I will be a fast talker today

Remember how I wrote yesterday about having to be "up in the night", probably from adding water to my diet? Well, last night was a long, wretched one for me. I had gotten home about 9:00 or so after having a wonderful time with some church friends at Gator Dockside in Oakleaf. I got my bedtime soda ready and settled in for the night.

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I was pretty worn out from my busy day, which had included an early breakfast with Chris N. at Cracker Barrel and then a nice lunch with Justin at Bono's. After lunch he and I went to Wal*Mart for a few things including picking up some scrips. His car was at the shop getting an oil change and we showed up right on the button as to when they said it would be ready. It was fun spending even these couple hours with Justin in person, instead of just over the phone or instant messaging. He is coming here Monday to help me with a few things, when he is done working. We shall see....

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The afternoon was spent at the computer and then resting before my night out with Jim, Janet, Lonnie, and Renee. I was the fifth wheel, although Janet scolded me for saying that. Sorry.....We were also expecting another couple but they were not 100% to make it, and did not. I had a Monte Cristo sandwich, my first since Bennigan's went out of business and it was delicious! Eating only half, of course, because it is quite a sizable portion, and leaving all the fries.

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Anyway, back to bed....I watched the end of some program, cannot even remember what was on TV, and then turned on reruns of "Friends" to lull me to sleep. I remember hearing the entire first program and part of the second before falling asleep. At 1:30 a.m. I was jarred awake by a large noise, which I figured was coming from outside as some of the neighbors were enjoying the pleasant weather into the "wee" hours. And so began the every ten minute walks to the bathroom almost the entire night! Soon came the sharp pains on my left side, sort of like a back ache, but something told me it was not. No matter which way I laid, it did not pay to even try to be comfortable due to the constant getting up. My fear was that I would be dehydrated because I had not even consumed as much liquid as was being eliminated. After a certain point, I quit flushing in between trips for fear of causing a disturbance in my downstairs neighbors' quiet. For some reason, besides heavy footfalls, toilet flushing noise travels in my building.

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In attempts to distract my brain from feeling like I had to go, I watched "Roseanne" for hours, seeing some episodes I'd never before watched. She kept mentioning having four children (I came up with only three in my mind....) and that they had so much money. What? They were always struggling for money when I watched it. It seems that Roseanne had a late in life baby, Jerry, and had won the lottery, getting 108 million dollars! Where had I been??? One episode just tore me up, though, and I should have turned the channel, but there just was nothing else at 3:30 a.m., you know? Dan, her hubby, had been in CA taking care of his mother who had surgery and seemed to have fallen for the mom's nurse. Oh great! Through the course of this episode, everyone kept saying they thought Dan was "one of the good ones", was the "last guy you would expect to fall", and "he is tearing up the family". When the series ended in the "wee" hours, he had packed his bags to find out what he missed in life by marrying early and such, but somehow had not quite left town. I will be interested to find out how this plays out, but I do not want to stay up all night just to watch it!

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This a.m., after it seems I may have slept about 3 or 4 hours total, I got the phone book out to call the walk-in clinic on Kingsley to check their hours. After showering and getting myself, slowly oh so slowly, dressed and fixed up, I headed to the clinic, sample in a brown bag. The nice nurse at the desk told me my sample was no good, they needed a fresh one, if I could go. Go? I have not stopped going!!! They were nice at the clinic, with only one young mom with a small child there, and before long I saw the doctor. He kept calling me "ma'am", which is fine, and actually spent some time with me besides telling me I have a kidney infection. He asked what I do to keep myself busy so I told him, and then he was tired!!!

*

My orders were to get the prescription filled, drink lots of cranberry juice and water, and get plenty of rest. I was so weary I could barely hold up my head so resting is not a problem. Last Thursday night when we had our "Breakfast for Dinner" themed event, Martie had brought cranberry juice to serve. She had meant to take it along home as it was hardly touched but forgot it. Sure will come in handy for me this week as I take my medicine, drink my juice and water, and rest. My thoughts are that I will be able to attend church tomorrow but we will see how tonight goes. The doctor said that I should see results in three days, but I was hoping for today. Only a moment ago, Justin sent me a text message saying that he loves me very much and hopes I feel better soon. Now I do feel better, because he sent me such a lovely message in the middle of the day!

