Cum 'si- Cum 'sa...

 Wellll... at this point my expectations for relaxation need to be lowered considerably.

I wrote in my earlier post what my weekend was supposed to be. Fun-filled relaxation with my two besties.

Some so-so-.... and some not.

I got off work a bit early on Friday to go get a BP check and have a lil once over about my wrist and shoulder. MEH- Of course my BP was still thru the roof and my shoulder and wrist are just my carpal tunnel and a bit of arthritis thrown in just for good measure. Just typical aging ...I'm already wearing a support brace on the wrist and babying the shoulder so I'm doing all that can be done for it without surgery(which is NOT going to happen anytime soon.)

So I drove to Bestie R's house after work. But first-Of ALL the things to forget to bring- I forgot my civvie shoes. Sooo on the way there I had to stop at like five different discount stores because I have about eight pair of civvie shoes at home(not counting boots) and I wasnt about to spend more than ten dollars on a pair of shoes I was going to wear just out to lunch on Saturday and then them go right back off when we got home.  I got lucky at the fifth store and found a pair of(get this) GREEN suede sneakers with white laces that matched EXACTLY my green and white tie-dye romper outfit I had chosen to wear to lunch with the girls!!! A $3 SCORE!!!!!! Only all that running around set me back time wise and I got there about a half hour past the time I normally get home(Rhonnies) from work going straight there. SMH laughing....

So anyway- I got there and she had gnats in her apartment- I mean it was COVERED. If it hadn't been such a big deal weekend I would have turned around and went straight back home to Starr. I'm allergic to gnat and mosquito bites- they leave HUGE knots wherever I'm bitten. I most certainly didnt want to be miserable and sick for the next few days- so I had to leave and rethink my battleplan.

So I went and got something to eat and a nice cool drink and sat in my car in the shade of a huge water oak for about an hour and then I drove back to Rhonni's. (She hadn't wanted to ride with me when I left) I put on long sleeves and stayed in my work clothes and I gathered up as much of the culprits as I could and then I made up some traps and sprayed a bit and we went out and sat on her front porch people watching and gossiping as old ladies are often seen doing. 

Eventually we got all sweaty... I mean Glisteny... and decided to go back inside. The  critters had pretty much died by then so I showered and then I swept and mopped and then we watched a movie and settled down for the night.

The next morning, disaster struck.  Rhonni came down with a bad tummy upset and she didnt want to chance going out. So I called my sister and invited her to meet me and Joanie at the restaurant and Joanie invited her daughter as well. I couldn't not go as it was Joanie's birthday celebration as well and she has been looking even more forward to it than Rhonni had been.

Now mind you, Joanie and Rhonni and myself have been friends for almost 6 decades (My baby sister grew up with us as well- and Joanie and my other sister were married to the same guy- (sis first then Rhonni and I introduced Joanie and my ex-br-in-law to each other and in less than 6 months they had gotten married and stayed married until he passed away a few years ago- match made in heaven)- we got up to a LOT of shenanigans when we were younger...still do but that's stories for another time.... And as we all sat in the restaurant, Tabitha  kept getting embarrassed everytime we would say something- we was being extremely obnoxious- for some reason we seem to automatically revert to being about fifteen when we get together. My sis just joined in and everyone was laughing at poor Tabby....  She kept saying she wanted to hear the story behind some of the references we were making, but her mom(Joanie) said not in a million years. 

I told Tabby to wait til we all had passed and I would have a copy of my memoirs sent to her as it's alllll in there. Hahahahaha.

Anyway, Joanie loved her paintings -one a  landscape I redid from a painting Joanie had bought but couldn't stand to look at on the wall for more than an hour because it depressed her so badly even tho she loved the colours in it. It was a lovely silhouette of a lady in a form-fitting gown standing by a window looking down- it gave the eerie feeling of loneliness and hopelessness. I had it over 6 months before I finally figured out that if I changed the viewpoint/orientation from Portrait to Landscape I could easily  duplicate the lovely colours and turn it into a pretty well known Southwestern mesa arch with a lovely sunset and a bit of a river in front of it. She loved the outcome. And the other was one I had commissioned just for her- I know an artist who painted a lovely portrait of Janis Joplin who is Joanie's Fav Music Artist. 

For Rhonni I painted two white with shaded of victorian pink florals for her bedroom and a Fearfully Created Piece of Art to be framed and hung in her home-where to be decided later.

All was a hit.

So after Lunch, we parted ways and I went back to Rhonnis for the rest of the weekend, and for the past at least year she's been trying to rearrange her living room. We've discussed it to death to be honest- and this time I just got up and started moving things around.  Her floors are slick as the proverbial Owl-Poop, so it only took a light touch to move into place and no further harming of the shoulder or wrist came to be.

At first she wasnt sure about it- but I told her to trust the process- it always looks like a cyclone hit the place right before it came together. And it did... In the end- she loved it-only  I'm not so keen. the sofa is slightly curved on the backside and it overlaps the edge of the fireplace by about 4 inches and I do-not-like. I'm going to let her live with it for a couple of weeks, but I would put money on her seeing for herself it's slightly off and wanting to change it again. (at least I hope so or it's going to bug the crap out of me til she does.)

