March 31st Vlog

Today my happy is getting to spend time with friends.  They all got to do crafts and I got to watch and gab.

March snow storm, March is going out like a lion.

March 30th Vlog

Reading "Oh My a Fly" with Gideon tonight, the pop-up version is today's happy.

Hair cut!!

March 29th Vlog

My happy for today is that tonight I might have a little bit of improvement with my hand.  Not counting my eggs before they are hatched though.  There is still tingling and such.  Tomorrow I see a neurologist.

       There was some sun!!!



                                                   Snowflakes on his head... really

 Trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue.

Sights along our walk.

march 28th-Vlog

My grandson, Gideon, came into my room tonight to tell me stories and now his sleeping bag is by mine so we can have a slumber party is today's happy.

March 27th Vlog

Spending time with friends and getting to read books to the daughter of a friend are my happy things for today.

Rainy day.

The 26th of March Vlog Sunday

The Snake Oil game is today's happy.  That and my grandson trying to teach me yoga.  We were both sitting on the floor and he says 'Namaste' and then proceeds to teach some meditation.  Love my grandson!  

Drove by the house, still some ice on the lake.

And this song has been in my head since we heard it in the car tonight.  

The 25th of March Vlog

We played games today and the game I laughed the most during was Snake Oil. It is aimed at ages 10 and up but my 5 year old grandson loves the game and is good at it.  That is today's happy.

More snow today.

March 24th vlog

My happy for today is spending time with my grandson.  He helped me sort papers today, such a great helper!

Snowing again

The 23rd of March Vlog??

Happy for today is figuring out the camera to reduce the left handed typing!  Also using Miquon (Cuisenaire) Rods with my grandson.

Groups of 10

Blasting

New clothes

3-22

Last week my daughter came down with strep throat, today my son-in-law.  Their son, Gideon, is also on antibiotics now for his cough that seems to be turning into a sinus infection.  And I am not driving because of my right hand and arm being overused and in a brace most of the day.  Just a few minutes trying to type with my left and that hand starts to ache.  Very thankful for my daughter's in laws who helped out today shuffling cars around since we are at one driver currently. 

Keeping it short, so my happy for today is family generosity, orange juice, and the right medications.

 And signs of spring!!!

The 21st of March--short entries this week

At this time I am still waiting for improvement on my right hand and arm.  I went for a nice walk this morning.  It is difficult to not use my right hand.  My left is starting to ache, even though I don't feel like I am using it excessively, it is being used differently.  The left is getting a little ice when I do the right.

Today's poem from my walk:

Spring has sprung and walking begun

Walk is all I can do

Typing with my left hand is no fun

But it will have to do

Today, stroll around the city

Cars, people and crosswalks

The morning sky is so pretty

Typing lefty just sucks

Happy things for today include--Getting to spend the day with family, going for a walk, ordering the new pump for my house, good food, and seeing friends.

I downloaded an app today that I am hoping will allow me to type using my voice, so no hands!

Morning clouds

Happy Spring!

Today I saw my doctor about the numb thumb problem.  I have been diagnosed with over use syndrome of the median and ulnar nerve.  Typing with a sprint on is not fun and probably bad for my thumb and arm so I am trying to do as much with my left hand as possible.  This injury has me with a week off of work to rest the hand and arm as much as possible.  I can walk though and plan to work on my morning and evening routines while off.  When I go back to work next week I want to be on more of a daytime schedule.  I also want to be walking as much as possible.  There are some exercises for me to start in a couple days to help and I am hoping these are firmly into my routine then too.

Tonight we went to the movies and saw Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson as Belle.  Such a good movie!  It was Gideon's first time going to the movie theater.  So exciting!  I almost think that the Disney animated version was his mother's first trip to the movies, but she would have only been a year old, so maybe not. Haha!

My happy for today is the trip to the movies.  Relaxing for my brain and my aching, tingly body parts.

Still an icy lake on the first day of spring.

Sunday, March 19th

Nothing got fixed at my house this weekend but I went to work both days.  We tried to fix the pump but I had the wrong stuff.  I will get what I need this week and it will get done over next weekend.  My hand is still being a problem but I took 2 Naproxen Sodium before work today and was able to scan at a very good pace once it kicked in.  I tried wearing a wrist guard (because that is what I found) but it was difficult to use the equipment with that on.  It is almost comfortable wearing while I am typing though.  So, the thumb hasn't been numb too much since I have been stretching so often and I also iced the area today.  There have been a few times when there was mild tingling or quick nerve pokes.  Not sure how else to describe the sensation.  And general aching.  Really, really hoping this is just a passing thing that some exercises or muscle relaxers will fix and I don't have to file for workman's comp.  I have no idea how it should work.

