Start the Day off with a BANG

I'm sound asleep. Then, WHAM! Leg cramps, both calves at the same time. I'm whooping and hollering and trying to get out of bed, which hurts my back because I do it too quickly.

Just as I get straightened up, I have a hot flash.

Good morning!

My day hasn't exactly gone downhill from there, but it's not been the day to hope for repeat, either.

I've had several days of less pain lately, which began to unravel last evening. But this morning certainly did the trick to bring it all back to "real time" of less pain in a distant memory (of a week ago).

Mostly today has been spent taking care of myself and trying not to fret about all that needs to be done. (or that I want to do).

Perhaps if I tread gently for the next few days, I'll bounce back.

Oh, please don't use the word bounce.

Rambling

It's not everyone who can say they sang in a backup trio for a very famous group.

I can say that because I did. That group happens to be someone you will recognize instantly. 

Veggie Tales.

Please, please, hold your adulation for later. I get enough of that stuff from my neurologist when he looks at my x-rays. (Because I'm still walking around.)

Yeah, I've done a lot of really cool stuff.

I role played (many years ago, when I was in my twenties) an angry, rebellious teenager.  I did such a good job the rest of the folks attending the workshop didn't believe I was just pretending. I tried to tell them what a nice person I was, and had never, ever behaved that way as a teen. But they never really believed me. It was a very uncomfortable rest of the week. They mostly avoided  me. Sheesh.

I've fallen up the stairs, down a mountain, tripped over my own two feet (and yours too if you get close enough). I've run into walls, furniture, other people and cars.

I've talked to some famous people and people who haven't bathed in years. (and no, they weren't the same people)

I've sung in front of a lot of people, and I've sung in the shower. Guess where I did  my best singing?

I've loved, I've been loved. I've cried and laughed and laughed till I cried. 

I have had great joy in my life, and I have had great sadness in my life. Lots of pain, but a lot of pleasure, too.

So, what am I trying to say here? 

Just that we are a lot alike, aren't we?

Well, except for the Veggie Tale part...

Mistakes Happen

Everybody  makes mistakes.

Like wearing a navy shoe and a black shoe to work.

Like calling your new boyfriend your old boyfriend's name. Twice.

Like going into the men's restroom because you are in a hurry and didn't look. Until you got in there. Boy, you look then!

Like going into the wrong movie and not realizing it until it's half way over.

Stuff like that.

I made a horrible mistake today.

I decided to clean out the refrigerator.

Now, it's been swiped and wiped,here and there, higgledypiggledy.

But not a take everything out including all drawers and shelves and wiped down from top to bottom cleaned out.

Someone should have reported us to the proper authorities months ago.

Husband, when he was called on to help reach a few hard spots called it, "Kitchen Hell". 

It did look pretty hellish.

It took three times longer than it should have.

Now the refrigerator is almost empty; it's clear a grocery shopping day must happen soon.

Husband can call that "Grocery Store Hell." 

Is There An Editor In The House?

As I am about 90 pages into writing my next novel, and haven't touched it much in a few weeks because of hospitals, blah,blah,blah, I found myself a little confused about the timeline of the story.

Of course the rational thing to do is start reading the manuscript, clean notebook pages to the side for notes; and while you're at it, might as well get out the dreaded red pencil.

Well, the red pencil has been hard at work. I knew in the back of my mind I was going to make a major change regarding language, but really, really dreaded going back and making those changes.

At any rate, I'm plodding through it.

The good news is, I think this is a pretty funny book! I like it! 

Now, if only you do.

If I ever finish it, that is.

Cross your fingers, say a prayer and root for me, okay?

Thanks.

Speak Up!

I had the privilege of being the guest speaker at the Genealogy Society in our county yesterday.

It had been iffy- the weather, my back, my mother's health - but the stars aligned or whatever, and I got to do it.

I read from two of my books (Out on a Limb of the Family Tree and The Year of Nine: Where the Rain Begins). The audience and I interacted some, comments, questions, that kind of thing. 

Then I read a bit from the novel I am currently writing.

You know what's fun?

When everybody laughs in the right place. When you have to pause while they laugh.

Makes my heart sing.

I sold a few books, too. That was icing on the cake.

We of Appalachia, and really, we of human race, have such a connection to one another. Much of that shows up in humor. Laughing together as a group does something to the world. 

Maybe our politicians need to be forced to go somewhere and listen to a good story teller that will make them laugh, shed a tear, and feel connected to each other and to the rest of the world.

You never know; but something has gotta give.

Whine Alert

Per protocol, after a Mother Hospitalization, I am now flat out, out of business.

I can't scoot in the bed, I can't get up from sitting or lying, I hurt, hurt, hurt.

I panic when I can't scoot. I mean, almost like an attack. I get all weepy and little girl. Scares me to death. Husband talks in soothing tones and does the scooting for me. It is a terrifying thing and I can't explain why this gets to me the way it does.

I went to the chiropractor and usually that helps, but this time, only for a moment or two.

I am on muscle relaxants, pain meds and anti-inflammatory so you'd think I'd feel something. Well, I do, kinda. A little, um, out there.

Heat is helping more than ice, so heat it is.

I got things to do, people!

I need ya'll to come together and pray that my back will ease up so I can go forth and do what I need to do this week.

Thank you.

PS: Sorry for the whine fest, but that's just the way it is sometimes, ya know?

Coming Up For Air

If you know me, you know we have spent the last week at a hospital. 

Mother was quite ill with a U.T.I./bladder infection named e-coli. She was fed lots of I.V. antibiotics and was sent home with more to take for ten days. 

But the doctors are more concerned over the four narrowing places in her small intestine than the infection, which they cleared up. 

They tell us she really needs surgery, but they are willing to try a very rigid diet first to see if this will prevent surgery.

Lord knows, we want to prevent surgery on an 86 year old woman. 

But: No more okra. No more tomatoes. No more cornbread. No more squash. No more onion. How cruel can they be?

Of course, there are a lot of foods she can have, and we have all agreed she will look at what can I have versus what I can't have. 

The good news is she has to eat six times a day.

Other Brother came down with a respiratory thing and had to drop out of the hospital stays. 

The rest of us (at least me, anyhow) are exhausted.

I won't talk about my pain, because I ain't got room on this blog.

But during this week long siege, my house became a wreck. After all, you come home long enough to shower and change into clean clothes, but you aren't there long enough to clean the bathroom or wash  your dirty clothes. You are there long enough to eat a bowl of something, but not there long enough to wash the dishes. 

And speaking of dishes, while we were still in the month of January, my dishwasher quit working. I took a moment to call the repairman and he can fix it - February 9. 

And the fish died.

But at least Mother is home, a plan of action has been laid, we got some clothes washed, and even a dish or two.

I reckon we'll get another fish soon.

Keep praying, folks.

Lord knows we need it.