Today was Salsa Sunday at church with several services combined and led by the inspiration choir. Great service and a strong word brought by Pastor Ken. And then we (Greg, Shane and I) went to a Brazilian BBQ all you can eat buffet. And while it was good, it was definitely NOT as good to the taste buds, or the wallet as the restaurant Salt Lick in Texas, oh man that was good.. The Brazilian BBQ was filling but it was not so spectacular that you'd pay that much again for it. Now don't get me wrong, their was alot of variety in meat, but well, for the price you didn't even get a doggy bag to go from it like at Salt Lick.
I had a few intentions for things to "get done" this wknd, but about all I accomplished was getting my nails done at the corner salon and laundry.. the rest just didn't seem that important. Oh right, I did get some photos ordered online at Costco for framing.. but beyond that... I've just vegged on the couch.
Greg and I went and saw the movie the Hunger Games on Saturday night.. It was a movie that was okay in the sense that it was definitely bizarre plot line and FICTION. But yet it lacked for and didn't give enough "lead info" to make ME understand what was the situation of this nation setup was that had people locked in like Auschwitz town where they are labeled in Districts and they struggle to make ends meet in a dark bleak environment with policemen in stark white uniforms, helmets and mob march in when the people get out of line. The constitution of this empire (my guess it's like an empire) takes a tribute from each district yearly. They put the names in the hat of all the 12-18 year olds from each district and the more you "request" food, help from the empire puts your name into the hat for each request made (best I could understand it). The boy / girl from each district selected than is treated like a king and queen for a short two week period in the capital where they are trained to fight for their life in a death match against all of the other tributes til death and one victor.. Okay so that is the gist of it and yet there were in the intellectual part of the brain I have that just couldn't get my head around the concept, the method it is carried out, and or the reason for watching an execution live on tv where they fight for life, anymore that watching 27 people randomly shot down in the street for no reason. But knowing society who in traffic will stop to "take a look" at the disaster or watch car chases on tv... It's not a far fetched idea I am sure.. I liked the ending, and the lead girl in this movie..
This afternoon with Shane I've been watching the movie Iron Man, all the while he flips the station between two other movies he is watching... argh.. I'm not a big fan of this but, I keep him on track to stay with the commercial break amount of time..
Greg and I put up curtains in Shanes room on Saturday, the long 84" room darkening kind, but I only bought two panels and of course when I went back to get two more, they didn't have them. I wasn't to inclined to search other walmarts to chase them down and so I bought 4 panels of 63" lengths different color (all they had that went with his brown room) and of course the rods we put up are now to high for his long windows, so now we are going to have to lower them a few inches... ugh.. Greg is really excited about that as you can imagine...
so have a good week!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
gone awhile..
It's been awhile since I've put "ink to paper" with this blog. Not that I haven't been thinking of things I'd write about but just beyond that I wallow without motivation. The proof hit me square in the face when I had to guess as to what my blog name was and missing a few time, and then when I finally figured it out by googling it (duh) the entire blog is new and reformulated. Which basically means it's a hugely foreign layout I struggled to figure out just to get started
So I get off the treadmill this afternoon, and start to watch my taped show "the good wife" and damned if I just watch all the commercials instead of flipping through them which is the sweet part of taping a show.. It didn't dawn on me until the last commercial break.. and you might ask why I didn't watch the show while I was on the treadmill, and that's because Shane was controlling the remote at that time.. Not worth the wrestling match at first to get it from him, until it was strategically a snatch and grab in the midst of his flipping stations like a madmen... the gig was up..
As I'm lounging watching some taped shows, I decide we will have spaghetti for dinner, and also that Greg had last night mentioned that we were going to need milk. Drats, so off to the store I run needing some fruit as well. On the way home at 4:50 Shane texts me that he and some friends are now going out for taco Tuesday.. and Greg calls that his manager is in town and as is their custom, he's going out to dinner with him... ugh so I finish the spaghetti sauce out and it will be their dinner Wednesday night. Leftovers for me! Brian just walked in the door, said he was home for dinner but then he invited himself (Gregs taken Shane before) out with the boss for an all expense paid italian dinner.... and quiet for me.
Maybe I'll get some pictures ordered online with Costco for some frames that I bought in Texas for them. That seems to go undone after taking them, so I have some makeup pics to find and print. I also found some western photos in a magazine to frame. I just recently hung a cross that looks like leather belt and buckles.
Well, it's time to whip up those leftovers at my lonely dining room table.. haha..
So I get off the treadmill this afternoon, and start to watch my taped show "the good wife" and damned if I just watch all the commercials instead of flipping through them which is the sweet part of taping a show.. It didn't dawn on me until the last commercial break.. and you might ask why I didn't watch the show while I was on the treadmill, and that's because Shane was controlling the remote at that time.. Not worth the wrestling match at first to get it from him, until it was strategically a snatch and grab in the midst of his flipping stations like a madmen... the gig was up..
As I'm lounging watching some taped shows, I decide we will have spaghetti for dinner, and also that Greg had last night mentioned that we were going to need milk. Drats, so off to the store I run needing some fruit as well. On the way home at 4:50 Shane texts me that he and some friends are now going out for taco Tuesday.. and Greg calls that his manager is in town and as is their custom, he's going out to dinner with him... ugh so I finish the spaghetti sauce out and it will be their dinner Wednesday night. Leftovers for me! Brian just walked in the door, said he was home for dinner but then he invited himself (Gregs taken Shane before) out with the boss for an all expense paid italian dinner.... and quiet for me.
Maybe I'll get some pictures ordered online with Costco for some frames that I bought in Texas for them. That seems to go undone after taking them, so I have some makeup pics to find and print. I also found some western photos in a magazine to frame. I just recently hung a cross that looks like leather belt and buckles.
This is what I was told was on christianbook.com and it was perfect..
It hangs next to what else the wagon wheel on our long hallway wall that becomes the den.
The item on the left I found at a local OC swap meet, and the horseshoe and lariat I found at the Mesa Marketplace swap meet.. fills that odd space under the stairs pretty well.
Well, it's time to whip up those leftovers at my lonely dining room table.. haha..
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
a clear head heading into time off...
So today I put in my third long fulltime day (for a parttimer) and then checked out of the work mode. I am off on a vacation week Thursday to Wednesday. Tuesday was the end of the month invoicing deadline for processing and Wednesday any last invoices can be accrued into the system to count and be paid for the month of March. I had the week scheduled off but since the change of splitting the week off over two weeks worked for them and it worked out better for me, win win and now I'm done..
I'll be heading up on Saturday to Stacy's for a few days, and then try and hit Yosemite again on the way home. Of course it would have to stop raining TODAY for the roads in the National Park to clear up for me by Wednesday I'd guess. In the meantime I'm trying to find chains to borrow, so I can pay someone to put them on IF I NEED them alongside the road for a price.. but at least to have them to carry in car for my own security as two weeks ago it was required to have them in the car in the park and use at a certain point of required.. I kind of went beyond Park entrance and that of security feeling without having them in the car, was in second gear to keep the speed down and then had to decide it was time to turn around, as the road got slippery on the inclines at 6000 ft level.. When I decided "thats it I need to turn around, a sunshine spot of clear road on the uphill appeared" and I progressed to make an 8 pt turn feeling that at least I wouldn't risk the slide over the edge of the mountain road on the uphill of ice.. No great picture of Yosemite National Park Waterfalls and the park in snow was worth risking bad roads. I'll see what the week holds of the road trip and time off.
I will then return to work on Thursday / Friday do a little catch up, and then I am off on a full week with two weekends of vacation this time.. I will have a few days of no plans ahead of flying on the 10th to Texas and see Ashley until late on the 15th.. she has a 2-3 day period of time off while I'm there so that will be nice. She's come home a couple of times each year, and I haven't been out there since she first moved to TX. So I am looking forward to that trip for sure. She is talking with her dad right now on the details of a decision she has to make by Friday and so that is his area of expertise.. I will help her decorate, or talk out issues etc......if she asks for input..
The other day I went on a book buying frenzy on Amazon of used and cheap cheap books compared in a book store or at the conference I went to. Nikon 5100 for Dummies, Digital Photography for Dummies, and something something about "capturing unique photos".. In glancing at the book for "dummies" my first impression was "holy cow, this is a thick book, small print, and lots of details, how am I supposed to remember all of this" and then low and behold 4th page or so, there is a website for a cheat sheet of what is covered and I will be all over that. But since I bought the camera, there is alot to learn and the manual that comes with it is short and vague.. So I want to become a more knowledgeable camera owner and user of the right Fstops, aperatures, and such, so time to get busy.
I also ordered books from Christianbook.com (as a guest) don't need to pay for a $5 membership for something they will provide for free.. didn't understand the why of it, but bypassed that opportunity to find out also. I ordered a year long devotional by Anne Graham Lotts called In the Word.. half price of the conference price which they sold out of, so worked in my favor. I also ordered a western belt loop cross that a cousin told me about that she saw on this website.. Perfect look and idea of an addition to my western decor den.. I also purchased the devotional book that Anne mentioned that was written in the 1700's and her grandmother gave it to her daughter (Annes mother) at age 10 and it's been a family tradition of giving to the daughters at age 10 since then.. it's a morning and evening devotional with some notes that Anne has included in her version. I'll write about Annes conference next. So it's been and going to be like Christmas with UPS and the Post Office delivering packages this week... and my mail order Pharmacy, sheesh that never ends!
A friend invited me to a Harvest Church sponsored womens MORE Conference which was carried live in Riverside but sold out and they also had several locations that were simulcasting it along with the singing group "the Gettys". We attended the simulcast. It was an excellent Friday evening and all day Saturday of inspiration. Anne is the daughter of Billy Graham and shares his same passion for Christ and for sharing the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ for each of us. She shared her own stories of struggling with what the average woman struggles with, husbands illness, ministry pushbacks... and she just kept bringing it back to the simplicity that in the midst of all trials MORE of Jesus is what we need and that is the longing of our heart. She did a workshop on how to study the bible, three basic questions to ask of any scripture you read breaking down each verse. Working 3-7 verses at a time. What are the facts? What are the lessons? How does it impact my life? Writing the verses out in the left column spacing each one in it's own workspace, write your answers to each verse to the right under a column for each question, and then working through each one, reflect and take it in prayerfully and listen for the voice of God to lead your perspective and understanding. We went through a set of scriptures to practice this, breaking off into groups, and then interacting with her after each question.. great learning process for making it stick to memory.. (the questions had explanations of them but I'm to lazy to go upstairs and get my notes) so if your interested in the depth of the workshop, let me know and I'll share... Went away realizing that I have gone flat in my walk with Christ and need MORE of him daily in order to do his will and purpose for my life. Pour it in from scripture in order for it to pour out.
Well, while it's past my bedtime, I just made arrangements with my old walking buddy to walk tomorrow and Friday at 6:15.. I'll be lucky to make it far without breathing deeply but the company will make up for the sweat and hard work it will take,
so goodnight..
I'll be heading up on Saturday to Stacy's for a few days, and then try and hit Yosemite again on the way home. Of course it would have to stop raining TODAY for the roads in the National Park to clear up for me by Wednesday I'd guess. In the meantime I'm trying to find chains to borrow, so I can pay someone to put them on IF I NEED them alongside the road for a price.. but at least to have them to carry in car for my own security as two weeks ago it was required to have them in the car in the park and use at a certain point of required.. I kind of went beyond Park entrance and that of security feeling without having them in the car, was in second gear to keep the speed down and then had to decide it was time to turn around, as the road got slippery on the inclines at 6000 ft level.. When I decided "thats it I need to turn around, a sunshine spot of clear road on the uphill appeared" and I progressed to make an 8 pt turn feeling that at least I wouldn't risk the slide over the edge of the mountain road on the uphill of ice.. No great picture of Yosemite National Park Waterfalls and the park in snow was worth risking bad roads. I'll see what the week holds of the road trip and time off.
