Mumford & Sons, Wright Pat Air Force Base

Hi! Happy Saturday! :) Tonight Mumford and Sons are playing right across town and I'm green with envy! I want to be there so bad and a tad bit salty that I am not. I wonder why they chose a wee tiny town like Troy, Ohio to play??? I think they must have attached a map on the wall, blindfolded someone, put a dart in their hand, spun them around and walah, the person hit Troy. No??? :) Anyway...I will wait, I will wait for you. Hehe!

Steve took his papa bear to Wright Patterson Air Force Base today. I wasn't invited, but that's ok, I didn't want to go anyway! I have been many many times. I used to go with the residents at the nursing home as this was a yearly activity outing. I wish I could say I enjoyed myself, but honestly my mind was focused on the hundreds of stares that my fellow roomies and I captured. The wheelchairs, ventilators, oxygen tanks, moans, grunts and urine bags were like eye candy to the buses and buses of little people gathering around at their teacher's direction. I think us crippled folks were way more interesting than any of the airplanes. I wasn't amused! I remember one little girl in particular. She was so engulfed in me and my apparatuses, she failed to realize her 50 pound body was blocking the whole isle, not allowing anybody to go by her. As I was glaring at this rude little creature my dad was attempting to tell her we needed to get by her. Needless to say he was more tolerant than myself, but he also understood my frustration.

The next year my brother got the ok to take a day off school and went with me. I had not been evaluated for an electric wheelchair; therefore, he pushed me in my manual wheelchair. He pushed me really fast in the wide open area and under the planes, which was a tad bit scary for me. He enjoyed seeing my fear and laughed at me. :) I had more fun this time around because my injury was not as raw as the first time around and it was good to spend the day with my brother. :)

TGIF, Salute the Troops, pictures

Hello! Happy Friday! I hope everybody has a great Labor Day weekend! :) I'm not exactly sure what our weekend holds. We will probably have a cook out with the family and maybe a bonfire, but nothing written in stone. :)  Steve's parents have been busy laying stone in the back yard and adding some flowers and small spruce trees. The dog houses are getting painted and topped with roofing shingles, too.

A few weeks ago I submitted a story about my niece to HLN Robin Meade's Salute the Troops. I did a voice recording early this week and today it was on the air. Tia heard it and was excited. :) If you have a soldier you want to salute, it's easy. Google Robin Meade's Support the Troops and you will get the details.

I have uploaded some pictures to share with you.

Here is a picture of a praying mantis that was in one of the trees in front of our house. My nursing assistant got really close as you can see.

 

The pictures below were taken on Wednesday at my Mom's cousin's husband's house. He and his daughter have beautiful landscaping and tons of flowers around the house. 

 

They also have a beautiful koi pond with a bridge and lots of greenery.

This is a large barn set back behind the house. The last time I was here, his granddaughter got married and the reception was in the barn. Behind the barn on the left sits a large pond, with a deck and ladder.

Below is a large green house. 

 

Sam's Club, vertigo, pink area

Hello! Today was a busy day! I spent much of the afternoon at Sam's Club with my nursing assistant. I hadn't been in awhile so I needed to stock up on the much needed bulk items. :) I then came home and laid in bed for a couple hours. Unfortunately, my pink area has returned!! It seems like it returns every time company is here! It's frustrating to be back in bed again, but hopefully it won't be long!

I stood for 2 hours this evening, which went well. Standing always makes my body feel better. It stretches my hip flexors and ankles which makes my sciatica pain go away and eases my back pain. :) I have been experiencing uncomfortable dizzy spells recently and I thought being off my  antibiotic would alleviate those, but unfortunately that isn't the case. I am going to make an appointment to see my doctor next week. I have been googling vertigo and it seems most cases are the result of "crystal like substances" in the ear. Ugh! It's so annoying! I will be glad when it's gone. :)

Happy Hump Day, family, more family and e-book :)

Hello! The week is going by fast. Steve' parents arrived early this afternoon. I haven't visited with them much because I had an appointment with my case manager and afterward had a birthday party/family get together to attend on my Mom's side of the family. My Mom's cousin's husband turned 80 today so I went and visited for a couple hours. I got to see my cousins Tawni and Rob and his girlfriend, Stephanie. I also saw my cousins Becky and Marie and of course my Aunt Shirley and the birthday boy Dave. :) Good times. They live on a beautiful piece of land with beautiful landscape and a gorgeous fountain and pond. If I had the luxury of living there, I wouldn't want to leave. :)

Mumford and Sons will be in Troy this weekend. I'm green with envy and kicking myself for not getting tickets when they first went on sale. I can get tickets now, but the price is outrageous. I have a lot more I can do with $200 than go see this awesomely wonderful band! LOL!

