too much input some days....
I feel like I need to reboot

My paternal grandmother is in her last few days on this earth. Grandma is in the final stages of Alzheimer's. This has obviously not come unexpected. Grandma Lillian is 90 years old and is the one whom my granddaughter, Lilly (Lillian Mae), is named after. She is my last surviving grandparent.
She has stopped eating and drinking. The family put her in the hospital to try to get her hydrated, and that is not working. Her body will not process the fluids.

(Rand has one grandparent, "Gramps" still. Fond childhood memories are why Rand chooses to be called Gramps.)

It was accidentally announced in a group meeting today that I did get my promotion. The powers that be had hoped to tell me privately, before announcing it. The best laid plans of mice and men.......Hopefully, I will have all the new details by the end of the week.
Speaking of mice, Sandra reports a problem.

I wasn't in a car accident on the way home from work today, by God's grace only.
It was rush hour, Des Moines style, the car three cars ahead of me had signaled to turn left (out of my sight due to the other vehicles).
Left seems to be a problem a lot in accidents.
The immediate car following wasn't paying any attention and slammed into the rear of the first car. The rest of us were braking our little rubber hearts out trying to avoid a multiple car pile up. We all missed each other by a mere few inches.
Later Rand and I went out for ice cream and saw a similar accident on the same road, only a few blocks from the first accident.
The road reports on the way to work this morning were full of numerous accidents, obviously, the way home wasn't any better.
For the love of God people! Hang up your phones, turn down your radios, do some defensive driving and pay attention!

A year ago, I couldn't find my basic forms of ID. Since I am a rather compulsive cleaner and organizer, I assumed I would run across them eventually. Everything in my house has a place, but I may not always remember where that is and "where" changes frequently.
At the time I had jokingly said to Rand that I probably donated them to Goodwill in an old purse. Well, I got a letter from Goodwill today. They do have my IDs and stuff!
It took a year?!
I don't worry much about identity theft. Good luck getting anywhere with my credit! And not too many people would want to be mistaken for me...might get you an earful!

Moose has died.

Yes, we are being more careful at work.

Guess we won't be seeing this classmate at future reunions.

Here's more Lilly; more than she will ever appreciate me showing! 

Happy baby on a Sunday morning. She had a bottle of "bean juice", as her Gramps calls it. It's chocolate soy milk. A Gramma's house treat.

She is clean - she just managed to get chocolate milk on her knee.

Sunday, I kept Lilly from a napping too early. As soon as Rand got home from work, we were going to head for Fort Dodge to take Lilly home. A napping baby is the best way to make this long trip! I was doing dishes while Unka WeeWee played with Lilly. Just before Rand was to arrive - I went to find them and discovered this scene. Yes, we let Lilly nap undisturbed (in her crib). Yes, it was a very very long ride to Fort Dodge a few hours later.

Look! Little pig tails! 

Aunt Kara came to spend the evening with Lilly and share Willie's DQ birthday cake with us. Lilly and Kara became friends quite quickly. 

Lilly is playing with Unka WeeWee. 

Willie celebrates his birthday by playing with a large pink ball!  

Happy 20th Birthday to Willie!
Willie is no longer a teen. He declares this to be a sign that he is a real adult. He declares a lot of things to "signify" that now he is a real adult. I'm thinking when you are a real adult you don't have time to sit around and think of things to "prove it".
That busy day is approaching for him. Willie called me about a bazillion times today. I cannot hear my phone in the Jeep.
He got his second job.
He will now work 6:00 am to noon or so shift for JC Penny (they matched his Target pay) and later do a 4:00 pm to 10 or so shift at Plaza Lanes where he just got a raise. He is bouncing off the walls happy.
He will probably end up at our place this evening for a birthday celebration. He can't afford to do much else. I'm not writing anything down in stone though. We gave him his presents yesterday.

