And so it begins...

Have I mentioned that I'm not good with change?  Well, I'm not.  I hate them all.

Steve found out that due to how corporate "pays"; it was most advantageous to take 2 of his 4 weeks of vacation right now. His thinking was that he was going to need to pack some stuff to put into the apartment to cook with and his clothes would have to get to Anthem.  No way would all this fit into his Crossfire.  (It's a 2-seater sports car)  With this in mind, we're hoping our daughter-in-law's rented moving truck will be able to fit these items in there and they'll cross the desert this very weekend.

My husband also decided (wisely, I might add) that while he was here and taking off the time-he'd better pack as much as possible because I will not be able too.  

As he started, he told me that I needed to part with all the stuff that did NOT need to follow us to our future home.  Darn.  It's MY stuff.  Okay, I did reconsider on some items:  all the Woman's Day magazines that I have my name in as "contributing reader's advisor" (over 150).  I also probably let my husband dump some magazines that I actually had a short story or a handy hint in because I couldn't find it and didn't feel like looking at each page.

I also let him toss some very outdated text books from college that weren't worth donating.  Does anyone really want a 30+ year old book detailing the benefits of using videotape over film in TV news?  Neither is used anymore really.  Plus, I threw out my own half written Master's thesis on my view of that very subject.  Nice to know that even though I will always love film, I did see the videotape was the future of TV news even way back in 1977.  

Sigh.

On the flip side, I asked Steve if he really needed to keep the silver water ewer that some family member gave us as a wedding present.    I don't believe we ever saw  that person after the ceremony and I have NEVER been into polishing silver.  

On that subject, I'm keeping my antique Community silverware that my grandfather gave me as a wedding present.  While I didn't really like him, my grandmother and I were very close-so that box is very important to me.  Steve packed it and the china we haven't used in over 10 years as well.

We were told to de-personalize the house, so all the family photos sitting and hanging everywhere are now in boxes.  We're not "tchotchke" people, but I somehow had a plethora of glass vases.  Over a dozen to be exact.  Four were exact copies of one another.  We kept two.  One is now on the glass table that held all of our family wedding and anniversary photos.  We went to Big Lots and bought some fake sunflowers and glass stones and put them into that particular vessel.  Looks nice-cost $12.  We found a similar one on the clearance table at Michael's for $77, so we're feeling very creative at the moment.

Kohl's had a great deal on a candle and glass holder-$3.89 for both.  This along with a couple of Indian pots we had filled the table left barren from a different family photo table.  

Already our home is looking like a "sale" home and the sign won't go up until September 10th.

We bought some perennial flower packs that our gardener planted in both the front and the back.  The landscaping looks a lot better.  At least as good as it's going to get since our gardener went to the "Hanna-Barbara" school of landscaping.

I've passed from the "crying" stage to the "sighing" stage.  Our daughter-in-law is getting excited about joining our son-as it should be.  I'll miss having her here and the grand pets as well.  I'm hoping that even though she and our son missed this time together that she enjoyed being here and felt at home.

I know that Pepper, our tabby, is going to be heart-broken again when his friends leave and he'll be alone again.  But my husband is already saying things like, "as soon as we find a home we can find a dog".  I think having Billy and Lily here has helped him remember how wonderful it is to have a canine around.  

Life is changing very quickly-even if we weren't starting another chapter; I do wish it would slow down.

And another thing-I promised to watch the grandkids for Labor Day weekend, so our last weekend together for a while-we won't even be together.

Oh well, we'll always have Laguna Hills.

My head is bursting.

Truly, I'm not sure what I should do first.

Last week, my husband went for his first job interview in over 10 years. At age 55+ he beat the odds and after over 6 hours of interviews, he got the job. He'll be moving to Arizona to work for the same company that our son went to six weeks ago.

We came back, my husband was smiling from ear to ear and I felt just plain dizzy and nauseous.

In theory, I know this is for the best – but it doesn't make it any easier. Despite the fact, that our son, our daughter, obviously our son/ daughter-in-law and are grandsons are or will be all there, I still feel anxious.

I'll be here until the house sells an escrow closes. My husband will be leaving on September 8. Sam will be leaving on the first to join Adam. Our daughter Sarah is thrilled. The grandkids are thrilled.

As usual, I am the hesitant one. I really hate change. I don't want to leave my house or my doctors or the fact that I can go to the beach in under 10 minutes.  It's not that I do this often, but if I want to I can.   I will adapt and thrive and even love it once this part is over.

My parents understand but are unhappy. They know this is for the best. My sister hasn't said much, but she understands as well. Intellectually, I knew this was going to happen but I'm going out kicking and screaming anyway.

Whoever buys my house is getting a steal. As any of you who've been reading me for a while know, this house is basically brand new and model perfect. Steve won't let me take the tub. He's promised me I can have a new one and a new dog.

