Genetics Can Really Suck Sometimes

I'm bringing this over from Facebook for the few that read here, but don't have me over there. I won't be back to update this much later, so updates will need to be grabbed from our mutual friend....

This is going to be a bit long. I'm sorry for that. However, I'm anticipating the "OMG How'd THAT happen??" coming from the people that weren't in the loop yet and I want to be sure they have some background on it and see what we've been fighting.

A couple years ago, hubby came down sick.... really sick. He was sent in for some testing and then referred to a cardiologist. Turns out that he has a weakened heart. It could be genetic or it could be that he'd gotten a virus. We suspect that it's the former as the condition exists on both sides of his family. Gotta love genetics.  Anyhow, they put him on some meds to see if they could get the heart regulated somewhat. We were told it wouldn't get back to 100%, but with meds, diet, and proper care that it was possible that he'd get back to about 40-45% efficiency.

Over the last 2 years, he's been to the cardiologist every 6 months for a check up. They'd mentioned that sometimes people with this condition need to have a defibrillator implanted, but they weren't sure he'd need it. At the appointment 12 months ago, the doctor asked if he was taking his meds. At the time hubby was working one of those rotating shifts and as such was working nights. It's so hard for him to remember to take his medicines when his day is screwed up like that. However, about then work had decided to put everyone on permanent shifts (no more switching ... YAY!!!) and hubby put in for the morning shift... mostly because he prefers the days , as well as my insistence that I wanted him on a shift where it's easier to get help if he needs it. Yeah, the supreme night owl INSISTED he go and stay on days. So the dr wrote a note for him stating he HAS to be on a day shift. Period. This way if hubby didn't get the shift he wanted, we'd be certain he'd at least be on days. We decided at that appointment that we'd give it 6 more months on the meds now that there was a better chance he'd get them taken regularly.

At the appointment 6 months ago,  they'd seen some improvement, but not much. It was enough to give us hope. Fast forward to the appointment earlier this month...  it seems that his heart has plateaued and there isn't going to be any more improvement. So the discussion went from "Let's give it 6 more months and see what happens" to "I'm sorry, sir, but you are going to need to have an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) put in."  He's only 47.

*sobs*

We discussed the 2 different types. The newer models don't do as much as the older versions did, but they have the benefit of being less invasive (at least in my opinion). Why? Because the older versions require that a wire (a lead) is placed in the heart, where the newer models don't require that.  Hubby decided he wanted the newer model (even though that sucker rather large, at least 2-3 times the size of the older ones). So the dr set him up to get screened last week to see if he was going to be compatible. He's not.

*sighs*

Seems that when he gets turned and twisted in certain positions, the machine doesn't get the signals as it should. So he needs the more invasive one.

Anyhow, he has this 3hr + monster surgery tomorrow (Monday morning). Those that have known me for awhile know that I'm a nervous wreck right now. Stress is one of my migraine triggers. Any guess how many migraines I've had in the last week? Yep, you're right. Every bloody day. I half expect I'll have one later when I wake up, another all day on Monday, and more than likely another on Tuesday.

I'll try to be back in on Monday night to give an update. He'll be in the hospital overnight and with any luck, he'll be released on Tuesday morning or afternoon. We'll be staying in a hotel out near the hospital from Sunday to possibly Weds morning.  Should be home that evening. We have a family member coming in later today (Sunday) to help out, so we're set there. What we do need, however, is prayers, candle lightings, whatever you do.... it would be appreciated.

For those that know what he does for a living.... this means a good many of the machines he works on and fixes at work? Well he can no longer approach them. And those machines he CAN work on? Well if they're too close to one of the others, he won't be able to touch those either because it could mess with his implant. Basically, most of what he was HIRED to do... he can no longer do. Thank goodness the bosses at work seem to like him. The one has suggested getting him a minion to do that work. 

