Well, I was on top of the world yesterday, but I guess I had to come down sometime.  My day at work was terribly long and rush rush busy in the afternoon, and I am really tired.  I did half of my treadmill workout this morning before work but I`m too tired to finish the other half.  My eyes are burning and my energy is zapped.  All I wanted to do was click my heels together and go home.  I want to cozy up with my blankent and my book and a cup of cocoa. 

   My kitty is on prescription food and I called to order more and they told me I have to make an appointment for a checkup and some shots for him before I can get anymore food after this time.  I love my kitty and will always take good care of him, but boy, my money is so tight right now that I think I hear it ripping!  I will do it somehow.  As I always tell everybody, pet ownership is a responsibility and you have to take care of them.

  Going to hang up some laundry and go to bed.  (Yawn)

         That Girl

   It`s back to routine again!  I loved having time off but there`s something to be said about normal and usual.  It`s funny, usually I`m not happy about having to go to work but this morning driving in I felt so happy!  I had the radio up and was singing and felt great!  Maybe it was because I was rested, had done a great workout on Sunday and had given myself a pep talk (with lots of prayer) about my attitude in a new year.  I am Not going to let someone spoil my day.  People ruin your day only if you let them, and I`m not going to let them!  I`m using my energy on other stuff, like singing, working out and laughing.  I sure hope I can keep this feeling and attitude with me, I know I will be challenged!

   That Girl

This weekend was so productive and relaxing for us.  Yes, the holidays were wonderful but how nice now to get settled in a routine again, even at work.

   Saturday I spent in the kitchen, I was in such a cooking mood, I loved it.  I made chocolate chip cookies, homemade bread, peach cobbler, and for dinner, meatloaf,cheesy potatoes and broccoli. It was so enjoyable to be home on a Saturday because usually we are running around doing stuff.

   Hubby goes back to work tomorrow after a 2 week shutdown because of no work.  I go back, too, but we are busy there.

   Today I made stuffed shells with my homemade sauce, Hubby won`t eat anything but my own sauce.  I guess it must be good!

   We are starting an exercise program together, Hubby and I.  We have a lot of equipment and and I finally got him to join me in using it.  I made a notebook for each of us to keep track of our progress in weight, measurements and what equipment we used and for how long.  We put on some music and worked out, me for an hour and he spent half an hour on the treadmill.  I have been working out more and for a lot longer than him, so I started him out slow.  It`s so encouraging to have a partner that you can have some friendly competition with.

   Well, it`s Sunday night and I need to go to bed, I get up at 5:00 for work.

           That Girl

I will keep Christmas in my heart all year long.  I love the anticipation and buildup to Christmas. I am always sad when it`s over, but have such sweet memories.  I only pray that we keep that wonderful spirit and happiness all year long.  Jesus isn`t just a one day deal, He`s everyday, always.  And if we remember the joys of this season, we can carry it with us and think about it when times are tough.  It can make us happy.

   I hope everyone had a warm, cozy, loving Christmas.

                      That Girl

Hi, everyone!  Merry Christmas!  It`s been awhile since I updated, I know, but I just needed some down time to adjust to life without my Dad.  This will be my first Christmas without him.  He has been gone only 4 months today, it seems so much longer. 

   Today I had surgery on my head. No, no, Stop laughing, I had the strangest thing growing on the top of my head.  I said stop laughing!   It was similar to a wart, but it was a cutaneous horn and it was growing on the very top of my head.  I thought it was just exema and the doc gave me a prescription for cortzone cream for it.  Well, the one spot got bigger and bigger, and I got worried.  I looked it up on web md and found a picture that looked just like it.  So, now it`s gone but I have quite a gaping, ooozy hole there.  He said I could wash my hair as usual, but I think I`m going to wait a day to make sure it`s sealed good.  It feels kind of pinchy and burns at times, but I`m so glad it`s gone.  My hair will not grow there again, and that thing could grow back.  They are going to biopsy it to make sure it`s not cancerous, because they can be.  He didn`t think it was, though.

  I am ready for Christmas and so enjoy the season and time leading up to it.  I love Christmas day, but then it means it`s almost over.  I have a friend that says  the day after Christmas is the saddest day of the year.

   We have had some good snowstorms here, and it has been icy and dangerous to drive.  Hubby has the next 2 weeks off because of no work, so he can drive me to work if it gets too bad.  I better go to bed, I need to get up early for work.

