September 30, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

We had a hot week in the 80s, but it is supposed to drop down into the 70s today and then be in the 60s starting tomorrow for a while--nice!  Fall might actually finally be here!

I've been gradually feeling better so I got caught up on all the usual tasks I'd been putting off (laundry and such).  Got letters owed all set up finally.  Am even ahead on some of the monthly stuff--like setting up my bullet journal for October and sending off some October birthday cards.  (If you get yours early it is because I don't trust USPS right now because it just took three weeks to get a letter from Florida!)  Had a couple of nap-days.  Was just a nicer week over-all. :)

I am trying something new.  Sandra over at This & That mentioned these new barefoot shoes she got to wear around the house to help with her back pain.

I, also, was raised with never wear shoes in the house, but these will only be worn in the house.  They are very lightweight, big, wide, thin, and loose.  Well, I bought my usual size but have been wearing them without socks, much to my surprise.  They are very comfortable.  I still feel weird having shoes on it the house, but I think of them as like slippers in a way.  

So far, so good, I guess.  I haven't had any sharp lower back pain (have degenerative spine)...but, then again, have been a couple of low-key weeks--lol!  I'll let you know what I think of them over time.

Got another notice from the office.  Sorry.  I would not refer anybody here anymore.  Loved it before Goldmark took over management, though.

I was trying to get a picture of Allie sleeping but woke her up somehow.  She looks like--"What do you want?"

The boys went to the new Transformers movie one evening.

Mama got pics of them in the front yard like she always has done for school pictures when she was homeschooling.  Liam--7 years old.  You can see why he had to get a tooth spreader at the orthodontist.  The gap between his two front teeth is widening.  But--funny--without it he won't look like Liam at first if it gradually disappears.

Ian--10 years old.  Ian wouldn't look like Ian, either, at first if he ever decided to cut his hair--lol!  He's wanted his hair longer since he was about 4 or 5, I think.

Leah got me pics of the pocket doors!  This was taken standing inside of the studio.  The orange-walled door is to the bathroom and the tan-walled door is to the livingroom.

Then this is looking into the bathroom and studio from the livingroom.

So, I have three pocket doors.  Saves a lot of room!

I still have more end of the month stuff to get done here soon...banking, rent check down to the office, and the monthly online shopping.  Glad to be feeling pretty decent...better than when we last talked that's for sure.  Looking forward to the weather cooling off this week!!  Keanna comes on Tuesday.  Other than that I have no plans at all...just catch up on letters and my to-do list.  Fall is my favorite time of year...well, all the way till New Years!!  Till next week, my friends...

September 23, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

Well, it was another week of ordinary days.  Well, mostly.

Monday Dagan forgot to put the big flat cart in Leah's car, so he and the boys were going to drop it off before Ian's Haley's Hope session.  Liam was going to stay here with Gramma.  On the way here Ian's appointment was cancelled because the coach was sick.  So they all came over and we waited for Leah to get off work and then for the people to come to pick up the planters.  The couple did show up and the planters went bye-bye.  Dagan also took the big black planter where my petunias were living...and died--lol!

Looks so barren.  I haven't even felt good enough to get out there and sweep yet.  The wind has been doing a pretty good job, in the meantime--lol!

I didn't get any worse, but I didn't get any better.  Let's just say my guts have been in turmoil.

Keanna's boss called on Tuesday to tell me Keanna had to cancel and the girl who she would have sent instead was sick.  I said just waiting another two weeks was absolutely fine. :)

There was a super moon that was very bright.

Saw the strangest cloud formation coming up over the apartment building across the way.  Looked like the shape of a nuclear bomb.  Have you ever seen a cloud like that?  I haven't.

After I am done at the table Allie often just hangs around up on the table.  I think she's just happy I don't chase her off the table anymore--lol!  Pointless and unfair since Blink isn't chased off.

Anyways, my UTI had gotten better with the oil of oregano, right?  I decided to keep taking it because I figured maybe it could help some with my inflammation that I still have all over since the cancer treatments.  Ended up with rolling, gurgling guts and painful gas, to be honest.  Quit taking the oil of oregano and waited...but didn't see much improvement over the week.  Oh, and peeing still frequently, too.  (I am the TMI girl, aren't I? lol!)  

Finally I asked Dagan if he would take me to the walk-in clinic on Friday if I was still about the same and hadn't gotten better.  Sick and tired of being sick and tired, as they say.  Yes, he would.