Over Rainbow Bridge

Goodbye, sweetheart. As sad as I am that you said goodbye.... I'm so glad you're no longer in pain and can breathe easier. I'm so very happy that you get to see your big brother again. So many years have passed, I'm sure he's missed you dearly. Be sure to hold a spot for your sister, you know the ridiculous looking puppy that talked funny. It hasn't dawned on her yet, but I"m sure she'll be missing you in a few days.

 IF IT SHOULD BE

 If it should be that I grow weak 

And pain should keep me from my sleep, 

Then you must do what must be done, 

For this last battle cannot be won. 

You will be sad, I understand. 

Don't let your grief then stay your hand. 

For this day, more than all the rest, 

Your love for me must stand the test. 

We've had so many happy years. 

What is to come can hold no fears. 

You'd not want me to suffer so; 

The time has come -- please let me go. 

Take me where my need they'll tend, 

And please stay with me till the end. 

Hold me firm and speak to me, 

Until my eyes no longer see. 

I know in time that you will see 

The kindness that you did for me. 

Although my tail its last has waved, 

From pain and suffering I've been saved. 

Please do not grieve -- it must be you 

Who had this painful thing to do. 

We've been so close, we two, these years; 

Don't let your heart hold back its tears. 

--- Anonymous ---

       

KatyLou

So, it's been one of those days and it's not even half over yet. I read far too long last night and into this morning so I had trouble getting going at my usual hour. Who are we kidding, I didn't even come close to seeing my usual waking up time. Thanks to the weather pattern that's been in the area, I haven't been feeling even close to the 85% I usually run at. Don't get me wrong, I love the cold and wet, I just hate how it's been making me feel as I get older. Weather like this usually means migraines most of the day now so I try to be sure to wake up slowly. Don't rush into getting ready because the wrong move could trigger more pain than I care to have. So anyhow, as I was waking up and getting my meds into me, I heard the front door open up. Hubby came home, early. I know he hasn't been feeling too well either so I just figured he came home sick. No biggie. Then he yells up the stairs that he's taking Katy to the vet. Considering our discussion from last night, this wasn't much of a surprise. Even on her meds, she's had a rough couple days and her poor fuzzy belly's been so distended. It looked as though one more trip to the water bowl was going to make her pop. So he called this morning and made an appointment to see what can be done. He took her in and I guess the look on the vet's face said it all. He said he could drain some of the fluid off, but it was likely that she might not survive the procedure. All it entails is a syringe to siphon off the excess liquid. However, she's an old dog, not in great health with a heart problem... so the stress could kill her. Hubby decided to have it done anyhow because she was so uncomfortable and having trouble getting around. Good news is she made it. He got a load of bad news while he was in for the appointment. Katy's in her next decline and we're not entirely certain she'll make it to her next birthday, actually we're not certain she'll make Christmas at this point. Especially since there's still some drippage still and that's got me more than a bit worried. I've contacted hubby,who in turn called the vet. I'm just waiting on a call from the vet to see what's best to do at this point.

The question is now becoming quality of life because that belly's just going to refill. We'll need to bring her in and expose her to that stressful situation again and again. Each time is a possibility that she could die right there on the table. I've told him.... it might be time. As much as I hate to say it, as much as it's hard to tell our girl is really sick by the way she acts, it might be time. We're hoping she gets through Christmas at least so we don't have to face the heartbreak during the holidays, but when a body's ready to go... it's ready to go.

Untitled

So the Creative Moose has wandered off into the dandelion patch and has been refusing to come out forever now. Trying as I might to entice him to frolic a bit, but it's been damn well impossible. Stupid mooses. I see a dear friend from NYC area has started up her blog again. I so missed seeing stuff from her. After a back and forth in the email from her I figured I'd better drop a note in here and let others that don't see me much in FB know that I'm still kicking.... somewhat. Seriously need to get over this writer's block. Anyhow, shortly after dropping my friend a note, I saw this on my newsfeed:

You have permission to rest.  

You are not responsible for fixing everything that is broken. 

