Brain freeze to all who...

Have you ever thought you were getting some form of memory loss and then you realized that it only happens every once and while, not daily, or frequently enough to count…yet.

Most of us have forgotten where we put this or that, or who that was that did such and such whenever that was, got that?

It’s normal to some degree that we of the maturity generation hearing through the grapevine, when we think we actually did HEAR, but when does it become a problem that we should really genuinely be worrying about?

Oh don’t do that, worry that is, it only makes your memory burp into disastrous forgetfulness! Stress has proven to create fear and fear can make you forget everything…even your own name!

But when should one be a wee bit concerned?
I don’t know I am not the right person to ask.
I do believe it takes a neurologist to diagnosis clinical forgetfulness or dementia.

And so all I can do is wonder if forgetting common words while engaged in a general conversation should be of troubling concern for me or my peers around me?
It’s a wee bit of food for thought or try hard to remember, eh?

I just got distracted, so sorry, but two Grackles were doing a noisy mating dance, rather gracefully, in the backyard under our bird feeder, and it was really very cute.
Oh for those of you who don’t know the species, ‘Grackles’, are medium sized black birds that could be mistaken for crows the only difference is they have yellow eyes.
We do have a perfect habitat for birds with our feeder with the baffle to prevent the squirrel, our one and only one, I think, from getting the seed, a birdbath, and our fish pond with fountain and waterfall.
Many an afternoon Hubby is out there under our lanai on the patio reading and bird watching.
I, on the other hand would love to be out more but darn with my MS the temperature fluctuations make my spasms go kefluey, Tobism sorry! Plus one of my medications has restrictions about sun exposure; oh that’s me…so much fun!

Any-who today we went back to the grocery; I know we were just there, weren’t we?
Gosh we eat often and a lot. LOL
Anyway, our fish monger in the store has a child who has Autism, and so I suggested he contact Autism Speaks, autismspeaks.org, for helpful information since he said that his daughter lost so many of her services. We all should become advocates for anything we believe in. When it hits home that’s when we automatically get fired up rightfully so, now all my fire has turned into helping the others network for themselves.

Just had a slight writing break due to chest pains, most likely caused by gas, since I am back here now. If it was something serious I wouldn’t be here, now would I? LOL

On that fascinating pronouncement I will bid you all a good night and to all count your blessings and we will too!


PS another interesting happening just occurred with our Skipper, our Bichon Frise, he has lately been barking at nothing that we can see; he did just now, and me, I also in that same vein have thought I heard things too….ooh, ooh … that proved to be nothing. I told Hubby that perhaps Skipper has medium/psychic abilities, and mine must be extra larges LOL!

Two thumbs up!

The Robin Cook book, ‘Intervention’, proved to be a very good read folks! It was finished with relish earlier today.
Side note: Robin Cook lives in Florida now; he’s one of our own.

Yesterday, we had something enter our backyard shed and the only reason we think that we know that is because things were knocked over in it, so Hubby did report to me. And so Hubby went out during our rain storm and reopened the door to allow whatever critter was in it was able to leave, but silly us, would you go out in a rain storm if you had a dry shed to stay in? The shed does have quite a few hiding spaces in there with all its stuff, and so whatever is in there is probably hiding quite well.
So the door was soon closed once more by none other than Hubby.

And Hubby felt the need to devise a Rube Goldberg-ish trap for our little trespasser to knock over on he/she’s exit in case we weren’t watching on that occasion. The door is set three quarters of the way closed with this block in the doorway that once triggered just a light piece of plastic about the size of a shirt cardboard will fall over, simplicity at its finest. But so far nothing has happened.
Hubby figures that the culprit got in when he was mowing the lawn yesterday.
He does have a tendency to leave doors open; that is the shed’s and garage’s side door, and I always worry about critters trying to make their homes inside.

I do harbor a bad memory of that rodent getting in there, the garage, and then the rest is history as they say!

Memories can be wonderful too though especially when you see a photo of someone you recall from your past in a good way. I had the joy of seeing an entire family I basically grew up with their picture was posted on my Facebook site oh what fond memories that brought back!

Sadly, in devastation of national natural disasters many of us forget that those photos cannot be replaced, and so I recommend making copies and putting them in very safe place or mailing them far away to someone you trust.

I guess since we are getting closer to our hurricane season this June first marking the beginning, a little over six weeks away, it is making me go into psychological preparation mode, since this year the country and pretty much all over the world has had with all those unfortunate natural disasters. They are saying this year may be bad for us in the gulf coast area too with our hurricane threats once again, if interested to see you can: go to copy and paste this site: http://www.mahalo.com/2010-hurricane-season-forecast

On that guarded note I will wish you all a pleasant good night to all and to all count those blessings and we will too!


