It was a very MERRY CHRISTMAS indeed!!!

Christmas has come & gone... however, the joy of it is still lingering...

Our (Hubby & I) twin nephews were baptized this morning... by their father! (Hubby's brother!) It was so wonderful to be able to be there to see it.

I say that, because, this past Thursday I was pretty bad & was not sure how I was going to make it to Christmas without possibly going to the ER to get some relief from the extreme pressure & throbbing headache I was having... so I broke down & took a Vicodin during the day, Thursday, & by bedtime, I took 4 Ibuprofen w/ the Benadryl...

I woke up feeling much better Christmas Eve day! Made it to the candlelight service... & "Christmas at the Farm" (my side of the family), that evening.

I only survived all that because I was taking 4 Ibuprofen about every 5 hours... by the time we got home that night, I was in a lot of pain... but after a night sleep, I was better again... & was able to enjoy Christmas morning with my hubby & my doggies.. then onto his mom's for Christmas with her, Hubby's brother & sister-in-law & their family. (4 kids... one is 4 year's old!) Was a blast! That little one is so funny... he definitely has his dad's (& uncle's) sense of humor!! Well, all the kids do! ;o)

However, after all the activities yesterday... I was in poor shape again last night... but had found out the twins were going to be baptized this morning... & I knew I wanted to make that.

So, I went to sleep early last night... woke up at 9:30a & made it to church. WOO HOO! Victory for me! ... no...

VICTORY for the twins! It's a tough choice to want to make a commitment like that!... yet, they have wonderful loving parents; big sister; & grandma (& of course their Aunt Lady Harley & their uncle, (my hubby)... not to mention our fabulous church family!) who will guide them in this early stages of their "new" life & their life walk with Jesus!

It was the best Christmas gift any of us in the family (& to Jesus!) could have ever received! We're all so proud of them!!!

It's been a LONG eventful... fun-filled & blessed week. Glad I was able to get through & participate!!!

OH... Another great thing... we had a WHITE Christmas too! At one point yesterday, Hubby & his brother went out to the truck to get the "big" gift for their mom... & when I was standing at the door, ready to hold it open for them (& was taking video too, LOL) I said "It's snowing!"... even though no one else really seemed to be excited or impressed... I was!! *grins*

Now, I'm ready for a few days on the couch, in front of the fire (see picture above) & watching tv!!! ;o)

Welcome to Winter

Did you get to see the once in a lifetime SPECIAL Lunar Eclipse last night? (Check out that link for a cool photo of it! ... scroll through to see some other wonderful shots, too!) Unfortunately, I did not get to see it. There was complete cloud cover here... & it was supposed to be snowing. Besides, I went to bed early... early for me... before Midnight!  (I might just be getting back into a better sleeping pattern... will see how long it lasts!)

Oh, yes, I know, lunar eclipses happen more than that... HOWEVER, last night's was so rare, last time it happened Galileo was alive. (At least that's what one of my Facebook friends said last night. LOL)

What made it so special was that it was a TOTAL eclipse & coincided with the Winter Solstice "arrival". 1638 was the last time this happened & December 21, 2094 is when it will happen again. (Here is a link to some other photos of this rarity!)

That's right, in the Northern hemisphere of Earth, WINTER HAS ARRIVED!!! WOO HOOO!!!

For my Aussie friend(s) & anyone else in the Southern half... it is Summer... so, for you... WELCOME TO SUMMER! I sure hope it's not has hot as it was last year for you!

Now onto why I really started this blog, today...

This morning I took the dogs into the groomers to get their Christmas bath. LOL... & since I was out and had not eaten yet... I decided to go ahead to the laboratory to get my blood work done for my doctor's appointment next week. (Had to be fasting!)

Well, the appointment was actually supposed to be today, but my ride (my mom) ended up having a dentist appointment... & since her dentist rearranged his schedule to fit her in... well, it took precedence. Besides, I had forgotten to the blood work last week anyway. LOL. (She (or someone) has to take me, because my family doctor is now 30+ miles away. :-/ ... & to be safe, I am still not driving that far myself. I can drive short distances & as long as I'm not doing much, (like shopping). Otherwise, I have someone else take me... or pick up stuff for me. (ie: My hubby.) ;o)

Oh, before I continue... just so no one (DAD!) worries... this was just a normal routine check up. It's just a check of my thyroid & a cholesterol levels. That's also, what the doctor's visit will be about. Along with getting established at his new office.

So, anyway, I go into this place & hand over my script for the blood work & sit down to wait to be called. A young girl (I'd say about 10 to 13 in age... maybe slightly younger?) was sitting waiting her turn. (At least I thought that's what she was waiting on... seems she actually had to wait until so much time had passed from when she had eaten last. No, I didn't ask... just what I had heard her & her mom talking about it.)

Just as I get seated, she pops up to the window & ask, "What time is it?". The nurse gives her the time & she sits back down. Her dad (I presume) who appears to try to be reading a magazine says to her, "Say 'Thank You'." The girl mumbles "Thanks"... so softly, that I bet the nurse never heard her.

Then the dad proceeded to say something to the fact that she needs to be a bit less "demanding" & how she's probably not aware of how she is coming across. She is sitting there playing her Nintendo DS (little hand held video game) & replies "Blah, blah, blah".

At which point, I decided to lay my head back against the wall (ouch, forgot my pillow, to support my neck! *sighs*) & started thinking to myself... how DISRESPECTFUL she was... Not just to her dad, but also to the nurse... AND to all of the rest of us in the waiting room, because she was playing with her game with the sound up... & I mean it wasn't soft... it was loud enough I could tell when she had "lost a life" or what have you!

Then she keeps asking her mom, "when can I go back?", in not such a nice or soft voice, mind you. The mom softly replies "They'll call you when it's time."

A couple moments later she shuts off her game in haste & then pops up to the window & asks if she could have some water. They nurse there said, it was out in the lobby. & She then verified if she was allowed to have water. It was confirmed yes... & as she's walking out, she tells her mom, "I told you so!" (very rudely... not in a fun way!)

I, jokingly, say to the mom, while she's gone: "Now they'll probably call her name." She just smiled.

The girl returns & is bouncing back & forth in her chair. Then, one of the other nurses calls back an older lady & the girl turns to her mom & exclaims: "She was here way after us!"

Calmly the mom replies, "You have to wait until so much time has passed since you ate."

She's like: "I'm so bored in this place." ... No response from the mom. A few seconds pass & she says: "I want a candy cane." ... again, no response from the mom. Good for her! ;o)

Oh, a few moments prior to this, the dad left & was sitting in the lobby... (I knew this, because I went out for a drink of water too, just after the girl came back in.) I guess he had enough of his daughter's impatience.

Thankfully it was only about a minute later, I was called back. Had the mom had not said something about her having to wait, I would have said she could have gone ahead of me... but since she did... I didn't! ;)

As I'm walking back, the girl pops back up to the window & asks the nurse, "How much long do I have to wait?" The nurse looks at the clock & sweetly replies "About 5 minutes."

After I got in my truck & started back home, I thought of how that is basically how a lot of kids are nowadays... & it's such a shame. & Thought, "Wow, had that been one of us growing up... we would have been grounded."

I was thinking of how rude it was of the girl to sit there with her game up so loud... & the mom, nor the dad said anything. I guess they figured they didn't want to create "a scene"... she's probably threw fits before when they'd ask.

Tell you what... Had it been me, I would have said turn it down or I'm taking it away... & if any flack was given, I would have ripped that game out of her hand and put it in my purse. Then said, "You'll get it back in the car, if you remain quiet until we leave... if you don't, you'll not get it back until... however long I thought at the time would make the point clear."

Yeah, probably would have been met with some major resistance & probably crying or screaming... but I would needed to have stood my ground.

Ok, ok... it's easy to say that now... & I'm sure that mom was probably tired of listening to her girl's whining & figured that was the best way to keep her quiet. What gets me is that some parents just let their kids get away with it. And then we all wonder why they are all so disrespectful.

I'd like to know where child rearing has gone so wrong that the kids will not respect their elders... or anyone else, for that fact.

