I Have No Excuse. ;-)

Wild Turkeys back by the campsite-

Anyone hungry? hehehe

Good Morning Everyone!

Oh my goodness I have not blogged in so very long- - - again.

My apologies.

I have not been too busy.

I have not gone on vacation.

I have not croaked... (yet).

*sigh*  I see I have no excuse whatsoever. Methinks it's called laziness.

Oh well.

Lots to catch up on.  

(Or is that "ketchup")?

This is...

Anyway...

Heck, I never even wrote of Master Gabriel s new quilt- (Christmastime). Oops.

Here it is!

Methinks he likes it too!

It is so way big! Made me laugh as he carried it up to his room.

Kristin later sent me pictures of his 'new' room. And now that I want to post them I cannot find where I downloaded them!

But I did find this one...

How beautiful! -

(The dolphin is too)!!

He made this- "with help" as Kristin wrote.

No worries Gabriel, I would need help too. hehehe

Cousin Buttercup came with her friend Dean- 

Notice the aura that is around him-

Oh! We had such a nice visit too! 

On one of Punk's visit to the vet I was early and had stopped over to Sue and Glenn's.

They rescue animals- - - - Cats, greyhounds, and deer anyway. 

(At least I haven't seen any gators in their pond)... hehehe

She carries one of them down, and they have 2 cats like this.

The other, basking in the sunshine on his favorite chair.

And yes, I have forgotten what breed they are. 

Sorry. 

Imported- from Florida! 

Casey's mid-winter dress.

 *** Forgive my mess.  I assure you that it is no longer like that-

Friend Christy- and her crew!, came over and cleaned one day last month!

What a day that was- And I think they might have had fun too.

The 4 boys even moved the piano 29 feet across the living room! OMG!

Christy is gone for now- 

Her and her hubby are off to Ethiopia to adopt 2 little girls- special needs.

She will have her hands full now. 

(What? As if she didn't before)?! hehehe

Back to Casey-

She may end up back here-

Fairview Medical, U of Minneapolis.

She still has much pain- And is very, very, tired; perhaps depressed, about being sick for so very long.

But like many who have suffered as she does, she is much like that Energizer Bunny- 

Keeps going and going and going and...

She also had to have a colposcopy- Her paps came back questionable. 

The results on the colposcopy were good though. She does this again come August.

What a MILD Winter we have had! As I think most of you have also?

Matter of fact, once, when it began to snow, the damn birds were so shocked that one even had heart failure...

I really have NO idea, but there he was out my door. 

(I know this portends something, but I don't remember what)?

I had better close for now- Already it is quite warm out- And Miss Kelli will be bringing Miss Coco and Mr. Miller too. (I haven't told Miss Punk yet because she would give me no peace if she knew).

For now she sleeps.

As does this man.

Happy 30th Birthday Mr. Greg!

And many many happy returns!

I hope all is well with everyone! 

XOXO
Me

DEATH BY RECLAST.

http://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/death-by-reclast-janets-story-1/
National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Community - Inspire
_____________________________________________________

Hi everyone, and thank you for doing the click above-

This is the drug I had been given in March. I am due for another infusion of the same next March...
I don't think I will be having it. It seems as though, perhaps, I have lucked out; by bypassing these awful side effects- especially those that cause death!

After reading many stories, (not all as sad, yet, as this one), I am thinking that perhaps I did not do my necessary homework as well as I should have.
Shame, shame, SHAME on me.

As I replied to my letter, "I have a dentist appointment tomorrow- A referral. Casey has written and said she would come out early- Having her here should calm me down a bit. I have NO idea what they will think to do with my mouth.
I saw an ad on the TV, late-night, a while back- and it was for some device that fits over your existing teeth. I will ask them about that. I just hope they don't think they will be pulling any teeth. That is *not* going to happen.
And I do realize the %'s would be in my favor. (Then again, I think about how my luck goes). Not sure I would ever care to take the risk.
Maybe teeth are overrated?" (But heck, I don't like pudding)!!!