My aunt Shirley and Tawni will be camping their all weekend!! I'm glad they get to go and enjoy the music! :)

I started reading a book Sunday called Pride and Prejudice. It was a free download with the Kindle for PC download. I'm on chapter 8 and so far it's pretty good.  :)

Family, wheelchair, flooring

The weekend is winding down and so am I. :) I have not been feeling well and think it may be due to the antibiotics I have been on  to cure a urinary tract infection. I have been light headed, dizzy, tired and nauseous for days. The good news though, I think the infection is gone!!  :) I took my last antibiotic last night, so hopefully my ill feeling symptoms will subside.

Tomorrow the wheelchair guy is coming to hook me up with some new wheelchair parts. I am going to get new tires, new lateral supports and a new back cushion. Woot! :)

Steve's Mom and dad are visiting this week. They will arrive on Wednesday, stay through the 3 day holiday weekend and leave on Tuesday. I'm not certain what's on the agenda yet, but I think they will probably be outside doing odds and ends if the weather is nice. :) There was talk about putting down a new kitchen floor while they are here, but I don't think it will happen....

See, a month ago I was strolling through Menards and found myself in the flooring section. I saw pretty wood laminate flooring that was 50% off. I liked it so much that I went ahead and purchased enough that would fit the kitchen because the sale was over the following Sunday. That flooring has been held against me since day one. He doesn't like it and wants me to return it. Returning flooring that covers a 15'x15' area is no easy task for my nursing assistant. I think he is using this as an opportunity to disagree and be argumentative! Maybe choosing the flooring on my own was a bit selfish on my part, but I have lived with him long enough to know that if we go pick it out together, it's not going to happen anytime soon. Grrrr!

Volunteer, job hunt

Today was a perfect day weather-wise and tomorrow is suppose to be the same. :) This is a pleasant way to end the last full month of summer. :)

Yesterday Steve and I went to the Humane Society. We needed to fill out some paperwork, get "in the system" and get our pictures taken before we can begin to volunteer. It took a couple months to get from beginning to end, but I'm looking forward to finally working with the animals. :) I think he is also looking forward to it, but hasn't actually said so. (He is a man of few words). He grumbled some when I elected him to be the person I volunteer with, but he got through it. Him and I have very little in common, but our biggest commonality is we are both big animal lovers!! Meow! :)

Steve was hired on as a nurse for another client last week. He now works as a nurse two nights a week from 9pm-9am. This will shift around my nursing assistant schedule a bit, but that's okay. This will not only be good for financial reasons, but also to give him more experience as a nurse and hopefully open more avenues for him.

I am still on a job hunt. I mentioned in a previous post about applying for another position with NTI. I haven't gotten a follow up call and it crossed my mind this weekend that leaving a not so pleasant  message on their facebook page could have worked against me!! :( Sometimes I am not the brightest crayon in the box and that would be a prime example!! Ugh!!

Fair and no attractions part 3

Mandy (my nursing assistant)  and I ventured off to the Darke County Fair Tuesday. We met Stephanie (my nurse) there and the three of us pigged out on fair food, looked at the animals, people watched and absorbed the hot sun. :) It was fun.

Mandy & I concluded that both our homes would not be complete until we add a Flemish giant bunny in the mix. They can be litter box trained, they are huge, have big ears and are fricking adorable!! :) Check this link out for more information. Giant bunny :)

While there a young boy took his bunny out of the cage and asked me if I wanted to pet his bunny. He took his bunny and put it under my hand. I smiled at him and told him I wasn't able to pet him myself, but I thanked him and told him he was a sweet boy. :) It's funny how some kids (and adults) will stare at the wheelchair with their jaws dropped and not say a word, but others have no issues and walk right up and feel totally comfortable. :)

Attractions part 3. I have decided not to piggy back on the previous attractions post. It's a sensitive subject to some and I do not want to offend anybody who might have a strong opinion on devoteeism. (Word?) LOL!! I will just say that I have nothing against devotees as I have said. There are certain devotees who have given all devotees a bad name and well, it's really unfortunate.

Attractions Part 2

Hello! My last post was left off with a dot dot dot (....) so today I will talk about part 2 of attractions. :)

I think it's unfortunate we live in a world where people can't be who they are without the fear of being judged and/or discriminated against by others. If people are homosexual and hide behind a persona of someone who is heterosexual, then they aren't being true to themselves or to those around them.

I often hear that gay people come out of the womb being gay and it's not something you acquire later in life. I have heard that persons attracted to persons with a disability (devotees) realize they have the attraction at a young age when they see someone in a wheelchair, or see an amputee, etc. Regardless of when or how the attraction takes place, I believe that everybody deserves happiness and should be able to have an attraction/relationship with whoever they want without being scrutinized! Unfortunately, it's not the way it is right now.

