Backaches and Getting to the Bottom of Things

Again, such a span of time has gone by since my last post! Life is so busy these days that it's hard to keep up with everything. Let's see, my most recent bout of sciatica was brutal - lasted for weeks! I had to miss a friend's wedding reception, it was so bad. Now, if I could have used a cordless heating pad, hidden under my clothing, I may have been able to make it. Does such a thing exist? If so, I want to hear about it!

Now, getting to the 'bottom' of things...I had a colonoscopy at the end of November. This was not my first but I hadn't had one for 20 years so it was time for another. You see, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when I was 19 years old and so these are the types of tests they like to run. I'm not complaining, merely explaining. I try to put it into perspective - it could be a lot worse. Anywho, I was having some issues and since I hadn't really had any flare-ups with the Crohn's for just about 20 years, it was time for another looksee. And the doc found it to be alive and kickin'. So, I'm trying out some meds for the next month or two (9 pills a day is supposed to keep the Crohn's at bay!) and then it's back to the doctor for a follow-up. He mentioned in my last visit that he wants to x-ray my small intestine. Ruh Roh - I do believe that means a Barium Xray - :( I've had that before and it's one of my least favorite of all these icky tests.
I wish I could say this is to be expected when you get older but hey, I'm only 40! oh well, like I said before, it could be worse. There are many out there in more serious situations than I. I have a wonderful life and this stuff right here is tolerable for me. I'll let ya know if that changes :)

So, just wanted to share some of my butt-iful adventures with you all! As per usual, I am desperately behind on checking everyone's blog. Now with the holidays winding up, I should be able to have a little more time for that. "Should" being the operative word.

Hope things are well with those who read this (and those who don't!).

I'll be back to post more fun and frolic (and antics of anal probing - did I just say that?!?!?!)

hugs, love and positivity to All!

Where have I been???

Ahoy there blogging mateys! It's been like a month since I've posted anything, seriously. Well, we are loving being homeowners but have been as busy as busy can be. I can't remember the last time I was able to spend an entire day to myself, unless you count that day I was home sick with the sinus infection a couple of weeks ago and I'm not counting that!

I never realized (having never owned my own home before) how much freakin' work there is to do on a constant basis! I would imagine that once we're settled in and have "made it our own" there won't be such a long laundry list of things to do but holy cow, I'm not seeing that happening any time soon. There is SOO much to do! Sure, the place is in good shape but for the last 7 years it was inhabited by a woman in her 80's (bless her heart) who had to go into Assisted Living and, well, the decor just isn't "me" or shall I say "us".
So, there is wallpaper in both the bathrooms that needs to come down (who wallpapers above a shower, anyway??? It's already all patchy and half-torn off in that area - Helloooooooo Steamy Showers!), flooring will need replacing, landscaping will need to be done, kitchen will eventually need remodeling as will the master bath... and of course, coming from a tiny apartment to a 3 bed/2 bath home means we need furniture to fill the place. Of course, all these things take $$$ which we don't have an over-abundance of (ok, like how many of us do? I mean, real people...). We get along just fine, financially, but these things call for a little bit more than we have on hand at the moment. So, we will do it little by little. And it will be great. And we will be very happy. And very busy. But very proud because we've done it ourselves.

Oh yeah, and I am very anxious to get a dog (or two) but that won't happen until next year, at least. Ahhh well, my cat is in no hurry, that's for sure!

Ok, so there I have done it - my first decent post in a month. Here's to hoping it doesn't take me another month to post again!

much happiness to all!

Love Life

yes, I do.

Honey, I'm Homeeee

Finally, we're all moved into our new house and we LOVE it! We have double the space we had in the apartment plus a garage and yard. Ahhhhhh, sweet, sweet serenity. Now, if only I didn't have a commute! Oh well, that's life in the big city, eh?

Now, I must get settled back into a somewhat sane routine so I can resume writing my blog and reading the blogs of others.

Hugssssssss, Peace and Happiness to All!!

Yippeeee!

Well, I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because everything has been happening so quickly. We found our house, made an offer and have our closing date coming up in a week. I am So Very Excited!!!
I'll be sure to post more once I have some time and I most definitely need to catch up on everyone's blogs.

I hope everybody is having an enjoyable holiday weekend and that Life is brining you smiles!