XOXO
Me
_____________________________________________________

PS
I had written to Polly earlier.
Part of her reply was this: "I don't know much about those injections you get in your back--I'll call and talk to you about that but maybe will wait a day or two to see how it is going. It still sounds to me like you are trying to do things that you shouldn't do, which could make things worse (which you know and I promise to quit saying now). I don't think you made a mistake trying the bone density drugs given your stage of osteoporosis--you had to try something and who knows--they may help build up some bone.
Some bone is better than no bone and that jaw thing happens with all of those kinds of drugs and it doesn't happen to a very high percentage of the women taking them (I think it was less than 1%---having said that I am still glad that I got off the Fosomax because I wasn't bad enough to use it long-term;
However, my mother had been using it for many years with no problems).
_____________________________________________________

So who knows?
Maybe I really *am* one of the lucky ones...

March 21, 2006

As my youngest has just left for a well-earned Spring Break! She will meet up with her beau in Savannah, and hopefully they can both enjoy the week they have before she returns to college- and he has to return to Iraq...

404 error; and; Oh much more-

Hope your Easter was a Hoppy one...

Hi All;
Hope your Easter holiday was 'wunnaful'.
Those of us in Wisconsin- (and probably other states as well), know all too well that this 'program' does not work.


The program is simply called "SPRING"
>You locate the folder (stored somewhere since time immemorial); and check off your personal options.
>You select "Install"... (or "Run").

And THIS is what you get...

INSTALLING "SPRING" ...

███████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░  44% DONE.

... "

Install delayed....please wait.

Please try again...

404 error: Season file not found.

Season file "Spring" cannot be located.
The season file you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

You repeat ALL steps above...

INSTALLATION FAILED.
Please wait.

Please try again...

Please try again...
 
Please try again...

_________________________________________________

Finally you give up.   You have to... or go crazy waiting.
hehehe-
(and Thank You, Duane).

Wait-  "Go crazy waiting"??? 


This is what our first week of "Spring" looked like...




The ONLY cute thing about it was that it was called "Snowstorm Gabe"

(Sassy Gabriel)! hehehe

Mr. Snowstorm Gabriel broke all weather records for April for Green Bay.
(I believe those records date back to the 1880's or so).


Now about the "Give up" part...
 
That would be much unlike 'Life in Flintville'. 
(Go ahead, reread previous 1177 entries if you really need verification of that)....
I'll wait. (Really I will).
I will say in advance that I have threatened to many times, but you all would not allow it. (Thank you).

Neither did Greg and Casey ever 'give up' last week-
-after my day of 3 separate hospital appointments,
that I'd come home to this - - - - -

As you can tell by all the reflections in the picture, my basement is flooded.
I assure you that I do not wax the concrete in full or in part.

As you can also tell, I tried plunging it down the teeny tiny drain that I'd fashioned out of the old big one that had once upon a time held a sump pump.  (Belatedly, my fractured back told me that I should not have done that).
Not even those 2 times that did; and had no bubbles, no gurgle, no nothing, happen.
Hmmm  ~on 2nd thought maybe I should have left that old sump pump in... hehehe




Now, these are what Officer Randy would call...  ... "EVIDENCE!"

 hehehe

Once again, with thanks not only to Greg and Casey, but to Mr. Tim and Ms. Kelli too;
who borrowed out their own sump pump for us to use in the meanwhile.

After the water was all gone, the heat was turned on high, as was the fan-
It dried quickly, thank the powers that be...
The drain had to be covered/plugged.
Simply because THIS is where the damned water was coming from!
(And that is NOT how drains are s'posed'ta work)...

"Work"?    (Unfortunately, around here, that'd have to be Greg's forte)-
I heard a few cuss thoughts that emitted as mumbles from this lovely young man.
I asked if I could help with anything.
He asked to be left alone.
* Now that reminded me SO much of my dad when he was concentrating on something; ...
...(So, 'left alone' Greg was too)! hehehe












Looks very nice, all capped off! AND, we all slept quite well that night!
Good work Greg! 
(And to Thank You SO much TOO)!


Then came Friday- OR- "Good" Friday as it is for Christians all over the globe...