Again, that's all easy for me to say from my perspective... I did not have the benefit of raising my son after his dad & I divorced. Seeing how he is now & comparing him at the age of this young girl I saw today... well, I feel for that mother.

For, I do know that there are times, even now with my son at the age of 21, that I just get tired of trying to "correct" him... that I'm like "Whatever!!!"

When did we all get so complacent about teaching our children to be respectful & courteous... & teaching them "Please & Thank you??"... YES, I am including myself in this "all".

What changed in the past 20 years to make us give up teaching values & morals to the next generation? Again, I include myself in this, mainly because I was not that much part of rearing my son.

HOWEVER, I do know that my mom (who did the better part of raising him), tried her best to instill all that... He still though can be quite rude... And I try my best, when around him, to remind him... but of course, now that he's officially an "adult"... it's harder to try to correct him.

I do have to say, my son does have his moments that makes a mom (& his grandma) proud! He will do or say something that shows us that somewhere in there he knows how to act!

Ok... for anyone who may have a child like the above mentioned girl... I feel for you, because I'm sure it's extremely hard to try to teach, when so many other parents are not & they learn from those kids that it must be ok to act like this. (Make sense?)

Anyway, I'm not saying I'm the perfect parent... nor that any other is a bad parent. I just want to know what happened to make us (as in parents or grandparents) to let our kids just walk all over anyone older than them, who may just be trying to teach them!???

Whatever happened to "Children should be seen, not heard?" ;o)

Alright, I'll step down off the soap-box now... sure hope I didn't offend anyone... if so, I'm sorry... just keep in mind this is my opinion! ;o)

I have this sneaky feeling that my phone will be ringing soon with a call from my mom... or my dad... to say that I there were times, I was like that little girl in the waiting room today. But, why is it though, I can't recall ever being like that, when I was little? Hmmmm....

In case I don't blog again before (which I might... but I won't guarantee it!)... or even if you won't be around until afterward... I sure hope you & yours, have a WONDERFUL & very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Another edition of TOTs

Just going to go right into my thoughts today...

1. I've changed the background & darkened the text, so I hope it's easier to read now. ;o)

2. Yep, graphics are from my favorite place... Glitter-Graphics.com!!! :-D

3. Coleman is such a silly dog!... how silly you ask? I'll tell you... he will get up on the couch & a few minutes later he's on the floor... then few more minutes pass & he's back up on the couch again. LOL... That's what I love about him... if feeling down... he helps bring a smile to my face!!

4. So does Sunny, our other dog. She's just as goofy as Coleman. See, she likes to be under the blanket next to me when it's cold like it has been... She will stay there & even when I flip the blanket back to expose her nose a little, she will turn her nose so that she's completely buried... then scoots her back closer to my leg, as if... "I'm cold, Mom!" ~ *giggles*

5. Back to Coleman... I think his clock is off... or maybe it's just because he's getting old... Used to be Hubby could get them out in the morning & they'd both be content 'til he got back home from work. Well, not anymore... Coleman is usually barking or pacing about at least an hour before Hubby is usually due. (If not on overtime!)

6. Thankfully the days that I've had to go to the Cleveland Clinic for doctor's appointments or even when I was at my mom's recovering & no one was home... there were no "accidents". So, I'm just hoping that it's because he realizes I am home... & that I will let him out... I'm hoping it's not that he's over 10 years old now & that he might be starting to have to go more. *sighs*

7. Moving on... a couple weeks ago, a friend picked me up & took me to the stores so I could get some Christmas shopping done... Well... the presents are still sitting on the table... waiting for me to wrap them... Just haven't had the "oomph" to do it. I'll have to... only 8 days left...

8. Well actually 7... because most of these will be opened on Christmas Eve.

9. Which leads me to... Hubby & I usually spend Christmas afternoon & evening at his mom's with his brother & sister-in-law & their kids... This year... sounds like it will be at Noon on Christmas Eve... and it sounds like it's not going to get to be the nice relaxed (yet crazy fun!) time that we normally get... because there will be Christmas Eve candle light services... & then over to the farm (my family) for Christmas their. *sighs*

10. I didn't used to mind some changes... but seems, lately, everything is changing... & I'm starting to not like it when something changes... (not just referring to 8 & 9... just a lot of stuff!)

11. I must be getting old too! ;o)

12. Oh... I did get my Christmas tree up... it's simple this year... just lights that were already on it & hung a few golden icicle ornaments & 2 "Snow Buddies" ornaments (because I only have 2! *winks at family members who might be reading this!*)... & of course, an angel for the topper.

13. Don't be shocked... it's not PINK, (like the picture below)... Our tree actually has blue lights!! With the gold accents & the gold tree skirt... looks pretty. (Picture is on Facebook... I'll try to post one here shortly.) :o)

14. Why is it not PINK??? Oh, I have ornaments to do a pink colored tree... even pink lights too... it's just my mother-in-law does hers in this awesome blue & silver... & well, my hubby is not a fan of pink, either.

15. I was hoping that when we moved into this house that I could have put up both our little 4' tree for the blue & the bigger one I'd use the pink on... Well, there's just no room right now...

16. Maybe next year I'll figure something out ;) I do miss having a larger tree.

17. I'd really rather have a live one... just one year!!!

18. Ok... I'll stop now... They're just rambling thoughts now! ;o)

~*Toodles!*~

How about some TOTs

For those who've not experienced this from me before, TOTs are simply: Thoughts on Thursday! (or some will do it on Tuesday.) Usually some bloggers here on Multiply will try to limit it to 10. Me... well, there's a reason why my blog is named: "The Rambling Train"... Yep, that's right... because I'm a rambler. (Which I'm sure many of you have had the pleasure of my ramblings even on Facebook!)

TOTs are nice, because it helps break up the "monotony" of a typical blog... meaning they are just random thoughts where 1 does not necessarily have to do with another in the list. Also, they're put in to a "bullet" fashion to make it easier to read.

Now that you all know what it is (or have been reminded of them) let's get started... & once again, like the title of yesterday's blog, remember you are on "The Rambling Train" ... where she stops... no on knows! ;) Actually, in TOTs, I do try to limit it... I said... TRY ;o)

Here goes...

1. Anytime I receive a text message now, I have to giggle... because my sister-in-law sent me a "sound" for my phone... it's of a kid giggling... sooooo cute!! ;o)

2. There's a reason why I tell my hubby not to talk politics when at a family gathering (such as Thanksgiving)... & have asked him to try to change the subject when someone else does... because no matter what you say, everyone has their own opinion about it.

3. Well, I should remember that when clicking on news articles before shutting off my computer at night! Got "involved" in the comments on an article posted on Yahoo News last night... AFTER I had already posted "G'd Night" to my Facebook (FB) status. 2 hours later, I was still awake & sharing a link to the article to my FB friends & family.

4. However, I learned something from that article... well, actually, from the "research" I did to back up my 1st comment to all the others posting... So, on my 2nd comment, I, basically, provided a link to the constitution's 14th Amendment & then said... MERRY CHRISTMAS... LOL...

5. Oh, & before I read & posted "that" article link to FB... I had posted one just before it, only because of the headline: "WH (White House) warns tax defeat could trigger new recession"... & I put my thought with it as: "So when did we get out of the "old" recession???"... LOL

6. I hadn't read the article... nor do I even really read stuff like that... I just thought the headline was funny, because it seems to me we're still in a bit of a slump in this country. However, my niece replied June of 2009 was what she remembered some economists stating was the end of the recession.... Um, really? That was the time my hubby was without a job... & was for over a year!

7. Grant it, my hubby is back to work (same place laid off) & he's working a lot of ... & I mean a LOT of overtime... however, I still hear of many who are without jobs. That's why the headline struck me as odd. So, how does one tell if the country is out of a recession? (Ok, for all who follow things like this... please, don't waste your time trying to explain it to me... I really meant that as a rhetorical / "ha ha" type of question.) ;o)

8. Remember... this is just MY thoughts... not necessarily trying to open a debate with anyone about anything. Just stating what's going through my mind.

9. And since it's been SOOOO long since I've done one of these TOTs... I will for sure pass 10 of them!

10. I guess the reason I haven't written a blog like this in a while, is because FB basically was an outlet to post my thoughts as they were going through my mind at the time. However, they don't get saved after so much time. (or after so many posts.)