I will then return to work on Thursday / Friday do a little catch up, and then I am off on a full week with two weekends of vacation this time.. I will have a few days of no plans ahead of flying on the 10th to Texas and see Ashley until late on the 15th.. she has a 2-3 day period of time off while I'm there so that will be nice. She's come home a couple of times each year, and I haven't been out there since she first moved to TX. So I am looking forward to that trip for sure. She is talking with her dad right now on the details of a decision she has to make by Friday and so that is his area of expertise.. I will help her decorate, or talk out issues etc......if she asks for input..
The other day I went on a book buying frenzy on Amazon of used and cheap cheap books compared in a book store or at the conference I went to. Nikon 5100 for Dummies, Digital Photography for Dummies, and something something about "capturing unique photos".. In glancing at the book for "dummies" my first impression was "holy cow, this is a thick book, small print, and lots of details, how am I supposed to remember all of this" and then low and behold 4th page or so, there is a website for a cheat sheet of what is covered and I will be all over that. But since I bought the camera, there is alot to learn and the manual that comes with it is short and vague.. So I want to become a more knowledgeable camera owner and user of the right Fstops, aperatures, and such, so time to get busy.
I also ordered books from Christianbook.com (as a guest) don't need to pay for a $5 membership for something they will provide for free.. didn't understand the why of it, but bypassed that opportunity to find out also. I ordered a year long devotional by Anne Graham Lotts called In the Word.. half price of the conference price which they sold out of, so worked in my favor. I also ordered a western belt loop cross that a cousin told me about that she saw on this website.. Perfect look and idea of an addition to my western decor den.. I also purchased the devotional book that Anne mentioned that was written in the 1700's and her grandmother gave it to her daughter (Annes mother) at age 10 and it's been a family tradition of giving to the daughters at age 10 since then.. it's a morning and evening devotional with some notes that Anne has included in her version. I'll write about Annes conference next. So it's been and going to be like Christmas with UPS and the Post Office delivering packages this week... and my mail order Pharmacy, sheesh that never ends!
A friend invited me to a Harvest Church sponsored womens MORE Conference which was carried live in Riverside but sold out and they also had several locations that were simulcasting it along with the singing group "the Gettys". We attended the simulcast. It was an excellent Friday evening and all day Saturday of inspiration. Anne is the daughter of Billy Graham and shares his same passion for Christ and for sharing the gospel of the love of Jesus Christ for each of us. She shared her own stories of struggling with what the average woman struggles with, husbands illness, ministry pushbacks... and she just kept bringing it back to the simplicity that in the midst of all trials MORE of Jesus is what we need and that is the longing of our heart. She did a workshop on how to study the bible, three basic questions to ask of any scripture you read breaking down each verse. Working 3-7 verses at a time. What are the facts? What are the lessons? How does it impact my life? Writing the verses out in the left column spacing each one in it's own workspace, write your answers to each verse to the right under a column for each question, and then working through each one, reflect and take it in prayerfully and listen for the voice of God to lead your perspective and understanding. We went through a set of scriptures to practice this, breaking off into groups, and then interacting with her after each question.. great learning process for making it stick to memory.. (the questions had explanations of them but I'm to lazy to go upstairs and get my notes) so if your interested in the depth of the workshop, let me know and I'll share... Went away realizing that I have gone flat in my walk with Christ and need MORE of him daily in order to do his will and purpose for my life. Pour it in from scripture in order for it to pour out.
Well, while it's past my bedtime, I just made arrangements with my old walking buddy to walk tomorrow and Friday at 6:15.. I'll be lucky to make it far without breathing deeply but the company will make up for the sweat and hard work it will take,
so goodnight..
Monday, March 12, 2012
thoughts in my head spilling out..
I truly spent a lot of time this weekend motivated by a Costco coupon for 9cent pictures of 4x6, and also making 5x7 photos of Greg and my siblings.. My family has come together twice recently to do this and so I've been working with Greg side of the family to scrounge up a file to send via email. I then also had decided to print our feb Maui and the July family reunion pictures, some online, and others copied onto a flash drive to do at the store.. I ended up with other peoples pictures in my packet, or a missing 5x7, so quite thankful that today I worked 1100 reunion pictures down to printing 256.. Maui was well let's just say a lot more than that, but beautiful shots.. Next project is to book them to enjoy.
We were invited to a birthday party today for Aunt Elsie who will soon turn 80 years old. She looks really well. It was good to her and see the women who from Leisure World are involved in each others lives with Aunt Elsie. Many of these women I know from past church, or neighbors of ours. Good to have a few moments to catch up with them... Many widows.. And then there were some family conversations with some catchup on life and kids..brothers Scott, Chad, friend Don Perris, and my cousin Randy.. It was a nice party and then we said our good byes.
Well, ambien was taken early and it's kicked in... Another week lies close at hand...good night
Sunday, January 29, 2012
A Sunday ....
After church this morning Greg and I headed to Islands for lunch, Shane had said no, but then he and Lexie joined us there as well. We've been eating at home for the last few weeks with only a time or two eating out. It's just as nice to eat at home, have what we wanted done the way we like it for so less $$ and without also the coming and going of more hectic running after a long day.. a nice treat.
Sunday update on my Saturday Knob purchase: I had about 20 minutes this morning before church, and thought I'd start to replace all of the handles with the knobs. Only to realize that the screws that came in the knob plastic wrap aren't long enough (of course). So after we had lunch with Shane and Lexie at Islands in the Long Beach Towne Center, we headed over to the Lowe's to pick up the new screws. Plus Greg had measured the windows in our room which we already have "room darkening" shades up on all of them.. but we didn't measure them quite right and so they were a tad to narrow for keeping them blocking the sun out around the bull nose corners of the windows. So today we were correcting this. We had to special order the large window, but came home with the two side windows, and also the darkening shades for the boys rooms as much for the heat control as the darkening should they sleep past sunrise..
here are some pics of the "handles" before on our Tommy Bahama bedroom furniture and the knobs that are on there now.
Sunday update on my Saturday Knob purchase: I had about 20 minutes this morning before church, and thought I'd start to replace all of the handles with the knobs. Only to realize that the screws that came in the knob plastic wrap aren't long enough (of course). So after we had lunch with Shane and Lexie at Islands in the Long Beach Towne Center, we headed over to the Lowe's to pick up the new screws. Plus Greg had measured the windows in our room which we already have "room darkening" shades up on all of them.. but we didn't measure them quite right and so they were a tad to narrow for keeping them blocking the sun out around the bull nose corners of the windows. So today we were correcting this. We had to special order the large window, but came home with the two side windows, and also the darkening shades for the boys rooms as much for the heat control as the darkening should they sleep past sunrise..
here are some pics of the "handles" before on our Tommy Bahama bedroom furniture and the knobs that are on there now.
Old Handles
New Knobs to replace the weak handles for the heavyness of the drawer
I like the knobs as the bench that is at the end of our bed that I recently purchased also has the rivets on the leather seat and these knobs have the rivet look on them as well. The dark color at first Greg wasn't so sure of but with the dark bookcase, the dark streaks in the furniture I thought it was a good touch to them.
Greg is currently putting up our new room darkening shades on the west side of the house in our upstairs bedroom. Bedtime is nearly upon me and time to wrap up the day.
Have a good week..
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Saturday..
Well, I did manage to catch up on a few hours of sleep getting up at 10:30. A quick breakfast and then a trip to Home Depot. I had a list in my head, & picked up a 20' extension pole, new wash pad & attached squeegee. Also needed 21 new knobs for our bedroom furniture as the current knobs have a pull semi circle and a couple come out repetitively. I think Greg thught I'd get one knob and check it out first.. Ha, I was sure and wanted too be done with it. I then also got a new mop, because the mop that I now have the replacement parts of the scrub pad aren't available anymore at the store or stores like it, of course. So this time I also bought a couple replacement scrubbers now... Beat them at there own game..
I then came home and got started with the window screens removed, and washed.. Started on the shady side of the house.. Amounts to 12 of the 24 windows in total. By the time I got done with them. I was more than glad to let those remaining on the sunny side wait til the next open moment in the week (???) the tendinitis in the left elbow was burning and throbbing enough that I even gave up.
So the plan for the gardening didn't happen but I watered them and they will live another day to be planted.. I've been sitting on the couch since then monitoring the laundry progression.
Once I get too the shower, will see if Lois Borton is home and willing to have a visitor.yy So today was a good day with some things accomplished.. The closet purge can wait too!
I then came home and got started with the window screens removed, and washed.. Started on the shady side of the house.. Amounts to 12 of the 24 windows in total. By the time I got done with them. I was more than glad to let those remaining on the sunny side wait til the next open moment in the week (???) the tendinitis in the left elbow was burning and throbbing enough that I even gave up.
So the plan for the gardening didn't happen but I watered them and they will live another day to be planted.. I've been sitting on the couch since then monitoring the laundry progression.
Once I get too the shower, will see if Lois Borton is home and willing to have a visitor.yy So today was a good day with some things accomplished.. The closet purge can wait too!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wacky week finally ends..
The amount of time from last Friday to this Friday seems to have been double and just so complicatedly packed with so much emotion, sickness,work, emotion... It's been exhausting..
Lisa's granddaughter Jayden was declared brain dead on Sunday, several days of testing her organs and then the transplant was done on Wednesday evening. It's been just difficult to focus as I tried to work on Monday and Tuesday after the days that I visited Jayden in the hospital and i just saw her body morph and change. Thank you for praying for their family, they appreciated it so very much. Lisa and Koryne saw a grief counselor today which is a good thing and have been staying at the home of Lisa's parents rather than go home.
A midweek migraine that made my stomach up chuck was not a fun morning and the first sick day of 2012. A long morning in bed with the shades drawn helped a little. A casual day, a couple of easy errands.. But a movie and a curl up day on the couch. Next day, back at the office. Full steam ahead, saddled with a new program that gives you a stomach ache, and makes the part time status I was working back into, seem impossible.. Ugh.. But now the daily headache will have a reason as well.
The weekend has rolled around at last, and it is a clean slate of nothing on the calendar.. Plan is to revel in this, do a little more gardening, maybe go thrugh that master closet and do a serious purge of perhaps a hundred things either on a hangar or a shelf or a belt rack... That ahould be easy... Hard to imagine a lack of clutter...
Thursday night was a great gathering at Alpha but a late late night and after 4.5 hours of sleep, 3am wakeup call has expired my energy.. Good night.
Lisa's granddaughter Jayden was declared brain dead on Sunday, several days of testing her organs and then the transplant was done on Wednesday evening. It's been just difficult to focus as I tried to work on Monday and Tuesday after the days that I visited Jayden in the hospital and i just saw her body morph and change. Thank you for praying for their family, they appreciated it so very much. Lisa and Koryne saw a grief counselor today which is a good thing and have been staying at the home of Lisa's parents rather than go home.
A midweek migraine that made my stomach up chuck was not a fun morning and the first sick day of 2012. A long morning in bed with the shades drawn helped a little. A casual day, a couple of easy errands.. But a movie and a curl up day on the couch. Next day, back at the office. Full steam ahead, saddled with a new program that gives you a stomach ache, and makes the part time status I was working back into, seem impossible.. Ugh.. But now the daily headache will have a reason as well.
The weekend has rolled around at last, and it is a clean slate of nothing on the calendar.. Plan is to revel in this, do a little more gardening, maybe go thrugh that master closet and do a serious purge of perhaps a hundred things either on a hangar or a shelf or a belt rack... That ahould be easy... Hard to imagine a lack of clutter...
