Tuesday, November 27

[BirdbyBird]

Thought that maybe the coffee might get started before the sun goes down today. Drink up! The temperatures here in cheery Ohio are going into the teens. Burrrr shiver. But until I head off to Orland in December I really don't have anyplace I have to go. I am bundled up and staying inside and warm.

My excitement a week ago was heading off to the doctor to rule out a blood clot in my leg. After being sent to the hospital for a vascular test it was determined to be an infection of some sort. It took awhile but the antibiotics seemed to have done their duty. The trip to Brewster, NY, and back when off without a hitch. I was able to soak in kid watching and stay warm both. It was icy and miserable driving through Pennsylvania on the way back but as soon as we came down out of the mountains to the west the temperatures started rising and precipitation became water not ice.

My excitement of yesterday was heading off to the Columbia Outlet store to check out its clearance racks. I thought my mouth was feeling a little strange but couldn't place it. When I looked into the mirror in the changing room I recognized what was going on. I had a short episode with Bells Palsy almost 40 years ago and have a good friend that had it it her several years ago and still has residual affects. The droopy eye I could have just said was because I was old and need an eye lift but the weird smile confirmed my suspicions. My Nurse Practitioner usually only sees me every 6 months when I comes time to rerun my blood tests. Now she has seen me twice within less than two weeks. After ruling out that there were not other neurological of stokes, etc. she sent my on my way with prednisone and another medicine and advised me about keeping my eye from drying out and at least sleeping with my eye taped so that it would stay closed. Yes, that only being able to blink one eye is another give away! I am rocking a mean eye patch but the dogs don't appear to be afraid of me. At least not yet. The funny feeling in my mouth was finally solved. It is that feeling of Novocain when it is only partially worn off. I am sticking to my cups with straws until this episode is over.

I called and am heading up to pick up Josef today but have rescheduled for Saturday. Cindy's kennel club, of which I am now a member also, is having their Christmas party and she invited me to come up and stay at her house. She even invited Lark and Audrey if I needed to bring them. Now that is a dog person. And on the positive side she was hoping to work on his grooming... I love that he gets tag teamed from both of us.

Hope that everyone is making the most of what ever adventures and challenges come up to day.

I also liked the Shark Valley ride through. So much to see before it is through. I think that was the ride where you get out half way through and have an opportunity to potty stop. When we headed up the walk towards the observation towner and the bathrooms there was a rather large gator just resting himself in the middle of the probably 10 foot concrete path. Personally I waited a few before proceeding. He did finally saunter off. My bladder held.

[Shirlv]

Good Morning All, This year it only took two days to get the whole tree lit. Prelit is a joke but two strings of lights from Lowe’s solved the problem. Tina, I don’t think my bladder would hold if I saw a 10 ft alligator in front of me. Had a four inch snake in my basement. The 6 ft tall well guy told me he didn’t like snakes. I said call me if you see it and I will come get it. He said he wouldn’t call me, I would hear him scream. Coffee is gone so back to the Christmas tree. Shower rod fell and needs to be replaced too. I’m really tired of homeownership. Safe travels

[Acadianmom]

Tina, a possible blood clot in your leg is scary. I had a blood clot in my 20's. I was in the hospital a week, not suppose to get out of bed. You know 20 year olds, I wouldn't call for a bed pan and would get up and go to the bathroom. I was on blood thinners for probably 6 weeks and at the time I was riding cutting horses. The inside of my legs were a solid bruise so that scared me enough to stay off a horse for a while. I was a single mom and working at a farm supply so needed my job. My boss let me put my desk up on the old wooden coke cases and work standing up. When my sister and I were still working and going on the 500 mile weekend trips I thought I had gotten another clot. My leg bothered me for a long time. We all need to think about taking breaks when we are on our long driving trips. I always take 2 aspirin and hope it helps as a preventive.

I had an aunt that had Bells Palsy and I remember her suffering with that. I think her's was painful. Hope you don't have anymore health scares. Getting old isn't fun.

I wouldn't mind finding a Columbia Outlet store. Those are my favorite jackets. The one I keep in the car made it into the house and the cats slept on it so now it needs to be washed. I keep a jacket in the car year round because in the summer the air conditioning in restaurants is too cold for me.

I wouldn't want a 10 foot alligator between me and a bathroom. There are times I think about trading my car for a van with a bathroom so I would have a bathroom with me all the time. That's why I love my motorhome.

I need to get dressed so I can make it to the dentist. I think I have had my quota of coffee this morning. Might make it to all my discount stores just to look. I sure don't need anything. There's another drive thru place in Lafayette where I want to try the Eggnog. I'm still on a quest to find some as good as the Eggnog in Natchitoches.

