More of the story of Sick Ole Amber and Her Daughter's Encounter

Oh Lord...I don't even know where to start. It has been so long since I've posted my blog has spider webs. The past week has been full of appointments with various doctors and labs....and sleep studies. And to top it all off with a bright red cherry....I have a bright red rash that my new primary doesn't know what the hell it is. He did get me an appointment with a dermatologist for next Tuesday, but that is a long time when your body from your knees to the top of your head itch like MAD. He told me to take Zyrtec and Claritin....I thought to myself...yeah right. So I took that junk and then some benadryl and then some aloe with lidocaine in it and rubbed all over lightly and some spray Rhulihist and spray Benedryl with more of it and then a pain pill and a trank, courtesy of Dr. Elderly. I'm sure I took some other stuff. If I die it will be nobody's fault except mine. And I didn't, so, basically I'm still hanging in, but my attitude has become sort of rank lately. I was just getting ready to post about my daughter's encounter with the flash flood in Texas when I saw an email from one of my "friends". Man....my email has dropped off significantly. Just goes to show ya how much those "Love You" emails are worth. HA! I've told you I'd been back to the hospital for another round of pneumonia which my new primary described as "there was only a small amount of fluid in your lungs, so it was barely pneumonia." What a Dick. I get pretty upset about ANY fluid in my lungs. The night I went to the hospital the first time I think I cracked a tooth, if not there is something very serious going on in that area, too. Well, being unable to make an appt with my dentist I waited until the first of this week to make an appointment. I had thought it was a safe time for that...but the rash came and I will have to cancel in the morning, since we don't know if it is an allergy rash or some foreign country rash...like Ebola. I'm sure Dr. Dentist would happily see me when I'm not all spotty. Hopefully I'll be able to get it fixed another time. Upside of this is that I use the water pick and floss after every meal. Diligently!

Oh yeah...Dr. Primary told me I no longer have diabetes after talking to me for three minutes. I just looked at him and asked how did he know that. He started off on some bs rabbit trail so I told him I still use the Lantus and humalog. Those are the injectable meds. Oh, he said. In that case just use the Lantus at night. I just left the old guy doc, because he just wanted to give me pain pills and tranks everytime I came in. I guess, so I'd go away and leave him alone, and I actually wanted to feel well. I'd stayed with him for 37 years and it wasn't for the drugs, either. He really was a great diagnostician....he's so old he'd seen everything in the medical world. Now this one wants to go one on one with me instead of treating me with tlc. He just doesn't know. God forgive me but the first night I was in the ER back in April when they gave me the evil Morphine, I think I cursed out a church pastor. He was asking me to pray with him and I figured I had enough to pray about for myself and he could just pray for himself and I told him so and to "Get Thee hence and the hell out of my room!" At some point he broke into tears. I was stunned by that from someone like him. I couldn't help myself much less him! I haven't seen him since which is unusual because all the new doctors have offices at that hospital. I've run into a lot of people there when going to appointments...even a lady in my knitting group. My husband said it was the ER...I can't figure why my husband allowed him to badger me that night or allow him in my room. He said he thought he was another doctor. I wonder how long it would have taken him to figure out he was a psycho? I may just post this...except I was going another way with my life story. Changed my mind.


ps-I have sleep apnea, too and they put aside a darlin' little blue mask for me. It is to die for. Hell, won't I be a beauty? The first night of the testing I certainly was. I scared myself when I had to get unhitched to go to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My hair was standing up all over my head from the gunk they use to hold the leads to you. The guy had warned me about how hard it is to get the mess off and to get some Goo Gone to get it out of my hair. Hubby went to get some and after reading the WARNINGS it didn't seem like a good choice at all. I found some stuff they had given me at the hospital for a "dry" bath. I figured what the heck...and gave it a whirl. It all came out with no hassle. I can hardly wait to see the pulmonologist on the 21st to get my lovely mask, at least I hope he is the one who has it. After the second night in the sleep lab I was ready to cut and run and did as soon as I could get out of there.

