Side Effects of the Flu

Who would have thought?

Since I had the flu last week I am feeling better than I have in over a year.

For an entire week now my blood sugar has been normal.

It has not been in a good range for well over six months.

This is good news.

And the persons in the picture?

"Uncle" Barb, Daughter, Famke, THGGM and Jonge. Who knew that old loveseat could hold so many?

Pretty in Pink

I just had to pop in with a picture of our pink tree.

I LOVE it. It's what sold me on the house.

I'm at Daughter's, as my computer (which is actually HER laptop) is no longer useable. Not due to my connection problem. but due to my silly idea that I could fix it.


Hopefully, this will propel me into getting my own computer fixed.

THGGM came down with the flu Thursday night.

I did some major thrift shopping on my own today. Great finds. Will post pictures later, I'm sure.

Oh, and I will leave you with this. My dad and I went to visit my mom yesterday. She wasn't feeling well and is being given an antibiotic. We did manage to have a nice little visit. At one point, she looked up, gave my dad a good hard stare and pronounced - "John! You are an OLD MAN!" and then she laughed and laughed.

Actually, I thought my dad looked pretty good.

Please Stand By...

What a week.

I am at Daughter's house right now. I haven't been able to access anything from my computer at home.

Normally I would have time to look into such things as stubborn connections, but the nastiest flu has been running rampant through my family.

My dad was first.

Then me.

Then Jonge. He was riding in the car with his family. Oh, lucky them!

I know of six others who either had or have it.

THGGM and Famke are still healthy. One can always hope.

Hopefully, I will be back soon.

I've got a lot of pictures of our BEAUTIFUL Magnolia tree.

Oh, and when my dad went to the nursing home to visit my mom today, guess what? It was closed. This flu seems to be paying no heed whatsoever to flu shots.

Wedding Shower

My oldest niece, in purple, is getting married next month!

Of course, we must celebrate with gifts, food, family and friends.

I hope everyone had as great of a time as I did!

Show and Tell with Mrs. McThrifty

I'm working reeeeeally hard to get everything in order for a wedding shower tomorrow for my oldest niece, who will be getting married in just a little over a month.

But, I just had to pop in for a quick show and tell.

I found this beautiful baby quilt at a thrift store today for only $3.00. It is pink gingham with a corduroy border. I love it.

THGGM had some errands to run so later in the day he dropped me off at a thrift store I haven't been in for awhile. It still had a lot of the same stuff I saw last time I was there. But, I did find a GREEN book, one I have been looking for, "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House".

So, once I finish "Mrs. Appleyard and I" (which is delightful!) and "A Circle of Quiet" (which is a wonderful book) I will start in on Mr. Blandings.

But until then, it's back to the reality of 'Mrs. McThrifty Cleans Her Dream House'.

Friday Night with Pake

The books have been read, the teeth have been brushed, the pajamas are on.

Jonge and Pake are softly talking in the guest room while Jonge (and most likely Pake too) fall asleep.

There Exist Both Those Who Can't Remember...

...and those who don't forget.

Yesterday THGGM reaffirmed what we already know, he is a member of the latter.

The man does not forget. Unless, of course, it is something like mailing out shower invitations in a timely fashion. He is, after all, a male man, NOT a mailman.

Last night after he had raked up the dry patches in our yard and done other manly things, he came in, looked rather disgustedly at my sorry migraine-riddled self and announced:

"You are going to have to tell your father that he cannot park in my driveway if his car is going to leak stuff onto it."

I believe I turned to him and said somewhat intelligently, "I'm sorry, WHAT?"

Now I must back him up so he can refresh me on perplexing matters of the past.

THGGM began dating me 34 years ago. We were both 15 and unable to drive.

Sometime around the age of 17 THGGM purchased a classic old car of some sort. What kind of car means nothing to me, although he likes to toss it around in conversation from time to time. All I remember of it was that when one turned on the left turn signal, the brake light flashed "BRAKE-BRAKE-BRAKE". The turn signal light did nothing except. perhaps, smirk.

The car apparently also leaked fluid of some sort onto my dad's driveway. I certainly don't remember this, but THGGM insists that he was told not to park in the driveway due to this leakage. Not parking in the driveway was never a problem for me, as it was a very narrow driveway with a very large maple tree at the end of it. The maple already sported a large fender shaped wound but I won't mention who caused that. THGGM seemed to like driveway parking over off-street.

Back to yesterday.

I do not believe that my dad 'parked' in the driveway yesterday. He pulled in, I took over the driver seat, and away we went. After the end of the outing, I pulled in, jumped out and away he went.

So. Now that my migraine has eased up a bit I'm becoming concerned.

As mentioned in the post below, I bottomed out on that 'pot hole turned continental divide' while driving my dad's car yesterday.

He needs a new car anyway.

Let's not forget that.

What I Did On Wednesday, by Judy, Who Won't Remember Wednesday in the Morning

I think I have decided on the top color and one of the two bottom colors (i have not yet decided which) for the half bath. Maybe. I have to live with it for awhile. It will also house some of my collection of cobalt blue bottles and hanging stained glass-like thingies. I think it goes well together.

