A short retraction of a previous statement...

I am immune to Tylenol P.M even the extra strength. Since I finally took it this morning at 6:A.M. and I awoke at 8:05 A.M.! Yes, that is only two hours later! I suspect that is good enough proof, did I mention that I was still in pain then too? This problem for me has even happened with prescription medications too.
Oh well, my last hope for a night’s sleep has been taken from me.
If this was truly interactive I would hear back from someone with and idea on how to handle this better than I have been.

You see when any person misses out on a good night’s sleep it enhances, in a negative way, all medical issues.
Not only emotionally you are exhausted and can become testy, logically but physically your problems like arthritis and MS are made more pronounced due to nerves, bones and muscles all needing that respite too.
Without the allowance for body parts to be rested it is similar to running a vehicle into the ground; that’s our bodies’ main use, our transportation for us to get around.
Misused they deteriorate at a ridiculous rate.
And so sleep deprivation is more than a health issue it’s a social one.
Activity to be helpful in any way is curtailed and starts a vicious cycle of being non productive.

Today I once again tried to get help by speaking with a nurse at the local hospital since they have a pain management support group I contacted them.
Support groups are free, but unfortunately this particular meeting is at night when the nurse who teaches the self help measures is off from her day job at the hospital.
And the evening is when I am not at my best exhaustion sets in and I am not very capable of listening or learning a thing.

Good news: The stock market actually had a power surge stimulus today and went up over 374+ points today due to City Group Bank having a slight growth announcement.

My husband is working as slow as necessary to finish the fence without hurting himself more; even so he was able to put in three 4x4’s. But while he was outside today our nice neighbor from across the canal noticed that there were two thin teenage boys in a small boat, oddly enough it was the same small boat that was missing from the side yard of our neighbor who gave us the fence. And my hubby had just gotten off the phone telling him it was missing. The Sheriff’s Office was called promptly, and the boat was returned. Although, the two young men insisted that it too was a gift, but it was not, since the neighbor who it belonged to was asked, by calling him, if he had given it to the boys for helping him move, which they actually did not do and he did not give it to them! He lives on a waterfront canal in his new location and wanted the boat for there.

Well, barring being abrupt I will bid you a good night to all and to all count those blessings. Keep reading friends sixty-eight hits until the next level; we can do it!
I wonder what that is called...the next level name.

Sleeping in is really great!

This morning, to my shock, when I awoke, I looked at the clock on my husband’s high boy dresser across the room and was surprised to see that it was a minute after nine!
For me, that’s like waking up at noon for others, virtually unheard of for my early risings for more than thirty years, 5 to 6 A.M. has been my mostly usual.
For many years my only pain medicine that I could take was Tylenol extra strength, but soon it didn’t seem to work anymore and I really thought that I had become immune to its affects, and so I suffered without.
And so with my stomach ulcer issues I poo- pooed the idea from all those recent doctors who were trying to come up with some ideas to handle my chronic pain problems, and I thought that Tylenol P.M. wouldn’t help me and it really was not that affective, but the Tylenol P.M. Gel tabs that are also extra strength seemed to be helpful at 3:43 A.M. that is what I finally took and that is why I got nearly 5 hours of sleep, that is allowing for how long it took to work.
It was so refreshing to have had that much sleep for so long; now I am hopeful it will work again.
But for most people I would think the affect would last for about 6-8 hours?

Any-who that extra sleep apparently, helped me to feel nearly useful which proved for me to be able to do two loads of wash and make two meals today!
Most people who are disabled will tell you small accomplishments make you so happy, because they are tangible evidence that you are still capable in some ways. And life goes on.
In another month our swimming pool should be warm enough for me to do some therapy in there or it could be sooner with the daily temps this week here being in the low to mid 80’s. Warm showers are extremely helpful and cheaper than any meds even with our high city water bills that average over 80 bucks a month, but that includes our city sewers too.

My husband had me make a shopping list and he picked up the groceries and then after our lunch he began his preparation for the fence on the side of our house.
Our neighbors from across the canal bicycled over to ask if they could help, but so far he hasn’t needed any. I’m sure he will soon though and I truly hope he lets that nice neighbor who offered help him, but you know men….who knows. (Actually, I do believe they were just on a bike ride and saw my hubby and decided to ask. They ride daily. We used to ride for miles; the longest trip I remember was 21 miles to a park not far from where we lived in NJ, which is another sad thing that I miss.)
My cousin meant well, but I guess this particular one doesn’t read my Blog or he would know that I am unable to dance anymore, since he sent an email wishing me dancing now that I am retired so to speak.
I took ballet, toe and tap as well as Jazz and modern for twelve years, from 4 to 16, as a youngster. My dance teacher even gave us a co-ed class of ballroom, I was twelve and it was great and I miss that oh so much too, dancing that is.

