I Love A Rainy Night

This afternoon when I heard rain on the roof shortly before leaving the office, I couldn't help but smile.  I love gray, rainy days.

I love to be at home during a thunderstorm, curled up in the recliner, knitting in my lap, Tilly TabbyCat beside me, remote control and a hot cup of tea at my side.  I know I'm in the minority on this one; most folks prefer bright sunshine.  Not me.  Give me a good drizzly day any ol' time.  :-)

I should have known it would be rainy this week.  Actually it started a little later than usual, since this is the week of the Virginia Highlands Festival.  It's normally really hot and really rainy during that week each year.

Sorry, visitors and vendors.....I still prefer the rain!

A Good Thing About Tuesday

It's been a rough couple of weeks in my little corner of the world.  I won't belabor the bad stuff, just trust me.  So, when I got in bed last night I promised myself that I would have a better attitude today.  "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," and all that.

So, I've made a real effort this morning to find something good in today.  Here it is:  At least it's not Monday anymore.

*LOL*  Make it a good day, folks!

Just Another Day in Paradise

I wish I had something wonderful to write about today, but it was just another Tuesday.  I awoke with the knowledge that my sore back (I injured it slightly on Saturday; nothing serious, I'll just be uncomfortable for a few days) had not improved.

I also knew that it was going to be a particularly busy, unpleasant day at the office.  My appetite wasn't very good, so I didn't have a good breakfast.  I had a bright spot at lunchtime, watching part of "Endeavour" on my Kindle Fire during my break.

The afternoon was long and relatively stressful, so I was relieved when quitting time finally rolled around.

The best part of my day was the enthusiastic greeting I received from Tilly TabbyCat when I unlocked the door.  After I had dinner, she and I settled into the recliner while I knit for a bit while watching "Chasing Amy" on Amazon Prime.  (I'd never seen it, even though Kevin Smith is one of my guilty pleasures.)

Exhaustion finally got the best of me, and now I'm in bed checking out a few things online before settling in with another episode of "Endeavour".  I'm behind and want to get caught up before PBS takes the videos off their website.  (I *heart* you, PBS, and am very sorry I can't see one of your affliates with my antenna.  *sniffle*)

So, my less-than-stellar Tuesday comes to an end.  Tomorrow will be better.  Right?

Another New Toy

You've probaby noticed that I've not been blogging much lately....I blame my Kindle Fire.  It's terrific for Facebooking, web surfing, playing games, Skype, etc., but I'm not fond of long text entries using the onscreen keyboard.  It works fine, mind you, but I'm unbelievably slow using it.

So, I bought myself a bluetooth keyboard which arrived by UPS just a few minute ago.  Hooray!  Now I can type again!  *LOL*

Therefore, you may be hearing from me more often.  Not that you've been missing much.  Life is as usual with one happy exception:  Tilly has made herself quite at home in my life, and we've become bosom buddies.  The little cat who seemed standoffish in the beginning has become a very affectionate little companion.

This evening I'm having some back pain (overextended it Saturday night putting some things away in the closet like a dunce), so I'll make this a quick entry.  More later when I'm a bit more comfortable.

Aren't new toys the BEST?  :-)

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Chantilly TabbyCat ("Tilly")

Meet Chantilly TabbyCat, who will be called "Tilly".  She's a lovely little girl, about 6 months old, who came into my home Thursday evening.

Here's how it came to pass:  those of you who know me remember that I was devastated when my mini-dachsie, The Infamous MeggieDog, passed away after a long and happy life.  I honestly didn't think I'd ever have another pet because it caused me such heartache to lose her.

Several friends and coworkers had offered me cats and dogs at one time or another.  I always replied politely that I appreciated their thinking of me, but I just wasn't ready for another pet.  "Maybe when I retire," I'd say.