In a couple of days...

we'll be going to look at two possibilities for houses. I am SO excited, I'm all giddy and schtuff! I'll keep ya posted on how it pans out. I know not to get my hopes up too high just in case they don't meet expectations but still....heeeeeeeheeeeeeeeeheeeeeeeeeheeeeeee.

nighty-night lovies!

Life is...

quite exciting right now. We're looking for our first home together and its really starting to happen! I can hardly contain my giddyness right now! I just want to jump into my blog and roll around on the pages crying out YiPeEEeeEEeeEEee!

ok, must try and get some sleep tonight - musn't think of all the house-hunting, all the excitement that is building, of all the closets I have to clean out ... arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Adios & Buenas Noches Mis Amigas!

Love is...

All around us - we just have to open our hearts and our minds to be able to see it.

Happiness is...

Summer rain - the sound, the smell and the sight...

No News!

Hello All - nothing particular comes to mind tonight but yet I feel compelled to write something. I haven't posted since Thursday! You would think I've been in suspended animation since then with nothing to write about.
I guess, in a lot of cases, that "No News is Good News". So, I have No News to report - but yet, Life is Still Good. (and that is so very true!) It's a great thing, to be alive, and to be able to appreciate that very fact. Good days don't always have "good" things cropping up, but sometimes all it takes to constitute a good day is a day where nothing "bad" is obvious. (this is, of course, excluding news broadcasts which can totally ruin a good "No News" type of day!)
My wish for everyone is an upcoming "No News" day of your own!

By my calculations...

tomorrow should be Friday!!!! Of course, I've double-checked this with my husband, the newspaper and timeanddate.com, just to be sure. After this week's "day of the week debacle" I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow turned out to be Wednesday again!

So, Happy Friday to All and to All a Good Weekend!!!

Egads

I was so tired and out of it yesterday morning, I spent the whole day thinking it was Wednesday. Gahhhhhhhhhhhh, now the week is going even slower than before since TODAY is really Wednesday. I feel so betrayed by my kitty - we talked about it as we were snuggling yesterday morning (what I thought was Wednesday morning, mind you). So last night when I told my husband that tomorrow would be "Friday Eve" he enlightened me by telling me that it was only Tuesday.
So, here I am living Wednesday for the second time this week. Can anyone say, "Groundhog's Day"???

Different Wednesday...

...same Yaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnn! I'm so tired today! Perhaps it's because I know I have a ton of work at the office.....yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn. Ah well, I must get up and get at it, right?
Maybe just one more cuddle on the bed with the kitty before I go...

My Happy Place

You know how, when some people are freaking out, someone tells them to "Calm down, close your eyes and go to your Happy Place"? Well, this is that place for me. A place where I can lift my spirits by trying to jot down things that make me feel good.

When I stop to think about things I'm thankful for or simple things that make me smile, one thing usually leads to another and I can live in the moment of how wonderful Life is. There are so many things that are good about Life but that often get overlooked by the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. It's nice to have a place where I can put aside the stress of work and worldly demands and just happily reflect on the things that I cherish the most. In the "real world" I'm not always as happy and upbeat as I'd like to be. This blog is my way of trying to bring myself back around.

Welcome to my Happy Place. Everyone is invited to stay and visit as often as they wish.

*Underwear is optional ;-)

Support your friendly neighborhood blogger

Let's all show support for our fellow bloggers. You never know when somebody (or somegirl) could benefit from your kind words or sage advice...

It bears repeating...

Breathe Deep, Think Peace.

Yawnnnn

You know it's going to be a long day when you wake up in the morning feeling like you need a nap...

Happiness is...

Going to work and enjoying being there.

Happiness is...

Getting a surprise delivery of bright & cheery flowers at work, just because.

Calvin & Hobbes, Get Fuzzy, Mutts

These three comics - Calvin & Hobbes, Get Fuzzy and Mutts, always make me smile. They all three are very different styles but yet still touch me deeply.

The brilliant insight of Calvin, the 6 year-old genius and "man of the world and other worlds, as well" & Hobbes, his girl-loving, soft-hearted imaginary (or is he?) tiger who will pounce you just as soon as he'd hug you to death.

Then there is Get Fuzzy's Bucky Katt, that incorrigible little siamese with a penchant for stinky fish and rude comments - oh how I love him! And Satchel, the ever-so-sweet canine companion who is always looking towards finding ways to better the world for animals but even he has his limits sometimes (and those times are HILARIOUS!). Then there is their "human", Rob, who, if you ask me, really seems date-able, even though he hasn't had a girlfriend in years!