                    That Girl

I think I am too busy.  I always thought so, but this weekend kinda showed me that I may be too busy.  I get up at 5:00 a.m. and leave for work by 7:10 a.m.  I get home by 5:00p.m.  Then the race is on!  I gobble down a little supper that Hubby cooks before he leaves for work, he works second shift and doesn`t get home till late.  Then, I clean up the kitchen, make my lunch, make the coffee pot for the next morning, throw in some laundry, get my clothes ready for the next day, clean one room, a different one every night, do a workout, (I will be going back to Curves on the 24th) Play on the `puter for a few minutes, take out the laundry from the dryer and fold and put it away.  Hubby comes home for 20 minutes for lunch and I visit with him, and then I putter for a few more minutes, maybe read my bible and have some tea, and go to bed by 10:00 p.m.  On weekends I do stuff that  I don`t have time for during the week, like decorate for a holiday, do yard  work, but not very much, hang out the sheets and other laundry if it`s nice out, and do the ironing. Sometimes we go out to eat, but mostly I cook up a storm, and make bread and anything else we might want that we don`t have time for during the week.  We do our shopping and visiting on Saturday also.

   I just think it`s too much.  I need to simplify my schedule, but how?  I can`t let the cleaning go, and I love to cook.  I did so much this weekend that  my muscles are actually sore.  Hubby says I need to slow down but when else am I going to do this stuff?  I`m not complaining, I thank God I have the strength and am alive to be able to do these things.  I want to spend more time reading my Bible, I don`t want to neglect that.  In the morning I read a few short devotionals, and then I`m off.

  Anyway, that`s my thoughts for this week.  Any suggestions?

            That Girl

This was the third and last day of my jury duty.  All I can say is it was something that I so didn`t want to do and ended up being something that I`m so glad I did.  It is an expierience that everyone should have.  I am very glad that it is over because it was very stressful for me.  It took me out of my element as I am such a creature of habit.  I would much rather have gone to work as I normally would.  i was so nervous that my Hubby drove me there every day, and the first day I took a cab home, then another juror took me the next 2.  We had to be very careful not to talk or read or watch anything about the case.  When it came time for deliberation, we were all ready to explode with our thoughts and opinions.  They brought lunch in for us and it took 3 hours for us to decide.  There were 3 of us that were convinced of not guilty (including me) and 3 for guilty.  We picked apart everything presented to us and then all agreed not guilty.

  I was so nervous the first day that I sat there and shook violently, plus it was freezing in the courtroom and my chair back was right against the windowsill and cold air was whooshing in/  The second day I was not so nervous and I dressed warmer.  Today I was shaking again, because I know we must decide that man`s fate.  I prayed all night that we would reach the right decision.  I know we are human and humans make mistakes, so I prayed God would guide us.  I do have peace about it.

   I am going to rest and calm down and enjoy the weekend now.  Maybe after losing my Dad, breaking my ribs and jury duty I can now get a full week of work in and catch up on money.  I`ve had a lot happen lately and I`m ready to hide out for awhile!

                   That Girl

  My ribs are healing nicely.  I feel much better....it only hurts when I sneeze, cough or get hiccups.  I`m still a little achy, but so much better.

  I had to report for jury duty today.  And I got picked.  The jury selection was over by 11:30 a.m. and we broke for lunch.  The trial started when we got back at 1:00 p.m.  It`s not over, we have to go back tomorrow and maybe Friday.  My Hubby can get me there but I had to take a taxi home because I won`t drive downtown with all the crazy one way streets and no places to park.  I am so nervous that I would end up somewhere else, anyway.  I was so nervous I was shaking.  I was afraid that when they called my name, I wouldn`t recognise it!  It was also freezing in there.  And, lucky me, got a permanent seat right in front of a drafty window.  The cold air went down my neck and on my shoulders all afternoon.  It was in the 40`s today and windy.  Tomorrow it will be 50 degrees and I am wearing a turtleneck and a sweater and corduroy pants.  The courthouse is at least 100 hundred years old, probably not insulated, but very interesting to look at.  Lots of real marble on the walls, marble steps, tiny individual tiles on the floor, beautiful woodwork, and old, creaky chairs.

   Oh, yeah, I learned to take a larger purse (I like small ones) for paperwork and snacks and one that closes all accross the top.  When mine went through the metal detector machine, it tipped over and spilled all over inside the machine and on the floor.  the cop picked up what he could find...keys, wallet, lip gloss and my little snacks, 4 Dove chocolates and 2 Slim Jims.  How embarrassing!