Thursday night was a great gathering at Alpha but a late late night and after 4.5 hours of sleep, 3am wakeup call has expired my energy.. Good night.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A burst of energy...
Today I had a burst of energy unlike what seems like, well, forever. Now don't go thinking that I accomplished anything big like clean a closet, heavens that would take more energy than what I'm talking about.. I worked a full eight, had an appt, and then what I did do was....... I washed my own car, okay a Ford Explorer that the roof is just impossible unless I haul out a ladder.. Didn't do that.. And I watered all the flowers in my yard (have you seen the size of my yard?)and then I pruned a good vining plant by clipping off the south end of my Mandevilla it which was intertwined around branches of an oldER Mandevilla that had been pulled out last spring after its death was prounounced. The stakes were leaning, it was a mess.. But I have boughten another Mandevilla and will plant it a little farther away and stake it more straight up than intertwined at first.. But the remaining one is bright red blooms, the new one is such a beautiful color red and white striped blooms.. Yummy.. I also bought 4 little geraniums to start out in my garden border area that are all hot pink... Geraniums much hardier than having last years mass of flowers bordering the garden.... Which it won't be long and it will be time to plant.. We already have two volunteer tomato plants that have come up.. The weeds in the garden need to be attacked, I'll get the boys on that.... Not my kind of work, kills my back..
Which speaking of the back, I need to get out that zumba DVD and get moving... Hit the treadmill routine again to strengthen that back with some walking, yoga and running.. I feel the need for a Yosemite hike this spring..
Well goodnight, feel the sleepiness from 3am breakfast wakeup and watching an HBO show about Magic and Bird documentary.. Then remembered I have a DVR for this and headed to the shower at 4am.. So that is why the burst of energy this afternoon was wild considering I have been more prone to a nap everyday vs activity beyond work.. And I'm still awake at 9:15pm... Past bedtime, goodnight.
Which speaking of the back, I need to get out that zumba DVD and get moving... Hit the treadmill routine again to strengthen that back with some walking, yoga and running.. I feel the need for a Yosemite hike this spring..
Well goodnight, feel the sleepiness from 3am breakfast wakeup and watching an HBO show about Magic and Bird documentary.. Then remembered I have a DVR for this and headed to the shower at 4am.. So that is why the burst of energy this afternoon was wild considering I have been more prone to a nap everyday vs activity beyond work.. And I'm still awake at 9:15pm... Past bedtime, goodnight.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
tragedy...
I have a friend Lisa Turner who I have worked with at UPS for as long as she has been there, about 25 yrs. I've known her to be very devoted as a single mom, raising her two daughters Kat & Koryne, supporting them in their interest of being in the HS marching band and all that goes along with it for traveling, fundraising. Her daughters are the same ages as my boys. Lisa's ex husband had run out on the family when the girls were very young, and there in lies the problem where having a team work of values ran into push back for Lisa with the girls dad on nearly every issue. He didn't pay child support but "treated" the girls with gifts which won their favor and made Lisa the bad guy always. Lisa deserved better for sure, but she perservered and held her ground.
About 17 mo ago her youngest daughter a college student in nursing at UCLA, gave birth to a little girl Jayden. Koryne had been seeing a boy whom she naturally was "in love" with, got pregnant and lover boy hit the road quickly wanting nothing to do with being a dad or even now the boyfriend. Now Koryne may be a sweet girl, intelligent in the ability to go to school to become a neonatal ICU nurse, but her common sense on men is tweaked. Koryne insisted she could have the child, raise her & finish her schooling. While Lisa had Koryne move back into her home from the dorms so as to help out, they setup the nursery, and life took off as it does for most in this situation. Lisa did most of the mothering, commitment and nuturing of the precious little girl. Jayden was the apple of Lisa's life, and while she worked part time, it made for a strain I'm sure with no financial support from the newest deadbeat dad in a little girls life. Koryne meanwhile studied hard, attending school with a frantic schedule and a commute from La Mirada to UCLA making overnight stays much easier on campus at her friends. And she dated more of the same type of men.
On Friday Jan 20th, she had school, she decided to save the daycare money by just having her boyfriend Rick watch the child. Now Jayden's reaction to Rick was in hindsight terror and crying when he was going to watch her, instances of "oops she had fallen off the bed". Lisa's complete distaste for him meant nothing to Koryne. On this particular day her sister Kat offered to watch her, but Koryne said no that Rick could do it, basically because he had nothing to do... no job, no school, no goals for getting a job, so he's free babysitting and she "loves" him.
My side of what I heard of the details of the story last night as I sat with Lisa at the hospital; there was a roomful of supporters of family, friends of Lisa or Koryne's UCLA classmates, band mates from HS, and the boyfriend Rick and his mother. Approximately 10am Rick called 911 as a half hour of Jaydens crying had stopped and she was not breathing. Rick says Jayden fell off the chair, a recliner. The call went out to police first and then to the Fire Dept. who when they received it, Lisa's brother was on duty and he knew the address as his sisters home. Her brother came on scene with no heartbeat or breathing from Jaydens body, and he performed CPR for the entire ambulance ride to the nearest trauma unit in Irvine at UCI. When they got to the hospital approx 45 minutes had elapsed since Ricks call, which is actually 1 hr 15 minutes after she fell. They got a heartbeat, but she is not breathing on her own, life support was begun, tests for brain activity all came up negative. She has extensive bleeding in the lower base of her brain and they gave no hope for any kind of a turn around. Lisa got the call while at work and just ran out as fast as she could and headed home, she had to follow the ambulance and her home was invaded by detectives who detained Rick for nearly the entire day questioning him. He was released and headed to the hospital just prior to my arriving at 8pm.
I received the call from Jeannie at around 6pm, another coworker who was now at the hospital and was just leaving. I headed there about 8pm, and another coworker Maggie was there, we were both able to go in and see Jayden at about 10pm. She has the most beautiful curly long blond hair after having just received her first haircut. She looked peaceful as though just asleep as any toddler taking a nap. But you could notice the swelling of her head that was starting, and the neck brace, and all the tubes all over her tiny body were the only indication that she was doing anything other than just napping.. Her heart rate was 175 which is higher than normal but what is expected for a body fighting against the imminent death that is going on after the injury.. We talked to Jayden, as they assured us that she could hear us.. And then we left her room in tears... not a Koryne had made the decision that they would donate her organs but the when the life support would be ended is not done within that first 24 hours while the investigation goes on. Detectives talked to Lisa for quite awhile as Rick has a history of "roughing" up Koryne and hopefully she made that clear.
Koryne I'm sure had her moments of breakdown when she arrived, but she was smiling, interacting and laughing somewhat with her college friends while I was there as thoughshe was in line to visit a rock star.. meanwhile her friends were subdued, looked stunned, quiet and teary& distraught... When I watch detective shows and they say "well they just didn't act like they were devastated" this is the picture that came to mind.. Koryne's time as a mom was quickly coming to an end, you couldn't have drug me out of little Jaydens room, I'd be taking in every moment that I had left. My opinion, but this was just as bizarre as I could imagine, and it wasn't just mine. Her mom said that Koryne was in denial, the instructor from her class said that it was time for her to switch out of nurse mode and into mommy mode.. so they were going to have the friends begin to leave so that Koryne was going to have to step into reality as difficult as it was going to be, she would regret it later if she didn't.
I haven't checked back with Lisa today, but this will be a difficult week as the saying final goodbyes to this lively little girl, and the things that will go with a memorial service etc... pray for them please.
About 17 mo ago her youngest daughter a college student in nursing at UCLA, gave birth to a little girl Jayden. Koryne had been seeing a boy whom she naturally was "in love" with, got pregnant and lover boy hit the road quickly wanting nothing to do with being a dad or even now the boyfriend. Now Koryne may be a sweet girl, intelligent in the ability to go to school to become a neonatal ICU nurse, but her common sense on men is tweaked. Koryne insisted she could have the child, raise her & finish her schooling. While Lisa had Koryne move back into her home from the dorms so as to help out, they setup the nursery, and life took off as it does for most in this situation. Lisa did most of the mothering, commitment and nuturing of the precious little girl. Jayden was the apple of Lisa's life, and while she worked part time, it made for a strain I'm sure with no financial support from the newest deadbeat dad in a little girls life. Koryne meanwhile studied hard, attending school with a frantic schedule and a commute from La Mirada to UCLA making overnight stays much easier on campus at her friends. And she dated more of the same type of men.
On Friday Jan 20th, she had school, she decided to save the daycare money by just having her boyfriend Rick watch the child. Now Jayden's reaction to Rick was in hindsight terror and crying when he was going to watch her, instances of "oops she had fallen off the bed". Lisa's complete distaste for him meant nothing to Koryne. On this particular day her sister Kat offered to watch her, but Koryne said no that Rick could do it, basically because he had nothing to do... no job, no school, no goals for getting a job, so he's free babysitting and she "loves" him.
My side of what I heard of the details of the story last night as I sat with Lisa at the hospital; there was a roomful of supporters of family, friends of Lisa or Koryne's UCLA classmates, band mates from HS, and the boyfriend Rick and his mother. Approximately 10am Rick called 911 as a half hour of Jaydens crying had stopped and she was not breathing. Rick says Jayden fell off the chair, a recliner. The call went out to police first and then to the Fire Dept. who when they received it, Lisa's brother was on duty and he knew the address as his sisters home. Her brother came on scene with no heartbeat or breathing from Jaydens body, and he performed CPR for the entire ambulance ride to the nearest trauma unit in Irvine at UCI. When they got to the hospital approx 45 minutes had elapsed since Ricks call, which is actually 1 hr 15 minutes after she fell. They got a heartbeat, but she is not breathing on her own, life support was begun, tests for brain activity all came up negative. She has extensive bleeding in the lower base of her brain and they gave no hope for any kind of a turn around. Lisa got the call while at work and just ran out as fast as she could and headed home, she had to follow the ambulance and her home was invaded by detectives who detained Rick for nearly the entire day questioning him. He was released and headed to the hospital just prior to my arriving at 8pm.
I received the call from Jeannie at around 6pm, another coworker who was now at the hospital and was just leaving. I headed there about 8pm, and another coworker Maggie was there, we were both able to go in and see Jayden at about 10pm. She has the most beautiful curly long blond hair after having just received her first haircut. She looked peaceful as though just asleep as any toddler taking a nap. But you could notice the swelling of her head that was starting, and the neck brace, and all the tubes all over her tiny body were the only indication that she was doing anything other than just napping.. Her heart rate was 175 which is higher than normal but what is expected for a body fighting against the imminent death that is going on after the injury.. We talked to Jayden, as they assured us that she could hear us.. And then we left her room in tears... not a Koryne had made the decision that they would donate her organs but the when the life support would be ended is not done within that first 24 hours while the investigation goes on. Detectives talked to Lisa for quite awhile as Rick has a history of "roughing" up Koryne and hopefully she made that clear.
Koryne I'm sure had her moments of breakdown when she arrived, but she was smiling, interacting and laughing somewhat with her college friends while I was there as thoughshe was in line to visit a rock star.. meanwhile her friends were subdued, looked stunned, quiet and teary& distraught... When I watch detective shows and they say "well they just didn't act like they were devastated" this is the picture that came to mind.. Koryne's time as a mom was quickly coming to an end, you couldn't have drug me out of little Jaydens room, I'd be taking in every moment that I had left. My opinion, but this was just as bizarre as I could imagine, and it wasn't just mine. Her mom said that Koryne was in denial, the instructor from her class said that it was time for her to switch out of nurse mode and into mommy mode.. so they were going to have the friends begin to leave so that Koryne was going to have to step into reality as difficult as it was going to be, she would regret it later if she didn't.