Today's happy is learning about how my water pump works.

Unsafe ice on the lake.

My equipment.

March 18th, Saturday

Yesterday, while at work, my thumb decided to go numb.  I have been doing a bunch of various stretches and messages.  My thumb doesn't seem as numb anymore, but there is still lots of cramping and aches.  Monday I will call my doctor.  My boss is going to have someone call me \about Workman's Comp.  😑

Since I keep falling asleep writing I will make this a very short post and finish up with my happy for today.  Someone volunteered to help out at the store I was working in today.  It was someone that I hadn't seen in a while and it was nice to see him.

Signs of spring, a bug in the house.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

After shuffling cars around this morning because of last nights parking ban, I finally got a shower.  It had been a few days because of snow, time and circumstance.  This has been my first real experience with a street parking ban.  The kids have been dealing with it for a few years now and I had only heard about it.  There are certain parts I don't understand about the parking garage.  It is open 24 hours but only charges between 8 AM and 5 PM.  This seems great  but when I got home at  5 AM the parking machine won't let me pay for the day until after 6 AM because it is free overnight.  Thankfully my son-in-law had to go get his car to go to work so I asked him to pay for me.  I wonder what other city folks do.

Another item I ticked off as done this morning is getting my oil changed and picking up the mail at the Post Office.  Then it was off to work, where I promptly fell asleep in the parking lot.  I really need to get more sleep...  After working only an hour or so my hand and arm were achy so I went back out to my car and had some Naproxen Sodium to help alleviate that.  I also ate because I like to have food with medicines like that when I can.  Soon after going back into work, my thumb became numb.  Not good.  I emailed my boss and she agreed that it was not good, but that was all I got out of her.  I admit that I was hoping she would tell me to go home,  So I got in touch with a friend who gave me some stretches and other advice over the phone.  Great help!  It is somewhat better.  Unfortunately I think that, in the end, the only way to repair any damage will be to leave my job or change what I do within the company in a significant way.

Today I am, again, happy for friends. 🙋 Other things today are naps, sunrises, car washes and Shamrock shakes.  😋

 Sunrise

Car wash

Ice on the lake again (unsafe)

Wearing O' the Green, with orange too, because I am an equal opportunity part Irish person.  

😵💚🍀

                                                                                 

Thursday, March 16th

Early this morning I looked at my work schedule and didn't need to work today.  😊  A little too late to do anything about it I got a group email from my boss looking for help, but couldn't at that point.  😏  I have a feeling that tomorrow will be busy.

During the day my daughter and I went through a box that had bunches of pictures from the late 1980's and early 1990's.  A nice trip down memory lane, which proved that I have a bad memory for people's names!

We got a few things done around her house, which will help if I move in here when my house sells.  I had been thinking that it isn't all that important for me to have a bedroom of my own, but later on I got tired and could see the benefits.  Getting in as much time with the family as I can is a good thing.

Today's happy are fun memories.

From Pennsic 17 in the year 1988

The Ides of March

Well, the blizzard was over when I got up, so that is good.  Shoveling was harder than I anticipated.  The wind and cold hard packed the snow making it very heavy.  But the hardest part was Hunter not being there.  While I was inside, taking a cry break, I started writing something up and I will put that at the end of the blog.  But also, my neighbor came by with his tractor and blew what I hadn't shoveled yet away in a matter of minutes.  I let him know about Hunter and he said I could come by and play with their dog, Dixie, whenever I wanted.  I don't think I am ready for that yet.

The rest of my day was mostly work.  I ran some errands first and paid the mortgage.    There was a customer today that stood out.  She spoke very little English, but seemed to have a good grasp of it when I spoke.  She was looking for an allergy medicine and I think I helped her.  Really cool app on her phone, she typed in what she wanted and the app translated for her.  It made communicating much easier.  I still don't know how it really worked because it seemed that she was using the alphabet from a 10 key pad and that typed into her Asian calligraphy which then converted to English.  Neat system. 

Happy things for today include knowing that my son arrived at his destination safely, the super, magnificent generosity of neighbors helping me clean out the snow, a friend calling to see if I wanted to do a movie or anything and with condolences for Hunter.  

No more paw prints in the snow

You were born in winter

Into the winter you have gone

Yesterday there was a blizzard

Today there are no paws prints in the snow

No toys to toss from the shovels end

For you to chase and fetch

No balls to toss from the shovels end

For you to lose and find come spring

As I break through the hard pack

I have to stop as the tears roll

Catch my breath, look around

Smooth, clean, glistening surface

With no more paw prints on the snow

Maybe 18 inches??

Stairs going down.