Now to the post I'd meant to write this morning about my oldest daughter. Her fiancee decided going to the wilderness to camp would be about the funnest thing he could think of to spend time with my Her, aka The Princess. She has been a great sport about camping in the past even though she loathes it, but figured if there was a/c in the RV it was sort of ok and there was usually a river close by to swim in. So, reluctantly she agreed to go with him and a bunch of people they know to camp on the Guadalupe River, near Greune, Tx. (prounounced-Green). Very early in the morning Rman woke The Princess and said " tiWe gotta go!!" He is sort of like Tommy Lee Jones or Viggo Mortenson when it comes to man talk. He was serious and she knew it. She didn't think she had shoes with her and only flip flops. He had cut the barb wire between them and a hill with some bolt cutters he had with him. He must have been a boy scout before he was a Marine. Who else would take bolt cutters with them on a camping trip. He told her to hang on tight when they got out and she did. She told me the current was unbelievable, and trying to keep on those flip flops was a real challenge. She had charge of some children of some of their friends and was keeping them rounded up. She said it was surreal walking through a river with Lord knows what in it, climbing the hill in flip flops with kids all around her, lightning crashing on all sides and rain like crazy. Rman had gone back to help others get out safely. There were some people in a tree, but they opted to stay where they were. Wise decision. He did get some others out and one couple were staying on the river pre wedding day. She had her wedding dress, rings, and passport with her in anticipation of a wonderful wedding to remember. It will be remembered alright. All of the wedding stuff was lost. However, the next day a box was found in an upside down trailer and her wedding dress was in the box. Princess told me the box was muddy as all get out, but the dress was spotless white. The rings and passport haven't been recovered that I am aware of. She was very sensitive on the ring issue, because a couple of weeks ago hers went missing while she was cooking. She had put them on the windowsill and then they were gone. Rman only said one word and then he was ok. I told her to get a chain and wear it around her neck like Frodo. A few weeks later TP was hunting sea glass with her maid's daughter when Marti came out with TP's cell. She told her someone was ringing her....the ring was on top of the phone. There was great joy and happiness in that household that night! They have too much time on their hands for sure.

Back to the flood. Rman and TP's RV and truck were the last ones to not get damage. All the ones parked behind them were flooded and they will have to pay for the rented rvs. Worst news ever, except for the family of the gentleman who drowned. I suggested possibly their homeowners or car insurance might pay. We will see.

TP was so upset when I talked to her the next day I could hardly understand her. Actually she was still incoherent from fear and shock I thought she had a bottle of booze and laying in the back seat holding it like a baby. I'm surprised she could speak at all. They were staying with one of Rman's cousins until they could help the other friends get their stuff sorted out. Earlier that day I'd seen the awful pictures of the flood on the news and said..."My daughter was down there camping this past weekend!" I'd forgotten they had planned to stay until Wednesday or Thursday. I just figured out a way for us to save about $50,000. We aren't going to buy an RV for sure. That is also a way to know you are a native Texan, when you have a cousin to who will shelter you at anytime and anywhere. Cousins are very good things to have. God saving your loved ones is even better.

Losing friends-updated

Once again one of our friend's has passed away. Her memorial will be this afternoon with all of us gathering tonight. It has been a very hard couple of years losing friends, but this one was relatively young. Actually she was more our daughter's friend than ours, but she will be missed a lot.

The cooler weather has continued all week with temps in the lower 90s. I've been planting some begonias the past couple of days that we found at a bargain. They will last until first freeze and that usually doesn't occur until the end of October to the middle of November, and frequently they will come back in the spring. Ahh...if it could be so with friends.

PS-It is nearly midnight here and this was one of the saddest days. Kathy was a quiet woman until she got riled and then Katie bar the door. There were a LOT of people at the bar where the "wake" was held. Actually having food, drink and catching up with others was healing, but we are still all a little raw and will be for a good long time. God has one of his angels back now. We were only lent her for a while.

RAIN!

Hallelujah!! It rained this afternoon and thundered and all sorts of lightning! It was a humdinger of a good rain. We only got .6", but it was all sorts of lovely! I'm sure it was because my husband accidentally shifted the rain stick the other day. We purchased it from an American Indian in New Mexico...or Colorado...or maybe Arizona...I can't remember, but it is a goodun! I'm sure it was not from the Navajo Indian woman at Canyon De Chelly. As I was walking back to our car there she was behind a very small shrub. I bought some juniper berry necklaces from her, because her ability to be unseen was mind blowing. I would not have made a very good pioneer at all. I'm sure she and her companion got a great laugh about the white woman on the rim of the canyon and how silly she was.

There is a chance for rain all week and I'm sooo happy about it. I'm worn out with this too long string of 100 degree + days we have had lately.

Reflections-Day 2

We get really excited about rain toward the end of July when it has been so hot
for so long. Actually I took this picture for the rain drops, but you can see
our trees and utility lined reflected in the pool.
I had not noticed the lines until just now.

Reflect This is being hosted by QuillyIt runs for one week. If you want to play along, drop by her place and sign up on Mr. Linky and put up your reflections.

Olympic Gold

Nastia Liukin has won the gold for the US and her performance was so strong. Shawn Johnson from Iowa won the silver and her performance was very strong, too. Of special significance to me is that Nastia lives in Parker, Tx. Right down the road from us. Shawn a little farther away. However, we have a good friend from Iowa.

