Spring Break

There are a million people in Alpine. Not really...it just seems like it. Lots 'o spring break families. The weather is supposed to be great for the next week or so...cold front coming in, but still basically great weather. The courtyard was full tonight with folks BBQ-ing...tossing a football...strangers visiting with strangers. It was nice. One family was using the 'big pit' and they were generous enough to 'share their fire' with several other families who actually went to the store to buy food to cook! A few are still out there just talking and sharing a bottle of wine. That's the way it should be. As a matter of fact, one of our friends came in from San Antonio yesterday and brought steaks over here for Husband to cook for all of us tonight. I am fat and full. Mucho tasty!

Long, long day...horrible week coming. Great for business. Great for makers of Tylenol. Oh well.

We also have a family here who is from Japan. Luckily, their immediate family is safe, but several other relatives are stranded and are awaiting rescue. They are optomistic and say they come from a long line of survivors. It hurts your heart. I have decided not to watch any more about Japan on TV.

My blood sugar is almost OK again. I had kind of a scare last week. I could not get it to go down. I was being very careful with food and literally taking my BS reading 5-6 times a day. I finally saw the DR and I needed a little more medication (still oral) and now need to take the blood pressure med at night rather than in the AM. My blood pressure was elevated after I took the BP med in the AM which in turn elevated the blood sugar. Go figure. And then I felt like crap. I also need to eat more protein. The first thing I did when I started not feeling quite right was to increase the protein. Evidently it was just not enough. But I will be better. I feel better already.

I am watching Texas Country Reporter and they are profiling a Mexican restaurant in El Paso named Su Casa. Oh my God that food looks good! I could eat a Mexican plate right this minute!

I guess I'll shower and sleep. It's 10:55...but in my world it's really 9:55. Either way...I'm tired. What a shame. Have a nice night!

b

170,000 evacuated

Here's the deal. It's a little after 9:00 pm on Saturday night and I know I am having a better day than the 170,000 people who are being evacuated from around the Nuclear reactor site today. And so are you. I would feel extremely safe if all of these folks were sent to Alpine, Texas because it was' the most absolute safest place ever in the universe for all mankind'. I am waiting for the Breaking News on that one.


This is what I got at 9:00.


TOKYO (AP) Japan's top govt spokesman says partial meltdown likely under way at second reactor.


This is what I got at 9:08.




TOKYO (AP) Japan's top govt spokesman says radiation at nuclear plant briefly rose above legal limit
 
I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box...but this ain't good.
 
I'm really not trying to be depressing...It's just happening. I don't have any control.
 
Happier note. I got a great catalog today in the mail. It's a James Avery catalog. Have you seen their jewelry? It's simple and elegant. I'd like to have it all. I love any and all of the heart and butterfly designs. You need to request a catalog just to see how pretty everything is.
 
There are several catalogs that I like. Coldwater Creek. Terry's Village. Lots more that the names escape me...but I get lots of ideas from them. Can you spell plagiarist??
 
I finally ordered a battery for my Netbook. Can you spell procrastinator? It has gotten to the point that I have to keep it plugged in! If not, the juice is used up in about 20 minutes. This could do some serious damage I suppose. Problem solved. Battery in route on Monday.

Here's a good one. Do you know why I need a battery? Because I didn't get 20 minutes out of it right now being unplugged! It just shut off. Irritating. My own fault.

The trees are blooming. There are a few pink ones (can't remember what they are) on the property that are really 'spingy' right now. I'll take a picture tomorrow. All the other trees here have a nice green tint to them. It's eerie. We have had very cold weather in May before when all of the lilacs were budded and froze. That's sad. I love lilacs. They have plants at the grocery store and there were several really healthy looking daffodils yesterday. Deep yellow. Beautiful.

And don't forget to set your clock ahead tonight. I like more daylight. 

I suppose I'll lay down now. Gotta get up later you know. I think nothing is on TV so I'll read a few pages. That will definitely put me to sleep. Have a nice night and a better tomorrow. Peace.

b




 
 
 
 
 

Thank God we are not in Japan

I am one of those. One of those people who stays glued to the TV sucking in all of the sorrow and devastation of a horrific situation. Today I am glued to Japan. My God. And not unmindful of the conditions in the Hawaiian Islands and the entire west coast of America. I tell ya...we are sucking the core of the earth dry. Collapse is inevitable. Hundreds of people dead...thousands injured...multitudes homeless, orphaned and displaced. Lives destroyed and lifestyles gone. Gone. In an island now covered in water...there is no water. What do you do when you wake up in the morning? How can you prepare for such disaster? You cannot. We can pray. We can thank God for every day. How small our problems can become.

And now...we wait for the next disaster.

Wait...we may of just heard it. I am watching Dateline and there is a possibility of a nuclear meltdown. Perhaps it's more than rumor now.

I'll listen to the news for a while. Sleep tight.

b

Second post today

The reason being...I forgot to push 'Publish this Post' last night!! Duh!

Nice folks that Husband cooked for a couple of days ago come over last night for a visit. They were planning to go to the Marfa Lights but decided against it as the winds were whipping.

