Do it Anyway...

Today I walked about 8 miles around the river. It was a beautiful Spring day.(just fabulous)
I listened to Martina McBride's song about doing it anyway. Quote: "You can spend your whole life building - something from nothing and one storm can come and blow it all away......build it anyway.....build it anyway.
Yep, that's how I feel about a lot of things. Many times I've said to myself "Why did I worry and put so much time and effort in to this and it really didn't matter that much anyway." Well, maybe it does matter - even a little bit.(to somebody)
I guess I won't go in to details about what things I'm thinking about.(that require a lot of time and effort). But I've finally (after all these years) figured out that it all depends on my attitude. When I do something with an attitude of acceptance that whatever happens....happens -then I'm fine and not re-living the experience over and over.(and getting upset over and over) I should not expect to get kuddos and should not expect everything to be how I want it to be. This is just life. And life goes on.
So that's my pep talk to myself today. I'm sure I will give it to myself again. But I think I'm growing up......a little bit. :)

Walking and Music.........my two favorites.

Today I was able to walk for an hour and a half. (My toe is much better.)
I didn't walk very fast in that amount of time - maybe about 4 miles.
But I did get to listen to some great music on my Ipod.
I'm not too good at sitting still and meditating, but I'm pretty good at walking and meditating. Today I just wanted to listen to music, tho, and think of nothing else. Music can be so soothing and inspiring. I get a lot of pleasure from listening to music. Sometimes I forget that. That's why I like to walk, because then I remember to bring my tunes and listen to music. I suppose that's why I like to walk alone a lot.
Anyways, I've been able to enjoy many kinds of music in my life. I'm very thankful for that. I guess I'm even thankful for my old piano teacher (Mrs. Busby) who taught me so much. Although, she use to use a ruler to kind of slap my fingers when I played wrong notes. I don't think anyone would put up with that nowdays!
Mrs. Busby did expose me to some beautiful classical music and even some modern day music.(at the time) Because of her - I'm able to play about anything in the Hymnbook at church and I've been able to accompany many people singing other music. I do know I'm not as good as a lot of people that are diehard musicians. But I'm okay and I've played the Organ for our Church for many years. I'm really glad that I've been able to do that. (now) I use to feel a little put upon in years past, but it's just because I had a lot more on my plate back then.
So now I think of many times that my mood has been changed for the better, because of music that I have listened to. Over the years I've been endeared to many wonderful songs. I have a lot of favorites that bring back good times and memories.

Also, Jay & I have been able to go to a lot of Broadway Plays that have some great music. I guess I'll name a few that come to mind:

Les Miserables
Phantom of the Opera
Westside Story
Evita
Beauty & the Beast
Lion King
Aidia
Cats
Grease
Singing in the Rain
The Sound of Music
Fiddler on the Roof
Jekyll & Hyde
Damn Yankees
Miss Siagon
Ragtime
Chicago
Annie Get your Gun
Me and My Gal
Hello Dolly
Joseph & the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat

Wow, As I started remembering - I just couldn't stop. I really am glad that we've been able to see all these shows and there are more that I can't think of right now. We've also been to some great concerts.
But I'll spare you and not list all those that I'm thinking of right now.
My point is that it's great for us to have all these things available to us. Sometimes we take it for granted. I just can't imagine our world without these finer things and music is pretty much it.(in my book)

Canal Caper

I can't believe I missed the Ephrata Canal Caper(10k race)today.
I feel bad.
I've done that race for at least the last five years. Oh, well.....

I couldn't because of my toe, but I'm still signed up for the Wenatchee 1/2
Marathon next month - so I've gotta get out walking/running soon!
My toe is doing much better - so I will.
My friend Janene called(at least) and said they missed me. That was nice.
Last year Jay did the race with me and he said he would this year. But I noticed that he wasn't sad at all about missing it because of my toe! Ha.Ha.
He really doesn't like to do that kind of thing - so I won't make him. :)

On another note: Rocky Jay (our son) got accepted to a program in Mobile, Alabama for his Pathology Residency! He is so excited about that. It's far away, but it's a much warmer place than Boston was and more laid back.
We really wanted him closer (Sacramento), but that's okay. Whatever works..
This will give us a reason to visit Alabama via Florida and all the beaches,towns, etc. around that area. I think New Orleans isn't that far away either - I've always wanted to go there! Well, Rocky will have to be down there in June -so Jay and I need to plan a trip sometime around then to take all his furniture and stuff down in the trailer. I don't mind. :) We both enjoy road trips.