I was doing so poorly on Friday that we had to wait until after the boys were home from school to go...but I went and I am so glad I did.  Learned some interesting things!  

Dagan also wanted to have them check his eye for pink eye...which he didn't have.  Somehow he burst a blood vessel in his eye?!  But glad to know it wasn't pick eye, I guess.

On the way there I was telling Dagan that maybe I wouldn't mention the oil of oregano because so many doctors have no clue what you're talking about.  Turns out I got this lady doctor who had been snooping through my files and was very interested to hear about my cancer saga, Dr. Kobrassy, why I switched to Sanford, and even the oil of oregano came up--lol!  (Gave her constant burps when she took it she told me--with me it was the other end...well, my entire gastronomical system--lol!)  I think she had wanted to know if I realized how "miraculous" it was that I am cancer free.  I do.  Yes, I absolutely do.  

This walk-in clinic was an Essentia one.  Even though Dagan and Leah are also going to Sanford, they like the Essentia walk-in better.  The two systems are connected so you can do this up here.  This lady was also curious, I think, because she saw my regular doctor was Dr. Kessler from Essentia--and wondered how that happened.  She knew Dr. Kessler and said she's an excellent doctor.  (Kessler's the one who caught my cancer, you may recall.)  

Along the way in our conversation my over-reactions to certain medications and practically no reaction to others (like most pain pills) came up--along with my possible over-reaction to taking oil of oregano for too long.  That was my guess.  Either I was starting up another UTI or getting over taking too much oil of oregano (says it can affect the gastronomical system).  She agreed.  

Then she told me something really interesting!  She had just recently read a study they'd be doing on how differently people can react to taking medications.  Some people metabolize them super rapidly and others very slowly.  She thought that I might be a super metabolizer.  Would explain the severe reaction to the chemo--and gradually also to the Keytruda.  Why low-level pain pills do nothing for me...because they'd be absorbed or processed through my body and gone so fast I would barely notice.  I'd never heard of this theory.  Would explain some things, for sure.  May not be that interesting to any of you, but I was riveted! 

Anyways, we had a fairly long and delightful conversation.  Dagan dropped me off at home.  I realized I was exhausted.  Apparently Allie had an exhausting day, too--lol!

By Saturday afternoon my culture results came back.  Negative.  So, it is just my body getting over an over-reaction to oil of oregano.  (No wonder it can cure me of a UTI--but I need to watch not taking it for too long--lol!)  Never thought of myself as a super-fast metabolizer--lol!  But I've been pondering since then and it makes a lot of sense to me with many things over the years.  And it reaffirms that I should be leery of medications.  

Well, it was a quiet week...again...not complaining.  Quiet weeks are blessings.  I may have felt cruddy, but not that bad.  Have felt a heck-of-a-lot worse, you know.  Everything is relative, eh?  I do finally feel like I am probably finally on the mend.  Just takes me a lot longer to recover once my body has been set off by this or that--lol!  

My fun thing this past week was I decided to get a new bathroom stool ahead of time.  Got it put together. 

The very old blue plastic step stool I've had for maybe 30-35 years is going to the donation pile in the garage.  I sprayed the dust off of it in the shower yesterday.  It's been one of those "if-it-ain't-broke" items in my life.  Bought it out of necessity on a whim at Target so long ago I can't even remember (could be even 40 years, to be honest).  Was never crazy about it but figured I could replace it one day...but then it worked just fine.  I had decided long ago I would get a new stool when I moved.

Well, that day came early.  Even if it still looks brand new and is tough as nails...bye-bye blue plastic stool.  Someone else will appreciate you.

So, that is how the past week went.  

Oh, oh!  And I got an official letter from Goldmark saying they hadn't received the copies they needed--bank statement, SS statement, Snap statement--(that I had copied and slipped under the office door the day after Labor Day holiday).  They said I was therefore in a material lease violation.  *sigh*

I had even asked the Goldmark lady if I turned those in to the office here would they know to get them to her, and she told me she would let them know.  Yah, right.  So I had to call the office.  Luckily it was a Tuesday and we'd just gotten a notice that we now had somebody scheduled to be in the office on Mon-Tues-and Fri (two different people, mind you, and they might not be in the office all day--lol!).  I actually get the Tuesday girl, she says hang on so she could look for my forms.  Couldn't find them.  Tells me she will search some more and call me back, but otherwise I would have to make the copies again.  But--she did find them and called me back to tell me to ignore the letter.