This next picture was taken that very next morning. "Good" Friday, remember?


Ruh-roh... (And, ixnay the "good" factor please).

The water that had been waiting to fill up my basement swimming pool via the teeny weenie drain, was NOW coming up through every single seam in the poured cement flooring.


By noon, we had THIS to contend with-





It is still a work in progress. But I assure you all that MUCH progress has already been made.

There is a new sump pump down there, very crudely installed as of yet- but it works, and THAT is the most important thing at this point in time.


As for my back, I am thinking that I will opt for an implanted pain device that delivers morphine (or whatever), 24/7, to my spinal column. This eliminates much of the need to be taking all these effing pills all the time.
Hopefully it will also eliminate the need for my shower chair, and maybe I will be able to even do some other stuff?
Admittedly, I do not know enough about it yet, but you can bet that I will find out! hehehe

The device itself is the size of a hockey puck and would be surgically implanted at the top of my butt cheek.  (Hmmm.... Now THAT should take some getting used to)!
Makes me wonder too, why they don't make it in the shape of a hand that would also deliver a little pinch every now and then?! hehehe  
(Hey, I might be a bit disabled, but I ain't dead)!

Hope all is well with everyone, and that I might leave you with a smile on your face?

My love to all !

XOXO
Me

PS
Happy 50th Birthday to my Sweet Sister "Snotball"!
(Be happy it's your birthday in human years-
 - Because in doggie years you'd be dead)!    

HAHAHA!!!!    (Love ya)!     

  

Ketch~upping... Pre- Snowstorm Francesca-

Monday Morning. Now...

Sure has been a long time since I have blogged about anything even remotely "Flintville" hehehe
Didja miss me?


The Channel 11 picture  to the right was actually taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago already-




Do you remember Casey having that horrible allergic reaction to the meds they gave her in Minnesota last January?

???????

"Anaphylaxis" I think they'd called it...

I even had a little allergy of my own
I've been feeling pretty rough too, even without my fractures, and the rest of it.

Now, toss in a little something that I'm allergic to too; and I've got Casey beat!




By a longshot!

Pretty damned gross, eh?

Nice temps earlier in the month and this beautiful weather gave me a chance to even 'wander' a bit outside -
Picture this: Me out there, with the camera around my neck- and of course, those two canes.  Quite a funny juggling act- (And I can't even juggle).  hehehe

Not to mention that Punk kept bringing me her Frisbee- time and time again. oh- Oh! OH!
She was thrilled for those few days of respite from the cold! As was I. hehehe

There is even a wee bit of green showing up...
 ... It always amazes me- especially after a long Winter-

A little snow left- and a little bit of "life" too.

More life here! These will be this years and next winters chives!
(Hey, "I" see green, even if you don't)!  hehehe

I have a silly question for anyone that might know-
(God knows I surely don't).

Why does gravel always appear to be tinted 'blue-ish' after Winter?

I also found a few 'candies' laying around in the grass-

It's all those brown M & M's that I refuse to eat.
  ~Punk seems to ♥ them though!!   hehehe

She even had to sniff all over to find more...

... and very begrudgingly came back to me after I'd called her-

Then, from somewhere the snowplow had left it, she magically found her Frisbee!



I threw it more than a few times !
(In the meantime she ran a mile or so)!

But then... "O0pS"

And that was it for that Frisbee-
Odd, but once it's near to her poo-poo piles, I seem to lose interest in it. hehehe

Darn fine thing Casey had just brought her a new one-

   hehehe

We had to walk almost to J & J's driveway to find snowbanks for her to play on-

-and in.

!!!hehehe!!!  ...."BUSTED!"

 ~ She HAD been "hiding" on me...

Then off she went, to look for a few lost/forgotten squash...
No luck with that-
(What I didn't freeze, the deer got a long time ago).

But plenty of snow left there for an ice cream headache -

Would Sputty come outside with us?   He did- finally.
See, it's ONLY on HIS terms.

Once out, then he does not want to come back in.
When he does this, I let him sit.
Or hunt- or go poo in the fields- (or whatever it is that cats do outside)-

Like sitting in the sun I suppose...

