I Needed To Downsize Anyway...

Had a staff meeting in another office 45 minutes away yesterday. That meant I had to roll out of bed early to get there by 8:30am... I went through my usual morning routines: vitamins, breakfast, check my email, let the dog out, give her food and water, blah... blah... blah. Then realize that I needed to throw some clothes in the dryer so I have something to wear.

I start walking down the stairs to the basement where the laundry area is... What the?!!! There was at LEAST 6" of water in my basement. Plastic storage tubs were laying on their sides... stuff was floating in the water. I was in the middle of the water before I realized the dehumidifier was attached to an extension cord that was still plugged in. Yikes! I yanked the plug from the wall and waded my way through the water. Not even two days before, I had sorted laundry and it was all laying on the floor covered in water.

Why was there so much water? It had rained and rained and rained all night long. We had flash floods and my basement had filled to at least 8" of water. It was worse than last Labor Day. (I got halfway to my staff meeting and received a phone call that it was cancelled due to flooding.) As I ascended the basement steps, I thought to myself.... "Well, I've been wanting to downsize." LOL... Gotta maintain a sense of humor.

My guess is that there was at least 12" of water in my backyard, since debris caught in the fence was that high. Heavy stuff in my garage floated from the sides to the center. The electric "eyes" for the garage door openers shorted out. The landlord now has to replace the entire opener system on both sides (the neighbor's and mine). I still don't know if my washer and dryer work properly after sitting in so much water.

I had all my stuff on 3" plastic pallets... lotta good THAT did! Everything sitting directly on the pallets had to be gone through and any books and school papers are being tossed. I took a half day off work and started the clean up.

I had to wring all the clothes by hand. My Mom said she'd wash everything so I took 4 big baskets of wet clothes to her. I was going to take them to the laundromat, but figured it'd be more time efficient for Mom to do it while I cleaned the mess in the basement. Gotta love my Dad... As I was getting ready to leave their house, he says to me: "Need any help?" LOL, he doesn't even have his stitches out from surgery yet! (That's all I need is for him to be falling down the basement stairs.)

Three hours later and barely making a dent, I was sick of the clean up and my temperament was getting a bit aggravated, but I forged on. My sister came to help since I was storing a bunch of her stuff in the basement. Not even 5 minutes after she arrived, I fell down the last 4 or 5 stairs to the basement. I jammed both wrists and smashed the back of my head against a step. I have a huge bump on my head! My neck and my wrist hurt! My sister grabbed an ice pack out of the freezer and I had her get 4 ibuprofen. I could tell I'd be having a headache soon.

After about 10 minutes, I was back at cleaning. I had carpeting that needed to be pulled up and still lots of water that needed to be dried up... and of course, lots of boxes that needed to be gone through.

You'd think falling down the stairs would be enough damage for one day. But noooo... I dropped a plastic pallet on one of my toes (Yes, I was barefoot walking through the wet basement because I didn't want my shoes to get nasty). I have a big black bruise on that toenail. No wonder it hurt like an SOB when it happened!!! It almost hurt worse than hitting my head.

While my sister was there, S showed up and helped remove the carpeting. He also put a big AC unit in the basement window to help dry up the water. A little while later, the landlord showed up to assess the damage. He re-lit the water heater and made sure the furnace/CA worked OK. I wasn't about to start any of those things on my own. He's going to be renting a dumpster for us to get rid of the garbage. My backyard is strewn with wet boxes and "stuff".

By 10pm, most of the basement floor was dry but it smelled VERY VERY musty. My asthmatic lungs were reeling from being in the damp environment all day.

See-Saw of a Day

My day was going along peachy-keen, 'til I came home for lunch. I thought I'd grab a quick turkey sandwich. While trying to slice some meat off the bird, I attempted to also slice some meat off my finger! Quite a nice slice, I might add. I clamped down on it and ran upstairs to get a band-aid. Ever try to open a band-aid while holding onto a bleeding finger? Let me tell you... It's not an easy feat!! Yes. Yes. I *know* what you all are thinking! Stumbling over twigs and falling - Fall up and down the stairs - Now cutting my finger. Just put me in a padded room with nothing I can hurt myself on. Wait! Am I allowed to have needles and scissors??

