A Prairie View

Working Out Our Schedules

A friend of mine has asked me if would go to the pool with her, and just walk laps around the pool. She did that last spring, and she said she never felt better. But because of busy summer schedules, she fell away from doing it on a routine basis. But now she is ready to get back in the groove of it, and do it again. I told her I would consider it. Maybe if I went, Ethan, when he is not working, could go with us, and he could go to the weight room. He would like to do some body building — even asked about Fenphedra and would it help if he took something like that. I would just as soon he didn’t at his young age, but it wouldn’t hurt him to work on some of the weight machines. We’ll have to see how our schedules work out and see if this is a plan.

NAP

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my cardiologist. I pretty much know what he will say. But the good thing is that I have some positive information to give him. The last time I saw him, 3 months ago, he was the one who actually got through to me about considering WLS. I know I am letting this drag out, but I have contacted the hospital who does the surgeries, gone to a seminar, seen a surgeon, and have 3 goals that I need to succeed at before I will contact the surgeon again to set a possible surgery date. Those 3 goals are what I refer to as NAP. Nutritionist. Adequate finances. Pysche evaluation. I need to see a nutritionist and work with her to see if I have what it takes to eat a healthy balance meal. Each and every day. I am a picky eater, and finding that right balance, in my mind, will taken some help. If we can’t get the money together adequately, then surgery is out as well. But, we have been putting money back, so this might not be as much of an issue as the rest of the things I need to do. If we can accomplish these 2 things, then it will be on to the psyche eval. I think doing it last will be more productive than doing it first. Oh, how I wish he just allow me to take Hydroxycut and let me be on my way with that to help me. But, I don’t think its as simple as that. So, I will continue to do what he suggests, and we’ll see how far it will take us.

Looking At Our Options

We are doing fine now, but awhile back, we were in need of a vacuum cleaner, so we went on a search to find a good one. Seems like every few years, we are having to buy one, and it would be nice if we could buy one and then keep it forever. Sebo vacuums was among the different brands we looked at. We don’t have alot of allergies, so this wasn’t much of an issue when we were trying to decide. I probably should throw in here that David is “cheap”. I love him deeply, but very often, he does want to take the cheap route, and thats what ultimately won out. So, I imagine we will continue to buy a vacuum cleaner every few years.

In The Eye Of The Beholder

One of my favorite pasttimes (besides blogging) is driving through the country and taking pictures. And then adding it to a blogging page. I’m sure people look at us weird when they see us, as a family, complete with our digital cameras, taking multiple pictures. Its kinda neat to see what we see, as individuals, even though we are looking at the same thing. Sometimes the pictures turn out almost identical. But other times, one of us will see something, within what we are talking the picture of, or beyond it, and capture it. Its all in the eye of the beholder. I just wish I could get Ethan to blog a bit more, esp. with his pictures. He has an amazing eye for capturing things, and doing things with the different settings. But, his life schedule is busy, and he just doesn’t get that part of his life captured in writing. Maybe someday.

Making An Eye Doctor Appointment

I am going to break down one of these days and make an eye doctor appointment. The last few that I’ve had, I rescheduled or canceled because I was seeing fine. But, things are getting harder to read, so I’m thinking its time to give in and get them checked and get new lenses. I know my eye doctor has recommended Lasik surgery for me, and he is probably right, I probably should have it done. But, I have worn glasses all my life, aescept for a brief time when I did wear contacts, and there are other things medically that I probably shoudl attend to first. However, in the meantime, note to self: make. that. appointment.

Adult Achievements

David is on week 3 of his Dale Carnagie course, and they are working on defining moments and adult achievements. I have an idea of what he should do, but he is not ageeing with me. He will probably go with something in the trucking driving line, since that is encompasses his life, pretty much 24/7. And, when you think about it, it is a pretty amazing achievement. To go from driving a truck, to driving AND dispatching for 5 trucks. That in itself is an accomplishment. But when they added on more and more trucks, him and the boss needed to look at the admin jobs part of the business. For David to do what he was doing and do it right, he really needed to be behind a desk, at a computer, and not behind the wheel of a truck. For safety reasons. But also just to keep everything organized and wrote down. Keeping the information for 15 drivers and trucks going in 15 different directions takes more concentration one can give when you are behind the wheel of a truck. He wasn’t sure this was the direction he wanted to take this particular homework assignment, but it is a major achievement in my eyes, and after talking to several people, he has come to the conclusion that I am probably right.