   Well, the washer is done, gotta go!  I`ll let you know how things go!

            That Girl

I went  to my doctor Friday morning for a recheck on my ribs.  At that time I wasn`t feeling too awful sore, but today I hurt more than I have, even when it first happened.  The doc said that the emergency room phys. asst. sent me back to work too early and gave me a note to take to work that said I am required to work mornings only for all this week.  I am best in the morning after resting all night but I really hurt in the afternoon.  She wants me to take a 30 minute walk in the afternoon because I`m not going to Curves right now.  So, my neighbor is all set to start walking with me tomorrow.  The emergency room phys. asst. also said I could go back to Curves tomorrow.  My doc said "absolutly not!  You have 2 non-moveable fractures and need to heal.  It will take around 6 weeks, then you can go back to Curves".

   I told her I was no longer taking any big honkin` size pills, that includes my vitamin, calcuim and the glucosamine chondroitin.  She gave me some suggestions like putting them in applesauce or pudding or butter, but I won`t do it.  I am not ever going through that again.  So, we went shopping yesterday and found chewable Centrum 50+ vitamins, calcuim and glucosamine chondroinin.  Now I am all set.  I have limited mobility in my left shoulder because I stopped taking the glucosamine and haven`t been going to Curves.  I can`t wait till it kicks in and it dosen`t hurt to put my coat on or brush my hair or take a shower or.....

   We had a bunch of company today, that was nice, now I`m settling in for the night after a picture perfect beautiful fall day.  Hubby is snoozing in his recliner next to me.  All is well.

        That Girl

First, thank you to everyone for the sweet and encouraging comments you wrote.  I went back to work today and the people I work directly with were very good to me.  They carried job trays for me and got my supplies out of the boxes that are on the floor.  I felt like a 5 year old because I took my pillow with me.  I have to use the pillow to support my ribs and I have to breathe deep and cough every half hour or so.  My pillow is a black Nascar logo pillow with a handle on the top.  It is perfect for what I need it for.  Hubby just uses it for decoration in the Nascar room.  So, after my first day back, I`m tired and sore, but not feeling too bad overall.  Thank you for all your prayers.

   I had only been home a little while and my stepbrother called and said that my stepmom had gone to the emergency room.  It was something to do with her leg.  Now she fell at home and was very bruised on her butt and down the side of her leg.  But all the info I got was that something was wrong with her leg.  He said he had taken her out on Sunday and pratically had to carry her everywhere.  She has been exercising at the nursing home but is still unable to walk.  I`ll keep updating when I know more.

   I`m going to go rest now, it`s back to work tomorrow as usual again!

             That Girl

I took another pain pill for my broken ribs after lunch today, and it made me sick!  My head started spinng, I got queasy and real sleepy.  I`m a little better now, but I will not be taking any more of it.  I`ll take plain old Tylenol.  I`m not in too much pain, anyway, just when I bend over mostly.  But I have to go to work tomorrow, I sure hope I can get through it.  I have a recheck scheduled with my doc on Fri. morning. 

I think that me and pills just don`t get along, I really don`t like taking anything if I don`t have to.  I`m going to go settle down and rest my eyes for awhile now.

That Girl

We were having lunch at home on Saturday and I was taking my Osteo bi flex.  Now, these are big, honkin` pills so I have been cutting them in half because I have had trouble swallowing them.  The first half went down okay, but the second half got stuck, REALLY STUCK in my throat.  I ran over to the sink because I was (sorry, it`s gross) gagging and kinda throwing up. I couldn`t get any air, and the pill wouldn`t budge.  I couldn`t talk, just squeak.  Hubby did the heimlech manuver on me, still nothing but a funny snap.  So he smacked me hard on the back just as things were starting to turn dark, and he was going to get the phone to call 911.  I suddenly got a little bit of air and a sip of water, and it must have dissolved enough to give me a small airway.  We were both shaking and my eyes were running a stream and I was trying to catch my breath.  It was awful!  Needless to say, I`m not taking those pills anymore!  In fact, I`m never taking any big, honkin` pill anymore.  I get chewable calcium because the pills are too big, and I did notice they have liquid brands of Osteo bi flex.  I`m also going to get chewable vitamins because I have trouble with those.

