Pain – it sometimes comes in many forms. From the physical to the emotional and I have had my share of the former in the last couple of months. Physical for me recently was in the form of cellulitis in my lower left shin. It was painful, an itchy wound, doctor visits, anticipated test results and the wonder if the journey to Alaska would come to fruition. On top that all of the final preparation for the trip and yes we were able to go on our dream trip to Alaska. I guess you can say that the issue with the infection did not overshadow the whole trip. I now look down at the minor scar on my leg and think to myself that it is nothing compared what was going through my brain and thoughts before we left for our trip. Pain in this past week was in the form of a prep for a scheduled diagnostic test – yuck  . . . I will say no more. At least it is over but I have a bruise on my forearm from the IV. This too will pass. As my mom would say – it is far enough away from your heart – you will live!

Pain – another pain recently is that I am about to loose my favorite Chief. He is retiring. I am so sad and I will miss him so much but I know that he can only take the heat on the top for so long. It is tough in a local government entity to do what he does for only so long. A new era is coming (this will be my fifth Chief I have worked under) and I am hoping that the transition will be smooth and my final few years at IPD will not be too tough to finish out. The Chief before him was a “bastich” and I hope to never have to relive someone like him again and if that comes about I will be retiring sooner rather than later. I only have four more years until Medicare!

Pain – the emotional side . . . came recently and today it hit home. Now some background. About the time we got back from our trip at the end of June we wandered over to a neighbor’s back yard (two doors away) on a Sunday afternoon as most of us do on weekends. The hostess happened to mention – well, we are not able to invite the neighbors to (insert name) wedding coming up on Aug 1 because we were given only so many invites for us to have. I first should have known that we were not invited because I did not get invited to a shower. We said when is the wedding and she mentioned today’s date. We mentioned we saw your son on the train in May and he said it was in 2015 this date and we said we will remember that date because it is one of our birthdays.

Long story short – all of the neighbors were invited to the wedding today and we were not. (We have a pretty close neighborhood with most of us at least congenial to one and all. ) We saw all of them in their finery coming to and fro. From the church, home and then back to the reception while some let their dogs out and then left again. We are so hurt. We feel like a dagger was plunged into our hearts. There have been parties back and forth between houses (our house more than others) and this is the thanks we got. We look back now on the fact that we think the hostess had a guilty conscience with not inviting us and that is why she felt she needed to “explain” the non invite. We are baffled and do not know why we were left out. I have cried all night over this. We are not sure what caused this about face.

I have not turned to food over this. I have a party tomorrow to go to or as my family calls it a “great together”. This is another name for a family reunion.

At least it is dark right now and I do not need to look at the dark houses in the neighborhood nor do I need to look at my red swollen eyes from crying all night. I do not cry very often and I only do when I have been hurt deeply.

Thank you for reading . . .

You have? Thank you. Wow! Six weeks? I'm about two and a half weeks post-op on my right hip and my next joint replacement will be my right knee and then some times after that I'll have my left hip replaced, I can't wait to get them replaced. That's great that you walked one mile, How did it go for you? Cool. Wow, I bet to keep the cost down. Great to hear that you feel like a new woman. I feel like a new man so far myself. Great that you have a set of new hips, I can't wait to have a new set of hips myself. Great to hear that you are at the same height on both sides now. Really? 3/4th of an inch taller? Cool. Thank you so very much for the prayers and the speedy recovery!

Jason.

Crystal.......you will have to tell me what you think of, "Lucy".  Liv and I saw it last week.

Good afternoon Crystal and the rest of Illinois!

SO glad to see a couple of new "faces".  Welcome!  Come back often!

Crystal, your active lifestyle sounds just right.  Way more fun that plain old working out.  You are inspirational.  I need to get on it.

I am waiting for Amber to get here.  We are going meat shopping!  We got her a gift certificate for Christmas from our meat processor and she has not had time to use it.  She got off early today unexpectedly so we are going.  We will grab some lunch too.

Liv moves in 2 weeks from yesterday.  We will leave on the 13th and are staying through the 17th before heading back.  We should be back the 18th or 19th, depending.  After all, we will be empty-nesters so we may just take our time and visit wherever we please.  That is if Todd can stop being so cranky.  He was a bit better yesterday.

As long as I remember to "turn it over" each morning, I have a great day.  I love it as it is always a beautiful day to be alive!

I hope things are going well for each and every one of you, especially those that are MIA.

Everyone have a fantastic day!

Hello everyone

It's Friday!!!  Woohoo!!! 

Today after work I am going to the cheap dollar theater and seeing Godzilla!!!  I wanted to see that for awhile.  I am going to be good about the movie snacking.  And of course I a eating at Chipotle.  I also want to stop at Target.  That is it for my evening after work.  What are your plans today???

Tomorrow...I am going to do some baking.  I want to take in a yoga class at the gym.  And I am going to see Lucy at the movies...I know two movie in a row.  But I haven't been to the movies since early this year.  So I am thinking I have some catching up to do.  Then nothing else. 

I have been going to the gym and not just working out but playing tennis and raquete ball and now yoga.  I'm still doing the weight lifting.  I know I'm not getting as much of a cardio workout but it's more fun....so I figure who cares.  It's better than doing nothing!!!

Anyway I hope all is well with everyone who is not checking in as much any more. 

See you all later.  Have a great day.  Bye