OR...

.........

    He checks all around the house-  ..............Then sits in the blue gravel


If he refuses, still, to come in with us, he has to wait until Punk gets fed her supper- (She always has to go potty and poo first).

Then, even after all that waiting, that cat still follows her around, and ONLY comes in when she does.
(This, no matter how high/low the temperature is/not).

OK OK-
Then, It's FINALLY time for supper... hehehe

I took this shot a LONG time ago-
Still one of my favorites though.

Sput has taken to moving the heat register cover so that it doesn't blow on me when I am sewing. He adjusts it so it blows on him in his box!!!! Grrr...
And that, my friends, is the definition of "cattitude".


I have been having horrid days/weeks with my back.
The last 2 shots I received did nothing to help.
The h/a last night and this morning added nothing either.

While searching around the net, I found THIS picture- It is the same as MY own brace; which needs replacing.
But I'll be damned if I'm shelling out $780.00 for it! 




I found one on eBay though. hehehe


Tonight though. -When I do go to sleep. I shall sleep in the utmost of comfort!

Thank you Casey-So very, very much!

Not only for this beautiful pillow, but for EVERYTHING you have done, and continue to do for me.


Tonight, she drove ALL the way out here just to feed Punkin her supper.

She knew I hadn't slept a wink last night, & so I wouldn't have to wake up...
(I did anyway).  And it was a darned good thing I did.  Casey had to help me out of my own darn bed! 
Oh well. There are always worse things.

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world.
Been trying to keep up with everyone's news and all- I have found that to be a most impossible thing to do!
I shall keep trying though...
My love to all!

XOXO
Me

PS:
Tomorrow (maybe)...
The entry about Snowstorm Francesca.  Here's the link-
Tomorrow the pictures.   hehehe

The Dr. The Dentist. The Cops.The "Noise", Kelli, Greg, Casey, and The Furnace

Better grab a cup of coffee- I have gotten a bit longwinded...

Hi All! 
It has, once again, been way too long since I have written a real blog. And if it weren't for my camera, I would probably forget half this stuff.

1.
Know that after 14/16 injections to my back in the past few weeks, I have been unable to sit long enough to blog. In the event that I can sit, it is hard to type as I have my weight braced on my forearms.
But today I even sewed a little (sometimes a different chair, and sometimes I just roll my office chair around). hehehe

So... on to my "ketchup-ing".  Forgive me if I get a bit sloppy at times. hehehe


2.
Casey had an emergency dentist appointment last Wednesday.
Calling on Tuesday, in the late afternoon, Oneida got her in at 7AM on Weds.
(She has 4 teeth in the back that need to be removed).
That day, they decided to remove only the 2 that were driving her past distraction.  -And by 'past distraction' I mean that they were throbbing, intensely, even above and beyond the painkillers she is on for her tummy!

Her dentist at Oneida wanted nothing to do with extracting these 2 lower teeth given that he knows everything she has gone through for the past 6 years.
hehehe
He referred her to an oral surgeon.

And that, my friends, was when all the silly stuff began to happen...

As you know, Casey is fortunate enough to live on the reservation, so all of her referrals are covered.
But, in order to have her referred to an oral surgeon, they had to verify her address since it hadn't been updated since December '10 ?- (that made NO sense to either of us), but off we went to her apartment to get a more recent envelope that had her name and address on it... Good grief, like she'd moved since? Having had surgery again in January, I highly doubt she could have moved...

Anyway...
3.
On the way back to the clinic with her Federal Social Security letter, Casey begins to laugh hysterically- She then grabbed the camera and began taking pictures.
Of the car in front of us.
Up til then, I'd seen nothing as I was watching the road.
hehehe

        

This car had a mirror on the passenger side that kept flopping up and down- depending upon the speed of the car- One moment it hung straight down, then with speed it would begin to look like a someone's shoe sticking out of the window...
Up and down-Up and down- Just flopping in the windchill. Casey also had taken a video- TOO funny! (My apologies that I cannot post vids on here). OH!, we were laughing so hard...