Today I went with my dad for his quarterly doctor's appointment. Since he cannot have joint replacement surgery he received cortizone shots in both knees. He's a tough old guy. I nearly fainted. The needles were HUGE, and since no nurse was available, I had to assist.

As is our routine after medical procedures, we went to lunch at Old Country Buffet. Lucky for us, someone in OCB had just lost their lunch in the moments before we arrived. So, I'm officially on the 'i just smelled puke' diet.

I hit a huge dip in the road and bottomed out my dad's car. I suppose it must have started out as a pot hole, but it evolved into something much grander, and less visable. So if you live around here, avoid going west on Burton just before US131. Nasty.

From there we went to the nursing home to visit mom. She had a great new haircut, was happy, and told us at least a dozen time that she 'just LOVES it here!'. She doesn't really know where 'here' is, but she kept saying that she hopes she can stay all through the summer.

I got home just before THGGM. I made him chicken chili for supper and promptly came down with a migraine.

Doesn't 'migraine' come from the root word 'migrate'? When is it going to fly south? When?

A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to the Funny Farm

I could tell you exactly where and when it was, over a year ago, that I realized I was falling head first into that deep abyss called depression.

I could tell you, but I won't.

Like with a migraine, there are several variables that must align just right and WHAM, there I am.

Oh, yes. I dug out my paper with the list of ten things to do to ward it off and dig myself out of it (i'm not knocking this. it's a good list.)

But I thought differently about it.

Quite a bit differently than usual.

I thought that maybe it wasn't something to be avoided. Maybe, just maybe (and i am still not sure about this, so do not try this at home) I should just 'go' with it.

After all, I thought, there are a number of things going on that just happen to be depressing on their own. Compound them, and well, yeah. It's not fun.

Here are just a few:

-My mom's dementia was worsening.

-Youngest Son had grown up and left home.

-An old issue of ours had resurfaced.

-We had to move.

-My hormones were rebelling like an obnoxious teenager.

Now, granted, I am already taking an antidepressant, but not actually FOR depression. This lovely little pill causes weight gain. I knew I could call my doctor, explain to him what was going on and just pop a few more of those lovely little ovals. But, I did not want that. Although, I do still consider it a possible short-term option.

So, I did a lot of thinking. What happens to the person who does not get the 'happy ending book deal' to their story?

Really.

Several years back I was sitting in church when two prayer requests came up. One was from a very old woman whose daughter-in-law was dying. She asked for prayer. We prayed.

The other was from a considerably younger person who knew someone else who was in very serious condition. He asked for prayer. We prayed.

During the week, the first woman died. Much quicker than was even expected.

The second person made a fabulous recovery.

We all rejoiced over the recovery. We praised God. We thanked Him for answered prayer.

We left the old woman sitting there in her grief. The church bulletin mentioned that her daughter-in-law had died. But nothing was said. Nothing.

That gave me much to ponder.

Quite a bit of life IS depressing. I don't intend to wallow in it. But, when it does happen, if all I can do is float along on top of it for a while, I think I shall. If I feel I'm starting to sink into it, I can always link arms with a fellow floater.

It seems I've learned a lot this past year. I don't actually see an immediate end in sight, but sometimes just the simple act of embracing something awful brings greater reward than concentrating on eliminating it.

But, who knows? I could be wrong.

It's not like THAT hasn't happened before.

Interesting

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playgroundvideo3.swf

Bowls, Birds and Babies

What a weekend.

I hardly remember a thing.

Except that I had a migraine, and slept very little on Saturday night.

Famke and I were engaged in DEEP conversation. Her end of it was chipper and delightful.

I think I promised her a pony if she would just close her eyes and sleep. Oh, well. As it turned out, I will not need to get her a pony.

I think I slept it all off last night. I didn't become fully awake until about 8:00 pm.

The picture above is of two more things I found at the new Salvation Army thrift store in Kalamazoo. I have been on the look out for blue striped bowls since I first saw them at least a decade ago on the cover of a magazine. Much of the 'antique' stuff at the thrift store was over priced, even by antique store standards, but these two bowls were not. And, as you know, one can NEVER have too many bowls about.

And the little white bird on the left? A friend of my sister's was at my house for a shower last year and noticed that I collected birds. Look what she gave me! A white bird!

See? I did get three new things in one picture. I didn't think these would do well in the hands of Jonge.

I am sort of counting on Famke being sleepy today. I hope so. I know I am. And, I cannot afford a pony.

Pink, Paris, Poodles

Oh, today was a very fine day!

I spent the day with my sisters, having lunch and shopping in Kalamazoo.

It was GREAT fun.

We all like books, thrift shopping, and lunch - of course.

I found some great things. Fabulous, actually.

And, I found a stack of eleven of these plates in various sizes.

VERY kitschy, wouldn't you say? You might also say that it doesn't seem to go with anything at all that I already collect, but I just do not know - they called out to me. I was actually in line getting ready to pay when I just KNEW that I needed them. For something. I haven't a clue what, but I KNEW.

