I really should...

write something on here every now and again. But truthfully, reading and post to Facebook and cleaning out my email folders pretty much suck the life out of me.

Our New Plant

My Sister Susan

Last weekend I went to a letterboxing gathering. It was really nice to see old friends but I didn't enjoy this much because I didn't feel like I could do much. I was feeling quite put out by a very pesky and painful right foot. I'm still feeling quite put out. Nothing of any fun or interest for me this weekend. I had the foot x-rayed last night and the elderly doc at the clinic could only offer pain pills, hot soaks, and a shrug. I had hoped to go to a friend's campfire and maybe see the balloon festival fireworks but there was no sign of my husband until it was getting late and he spent about an hour in the shower. This summer has generally sucked.  Luckily, I have steady employment, but the job is strenuous and tiring (and what gave me the big pain in the foot) but I've had a steady income and will make more money this summer than I have in many years. The best thing about this summer is that I reconnected with a high school friend. More on that last item in a better blog! Time to sulk and soak the foot. [:(]

Holy cow... it's been over a year since I have visited or wrote anything on my blogs. It's crazy how time flies! I set up this blog when MSN closed the Spaces blog and I was graciously moved to Blogger. But, it's hard to find much to write about that I haven't already talked about on Facebook...and there are things I just wont post about there.

Since last year, my injury from work has gotten much worse. I have an attorney now, and grateful that one of the best in the state has taken my case. The injury was starting to mend last year at this time but I was attacked by a student in the summer session and some days can barely use my arm at all.

I'm also grateful for the loving support of my daughter, who took time out of her very busy work day to rally me and help me keep things straight yesterday.

I'm grateful for a sweet husband for all the times he helps me get dressed and undressed, gets the heating pad or ice pack, and single-handedly has done all the heavy work around here. He does the things my poor shoulder just won't let me do without excruciating pain, like stripping the bed, walking the dogs, etc. Preparing for last August's impending Hurricane Irene was all on him.

I love my job and have continued to work but this has taken its toll. Having to move furniture, lift chairs and wipe tables twice a day, carry a ladder or balance on furniture to hang the kids' artwork, pull and pack boxes with seasonal decor changes, ...all the physical things I do on my job..., continue to ravage my joint. Now, just reaching up into the kitchen cupboard for a plate, lifting a carton of cream or the teakettle is often impossible on that side. Luckily, I can and do use my right arm for most tasks, but sometimes one-handed doesn't cut it. :-(  And the pain wakes me up all night long. It's hard to be cheerful and patient with the kids sometimes.

So now maybe the multiple problems with the shoulder and subsequent muscle knots in my back and neck will soon be addressed by a good specialist. That's the plan!

Some days

Today I tried again to get into the DMV, I waited for a space and did get inside, but was confused about where to go. I chose the CDL unit on the top floor, seeing as they administer chauffeur licenses. Long story short: they said there was no record of me having a chauffeur's license, and some how I'm "to blame." The man's logic? Well, if I ever really DID have one (grrrrrrrrr) it was up to me to notice that the "R" was missing from my license when it first happened and contacted them. So clearly, their erasing of my credentials is my fault because when they changed the bloody format, I didn't notice. So, my chauffeurs licence I got in 1972 is all gone and I have to apply and pay for a new one, with personal references and a BCI from the police. I'm so insulted.

UPDATE!!  Within a week or two of writing the above I tore through old files and recovered an old license with both my chauffeur and motorcycle additions. I showed it at the DMV and got my driving credentials straightened out. The manager of the CDL licensing department could offer no explanation as to why my license had been altered in the system. He was not rude, and was actually apologetic for this, and I got my shiny new corrected license free of charge. :-) I am so glad I squirreled away that old license and wasn't talked into throwing it away; it saved me a lot in time and fees.

Gayle at the upper level of Belvedere Castle

Trip to NYC, Central Park, Ground Zero

Saturday, November 20, 2010, was a fairly decent day to walk all over the southest section of Central Park and take the subway down to Ground Zero.

We had arranged to take a bus from Aldrich Junior High which was organized to raise funds for some school project. It wasn't a cheap ride, but close to home and there were lots of familiar faces from the school system.

I will post shots from a few of the landmarks. The day was not bright nor colorful, and it was cool.  But Gayle and I had a lot of fun and also got to see progress at Ground Zero, where we also got to hear first-hand experiences of the 9/11 attack.