12 August 2008
Trouble in Georgia
By George Will
WASHINGTON -- Asked in 1957 what would determine his government's course, Harold Macmillan, Britain's new prime minister, replied, “Events, dear boy, events." Now, into America's trivializing presidential campaign, a pesky event has intruded -- a European war. Russian tanks, heavy artillery, strategic bombers, ballistic missiles and a naval blockade batter a European nation. We are not past such things after all. The end of history will be postponed, again. Russia supports two provinces determined to secede from Georgia. Russia, with aspiring nations within its borders, generally opposes secessionists, as it did when America, which sometimes opposes secession (e.g., 1861-65), improvidently supported Kosovo's secession from Russia's ally Serbia. But Russia's aggression is really about the subordination of Georgia, a democratic, market-oriented U.S. ally. This is the recrudescence of Russia's dominance in what it calls the “near abroad." Ukraine, another nation guilty of being provocatively democratic near Russia, should tremble because there is not much America can do. It is a bystander at the bullying of an ally that might be about to undergo regime change. Vladimir Putin, into whose soul President George W. Bush once peered and liked what he saw, has conspicuously conferred with Russia's military, thereby making his poodle, “President” Dmitry Medvedev, yet more risible. But big events reveal smallness, such as that of New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson. On ABC's “This Week," Richardson, auditioning to be Barack Obama's running mate, disqualified himself. Clinging to the Obama campaign's talking points like a drunk to a lamppost, Richardson said this crisis proves the wisdom of Obama's zest for diplomacy, and that America should get the U.N. Security Council “to pass a strong resolution getting the Russians to show some restraint." Apparently Richardson was ambassador to the U.N. for 19 months without noticing that Russia has a Security Council veto. This crisis illustrates, redundantly, the paralysis of the U.N. regarding major powers, hence regarding major events, and the fictitiousness of the European Union regarding foreign policy. Does this disturb Obama's serenity about the efficacy of diplomacy? Obama's second statement about the crisis, in which he tardily acknowledged Russia's invasion, underscored the folly of his first, which echoed the Bush administration's initial evenhandedness. “Now," said Obama, “is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint."John McCain, the “life is real, life is earnest” candidate, says he has looked into Putin's eyes and seen “a K, a G and a B." But McCain owes the thug thanks, as does America's electorate. Putin has abruptly pulled the presidential campaign up from preoccupation with plumbing the shallows of John Edwards and wondering what “catharsis” is “owed” to disappointed Clintonites. McCain, who has called upon Russia “to immediately and unconditionally ... withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory," favors expelling Russia from the G-8, and organizing a league of democracies to act where the U.N. is impotent, which is whenever the subject is important. But Georgia, whose desire for NATO membership had U.S. support, is not in NATO because some prospective members of McCain's league of democracies, e.g. Germany, thought that starting membership talks with Georgia would complicate the project of propitiating Russia. NATO is scheduled to review the question of Georgia's membership in December. Where now do Obama and McCain stand? If Georgia were in NATO, would NATO now be at war with Russia? More likely, Russia would not be in Georgia. Only once in NATO's 59 years has the territory of a member been invaded -- the British Falklands, by Argentina, in 1982. What is it about August? The First World War began in August 1914. The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact effectively announced the Second World War in August 1939. Iraq, a fragment of the collapse of empires precipitated by August 1914, invaded Kuwait in August 1990. This year's August upheaval coincides, probably not coincidentally, with the world's preoccupation with that charade of international comity, the Olympics. For only the third time in 72 years (Berlin 1936, Moscow 1980), the games are being hosted by a tyrannical regime, the mind of which was displayed in the opening ceremony featuring thousands of drummers, each face contorted with the same grotesquely frozen grin. It was a tableau of the miniaturization of the individual and the subordination of individuality to the collective. Not since the Nazi's 1934 Nuremberg rally, which Leni Riefenstahl turned into the film “Triumph of the Will," has tyranny been so brazenly tarted up as art. A worldwide audience of billions swooned over the Beijing ceremony. Who remembers 1934? Or anything.
© 2008, Washington Post Writers Group
George has had some excellent points here in this column. I think it should cause all of us to pause and think. History does repeat itself. It doesn't have to.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Georgia, the Country, not the State
I must say a word about what Russia is doing to the country of Georgia tonight. This started over the weekend and has only gotten worse. While the Georgian government is saying they want a cease-fire and Russia is saying the same, the Russian are not backing up their words with actions that reflect that.
Russia needs to get itself back inside Russia and out of Georgia and any other break-away republics it has entered in the past few days with their military troops. This could spread very quickly to other countries that formerly were a part of the old USSR. It could get so much worse before it gets better.
And make no mistake, even though Putin is now the Prime Minister and not the President, he is still running the show and still very much in control of the country of Russia. He wants nothing more than to put the old USSR back together under communistic rule and that old iron fist.
My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the people of the Republic of Georgia. May God grant you safety, peace, and an end to these hostilities brought onto your country by Russia. You are struggling and want so badly to be a free country, I just pray that your countrymen and government and the other governments of the West will stand up to these Russians and send them back where they belong.
God Bless you Georgians. This American is behind you.
Russia needs to get itself back inside Russia and out of Georgia and any other break-away republics it has entered in the past few days with their military troops. This could spread very quickly to other countries that formerly were a part of the old USSR. It could get so much worse before it gets better.
And make no mistake, even though Putin is now the Prime Minister and not the President, he is still running the show and still very much in control of the country of Russia. He wants nothing more than to put the old USSR back together under communistic rule and that old iron fist.
My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the people of the Republic of Georgia. May God grant you safety, peace, and an end to these hostilities brought onto your country by Russia. You are struggling and want so badly to be a free country, I just pray that your countrymen and government and the other governments of the West will stand up to these Russians and send them back where they belong.
God Bless you Georgians. This American is behind you.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Obama and Oil from WSJ
“The ‘windfall profits’ tax is back, with Barack Obama stumping again to apply it to a handful of big oil companies. Which raises a few questions: What is a ‘windfall’ profit anyway? How does it differ from your everyday, run of the mill profit? Is it some absolute number, a matter of return on equity or sales—or does it merely depend on who earns it? Enquiring entrepreneurs want to know. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama’s ‘emergency’ plan, announced on Friday, doesn’t offer any clarity. To pay for ‘stimulus’ checks of $1,000 for families and $500 for individuals, the Senator says government would take ‘a reasonable share’ of oil company profits. Mr. Obama didn’t bother to define ‘reasonable’... This extraordinary redefinition of free-market success could use some parsing. Take Exxon Mobil, which on Thursday reported the highest quarterly profit ever and is the main target of any ‘windfall’ tax surcharge. Yet if its profits are at record highs, its tax bills are already at record highs too. Between 2003 and 2007, Exxon paid $64.7 billion in U.S. taxes, exceeding its after-tax U.S. earnings by more than $19 billion. That sounds like a government windfall to us, but perhaps we’re missing some... business subtlety. Maybe [Obama has] in mind profit margins as a percentage of sales. Yet by that standard Exxon’s profits don’t seem so large. Exxon’s profit margin stood at 10% for 2007, which is hardly out of line with the oil and gas industry average of 8.3%, or the 8.9% for U.S. manufacturing (excluding the sputtering auto makers). If that’s what constitutes windfall profits, most of corporate America would qualify... The fun part about this game is anyone can play. Jim Johnson, formerly of Fannie Mae and formerly a political fixer for Mr. Obama, reaped a windfall before Fannie’s multibillion-dollar accounting scandal. Bill Clinton took down as much as $15 million working as a rainmaker for billionaire financier Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies. This may be the very definition of ‘windfall.’... The point is that what constitutes an abnormal profit is entirely arbitrary. It is in the eye of the political beholder, who is usually looking to soak some unpopular business. In other words, a windfall is nothing more than a profit earned by a business that some politician dislikes. And a tax on that profit is merely a form of politically motivated expropriation. It’s what politicians do in Venezuela, not in a free country.” —The Wall Street Journal
Well said by the WSJ. Well said.