It only took me a year to figure out what to do with those little girls that I glued to my painted clothes pins, so give me a year. I'll think of something.

They are Alfred Meakin and the stamp on the back marking them "Montmartre" is just as charming as the front. Really.

A Great Present for the Birthday Boy

Tonight THGGM and I went over to visit with my dad.

We hadn't planned to, but when I thought about him spending his first ever birthday home alone at night, well, we had to do something.

So, we pulled into the drive up at Wendy's and arrived at my dad's house with FROSTIES!

He seemed happy.

He had lunch with friends and then went to see my mom.

His comment? "You would not have known there was anything wrong with her!"

What a great birthday present.

And, just what he needed.

"The great comfort of turning forty-nine is the realization that you are now too old to die young."

Oh, looky what I got in the mail!

No. Not the paint colors. I picked those up at Home Depot last night. I'm running out of 'picture room' so have decided to economize by doubling, maybe even tripling up my pictures. Must conserve space. So if you are at an event that I am at, and I have my camera, would you mind holding up something crafty that I've made, and maybe a grandchild or two? Then I can take your picture, a picture of something I've made and the grandchildren. Makes sense to me.

See that card I was sent? It is from AARP.

That stands for The American Association for Retired People.

Oh for crying out loud.

RETIRED PEOPLE?

Last I checked, I hadn't even decided on a career yet.

Except for raising puppies.

I want a Jack Russell terrier named Eddie. Eddie works well with our last name. I am always delighted to bring a pet to the vet and hear them called back using our last name as theirs. Well. Except for the cat we have now, whose name is Barb, and he is a male.

I don't feel well today, so I've been watching reruns of "Frasier". Of course, that is why I want a dog named Eddie.

From one of today's episodes I have the song "Heart and Soul" stuck in my brain and it will not leave. I can't pass a piano (i have two, one up and one down) without sitting down and playing it. But, I can no longer play both parts at the same time. THGGM will be surprised when he comes home to discover that our evening will include a piano duet. He owes me. He sang "Butterfly Kisses" at Daughter's wedding and made me play THAT song for him for an entire year before I was able to convince him that I could NOT play it.

Now to the paint colors. I thought I might want to have the half bath painted cream with thin stripes of tan. I'm not so sure about that anymore. It's nice how people give so many different names to such similar dull colors. It's nice, but it doesn't help. Cream is the COLOR of cream. You know, that stuff one adds to coffee. Tan is the color I want my coffee to be before I will consent to drinking it. Who made it all so complicated? Anyway, I'm just not so sure anymore. How would that look so close to a yellow kitchen, which of course, isn't yellow - yet?

(the quote in the title is from paul dickson)

Eighty Year Age Difference

It's my dad's birthday today. He is 82.

On the days that Jonge and Famke are at my house, Pa likes to come over and play with us. He usually brings a treat for Jonge.

I'm not exactly sure how the concept of respect for one's elders is taught, but I noticed today that Jonge has learned it. Pa brought TWO cookies, fig newtons, in a baggie. When Jonge opened the baggie he handed one of them to Pa, who said that he could have both of them. Jonge ate one, making all of the correct 'nummy' sounds. When I asked him if he wanted the other one, he said no. I assured him that it would be okay, and he very quietly and discreetly leaned in to me and whispered "I don't like it."

Famke Loves to Laugh

Amazing how adding sunshine to the day cheers up everyone! Jonge and Famke still adore each other. Today, Jonge ran up to her, gave her a big hug and said, "I love you SOOOOOOOO much!"

WELL, Well, well

I was flipping through my archieves, and found that it was last March 17 that I purchased these little what's-its at a thrift store.

Amazing how it takes me a year to finally find something to do with them.

Even more amazing is the fact that I actually FOUND them.

There are a very few things that I still haven't found yet.

While looking at back tax records, THGGM found my Bible. It was in the box marked "important papers". Now if that isn't the truth! So, I can quit using the 'devotional' Bible which tends to distract me with all of the extras.

Today, while looking for something else, I found a box full of old calendars. My life is in those. Right on the top was the one from 1998.

We were SO busy then. I cannot begin to imagine how I survived 1998. Really. No wonder I am tired all the time.

I need to go lay down.

Today...

...I made stuff!

Rainy Days and Mondays

I cannot begin to tell you what a wonderful day today was.

Nothing really exciting happened.

There was some thunder, but Jonge slept through it.

Famke was so darling my blood sugar soars due to her sweetness.

Tonight THGGM and I had plans to go grocery shopping, but, we did not go.

He watched "Dancing with the Stars".

I painted clothes pins.

Over the weekend I managed to finish "Surprised by Hope" and sent it home with Youngest Son.

I also finished the M. L'Engle book and have started to read "A Circle of Quiet" again.

And, just for fun I'm reading "The Phantom Tollbooth".

I seem to be the only person I know who reads "Somerset Studio" magazines.

Recently, I have fallen in love with "Somerset Home" and Somerset Life".

Those magazines are what I looked at today while Famke slept in my arms.

Rainy Days and Mondays really aren't so bad.

I rather liked it.