find that Lyrica is detrimental in another way, as the Cox-II medications were found to be.
If you read this, please take a cruise on over to www.fmaware.org and read about the disease. That way, you'll already be armed when someone you know is diagnosed. It will happen.
And please remember to say a prayer or two during September (and throughout the year) for those of us who may not appear to be the happiest persons you've ever met. Happiness may be a state of mind deal that can be altered by a positive outlook, but it's a whole lot easier to be "sunny" when you don't hurt.
I'm daring myself to post here every day during September and to use this forum to keep a running journal. If you choose to follow this to see if I can do it and I screw up and forget to post ... email me to let me know I'm not holding up my end of the bargain.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Physical Therapy - Again
Physical Therapy: The time I lose while they put hot packs on my neck and lower back and then make me do painful exercises.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Case of "The Munchies"
Send chocolate! Send munchies! Send … something to wire my mouth shut with!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Finally back in at Blogger!
After nearly four months, I'm finally able to get back into the dashboard at Blogger. Seems my cell ISP didn't like something Yahoo did, that corrupted my HOST files and upset Google. Anyway, after much stress - that didn't help my Fibro at all - I'm back up and running, thanks to fr*e help received at www.techguy.org.
If you're a MySpace member, hop on over to www.myspace.com/lindajhutchinson to read about how I became my own step-sister.
No wonder I have Fibro! My family is enough to ...
If you dear reader, are middle-aged (or leisurely strolling past your 35th birthday), check out http://www.hownottoactold.wordpress.com. My grandmother would have loved this blog! A few laughs should help ease your stress, too.
And with all this extra non-blogging time on my hands, I've had time to completely re-vamp my website, thrice. www.lindajhutchinson.com Good stuff for readers and writers.
If you're a MySpace member, hop on over to www.myspace.com/lindajhutchinson to read about how I became my own step-sister.
No wonder I have Fibro! My family is enough to ...
If you dear reader, are middle-aged (or leisurely strolling past your 35th birthday), check out http://www.hownottoactold.wordpress.com. My grandmother would have loved this blog! A few laughs should help ease your stress, too.
And with all this extra non-blogging time on my hands, I've had time to completely re-vamp my website, thrice. www.lindajhutchinson.com Good stuff for readers and writers.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Do You Wannabe Like Jordan (Dane, that is)?
One of the things I can still do with some regularity is to write:
We’ve certainly had some great comments during each stop of the Virtual Book Tour for Jordan Dane.
Why was she chosen to be our first vic … I mean featured author? Because she has a very professional website. Because she has a very professional blog. Because she has a presence on MySpace and other networking sites around the ‘Net. Because she attends every writer’s conference she can possibly get to to network with successful writers, editors, agents. Because she promotes herself as a professional writer.
She isn’t resting on her laurels after having sold SIX books to Avon HarperCollins before the first one hit print.
If you’re like me and wannabe like Jordan, take a look at how you’re promoting yourself. Does your website look like a novice put it together? Do you remember to blog more than once a month? Do you network with other writers?
Or do you do like too many very good should-be-published writers … and hunker down in the corner pretending that you’ve done everything you can and the publishing world and all its agents are against you? Think about that as you visit the next stops on The Writer’s Chatroom’s “Show—Not Tell” virtual book tour featuring debut author Jordan Dane. Jordan and Avon HarperCollins are offering opportunities to win great prizes all along the tour.
Next up:
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
March 22 Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com
Give yourself every advantage to learn from this marketing dynamo—who just happens to also be a very good writer—and read the interviews and comments at previous stops:
Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
And don’t forget to come to the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th! There are prizes galore!
We’ve certainly had some great comments during each stop of the Virtual Book Tour for Jordan Dane.
Why was she chosen to be our first vic … I mean featured author? Because she has a very professional website. Because she has a very professional blog. Because she has a presence on MySpace and other networking sites around the ‘Net. Because she attends every writer’s conference she can possibly get to to network with successful writers, editors, agents. Because she promotes herself as a professional writer.