Well said by the WSJ. Well said.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
It's August Already!
It's August already! This summer and year seems to be just flying by at a faster and faster rate! My goodness, especially the summer! It has just flown by. We are even going to get a taste of fall temperature wise this weekend. It will be fall before we know it!
Things have been a little so-so lately. A couple of days last week were just downright rough! I spent pretty much the end of the week in tears. But, the Lord has seen me through the rough patches and I am still moving forward!
First, an ankle update. It is healing nicely. The scrapes and scratches are healing over and will leave nice scars. The bruises are slowly fading. I no longer need to wrap it in an ace bandage. It does still swell from time to time (especially since I am back at full workout mode). So, I ice it when it needs it and I imagine I won't be wearing heels for a while yet, but it's getting there.
The workouts are more intense. I am up to walking 2 miles each workout day (yesterday was my first day at that and man I was sore this morning!), at 15 reps with 5lb weights, at 25 reps on crunches, squats and calf-stretches (up to tippy-toes and back to full feet on the floor) and have added the back exercises my friend sent to me. All of that takes a full hour or a shade more to do now. Most of that is the walking. Yesterday the 2 miles took me 32 minutes. That should get better with time. You should have seen me trying to do those back exercises on that exercise ball! It was quite humorous! It will take me a bit to get in the groove on those, I am sure.
I have applied to five places for a part-time job and haven't heard a peep from any of them. It's tough out there, I know that. Even the city is laying people off. I have another application to drop off tomorrow. I have some hope for this one. It's at a restaurant that I have worked at before (although its been a very long time) and it's close to the house here, so that would be nice. We'll see what happens.
I did get a bit discouraged last Friday about looking for a job. I had, what I was led to believe, an interview for an actual paying job with a campaign (not the one I have been volunteering for). When I got there, I found that I had been misled and there was no paying job, they just wanted volunteers. I had to say to this person, in front of other people, that he led me to believe that I was interviewing for a paying job and that's what I needed right now, not to do more volunteer work. So, I left. I was mad at first and then later, just felt awful. Felt like an idiot and a failure. But, it was a good learning experience. Other people that I had told about this (parents etc) said that what the guy had said would make them think they were going for a regular job interview also. That helped.
I have been having terrible hot flashes the past two weeks. Ugh. I am due for my progesterone shot this Friday and I don't think I am making much estrogen anymore and the flashes are hot and furious! And awful! I've had showers in the past two weeks where I was actually sweating in the shower! I sweat so much and feel and look flushed so much lately, its almost embarrassing. I have suspected for a while that I am in early menopause for some time, but all of this and the complete lack of other things, has seemed to confirm that. If these hot flashes keep up at this pace, I will have my regular doc do a hormone blood test to see whats up and not wait til my regular female doc check-up in February. Whew! I need my own internal air conditioner at times!
I got registered for fall quarter classes at school. I am taking a math class, poly sci and cultural diversity. It's 14 credit hours, which is a lot, but the actual schedule is not that bad. I am basically repeating my freshman year of college this year. Capital (where I will actually get my degree from) is requesting that I take what I am taking this year. It's 9 classes, which comes out to 3 a quarter. I am hoping to be able to keep the same basic schedule all year, even though the classes will be different. They are saying my freshman work is too old for them to accept. No big deal, it will be a good refresher course for everything. I am looking forward to getting back into school and getting my degree finished, finally!
Our Beth Moore study ends next week! I am going to miss it. It has been an eye opening experience for me and I have learned a lot. I also feel that my relationship with God has gotten closer, which is good. But, I am going to miss doing this study and meeting with the ladies in our small group. It has been an awesome experience and I urge any ladies out there who have the opportunity to participate in a Beth Moore study, to do so. Your life will be better for it!
The car situation is not the best. It was found that I have/had an oil leak and a transmission fluid leak. Nice huh? There was not much that could be done about those things. The hubby did tighten some things up for me and do a few other things. But, basically, the thing is dying a slow, painful death. Just nice. So, I am hoping to find a job (soon!!) and start saving some money. Hopefully I can nurse the car along til Christmas break at school. Then I will take what money I have saved and the car to my Pops' car guy in Kentucky and trade it in on something else. That's the plan anyways. I am praying it will last that long. (I have also applied to work at the polls on election day and will use what I get paid from that, if it works out, to my down payment savings.) So, we'll see what happens.
My new nephew has not arrived yet, which has surprised everyone! We all thought he would be here by now. However, his mom is having contractions that are getting stronger, so maybe yet this week, we hope! His mommy is very uncomfortable and would love for him to be born sooner rather than later I am sure! Please keep them both in your prayers.
Well, I guess that's it for this time. Pray for me as I continue to look for a part-time job and as I get ready for going back to college. I hope that ya'll are enjoying your summer as we have arrived at the traditional last month of the season. Anybody who's going to the beach, think of me while you're there! I miss living near the ocean so much!
Love ya'll and God Bless!
Things have been a little so-so lately. A couple of days last week were just downright rough! I spent pretty much the end of the week in tears. But, the Lord has seen me through the rough patches and I am still moving forward!
First, an ankle update. It is healing nicely. The scrapes and scratches are healing over and will leave nice scars. The bruises are slowly fading. I no longer need to wrap it in an ace bandage. It does still swell from time to time (especially since I am back at full workout mode). So, I ice it when it needs it and I imagine I won't be wearing heels for a while yet, but it's getting there.
The workouts are more intense. I am up to walking 2 miles each workout day (yesterday was my first day at that and man I was sore this morning!), at 15 reps with 5lb weights, at 25 reps on crunches, squats and calf-stretches (up to tippy-toes and back to full feet on the floor) and have added the back exercises my friend sent to me. All of that takes a full hour or a shade more to do now. Most of that is the walking. Yesterday the 2 miles took me 32 minutes. That should get better with time. You should have seen me trying to do those back exercises on that exercise ball! It was quite humorous! It will take me a bit to get in the groove on those, I am sure.
I have applied to five places for a part-time job and haven't heard a peep from any of them. It's tough out there, I know that. Even the city is laying people off. I have another application to drop off tomorrow. I have some hope for this one. It's at a restaurant that I have worked at before (although its been a very long time) and it's close to the house here, so that would be nice. We'll see what happens.
I did get a bit discouraged last Friday about looking for a job. I had, what I was led to believe, an interview for an actual paying job with a campaign (not the one I have been volunteering for). When I got there, I found that I had been misled and there was no paying job, they just wanted volunteers. I had to say to this person, in front of other people, that he led me to believe that I was interviewing for a paying job and that's what I needed right now, not to do more volunteer work. So, I left. I was mad at first and then later, just felt awful. Felt like an idiot and a failure. But, it was a good learning experience. Other people that I had told about this (parents etc) said that what the guy had said would make them think they were going for a regular job interview also. That helped.
