Our Trip and a Flu Alert!

Baby makes five!

I can't type much about our wonderful trip because I'm still trying to recover from this nasty flu. I heard it was hitting hard in our area but mixed with my ALS it has sucker punched me. I probably caught it on the flight home as it went straight to my chest by Tuesday night. I'm weak as a baby and need more rest but I also need to swallow this goose in my chest! My cat is freaking out!

The worst part of my week was I missed a long awaited visit from Bonnie at http://yakattack.typepad.com/yak_attack/. She was ready to drive from the SFO airport to see me but I was sick and that day it even had the nerve to snow...argh! I would have worn a mask and stayed across the room but I would not put her at risk in the snow in a rental car. This is an amazing woman who normally resides in China helping give medical care to Tibetan villages. She leaves for China in June and will try and get back here before she leaves. I'm praying hard on this one!

To top off my week I have had no email service so if you have not heard from me you will (if it didn't eat them) once Wildblue pops their head's out of their butts! Yes, I'm a bit testy and sick of being SICK!

Baby Warrick with mama.



He was so tiny and handsome.



Grandpa and I hung outside with the older boys as they had to show us every toy and athletic ability. I had to take the scooter away from grandpa. ;) You miss so much when they live so far.

Big Week

Now and forever

a Valentine promise

sealed with a kiss

Happy 4th wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day Dave!

Monster no longer

beauty with bubbles prevail

Picture perfect

I bought an aquarium DVD with beautiful options, fish and sound!

The sun is shining and the snow is melting at my little house in the woods (this is the lake nearby). My muse Gautami at http://firmlyrooted.blogspot.com/has challenged me to do a 10 to 10. Ten verses about me to get me writing again. I've been procrastinating by sneaking out of town to see TK. No more excuses for me as I enter a very hectic week...woohoo!

A cute outfit, make-up and hair
transforms me from the outside in.
Bringing forth my inner diva
confidant enthusiasm ensues.

I need order to rule the day
or clutter and chaos overwhelms.
Multi tasking is a gift as I
try to stay ahead of the game.

Laughter comes easily
infectious and odd.
The simplest things can
make me laugh until I cry.

Animals are gifts from God
they teach me about love.
I can’t imagine a heaven
without them.

My strength has been tested
as I look to the past.
Knowing I would not change
a thing brings peace at last.

People can be so self-absorbed
and yet I will not provoke.
Speaking my truth just brings
unwanted confrontation.

I see real from fake like
a sixth sense and call it.
I often stick my foot in my
mouth by just being real.

Camping takes me back
to the best of times.
Fishing beside my grandpa
taking in the pines.

Movies take me out of my world
into a realm of different realities.
Teaching and entertaining
while making time stand still.

Love has given me life
when I thought love was done.
It resuscitated me into a fighter
showing me I am far from done.

This was really hard and I rushed it but it's completed. I hope it was not supposed to flow because it doesn't. ;)

He missed his gramy more than I thought he would and he gets around just fine. We got him a teddy bear with a cast, holding a heart with our picture in it. He loved it! I got to read him a book for the first time and when he noticed I had trouble turning the pages he helped me...awww! He was charming and so into kisses and hugs. What a huge pick me up!

My legs are smooth and Dave trimmed and dyed my hair. Dave and I took the dog shaver to his head and he is no longer shaggy. LOL My new house-cleaner was a bust, again (2nd try) but they are coming back for free. :)

I've got my brother coming on Wed. to house sit while we fly to WA to meet our new grandson Warrick on Friday. Dimitri will have his 3rd birthday party while we're there. My brother's birthday is on Valentine's Day so Tahoe here we come! I'll bring back lots of pictures when I return to my computer Tuesday.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! XXOO

Taking Control

I have been in a funk for days and have anesthetized myself with mind numbing TV. It's not the beautiful snow or even cabin fever but the backlash of small changes from the move. I have always embraced change but as I've gotten older the adjustment period seems to be lasting longer. The new house was an easy adjustment to make but I'm finding that it's the smaller changes that are pulling me down. Moving right before winter did not help.

