I can't believe how long it's been since I've been on here. Time sure does fly.
Between birthdays, school plays, baking with my grand daughter for Thanksgiving, our yearly train ride into Chicago to see the big tree and all the lights, and overtime I haven't had much time for anything. I've been working 10-12 hours and an occasional Saturday. We had record breaking revenues for 2013 with our busiest months being November and December. I am off today using my last vacation day of the year.
Need to get moving, I'm behind in laundry, house work, groceries, and I need to make a trip out to AT&T today. So glad to be getting back to Verizon!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Happy b-day Bryan
My youngest son was born on this day, 34 years ago. He came into this world fast and fooled everyone except me.
I knew he was on his way, but making the Dr. believe it was something else.
We had blinding winter fog that night with new snow on the ground; making it a very scary drive to the hospital. I wasn’t scared of the snow and fog as much as not making it there in time and having my doctor there.
We had blinding winter fog that night with new snow on the ground; making it a very scary drive to the hospital. I wasn’t scared of the snow and fog as much as not making it there in time and having my doctor there.
We got there at 2:30 am and I was told I was not in labor “just false labor”. 15 minutes later the nurse came in to check on me and she said, "OH MY GOD, I CAN SEE THE HEAD. Bryan was delivered at 3:01 am. The doctor showed up half way through the delivery and as he was putting on his gloves he glance in to see how the nurse was doing. First thing he said was, “another red head”. He was my ex's family doctor; a very large family at that; the majority redheads.
I’m very proud of the man my little boy has become. Happy birthday Bryan, I love you with all my heart, mom.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Happy birthday to my first born son.
Born Oct 25, 1975 at 3:01pm. 8 pounds 12 ounces, 19 3/4" long. (Funny how you remember those numbers, even after 38 years.)
He inherited my love of music, dance, travel, cooking and adventure. We won’t mention my bad traits he may or may not have inherited.
He inherited my love of music, dance, travel, cooking and adventure. We won’t mention my bad traits he may or may not have inherited.
He climbed to the top of Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, toured
San Francisco, and rode carnival rides with me as a kid when I couldn’t get
anyone else to go along for the thrill.
When he was little I taught him to walk, talk, and dance on
the tops of my feet. When he got older I taught him to drive a stick shift.
He’s taught me a few things too. He taught me to ride his
mini bike, probably a mistake on his part because that meant there was one more
person he had to share it with. He taught me to set up my iPone, how to make carne
asada, and that I can love him unconditionally.
He’s made me laugh and cry; amazed me with his smarts (brains
and smart ass ways); impressed me with his love and devotion for his children
and his wife.
Above all else; he’s grown up, accepted
responsibility, overcome hurdles, and became a person I’m proud to call my son.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
It's been a ruff 3 weeks.
I am in need of some rest but have so much to do.
Three weeks ago I came down with a bladder infection and had to get a prescription for antibiotics. I haven't had one of those in probably 15 years. I felt tired, miserable, feverish, and had more pain than I care to have. After three days of being on the antibiotic, I get a call from the Dr. that my lab culture came back but that the bacteria is immune to the antibiotic they gave me, so I needed to get a different one. I pretty much figured as much since I was still not having any relief. The only thing helping me get through it was the over the counter AZO for pain and urgency and the cranberry supplements I was taking. Day seven of a ten day antibiotic regime, I started itching and having a small rash. I made up my mind to just get through it so I started taking Benadryl to be able to finish it off.
Just when I was starting to feel better, Rich's B-day rolls around. We really don't celebrate birthdays much any more. He was never one to make plans for my B-day; or really do anything more than to just take me out to dinner, or a bike ride for a burger and a beer if it was a good day to ride, (my B-day is in the spring, so it's sometimes raining or just not warm enough for a ride.) I used to be real big on doing something real nice for him back when I made the kind of money I used to. Things like long weekends; a cabin on the river, one week in CA for his 50th, a weekend in Chicago or Milwaukee, or a night of dinner, show, (usually a comedy club) and a motel. Any more I have taken on the same tradition as him so I really had no plans what so ever. I hadn't even thought about it other than just a steak dinner somewhere.