You do not have to try and make everyone happy. 

For now, take time for you. 

It's time to replenish.

Okay, so it's taking me alot longer to replenish than most. Considering the 10+ years of crap I dealt with and all the medical shit that's been hitting the fan over here, it really isn't surprising that the moose is refusing to leave the dandelion patch.  Maybe I need to think and refresh some of these pages because evidently,  some are no longer what I need to be doing. It's highly possible I simply need to close out a few and retool a few others.

Tomorrow's Never Promised

So Sunday I signed into Facebook as usual and found a friend request sitting in there from a person that I haven't heard from in several years. By several years, I mean that I was 10 or 12 the last time I saw her putting it at more than 30 years since we'd talked. I have my account on lock-down, so it's very hard to find me if there isn't at least one friend in common. I noticed there was one.... a girl I had gone to school with. So I went to the mutual friend's page, to see if the requester and I had been talking or if she'd "liked" a thread I'd been talking on. Something to tell me why I was getting this request now....

And that's when I saw it..... those 3 letters that no one ever wants to see on a friend's page.... R I P. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? She and I had just been talking on Friday evening, early Saturday morning about a tv program. Suddenly, just like that, she's gone.... and all because of a freak accident. The same kind of accident that I had not 2-3 years ago. Only this girl, she wasn't so lucky. Seems she fell and hit her head. That's all it took. A fall and then nothing. From what I saw in the comments, they found clots in her chest. It wasn't specified whether they were in her heart or lungs, just that they were there.

*sighs*

She was so excited about what was going on in her life. She had a good job and had just moved several months ago to her dream home.  There had frequently been new pictures on her page showing what she'd done to decorate and how well her garden was coming along. I hear that she'd had a Memorial Day picnic at her new home and had one planned for The Fourth of July. Things were really looking up for her and her long time boyfriend. Then in an instant, it was gone and we're left with a hole in our lives.  She was only a few months older than me..... she was only 46......



It got me to thinking exactly how much there was to lose and exactly how lucky I am. Make sure you tell those close to you that you love them today and hold them a bit closer because tomorrow's never ever promised.....


  

Just a few things

Still trying to get back into some of the habits I had before. More than likely going to take a bit to re-establish those patterns again....

Hubby's had this week off as he gets back into night-shift mode for work. We've had some news though. It's likely that it'll only be a one month deal this time around because the company is looking to restructure and make a permanent scheduling. This means that if you have a compressed day schedule, you'll be on days... period. If you're on nights, you'll stay nights. I told hubby that he might want to put in for a day-shift, even though the sleep schedule will kill me. Why? Because of the health of 75% of the life-forms in the household. We need to be available to get to dr/specialist/vet appointments and a night-shift schedule simply doesn't make that easy in the slightest.

***and that news hasn't hit my FB page yet ^_~ ***

We had to get rid of Penny (our Lincoln) a couple weeks ago or so. She'd turned into a real Money Pit to say the least. The repair a couple months ago was actually more than the car was worth so when she had another issue come up, we decided it was time to get something a bit newer. We are now driving a 2012 Nissan Altima that we named Anyssa. Yeah, it sounds like an odd name, but hubby wanted something that combined Nissan and Altima. *shrugs* Actually, a funny story comes to mind. We'd named the car and I posted a picture of our new precious when a friend asked what color she was (she couldn't tell if the car was dark blue or black).  When I said she was dark blue, my friend pointed out that she needs to have a Tardis sticker on her. With this idea bouncing around in my head, I thought "why not name her after a companion?" So I looked up all the Dr Who companions and imagine my surprise to find that she was named somewhat appropriately! Heh.