Martha

[PeggyinCT]

Good morning Everybody from sunny New Mexico. Tina, I'm glad you have access to good health care; I too worry about blood clots while traveling and wore compression stockings on my long flight to Chile. While driving out here, I stopped every few hours and walked a little, sometimes just in my van. I didn't take I-80 west because of rain turning to ice. We dropped down to I-76/70 and paid big tolls. Hope your health issues resolve and you have a pleasant trip to Florida.
Tuesday is the day when people here at the RV park go to Las Palomas, MX for lunch; have been doing it for years. Today, however, there is concern that the border might close while we're enjoying margaritas...... enjoy today. Peggy

[OregonLuvr]

Holy Moly Tina, you have had quite the adventure. Glad your medical issues are being resolved. Now the alligator would have done me in.....I happen to have gatorphobia. So glad I dont live where they do LOL I would never leave my house.

Shirl it seems just after I get one thing fixed another one takes its place either in the RV or the house it is always something.

Very rainy day today and most of this week according to the weather people. But ya never know. So glad to see the rain tho, now we need SNOW for a snow pack up in the mountains for the spring thaw to fill up our rivers and lakes. We dont get too much snow down here in the Rogue valley but when we do it doesnt stick around long so I do get excited about a gentle snowfall.

My cold seems to be pretty much gone and it was just a mild one so for that I was happy to just lounge around for the weekend. I did not partake in Black Friday but did score a great phone on Cyber Monday......$240 regular $750. A friend went to get one last night and they were sold out...........sad. My trusty Samsung is dying and I have resurrected it for the last time yesterday. Mine will be here tomorrow so we shall see how hard it is for a new learning curve as it isnt a Samsung which I have had a couple of different models over the years. This one is an LG. Samsung is great but they have priced me right out of the market, heck it is just a phone. I am going to the Verizon store to get them to set it up and transfer all my stuff LOL we will see how that goes. In the past they have been very helpful so counting on them this time.

[Shirlv]

A question for those who eat low carb. What do you eat for lunch? I am not strict low carb but have a difficult time with a lunch menu.

[JudyJB]

Heading out to get a haircut and a prescription for pain meds filled so I will have them for after the surgery on my kidney stone on Thursday.

Another of my absolute favorite places in the entire world is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary northeast of Naples. Here is a video of a lady who encounters something she did not expect on the 2.5 miles boardwalk: http://corkscrew.audubon.org/news/video ... -boardwalk

This happened a couple of years ago. Don't know who was most scared--her or the unusual "visitor." And I love that all she can say is "Oh, my God" over and over again!

Dr. Bailey

[IrishIroamed]

Afternoon ladies~~~
Bells Palsy, blood clots, etc makes it sound like we are not a healthy bunch. we're all need to take care of ourselves so we can continue the great path we've chosen. Yea, like I'm one to talk. Haven't eaten healthy a day in my life. Ma used to say im a finicky eater.

Peggy where are you in New Mexico? I'm on Deming until Sunday, then off to Arizona.

[OregonLuvr]

Shirlv, My lunch can really vary depending on how hungry I am. I buy deli meat, cream cheese, pickles and make roll ups. Chicken with a veggie, or hamburger patty, cheese, pickles, olives . Salad with chicken and avocado sometimes shrimp. Bacon, lettuce roll up. Zoodles with alfredo sauce. Fish, salmon, shrimp. Boiled eggs. I make a taco salad with hamburger, cheese, olives, avocado, and some homemade or low sugar salsa. Omelet with mushrooms spinach and bacon or sausage. I snack on pork rinds. Sometimes dip them in ranch dressing or salsa. My lunches are usually very filling. When I make dinner I try to make enough for a couple of servings or some to freeze. I love casseroles so I make quite a few of those.

[SoCalGalcas]

Just checking in a little after noon. Have completed my water jogging for the day. Pain I. Ankle is almost completely gone again. That is So weird. The way it comes and goes. Otherwise, nothing much happening around here....rain supposed to come on Thursday. Lyn

[PeggyinCT]

Cheryl I sent you a pm with my cell phone number. Please give me a call. Peggy

[Irmi]

Shirl, Karen's suggestions for a low carb lunch are all good. I also munch on pepperoni or have a hard boiled egg or fix a small fresh veggie tray. I love radishes. Good luck!

[SoCalGalcas]

Just curious, Karen, what are zoodles? Lyn

[OregonLuvr]

Lyn, Zoodles are zucchini spiralized into "noodles". I put alfredo sauce or spaghetti sauce over them, I also stir fry them with chicken and other veggies. So good.