OK, so fast forward to class. I got my 3rd test back. I got a 91%!!! Woo Hoo! After taking it last week, I wasn't so confident that I did very good. The answers must've been in my subconscious, cuz I certainly didn't think I *knew* them.

So then I get home tonight. No internet. In fact, I haven't had internet since lunchtime. So I call the ISP. THREE times! I got hung up on twice. While on hold the 3rd time waiting for a "live" person, the ISP was beeping in. At least I was hoping that's who it was when I answered the call. I complained about the long waiting time (over an hour total), and the fact I'd been hung up on twice. After she got me up and running, she says to me: "Well if it makes you feel any better, I haven't had any dinner and I don't get off until 10pm. I complain about my phone service and no one does anything." I won't tell you what was going through my mind...

In my mail today, came a RAK from Dawn B in TX. She'd been looking through my albums and saw that I had the Prairie Schooler Pins & Needles chart on my Wish List. She had it and sent it to me. Wasn't she just a sweetheart? Thank you, Dawn! It made my day.

Car & Neck Updates

Car Update
I took the car to a mechanic to have it checked out. Alternator – Good. Starter – Good. Battery – Good. He *thinks* possibly the trunk may have been left open which caused the battery to drain down. There’s a sensor in the trunk that’s supposed to let me know it’s open. The trunk could’ve been closed enough to latch and not set off the sensor, but not closed enough to shut off the light in the trunk which would drain the battery. While I am relieved to know nothing is wrong with the car, I am paranoid that the trunk isn’t closed.

Neck Update #3
I’m still going to the chiropractor for my neck. Wed night’s visit did wonders. Within a couple hours, I was finally able tip my head to the right with very little pain. Day by day it’s getting better. I am still doing the ice/heat therapy at home, as well as exercises to build up the muscle strength. I have another appointment tomorrow.

Neck Update #2

I’m sure you’ve seen the cartoon with the cat standing there minding his own business. Then the dog sneaks up behind the cat and barks. Next thing you know the cat has its claws sunk into the ceiling, hanging upside down, holding on for dear life!

I had another appointment with the chiropractor Monday. Ice and electro-therapy first to loosen up the muscles. Ahh… Felt great. Adjustments to my spine went fairly well. Time to turn over for the neck adjustment. It went fairly well until he started feeling up the right side of my neck. It all happened so fast! He pressed on THAT spot and I about flew off the table and hit the ceiling… just like the cat! I must’ve scared the doc cuz he jumped back with his hands in the air. Breathing heavily and tears filling my eyes, I apologized. He said there’s still a knot of muscles on the side of my neck, but everything moved much better than on Sat. I have another appointment tonight.

I can almost turn my head all the way to the right, but I still can’t tip my head very far to the right. Try as I might, I can’t get it there. Continued heat/cold therapy at home and I’m suppose to rest as much as possible. I had a hard time doing my hair this morning before work.

Neck Update

My sister is such a dear. When I told her what had happened, she said: "Why didn't you call me?" I just LOL'd and asked her what she thought she'd do for me at 6am. (Moral support?) Besides, I wasn't bleeding and nothing was broken and I didn't think she'd appreciate a phone call at 6am. But it's the thought that counts, right?

Yesterday, my visit to the chiropracter proved to be very painful!! He tried to do an adjustment but it was so painful that he had me do ice and electro-therapy first. Do you think my foot flinging up into the air when he tried to do an adjustment had something to do with his wanting the therapy first? We tried it a second time and it was so painful it brought tears to my eyes! Breathing heavy, tears rolling out of my eyes, it was all I could do to keep from outright sobbing.

I managed to do something to the muscles in my neck. The combination of the two falls has caused the muscles to spasm so much that they are "gripping" my neck and upper back vertebrae and not allowing them to move. I can't tip my head to the right, and yesterday I couldn't turn to the right very far. I go back to the chiro again on Monday afternoon. Meantime, I am to put ice on it, alternated with hot shower focused on my neck. I did that twice yesterday.