Today - many moons long
After too little sleep, I made my way to work and put in a very busy morning.
I headed for home a bit after noon to prepare to go pick-up Lilly. I got most of what I meant to get loaded and hit the road.
Between the hot sun and the lack of sleep - I was having a bit of trouble staying alert and awake.
I pulled into the Casey's in Ogden to refuel my Jeep and my brain. I purchased a a couple of highly caffeinated energy drinks and protein.
After I pulled out and got on the road again I was feeling much better.
Of course, nothing like a brief rain shower - while running topless in the Jeep, to refresh you.
After arriving in Fort Dodge, I installed the car seat, Sandra and I unloaded, and I put my top (sans windows) up. Lilly loves to ride with the breeze in the Jeep, but I didn't think she needed a couple of hours of afternoon sun. In addition, the sky was sunny and blue when I arrived and was quickly turning threatening.
BTW - Lilly was so happy to see me!
Lilly and I road out of the threatening sky fairly quickly. Lilly drank her bottle and slept for the first hour of the trip. When Lilly woke up and saw she was in the Jeep she actually giggled in glee, and threw me kisses. I always move my inside mirror so we can keep an eye on each other. Lilly was quite cheerful, chatting and singing the rest of the trip home. When we pulled in the driveway she screamed in delight when she saw the house! Gramma and Gramps' house is becoming a favorite place to visit without a doubt!
We walked into the kitchen and she greeted each of the animals with a kiss, which was returned in kind. Lilly saw the watermelon on the floor and shouted something that sounded a lot like watermelon and tried to pick it up. When that failed, she peeled the sticker off of it, stuck it to the front of her dress, and rolled it to me. Lilly then headed to the screen porch to play while I sliced up the melon. She had her melon snack while swinging in her swing.
I was amazed to how fast Lilly has grown in a few weeks. Compare to her last visit. Lilly can no longer walk under her swing - she is too tall!
We went for short walks on our street, visited with neighbors, Lilly swung, played ball, played in her pool, pushed her popper everywhere, road her scooter, we read books, played with the radio, ate two suppers besides the snack, she raided Gramps lunchbox for chips, and continuously gave me hugs and love! I was wearing a lot of food stains by the end of today. We heard fire crackers off in the neighborhood and she repeated the word firecracker very well!
We didn't get home until almost 5:00pm. She went to bed before 10:00 pm.
That was a full evening!
Lilly loved her pool. It was so hot, I couldn't see bothering with a suit. ( for HER people!) She played for quite awhile. When she got a bit chilled, she would crawl onto my lap to be wrapped up in a towel. When she warmed up she would go back in. Her quitting point was at one point when she got a funny look on her face. She stood up, looked down, and peed into her pool. I took my feet out, took her out, I warmed her up, and we stayed on the deck after that. Fresh water in the pool for tomorrow!
At one really special bonding moment, I was "answering" an urgent call of nature and Lilly came in the bathroom. I'm sitting there with my shorts at my ankles, she places a sippy cup in my hand, demands, "Juice", and walks away - expecting it right now!
Later in the evening, I couldn't find her juice cup. Shortly before bed, Lilly stopped at Gramp's lunch box, opened it up, grabbed her juice, took a swig, threw it back in and went on her way. Explains why I couldn't find it.
Later, during her bath, she would just spontaneously give me hugs. While drying off (her and me) I put lotion in Lilly's hand and she helped me apply her lotion, - after her brushing her teeth. As soon as you pull her out of the tub, she points to her toothbrush and says teeth! She got to wear her nightie with the ducks. (Which she proudly showed to neighbors Bob and Lou.)
After eating supper with Gramps and playing with him for awhile, it was finally bedtime. We loved on each other for awhile and she went down without a peep.
I'm so exhausted, sunburned, sore, over-heated,..... and what a wonderful way to end the week!
I can't wait for tomorrow!

*Now* Lilly wants to wear the Easter Bonnet!

Lilly loves throwing her big balls around and the screen porch is the perfect place for it. We have lots of room. We probably played ball more than anything tonight.

You have to love this little dress.

I really can play with it all at once!

We got Lilly a pool for the backyard. Our back yard is very secluded. This was easier than getting an excited toddler into a bikini. Notice how dry our yard is. The last several rains have missed us. We given up watering.

