Apple Blossoms. Allergies. (And all else too).

Apple Blossoms (Picture taken 4-19-10).
Wish you could smell them!

NOTE:
I began writing this yesterday (Saturday) morning when Casey suddenly showed up on my doorstep.  And Casey always takes precedence over my silly blog!


Good Morning Everyone!
It is to rain today- I hope they are right. Although my lawns do not need to grow any faster, it is very dry outside, and we SO need these rains.

Punk. She really IS quite well, even though there is still over a week of meds left for her to take. (Yes I will give them all to her until they are gone).

Casey has been having a few lingering problems-
Pain.
Nausea.
And for some strange reason she is anemic always. 
She has been on added iron pills for a while now- She has adjusted her diet accordingly.
Still anemic.
So Friday her doctor had ordered even more blood tests. One of those tests will not come back for a week. (Your little prayers are always welcome).

As for me, my toe is just fine! I am SO happy I had that done.
My back a trial. To put it nicely...
(Really bad these last 3 days and it was SO good for a few days before this?).
My latest MRI showed that I am absorbing the calcium and all- Those fractures are healing!
I am so upset that they still hurt. More~so that the dang pain is so restrictive. When my pills work, they work well. When they do not, I am just stuck with it...
I will never get used to not being fully flexible (and I will not go down without a fight). Grace? Not a chance.
I have already had this lingering, sharp, awful pain explained six ways to Sunday.
I don't understand it all, just enough to know it will just always hurt. Grrr....

Other than that, my hay fever is threatening, but I have never really 'suffered' from allergies either. Not like some. The worst for me being the "bzzzz" stings.

I remember when the doctor had diagnosed me with 'allergies'... I was in my mid 30's and had finally gone in because my face had hurt like heck for about a month.
He took his knuckle, knocked on my forehead, and then on my cheekbones.  OUCH! What the hey?
He looked in my eyes, my ears, and up my nose. (Why must doctors look up your nose anyway, I hate that)!
He then stated 'you have allergies'. 
No.  I proudly reminded him that I was not allergic to anything!
He explained that allergies can/do develop at any point in our lives. That was that. 
Achoo!

So, like many, I do have these darn allergies. I take Claritin when my face starts to ache, and for a few days after. I repeat this in a week or so if they bother me more.
Still, I don't think I am the only person who thinks their allergies are worse this year? I don't know why this would be.  Maybe it's just me...
Perhaps there are more "floaties" in our atmosphere/air now too. Maybe that would be thanks to Iceland.
Sorry. I know I shouldn't make light of that when I know that the wildlife and the farm animals are dying by the 1000's, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. So sad.




When I see pictures like this, it amazes me that anyone/anything can live through it!


As you know, many flights were canceled- Better always to err on the side of caution!
My friend, Mrs. G,  absolutely needed to get from Canada to the UK for her sons wedding. I believe they have arrived safely.

Closer to home are the storms in Alabama- Not sure which part of Alabama, and I have yet to hear back from William... I had written him earlier to make sure that they are all safe and sound. I will add his reply when I hear back from him.

I can't remember if I have shared this with you or not? I believe I have, in part anyway.
Young Lawrence is going to be genetically tested for Marfan Syndrome, and others. But they can't even get him tested until December!  Here is a 10 year old boy, with a potentially dangerous heart condition, and they can't get him in?!?  In the meantime he is not to do sports or the like. I feel so badly for him.

Also I received a note from Charles (Baby Sam's dad). I can't remember if I'd told you about this earlier either...
Charles writes, "I had a E.G.D which is a throat scope. I have Barretts throat which turns to cancer sometimes and can kill you other ways. But whatever will be will be. Other than that things are great. Sam is fearless and fast..."
I am hapy to hear that Sam is doing well.
As far as Charles goes, I believe that this is the same condition as "Barretts Esophagus"?  (Click).

I haven't heard anything further...
But I do have an article to share also.

• Wine May Protect Against Throat Cancer Posted: March 2, 2009

  • Study finds that a glass or two a day lowers risk by more than half

I feel badly for Charles-
(This family of mine is sure giving me one heck of a medical education)!

It is windy here.   SO very W~~I~~N~~D~~Y...
The "hold onto your hats and your small children" kind of windy. My screens are up on all the windows, and they whistle like the dickens when the wind comes from the SE. Sounds like a blizzard out there! Such is NOT the case I assure you.
It is currently rainy and soggy. Nice to have that moisture! I can relax a bit now knowing I don't have to water anything.
But I'll bet my chives have all blown over! hehehe  I will go out next time Punk does, cut them and get them dried.

