HAPPY DAY BEFORE INDEPENDENCE

Ladies,

Speak...be right back.

I'm back....

Well, I have been on my antiviral for about 24 hours and already the blisters are drying up....yeah.  I really need to get the shingles shot but you know with all the other things that I have wrong, I forget about the shingles until they make their appearances.   But, I am going to get the shot and see if it will help. 

This morning, I'm thinking about Vic and her girls and hope that they are comforted. Vic, I know that in a few weeks, when you have had time to recover, you will get your body back on trac****il then, go with the flow and if all you have time to do is drink a coke and eat a candy, do it...get your nutrition from whichever source is available and your comfort wherever you can get it....food, especially chocolate, is good for helping us handle stress. 

I am off work today and DH is sleeping soundly and I have two cats using me for their day bed....and that means that I am typing lopsided so forgive any typos. 

Today, after the husband wakes up, I'm going to slip on some jeans and go shopping for some ingredients so that I can make a couple of desserts for a party that we attend every single year....you know, sometimes I want to say, no...let's don't but you know...colleagues and friends expect it so we go.

I made me a pair of red, white, and blue capris and a blue paint shirt...I call it a paint shirt...it's more like a smock with pockets.  I love the pattern because it is easy to make and it fits me so well.  I like loose clothes and something with a little sleeve to cover these wind sails of mine and this top has a really cute sleeve that comes just below my sails....yeah.  I chose a real light blue material that is not quite all cotton so it has a little give to it too and that with the fullness makes it so  much fun to wear.   I've actually made some friends of mine this same top and dressed it up with a little collar and they wear it to work...one's a nurse and she loves working in it.  Now, the truth is, they would **** if they knew that I got the pattern from maternity wear and cut some of the front off just a little so it doesn't really look like a maternity top.  The pockets are so nice for me to keep my epipen, inhaler, container of meds for the day, and chapstick in...I actually made the pockets deep and they zip shut....I should have done velcro but I like the zipper...anyway, I'm going to pick up a little flag pin and some flip flops to wear that match...maybe red.  I will be styling.  I was also thinking of making banana pudding and a watermelon boat and I'll fill the boat with melon balls, pineapple chunks, cherries, and maybe some mango.  A few weeks ago, I bought this really cute set of disposable kabob spears so I'll add a few of those with a variety of fruit for the kids to grab and run.   

The rest of my day after shopping is light housekeeping and watching really old movies.   DH bought a few CDs of some old movies and we have been waiting for the day that we don't have the kids here to watch them...so today will be that day.

Friends, peace out...have a good day and I hope you stay indoors in this awful hot weather.  Otherwise, what are you up to? 

Afternoon Jeannie and OFF family yet to come in...

SIGHS.........................I am so mad right now!!!!!!!! Office once again did not let us know we were CLOSED TODAY!!!!!!!!! I just happened to call earlier this morning to see IF we were closing early today...NO ANSWER!!!!!!!!! SOB!!!!!! So I closed my PC down and put rent checks in mail and came home!!!!!!! As I was doing that one of the tenants came in to pay her rent...she said oh you ARE here today!! Michael said the office was CLOSED today. OH REALLY????? I have been in my office all morning doing rents....she said well Michael said Rick has the grill going for a BBQ...oh so that makes the office CLOSED????? Boy did I go looking for Michael!!!!!!! I found him when he got back from the store!!!!! I gave him a talking to!!!!! He said he just assumed I was not opened because Rick was going to BBQ. I asked him what that had to do with ME NOT BEING IN THE OFFICE?????? Was it ME COOKING?????? NO!!!!!!! He then said he only told one person. I said that is ALL it takes around here to start things!!!!!!! I could choke the living **** out of him!!!!!!!! I will be so happy when he gets out of here!!!!!! AND he takes Sugarplum with him!!!!!!!!!  He wasn't even IN the club house near my office to even KNOW IF I was in or not!!!!!!!!! SIGHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyhow...tomorrow out town has a function what they had years ago coming back called THE PICKLE RUN. Its  a festival with many different things going on throughout the day. And one is a parade...Rick was asked to shine up our new truck and drive some of us from the VFW Ladies AUX in it...He is THINKING that over...LOL I told him that would be cool!!! I had never been IN a parade before...also I was asked to sit at a table/booth for our ladies aux with another member to share the info about what the 4th of July is all about...if not for our soldiers we would not be celebrating the 4th of July. THAT I am thinking about doing. Sitting for 7 hours in the sun/shade is a long time for me that is not an outdoor person. Especially one that hates using a portapotty!!! Soooooooo see what Rick comes up with on his end...parade MAYBE...I wanted to enjoy the festivities ONLY this time... (plus sitting with my tenant that gets on my nerves all afternoon is NOT what I want to do!!!!)