He really wanted to get out of town and do something but couldn't think of anything to do. He didn't want to do Chicago so I suggested WI. He reminded me of the time I had taken him to Milwaukee for Cajun food, Comedy Sportz, and a stay at a bed and breakfast in a mansion. I gently reminded him that I don't have that kind of budget any more, but I could buy him dinner! He was willing to take care of the hotel and show, so off we headed to WI. The Cajun restaurant was closed so we went to a steak house instead...really good! Then we went to Comedy Sportz and got a room at the Ramada Inn.
I was feeling really tired and thought I might be coming down with something...a little bit of a dry cough, occasional runny nose, occasional sneezing, a little shortness of breath, but nothing I could really say was a cold or flu. By the time we got home I was coughing pretty bad but the sniffles were gone. I got through the week with cough syrup and cough drops.
Last week was my grand daughters 18th birthday so on Saturday night we went to meet them for dinner to celebrate. I had my first real bad night that Saturday night and skipped church Sunday morning opting for a little more time in bed. Sunday was also my date with her to go shopping, have lunch and some one-on-one time. No way was I going to disappoint her or miss out on my time with her. I was pretty sure what ever it was it was not a cold or flu because I had no other symptoms of cold or flu and the sniffles only lasted half a day or so and the cough was not productive but dry and no fever. Being pretty sure that it was not contagious since Rich or no one else around me at work had caught it, I was determined to keep my date with her, I drugged myself up with cough meds and cough drops and on my way I went; with Rich protesting as I was leaving telling me I need to cancel because I'm too sick.
On Sunday night the cough was so bad that I had real dry coughing fits that would last for five to ten minutes at a time with little rest in between fits and little relief from the cough syrup, (now on my second bottle). I was wheezing and couldn't get air in between coughs and having trouble swallowing food, it seem like my food was stopping half way down in my chest area. Rich was ready to take me to the emergency room. NOT EVEN GOING TO HAPPEN. Especially after the last emergency room trip that turned into a week in the hospital for a bunch of heart testing that I knew I didn't need and it ended up being bad reflux and finding out that I have quite a bit of damage and narrowing in my esophagus because of the reflux.
I was taking night time cold and flu tablets at night, and cough drops like candy just to get through the night, waking up every half hour to hour to another coughing and wheezing fit.
Monday morning was now day nine or ten of the cough and being the last day of the month, I really needed to be at work since I am the only one that can complete the month end billing; but I had to see the Dr. They got me in for a nine o'clock and he said there were no signs of any infection or virus when he listened to my chest with no indication of any chest congestion so it was definitely not cold or pneumonia. He asked me about my peak allergy season and how I was doing with the reflux and it all started coming together. Fall is the worst time for my allergies. He concluded that it was a combination of my allergies and a flare up of my reflux and narrowing of the esophagus and put me on prednisone to reduce the swelling in my esophagus and gave me a stronger allergy medication to take in addition to the one I already take. The cough is finally under control but not gone, and I still get short of breath but it's getting better slowly but surely. The Dr. said if I am still having trouble swallowing after the prednisone I will need to go back to the gastro Dr. to have my esophagus stretched. He also said I may have some asthma and might need to start using an inhaler.
I talked to my boss on Monday and told her I would be in as soon as I got my prescriptions filled to complete the billing, but she told me she had talked to the guy that is head of accounting and he said he would hold the close for one more day so I could get some down time and rest. He said that worst case, if I couldn't get in on the next day, we would just do an accrual for any billing that didn't get done. I am very thankful the people there are so understanding. I did make it in on Tuesday and each day since has been a small improvement.
It's time to see what I can get done around the house since I have not felt like doing much for the last two weeks. Wish I could afford a maid once or twice a month!
Hope everyone else is enjoying good health and lots of energy! I'll be there again soon.
