Tired Beyond Words...

This past week has been kicking my tail... and DH's tail as well. We're up early... and running all day long. I have still been feeling the after effects of having the flu... and being out of one of my maintenance medications. I tried to to errands and shopping on Saturday and ended up getting ill in the middle of it all... and had to come and sleep. I was gone for most of Sunday, attending a baby shower, which involved a drive and then having to be "entertaining" while feeling puny.

I've also tried to cook ahead and make things for dinner during this week. I've been made some good things to reheat... but it hasn't made any difference as DH has been working overtime and had night calls 2 out of 3 nights so far. He's tired... and I've been having to pick up the slack where he usually helps me. It's been making us both very weary. Running errands after work, shopping, and cooking and cleaning have tuckered me out... and tonite I voted for eating take-out. (So much for reheating what I made!)

Tomorrow I have an appointment after work... the upholstery guy is coming to do repair work on my sofa. We had seam failure on one of the back cushions and it's under warranty. He's coming around 6 pm... and so I have been picking things up and straightening and dusting. I hope I can convince DH to run the vacuum for me... I still can't do the push and pull of the vacuum cleaner.

Work is going well for me... my month turned out better for February than I first thought. I had lots of "old money" come in and it shows that I worked very hard last month. I am running hard to get a good start to this month... not too certain just what my goal will be for March. I do know that my location has lots of work to do to keep up with me... I keep finding problems and issues and I know that they are sick of getting my emails asking for them to do what needs to be done and my checking for accountability. They are not used to having someone hold them accountable for issues that have a way of being swept under the rug... guess who keeps looking under the rug and showing them what needs to be cleaned up!

I've got wrap this up and get busy so the house is a little more under control... still need to pack lunches for tomorrow and get the dishwasher unloaded. I think I hate house work!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Tuesday Whine and Snivel!

Well... today is Tuesday. It has been a very long day for me. I rolled out of bed at about 5:45 or 5:50 to start getting ready for work. I hit the road about 7:15 after having a bowl of cereal. I did the work thing all day, taking only half my lunch break today to help a new coworker sign into our online hr department to set up her profile for benefits and payroll.

I flew back home after 5:00, stopped in the driveway long enough for DH to climb in the car and we headed downtown for his first physical therapy appointment. That's what my Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be like until after the first week of October. We did stop to get a bite to eat for dinner... and then I came into the house to get dogs fed and walked, figure out what I am wearing tomorrow, pack a lunch, cook up fresh green beans that DH snapped for me and get the dishwasher loaded. I finally sat down with slippers on my feet and jammies about 8:30. If I had kids... I think I'd be dead by now!

Honestly... I don't know how working Moms do it... and homework? I don't even think I could even begin to have to help with homework. It's now 10 pm and all I want to do is fall into bed and sleep. I do have to say that it was very sweet and cute to see Punky dance and leap when she realizes that I am home. She is always so thrilled to see me... and I have started making sure that she realizes that I am leaving each morning. I tell her good-bye and DH says that she spends all her day in her bed now that I am working. Poor little dear... she has started sleeping on the bed with me as well... (she woke me up around 4am this morning because she wanted to snuggle and play...)

I'm so done tonight... my contact lenses are having a hard time staying on my eyes. Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Unexpected Visitors

Today started as a quiet and peaceful day. We had a simple breakfast... and made plans to go to a local dog park. We drove over the hill, but a new batch of gnats hatched over night... it was way tooooo bad to go for a walk. We all would have ingested more than our daily quota for such things like bugs! It really was bad.

We came home and on our way, stopped at one of the local farms to buy some sweet corn for our dinner. We decided that we would grab our laptops, a cool drink and chill out on the patio under our umbrella. I made more than one trip up and down the stairs during the time we were outside starting at around 11:30. The longest stretch we were out at any one point was about an hour.

We came back inside at 2:00... I was going to make a sandwich for each of us. I had the under cabinet lights on, and to my surprise... there were mice droppings on my counter. Wha???????? It was cold last night... and apparently they came up into the kitchen~ and I went into "freak-out mode." (Mind you, there was nothing on the counters all day until between 1 and 2!) We have spent the rest of our day carefully cleaning our entire kitchen area. DH has discovered their mode of entry and we have obtained traps. He made a customized piece of 1/4 inch plastic to cover the hole that the mice have been using. I think we have seen the last of them up here. (I prayerfully hope so!)