I haven't checked back with Lisa today, but this will be a difficult week as the saying final goodbyes to this lively little girl, and the things that will go with a memorial service etc... pray for them please.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
update on projects
update on project #1 ~ plugs and cords in the wall...is that it is completed... yay!
and it looks so clean and professionally done. of course he wouldn't have paid a professional to get it done, but his grumbling about how it took his whole vacation to get this and project #2 completed doesn't outweigh what he saved... I don't get it, but whatever.
the finished product - Sweet!
The process
Gregs homemade bracket which is hanging off of the wall bracket before the final tweak
the unfinished stair tread
this is one coat of verithane
The shelf is drying after each coat (took days)
the previous condition of the setup ~ and the coffee table is now back to being a coffee table in front of the couches..
Project #2
Garage Door opener replaced (twice) - Greg and his Shane
yes, there are other house projects that are on an invisible list.... but, for now... no talk on them.. (I'm drafting up the PO # and the conditions for the scope of work.. (my job now creeps into home in order to get things on the table and completed)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
hostile work environment at hand....
What I have always suspected, has actually now become a reality... When I moved to my new work position in the Los Angeles area, the type of people I work with has a different way of looking at life than I do. I've blogged about this work location and the first comment from those where I came from to me being "watch your back" and how I didn't even know what that could mean. The first supervisor I worked under here "B", he was basically a "get along" kind of guy who in order to have a happy workforce, let them run the show. He gave in to some ridiculous practices that allowed using more days off than you had coming in your benefits package, and the theory of "you just tell me what you need"... Well he was moved out of our building 2 months after I got there, I was glad. A new supervisor "K" was promoted was once a mechanic in this building, and he struggled with being management and no longer an hourly kind of friend/supervisor, at the beginning. But since he transitioned he has now got a bullseye on him. What Bob left in the wake was a work force that "liked things the way they were done before" and so it has been a somewhat difficult period of time for change to be brought into play, and then to get them to understand that "the old way no longer exists" because it was wrong and "you either get on board or you will encounter discipline and/or lose your job".. There behavior is very much like an honery child who doesn't fear the discipline or just waits till you hand it out and then they whine trying to get out of it.. ugh..
With consistent discipline foreighn to there sensibilities, they have become hopping mad, pointing fingers, trying to get away with the same practices and absolutely livid when they are disciplined. Over and over again, the shop steward uses the phrase "we liked the way we used to do it" or "if you would just wipe every ones slate clean before you start the new way of doing things." Huh, well that's not going to happen, just come to work unless you are absolutely vomiting, or bleeding severely. One employee has 8 sick days a year, and this employee record has probably been off sick 50 times, it's almost uncountable.. it was along time before we finally convinced him to get F.M.L.A. (family medical leave act) as he claims his diabetes pain in his feet are the reason he takes off so much. FMLA gives him two days a month to call in for two days (total of 4 days).. and trust me he uses them. But for the entire year of 2011 when there was a holiday on a weekend, he would take one or two days prior and one to two days following the holiday.. Except for this past Friday before New Years. And why might that be, because he was written up for a 3 day suspension for just that reason early in the week, and his next occasion would be a written warning and than firing... So he as usual promised he'd do better, I'm trying, blah blah blah.. I met him in the hallway on Friday and shook his hand and thanked him for making the improvement so quickly and being a valuable part of the team. He laughed and said, what is it Friday and I forgot what day it was... He's actually a funny guy who jokes around that he's the hardest working employee we have and so on and so on... Keeps him going I guess..
So anyway, there are 17 porters/housekeeping employees, and their are perhaps 4 that do not play these games listed above. (surprising huh?) There are 8 mechanics and 1 of them lives with one of the porters, they share his hers and ours kids. They make progress, a disciplinary occasion will expire and then they add another one. The two of them together are each our worst offenders always at the point of "suspension just before losing their jobs" for violations and considered the worst in the district.. Quite a dubious honor if that's what your after in life. It's a frustrating part of the job that increases paperwork, and the constant difficulty in keeping the building clean and operating for our dept without enough employees to cover the workload.
So anyway, before Christmas we had a potluck where one of the mechanics smoked tri tip and we all contributed a dish, and we were invited and participated...
This week, they planned their own potluck on Friday for New Years perhaps or another excuse to not work, and didn't invite us, so we weren't aware they were having one. The mechanics supervisor "K" called over the intercom for a specific mechanic "J" to come to the office, he needed him to do a specific job of posting a parking Circle of Honor sign in the employee parking lot. The mechanic "J" comes into the office and as it's being explained what he needs to take care of, this mechanic asks the supervisor "K" if he can talk to him in the managers office... Later after "J" had left the office, the supervisor "K" tells me that this mechanic "J" had gone to the potluck, and noticed neither the supervisor "K" or I were there. And he asked them if we were coming, and a few of the porters replied "pff, they aren't invited to our potlucks, they are the enemy and we don't like them".... so this mechanic "J" told them "well if you can't invite everyone who is a part of this dept team of porters and mechanics, than you don't have to invite me to anymore of these potlucks either", and he walked out..
Now I want to just say that this is not an easy thing to do in the midst of this rough crowd that he will work with, and it will most likely have some backlash for him.. When I heard this I got teary as it was hard to hear, but that I was very proud of him "J" for taking that stand on our behalf. I also would hope that I too would take that stand when there is an exclusion of others who are part of a team on purpose. This picture below has been on an elementary school marquis for months and I took it one day.. it certainly applies here for some adults..
I've done blogs on this work group before and the difficulty of working with them and around them can be. They are back biters amongst each other, rumor starters of bizarre tales, and just alot of lack of character and bad decision making is evident. My interaction with them is that I input there payroll, schedule vacations and order there supplies and I deal with the backlash of there wrath on many levels, where they are antagonistic between each other, and "authority". I'm a pretty easy person to get along with and really have tried to be sympathetic, understanding, and helpful to them with computer searches when they have asked.. But if you attack me on baseless comments or try to hurt me with "so and so said this about you" yes I will stop you from continuing to talk, because I am no longer in high school and will not stoop to you acting like you are and dragging me into it... so some of these employees don't have my respect and I have withdrawn from much beyond coming in doing my job and laying low in contact. But boy when they need something they come in and turn on the sweet talk.. ha and I just listen, take a note and tell them I will get back to them with an answer.. and smile pretty.. Apparantly they would like a hug as well and a pat on the back each and every time, and a cookie... whoops, that's not really necessary!
So now they have made the hostile atmosphere of a line in the sand and watch your back... and I will have NO PROBLEM with it.. they on the other hand have policy they need to adhere to in order to keep there job.. period.. I follow it, the supervisors follow it, and they have to follow it.. fair is fair.. no one gets preferential treatment in spite of there desire to receive it..
Today I saw "J" for the first time since Friday and I made sure he understood how much I appreciated his comment and gesture on our behalf.. No lengthy conversation, but just that I knew. 2012 at the office I work in will be an interesting place in light of how 2011 ended, but I will not compromise right decency for being run over to get along..
With consistent discipline foreighn to there sensibilities, they have become hopping mad, pointing fingers, trying to get away with the same practices and absolutely livid when they are disciplined. Over and over again, the shop steward uses the phrase "we liked the way we used to do it" or "if you would just wipe every ones slate clean before you start the new way of doing things." Huh, well that's not going to happen, just come to work unless you are absolutely vomiting, or bleeding severely. One employee has 8 sick days a year, and this employee record has probably been off sick 50 times, it's almost uncountable.. it was along time before we finally convinced him to get F.M.L.A. (family medical leave act) as he claims his diabetes pain in his feet are the reason he takes off so much. FMLA gives him two days a month to call in for two days (total of 4 days).. and trust me he uses them. But for the entire year of 2011 when there was a holiday on a weekend, he would take one or two days prior and one to two days following the holiday.. Except for this past Friday before New Years. And why might that be, because he was written up for a 3 day suspension for just that reason early in the week, and his next occasion would be a written warning and than firing... So he as usual promised he'd do better, I'm trying, blah blah blah.. I met him in the hallway on Friday and shook his hand and thanked him for making the improvement so quickly and being a valuable part of the team. He laughed and said, what is it Friday and I forgot what day it was... He's actually a funny guy who jokes around that he's the hardest working employee we have and so on and so on... Keeps him going I guess..
So anyway, there are 17 porters/housekeeping employees, and their are perhaps 4 that do not play these games listed above. (surprising huh?) There are 8 mechanics and 1 of them lives with one of the porters, they share his hers and ours kids. They make progress, a disciplinary occasion will expire and then they add another one. The two of them together are each our worst offenders always at the point of "suspension just before losing their jobs" for violations and considered the worst in the district.. Quite a dubious honor if that's what your after in life. It's a frustrating part of the job that increases paperwork, and the constant difficulty in keeping the building clean and operating for our dept without enough employees to cover the workload.
So anyway, before Christmas we had a potluck where one of the mechanics smoked tri tip and we all contributed a dish, and we were invited and participated...
This week, they planned their own potluck on Friday for New Years perhaps or another excuse to not work, and didn't invite us, so we weren't aware they were having one. The mechanics supervisor "K" called over the intercom for a specific mechanic "J" to come to the office, he needed him to do a specific job of posting a parking Circle of Honor sign in the employee parking lot. The mechanic "J" comes into the office and as it's being explained what he needs to take care of, this mechanic asks the supervisor "K" if he can talk to him in the managers office... Later after "J" had left the office, the supervisor "K" tells me that this mechanic "J" had gone to the potluck, and noticed neither the supervisor "K" or I were there. And he asked them if we were coming, and a few of the porters replied "pff, they aren't invited to our potlucks, they are the enemy and we don't like them".... so this mechanic "J" told them "well if you can't invite everyone who is a part of this dept team of porters and mechanics, than you don't have to invite me to anymore of these potlucks either", and he walked out..
Now I want to just say that this is not an easy thing to do in the midst of this rough crowd that he will work with, and it will most likely have some backlash for him.. When I heard this I got teary as it was hard to hear, but that I was very proud of him "J" for taking that stand on our behalf. I also would hope that I too would take that stand when there is an exclusion of others who are part of a team on purpose. This picture below has been on an elementary school marquis for months and I took it one day.. it certainly applies here for some adults..
I've done blogs on this work group before and the difficulty of working with them and around them can be. They are back biters amongst each other, rumor starters of bizarre tales, and just alot of lack of character and bad decision making is evident. My interaction with them is that I input there payroll, schedule vacations and order there supplies and I deal with the backlash of there wrath on many levels, where they are antagonistic between each other, and "authority". I'm a pretty easy person to get along with and really have tried to be sympathetic, understanding, and helpful to them with computer searches when they have asked.. But if you attack me on baseless comments or try to hurt me with "so and so said this about you" yes I will stop you from continuing to talk, because I am no longer in high school and will not stoop to you acting like you are and dragging me into it... so some of these employees don't have my respect and I have withdrawn from much beyond coming in doing my job and laying low in contact. But boy when they need something they come in and turn on the sweet talk.. ha and I just listen, take a note and tell them I will get back to them with an answer.. and smile pretty.. Apparantly they would like a hug as well and a pat on the back each and every time, and a cookie... whoops, that's not really necessary!
So now they have made the hostile atmosphere of a line in the sand and watch your back... and I will have NO PROBLEM with it.. they on the other hand have policy they need to adhere to in order to keep there job.. period.. I follow it, the supervisors follow it, and they have to follow it.. fair is fair.. no one gets preferential treatment in spite of there desire to receive it..
Today I saw "J" for the first time since Friday and I made sure he understood how much I appreciated his comment and gesture on our behalf.. No lengthy conversation, but just that I knew. 2012 at the office I work in will be an interesting place in light of how 2011 ended, but I will not compromise right decency for being run over to get along..
