Day 31

It's been what we call a free form day. Do what you want when you want. So a little cleaning, a little laundry, a little internet and a little television.

I made oatmeal for breakfast and now for dinner a nice comforting meatloaf dinner.

Day 30

When I got up I paid all the bills, which is always a good feeling. We took the dogs to the Yuppy Puppy and then took Michael to get his haircut at Essence. I made an appointment to get my hair done in March.

After we picked up the dogs when they were done we came home and that was it for the day. We watched some shows we recorded on the DVR like one of my favorites Shark Tank.

Just a nice relaxing day with out the mad rush of running around like we normally do.

Day 29

Another busy day at work. I met Michael for lunch.We got to vent about things, which makes going forward during the day better.

I stopped at Papa Murphy's and picked up a pizza to bake for dinner.

All in all not too much of an exciting day, just a normal one.

Day 28

You know how some days are good days and some are bad. Yesterday was on the bad side. Just didn't feel well all day. But we were so busy all day it didn't give me much chance to notice.

I baked a cake for Susan's birthday. It was all gone by the end of the day so it must have been okay.

Last night we tried to watch the movie District Nine. We turned it off 1/4 the way through. Just could not get into it.

Here's hoping that Friday will be a much better day!

Day 27

The review went well. Today was so busy. Made a bunch of telephone calls to clear up a second request for a sleep study made by my primary doctor. Seems there was a mistake. Really? You think? Jackie, the cardiologist's nurse, called later in the morning and said I am where I am supposed to be range wise. If I remain in the range on Monday they will schedule my procedure next week.

I watched the State of the Union Address. Very lofty and hard to reach goals. Ending the war in Iraq and ending the awful "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy were highlights for me. I disagreed about building new nuclear power plants. I think that would be a big mistake.

I am totally exhausted tonight. So it is an early bedtime for me.

Have a nice Thursday.

Day 26

It's my annual review at work today. Please let it go well. I know there is no raise on the line, because none of us are getting raises but I hope they think I did well this year.

Day 25

It snowed this morning. Then the flakes turned really big. Then it all turned to rain.

It was a normal busy day. Maureen came back for 4 hours. I worked through my lunch and left for the doctor's at 4:00.

Heartbeat down to 102 (still high, but lower than last week) Coumadin blood level was 2.7 (too high) I can't win. LOL

Leftover spaghetti tonight. It definitely is better the next day.

Tomorrow is my annual review. Wish me luck.

Day 24

The only thng on my Sunday agenda is pick up the house a little, do some laundry and make a spaghetti dinner tonight. I ran out of energy to make it yesterday after the Costco run.

Day 23

We have decided from now on to make a decision to buy American made products whenever possible. We know there are going to be instances when that is just not possible. I want to actually look at labels and see where things are manufactured and if their is a choice of a locally made item, then I want to choose that item over a foreign made product. I want to take the time and learn who owns the companies where I shop. I have chosen to make an effort to eat in locally owned restaurants and not national chains that takes money out of community.

On Fridays the Ed Schultz radio show has Recession Busters where they spotlight small businesses owned and operated by small entrepreneurs.

This morning Michael is taking me to Shari's for breakfast. It's National Pie Day, so we may even pick up a pie for tonight's dessert. They have a promotion for a free pie bag, so, whenever you use the bag they will donate 25 cents to the Girls and Boys Club of America. We will also request an Honored Citizens Card for Michael. This chain is based out of Beaverton, OR and have restaurants in an around the northwest.

And then onto Costco. Costco is headquartered in Issaquah, WA. We hate going there because we actually have nicknamed it "The $200 Store". We always spend way too much there without even trying. Today we will try and keep it down to what really need. Like toliet paper, red cups and hamburger meat. Michael is working overtime with some of his crew tonight starting at midnight so he wants to get some pastries for them too.

Day 22

Yesterday I wanted to make an appointment to see a doctor about my night coughing. I am really tired of not sleeping. Why do clinics do everything in their power to keep you from seeing a doctor. Why do the appointment makers think they need to know everything? Because my doctor's nurse was off they pawned me off on a triage nurse over the phone. It is so hard over the phone when explaining what is wrong with you without sounding like a whining loser. So finally I get an appointment to see a physician's assistant. She was okay, better than most almost doctor I've seen in the past. She changed alot of the dosages of my medications and did an EKG. Heartbeat is still way to fast. I finally did the blood draw. But still need to get a chest xray done.

Back to work where there is just more and more of it. I pawned another paperwork pile off on the receptionist to staple and file.

Michael was late getting home, so I watched more recorded television. My guilty pleasure Ugly Betty. I love that show. I don't remember what else I watched.

Now it is Friday. My boss took the day off to go skiing, if there is any snow left.I cannot wait for the weekend and enjoy some peace and relaxation.