I have last nights dishes to do, and still to get in the shower.
Much wash to catch up on also.

What a great morning so far! I have been emailing back and forth to both Casey AND to William (now that he's up).
All is well at the Gaither household! YAY! Truth be known, they are getting ready to go fishing! (Wish I was there, I haven't gone since I went with my dad).
William had no idea what I was even talking about- But he did say they were under a warning all night long. Said the sirens were going off- (He added they don't even hear them anymore because they go off all the time).  Not me, I told him, being that I am so paranoid about Mother Natures fury.

I'd better close for now and get busy. 
The wind is still blowing fiercely, (and I haven't heard that much whistling in years)! hehehe

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Hay-fever sufferers, know your enemy:
Scanning Electron Microscope pictures of grains of pollen

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Grains of pollen come in all shapes and sizes. The large object in the centre of this image is pumpkin pollen; the tiny speck just below and to the right of it is forget-me-not pollen.

Cool picture, right?

This article from the UK states "The number of hay fever sufferers could reach 30 million [people] within 20 years as city living, pollution and climate change exacerbate symptoms, experts have warned."  Read more.
I believe there is my explanation. And I am sure this is applicable worldwide.

Also our Green Bay records and averages
  

Records and Averages

   

Daily Records and Averages at weather.com

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Month	Avg. High	-Avg. Low	-Avg. Precip	Rec. High	Rec. Low
January	24.0 °F	7.0 °F	1.21 in	56.0 °F (01/26/1944)	-31.0 °F (01/30/1951)
February	29.0 °F	12.0 °F	1.01 in	61.0 °F (02/26/2000)	-33.0 °F (02/10/1899)
March	40.0 °F	23.0 °F	2.06 in	82.0 °F (03/29/1910)	-29.0 °F (03/01/1962)
April	55.0 °F	34.0 °F	2.56 in	89.0 °F (04/22/1980)	7.0 °F (04/03/1954)
May	68.0 °F	45.0 °F	2.75 in	99.0 °F (05/31/1934)	21.0 °F (05/09/1966)
June	77.0 °F	54.0 °F	3.43 in	101.0 °F (06/01/1934)	32.0 °F (06/06/1958)
July	81.0 °F	59.0 °F	3.44 in	104.0 °F (07/13/1936)	40.0 °F (07/06/1965)
August	79.0 °F	57.0 °F	3.77 in	100.0 °F (08/24/1948)	38.0 °F (08/22/1967)
September	70.0 °F	48.0 °F	3.11 in	97.0 °F (09/10/1931)	24.0 °F (09/29/1949)
October	58.0 °F	37.0 °F	2.17 in	88.0 °F (10/06/1963)	12.0 °F (10/30/1925)
November	42.0 °F	26.0 °F	2.27 in	74.0 °F (11/09/1999)	-9.0 °F (11/29/1976)
December	29.0 °F	13.0 °F	1.41 in	64.0 °F (12/05/2001)	-27.0 °F (12/19/1983)

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Hope that all turns out...

Have a good one!

The Moon and The MRI

-Full Worm Moon- click for more full moons

Good Morning Everyone!
An already warm enough morning here- The above picture of the moon over the treeline was snapped when I went out to get my little dumpster out to the road. I thought is was very pretty...

Now, on to even more very very "pretty" ...

... Keeping in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
(You have been warned)!



hehehe


I had another MRI yesterday. (I will not have the results until next week).
But I can sure tell you what this one was all about...
My appointment was at 8:15-  Casey came along, as I take diazepam before I go in for my anxiety. Not a good thing to be driving around high as a kite. 

Upon arrival I was given a questionnaire of everything from soup to nuts. (No soup, and no nuts).
They even ask what kind of music you want to listen to. The MRI machine is very noisy with its thumping and clunking and whirring. (Know that the headphones do not drown out those noises).
I was taken to the changing room, (pictured above). 
I could keep my shirt on, minus the bra as it has metal in the clasps. My socks~n~undies also stayed on.
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These taken on the outside- The 1st pic is on the floor, the 2nd on the door.

And on into the room.
The room is quite large due to the size of the machinery...
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That doughnut hole is where I get slid in.
Darn good thing I can add a bit of self relaxation to the pill I'd taken.
(And a dry washcloth over my eyes too, to darken it even more).

Then came an hour and a half of laying flat on my back. (For me, this is the hardest part).
It is also why I feel so "out of alignment" today- (I'll simplify that- it hurts like hell).


And life goes on...