I complain and Shanty Towns are all popping up all over our country, I truly feel so ashamed of my daily complaining. People lose their jobs and house and that’s how it happens.
I keep saying in my heart, "There, but for the Grace of God, go I.” And I cry inside with every moment of the news casts that bring us these birds’ eye views of misery now worldwide.
And I do worry like everyone for the other shoe to drop.
One major illness emergency without insurance it could happen to us.
Although, the health department people keep saying that they wouldn’t take our home, but I still fear that possibility.
So I weep along side the rest of our humans who suffer.
And count those meager blessings each and every night like I ask you all to do too.
I say what I say to give you and myself a severe pep talk of positivity, and hope that it works.
Professionals in the medical field say that positive upbeat thinking and talk will keep you mentally healthier, and could also help physically too. Try it, its called self-speak!
Think it and it will be theory.

On that positive note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Life Goes On...

I enjoyed that show, "Life Goes On", about a family with a Downs Syndrome teen named Corky played by Chris Burke, who was being mainstreamed into the public school system after being in special ed. classes for years; and it ran back in 1989 to 1993 on ABC.
He became a fine actor in that show in spite of his actually being a young man with Downs; he made capability look so easy; what a great human being and someone for others to emulate.

Being a member of that disability labeled group* that at the time enjoyed that show, now it makes my true daily confessions of my miseries of pain and inability to do what I really want to do, and when I do I am almost embarrassed, but if not here, where?
It seems the more I try to do the worse I feel.
Yesterday was extremely fun, but last night and today I paid for it with pain so severe I did not do much of anything today, and of course feeling oh so guilty for that. No sleep is getting boring and more than that annoying. Pain is just darn awful redundant!

(* I am not saying that what I have is similar to Chris Burke’s Downs by any means; what I am saying is that anyone that is labeled disabled is clustered all in the same group under one too broad heading.)

The fact that I am sitting here is amazing to me for my commitment to this self imposed obsession.
It pains me just to raise my hands above my elbows and sitting this straight for any length of time makes me have pain and numbness in my lower extremities.
But obligated I am to my own sense of doing something to record this at whatever it takes and for whomever it might get to, or even perhaps help.
We are all in the family of man and woman and we should learn and help one another.
Kind words mean more today than ever before and they are free.
When we listen with understanding to keep a lonely or unhappy or unhealthy person feel necessary or relevant by validating what is in their heart to utter and that it is important to hear.

So I thank you all for listening and being there for me; it is truly refreshing to see those reader numbers continue to advance ahead.
And since I am having so much difficulty sitting here I will bid you all good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Beautiful weather, nice company and a pleasant day!

Today we went up to Venice, no, not in Italy, Venice Florida, you sillies; about a half an hour or so north from our home here in River City.

Yes, today was their yearly arts and crafts fair, or it might be their bi-yearly, I’m not that sure, but anyway the company and the weather were both co-operative, which made for a very pleasant day.
Although, when we got out of our parked handicapped plated vehicle with our walker clad, caned and mobility carted trio we were definitely quite a sight for any oldie but goody octogenarian group of buddies that might think that they are not doing too badly after all.
These aides for our maneuvering the concourse of any major festival’s great not-so-wide way are quite necessary and awfully helpful.
I do believe that out of our trio I did have the fastest mobility and most comfortable ability to attain a not too challenging choreography to gain full access to where I wanted to go. By the way we were a small group of four, but number four of the group manages to go a cappella and still get around.
But I must admit my exuberance had to be slowed and reeled in at times to not get ahead of the group, (although I did lose them many times in the crowd, but that might have been due to their wanting to get a break from me and my incessant talking, so I’ve been told not so politely. I do need a life, and that proves it.), or run other pedestrians over, but I am learning and I do have a horn on mine.

All displays of art were quite well done in many mediums, and spread out for two or three blocks.
We have a similar fair in our city to our south, Punta Gorda, which should be coming up soon.

It is so hard to keep up with all this excitement in our fairly lofty lives of one after another entertainment fairs, who would have thunk it at these ripe old ages we would be having this much fun and this often.
I must add that, that was said with my literal tongue in cheek, in other words just kidding.
My husband’s 88 year Mom has a better social life than we have, but we are working on it.
It is just horrible being married so long and then finding out that you don’t just love all the same things…Kidding again, we knew, who doesn’t at this point?
But it is those differences that initially brought us together and have brought out our desires to want and do something, anything, at this point in our lives that which is new and more interesting than mudane.