Back to the clinic and finally the referral appointment was made- for 3 that same afternoon. They further assured us that in case anything opened up sooner that she would be first to be called. (Cool).

4.
We stopped over at Randy's after all that just to chat a bit about getting our duplex- I kind of need his help as there are a few things that I might not see as we look at them. He agreed to go with us...

He has a crab apple tree in his front yard; with a few crab apples left hanging on to feed the squirrels throughout winter.
Casey took this picture as we were leaving-


Noisy and obnoxious- But they make a yummy meal too. Taste like chicken.
hehehe


5.
By this time, it was near to noon; and since we hadn't eaten (or shot that squirrel), a stop for some fast food was in order.  We grabbed some sandwiches in Suamico and were heading home. Casey was just counting the minutes she had left to fill her tummy, before getting those antagonizing teeth pulled.

On the way home from Suamico we saw a County deputy on the side of the road- (obviously trying to issue a few speed tickets). 
I pulled over to talk to him... I offered either of my driveways to him to park in- (The speed of the cars past my home being quite ridiculous)! 
We chatted a while longer- nice young cop. By ordinance, they are not allowed to park on private property without the owners consent. He not only has my consent, he has my blessings-
He thanked me profusely- and Casey and I were once again on our way home to eat a bite...

As we pulled into my driveway, her cell phone rang. As luck would have it, it was Dr. Zent's office, and could Casey come in ASAP to have her extractions?
I said I could be there in 20 minutes. (Only if I was speeding that is).
Casey said 'to heck with not brushing her teeth after lunch', she wanted those offending OUT. hehehe
So off we were once more.
Karma confirming that had we not stopped to chat with the cop we would have already been inside my house-
Under my tin roof Casey has very little reception and does not get (m)any of her calls or messages.
As she hung up, I immediately backed out of my driveway, turned around and took off down the road...
We were traveling a little over 50mph (in a 45mph zone)... Oops.
But hopefully no biggie either, the cops are generally pretty decent about a few MPHs over the limit...

Somewhere in Flintville a vehicle had pulled out behind me; and rode my backside- trying to get me to go faster? (That never works for me). 
Through Flintville there is a double~yellow line. He was unable to pass me. 

About half a mile onward, he decided to pass me anyway. Bad choice on his part. He gunned his engine and literally 'flew' by us. & RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FRIENDLY DEPUTY!

Seeing those flashing lights go on, I slowed down so that our new friend could pull out in front of me. hehehe



Aw... "too bad, so sad."
And HAHAHA  too.
 
Casey and I hadn't laughed so hard since the broken mirror that morning-


6.
On Thursday I had an appointment with my pain management doctor- This, for refills, and to check up on whether those last 2 injections had worked. They had- but only for a week or so. It had been a gentler week.
By the time I had this appointment though, my pain score was, at best, an 8.

That very night I had woken at midnight, barely able to move, even using both of my canes...
After I had gone about 25 feet on my way to the bathroom, I suddenly heard and felt that all too familiar noise and pain. Those of still another crushed vertebrae.
A very sharp painful & sickening feeling- My pain level was off the charts!
It has remained thus since.
Once more Casey has been out to take care of me, and to make sure I could get showered too. 
I have thanked God, many times, that at least I have one daughter (of 4) that gives a decent damn about their own mother.


7.
I also thank God for Kelli!
Kelli has also been there for me- Even bringing the dogs so Punk can get outside and play a bit.



































Kelli also came today- Asking if I needed anything before the storm came? She had to go into town- and did bring me a few things-
Between herself, Casey and Greg, I should be set until we get dug out- Maybe Monday? Maybe Tuesday? We already have upwards of a foot of new snow.