That sounds good but he can't make good on this when we have no place to live.

Our son and daughter-in-law have just found their dream home. Both our daughter and son want us to move in with them until we find our new dream home. We'll still have to rent for a bit. The thought is that I will be able to join my husband at the same time as both he and our son and daughter-in-law can move out of the rental.

I've already set up a termite inspection, an appointment for a screen repair person; I've put in for a change of medical insurance, made doctors' appointments and set up an appointment for our realtors to take a tour of chez Nadel – not bad for three days work.  Oh, I had Steve throw out about a dozen vases from gifts I received and have never used.

Guaranteed, this blog will become a sounding ground for both my frustrations and insights on how I plan to adapt to being what is termed a "transplant".  Just a fact as well as a warning.

And now, back to my scheduled nervous breakdown.

I'm on the fence.

I'm posting early this week because I have no choice.  In fact I'm writing this on Saturday because I know the rest of this week will be filled with a lot of stuff I'm not really going to be able to have much of a sense of humor about-I mean it.

First off-my rheumatologist told me to use Dragon Speak-yet here I am typing this entry.  You know why?  Because I hate technology and it hates me, that's why. Why is that they have this technology that's supposed to make things easier and it doesn't?

Okay let's put that aside.

On Monday, I get the fun of going through another epidural-this time a double version. Will the fun never end? As if that isn't enough I get to go to physical therapy on Tuesday. Nothing says enjoyment like having someone work with you so you won't hurt yourself further.

I guess I should've been more careful when we were hugging – tore my rotator cuff. The rheumy laughed at me! He wanted to know what would happen if I weren't taking the Fosamax and the calcium? I have to say, I don't think I care anymore. I would just like to be able to hug my husband without creating a new problem that will take months to fix.

On Wednesday, my husband and I will be on the road going to Phoenix. Now normally, this would be really fun. After all, we usually go to visit our kids and grandkids. This time though, we will barely get to see them. This trip is for something totally different – I may feel like telling you more next week. Or not.

You might have noticed that I'm a bit ambivalent about this next week. I'm on the fence. I really don't know if I'm happy to go or not. I'd be a lot happier if it were just to see our daughter, our son, our son-in-law and the grandkids but it's not.

Sigh.

This trip could be good but even if it is one of us will be happier than the other. I'm not sure.

What I would like to know is how much will it cost to move my house? After all, I've gone through all the heartache/headache of remodeling it – shouldn't I be the one to enjoy it? Also I noticed that a lot of Phoenix doesn't believe in adult size cabinetry.

I'm 5'1-1/2"; shouldn't cabinets come up to at least my waist? Another point of interest, I think all the Formica that was left in the world from the '60's was dumped in this particular city and put in every single house that's for sale.

I'd go on with more observations but Lily, our female grand pup, is barking and she's stirring up the other three pets.  I've already broken up 3 "fights" this morning-so this is an emergency.

Until the 17th, I bid you adieu.

It's National fill in the blank day

I'm sorry (not really), but would someone explain why we have so many "National" days?    

In the last week there's been National Dance Day (which is great for getting at least a few people off their proverbial backsides), National Lipstick Day (honest injun), National Lasagna Day and National Cheesecake Day-do we really need a special day for everything?

I read that there's a national clown day, peanut butter day and even a national pickle day!

Next thing will be a national whole grain cereal for lunch day!  (Maybe there is and I missed the announcement)  Why not a national margarine day?  I personally would love a national "new and different way to prepare chicken" day.

Maybe I could make a list and sent it to my local senator and congressman?  

It could be something akin to:

Dear politician who supposedly does something for my hometown,

I want you to know that I've canvassed my home and the members in it who vote promise to work at getting you re-elected if you get the following subjects a day to call their own and the rest of us can either celebrate or get a day off work for:

1)      National torn rotator cuff day

2)      National gout medication day

3)      National Humira shot evening

4)      National  eat high fiber cereal day

5)      National day for those of us sick and tired of trying to get Medicare to understand they can't take back money from disabled Americans day.

6)      National wear a lot of make-up day (another for not wearing any)

7)      National don't wear a bra day (men, make up your own clothing item not to wear-Steve chose "ties")

8)      National I want to use the air-conditioner in my home day without later having to give up eating day

9)      And last National "stop making needless national celebration days" day.

What do you think?  Anyone want to add a few to the list?

Maybe I'm getting crankier as I go on in life-but really, do we need a day to celebrate lipstick, salty foods or fat cell producing treats?

I'm hoping my Scrooge-like demeanor brings some new comments and maybe an opposite point of view to be blogged about at a later date.  I'll probably name it "National Cranky Blog" day.

Wouldn't You Know

Lately our world just seems to be one big whirlwind.  One parent moving away, the other set moving close.  Our son moving and starting a new job.  Our daughter-in-law and grand pets moving in.  The latter two selling their condo and doing it in record time.

