I knew this would happen

I knew I'd be going right along, posting almost daily, keeping up with things and then BAM!!! I'd do as usual and fall down on the job. It seems I get side tracked a lot.  I start to do one thing and then see something else that needs a comment or a note, or correcting and I never get the first thing finished.

Getting harder to walk. Damn shots in the spine really messed me up.  Had some major side effects from them and even with all that they didn't work one single bit.  I actually think I'm worse for having had them.  I can barely walk the stores.. can't even walk the bigger stores. Phooey and damn it anyway.  I really love to go shopping and now just can't do it like I want to. Wish I lived where I didn't have any steps to get up and down the house.  I have that scooter than I rarely use, because it's too hard for me to get it in and out of the shed.  Should be an easier way.

What have I been doing.. ?   Well working on a remembrance book of sorts for the family reunion.  I am asking all members to write something about the loved ones who have passed on.  I will make it into a book with pictures etc.  I think it's gonna be great.

Bought some silk flowers today.  Have been buying a few each time I get to the store, then when it's time to do the next arrangements I will not have to go buy so many at one time. I think that's smart.

Now it's my bedtime.. have the head of my bed up on blocks now to keep the acid from coming up. It's helping but I hate to not be able to lie down flat.  I love going to bed though.. I read in my kindle till about 1 a.m.   Sometimes I feel guilty for reading that long and think I should be asleep. But then I think why?

J

Doggieboy is fine

He's eating and drinking like normal..  today I threw his toys and he went and chased after them. He loves that.  He also loves his medicine and starts licking his lips when he sees us with the dropper.  He just laps it right up.. easy.

I worked on arrangements today, made faux pea soup and cooked chicken patties and cabbage. Thats the sum total of my day. J

Love my dog...

But we'd do better if we had pet insurance...  Vet bill was outrageous.  But what do ya do?  Doggieboy was sick.. he had to have xrays and be rehydrated.. then some antibiotic.  He has inflamation in the small bowel.  What a touchy little thing he is.  But he's a bit better tonight.  He finally ate, but doesn't want to drink any water.  Worrisome.

I didn't do anything today.. too tired.  I will do double tomorrow.. lol NOT.

J

Anti-inflamatories.. necessary evil.

I moved around a little better today.  Had a little less pain.  Doesn't mean I had no pain, but instead of being a ten I'd say mostly it was a 9 and sometimes down to an 8.   That's because I took the anti-inflamatory med yesterday and again today.  Scales went up half a pound too.  HOPE they don't continue to do that as they sometimes do.  I was very careful today with the carbs. Probably haven't had over thirty net carbs the whole day.  Maybe I can keep myself from gaining like I usually do when I take this type of med. 

I made the most delicious chicken thighs tonight for dinner.  I cooked them till they were done, and then poured a glaze over them made with Walden farms pancake syrup, soy sauce, ginger, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic and honey mustard.  Amazingly delicious..

Need to get done so I can watch my nightly two hours of television...   My dog is sick and that makes me very worried and sad. He's my doggieboy.. J

On Accomplishing things....

Each morning when I get out of bed I say to myself,

"Today is going to be different. I will do things even though I am in pain.  I will ignore it and just go on.  I will accomplish something."  

And always it's the same,  I start to do something and then the pain increases to the point where the only thing I can do is take a pill and lay down.  I have to wait until the pain lessens and sometimes that takes two hours.  So then I get up and work for maybe an hour before I have to stop again.  Sometimes it's frustrating but I'm trying to just accept it..   It's hard to accept but what does one do when it isn't going to change?  The only thing I can do is what I can do.   Therefore I really don't accomplish much in one day..

Yum and it was good.. even though it was waaaaaaay too high carb.  Don't do that very often.

Today I...

 

Made the beds. 
Worked on the recipe book.
 Worked on the reunion book..
 Made pizza. 

That is the sum total of every thing I accomplished. J.

Over before I got done..

Why is it I seem to run out of time every day.. well, don't exactly run out of time.  I keep having to stop to deal with the pain and that uses up quite a bit of time. As a result I never seem to be able to finish what I want to do. 

But it is what it is and on that note, going to bed and read..................J

And so it goes...........

Today is Thursday. Last day of February.   I lost 5 pounds this month..  I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to keep it off but I did.  Yea me..  Would have liked it to be more but for me that is a really good loss.  Saturday is my weigh day.. just hoping to get below the next zero down.   No dessert for me tonight,  because I ate two biscuits for dinner.  Oh well, they are as good as a dessert anyway.  Too high carb for me though.  Should not have eaten them.  Tomorrow is another day.  Another chance to get things right.