We have boxed up all of our food that is in cardboard or cellophane or anything that a mouse could chew through... and placed all of it in huge rubbermaid tubs that we use for moving. Everything in the entire kitchen has been washed, bleached, dried and put away on clean shelf liner. I am so terribly tired at this point, I can't even begin to tell you. I don't know how I will be able to go in and make a lunch for tomorrow... I think I will probably do take-out tomorrow.

DH is working on putting things back in proper form... even with his one arm! He's an amazing man and I cannot thank him enough for helping me with such a huge job. I am totally "yucked out" by this whole entire thing. I once had baby mice invade a desk drawer at work, about the time it started to get cold. It was a horrid mess and I had to throw some treasured things away because they ruined them. I still get so skieved out! Traps are going out... tonight. It will give DH something to do tomorrow while I am at work.

Sorry to share such horrid news. Thanks for coming by.... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Recovering...

It was a loooooooooonnngggg day yesterday, and an even longer night. I managed to get things under control by midnight... but DH was not able to sleep. He said he just laid there all night long. He did wake me up twice, but I managed to get a little rest, probably out of sheer exhaustion!

Today has been interesting... DH has needed a lot of prompting in his self-care. He has to be prompted to take his pain meds... and to remember to hydrate. He doesn't think to eat unless I ask him. I only hope that he can remember what he has to do to get well by next week.

I had a busy "mom" kind of day... I did lots of cooking and cleaning up and acting like the mom... and I'm tired. I can honestly say that if we had small children right now... I'm certain someone would take them from me... because I just don't have the patience nor the energy. My hat is off to all of you Moms right now!

My nerves are shot today... and I have found myself in tears more than once. Please... as I have asked before... please pray for us, and for me.

Tomorrow, I am going to try and get both dogs bathed... am I asking for punishment or what? I also need to try and get to the post office as well... I have to keep reminding myself that I have to do it all right now... DH is definitely on the "Disabled List." So... I'm gonna go and fix myself an tall, icy glass of diet pepsi and go "veg" in front of the tv for a bit!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~S.

Trying Not To Eat A House...

The events of this past week have made me quite nervous and tense. (I am not always so sweet and pleasant when it comes to health issues, worker's comp and not having a paycheck coming anytime soon.)
I know I'm suppose to have faith in God the Father, that he will indeed work things out... but I have it in my nature to sometimes "freak out" beyond my wildest dreams. When I get stressed... I want to eat... and I want to eat everything in my path. Any leftovers in the fridge now don't stand a chance of being around for tomorrow!

I can say this... my house is clean. My kitchen is spotless. My bathroom is clean... and the dogs are taking cover at the sound of the vacuum cleaner running every couple of hours, because they've been laying around on the floor. Stress is just a wonderful motivator, at times!

There are a couple of bright sides to all my turmoil. We still have a little money in the bank... and we have some investment money that we can "cash in" if need be. AND... I got a call from the Vet's office, Nolli-dog's tumor was benign... it was a subcutaneous mass on the outside of his elbow. (Poor baby... he won't let us take off his bandages yet.) AND... DH contacted my computer manufacturer... my laptop is still under warranty and they sent him a new hard drive and software to reinstall in my laptop. It took him just over 2 days to get it all up and running, in between going to doctor's appointments, physical therapy and his MRI. I am actually once again sitting outside, writing at my patio table.

And... tonite is the start of Vally Days... we will be able to sit on the porch at the front house and watch the annual fireman's parade. Yesterday, they were working on out street and had the road closed. It was very quiet... and all the neighbors who needed to leave out block had to come through the front driveway and turn up through ours to get to the street. It was actually kind of humorous as we were sitting outside reading the newspaper as people were leaving for work... we just kept our heads buried in the paper and ignored what was happening. It was very quiet for most of the day... It's rare to have our road closed... but it was so nice and peaceful too!