We are surrounded by greatness these days! Joshua from SYTYCD was on the early morning show and will make an appearance at a high school just down the road from where we live on Saturday morning. I'm pretty old, but I just might have to go down there.

This is the day we are taking our grandson to the movies. Fortunately Star Wars-The Clone Wars starts tomorrow and we will get in somewhere to see it. He was so tickled about going to see that. Actually we went to see The Mummy-3 on Wednesday and I was sort of relieved we didn't take him. It was a little more violent than he should see at this tender age of just turning 7. Nine or ten, yes, but we don't think he is ready to see it yet and especially not on the really big screen. So, I'll return to posting in a day or so, or maybe tomorrow night.

Oh yes...while waiting for the medals to me awarded I found a place to get knitting lessons. It isn't too far and they have one on one lessons. Click here to see it, but be prepared to go crazy about the yarn they have. They even have lessons about knitting socks. I don't think I'm going there. I had, well, my husband the TCU alumni got a magazine about continuing education in the mail yesterday. They have classes for $75 for four sessions and the intermediates make a shawl.
My daughter and I wouldn't be in the same class...so I don't know. I do know learning to knit better is a goal I'd like to attain. Not gold medal knitting, but just better.

See ya laterz alligators. I'm off to a galaxy far far away. And HALLELUJAH it rained this evening and it is supposed to rain for the next five days. Thank You, God! It may finally stay under 100 degrees for a while.

Well, Hello Dolly!

After what has been a very dry spell, Hurricane Dolly has come to our little corner of Texas bringing showers. She went in around Brownsville and then into Mexico then over to New Mexico and now is coming back through North Central Texas. It was such a wonderful surprise to wake yesterday morning and see the streets wet from rain. It was only a small shower, but so very welcome. The sage (see picture above) has been blooming like mad for a week, and we couldn't figure out why. It blooms usually two days or so before rain. There were no forecasts for rain in our area. The weather forecasters said west or north of us. But it did rain! And it rained a really good shower again in the evening. I'd gone to the fabric store to pick up some embroidery floss and could see the black rain clouds coming. Just as I was leaving there were huge raindrops falling and I was so happy again. It is the simple joys of watching, smelling and totally enjoying rain for me. I have pictures in the camera, but haven't had time to download them. They only show rain falling in the pool and a couple more.

I still haven't gotten started on the vast embroidery projects I have planned. The knitting needles and yarn keep getting in my way. Hubby asked me to look and see if I had all the embroidery stuff I needed before I bought more and there were the knitting needles and some yarn that had been hanging around for years. Anyway, I'm reteaching myself to knit, and occasionally it is a good thing the internet has little videos showing how to do a stitch. The leftover yarn is now scarves for this winter. I'll snap a few pics to bore ya'll with my handiwork. OH yes..my daughter called last night to inquire about the scarves and wanted to know if I could teach her to knit. I told her I could try. She requested I knit her something, but only in natural materials, which she would be happy to purchase. I wished her good luck in her quest. There are so many really soft man made yarns now, that I'd so not want wool. I'll give it a whirl, but I'm teaching her with a plain Red Heart yarn so she can see what the stitches are.

While we were attending a luncheon last Saturday I mentioned to a gentleman in our group that I'd started knitting again. He said his wife was knitting a lot these days, because their church is involved in a project making layettes for newborns at our charity hospital. He told me that if the baby doesn't have clothes to leave the hospital they wrap them in newspapers. That was the saddest thing I've heard in a very long time and I just could not fathom that our county didn't have receiving blankets in which to send a newborn home. Anyway, I'm not a member of their church, but may be soon. While I was at the fabric store I picked up an ad and they are going to have flannel on sale this Saturday for $2.99/yard. I don't know how to crochet, but I can put a pretty blanket stitch on them to finish the edges.

A friend is moving to a retirement center this weekend and I'm taking her to lunch today. Her husband died about a year ago and the house is very large for her. This center is a really nice one out by a local lake and she wrote in an email that I must come visit, because she has a great view of the lake. She was on the waiting list for nearly two years. It just bothers the heck out of me, because she is only a few years older than I. The main thing is, though she have a smaller house in a very safe environment. They have a guarded gate and you have to have business in there to get in. I'm happy for her. I'm not ready to settle that far down yet, though.

Dolly is no sweetheart

Hurricane Dolly is causing havoc along the Texas coast with sustained winds of 100 mph. Fields are flooded and tornadoes are occuring. My friend in Galveston says so far they have only regular rain, but will keep me updated. She has to go into Houston today. That is scary on sunny dry days.

Just talked with my daughter and she is fine in Kemah...near Galveston. I was concerned about the storm surge.

The eye will cross the Texas Mexico border in the next little bit and the winds will shift to the other direction.

Here is a link to the yahoo newstory about the hurricane
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_re_us/tropical_weather