11. If FB puts a limit on the # of posts it will go back to when clicking "show older posts"... then stuff I type up would get lost in a short time, because I play games over there that I like to share with others who play the same game. (For example: Bejeweled Blitz, you can share coins with other players when your "daily spin" is so much.)

12. So, my Multiply friends... now you know what has kept me from here for so long... it was the games! LOL!!

13. Actually, it was that an the fact I connected with a BUNCH of others who suffer from the same "invisible" disease as I do. (Chiari Malformation (CM)).

14. Wow, took 13 thoughts before I brought up CM... & that's all I'll say about it in this blog, because that's not what I wanted this blog to be about!

15. Besides, I have a separate blog site that I use now to talk about it. Even though, I haven't posted anything to it since 10-1 (about 8 weeks post op). Mainly because I was talking about it all again on FB.

16. One more thought about that... I think I'll update that blog today... BEFORE I get on FB... a lot has happened since the last post... as in regards to my surgery & etc. (That's it, no more talk about CM in this blog... I hope!!)

17. Oh, I'm proud of myself... not only have I blogged 2 days in a row here on Multiply... but I actually started this BEFORE being sucked into the world of Facebook... with it's games & all the status updates from family & friends (church & school friends, included with some new ones... even some of you from here, on Multiply!!!)

18. Yes, I said FAMILY... I have quite a few family members that I'm connected with over there on FB... & this one, I think my dad will like... My dad's brother's son... my 1st cousin... Mark... recently joined FB... & I have connected with him. (Though we've exchanged phone #'s... I have yet to talk to him... my doing... I keep forgetting!)

19. I do want to talk to him... we haven't spoken since his father (my dad's brother) passed away... many years ago. (At least 15?) & I really want to get in touch with him AND keep in contact with him... since my dad, he & I are the only ones living from that side of the family... from our generation, that is. (Meaning not including my son, or my cousin's kids, if any.)

20. See, it's been so long, I don't know if he has any kids!!!

21. Oh, the train has been derailed... by an arrival of an expected package. (But I won't talk about it, because it refers back to thoughts 13 through 16.) ;o)

22. Thinking there was a lot more I've been wanting to share, that's been on my mind.

23. I guess I don't have to share it all in one day & one blog. LOL!

24. So, with that, I guess I'll wrap this one up... HOWEVER....

25. Since it's Christmastime... I'll end with 25... & with a picture of the wonderful, scrumptious dessert that was served to us at this year's Christmas Craft Party. (It's same thing we get every year... because the hostess knows we all love it SOOO much.)



P.S. The photo at the top is from this morning... it was such a beautiful sunshine day that just made the snow sparkle.... just the way I LOVE IT!!! :o)

~*Toodles*~

The Rambling Train is back in services... where she stops...

On Facebook, there is a status update being passed around requesting that X-mas NOT be used, because it's taking Christ out of Christmas.

Another friend mentioned that X in the Greek alphabet stands for Christ... & that we should not be worried that Christ is not being left out.

However, I read another valid point when reading about the Greek letter X... most who speak English & not Greek do not know about what X stands for.

Some use it for a short cut... & some use it because they do NOT want to associate Christ with the holiday... those who purposely do not want to acknowledge "The Reason for the Season", & choose to use X-mas, may not realize, they in fact had put Christ back into it.

I used to despise seeing X-mas, however, knowing now the origin behind it is in fact Christian oriented... I won't be as offended.

With that said, I still will not use it though (unless absolutely necessary, if need to limit characters for something like Twitter.)... Mainly because most average English speaking citizens do not know the true meaning behind Xmas.

Also, take in account that the fish symbol used also bears the same X!! ;o)

So, now you know... & I'd say feel free to pass the word along about X is Christ in Greek... however, I'm afraid someone may get a burr under their saddle & start a protest against Xmas... but if you want to... go right ahead. ... Because I'm not the 1st to say it, nor will I probably be the last.

This is just a thought I've had for the past couple weeks that I wanted to share... & using my blog to do that, I felt might just help me get back into the blogging spirit! ;o)

Like the title says... "The Rambling Train is back in services... where she stops..." ... because I'm not done rambling yet.

Might be back with another blog today... or may wait until tomorrow to do 10 thoughts on Thursday (TOTs) (Some may use it for Tuesday... but I was too tired yesterday to do it... so, I might do mine tomorrow... we'll see!) ;)

I started this blog with a picture out the back of my "new" house from the other day when the snow was really coming down.

Here is another picture from the front at about the same time. (Was so much, it was almost a white out!!)... I'm just LOVING it!!!

As far as I'm concerned... LET IT SNOW... LET IT SNOW!!!

I'm stuck inside, unlike most of you... so, I'm sure, if I had to be out in it all the time, I'd be dreading it... well, maybe not too much, before Christmas...

I've always said, I love snow from day after Thanksgiving until day after New Year's Day. Even if I had to drive in it... Since I'm home 99% of the time anymore... It doesn't bother me if it stays around until March 19th!!

However, my birthday is March 20th & is also the 1st day of Spring... I definitely don't like seeing any of the white stuff after that!! By then I'm tired of it anyway ;)

So, that's about it for this blog... Hope this finds you doing well. Stay safe out there.

For those in the cool climate, stay warm... or if at the other end of this world where it's getting hot... *turns fan on to direct some of our cold your way!* ~ Not all of it... just enough to keep you from over-heating!!

As I always say... I'd rather be cold because I can pile on as much clothes or blankets as I need... but when hot... you can only take off so much! ;o)

Have a wonderful day / evening. ~*Toodles*~

I didn't just flood everyone's "Inbox" with a bunch of my photos, did I?? ... I just imported all my Flickr photos over. I'm trying to adjust the settings... so forgive me if you get an influx of my old photos. ;) Thanks ahead of time for your patience :)

Yeah, I'm still around...

Hi ya all... How have ya been???

No, I haven't moved to the south... just a bit loopy... well, tired as more like it. It's 4:44a... I was out Christmas Shopping today & was wound up from that... then didn't take my Ambien 'til about an hour ago... Geesh, I should be asleep by now... but I'm still typing away. (Where was this LAST MONTH... ugh.. that'll make sense in a few!) ;)

Thankfully one of my best friends, Passion Wolf, did the driving. Even though I only live a couple miles from the stores where we went... I am still actually in recovery process of this little ol' brain surgery I had back in August.

Speaking of... I have not blogged about it on my other blog or here recently because I was getting tired of saying... well, I just don't know yet. & I really still don't know if it's a success.

However, I have found that if I'm active for a couple hours a day. Or even just a little bit... it helps some. But if I walk around a store too much I get the same old feelings back. So, that's why I'm glad she was driving.

I have ventured out a few times on my own... but mostly to places where I can stay in my truck & go through a drive through. Or in just for a quick pick up & back out.

Anyway... just wanted to stop by & say "Hello"! Been thinking of you all lately... miss ya... I do see some of you on Facebook... so that's helped a little... I just feel though some of you, I've left behind... ..... & after a passing of a friend from High School that I had "just missed" reconnecting with (since graduation) on Facebook... it makes me reconsider other lost friendships.

I really want to get back to blogging more often & less just "status" updates on Facebooks. (Besides, them status updates... they get buried so much by the games we all play over there.... AND they only will go back so far... unlike here... once you blogged... it's here 'til YOU remove it!) ;)

Maybe that will be my New Year... nope, I do NOT make resolutions... Never liked to! I make goals... & I can start now! ;)

Ok... one blog done... hee hee... ;)

If anyone really wants to hear more about what I've been up to... let me know... I'll be happy to write up some more blogs. Hey... it would help get me back in the swing of blogging... then maybe even the swing of doing my creative writing!!

(Yeah, I did sign up for the NaNoWriMo 50,000 word challenge again... but didn't get one word toward a novel done. IT just was not in me this year!!!)

So... let's have it... any questions??? ;)

P.S. For anyone kind of new to my blog... the blog pic is from Glitter-Graphics.com... you can click the picture & it will take you to their site.