Happy Pi Day

The door handle at my daughter's house sticks.  I have a considerably difficult time getting it open.  When I got back in the early hours this morning after everyone was asleep, I couldn't get it open.  I tried and tried.  I laughed quietly at myself and the absurdity of it all.  Then I remembered that in my car I had a rubber husband (the term I use for one of those rubber things to open jars).  I went back out into the cold and got it, went back and opened the door first time!  My hands just have no friction.

There was a blizzard today so I left my daughter's in the morning, got a few things done on the way home and shoveled when I got here.  There was probably about 5 or 6 inches when I started and another 2 or more fell in the hour I shoveled.  I was going to go back out and shovel again later but changed my mind.  The wind was just blowing too strong.  Instead, I had a nap, ate and went through boxes and sorted and threw things away.  Very productive day at home.  In the morning I will be heading back to my daughter's house before going to work.

I think I am getting much better at getting rid of things, but it might be that I am choosing things to sort that I know I can get rid of.  Like bills that I should have disposed of years ago but never bothered.  And an old sleeping bag that is falling apart but I was keeping just in case.  I have no idea what just in case would be.  It is highly unlikely that I would let anyone use it.  I had been using it for a while as additional padding under my bedding on my cot.  Any how, I think I am FINALLY starting to successfully downsize.  We shall see.  I still need to make the time to go through stuff.  I found a couple dollars in an envelope with my son's name in it.  That is part of the problem, I tuck money away and so need to go through everything to be sure not to throw any away.  If only enough would miraculously appear that I can completely fund my hike and my house, I would keep the house.  Maybe, not sure about that.  Part of me doesn't want to sell, another part is almost ready to walk away.

My son called to speak with me for a little bit today.  That is my happy.  We kept losing connection, probably because of the storm.  

Now for some dirty laundry.  Another happy is that I was able to go down into the cellar through "the hole" today.  "The hole" is a trap door in the floor that leads to the cellar.  For me, hopefully a recovering almost hoarder, it is a big deal.  It has been years since that area of the house was accessible.  My one picture for today is the pathway to the trap door.  I'm not sure if any of my prior blog posts touched on my hoarding tendencies, but now it is out there.  I use words like tendencies and almost because I don't feel that I am quite as OCD about it as my kids think I am.  Or at least I don't feel that I am quite a textbook case.  Until recently, at least the more common areas have been usable.  Whatever, I am rambling.  I am working to downsize and I will.  If I don't, there will be no hike.

The 13th of March

On this day in 1981, a Friday, I got my driver's license.  I have been a licensed driver for 36 years.  Now there is something to make a person feel old!  

Last night I slept in a hotel because work sent me far enough away to warrant an overnight stay.  This was the first time in a long time that I slept on a bed.  Tonight I am back at my daughter's house on her couch.  I don't mind, but I think some find it weird.  The hotel had a lovely continental breakfast.  I stepped out of a comfort zone again and left my cell phone in the room to charge.  So I ate by myself with only the view and food to occupy my morning meal.  I went late enough that it wasn't very busy.  Then I headed off to work.  It is funny how certain things keep presenting themselves in my life to prepare me to be alone, not the same way as I will be on the trail, but small steps.  

The views while driving today are my happy.  I need to stop taking pictures while I am driving.  😜

The 12th of March

Work sent me traveling and so I am sitting in a Best Western as I write this.  I had a late supper at a place called Dysart's.  An omelet, hash browns and molasses toast.  Breakfast, it's what's for dinner.  Very good food.  It is the first time I have had molasses toast.  The only thing that would have improved on the toast would have been a light drizzle of molasses on top.  It would probably make some good French toast as well.   Breakfast will be the complimentary one here at the hotel though.  I don't remember the last time I sat in a restaurant, by myself, and ate a meal.  I am not that I ever have done that, except maybe at a McDonald's.  There were prints on the walls of nature scenes.  Very pretty.  There is a possibility that I will be eating alone at restaurants when I hike, so I guess I should get used to it.  

For today my happy is molasses toast and spending my morning with a smiling 5 year old.  😊

The open road.

 

The 11th of March, Saturday

Fell asleep watching the movie Moana with the family.  I think I have been pretty tired.  My brothers came to my house today and helped me sort through things in the cellar.  We expected to find more tools that were my dad's.  There was quite a bit of stuff and they both chose some things to take with them.  We also got rid of quite a bit of trash.  There is still a bunch of stuff down there, but I think they have what they wanted.  Unfortunately, we didn't find any buried treasure.

There are still things at the house that are broken so I am staying with my daughter's family again tonight.  Tomorrow I will be traveling for work.

My happy thing for the day is that things are moving forward for emptying my house.  Also, getting to spend time with Gideon, my grandson.  😊

Moon through the trees.