All this while the usual craziness called "life" just keeps on swirling around at whiplash speed.
In the next week, I will be re-starting physical therapy and having a third epidural.   I've also got about three doctors' appointments scheduled and a couple of social/business coffees on the docket.

I'm sitting here writing up this week's blog now because I'm stalling.

 I'm supposed to be writing of a story on the values of square dancing for seniors.  It's fun and interesting, but I'm having the worst time coming up with my opening line-so I'm trying to distract myself enough that my brain will then cooperate and come through for me.

So far, not working.  

I did write a story on a fascinating artist named Fitz Maurice.  She's world renowned and has some beautiful pieces completed for an upcoming solo exhibit in Laguna Beach.  I also submitted an interesting feature on the grandmother of Olympic swimmer Jason Lezak and another on the new Anti-Defamation League Southern California director, Melissa Carr.

As you can tell, I'm not exactly just sitting here doing my best to not work-I've put out a good deal of interesting stories, but for some reason, that opening line on square dancing is eluding me-big time.
It has to be an attention grabber.  "Grab a partner and dos-i-do your way to all kinds of good health" does NOT seem to be what I'm after.  

I don't know why I'm having trouble with this.  But I am.  In fact, Sarah just sent me an e-mail saying she needed the booking numbers for the Carnival cruises that we took way back in 1988 and 1997.  I gladly even put writing to you all aside for 15 minutes while I looked for the scrapbooks to find the numbers.

Maybe I should give in to my lack of wanting to write for the time being.  I haven't done the treadmill yet and the dogs are outside.  The sun is out; I need a third cup of coffee.

I'm still stalling.  

Hmmm, I was invited to join in on the square dancing last week-they're meeting again tomorrow.  Could be that what I need is to join in on the fun.  I know I am no longer exactly able to swing any partner around-but there are members of the group who have Parkinson's disease, plenty with arthritis and a few participants in their 90's-surely no one will notice my lack of dexterity.

It's a new thought-let me think it over.  By the time I finish and post this entry on Friday, I'll let you know how it turns out.

For now, that coffee and game of fetch with Lily and Billy are calling to me with strength that even the whirlwind of life isn't strong enough to stop me from heading outside to the sun.

(I finished the story a day later AND was informed that another story of mine will be in another upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book-coming out the end of October!)

Quiet-I'm Napping

My mom has regaled many a time about the fact that I had to take a nap until I was in kindergarten.  

"Even after you were in first grade, you needed your naps."

I was what people have termed "sickly".  I constantly had viruses that would knock me out with high fevers and all that goes with being ill.

After first grade, I stopped napping.  Then I went to the extreme-once I was up and had my coffee, I didn't stop until I went to sleep. (Yes, since I was allergic to milk my mother did give me a cup of Joe.  She figured it was something hot and according to her I needed that) I'm in no way a "morning" person, but I'd be up and got through my list of "to-do's" and then some.  Even if I was sick, no nap for me.

Lately, I haven't been sleeping well-no position has been found that is comfortable, no physical therapy exercise that relieves the pain, no orthopedic item that makes it easy to rest and I'm allergic to pain meds to the point where the only one left barely takes the edge off long enough to get into that all mighty REM sleep.

That said-Sam (our daughter-in-law) and I were watching something on television and I fell into a light sleep.  Then this morning I was working my NY Times crossword and realized that I was nodding off!

I don't like to give in-but I decided to listen to what my body was coercing me to do.  Yes, I went to our bedroom, closed the door and I took a nap.

It wasn't a long one-only a half hour and when I woke up I did feel better, but when you've only slept about 6 hours in 2 days it isn't near what a body needs.  

The good part about that nap was that even at 54 I learned that just saying you listen to your body and give it what it needs is totally different than actually doing it.

Our son Adam loves his naps.  Steve will put on some awful movie and then go to sleep.  Sarah is like me-runs herself into the ground and then hopes she gets some rest. Sam just says "Good night" and goes to sleep.

The animals are great about getting naps-the cats are always finding somewhere to plop down and sleep until they hear the dinner bell or the call that it's snack time.  Billy loves his naps-he can sleep on our den sofa for hours and then as soon as he hears Sam say "Let's go to bed."  It's a race to the bedroom and he's out for the night.

Before I close-here's a cute little animal story:  Lily decided that after watching both Toby and Pepper climb in and out of the domed litter box that if it was good for them, why not her?!

Sam thought she was doing something gross in the laundry room and went to stop the dirty deed and started laughing when she saw her girl in the box with her nose sticking out.  

I'm all for litter box training dogs-especially if you live in what good be very uncomfortable weather to send them out in and then clean up after them.  I'm thinking snow and deadly heat.  

And now, it felt so good to just lie down and actually sleep I've decided to go try it again, right now.  Talk to you all next week.