Then last Tuesday one of my coworkers came to me and asked if I'd ever gotten myself another pet.  I told her I hadn't, that I just hadn't been able to do it yet.  She told me that her son and his girlfriend had adopted four kittens, all under a year old.  Then his girlfriend's cat allergy became so bad that they needed to find homes for the kittens.  My coworker had taken the cats into her home until forever homes could be found.  She already had four cats of her own, so having EIGHT in the house was really more than she could deal with.  She asked if she could bring photos over for me to see.  I had grave doubts, but agreed to look at the photos.

There were 2 girls and 2 boys.  All four were perfectly adorable, but I kept being drawn back to the photo of this little gray tabby with gorgeous eyes.  I learned that she was about six months old, had all her vaccinations, and had been tested for feline leukemia and feline AIDS (which I didn't even know about!).

So, I agreed that I would take this little sweetie and give her a good, loving home.

She arrived in my office late Thursday afternoon, just before the end of my work day, in a pet carrier.  She seemed a bit bewildered by the strange surroundings but quickly calmed down.

As I drove her home, she actually fell asleep!  I'd already prepared one of my bathrooms for her with food, water, litter box, and a bed.  I opened the carrier door; she stepped out, looked around for a moment, looked at me, then hopped in the litter box and made use of it.  One hurdle out of the way!

She nibbled a bit of kitten chow and sniffed her water dish.  Another hurdle.

I left her in the bathroom while I had dinner, then let her out to explore her new home.  Everything was going really well; she would check out a new area, then come back by my recliner for me to give her a quick stroke down her back.

It occurred to me that I should check to see how much slack was in the collar she was wearing, so I slipped a couple of fingers under the collar and leaned forward to take a look.  What I'd forgotten was that my recliner makes a bit of a banging noise when you lower the footrest on it.  It banged, and the next thing I knew I was holding an empty cat collar and bleeding from a two inch scratch on my hand.  Poor baby!!

She'd run under the couch, so I just left her there, speaking softly to her from time to time.  When bedtime came, she was still under the couch, so I went to bed and left the bedroom door open in case she cried so I'd hear her.

About 12:30 I heard my Roomba start running (it was against a wall in my bedroom).  The poor kitty had apparently come in and decided to check it out, stepping on the start button!  I turned the Roomba off and settled it back into its dock.  The kitten was nowhere to be seen.  I crawled back into bed and went back to sleep.  During the night I woke up a few times when she crawled up onto the bed to see what I was doing.  As soon as she saw that I was awake, she'd hop down and go under the bed.

The next morning, she was doing fine but still wouldn't get close to me.  After all, she thought I'd tried to kill her with a recliner!  Luckily, by the time I got home that afternoon, she was allowing me to pet her again.  She was still a bit cautious, but at least she wasn't under the couch.  She quickly warmed up to me, though, and slept next to me in bed that night.

And so we have become great friends.  :-)  She was up early this morning, playing and watching me with great interest as I went about some household chores.  She helped me make the bed and fold a load of towels.  After a few hours of busy play, she decided it was nap time and disappeared.  I let her get settled in and went to see where she was napping.  She's under my bed, catnip mouse at her side, happily sleeping.

I hope you all have as good a Saturday as Tilly and I are having.  :-)

Cutting the Cord

People who know me and my love of television and movies probably won't believe this, but I called to have my television cable disconnected.  Yes.  Disconnect.  Over, done with, gone.

Why did I do this, you ask?  Because I'm watching very little broadcast television these days.  Everyone is, of course, entitled to their own taste in television viewing, and I'll constantly defend your right to watch whatever you want to watch, I swear.  But as for myself, I don't like "reality" television.  I don't like dancing and vocal competitions.  I don't like shows about people who expose their children to beauty pageants and screaming dance instructors for the sake of "fame and fortune".  And I really, REALLY don't like shows that show the worst possible view of people who live in my beloved South.  (Does anyone actually think that Honey Boo-Boo and her family should be on television....honestly?)