I used to have time with Dave in the evenings, a hairdresser, mobile dog groomer, housekeeper, family and visitors at the old house. Currently Dave has until 12:30pm to make a fire, get breakfast, feed animals, shower, make lunch and dinner for us both. He gets home at 10:00pm and I'm ready for bed because I need a certain amount of hours of sleep each night. I know this schedule is only until school is out but it gets real lonely.

My hair is now overgrown and the grey is taking over, my dog looks like a dirty dust mop, cleaning services won't come out in the snow, family and friends are now far away. Winter is my hibernation time and I love it but I have lost control of some of the few things I still had control over. I need to regain control over my environment to get prepared for summer. That is actually the hardest time of year for me because I want to get out there and play more than I'm able to. No one takes your control away, you give it away and only you can take it back.

The sun came out so I got a house cleaning estimate and she knows of a mobile dog groomer. I shaved a section of my eyebrow off (shaky hands) so I picked up an eyebrow pencil and hair dye at Longs. I might even shave my hairy, dry legs to bust out of these doldrums. I must get out of my jammies and find that bra!

The part I really miss is human contact and I can't fix that until spring. We are flying to WA to see Dave's daughters family on the 15th which will be fun. Dave will work days this summer and that will help the most but I need to go meet me some neighbors. Dave suggested bingo...not!

I had a slight set back with a simple phone call.

My TK broke his leg (hairline fracture of lower leg)at the playground and I remembered this picture from Christmas walking in the stockings. I was so sad that I could not comfort him or help to keep him entertained. I hung up feeling awful that I was so far away, when Dave said "well, you wanted to move." I guess even a prince can remember how to be a frog. ;) We will go to love on him after WA trip and I will teach him the fine art of sitting for hours.

I need a muse so I can get over myself and get back to writing because I'm still a very lucky gal!

Lessons from a Mountain Mama

We have been hit with low snow here in CA for two weeks now. We have had rain and a few sunny days mixed in to keep the snow from piling up too high. Our TV and computer run off of two satellite dishes that fill with snow causing loss of signals. We recently heard about spraying "Pam" on the dishes to keep the snow from sticking to it. Cross your fingers. ;)

The snow is so beautiful and I can watch it from my heated recliner near our toasty wood stove for hours. The propane bills were reaching very high amounts so we chose to heat the house with wood. The problem is that Dave leaves for work at 12:30pm so the fire eventually dies down by 5:00pm and Dave does not get home until 10:00pm. I taught myself how to keep the house at seventy three all evening by mixing oak and pine. Dave cuts them smaller for me and I learned the art of manipulating the damper. He was very proud as he came home this week to a toasty fire. Woohoo for me!

Dave had thought he was prepared for mountain life with his 4WD Tundra, sporting snow tires with studs, until he slid sideways down a street on his way to work. It scared him and he bought chains that same day. His job is so excited to have such a hard working guy that they put him straight to the top of the pay scale. I was happy that he was finally validated for having such a great work ethic. We call this picture our muffin top. :)

We welcomed grandson number four on January 14th. Warrick was 9lbs 5oz and as handsome as his big brothers. We fly out to WA to meet him on Feb. 15th and I can't wait to hold a sweet smelling baby again. Dave's daughter and her husband are thrilled with their new son and Warrick's big brothers think he's very cool.

I have not seen this precious face since Christmas and I miss his terrible two pout very much. He is also no longer chatty on the phone so I'm feeling a TK fix is needed very soon.

I have not left the house in over a month but that is not unusual, especially in winter. The no TV and computer is making it harder. I don't buy DVD's and I don't keep books after I read them because I pass them on. I lost my glasses in the move so I can't read too much or I'll get one of my famous migraines. New glasses in March...woohoo! I did get season one of "I Love Lucy" from my daughter and have reconnected with my inner Lucy.

I miss my blog friends and clubs very much! I have this blog ethic that is all my own and I feel awful if I have not read my blog buddy's blogs or commented. I refuse to participate in my clubs if I can't read and comment on the majority of the entries. I will be back soon, as I'm watching another storm roll in but I'll need to start fresh.

BTW my arm has healed very nicely and I have gotten used to "the monster."

XXOO

Sensual Senryu

Passion bottled up

cork is popped

bubbly sensations

Sandy at http://sensual-senryu.blogspot.com/ started a new blog after I called her senryu sensual. To help launch her site I thought of this. ;) Give it a try just for fun.