So the spine doc told me about this other procedure where they go in and burn the ends of the nerves that may be causing pain.  Problem with that procedure is that it is painful.  They don't say painful, they say uncomfortable.  You know, like when the weather man says it's going to be breezy and the wind blows sixty miles an hour.  Not sure I can face the pain.  I don't do well with any procedure that might cause pain.  If they could put me out to do it, then I'd give it some thought.

This is one I made last time

 

Today I bought some flowers, pots and ribbon..  no good excuse on not to make the arrangements now.  Maybe I'll start them tomorrow.  J

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuggghhh

I went so far over my allotted calorie and carb allowance today it's not even one bit funny..  and I'm extra p.o.ed at myself because I messed up royally.  I figured everything before dinner.. I was good. Low even which is what I wanted to do..  but then tonight when I looked at my journal I said to myself


HEY.  Where is the listing for the low carb carrot cake with coolwhip???????


Try as I might.  I could not find it. I finally had to admit that I'd forgotten to add it in.  Nothing to do at this point, the days eating is over. No chance to cut elsewhere.  Damn the scales will tell the story tomorrow.. and if not tomorrow, the next day. PHooeY.  I must be more careful.  I don't want to gain back the five pounds I lost last week.. no i don't.

Didn't do much today either.. had a major bad pain day.. tomorrow I see the spine doc.  I think it will be my last appt with him. Four shots and I'm worse than when I started.  Just have to give it up. Go with the flow and get used to the pain.  What a thought. 

Tomorrow also I'm hoping to go to Micheals for some picture frames.  I have a super coupon.

I think I should add a picture here...  I did these with micheals on sale frames... J

 

Going to bed and read now.. need to start a new book.. always hard to start a new one but that's it for today.

I didn't do one thing that I should have...

So stone me with a marshmallow. 

I was going to work on the reunion book and the recipe book and just didn't get there. Must have been too busy.  I made the beds, ran the dishwasher, washed one load of clothes, made from scratch cream of mushroom soup and tried a new low carb carrot cake recipe. That is the total sum of my day... but I battled the back pain too terribly much today. Worse than it's ever been.. I'd say the back shots didn't work?  DUH.   hate it that I put my body through such hard side effects to not even have a bit of relief.  Guess my Dr. is right.  The injections aren't for me. 

My rock mouse

 

 

So it's time to go to bed.  I love this time of day because I love my bed. It's just the right softness, I have just the right amount of pillows (3) and I have my kindle which I LOVE.  I read nightly. I often fall asleep while reading, then wake up and read some more. I probably do that several times before I realize it's time to go to sleep. 

What's on my agenda for tomorrow?  I seriously must think about new floral arrangements for the cemetery. Seems like we were just there.  But need to get there again soon.  Need to take down the Valentine stuff and put up some spring stuff.  If we lived down that way it would make it so much easier because we could go check and change them as needed. 

And I must think about the four gifts I have to send to four people, just because....

J

Making a book..

And so I have been thinking what to call the book I'm making for the family reunion.  It will contain snippets of stuff about family members who have gone before us... but who still occupy our hearts and minds.  Who will, in a sense, always be with us.  I want this to be just right.  I am fairly sure it will be my last family reunion project. I think I will call it.. Bits and Pieces, Snippets too  collected by those who remember....  I will put them in order according to age, with oldest being first.  Each person will have their own page or pages, depending on contributors...  I will also make a Table of contents.  Biggest thing left to think about is cover design..  I could ask someone else to do that.. .but I am a picky sort and want it to be how I want it to be.  I also think I should have a picture/pictures, of each person for whom we pay tribute.  Ack but I don't think I have a picture of each of them...  I will have to get busy and check.  This is gonna be good.

BBL to write more maybe.. meanwhile, over and out.  J

Chorizo.. yum

Ok so I saw a recipe the other day for chorizo made from ground turkey.. I thought wow... I can do that..  so I looked up several turkey chorizo recipes and combined parts of each to make my own special low carb turkey chorizo..  And it is GOOD.  I only cooked a bite just to see but boy was it ever moreish..  my own personal word for wanting more.  I will cook it for dinner tonight and maybe eat it on a low carb tortilla..  Wish potatoes weren't so high carb.  I remember when I made chorizo, potato and egg burritos..  that was the best.  Of course mexican food is the best anyway.