The right hand truly doesn't know what the left hand is doing over here.  

Anyways, I think I am finally on the upswing--body wise.  We've been having cooler weather and Allie and I have been delighted with the patio-door-open days!  Allie seems a little puzzled by how far she can see now--lol!  I'm just glad to slowly be feeling better.  If the last 20-plus-years have taught me anything it has been patience.  Very reluctantly, with complaints, for a couple-three years looking back, but eventually I learned the lesson.  I think I am quite good at it these days--well, most of the time. ;)  
 

I don't want to guess at how the upcoming week will go.  Don't want to jinx myself--lol!  But, at least, I think I should feel better next time we talk.  I feel better than I did on Friday...so far today.  That's a good thing.  I finished rewatching season one of The Old Man.  Watched some documentaries and a couple of mini-series.  Crafters, painters, narrowboaters, DIYers, and assorted vloggers on youtube.  Sketchbook revival starts today for 15 days and Inktober is coming up soon.  I hope I am in shape to participate at least somewhat.  I can always just use coloring card fronts every day for my participation, eh?  I don't care.  I would count it--lol! :)  

I am SOOO enjoying the cooler weather!!  I hope all is well in whatever corner of the world where you are.  I am grateful for each and every one of you!  Even those of you who read and never comment.  I am so glad you have stopped by to bless my little corner of the world.  Till next week...

September 16, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

Leah took pictures of the mismatched doors that arrived.  All were supposed to be the style on the left.

Here's a picture of the storage area under the entryway all trimmed out and with a door.

A better shot of my front door.

I didn't make it over this past week, so I didn't get pictures of the pocket doors.  Wasn't feeling that great.  I was feeling better for a while, then worse, and now I think better.  If I get worse again I will go to the clinic.

They went to the kids' day at Home Depot.

This time it was football goalposts!  Just never know what they will be making.

Leah had some pictures of Ian...riding his bike to the park.

They have so many nice parks in West Fargo!

Ian on top of the rope wall.

Ian climbing the angled walls.

I don't know what else to call these.

High up on a platform.

Climbing a rope to the top.

I forgot to ask her if there were only pictures of Ian because Liam was at an appointment (speech or orthodontist).  Likely.

Leah stopped by Friday after work to test how heavy the empty planters are.  Yup!  Somebody is supposed to come to pick them up this evening! Dagan and Leah have a big flat cart over at Arron's, so they will pick that up.  Much easier to wheel them down the sidewalk.  End of an era, eh?  Good thing I just cleaned them out from stray weeds and dead plants.

Has been a really ordinary, quiet week.  Always do love those, actually.  Was extra achy and such, so took it pretty easy.  Just have those times, so it is hard to tell sometimes when you are actually sick-sick--lol!  

Been warmer.  AC days.  Sometimes have had the door cracked open in the mornings for a while or late at night when it is cooler.  Allie will be right there by the patio door, if I do.  One thing that will be nice after I move is they I'll have central air!  Even temps!  In a small apartment with a wall AC unit you can't regulate...you turn it on till it is chilly and then turn it off till it is too warm.  When I try to lower the temp--it just doesn't come on at all.  It used to work better, but it is ten years old now.  Acts more like a typical AC wall unit I've had in many apartments.  Except when this one is on it does actually get it almost cold in here.  I've been in many apartments where you had to run your AC on high 24/7 and it was still never below 80 degrees in your apartment...or higher!  Especially when I lived on top floor apartments.  So, I can't complain.  I may not be able to adjust it, but when it is on it IS still cooling well.  Win-win.

I am currently re-watching The Old Man on Hulu with Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow.  Came out in 2022.  I was heavy into the cancer treatments at that time so I know I have probably forgotten a lot of season one.  Season two is just now coming out.  I do remember I really, really liked the show and hoped they would continue after covid and all.  Wasn't sure they would.  First episode...totally remembered why I became absolutely hooked.  Yes, there is violence...but the characters and the acting--wow!   

Miss Allie would say Hi, but she's snoozing at the moment.

Well, I hope the planters are picked up tonight.  I can never complain about ordinary days, that's for sure.  Best to you for a really sweet week of ordinary days.  Till next time... :) :)

September 9, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

Well, Blogger was putting in photos both center or left aligned at random.  The only way I could keep them the same today was left align.  Blogger can be quite temperamental.  It was also just making it difficult to add photos at all, so these are not in chronological order.