PHOTO FRIDAY - HEALTH

Welcome to my every day.
The prescriptions that help me survive each day.
And an amazing amount of cautions - dire side effects ahead!
I tried but couldn't fit the non-prescriptions I take in the picture.
I'm also OCD.
They have to line up in order, from which ones I take first to the ones I take last and one ones I take the most in a memorable spot so I will remember.
Everywhere I go, I must have my line up.

Commercials
I like watching commercials.
I like to figure out what angle they are coming from and what their target is.
That was not a mis-slip. I do believe the target is sometimes a what.
The target is not always a specific target demographic in people, but the behavior of all.
What put this thought in the front of my brain tonight was just viewing a Staples "Easy Button" commercial concerning an empty ink cartridge and the reward of $3 off by returning the empty for a new one.
I know Office Depot, in years past, has offered free copy paper for the return of an old cartridge when purchasing a new ink cartridge.
This is all done using the "recycling for better planet" theme.
While that may be true, I believe there is an ulterior motive.
To trade in your old cartridge for a reward, you must be buying a new cartridge This also insures you are not using the cheaper method of refilling your old ink cartridge.

Pepsi likes to prove over and over again how satisfying and delicious their product really is.
No matter how much their commercials completely suck (exception: Super Bowl Sunday); their product sells very well. Pepsi is not afraid to have the stupidest and least entertaining commercials featuring constantly changing spokespersons (who usually become a public embarrassment to mankind) constantly airing. Pepsi does not need to imprint their corporate logo on everything known to man as that other cola company has done. The other cola company even has to resort to entertaining commercials year round. That's gotta co$t them!

Lilly did fine over the weekend with her new ear tubes.
We shall have her this coming weekend. I will pick her up Friday after work.

Ashley is not going to be joining Willie as a roommate after all. Budget woes and grandparents that don't want Anna moving out. I so get that!

Yes, it is Monday. No, I know nothing new about my 'hoped for' promotion.
Rand and I actually had a whole day together yesterday. We spent the day doing next to nothing and eating stuff that wasn't good for us.
We did rehang my hummingbird feeders. The little bastards are all over the neighborhood - I want some in my yard for something other than fly-bys.
I had a nice little flare up this afternoon for no apparent reason. I took some pain meds and slept those off on the screen porch. A sort of pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
You know, except for the pain part.

Happy Father's Day! 

Happiness is.......

Ice cream reward after ear tubes.
Actually this is the bribing Lilly with the rest of Gramma's cone to get Lilly's bowl away from her! It was hot, windy, and she had a blast painting her self with ice cream and using her spoon as a brush.

checking things out
Lilly was a bit cantankerous following her morning. She was much better after Gramma arrived. I took her presents; I had finished her Dora blanket and got her a new Dora doll. Turns out she had been playing with a Dora doll at the hospital and was quite upset she couldn't keep it. I had gotten her the exact same doll! She was quite thrilled.
Later in the afternoon we went shopping. I got the Lilly a wading pool and the new swimsuit she is wearing here. Lilly so loved the "grass" skirt - I'm betting it becomes a daily wear!
We were quite a sight in Fort Dodge. Jeepin' around with a wading pool on top of an open Jeep. Lilly thought it was all great fun!
Lilly wanted to leave with Gramma. Lilly is used to me coming to get her, not just a visit. She cried when she realized she wasn't going home with me. (I might have shed a tear or two then!)
I hugged and kissed her a bit more, then Sandra distracted her with visiting a neighbor so I could leave.
Hopefully, next weekend, she can come down for a visit.

into the chair - all by herself! 

door handle 

Photo Friday - Potrait

contemplation

Blowin' in the wind. 

Every guy's dream....

Willie has successfully ended his search for a roommate.
He met with one of his new roommates today.
He is gaining not one, but two roommates.
I was there as well to check things out between Willie and one at least.
The other he one he does already know as an "acquaintance".
This will be hard to believe - but Willie is giving up the large master bedroom to the new lease signer.
He is taking the smaller bedroom for his.

Girls have that effect on him.

Yes, Willie's apartment is going to gain a feminine flair to it.
Willie is always a gentleman first and foremost.
Yes, estrogen is taking a major power play at Willie's place.