I want to try doing this craft next..

 

 

Other than that what did I do?  NOTHING.  My damn back hurts.  Yes after two cortizone shots in the spine... seven hundred and fifty thousand side effects, a trip to the ER and a change of mes and my back hurts.  Nothing has changed. How frustrating is that...

Figured out a new project for the family reunion.  I will make a book or books for those who participate. It will be contributed snippets about those family members who have passed but left a place in our hearts. I am hoping lots of people contribute. I am hoping.

Need to go lay down now.. back hurts too much to sit any longer.

J.

And the verdict is....

Ok I saw my regular doctor and he decided my pulse was too low, which it is and that's what is causing me to feel like it's pounding, feel weak and tired, no energy, bloated a few other things.  So he cut the bp med into half and gave me some other kind to add to what I already take. Not sure I'm going to take them though. I want to give myself a few more days to see if my body can regulate itself after those nasty injections in my spine.  Those were mighty rough.  Sure hope I get some relief with my back after all the side effects.  I had them all double. Enough already.

What did I do other than go to the doctor?  Well we went to the Mill store.  Bought flour which I'm hoping not to use.. and cornmeal which I'm hoping to use only once in a blue moon.  Bought shelled pumpkin seeds, unsweetened coconut and protein powder which I will use for my low carb way of eating.. Oh and I bought some natural organic raw sugar.. which when you come right down to it is sugar with all the carbs of regular.  But I will use it sparingly too.

Have to say I'm dissappointed in Sara lee changing the formula and thus the carb count on the bread I've always used.  I don't eat much bread, sometimes I don't even eat any during the day.. but I do like (sometimes) a slice of toast or half a breakfast sandwich.  I wonder how I could bake my own lower carb bread without resorting to adding tons of fiber that hurts my tummy... just wonder.  Guess I will have to ponder and research.

I do have more to write here but it's late and I need to journal the food I've eaten today.. Scales are falling like a rock..  Does that upset me?  ha!  

Easter is coming.

J.

Pooh at the ER?

And so it goes.  Had an occasion to spend the night with pooh and friends..  yep you heard me right.  Had to make a trip to the Emergency Room.  It was a very long, scary and tiresome night... but made a little easier by the decor in the particular room where they put me.  All over the walls were different pictures of Pooh and his friends.  Not just pictures hung on the wall.  Not just posters either... these were murals painted in bright colors all around each wall.  I can see how it really might have helped a child who was scared and hurting.  It was so cheery. Took the focus off of myself and onto something else.. never a bad thing to do when one is in pain or anxious. 

Anyway,  the shortness of breath, the burning in my chest were just results (side effects) of the steroid injections I got in my spine on Tuesday.   They give a list of possible side effects when you get those shots.   I had them all, each and every one.. and they were each major.  I have had a whole week now since I got the two injections and I'm still not done with the side effects..  I really hope they will be worth it in the long run.   Was a lot to go through if no good results from them.  For now it's a wait and see ... J

Friday... things to do... things to think about

I want to go shopping.  I need to get material to make a pad for the bench Gloria made me.... I think it will be more comfy with a pad. I really love that bench. 

Also want to get some cheapo pillows to use in the shams that match the new comforters.  I like these comforters.. they just look cozy. Not too bright, easy on the eye colors.

Need a few basic groceries too.. nothing exciting though. Trying to shake up my meals a little, they seem to be boring. Low carb can be boring if one isn't careful and I'm trying my best to get back to low carb.  Maybe I can lose the twenty pounds that I've regained.  Hate the blubber.  Just hate that my clothes fit so uncomfortably now.  I really need a bigger size but I've vowed not to buy bigger.  Hopefully I'll lose some soon because the clothes I'm wearing now are getting thin.

Does anyone have a nothing blog like I do?  Well the name of this is Bits and Pieces so that's what ya get. Anyway that's what I have to give.

I did a thing on facebook where I said the first five people to 'like' my post would get a free gift.  I will make or buy them something and send it to them.  The catch was they had to post it too...that they would send something to the first five that 'liked' their post.  Amazing how most people don't want to play things.  Lots of stick in the muds out there.  Facebook could be so much fun if people used it like they should.  I hate too much political fighting on there.  But what do I know. 

Took a pain pill and a tylenol. Trying to be able to get up, get dressed and go shopping.  I'm home way too much.  Hate it.  And even at home don't really feel like doing much.  Boring.  I've never been bored before.  Maybe those back shots will work and I can get off my behind and live again.  Think so?