Well I think I am going shopping...need some BBQ food for the weekend!!!! LOL Got a coupon for 6 packages of meat for $19.99 at local store here. Good enough for me I guess...plus if Rick's mom shows up we have cheap food...LOL

thoughts and Prayers for ALL that need them...Especially Vic...God love her for being so strong right now!!!!

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Hi Judy...I think it would be great to have the truck in the parade!! Tell Rick to lighten up a bit and show off that nice vehicle!! If it was me I would donate a couple hours to the sit at the auxiliary table. I wouldn't and couldn't sit that long. You are so friendly you would be great at that!!

I picked up some good specials on meat this week too. Several meat items to choice from. They were 6/$20 too. Produce was 5/$15. Everything was really fresh. I eat so much fresh fruit and veggies that was a great deal!

Isn't it great how Michael keeps track of things for you...the idiot! I hope he and that Sugarplum leave soon!!! 

I hope your day is getting better now that you know your  office is closed...LOL!!! They need to send out a letter listing the paid holidays...gosh!!

Love you..HUGS...connie d

Good afternoon Jeannie and everyone...

Jeannie...I am sorry you have shingles again....I have never had them and I don't want them. I make sure I get the shot. I hope you improve quickly!

Your new little outfit sounds so cute!! You are so talented!! I like your idea of the watermelon boat and also for making some skewers of fruit for the children. They will all love that!! You are always so thoughtful to others!! Have a fun time at the party!!

I plan on watching old movies later too. I haven't decided which ones yet.

As for me.... I went out earlier and took my walk. The humidity was down then so I went outside for part of it. It felt good to be out in the sun again. I even walked a little extra! Yes...I hurt like heck but I did it anyway. 

I really don't have any plans at all for this holiday weekend. I will just take it day by day. Today would have been my dad's birthday. I always think about him this time of year. We had huge 4th of July gatherings. The whole day was filled with fun and family and friends. I do miss those times.

I managed to do a little work yesterday. I cleaned out the cabinet and drawers under the bathroom sink. I have even more to donate now. Some things got tossed. Then I cleaned and reorganized the closet with all the extra bathroom supplies and such. Lots to donate there too. I have been filling totes! It sounds like a lot for me to do but it really wasn't. I did a little at a time through out the afternoon and evening. Right now I just need to keep busy. 

Prayers for our wonderful OFF Family and their families.

Extra special prayers for our Vickie and Butch and family. Keeping them very close to my heart these days. 

Prayers for others who have requested them. 

Have a good day...do an "act of kindness" along the way.

Lots of love and many hugs....connie d

Hi Jeannie and Judy and my OFF family:

I have a rare holiday off, although I have to work tomorrow. But ... in a big surprise ... I also get a day off for working the 4th. So an extra day in the future. After everything that's happened in the past two weeks, I really need this extra day off this week. I'm pooped. At one point I thought about going to see a movie. But I'm just going to hang out around the apartment and watch baseball. I do need to go out and pick up a prescription later. My gabapentin ran out on Monday, unbeknownst to me (I thought I had more around the house), and then I checked and Lyrica would only cost me $20, and since it works better, I got that refilled instead. But I need to get it now. I've been having stinging/stabbing pains in my right knee the past few days, worse than usual. 

If I didn't have to get that prescription, I might just stay in my jammies all day. I wanted to go to the farmers market, too, but oh well ... some other day. Maybe I'll make some zucchini bread. I have three really nice zucchini. 

Sounds like you two have busy days/weekends ahead. Enjoy! I'm going to veg.

Hello Eileen.....that is a god deal with you getting and extra day off for working the 4th. Good for you!! 

I love farmers markets and really miss going to them Oh well!

I am glad you can get that Lyrica so it will help with your knee pain. I have a lot of Gabapenten but can't use it...allergic to it. I need to take it with to my next doctor appointment. They will have it destroyed. It is probably out of date now anyway.

You and your zucchini bread...I always crave it for days after you talk about it! I like it even better then banana bread!!

I am about out of energy now. I must cut up my watermelon and clean my berries. Then jus****ch movies and rest. 

Enjoy your evening. I hope the Lyrica does help with your pain.

Love and many hugs to you...connie d

Hello Jeannie, Eileen Judy & Connie!