Three weeks ago I came down with a bladder infection and had to get a prescription for antibiotics. I haven't had one of those in probably 15 years. I felt tired, miserable, feverish, and had more pain than I care to have. After three days of being on the antibiotic, I get a call from the Dr. that my lab culture came back but that the bacteria is immune to the antibiotic they gave me, so I needed to get a different one. I pretty much figured as much since I was still not having any relief. The only thing helping me get through it was the over the counter AZO for pain and urgency and the cranberry supplements I was taking. Day seven of a ten day antibiotic regime, I started itching and having a small rash. I made up my mind to just get through it so I started taking Benadryl to be able to finish it off.
Just when I was starting to feel better, Rich's B-day rolls around. We really don't celebrate birthdays much any more. He was never one to make plans for my B-day; or really do anything more than to just take me out to dinner, or a bike ride for a burger and a beer if it was a good day to ride, (my B-day is in the spring, so it's sometimes raining or just not warm enough for a ride.) I used to be real big on doing something real nice for him back when I made the kind of money I used to. Things like long weekends; a cabin on the river, one week in CA for his 50th, a weekend in Chicago or Milwaukee, or a night of dinner, show, (usually a comedy club) and a motel. Any more I have taken on the same tradition as him so I really had no plans what so ever. I hadn't even thought about it other than just a steak dinner somewhere.
He really wanted to get out of town and do something but couldn't think of anything to do. He didn't want to do Chicago so I suggested WI. He reminded me of the time I had taken him to Milwaukee for Cajun food, Comedy Sportz, and a stay at a bed and breakfast in a mansion. I gently reminded him that I don't have that kind of budget any more, but I could buy him dinner! He was willing to take care of the hotel and show, so off we headed to WI. The Cajun restaurant was closed so we went to a steak house instead...really good! Then we went to Comedy Sportz and got a room at the Ramada Inn.
I was feeling really tired and thought I might be coming down with something...a little bit of a dry cough, occasional runny nose, occasional sneezing, a little shortness of breath, but nothing I could really say was a cold or flu. By the time we got home I was coughing pretty bad but the sniffles were gone. I got through the week with cough syrup and cough drops.
Last week was my grand daughters 18th birthday so on Saturday night we went to meet them for dinner to celebrate. I had my first real bad night that Saturday night and skipped church Sunday morning opting for a little more time in bed. Sunday was also my date with her to go shopping, have lunch and some one-on-one time. No way was I going to disappoint her or miss out on my time with her. I was pretty sure what ever it was it was not a cold or flu because I had no other symptoms of cold or flu and the sniffles only lasted half a day or so and the cough was not productive but dry and no fever. Being pretty sure that it was not contagious since Rich or no one else around me at work had caught it, I was determined to keep my date with her, I drugged myself up with cough meds and cough drops and on my way I went; with Rich protesting as I was leaving telling me I need to cancel because I'm too sick.
On Sunday night the cough was so bad that I had real dry coughing fits that would last for five to ten minutes at a time with little rest in between fits and little relief from the cough syrup, (now on my second bottle). I was wheezing and couldn't get air in between coughs and having trouble swallowing food, it seem like my food was stopping half way down in my chest area. Rich was ready to take me to the emergency room. NOT EVEN GOING TO HAPPEN. Especially after the last emergency room trip that turned into a week in the hospital for a bunch of heart testing that I knew I didn't need and it ended up being bad reflux and finding out that I have quite a bit of damage and narrowing in my esophagus because of the reflux.
I was taking night time cold and flu tablets at night, and cough drops like candy just to get through the night, waking up every half hour to hour to another coughing and wheezing fit.
Monday morning was now day nine or ten of the cough and being the last day of the month, I really needed to be at work since I am the only one that can complete the month end billing; but I had to see the Dr. They got me in for a nine o'clock and he said there were no signs of any infection or virus when he listened to my chest with no indication of any chest congestion so it was definitely not cold or pneumonia. He asked me about my peak allergy season and how I was doing with the reflux and it all started coming together. Fall is the worst time for my allergies. He concluded that it was a combination of my allergies and a flare up of my reflux and narrowing of the esophagus and put me on prednisone to reduce the swelling in my esophagus and gave me a stronger allergy medication to take in addition to the one I already take. The cough is finally under control but not gone, and I still get short of breath but it's getting better slowly but surely. The Dr. said if I am still having trouble swallowing after the prednisone I will need to go back to the gastro Dr. to have my esophagus stretched. He also said I may have some asthma and might need to start using an inhaler.