The chiropracter told me to take it easy over the weekend. What?! I had a ton of things I wanted to get done: ebay packages need to be mailed, shopping for Freedom framing materials, house cleaning, notes for class need to be typed up, and have to go into work.

I did go shopping, but my neck was killing me by the time I got home. The rest of the day was shot as far as doing anything.

Today, I can turn a bit better but still can't tip my head to the right. I have to go into work for a few hours, so I hope that goes OK.

Pain In The Neck

Three days ago I fell UP the stairs and slammed my hand/wrist into the landing. My wrist hurt a little and I didn't give it much thought. After all my name is "Grace".. LOL

Yesterday, I woke up and the side of my neck hurt, like I'd slept on it wrong. As the day went on, it didn't get better. Not even after taking an Aleve. By evening, the base of my neck was all tensed up. I put some ice on it and went to bed.

I woke up this morning, feeling better. Only a little pain on the side of my neck. As I was walking down the stairs at 6am, my foot slipped and I fell down the last three, landing on my rear end!

I felt my spine jam up to my skull and the pain on the side of my neck was excrutiating! I fell forward and just stayed there for about 5 minutes, all bunched up, breathing heavily, waiting for the pain to subside. My head felt like 20 lbs on top of my shoulders! I managed to get up, and was a bit lightheaded! Since it was 6am, I couldn't call the chiro office. So, I took some ibuprofen and got an ice pack.

I can't even tip my head toward my right side. I do have a chiro appt... Hopefully, it will help.

I Am Cursed

Thinking I'd be quite efficient before class, I first went to Admissions to pick up the spring schedule. Then I went to the library to get a newer Writing Style Guide, since the one I had is from 1992. With the advent of the internet (Thanks Al Gore!), I'm sure a few things have changed in the guide.

Proud of my accomplishments, I walked from Bldg M to Bldg N (Yes, they are actually named that.) I knew it wasn't going to be a pretty sight when I felt my shoe roll off a twig and my ankle twisted. Down like a rock I went, my left knee slamming into the cold, hard concrete. Recovering quickly *look around to see who saw me* and what is the first thing I see? A LARGE study group just inside the door of the building I'm going into! Not a one of them had a horrified look on their face, or were looking at me... So I'm guessing either they didn't see my graceful fall, or they didn't give a flip.

After dropping my backpack off at the classroom, I headed to the restroom to survey the damage. Dang, it burned! Much to my dismay, I had once again ruined another pair of work slacks. There was a 3½" tear in the knee of my black cords. Wincing, I looked beneath the shredded fabric. Yup... Did a number. Anyone get the number of that truck? I had an abrasion a bit smaller than the size of a quarter... no bandages, no way to clean it up properly. Maybe I should start carrying a first aid kit in my backpack. I have everything else in there!

I am cursed with clumsiness. I've been this way since I was a child. At 80, I will still be this way. With my luck, at that age I'd probably fall and break a kneecap! *sigh*

Weekend Update & SBQ's

Happy 4th of July! I pinched a nerve in my back below the shoulder blade. How fun is that?! I spent the evening talking with a special friend. That was much more fun.

My sister is 3 years younger than me. Like all little sisters, she was a pain in my rear. Who would've thought that when we became adults, we'd actually get along? LOL This past weekend, the two of us took a trip together to Schaumburg, which is a suburb of Chicago. It's home of Woodfield Mall, the 3rd largest shopping mall in the country.

On the way to Schaumburg, we stopped at an LNS where I got WDW Old Glory and she bought two beaded scissor cases and a scissor fob kit. Her idea was to make me a beaded kit for Christmas. Although, she now says she never told me "which" Christmas it will be. This was after she spent 3 hours sorting beads. The scissor fob kit? Well, that was for me to stitch for her because she liked the SB fob I made and now she wants one for her scissors.