Hubby's looking at wanting to move. I know, we've been saying this forever now. Anyhow, we're in the process of starting to weed out stuff. I got started on the clothing the other day and we ended up dropping off a huge bag of clothes to the Goodwill store down the road. While we were at it, we took in 3 boxes worth of dishes (we'd decided to switch to some lightweight Corelle dishes because the stuff we were using was getting too heavy for me to handle anymore thanks to my arthritis). I still have the dresser and the tub of out of seasons to go through yet. I half expect there will be another bag or two of them to donate. Tomorrow's project is to start going through my crafting items and figure out what I really plan on doing and what I can ditch.  A few of the small pieces will stay (like my Santa trio) and I forsee a bunch getting re-homed or tossed. After I get the boxes downstairs and the craft closet upstairs weeded, I'll be going through my ceramic dolls. Hubby said I should keep them but I pointed out to him that I'm simply not as into them as I was and I could stand to get rid of about 1/3 of them. After the dolls, the stuffed animal collection will get culled. Tired of seeing some of this stuff around. So much to do....

I know there's a bunch more that needs updating. If one of my FB friends would kindly post in the comments the items I need to discuss in here... because I've slept a few times since it all happened.  Thanks bunches!

Just a quick jaunt back home

Just a little visit down home with his folks. We'll be starting home tomorrow. If hubby's smart, he'll stop half way so we can rest. Long story... let's just say I never thought I would find someone I despised near as much as my ex..... and I found one in hubby's black sheep uncle...

Anyhoo.... I just wanted to pop in and share a picture of hubby's sweet granny. She's 97 years old this year. I think she looks great!

OCHA picketing for handicap rights

I know not everyone in here is caught up with my goings on because you're not in Facebook... but I figured I'd share what I just posted there here to see if it's a Creative Moose for someone else ;)


So.. we had an okay-ish trip coming in to the "In-Loves" place yesterday. I decided that I really REALLY miss Penny's seats (the Lincoln) because of their lovely lumbar support. Oh goodness did my back hurt! Hubby's bought something for my seat that has a lumbar support so the trip home shouldn't be as bad. Other than the traffic jam we encountered (a horrid wreck) and that nasty storm we ended up going through... there was only one real complaint I had on the trip. Seriously, Virginia, if you're going to have one of your rest areas patching and repairing their parking lot, could you PLEASE tell them to plan accordingly? Not a single handicap spot available (not that we have a tag, but still... there were others in need for sure). In the few minutes we were in there were 5 of us with canes, one on a walker and one on crutches. It would have made much more sense to patch up to the handicap ramp, wait until it was cured, then start patching in batches past the ramp. Then there would have been at least a few places closer to the facilities....

Hitting the Refresh Button

I've actually started getting the itch to write again, so I'm hoping a freshening of some of the blogs will get the desire rebooted again.

another update

new update at Falling Out of Warranty

New update

New update in the Falling out of warranty blog.

Updating

Just dropping a link in here because I know not everyone follows the other blog. I'd posted some of this in FB, but not all of it. Let's just say, I've had a rather.... interesting time of it lately....

Falling Out of Warranty Blog



 

Got 'em? Check 'em. This one's for the ladies.

Some info and prayers needed

I know I don't come in nearly as often as I should, however this one is of some utmost importance. I've heard from iggy and he's in really rough shape right now.

Copied and pasted from my email:

It has been a struggle to get on-line lately.

My right shoulder, previously badly damaged, was dislocated when I fell off the houseboat about a month ago now.  It isn't hurting too much, only when I try to extend it some - I've about 20% of normal range of motion - so it doesn't take much to extend it. I have to use my left arm to lift the right arm onto the desk surface so I can type. The incision where they did some emergency repair surgery is still oozing where it was (or is) infected - and it sticks to the bedsheets and my shirt when it dries - and hurts like unholy heck when the fabric is torn away.  I'm now waiting for it to heal up a little and the next doctor visit on December 12th, when they (the doctors) are to decide what to do - they really think a shoulder joint replacement will be the only thing that works - and if they do that, I might be out of work (and possibly off-line) for a month or three.

Other wise, I'm doing just fine.  I've not been able to do much of anything lately.