Thursday, December 29, 2011
have to do my part
Project #1
Greg and Shane this afternoon hooked up the tv back onto the wall, all the cables are now plugged into the box inside the wall that has two (4) electrical plugs & the Dish Satellite cable going into the tv. It will be so "clean" looking when it's all done. Now the part that I forgot is that I said I would go and look for the shelf that will be hung below the tv for the satellite box, Xbox etc.. and I didn't do it.. But Greg found that the homemade (pretty cool) steel bracket he crafted still needs a little tweaking tomorrow at his shop so as to not hit the back of the tv.. So I have another day to produce the mantle like lightweight shelf that I want.. and then the coffee table will again be a coffee table. There is an unfinished oak wood store close by... or.....
hole now covered with a recessed box with 4 electric outlets, and the Dish Satellite cable
"You see son, I did this & connected it to that, welded this clip to the top, and with these bolts it's adjustable".. and so on...
like so for the side edge
Greg and Shane this afternoon hooked up the tv back onto the wall, all the cables are now plugged into the box inside the wall that has two (4) electrical plugs & the Dish Satellite cable going into the tv. It will be so "clean" looking when it's all done. Now the part that I forgot is that I said I would go and look for the shelf that will be hung below the tv for the satellite box, Xbox etc.. and I didn't do it.. But Greg found that the homemade (pretty cool) steel bracket he crafted still needs a little tweaking tomorrow at his shop so as to not hit the back of the tv.. So I have another day to produce the mantle like lightweight shelf that I want.. and then the coffee table will again be a coffee table. There is an unfinished oak wood store close by... or.....
We actually ended up running over to Lowes after dinner to see what they had.. and came across a stair tread with a rounded front edge, and with side pieces that match the front edge that must be glued on to the sides to match.. sweet look and it's the right size.. a coat of verithane over the oak piece and it's ready to go up and complete the look.
This is the existing bracket the tv was already mounted on, but just envision the Dish cable going down and then to the wall socket 5 ft to the left, and the electric cord going down and 5 ft to the right to the power plug... not a pretty sight and then the other random cords for DVD and/or XBOX game console down to the table. Now it will all be up behind the tv recessed and strapped up unseen.
New black hole for all connections, the old satellite connection is visible to bottom left.. Greg groaned when I told him that needed to come out & be patched now that it's not needed. :)
hole now covered with a recessed box with 4 electric outlets, and the Dish Satellite cable
Shane & Greg adjusted the box which was cockeyed and even though only we'd know it... it's now straight
"You see son, I did this & connected it to that, welded this clip to the top, and with these bolts it's adjustable".. and so on...
Greg created the brackets that will hang from the tv bracket & the shelf will rest on the "L" part of it without having to bolt it to the wall with the supports that level it off the backside... quite ingenious & the kind of stuff he likes to do
And then it will hang like so..
and walaa the tv is back up on the wall & functioning like it should, only thing missing is the shelf for the stuff that adds to the enjoyment of the tv
Our trip to Lowes found this stair tread that we are converting to a shelf (rather than a flat plank we have to dress up with a router) and the side has trim that will make it look so much better than a flat edge.
like so for the side edge
One tv room down, one more to go... go team go..
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
progress being made..
There has been progress being made on project #1 and with one more coat of paint, the tv goes back up on the wall. Tomorrow I will go and look for a mantle like piece of "more than a plank" to hang below the tv to have all the "boxes" of Dish DVR, xbox, up higher to read the remote from the kitchen table...
Greg has had more than a few trips to Home Depot in this process and been doing some huffing and puffing when asked those annoying questions like "what will that be for?" So I have been for two days just laying low and letting the boys get into the line of fire as they offer aid........... I know you know what I'm speaking of. Standing clear, bringing him only what he asked needs from across the room when it's requested..
Today as he's wrapping it up, much lighter demeanor :)
Thankful for a "forced" vacation by his company between Christmas / New Years to give him space to work on the house. yay!
Greg has had more than a few trips to Home Depot in this process and been doing some huffing and puffing when asked those annoying questions like "what will that be for?" So I have been for two days just laying low and letting the boys get into the line of fire as they offer aid........... I know you know what I'm speaking of. Standing clear, bringing him only what he asked needs from across the room when it's requested..
Today as he's wrapping it up, much lighter demeanor :)
Thankful for a "forced" vacation by his company between Christmas / New Years to give him space to work on the house. yay!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
he took me seriously...
A couple of days before Christmas I asked Greg this question "was he done with his shopping?" and his response was that I hadn't given him any ideas.... hmm, I don't recall his asking. So I just repeated what I had told him several weeks earlier that I would like him to "just" finish some projects that were started, or take on the projects that needed to be done around the house/yard... There are three that come to mind without having to speak them (unfinished) or that I would like a tripod of good quality and lightweight for a backpack while on a bike or a hike with my camera....
He seemed more inclined towards the latter idea, and away he went after having asked questions on what kind of tripod, looked them up online, asked some more questions.. So I was pretty darn sure that I was getting a tripod (if he could find one still on the shelf where he looked), but was really hoping he'd go for idea #1..
Yep, I got the tripod and it is perfect for biking or hiking....
You might be wondering what immediate projects would I like done:
Project #1 & 2 on my list of wants was to get the tv, dish box, etc cables into the wall behind the 2 tv's from hanging down the wall to the sockets. They are now draped across the room from behind the tv where they are in plain view. He's off this week and Monday already he starts taking the living room tv off the wall, using his sensor to find the "studs" and then starts cutting a hole(s) in the wall.. today he and Shane (who showed up after dark) crawled in the attic, and then under the house in search of where the "dish network" cables are located, cutting holes and the rest of whatever you need to find or add in order to put all the wires for electricity and cables into a box inside the wall out of sight behind the tv mounted on the wall... Yay, almost done, hopefully he'll have better luck doing it to tv #2 in the den as that's next on the list....
#3 The incompleted garage door opener put up 2 weeks ago (new one). Which is so sophisticated the chinese instructions have hampered it's completion of installation or the plan to dismantle it and returning it to downsize to something less "sophisticated" for the old garage wooden garage doors we have. If the new garage is ever built, then he will upgrade.. (if being the key word)
#4 and then the previously blogged about vibrating walking LOUD washing machine on the tile in one of the hallways to be perfected after first attempt failed .. it's still an issue that he knows is an issue without having to say it is an issue. Just running the machine, reminds ya quickly the issue is LOUD.
Oh and then there are lots of "little" items we've discussed that aren't expensive just take his time.. so he could be busy all year as time is not a commodity he likes to give to such things...
Well time for bed, the work alarm will come early. I might need to hire someone for one of the above..
heehee..
He seemed more inclined towards the latter idea, and away he went after having asked questions on what kind of tripod, looked them up online, asked some more questions.. So I was pretty darn sure that I was getting a tripod (if he could find one still on the shelf where he looked), but was really hoping he'd go for idea #1..
Yep, I got the tripod and it is perfect for biking or hiking....
You might be wondering what immediate projects would I like done:
Project #1 & 2 on my list of wants was to get the tv, dish box, etc cables into the wall behind the 2 tv's from hanging down the wall to the sockets. They are now draped across the room from behind the tv where they are in plain view. He's off this week and Monday already he starts taking the living room tv off the wall, using his sensor to find the "studs" and then starts cutting a hole(s) in the wall.. today he and Shane (who showed up after dark) crawled in the attic, and then under the house in search of where the "dish network" cables are located, cutting holes and the rest of whatever you need to find or add in order to put all the wires for electricity and cables into a box inside the wall out of sight behind the tv mounted on the wall... Yay, almost done, hopefully he'll have better luck doing it to tv #2 in the den as that's next on the list....
#3 The incompleted garage door opener put up 2 weeks ago (new one). Which is so sophisticated the chinese instructions have hampered it's completion of installation or the plan to dismantle it and returning it to downsize to something less "sophisticated" for the old garage wooden garage doors we have. If the new garage is ever built, then he will upgrade.. (if being the key word)
#4 and then the previously blogged about vibrating walking LOUD washing machine on the tile in one of the hallways to be perfected after first attempt failed .. it's still an issue that he knows is an issue without having to say it is an issue. Just running the machine, reminds ya quickly the issue is LOUD.
Oh and then there are lots of "little" items we've discussed that aren't expensive just take his time.. so he could be busy all year as time is not a commodity he likes to give to such things...
Well time for bed, the work alarm will come early. I might need to hire someone for one of the above..
heehee..
Sunday, December 18, 2011
tis the season fa lalala..
After 29 years at UPS, I am actually enjoying this particular Christmas season as the most relaxed one EVER... why you might be asking? I changed job positions back in early March & to a new location..
I have absolutely no longer anything to do with zipcode assignments for Ground & Air service for the large & small packages, the Time in Transit for Peak Season is not my responsibility for charts / training employees. This is what can dictate success or failure in what the employees know, when they know it and if they didn't WHO was responsible for it.. proofreading 100% accuracy which meant I brought work home everynight. Whew, from Thanksgiving to New Years was always a feverish daily change, every sort, every building doing something different & specific to them.. 7 buildings was a juggling act.
What I do now is ONE building in Vernon, payroll input daily, employee entitlement tracking & adjustments according to contracts for pay. I order supplies for everything from toilet paper, cleaning supplies (brooms,mops,hand soap, paper towels) to mechanics needs of screws, nuts, belting, iron, most everything related to keepig the motors to run machinery and everything in between. I write up contracts with vendors and process them for signatures, make sure every vendor has Insurance to be on property or work on property. I call vendors to come in to do repairs for things that are related to plumbing, electrical, floor scrubbers or getting water out of an Automotive sump pump from rain water, or picking up Bio Hazard materials that are "damaged" in transit (like pig fetus's or dead kittens, stuff happens!).. And then I call to get these particular things invoiced sooner rather than later if they are an item in our current month of budgeting.. If it's something that we would prefer to be invoiced next month, I make sure I issue a PO # first to slow down the process forcing them to wait a little while.. But in the month of Dec we only play a little catch up, reconciling some buildings being so far over budget that the rest of us have to tighten the reigns to make up for it.. But it's every day the same, no peak season RUSH that makes you have crazy busy rushed days and sleepless nights.. Never did I imagine you could or would multi task as much as this job requires.. It's like playing "minute to win it" during the time I'm there and then come back the next day and do it again but nothing life and death like package failure that EVERYBODY in the country knows about immediately. get my point..
Okay so the sleepless nights was a phase I went through recently, but absolutely not work related for sure.
But honestly, the new hours I work are just NOT intense for the busy peak season for me as they "always" were before.. It's like a night and day difference being out of that loop. The new loop has some stress now and then, but I start way early enough in the day that I can get some things done in the afternoons after I'm off. The old job position was flexible but rigid tense.
So as Ashley comes home to CA on Tuesday through the next Tuesday.. It will be a good Christmas... :)
I have absolutely no longer anything to do with zipcode assignments for Ground & Air service for the large & small packages, the Time in Transit for Peak Season is not my responsibility for charts / training employees. This is what can dictate success or failure in what the employees know, when they know it and if they didn't WHO was responsible for it.. proofreading 100% accuracy which meant I brought work home everynight. Whew, from Thanksgiving to New Years was always a feverish daily change, every sort, every building doing something different & specific to them.. 7 buildings was a juggling act.
