halt stop forget relax

The BBQ Sunday in Edmonds was fun. It's always nice to see cousins and nieces and brothers you haven't seen in a year or so; the little ones grow so fast! Here is our family shot. From left are my nephew's significant other, my nephew, his Mom (my sister-in-law), my brother hiding behind our niece, in back of me is my other brother holding his grandson, Max, my other nephew, and my niece's husband holding his other son, Tyler. And, of course there's me, sitting on my walker. This is just one third of those who were there. And here are some shots of my youngest great-nephew, Tyler. Is there anything cuter than an almost two year-old eating an ice cream cone? I think not. (I notice they took his shirt off for the event.) Hmmm, I guess I have outed myself. MS reared its ugly head when I had to go to the bathroom. I get little warning, and the Port-a-John was uphill next to the play area. I asked one of my cousins to escort me in case I needed some help getting up the ...

Four weeks to the day after I finished ten days of Cipro to treat a bladder infection I must start another ten days of Levaquin for (probably the same) a bladder infection! I have taken three pills, and STILL I'm leaking! Dare I say thank God for Depends? Speaking of which I will need to buy another package of them as I'm down to three. Must drink more water. That's what it boils down to. I've been off my routine -- and I can't remember what threw me off -- but I'd better get back on it because I had been doing pretty well. I went four months clear, and before that I went five months clear. I think since I started drinking coffee more, I've been slacking with the water. It should be the other way around; when you increase your caffeine intake, you should also increase your water intake to offset the diuretic effect of the caffeine. I know this, so why don't I do this? Enuf said 'bout that. ***** I can't wait until my friend actually moves over he...

I hope we're doing the right thing. It will mean a big change for us. My friend who has offered to help with the painting of my room has been without a REAL home since she left her husband many months ago. She has been living in Yakima, and moved into a trailer on a friend's property. Trouble is, it has no running water, therefore no plumbing. She has to go into the house to use the bathroom and get water. Also, the heater is so bad, it can't keep the trailer warm during the very cold Winter months. She has been thinking about moving back to Tacoma, and perhaps live with another friend of hers. The trouble is, that friend, despite her willing heart, is (for lack of a better description) white trash. She and her husband, plus a grown son and his two kids live together in a two bedroom house. They were evicted from a one bedroom house in May. She has a good State job, but she doesn't pay her bills. Her other son just got out of prison where he was serving for check fraud....

DH and I went to Seattle today to pick up our lawn mower which had a recall on it, so whatever part was involved was replaced for free. Now we ( he ) needs to find a good deal on batteries for it. We used to have an electric mower, but it didn't last very long. I know dragging a cord around can be a pain in the ass, but at least it doesn't require replacement after three years. Anyway, that's his job - to do a thorough search for replacement batteries so he doesn't have to weed-whack the lawn all summer. Then we went to IKEA to buy my new mattress. After lying on several**, and DH doing the same, I decided on the Sultan Elsfjord model (which is quite firm) for $449. Good price for a mattress with a 23 year warranty. I also bought a set of beige sheets, and a Brunkrissla duvet cover in the red/orange/yellow colors that are so warm and colorful, bright and comforting. It will be nice when it is set up - but first.... so much to do. So, now I need to clear away a butt-load...

I have a scooter that was given to me at least two years ago. It's sitting in the garage, holding some chair cushions. It's missing its key, and its batteries are dead as can be. I need to apply to the NMSS for help to get new batteries. But when I look at the application for aid with equipment I just feel sick. It's not that I don't need the help; it isn't even that I don't deserve the help; it's that the help is so damned difficult to get. I worked there for sixteen years, many of them running the equipment loan/assistance program. Believe me, we didn't used to have people jump through all these hoops to get help. Some hoops, yes, but not as many as they have in place today. Their financial aid application is five pages long! Un-fucking-believable. Well, I don't feel like doing it right now, perhaps I'll get to it much later in the week, because I'll need to amass some specific information first - like my exact income, and which batteries I...

Thanks to Kimberly for the lovely Lemonade Stand Award, When life gives you lemons... Reminds me of this poem by Marsha Masters, and which I plagiarized once when I was in ninth grade. April It's lemonade, it's lemonade, it's daisy. It's a roller-skating, scissor-grinding day; It's gingham-waisted, chocolate flavored lazy, With the children flower-scattered at their play. This is just the first stanza, and you can believe me when I tell you that I changed some of the words that just didn't sound like me before I handed it in; like scissor-grinding and gingham-waisted must have become something else more befitting a 13-year old naive Catholic schoolgirl. I believe I got an 'A' on it, and was praised for my imagery [or some such crap]. Yes, that's how I made it through school. Too bad I couldn't use similar tricks in Spanish class - or in Algebra. Ugh. As soon as I think of something to write about I'll get back to regular posting. I've...

Linda (Braincheese) has come up with a lovely idea, one that I wish I had considered when I read the news that Sherry 's daughter died of pneumonia yesterday. Though I know neither of them, my breath was taken away still, and we all know there are no words that are a balm to the wound of losing a child. So Sherry, I, your blogger friend, light this candle to Nicole's memory. Good Night and Be Well.

It's Sunday Stealing Time: 1. What is your current obsession? I'm obsessed with sleep. 2. What’s a good coffee place? Bertolino's in Tacoma on about S. 23rd and Union Sts. 3. Who was the last person that you hugged? My husband. 4. Do you nap a lot? Periodically. 5. Tonight, what’s for dinner? Don't know yet. 6. What was the last thing that you bought? Gas or Groceries. 7. What is your favorite weather? Warm and sunny, as opposed to HOT and sunny. 8. Tell us something about one blogger who you think will play this week? I never know. 9. If you were given a free house that was full furnished, where in the world would you like it to be? In the Tacoma area, but with a view of Mt Rainier, the sunset, and some water. 10. Name three things that you could not live without. I doubt you mean food, water, and shelter - so I'll say friends, books and dessert. 11. What would you like in your hands right now? A novel that has me rapt. 12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures? ...

Thank you, lovely Herrad, for this award. I will make an effort to deserve it. The Most Wonderful Favourite Award. These are the rules in accepting this award. Deliver this award to eight people (or as many-few as you'd enjoy giving it to or have time to) bloggers who then must choose and deliver the award to eight more (or as many-few as you'd like to) and include the following text into the award. "These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.’ Please give more attention to these writers." I really enjoy reading all the blogs I follow and hope you will too. All that been said, I give this "Most wonderful favorite" award to: 1. Linda 2. Robyn 3. Weeble Girl 4. Marc 5. Marie Thanks for the entertainment, folks. Now come over and pick up your award. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

Wow, tonight, along with all the other MS Bloggers out there, I received this. Thanks Julie , I appreciate it, and I think it's lovely. Good Night, TTYL and Be Well