I was very good friends with a guy who was gay. Our parents bowled together, we went to high school together and we spent many weekend nights drinking and partying. Shoot, my sister went to prom with him. Now I'm laughing out loud reminiscing about us double dating on prom night! That is a whole new post!! Anyway...I never knew he was gay despite the fact he was very flamboyant!! When he first told me we were driving to Psychology Class and I about wrecked my truck! He didn't come out in high school because of the back lash he would have received. :(

When I first got the internet while in the nursing home I was introduced to devotees. (Again, persons attracted to those with a disability). I had never heard of this before, but when I did I felt relief. I felt like maybe I would find someone who will not only accept me and my disability, but maybe someone actually who prefers me with a disability. Looking back that logic is very twisted. I was so afraid I would never find love again, that the term devotee was very inviting! I was and still am a girl that needs to have a relationship, I need someone!

To be continued....

The Fair, documentary Fall to Grace, attractions that some find offensivePart 1

It's a beautiful weekend in Ohio! Friday night I went to the Darke County Fair with my boyfriend. We met our friend Maria there and her nurse, who is also my nurse. :) We had a good time, just didn't stay very long. I am hoping to go to the fair again this week because there is much of it I didn't get to see yesterday. I want to see all the farm animals and I can't forget to buy sugar waffles this time. :)

This morning I watched a documentary called Fall to Grace. This was an excellent story and I highly recommend it. It was a story about Jim McGreevey, the Ex Governor of New Jersey who came out and admitted to being gay on national television. At the time he was married to his second wife, Dina Matos and they have since divorced. (No surprise there!) :)

McGreevey has been married twice and has a daughter from each marriage. He now lives with his partner Mark O'Donnell and has changed occupations. He is a spiritual advisor and advocates for women in prison.

He said that coming out was the best decision he ever made.  He can now be himself and not pretend to be someone he isn't. It makes me think about those individuals who have attractions to not only persons of the same sex, but have attractions to someone with a disability or someone of a different race, etc. They  feel like they have to hide their attraction because others might view it as sick or twisted. It's really sad!

I will pick this up another day.

Happy Hump Day, Alexandra hiding her food and job

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my friend Leslie. Her step daughter had a volleyball game so we went to the High School and watched the junior varsity team play for a while. I had always enjoyed attending her older daughter's soccer games and her son's basketball games and football games while they were growing up. Now that they have graduated and started families of their own, the occasion to watch their games was no longer there until Leslie remarried and gained a new daughter. :) So, now I get to watch and enjoy the games for a few more years. :)

I have learned that Alexandra likes to cover her food. When she first came to live with us I kept noticing clumps of dog hair in her food bowl. I then saw her try to paw at a folder that was laying by her dish. I asked her foster Mom if she was aware of why Alexandra was doing this. She said it was because Alexandra was covering the food for her babies so the other foster kitties wouldn't eat it. Well, today my nursing assistant showed me this. (Picture)

She covered her food with a post it note that was on my standing frame next to her bowl. :) God love her.

Yesterday I got an email from NTI letting me know they had another job posted that I might be interested in applying for. I read up on it, expressed interest and applied. I was recently disappointed with NTI for not following up with me about a previous position I was told I got. I ended up leaving a message on their facebook page showing my dissatisfaction with them. In two days someone left me a voice message about my comments on their facebook page and wanted to clear up any confusion I had. I called back and spoke to a nice lady who said the job was put on hold. She apologized that nobody made me aware of that and talked to me about my ticket to work.

Miami Valley Music Fest and Left Foot

Hi! :) This weekend was definitely a fun filled one. I spent Friday evening and all day Saturday at the Miami Valley Music Fest!! The MVMF is an annual event that is held to raise money for charity. It's held at the Eagles Campground  and thousands come out to camp and spend the weekend chillin', drinkin', dancin', singin' and god knows what else! :) Definitely a great time! The weather was perfect!! Terrapin Moon has performed there for the past 4 years and I hope they are invited back next year!

Today I watched a movie called "My Left Foot" and I highly recommend it. It's about a man with cerebral palsy who paints beautiful pictures with his foot. Not only that, but he grew up in a time that individuals with a disability were segregated and treated unfair. The movie makes me realize how having a disability now is much more "acceptable" than it was many years ago. Sometimes when I go out people come up to me and say "You're an inspiration" or "Good to see you out" or "Can I pray with you" etc. I usually respond with a thank you (or no, thank you regarding a prayer) and a smile, but I often wonder why people say the things they do. Maybe they have a loved one who has/had a disability in an era that persons with disabilities were segregated?

Here is the story  line..