Okay.  Tuesday I got out and pulled all the dead plants from the planters.

Was a day for banking, rent check and the copies the Goldmark lady needed slid under the door to the office.  (No one is usually there.)

For Allie it was a usual day entire week of relaxation--lol!

Monday, though, was the day that McFamily painted the accent walls in my apartment.

You can see the boys were helpers with the first coat!

I will know what is underneath the paint. ;)

Blink was observing from the kitchen sink--lol!

Liam using the roller on the studio wall.

First coats done!  A chocolate brown wall in the living room.

You can see the pop of orange in the studio from the living room.

I have two walls of orange in there.

The colors are hard to get correct, but you get a good idea.

Dagan and Leah finished the second coat that night.  It had an extra day to dry because the finishing guy couldn't come until Wednesday.

Meanwhile--Ian finished level three at Haley's Hope (for his dyslexia).

When they finish a level they get to ring this loud bell!  I think there are about eight levels. 

Back on the previous Sunday Liam had his birthday party.

Loved how the rainbow cake looked!

Told you these photos jump around in time--lol!

Friday I went over for the day.  I brought my presents for Laim's birthday for him to open after dinner.  We had a really nice day.  I brought with a book to read to them.  I recently saw Henry Winkler on a talk show and I had no idea he was dyslexic OR that he wrote a series of children's books about a boy growing up with dyslexia!  Did you?  They've even been on the New York Times bestseller list.  Well, ever since I was over to watch the boys that one night I have thought about reading to them...so hello Amazon!  LOL!

My hearing is bad.  I thought Henry said the boy's name was Hank Zipper when I saw him on TV...but it is Hank Zipzer--lol!  But now I can't get Hank Zipper out of my head--lol!  Anyways, the story was perfect for Ian...who is also in 4th grade like the boy in the book.  Liam lost interest.  (Well, I think maybe he takes every opportunity when his big brother is occupied to play whatever video games he wants to--lol!)

I read three chapters.  This was the perfect book.  It appears to be written about Henry Winkler's time in school...so the olden days for Ian.  I think it was in New York--so a different type of atmosphere than Minnesota.  Dagan was listening, too, so we got into discussions about the differences between when I went to grade school, when Dagan went to grade school, and what grade school is like now for Ian and Liam.  I found out they don't have blackboards anymore.  They have two huge whiteboards in the front of the class with a big TV between them!  How times have changed.  It was really fun.  I'll be bringing the book with me when I go over for visits.

I took a few pictures of the finishing work that was done when the guy was there Wednesday through Friday.  Love the windows all framed!

And the baseboards.

Makes such a difference.

Here you can see the front door over on the far left.

All three pocket doors are in but I forgot to get pictures of what they look like closed--duh!  

It was quite the mess, I guess.  The pocket doors were okay, but the three regular doors...mismatched styles or made to swing the wrong way...and the maintenance door (where Dagan is standing above) was too large and they have to completely remake another door. Oh, and I think he ran out of the baseboard trim, too.  So it will take a while to re-stain and paint and remake a door...I think he comes back this Friday.  It will all get sorted out.  Since my deep dive, none of this is bothering me one bit--lol! ;)

Before Leah got home for dinner and after we watched Inside Out (which I had never seen and thought was very good)...Liam playing a game... 

...Dagan starting dinner...

...Ian trying to scare me as Darth Vadar--lol!

After dinner Liam opened his presents from me.  This year it was a small Lego Minecraft set and a card game.

Blink was there for the action.

Dagan ran me home.  I was there the longest I have been yet--(well, since covid/cancer and all)--from 2:30 till 9:30pm...so I took the weekend to semi-recover.  But I actually did laundry on Saturday and then was cooking up food on Sunday (beef stew in the crock pot--one of my favorite standards).  So that is the week that was.  I also almost got caught up on letters!  Only a few left. (About time!)  Plan to keep getting some food made up ahead of time the next couple of days.  

Our cooler days in the 70s are done for a while, I guess.  Supposed to be back to 80s to 90s this coming week.  I will try to get back over to visit the boys...because I can hardly wait to hear what Hank Zipzer, the world's greatest underachiever, is up to next--lol!  Maybe the finishing guy will actually finish up this coming week.  We'll see.  I'm in love with the windows with their deep windowsills!  I'll have to get better pictures and include the pocket doors--or have Dagan or Leah send me some pics.  Anyways, that's it till next week, my friends.  *love and hugs from Fargo*