* A senryu is a three line poem, similar to a haiku, based on human nature.

Photo from Stockxpert

3WW - "The Date"

Breath, Scattered, Tomorrow

I was terrified that I had finally went too far. I said yes but maybe I should have voiced my fears that night on the phone. Something in his voice calmed my scattered thoughts, forgetting my limitations. The idea to go river rafting, before my illness, would have impressed me for a date so my old thought processor jumped at the chance. That’s the problem when your body deteriorates, your brain keeps forgetting what your body is capable of.

I spent extra time in dressing the part of a hot, athletic girl (ok, my walker was a tad distracting). This was a very important date, feelings were developing and I wanted to look like I was in control. I was concerned that the forecast predicted 102 degrees for today. I’m like a Cinderella at midnight but instead of turning into a pumpkin I turn into a rag doll in extreme heat. I sat on the couch waiting for him to come and pick me up, while convincing myself I could do this.

On the drive to the river I sensed a little nervous tension so I started asking questions. He reluctantly admitted he had never rafted before and he had reserved a private raft. We would be on our own but he assured me there were no rough rapids. I masked my panic while constantly reminding myself to breathe. When we arrived, I realized getting to a raft and into it might be the hardest part of the day. He gently helped me down to the cool, calm water and I felt myself start to relax.

When they pointed to our raft, we both gasped as the same time. It was huge and held up to six people. We also found out it was a five-hour ride to the pick up location. I knew right then this was not a good idea but he was very special so I took a deep breath and prayed. They handed me an ore and I took it but my arms dropped to the bottom of the boat with its weight. My partner not wanting to show his fear asked the guy if there was help along the way in case we needed it. A few houses was his only reply as they pushed us off down the river.

We were armed with life vests and two ores, I sat in the front and he manned the rear. The river took us through tree branches and over sandbars where we became stuck but as a team we began to find a rhythm. The river was so still in some places that I had to row and it took everything I had as the sweat from the sweltering sun beat down on our heads. We would finally get a moment to enjoy the serenity of the river when another obstacle would arrive. Taking a dip was not an option due to how hard it would be to get back in but they had a rest stop with restrooms. The cool water beckoned me as my make-up was slowly dissolving down my face. I was not a pretty sight as I began to slowly wilt as my face turned red as a beet. My partner in crime was starting to panic and we were entering hour number three.

He spotted a house and used all the power he had to steer us under a tree onto the bank. He cupped his hands with water to cool my body and when I was feeling better he hiked up the bank, disappearing into the brush, as I waited. He eventually reappeared and dragged me up the bank into an air-conditioned van. The driver was a sweet lady and asked us how long we had been married. We replied that we had just started dating and she said that the way he was with me she would have never guessed we were newly dating. I smiled at him with new eyes as the lady turned back and said tomorrow is supposed to be cooler. We looked at each other and laughed because unless we were with a group we would never do that again.

To see other 3WW go here:http://threewordwednesday.wordpress.com/

Photo from Stockxpert

Sunday Scribbling - "Fellow Travelers"

When I think back on my personal journey I can't help but think of all the people that have influenced that journey. We are all travelers on this planet and our choices touch the lives of others, like ripples in a pond. I have zigzagged my way through life and could never forget the people who have touched it.

"There can be no testimony without tests."

My grandma taught me about love, affection and forgiveness.

My mom taught me strength and to try new things.

My Clients validated my work.

My ex husband brought me down into the pits of hell, revealing my fighting spirit.

JD taught me how to have fun after I was divorced.

Steve, no longer with us, taught me self-worth and that I deserved more.

Dr. Olney gave me hope in his clinical trials.

Friends with illnesses give me weapons to fight the fear.

My children taught me perseverance, patience and reasons to keep fighting.

Vicky & Mark held my hand on my spiritual journey.

My neighbor Lynne taught me about money and how to receive help with my ALS.

Dave taught me how to love again, romance is real and gave me a future.

Bloggers have given me a voice, encouragement and friendship.

These people came into my life and changed its direction in a positive way. Not everyone treated me well but I still learned from knowing them. Many are no longer fellow travelers but others continue to touch my life. I like who I am but there's always room to grow. I can't wait to meet my future fellow travelers.

To visit other SS go here:http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/
Photo from StockXpert