Mutts, ahhh dear, darling Mutts - Mooch and Earl and so very adorable, bestest of friends even though they are dog and cat. There is so much heartfelt goodness in that comic that you come away a better person for reading it.

So, even though comics are typically considered "for children" these really go beyond that and I HIGHLY recommend that each and every one of you check out the above mentioned comics, if you haven't already. I, personally, own all the books from each of the three collections above. I only wish there were more of them.

So check them out... Someday, you may just thank me :o)

Miss Potter

So I rented and watched "Miss Potter" today - the story of Beatrix Potter starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. I settled in with a cup of tea and a lemon-blueberry scone (mmm, nummy - thanks Trader Joe's!) and let myself relax and enjoy the movie. What a touching and charming story it was. Rather emotional at times, too, a quality which I appreciate in a movie.

The country scenes in England were absolutely breathtaking! Oh how I wished I was there among the rolling green hills with all the trees and flowers! *sigh*

I had forgotten just how much I truly admire Beatrix Potter's work. I have a soft spot for bunnies, too. Her drawings are so absolutely adorable. I'm definitely going to have to go out and get myself some of her books!

(need more tea and scones, too - can NEVER have enough tea and scones!)

Rabid Dog Days of Summer

It feels like the inside of a pizza oven here. The days are mercilessly scorching and the nights are still hot to the point of being uncomfy. Alas, gone for me are the days of enjoying a soft summer breeze or a sweet and balmy summer evening. I now live in a land where each and every one of us is afflicted with what the locals not-so-affectionately call "Swamp Ass" during the summer. That's right, nothing quite like a steamy seat to make you long for some coastal summertime fun! "Summer" here starts in May and doesn't quit til October. Patience, my dears, is truly a virtue in this climate!

It does make me appreciate the other parts of the country (and world, for that matter) where people are having picnics and outings during the summer, happy carefree BBQ's and cool lakeside gatherings.

One day, I'd like to move to the country, where we could have some room to breathe, some crisp nights in the Fall (my favorite season, by the way) and where I can once again look forward to and enjoy the summer. For now, I'm most appreciate of air conditioning!

If anyone happens to read this, I'd love to hear about the weather in your neck of the woods. If it's lovely there, I can live vicariously through you... If it's just as bad there as it is here, well then, let's make something up, shall we?

I think my next post will be about Fantasy Weather scenarios to help chill my chi :o)

Happy Independence Day!

I just wanted to take a moment to say God Bless those souls who have paid the toll for our freedom. Whoever said "Freedom Isn't Free" couldn't have been more right.

Thank you to all the men and women, past and present, American and Non-American, who have put their lives on the line, their hearts and souls into the cause, to let Freedom ring.

Now, let the fireworks commence!!!

Tranquili-Tea

Mmmm, I love a good cup of tea. It's soothing and relaxing (not to mention tasty!). Sunday afternoons are a good time for a hot cup of tea and maybe a little reading. It helps put me in a tranquil mood so I can enjoy what remains of my weekend.

(* Note to self: Tomorrow is Monday - must remember to bring some more tea with me to work because it's the best way to start the day, too!)

So, have a cup of tea. Savor each sip and let your mind unfold from the stresses of everyday life. Think of simple things that bring pleasure - a meadow with animals grazing, a field of wildflowers with butterflies fluttering about or even a still pond with a slight breeze every now and then skimming across the water producing fine ripples.

Life is a gift, this world has so much to offer - we should enjoy it all, while it lasts.

Donkey!

Is it just me or would lots of other people watch a movie with Donkey from Shrek as the main character? I adore Donkey! Puss in Boots a darling, too... those eyes!

So yeah, pretty random post here but I'm in a Donkey kinda mood... what can I say?

Donkey!Donkey!Donkey!!!!

Happiness is...

Getting a back rub, unsolicited.

Happiness is...

Being my Love's Love.

Hurray for Mondays!

Yippee, it's Monday so that means back to work! I'm going to walk into the office with a smile on my face and be happy to be there.
I shall keep reminding myself of that throughout the day.
Hmm, should probably make a note of that and stick note up on wall as I suspect I shall certainly forget to remind myself of this sentiment - for obvious reasons, I mean, it IS Monday, after all!
(bunny slippers would make me feel cozy and comfy and happy...wonder if able to get away with wearing bunny slippers at work... possibly, if never getting up from desk for any reason at all....must bring bucket to accompany bunny slippers, I would imagine...idea now just sounds wrong on so many levels...)