Redheads...

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Okay, I tried to put a link in here that is to another blog entitled: Redheads are a Pain!!
I'll try again at the end of this blog..
It claims that Redheads feel more pain and make greater attempts to avoid pain then everyone else. I don't know - but this author may be right.
I'm a Redhead and I really, really hate pain. But I thought everybody else did,too!!:)
I do try to avoid pain at all costs.
Today was one of those days that I didn't know what I was in for.
I've had an ingrown toe-nail that has been bothering me for awhile, but I thought that it would just go away if I just dug at it now and then. I even had a pedicure last week and thought that the lady had taken care of it. But it did come back this week with a vengeance - so I decided to have it looked at by a Podiatrist.
Well, He looked at it and said "We need to take care of that today!"
I said, "Today??" He said, " Yep, today, it's just a quick simple little surgery. It's really easy to take care of". I said, "Okay".....

Then he brings out all kinds of instruments and a big long needle filled with anesthetic. (I guessed).
The nurse cleans my toe and the Doc says," This will just pinch a little, maybe even burn some".....
I said," OUUUUUUCCCCCCCH! Yep, it burns"
The Doc says, " just a couple more pokes "
I didn't say much after that, but my hands were dug into the armrests and I was holding back a scream or should I say....some screams!
Well, after what seemed like a long time of pinching and burning - my toe was finally dead. Then the Doc just started clipping and digging and digging somemore. He showed me two big long, ugly, bloody, toenail clippings that he said were what was causing my pain.
So to make a long enough story short - I am sitting here with a toe that is still a little numb, but is starting to tingle and I'm very worried that it's going to start throbbing. Yes, I have a long night ahead of me. Maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but hey!! I'm a Redhead! I have every right!!:)
I still can't believe the Doc didn't give me something strong for any pain tonight. He just said to take Advil........oh, brother, I mean, Oh, Doctor!
http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/redheads-are-a-pain/

I forget......

Yes, I'm feeling more and more forgetful, lately.
I hope this is a temporary thing, but it could be a sign that I'm getting old. I keep forgeting that I'm half a century old! When my parents turned this age - I really thought they were old. And now they are in their 70's - they are old!! ha..ha..

Anyways, I even forget sometimes that I have a blog and I can write what ever I want on it. And that I can read other people's blogs. I forget, because of all those years that I only had a journal to write whatever I wanted on it - boy! times have changed and I keep forgeting......
If you are young and reading this - you might not relate, but someday you will.(that's inevitable)

I keep forgeting that I come from the 70's generation, but every now and then I'm reminded. The other day I was listening to a radion station, oops I mean XM station (that's a satellite station not radio). My age is showing again.LOL.. Anyways, I was listening to all these old songs that I thought were so wonderful back in the day. And for some reason - I realized how strange sounding they must be to kids of today.
Some of them are downright stoo-pid!!
Case in point: 'Little Willy,Willy' by Sweet.
part of the lyrics: "Little Willy, Willy won't go home, but you can't ask Willy cause Willy won't go. Try telling everybody but, OH, NO! Little Willy, Willy won't go home."
I use to love that song. Don't ask me why. I forget.............

Beau

Well, my nephew Beau (my brother Rick's boy) had his farewell today. He is going on a mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
He gave a 20 minute talk in church today and we were sooooo amazed. Is this that same shy, boy that we knew growing up? Wasn't he just a little kid a year or so ago?? No, time keeps marching onward and these little kids grow up way too fast.
Only about a year and a half ago - Beau had a severe injury. He was in a football game and collapsed around the 3rd inning. He had a Brain aneurysm.
Luckily everyone around him acted quick - (there was a good friend of the family that was an ER nurse.) Anyways, to make a long story short. He was flown by Helicopter to the Spokane (Deaconess) Hospital and they did a quick surgery on him that saved his life.
We are so thankful to have Beau still with us.
He really is an amazing young man.