On that note I will bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Chinese Proverbs

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Is a quote from Lao Tzu a Chinese philosopher; 600-531 B.C.
I guess he knew his stuff, smart man, in the sense that simplicity and starting from the beginning makes sense.
And so we should all take a look back at what makes for good wisdom for us.

Time and time again we as humans have had misery in our lives; this is not to say that we have not also had much joy to remember too.

Go with me here… it is my personal way of thinking or maybe just a coping mechanism, that is to remember the good happy times when things aren’t so good and to remember the bad times when things are going well to keep me humble and to appreciate when it’s good.

My theory is if we need to recall how we handled each and every situation since we have that power in our memory banks, we have been there before; we just have to reclaim it.
And we could playback the outcomes in our brains and not worry so much, huh? Is that an idea or what?

Florida is back onto its good warm weather trend all this weekend, 80 or above, sunny and dry, you couldn’t pay me to leave; maybe for a few mil I would do it, I’m not that proud, but it would still have to be only temporarily.

Our pleasant state is sort of like one of those family members who has too many ups and downs that at times we are embarrassed to admit that we know them, but they are still family and when they succeed at anything we love bragging about them.
Let’s just put it this way… it’s become my home, warts and all.

And I am very sure everyone feels that way with home sweet home in whatever state you live in.

I watched a little Oprah today and she had a lot of different topics, but the one I must admit I enjoyed the most was that the new first daughters have a lovely backyard play ground, but also still have their chores of helping with the dishes.
Normalcy exemplified by VIP’s who just so happen to be kids, good for you Malia and Sasha, and especially Mom and Dad and Grandma for creating such great people for our futures.

Being grounded in all situations makes for consistency in life.
Those two little girls have had a whirlwind lifestyle these last few years and it does my heart good as a parent myself to see that today parents still know how to make things safe with familiarity for children who could be easily due to circumstances be easily spoiled.

Bernie Madoff seems to be getting ready to claim that he is guilty if he gets a plea agreement to stealing that 50B. At 70 he would get a life sentence of incarceration. He’s trying to protect his wife Ruth, and they are trying to get him to tell where the money is. Time will tell the outcome on this one.

Today we had time for a small craft project for our guestroom wall.
This one was one of those positive themed plaques, Live, Love and Laugh.
A famous chain store that I won’t mention by name had a very nice one with two additional words for $90 bucks which I couldn't and would not pay even if I could, and so I asked my hubby if we could make one and we did for less than $20.
I bought one of those three metal hanging frame pieces for around $14, and the wooden letters from the craft department in the same store.
When I got home I thought of all ways to go on this idea.
One was to cut up an old lace tablecloth and paint card stock black and apply the lace over it and then paint the wooden letters with my acrylic antique gold paint and attach to the glass.
But my husband suggested something quite different and I did it his suggested way for a change.
I searched the net for the symbol for life, it turned out to the medical one, then the symbol for love, that of course was the hearts, and lastly the laugh one was the old throw back of the iconic smiley face from the 1970’s; each in the primary colors of blue, red and yellow.
And so the idea was fused and used blue was the color for life, red for love and yellow became laugh. It is now hanging on the bare wall where we really needed something and this I think definitely fit the bill, in more ways than one.

So on that pleasant note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Things are looking up for homeowners with financial difficulties

Yes, the new stimulus will be helping those homeowners in financial difficulties.
The criteria for being able to take advantage of refinancing, is having a home under 700+ K value, and you must have all your bills, paycheck stubs etc. to qualify to show that you can pay for the reduced rate.
The main concept of the assistance program’s objective is to make your mortgage loan be in the 31% of your income so that it makes it more manageable for you, creating some monetary relief, and to prevent foreclosure.

Amazingly my husband before noon today had completed the removal of the fence project. Now, comes, nail extraction, rebuilding, and reconfiguring stage with the painting to be last once installed in its new location; easier that way.
All these type projects used to be a family affair with me being an equal partner in the construction process, it does makes me somewhat sad to know that I am of no use what-so-ever anymore for any of this. But all I can do these days is to consistently remind my hubby to pace himself since he is physically challenged by injury.

