Personal Note: Busy Week

You may have noticed that I’ve beens somewhat irregular this week. That’s because we took my husband to the hospital on Sunday, thinking his heart may be acting up again. It wasn’t his heart. His hemoglobin count was extremely–dangerously–low, and he was admitted. He was given two bags of blood over the next couple of days, along with two infusions of iron. He is very weak, frail-looking, and tired. In testing, they found he has a hiatal hernia and a stomach ulcer. So there are some nutritional adjustments being made, as well as meds for his iron and his stomach issues. We brought him home yesterday afternoon, and he has been doing a lot of sleeping. It’s not easy to sleep in a hospital 🙂

He has severe anemia, along with acid reflux.

They took excellent care of him, no complaints at all. Very thorough testing to look for possible internal bleeding, which they did not find. Of course there are follow-up appointments, and that’s good, because I have questions!

I am thankful for family and friends who have been supportive in prayer and in physical assistance. God is always good, even when situations are tough!

I hope to be back to my usual blogging next week.

Vertigo!

If you’ve ever battled vertigo, you’ll understand.

This is one of the worst episodes I’ve had, lasting several days. It’s a good thing I went to a vestibular therapist several years ago, and she taught me some exercises to help resolve the situation. It’s being quite stubborn this time, though.

Here’s the skinny: Vertigo starts in the ears.

Pay special attention to the two diagrams at the bottom. Those little crystals are no problem when they stay where they belong. When they break free and start to swim, they create vertigo. Nausea and dizziness occur, and this time a strong sense of malaise. I’m not having fun.

So I’m performing the exercises I was taught. Usually, they fix me up in a very short period of time. This time, I can tell that I’m going to have to repeat them several times before those nasty little crystals settle back down. In the meantime, I’m using my cane even though my back is doing okay. The cane helps me maintain balance. I have a friend who has vertigo, and she’s taken a couple of pretty bad falls. My mom had it, and she fell, too. This is not a condition to just pop a couple of aspirin and muddle through. It can be quite dangerous.

If I can’t settle it down in the next couple of days, I guess I’ll have to get some medical input.

That’s all for today, and possibly for tomorrow as well.

Prayers are appreciated 🙂

Saturday Soliloquy: Better

It’s been a lovely October so far. A couple of rainy days, which we needed. Other than that, my favorite weather of the year. I love October.

Step by step, things are looking up. I’m working on my new laptop this morning, learning as I go. The trackpad is quite sensitive. All I have to do is touch it lightly in several instances, so I’m learning to keep my fingers away from it! I got a 17″ screen, which I absolutely love. It also makes for a little bit wider keyboard, perfect for my aging eyes and chubby fingers. What I especially love is that I can use it from my recliner. For the last several weeks, I’ve had to use the PC. Sitting in that chair has been really hard on my cranky old back, so I’m happy to be back in my comfort spot.

I purchased my new laptop during Prime Days last week. Got a fabulous deal on it

My recliner still needs work, but at least for now it’s useable except for the foot rest. I’m using an ottoman for that, but I have my lumbar support and that’s the main thing.

The infection I’ve been waging war on for over three weeks is getting better day by day. Stubborn, but better.

Because of my crabby back, I can’t do the kind of housecleaning I used to do. We have a small rancher, and I used to be able to sweep, dust, mop, and scrub all in one day. Not any more. Now I sweep one room per day, rest for a while, then do the dusting. So I’m cleaning every day of the week, but at least I can still do that. I’m learning, as I age and my physical abilities wane, that I can adapt to just about anything at this stage of life. I have a copper compression belt that I wear when I work in the kitchen or do other housework. I also use it for my daily piano practice. I highly recommend it for anyone who may have the same back issues that I do. It feels good, and helps me remember not to bend over 🙂

I’ve been thinking a lot about the stages of life this week. I’d never heard of a laptop when we got married 54 years ago. Now, I’ve come to rely on it for so many reasons!