J

Skipped yesterday

I got two steroid shots instead of one... I'm hoping that means it will work twice as well. We'll see. I do know I'm have twice the side effects with this one. Headache like after the brain surgery.. Hopefully tomorrow it will subside.

I've done nothing today but I did post the review I wrote for the book.  Someone else named John also posted a review.. his was a five star so it offset my four star.  I checked and the only books he's ever reviewed were this one and three others the same author has written..  Strange. I think it might be another family member doing her a favor. Another big WHATEVER!!!

I posted a poem to facebook showing what real emotion looks like when printed.... but then I deleted it because I didn't want anyone to think I was showing off.  But it's true. I have more emotion in that one poem than she does in her whole book.

Gonna watch Dr. Phils interview with the mother of the boy who was taken off the school bus and held hostage in a bunker..  What a terrible thing to do to a kid.  I know it will have some type of lasting effect.  People are so crazy... and people are mean...

Like today on the WW board. Someone posted about having to see a physicians assistant instead of her doctor and right away several people jumped in blaming President Obama...  give me a break.
And they get nasty.  Calling those of us who don't believe them half baked idiots.  I've been called worse by that one woman because I didn't agree with her.  She's so full of hatred.  I would hate to be her neighbor.

Why do some people think the internet gives them license to be nasty?

J

Just don't know what to do to feel good.  I've decided the pain pills have to be cut back to a minimum.  Anyway they aren't doing that much good.  Just make me sleepy.  Tomorrow I'm going for the steroid shot in my back... hopefully it will be of some help.  The first one I had helped some, the second one didn't do much..  but now it's worn completely off and the back pain is back once again into my feet.

AND... the damn scales are going the wrong way.  Today I've been very careful and counted my calories etc... I've journaled everything.  But then I always journal.  I always try keeping my calories low but have steadily been gaining weight.  I really and truly know I need to get back to a lower carb diet, but I really and truly know my tummy bothers when I eat that way.  I used to be able to do it quite easily.  But used to and now are two different things.

I learned something today.. a writer doesn't want four stars for their work. Period.  They'd rather have six reviews and ratings from family members giving them five stars than twelve reviews from family and friends giving them fives and fours.  Doesn't sound logical to me but anyway.. in the words of kiko WHATEVER!

I wonder what a real blog is anyway, this one is just a bunch of nothing.  Some of this one I need to edit.  It used to be easier to edit the posts but now they've made it new and improved and it's much harder..

J

Well.. anyway.

Sometimes I wonder why they have book reviews.  Ever wonder about that?  I found out today many people make money by writing reviews.... even of books they have not read.  They are paid reviewers.  I hear lots of people who self publish use these so called reviewers..  I know or at least I want to think more don't than do.   I mean if I were a published writer, even if I'd published the book myself, I would want true and fair reviews.  Wouldn't you?  I mean how else would you know exactly what the readers thought about your book.  I know we each have our own minds, our own likes and dislikes, so just because I like something doesn't mean you will and vice versa.  But still where is the honesty?   I can't fathom not wanting honest reviews..

That said, I read a book, just finished it today... the author is an acquaintance... used to be I thought a friend.  But time and miles changed all that and we each went our separate ways.  She found me on facebook not long ago and we became facebook friends.  She wrote a book. I was thrilled for her.  I'd always thought I'd like to write a book but of course could never afford the publishing costs.  Anyway, hers is a kindle book.  I bought it and just finished reading it.  Not to be nasty but the book just dragged.  The basis was good.  The book could have been much better.  But the writing was not all that good. I ended up just skiping the last few pages.. could not bear to read another page of boring. 

On the kindle when you finish a book they ask you to give it a rating..  a star rating from one to five.  This was difficult for me because I knew the author.  I didn't want to give it a very low rating even though in my heart and to be very honest I felt like it might deserve a two star at best...  I, however couldn't do that to her and ended up giving her a four.  Hadn't had a chance to write the review though..  but that four star was posted on facebook.  I was happy that I'd given the four as to me that is a pretty good rating.

When I went on facebook later, evidently she'd (the author) read the rating and she blew a fuse... She said that if her 'readers' couldn't give her a five star rating to not bother giving any..

I was flabbergasted.. here I thought I was being kind.  Oh well.  Still have the review to write and this time baby we'll tell it like it is.

J