My Newest Challenge

My appointment with Very Cool Dude neurosurgeon for this afternoon was canceled due to weather. We have been under a Level II storm that has dumped 8 inches of snow and ice on top of the 4 inches we already had. Many offices were closed today in and around Columbus, OH.

I'm finally able to do some of the laundry, run the duster and dust mop over the furniture and floors, and cook - which I'm sure hubby is very happy about.

Re cooking: I've put myself on a strict diet of 1500 calories/30 grams of fat per day. Somehow, all this added weight has to come off. Before, 1700 calories per day would do it, but with enforced limited activity, this is the only way to go. I've never been this heavy and hate it. I'm the only one who can fix that.

My food diary isn't very imaginative. And I still have to cook for my Michael - who loves rich sauces, cheese, and fried foods. It's a challenge. However, I'm armed with low-fat/fat free foods, fresh veggies, and 100 calorie (treat) snack packs of chocolate.

Chocolate. My writer's veins flow with it...

Ode to Pizza and Cookies

We made it to Louisville in time to watch our son's oldest son play basketball Friday night. (I can't believe they have 8 year-olds scheduled to play at 8:00 p.m.) Had a wonderful time with the boys before the pain and stiffness from 4 hours in a car settled in.

We all had a grand time opening Christmas presents Saturday morning. Abigail (2 3/4) and Jacob (the birthday boy) must have played with the construction set Grandpa picked out for him for at least 2 hours. Her new Barbie doll's dress, earrings, necklace and shoes, worked great for loading into the crane's bucket...

On Saturday, I got to spend some quality time with son-in-law, who was to leave Sunday morning for two weeks in Seattle where he'll be around when his first grandchild is born. Evelyn is due on Wednesday and I'm sure her mom and dad don't want to wait any longer either. He'll have camera and laptop in hand to send photos.

Jeffrey saw how irritated my neck was from the brace and quickly found the "Cadillac version" from his neck surgery two years ago. Much better! Extra padding. Extra set of pads so I can keep them washed.

Then, daughter and I got to spend a few minutes together while she explained her Weight Watchers plan to lose 40 pounds while also strength training and spinning, to gear up for the Ride to Conquer Cancer. She's committed and hoping to gain as many sponsors as possible. This is her website: Ride to Victory There is a button that says “Support Raylene”. Be sure to check out the video while you're there.

Their 14 year-old son is strength training with her and keeping her on task. He and 8 year-old Hannah have gone through the refrigerator and marked the "points" on everything in there with a Sharpie.

Which, of course, meant that I had to stop procrastinating. My diet and commitment to lose 40 pounds before my birthday started TODAY. It will be even harder to do because I've yet to be cleared for exercise following spine surgery. (Walking is allowed, but I can't walk more than 50 feet before my arthritic hips lock up.)

I've carefully counted out each calorie and shred of cheese in tonight's enchiladas and divided by SIX, which equals the number of allotted calories remaining after my delicious and filling luncheon consisting of one cup of dry Cheerios.

Guess I'll need to remember fondly the pizza and cookies at Jacob's birthday party on Saturday.

FM AWARE site for FM Patients

If you or someone you love - or even dislike - has symptoms of Fibromyalgia, or has been diagnosed with FM, this is a great place to find information:

http://www.fmaware.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8337

My daughter has some of the symptoms of FM, but not the pressure points. Yet. She checks herself often. This website has also helped her to understand what her mama goes through and deals with.

Loooong Car Ride

Have to make this short. Son and his girlfriend will be here soon to take me to see the Grandkidlets in Louisville - where we'll finally be able to celebrate Christmas. The g'kids were sick in December, and I couldn't be around sickies because of the recent spine surgery.

Not looking forward to a 4 hour drive packed in pillows, but happy to go. Neck brace in place. CPAP packed. Yeah!!

Just added a new page to my gift store and FR*E classes to the Links for Writers page at my website. Enjoy!

Check out The Review Hutch for comments about a thank you I recently received.

Off to the shower, where I'm allowed to take off the neck brace ...

No Brace = Pain/Burning

Thought I could take my neck brace off for awhile yesterday while I lazed on the sofa to watch the inauguration. Bad idea. I'm paying for it today. The base of my skull burns. All the way down.

Still need to rifle through the stacks on my desk to find the Rx for the X-ray I need to get done next week before the scheduled appointment with my neurosurgeon. I must be a very good patient to convince him to move on to the next section of my spine that needs a major renovation.

So much work to do professionally. I've taken to grabbing the Swiffer duster on my way to and from the bathroom to zap furniture dust as I pass through. One of the downfalls of working from a home office. This is while I'm grazing through ODOT offices looking for a story due a week from Friday and Tweeting/marketing Linda's Gifts and Decor.

