Memorial Day, Stomach Flu, Stolen Pots

Rich left for Italy on Saturday morning early. I had big plans for the ten days he's going to be gone. I was going to clean, organize, shop, quilt and relax.  Sunday night we met extended family at the Mesa Cemetery and did our yearly decorating of graves. The last two years I've sat and visited with Dad as he was too crippled to walk. This year he was gone, so off I went with the other fifty plus family members. We took some pictures at his grave and put flowers on his and Kamber's.  On Monday we all got together for a barbecue and water party. Candi cut hair because she is having surgery next week and we don't know when she will feel well enough to go back to work. By Monday night I was so sick I thought I would die. All of Mindi's family have had the stomach flu and I guess somehow they passed it on to me. After spending all day yesterday in bed with nothing to eat, it is good to be feeling better today. My thoughts went back to my Dad while I suffered all night long with the chills and stomach issues, I'll save all the details for my close family. Dad must have suffered terribly while having chemotherapy and I'm so proud of him for doing what he could to prolog his life. It's hard with him gone, my Mom is really lonely, but I am so glad he's out of pain and suffering. I've done pretty good with Rich being gone. There was a time when I had such severe anxiety I would be awake all night scared when he was gone. Early Monday morning I heard something outside my house but I didn't dare go see what it was. When I woke up and let the dogs out, I saw that someone had stolen my two pots of flowers off my front porch. Really???? Someone came on to my property and took the purple flowers Rich planted for me in memory of sweet Kamber. At first I thought it might be a joke and some kids maybe moved them, but now I realize they are gone. My neighbor across the street is a retired cop and I had hoped he had some film but he didn't. He did tell me to call the police and make a report so I did. I felt pretty stupid telling them it was two pots of flowers but maybe they will up the patrols in our neighborhood. I hope Rich is having fun in Italy. He said they walked eleven miles and rode bikes another seven the first day. That sounds horrible, I'm glad to be in the good old USA, no traveling abroad for this old grandma, I'd rather be home any day.

Too Much Birthday Partying

It feels like I've been partying all week long, and I have the stomach ache to prove it. I have the best family and friends who have made me feel loved and appreciated. I went with my Mom and sister on Thursday out to lunch for Mexican Food. After we ate I wanted to go to the Scottsdale Mall that I used to spend a lot of time at. By the time we wandered through Dillard's for an hour I had a raging headache and the start of a stomach ache. Good thing it didn't last long because yesterday was another day of treats and food as the family, minus Spencer went to Fuddruckers for dinner. We go there so the kids can play games and we don't have to worry about how loud they are.  This morning I was up at 3:30 a.m. as Rich was getting ready to leave for the airport for his trip to Italy. He has been planning on going for a couple of years with a family he used to home teach. He will be gone for ten days, so I have big plans to do some home improvements and get my house under control. I know it's going to take way longer than ten days to get done what needs to be done, but maybe I can accomplish something while he's gone. Even though I have never wanted to travel, I still get the down in the dumps feeling of being left behind again and again. It's my own fault, so I guess I will just keep my hopes up that maybe I'll get to the beach before the summer is over. Thanks to everyone who remembered me on my birthday, it means a lot to this sixty-two year old grannie.

Birthdays, Doctors and MVD Shutdown

May is such a busy month with Mother's Day, birthdays and the end of school.  Yesterday Candi treated me to a super duper nice facial. I have never had so many lotions and potions put on my face in my life. I guess she thinks I need a little pampering for my birthday party on Friday. Ha Ha!  This morning I went to the doctor with my sister who needs two knee replacements. I never could get the office to call me back to schedule my carpal tunnel surgery, so I went with her to get some info on that. I think I finally have the ball rolling and hopefully I can get it done before my hand and fingers don't work anymore. Since I was already dressed and had makeup on, which doesn't happen very often, I decided to go to the Motor Vehicle Department. A few weeks ago I got a letter from them telling me it has been twelve years since I've had a picture taken and it needs to be done before the end of the month. Since we were close, I decided it would be nice to get that taken care of.  So we went in and got in line with Mindi's two youngest who had been sick with the stomach flu yesterday.  The line wasn't very long so I thought it would be smooth sailing. Anyway, after about a half hour in line, they made an announcement that the camera wasn't working and they had a state wide problem with the driver's license part of the MVD. I was the next one in line and couldn't believe what I was hearing. It wasn't just that location, it was a state wide shutdown. How does that happen? If I had gotten there sooner maybe it would have worked out but it seems like that's the way my life kind of works. So next week I will be back there in another line waiting to get my picture taken for a driver's license and I don't even drive anymore. Wow! It's been an interesting week so far, I can't wait to see how the rest of it goes.