The Eyes Have It

I need to ask David if ever figured out our eye doctor bill. Its more than what he thought it should be. Ethan wanted contact lenses when he was a sophmore, and the only way we would agree to it was that he paid for them. We would pay for regular glasses, but I have worn contacts before, and had problems and wasn’t comfortable with him getting contacts. So, he saved and got contacts his sophmore year. His Junior year he reverted back to his glasses, until Spring. He then decided he wanted to wear his contacts again, but he wanted to get the 30 day extended wear kind. Again, he paid for them, and we paid for the exam. If the bill is more than what David thinks it should be, then he needs to check and make sure none of Ethan’s contact expenses aren’t on there. I don’t think there is, because as far as I know, he paid for most of it before he ever got the contacts. He did get a scratch on his eye one weekend, and we had to do an emergency call to our eye doctor. But David factored that in. He hasn’t said anything about it lately, so maybe he did figure it out.

Taking A Mini-Vacation

We had supper with David’s mom and dad a couple nights ago, and his dad always has something to say, whether it be about the day, or his employees, or about things that happened years ago. Somehow, we got off on the subject of gambling and the “Vegas vacations ” we all used to take when we had the factory. Yes, we did travel to Las Vegas, and we did gamble some, but it wasn’t a vacation by any stretch of the imagination. Not when you work in a trade booth from 8:00 until 6:00. By the time you go and eat supper, you only have a few hours to gamble, before its time to go to bed so you are bright eyed and bushy tailed for the next day. Sometimes, we would stay a couple of extra days, just so it could be a little mini-vacation while we were there. But, traveling there 4 times a year, you couldn’t do that everything. Ah, yes. Those were the days.

Starting Somewhere

When you go on a weight loss plan, the thing that I like is that feeling you get after the first week or so, its like a cleansing feeling. You’ve stopped eating junk food, and started putting healthy things in your mouth. I can only imagine when you add a product like Orovo detox just how much better you will feel. I am tired of feeling so sluggish all the time. Detoxing all the toxins out would be a good thing at this point. Waiting on the nutritionist to call me back. I’ve got to start somewhere, and thats where I’m starting.

Waiting For The Blessed Event

I am “between” grandchildren right now. I think my older children have had all the children they are going to have (although, who knows, they may surprise us). And Ethan is 17, and I would like to think its going to be 5 or more years before he decides to get married and have children. But, when the blessed events happens — to which ever child — I am hoping I will be back to a healthy way of living, and shopping is a part of my life again. I would love to go out and shop for crib bedding. In the meantime though, Babyearth.com has a great line of products to choose from. The designs are cute, and yet practical. They purpose in the products they provide is to offer softness and comfort, and yet keeping safety in mind. When I am ready to buy baby stuff again, this is the kind of company I will feel confident in buying from.

Savoring The Moment

Its been a quiet weekend, Ethan has had to work all week; and David worked yesterday and took a road trip today. I love my family, but I do enjoy weekends like this. Its like a passport to a quiet island, just me, myself, and I. To do what I want, when I want. Soaking up the quiet is soothing. Gives me time to think. To plan. To figure out what its going to take to help me feel better. I do have a few things set in motion, but its going to take more than that. In the meantime though, I am going to continue to enjoy my time alone, and savor the moments when we are a family. That is what life is all about.

Celebration

I need to start putting some plans in place. The end of next month is our 25th wedding anniversary. We have talked about a few plans, or things we would like to do. But, there is also the “special” gift giving. I wouldn’t expect Akoya pearls from him, as nice as that would be, but an anniversary ring would be nice. Or something for the house that we could both enjoy. As for what I am thinking for him — what do yhou buy someone who has most everything he wants. He is close to his family, and loves getting together with them. So. I’m thinking about reserving a room at a local eating establishment, and inviting his entire family. There would be 30+ of us, but he has enjoyed it when we have done this in the past, when it was his mom & dad’s anniversary, or someone’s birthday. Now, to be able to pull it off, without him knowing anything about it. That will take some real planning on my part.