Received another one today... *sighs*

I'm sure you've heard about the PM's a lot of us are receiving... from unknown user with a video attached... If you haven't & you happen to get one... do NOT click the video... it's a VIRUS of some sort!!!

Do not just block the person... but go to the profile to report FIRST then block. Hopefully that will get Multiply to track it to see if it's coming from the same IP or what not.

(You may receive multiple PM's from different users names with these videos attached... but still the same problem!)

Here's a "Quick Note" (<-- that's a link!) that our favorite "teacher" KittyChile has commented on & you may want to read... if you haven't already.

I'm closing this to comments... if you want you can leave a comment on the quick note. Also, this blog is just for my contacts only. No need for my dad to see something that he wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about. (He can only see when I open to "everyone" because he does not have a Multiply account.)

Anyway... hope you don't get caught up in this mess. *HUGS* & ~Toodles!~

I like others have received a PERSONAL message from an unknown contact that contains a video. They say you look familiar & ask you to click the video.... do NOT... It's a VIRUS... a few friends said their spyware or anti-virus caught it. Just report (if you want) the person and at the very least block them!!!! (If it's not a virus... it's probably a "dirty" video.) ~ Just helping pass the warning along!

Did you all set your clocks back?? (For those who this applies to, that is!) :)

It's that time of the year again...

Well at least for some of us...

Did you remember to FALL BACK??

Yep, here in the majority of the US, Daylight Savings Time has finally ended. And as usual... My only complaint is... I wished they'd had left it alone... it was easier to remember when it was the 1st Sunday of April to spring ahead & Last Sunday in October to FALL BACK.

Then there are parts of the states that don't even observe it at all. Why bother?

Anyway... Just wanted to remind you all...

& one of these days I'll be back on to tell you all what's been going on lately.

In the meantime... consider yourself ***HUGGED*** & *hands you some chocolate too!*

Well, it's no wonder I don't wake up until Noon or later!!! I was doing so good for so long... then stuff happens & throws the sleep schedule off & I can't seem to get readjusted again! *sighs*

How a little fly buzzing around can freak out 2 dogs, is beyond me... Ok, it's not that little & it's bugging me, too! ;o)

ummm... did I forget to tell you I had the surgery? & all is well? Why am I thinking I didn't??? hmmmm (contacts only!)

I use asterisks around a word (or sentence) to indicate action. (ie: *hugs* or *waves* or *shakes head in disbelief*.) What do you use, if anything???

Let the hot flashes begin...

ATTENTION FACEBOOK Friends AND Family... this is my blog & it's open to EVERYONE... & if you wish to comment, you can do so on FB... no need to set up a Multiply account, if you don't have one & don't wish to have one.

WARNING: If you don't know me that well... this more than likely will be a good long read... That's why I've named my blog "The Rambling Train".

Ok, moving on... have you gotten tired of me talking about Chiari & all it's related stuff, yet? Well, hope not... because, I'm just getting started!!!

As you probably know by now... I am scheduled to have surgery on Friday the 20th to hopefully get rid of these blasted headaches & other pains! Whether or not it's successful... I still want to help get the awareness about Chiari out there.

One of the things I've been doing is trying to find a way to get Dr. Oz to do a show featuring Chiari... I posted a discussion on the discussion tab of his Facebook fan page... I even have written a letter (or 2) via the link on his site.

Well, the other day I received in my Facebook updates a message that the show was looking for women who suffer from insomnia... That being one of the symptoms of Chiari, I called the # & actually was able to speak to someone who works for the show! She's the one trying to get an audience filled with insomniac women. (Why does that sound creepy?)

Anyway... I told her about my condition & that there are a bunch of us that want him to do a show about it. She gave me her email & asked me to send her some info. Soon as I hung up the phone I did just that! (I'm hoping that the length of it didn't make her delete it right away.)

Even if I don't get a reply... at least I've put the notion in someone's head on that staff! Maybe if this girl hears enough about it, she'll put it on the table next time they're asked for show ideas.

Now, as for the reason behind the title of this blog... Because of the surgery, I had to stop my hormone replacement (along with Ibuprofen) a week before the surgery, because it could it could possibly cause blood clots (during or after, I'm not sure which). So, anyone who has been through menopause (or had a hysterectomy, like me) knows that you get some serious hot flashes without hormone replacements...

Well, it only took a couple days without & they're already starting. Doesn't help that it's muggier than all get out last couple days! *sighs* Soooo looking forward to WINTER!!! (I've always said that I'd rather be cold than hot... you can pile on the clothes & blankets... but only can take off so much!!!)

It wouldn't be so bad if being so hot didn't compound (right word???) the headaches even more... because the flashes usually are at my neck & back! A week without them is going to make for one cranky lady!!!

Another reason I'm blogging today, is because I've felt I needed to explain a couple things... & since I think many would like to know what I'm about to say. (If they don't already.)

Let me just put it this way... when I say I have a headache... it's probably more than an average person's headache. (Especially if the barometric pressure is fluctuating!) I take assessments of my pain 3 times a day. (Mainly to help me recognize when I should take some medicine... & also, because my lawyer thinks it may help with my Social Security Disability case. *another thing to sigh over* & another long story!) Also, for me & anyone else to be able to determine if the symptoms are getting worse... & to see if there are any patterns.

Anyway... I've been dealing with what I've been ranking as an 8.5 or worse headache each day for the past 4 months or so (had been about 7 for a long time.) Though, sometimes I wonder if I've ranked it too high... maybe you all can help me to determine it.

This concerns me, because I was recently told that to get out of the "recovery" unit where you go right after surgery, my pain would need to be at a 4. (Now, the person that told me this is not used to ranking her pain, she says, & she is like me... tries to ignore the pain as much as possible.)

I guess I need to know how I really should be classifying how bad I'm hurting... because that "Mosby" pain scale (with them little happy & sad faces) is not working!

To help you, help me... let me explain what I can do at this level I'm say is an 8. (Which by the way, oddly enough, seems that sometimes, I do more when I'm in more pain (but not when it's a 10!))

As you've guessed, one of the activities I do is play games (mainly via Facebook) on my laptop. To do so, I have to have a pillow at my back, one to support my neck & head, & one under each arm. Since we've moved to this new place, I'm able to put my legs up on the "higher" part of my coffee table which equates to same height it was when I had a pillow under my legs at the old house.

I take bathroom breaks & get food when I have to. Some days I will get so engrossed into my web surfing & / or games that I forget to eat, until my stomach starts to growl... not that I can't stand to loose a few pounds!

Then there are the days it's all I can do to put the laptop down & get up to use the bathroom... let alone grab something out of the freezer & plop it in the microwave... or some bread in the toaster. On rare occasions I'll make eggs or something else that requires a little more energy.

When I'm not playing games, I'm watching TV... (I record a lot of stuff to our DVR at night, so I have something to keep me occupied when I'm just not feeling up to using the computer.)

Well, let me tell you this... right now I'd say my pain is at almost a 9... however, I have yet to take any pain meds for it... mainly I was hoping it would go away if I got up & did something... which all I did was rinse a few dishes off & got the dishwasher ready for Hubby to roll over to the sink when he got home. (Because I knew I didn't have the strength to hook it up to the faucet... sometimes I can... today is just not one of them!)

Also, when Hubby was home & outside with the dogs, I needed to tell him something & I put on my shoes & walked out to him. (Again, hoping it would help.) However, the humidity, the walking, the typing & the stress of going over a grocery list pushed my pain from the 8 to the 9... Oh, & also, we have storms & rain in the area (going to miss our house for the time being!)

Don't ask me to tackle any stairs today... that might just make me pass out!

(ARGH!!! these dang gone hot flashes are NOT HELPING!! (Sorry, having another one at the moment.) *grabs hand held fan*... OH, wait... I have a little table fan... Maybe that will help.))

Ok, maybe this analogy will help... Think of a pressure cooker... that's how my head feels... as if it's ready for someone to hit that release valve!!

There are days, though, that the pain is stabbing or throbbing or down right just feel as if I can't stand... then that's when I'm not on the computer & I am taking pain meds. (Which right now (& have been for past few hours!)... I'm trying my hardest to get these thoughts out of my head so that I can call it a day!!!) (btw... I have not been typing this all at once... usually when I am long winded like this, I have to take breaks... it's the only way I can get it done!)