Day 21

I am so swamped at work. With Maureen gone my workload has doubled. Sure makes the days zip by.

Michael had to go to the shop and fix a computer because one of the employees got a virus on it. I watched quite a bit of tv before he got home. I watched Jesse Ventura's Conspiracy Theory - this one being about 2012. I also watched the newest episode of Greys Anatomy - one of my favorites. Went into the DVR menu and deleted all the shows I no longer want to record. It was amazing to see what was there. I watched American Idol - Tryouts in Orlando. No one truly special stood out for me. I'm with my friend Dwayne on this one. They kicked Frenchie out for posing nude on the internet, which is not against the law, and then gave the golden ticket to a convicted bank robber. I thought Ellen was going to be the new judge - where is she? Why all the guest judges?

Day 20

We have been watching the PBS series Liberty, An American Revolution. It took couragous men from different beliefs and walks of life and brought them to together to form a country free of foreign entanglements from 13 small colonies. These men had different political beliefs but they were able to come together and compromise and work to build a country for the betterment of the people.
Where are the special brave men today that we need to lead this country and improve the life of our people. All I see is greed, poisoned partisan politics and corruptness.

I see the goodness in people who are donating money to the people of Haiti. But are some of these same people the ones with the attitude that because I have healthcare, why should I care if anyone else does or I'm not gay so why should I care that everyone has the same rights as everyone else.

Day 19

It seems funny to be posting a winter picture. Its been raining overnight and it feels like early spring more than it feels like winter. 45 degrees yesterday. That is amazing for the middle of January.

I have an early clinic appointment this morning before work. The usual followup. I should get with NW Pulmonary and make the appointment with them today for sometime this week or next.

The appointment went well, at least I am heading in the right direction. My blood count on my last visit was 1.3 and today it was 1.4. Next visit is next Monday afternoon.

I made the appointment with the lung doctor, but, not for this or next week. Not till February 16th.

Met Michael and his friend Tim for lunch at Maxwell House. I had the salad bar. We watched Faux news on the bar tv and commented on the current status of Haiti.

I'm so buried with work. Piles of it. Maureen came in to visit. She seems to be doing really great recovering from her surgery. She will be back for part time real light duty next week.

Day 18 MLK Day

The dream continues today for equality for all.It takes special and brave people to bring about change. I feel the politicians we have now are more interested in their own ambitions to want to make a difference. Just look at this wimpy and sad health care reform bill. We gave them in the last election a democratic president and a majority in the congress and senate to really get something historically done. But it seems we are faced with the same old problems of partisan politics and indecision. There has been some small leaps forward in some states where gay rights have made headway. But CA and Proposition 8 have me stumped. I cannot even see why this is in question. As Dr King did in those years past we must stay vigilant that all people must have equal rights.

Day 17

The title to this portrait is Vampyria by Gothdream. She is a vampire but not sure why she is wearing the mask.I like the baby ermine she is holding.

Michael worked on the upstairs bedroom off an on all day yesterday. He put together the electric fireplace. It is so beautiful making the room so warm and cozy. I'm glad we spent the money. I did not do much yesterday. I wasn't feeling to strong and that hacky cough was back.

We watched the rest of Part 1 of Liberty, the American Revolution. I find myself so drawn to that period of history. It still amazes me how we became a country. We also watched the movie The Other Man with Liam Neeson and Antonio Banderos. Not a blockbuster but an interesting tale questioning what a man did not know about his wife's secret life before she died.

I watched alot of tv yesterday. My guilty pleasure, The newest Ugly Betty that I recorded. Then some new shows on Animal Planet channel like Pit Boss and Underdog to Wonderdog. And then another show I had recorded Dogtown.

Day 16

We all got sad news yesterday at work. My boss, Linda, the best boss ever has decided to retire as of July. I was too shocked to cry. I cannot imagine working there without her. She has been with the company for 18 years and I am happy for her, but, so sad for all of us. Her knowledge is irreplaceable. Her kindness and understanding will never be forgotten.It leaves the future for our department up in the air and it will be a challenge in the months to come.

It rained all night. Yesterday it got to 50 degrees. This is definitely a strange winter. When I went out at lunch it felt more like early spring then mid winter.

Not much planned for the weekend. I do not have MLK day off. It is a floating holiday for us. I have it approved to use it for the day of the procedure, whenever that will be. NW Pulmonary called but when I called to make an appointment the person who does that was off. So they are to call next week to schedule the appointment.

Day 15

Happy Friday! Today is billing day. Printing, stuffing and mailing.

It will be so nice to have 2 days off to do as much or as little as I want to do. Our plan is still to organize and set up the bedroom upstairs.