Sunday Morning bright and early, she was sleeping soundly and I got up around 6:30am... I grabbed a iced coffee from her fridge and went out to her front porch where I proceeded to transfer her tomato plants from the seedling cups to the huge container she had planned to put out front  for them. Then I watered it.

Then I filled the other matching container and mounded it high in the center and sprinkled her wildflower seeds all over the top and gave it a good soaking as well.

So now she is good to go on her little front garden- if she can remember to go out and give them a drink of water on the days it's doesnt rain.

So then she woke up and I stayed for about an hour more letting her get used to the idea of me heading out- then I loaded up and headed for home. 

I didnt get the relaxing weekend I had envisioned, but I did get a bit of relaxing activities in which I was grateful for. 

And Rhonni and I are planning to surprise Joanie on her birthday by just showing up at the place she usually goes during the week- ON her birthday!! 

What is it they say about the best laid plans??? LOL- we shall see!!!

Finally Friday!!!!

 I hope y'all have as safe & fabulous weekend as I plan on having! I'm sure I'll come back with a few stories to tell about the shenanigans .....

HAPPY FRIYAY!!!!!!!

Cant Wait Until Tomorrow

A Weekend Away. From Friday 3pm until 3pm Sunday afternoon. No Stress- no worries- just playtime with my childhood friends.

No Computers- I love being on mine- but every once in a while I take a whole weekend away from it. 

No Phones- however I will answer EMERGENCY CALLS.*

*How will I know if it's an emergency call you might ask? I have a hard and fast rule- If I don't answer and you know it's an electronic free weekend- hang up and IMMEDIATELY call back. I know it's an emergency then and will answer.

Just going to sit on my butt with my two 50+ year besties( that's how long we been friends- not their ages- that's a few years more than that) and chill- watch movies, eat ice cream for breakfast and stay in our Jim-Jams all day if we want to(easier to nap if you are already in your Jim-Jams, eh?), reminisce about when we were younger....I'm SOOOO glad there was no internet and social media in our days!!!! If it rains we might go out and walk in the rain like when we was little too. See who can make the biggest highest splash in the puddles. I aint carrying no stupid umbrella either. I need to ground myself. I haven't went barefoot and walked in the grass in ages!!! 

So if you're out and about and see three elderly(ish) women acting a fool in the rain in their Jim-Jams- happily splashing around and giggling like 6 year olds.... Either give us a wave.... mind your biddness... or even better- Join Us!!!! :D

I'm counting down the minutes....no- the SECONDS!!!!!

I'm Not Ready...

 So on the drive in to work this morning I heard a advert about E-Cars.

They said E Cars run an average of 42 miles on a charge and that's more than the average person drives in a day- you can drop the kids at school, go to work, pick up groceries on the way to pick up the kids after school- and still have enough to visit the in-laws in the next county.

All without buying any gas- so apparently, according to THEM, E-cars are THE way of the future.

 But- are they really?

Not in my opinion.

I'm not your "average" driver. I drive about 12 miles more than the 42 from a charge will take me and that's just ONE WAY. There also aren't NEARLY enough charging ports at my sites- one site doesnt even have ANY, let alone along the way on my trip to and from work- I cant think if a single place along my route that DOES have one to be honest.

I don't think most towns/cities/counties are nearly ready for an increase in E-traffic issues. E-cars would only be useful  and viable in big cities/States like Cali, New York- and maybe a few more progressive cities/states like...tbh- I can't even think of anyplace else except maybe- and I do mean MAYBE- Las Vegas??? 

And what about the costs? Is the cost of the electricity to charge them actually less or equal to the cost of gas- or does it exceed the cost of gas now? How about repairs on an E-Car? I can tell you right now I dont think your typical hometown garage- or backyard mechanic we rely on has the capabilities to do proper repairs on one of the E-Cars.

I know I'm not ready on a personal level for it.... but maybe that's just me?

Time For a Change- But Not What You Think

 Did I mention I have arthritis in my right side? Everything- ankle, knee, hip, shoulder and wrist. Everything hurts. I had a surgery for carpal tunnel on my right wrist years ago and that helped a bit. The arthritis seems to flare when it's storm season tho still.

Well, about 3 months ago now my left wrist has started to show the same early signs as the right one. It hurts to drive, to write, to type, to cook or clean, and most importantly- to use a keyboard to game. ;)

I've got a doc appointment to have it looked at Friday. Already wearing the wrist support brace like when it started in the right wrist.

Now I didnt start out playing on a PC- I started out on an Xbox. With a Controller. It was soooo frustrating to learn to use the controller. But I did it.

Then I got a gaming laptop and realized that  using a keyboard was so  much more straightforward than a controller. So for the past thirteen or so years I've been using a keyboard.

Well, the pain from "running" everywhere when I'm hunting in a game (Very awkward positioning of the fingers and thumb) has really become so painful I almost cry. My sister, who games with me sometimes, noticed and bought me an Xbox controller so I wouldn't be in so much pain- therefore I can game more often. I love my thoughtful sister. Only she would notice and do something like that!!!