Quote for the day:
'If the only prayer that you ever give is: "Thank you" -
that will be enough.
-Eckhart Tolle

The sun will come out tomorrow.

Yes, today is tomorrow. The Sun did shine today. I walked 4 and 1/2 miles - I just couldn't jog or run it for the life of me. But that's okay - I did get to enjoy the sunshine.
I'm glad this week is over. My mother is doing better and will get out of the hospital soon.
For some reason (big reason) I have a hard time spending time in the hospital with my loved ones. It's something I should be use to by now - but I'm not. Every time - it brings back all those times before. (memories)
I've spent a lot of time with our son, Rocky - because of his health condition. He's had his fair share of surgeries already in his young life, because of his condition. He has Neurofibromotisis #2 - a very rare condition. It's condusive to having slow-growing benign tumors that form on your nerves.( Mostly growing on the Spinal column and the ear canal nerves.) We found out about his condition because of permanent hearing loss that he was having in College. Anyways, he has tumors on both of his main Ear nerves. He should have lost total hearing by now, but we were able to get gamma knife radiation treatments on both tumors which mostly killed and shrunk the tumors. So we are lucky that he can hear out of his left ear some at least. He had a surgery on his Right ear (decompression) - but it didn't work out well and most of his hearing is gone there. He's also had a very delicate surgery on his neck to remove a big tumor. (That was a tough one.) And he will have more in the future, because of other tumors on his spine. But we are so blessed that he has been able to manage all this throughout his Medical school and even now that he will be starting a Residency soon. There will always be those 4 hour MRI's that he has to endure every 6 months or so, but he is pretty positive about it all.
Well, I didn't mean to get into such detail about Rocky - because I was really going to explain about my great love (sarcasm) for hospitals.

My son-in-law, Chad had a motor bike accident in 2004 and that was probably one of the most trying hospital experiences I've ever had.
#1- it was in an Idaho Falls hospital that we've had a bad experience with before.(son Greg & friends)(1998)
#2 -Chad was in there for almost a full month.
#3 -His Dr. and others made some big mistakes - which could have been fatal.
We'll I will just mention those 3 things - but our daughter, Staci had our 1st grandchild through it all. That added some stress (for her especially).
Also, Chad was suppose to graduate that month - and he was so stressed about being able to complete all his classes and still be a certified Seminary Teacher.
So - I do have one thing that I have to say about that experience that bothered me a lot about his Doctor.
I tried to talk to the Dr. and I was trying to sincerely compliment him on doing something right with the first surgery. I said ' how do you get through a 7 hour surgery in the middle of the night, when you've just done a 10 hour surgery before that?? That's so amazing".
And he looked at me and said, "Drugs, that's how I get through it".
(note: he wasn't smiling - he was dead serious)

I've thought about that many times and I think he thought I was being cynical or something. Who knows.
But it was so different then this Dr. was with my Mom this last week. He (Mom's Dr.)really was sincere and kept apologizing to us for the mistake. He even asked to say a prayer for my Mom a couple times. (And they were great prayers.)I know he isn't of our religon, but he is definitely of some Christian faith and it was very, very comforting.
I think it helps a lot (emotionally and spiritually) to have that kind of a physician. And I don't care what any one tells me - I believe that our emotional and spiritual condition effects our physical condition.
Okay, I guess I've said enough for today.