Plus, the two new females he will be living with are going to share the one large bedroom.
Only makes sense for Willie to take the smaller bedroom.
And Willie has my blessings.
In fact, I helped facilitate this as a mediator.

One Korean and not one, but two redheads sharing the same space.
This could be interesting.
I predict nothing but good things.

I, of course, have located pictures of Willie's new roommates on the world wide web.
I swear you can find anyone or anything out there!
Check out the photos here, here, here, and here!

Poor baby!
Lilly saw an ENT today.
She gets ear tubes first thing Friday morning.
I know she will be fine and this will help her enormously.....
but that doesn't help this Gramma feel any better.

Did you know?
I was cleaning the coffee pot and doing a bit of picking up around the house.
I kept hearing the strangest noise.
Kizzie kept trying to bark at it. (I made her stop so I could hear it better.) Girlfriend was staying so close to me I almost fell over her a couple of times.
I finally hear the coffee pot signal it was done with the cycle.
I go into the kitchen and realize what the noise was.
Our coffee pot has the little lever so that if you can pull it out to get a cup while it is still brewing. It will pause the drip. Seems it won't, if you just don't get the pot all the way in.
I have just covered my entire countertop with a nice steaming acidic cleanser. For those who know my kitchen layout, it ran behind the sink and under the microwave. Nothing like going for distance. It was the cracking and popping, as the liquid hit the hot plate, I was hearing.

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this!" "So, don't do that."
So anyway, I was in the fitting room on Saturday night.
I wasn't feeling great when the day started, I was at the front end of a flare up. (weather related)
I just tell my co-workers it is my "arthritis". It is a nice generic word that they understand and lets them know "I'm hurting".
Truth was it was my RSD flaring up and I could barely stand because of the pain.
And we were busy.
I gave thought of leaving at close, but the store was so tore up, I couldn't abandon my co-workers. I kept popping pain pills and finally had to call myself done at midnight. (I was losing the ability to walk for real) I'm sure the team were there for another hour or two. The store was tore up bad. I think shopping is akin to legal vandalism in some peoples minds.
I went home, (that took some doing. I almost fell on my way to the jeep I hurt so bad)
took more pills, (washed them all down with a Corona), crawled into bed. (I really have no memory of going to bed at that point, but that's where I woke up)
I was able to crawl back out of bed late this afternoon.
My feet feel broken and bruised.
I had small trip out of the house that about did me in. Beyond that, I have stayed off my feet.
tomorrow will be a clerical day. A time to recoup on my strength a bit. Tuesday night I must close the fitting room again due to staff shortages. This could be a miserable week. I am also scheduled on Friday to do the same.
I should hear one way or another on my application for the clerical promotion this week. (I'm really hoping tomorrow.)
I'm praying I get it. I'm not even supposed to be in the fitting room. My doctor wrote a note weeks ago. I just never handed it in. I want to promote out of that particular job;, not fail physically. Luckily, tomorrow I will too busy to care about when they might tell me.

Will has gotten a couple of nibbles of interest in his search for a roommate. And sent out a few as well.
It has him a bit nervous, inviting strangers into his home.
Sandra has a washer now - keep your ears open for a dryer.
My pills are kicking innnnnnnnnnnnzzzzzzzzzz..........

Don't worry, You didn't miss anything
Blogger was down for a couple of days. Here are my musings for that time.
They haven't got it very accurate.
My Jeep got wet in the last downpour and I had to sit in it and drive home after work. Not going to rain until that evening they said.
The next rain was predicted for Friday night.
Well, Thursday night I was up late. At 1:30 am I was in my nightgown in the pouring rain putting up the top on my Jeep.
Hey, it did rain last night as well. Sometimes they get it right. Just not often enough to depend on.
I can't find my rain cover this year - Yet. I have a habit of putting things away very well. I am very organized.
My memory, on the other hand, sucks.
I don't remember where I put things.
I shampooed carpets this evening and wanted to put a new bag in the vacuum cleaner. Couldn't find them. Now, my cleaning closet is very organized. I'm probably just out of bags and need to buy more. Probably.

