Stupid Alzheimers...

Okay.  It's official.  I HATE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
My grandmother had it, eventually had to be placed in a nursing home before she passed on.  I have friend's that are going through it with their parents.  My daughter A is dating a super nice guy and his dad has it.  My birth step dad (I can explain that) has it.
And my mother-in-law has it. 

What prompts this post is the first of many trips I am sure we will be making to a medical facility to treat the side effects of having Alzheimer's. 
My mother in law fell yesterday.  Cut her head, bruised herself all up and can't put pressure on her left leg.  They x-rayed and poked and prodded, all to her complaining about wanting to go home and wondering why she was in the hospital. 
Nothing broke, glued the gash on her head closed and sent her home. 
To a home that is too dangerous for someone that has a hurt leg and Alzheimer's.  To a home that has no one there but a dog, that probably tripped her up in the first place.

I didn't sleep well last night, my hubs didn't either.  The inevitable has come.  She is going to have to have around the clock medical care - or care for that matter. 

Living this far away from her is hard, especially since my husband is the one she considers her "protector".  Anything through her life that has been hard, he has always fixed one way or the other.   So today, we investigate, talk, arrange, care, clean and comfort. 

Stupid, stupid Alzheimer's has stolen another victim.  Someone that never deserved to be taken.   

Crazy thoughts

I just read the post I made yesterday.  Just wanna say - I was thinking some crazy stuff yesterday.   While I was typing the post - I was also texting my daughter R and fighting with her.  So, it was a little crazy.  I apologize.

It all KINDA goes together, but I have some random ways of thinking. 

Anywhoo...just wanted to explain myself.

PH

I will gladly pay you on Tuesday.

Not sure how many read my blog - and especially how many would even know where this line even came from.   Popeye the cartoon in case you want to know. 

Sometimes I HATE HATE HATE money.  Okay - I lied.  Most of the time I HATE HATE HATE money.   Root of all evil.  Yes sir.  or Yes mam'.  

Money is the number one cause of fights in our house.  Fortunately after 20+ years of being together we are finally starting to jive a little bit paying bills together and actually communicating what we are spending.

Why did it take us so long to figure that out?   Now don't get me wrong - there are still a few things he doesn't know when it comes to my money...and there are still ALOT of things I don't know when it comes to his money.  But we have finally matured enough in our relationship to call some of it OUR money.

I really wish merchants (or stores in case that is too old fashioned) accepted barter trade still.  

So, what got me to this post?
I finally found a set of barstools that I really, really want for my kitchen breakfast bar.  They were actually at a second-hand store, but there were three of them (which is exactly what I need)...
And now I can't stop thinking about how I can afford to get them.  They were actually really, really cheap, but I don't have the extra money this month for them. 

Getting paid once a month is definitely not easy.  And we always get paid on a Tuesday. 

So, I will scrounge together some money - I have a lady interested in buying a few vintage items from me too, and maybe I will be able to get them. 

And then I will sand them and restain them. 

Until Tuesday.
PH

Kick in the pants....

Welp.
I did it, I finally went back to my exercise class.  I haven't been avoiding it on purpose - really.  There have been ball games and school activities.  It was moved from Wednesday nights to Monday nights and MONDAYS are so busy. 
But finally basketball season is slowed down - so I was able to go.

The first 30 minutes was Zumba.  Did great - was actually surprised how much energy I had through the class. 
The second 30 minutes was circuit training - T style.  T is our instructor.  Let me just tell ya - when you go from working out quite often, to not working out and you are overweight and have foot problems it can be a struggle. 

I am a very competitive person and I almost refuse EVER to be outdone.  But the older I get the more I realize that I do have limitations. 
So...in this circuit training we do burpees, lunges, box squats or diamond jumps, jumping jacks and paper plates.  (I will explain later ...) then we walk a lap around the gym, run a lap, walk a lap and start all over.  We do this as many times as we can until the 30 minutes is up. 

My very bestest friend also takes the class and she works out EVERY day.  She is in super condition.  I wish I had the time and dedication to do the same. 

I got really, really frustrated with myself that night.  Pretty much just about threw my hands in the air and gave up.  Instructor T - told me - FOCUS - quit shaking your head no and find your focus and the reason you are here. 
So as I fought through the tears and the frustration to continue and started running my lap my best friend comes up beside me and tells me to stop being like that.  Suck it up and get moving. 