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Do you ever wonder what Punks face looks like after she does this?
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Wonder no more!
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hehehe  It's either digging, or she has black rouge.
Sorry I wasn't closer.
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As for the dark make up, the cat needs none!
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He waits to see that feral cat that lurks about.
Lordy, that'll be a godawful noise if they ever do 'meet'...

I'd better close for now-
Kris has just called and is on her way to help get the lawns taken care of. Casey will be coming out a bit later to help also!

Hope you enjoyed my 2nd MRI - (And I hope you enjoyed it more than I did too). hehehe 
At least now you know you have nothing to fear if you ever need one.

Have a 'wunnaful' Wednesday! My love to all!

XOXO
Me

Long Week

Good Morning All;
I have been up since midnight- Falling asleep watching TV, and waking with a kink in my neck. Been reading ever since.
My dear friend Peachie had commented a while back that she wondered how awful life would be for us if we didn't/couldn't read? I cannot even begin to imagine! Around my house there are books and books and books and...  Then there are boxes and boxes of books upstairs too.  Even though I have not read them all, life would be so boring without them. Life would be very nondescript if one didn't have access to the internet, where ever you choose to go on here. 
...My little opinion anyway.


I have a distinct opinion on going to the dentist too. I think we all do!
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Note that plastic smile... 
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I had one of these in the back...  OW!   
It's the same one that was hurting me so badly when Casey had those last 2 surgeries.  At least now we know how long that Temparin lasts. (I'd mentioned my toothache over a month and a half ago)! The Temparin is all gone now. So's the tooth, never to pain me again!
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On the way there, Casey saw the neatest chemtrails in the sky-
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Always makes me wonder how close these planes had come to each other-
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Then she spotted one of the planes too-.
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Great shot, Casey Face!
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My mouth is just fine for now. I do need some work, but will live.
I also think it would be nice to have dentures- No more toothaches- EVER.
Mom and Dad both had dentures, and I never heard them complain.  hehehe


Punk and I did get back to the woods-

For whatever reason, Punk feels she must wait for me...
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She keeps me on my toes with these looks of hers, "Sheesh! C'Mon already!"
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She stopped to sniff this old squash
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I had NO idea what is was, even from only 10 feet away- Just looked icky.
(I don't think Punk knew either).

And she was off once again! I watched her disappear down the gully; and by the time I finally caught up, she was nowhere to be seen...
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Hmmm   I do not know why the trees and such came out blue?!?
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As we came back up the trail, I realize I am hoping that this snowmobile trail will not be open anymore this year.
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The SnoBirds Club will be along in the next few weeks to retrieve their signs.
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Back at the house to notice that Spring is really trying to come to us.
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Soon anyway...
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The dang 'wabbits' haven't eaten this tulip -yet...
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Punk had to make sure her paws n claws still worked...
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They do...
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Casey watching Punk sniffing out a mole.
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Punk dreams of meeting the animal that lives in this one!  hehehe
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Even with walking, there has to be time for playing too.
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So far we have uncovered about 3 toys that were lost in Winter.

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My sister will be coming to help get the gravel and dirt out of the lawns. Thank You Kris!  I had written to her "It is hard work, (dirty too), and I cannot pay you, but I would be more than happy to feed you." 
To whit, she replied "Dirty, unpaid work?  Hmmmm,  ok."
Still laughing at that! 

I had an appointment with my spine doctor last week- I have to have another MRI as he is thinking that I may have an additional fracture or two. That is scheduled for next week.  I told him I SO wanted to have a garden this year- He didn't think that was going to be possible, but seeing my face, he added quickly that it will depend upon the MRI and how much pain I have. Tough to lie about that if the MRI is going to contradict me. hehehe

I'd better close for now- Time for Punks breakfast, and maybe for us both to nap a bit!

Hope you are having a 'wunnaful' weekend!

XOXO
Me

I Lived Through It...

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A little bit of fog...
...over the marsh by I-43






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Good Morning All;
I have been having a few problems tonight with my danged computersaurus.   
Bear with me here... At least my email has been working.

I had my MRI Friday morning...
I woke about 1AM after about 3 hours (+/-) of sleep. I decided to stay up, so there would be a good possibility that I might sleep a bit (or rest?)  during my stay in that noisy MRI machine.
Casey had spent the night on Thursday; admittedly so I could wake her up to bring me.
I had planned on taking a diazepam before I went in (no driving with that).

7:30 found us at St. Marys.
It was not as bad as I had been led to believe.
Not that I had a good time... The worst of it was having to lie on a hard plastic bed, ON MY BACK. 
Not good. Deep breathing helped. (Lamaze by any other name)... hehehe

It did take over an hour and a half, but that passed by quickly enough.  I do not have the results of course, but every little 'thing' brings me closer to relief.
Next up? Tuesday I receive those shots in my back.