I have been having terrible hot flashes the past two weeks. Ugh. I am due for my progesterone shot this Friday and I don't think I am making much estrogen anymore and the flashes are hot and furious! And awful! I've had showers in the past two weeks where I was actually sweating in the shower! I sweat so much and feel and look flushed so much lately, its almost embarrassing. I have suspected for a while that I am in early menopause for some time, but all of this and the complete lack of other things, has seemed to confirm that. If these hot flashes keep up at this pace, I will have my regular doc do a hormone blood test to see whats up and not wait til my regular female doc check-up in February. Whew! I need my own internal air conditioner at times!
I got registered for fall quarter classes at school. I am taking a math class, poly sci and cultural diversity. It's 14 credit hours, which is a lot, but the actual schedule is not that bad. I am basically repeating my freshman year of college this year. Capital (where I will actually get my degree from) is requesting that I take what I am taking this year. It's 9 classes, which comes out to 3 a quarter. I am hoping to be able to keep the same basic schedule all year, even though the classes will be different. They are saying my freshman work is too old for them to accept. No big deal, it will be a good refresher course for everything. I am looking forward to getting back into school and getting my degree finished, finally!
Our Beth Moore study ends next week! I am going to miss it. It has been an eye opening experience for me and I have learned a lot. I also feel that my relationship with God has gotten closer, which is good. But, I am going to miss doing this study and meeting with the ladies in our small group. It has been an awesome experience and I urge any ladies out there who have the opportunity to participate in a Beth Moore study, to do so. Your life will be better for it!
The car situation is not the best. It was found that I have/had an oil leak and a transmission fluid leak. Nice huh? There was not much that could be done about those things. The hubby did tighten some things up for me and do a few other things. But, basically, the thing is dying a slow, painful death. Just nice. So, I am hoping to find a job (soon!!) and start saving some money. Hopefully I can nurse the car along til Christmas break at school. Then I will take what money I have saved and the car to my Pops' car guy in Kentucky and trade it in on something else. That's the plan anyways. I am praying it will last that long. (I have also applied to work at the polls on election day and will use what I get paid from that, if it works out, to my down payment savings.) So, we'll see what happens.
My new nephew has not arrived yet, which has surprised everyone! We all thought he would be here by now. However, his mom is having contractions that are getting stronger, so maybe yet this week, we hope! His mommy is very uncomfortable and would love for him to be born sooner rather than later I am sure! Please keep them both in your prayers.
Well, I guess that's it for this time. Pray for me as I continue to look for a part-time job and as I get ready for going back to college. I hope that ya'll are enjoying your summer as we have arrived at the traditional last month of the season. Anybody who's going to the beach, think of me while you're there! I miss living near the ocean so much!
Love ya'll and God Bless!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A Quick Getaway, An Oil Leak and An Injured Ankle
Well, today is Sunday, July 27th and it has been an interesting week (since last Sunday). I have been 39 years old for a month today and it seems forever longer. I have really had to push myself in my workouts the past week and have had aches and pains in places I don't usually get them. I had emailed a friend of mine who is a chiropractor and has worked on my back before, about some strengthening exercises for my lower back. It's my weak point, but I also wanted to get it ready to carry a backpack everyday for classes. He found some low-tech ones for me to do using an exercise ball and emailed those to me to print off. I got the exercise ball last Thursday and had hoped to integrate them into my workouts this week.
We are in what the weathermen call the "Dog Days of Summer" and I feel it. A week ago last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we were in Air Quality Alert days. High heat and humidity with stagnant air. It felt just awful and suffocating. I hate it when it gets like that. You get out of the shower on days like that and immediately feel like you need another shower. Also, it's awful on my asthma, which is very much under control, but days like that make me feel like I can't breath outside. Ugh. And those kind of days effect my ability to be able to be outdoors for campaign work, which I hate.
I got the car back last Monday from the mechanic's shop, without it being fixed. He got it to act up, like it does for me, racing and stalling, but not long enough to figure out what the problem was and he had it for almost a total of 2 weeks (that was awful). That whole situation is/was very frustrating. It's frustrating that he couldn't figure out the problem and fix it and it's frustrating being without a car. He said I would have to wait for the problem to become more consistent, which thrills me to no end since I am driving that vehicle. Once the problem becomes more consistent, then he can figure out the problem. But in the meantime, I have to wait for it to get worse and then be without a vehicle again while it's fixed, if I ever get to that point. Stupid car.
So, I get the car back on Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning I take it to get the oil changed in it cause it needed it and I had a coupon for a decent deal. So, I go get the oil changed. After they are done and I go to the cashier to pay for it, he says very casually, 'The mechanic says you have an oil leak and the underneath of the car was soaked in oil'. That just makes my day, let me tell ya. And it's only 10am! I parked the car backwards in my garage, when I got done running my errands, so I could see if the oil was indeed leaking and it is. There were oil spots on the floor of garage of a decent size Wednesday morning. That leak still needs to be found and fixed. Fun.
I did manage to apply for a job last Wednesday. I did it all online which was an interesting experience for me. It's at one of the universities here in town and it's part-time. It seems like it would fit what I need very well, but I haven't worked a steady job for quite a long time, so we'll see how it goes. I also posted my resume, such as it is, on Monster.com, in case anyone on that site might be interested. I have a few other places I am going to apply and we'll see what happens. I need to find something that will be flexible with my class schedule, but that also will give me a certain amount of money per week. With everything that's going wrong on that car, I am going to have to try to save some money and go see my Pops' car guy in Kentucky at Christmas break and see about getting something else; if the car lasts that long.
My mother-in-law graciously switched vehicles with me last Thursday so I could still have my little getaway to my cousins in Sidney. I thought that was very nice of her and I much appreciated it because I really didn't want to take the beast (that's what I call the car) on the open road with all that is going on with it. So, thanks Mom!
I spent time each day last week working on the house. I worked on the bathtub/shower (which is a bear for me to clean, physically), worked on the main bedroom as it has been a disaster area for quite some time, moved everything I could out of the dining room and kitchen and swept and mopped it. Just little things that have needed done on top of my regular Monday cleanings (bathroom, laundry, change of sheets and blankets, sweeping etc.). So, the house is starting to look better bit by bit, which is hard work, but makes me feel good. I want to get most, if not all, of these side projects done, before classes start in September, cause after classes start, it won't get done. I won't have time.
Our Beth Moore study last week was really good. Each week it is good, excellent. I have learned so much from it and feel so much closer to God in my personal relationship with Him. And Beth Moore is just awesome! Such an encouraging, intelligent, energetic lady! God has really used her in a mighty way with this study and all of her studies, I am sure. We aren't meeting this week because New Life is having VBS in the evenings this week. But, our small group was graciously offered an opportunity to get-together at one of our lady's house, just to hang out, snack and fellowship. So, that's what we are doing, which I am really looking forward to. Beth Moore will be back next Wednesday, August 6th and then the next week, the 13th, will be our last night! I can't believe it will be over already! It seems like we just got started. I will miss it when we are done, but know that it would be difficult for me to do while working and being in college in the school year. It's a lot of good, hard work, I don't mind that, I have enjoyed it, but I know because it requires so much that it would be impossible for me to do any other time of the year, but the summer.