This weekend we have been invited to go to my cousins for an Arts and Crafts Festival in their hometown of Venice. We will be going for an early afternoon around one P.M. and later on we will be eating out at very healthy chain restaurant called Sweet Tomatoes for an early dinner.
It consists of homemade soups and salads that you concoct yourself in a buffet style venue.
Usually with my weight issues I have been avoiding this buffet thing but with these healthy choices I will just have to take smaller plate amounts.
That is also what I am trying to do at home too; using salad plates for all meals including dinner; this is just to psychologically make me think that I am eating more, we shall see if it works.
Its so frustrating trying to loose weight when you cannot exercise by even just walking.
Here I go again explaining for those of you who may have just tuned in, I need both hips replaced and shoulders too and without insurance, we are too wealthy for Medicaid and I’m too young for Medicare, and too pre-existing for any manageable premiums, and so I am literally up a creek without a paddle. Due to stomach problems, history of bleeding ulcers, IBS and other stuff in that region, no pain medications can be taken to exercise with that pain like most do.
I do have a mobility cart for a life away from home, but my home is small enough to hold onto things inside, since I am trying to avoid using my canes since they are more than likely responsible for my shoulders being in the condition that they are.
You see, I started back in the spring of 2006 using the canes they were for my balance due to having Ataxia one of my continuing symptoms from my Multiple Sclerosis, and yes I do have more still with me even though I was declared stable on October 13. 2006. But MS is a gift that keeps giving with all its other symptoms that did not leave with me being declared, ‘stable’, which is not cured or in remission it just means no worse for now, then that is. It has been some time since that declaration, and my latest issues who knows if they are related to whatever my medical issues are.

The president has a new site for us to check in on called healthreform.com, which I just went to and it is basically a site to get prices for health insurance, again no help to me, unless I lie, which is not in my nature and I would be found out soon enough anyway.

Our prayers are with Barbara Bush, 83, during her recovery from Aortic Valve replacement, and oddly enough Robin Williams at the youthful age of just 57 will be having the same surgery and our heart and prayers are with him as well.

Good night to all and too all count those blessings and I will too.

Hope and blessings are all we got...

I know, right now, things are the worst that any one person has seen more than likely in their lifetime. The old timers still with us can remember the Great Depression, and they will comfort you with their stories of that momentous time; seek them out they can be so knowledgeable and helpful.
We are all trying our hardest to make the all mighty buck go as far as it can go.
Paying ones bills seems like a pie in the sky idea.
But the way one has to tackle the enormity of any one problem is to break it down into smaller manageable amounts.
One only can do what is possible so start there.
Take inventory of what you have money wise each month, and then get out those bills and break them down into what is an absolute necessary to pay and what can wait.
The ones that can wait are usually items that you can probably get rid of too once you can manage to pay them off, like those credit cards, cash is better and accepted worldwide.
Start with housing, rent or mortgage; look at it with the possibility of somehow changing it by either moving or renegotiating. To be honest most leasing agents and banks will work with you.
Utilities are next; think of ways of trying to use less trying to be greener and not wasteful. I do know that you in the north have had dreadfully cold weather, and must use heat do not freeze! But spring is right around the corner and perhaps think about opening those windows, and drying clothes and sheets on lines instead of in your dryers.

Do you really need cable?
No, use one TV with a converter, money saved there.
Cut up those credit cards, and then pay the one with the highest interest off first, doing it by paying twice the minimum asked for.
Make sure you go to work and enjoy it.
That job is your lifeline, and you need it.
See if anyone at work lives nearby and carpool to share expenses.
Brown bag it instead of buying lunch, this is usually more healthful anyway. And bring your own mug and coffee with you for the trip; fill it with office coffee for the trip home.
Any vices like smoking or drinking should either be discontinued by going to a free hospital run clinic for smoking or AA if drinking alcohol is a more serious problem.
Otherwise, just reduce your wine or beer consumption.
Smoking has no benefits so quit.
Walk for exercise and stress reduction after dinner or early before work, since it is free and extremely healthful.
Get books from your library as additional entertainment for free and you will be happier by sharpening your mind.
They also have music and movies too for free.
Try networking with family and friends to discuss what they are doing in this horrible economy, and remind each other that you are there for moral if not financial support.
We need our people more than ever to keeping up our chins if nothing else.
You can have a monthly pot luck dinner to meet with each other, so you can share food and ideas.
Start a vegetable garden according to whatever season it is possible in your area and then trade seeds and ideas for crops, soil and watering etc. with your network or the local college agricultural extension; most are free for advice, but do have some classes too.

Back to our blessings, we all know how important it is to never forget about those and think of what you are thankful for daily, no negativity, think happy positive thoughts and ideas for this practice, which should be incorporated into your daily discussions within your family group.
Even if you are alone never forgetting all those positives in your life, no one is truly alone if they believe in something even if it is just believing in yourself.
No one can tell anyone what to believe in but we all know that we need to have some things to hang onto when things get this bad.
So whatever it takes … rule of thumb is to start small and build… on just about any difficult job you want to tackle, literally physically or emotionally, and somehow it will get done.

Who am I to tell you?
Someone who’s been there before it was something for the masses, and I am nearly back from the brink, and I will try daily to never go there again.
We are managing but want to do better too.

So I bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!