Unconditional Love?

Adopt a pet today and and realize the dream...

When things start getting to you...

Breathe Deep, Think Peace.

(lather, rinse, repeat)

Fathers

Sometimes fathers need mothering - even from their own daughters.
If you're lucky enough to have him in your life, give your Dad a hug at your earliest opportunity. I bet he needs it more than you know.

Bottom Line

Long day...
Loads of work...
Migraine headache...
Aching back...
Loving husband...
Hugs & smooches...
Everything is right with the world.

Dream

So last night's dream was another strange one. I dreamt that my husband was visiting the chiropractor and had a fish in his right hand. He said the chiropractor would use that as part of the treatment. I was shocked because the fish was alive and my husband said that it was okay, because it's tail only flailed around a bit. Weird.
So then the scene changed and I was running towards a boarding school that was surrounded by a river of sorts. I hurled myself across the river and landed on the riverbank where the school was. I then used a butter knife to hoist myself up the steep embankment to keep from falling down into the river. Then I was off and running across the rough terrain full of trees and bushes, avoiding what appeared to be holes in the ground - large holes, at that. But the really strange part was that I could see sunlight coming up through the holes in the ground. Very strange indeed. Obviously, I wasn't really on solid ground, as I thought. Hmm, Heaven, perhaps? If so, I better be sure to always have a butter knife close at hand...

Cat Burglar

As I went to reach for the chapstick that I keep on my bedside table I discovered it was missing. I always place it in the same spot but after a thorough search it was confirmed to be gone. Come to find out my cat had stolen it! It was later found hiding under one of my bunny slippers. Perplexing, as I never thought he had lips much less chapped ones...

Tra La La La Laaa

You don't have to be great, you don't need to sing on key - just sing. Sing in the shower, sing in the car, sing at your desk at work (but keep it low or others may not appreciate it - purely jealous of your free spirit, I'm sure). Heck, even a peppy hum will make you feel better sometimes.
Sing to your pets - THEY will appreciate it! This may not apply to cats...at least, if mine is any indication of the general cat response then they won't share your enthusiasm. Then again, my cat is somewhat neurotic. (wow, that last line was quite the redundant statement, wasn't it?)

Need to Try to Remember to...

Live in the moment.

Weekends

The weekend always seems to go by much too quickly. Sort of like Life...
Try to enjoy and appreciate every minute.

Bringin' SillyBack

Whether it's at the end of a long day at work or perhaps just to cut the tension in a room during "one of those moments", there's nothing like a little random goofiness to help bring the SillyBack.

Whether it's one of those offbeat online videos (keyword "funny", of course!) or sometimes even the simplest, corny jokes, it's enough to soften the aura of the irate humans around (yourself included). The following is a delightful, classically corny joke while not exactly a clever side-splitter, is just cute enough to bring some sillyback for ya (if you let it!). Here it goes:

So this Ham Sandwich walks into a bar, sits down and orders a drink. The bartender looks at him and shouts "Get out! We don't serve food here!"

Thank you, Ham Sandwich, for helping me get a li'l giggle going. I'll buy you that drink, anytime. Sweet li'l guy, he probably had a hard day, as well. Not easy surviving the day in this world with that tasty, hammy-cheesey interior. Shine on, you crazy li'l Ham Sandwich!

Sleep

it's good work, when you can get it...

Invest in a Smile

A smile. Put one on, send one out, get many, many back. That's what I would call a solid return on your investment. Other's reap rewards from your smile, as well. Diversify your investment by giving out smiles, grins, smirks and a little wink, for interest. You're steadily increasing the value of life. You're quite the little investor! You deserve a smile :o) and while you're at it, give one to someone who looks like they can use it. Chances are, they can and will start building up their inner-happiness portfolio. I hope they share the profits with the rest of us. The world could always use more smiles.

Dreams

I have incredibly vivid dreams. It's almost like some sort of bizarre cinema running through my head at night. I guess you could call them "random productions".

Last night I dreamt of cactus sculptures, being in the house of a stranger and overflowing bathwater. Was trying to mop up the water before it seeped out into the hallway. The water was clean, but still, one doesn't want to flood a stranger's hallway!

Am very tired this morning.

Go figure.

To Blog or not To Blog...

I guess the real question is - HOW to blog.... any sage advice?