Anyone that has his snail mail... he could use some hugs and well wishes as soon as they can be sent. Looks like it's going to be a long painful road for him and he's gonna need as much sunshine as we can send him.

Mike's newest

I'll be getting this one, that's for sure.

From the info area on this video:

BUY the song on Itunes: Stand Up

100% of the proceeds will go to BULLY BUST! I wrote and self-produced this song "Stand Up" to empower young people to overcome challenges tied with bullying. I ultimately would like to raise awareness and encourage young people to "Stand Up" and confront the challenges we are currently or may have in the past experienced as a young teenager.

Special thanks to TRABUCO HILLS HIGH SCHOOL for letting us shoot on their campus! Principal CRAIG COLLINS + Film Teacher TODD SAUTNER made it possible.


 

The story of The Ring

A boy fell deeply in love with a girl. It didn't matter too much that he'd never met her. He just knew within his heart that this was the girl for him. After talking to her for a few months, they arranged to meet. When she came to town, he visited her as often as his work schedule would permit and by the week's end, he was very very sure that this was the woman he wanted to marry; even if she was an emotional disaster zone. She had a couple of prior engagements because she was visiting family, but since she felt the same she made a promise to return to him within 3 weeks time. He in turn promised to shelter and protect her while she healed from her troubles.

Three weeks later, true to her promise, she arrived back to his waiting arms. He was so in love and she returned his love with everything she had. While out shopping a few weeks after her return, she spied a ring. It was very lovely even for costume jewelry. The boy never thought twice and bought her the little trinket.  She realized she wouldn't be able to wear it long because it was plated gold, but it was her first piece of jewelry from the boy who loved her so and she wore it proudly every single day.

A time came that they decided that this really was working out well for them and that maybe it was time to take the next big step. Oh no, not marriage. They'd decided that before she'd left him the first time. It didn't matter that there were ummm circumstances that needed clearing up first. He'd finally met The One and she felt the same. The next step? He bought her a house. She'd been looking for weeks and weeks for a place because their present accommodations were totally unsatisfactory. She swore the neighbors were from farther south than the Land Down Under, if you catch my drift. Everything she looked at was so very out of price range, or in absolutely deplorable condition. Again, she was getting discouraged. A friend of his at work told the boy that he had a lead if he wanted to grab the girl and check it out. It was perfect, or at least more perfect than all the others they'd seen. They bought it.

Sadly, there came a day after their move when she could no longer wear her little trinket because it was turning her finger green. She showed the boy what was happening and they agreed to at least keep it in a little shot glass on the window sill near the kitchen sink so she could still see it daily as she did her chores. There the ring stayed for months until it was decided that since the loved that ring so well, the boy would go and see how much it would cost to have it custom made. There was a jeweler that show up once to twice a week at his work so he brought it in for an estimate. Unfortunately, the timing always seemed to be off and he kept missing the jeweler for one reason or another and the ring ended up back in the shot glass. He tried a few weeks later and somehow the ring turned up missing. The girl was devastated.

Since the ring was no longer around for him to use for price checking, it was decided that the girl would look online and see if she found one she liked.... and she did... sorta.

Blue sapphire heart stone? Check. Three "diamond" round cut  stacked  two stones close to the heart and one more on the outside kinda like a flat pyramid? Check.

There was only one problem with it. It was shown in silver and the girl simply didn't look good in silver. The boy suggested to write the company and see if maybe they could make one to her specs. Surprisingly they would, but it would be $100 extra because gold is more expensive than silver. She was happy with this news and he was happy that she was happy. Although it wasn't a terribly expensive ring, he decided the purchase would have to wait a bit so he was sure they had money to put down on it (he was a firm believer in budgets and although he was prone to spending anyhow, was rather thrifty when he could be).