Like everyone I've been watching and reading about the tragedy in Haiti. I remember DK telling me how when in the Navy and spending time in Haiti doing what the Navy does he had loved it there and how the people were wonderful. So sad. But one thing has really bugged me. Why do our news anchor people have to be down there? I couldn't believe when I was watching the news there is Katie Couric there in Haiti reporting. All I could think, if she is there, they (the media) are all there. Where are they staying? What water are they drinking? Are they sleeping on the streets with the people? Because we know there is no Haiti Hilton. Did they bring a plane full of water or medical supplies with them? It is so sad how they feel the need to "be" there. I think they are getting in the way of what really needs to be happening down there. Like generating and distributing clean water and recovering and destroying all those bodies before real disease sets in. Of course as always this is my own opinion. And Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh are ego inflated lunatics that can just go "F" themselves.

Day 14

It's payday! That's always a good thing. Today we have a team meeting. I am working through my lunch so I can get off an hour early because of an appointment at Spokane Cardiology.

This month seems to be zipping by pretty fast. There has been so much going on. It will be nice this weekend just to hang around the house. We want to get the upstairs bedroom all put together. Michael will be sleeping up there after his surgery. That is where we will set up the new electric fireplace which is also a media center. So the flat screen tv will go in there also. We will need to bring up the 53" tv from downstairs to have in the living room. The only other thing that bedroom needs is new mattresses for the Craftmatic beds and new bedding too. Now that I think about that room, it is going to need a few more things. A little each month until its complete.

The clinic appointment was a little disappointing. The coumadin/blood levels did not increase from my last visit, so, they had to increase the dosage. Next visit is Tuesday morning. The lab was closed this afternoon so I will do the blood draw next Tuesday.

Day 13

Another normal work day.The voice mail msg from the doctor's office has my appointment time an hour off. I will need to fix that today, since I planned to work through my lunch tomorrow and leave an hour early to go to the appointment.

Very foggy this morning. Sidewalks are a little icy and Michael just called to say so are the streets. It is supposed to get into the 40's today with rain.

I got the EOB's for my hospital stay. My portion is around $980.00 after my HRA pays $960.00 of it. Looks like a few months of payments.

We ordered cheese sticks from Papa John's for dinner. Too tired to cook. I cooked last night and then fell asleep standing up in the shower. Not a safe thing to do.

Day 12

Just a normal day working. How nice is that? It will be busy but nothing out of the ordinary do I see happening.

Day 11

The Magician by lone momo

Last night was an experience. They glued and taped lots of wires to my head, chest, arms and legs and then expected me to sleep normal. It was so quiet and dark, with no windows. The tech was so sweet. We talked about books. I liked her. More than I can say for the cpap. Claustophobic people like me have problems with things fitting over my face. I did stop breathing 3 or 4 times last night. So I will look for the nasal cpap that fits under the nostrils. I finally fell asleep around 11:00 and then slept till 2:00, back to sleep around 2:15 till 5:00. Michael picked me up and we stopped for a Mcbiscuit. I was starved since we last ate at 2:00 yesterday afternoon.

Off to work I went after showering all the glue off my head. Very busy without Maureen there. Went to my appointment at 10:30. All she did was check my blood to see what the coumadin was doing and take my blood pressure. Next visit is Thursday afternoon.

No I am ready for a rest. Hope everyone's week is beginning on a good note!

Day 10

Lords of Knowledge by damascus5

Icy cold out this morning. I heard cars sliding at the intersection this morning. Lots of house chores to catch up on today. Cds to find, cds and movies to burn to take to work tomorrow.

Tonight I have the appointment for the sleep study at Deaconess. I started a new book. The Secret Lives of Bees by Elaine Monk Kidd. So at least I will have that to read if I can't sleep.

Day 9

A light dusting of snow fell overnight. I slept downstairs and snoozed pretty good all night only getting up once to let the dogs out. I could get used to this. Maybe I will do alright Sunday night for the sleep study.

Today's plans are a massage by Shannon at 11:00, lunch out with Michael and just maybe a movie.

Massage was wonderful. Feeling no pain and so relaxed. We stopped at Rancho Chico on Northwest for lunch since it was right on the way home. It was nice and relaxing too. Too tired to sit through a movie. Plus there is a Manhunters (US Marshals) marathon to watch throughout the afternoon.

Day 8

Thank goodness its Friday!! I am definitely ready for two days at home. 2 nights in a row of sleeping good. I even slept in till 5:30. My boss is off skiing today and we have plenty to keep us busy. So the day should just roll right along. I will need to find out why I did not get my HRA check this week.

The Sleep Lab called and left a message. I will need to set up an appointment with them. Not sure what that will entail.