   Later on, my left side was beginning to hurt.  I told Hubby that I think he bruised my ribs when he squeezed me.  After supper, it was really hurting, so he took me to the emergency room.  They took 3 x-rays and strapped me up.  I have 2 broken ribs!  Hubby felt awful that he could have done this to me, but the doc  and nurses made him feel better.  They said when the Heimlech is done right, you do break ribs. so he must have done it properly.  MY HUBBY SAVED MY LIFE!  It is just mind boggling when I think about it!  So, I am off work until Wed. I have a script for pain pills and have to remember to breathe deep and cough every few minutes or the tight strapping around my ribs will give me pneumonia.  I am very sore today and quite tired.  But I needed to do some quiet things, and blogging is just the thing.

   So, if you read this and feel like responding a bit, I would love it!  In the meantime, if you take any pills, please be careful!!!!

                  That Girl

  I am so not over losing my Dad.  It hasn`t even been 6 weeks yet.  Yesterday evening I got a phone call from my step brother and he said that my step-mom was now in the hospital.  She went in last Friday!  No one had bothered to tell me till last night.  I had called there but didn`t get any answer, now I know why.  I guess they don`t know what happened yet.  Maybe she fell but she doesn`t have any bruises.  All they said was that she was tired and weak.  They put her in a nursing home today but I understand it is only for 3 weeks to get her rested and stronger. 

  My hubby has a meeting today at work to find out if they are laying off or cutting hours because they are not getting enough machine orders to keep the place open all the time.  So, we got a lot going on right now.  I know God only gives you what you can handle, but sometimes it seems like it`s so much. 

  I`ll find out what was said at the meeting when he comes home for lunch.  I will post it tomorrow or Friday.

                     That Girl

I am on a real warpath against spending too much money.  We have bought energy saving heaters, an on demand water heater, a front loading washer that saves lots of water, and I put clothes outside or in the basement to dry.  Then, why, all of a sudden, we get our water bill yesterday and it`s at least $10 higher than last time? I`m thinkin` that the utility companies know people are making an effort to use less, so they charge more.  I think if they can`t get the money they expect, then they raise the prices!  I`m probably wrong, and it`s probably not nice to think such a thing, but it sure does seem that way.  So, why are we doing without or cutting back when we are going to pay dearly for stuff anyway? 

   Does anyone feel this way, too?

                 That Girl

   I joined Curves last Friday, and started on Monday, so I have been there 3 times so far.  I gotta say, I love it!  It was easy to learn and the time flies so because you are so into your workout.  I feel so much better already.  I think I`m getting stronger because the first day, there were 2 machines that I couldn`t even budge, but now I am doing them on my own.  I have to modify some a bit so I don`t put too much strain on my shoulder or knees, but even that is getting easier.  What amazes me most is the change in my attitude.  I actually feel better about going to work.  I still hate it, but I know at the end of the day, I can go work out my frustrations.  I go right straight from work without stopping home, and change clothes when I get there.  They give me wonderful eating tips and I got a full body analysis.  They tell you the percentage and amount in pounds of your body fat.  i won`t reveal that, but,I do need to lose 20 pounds.  So, I go 4 times a week, Monday thru Thurs.  I sure hope I can stay enthusiastic and keep getting better and better.  If you`ve ever wondered about it, go for it!

                             That Girl

   We changed doctors and today was our first visit.  The last doc wasn`t very thourogh and didn`t seem to listen or care.  One of the deciding factors for changing was when Hubby had a problem with his ear and the doc made him an appointment with a foot doctor!  Nuff said!

   So, I had to have a checkup to get a prescription renewed but I also had a long list of questions about problems I was having.   The new doc is a female, Dr. Janet I call her.  I love her!  My shoulders have been very painful and I have very limited movement in the left one.  She said I have a lot of inflamation and possibly bursitis.  The pain in my knees, authritis.  She wants both of us to start taking glucosamine because he has a lot of achy joints, too.  The dry, lumpy patch on my head is some kind of dermatitus, perhaps psoriosis, so she perscribed a cortizone cream.  Tetracycline for my rosacia.  Toporal for my extra heartbeat, which I`ve been on for years.  She recommended that I join Curves not only to tone up and jump start my weight loss which is at a standstill, but to get some mobility in my shoulder.  She said I have to start moving it or I`m not giong to be able to.  I have an appointment Mon. after work to get my body analysis and start Curves.  I am so excited.