8.
I'd had Punk to the vet earlier this week because i thought she had an ear infection- It was stinky even after I had cleaned it out and used Similsan in it.
Vet says no more infection! Yay!  just to keep doing what I have been doing.
Similsan Earache Relief™ homeopathic ear drops are intended for humans-
Similsan has Chamomilla 10X: calmative, pain reliever--Mercurius solubilis 15X: pain reliever -- Sulphur 12X: pain reliever, anti-itch
Other information: Active ingredients are manufactured according to homeopathic principles and are therefore non-toxic and have no known side effects.
Inactive ingredient: Vegetable glycerin

Dr. Spires did say that Punk has gained 8+ pounds-  My backs fault!  Needless to say I am thrilled when Kelli does bring the dogs over!
Happily I must also add that I have lost those same 8+ pounds! hehehe


9.
I'd taken a shower before Casey left yesterday afternoon- A friend of Greg's was in town and had wanted to have dinner with them- I'd asked Casey to turn the heat up a wee bit so I wouldn't get so chilly in the shower, like I usually do.
 ... I never heard it go on- Silly kid forgot.
I also had "silly kid" bring the socks/underwear basket from the laundry room to the living room so I could sort them all later on.

So later, while I am dry and dressed in my warm and cozy jammies, -and am sorting this basket, I realize I am half freezing to death. 
Hmm... (remember that "silly kid")? hehehe

I grab both my canes and hobble on over to check the thermostat-
Casey had turned it up to 72°- That's surely warm enough. (Silly me now). hehehe

But wait a dang minute! I am still freezing? Leaning over, I turn it up a little more.
Still, it does nothing.
Checking the temp in the house, it was barely near 60°-
Grabbing those same darn canes, I manage to get down to the basement- There is a fuse on the furnace that goes out every now and then- and I haven't had to replace that in years and years. (And damn, Isure hope I have one)!
I remove it so I can get a good look at it.
The fuse is good.

There is only one more possibility -check the oil drum.
It was so empty that I couldn't even see the float to measure it!

Knowing this snowstorm is coming, I had no choice but to get oil on a Saturday night- and to beg the furnace-man to come out, bleed the lines, and fire it up. 
Before i called him, I texted Casey at the restaurant, and heard nothing back.
I hunkered down on the couch with 2 of my quilts and fell asleep. I woke at 9:30. Dog barking... Casey and Greg are here.
In the meantime, she had called Olsons- After they ate, her and Greg had picked up 10 gallons of oil- and brought it along
They'd called Alan Olson then, and he led Greg through the whole bleed and fire thing.
Suffice to say that I was never so happy to hear that furnace kick in!
Thank you Casey, Greg, (and Alan too)! Olsons will be here tomorrow to fill my tank up.

Yet, there is a reason that this all happened too...
When Casey and Greg got here, I had so much pain that I simply could not get off the couch. Had the house burned down I would have gone with it. It was that bad- even Greg tried to help me up. Casey finally got me up. I still do not know how. I only remember the pain.

As mentioned earlier,  have not slept decent in over 2 and a half weeks.
I just cannot get comfortable enough...
However, today, I sat in the recliner and slept ALL afternoon long!
That helps- Just that I am not tired now- Oh well.

I have been up and down about 17 times since I started writing this. I actually began this yesterday morning, at 6:20 AM -Will have to copy/paste it when I am done, which won't be long now...
Not sitting, sleeping, standing (anything) for too long still is one of the downfalls of my back.
*Not that there are ANY positives that I can think of right now either)...



10.
Waking earlier I had a message from Casey in my email.
"...This Blizzard is HORRIBLE! :(    I hope you're staying warm and dry. It's absolutely awful outside.  Greg went to Wal-mart at around 3pm. He'd been planning on stopping at KwikTrip too, but texted & said he was just going to the store because even at that time he said the roads were awful. He only got a few things and when he came back out to his car he said a layer of ice had formed on all his windows! In less than ten minutes! I am heading to bed now. I got an hour or so earlier but didn't want to sleep too late, and not sleep tonight. Seems to have worked because I'm super tired. I'll make sure Greg texts me when he gets to work tomorrow & I'll let you know that he made it. Call if you need anything. Love you MUCH MUCH!

Time for that copy/paste.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
My love to all

XOXO
Me

PS
If there could be a #11, it would HAVE TO BE about our "Dictator" guvna Walker; and all of what that damned idiot is trying to do to my friends, and to our beautiful state of Wisconsin.
Sorry but #11 will wait 'til later...