Yesterday was tough, but today is better

Well, I've never tried posting from my I-phone- but I'm trying it today. Hopefully, this will work. Right now I'm in a hospital in Yakima watching my Mom trying to sleep, but getting woke up every few minutes for something or other. Anyone that has spent any time at all in a hospital- knows what I'm talking about. As I'm writing this-a nurse is telling me that mom's potassium is too low and she needs to swallow these big horse pills.
Well, I can't possibly explain the last twenty four hours or so in here.
I just have to tell you that she had to have a second surgery yesterday- because they(the Doc)
put in the wrong screw! So they re-did the surgery and put in different screws!!
My Dad is usually mild mannered, but he has had enough of all the mistakes that have been made. I haven't seen him this upset in years.
Anyways, I can't go into details now. But I do hope the worst is over for Mom now.

I have to also say- this is the first time ( in all of the times I've been in hospitals, which has been a lot) that I've seen a Dr. Apologize over & over for his big mistake. My son (the dr.) says that they are taught to not do that. But I like this new approach- where they are more honest w/you. But we'll see how it all turns out.

Another day....

I did walk 6 - 7 miles at least today.  I really felt the need to.(since I haven't walked that far for a couple weeks).
It was a beautiful day out side, but turned a little cold when I decided to go out in the afternoon.(of course).
Anyways, I'm glad I did, but I realize how quickly you can feel out of shape. It's hard for me to believe right now that I did a Marathon last fall.  I have a long ways to go to feel ready to do another one. I hope I have the time this year to train like I did last year. We'll see........

On another note......my mother had a hip replacement surgery today. She told me not to come over until tomorrow to see her.  So that is what I will do, but my Dad called and sounded a little shook up.  I guess Mom was in a lot of pain right after the surgery - for some reason they didn't give her the right meds (or any meds for that matter) to help w/the pain.  I guess they (the Dr's or nurses) apologized (after hearing some crying) and got her on something to ease the pain.  
Yes, it's hard to see your parents' lives change and see them age.  I really wish we could freeze ourselves at a certain age (when we look & feel our best, of course).  But that's not the way it goes.
Life goes on - that's the only thing that is a constant.

My quote for today:

Life is not easy for any of us, but what of that?? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves.  We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.

- Marie Curie'

Tahoe

We've had a great week this week with the boys & Heidi - in South Lake Tahoe. We took the opportunity to drive down and meet up with Greg & Heidi and then Rocky came up from LA.  I will have to post pics later when I get home.  We are staying at a hotel in Klamath Falls, Oregon tonight, but should be home tomorrow. 
Anyways, I did something that I haven't done in a few years.  I went skiing. It was a big deal for me to get back in that saddle again, because I was a little afraid.  I had a bad experience the last time I went - I was out of control at one point and ran into a fellow skier.  Neither one of us got hurt, but I hated the fact that I was weaker and couldn't control my skiing.
 When I was a young, college student - I went very often. Infact, I took a ski class and we skiied up at Sundance ski Resort ( Utah ) - every Tuesday and Thursday.  It was heaven - until it all ended.(after 3 months)  And I had to give my rented skis back and pay full price whenever I went skiing.  So of course, I didn't ski much for the next......ah......30 years.  Yes, Jay & I would go every once in awhile, but we were raising a family and it was too indulgent to go very much.  Well, now that our kids can pay for themselves and they have learned to ski on their own  -things are different.  Yes, Jay and I are older and not so limber!!
But I have to say that all this walking/jogging has helped my legs get stronger and I felt better than I have in years on that ski slope.  It was amazing to feel good about skiing again and Jay was amazed that I did as well as I did.  We were both very tired and sore after 4 hours of it, but it was such a gorgeous place and such a great feeling that we did as well as all as the other baby boomers around us.  It was worth it all.

Now of course, Rocky & Greg skiied circles around us and they stayed up there a few more hours - but they were even impressed that we handled as well as we did.  Okay....okay....I guess I'm bragging here -I'd better stop. I have to take and hold on to these good experiences, right?!   And I hope all that high-altitude skiing will make up for not working out/walking much this week.  We have the Canal Caper in two weeks. I gotta get walking........:)

Okay, here's the pics. Can you see how beautiful Lake Tahoe looks down below?! Awww..I love it. And Yes, that person in the background that looks like they have a ghost mask on is me. :)