Man! Did I need that kick in the pants.   From both of those ladies.  I have really been frustrated with my weight lately.  So, I found my center and my focus and carried on.  Nope, I wasn't as fast as my friend, in fact, I was the slowest in the class.  But I finished as many circuits as my tired, overweight body could do. 
Was I pleased? NO.  But that just makes me want to do it more next week to improve and fight for myself again. 

Cause that is what that kick in the pants did - it made me realize I am fighting for myself and what I want.

Done feeling sorry for myself.
PH

I hereby state....

A resolution by definition is a 'firm decision to do or not to do something'.  Even though every year I try not to make resolutions, I am going to proclaim the top ten things I would like to see happen in 2013.  They are in no particular order - so don't go bashing on me. If they happen, they happen, if they don't, they don't.  I am not going to stress about it.

1.)  Work on my relationship with God.

2.) I don't want to set a goal weight - for fear of disappointment - so I am just going to say I would like to see me be a healthier version of myself and my butt to not be so big.

3.) Taking more family short get aways and spend family time like we did at Thanksgiving.  :)

4.) Finish up my college degree. 

5.) Cook more homemade meals - I used to cook every night when A, R and K were little, but with all our activities it's sometimes impossible.

6.) Start making things off of pinterest that I pin.  I used to craft/paint alot.  I would like to start doing that again and actually selling some of my things.

7.) Spend time building friendships (Because soon, my children will be grown and gone.)

8.) Start my bucket list and start scratching things off of it. 

9.) Spend time with my husband, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, inlaws, FAMILY.  Family is sooo important.

10.) I would like our household to become more frugal. That means couponing, buying sale items, and just plain being money smart.

11.) Okay okay, I know I said ten - but I do want to continue to blog and blog more - even though I am not sure anyone reads it - it is sort of like a journal for me.  :)


Now, I have to go so I can finish cooking our black eyed peas, ham, cornbread and fried taters. 
tah tah for now.
PH

Ecards say....WHAT?!?!

SO, I figured out (even though it wasn't rocket science) that you can actually create your own ecards.  :)  I LOVE IT. 

I always thought that I was creative enough to work at Hallmark, but way to sarcastic.  And here is my shot.

My first ecard looked like this.

This is true to my house.  When I posted it on facebook - my friends seemed to agree. 

It's too much fun making the cards.  I think there will be one for every special occassion at my house now.  And probably a few that are just too sarcastic to even be shared.

Shotgun ready...

No, I am not talking about the new Oklahoma open carry law or the Zombie Apocalypse.
I am talking about my beautiful girls, A, R and K and how their daddy (my hub) needs to have a shotgun ready for all the boys.  Even though my daughter A has a boyfriend, her daddy is constantly trying to intimidate the boy.  Kinda feel sorry for him.  I really feel sorry for the boys that will be dating my youngest two.  Maybe he will be worn down by the time they start dating seriously.

Here is a current picture of my girls:

November 2012


 

This photo along with a whole bunch of others was taken last week by ME.  Yep, not a photographer for fun, and not a professional photographer, but there are several really good ones.  The above pic is one of my favorites. 

Here is another of my favorites:

It was funny some of our friends drove by while we were on the tracks and asked us to not do that - a train might be coming.  That would be really scary and worrisome if we couldn't see 5 - 10 miles down the railroad from where we were standing.   No trains or kids were injured in the taking of these photos.

Speaking of scary:
I did see while searching the web the other day, a Zombie Apocalypse kit that every family should prepare.  REALLY?  Who seriously thinks that Zombies will one day take over the world.  I think maybe some dead heads, that are high on drugs, and refuse to get jobs are getting close, but no - not Zombies.

Great - now I probably won't sleep cause I will dream about Zombies.  grrrrr 

My daughter K told me today that she watched the movie 2012.  (Not sure where that happened cause it wasn't at our house) She said in the movie that NY gets flooded.  So now she is worried about the world ending. 

Great - now she probably won't sleep cause she is dreaming about the end of the world.  grrrrrr.

It's election day also - thought I would at least bring it up here since facebook and twitter feeds are exploding right now.  That is one reason I am on the blog - to ignore those.  I am also refusing to watch the major news networks.  How much time do they need to "predict" and not know the official results until probably tomorrow or later. 
I have voted, and I have prayed that the votes turn out how God has it planned.  Why should I worry when the big guy has it all in control!?

Great - another topic to cause me not to sleep.   grrrr

I have got to get off of here before I talk myself into insomnia. 
Until later.
PH