She isn’t resting on her laurels after having sold SIX books to Avon HarperCollins before the first one hit print.
If you’re like me and wannabe like Jordan, take a look at how you’re promoting yourself. Does your website look like a novice put it together? Do you remember to blog more than once a month? Do you network with other writers?
Or do you do like too many very good should-be-published writers … and hunker down in the corner pretending that you’ve done everything you can and the publishing world and all its agents are against you? Think about that as you visit the next stops on The Writer’s Chatroom’s “Show—Not Tell” virtual book tour featuring debut author Jordan Dane. Jordan and Avon HarperCollins are offering opportunities to win great prizes all along the tour.
Next up:
March 19 Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
March 22 Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com
Give yourself every advantage to learn from this marketing dynamo—who just happens to also be a very good writer—and read the interviews and comments at previous stops:
Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
And don’t forget to come to the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th! There are prizes galore!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Debut author Jordan Dane was in top form at the first stop of The Writer's Chatroom's "SHOW--NOT TELL" virtual book tour at the blog home of Billie Williams. http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Next stop? My own blog: http://www.reviewhutch.blogspot.com on March 8th.
Please feel free to leave comments. Since Jordan has thrown a contest into the fray, your comments automatically enter you into a drawing for one of FIVE $20 gift cards to—what else?—a great bookstore. Winners will be announced at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th at THE WRITER'S CHATROOM. We'll also be drawing for those valuable first copies of NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM at the party.
Here's my review:
Title: No One Heard Her Scream
by Jordan Dane
Avon Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780061252785
Dani Montgomery is but one of the missing, and presumed dead, young women from around San Antonio, TX. She is the focus, and the force, of tough homicide detective Rebecca Montgomery. When Becca is told to stay away from the investigation into Dani’s disappearance, her boss puts her on another case—that of a body found behind a brick wall in an old theater that has been torched.
As Becca investigates the crime scene she realizes she’s being watched by more than one stranger, but one is deliciously tall, dark and dangerous. When she visits the former owner of the theater, a notorious mob boss, she is loathe to find her stranger is his enforcer.
Becca trusts her gut to tie it all together, with the help of one watchful stranger and without the help of the other.
Piecing together evidence at the theater gives rise to the title. NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM by debut author Jordan Dane is a romantic thriller with all the great elements; intrigue, debauchery, retribution and redemption—with libido to match.
Reviewed by: Linda J. Hutchinson http://www.lindajhutchinson.com
Next stop? My own blog: http://www.reviewhutch.blogspot.com on March 8th.
Please feel free to leave comments. Since Jordan has thrown a contest into the fray, your comments automatically enter you into a drawing for one of FIVE $20 gift cards to—what else?—a great bookstore. Winners will be announced at the live “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th at THE WRITER'S CHATROOM. We'll also be drawing for those valuable first copies of NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM at the party.
Here's my review:
Title: No One Heard Her Scream
by Jordan Dane
Avon Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780061252785
Dani Montgomery is but one of the missing, and presumed dead, young women from around San Antonio, TX. She is the focus, and the force, of tough homicide detective Rebecca Montgomery. When Becca is told to stay away from the investigation into Dani’s disappearance, her boss puts her on another case—that of a body found behind a brick wall in an old theater that has been torched.
As Becca investigates the crime scene she realizes she’s being watched by more than one stranger, but one is deliciously tall, dark and dangerous. When she visits the former owner of the theater, a notorious mob boss, she is loathe to find her stranger is his enforcer.
Becca trusts her gut to tie it all together, with the help of one watchful stranger and without the help of the other.
Piecing together evidence at the theater gives rise to the title. NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM by debut author Jordan Dane is a romantic thriller with all the great elements; intrigue, debauchery, retribution and redemption—with libido to match.
Reviewed by: Linda J. Hutchinson http://www.lindajhutchinson.com
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