One more reason I tend not to take anything (when I probably should), is because I'm trying to push my tolerance... which at this point, I don't know if I'm doing more harm than good. I don't know... I guess I'll find out Friday when they cut into me. I just hope that when Dr. Di cuts open my skull that my brain doesn't explode! ;)

I'm curious if when he does these surgeries if he hears a whoosh of air when he makes the cut?? I say this because of the one CSI episode (that was re-aired a couple weeks ago, featuring a kid who had Chiari) the corner was doing an autopsy & removed the boy's skull & the brain... uh, expanded? You could definitely tell that it was under pressure! (FYI... the kid did not know he had Chiari... & they say he died from a blow to the head, if I'm remembering it correctly.)

Anyway... I'm trying to think of what else I could tell you that I do that may help me to judge if I'm giving an accurate pain level assessment... .... (think think, that's what these dots are... thinking. LOL)

................................................................................. yeah, still thinking!!!

Argh, it's hard to think when your head is pounding!! That's why sometimes I ramble, I think... because I'm trying to think through what I want to say & the throbbing is distracting me! ;)

Oh... I know, when the dogs bark I put the laptop down (which by the way, I have setting on a nice little tray so that I can use an external mouse... more comfy for me that way!)... & I go see what they're barking at... & sometimes I let them out.

At the old place, we had to put them on leashes & stand out there with them... Now, we're at a place that has a radio fence... & they're finally getting used to it, to where we can put their zappers collars on & open the door.

After Friday, I know I will not be able to jump up every time they bark. Oh & when they do, it vibrates my ear drums so badly that it makes the head ache even more worse. Not to mention the rush of the blood draining when I stand up so quick! It helps that they have a couch back their... because when I grab their collars to put on them, I'm already having to sit down!

I really like this place... we have a deck to where I can sit out & watch them do their thing... when it's not hot & humid, or raining!

Speaking of ears... the ringing in my ears is another thing I asses... I usually put it at the same as the headache, if not a little more... it gets a higher ranking when it's so loud I can hear it over the tv, or the cooling fan under my laptop.

Oh... one other thing... I don't take showers when no one is here with me... unless I'm having a super duper day (which has not happened in months!), because I've come too close to passing out during a few of them! & When I do take one... I only wash my hair once a week (or less)... because the action of holding my arms up & rubbing my head wears me out... and makes the head hurt worse. *sighs again*

Some days I don't even change my clothes. (I know, ewww, huh? Well, when you feel like you're going to hit the floor when you bend over to pull your pants up, you think, why even bother?) When I can't shower, I do try to wash up... like giving myself a sponge bath, almost! Ok... enough of that... I know, I know.. TMI, right??

Since we've moved here, I've been doing better about changing my clothes & taking showers... however, NO WHERE near as much as I should... or as much as a normal person!

Today, the only reason I changed was because I was burning up in my sweat pants & night shirt. (Which is just an XL t-shirt!)... & that didn't happen until after I had walked out to talk to Hubby a little bit ago!

Well, I guess that's about it... has to be, because I've lost the train of thought (mainly because I got distracted by an email... then other stuff... & before I knew it. It's after 8p... & I still haven't posted this blog! Geesh!

Take care all! ~Toodles!~

P.S. The little doggie in the picture is named Zippy... he had his "surgery" a few days ago & was shipped to me to take care of. (The purple ribbon is for Chiari Awareness & has a zipper in the back of his head to represent those who've had the decompression surgery.)

YAY! I have my toolbar back! ~ Thanks Hilly! :D

testing from my phone

We have lift off...

I mean, we have confirmation the surgery will progress as scheduled on Friday Aug 20th! I had my pre-ops yesterday & all are fine... which is wonderful!

Now, I just have to hope & pray I do not get sick between now & next Friday! Since I really don't go anywhere... I think I'll be just fine.

So, hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of all this pain & misery I've had for so many years!

Other than that, there's nothing else new going on here. Just trying to survive the heat & humidity!!

Hope you've found a way to keep cool! ~Toodles!~

missing my Multiply tool bar... anyone know if they've released one compatible with FF 3.6?

I had seizures last night... but I'm ok today! Surgery still scheduled for Aug 20th.... (contacts only!)

Lots of calls made...

Well, today I've been busy since I woke up around 10 a.m.... busy by making lots of calls.

Won't bore you with all I had to call on... I just wanted to post this here, instead of just on Facebook, so all you who are here but not connected with me on FB can read what's the latest. (Also, because this is what my dad reads, because I can't seem to convince him to get a Facebook account.)

Speaking of... I've been enjoying that because I can just post little "status" updates there. Instead of a blog... & since I've really not been feeling like blogging, it's been great to have... & that way I don't bother you all with the mundane things in my life. LOL

(Also, I can play games there like Family Feud, Bejeweled, Collapse, & several others.) (See, I'm hoping that mentioning Family Feud will get my dad to ask me to set him up an account... *grins & winks*)

Oh, don't worry, my dad gets his "updates" from me at least once a week when I call him on the weekends. So, he's not missing anything when I am only posting on FB. However, it still would be great to have him there too!

I just read a story the other day that the age of the average FB user has increased significantly. It's not just for college kids anymore. Case in point... my mom & many of her sisters are there.

Sure is a great tool when you have a large family (lots of Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins), like we do, to update the whole family about something. (Such as when my mom was in the hospital at the beginning of this month.) Plus, I have many church friends I'm connected with... and I've amassed a great deal of other "Chiarians"... which helped lead me to a fabulous neurosurgeon...

& With that it leads me away from the rambling now & on with the "news"...

One of the calls I had was with my neurosurgeon's nurse to talk about my upcoming surgery & if I can get the pre-op testing done here... So, IF there is any problems they can treat it now, so that my surgery does NOT have to be postponed again!

She said I can have the urine culture taken care of here locally... but the blood tests & etc need to be done up there. So, she will relay to scheduling that I want to be scheduled a week before, instead of the day before!!!

Then I asked, if they don't call me by... August 5th, can I call on the 6th? She said yes & gave me the number. Hopefully I won't need to do that.

Also, I called one of their "quality" type of departments to complain how the urine test was not really sterile... & not to be too graphic... let me say it this way... I was given a Styrofoam cup... & had to poor it into a tube. NEITHER of which was wrapped separately to ensure a "sterile" environment.

I spoke to an "ombudsman" & she said she will pass the information onto the "quality department" & they will review it & put new policies into place... IF they feel it's needed! When I was talking to her, I said it surprised me that particular testing was a bit lacking, because I had 2 different nurses take my blood... was told it was for "security" purposes.

One would think if they have that in place... then why was the other test so... well, under "valued"? (Not sure if that's the word I wanted... but I think you know what I mean.)

So, anyway... I also wanted to let you all know that I told Dr. Di's (my neurosurgeon) office, since there has not been any cancellations as of yet... that I just want to stick with August 20th (unless something happens & we need to make it an emergency... aka, I have a bad seizure attack or something along that line. Please pray (or think good thoughts) that this does NOT happen!)

Yep, that means we're in the 1 month count down again!!! Please also pray it's NOT postponed again!!

When it gets closer to surgery date... I will give you a few other things I'd like you to pray (or whatever you prefer) about. (aka: No need to do a larger incision... (I'll explain about that when needed.))

Ok... sorry to taken so much time... but I wanted to be sure you were up to date (YOU TOO DAD!) on what's going on.

OHHHHH .... If you have not been reading my blogs & don't realize what I'm talking about... Here's a very quick synopsis...

I have Chiari Malformation. (Basically my brain is too big for my head) & on Aug 20th they're going to do what is called a Posterior Fossa Decompression (aka: "Decompression") Surgery. (It's just to remove a little bit of the skull bone at the base & possibly a little bit of Cervical 1 (C1) (neck) bone. This is to relieve the pressure caused by the brain blocking the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (& blood) from flowing properly. (That's the easiest way to explain it.)

If you'd like more information, there are a lot of great sites out there... & I'd be happy to post them... just ask for it in a comment below. (If you're from Facebook & reading this... just leave a comment under the link that brought you to this blog... unless you have a Multiply account, then you can leave it below.) :o)

One in particular is: Conquer Chiari.org.