Time got away from him and several months passed before he realized he had enough to get his beloved the ring that would make her most happy. So he contacted the company. Disaster. The company no longer sold that particular ring and had no clue where to go to get one just like it. He scoured EBay, Amazon, and any other place he could think of. He even went back to talk to the jeweler that had been going to where the boy worked. That jeweler had stopped coming around a month or so prior. He was unhappy but not quite as much as the girl. She sighed and started scouring the internet again to see if there was something out there that she liked quite so well. After a few days, she gave up.

Their second or third Christmas together came around and she still had nothing on that all important finger to show that she was taken. So he racked his brain and decided to visit Kohl's and see if there was ~something~ that could be used and he found one he could live with. So when he got home that night, he knew he'd find her a little put out that he hadn't called saying he'd be late and she'd be worried... and he was right. Thing is, he wanted this to be a surprise and so hadn't called her. She came running out to the kitchen the minute she'd heard the door open and sure enough there were the beginnings of tears in her eyes. Another few minutes and she would have been in full melt-down mode. As she opened her mouth to reprimand him for making her worry, he pulled the ringbox out from his pocket.

A beautiful gold band with 10 diamonds embedded in it!

Her jaw just dropped and tears fell for another reason. She finally had a ring (albeit not the one she wanted and he knew it) on that finger. ~SQUEEE!~ By this point, she'd just been considering the house her engagement ring, but to have something a bit more portable made her very happy.

Come February, an ad arrived at the house for JC Penneys. Naturally, all sorts of heart rings were featured and the girl sighed. Considering it was the month of love, all the heart rings were either garnet or rubies (lab created) and not at all what she wanted. However, she found one that just might do and maybe later she could get the main stone replaced with a real one of the kind she wanted. So they packed up in the car and headed to Penneys. Unfortunately, the one in the ad that she kinda liked was no longer in stock. However, the boy saw one that was pretty and maybe could see how it looked on his girl's hand? The rings in any of these stores are always stocked in size 7, a bit too small for his girl, but it fit on her pinky so she could get a good idea how it looked and she acquiesced. Marriage was about compromise after all , and she got her way many more times than he did usually anyhow.

Not quite what it looked like but very close. The heart stones actually looked a bit more hot pink in the sun light.

The ring was sent out for re-sizing and when it came back, the girl and guy liked it. However, the idea was to use the band he'd gotten her for Christmas as the wedding band and  very obviously it wasn't going to stack nicely because of the points in the hearts. They were going to definitely want a chevron  shaped band so they would stack neatly. She didn't much care if it wasn't a matched set so long as it stacked as it should. Within weeks they found one that would suffice nicely.

Another close but not quite what was bought. A gold chevron ring with diamonds embedded in the band.

On their wedding day. Those two rings stacked so nicely.

For the first few years of their marriage, this was just fine. By the time their 5th year wedding anniversary rolled around, however, one of the heart stones got lost. Just popped right out of its setting and vanished. They looked high and low and couldn't find it. The boy even took apart the vacuum cleaner and dug through the catch bag. When that didn't work, he went through the 2 trash cans that it could have possibly fell into. Nothing. The girl cried. A week later, the boy found it glittering on the rug next to where the girl exercised daily. They were both relieved to find the stone and placed it in a Ziploc baggy with the ring for safe keeping. The girl looked up a shop that could repair the ring. They were happy that the shop was just in town. The decision was made to get it fixed in a couple weeks when his next paycheck came through.

The week came to get it fixed and damned if that baggy was missing. She was upset and they both went digging through everything again. This time, it couldn't be found. They looked for weeks. So it was decided that maybe the girl should find another ring to replace it and maybe see if there wasn't one out there that she really wanted in the first place. She found one really close at JC Penneys that was really close (sorry for the link but Penneys doesn't seem to carry the ring anymore.... thankfully someone had clicked the +1 for Google when they saw it). The ring was really close but still not quite right. However, that main stone could easily be replaced later with one of the correct color. Plans were made to get this ring until she found one even closer . She decided then and there that although the one was more expensive than the one from Penneys, that it would be the better deal because the one from the store would definitely need resizing (therefore costing more money in the long run) and this one wouldn't because it could be ordered in the proper size right off.