Recuperating from this surgery is taking much longer than I expected. While realizing that I'm no longer 30, I'm also NOT 80. Forcing myself to hold my head "UP", "UP", "UP" as I've been directed to do by Cool Dude neurosurgeon, causes severe muscle spasms from the base of my neck to mid-back. I'm re-thinking his "Cool Dude" status.

I'm sure going without my brace while clapping my hands and cheering during Obama's speech didn't help.

Snow. Cold, white, icy, snow. I don't even think it's pretty anymore. Yep, we got more snow yesterday. Today's high is supposed to be 28. Being cold makes the pain of FM and OA worse.

I stay inside as much as possible. I'm thankful our dog's bladder is expandable so the back door doesn't get opened as often.

My neurosurgeon was right. I hate to admit this. When I take off the neck brace, even for just enough time to brush my hair, my shoulder muscles begin to spasm. I've decided to quit fighting it. The brace stays on, as I've been ordered.

I don't much like taking orders. Never have. Two of my uncles were in the military, one army and one navy. Each of those uncles produced a daughter who served in the military, one army and one navy. I'd have spent most of my time in the brig.

Fifteen days until my next writing deadline and I've already started contacting people for interviews and information. I don't remember writing last month's contracted article. My editor emailed his "thanks" and there is a check sitting on my desk so I know it got written, sent and published. My editor was warned a month ahead of time about this surgery. I'm sure he did a heavy edit rather than the usual publish-as-received. I'm thankful for that.

Finished the critique/review of Hope Clark's mss yesterday. It's a good read and is certainly better than many of the books on the big-box shelves. I'm hoping she lands a great agent and a nice advance. I'm also hoping she'll send me the mss to the second in the series and that the sales figures for both will put them at the top of the charts.

Oh, yes, I'm still working on getting my online store set up. About half is up and running. Step #1: Go to my website, www.lindajhutchinson.com and, Step #2: select "Enter Gift Store" from the menu on the left. Step #3: Find all the bargains on goods you've been looking for. Step #4: Slip your credit card out of your wallet. #5: Type in where you want it sent. #6: I'll notify you as soon as the companies let me know the items have been shipped - usually the same day. #7: Please accept my heartfelt thanks for doing business with me.

I sure can give orders though, huh?

Minus 15 degrees here this morning

I didn't get the new Home Fragrances page up on my website yesterday because I was so cold and achy and tired. It's up now because I've spent the day wrapped in an afghan as I work at my desk. http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/2008_linda_j_hutchinson_lindas_gifts_and_decor_home_fragrances.htm

Dear husband and I got up at the usual time this morning to have our coffee and quality time together. When he left for work I asked him to look at the thermometer on the back porch. He did. It was MINUS 15 degrees! No wonder we've been so cold. Our back porch is covered but not enclosed.

It is sunny and beautiful and very white today. The last five inches of snow we got will be around for a long time if the temperature remains in the sub-zero zone.

Son came by to check on me yesterday afternoon. I told him I needed a nap. He asked why I didn't take one so I proceeded to tell him what HIS bull mastiff does when I try to nap.

If you aren't familiar with bull mastiffs, they have about 10 inches of tongue that won't fit inside their mouths, so it is always dragging around on everything. Tamia, the dog we're discussing here, has found it possible to curl hers in just the right way to stick it up both of my nostrils while I'm sleeping. Unless, of course, I'm napping in a room with a door that locks. She's learned how to open all doors that don't lock, no doubt by wrapping her tongue around the knob and twisting her head.

Son took Tamia with him as he headed back over to his girlfriend's. It is so peaceful without her here. She's sweet and kind and loving, but a total attention whore. I swear she has a built-in alarm clock and expects her treats at exactly 5:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. If son's big rig is parked in the back yard and he isn't here, she has to go outside to pee every 15 minutes - no doubt in hopes he'll appear as if he'd just driven in. She fails to realize the truck has been sitting for a couple of days.

Or that info just doesn't fit into her schedule.

Even though I've managed to stay warmer today, the ache-all-over has settled into my bones and joints. At least I've gotten something productive done today - about 1/4 of what I was able to accomplish before being blessed with OA and FM.

Zero Degrees and Snow, Oh My Aching Joints

It is ZERO degrees today in central Ohio - with 5 inches of snow. The cold makes me ache. However, today I'm not quite so hateful toward this neck brace. Why? Because it keeps my neck warm.

I'll be guest blogging at Renee' Barn's new blog for the newly po' next week. Will post the link here. Renee' and I know what it's like to have extra money and to have none at all. She's made it her passion to help those who are now finding themselves among the "middle class" or below for the first time in their lives because their fortunes that were "on paper" have evaporated, their homes are worth less than they owe on them, and they're shopping at WalMart instead of on Rodeo Drive.