I had NO anxiety attack either. 
It has been brought to my attention that panic/anxiety attacks all follow one order of events. ie, hyperventilating. That if a patient is not hyperventilating, he/she does not have anxiety disorder.
Such is not the case. And could not be further from the truth.
If you missed my link this morning to ANXIETY, please click here.
(Conversely, not all hyperventilation is a sign of anxiety either).

Physical symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered.

Common physical symptoms of anxiety include:

Pounding heart Sweating Stomach upset or dizziness Frequent urination or diarrhea Shortness of breath

Tremors and twitches Muscle tension Headaches Fatigue Insomnia

Hyperventilation is not even on the list. Shortness of breath is. "SOB" is defined as follows... "Dyspnea, or shortness of breath (SOB) is a debilitating symptom that is the experience of unpleasant or uncomfortable respiratory sensations.
It is a common symptom of numerous medical disorders, particularly those involving the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; dyspnea on exertion is the most common presenting complaint for people with respiratory impairment.

So much for higher intelligence/ignorance.

The new drug that I am taking FOR pain, honestly IS a royal pain, with its side effects. (I swear it not only gives me A.D.D., but renders my fingers very uncooperative with my keyboard).
Knowing how bad my back hurt before I took it too, I will put up and shut up (for now).  Am hoping those shots may enable me to be off of everything then?

Speaking of my keyboard... (Was too).
One of the little height adjusters broke off yesterday. To simply adjust the other side did not work, as it still tipped and rattled with each keystroke. So I "fixed" it right. I just broke the right side to match the left. (Whatever works, right)? hehehe
 

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Another shot of the fog.
Over Duck Creek.

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Casey has been coming out almost every day- And doing for me little things that are hard for me.

She came out Thursday, bringing a new bone for Miss Punk...

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Punk has not had a new bone in a while, and was appropriately grateful.

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"ARF!"
Which we ALL know means, "Thank You Casey!"

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As I was mowing lawn... "Bravo Me!"  ~I did it all in one afternoon! Though I might have had one little accident; (driving right into a dang apple tree).

In a split second, either to keep me humble, (or maybe just to add insult to injury); the tree dropped a nice hard Macintosh apple on my head!
So much for my pride...

But that sassy tree did break the light cover panel off, from the front of the Cub Cadet.
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Casey fixed it for me!

"ARF?" (or better, "Thank You Casey!")!!!
hehehe

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Punk is always outside when I mow the lawns.  She always lays in the garage... Recently though she has decided that it is much more comfy inside the car.
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hehehe

...Or maybe she just wants to go for a ride?!

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Casey and I sorted out a few things from the garage... She found a few really decent pairs of pants that we had gotten on one of our shopping trips to resale stores around town.

Unloading a few bags, she also found a new Sponge~Bob for Miss Punk...
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Punk with her concerned look...
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But finding those pants was perfect timing for Casey's 1st day of school too!

I giggled as she'd packed up her car...

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Yes, she is all ready!

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And who would have thought this, even a year ago, given what she was dealing with being so sick?

When I think of all the stuff she had taken for so long, it amazes me that she still is here!
Things that for me would have knocked anyone over in a heartbeat.  the body is amazing though, and even though she took a lot of prescriptions, her body dealt with it well.
She is almost off everything- Another amazing feat.
That is not to say that she does not have pain.
She is a real trooper.
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The White House on Friday dismissed as pointless the furor over President Barack Obama's plan to deliver a televised back-to-school speech to the nation's students.

"I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can't tell kids in school to study hard and stay in school," presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. "I think both political parties agree that the dropout rate is something that threatens our long-term economic success."

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Why?  So that they can spew more lies? More fear for the uninformed who drag behind them, nodding like little puppets?

But I say go ahead anyway. Like Pa used to say, "Those of you who think you know everything must be very annoying to those who do..." hehehe
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I believe I told you all that I had made some Italian Spaghetti the other day.

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Casey didn't want linguine or spaghetti in it, and chose the rigatoni instead.

She was hysterical at the picture on the box...
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Now who puts such a little dab of sauce on their pasta?
Not us, that's for sure.

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I'd better close for this morning- Have much to do today. Since the diazepam has surely worn off by now, I need to get to the store and get food etc for our Labor Day Picnic on Monday.
If you live near enough please come!

Have a "wunnaful" weekend!

XOXO
Me

PS
I'd better contend to my computersaurus too.

Am thinking this guy has the right idea, don't you agree?

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Stolen from an email..
hehehe

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