Sapphire heart stone? Check. Yellow gold band in her size? Check.  Three accent diamonds on each side? Not so much, but close enough. Stacks with wedding band? Check.

The only problem with it? It rides a bit higher out from the hand than she's used to. I think she'll get used to it !




^_~

Catchin up

I started this one originally as a post called Brighter Days, because at the time they were. Things have taken a bit of a left turn and I suddenly find myself sitting upon the fence without a clue which direction life's going to take me. I seem to be facing some of the same situation as before, with the twist of dealing with it with someone I really love who loves me in return. It doesn't make me feel any less on edge though.  I've already told darling that we need to start weeding and boxing in preparation. Anymore than this I cannot say, only that there will be a change coming and more than likely by the year's end. No, NYBro, I won't be able to discuss it when you call this week so please don't ask. Know that you're welcome in October as planned, but it just might not be in the same location as the last visits.

I've still been on my reading kick. Although, it's slowed down just a bit. Mostly because I'm antsy, but also because I tackled a couple really large reads. You'll notice that I started an account over at Good Reads and I can be found there under this pseudonym with Dharma's picture attached to my profile. I loaded all the books I've recently read into the account, but couldn't remember exactly when I read them so they're kinda mish-moshed right now. The 2 most recent are in proper order though. Each of those two bigger books (The Mists of Avalon and The Lord of the Rings) took 4 weeks to read.  Once I have a few more read, I'll be shrinking that bookshelf widget on the right down to the recent 5 or 6. Here's what I've read since my last decent posting:

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians series (5 book series)
Cornelia Funke's Dragon Rider
B.E. Maxwell's The Faerie Door
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon and The Forest House (the prequel)
New total (counting TLotR as one because it's in one volume and not split up like they did when the movies came out) : 34 books since September

Half way through all I planned on reading... another 33 or so to go. Haven't decided if I want to keep going with MZB or not. There are 2 sequel books to The Forest House that fall as prequels to The Mists of Avalon. Part of me wants to keep up with the story but I don't have the last 2 books yet and I'm starting to get burnt out on the genre, so I may jump to something else tonight when I pick my Nook back up.

Other than reading, I've been painting a bit and almost have the one project one. Not sure where it's supposed to be headed but I know it's not meant to stay here. Although I ended up choosing the colors I used in my wedding for it,  I suspect it's actually headed to a friend in Michigan, but I'm not 100%. I'll be painting its twin afterwards. This one WILL be for me and I'll be using blues and silver on the trim.

I have a couple other projects lined up. The one is nearly done, I just need to do a final sort and then get it all bindered. After that one I need to start going through my trip bin and sorting what's what, pick out some pictures from my Flickr that I really like, and start putting the albums together. I'd like to thank my NYBro for the starter album, that was much appreciated! I'd also like to thank iggy. He'd taken a few of his favorite pix of mine and had them made into a calendar for me for Christmas. Seeing my work in print, as opposed to online all the time, really gave the the drive to dig out the bin of stuff and at least queue the project up.

Other than that, not much is going on here. SSDD and all that rot, ya know?

I know, I know... I owe everyone an entry in that medical blog too....


Oh and before I forget again (although I remembered it where it counts)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NYBRO!!!

It's Just a Number...Really

It's Just a Number...Really <3

The Number on this scale will NOT tell you:

*What a great person you are.

*How much your friends & family love you.

*That you are kind, smart, funny & amazing in ways numbers cannot define.

*That you have the power to choose happiness.

*Your own self-worth.

I found this one on my Facebook Newsfeed last night and thought I'd share it here as well. 

squwee!

If this song is indicative of the rest of the album, it's gonna be a good one!

This kinda reminded me of someone....

You know who you are ;)

The Michael Jackson Squirrel Dance