PS Last night was movie night here, and we saw Sherlock Holmes, it was very good!

Who are you?

Did you ever wonder to whom you were speaking when you chose to speak to a representative of a building or conglomerate?
Now they are both quite different things entirely.
A building is an architectural structure without a mouth, limbs or a soul, and conglomerate is a business…I guess could also be a mouth-less, limbless, and soulless entity if run improperly. LOL

Buildings on the one hand contain people within them and I suspect most conglomerates do too, sure they do, wink, wink. In this day and age who really knows the answer to that one.

Oddly enough I have found myself speaking to a building over the last two days, well, I suppose most of you are wondering how that could be, because buildings don’t talk, or do they?

This one was unidentifiable since no human name was given to me but yet I carried on a Facebook conversation back and forth for the last two days with this disembodied voice/building.
How odd you say!
Yep, I agree.
And so a few minutes ago I laid the law down to that building, which, by the way is our Cultural Center by non human name, and questioned that nobody on whom they might perhaps be, human wise that is, and so far no info has changed hands.
Maybe it would be a security breech?
I have all the time in the world to wait them out, after all I am retired.

Moving on … A few days ago I promised I had another project in the works and I do.
You see, as a consumer like all of us I feel the need to comment on products when they are good or not so good, and I have always enjoyed writing a good letter to the powers that be letting them know those feelings, we all should do that you know.

Feedback is the technical term that they enjoy calling it.
I have been known to help large companies/conglomerates know when the product on the market is doing what they claim or falling short of those expectations.
Freedom of speech and all that and the need to be a responsible consumer, after all money aint what it used to be, and everything we consume these days is not by any means cheap!
Consequently, I have received refunds, rebates and freebies by expressing these assertive opinions, and I can’t say that I am not happy to be doing what I consider a watchdog type service for those too timid perhaps to speak up for themselves.

Most recently my synthetic marble sink and counter top company, which has been keeping in touch with me on my most recent problem, a stained, scratched and hairline cracked sink that has a ten year warranty, and was installed professionally after Hurricane Charley in December of 2004. I started the contact of this company on this past Thursday through emails and calling their 800 number as I was told to. In the email I explained the situation about the kitchen sink’s condition and they gave me the phone number of a call center that was oddly enough located in California, the first hint was when I left my call back info at nine in the morning since they were not open yet, and they said they didn’t open till nine PST. I say oddly enough because they needed my zip code to be able to set me up with someone in my area; we live on the south west coast of Florida not the west coast of the country?

But their system was telling them I lived in Seattle Washington, and I had to argue with them that it was wrong! Then they told me I needed a claim number, and I said I didn’t have one, no one gave me one. And so they gave me the toll free number for the warranty department in Delaware, and to be honest the man there was very nice and said that all I needed was my invoice from the sale four years ago, which I did find after a half hour of looking with Hubby’s help and emailed it to him after I scanned it, this was on Friday evening. I suspect they are closed for the weekend. He did say I needed that to get a new sink. To be honest I just want mine fixed, I don’t want to be without a sink for who knows how long! You see, my sink is molded into one piece with my counter top and that would be a disaster if they had to remove the whole thing! He did say that maybe it could be fixed.

Anywho that’s what I do with my simple life, when I am not going out or reading like today. I will be recommending that Robin Cook book, Intervention, to all of you it has everything in it you can imagine, similarities to an Indiana Jones movie, DaVinci Code one, and anyone of Cook's previous medical mysteries all incorporated into one hard to put down novel! Let’s put it this way I am currently on page 395 since starting it yesterday and I can’t wait to finish to know the ending! That means only a little less than two hundred pages left.

On that good note of intrigue I will wish you all a good night and to all count those blessing and we will too!

Mildness of the climate in the home was the sensation of the feeling of the day!

Huh? In other words, calmness was here today!
BORING! You all say well maybe not; but to have peace in any form is a plus in these anxious times, right?

I started reading my book today that is one of Robin Cook’s his newest called, Intervention; I believe it is his newest, at least it was in the new book section of the library, and they don’t lie, do they?

My relaxation techniques are basically vegging-out by watching the idiot box also, going back and forth from the TV to the book is how I roll; these days there isn’t much else in my repertoire.

That is unless Hubby or I decide we are going out to some absolute destination for necessities, fun or education purposes.

We are still conserving gas although the newest low/high is really confusing since it actually fluctuates almost daily, got that?

This weekend at our little municipal airport we have our annual air show going on, but we aren’t going. You see it is twenty bucks a head, and when Hubby used to be a deputy and he would be usually working the air show I was allowed in for free. And when we lived in south Jersey, in Lacey Township, we lived about twenty minutes south of Lakehurst and that too was free and we would take our sons to that one.
So I guess we are spoiled due to all those freebies.