What I do now is ONE building in Vernon, payroll input daily, employee entitlement tracking & adjustments according to contracts for pay. I order supplies for everything from toilet paper, cleaning supplies (brooms,mops,hand soap, paper towels) to mechanics needs of screws, nuts, belting, iron, most everything related to keepig the motors to run machinery and everything in between. I write up contracts with vendors and process them for signatures, make sure every vendor has Insurance to be on property or work on property. I call vendors to come in to do repairs for things that are related to plumbing, electrical, floor scrubbers or getting water out of an Automotive sump pump from rain water, or picking up Bio Hazard materials that are "damaged" in transit (like pig fetus's or dead kittens, stuff happens!).. And then I call to get these particular things invoiced sooner rather than later if they are an item in our current month of budgeting.. If it's something that we would prefer to be invoiced next month, I make sure I issue a PO # first to slow down the process forcing them to wait a little while.. But in the month of Dec we only play a little catch up, reconciling some buildings being so far over budget that the rest of us have to tighten the reigns to make up for it.. But it's every day the same, no peak season RUSH that makes you have crazy busy rushed days and sleepless nights.. Never did I imagine you could or would multi task as much as this job requires.. It's like playing "minute to win it" during the time I'm there and then come back the next day and do it again but nothing life and death like package failure that EVERYBODY in the country knows about immediately. get my point..
Okay so the sleepless nights was a phase I went through recently, but absolutely not work related for sure.
But honestly, the new hours I work are just NOT intense for the busy peak season for me as they "always" were before.. It's like a night and day difference being out of that loop. The new loop has some stress now and then, but I start way early enough in the day that I can get some things done in the afternoons after I'm off. The old job position was flexible but rigid tense.
So as Ashley comes home to CA on Tuesday through the next Tuesday.. It will be a good Christmas... :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
got a minute to spare
Whew, hey I have 20 minutes before we need to be at the next thing on this Sunday... If I just sat down to watch TV I'd be asleep and not to enthused to get back up and going. While Sat/Sun are my sleep late to catch up on some missed hours during the week, today I got up at 6am to go to the office of all things. Friday Nov 11 is the observation of Veterans Day, while it is a definite reason to commenorate our living Veterans who sacrificed much on our behalf, it's only a government holiday as far as I know. It's not observed by UPS, but our payroll department still feels the need to process early and deliver checks to employees on Wed instead of Thursday. And why? I guess it's because the bank is closed Friday for the multitudes who still receive a paper check who hide their money under the mattress. Most of the people in the building I work at, cash their checks at the local "check n go" and don't have a bank account. I enjoy the direct deposit and paperless route.. So rather than have to show up Monday in the office at 3:30 a.m. to process Friday/Saturday timecards prior to the 5 a.m. deadline, I gave them a little over an hour this morning before church to get it done. I made sure not to open my email for fear I'd be distracted for longer.
I just finished an afternoon of busily thinking/typing, printing, folding, stuffing envelopes, addressing & then running them to the Long Beach post office so that they will go out in the mail and be delivered as quickly as snail mail is capable. With the dragging of my feet in getting this done, an RSVP is absolutely hoped for, and necessary for Shanes graduation/dinner just under two weeks from now. We're having it at Frantones Pizza and they require a FIRM # so they can charge us for each one we commit to... As I've noticed over the last decade that getting an RSVP is not as easy as it sounds, most likely not from the fear of committment as much as from setting the invite aside and well, forgetting that people are actually counting on a yes or no with a deadline. Oh well, hoping for the best.
Greg just came downstairs, obviously he has been in the midst of a deep nap (lucky guy), because he hardly took a breath as he was communicating a number of thoughts at once,, Apparantly he is not feeling good and my guess is that in a few moments he will be telling me he's staying home from our small group mtg..
Well, while posting on the blog is an often thought as "stuff" happens, its not something I obviously get to often. time to brush teeth and check on Greg's socializing status...
until next time..
I just finished an afternoon of busily thinking/typing, printing, folding, stuffing envelopes, addressing & then running them to the Long Beach post office so that they will go out in the mail and be delivered as quickly as snail mail is capable. With the dragging of my feet in getting this done, an RSVP is absolutely hoped for, and necessary for Shanes graduation/dinner just under two weeks from now. We're having it at Frantones Pizza and they require a FIRM # so they can charge us for each one we commit to... As I've noticed over the last decade that getting an RSVP is not as easy as it sounds, most likely not from the fear of committment as much as from setting the invite aside and well, forgetting that people are actually counting on a yes or no with a deadline. Oh well, hoping for the best.
Greg just came downstairs, obviously he has been in the midst of a deep nap (lucky guy), because he hardly took a breath as he was communicating a number of thoughts at once,, Apparantly he is not feeling good and my guess is that in a few moments he will be telling me he's staying home from our small group mtg..
Well, while posting on the blog is an often thought as "stuff" happens, its not something I obviously get to often. time to brush teeth and check on Greg's socializing status...
until next time..
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Movie ~ Courageous produced by Alex Kendrick
Alex Kendrick has produced many faith based movies in major theaters over the last 9 years, perhaps you have never heard of him but might remember some of them; Flywheel (business integrity), Facing the Giants (good football story), Fireproof (firemen marriage story).. And now Courageous (parenting,integrity,life choices)
Alex is an associate pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany GA and the guy in charge of their movie creating entity Sherwood Pictures, the writer, producer, director, editor, he does it all... They started filming Flywheel in 2002 with a budget of $20,000! They have been at it every since, using the people from their church for many of their productions main characters in the beginning, and/or extras along the way. Knowing that made it easier to watch the movies because well, they were just regular people trying to be polished for the cause of Gods kingdom. honestly, and at times the plot or performances may have made you cringe as a tad slow going, answers very easy to do or instructed as so... WHY, because we are used to seeing multi million dollar productions where a team works the script, action goes perfectly edited for the big screen..
My hats off to him and his church for taking on Hollywood by removing the foul language and sex in a movie which is the "teaser" in most every movie made to get you in a seat; making faith based movies with the message of Jesus Christ using small time equipment, small time College play budgets, soccer moms, grocery checkers, plumbers, electricians, nurses, accountants, Dr's from their church doing the acting and being successful, very successful..
Now hopefully I'm not going to give the plot away totally for this movie in my excitement for what we witnessed, but no promises. We finally got around to seeing it last night.. It opened in major theaters Sept 30, and last night Oct 15 the theatre was still packed out and we sat 2nd row... Yes, that is a challenge seat even for someone nearsighted to have it right in your face, not my ideal location, but what are you going to do, reschedule, so we watched from our 2nd row seat...
My impression was: This was a movie that competed with the Hollywood expectation of deep plot, good humor throughout, many tears, heart wrenching sadness, successes, gangs, drugs, prison, and shoot em up action, out-of-wedlock children, marriages in tact doing well, some suffering, others divorced, and poverty,.. I wasn't disappointed at any point, plot moved along and the acting was very good, if you ask me they were all professionals while they might have been the same people they have always used in their productions.. The movie brings you hope, the courage to do better, do more, do it Christ like. My favorite characters were Javier/Carmen...
What did it include that Hollywood won't touch; everyone is a sinner, secrets exposed, our sinful selfishness that affects others, redemption through Christ alone, friendships in Godly accountability to survive, ceremony of men being the leader in homes, wives supporting husbands for better or worse, the suffering of kids dramatically in fatherless homes, statistically..
Hey I didn't give away anything that keeps you from seeing it but only intrigued you to see it and take a friend, because it is hopeful and to be shared. Enjoy
Alex is an associate pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany GA and the guy in charge of their movie creating entity Sherwood Pictures, the writer, producer, director, editor, he does it all... They started filming Flywheel in 2002 with a budget of $20,000! They have been at it every since, using the people from their church for many of their productions main characters in the beginning, and/or extras along the way. Knowing that made it easier to watch the movies because well, they were just regular people trying to be polished for the cause of Gods kingdom. honestly, and at times the plot or performances may have made you cringe as a tad slow going, answers very easy to do or instructed as so... WHY, because we are used to seeing multi million dollar productions where a team works the script, action goes perfectly edited for the big screen..
My hats off to him and his church for taking on Hollywood by removing the foul language and sex in a movie which is the "teaser" in most every movie made to get you in a seat; making faith based movies with the message of Jesus Christ using small time equipment, small time College play budgets, soccer moms, grocery checkers, plumbers, electricians, nurses, accountants, Dr's from their church doing the acting and being successful, very successful..
Now hopefully I'm not going to give the plot away totally for this movie in my excitement for what we witnessed, but no promises. We finally got around to seeing it last night.. It opened in major theaters Sept 30, and last night Oct 15 the theatre was still packed out and we sat 2nd row... Yes, that is a challenge seat even for someone nearsighted to have it right in your face, not my ideal location, but what are you going to do, reschedule, so we watched from our 2nd row seat...
My impression was: This was a movie that competed with the Hollywood expectation of deep plot, good humor throughout, many tears, heart wrenching sadness, successes, gangs, drugs, prison, and shoot em up action, out-of-wedlock children, marriages in tact doing well, some suffering, others divorced, and poverty,.. I wasn't disappointed at any point, plot moved along and the acting was very good, if you ask me they were all professionals while they might have been the same people they have always used in their productions.. The movie brings you hope, the courage to do better, do more, do it Christ like. My favorite characters were Javier/Carmen...
What did it include that Hollywood won't touch; everyone is a sinner, secrets exposed, our sinful selfishness that affects others, redemption through Christ alone, friendships in Godly accountability to survive, ceremony of men being the leader in homes, wives supporting husbands for better or worse, the suffering of kids dramatically in fatherless homes, statistically..
Hey I didn't give away anything that keeps you from seeing it but only intrigued you to see it and take a friend, because it is hopeful and to be shared. Enjoy
Saturday, October 15, 2011
A new approach for chores projects...
There are just those "simple" things I will ask Greg to take care of and weeks, months later He is still processing it as he will call it.. So last night I steal a minute at his desk to use one of his two computers, and it's rather dreary at the desk as only one lightbulb of three in the fixture is lit up and that one bulb is on it's way out, so it's hazy lighting at best... Now this is his work space and it's not that he doesn't notice, it's just "good enough" a life mantra of his on well, too many things actually.... So I being the Plant Engineering czar of getting things done quickly by issuing a PO# (purchase order), issued Greg a PO # for the work and laid it on his desk... THIS MORNING it was done, and he had to laugh that saying that he also deals with PO#'s everyday and that's what moves him..... He liked the idea...
The 2nd PO # left for him has been a long sore spot in that our upright washer in the laundry room sits on tile. Tile in the laundry room was a hindsight decision of regret, but it has and is causing us the louder vibration/airplane at times sound when it spins, and if it's out of alignment look out, the neighbors have to hear it. And then the tv gets turned up louder in response, quite a scene! The Laundry room is located between our kitchen/living room in front of house and the den in the rear of house, in an outside hallway near the side exit door, but not a room of it's own, another regret! Greg says it gets off of level because tile allows it's movement. So Greg being of engineering mentality 8 months ago "prototyped" as he called it, using wood molding as short blocks and cut into them in some fashion round holes for legs of the washer and dryer to be placed in and to anchor them together... with Shane, they high fived each other figuring it was a done deal... It had a minor affect on the problem but it was better..
Now mind you, I didn't see how the SILENCE I was after was going to come without placing a thicker rubber matting under the washer dryer to buffer the sound, but they disregarded my opinion and said it was only the first prototype and they'd monitor it.... Oh brother, do you remember that I said this occurred 8 months ago, that's not monitoring that's forgetting about it all together. I thought the other day, It was going to walk itself during a vibration fit into the kitchen for a drink it was rocking so strongly.. Just then Greg walked in the door and just placed his hand on top of it and it settled down a little with the weight of his push... As though it needed some loving, I just grinned and said I was glad he was home, because I had only three loads left for him to hang onto it for me... Ha, ya got to laugh or someone would be irate....