Last Friday morning I went to my cousins in Sidney for the day and overnight. We had a good time together and it was nice to get away for a bit. We talked and talked (which we always do!) and went to the Shelby County Fair Friday afternoon. Then we went back to the house and chilled for a bit, talked some more, looked at pictures of my cousin that he had sent from Iraq. He is doing okay over there (this is his 3rd and last tour), but is ready to come home and get out of the Army. His enlistment actually will end before they are scheduled to come back to the U.S., so while we are all proud of him and his service to our country, we are all ready for him to come home especially this time. Keep him and his group in your prayers if you would. I would appreciate it.
Anyhow, Friday evening, we decided to go to the movies (she hadn't been for a while). She (my cousin) wanted to see 'The Dark Knight'. I had seen it a week ago Saturday with a girl friend of mine here in town, but it was so good, I didn't mind to see it again. So, we drove down to Piqua, got a quick bite to eat and then saw the movie. She loved it (I knew she would)! I liked it again too, and noticed things this time I hadn't when I saw it the first time. ( I must put in a note here to say that Heath Ledger plays 'The Joker' brilliantly and it is especially poignant since he passed away last January.) So, we got back to her house about 1030pm or so. We changed into our pjs and sat and talked some more. Watched the 11pm news and then got into 'The Late Show' with David Letterman and 'The Late, Late Show' with Craig Ferguson (who is hilarious). We talked and laughed through Letterman and into Ferguson's show, then both of our bedtime meds finally kicked in and we decided to call it a night. Still, it was after 1am before I got to sleep.
I woke up the next morning about 715am, a full 45 minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I was irked. The reason I woke up was cause I was in pain. My left knee. He hurts and aches from the arthritis from time to time. Also, when a front is coming. Both my cousin and I can tell the weather with our bodies. Certain parts hurt when the weather is going to change or a front is coming. I got up and went to the bathroom and then watched some morning news on FOXNEWS channel. She woke up about 8am. We talked for a bit, watching the news and then both of us got ready for the day. She had to be at work at 130pm, so I left about noon. I also was expecting strong storms from the cold front and wanted to get home before those fired up. I got home around 2pm and as it turned out, the storms popped up later in the afternoon all around us here, but we didn't get a drop of rain here at the house.
So, last night, I catch up on some emails, get ink for the printer and print off my back exercises, and just chill. I ended up watching the original 'Peter Pan' movie last night on 'Wonderful World of Disney' on ABC. It was just as good as it was when I was a kid and I enjoyed it just as much. I was tired and knew I would have to get up at 7am this morning to get my workout in (including the new back exercises) and then get ready for Church. So, I had taken my first set of bedtime meds at 8pm or a little after, wanting to get to sleep about 10pm cause I was tired and knew I would have to get up early today.
At some point, after I had taken the dog out for her bedtime walk and all, I was getting out of bed to go to the bathroom. I have this stupid habit that I need to stop doing, but did it anyway last night. When I was getting out of the bed, I stood up on the bed ( I do this all the time) and then step from the bed, onto my cedar chest at the foot of the bed and then the floor. I don't know why I got in the habit of doing this, but I have. So, I am doing this last night, and as I stepped from the bed to the cedar chest, the cedar chest slid on the wood floor out from underneath of me. So, my left leg, which was on the cedar chest, went with it as it slid and my right leg, slid right off the bed between the bed and the chest to the floor. I knew instantly that I had done something to my right ankle in particular. It was that nice, instant, kind of pain. Don't ya just love that? I recovered myself and stood up. I slid the chest back up against the foot of the bed and went on to the bathroom. It's then I notice that I have scraped my right ankle, it's swollen and had already bruised nicely. Great.
So, after the bathroom, I limp to the freezer and get an ice pack. I get back in the bed and put the ice pack on my ankle and take some motrin. I waited a bit and then about 10pm took the rest of my bedtime meds and went to sleep, hoping the ankle wasn't as bad as it looked.
This morning, my alarm went off at 7am, cause it's a workout day. I groggily turned it off and lay here a minute. I know pretty quickly that my right ankle is throbbing and my left ankle isn't feeling so hot. I look at both of them and they are both swollen. Even better. I limp to the bathroom and find it very painful to walk on both, but particularly my right foot/ankle. I get done in the bathroom, gingerly walk to the freezer, get 2 ice packs and gingerly make my way back to the bed. I know I will not be working out and after icing them both and taking some motrin and waiting for it to kick in, I know I am not going to make it to Church either. Ugh. I text hubby that things weren't good, ankle wise, and asked him to stop by here on way to church and walk the dog. Poor thing was probably crossing her legs waiting. He also brought back the beast and took his mom's van to take back to her. I thanked him for taking care of the dog and bringing my beast back for me.
I wait a while and then ice both ankles again and take more motrin. By 1pm they are both hurting pretty badly, especially the right one, and the coloring on it continued to get worse from the bruising. So, I get dressed carefully and gingerly drive myself to an urgent care center to have them looked at. That was a nice trick. It hurt to walk, to drive etc. The doc looks at them and x-rays the right one to make sure it's not broken or fractured. It's not, thankfully. He diagnoses the right one as a sprain with deep contusions (bruising) to the bone, ligaments, and tendons. Nice. Sometimes those injuries are worse than breaks. He gives me a script for a super-motrin and some pain medicine. I stop at Walgreens on the way home and fill those scripts. He didn't wrap the ankle, but I bought a small ace bandage while waiting on the scripts and wrapped the right ankle when I got home. It made the ankle feel more secure and not as painful. I iced it again when I got home and ate a sandwich and took 2 pain pills. The left one is just pretty stiff right now and doesn't feel too badly. Just stiff and sore.
I am to stay off the right one as much as possible (there go my workouts for the week!), elevate it, ice it and let it heal on it's own. Ease back into my workouts when it starts to feel better and not as painful to walk on or use. The things I manage to do to myself, I tell ya. I am the worlds biggest klutz! I always have been, especially when I was growing (I am tall and mostly all legs), but still continue to be so even now.
So, that has been my life lately. I am still working with my counselor and we are making some good progress. I am getting stronger every day and learning how to do for myself. It's not fun, but it's nice to know that I am stronger than I thought I was.
God is still working on me too. It seems I learn something new every day whether from my daily Bible reading, prayers or Beth Moore study. I like the learning and I know it's good to grow, but can be painful and difficult too. But any kind of growth is like that isn't it? Painful and difficult.
I register for classes tomorrow morning for fall quarter online. That's a new one for me. I am used to the real old fashioned way; you fill out a paper with the classes you want, then you wait in line (forever it seems) to see the registrar in hopes that you can still get into the classes you want. Anyhow, I have my classes picked out, their ID numbers written down, everything ready to go for registering online first thing in the morning. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Hopefully I will get the schedule I have written down. It has me starting at 9am and done M-W-F at 120pm and T-Th at 10am. It's 3 classes for a total of 14 credit hours. It's a lot, but what I need to take this year, equals out to 3 classes per quarter to get it all done. Plus,that still gives me late morning/and afternoon time for a job. So, here I go, into my new adventure of finally finishing my degree and getting back into the job market.
I guess I have blabbed way too much for this time. Wow! It's 7pm already! My how the time flies when I am writing on here.
I hope ya'll are doing well. I hope that ya'll have a good week. Oh! I expect my new nephew any day now! He seems in a hurry to get here (although isn't due til Aug 17th) and I am bettin' he'll be here way before then!
Anyhow, ya'll have a terrific week! May God Bless all ya'll!!!!