Sweet dreams

When I signed off of Facebook last night, several people wished me a good night or sweet dreams. I had the sweet dreams part although I found myself "up in the night" more than once. All I can say about that is---before I starting drinking water, I did not necessarily have to get up in the night! Humphf!

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My dreams, which took place after my last time to wake in the "wee" hours, were not the waking-up-sobbing kind at all. Instead I awakened feeling as though I was smiling. Again the way of dreams is erratic and this one, being no different, had us, an intact family yet, moving into a new place. Whether it was a house or an apartment or motel room is unclear as nothing looked familiar, but I do remember putting things away. I might have been thinking about Mom's new place or something. Mom was giving Timmy a bath before his first day of school. She put an outfit on him that was okay but somehow not just right. His dad had gotten out a different outfit for him to wear, it was one Timmy loved and one I recognized. A short sleeved blue shirt with a button front, blue plaid shorts and suspenders. We had to work with him to change from one outfit into the next, not easy once a kid is dressed. Still about preschool age or so, it seemed. He ate his breakfast in a highchair (we did this in reverse order, as he most assuredly messed up his clothes, but that's dreams!). My nightie was hanging over the back of his chair and it appeared as though that was what he wore to bed. Maybe with the move, we could not find his pj's or something. I put blue socks on him and his little saddle shoes. At this point, it could be either son as the child's face blurs. Oops, a tear just found its way down my cheek, sneaked up on me. I was fine until I wrote about the shoes....

*

It was a sweet dream!

Groggy good morning

My bro-in-law, a singer/songwriter, or as he would probably reverse that billing, I will simply refer to as David, sent an e-mail reporting an upcoming house concert at their place October 4th. As I visited the house concert website, I found this photo taken the last time this same artist, Heather Waters, performed there, and I just love this picture!!!!! Lori, my sister, has an excellent flare for decorating, as you can see, and the photographer used the light so very well for the room. I had an opportunity to be in WI when they had planned a house concert last year but opted to skip going back to their side of WI before catching my plane out of Milwaukee for home. My loss! David has been practicing making deep-fried cheese curds to serve this musician and I happened to be at their home when Lori made the first batch in her frypan. In my opinion, those were delicious and perfect but David claims they have moved beyond the frypan and are into the fire---actually a deep fryer on the deck! Of course, I had to chuckle because in the e-mail, David had to remind folks that the Packer/Viking Game is NOT on the same day as the house concert, but on Monday night, so no excuses for not coming!!!

Lori and David's living room is set up for the concert. They host several a year and puts David in his happy place! By day, he is runs production at WinCraft in Winona, MN and every other spare moment is wrapped in his music. Lori works at her church as Director of Education and runs the house, devours books and designs/creates jewelry into the wee hours of the morning. Their son, Dustin, just moved an hour and a half away to attend college. I do not think this household will not suffer from empty-nest syndrome any time soon!

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Before beginning my day at this keyboard, my "instrument" of choice, as compared to the guitar or dulcimer, I got out my trusty Clorox wipes to clean the keys and mouse. Somehow, my keys get sticky and crumbs fall between them, and the mouse feels grungy. It might be because I eat at my desk---ya' think??? Cheese popcorn and computer keys are not a good mix, nor are the white pages of a book...

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The mistake I repeat week after week is stopping to get my mail, which results in bringing yet more paper into my house, onto my desk. Much of it goes into the wastebasket without even opening the envelopes but some must be filed or in some way dealt with. Which means, piled on the desk! Overflow goes on my "organizer" (ha!) next to my desk. My nightmare would be a terrible storm coming off the river and breaking my windows, blowing my papers all over the room. THEN, I would have to actually do something with them. The rest of my home must be neat and orderly but somehow this rule applies not to the desk!