He leveled it this morning as his next fix and since he's going out of town all next week on business... I may be "ordering" that rubber mat through Grainger or something similar and have the boys install it below... Taking the bull by the horns or working as a team ~ whatever you might decide
The 2nd PO # left for him has been a long sore spot in that our upright washer in the laundry room sits on tile. Tile in the laundry room was a hindsight decision of regret, but it has and is causing us the louder vibration/airplane at times sound when it spins, and if it's out of alignment look out, the neighbors have to hear it. And then the tv gets turned up louder in response, quite a scene! The Laundry room is located between our kitchen/living room in front of house and the den in the rear of house, in an outside hallway near the side exit door, but not a room of it's own, another regret! Greg says it gets off of level because tile allows it's movement. So Greg being of engineering mentality 8 months ago "prototyped" as he called it, using wood molding as short blocks and cut into them in some fashion round holes for legs of the washer and dryer to be placed in and to anchor them together... with Shane, they high fived each other figuring it was a done deal... It had a minor affect on the problem but it was better..
Now mind you, I didn't see how the SILENCE I was after was going to come without placing a thicker rubber matting under the washer dryer to buffer the sound, but they disregarded my opinion and said it was only the first prototype and they'd monitor it.... Oh brother, do you remember that I said this occurred 8 months ago, that's not monitoring that's forgetting about it all together. I thought the other day, It was going to walk itself during a vibration fit into the kitchen for a drink it was rocking so strongly.. Just then Greg walked in the door and just placed his hand on top of it and it settled down a little with the weight of his push... As though it needed some loving, I just grinned and said I was glad he was home, because I had only three loads left for him to hang onto it for me... Ha, ya got to laugh or someone would be irate....
He leveled it this morning as his next fix and since he's going out of town all next week on business... I may be "ordering" that rubber mat through Grainger or something similar and have the boys install it below... Taking the bull by the horns or working as a team ~ whatever you might decide
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Medical anniversary reflection...
Thursday Sept 1st was the 2nd anniversary of surgery #2 which successfully corrected a dysfunction following surgery #1 on July 1st.
How did I even get to surgery #1 you might be asking. For quite awhile following the ankle surgery to subside the lesion pain in the left ankle, I began experiencing burning lower pain in the back and pelvis that ran down the left leg when walking or standing after long periods of sitting. this was incapacitating. I went to an orthopedic, had an MRI which showed collapsed disk, and just above two vertebrae collapsed onto one another. He gave me options of physical therapy, Pain Medicine Dr, or surgery.. I did the PT route for about a month, and the PT was excruciating, bringing no relief just adding to the pain level where I didn't have pain before. Got the name of the Pain Medicine Dr., met with him, started injections of the upper (2 bulging discs) and lower back which continued for little less than a year, but worked. At about the 4-6 month mark pain would return upon having an injection for lower back in the office and the parting comment of "this should bring you relief for 4-6 months" away I went. Life had been pretty routine for ability to function actively.
At the mark of about 3 months, I attended a Valley Christian midweek basketball game to watch Blake De Jong play, and my back was hurting pretty badly, sitting on the wooden benches even on a blanket was difficult. I called in and got in for a pain shot on Thursday, and the parting comment of "this should bring you relief 4-6 months".. And when I saw on Saturday the friends I had seen midweek at basketball, they couldn't believe how much better I looked and was walking pain free.. I was dancing the happy dance of joy for sure. Three weeks later, following the above mentioned injection, without much more than a walk of about 100 yards, the intense pain returned with a fiery fury that takes your breath and legs away from you.. I
certainly wasn't expecting that, not so soon anyway. A call to the pain medicine Dr and he said it was time to consult with the orthopaedic Dr again. The dr ordered a repeat of the MRI of which little option was left but to surgically implant a new disk and a spacer between the two collapsed vertebrae. I had to first consult with the vascular surgeon who starts the surgery process prepping the bodies insides to be moved out of the way to get to the spinal area. Surgery was scheduled for July 1st.
Wed July 1st surgery went as planned, no complications, I was walking the halls with PT on day two, climbing one flight of stairs on day four... Released and went home on Sunday.. Restrictions were; only to walk from bed to bathroom, sitting upright no longer than 20 minutes at any one time. I followed this thoroughly , took minimal pain meds, was feeling
good. The staples were removed at the beginning of the 2nd week at the vascular dr office, my first outing. I am still taking it very easy, I began to experience pain in the tail bone, and
left leg.. I had a two week appt at the ortho surgeons office and mentioned it to him, x-rays are taken, nothing impressed him, says to continue to take it easy, and see you in two weeks..
I just progressed to get weaker with time, lost my appetite, trying to move around was slow in getting to the bathroom, getting in and out of the chair was difficult, painful. Now from July
15th appt till August 27th appt, I was told to see him every two weeks, and I complied, but I
was just going downhill. The pain was just growing worse, the nerves being pinched from the
soon to be discovered break in tail bone were sending shock waves into the foot causing
neuropathy that can be explained this way, razor blades scraping the skin in between your toes
relentlessly. All I could think about was this pain, it consumed me and I went heavy on the morphine, less food and refused to get out of bed.. And I cried.. I began to use a walker if
and when I would get up, I sat on a chair if I showered, I would lay down and rest between
shower, drying off, drying my hair.. It was all to much exertion, and I was faint..
I attended our vacation to the river mid July, but mostly just so my family would go, but I
dont remember much about it. In mid August to a graduation send off college blessing for Blake
mostly because I didn't want to miss it, it's where I would have been if I was healthy. But I
literally looked like a pale ghost, had to sit/lay in my special reclining folding chair. I
felt like I was 90 and I looked like it too. This was mid August, and my next appt was Tuesday
August 25th and I with what energy I could muster after lying down in the waiting room for
them to call my name, walked with my walker into the exam room, had a painful set of x-rays
taken which on the flat table on my back I just screamed out in pain. Greg was with me through
all of this, and it was treacherous for him. When the dr came in to see me, I demanded a
cat scan done and I wanted it done NOW or I just wanted to die, I couldn't go on this way anymore, there is something drastically wrong. It was ordered for the next morning, and the
results STAT. On Wednesday afternoon there was a call from the ortho and on speaker phone with Ash, Greg and I he tells us that what he thought was going on was not it, that I actually had a 30% displaced fracture of the sacrum bone, caused most likely by the screws in spacer cage that just pulled the bone apart. I was asked to return to the office Wednesday to review the CT scans. We agreed it had to be fixed and surgery was what its going to take.. I had to make an appt to see vascular again, but in calling his office the receptionist put us off for a week, I called back spoke to the office mgr, married to the vascular surgeon who I wanted in now, she knew the case and said they had been discussing it for a month, he wasn't in the office but on trauma call. She would have him call us. By the time we returned home, 10 minutes later he phoned. Again on speaker phone, with Ash, Greg, I he did the office speak of a verbal okay for surgery he would have done in office. And he then told me surgery was
scheduled for tues at 6:00 am arrive at 5am. The next few days were just a relief that SOMETHING was going to be tried.
Sept 1st we were prepared for a long day, but it really was a long long day. I had gotten in for surgery on time, surgery took a little over 3 hours, and then I laid in recovery. Somewhat out for a lot longer than they had anticipated and by the time I came around, there was a long wait to get an open room up on the ortho floor, and so I laid there for about 12 hours. There policy is that a visitor can not sit in the recovery area longer than 20 min a time, but they finally let Greg in for longer periods of time.
Skip ahead to days 3,4,5, recovery is slower as I now have 2 additional incisions 14" on the lower back and a new one diagonally across lower abdomen and like "V" formation for geese with it crossing the earlier scar of 9 weeks prior. I am up a little bit walking, and while I'm ready to go home, I'm really not and Greg agreed with the dr that I needed to go to rehab for a week to get ready to go home. This was all a sudden thing, felt ambushed really, and I envisioned some back alley facility, but it was actually first floor of the hospital. I was moved down there hastily on Sunday afternoon, spur of the moment in a wheelchair. Called Greg as they are preparing paperwork prior that I'm going and please come, make sure all of my stuff goes along and I'll see you down there.
I was scheduled for a full week in rehab, I was released in 5 days, I worked hard in the three one hour sessions each day, they were asking me what I wanted to do as I passed all exams, I said I want to go home. I was released on Friday Sept.11 in time to get home, have a wheelchair delivered, showered and we went to the 50th anniversary party for uncle Ron/aunt
Alice.. Surprised quite a few people but the night went well, stayed in my wheelchair or used cane to walk a little bit, and it felt god to sleep upstairs in my own bed!
I worked slowly at first to do the PT exercises from the sitting position in a chair, resting, and then picked up the pace at 4 months, walked to end of the block and back as a big accomplishment. At 6 months started physical therapy, then at 7 months started working with a trainer on my own, slow at first, and then picked up the pace slowly as I felt stronger. I returned to work at the 8 month mark after July 1st, and did my workouts in the morning, showered and went to the office. I was feeling very good, slow and steady as I went. The dr just warned me to take it slow as there was NO MORE ROOM for anymore hardware inthatarea and he doesnt know how another repair could be done.
As in recent post, I set out to train for the hike of Bryce and Zion National park over a 5 day period and accomplished that 13 months after surgery #2, hiking 15 miles in one day down across the Bryce canyon and back up to the top.. I was one excited, exhausted, restored individual at that moment. It was quite a trek at times, and Greg had to be wondering "what if" should I stumble, or suffer an unknown setback and be unable to continue, but no fear for what is unknown when all looks well. The dr had cleared me, CT scan showed all was healing and progressed to a safe level to be beyond fear.
I've been staying active in spurts on the treadmill, bike riding, hiking Oregon, in the last year since that hike in Bryce and Zion, time to kick it up a notch. My body continues to have some setbacks of joint pain in hands/elbow, and the time spent resting a torn muscle in left calf.. But perseverance is necessary for me or giving up is only other alternative. Always wanting the next adventure to be fulfilled while I have breath left in life.
How did I even get to surgery #1 you might be asking. For quite awhile following the ankle surgery to subside the lesion pain in the left ankle, I began experiencing burning lower pain in the back and pelvis that ran down the left leg when walking or standing after long periods of sitting. this was incapacitating. I went to an orthopedic, had an MRI which showed collapsed disk, and just above two vertebrae collapsed onto one another. He gave me options of physical therapy, Pain Medicine Dr, or surgery.. I did the PT route for about a month, and the PT was excruciating, bringing no relief just adding to the pain level where I didn't have pain before. Got the name of the Pain Medicine Dr., met with him, started injections of the upper (2 bulging discs) and lower back which continued for little less than a year, but worked. At about the 4-6 month mark pain would return upon having an injection for lower back in the office and the parting comment of "this should bring you relief for 4-6 months" away I went. Life had been pretty routine for ability to function actively.
At the mark of about 3 months, I attended a Valley Christian midweek basketball game to watch Blake De Jong play, and my back was hurting pretty badly, sitting on the wooden benches even on a blanket was difficult. I called in and got in for a pain shot on Thursday, and the parting comment of "this should bring you relief 4-6 months".. And when I saw on Saturday the friends I had seen midweek at basketball, they couldn't believe how much better I looked and was walking pain free.. I was dancing the happy dance of joy for sure. Three weeks later, following the above mentioned injection, without much more than a walk of about 100 yards, the intense pain returned with a fiery fury that takes your breath and legs away from you.. I
certainly wasn't expecting that, not so soon anyway. A call to the pain medicine Dr and he said it was time to consult with the orthopaedic Dr again. The dr ordered a repeat of the MRI of which little option was left but to surgically implant a new disk and a spacer between the two collapsed vertebrae. I had to first consult with the vascular surgeon who starts the surgery process prepping the bodies insides to be moved out of the way to get to the spinal area. Surgery was scheduled for July 1st.