We are in what the weathermen call the "Dog Days of Summer" and I feel it. A week ago last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we were in Air Quality Alert days. High heat and humidity with stagnant air. It felt just awful and suffocating. I hate it when it gets like that. You get out of the shower on days like that and immediately feel like you need another shower. Also, it's awful on my asthma, which is very much under control, but days like that make me feel like I can't breath outside. Ugh. And those kind of days effect my ability to be able to be outdoors for campaign work, which I hate.
I got the car back last Monday from the mechanic's shop, without it being fixed. He got it to act up, like it does for me, racing and stalling, but not long enough to figure out what the problem was and he had it for almost a total of 2 weeks (that was awful). That whole situation is/was very frustrating. It's frustrating that he couldn't figure out the problem and fix it and it's frustrating being without a car. He said I would have to wait for the problem to become more consistent, which thrills me to no end since I am driving that vehicle. Once the problem becomes more consistent, then he can figure out the problem. But in the meantime, I have to wait for it to get worse and then be without a vehicle again while it's fixed, if I ever get to that point. Stupid car.
So, I get the car back on Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning I take it to get the oil changed in it cause it needed it and I had a coupon for a decent deal. So, I go get the oil changed. After they are done and I go to the cashier to pay for it, he says very casually, 'The mechanic says you have an oil leak and the underneath of the car was soaked in oil'. That just makes my day, let me tell ya. And it's only 10am! I parked the car backwards in my garage, when I got done running my errands, so I could see if the oil was indeed leaking and it is. There were oil spots on the floor of garage of a decent size Wednesday morning. That leak still needs to be found and fixed. Fun.
I did manage to apply for a job last Wednesday. I did it all online which was an interesting experience for me. It's at one of the universities here in town and it's part-time. It seems like it would fit what I need very well, but I haven't worked a steady job for quite a long time, so we'll see how it goes. I also posted my resume, such as it is, on Monster.com, in case anyone on that site might be interested. I have a few other places I am going to apply and we'll see what happens. I need to find something that will be flexible with my class schedule, but that also will give me a certain amount of money per week. With everything that's going wrong on that car, I am going to have to try to save some money and go see my Pops' car guy in Kentucky at Christmas break and see about getting something else; if the car lasts that long.
My mother-in-law graciously switched vehicles with me last Thursday so I could still have my little getaway to my cousins in Sidney. I thought that was very nice of her and I much appreciated it because I really didn't want to take the beast (that's what I call the car) on the open road with all that is going on with it. So, thanks Mom!
I spent time each day last week working on the house. I worked on the bathtub/shower (which is a bear for me to clean, physically), worked on the main bedroom as it has been a disaster area for quite some time, moved everything I could out of the dining room and kitchen and swept and mopped it. Just little things that have needed done on top of my regular Monday cleanings (bathroom, laundry, change of sheets and blankets, sweeping etc.). So, the house is starting to look better bit by bit, which is hard work, but makes me feel good. I want to get most, if not all, of these side projects done, before classes start in September, cause after classes start, it won't get done. I won't have time.
Our Beth Moore study last week was really good. Each week it is good, excellent. I have learned so much from it and feel so much closer to God in my personal relationship with Him. And Beth Moore is just awesome! Such an encouraging, intelligent, energetic lady! God has really used her in a mighty way with this study and all of her studies, I am sure. We aren't meeting this week because New Life is having VBS in the evenings this week. But, our small group was graciously offered an opportunity to get-together at one of our lady's house, just to hang out, snack and fellowship. So, that's what we are doing, which I am really looking forward to. Beth Moore will be back next Wednesday, August 6th and then the next week, the 13th, will be our last night! I can't believe it will be over already! It seems like we just got started. I will miss it when we are done, but know that it would be difficult for me to do while working and being in college in the school year. It's a lot of good, hard work, I don't mind that, I have enjoyed it, but I know because it requires so much that it would be impossible for me to do any other time of the year, but the summer.
Last Friday morning I went to my cousins in Sidney for the day and overnight. We had a good time together and it was nice to get away for a bit. We talked and talked (which we always do!) and went to the Shelby County Fair Friday afternoon. Then we went back to the house and chilled for a bit, talked some more, looked at pictures of my cousin that he had sent from Iraq. He is doing okay over there (this is his 3rd and last tour), but is ready to come home and get out of the Army. His enlistment actually will end before they are scheduled to come back to the U.S., so while we are all proud of him and his service to our country, we are all ready for him to come home especially this time. Keep him and his group in your prayers if you would. I would appreciate it.
Anyhow, Friday evening, we decided to go to the movies (she hadn't been for a while). She (my cousin) wanted to see 'The Dark Knight'. I had seen it a week ago Saturday with a girl friend of mine here in town, but it was so good, I didn't mind to see it again. So, we drove down to Piqua, got a quick bite to eat and then saw the movie. She loved it (I knew she would)! I liked it again too, and noticed things this time I hadn't when I saw it the first time. ( I must put in a note here to say that Heath Ledger plays 'The Joker' brilliantly and it is especially poignant since he passed away last January.) So, we got back to her house about 1030pm or so. We changed into our pjs and sat and talked some more. Watched the 11pm news and then got into 'The Late Show' with David Letterman and 'The Late, Late Show' with Craig Ferguson (who is hilarious). We talked and laughed through Letterman and into Ferguson's show, then both of our bedtime meds finally kicked in and we decided to call it a night. Still, it was after 1am before I got to sleep.
I woke up the next morning about 715am, a full 45 minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I was irked. The reason I woke up was cause I was in pain. My left knee. He hurts and aches from the arthritis from time to time. Also, when a front is coming. Both my cousin and I can tell the weather with our bodies. Certain parts hurt when the weather is going to change or a front is coming. I got up and went to the bathroom and then watched some morning news on FOXNEWS channel. She woke up about 8am. We talked for a bit, watching the news and then both of us got ready for the day. She had to be at work at 130pm, so I left about noon. I also was expecting strong storms from the cold front and wanted to get home before those fired up. I got home around 2pm and as it turned out, the storms popped up later in the afternoon all around us here, but we didn't get a drop of rain here at the house.
So, last night, I catch up on some emails, get ink for the printer and print off my back exercises, and just chill. I ended up watching the original 'Peter Pan' movie last night on 'Wonderful World of Disney' on ABC. It was just as good as it was when I was a kid and I enjoyed it just as much. I was tired and knew I would have to get up at 7am this morning to get my workout in (including the new back exercises) and then get ready for Church. So, I had taken my first set of bedtime meds at 8pm or a little after, wanting to get to sleep about 10pm cause I was tired and knew I would have to get up early today.
At some point, after I had taken the dog out for her bedtime walk and all, I was getting out of bed to go to the bathroom. I have this stupid habit that I need to stop doing, but did it anyway last night. When I was getting out of the bed, I stood up on the bed ( I do this all the time) and then step from the bed, onto my cedar chest at the foot of the bed and then the floor. I don't know why I got in the habit of doing this, but I have. So, I am doing this last night, and as I stepped from the bed to the cedar chest, the cedar chest slid on the wood floor out from underneath of me. So, my left leg, which was on the cedar chest, went with it as it slid and my right leg, slid right off the bed between the bed and the chest to the floor. I knew instantly that I had done something to my right ankle in particular. It was that nice, instant, kind of pain. Don't ya just love that? I recovered myself and stood up. I slid the chest back up against the foot of the bed and went on to the bathroom. It's then I notice that I have scraped my right ankle, it's swollen and had already bruised nicely. Great.