The military can’t charge since they are supported by us, the taxpayers; sort of like the Smithsonian’s, which are also still free, I think! We used to go there a few times a year when we lived in NJ, only five and half hours from there by car.

Actually it doesn’t really matter anyway since we seem to live right below their flight pattern and all we have to do is go outside and look up! LOL

Have you ever wanted something different for diner or lunch or even breakfast and couldn’t come up with something new or unique? I used to find thinking about important things was at times a very interesting challenge in problem solving, but this is just lame and ridiculous, this is what I have been lowered to in my excitement scale in life? OH NO!
Sometimes I feel that I should be doing something rewarding and important like I used to do, but then my body says forget it! DAMN!

Not so funny when its your count on one and only body that you thought you had been taking care of, eating lots of fruits and veggies, used to go to the gym one and half hours a day, or race walk three miles in forty minutes, quit smoking nearly four years ago, and this is how I am being repaid with this shell of yuck! Darn, there should have been a healthy reward for me not this.

If only I could figure out how to change what has happened, since theoretically I do know what to do, besides all that working out I was a dancer too, took it for about twelve years. Knowing what has to be done is frustrating, since in my home I basically even have a home gym too, with a stationary bike, treadmill, and free weights, not to mention a backyard pool. But I was told more exercise will make my already destroyed bones and muscles only get worse, being pre-existing with no insurance to repair the damage that is my biggest fear to try any of it, since a doctor told me that.

I had been walking up until about two years ago when the pain from my hips became so severe I couldn’t sleep at night and that is when the doctor told me it’s a no go. The old story if it hurts when you do that then don’t do that! And pain meds for me either don’t work or cause bleeding ulcers, so that is where the problem lies or as I like to say up a creek without a paddle, not really I don't like to say that but it is accurate.

If any of you out there have any ideas please tell me what I should do?
I have run out of ideas.

On that pathetic plea; I will wish you all a good night and to all count those blessings and we will too!

Library day and can we talk?

The reason I am asking if it’s OK if we talk, just you and me, is because it is about my physical health issues and I didn’t want to lay the information on someone who wasn’t really interested. So I take it from your silence that it is all right with you for me to continue in this vein of conversation? Good.

I have been trying half heartedly to not mention what has been going on with me because I do know that to some people it could be considered a very boring topic, my ills.
But I think it is only fair to explain why a few days ago I mentioned the need to go back to see my neurologist, right? PS: I have an appointment for next month.
Only fair correct?
Well, here goes, I have been having more muscle spasms than I have had in a very long time, and find myself taking the Baclofen, anti-spasmodic medication, more often than not, and I was doing so well without it.
The other problem is a wee bit more disturbing to me and it has to do with endurance, being able to stand for any length of time, well sadly that has diminished to minutes too, with numbness in my legs causing me the need to sit before I fall.
But yet if I am sitting I also get the numbness too, as well as if my legs are straight down in a seating position, in other words I am damned if I do and damned if I don’t.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I suppose making the doctor’s appointment was the best idea, eh?

Moving on… today we also returned some and got out a few more books from our library branch, and then went over to see what was up at the adjoining building, our Cultural Center.
They have an easel in their lobby telling you what is going on today, and so I noticed there was one organization or group that I was unfamiliar with and I decided to ask the ‘Golden Girls’, senior white haired volunteers behind the counter, and they did not know.
That only made me more curious to find out who The Charlotte Community Foundation was, that’s me the nosey one!
They were meeting in room E, and so I scootered down there to find out, but no one was there yet, the meeting was scheduled for 11 A.M., and when the people did finally start to stroll in, I asked, and received an answer from the Manager of Marketing & Nonprofit Resources: edavis@CharlotteCommunityFoundation.org, Ed Davis, he was able to tell me that they help nonprofit organizations in finding and keeping volunteers, attain networking resources and the like. And so my curiosity was satisfied and I felt the need to acquire a few business cards to pass along, and I did. I also let those Golden Gals know about the mysterious group too, although they did not seem as interested in that information as I was.
Just call me the town crier.

Oh I almost forgot to tell you all about my big shopping spree!
At the Cultural Center they also have a few different types of shops besides so many other things, classes theater, restaurant, etc. but today I went into their little handmade items gift shop, and purchased an adorable tiny 4”X6” picture of a Teddy bear playing a violin, it made me think of my niece who passed away back in 2006, she played the violin as a child. And so I asked how much it was, since I couldn’t find any price on it and the additional Golden Gal who appeared to be in charge of the shop went in the back and asked a few other elderly cuties, and came back with the very appropriate price that was to my liking of two bucks, you made a sale, I said!

