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It's a heat wave we're having here in the Pacific Northwest, and the last time we went five consecutive days above 90 degrees was in 1981. Yes, on the second day of that heat wave I was married in my parents' back yard. I was doing much better with my MS back then, but I'm sure I made it through the day due only to that extra rush of adrenaline that was coursing through my veins. Today, and the rest of the week, I have no such source of adrenaline, so it will be cooling vest time sitting in front of the fans. On top of it all, I've been having a few hot flashes, which to be fair, can only be characterized as warm surges when compared to those I have read about. I have been drinking water, iced water, a fruit smoothie, several iced chai (yum), and a tangerine soda that I got at Trader Joe's. So I am staying hydrated. My brother came over today and he and DH took the old mattress and box springs to the dump. YAY. Right now DH is vacuuming my room and putting in m...

Friday was my birthday. I turned 54. There was no celebration to go with it. As a matter of fact DH sort of spaced out on it. Late in the day he told me he was going to go buy me something, then just spaced it out. I told him that what he could do was to make me a large pot of chai, which he did. So I am a happy girl with enough chai concentrate (he makes it that way) to last through the heat wave! I also got a small gift from a friend at the yard sale Saturday - a tote bag that has a Louisa May Alcott quote on it, "She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain," plus a little book called The Sisterhood of Wonderful Wacky Women . Saturday, I spent the entire afternoon at our yard sale. We ended up making a little over $1000 to give to charity. It was one of our better sales; last year we made under $700. It is really interesting to take note of the people who frequent these sales. There are the kind who love to haggle you down, even if the price is already dirt cheap ...

I've been enjoying a lazy Summer so far by doing as little as possible. I did go to India Bazaar last week and buy the spices I need for chai, but I haven't made any yet. First I had to do some dishes, then we had a few hot days which precludes me doing anything near the stove. If I get up early enough tomorrow, I'll try to get to it, and make enough to last for a few days. I had placed an order with Land's End that was having a summer sale. I got two pairs of pants, a pair of crops, a lightweight cardigan, a polo, a layering l/s tee/tank, and two s/s tees, and a pair of sandals and a pair of moccasins for me; I got DH two polos, two tees, and two l/s shirts. I do not want to see my next Visa statement because I'm sure I have spent about $200 more than I meant to, because unknown to me, DH also ordered a new battery for our lawn mower which cost, I think, $100. Remember, last month we bought my new mattress and comforter cover which brought my balance up to $1175. ...

I got this from Weeble Girl. 30 Things You Wouldn't Think To Ask 1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Nope. 2. Do you close your eyes on roller coaster? I haven't been on a roller coaster since I was about seven. It was the Wild Mouse at the Seattle Center (1962 World's Fair). I'm sure I kept my eyes open. I know, due to too much junk food throughout the day, I threw up at the top on the first turn! [my apologies to those standing below] It was a tiny roller coaster by today's standards. 3. When's the last time you've been sledding? When I was about 11, down the hill at the end of the block where I grew up. 4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? I prefer to sleep alone where the snoring of DH is just a light rumble a room away. 5. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes. 6. Do you consider yourself creative? Sort of. 7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? Yes. My leather gloves are really tight the first time I put them on in the Fall, after ge...

On May 25 I wrote an entry called "Antibiotics and the Sun Don't Mix," and every week since people who have googled antibiotics and sun have been directed to my blog. Who knew it was such a prevalent problem? I imagine there are a lot of people out there who, like I do, have sunburns on the tops of their feet, or perhaps even worse since I thought I was being careful. It seems wondrous, the whole Google phenomenon that enables millions of people to have access to the thoughts of millions of other people who have open blogs, is being used to query about that, bowel and bladder issues, and Belly Bags. Just thought I'd mention that. What a way to get traffic! I think the only other readers I have are people who also have MS who I follow, or people I have found through other people's blogs and who I follow. I have quite a time trying to keep all my Kims, Annes, Jans and Lindas straight! Aren't you glad there aren't a lot of Websters out here? LOL Our weather...

A couple or a few weeks ago I was fooling around with the layout of this blog, and as I was doing so I wanted to change the font to - yes - comic sans, the much overused font that some people want banned from the internet, but which I love and find very easy to read. So I followed a link to another, then another, and finally another site, and came upon the cutest blog on the block and downloaded my new font. Sounds simple, right? And so it was, except for two things: I can't seem to change the size of the titles of each post and I have no recollection of what I did to change it. I would like the titles to be much bigger than the body text. As it is now, they look more like a post script than a headline, and it just isn't right. Do you have any suggestions for me all you whizzes out there? I would surely appreciate it/them. Sorry, but there's not much going on to write about in li'l ole' Webster's life right now. I canceled the newspaper for the summer so I can...

All these new drugs we now have for MS - Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Rebif, Novantrone, Tysabri - the list goes on. Not one of them promises to make us feel better. As a matterof fact, many of them tell us to expect to feel worse (with flu-like symptoms)! But still we endure the injections, IM or SubQ, weekly, several times a week, or daily, or the monthly infusions which offer even graver possible side effects, some of which can kill you. Still, most of us take one, either out of hope that it will slow our pregression as promised, or out of fear that if we do nothing we are surely screwed. I held off for several years because I was doing well, and because I was on Medicare. I simply couldn't afford any of them. Also, I wasn't charmed by the meager benefit I felt they promised. Basically, they help one third of the people who take them slow their MS by about one third (of projected outcome). That sounds like a crap shoot to me. Still, I signed on. I was prescribed Avonex first...

I grew up on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle about a half mi le walk to Kerry Park, the prime viewpoint f or the Fourth of Jul-Ivar's fireworks display, (click to see full size) Ivar's being a Seattle seafood restaurant and institution. After our family BBQ, once it was getting dark, we would all walk down to get our spot and watch the display. I remember the fireworks forming pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty and the American Flag. My husband tells me this couldn't possibly be true, but I've asked my older brother and he remembers it that way, too. At least I feel vindicated. Ivar's has decided not to offer a display this year for the first time in probably 50 years! But for the past 20 some years, we've had another display on Lake Union - the WAMU Family Fourth. When I first met DH he was living just a block from the Lake. We could see it from our second floor balcony, but unfortunately trees and apa...

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

It seems that Julie and Anne have been overlooked in the awards department, and that is just a crying shame. So come on over ladies, and pick up your award. You know what this means, don't you? That's right. Whining must now be kept to a minimum. Good Day, TTYL and Be Well.

I picked this one up from Marie of Nourish at her other blog, The Shore Bookworm. She hasn't posted there since April. I guess she's been busy elsewhere. 1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down? I prefer to use a bookmark; I have lots of them laying around. Sometimes I will leave the book open face down for a short break, but I would never, ever bend the page corner. I hate dogeared pages! 2. Do you lend your books? Yes, though more likely I'd give it away - or sell it. 3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS! Unless I'm "studying" the book, as with Oprah's series with Eckhart Tolle on A New Earth , I don't write in my books. It's not a bad idea though, especially now that I can't remember shit. 4. Dust jackets - leave it on or take it off? With any hard cover I plan to keep, I'll remove the dust jacket while I'm reading it - the book,...