Missing you
We were to have Lilly this weekend. Ryan had family coming to town and we weren't told until yesterday we wouldn't have her. We were disappointed. I went ahead and picked up an extra shift at work in the fitting room tonight. They were desperate and I am a team player. I have a feeling I'm going to regret it. This weather has me flaring up miserably tonight. One of these days I am going to have to follow doctors orders and stop doing this particular task at work. It is very hard on me.

Lilly seems to have suffered none the worse for her culinary adventure.

I have been helping Willie with online roommate searches. Hopefully, he will find someone decent to help share expenses.
My favorite line from today's profiles:
im looking for someone who is resiponsible, in quiet neighbourhood,clean,simple with good comminction.
Obviously, somebody needs to have those skills for you!

On another blog, I saw the game of type "your name" needs into google. I have seen this before, but haven't tried it.
It turns out my name only brings up Pamela Anderson:
Pam Needs Sperm Donor
Pam needs to lose the peroxide
Pam needs no net to net a man!

And a computer program called PAM:
PAM needs to be configured
PAM needs to be extended
pam needs to be rebuilt

My personal favorite is this gem:
In a storm like Hurricane Pam, shelters will likely remain open for 100 days.....

Randy was more entertaining:
Randy needs help from Raider mates
Randy Needs to Recover As Well
Randy needs to write a song
Randy needs someone like The Taker to put him in his place once and for all
Randy needs to pick up the hay bails
Randy needs to list every skill he used in each of his jobs
Randy needs a vocabulary
Randy needs to try to locate emails from Swapna on Ontology
Randy needs to go to a Frisco bath house and hang out, so to speak

Professionalism
I went grocery shopping at our neighborhood Dahl's the other day.
I spent way too much, got everything on my list, and then some, and had my jeep overflowing with plastic sacks.
Even though I find Dahl's to be a bit pricier than other stores, I try to get there a couple of times a month.
I'm not a "frequent" shopper. I buy in bulk. These days, "bulk" has taken on a new meaning being it's just the two of us and whatever Willie eats while visiting.
I like to shop Dahl's for meat stock up, fresh fruit and veggies, and alcoholic beverages (you know - Rand's Coors and my wine) and it is the only store where I know I will come out with everything on my list. It is a very well stocked store with excellent variety. I hate shopping. I like to make each trip count.
This trip the only real downer was putting away my groceries at home.
I chose to drive up and have my groceries loaded into my Jeep. I had parked next to a cart rail, but was starting a flare up. (Shopping will do that for me every time) I needed whatever I had left to get the groceries in at home.
When I got home I first grabbed the sacks in the passenger side front.
My loader had put all the alcoholic beverages up front with me. I would have never done that. On appearances alone. "No, officer. I had no plans for the chilled beverages beside me."
To add insult to injury, my large cantaloupe had been put in the sack with my bananas. And a six pack was placed on top of that. My bananas were bruising by the time I was unpacking them. My other fruit and vegetables were bagged with the same abandon. My tomatoes survived better than my nectarines.
There were no rhyme or reason to the bagging of cold, frozen or dry goods either.
I bought some nice looking "plastic ware beverage set" (a gift for my folks' motorhome), and the cashier actually told the bagger to quit wrapping it - it was only plastic.
I prefer it in the unscratched new looking condition myself. They also stacked the drinking glasses inside each other. That is a little pet peeve of mine. It is usually going to be stuck together, scratched, or - both.
I was wearing a black tank top. When I got the "plastic ware" (Hey, they are on vacation - I'm not telling what it is yet!) off the shelf to examine it - I was horrified by the amount of white dust that covered me. I had cleaned up to go shopping.