Rabbit Death and Root Canal

This week started with the death of my last rabbit. I had noticed that she hadn't been eating or drinking so Mindi brought her in the house so I could see what was wrong with her. She was making a crying sound, so I put her in my laundry room on a towel. When I went in to check on her a couple hours later she was gone. I had made a promise to myself that I wouldn't buy any more rabbits. They don't do well in the heat and if they get out the dogs kill them. That chapter is over for me. A few months ago I had to get a new crown put on one of my teeth. When the dentist put it on it felt strange and seemed like when I chewed it hit high on the tooth.  Well earlier in the week it started to hurt and by Wednesday I was feeling it in my jaw and eye. When I called the dentist she told me to come in so they could do an x-ray to see what the problem was.  The news wasn't good, I had an infection in the tooth and needed a root canal.  They made me an appointment with the endodontist and Spencer was nice enough to take me and give me moral support. Between my hip, knee, wrist, shoulder and now my teeth I'm falling apart. If it's this bad at sixty I'm afraid to move into the seventies and eighties. When the dentist was telling me about my tooth I started crying. I told Spencer that maybe it would just be cheaper and better if I could just join Dad. After a little pep talk from him, I realized just how small it was compared to others who are really suffering. Besides that a funeral costs way more than a root canal. I still haven't heard from my surgeon about the cost of my carpal tunnel surgery so hopefully next week I can get some information. Besides that it's my birthday week too. I get two of my favorite days in the same month, two weeks apart. I can't wait to turn sixty-two next week. I'm going to party all week long.

Volleyball, Mother's Day and Quilting

The weekends just go by way to fast. I spent most of Saturday in downtown Phoenix watching Tristyn play in a volleyball tournament. They are done now for a couple of weeks before they start practicing for Nationals. I can't believe how old my grandchildren are getting. She will be a Senior next year and then off to college she goes. While I was supporting Tristyn, Rich and the guys were working around the house. He is so busy with his jobs it was so nice of him to get some things done around here. He got at least ten of the fifty things broken or worn out fixed. My pool was green when I left and blue when I got home, it was magical. There were also ten palm trees planted around it which makes it look so tropical. As soon as the heat gets here I will spend everyday in the pool working on my hips, knees and all the other body parts that seem to be failing me. I had a really nice Mother's Day too. Rich gave me a beautiful plant with purple blossoms on it and my kids each gave me gifts and cards. My brother picked Mom up and she came to church with us and then he and Julie had her over for dinner with their family. Then all the extended family came for desserts. We always have way to many yummy treats and fattening foods but heck it was Mother's Day, and that's the Greer Way we do things. A couple of weeks ago I decided to make Mom a quilt for Mother's Day.  She is a thin person who struggles to take in enough calories, so she is always cold. When she's around she wants the fans turned off, so we are always trying to keep her comfortable, which is warm for her. So I decided to make her a quilt so she can just carry it around everywhere she goes and stay warm. How in Arizona she could ever get cold in the summer I will never know, but she does. I embroidered each one of our names on one of the blocks and then just made some big nine patch blocks and sewed them together. It's made mostly of flannel so it should keep her warm year round. Thanks to all my family for making me feel so loved, it means a lot to me.

Another Surgery?

Yesterday I got a call from my Surgeon confirming what the "shock test" showed, that I definitely have carpel tunnel syndrome. Some of my family members think I should do massage and other therapies instead of surgery. So I asked him if he ever sees these symptoms go away on their own. He said if I wanted to wear a splint and take anti-inflammatories for the rest of my life I could try that. I know he is a surgeon but I trust him. I have known him for a very long time, our families were close when grew up together and went to the same high school. I have insurance but with a $6,000 deductible, so I'm waiting to hear back from him to see how much we are talking it will cost. This morning as I was thinking about it my thoughts went to my parents. Three years ago when I had my hip replaced they were there during surgery, in the hospital and came over everyday to help me. Then last year when I had my knee scoped they were there again in the waiting room and came over after to help. I don't know where I would be without their love and support. This morning when I was talking to Mom she gave her usual advice, "be the darling you are, things will work out, and know I love you." I miss my Dad and wish I could give him a call and get some advice. For now I will just have to lean on Mom for awhile, she believes in me and for that I'm so thankful.

"Are You Sure That's Your Mentally Ill Mother?"

A couple of weeks ago Candi and B.J. took me to lunch, Mexican Food, yum.  We had a great time and when the waitress gave us the bill she said, "did I hear you call her Mom? Are you sure she's your Mom, she looks so young." I perked up a little bit and Candi said, "Wow, you've just made her day." I apologized to Candi and off we went. Later on in the week Mindi had some girls over working on the carnival. While we were visiting I told them what the waitress had said. One of the girls chimed in and said, "was that before she saw you walk?"  In my mind I thought, "did she just really say that to me?" Earlier this week I had someone tell me that I'm mentally ill and that's why I'm the way I am. I love it when people with no psychological experience diagnose others. At first it really stung a bit until I realized that people who judge and condemn others, must see themselves in those they judge and that's what triggers their ability to insult them. This morning as I was reading my scriptures and writing in my journal, my thoughts came to my Grandma and my own Mother. They both had hard times but were able to always keep positive and stay the course. What makes me different than them? Why didn't I get that DNA that causes an overabundance of positive thinking, knowing that things will work out for my good? Anyway, I'm sure this isn't going to be the last time that ignorant people decide to shoot their mouths off, but I want to channel my inner voice to not give my power away to those who don't have my best interest in their thoughts and actions.