Back then, I used a wringer washer until a friend gave us his “automagic,” as he called it, when he and his wife got a new one. Now, Terry does the laundry because it involves a lot of bending. One of these days I’d like to bring the laundry to the main floor and have one of those stacked things, washer on top of dryer, smaller machines now that it’s just the two of us. I could take care of it myself again and relieve Terry of having to do it.

Lots of things have changed over the years, and I’m thankful for all the inventions and updates that are available.

Well, that’s enough. I’m rambling a bit today, so it’s a good time to stop 🙂

Saturday Soliloquy: Little by Little

It’s been quite a month. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post that I titled “Broken Things.” Now, I could write one called “Fixed Things.” A nasty infection is finally looking better. My desktop computer/printer set-up that was not working is now in excellent order, thanks to the folks at HP. I’m scheduled for another round of steroid injections for my achey-breaky back later this month.

Still pending: my wonderful recliner needs a repair, and my laptop situation is unresolved.

But at least things are moving in a better direction.

I was reminded yesterday of an old saying: “Little by little, inch by inch; by the yard it’s hard, by the inch it’s a cinch.”

And, of course, there’s a song for that. Written by Ron Hamilton (Patch the Pirate) for kids, it has a valid message to all of us. One step at a time.

What a Month!

Good morning! Long time since I wrote anything here, and I won’t write much today. Hoping to get back on track over the weekend.

It’s been a difficult month on several fronts. I won’t bore you with the details. Just saying there have been several difficulties that are still unresolved, and I’m seriously considering throwing all my electronics out the second-story window. I won’t. But the itch is there.

Just wanted to let my readers know I’m alive and kicking, and that I plan to be back on my old routines ASAP, starting with the weekend when I mostly write just for fun.

My stats are showing a surprising consistency in numbers of hits on this blog, for which I’m very thankful.

Check back tomorrow for my regular “Saturday Soliloquy” post!

Sunday Morning Coffee: Cookies

I love cookies. Almost any kind. Always have found them irresistible. So I don’t bake any more, because if I bake them, I will eat them. I don’t even bake Christmas cookies, except maybe a batch of spritz.

If I COULD eat just one, there would not be a problem. But I can’t.

I’m diabetic, with my A1C under good control. I do NOT want to have to start checking my daily sugar, poking my fingers, and all that, so I don’t eat cookies.

And then this store comes to Quakertown, called Crumbl Cookies. Really. Go here to see pictures of their tempting treats: https://crumblcookies.com/

Sigh. There oughta be a law.

Cookies are not sinful. They are amoral–neither moral nor immoral. They are inanimate objects, right? Then why is that I hear them call my name?

Really, this isn’t even something I need to pray about. I know they’re bad for me. I know if I buy one, I’ll buy two. I know they will put me completely off track with my eating.

Someone has said that if you avoid sugar long enough, you lose your taste for it. How long is long enough? I haven’t quite figured that one out yet.

When I get to heaven, I want a size 2 robe! And all the cookies I want, with no ill effects. My mansion over the hilltop could be gingerbread!

And that’s all I have to offer you this morning.

Saturday Soliloquy: Memories

This first hot, muggy week of September has reminded me of our move, way back in 1974, from Iron River, Michigan to southeastern Pennsylvania.

In the UP (Upper Peninsula), at the end of August, it was already time to harvest the garden. We had a wonderful crop of carrots, which we pulled up and packed in an old Civil Defense water barrel, along with shovelsful of sand.

I still remember that last night before we left. I didn’t have any strong sentimental ties to the UP, having lived there for only two years. I was not unhappy to escape the -40 temps that would set in and stay through January and most of February. But Terry grew up there, and had a lifetime of memories. He enjoyed the deep cold! I’ll never understand that. How can you enjoy what makes blocks of ice out of your feet, no matter how well-insulated your boots are?

Well. It was a beautiful fall night. Full moon, clear skies, frosty air (remember, this was late August) that left puffs of your breath to dissolve behind you.