Now, mind you, I have been playing Ranch Simulator for about  five years. Have almost 3k hours invested in this one game- it's my fav, can you tell? I've been playing since the early release days- one of the first to buy it on release day. Had a bit of input into how it was improved and what bugs it had that needed to be fixed. I got my daughter playing it about 6 months after that and now finally got my sister playing. 

I love this game. It gives me the freedom and quiet I cant find in my daily life.  In it I'm a property owner- and I can build and hunt to my heart's desire. If I'm frustrated, I can load the game and  head off to the hills to hunt bear and wolves and foxes and deer to vent my frustrations with real life. Everyone benefits from it and best part- I dont have to spend real life money to drive to do it!!! And if I want some company- I just let Baby Girl or Sis know I'm going to be on playing and I host a fun hunting party!!

Now, having played so long I pretty much know all the little tricks and tips and shortcuts. (altho the new fishing side quest has me stumped- still can't catch a fish for love nor money....YET).

Sometimes I just go hiking to see what can be seen or done. I know they keyboard commands like a pro on this game. Mainly because I don't play games like a normal person and by just going on hikes and building and such I've memorised it- It's like being blind from birth and having learned it bit by bit and I'm in control. 

But-not so much now. A TINY bit of using the controller came back as second nature, but now I'm like someone who went to bed able to see and woke up totally blind... sis has always mostly played her games with a controller. So now the roles have reversed. I'm having to ask her where is this command or that command again? Which one picks things up- and how the hell to I access my weapon quickly?.. what is the process again so I don't die when attacked by a wolf or bear..... (you learn to save everytime you pass a save station and I've adjusted my Auto-save to 5 minutes now vs 20 minutes on keyboard.)

I also don't have a comfortable desk to work from. I've been playing sitting on my bed or on the sofa. But that has got to stop. Today I plan on going and getting be a comfy supportive  gaming chair- not one exclusively made for gaming but a desk chair of some sort that works for me. I might be able to convert my old sewing machine cabinet into a small computer desk possibly.....or I could make one like I did my vanity table when I was in England with a couple of file cabinets  and a lovely piece of wood. I actually have my old round coffee table in the basement that is too big for my Living room, but cut in half with a half moon cutout might be just the thing I need for a vanity table/computer desk for my bedroom. 

I'll have to look into it.

Anyway, It's going to be fun to  re-learn controller commands.... my sister and daughter are laughing at me because I'm playing like a newb... I wont get out of the vehicles in Bear or wolf territory. LOL- I'll get over that- as soon as I can have a few days of playing around with it a bit with no pressure to HAVE to do anything.  I hope.... 

Death Count from Day One(yesterday) using the Controller- 2

The Joys of Change!!!!

It's Not Always A Migraine...

 The past week and few days, I've had a horrible migraine that I just can't seem to get rid of.

My son brought his Blood Pressure monitor with him when he came to stay his birthday weekend with me. His Birthday was Saturday and we really made a weekend of it.... or that was the plan.

He measured his sisters first, then he hooked me up to it. 

To say it wasnt good is the understatement of the year.

177/105.... The migraine was my blood pressure rising steadily. 

I was able to stop taking my meds last year and control it by diet and exercise- just like my blood sugar levels. But something(I have plenty of ideas what those somethings could be) has triggered the issues again and I need to get it all under control again . I simply do NOT want to have to go back on a dozen meds every day to keep everything regulated. I refuse.

I'm guessing the stress of my family being sick from the moldy basement the landlord is too cheap to fix, my job(several issues in that one I won't go into again because there's nothing I can do to fix them and those who can fix em wont), the long tedious commute back and forth to work every day alongside the ever-rising price of fuel, my slow  and steady weight gain that isn't being arrested no matter how careful I am with my diet and exercise, my attempts at container gardening seem to be going nowhere fast(we are in extreme drought alternating with heavy thunderstorms and its still not helping the veggies at all...) a couple of family drama issues going on aren't helping matters either..and last but not least- not having any vacation days in two years..... I'm pretty sure that is a BIG contributor right up on the list with the mold thing. 

I did do a couple of paintings this weekend for my besties birthday this coming weekend, and that really was helpful- it calmed me down a bit altho my BP numbers didnt lower but one on the bottom number.  I'm just really upset that I couldn't do more with my son on his 44th birthday because I had to stay still and quiet and comfortable to keep my BP from elevating even higher. I was already in prime Stroke territory and I most surely didnt want that disaster added to my list of Sh!+ that's going wrong.

On the upside, I have a quiet celebration up in Easley planned with my two besties this weekend for their birthdays so it's almost like a mini vacation for me.

I'm praying it's the respite I need.

    

Our Ray Of Sunshine .....

 Today I said goodbye to one of my work friends.

Her name is Barbara and she is/soon to be was/ the company nurse.

As long as I have been here, she's always been going about her business with a smile on her face and nothing but good things to say about any situation. She's been a breath of spring to all us around her. I will miss her dearly as she always brightened my day when I was struggling. 

Good Luck with your retirement Ms. Barbara. May you always feel as joyful as you made us feel!!! xxx