Thanks for your time & I hope you're surviving this heat. (Or cold... depending where you live!) :) For those in the heat... please remember KEEP HYDRATED!!!

Happy Birthday to "The Last Word"... we're 2 years old today!!! (Link below)

I am among the living... today :D

(beware... this is a LONG one... that's what happens when I don't blog often! Now that you have been warned... *grins*... on with it.)

That's right... I'm living, not just existing today! I say this because my sister Gina posted in her Facebook status today, the question: Are you among the living or existing?

While typing my response I realized that's how I can gauge my days instead of "good or bad"... but rather living or just existing... Now had I seen that yesterday or anytime in the past 3 days I would have said I was barely existing. Yep... I was in some serious pain.

Yesterday it was so bad I almost had my hubby take me to the ER. However, I took 2 Vicodin & thought I'd rather deal with a rebound headache than the ER. (See, if you didn't know Vicodin has Acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) in it... & I was told that I get rebound headaches from it & that I should avoid anything with Tylenol... which makes it very tough for someone with Chiari Malformation & deals with daily headaches!!)

Anyway, today when I woke... after a very good solid night sleep (didn't even here Hubby get up, get the dogs out, & etc... WONDERFUL!) :) ... I felt as if I could take on the world... Ok, not really... I just felt a ton better!

Then 10 minutes later my hubby pulls in with a trailer full of stuff from the old house...

Oh... wait did you know? Yep, we've moved!!! YAHOOOOOOO... we're no longer in the city! We are in a house with 3 bedrooms (the 2 upstairs are quite small, but that will be just fine!) & FIVE acres of land! & Here's the best part... we're paying the same amount as we were on our other house... well, at least for now!

How is that you say? Well, see this house was my hubby's best bud's (DM from here on out) house! (The one that got Hubby into the dirt bike club that I created & maintain the website for.) Anyway... well, DM & his wife had been wanting to move to Tennessee for some reason & they both ended up finding jobs & said we could rent this place.

So, last month... (wow, it has been a month since we started moving in here. How time flies when you're... laid up... ha, got ya, thought I was going to say "fun", didn't ya! *giggles* Actually, I was doing good for the 1st part of the move...

Which now leads me back to the past few days... I got to thinking about how God's timing is always into play some how... & you might not see it at first when something gets postponed... but later you might just realize it was actually better. What am I talking about, you ask?

Well, in case you've missed it... (or you don't follow me on Facebook)... The surgery I was supposed to have to correct the pressure on my brain, caused by the Chiari Malformation was to have happened May 14th... however the day before I went up for pre-ops & on the way home I got the call that I had a bladder infection & they could not do the surgery. (Why The Cleveland Clinic didn't get me in the week before for pre-ops like they said they'd do still baffles me. It's just more proof that their many different departments do not communicate.) Anyway, it's now been rescheduled for August 20th, unless they get a cancellation. Which I call nearly every week to check.

So, as I was saying... I believe it was God's way of giving me the ability to be able to help out with the major part of our move... well, at least the 1st big part. I'm sure Hubby feels as if it was not the major part.

I was feeling good for several days when we first moved that I was able to get my kitchen stuff organized & some other things... I even made a batch of brownies AND frosting for it! (I had been craving frosted brownies so much.) Well... after all that, I was down for a few days again... but it seemed there for a while when ever my mother-in-law (MIL) (who has been a HUGE, no, PHENOMENAL help with this move) would come over to help... I felt "empowered" to get up & do stuff.

As many who suffer from Chiari knows (saying this because I have a ton of "Chiari Friends" on Facebook who may be reading this.)... that feeling does not happen every day. And so I've found myself on the couch a lot lately even when MIL or my mom or any visitors would stop.

Thankfully all know that it's best not to try to push me & when I say I'm not doing well.

Let's see, where was I before this tangent... Oh, yes.. Hubby & MIL arrived from the old house with a trailer full of boxes 10 minutes after I awoke. So, I was talking with MIL & sitting on the steps of our deck in the sun when she said she was going to grab a chair (from the deck) & put it in the shade... because she didn't want me sitting in the sun, but she did want me to stay outside for a little bit. (Wow, I just love that woman! Who says mother-in-laws are awful??)

Well, I had to get something to eat. So, I went in grabbed my pillow (for my back); & food & went back out on the deck to the table where hubby had put up the umbrella for. Sat out there for a bit enjoying the sunshine... watching the dogs roll around in the grass & enjoying life!

All the while, Hubby & MIL are unloading the trailer into one of the stalls in the barn. (A barn that is empty of animals... except 2 cats (mousers, Hubby calls them) that we "inherited" with the house. And he had skids to put the boxes on. I feel terrible that I can't help them... however, we all agree that I can't jeopardize it... I can't over do it!!! We just can't have me ending up in the ER again! (My last trip was in April... which that time was such a waste of time really... in my opinion.)

By the way, another thing that comes with this house is an invisible dog fence. It took a couple weeks of taking the dogs (more Hubby than me) out on their leashes with the special collars before we could let them run loose. Now that they've learned the lay of the land... (well, they're still learning & still get zapped once in a while) they can run to their hearts content. At least they do a little bit.

We both knew that it would be an advantage for Coleman to be able to go free, because he's a Border Collie & needs that "freedom" & that it would help both him & Sunny in many ways. And it was proved last Wednesday (or whenever it was) when we went to the vets to get them tested for heart-worm (both were negative, thank the Lord! Now if we can just keep them on the "meds" all the time so we don't have to do that again!)... they were weighed & both had lost a couple pounds already! Woo hoo!

What's even more amazing is that Coleman is starting (not completely yet) to walk on floors without carpet! That's a HUGE improvement, already! So, yes, we're all enjoying the new house.

I'm sure my hubby will really get to enjoy it once all of our stuff / junk has been moved over here. Because even though there are no animals (beyond the 2 cats & our 2 dogs) there's still "farming" type stuff to do around here.

He even got an old Farmhal H tractor that had been sitting in the backyard to finally work. It was so "cute" because he took it for a ride to pick up the brush-hog that goes with it. (About 20 miles away) (This tractor was a mutual friend of Hubby & DM that had brought it to this house a few months ago with the help of my hubby. Hubby ended up buying it when we knew we would be living here. It's much needed.)

Now all we need is to find a better riding lawn mower than the one we had at the old house, because DM & his wife has finally found a house in Tennessee (was living in a trailer at her brother's) & are in need of the mower that they left here. Which we knew would happen.

Up above I had mentioned about the dogs rolling around in the grass... well, I was on the phone with my mom & it was so funny... Sunny started & then Coleman plopped right down next to her & they both were on their back with their legs in the air. I just couldn't help but to laugh... Only wished I could have gotten a video of it. Well, I'm sure you can picture it!

Well, there's so much more I'd like to tell you... but I just saw Hubby pull back up again... another trailer full... which means I need to get up & get the collars on the dogs again.

So, maybe later I'll write another blog! :)

& Please forgive any grammatical errors. No time to proof read... Got to run! *waves & hits the publish button*

(P.S. As usual the blog graphic is from Glitter-Graphics.com... I mention this, because of those who may be new to my blog.)

This is not a mirage...

Hi ya! I know it's been awhile... & a lot has happened (ok, not a lot) since last I blogged.

There's good & bad news... well, not that bad.

Anyway, start off with the not so good news... Let me back up a little, in case you didn't see my "quick note" about my surgery...

I went up to The Cleveland Clinic (TCC) a week ago for the pre-ops & all was going well & we were on our way home. In fact, we (my mom & I) were at our exit on the highway, when I got the call from Dr. Di's nurse. All my blood work came back fine... however, the urine analysis didn't. Seems I had a bladder infection. The results were not slight, it was obvious.

This surprised me because I had no symptoms that I could think of... but then she mentioned frequency... yep, I had that... so much I was going to ask Dr. Di if it was a sign of things getting worse with my Chiari, but forgot.