So, after the bathroom, I limp to the freezer and get an ice pack. I get back in the bed and put the ice pack on my ankle and take some motrin. I waited a bit and then about 10pm took the rest of my bedtime meds and went to sleep, hoping the ankle wasn't as bad as it looked.
This morning, my alarm went off at 7am, cause it's a workout day. I groggily turned it off and lay here a minute. I know pretty quickly that my right ankle is throbbing and my left ankle isn't feeling so hot. I look at both of them and they are both swollen. Even better. I limp to the bathroom and find it very painful to walk on both, but particularly my right foot/ankle. I get done in the bathroom, gingerly walk to the freezer, get 2 ice packs and gingerly make my way back to the bed. I know I will not be working out and after icing them both and taking some motrin and waiting for it to kick in, I know I am not going to make it to Church either. Ugh. I text hubby that things weren't good, ankle wise, and asked him to stop by here on way to church and walk the dog. Poor thing was probably crossing her legs waiting. He also brought back the beast and took his mom's van to take back to her. I thanked him for taking care of the dog and bringing my beast back for me.
I wait a while and then ice both ankles again and take more motrin. By 1pm they are both hurting pretty badly, especially the right one, and the coloring on it continued to get worse from the bruising. So, I get dressed carefully and gingerly drive myself to an urgent care center to have them looked at. That was a nice trick. It hurt to walk, to drive etc. The doc looks at them and x-rays the right one to make sure it's not broken or fractured. It's not, thankfully. He diagnoses the right one as a sprain with deep contusions (bruising) to the bone, ligaments, and tendons. Nice. Sometimes those injuries are worse than breaks. He gives me a script for a super-motrin and some pain medicine. I stop at Walgreens on the way home and fill those scripts. He didn't wrap the ankle, but I bought a small ace bandage while waiting on the scripts and wrapped the right ankle when I got home. It made the ankle feel more secure and not as painful. I iced it again when I got home and ate a sandwich and took 2 pain pills. The left one is just pretty stiff right now and doesn't feel too badly. Just stiff and sore.
I am to stay off the right one as much as possible (there go my workouts for the week!), elevate it, ice it and let it heal on it's own. Ease back into my workouts when it starts to feel better and not as painful to walk on or use. The things I manage to do to myself, I tell ya. I am the worlds biggest klutz! I always have been, especially when I was growing (I am tall and mostly all legs), but still continue to be so even now.
So, that has been my life lately. I am still working with my counselor and we are making some good progress. I am getting stronger every day and learning how to do for myself. It's not fun, but it's nice to know that I am stronger than I thought I was.
God is still working on me too. It seems I learn something new every day whether from my daily Bible reading, prayers or Beth Moore study. I like the learning and I know it's good to grow, but can be painful and difficult too. But any kind of growth is like that isn't it? Painful and difficult.
I register for classes tomorrow morning for fall quarter online. That's a new one for me. I am used to the real old fashioned way; you fill out a paper with the classes you want, then you wait in line (forever it seems) to see the registrar in hopes that you can still get into the classes you want. Anyhow, I have my classes picked out, their ID numbers written down, everything ready to go for registering online first thing in the morning. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Hopefully I will get the schedule I have written down. It has me starting at 9am and done M-W-F at 120pm and T-Th at 10am. It's 3 classes for a total of 14 credit hours. It's a lot, but what I need to take this year, equals out to 3 classes per quarter to get it all done. Plus,that still gives me late morning/and afternoon time for a job. So, here I go, into my new adventure of finally finishing my degree and getting back into the job market.
I guess I have blabbed way too much for this time. Wow! It's 7pm already! My how the time flies when I am writing on here.
I hope ya'll are doing well. I hope that ya'll have a good week. Oh! I expect my new nephew any day now! He seems in a hurry to get here (although isn't due til Aug 17th) and I am bettin' he'll be here way before then!
Anyhow, ya'll have a terrific week! May God Bless all ya'll!!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Has the Lord Built Your House?
Last week and into this week in our Beth Moore homework, one of the Psalms that we worked on was Psalm 127. And it really got me to thinking; deep thinking.
I think of my own house. Sure, we started out intending to build our house with the Lord when we were first married. But as with many things, the best of intentions etc., that soon fell by the wayside after we were married.
We were away from the Lord for so many years; I would say a good 14 years. We thought we had the world by the tail and we weren't living with the Lord. We said and did many things in those years that we are ashamed of now; can't believe we did; can't believe we said; can't believe we behaved that way.
We both came back to the Lord in 2006. Several months a part. We quickly became involved in our church, in our small group, on the worship team. But I wonder now, did either of us really take the time to develope a true, good and close relationship with God, as individuals? I know we didn't as a couple. We never got around to having devotions together and the only time we prayed together was before meals. We were both at fault for that. So yes, it was good that we came back to the Lord, it was good we were involved, but was it too late? Had too much hurt been done to one another; did the fact that we never developed a relationship with God as a couple through devotions and prayer (and not just before meals) help develope this break between us?
I have grown personally with the Lord in the last 8 weeks like I never have before. He has had me on my knees, in tears, leaning only on Him. It has been an amazing journey for me personally. I am enjoying getting to know God on the level I should have known Him before now. As not only my heavenly Father, but as my Daddy.
So, I want to ask you a question today. Even though your life may seem to be going along smoothly; you're enjoying church involvement, group involvement etc. But, do you have that personal involvement with our Father? Have you built your house upon Him? Is your relationship with your spouse based upon Him and do you have quiet time together, the 3 of you? You, your spouse and God? Have you built your marriage upon Him? This has really spoken to me. So I pray you will think long and hard on these things.
Take a good hard look at youself. At your marriage. At your home. Has it been built on the Lord? Truely on Him? I pray that it has been.
I will leave you with the Psalm.
Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arros in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
(NASB)
May the Lord Bless You.
I think of my own house. Sure, we started out intending to build our house with the Lord when we were first married. But as with many things, the best of intentions etc., that soon fell by the wayside after we were married.
We were away from the Lord for so many years; I would say a good 14 years. We thought we had the world by the tail and we weren't living with the Lord. We said and did many things in those years that we are ashamed of now; can't believe we did; can't believe we said; can't believe we behaved that way.
We both came back to the Lord in 2006. Several months a part. We quickly became involved in our church, in our small group, on the worship team. But I wonder now, did either of us really take the time to develope a true, good and close relationship with God, as individuals? I know we didn't as a couple. We never got around to having devotions together and the only time we prayed together was before meals. We were both at fault for that. So yes, it was good that we came back to the Lord, it was good we were involved, but was it too late? Had too much hurt been done to one another; did the fact that we never developed a relationship with God as a couple through devotions and prayer (and not just before meals) help develope this break between us?
I have grown personally with the Lord in the last 8 weeks like I never have before. He has had me on my knees, in tears, leaning only on Him. It has been an amazing journey for me personally. I am enjoying getting to know God on the level I should have known Him before now. As not only my heavenly Father, but as my Daddy.
So, I want to ask you a question today. Even though your life may seem to be going along smoothly; you're enjoying church involvement, group involvement etc. But, do you have that personal involvement with our Father? Have you built your house upon Him? Is your relationship with your spouse based upon Him and do you have quiet time together, the 3 of you? You, your spouse and God? Have you built your marriage upon Him? This has really spoken to me. So I pray you will think long and hard on these things.