Our God is an Awesome God!
I went to visit Friend Sandy on Thursday. She is now living at On With Life.
Sandy was in physical therapy when I arrived. I was amazed to see her responding to requests, moving her limbs as best she could.
I moved into her line of sight. Sandy is now aware of the world. The coma is regressing.
And she recognized me!
It has been three months since I have had my friend know me. I broke into tears of joy when I realized! Sandy broke into a big grin and grabbed my hand when she saw me. We always used to greet each other as if long-lost reunited friends. If we saw each other across the store we would wave madly! It didn't matter if it was the twentieth time that day!
It is so wonderful to have my friend greet me again!
Sandy looked quite concerned that I was crying. I quickly reassured her they were tears of joy!
Sandy has physical therapy, speech therapy, and receives all of her other medical needs. I was extremely impressed with the facility and the level of care they are providing.
I'm crying again. Sandy recognized me, smiled, and took my hand.
Thank you Lord!

This makes me giggle uncontrollably every time I watch it.

Urgent update.....
I got a frantic call at work from Sandra today.
Miss Lilly, exploring outside, found broken glass.

It's worse than you are already imagining.

Lilly ate it.
Sandra was getting as much as she could out of Lilly's mouth.
I advised Sandra get her to a hospital immediately. She did and they x-rayed Lilly.
Nothing showed on the x-ray, but they are going to examine them closely as glass is hard to see on x-rays. Sandra is to keep a close eye on her for any gastric problems.
Lilly is going through a time of it.
She has been on antibiotics for a staph infection for a couple of weeks now. The doctors are trying to determine what strain she has and how she got it.
Lilly also has an appointment with an ENT on Monday. Lilly has had multiple bouts of ear infection since birth. Her first was diagnosed at two weeks of age. She already has experience with tonsillitis. Add that together with the fact that she snores, pretty loud for a small body, this is a much needed appointment.
Lilly will be joining us for a visit this weekend!

Work was almost relaxing today compared to yesterday. Plenty to do, but everything went smoothly and functioned as it should.

I am back to using my APAP with some regularity.
Mom told me straight she could tell I wasn't using it by my dark circles. That had me thinking I should be. That same week several people at work mentioned I looked like I didn't feel good. Forget that I stop breathing very frequently in my sleep. (I'm considered severe apnea)
Forget that my joints hurt more due to lack of oxygen.
Forget the brain fog caused by lack of oxygen.
Forget I'm showing early signs of heart damage from the stress my heart has to go through when I'm not breathing.
Vanity wins.
I have large dark circles around my eyes. A sallow, spotty complexion. No light in my eyes.
It's ain't pretty.

The new host of the garden. Yeah, Rand was thrilled with him......
My goal is to have little things hid around the yard to thrill the grandchildren.

Same view, new occupents grow. Notice the rabbit ravaged tulip leaves in lower left hand corner. I don't remember what this plant is. All the plant markers in my garden are useless. I just mark new stuff with anything handy. It doesn't have to be the right marker. Everythings a surprise! Most I do recognize. This year, this plant and a couple of others, I don't. Maybe Bec can help me with this :)

Sprinkler at sunset 

My head hurts.....

I spent Friday over doing, again.
After a half day of work and still feeling crappy from the day before. Still don't know when to quit.

Rand had Saturday off, as did , and we spent the day playing and cruising around in a topless Jeep.
We had margaritas for lunch and ice cream cones for supper. It was a very good day!
Rand got a sunburn. I'm even more sensitive to sunlight this year due to my med changes. I looked red for a few hours and promptly got over it. Sucks to be you, eh? We got my pond shaped up for the year and added more goldfish. They keep disappearing. I'm guessing I'm keeping a raccoon well fed.
All in all it was a bit of overdoing day.
Plenty of "magic pills" needed, but a good day.

Sunday, we both had to work.
Have I mentioned how miserable the store is these days? Our air conditioning is not functioning. I was plenty hot all day. I was in the fitting room, on my feet all day, and we were busy. I ran out of beverages and dollars. I was flared up most of the evening.
I have yet to hand in my doctor's note stating I can't do that job anymore.
I want to "promote" out of it.
On the new position (read that: the job I'm doing now) I am applying for: I have got all three interviews done with the execs. Hopefully, I will hear something next week.
If I don't get the new position, I am done. There is nothing left here I can physically do.