Now that was answered... but not the way I had hoped. Since I had an infection they had to cancel the surgery for the next day... and they called me in some antibiotics. You would think that they could reschedule for this week... but nope, Dr. Di is completely booked. So, the nurse said she'd talk with him to see if there's a day he could work me in... & that we have 4 weeks for the results of all the rest to still be valid. I'd just need to get another urine test within a week before the rescheduled date.

After several calls & messages left, I finally got a call yesterday from the nurse again to say that she's still trying to find a way to get me in within the 4 weeks. However, it's not looking good. She said she's trying to see if some other doctors would be off in one of those days so that a room would be open for Dr. Di... but she's still waiting to hear back.

Then she said that the 1st open slot she has at the moment is August 20th. ARRRRGGGGHHHH... I may have to wait THREE MORE MONTHS... Why can't I have my original date of June 25th? Well, seems Dr. Di is not going to be there that day! UGH!!!

I told her that if someone else ends up canceling or something to give me a call. We can drop everything & be up there. If not, she has me penciled in for August 20th. Yes, that means I'd have to go through all their pre-ops again! *sighs* ... Yes, I will be forceful and ask that it be done a week ahead so that we don't end up in the same situation.

When I told her when the next person who is turned away because of something similar, she said that won't happen because they're tested a week before. I told her that was what was supposed to happen to me too, but the scheduling department didn't get me in until the day before. I said again, we'll drop everything to get me up there if a slot opens.

So, that's where we stand as far as that. It's not bad bad news... but it's not good either. Waiting another 3 months is not going to be fun at all... especially since my bad days are getting to be worse... & have out weighed the good days for a long time now.

It's all just a pain in the ... neck & head (literally) & I don't have to worry that this is terminal or anything like that. I've lived with it for this long, I guess another 3 months isn't going to matter... It does give me more time to deal with Social Security.

Yeah, that's still up in the air. & That's another long story that I'd rather not get into at the moment. Suffice to say, I'm still waiting!

Now... let's move on to the good news!!! Hubby & I are moving... WOO HOO!! Next weekend if all goes well (& if I'm not going to be at TCC) we should be in our new home.

My hubby's best bud is moving to Tennessee & they knew that we wanted out of our house we're in now. (We live in the city limits & hate it!) So, they worked it out that we'll rent from them... and we'll be paying the same amount we have for our mortgage. Which is great!

It's a house on 5 acres of land & it's not out in the country where we're miles from everything. The house it's self is a little small, but will be quite manageable for us & our 2 dogs.

This will be wonderful for Coleman & Sunny, because they'll be able to get out & run. There's an invisible fence so, once they're "trained" we'll be able to let them out without leashes. Being that Coleman is a Border Collie, it's going to be great for him to get that exercise.

I'll miss a few things from this house... one being that the big kitchen... but then again, we won't have space to junk it up like it is now. LOL! ... The other thing is my dutch doors. (The kind that is split in the middle so you can just open the top half.) That we can always get later... I think. Do they even still make them?

Oh & we're going to "inherit" 2 barn cats too, named Tiger & Prince. I guess they're smart kitties too. They will lay down just out of the line of the invisible fence when the dogs are out... so, that'll be interesting to see how Coleman & Sunny will deal with the fact they can't really chase them.

What's going to be tough for us is that we're going to have to do a "short sale" for our house... or just turn it over to the lender. Mainly because the property around here is just not selling & we're still trying to deal with being behind while Hubby was laid off for over a year. It's not going to hurt me, credit wise, because I've never had good credit... it's just going to be a big hit for Hubby's credit if we can't get it sold for the amount we owe... but we're not too worried since we have a new home now... which I'm looking forward to!!!

Looking forward to the peace & quiet... central air... & a fireplace (even though it's gas!)... & room for the doggies to run... & outside cats! (I love cats, but can't deal with the litter boxes & etc... so, it's going to be great!)

Yes, I'll post pictures soon as I can... just keep in mind that it maybe awhile.

Other than that... everything else is still the same around here. Take care & talk with ya later!

I totally forgot to post here... my surgery has been postponed... (will explain below)

Hey all... tomorrow night at 8p (Eastern) the show HOUSE is going to feature the very invisible disease that I suffer from, Chiari Malformation. HOUSE is on the Fox Network. So, please tune in & tell your friends too... awareness is much needed for this! Thank you! :)

My surgery has been moved up... Now it's May 14th!!!

It's confirmed!!!

I have been telling everyone for years I have Chiari Malformation (CM)... & in December some doctor had the nerve to tell me that I did NOT and that my symptoms were only because I had done the research about CM & that I was only "imaging it all". WHAT A LOAD OF HORSE MENU!! *grins*... (I tell ya, I try my best not to swear!)

What he didn't know, forgot, or just seemed to ignore is that I've had these symptoms LONG before I knew I had Chiari Malformation.

On March 19th this year (2010) my symptoms escalated (on the way to dinner with my mom & sister to celebrate my 41st birthday!)... to make a long story short... I used to not get car sick... well, this day I did... and in a major way. Felt as if I was going to pass out & the pressure was horrendous.

Here I thought the extreme pressure I felt on the airplane to Arizona (last April) was awful... this time it seemed worse.

Ever since March 19th... things have just gone down hill.

So much that I finally, upon recommendation from many Chiari friends, called Dr. Di's  (pronounced DEE, not Dye. *Whew & giggles*) & set up a consultation... that was this past Thursday.

During this visit, he confirmed, (WOO HOO) what I already knew... I do in fact have Chiari Malformation! WHAT A RELIEF to know an expert in CM sees it!!

Well, then he proceeded to tell my mom & myself that they're already scheduling into September... however, he wants to get me in sooner than that... Soooo... my very 1st (& hopefully only one) decompression surgery is scheduled for June 25, 2010! (Barring any problems with insurance & any complications.)

Dr. Di said if I have any more syncope (blacking out) and / or seizure episodes that I am to get to the local ER (about a 1/2 mile away, thankfully!) Once he's notified, he may insist & schedule my surgery much sooner. (Praying that doesn't happen!)

So, yes, it is all in my head... but it's PHYSICAL, not mental!!!... AND I have proof now... The MRI picture above is from a scan I had in 2000... the line shows where the brain (cerebral tonsils SHOULD stop)... this is how they determine it's Chiari... and it's how they estimate the herniation length. This image is a little misleading in a few ways...

1. The line (drawn in 2000 by the doctor reading it) is a little low in it's angle... which would mean the tonsils are herniated more than originally thought. (We'll get the accurate length from Dr. Di after the surgery) At the moment, it's estimated at 5mm.

2. This, I believe, is a left side view... & per Dr. Di... my right side is worse. (Which I had a hunch!)

3. It's quite possible that it may be worse than it was back in 2000. But, that is here nor there!

4. It's a known fact now that Chiari experts are more worried about the width & not the length... also, how much is it blocking the patient's CSF (Cerbral Spinal Fluid) from flowing as it should!!!

This is such a HUGE relief for me... in many ways. Mainly because it confirms what I already knew... & also that I know there's an end in sight now... an end to my suffering... or at least to make it more manageable.

I invite you to follow my progress on Facebook. I have an "event" set up where my friends & family can post (if they want) messages of comfort; encouragement; support; prayers; & all around goodness... If you'd like to join this & you're not connected with me, already, on Facebook... leave a message below & I'll send you the PM with the details.

Along with messages of updates & etc... I'm going to hopefully use it to post notes of what I'd like to do after recovery & other things like that!!!

Those of you who are already connected with me on FB... & would like to be invited to this "event" and don't see an invite... let me know either here or on FB & I'll send you an invitation soon as I can.

By the way... if you did not know... being invited and "attending" this event (via Facebook) does not mean you'll be there at the Cleveland Clinic... It's just so that you can receive updates & posts by myself (and / or my family) about my upcoming surgery... and the recovery.

I'd like to try to keep it all in this one place so that I do not overwhelm those who do not wish to hear about it... AND so that I have just the one place to update. (Make sense?)

I would post a link here to the event... HOWEVER, this blog is open to EVERYONE... & because of that and that my FB page is NOT public... well, you get the idea! :)

That's all for this trip, on The Rambling Train. Take care. ~ Toodles! ~

Earthquake in Baja felt all the way in Phoenix! (cont. below)

Was it a morning like this???