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Yesterday afternoon I spent time finishing a book I was reading while also watching a tear jerker movie, "P.S., I Love You". Gerard Butler is the male lead and Hillary Swank, the star of the movie "Freedom Writers" which I enjoy so much, plays his wife. Wow, talk about a double-whammy! I had seen the movie with Lynn when my family was here visiting at CHRISTmas in 2007 while the others went to a different non-tear jerker movie. Never had I a desire to visit Ireland until I saw the scenery in this movie. There is a line in the movie where the young couple first meet each other and "Holly" is freezing as she walked down a road in Ireland. She did not have a coat along because, as she told Gerry, "The paper said it was going to be warm." He said, "It is warm, warm for Ireland..." I get that, I get that!!! Warm for WI is cold for me, often. And that is why I wonder if I would ever pick Ireland over the Greek Isles.

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Last night was choir rehearsal, a good one, although one important alto voice was noticeably absent. We have a wonderful communion hymn we are rehearsing which will be sung a cappella and we surprise ourselves by sounding halfway decent. Afterwards a group of us recessed to the Fellowship Hall to put up "bulletin boards" without any boards. Thanks to the teachers in our group, colored paper sheets were applied with staples to the walls with corrugated ruffled edges to look like a frame. Voila! Janet had punched out giant-sized letters at her school that day so we have one area for posting "Activities" and one dedicated to the Sunday school! Talk about adding some color to the room. Teachers really have the best ideas! And best resources!

No green river today!

As I wrote to Judy R. this a.m., the sky is cloud-filled grey but bright, which means the sun must be in there somewhere! At the time I wrote to her, the fringe along the horizon was orange but this now has vanished. Only one fisherman remains bobbing just outside our basin, one boat as far as the eye can see. I just reheated my leftovers from Koko's but it took only a few spoonsful to satisfy my hunger. There is too much in this box to justify tossing it so will carry the balance to the fridge.

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Morning was broken up by a doctor appointment, which I had hoped could be avoided. I am still burned up by being charged last time for two office visits in one appointment because we talked about more than only my "well-woman" stuff. What? Are you kidding me? See? I am still burned about that! They know what they prescribe for me, or should know, and yet they have to ask every time. I guess my taking the baggie with the medications and OTC things for them to enter into my record put me over the top!

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This time, however, went smoothly and I trust will be billed as only one visit with my guy, Dr. House. All my blood work came back within limits except that I am supposed to be more faithful in taking my multi-vitamins as one of my "crits" showed a bit low. Sometimes I am less than religious about taking the OTC products but only one to show a "problem" was the vitamin. The young nurse told me I looked nice and colorful today, and I told her it was my theme. As she took my blood pressure, which was perfect, she said it was probably the brightness that kept my pressure low. Yes, that and the pills I take for it! No one wrestled me onto the scale, I simply gave her what my bathroom scale reported this morning, and not one word else was spoken regarding my girth! I paid extra special attention to both Lauren and Dr. House and not once was anything uttered regarding my weight, no suggestions about changing habits or anything. Yippee!

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He did tell me that I would be put on a waiting list (not weight!!!) for the flu shot when the product comes in. When I objected to this, he said his son and entire family of five just spent several days down with the flu in South Florida, with temps of around 104, so he said it was important for all to have the shot. Plus the H1N1 vaccine, back-ordered, will be administered to his patients when it comes in. He told me a 28 year-old woman died last week in Clay County from this flu and he said I was still a young woman. So, there you go! What a sales pitch---tell 'em they are still young! He wants me to have blood work again in January which I think is far too soon but I guess I can only delay this type of thing so long. But, at least now I know where the lab is located!