So, a few weeks ago I kept a log of how much broadcast television I actually watched in a week.  It was very, very little.  Don't misunderstand....I watch television, but it's almost all streamed through the computer.  I subscribed to Netflix, but recently switched to Amazon Prime after I purchased a Kindle Fire.

The only thing I really watched on cable that I can't get online is local news.  So, I bought myself a $35 indoor antenna and hooked it up.  Guess what?  I get 13 channels OTA (over the air).  Included in the channels I receive are these networks: NBC, CW, CBS, ABC, FOX and TNN.  I also get a 24/7 weather channel and a couple of "retro" stations that will satisfy my need for the occasional episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

And what do these 13 channels cost me?  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.

I only have two regrets:

1. I'll need to learn to sit through commercials again since I can't really justify the cost of the TiVo subscription.  Oh well.  Maybe I can find another way to "pause", too.
2. I don't get a PBS station.  But, I can watch the PBS shows I like on their website.

My internet service will cost me a small bit more each month since my cable and internet were "bundled", but my net savings after giving up cable and TiVo will be about $75 a month.  Sure, $900 a year isn't going to make a huge difference, but that's $900 I can use for something I'll actually USE.

I have a second indoor antenna ordered to put on the small television I keep in the bedroom; it should be delivered tomorrow.  I wonder if the reception on that one will be as good as the one in the living room.  I hope so, but actually as long as it will pick up my local NBC affiliate so I can watch the news while I'm getting ready for work I'll be happy.

Things I Wonder About

Such a busy, busy month it's been!  My Aussie family arrived on March 28, which also happened to be my parents' 60th wedding anniversary.

My visitors were able to stay until April 19, and we had a perfectly wonderful time!  My sweet six-month-old grandson, Nio, seemed to grow daily while they were here.  In three short weeks, he cut a tooth (his second), learned to sit up unsupported, learned to scoot backward, learned that standing up is more fun than sitting down, and began to call me "Nan-Nan".  *sigh*  I sure miss them!!

I was able to take some time off and worked only 5 days during the time they were here.  Of course, I've paid dearly for that since I returned to work Monday but I'll try not to whine too much about that.  *LOL*

I'm awfully tired this evening, so this long-overdue blog entry will be regrettably brief.  Before I close, though, I find myself wondering about a few things:

1. Will Nio recognize my voice the next time I speak to him on the phone?  (maybe)
2. Will I cry if he doesn't?  (probably)
3. Is my Aussie family having fun on their trip to Fiji?  (I hope so)
4. Does every owner of a Kindle Fire love theirs as much as I do mine?  (probably)
5. Will I regret my recent decision to order a set of plum-colored luggage?  (I hope not)
6. Will I have enough hand-dyed yarn to complete the entrelec beret I'm knitting?  (I really, REALLY hope so)

Okay, enough wondering for tonight.  :-)

Not the Flu, But Still No Fun

I'd been sick all weekend....fever, chills, body aches, headache, general yuckiness.  I was still too sick to go to work yesterday.  This morning I went in for just a few hours to get one task completed and pick up some work to take home in case a predicted snowstorm actually hits us tonight.

By the time I left the office I felt so crummy that I went by the local urgent care center.  I was running a fever, so they tested me for flu.  It wasn't the flu, thank goodness, but I do have a bad sinus infection.  Antibiotics for me.  *bleah*

I went by the drugstore to pick up my medication, came home, and climbed into the recliner with knitting and watched TiVo all afternoon, catching up on stuff I hadn't felt like watching earlier.  It's raining now.....a lovely dreary steady rain.  Makes me feel all cozy and safe in my little corner of the world.

And so, I'm going to take my medicine, sip some hot soothing tea, and call it a night fairly early this evening.

Here's hoping you're all well and safe on this rainy Tuesday.

It's only TUESDAY??

This has been a long week.  A long, ugly week.  And this is only Tuesday.  *sigh*

Okay, so what's been wrong with this week?