One of the downsides to not being able to drive on my own, is not being able to attend church as regularly as I wish. Especially on special days like today.

(Before I continue, let me preface this blog as... Yes, this entry is of a Christian nature. I do not apologize for posting it... and don't you apologize (nor even make mention) if you don't wish to read it. That is between you & God... (whether you believe or not!) Thank you.)

Because my hubby goes in much earlier than the start of the service, (he's one of the "sound technicians" for our church's Praise Band), I am left with the opportunity to have peaceful & quite time, to be able to worship on my own. And today was no exception... No, take that back... today the exception is that, not only is it a beautiful day (as most Easters have been in the past)... but it's also the day that we set aside to remember in prayer; praise; and worship Thee One who was crucified for our sins and rose from the dead three days later!!!

Yes, we are to remember that everyday... today is just the day, that as Christians, we celebrate it with gusto. Just like we celebrate His birth on Christmas Day!!

Anyway, I felt led today to share with you how I spent my morning in my personal quiet time with God...

Let me back up just a little... I have been reading the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible that is set up to read in one year. Each day they provide you with a passage from the Old and New Testaments... and one from Psalms & Proverbs.

Because I get bored (and sometimes confused) with the way it's set up... so, I had been reading just the Old Testament passages for several days / weeks. This week, however, I felt the need to start reading the New & to read up to the Easter story. ~ Yesterday I read all the way through to Jesus' crucifixion. (Only in the book of Matthew.)

Today, I felt as if I needed to read from my regular New International Version (NIV)... not just Matthew, but also all the versions (Mark, Luke, John, Acts & 1st Corinthians) of Christ's Resurrection.

I also knew, before I went to sleep, that today I wanted to listen to some of my favorite Easter songs. And here is where you can participate as well...

After praying & then reading the scriptures, my 1st selection was "Was it a morning like this." However, I came across a wonderful video of Sandi Patti's version of "Via Dolorosa". Intermingled with a recreation of when Jesus was carrying his cross, made it for a great start of my "worship" time. This particular one, I did not sing along... However, here are the lyrics in case you want to.

Moving on, I looked up the previously mentioned, "Was it a morning like this?"... & found it also by Sandi Patti. These are the lyrics to this song.

(Tell ya what... it sure was a beautiful morning here! Makes me ever so more thankful of God's awesome handiwork!!!)

Then I wanted to not only listen to but sing along to "My Redeemer Lives" (by Hillsong)... If you wish to do the same, (which I highly recommend because this is a very beautiful upbeat chorus), here are the words.

MY REDEEMER LIVES... AMEN!!!

I was going to add to this a little bit about what I did yesterday... however, I believe this one needs to stand alone. With that said...

No matter if you're a Believer or not... have a wonderful, safe, blessed & HAPPY EASTER!!!

The one rare time I go out during the day....

I was going to...

Since today is St. Patrick's Day (at least observed here in the USA.) I was going to post "The Scottsman" song (aka "The Drunk Scottsman". (by Dr. Demento, I think))... however, the site where I had my playlists has been taken over by MySpace.

I am not thrilled with this, to say the least! I wouldn't be so upset if ALL my songs had been imported... but I couldn't be so "lucky". (eh... bad pun, sorry.)

So, instead, let me just share an interesting fact I heard last night...

As everyone (I assume) knows, Saturday is the 1st official day of Spring & it officially "arrives" at 1:32p EDT (>5:32p UTC <-- Time zone converter, if you need it.) ... However... that is actually the time for when it will be spring AT THE EQUATOR...

Mark Johnson (Chief Meteorologist at WEWS / NewsNet5) stated last night, for Cleveland the equal amount of daylight is actually TODAY!!!

The sun rose at 7:38a & will set at 7:39p. (& tomorrow it will be the same... I find that even more interesting.)

Not only is Saturday the 1st day of Spring... but it's also my 41st birthday. Geesh... It still doesn't seem possible to be 40... let alone turning 41!!!

Also, it's the day I don't want to see anymore snow, until mid to late October!!! (Actually, I'm ready NOW not to see anymore snow... I'm ready NOW for the temps to stay in the 50's & 60's!!!)

Unfortunately, though, it looks like we'll be getting a little snow, possibly, Sunday night & Monday. However, it shouldn't be too much and probably won't be around much. (At least we hope so!!)

That's all for this time... Have a GREAT day (or night!)

looking for a new "playlist" site... What do you recommend???

I'm, still, soooo not into blogging... & it's driving me nuts! Add some chocolate & coconut & you have yourself an Almond Joy! ;o)

Something to blog about...

It's March already??? Geesh!

Yep, I have something to blog about! Well, actually a couple things...

1st, for those who knew about it... my mom was diagnosed with Colon Cancer before Christmas... However, she had surgery on Jan 22nd & they removed a small section of her colon & some lymph nodes. The doctors said the tumor was very small!

A couple weeks later we received the results that the lymph nodes were NEGATIVE for cancer! WOO HOO!!

Even though there were a couple bumps with her recovery, she is doing quite well now!

The other news is, Hubby has been called back to work. WOO HOOOOOO!!!! He took his tool box today... & starts back tomorrow!!!

Hopefully we'll be able to get our health insurance back really soon! I'm hoping, since it's the same company he had insurance with, that we don't have to wait 90 days before it's reinstated.

He's also going to try to see if we can get dental this time around. Mainly because I have to have 1 root canal & 1 extraction done soon as possible.

Well, the root canal on the one tooth is already started... I couldn't wait any longer... it was the one tooth I broke a couple (maybe 3) years ago... & as the dentist put it... it's probably was "barking" at me with hot & cold stuff, because it was starting to get infected.

He put some medicine up in it & put a temporary coating on it... He said it might last 2 to 4 months... well, it's still "leaking" the medicine (a week later)... & so, when I called yesterday, they reiterated that it's only a temporary & that if gets infected again, we'd have to start all over. (Oh, they also said it the metal / bitter taste may not go away until they complete the root canal. Figures.)

Why isn't he pulling it? Because it's the last molar on that side. *sighs* ... I would put it off as long as I could (mainly because it's going to be a costly procedure... even if we get dental insurance!)... but having the taste of that medicine all the time is quite annoying.

The other tooth that is broken (on the opposite side) can be pulled. I don't know how long I can put off... because the dentist said if he hadn't known which tooth was giving me problems, he would have thought it was that one, because it has more missing than the other. I am going to try to wait as long as I can... because once the root canal is done, I'll have to get used to eating on the (right) side... Like I said it's been years!

So, that's the latest that's been going on here. I sure hope all is well with you & your families!

I'm going to mark this as no replies... because I know you all wish me the best, as I do for you as well.

If you want, you can send me a PM. *HUGS* to all & to all... Have a WONDERFUL day / evening! :)

NASCAR Fantasy League... Anyone?? Please leave a comment below, if you'd like to join my league. Then I'll send you the info. (It's Yahoo & it's EASY!) I need at least 1 more player so we can get "profile trophies" at the end of the season.

Quick message...

I know it's been since December since my last blog... Things have been a bit hectic with my family & myself...

AND I've been doing a lot of my communicating on Facebook. (Where most of the time I can just send quick little updates... most of the time! LOL)

I just wanted to let all those who are not connected with me on Facebook, that I am still alive & doing ok. Still having the headaches... & still trying to get Social Security Disability... though I have had the hearing & my attorney believes we should receive a favorable decision by March.

Another reason I haven't blogged, is because I've not had the desire or the muse to do so.

So, here's hoping that I'll be back soon! :)

P.S. If you wish to connect with me on Facebook, please send me a PM to get the info needed! :)

P.P.S... I do need to blog one of these days about my mom & the things that we went through last month & this month... maybe. Just know that she's doing good & is well! :)

*waves* ~ Toodles! :)

Odd... both Hubby & I heard a "beep beep" (lower tone, not like back up on a vehicle) & we each thought it was the other. Strange!!!

On a different note... How does one "loose" 170 tons... not pounds, but TONS, of bad milk powder? (Yes, in reference to the news story from China.) See below for the link....

A thunderstorm in January??? In Ohio??? A rarity to say the least! I knew there was a reason God woke me up early! To get Coleman out before it starts pouring! ;)