Take a good hard look at youself. At your marriage. At your home. Has it been built on the Lord? Truely on Him? I pray that it has been.
I will leave you with the Psalm.
Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arros in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
(NASB)
May the Lord Bless You.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Body Aches and Car Trouble
Well, it is 930am and I have been awake for a little over 3 hours now. Ugh. I am not sleeping real well and keep waking up very early and not being able to go back to sleep. My body is not happy about that. I keep increasing the melatonin I take 2 hours before bedtime like my shrink told me to until I am sleeping a solid 7 1/2 to 8hours a night and it's just not there. I get maybe one good nights sleep a week. It's starting to catch up with me.
My body is still punishing me for last Friday, the 4Th of July. I spent the day doing two parades for the campaign. We had had a cold front come through the day before but, they kept saying the rain would be out of here for the 4Th. So, I dress in white shorts, my blue campaign t-shirt ad tennis shoes and head out. I take along the only rain coat I have, one from the GAP, that looks better than works better. And a take a black boonie hat to cover my head should the sun come out cause my head likes to burn. Already done that this summer.
Anyhow, the first parade was in Hilliard and I got at the meet-up about 845am. Ready to go. While standing there waiting, it starts to rain. I have my jacket on and pull my boonie hat on to try to keep my head dry. Then the rain stops, and it actually felt like it warmed up a little. Oh, I forgot to mention it was freezing! So, by the time the parade actually starts, I have tossed the jacket in the car that follows us in parades and just keep my hat with me. We aren't very far into the parade when the rain starts again. And I am not talking sprinkles here and there. I am talking flat out rain. So, I pull my jacket out of the car and put it on, continuing to walk in the parade. By the time we get to the end of the parade, it's raining fairly hard. And cold.
A bunch of us pile into a vehicle quickly for a ride back to the beginning of the parade where all of us parked. This is always the plan, which is good, cause some parades are looooong and you don't want to have to walk the parade and then walk back, ya know? (The Galloway parade the week before was 5 miles!) So, we pile into this little suv for a ride back to the beginning. I get dropped off second, I think, cause I am parked the farthest away. So, I get in the car, start it up and turn the heat on. It's JULY and I am running the HEAT! This is the craziest weather.
So, the good candidate buys lunch for those of us who show up at the restaurant. Cece's Pizza. At least it was warm and dry and warm food. By the time we get done with lunch and it's time to drive to Plain City for their parade, my body is really starting to hurt and my voice is starting to go.
The Plain City parade was mercifully short. It sprinkled a little in the beginning, but for the most time was dry, just wet ground and mud everywhere. I didn't hang around very long after that parade, wasn't sure I had the strength to drive home.
I got home a little after 4pm. I had left the house that morning at about 815am. It was a long day. I quickly took the dog out and then changed out of my wet clothes into dry, flannel pjs to warm up. I should've taken a shower, but I didn't. I just wanted to get dry, warm and off my feet. I think I heard them say on the news that night or the next day that it was the coldest 4Th of July here on record, but I couldn't swear to it. I may have just dreamed it since I was so cold.
Saturday I woke up feeling like I'd been run over by a truck. Saturday was a workout day. I didn't walk, because I had walked so much the day before, but I did manage to do the weights and rest of the workout later Saturday afternoon. I had to go out to fill my script for my ADD medicine and get a few things from the grocery in order to fix supper. The rest of the day, I didn't do much of anything. And all of my fibro "trigger points" hurt so bad. They are still hurting.
Sunday morning I was awake too early, as usual, and mad that I couldn't get back to sleep. I finally got up and ironed my clothes for church. Then I got in the shower and just stood there. I took my time getting ready and chose comfortable skirt and shirt with comfortable shoes for church. No fuss, no muss. I read my Bible chapter (I am now in Acts) and had my prayer time. Got to church with plenty of time to spare. Have to always allow time to pee etc., before the service starts. The rest of Sunday, I just hung out here at home, chillin'.
Monday morning I had an appointment to see my counselor at 830am! Ugh! And it was a workout day again, this every other day thing seems to be too quick sometimes. So I was up at 630am, on purpose, to get my workout in. I got that done and got in the shower. Then I read my Bible and had prayer time while my hair dried. Monday was a definite no make-up day and I have enough of a tan to go without. So, I got all ready, pulled on soccer shorts and a tank top, my beach shoes, walked the dog and was out the door by 8am.
After seeing my counselor we took the car to the garage. It's not been running real well and lately has actually started to get scary. It either won't start or it will start, then stall or it will race. When it races, that's when it gets scary. That car will do somewhere between 50-70mph all by itself, without my touching the gas pedal. So much fun! So, we take it to the garage, grab some lunch, then I come home and do my usual Monday cleaning routine (clean bathroom, do laundry, changed blankets and sheets on bed, swept bath and kitchen floors, washed bathroom and kitchen rugs). Somewhere along the way( I highly suspect while changing the bed) I tweaked my back. In the muscle, not bone. So, on top of all my fibro stuff hurting like crazy this week, my back has had a fairly consistent ache since Monday.
Tuesday we get the car. We go eat. I am driving it and it seems to be running fine. Get it home and put it in the garage for the night. No problem.
Yesterday morning, I get up, put on my workout gear (yes, it's that time again) and walk the dog. I see that it has rained and looks like it might rain again, but hope I can get to the park to do my walk before the rain gets here. (Monday I couldn't walk at the park cause it was too early. I don't think the park opens til 8am.) So, I get in the car to try to get to park and get my walk in and the engine is racing a little. Hmmm. I think maybe it will settle down once I get it running for a bit and go ahead and head out to the park. I get out on the main drag and that car takes off. If I don't ride the brakes, it will do 50mph all by itself again. Frustration.
So, I turn around and come back home. Text hubby at work that the car is up to its old tricks. He says to call the mechanic, tell him and see if we can take it back to him yesterday afternoon. So, we do. I have hubby drive the car cause I am tired of driving that thing and being afraid of what it's going to do. Of course, we get there, to the garage, and it hadn't acted up for him. I swear that car hates me. So, we leave it with the mechanic, again. I don't think he really knows where to look to see what's wrong. He and hubby talked about what it might be and some things he would check, but the mechanic can't get it to act up for him either. I am telling you, this car hates me.
We come back to the house. I cook a quick dinner and we eat and hang for a bit. I had already emailed my Beth Moore small group leader and told her I probably wasn't going to make it last night cause of the car situation. She had already written back before we took the car back to the garage and said no worries, I wasn't the only one with car problems yesterday.
So, now I am just waiting. I don't really expect to get the car back today. I honestly don't want it back until it's fixed.
My workouts this week have all been on the treadmill for the walk and I hate that. I much prefer to be outside for the walking part, not staring at grey walls. I will probably be inside again for tomorrows workout. Oh well, at least I am getting the workouts done. That's something, I guess.
My work in the Beth Moore study workbook and my daily Bible reading and prayer time is really getting cool. I am learning a lot and I feel closer to God every day. I was sorry I had to miss the Beth Moore study meeting last night, but the workbook work for this week was powerful. It really was. It really made an impact on me.
My counselor and I are still working strong. I am doing workbook homework for her too. But this Monday we are also adding something new that we will be working on. I am not going to go into details, but suffice it to say, it will be intense hard work. But, it's got to be done. Got to get that stuff out and dealt with, ya know?