To top off a fairly miserable day:
I got a parking ticket for parking in a handicap spot. Mind you I am handicapped and I have a permanent parking permit. I found the permit blown off my mirror and laying up almost between the driver's door and the seat.
I'm hoping it blowed off (it was a very windy day) and some smart ass didn't move it. An open Jeep is an easy mark, but we must rely on the "honors" system. And don't carry anything your not willing to lose.
I was panicked when I saw it was gone. I was very relieved to find my handicap permit still in my Jeep.
I called the mall security first. They left a very nice note that said, "If this vehicle was found parking illegally again - it would be towed. Thanks for shopping at Merle Hay Mall."
I let them know that I was an employee in a store at the mall and that vehicle (with proper permit) has been in the same spot almost every day for months. If they could pay attention to such details, I would preferred not to be towed next time mother nature blows and I have the top off. They said they would take a note of it.
I am appealing the parking ticket.
Between the "on my feet all day" and stress of a ticket - yep, more magic pills.
I was up later then I should have been. I had tried to print new pictures of Lilly last week. They didn't come out well. I was thinking time to replace the color it had been warning was low.
I've done that, cleaned the heads, and everything else I can come up with. The pictures get worse and worse and the printer thinks everything is fine. I'm thinking I'm going to need a part. I do have another printer I can use. I would have to uninstall this one then install the other one. I'm not quite ready to give up on this one yet.
extras
I got eaten alive by mosquitoes this weekend.
Talked to Lilly on the phone and everyone else.
The folks are on vacation with little bother brother Don and family.

Today - Monday

Today: partly sunny. High in the mid 80s. South wind 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight: showers and thunderstorms likely. Low in the mid 60s. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Those lying bastards. (KCCI)
It rained early this afternoon.
I'm still running around with the top down on the Jeep. Yeah, it got very wet for .12" of rain.
Today was my big clerical day. Payroll and catch up for the weekend.
The day, of course, followed suit at my going luck these days.
The program we (literally, the whole corporate being) use for payroll - was down. This affected the entire nation, world, - hell it could have been the whole galaxy.
The initial help message said it would be down until 10:00 am. I busied myself with paperwork to make the whole process go easier and quickly. Payroll must be completed by noon on Monday. It take a solid 3 to 4 hours to do on a good day.
By 10:15 am, we still had nothing. The new help message said it would be 1:00 pm before it was available. Our time to complete payroll had been extended to 5:00 pm. There was still plenty to do. This is also when I finished my final interview.
Shortly after 1:00 pm we were back up and running. Entering went very smoothly and quickly. My detailing of entries ahead of time had helped.
But, (are you surprised here?) none of the new employees, who started last week, hours had showed up. Several employees and a week's worth of schedule each. That took some time to re-enter. I finally got everything done. Got all the final reports ran and clocked out hours late for the day. I didn't get a lunch, and missed a pill dose. That wasn't helping me.
It was a "hurry up and wait" day but with no waiting.
And I still had to shop for a few groceries.
Then go sit in my wet Jeep for the drive home.
I have such a stress headache right now.
I forgot my glasses today which didn't help, it was a lot of computer time today.
Rand forgot to write his schedule down this week. I have no idea when to expect him home.
The good news is I don't have to water my new plants tonight.
Hopefully my Jeep will dry out so I can put the top up for the expected rain tonight.

Well, at 4am I took more drugs including two more of what I call my magic pills. This finally did the trick and I slept for a few hours. I awoke drained, but the flare up seemed over.
I changed that.
I decided to run to Holub nursery. It was getting to be now or never on getting bedding plants as far as spring timing goes. When I arrived home again I began to plant. I got the base of the birdbath and my front flower pots done. I went to the back and started on the new tiered bed Rand made for me this spring.
I did get it finished.
I was over-heated and over-extended physically.
I was shaky, sick to my stomach, and had a full blown migraine going. More drugs and long quiet rest in front of a fan. I have zero tolerance to heat. Three heat strokes in my past have assured that.
And that little excursion to the nursery, heat exhaustion, and planting has my body screaming again.
Rand got home from work and turned the air on for me. I was beyond being able to do much for myself.
I still have some plants to put out. They are calling my name. My shade garden needs weeded as well.
I will try to avoid the pull of the outdoors for the rest of today.
Willie is going to mow tomorrow for us. It would probably be best to wait until he is done. I want to naturalize plants in a few new spots. I have trouble getting Willie to recognize that and he usually mows over them.

