Platypus

Ok, so its that time again, I have a cold sore...right in the middle of my top lip. It came from out of no-where last night. I ran my teeth across my upper lip and OUCH, what was that? That crazy awful tingling sensation, then the dread you feel as you know you will have to look in the mirror, cause you just know what's going to happen next. I used to have some of these awful things when I was a little girl. Then nothing for years, then once when I first met my husband, I had to get one. I would have rather had a pimple or a bad hair day. This one got so big he took one look at me and called me a Platypus. What? Yeah, a Platypus. I honestly had no idea of what a Platypus was. He had to get a picture of one to show me what he meant. I could not believe it. I actually DID look like one of these mammals with with the large extended duck-like bill. I mean what am I going to do? Sit in the house and play on the computer, watch tv, play my nintendo ds (since "B" got me some cool new brain games)blog and eat cabbage soup? I mean that sounds better than going out in public and having the next guy look at me like..what the heck is on HER lip?

I have had the good fortune however, to not get one of these things in over 20 years. Until now. Boom! Bang! And did it come through with a vengeance. I have forgotten how long they even last and what all it takes to try to get rid of them. So I am overdosing on the lysine, putting on the creams, and trying to freeze off the sucker with some ice. And I tried all that last night! All it seemed to do was to make it grow even faster and bigger!

SO What else is new?

Its been a lousy 2006 anyhow, so I might as well go out with a Bang.......or would that be a PLATYPUS?

Happy New Year!

Cabbage Soup

The last 2 days have been real nice, (with the exception of one thing, which I will not go into right now). Tuesday, the day after Christmas, I got to go with my sister-in-law and nieces shopping. It is a tradition she has done for years but I have got to do with her for the last 3, and I enjoy it. The girls had Christmas money and gift cards to spend. I really wasn't expecting to get to go but she said she would happily push me around in the chair on wheels if that is what it took for me to go. So I went. Luckily, I managed it all on my own. And did pretty well if I do say so myself. I even got a good bargain for $9.99! So I was happy. Yesterday, Frank and I got up and went up to Indy to go grocery shopping at Meijer's. I don't know where all the groceries go so quickly. But we needed a few things and I would rather go there than anywhere, and hoped to see Brandon again as he was off of work for another day. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see him, seems he would rather have slept than to see mom :( geez, what is up with that??? But Frank and I had a great day anyway. We went to Panera's and had some Brocolli soup in a bread bowl and then a German Pastry, which by the way is my new favorite sweet.

I have been craving anything cabbage lately and Frank is planning a Cabbage Soup for me. We have discussed all kinds of ways to make it, with and without potatoes and meat. I was lucky enough to find some of the large green onions today in Meijer's produce section. I think those will be excellent in the soup. But I think I am opting for it without meat. I cannot imagine it being bad either way. Who would have thought Cabbage would be something to crave?

Anyhow, I can't wait for it................smells good already.

A Little Snow Please?

As I wind myself down for the night, I paused to reflect on the days events. I got to be with my family for the day, which was nice. We got to have a nice dinner together. My nieces were excited, as young ones should be. Brandon couldn't get enough of the candy that Kim made (she told him they were addicting!). The dogs were excited to see Brandon as he always gets them a little something and he had them a box full of treats. Brandon got me some games for me to work my brain some more on my Nintendo DS...I am real excited about that, I can hardly wait. He got me some long underwear too and I have them on...so warm..... Dad just tried to keep up and hear all that was going on around him. Frank got to talk to his friend on the phone 2 different times, as he was in too much pain to try to venture the 2 hour drive to see him. He got to have some much needed quiet time and watch some movies and I hear he got to talk a while to his sister, Sandi, in Florida. What it must be like in Florida for Christmas? I wonder. I will have to ask her. I missed the snow for today. I miss the snow for winter. I remember when I was younger having so much snow it's almost unbelievable now to think of it. Not just for Christmas time but all winter the snow was there and seemed to stay for long periods of time.

Anyhow, I think today for my immediate family at least, a good time was had by all. Although I do wish Frank could have gotten his only wish.


Oh, but Frank did get his Ov-Glove he has been wanting for years, and he has used it already..it works!

Where are my Special K's?