It was a long drive, especially for me. Inexperienced in city driving, I white-knuckled it whenever we had to take a freeway around cities. I had our two little boys in the back seat. We had put full boxes back there, covered with quilts and pillows, to give the boys plenty of room to move around They were just barely four and 1 1/2 years old. (No car seat or safety belt laws back then!) I followed Terry, who was alone in the big U-Haul. He kept a close eye on me, and finally we were there!

It was very early September, and it was HOT! I quickly learned that we were in a different climate. People from the church were giving us produce from their gardens, and we were thankful to have it. I had already preserved our Michigan garden, and now I added to that supply with gifts harvested by new friends.

Somewhere after the first couple of weeks, I thought about those carrots we had packed. I ventured down to the basement and pried the lid off the barrel–and almost lost my lunch at the stench of rotting food! Those carrots would have lasted the winter in the UP, but we had not accounted for the much warmer climate to which we had moved. I covered the barrel with the lid, while tears ran down my face as I thought of all that food going to waste just because it was much warmer than we had anticipated.

It stayed warm all the way through fall. It rained on Christmas day. RAIN! Not snow, rain! Even though I would not miss the winter deep freeze of the UP, I have to admit that a wet Christmas instead of a white Christmas was kind of depressing.

So far, this September is much like that first one we experienced back in 1974, 49 years ago. Today, the temp is milder–73 right now–but we turned of the A/C and opened up the doors and windows, so we’re dealing with humidity. Late summer in southeastern PA. It’s a beautiful, sunny day, but muggy and sticky. Soon, the muggy will be gone. I look forward to that.

Saturday Soliloquy: Boogie Woogie

I just hapened across a video of a young woman playing an impromptu boogie woogie concert in a mall. She was joined, again impromptu, by a man who was as equally talented as she was.

Here’s the video: https://www.facebook.com/100091441522449/videos/244028898461977/

Perhaps you are not a fan, and I understand that. I wouldn’t want a steady diet of boogie. A little bit goes a long way. However, I watched this video all the way through, and was so impressed with how well these two strangers worked together with NO history of ever doing so before. Also, I was impressed with how willing she was to allow him to play along with her. She didn’t mind having her fun shared with a complete stranger.

I have always loved the piano. I used to love it when I heard someone who clearly understood the music, the theory, the piano itself. I longed to have lessons, and now, at age 76, I’m finally taking lessons. I’m so thankful for what I’ve learned and enjoyed with PianobyPicturesAcademy.com. I do my private lessons with my teacher on Google Meet, and we also have weekly sessions with a group that we do with Zoom. Last week, I played in our first recital. I played the first movement of Beethoven’s Sonate #49 op 2, which I had memorized. I never thought I could memorize classical music, but I did! Also played St.-Saen’s “The Swan” from his “Carnival of the Animals.” Such a beautiful piece, and one I want to keep in my repertoire just because I love it so much.

I’ve been playing, self-taught, since I was 10. I learned to play for church early on, because my preacher/dad figured I could handle it when the regular pianist was unavailable. So, while I’m not a novice, I certainly am learning tons of new music and, for the first time, technique. I didn’t know I should be playing scales, but I’m doing so now. The major scales were easy, but the minors? Not so much. Each scale has three varieties: pure minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor. So, instead of 12 scales like the majors, there are 36 minor scales to learn. I love the challenge.

You’re never, ever too old to learn something new. Helps keep our aging brains alive and well!

Temporarily Stalled!

My laptop is being extremely uncooperative. It won’t let me in. I can use our PC when my husband doesn’t need it, but my windows of time for that are brief and rare.

Seems I’m taking another break. I hope this one is VERY short!

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023

To all my faithful readers: I need a break. I’ve been writing this blog nearly every day for over ten years, and you all have made my effort worthwhile. I appreciate. you more than I can ever say.

I’m realizing, this week, that I’m having trouble getting motivated. I’m not quitting. I’m just giving myself a little break from the routine. I’ll be back in about a week, give or take a few days.