Thinking of Linda J. and Martie today

For about an hour and a half today I spent time reveling in one of my favorite movies, one which I actually own but chose to watch on TV. Only yesterday my blogging friend, Jami, sent me a message on Facebook, reporting she used "our" movie for instruction in her prison program, "The Bucket List". She emphasized to me the parts I love the best from the movie---the scene where Carter and Edward are sitting on top of a mountain, looking over at the pyramids at Giza (been there!!!). Carter tells Edward the myth of the two questions asked before being allowed into heaven. Edward says, "Okay, I'll bite..." Carter goes on to recite the questions, "Have you had joy in your life?" and "Have you brought joy to the lives of others?" Answering only in the affirmative, truthfully, gets one admitted to heaven.

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When I saw this movie the first time, I was with Justin, Martie, and Linda J., my best friends on earth. I cannot imagine seeing this movie with anyone other than these two ladies and getting as much from it. Oh, and of course, Justin, the good sport who put up nicely with all the weeping! I met Jami by clicking on a button on my profile page on blogspot.com where I had listed my favorite movies, and ta da!, a long-distance friendship was born!

I go on record as being the "laugher" in the middle....especially because of the glass of Diet Coke in front of me!

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This morning I did go down to the pool to exercise my knees and since the adult pool is still under repair, I went to the teen's pool, closest to the building. I climbed down the stairs into the water and yow!, it was cold! I thought perhaps the longer I was in the water the less it would chill me but not so. Back out I climbed, carrying my cell phone and soda can with me. The air temperature was about 87 or so at the time but the water, measured by Randy when he arrived, was "only" 82. He said it was 81 last Thursday, trying to make me think that made a difference---no dice! I was not going in and that was that!

*

Dawn, the aerobics instructor and Lonnie, another lady who takes the class showed up. I got to hug Lonnie because she has been gone to VA to help her daughter move and then I was gone to help my mom move. Lonnie brought me a present, specially purchased for me on her travels in VA---a cobalt blue pedestal coffee mug! She had to clean it up as it was grubby from sitting in an antique mall, where she claimed it was calling my name--KIM, KIM, KIM......I love it, love the thought and the extra effort she made to get it for me, and I will cherish it!

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She asked if she could borrow my movie, "Lady Sings the Blues" and also relieved me of a button necklace that she is going to copy for herself. Lonnie makes jewelry using buttons, which is why she found herself in the antique mall, looking for materials. I had explained about my button necklace having been tangled with a "good" necklace and she is sure she can get them separated. The gold chain had been purchased on a cruise Justin and I took several years ago and the pendant has been in my jewelry box since the chain got tangled. It will be great to have it free of its tangled mess!

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Much of my pool time was spent on the phone, at least until my battery started to fail. While I was sitting out there, watching the others aerobicize, Connie, the maintenance lady, called to me. She was standing on the porch of The Palace with a pretty blonde lady with a big dog. The new lady is Barbara, renting a unit on the 5th floor and wanting to meet people. Connie knows what she is doing by introducing us! I got Barbara's info, e-mail and telephone numbers, plus a bit of biographical data to use in the newsletter. She mentioned that she joined The Club and looks forward to going over to have dinner sometime, which I took as an invitation. So, soon, we will be dining together and becoming better acquainted! Poor thing does not know what she is getting herself into!

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As I watched "The Bucket List", I went through a small bin of photos I had in the closet from when I did up Justin's graduation photo boards for the party. I found many "old" pictures of trips gone by, including some from a trip in summer of 1995 when my family (Timmy was in utero at this time!) met Lori, David, Dustin and Jamie Out West. We went to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons together plus Dinosaur Nat'l. Monument and Craters of the Moon Park. I remember being ghastly tired on this trip, sleep would wash over me, as I was yet in my first trimester. Also in the bin were photos taken when my then-spouse and I went to Hawaii in 2000, a bittersweet trip which I am glad I was able to take, under the circumstances.

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Other photo envelopes include pictures of Justin with my dad at various times, photos of Alayna as a little girl with Justin brushing her hair and emptying the dishwasher with her at Grandma K's, and one of Justin getting a ride to school from Tommy!