Ok so we had a nice day today. First off we were lucky enough to be able to get to see Frank's brother and his wife. Its hard when you live out in the boonies to see your family on a regular basis. And its been a while and Frank misses his brother. Anyhow we got to eat at the KFC lounge which was yummy and Fred and Jan got to get the buffet (its not offered where they live) and they ate their "gizzards" which they love (also not offered where they live) and even took some home. Nice to visit with family. Jan brought us a bag of goodies. Goodies meaning....."SWEETS". We put them into the back seat as after we ate they went on home and we had to go to the hospital for Frank to get his CT Scan. Been through this before and we had pre-registered the night before so hoped it would not take too long. Of course we got there early in the hopes too of getting out early so as not to have to drive home in the dark. Too much hoping on our part. Of course since the holiday is upon us I think most of the hospital staff left early or were not even scheduled. The imaging guy told us we had to go to the register booth first..although it was closed, they already had gone home. So then he said we had to go to the ER to register, of course the ER was full up of very sick people, sneezing, coughing and one guy who must have been in an accident was bleeding from the head something awful (glad to see they rushed him on in) but there was one lady who was there for a headache and was screaming and crying so loud and never stopped for the 2 hours we were waiting. Even the register clerk didn't know why they would not come and get her. Needless to say not a pleasant wait. After 2 hours and 45 minutes after his scheduled appointment, he was called and it only took what seemed like 2 minutes. We were happy to be on our way home and I suggested getting a Mountain Dew for our ride to be enjoyed with a few bites out of Jan's goody bag. Ok, so of course what I saw first was the Banana Nut bread she always makes for Frank, I dug in and found some of the delicious Orange cookies with icing, then the peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge..............................................

WHAT??? Where are the Special K Cookies?????? Ok so I didn't get any this year..no big deal....but I sure love them. I mean I wait all year for these things...so where are they?




We get home and pull the treats out again to give my dad a chance to eat some. And there they were.......the Special K's............YUMMY.................These things are so delicious...........She did make some after all...Thanks Jan.

A True Meaning of Christmas

December 23rd, 2006



Soon it will be Christmas day. I love the holidays. I love the winter. I love the snow although we have not had any yet. I remember the blizzard of '78 and would not mind another...providing I had enough food and heat!! :)
I have to say though I am missing some of my family and friends that have passed on and even though the holidays are a time I love I miss the parts where they were involved. I miss seeing my friend during the holidays. She was always a happy go lucky person and I believed she loved the winter and holidays as much as I did. I miss her laugh when she would call me to wish me Merry Christmas. I miss my Aunt Lissie...I miss the way I would search all year for that one special doll she would love to receive for a gift. I miss fixing her a plate of goodies and I mostly miss her smile. I miss my mom. I don't even know where to begin on that one. I will still be with my dad, brother and his family and my son and husband on Christmas day, but will still miss the way it used to be. Mom liked to have Christmas day to visit with her family so we have tried to carry on the tradition, somewhat. Frank usually likes to go fishing for some quiet time on that day and I think I could use some of that too. This year may be different for him as he might just take a trip to Peru to visit his longtime friend Hank. Regardless of how we choose to spend the day on Monday we all still know that this Christmas season we could all receive the greatest gift that can ever be given. We can open our hearts and let the One who was born in a stable in humility, died on a cross in love, and rose from the dead in power, enter in.





Merry Christmas to all.

317,000 miles and counting...............

Who says a 1993 Toyota Corolla with 317,000 miles can't pass a Lamborghini Countach? I took this picture with my handy Motorola cell phone camera, just as we came up on this fantastic car, and then again, just as we passed it. Yes, I said as we passed it............ So I have proof.:)

Personal Chef

Yesterday Frank was going to just bake me a cabbage. A few years ago he used some creative know how in the kitchen and baked us a cabbage using ice, butter, onions and some spices..yum was it ever good! So periodically I can entice him to bake one up, yesterday was one of those times. Prior to fixing it he asked me if we had any smoked sausage and of course we did so he fixed up another great dinner. Not quite sure how he fixed it (as I just waited for it) but he made the best cabbage and smoked sausage dinner I ever had.



Tomorrow he is planning a new meal for us. Grilled cheese sandwiches, Frankie style. He plans to use French baguette bread and turn it inside out and place some thick sliced provolone cheese along with some other cheese (he has yet to name) along with some grilled onions and red peppers. And of course some spices. I cannot wait to try that. Oh, if only everybody had their own personal chef. How lucky can one girl get?