I have another project in the works; so be here next time for that update!

On that silly note I will wish you all a good night and to all count those blessings and we will too!

PS the people from our refuse company came early this morning, at six fifteen A.M. and did pick up our yard waste

Have any of you watched the show about...

Those CEO’s who go undercover to see the reality of their companies by working alongside their employees?
I found it very enlightening.


Any-who, back to the point I was trying to make, the one company that was on that show that does national waste removal for cities all over the place has, in my opinion been slacking off here.

Our county reduced our garbage refuse pick up to once a week including recycling and yard waste too. Our day is Wednesday, and for some reason, well they forgot to pick up our yard waste AGAIN! It seems that this has been happening at least twice a month for the last few months, why is that?
And we again went to the wire, and tried calling at five P.M., but they were already all gone!

To the good of that water utilities department they did do what they promised for flushing out our block’s water system and then retested us, and it was now good!

Confusing, I do know that people all over the country are trying harder than ever to do a good job since the prospect of another one could be zero to none these days.
Then why do some not appear to be doing the most simplistic task at one of the highest pays for a civil servant position?
It is in my understanding that many sanitation engineers make more than police, fire, or teachers. I do realize how filthy a job it is, but is it dangerous or are they in charge of molding little children’s brains? No, of course not!

All people should be respected in life for what their vocation is, and how they do it, but they should take pride in it no matter what, in other words be the best you can be at what you chose to do!
No job is insignificant if you do it correctly, everything matters folks.

Many positions in life that others may not want to do are done, because somebody else had the knowledge and expertise to do it, let us not forget that.

An analogy might be the one you hear in the arts, ‘those who can do (sing, dance, act etc.) those who can’t teach.’

But we all do know our limitations in life once we reach maturity, right?
Some will try things out of their reach but what the heck trying can be fun too!
Failing is all part of life.
Experimenting is an enjoyable way to learn more about yourself, and why not folks?
Many, who have been out of the work force for a while or just looking for any job, should try those temp agencies to see if they might have hidden talents, you never know.

If I was in better health I would do that, although my work history is quite diverse.

On that bizarre note of mystery I will bid you all a good night, count those blessings and we will too!

How about going out...we did!

What would be the occasion to leave the compound and venture into the world, you ask?
This and that …but of course!

Do you all recall that I felt the need to propagate?
The pineapple, silly!
I’m way too old for the other kind.

Any-who, we went to the giant discount store up the road a piece to acquire those few items which we just had to have, potting soil, hair care products and …gosh I forgot!
But we really hadda have it; if you know what I mean?

Once back at the ranch, so to speak, we chilled for a bit and sat outback.
Then Hubby got out the empty large flower pot with matching saucer, and filled it with the potting soil, he did the honors too with the planting of the pineapple according to the instructions off the net, push in till it stands by itself.

Hubby did some other things while I bathed in the dapple sunshine under the shade of our lanai. Soon I noticed through the houses that the next street over mail had been delivered and so I told Hubby, and he went and got ours. It was mostly junk mail and our water and sewer bill with an addition inside, a water quality test result for the county.

To the good it did show that we were all within the required limitations for any impurities. But I called anyway, since it was really written for a micro-biologist to understand. Hubby and I both knew we had very hard water and this was a definite from the exterior faucets deteriorating and the same issue occurring with our kitchen faucet as well. But when I questioned it the times before I was told that our water couldn’t do that and so I told the faucet manufacturer and they replaced it for the third time for free, the first and second times we paid for it.

Also the last time I called the utility department I was told a water test cost one hundred bucks but this time I was told it was free, huh?
And so I requested one, and sure enough the person was here this afternoon, service with a smile, how about that?

The gentleman was greeted by Hubby who went out specifically to speak with him and show him our faucet proof. The man agreed the water should not do that, and proceeded to test the water, it turned pink very quickly indicating that something was definitely askew it was showing the disinfectant was too high, and he told Hubby that the system should be flushed out by them within the next few days. Thank you very much!

I had concerns previously and even switched our animals to bottle water like me, since I could never drink ours; it gave me a stomach issue, that’s as close as I am going to say, you get the gist.
My other problems were pink rings in the toilets, and if I soaked towels or white clothing for more than a few minutes in the washer they would actually rip!

Now I feel like I am being exonerated, well at least I will when they fix the problem.
After all our water and sewer bills run around eighty bucks a month, only once it was in the sixties, and a few times like this current one which I already paid online was in the low nineties, which seems high to me, but this was a thirty-one day month, and even though Hubby waters with the rain barrel water he can’t add back water to the swimming pool or the fish pond which evaporate with our dryness, because there is too much sediment from our roof in the rain barrel water, even with the screen in place. So he does on occasion use city water.

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and we will too!