Christy Brown is a spastic quadriplegic born to a large, poor Irish family. His mother, Mrs Brown, recognizes the intelligence and humanity in the lad everyone else regards as a vegetable. Eventually, Christy matures into a cantankerous writer who uses his only functional limb, his left foot, to write with. Written by Reid Gagle

Here is the link. My left foot

Plato's Closet, Kohl's and Lady & the vet

Yesterday was an eventful day! Lady got a bit too aggressive with kitty and ended up getting scratched in the eye. :( It was a good thing that she already had a vet visit scheduled for today because of a chipped tooth and a yearly check up and shots. We just added that to the list of things to check. She has a scratch that needs treated with an ointment. She got her shots, heart worm blood test, heartworm pills for a year, nails clipped and we get to leave the tooth as is for now. :)

Jean, the girls and I went to Plato's Closet yesterday. I had never been before, but I will definitely go back. I love that place! The clothes are nice and reasonably priced. I bought a cute summer blouse that will go well with a number of things I own. :) Each of the girls found a bunch of cute clothes to bring back to Pennsylvania with them. :)

Today we went to Kohl's and browsed around and then went to Petco. It was a good day. :) I realized I need a new wardrobe and a sugar daddy to support it! Hehe! Kidding! Kohl's has a lot of home décor that I would love to have, but it's so expensive compared to Walmart. :)

Bowling and mean people

In my previous post I told you the kids wanted to go bowling and thought it would be fun if the bowling alley had a ramp and I could bowl, too. :) Well, the bowling alley indeed had a ramp thing and yours truly could not talk anybody in to just letting me watch! Hehe! It was fun, though!! I came in second! :) I have not been to a bowling alley where there was a wheelchair ramp that went to the lanes. It was NEATO!!! :)

Yesterday I was on facebook and saw that one of my "friends" posted a picture of a lady at Walmart who was at the customer service desk. She was wearing a top that was torn on the side. The girl who posted the picture titled it something along the lines of "This woman looks like she got in a fight with a weedwacker SMH" I felt terrible for this lady and thought how awful it would be if this lady would see her picture on facebook with that caption making fun of her. :( Nowadays it's too easy for people to take pictures of others without their permission and post it for anybody and everybody to see. It makes me wonder how many times my picture has been taken without my knowledge and posted on the internet. Grrrr!

Family and furry friends

Hi! Hope your weekend went well! It was beautiful here. I don't think the weather could have been better. :)

Today Steve took Bridget and Maggie 4 wheeling at Hocking Hills and he will take Erin and Keith Wednesday. Erin and Keith want to go bowling today, so Jean and I are going to do that in a little bit. :) The kids mentioned to their grandma (Mom-Mom) that I could bowl with them because there is a ramp I could roll up to and push the ball. LOL. I would rather not, but if the bowling alley is equipped with one, I guess I will do it. In my mind I'm devising a plan to call the bowling alley ahead of time and bribing the person who answers the phone with a large amount of money to tell the kids that their establishment doesn't have a fancy schmancy ramp. :) ....

My Alexandra !! She is my little stinker bell! :) She sat on the tray of my standing frame yesterday and ate as I stood. She slept much of the night with me and today she came out of her hiding spot even when the doggies were in the room. We began using a baby gate at the bed room door way so she could roam if she felt comfortable. She sure enough came out purring a few minutes later. :) Buddy and Lady wag their tails and sniff her butt, which causes her to run back in the bedroom.

Alexandra, family & hodge podge! :)

Hello! Alexandra has been here 5 nights and I fear she isn't happy. I know things take time and the adjustment period takes time, but thinking that she is unhappy makes me sad! Last night she laid in bed with me for awhile, but felt the urge to sit in the window instead :) She was awake and moving around much of the night. Today she has been skittish of the dogs and the doors opening and shutting. She runs to find a safer place under the bed where she cannot be reached. Lady though goes under the bed just fine and the two of them had some sort of dialogue going on this morning. Yikes! HeHe

Family is here. :) Bridget, Jean and I went in the bedroom so they could meet Alexandra. Bridget gave Alexandra lots of attention by brushing her from head to tail and giving her lots of love. :) The kids have grown so much. They are so respectful and kind, it's amazing! :) Two of the girls sense the grief I get from their Uncle and give it right back to him. I told them I want them to come live here! :)

I need a job!! I have started to stray away from work at home jobs and began looking at customer service and call center positions in the newspaper. As much as a working from home position would be more ideal for my situation, I need to explore more opportunities.

I have often chewed on ideas for starting my own business. I haven't found that perfect idea though that makes me feel like I HAVE TO DO THIS! I know my passion is animals! I have thought that starting a doggy daycare would be ultra exciting. Also, opening a no-kill shelter, or a rescue. Those ideas seem so much bigger than me...I don't have the money, the space...On a much smaller scale I have thought about making home made natural dog treats and selling them. :)