Justin had to wear his bike helmet for his ride to school on Tommy and Linda's Honda GoldWing

I am singing a little "Creedence" this morning!

When I got up at one point this very early morning, the sunrise was absolutely spectacular, so much so that I decided not to grab the camera to capture it. Add another regret to my list....But my initial thought was, "What a lovely sunrise on Lynn's birthday!" Happy birthday to my sister, Lynn! I am wondering what tasty morsel she baked for her treat today....Gone are the days of Tootsie Roll Suckers as the birthday treat!

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When I did finally get up, the sky was cloudy and grey, the green algae moved in along the shore. Nothing like some good wave action to keep it flowing away from here, like we had on Saturday. But today is quite calm so it hangs like oil on a puddle outside our building. When the water is still as it is right now, the mullet entertain with their leaps from the river into the air in search of insects. If they would just move further out, the fishermen would treat them to a nice juicy worm!

Here is a shot taken this a.m. of the "Green River" outside my doors

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My neigbhors are out on the patio riverside this morning, as I guessed before opening my doors. They have surround-sound in the house and patio areas which plays Jimmy Buffett music or similar tunes for their listening and dancing pleasure. More like coffee and cigarette pleasure at this time of the day. Being so very still outside today, the smoke wafts up this way and I am glad to be able to pull the doors closed once more.

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Such a full day Monday was! Besides waking up tired after staying up late for the Packer game (Whoo! What a game!!!!) I had little time before having to leave for Bible study. There were several things I had to take care of prior to class including posting the revised Prayer Chain and stuffing the mailboxes with the updated versions for those on the Chain. We are meeting in the Fellowship Hall again, which is ideal now that Pastor won't have to put up tables and grab chairs first thing on Monday morning. All is ready to go! Gretchen was accustomed to sitting on the soft front pew with the table in front of her and last time we met she mentioned wishing she had a cushion to use on the metal chairs. When I got my Bible and folder out of the car, I grabbed my beach towel for her to sit on and she appreciated having the cushion against the chair.

*

Our study in Psalms continues and it was enjoyable to look at all the ways in which the Lord showed mercy to His people and continues to do so. Mercy is a word not used enough outside of church circles, it seems to me, but it can certainly be practiced without mention at all times. Psalm 2:12 tells us: Blessed are all who take refuge in him. But we always want to fix things ourselves before turning to the Lord with our problems.

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Oddly enough, we went to lunch at Longhorn after Bible study, with nine of us total. Patti, our waitress, was in rare form, giving me a particularly difficult time of it. Never say you do not want the onion straws and change your order to "lettuce salad"!! Just say "salad" and be done with it....yikes! Little did I know there was such a big difference...She was just having fun with us but the rest were very careful with their phrasing of their orders! The ultimate customer service is knowing ahead of time what we are going to order to drink, and have it already on the tray when we are seated! She is that good!

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Originally my plans were to come home and jump in the pool because it seems my knees were complaining about the lack of work out, but the rest of me resisted. I ended up at the computer for a bit and then took care of some paper handling before my rest. I always rest midday and especially when I know I have a meeting that night. Just as I began snacking on my cheese corn, Twila called to see if I wanted to have dinner before the meeting. Heck, yeah! I put away the snack and geared myself for another visit to the China Buffet! Twice in two days and we go months without eating there! But, wait, it gets better-----after Ladies' Group last night, where we had a very long meeting, a bunch of us went back to Longhorn to have a drink! Twice to Longhorn in the same day! Friday night another bunch of us are going out to dinner again, just cannot get enough of the church family these days!

A present to me from Betty G.!!!

By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more":


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch

5.. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret,you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. (I feel this one in my chest.....)

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take "no" for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness (joy) but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business. (This one makes me smile!!!)

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36.Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. (Hmmm....I wonder if that is true.....)

37. Your children get only one childhood. (See Number 19!)

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."