A little drama unfolded when I asked about my claim being processed. But received a check, so now the sleep study and medical equipment can be paid for. Did I mention how glad I am its Friday?

So Billy from the Deaconess Sleep Lab called back and we agreed on this Sunday night. I will be there from 8:00 pm till morning at 7:00 am. I hope I can actually get some sleep. Not so good in strange places.

Tonight Michael took me to 5 Mile Round Table Pizza for salad bar and 1 piece of pizza. It was nice to just sit and discuss our day. After 30 years I still like talking with him. I'm stuffed and ready to retire for the evening.

Day 7

Samael by lone momo

I start taking the new medicines today. First step on the road to getting my heart well.There are a list of foods I must be careful eating while on coumadin. This will take some getting used to. The medicine reacts to vitamin K which is alot of fruits and vegetables. You either eat them consistently or avoid them all together.

Last night for the first time in a long while I actually got some sleep. It was in intervals, but, good deep sleep in longer periods of time. I haven't slept good since the stay in hospital hell.

It was a long busy day. Maureen is having her surgery tomorrow and she will be gone for 2 weeks to recover. I will definitely miss her. My boss is going skiing tomorrow. I am just glad it is Friday.

Day 6

I have a doctor appointment with Dr Lubbe at Spokane Cardiology this morning. Nervous, anxious and don't know what to expect.

At noon Fearless Leader has called for a company wide meeting. I am hoping the news won't be too bad. We are expecting the news to be no raises this year and maybe a cut in some of the benefits.

Michael has the day off because he has several doctor appointments as well today.

Bad news from the doctor. First I absolutely love Dr. Lubbe. He's smart, caring and oh so smart. He put me on 3 more medicines, plus coumadin. I will take that for a month and thenthey will stop my heart and shock it back into a natural rhythym. And then 3 more month of coumadin.

What did I do that was so bad that I deserve this? This thought has run through my head all day.

The company meeting was what we all thought. A freeze on raises and no more new HRA. I can live with that. It is still a great job and I love the company.

Day 5

Today is MJ's birthday. She is one of my favorite friends at work. I woke up early so I could make her birthday cake. A white cake made with my imported rose water and frosted with a fluffy rich white frosting. The girls are all going out for lunch at Mizuna. Should be fun as always when we get away.

Day 4

Where did those 3 1/2 almost 4 days go? Back to work for a full day of work. I hope I can make it through it. My bosses have been so patient with me.

I need to submit the HRA claim for the office visit co-pays and prescription co-pays today. That will be a nice chunk of change. I need to fill out the paperwork for my visit with the cardiologist that they sent me. I also need to call the city utility department and have them replace our garbage can because our's is split down the front.

We are going to stain the front door tonight. So I will need to pick up a package of rubber gloves. It will be so beautiful when it is all done.

Worked the full day. It was really busy too. Giant deposit and lots of terminations. But I made it through.

Stopped at Safeway and bought the makings for MJ's birthday cake, Ace Hardware for the rubber gloves and Papa Murphy's for pizza because Michael thought I would be too tired to cook. He was right, as always.

By the time I got home we were getting a snow/rain mix. It was getting downright icy. Now we have a fire in the fireplace and just enjoying being home.

Day 3

Butterfly Kisses by schin loong

Still working on the front door project. Bill still needs to put on the trim and we need to clean and stain in it. Varnishing will come later when it's warmer.

Day 2

Beckoning by lone momo

Typical Saurday. Bill is coming at 9:00 to hang the new door. Dogs to the groomer at 11:00. Later today moving furniture around to fit in new electric fireplace.

Day One Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year! We actually stayed up till midnight this year. It snowed a good 2 or 3 inches, but, is now melting.

Time for resolutions, to reflect on what will be important and a priority this year.

First - My HEALTH! I must get healthy. Take my medicine, excercise, eat right and do all I can do to right this situation. Find good doctors and question them and listen to their advise and follow it. I don't want to die of this damn disease - so this is the year I turn it all around!

This will be the year we concentrate on the HOUSE. I've been keeping lists of improvements we want to make to the house on Listology.

Start CREATING again. I have been letting this lapse since not feeling well. Lorna is willing to give me more lessons, so, I want to take her up on that. I also want to start making my own pendants and beads. Maybe buy a kiln this year.

This is the year I reconnect with FAMILY and stay in touch. I am going to the family reunion in Eugene and will enjoy seeing and getting to know each and everyone of them.

Last year my goal was to give 110% to my JOB. I feel I did do that and want to continue doing just that. I love my job and the wonderful people I work with everyday. I still cannot believe how lucky I am to have this opportunity in my life.

My last goal is to BLOG post everyday this year!! I want to visit and comment more often on my friends blogs. Also keep in touch as often as I can with all my FB friends.