It suppose to be cooler weather here for the next few days... that will be nice for everyone going to Vally Days. I am certain we will just be sitting out here, enjoying the weather, the noise, and some good food.... I need to watch just how much I eat these days! (I think I hear a rind-ding call my name!)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Ack! It's Too Humid!

It's Monday morning... and it started very early for us. We spent most of yesterday doing laundry and trying to stay cool. DH packed his bags for a week long stay south of Philly. He left at 5 this morning.

I had a rough night... my back kept aching and spasming. I told DH that I would get up with him at 4:30 to help him finish getting everything ready for his trip. That also meant that I would not be taking any Ambien to help me sleep. I don't know what I actually came to bed and fell asleep, but I know that it was past midnight. Once I had DH out the door and on his way, I made my way back to bed, but sleep didn't come for at least 2 more hours... and I only slept for 2 hours.

It is very humid here right now. When DH and I were outside in the driveway this morning, it was fairly clear. By the time I managed to get the living room cool and get my back to settle down, it was getting steamy outside. When I woke up, it was completely foggy and everything was dripping wet outside. My poor plants look like they were put in a true steam bath and they are droopy and sad.

We knew that this coming week was going to be very humid and hot. DH was concerned that I wouldn't be able to regulate my body temp and could get very sick. So... he went out and purchased a new a/c unit to go in the living room. We love it... and so does Nolli-dog. He spent most of yesterday sleeping on the living room floor in perfect comfort. It didn't matter what was going on anywhere else in the house or outdoors... he was happy and wasn't going to budge from his spot. (Smart dog!)

I'm hoping that I will be able to make it through the next 4 1/2 days until DH comes home on Friday. I hope that my back takes it easy on me and that the dogs cooperate with me... actually, I hope Punky cooperates with me. I don't think that I will be able to get myself into too much trouble this week... it's just too hot to go gallivanting across the countryside!

Oh! My Back!!!!

Last week, my chiropractor cut my appointments back to 2 days a week. Apparently, my back wasn't informed of this matter and decided to go "on-strike" late Saturday. Sunday was a day that I couldn't do too much because if I moved wrong, it hurt. Yesterday was so bad, that it took my breath away and stopped me in my tracks if I tried to do much of anything.

I really wanted to stay home this morning and sleep since I haven't slept well in several days... even with the help of Ambien! I made myself go anyway... and I can say that I do feel better after going in for an adjustment and therapy. I will be on ice for most of the rest of today. I can start heat tomorrow, thankfully!

So... once again, I am not able to do too much. I will have to take it easy and slow when I water all the flowers today. (And I'm sure that I won't be picking up Punky and holding her in my lap too much.)

The ice packs are calling me... Thanks for reading. Be blessed!
~Suzanne

P.S. ~Sandy... I love the idea of using a shower curtain across the shelving! DH also had that idea when I shared your comments with him! He said great minds think alike. =)

Sleepy.... Sleepy.... Sleepy

For the last 2 or 3 days... there has been a slight change in my sleep cycle. Where I once slept all through the night, I find myself waking early... to use the bathroom. If it's still dark outside, I can go back to sleep. If it's light out... I an wide awake!

It's Saturday... the "traditional" day for folks everywhere to sleep in. Not me. I was up early enough to see the paper dropped at the end of the driveway. I tried to doze back off on the couch, that didn't happen because Punky discovered that I was awake and she promptly jumped up and climbed into my lap for love and adoration. Before I knew it, DH was also awake and lying across the couch with his head in my lap as he told me about a crazy dream that woke him up.

I read the paper... ate a muffin... puttered about on the computer and then decided to go back to sleep... in the bedroom. It was on the dark side compared to the living room. And no one was in there. So, I got comfy and drifted off to sleep. It didn't last as my peaceful sleep was interrupted by the landscape service... mowing and trimming our yard. (Which should have been done yesterday! Just sayin')

So... now I am wandering around the house, trying to pull myself together. I may need to go to the top of the hill for some fortifed caffeine with one of those Mc-Fancy coffee drinks. I sent DH out to get a hair cut, he wanted me to go with him, but I can't pull it together to get in the shower and become a presentable human being. I don't own a coffee maker, but I may won one before the day is out. (((Yawn))))

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Holy Cow!