Graduation Gift Giving

On one of my other blogs, I have put up a countdown counter to when Ethan graduates. Its hard to believe that he will be graduating in less than 9 months. We all have alot to accomplish between now and then. I know he is going to feel overwhelmed as the months go by, but he’ll make it through. We need to decide what we will be doing for him for graduation. I know cash is always a good thing to give, but I’d like to go outside of the box. He is a drama student, and loves the theatre. Maybe if we could find some good flight deals, we could send him and a friend to New York City to see a Broadway show. That would be a dream come true for him. Something worth thinking about.

Lacking Something

As I head into my 50’s, I am finding that I am having to take different medications, and use different products. Although I haven’t started using progesterone in any form, as I read about it, it sounds like that somewhere along the line it will be something I should consider. I know I was able to breeze through menopause fairly unscathed. My cycles were always like clockwork, I didn’t experience much cramping, and as far as I could tell, the mood swings were minimal at best. I don’t know if there is/was any connection, but I also never “went into” labor on my own. All three pregnancies ended with induction. I don’t know what this means down the road, but if my body lacked something, at this stage of my life I am thankful for it.

Looking At A Camper

When we were camping a few weekends ago, my brother-in-law and his wife are thinking about selling their camper. So, we did a quick walk through, because we are looking for a different one (I don’t like the 5th wheel part of ours). In the corner was his golf bag and clubs. I don’t know if they wereCallaway golf clubs, but it still surprised me to see them there, in the camper. Until he pointed out that the golf course was only a couple miles from where we were camping, and he loves golfing as much as he does camping, and golfs every chance he gets. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. I asked him if the golfing stuff went with the camper. Ahhh… nope. Imagine. That.

Personalizing It

Ethan used to come home with fundraising items that he needed to sell or take orders on. Because he is was involved in several different organizations, as well as school activities, very often he would be doing more than one fundraiser at a time. Candy and candles and meat products are always a good seller (oh, and lets not forget popcorn (hint: think Boy Scouts). But, I think the best items to sell were promotional items. ONes that we could have our name personalized, or company personalized on a tote bag or coffee mug, or even a pen. Who doesn’t like seeing their name in print? and for businesses, of course, it just makes sense to advertise that way.

I don’t know why — but the fund raisers have slacked off. I don’t know if its because Ethan is just less involved in that kind of stuff, and alot of of hours go to working an actual J.O.B., or if the fundraisers have just run their course in this town. I haven’t gotten hit up in a while to buy anything.

That Special Look

I don’t have a garden and probably never will. That was my mom’s thing. My mother-in-law also has one. And, with her birthday being the first part of June, getting her garden decor for her birthday, I can never go wrong. I love looking around at craft shows, to find something that just says “her”, and usually I don’t have to look very hard or very far. Getting on the internet is another source that is easy to find something that makes her garden take on that little extra special look.

Free Rider

David has a motorcycle, but doesn’t get much of a chance to ride it. But his 2 brothers, ride every chance they get. Both of them often ride their motorcycles back and forth to work, and the one brother even has a pop-up trailer they pull behind it to camp on weekends. The other brother just rides for the love of riding. He does have to go 60 miles though to get the Harley parts he needs, but he doesn’t seem to mind. His wife loves to ride as well, so you will find them traveling all over on the weekends, when the weather is good. I know David would like to be able to do that; but he seems to be tied to his job more than his brothers — and that makes a huge difference. When they are off playing on the weekends, he is usually working on trucks to get his drivers ready to roll by Monday. We do send off major stuff to a mechanic 45 miles awhile; but the little stuff, like changing out tires and such, David does. And if the guys are all out on the road during the weekend, the weekend is the only chance he has to do what needs to be done. Such is life. He still likes what he does, and will continue to do what he does, despite the hours.