While I'm ignoring housework except for the kitchen and bathrooms, mostly because my Very Cool Dude neurosurgeon has forbade me to do most things, I've been working on my website and online store every day. Because it is ZERO degrees outside, I've chosen to lighten my load by thinking "SPRINGTIME!". Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/9tht3h

Hubby has sworn to get me out of the house tomorrow - even if it is to go to Walgreen's to pick up refills of my prescriptions. I'll be using my wheelchair to ensure that I don't fall on the ice and break the new construction in my spine.

Having been a "tummy" sleeper my whole life, with several grandchildren to prove this is hereditary, I'm now, at 56, having to learn to sleep on my back or sides. The neck brace pushing against my cheeks and jaw have caused me to bite both sides of my tongue. This makes eating anything hot very uncomfortable.

I'll be adding "Home Fragrance" to my online store today. Probably to help kill the smell of our only-use-as-a-last-resort-kerosene-heater that is plugging up my sinuses. Go to www.lindajhutchinson.com and select "Enter Gift Store" from the menu on the left to check my progress.

150-Mile Bike Ride to Conquer Cancer

My daughter, Raylene Browne, is training for the 150-mile bike Ride to Conquer Cancer. Raylene, mom to six kidlets, and husband Jeff live near Louisville, KY.

She’s well-qualified to tell you how cancer affects the lives of not only the afflicted, but everyone who loves them. My photo with “The 13” sign was recently used in a video for StandUp2Cancer. Cancer has hit our family hard, and often.

What she might not tell you is that she began battling pre-cancer at the age of 18.

Raylene is in need of sponsors to spur her along on each of those 150 miles. If you would care to sponsor Raylene with a pledge of any amount, please see her webpage. http://ky09.ridetovictory.org/goto/raylene There is a button that says “Support Raylene”.

Check out the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BiccSxwV_g

Please support this very worthwhile cause! (Sure wish I could make this ride with her.)

My very long-time friend Lee from God's country, USA, where I used to live and she still does, emailed today to ask me how I was doing. They, on the rainy side of Washington state have had more snow in the past couple of years than I can remember happening since my son was about 7. They don't like it much.

My photos of son standing in the hole we'd dug in the snow, next to a yardstick, were stolen by the heathen, hypocrite, thieving, scripture-spouting bastards who stole my beloved truck, and all of our furniture, toilets and underwear, from our former home in middle Tennessee. However, that photo did exist to prove we'd gotten 36 inches of snow in 24 hours in Longview, WA. We didn't like it much then either. Well, the kids liked not having school. We didn't like that much either.

Most of the time Lee forwards on the most incredible photography that her Canadian cousin can get his hands on. He takes a lot of the photos himself, but I'm sure others are copyrighted by persons unknown to me, so I don't post them anywhere. They do, however, make me yearn to get out my oil paints.

Now that my fingers could hold an artist brush again. Maybe. I'll have to try that before making a bolder statement. And take into consideration that I can't even get comfortable to read while in this abominable neck brace, while wearing trifocals.

I have no choice but to ignore the laundry, housework, dishes, etc., that need to be done. I will pay the bills today. Hubby will take care of the rest after he's put in a full day of work. He'll get it done with a smile left for me. He won't like it much, though.

My new body parts went on a field trip last night

Had an awful time sleeping last night. Just couldn't get comfortable. Meds didn't help. Neither did dear husband's constant attention - I swear the man seldom sleeps when I'm ill or recovering from surgery.

Wearing my CPAP mask (for sleep apnea) over my neck brace makes for great difficulty in changing sleeping positions. I try very hard to be as courteous as possible to DH by not allowing my CPAP to blow cold air down his neck while I snuggle up against his back. Which means moving the hose. Which means that if I then turn back over,an act which has its own set of issues, the hose is wrapped around my neck.

Last night I managed to get the hose wrapped around my neck and then around my arms and chest. Wish I could remember what I was dreaming about because it would make for some interesting scenes in my WIP.

Thank goodness for a bladder the size of a pea because I had to wake enough to untangle myself before staggering to the bathroom.

I don't remember the return trip, but I awoke to the alarm clock minus any head/neck gear, with my neck in a bent position and cramping back and shoulder muscles sending spasms straight to the nearest pain center in my brain.

I've decided it best to be a most vigilant patient today and to wear the neck brace every possible moment to correct anything that may have occurred last night to re-arrange my new parts.

Hopefully, tonight, they'll mind their manners a bit better and learn to like their new host.

I should also mention, again, that I am eternally grateful to the departed souls who left their no longer needed earth-bound bones to be used to repair mine. Perhaps I'm getting to know them.