   I think it was my last post that I told you about the Amish made fireplaces that we ordered.  Well, when we got back from the doc`s, they were here.  Right now, one of them is running behind me as I write.  These fireplaces are beautiful!  And the room is so comfy warm.  If you are thinking about getting one, I wouldn`t hesitate, you will love it!

   I need to get some sleep now.  The doc says I need to keep better sleeping hours, because I don`t get enough and can`t stay asleep.

                              That Girl

   Has anyone gotten one of those Amish made electric fireplaces that are advertised in the newspaper?  They are on wheels so you can roll them from roon to room and plug it in and it says they use no more electric than a coffepot does.  A couple of people at work have them and say their heating bill was never lower and that they are wonderful.  So, this past Sunday`s paper had the ad in and it was get 2 free mantles when you buy the heater.  So, we ordered.  I can`t wait to get them!

  You can see them at www.amish fireplaces.com.  I haven`t checked it out yet, but I am going to.  If you have one, could you let me know, I am just curious and so excited to get ours.

   I will let you know when they come and how we like them                     

                                     That Girl

Last night we got some effects from Hurricane Ike.  I went to bed, late as usual even though I have to get up at 5:00a.m. The curtains in the bedroom were blowing, but it wasn`t too bad of a wind.  It was terribly hot yesterday, and it was still hot at night and the wind was hot coming in.  Then it started to REALLY get windy!  I thought the curtains were going to blow right off the window, I only use those tension rods for curtains, so I don`t put holes in the wood.  I could hear things blowing around outside and stuff falling over.  I got up to look outside, of course it was dark, what could I possibly see.  I put the weather channel on, and there was wind warnings.  I do not like wind.  I couldn`t sleep. I must have gotten up  about 5 or 6 times.  I tried to wake up Hubby, forget that.  So, I paced through the house.  I paced until 2:00a.m.  That left me 3 hours to sleep. So, bet you can guess that I`m real tired tonight.  Today was a very long day, and sometimes it felt like I couldn`t get through the next five minutes.  But I did.

   In the morning I got to see what the wind did.  It broke a limb off a tree next door and it was laying on the electric wires and they came to trim it after I got home.  My fall decorations that I had just put out in the gazebo were half hanging off.  I had a bunch of tomatoes ripening on the deck railing and they were scattered all over the driveway, the welcome mat was not in front of the door, and my grapevine tree was laying on it`s side.  At least nothing got damaged.  Things just needed picking up.

  So, now I am going to go to bed after Hubby goes back to work from lunch break. I hope I can sleep, I might be too tired.

                            That Girl

   I went to the bank after work and a very nice woman tried to get my checkbook balanced. (key word..TRIED!)  She thinks she got it figured out but only wrote the balance in pencil in case I had a check or deposit I forgot to enter, but I know I don`t.  I have to go back next Friday to have it checked.  What on earth could I have done that even a bank person couldn`t straighten it out?  See, I told you I was really bad with numbers!

   So, here are two thoughts on money.......

Let us all be happy, and live within our means, even if we have to borrow money to do it.

    Charles Farrar Browne  1834-1867

    Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old second hand diamonds than none at all.

                          Mark Twain

   I just thought these would make you smile.

       That Girl

   Is it me or do others have trouble balancing their checkbook?  Some months it comes out absolutely perfect and this month....GRRRR!  I just can`t figure out what I do wrong!  I feel so stupid, my checkbook isn`t all that complicated, a small deposit every week and a few checks written.  I never was good at numbers, they really confuse me.  I`m lucky I can count to 100.  No, really.  I was a straight A student till 5th grade when math got difficult for me.  It was so bad that all my other marks went right down, and all the rest of the way through school, I struggled to keep up with every subject, because I spent so much time on math.  i am so mad at myself right now that I dion`t feel qualified to be a human being!  What`s wrong with me?  Why can`t I understand simple numbers?  I guess I can`t play with the big girls, I can`t pass Go and I certainly cannot collect $200 because I wouldn`t know what to do with it, anyway.

  There.  I think I`m just about done ranting and venting.  Now tomorrow after work I`m going to have to go to the bank and have them do it again.  How embarrassing!  I go there to have them fix it regularly.  I`m probably known as a nusance there.  They probably cringe when they see me come in the door.  I am sooo mad at myself right now.

   Any way, I will relax and read some blogs, that always soothes me.  It`s funny, but I don`t usually get this upset about this.  It`s just I don`t want to make a habit of running to the bank to get it fixed.

   Thanks for listening!

                   That Girl