My body is still punishing me for last Friday, the 4Th of July. I spent the day doing two parades for the campaign. We had had a cold front come through the day before but, they kept saying the rain would be out of here for the 4Th. So, I dress in white shorts, my blue campaign t-shirt ad tennis shoes and head out. I take along the only rain coat I have, one from the GAP, that looks better than works better. And a take a black boonie hat to cover my head should the sun come out cause my head likes to burn. Already done that this summer.
Anyhow, the first parade was in Hilliard and I got at the meet-up about 845am. Ready to go. While standing there waiting, it starts to rain. I have my jacket on and pull my boonie hat on to try to keep my head dry. Then the rain stops, and it actually felt like it warmed up a little. Oh, I forgot to mention it was freezing! So, by the time the parade actually starts, I have tossed the jacket in the car that follows us in parades and just keep my hat with me. We aren't very far into the parade when the rain starts again. And I am not talking sprinkles here and there. I am talking flat out rain. So, I pull my jacket out of the car and put it on, continuing to walk in the parade. By the time we get to the end of the parade, it's raining fairly hard. And cold.
A bunch of us pile into a vehicle quickly for a ride back to the beginning of the parade where all of us parked. This is always the plan, which is good, cause some parades are looooong and you don't want to have to walk the parade and then walk back, ya know? (The Galloway parade the week before was 5 miles!) So, we pile into this little suv for a ride back to the beginning. I get dropped off second, I think, cause I am parked the farthest away. So, I get in the car, start it up and turn the heat on. It's JULY and I am running the HEAT! This is the craziest weather.
So, the good candidate buys lunch for those of us who show up at the restaurant. Cece's Pizza. At least it was warm and dry and warm food. By the time we get done with lunch and it's time to drive to Plain City for their parade, my body is really starting to hurt and my voice is starting to go.
The Plain City parade was mercifully short. It sprinkled a little in the beginning, but for the most time was dry, just wet ground and mud everywhere. I didn't hang around very long after that parade, wasn't sure I had the strength to drive home.
I got home a little after 4pm. I had left the house that morning at about 815am. It was a long day. I quickly took the dog out and then changed out of my wet clothes into dry, flannel pjs to warm up. I should've taken a shower, but I didn't. I just wanted to get dry, warm and off my feet. I think I heard them say on the news that night or the next day that it was the coldest 4Th of July here on record, but I couldn't swear to it. I may have just dreamed it since I was so cold.
Saturday I woke up feeling like I'd been run over by a truck. Saturday was a workout day. I didn't walk, because I had walked so much the day before, but I did manage to do the weights and rest of the workout later Saturday afternoon. I had to go out to fill my script for my ADD medicine and get a few things from the grocery in order to fix supper. The rest of the day, I didn't do much of anything. And all of my fibro "trigger points" hurt so bad. They are still hurting.
Sunday morning I was awake too early, as usual, and mad that I couldn't get back to sleep. I finally got up and ironed my clothes for church. Then I got in the shower and just stood there. I took my time getting ready and chose comfortable skirt and shirt with comfortable shoes for church. No fuss, no muss. I read my Bible chapter (I am now in Acts) and had my prayer time. Got to church with plenty of time to spare. Have to always allow time to pee etc., before the service starts. The rest of Sunday, I just hung out here at home, chillin'.
Monday morning I had an appointment to see my counselor at 830am! Ugh! And it was a workout day again, this every other day thing seems to be too quick sometimes. So I was up at 630am, on purpose, to get my workout in. I got that done and got in the shower. Then I read my Bible and had prayer time while my hair dried. Monday was a definite no make-up day and I have enough of a tan to go without. So, I got all ready, pulled on soccer shorts and a tank top, my beach shoes, walked the dog and was out the door by 8am.
After seeing my counselor we took the car to the garage. It's not been running real well and lately has actually started to get scary. It either won't start or it will start, then stall or it will race. When it races, that's when it gets scary. That car will do somewhere between 50-70mph all by itself, without my touching the gas pedal. So much fun! So, we take it to the garage, grab some lunch, then I come home and do my usual Monday cleaning routine (clean bathroom, do laundry, changed blankets and sheets on bed, swept bath and kitchen floors, washed bathroom and kitchen rugs). Somewhere along the way( I highly suspect while changing the bed) I tweaked my back. In the muscle, not bone. So, on top of all my fibro stuff hurting like crazy this week, my back has had a fairly consistent ache since Monday.
Tuesday we get the car. We go eat. I am driving it and it seems to be running fine. Get it home and put it in the garage for the night. No problem.
Yesterday morning, I get up, put on my workout gear (yes, it's that time again) and walk the dog. I see that it has rained and looks like it might rain again, but hope I can get to the park to do my walk before the rain gets here. (Monday I couldn't walk at the park cause it was too early. I don't think the park opens til 8am.) So, I get in the car to try to get to park and get my walk in and the engine is racing a little. Hmmm. I think maybe it will settle down once I get it running for a bit and go ahead and head out to the park. I get out on the main drag and that car takes off. If I don't ride the brakes, it will do 50mph all by itself again. Frustration.
So, I turn around and come back home. Text hubby at work that the car is up to its old tricks. He says to call the mechanic, tell him and see if we can take it back to him yesterday afternoon. So, we do. I have hubby drive the car cause I am tired of driving that thing and being afraid of what it's going to do. Of course, we get there, to the garage, and it hadn't acted up for him. I swear that car hates me. So, we leave it with the mechanic, again. I don't think he really knows where to look to see what's wrong. He and hubby talked about what it might be and some things he would check, but the mechanic can't get it to act up for him either. I am telling you, this car hates me.
We come back to the house. I cook a quick dinner and we eat and hang for a bit. I had already emailed my Beth Moore small group leader and told her I probably wasn't going to make it last night cause of the car situation. She had already written back before we took the car back to the garage and said no worries, I wasn't the only one with car problems yesterday.
So, now I am just waiting. I don't really expect to get the car back today. I honestly don't want it back until it's fixed.
My workouts this week have all been on the treadmill for the walk and I hate that. I much prefer to be outside for the walking part, not staring at grey walls. I will probably be inside again for tomorrows workout. Oh well, at least I am getting the workouts done. That's something, I guess.
My work in the Beth Moore study workbook and my daily Bible reading and prayer time is really getting cool. I am learning a lot and I feel closer to God every day. I was sorry I had to miss the Beth Moore study meeting last night, but the workbook work for this week was powerful. It really was. It really made an impact on me.
My counselor and I are still working strong. I am doing workbook homework for her too. But this Monday we are also adding something new that we will be working on. I am not going to go into details, but suffice it to say, it will be intense hard work. But, it's got to be done. Got to get that stuff out and dealt with, ya know?
Well, I guess I have babbled enough for now. Oh, remember how cold it was on the 4Th? This Saturday it's supposed to be about 92 degrees with high humidity. Ugh. Like I said, craziest weather.
This week I will leave you with Psalm 122 this week. May God Bless each and every one of you!
Psalm 122
I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord."
Our feet are standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, this is built
As a city that is compact together;
To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord-
An ordinance for Israel-
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
For there thrones were set for judgement,
The thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May they prosper who love you.
"May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces."
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, "May peace be within you."
For the sakeof the house of the Lord our God,
I will see your good.
(NASB)
Talk to ya'll later!!!
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