I talked to my boss on Monday and told her I would be in as soon as I got my prescriptions filled to complete the billing, but she told me she had talked to the guy that is head of accounting and he said he would hold the close for one more day so I could get some down time and rest. He said that worst case, if I couldn't get in on the next day, we would just do an accrual for any billing that didn't get done. I am very thankful the people there are so understanding. I did make it in on Tuesday and each day since has been a small improvement.
It's time to see what I can get done around the house since I have not felt like doing much for the last two weeks. Wish I could afford a maid once or twice a month!
Hope everyone else is enjoying good health and lots of energy! I'll be there again soon.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
My granddaughter will be 18 in 2 weeks.
Just doesn't seem possible!
With her many hair colors and styles. Her color is naturally a dark strawberry blonde like in the younger photos.
Catching some air with Grandpa Rich.
With her cousin 2 months apart in age.
Overlooking LA
Silliness while shopping.
Hopefully she learned something that day!
Sweet 16!
With her many hair colors and styles. Her color is naturally a dark strawberry blonde like in the younger photos.
Catching some air with Grandpa Rich.
With her cousin 2 months apart in age.Overlooking LA
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| Be scared, be very scared! |
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With her little brother and myself. With her little brother and sister. |
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Little sister on top, her on the bottom photo...Will the real Pebbles please stand up!
Sisterly love on Grandpa Rich's boat.
With me in front of the Christmas tree at Marshall Field Store, (now Macy's) in Chicago after seeing the Nut Cracker Play.
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With cousin from 2nd photo.
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1st concert with Dad, my oldest son.
Silliness while shopping.
Side by side 5 and 15.
Side by side 7 and 17.
Hopefully she learned something that day!
Sweet 16!
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| I do not know this man! On a cruse boat somewhere in Mexico. |
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Pictures from visit with Bobscoot.
Rich and Bobscoot after breakfast.
Bobscoot getting camera ready.
Rich and Bobscoot discussing how the tail came down. One of them thought it happened because of people climbing on it and the other thought maybe it was taken down so no one got hurt. Either way; it's on the ground chained to the rest of it so it doesn't walk away.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Time off.
I still have two weeks of vacation and two sick days to use before the end of the year or I lose it. I have several long weekends planned; this being the first. Today I slept in and made pancakes for myself; Rich doesn't really care much for them so I rarely make them. I spent some time on the internet, and now it is time to get busy. I plan to spend the rest of the day getting the upstairs deep cleaned, change the bedding, and get all the laundry done. Hopefully that will help with my allergies.
Monday I hope to go through some old pictures and start scanning them to cd's.
I know I will go back to a desk full of work since I am the only one with clearance to do my job. My boss doesn't even have access to that part of the company software anymore. Thankfully she is still able to code all the checks that come in for posting or I would never be able to take a day off....
I keep very busy at work with little time for vacation. August we had over $800,000 in revenue over last August in our department alone, making it a record breaking August. Our department has a total of only 32 people, being the 4th largest revenue earning department in the company world wide. It's real hard to use Three weeks vacation plus one week of sick days in a year when you are as busy as I am at work.
Very thankful for a job!
Monday I hope to go through some old pictures and start scanning them to cd's.
I know I will go back to a desk full of work since I am the only one with clearance to do my job. My boss doesn't even have access to that part of the company software anymore. Thankfully she is still able to code all the checks that come in for posting or I would never be able to take a day off....
I keep very busy at work with little time for vacation. August we had over $800,000 in revenue over last August in our department alone, making it a record breaking August. Our department has a total of only 32 people, being the 4th largest revenue earning department in the company world wide. It's real hard to use Three weeks vacation plus one week of sick days in a year when you are as busy as I am at work.
Very thankful for a job!
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