We went to the hospital today for PT for Husband. Never made it past the admissions desk. We were in the lobby...waiting...and waiting...and waiting until they had to reschedule. There's more to the story. I'm still angry. It pays to call the Administrator. Trust me. If you go to the Big Bend Regional Medical Center here in Alpine to die...die in the parking lot. They'll find you quicker.

I came home and bitched all afternoon. At least I feel better about it. 'Nough said.

No sore throat today. Must have been the dust.

I got an envelope of stuff today from Maine. Booklets and maps and cool stuff for my collage. I have decided to use one of those car air fresheners (the funky green pine scented jobs) on it, too. I know...it's insulting to the Great State of Maine...I'll think about it before I attach it. Promise.

My blood sugar has been high for a few days. Or I should say it's been spiking periodically. I'm not sure why. I have honestly been good. I know last night and this morning were because of the Aleve Liquid Gels. I need to make an appointment in the next couple of weeks anyway. I don't want to...but I will.

I know we are going to do more tiling in the laundry room tomorrow. I don't want to. I think I'll work till noon and come home. I'm tired. Sick and tired. Mostly tired. I got some jewelry components in today. They were from the order way back when we had the bad weather and they were 'lost' by UPS. Been a while...huh? I need to put some stuff together and get it out of here.

It was beautiful today. The first day of Lent. What will I give up?? Oh...wait a second...I'm a Methodist!

I think we will watch a movie. I still have an hour and a half of awake time in me...Have a nice evening!

b

Dusty day (and a day late post))

The dust wasn't as bad as it could have been...but it was blowing pretty good out there today. My hair feels funky. In addition, I was cutting tile for the laundry room floor. Double dust. Yuck. I actually have a headache from it and a bit of a sore throat. Not a good thing. I'm drinking hot tea.

Have you ever looked at the ETSY arts and crafts website? I check the stuff out periodically, but I've been doing some research on their prices. Some are high...some are not. Overall...I like their selling practices and rates. Of course I'd have to actually make stuff to sell on there...I am still working on an order which has changed. Not much...but for more complicated items.

Husband has to go to the hospital tomorrow to see the physical therapist. I have no idea what they are going to do. At least he hasn't electrocuted himself yet...almost...but not quite. 

Gotta go...company here. Have a nice night!

b 

Pain Management

Today was 'Rip the tape of Husband's Back Day'. I, myself, have been looking forward to it. Husband...not so much. Anyhoo....R-I-P!! Ta da!! Tape be gone. It wasn't that bad, he said. Not like regular adheasive tape.

It is time to attach the Ultima 5 TENS Unit. This is a "symptomatic treatment which as such suppresses the sensation of pain'...or so it says. Let me see....instructions...hmmm...Warnings: Nope Husband not pregnant - No children around to touch it - No Pacemaker - Won't be driving  tractor...ok...we're good to go.

OK. First...I shall stick the 'pads' to Husband's back. Let's go ahead and use all 4 of them. More is definitely better...don't you think?? I do. OK. Pads on.

Now...we stick the 'leads' into the 'pads'. Then, stick the 'other lead end' into the 'jack'. Shit. Wait a second...I think I did that backwards. (I always read a book from back to front) Oh well...it's all plugged in.

"What are you doing back there?" He is very impatient.

"Plugging this thing in...hold on a minute." I am still reading the instructions. Yes...I know the VA nurse told me what to do but that was 5-6 days ago! Everything looks to be in the proper place.

"OK...do you feel anything?" I am pushing blue buttons and turning knobs as I speak.

"I don't feel a f**king thing. I think you should put the tape back on. This isn't doing anything."

"Well hold on a minute...give it a chance. Lay down and let me read this book a little more."

So he lays down on the bed...turning knobs...punching buttons..and all of a sudden......

"HOLY JESUS CHRIST ALMIGHTY MOTHER FUCKER!"

"What happened??" I practically fall out of the chair from the shock of the scream. "Did you feel something?"  Sorry, but I start to smile. I can feel that smile turning into a laugh that I am trying desperately to swallow. It's not working...I look at Husband whose eyes are bugging out of his head like they'd flipped the switch on the electric chair. Hmmm....come to think of it...

"Fucking A I felt something." He looks at me...wild eyed. He can see the smile on my face that I am trying to chew back from the inside and laughs with me. Thank God. 

"Son of a Bitch! Maybe I should turn this fucker down!" Duh! Do you think...

"Well, at least you know it works." I am smirking sheepishly. "Maybe you should try it again?"
I know...that's mean.

But he did it.

"Yup. I think I know which dial not to turn now." Good deal.

Hopefully this contraption will help. He goes to the Physical Therapist on Wednesday and we have absolutely no idea what will happen. I am stifling a guffaw as I type this. I am reliving the moment.

This thing might come in handy.  Later...........

b

Post 300!! Fire contained...

I just saw a news update that the fire down south is supposedly 100% contained and consumed approximately 8300 acres!! Holy shit! Now we just need some bloody rain!!

b