Small crowd here today! I am getting on late as we left out about 10am to drive up to a huge flea market about an hour away! It was a warm, sunny day, but not unbearable. Enjoyed walking around despite ongoing tailbone pain. Got Jazz a selfie stick...OMG...I am being chased around w/the darn thing...lol! I got a new cover for my cell which I needed for awhile, but am too cheap to pay even walmart prices! Then we had lunch & hit a couple other stores before heading back this afternoon. Took a nap, ate dinner & worked on painting the deck some more. And already the day is almost over.

Jeannie, glad to hear your shingles are drying up & you don't seem to have a lot of pain. Jim was in such agony! So you can sew really well like Trish & the others! I sure missed the bus on that one. Had to laugh about the outfits being from a maternity pattern!

We are spending our 1st 4th of July w/just the 3 of us. Always attended or hosted the holiday, but it seems like ppl are so overwhelmed these days they aren't up to either going or entertaining EVERY holiday like when we were kids. And even tho I am not working I am not up to doing anything here or going somewhere this year. We are just going to the town parade & fireworks.

So I know what you mean about the 'obligation' you sometimes feel to attend long-standing functions when you could just as easily stay home!

Eileen, I think I mentioned Jim takes Lyrica for his phantom pain from the missing leg. They had tried several meds before that, but this one really helps. I know if I had to deal w/chronic pain I would have to get what worked. So hopefully the Lyrica will help you.

Judy, all I can say is you are a hot mess! You should have been a writer or comedian! When I read your posts I can FEEL how frustrated you are, but the humor or the way you phrase things crack me up! I told Connie on FB I would not want to be Michael today! And I would just have to slap some of those tenants silly!

Connie, as I said sometimes I think it is just as well to have a quiet holiday. I have had a problem w/Christmas since my parents died, and all the hoopla around it just makes me feel guilty for not wanting to shop til I drop or eat & drink til I barf! I love having my kids here for Christmas Eve when we traditionally opened gifts, but it seems all 3 of them can never be here most of the time. Life goes on. My parents are gone, my beloved father-in-law passed in 09, my kids aren't always available, and while I love my in-laws...Vickie said it well yesterday when she mentioned how happy she was to have HER aunt & uncle there. Sometimes you just want your own blood...no matter how much you love & enjoy others! 

I am thinking of Vickie, Butch & family. They have been in my thoughts constantly the past few weeks. I really pray things are coming to a close soon despite it being the end, but how much can a person take? I just cannot imagine the emotional rollercoaster!

Hope Trish is doing okay as well as our other sisters.

Everyone take care & have a safe holiday. (I can just see Judy putting a firecracker up someone's a**!)

Hi Kathy....I think it will be fun that you 3 are having a quiet day tomorrow. We aren't young anymore and it just isn't that necessary to constantly be on the move (I am older then dirt!).

I just wish that I at least had some options to turn down. I have had to say "no" so many times that now I am not even included anymore. Most all my really good friends have camping parks and lake homes. Oh well...chronic pain...it has taken over my life! I couldn't go it I wanted too. Sorry...this isn't the time to whine. I just get lonely sometimes. Part of the depression for sure!!

I hope you have a good day tomorrow!! Hide the camera from Jim if you are swimming...LOL! 

Sorry your tail bone is still causing you pain. You may have to see a doctor yet! Gentle hugs!!!  

When someone is in the process of passing....hours just seem to run into each other. There really isn't a schedule anymore. You sleep and eat as you can. However you are right.... I have been through this process with many people..... Butch is hanging on tight.....so is Vickie!!! I wish I could be there to hold her up. She is so amazing!! Now I know what real love is all about. My heart is breaking for both of them. 

Have a lovely evening...more love and hugs....connie d

Kathy,

This flair up wasn't as bad as others.  But shingles do hurt and that's why as soon as realize what's happening, I start the antivirals.  The doctor also gives me medicine for the burning and itching but it also sedates me which helps with the pain. Shingles are awful and are so painful and if left untreated can become so infected and just ooze for days.  Happily, this time, I got them soon enough to stop infection and stop spreading.  

I am a pretty good seamstress, but it isn't something that I am a natural at. My grandmother taught me how to sew when I was around 5...I helped her quilt and I made doll clothes and baby blankets.   She also taught me how to crochet and I took to crocheting like a fish in water.  Crocheting is something that comes natural to me. I can crochet anything with a picture or a pattern...  

When I was pregnant with my first child, I couldn't afford a pot to pee in and so I made my maternity clothes, all the baby clothes, and when I was sewing, I was quilting or crocheting...And I made all of my son's shirts, my daughter's clothes, and my clothes for years and years.  I was able to use all the money I saved on their clothes for little trips for the kids and for them having pretty good gifts at Christmas.  I can say that lately, I've begun sewing more for the grandkids and for me. Sewing for me is addictive....I sew something, like it, and make another with different material. LOL.