After spending 20+ minutes waiting in the toll booth line, I took an exit to use the facilities. Keep in mind, I'd been there on more than one occassion. Well, this time there was construction and I missed the detour sign. Next thing I know, we are going BACK the way we came. My sister looks at the heavy traffic on the other side of the interstate (The side we had *just* gone though) and made a few choice comments and tried to convince me to use the "No U-Turn" exits rather than finding an off-ramp to turn around. "No. Yes. No. You wimp. I am not pulling out in front of all that traffic going 80mph." LOL! Farther and farther we go in the wrong direction. Traffic on the other side had thinned out, so I took the plunge and used the "No U-Turn" and told her she was paying the ticket if we got caught! Then we spent another 20 minutes getting through the toll booth for the 2nd time. "Yes, we're so charitable that we'd like to pay twice." After this incident, she decided she'd had enough and took a nap. As we got closer to Chicago, I started to look for the exit we need to take. Next thing I know, I'm driving over top of the road we needed to be one. Do you think there was an exit I could take to get back? Noooooo. That didn't stop me from trying, though. Finally, my sister woke up and asked where we were at. In an irritated voice, I told her I missed the exit and we were near O'Hare Airport -- which was WAAAAYYY south of where we were supposed to be. Her bright idea was to pull into the O'Hare oasis and get turned around. Rational idea, but there's only one way in and one way out that points you in the same direction you were going when you came in. No turning around. So then, I decided it was time to ask for directions. We entered the oasis and approached two people at the cell phone booth we thought might be intelligent. They work there, right? They should know, right? Wrong. The one clerk was on his cell phone talking to his buddy... actually ASKS his buddy for directions on our behalf. 10 minutes later, he says... Sorry, we don't know. Grrr! Next stop: the gas station. Now that little fellow was helpful. Unfortunately, we had to go way farther south before we could get turned around and work our way back to Schaumburg. We made it though. Finally!

While in the burbs, we went to a JoAnn Fabrics Superstore. The next day was spent at Barnes & Noble stitching, beading, and looking at books/magazines. I caved in and bought one of those British magazines. It was a fun weekend.

On Monday, the remainder of my order from 123stitch arrived. I only placed the order over 3 weeks ago! At least now I can finish up my SS package and send it on it's way.

What do you do with your charts once you've stitched them? Do you keep them or dispose of them? If you keep them, do you organize them in away that is different from the way you keep your unstitched charts?

I dispose of the work copy since it's marked up. I file the original with the rest of my charts, in nor particular order.

What is the biggest mishap you have had with your stitching material (i.e. spillages)?

Luckily, I haven't had many mishaps. I think once (a long time ago) some ice tea got spilled on a piece, but I rinsed it right away and there were no remnants of stains.

Sleep Deprived

<-------- AIN'T SHE CUTE?!?

What’s new with me? Trying to keep my patootie warm, that’s what! I got out of bed to be greeted with 5 below zero temps today. I don’t think Celeste even wanted to go outside this morning to do her thing. Brrr! At least the sun is shining, though! There’s nothing worse than a cold, gray winter days.

Work has been a pain in the rear. Over a month and a half ago, I scheduled two separate weeks of vacation. The work I do is time sensitive, so it has to get out almost as soon as I get the data. There are two other women who do the same type of work, who are supposed to cover for me when I take time off. Well... One of them refuses. This has management in an uproar because the three of us “can’t seem to cooperate” and get my client work covered. There are only two days out of the five I am gone that is going to affect the other two women. Yet one of them claims it will put her WAY behind. Give me a break! Now, I’m being made to feel like the bad guy because I want to take time off. Not only that, one of the bosses told one of the ladies that if we can’t cooperate, they’ll just get rid of that kind of client work. WHHHAT?! I woke up at 2am this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep for over 2 hours because this bothered me so much. *sigh*

Last night while washing dishes, a glass broke and I ended up slicing the side of my hand near my pinky finger. I bled like a stuck pig! It has that burning hurt today. Of course it's on my right hand -- the one I write with. Makes it difficult to write anything.

On a better note, a bunch of ladies at a branch office are getting together for a catered lunch and ornament exchange. This will be the first year our office will be included. There will games and prizes, too. Sounds like fun!

My weekend will be filled with more baking, shopping for my Mom’s birthday and Christmas present, cleaning, and getting two new tires for my car.

That’s all for now...