A Heart of Gold

Today was a good day! Usually anytime we have to go to the doctor, not such a great day, but that didn't happen today. Not only did I have to go to the family doctor but Frank did too and then after that he had an appointment with the heart doctor. After his heart attack and stent placement in February of this year he had more than his share of "ups and downs". I was beginning to think he would never be "normal" again. But after many adjustments to the new medications he has had to start, and after about 6 months he finally started feeling good. And by good I mean, he finally wasn't having to sleep most all day then feeling tired that he had slept so much, he wasn't getting nauseated several times a day, his blood pressure wasn't going too far up or down, he was able to do just about anything without getting exhausted or winded, he was able to get out and walk more than half of what he was used to walking, and he (and most important) was not having chest or left arm pains. The adjustments to all the medications was the most difficult part. When you go from taking just one pill a day to taking 10 a day...that is an adjustment in itself. But then just after a few days he had a second attack and the medication was changed, more was added and we had to start all over again. His pressure would not stay down so he was on Imdur which has nitro in it and it keeps his pressure down, but the side effects were awful. When you take nitro you get an immediate headache. Now for someone who never has headaches, well headaches are just not a good thing anytime. So with this medication he would get a headache that stayed until almost time for the next pill. What was worse he got bronchitis and well just try to cough like you do with bronchitis with a humongous headache. NO FUN. We honestly were afraid he would cough his stent out! Actually, we went back to the ER 3 different times but the last time was not an attack but just a warning. (ok so just a warning...still enough to scare the poop outta ya) We felt a little stupid after we were told this and so I just asked...how can you tell if it is just a "warning" and not an attack? Much to our surprise the answer was you can't usually until you come in and get checked out. So that was our plan when we left that time, to just come in anytime and get checked out if he had any of the symptoms he had before and the nitro didn't help. Oh or call 911. Would he ever get away from wearing the nitro patches, finally get to quit taking the Imdur and having to indure those awful headaches just to get his pressure low, get to stop having to take the nuclear stress tests(3 inside 2 months was too much) ever?


Anyhow, the depression that comes along with this is another thing and I just thank God that he has dealt with it all, the way that he has. But then after 9 months a lot of the pains came back and so has some of the anxiety. I mean how can there not be anxiety? Gee I think I have it now and I didn't have the attack. But lately he has had a lousy few weeks and I am sure dealing with me during my recent operations hasn't helped him any. His blood pressure dropped suddenly and he almost passed out on me during a shopping trip this past Monday. I was beginning to be afraid he was not going to make it to the doctors visit today. So was he. But I have to say we made it and got a Great report. Seems he was taking a pill that he should have been off of a few months prior and that is what has caused his pressure to go too low in recent weeks. He is now off of that one. Yahooo! His pains were nothing to be worried about as they are no longer than 1 minute in length and are probably muscular. And if that weren't just good enough news, his lungs were clear of fluid, his heart sounded great, no irregular beats or skipped beats..just a nice clear smooth beat, and his pressure was great too. He doesn't have to go see the Heart doc for 8 months! 8 months! A whole 8 months! Wow was that nice to hear or what? It has sure been a long 10 months, and we are both looking forward to this all being behind us. You don't think it is going to happen to you and then LOOK OUT there it is, right in your face. I mean we have had to deal with lots with our children, we both have had to deal with death in the family, and most recently caring for my mother for 10 months after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor after 30 years of cancer. That was difficult. But we did not expect a heart attack in our 50's. We didn't know what to expect after it either. We were told by different people that he would be just great now, almost like he was 30 years younger. After hearing that, we expected it. But that didn't happen....yet. Its been a long road to recovery. When you have a stent placed, you have to train yourself again to get the strength back in your chest and arms. It doesn't come easy. And even after 10 months today the heart doc said...Frank take it easy.......one day at a time.......slow........and then work your way up. Listen to your body..if its tired, rest and try again. It doesn't happen overnight. We know this to be true.



I have known from day one of meeting him that he has a good heart....I call it a Heart of Gold, he is kind, loving and giving. He will give you the shirt off his back and I have seen him do just that. He will give until he has no more to give but love and then scrape by until he has more and then do it all over again. I have never, even in my own family, met such a good hearted, caring , giving, individual. So I do believe that a good heart can be a healthly heart...................and I believe he has one now thanks to God and the good Dr. Paul.

A New Sweater for Little Bit

We all need a nice new warm sweater for the winter and Little Bit just got hers. Actually this is her first one, and I do believe she loves it.