Holy Cow... Holy Mole`... Holy smokes! I had my last set of injections... because the doctor bruised me so badly last week, he moved his injection site a little closer to the middle of my right knee. That stuff is now under my knee cap! It feels like a small mountain in there!

But that's not the worst of it... when he did my very last shot... on my left knee... he hit a nerve! I actually cried as he finished. (I just never cry at these things... they are always a piece of cake!) It was so bad... that he made me sit down in a chair in the exam room and wait... he went and did another patient... and came back to check on me. He had me walk... and it sounded like "rice krispies" as I walked back and forth. I am once again walking like a weeble ... a very drunk weeble! So... I managed to make my way out of the office and I promised I would ice it. Yes, Ice is my best friend these days! (It does feel good with these 90 degree days we're having!)

To Kiss or To Kill...

I am at my wits end with most things these days... it's not good to be gone from home for 3 days when it's not planned or prepared for! I have spent my time since coming home from the hospital not resting, but cleaning and grumbling. It has gotten to critical mass stage here. I understand that DH was stretched very thin while I was gone, but coming home to a dirty kitchen and a man that has no inkling or idea that I would have liked the assistance without having to ask, would have been nice.

The other thing is that is weighing very heavy on me... is the fact that when I tell DH that I need something done... if it's not for my immediate needs, it doesn't get done. I have never in my life witnessed someone who is so stupidly unaware of the things around him and how I ask and ask ask to have things done, and it goes on ignored. Anyone got a match?????

I would do these things myself, but I am not capable of doing some of it... my knees don't work well and my back has become a bit of an issue. If I did what I wanted to have done... I'd be in bed only to face an even bigger mess later. I guess I need to find a young teenage boy that wants to earn some extra money... that's what I did in Maryland. My good friend Mary has two young grandsons who love to work and earn money. I would set up a time with her and then DJ and Shane would come over and do the work I needed... moving my closets from one floor to another area 2 floors down... hauling boxes for me, cleaning my car out... all good chores. I am still waiting for boxes to be hauled down to the basement... and I would eventually like to unpack all of my shoes and handbags that have been boxed for a year. Then there is the mess on the garage floor... and the dirt that he can't be bothered to sweep up or the stack of cardboard that he can't seem to let go of! Or the huge messes in basement, I cannot take it anymore!

That thought of going on strike has occurred to me... but I think I would still be left with a huge mess. To kiss him or kill him.... hmmmm.... When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Just not sure...

I have been having issues lately with blogger... I am having trouble opening my own page. I also have trouble viewing other sites and often get booted off. Now I can't upload pictures or manipulate them like I have in the past. I recently upgraded my internet explorer so that I could add a banner and possibly a new background... that's not working out well. I even dumped several of my widgets to help with some of the problems, and it didn't really help! So... I am wondering, do I find another site to blog on? And if I did... would y'all follow me over there? It's getting to the point where I have to decide what I want to do... and I don't really want to have to start over again! Help!!!! Comments... Please!!!

Thanks! Suzanne

Oh My!

It's only the beginning of June... and it's soooo HUMID! I feel like I am back in Maryland. We are relatively cool as temperatures go... only 73 degrees at 3:00. But the humidity... aaaaaccckkkk!

I was going to go all out and cook something good for dinner... but since it's so humid, I think we are having leftover chili, a big salad and sour dough bread. I just don't have the stamina and I don't want to heat up the center of the house if I can help it.

DH just got home from work... he told me that earlier today, he went into the mens room and took his t-shirt off and wrung it out. That's alot of perspiration! He drove home with the air conditioner on... and still has sweat marks from the seat of his truck on the back of his legs.

Nolli-dog... has slept most of the day... it's not even August, and he's acting all worn out! He did go out for his 3:oo o'clock walk... and ignored the squirrel that was on the tree less than 4 feet from his face. It's too humid for him to chase a squirrel!

I'm done with my "whine and snivel" report... please pass the cheese for my crackers!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne