Third times a charm?
I am now experiencing my third bout of intestinal flu in less than two weeks time. This time has lasted longer. I'm thinking my GI's delicate balance has been upset and my IBS is triggered.
I feel like crap - literally.

Rand will pick up the U-haul Saturday evening. We can't pick it up until 6:30pm. Rand plans to start loading boxes on the truck Saturday evening.
We want to be able to unload the furniture first into the apartment, so we don't have to haul it around boxes. Space is going to fill up fast.
We would like to start loading 8:am Sunday, if that works for the rest of the "loading crew". It is looking to be a gorgeous day weather wise. The earlier we start, the sooner we get done, and everyone can enjoy the rest of the day.
If you want to start earlier - just let us know!

I've managed a little bit of packing between naps and quantity bathroom time. We do have the advantage of being able to leave stuff and collect it later, but also want to get out of Rob's way as much as we can.
Rand and I will hit the final wave of packing on Saturday.

Happy Day!
Sandra called yesterday. She and Lilly are doing well. We had a very lovely visit. Sandra sounded so good - I almost cried for joy!
And last night, I slept better than I have in months.

Our house is boxes, boxes, and more boxes. I'm wearing out, but most of the packing is done. After all of this, I don't ever want to see another cardboard box as long as I live.
I have had to increase my pain meds. My hands are really feeling this and I'm spending too much time on my feet.
The antibiotics are helping a bunch. I'm getting some energy back with my body not fighting n unseen enemy.
This past weekend (to add insult to injury) I went to clean out my tool box. As I was lifting out the top tray and hammer fell out.
It, of course, struck my right foot. It is the most disadvantaged of my feet.
I was barefoot.
The hammer struck the top of my foot hard enough to draw blood.
That pretty well sidelined me for a day.
I'm surpassing Rand's ability to bring boxes home. I have used an entire roll of packing tape. We have the luxury of not worrying about everything moving. With Rob being the purchaser of our home, we need only take the "essentials" and later bring other things over, as we see need or room.
Things going are constantly evolving.
One of my biggest concern is if the entertainment center will fit in the corner we plan on. We have decided to leave Rob the surround sound. We gave Willie one of our DVD players.
We have decided on chairs for the table we are taking. I will paint them to match the table.
We bought a computer armoire yesterday. It was one of those finds where you just know you will know the right one when you see it. As soon as I saw this, I knew it was perfect. We are having it delivered after we move in.
I'm not sure if all my bookcases will fit or which I might have to leave behind. I'm am taking all my wine racks and cabinet's with only a vague idea of where they might go.
We need to decide on a start time for the move. I need to call the apartment managers to see if they have rules on how early you can move in out of neighbor courtesy.
Randy would choose daybreak of course.
Camper is still helping me pack at every turn. I lost her for a bit this evening. Thought I was going to have to untape a box. I finally found her in an emptied cupboard.
I've played on Freecycle a few more times with great success. I find it more fun than a garage sale. Somebody with an item can fill a need. Somebody with a "want" can open the generosity of others.

A rare weekday off - sweet!
A chance to spend that day with your dearest childhood friend - priceless!
An intestinal flu being passed around work that ruins all your plans -
and so it goes.
Supper did successfully remain in my body, so I will be able to go to work in the morning.
Whoopie.

I'm on a couple of antibiotics now. My immunes sytem is shot lately. This is actually the second time I have had this flu, in a week. My skin is starting to break down as well. One quick day tomorrow and then a weekend to rest (and pack).

nothing but tears
Our vet did agree with our assessment of Girlfriend. Definite arthritis, leg weakness, and her mental state has decreasing for years. They are quite wonderful there. They gave me all the time I needed before. When the time came, I sat on the floor and held her on my lap. They let me stay right there holding her for a long time afterwards.

I'm pretty well devastated these days.
The worse part is coming home.
Today at work, I burst into tears after the thought, "Almost time to go home" raced through my head.
I usually cry on the way home.
I walk into the house and for the first time in well over a decade, Girlfriend is not there to greet me.
Then I cry for a few hours more.

I'm missing Kizzie too.
I was worried about Kizzie spending so much time home alone without Girlfriend. Girlfriend kept Kizzie out of trouble many times. I called the folks and Mom came and picked up Kizzie. You might say Kizzie has joined the "retirement home." There she has constant love and attention of her Grandpa and Grandma who she adores, and Buffy.

To ease Meowers' mind, when we move she will stay here with the house. A new house would upset her more than a new roommate. And she already knows Smaug.
Camper thinks, "Like a move must be the best thing ever!" There are boxes everywhere to climb on and in. Every closet is being investigated. Bookcases emptied are even more fun to play on. She isn't bothered a bit by the changes around here. I think she knows that I've been more lonely. Camper has been giving me more attention lately. She just took the time to throw all things possible off my desk. She knows it's good to keep me busy these days; helps keeps my mind off of things. What a good kitty!

I did my first play on Freecycle.
There is a local network and I recently signed up to get emails notices. Last night someone was looking for a dresser for their child. Ta-Da! I had an extra dresser we didn't want to move and Rob wasn't interested in. Less than 24 hours later, we both have a problem solved! It even turned out we live fairly close to each other. Couldn't have been easier.

She's gone.....

It's official now, I'm packing
I think an equal amount will be going to Goodwill as the apartment. We should probably have a sale, but I hate the thought of anymore "retail". It is what I do for a living all day.
So far my packing is concentrating on books and the must keep dust collectors.
Rand, of course, wouldn't bother with either.

I will be taking Camper and Girlfriend to the vet Thursday morning. Camper is due for booster shots. Girlfriend won't be coming home with me. I was a teary, snotty mess just making the appointment. I have Thursday off. The rest of the day can just suck.
She is one of the best dogs I have ever had.

definition of a real bitch:
Getting a pimple on a wrinkle.

Funny
I thought my computer transfer went so well.
Especially, as it was unexpected, to be so timely.
This morning I found something I forget to transfer.
My email address book.
If you have ever emailed me and might like me to email you again someday,
I suggest you email me again with your email address.
A few I have, most I don't

Another 9/11 Remembrance
September 11, 2006 is one Rand won't soon be forgetting!


He ran into a door jam in the dark this morning.
What really amazes me - he didn't make enough noise to wake me up. Of course, no doctor is involved here. But I think we can all agree - it is broke.

In memory of.......
My computer.
It finally bit the dust. Multiple critical failures with my main hard drive. I had two hard drives on this particular computer. (For creative purposes, i.e. - Lilly worshipping)
I am 100% laptop now.
I had decided I was only taking the laptop when we move. What really makes this a good story - Saturday, I bought an external hard drive to add to my laptop's abilities. I downloaded/moved and/or copied everything I wanted off of my two hard drives and went to bed.
Sunday morning my PC wouldn't boot up. She had gone quietly in her sleep.
RIP old friend.
Unknownst to Willie, Rob has ye old computer. He is going to take it apart, clean it, remove everything that doesn't work, and reinstall the 'good' hard drive. And Willie is then getting a free computer. I can announce it here because I know Willie never reads my blog. Shhh.....Nobody tell.
I bought a wireless external keyboard and mouse today to make life with a laptop a bit easier on the aged with lack of dexterity. (me) Let's hear it for finding the right dirt cheap clearance at just the right time! Original +$50 - after my employee discount and clearance markdown - $20! Not bad!
I'm still using the same speakers Eric passed down to me like a bazillion years ago.
My Epson printer quit a few months ago, but I had another printer already on stand by. The Epson is quite likely repairable if anyone wants it.
Being computerless is not an option for me.

The folks' new computer finally arrived. They had to suffer a time of being computerless when shipping was delayed.

I spent the weekend rearranging furniture online for the new place. Much easier on the body, but Rand takes it just as badly. He complained just as much as if he had to lift it all. Mind you, he was just watching me and occasional just measuring our furniture so I could put in the dimensions.
I picked up clearance dishes for myself. My current kitchen is coordinated including the table that fits the built-in benches perfectly and the dishes that compliment the table.

I'm leaving it all for Rob.

Yes, our oldest son has decided to purchase our home.
How cool is that?! Makes it a lot easier to make get some family antiques to him.
He will also be the keeper of Sandra's furniture she is storing here and her cat, Meowers. This cat is very adapt at playing with Smaug.

I was just looking for new decorating ideas and found some good clearance (again) and decided good enough. My new dinnerware is called Tuscan Olive.

Rand and I own three tables. Which one to take has been a much discussed issue. It turns out, Rand hates my walnut pedestal table. I refused to break up my beautiful kitchen. So we are taking the antique table I painted for him a few years ago. It was a gift from a neighbor we had when we first moved here. We are going to need chairs for it. I'm going to play "I'll know them when I see them".
Rob hasn't made up his mind on the walnut table. He is considering a formal dining room in our "office".
Things Rob doesn't want; include the tall hutch. I wish I could keep it, but don't think there will be space. It will come down to final measurements in the second bedroom. We have to combine Lilly's room and our office in our new home.
I have two computer desks. I'll give Willie first choice.

I'm also going to need a new computer desk. My needs have dramatically changed. I'm thinking an armoire to help keep little fingers away from my toys. :)
There have for the first time been alterations in my blog.
After a very long month, it is time for healing and hope. We are also praying for a reconciliation. We ask all to pray in agreement.

Rand thinks this will be the perfect time to get rid of my antique cupboard top. I think he is seriously mistaken! I would like to keep it. Rob hates it.
What is it with guys and antiques?
Rand has brought home a pile of boxes already.
I guess I'm going to have to start filling them soon.

Girlfriend continues her downward slide. This is so hard. One of us just has to do what needs to be done. She just isn't a happy dog anymore.
Kizzie's fall allergies have kicked up this week.
I even have to work next weekend. I need to start changing addresses, choose between knick-knacks. Too much stuff!

August 1984. Rob's third birthday. This small table and chairs was his present. That bald chick is his sister Sandra. 

Lilly playing at the same little table, 22 years later. 

The back of this photo (dated 9/24) says, "Rob crying - Sandra hamming". 

Lilly is not a camera ham. She is way to busy for such nonsense! 

Nothing like putting the top down on the Jeep
to make it turn cold and rainy!
Speaking of having the top down,
The Jeep honor system was broke today. Someone stole the handicap placard from my Jeep, while it sat in a handicap parking space.
Willie just asked me if anything else was taken. I hadn't looked. I was so mad that my handicap parking placard was gone I didn't think of anything else. I have errands to do in the morning! My RSD has been in high gear all week.
Nothing else was stolen. My glove box was locked and my console sticks - it takes "the know how" to open it.
There is some luck, I can use my other placard, usually kept in Rand's truck. And I did finally send for the handicap plates this past week. I just have to really guard my only remaining placard until my plates arrive.
If I could've been robbed before I mailed off my plate application, I could've just gone downtown and picked them up. I thought I was saving myself some painful walking by just mailing it in! Ha!
The 'good news' is it will take longer than normal to get my new plates. I decided to get personalized plates.

I got to grill burgers today and get paid for it! We had a cook-out at work and I got nominated to do the grilling. It was a beautiful day to be outside.
It is warmer outside right now than the expected high tomorrow. I haven't put my top up yet. The rain should hold off until later tomorrow. Or I will go out and put it up before I go to bed. One of those things.

Keep October 1 open.
We will need all hands on deck.
Drum roll please.....
Rand and I are moving.
Our house has a buyer.
There is more news to this, but I will let that happen later and elsewhere.
We sign the papers for our new home at the end of month.
We are moving to an apartment. Yes, Rand won this one.
But I did the final choice of where.
It is a very nice apartment in a very nice neighborhood. Two bedrooms, two baths, two patios - one even has an arbor, and our own garage.
We will be on the ground floor, no more steps for me ever and a handicap parking spot right outside my door. A pool a short walk away.
It's not handicap living, but it is as close as it can get.

The New Cold War
I'm old enough.
I remember doing the safety drills at school in case of the Bomb.
We were taught in earliest grades to get under our desks and cover our heads.

Later, this was upgraded to a lower level interior hall. Was it really safer or were we just getting to big to fit under our desks? I was a worrier and a protective big sister. My younger brothers' classes were still hiding under their desks. I wanted them where I could watch them. I was usually told that wasn't allowed and to get back down in my spot.
By high school, we really understood: We were to "put your head between your legs to kiss your ass good-bye".
As a young adult I remember vividly President Reagan ending the cold war; and I stayed up all night to watch the Berlin Wall come down on CNN. It was surreal after a lifetime of duck and cover.

When the world panicked at end of 1999 with concerns maybe the world was flat - my parents cornered the market in Spam and Vienna Sausages.
(I personally only over stocked toilet paper and laundry detergent. I figured if the market fell, I had bartering power)

Then 9/11 became the real attack. After decades of preparation for the worse - the public was completely unprepared for it. After the Cold War ended we quit being prepared. And the government did nothing to change that. But they knew.

This all rushed in my head while driving to work yesterday.
I was enjoying a favorite song on the radio (The Bus 100.3), when suddenly the music stopped and there was nothing but silence.
Several long seconds of silence.
I checked my radio, increased the volume. Nothing.
Then the blast of alarm from our national defense system assaulted my ears. Only once, no repeated string of edgy alarms.
My radio fell silent again.
My adrenalin kicked in.
My heart was racing.
My skin tingled with nerves.
There was no immediate announcement of "this is only a test......."
I was having the "Oh God, No!" dropping feeling. Remember when the second plane hit on the morning of 9/11? That's the feeling.
After several more uncomfortable moments of silence, finally the announcements came.
It was only a test.
My fear turned to anger. It was a screwed up test that had done a horrible twisting of my emotions.

My emotions turned to cold fear again when the realization hit me:
We are in the Cold War again.
I was waiting to hear the worse, actively expecting it. It would have been horrible, but not a total surprise.

We were pretty clueless of what we were preparing for in the 1950's and 1960's.
The big bomb might hit. If we played Duck and Cover we would be safe. Nobody discussed fall-out with us. By high school we knew surviving the blast might not be the best scenario.

The children today have it much worse than we did.
The world is a much smaller place now. This is the era of information.
They have been bombarded with the news clips of 9/11 all of their lives.
There was Columbine before that.
Not only is the enemy out there unseen in the world; he might be hiding under the desk next to yours during the drills.

Yes, they are starting safety drills again.
You enter your locked down school, where metal detectors are becoming a norm, where there is the plan of action of what to do if the USA is attacked again,or what to do if an attack starts inside your school.

There is a Higher Power kids could turn to in these stressful times. One who could lead the world to peace. But, He isn't allowed in school.

And they wonder why tests scores are falling and drop out rates are rising.

A thank you to Manic Mommy!

Your most appreciated gift did arrive last week. In times of stress, I frequently turn to these for comfort.
Your timing was great!
One of my docs slipped me a large pile of protonix samples. That is one of the meds that my insurance company took away this year. With all this stress, my stomach was on over-drive with acid reflux. Eating was completely over, and drinking was getting difficult. I was using everything OTC I could and was still going down hill quickly. My doc loaded me up with samples and within three days I was noticeably improved. Yet, my insurance company says this drug isn't necessary for me.
I would love to say I enjoyed the candy for many, many days, but I sort of couldn't stop and they went rather quickly! That cute little banner now graces the top of my monitor. It reminds me that there is kindness in the world.

My RSD is flared something fierce.

I'm not sleeping yet. Even when I do doze off for a hour or so, I fight it for all it's worth. I don't want to dream anymore either.
Girlfriend continues her downward spiral in behavior. Without a doubt her days are numbered. She is in pain, has tumors, and now no longer cares where she does her doggie duties. Come on!
God? You want to take my dog too?
Kizzie is in worse health than Girlfriend. I can't win.
No wonder I keep having chest pains.