Wed July 1st surgery went as planned, no complications, I was walking the halls with PT on day two, climbing one flight of stairs on day four... Released and went home on Sunday.. Restrictions were; only to walk from bed to bathroom, sitting upright no longer than 20 minutes at any one time. I followed this thoroughly , took minimal pain meds, was feeling
good. The staples were removed at the beginning of the 2nd week at the vascular dr office, my first outing. I am still taking it very easy, I began to experience pain in the tail bone, and
left leg.. I had a two week appt at the ortho surgeons office and mentioned it to him, x-rays are taken, nothing impressed him, says to continue to take it easy, and see you in two weeks..
I just progressed to get weaker with time, lost my appetite, trying to move around was slow in getting to the bathroom, getting in and out of the chair was difficult, painful. Now from July
15th appt till August 27th appt, I was told to see him every two weeks, and I complied, but I
was just going downhill. The pain was just growing worse, the nerves being pinched from the
soon to be discovered break in tail bone were sending shock waves into the foot causing
neuropathy that can be explained this way, razor blades scraping the skin in between your toes
relentlessly. All I could think about was this pain, it consumed me and I went heavy on the morphine, less food and refused to get out of bed.. And I cried.. I began to use a walker if
and when I would get up, I sat on a chair if I showered, I would lay down and rest between
shower, drying off, drying my hair.. It was all to much exertion, and I was faint..
I attended our vacation to the river mid July, but mostly just so my family would go, but I
dont remember much about it. In mid August to a graduation send off college blessing for Blake
mostly because I didn't want to miss it, it's where I would have been if I was healthy. But I
literally looked like a pale ghost, had to sit/lay in my special reclining folding chair. I
felt like I was 90 and I looked like it too. This was mid August, and my next appt was Tuesday
August 25th and I with what energy I could muster after lying down in the waiting room for
them to call my name, walked with my walker into the exam room, had a painful set of x-rays
taken which on the flat table on my back I just screamed out in pain. Greg was with me through
all of this, and it was treacherous for him. When the dr came in to see me, I demanded a
cat scan done and I wanted it done NOW or I just wanted to die, I couldn't go on this way anymore, there is something drastically wrong. It was ordered for the next morning, and the
results STAT. On Wednesday afternoon there was a call from the ortho and on speaker phone with Ash, Greg and I he tells us that what he thought was going on was not it, that I actually had a 30% displaced fracture of the sacrum bone, caused most likely by the screws in spacer cage that just pulled the bone apart. I was asked to return to the office Wednesday to review the CT scans. We agreed it had to be fixed and surgery was what its going to take.. I had to make an appt to see vascular again, but in calling his office the receptionist put us off for a week, I called back spoke to the office mgr, married to the vascular surgeon who I wanted in now, she knew the case and said they had been discussing it for a month, he wasn't in the office but on trauma call. She would have him call us. By the time we returned home, 10 minutes later he phoned. Again on speaker phone, with Ash, Greg, I he did the office speak of a verbal okay for surgery he would have done in office. And he then told me surgery was
scheduled for tues at 6:00 am arrive at 5am. The next few days were just a relief that SOMETHING was going to be tried.
Sept 1st we were prepared for a long day, but it really was a long long day. I had gotten in for surgery on time, surgery took a little over 3 hours, and then I laid in recovery. Somewhat out for a lot longer than they had anticipated and by the time I came around, there was a long wait to get an open room up on the ortho floor, and so I laid there for about 12 hours. There policy is that a visitor can not sit in the recovery area longer than 20 min a time, but they finally let Greg in for longer periods of time.
Skip ahead to days 3,4,5, recovery is slower as I now have 2 additional incisions 14" on the lower back and a new one diagonally across lower abdomen and like "V" formation for geese with it crossing the earlier scar of 9 weeks prior. I am up a little bit walking, and while I'm ready to go home, I'm really not and Greg agreed with the dr that I needed to go to rehab for a week to get ready to go home. This was all a sudden thing, felt ambushed really, and I envisioned some back alley facility, but it was actually first floor of the hospital. I was moved down there hastily on Sunday afternoon, spur of the moment in a wheelchair. Called Greg as they are preparing paperwork prior that I'm going and please come, make sure all of my stuff goes along and I'll see you down there.
I was scheduled for a full week in rehab, I was released in 5 days, I worked hard in the three one hour sessions each day, they were asking me what I wanted to do as I passed all exams, I said I want to go home. I was released on Friday Sept.11 in time to get home, have a wheelchair delivered, showered and we went to the 50th anniversary party for uncle Ron/aunt
Alice.. Surprised quite a few people but the night went well, stayed in my wheelchair or used cane to walk a little bit, and it felt god to sleep upstairs in my own bed!
I worked slowly at first to do the PT exercises from the sitting position in a chair, resting, and then picked up the pace at 4 months, walked to end of the block and back as a big accomplishment. At 6 months started physical therapy, then at 7 months started working with a trainer on my own, slow at first, and then picked up the pace slowly as I felt stronger. I returned to work at the 8 month mark after July 1st, and did my workouts in the morning, showered and went to the office. I was feeling very good, slow and steady as I went. The dr just warned me to take it slow as there was NO MORE ROOM for anymore hardware inthatarea and he doesnt know how another repair could be done.
As in recent post, I set out to train for the hike of Bryce and Zion National park over a 5 day period and accomplished that 13 months after surgery #2, hiking 15 miles in one day down across the Bryce canyon and back up to the top.. I was one excited, exhausted, restored individual at that moment. It was quite a trek at times, and Greg had to be wondering "what if" should I stumble, or suffer an unknown setback and be unable to continue, but no fear for what is unknown when all looks well. The dr had cleared me, CT scan showed all was healing and progressed to a safe level to be beyond fear.
I've been staying active in spurts on the treadmill, bike riding, hiking Oregon, in the last year since that hike in Bryce and Zion, time to kick it up a notch. My body continues to have some setbacks of joint pain in hands/elbow, and the time spent resting a torn muscle in left calf.. But perseverance is necessary for me or giving up is only other alternative. Always wanting the next adventure to be fulfilled while I have breath left in life.
It just disappeared..
I just spent some time writing a new post using the new blogger interface..it doesn't save as you go like the old style, so I hit the back key by mistake and suddenly the whole post was missing and I had nothing saved to go back to.. So the new interface I was "trying out" I hate it...
Do I start over, what a thought................
Do I start over, what a thought................
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Day of discovery
Today's nugget of discovery was that while I've not adjusted well to the life of an early riser, the attitude is going to have to change.. I had a scheduled test today that had to be done at 9am, so I was sooo looking forward to the luxury of sleeping 3 hours later (till 7am)... I turned off the alarm clock for the usual day and clicked the choice of 7:15 instead... And danged if my mind didn't just wakeup on it's own... Suck..why oh why? You had nowhere to go and nowhere you wanted to be but sleeping... I should never have styed up till 11pm, hindsight is a drag when you can't ever get time back.
Now there is a drawback to getting up early and that is, that in the middle of the afternoon you really desire a nap. This can be a setback if you have to get something done and your not feeling much up to it.. But by not giving into it, you are so ready to go to sleep, and that's what you hope will happen.. Now, I have found that taking melatonin is a working lfe saver MOST nights in that when it works, I can't stay awake past an hour of taking it.. When it doesn't work, well, that is a complete bummer watching the clock tick late into the night..
Getting into the office at 10 until 5pm is a strange feeling of a time warp for the first time in 5 months of working so early. And where I can usually park right at the street corner you have to cross, or on the first floor of the parking structure right at the exit... Not so when you arrive at the time a operational shift has started. I had to park on the fourth floor no where near the exit. It totally broke up the office routine and just didn't feel right. And the traffic when I left the parking structure right from the get go on the streets. It was a parade of slow moving processing vehicles between quick traffic lights.. I was so missing my commute to Cerritos of either fwy or street and it taking 8 minutes either way. So this commuting with unpredictable traffic, day in and day out gets old, not to mention adding the 60-80 minutes a day to the workday.
So with that said, embracing the 4:15am wakeup means I'm late for bed here at 9:25pm. Why didn't the melatonin kick in 45 minutes ago as expected? Sheesh see what I'm up against...
Goodnight
Now there is a drawback to getting up early and that is, that in the middle of the afternoon you really desire a nap. This can be a setback if you have to get something done and your not feeling much up to it.. But by not giving into it, you are so ready to go to sleep, and that's what you hope will happen.. Now, I have found that taking melatonin is a working lfe saver MOST nights in that when it works, I can't stay awake past an hour of taking it.. When it doesn't work, well, that is a complete bummer watching the clock tick late into the night..
Getting into the office at 10 until 5pm is a strange feeling of a time warp for the first time in 5 months of working so early. And where I can usually park right at the street corner you have to cross, or on the first floor of the parking structure right at the exit... Not so when you arrive at the time a operational shift has started. I had to park on the fourth floor no where near the exit. It totally broke up the office routine and just didn't feel right. And the traffic when I left the parking structure right from the get go on the streets. It was a parade of slow moving processing vehicles between quick traffic lights.. I was so missing my commute to Cerritos of either fwy or street and it taking 8 minutes either way. So this commuting with unpredictable traffic, day in and day out gets old, not to mention adding the 60-80 minutes a day to the workday.
So with that said, embracing the 4:15am wakeup means I'm late for bed here at 9:25pm. Why didn't the melatonin kick in 45 minutes ago as expected? Sheesh see what I'm up against...
Goodnight
Monday, July 4, 2011
07/03/11 pictures of the garden~up close
I could have sworn I had taken pictures up close, but what happened to them is unknown. So today I headed back out there with "my new getting to know you" Nikon D5100 camera.
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the very back end of our garden and the after thought planting of potatoes
the last tomato plant in the line of 5 at the deep end of the yard
looking back toward the house
These are the corn stalks forming there ears of delictably sweet ear corn for our consumption
two rows of canteloupe GONE WILD, they are growing like wild fire and spreading everywhere with the yellow flowers all over them.. I should google their development and find out about them!
as you can see they are invaders in the middle row are just leaving no row space between any longer.. but we are organic and have no weeds.. that is awesome..
aw, the beautiful growth of a maturing green bean.. a couple more days left in growth. These are what I have been seeing in the grocery store as what I have HAD the option to buy for money! ha, no more!
a bean with perhaps just another day til we snap it off the vine... yummy
Now its kind of hard to pick out, BUT there is one carrot plant or stalk stickin' up out of the canteloupe leaves here, the fuzzy parsley top..
In the center bottom of this photo is the canteloupe flower on it's way to the sidewalk sliding in between the bean plants..
The canteloupe has even gone south into the "flower bed", leave them a space and away they continue to go.. just amazing..
Now, as I am looking at this view of the garden and start to walk WEST, I have completely forgotten that there is an item at the corner to keep the water hose from flippin in and over the plants as you walk along to sidewalk to the back of the garden... and I....
Attempted to step, not seeing it, and flopped right over it and scraped off the top layer of skin, WHERE IS THE RED CAP THAT SHOULD BE COVERING IT?????? Apparently it was knocked off the night before (cuz he couldn't find the super glue yet) and so the sharp metal edge on the top was exposed.
Now dang to the right shin bone, it isn't deep, but it burns like a paper cut.. the skin is still lying next to the gash..
But on I go to finish what I started
The tomato's have now gotten so top heavy that they are collapsing their cages, and we've tied them up to fence line to support them.. once they stop flowering, we are going to trim off some of the outside farthest branches, because we will not be short on tomatoes.. that is for sure.
it looks like I was whipped with the dang piece of barbed wire, but the first shock only caused me to move downward, where its metal direction headed in a zig zag on the chin... hopefully it doesn't scar!
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