I got a wonderful package from dear friend Bec today. When Sandra was young, I had made her some very cute jumpers. I handed them down to Bec's daughter Dianna after Sandra had outgrown them. Bec mailed them back for me to have for Lilly. Awe! These are special. The fabrics were "antique" when I made the jumpers. A gift from my grandmother, Anna Mae. I even did hand embroidery on one.
Bec also included a "bear" bank and a pin for Lilly. Thank you so much Bec!
You were firmly in my thoughts this morning - I was wishing I was at Ellis Greenhouse and thinking how nice a visit with you would be! And then I got home to your package - truly sweet timing!
For those who don't know - Ellis Greenhouse in Lucas county is the most incredible greenhouse in the state. And Bec works there. :)

updating my profile with this smile..... 

Welcome to June
Yeah, I stayed up just to celebrate that.

This is one reason I don't wear my APAP like I should - Sleep is required.
I may have messed up on my meds today. I missed my morning doses, I think.
It's been downhill all day.
Tonight, I took all of my required doses and two of the really good ones. I should have been knocked out within half an hour. Hours later, I'm wondering how to shower.
I'm hurting.

I have tomorrow off. I have dozens of things on my to do list. Now, I need to prioritize.
I haven't done any of my spring plantings. I need to soon if I'm going to.
My carpets are in desperate need of a shampoo. Between the sippy cup which sprang an apple juice leak, to the body lotion which went nuts all by itself, pets and etc....my rugs look pretty nasty. So does the bench in the kitchen. Lilly was doing an food art project, I believe.
The kitchen floor is sticky, the bathroom needs cleaned, as do all the windows.
The dogs need bathed.
What I really want to do is sew and be creative.
Or fall asleep on the screen porch while reading "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". My favorite lazy summer read.
I would love to make a nice dinner for Rand.
None of this may come to pass if I don't get this flare-up under control.

I had my first interview today for the new position (clerical specialist) I want. Which is also the job I'm already doing. The difference for now means less pay and screwy hours.
I have two more interviews to do in the next day or two, and there is no time table to when they will make a decision. Could be a long summer.
I keep thinking of Pinnochio. His wish was to be a real boy.
My wish is to have a "real" job.
A real sit-down, brain-powered, job with regular 40 hour weeks and benefits.
Yeah, I could live with that.
something I haven't shared with my work leaders yet, is the doctors note in my purse.
It's official: I'm not to be the fitting room/operator anymore. I'm on my feet too much and it guarantees a flare up. I'm hoping (if I get this promotion) I don't have to play the "disabled card". I really hate showing weakness. I want to show my leaders what I can do, not what I can't because of physical limitations. The fitting room is considered to be the "easy" job. That fact doesn't do much for my crippled ego either.
We had a employee in fitting room team quit. Now, I'm getting handed extra hours there. Not good. I know I shouldn't be doing this to my body, but I am a team player and the team needs me.
One way or another it will come to an end. I will get the promotion. Or I won't. Either way I'm done doing the physical stuff. I just pray I get to keep my career.

Decorating is fun and easy
I have Lilly's new Dora blanket put together, I just need to add ties. Rand called them gullies when he was a toddler. Yeah, he was a blankie kid.
I found some beautiful drapes on clearance for Ryan and Sandra's patio door. Even pick up a cover for the sofa. The fabric has been ordered for the master bedroom curtains. We just need to decide on the kitchen window.

Only Willie
Willie popped into tonight looking very much the part of the cat that ate the canary. He was grinning ear to ear and driving me nuts with a conversation that was going nowhere. I kept asking him what he was up to and he declared nothing. I finally told him to go home, "You're weirding me out!" After spending time thus far looking pleased as punch, playing I got a secret.....
he finally goes into a fake, I'm going to be in trouble act.
Willie says, "You find out everything anyway, I might as well show you".......Then proudly shows me - his first hickey. Willie announced he has a new girlfriend. This one is named Ebonie.