1. Work stuff that I'll refrain from discussing on the internet, since Big Brother may be watching (for those of you who do not understand that reference, please read the excellent book "1984" by George Orwell).
2. Sinus problems that have been dragging on for weeks.
3. Exhaustion caused by items 1 and 2 above.
4. Nothing tastes right; probably caused by item 2 above.
5. I've had a sudden attack of "I hate my hair" syndrome.  Not unusual.  This happens from time to time.
6. I need a snow day.....really, really, REALLY need a snow day.  And the best we're going to get are a few snow showers Thursday.  Phooey.

Now, what's been right with this week?

1. Louise has been in the hospital, but is improving and will hopefully be home very soon.
2. Daddy's improving a little more each day.
3. I finished knitting a scarf for Mom on Sunday.
4. I learned how to crochet one of those Sashay scarves last night from a YouTube video (I've already knitted several, but hadn't learned to crochet one).
5. It's been a gray, rainy day.  I love gray, rainy days.
6. Dessert tonight will be a pear.
7. I'm close to finishing another pair of socks.  I've nearly finished the heel, and the rest of it is just knitting my way up the leg until I run out of yarn.  Good television knitting.

Okay, good outweighs bad, as it usually does.  Sometimes it's just a little difficult to see until you actually make a list.

Maybe it won't be such a bad week after all.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Adios, Taco Bell

I used to enjoy Taco Bell.  I never really considered it to be "Mexican food", but it was okay for fast food.  For years I was a fan of their steak taco salad.

Then they started putting rice in their taco salads.  Don't get me wrong; I actually LIKE rice.  But I don't like rice in Mexican dishes.  I especially don't like it when rice is used as a filler.  I learned that I could order a taco salad and request that the rice be omitted.  I got along with that pretty well for awhile.

Then I developed an aversion to meat.  This was a real shock to me, because I'd always loved beef.  I mean really loved it.  Anything from filet mignon to ground round.  Loved it.  But a health issue that caused me to be in severe pain for several months robbed me of my joy of meat.  Not just beef; I couldn't eat chicken any more either.  I'd been allergic to seafood for years, so I found myself depending on peanut butter and legumes to get my protein.

You'd be amazed how difficult it is to find fast food that doesn't involve either meat, chicken, or fish.  Taco Bell's bean burrito became my go-to fast food.  This afternoon I went through the drive-thru to get myself a bean burrito after a particularly rough day.  I wanted a treat.

I was happy to see a black bean burrito on the menu.  I really like black beans, and thought this sounded wonderful.  When I got home I unwrapped the paper from the burrito and took a big bite.....of mexican rice.  *bleah*

And so after years of enjoying quasi-Mexican fast food, I bid farewell to Taco Bell.

I'll miss you, Taco Bell.....it was fun while it lasted.

Update on Daddy

Night before last, Daddy had the worst pain he's had since injuring his back.  I suspect that if he'd been taking pain meds regularly after his surgery, this wouldn't have happened.  He began taking them on a regular schedule yesterday, and today he was much, much better.

I went to visit him and Mom today and had the opportunity to see his two tiny incisions.  Each has one tiny stitch; if the stitches weren't there, I'd have had trouble finding the incisions!  I'm always amazed  by the advances in medicine.

He's still tired, of course, but his pain level seems to have subsided appreciably.  I'm very grateful.

Quite a Week

It's been a very busy, tense week in my little world.  On Tuesday, Daddy finally had his long-awaited much-needed back surgery.  He had a repair of a compression fracture, and all seems to have gone very well, thank goodness.

The hospital visit, though, was less than stellar.  Don't get me wrong; he received excellent care.  But he'd been told to arrive on the morning of his surgery at 11:00 a.m. with surgery to begin at 1:00 p.m.  As usual, we arrived a little early, around 10:30 a.m.  They took him back to the short-stay surgery area right away and put him in a hospital gown.  Then they left him on the gurney in a curtained area until AFTER 4:00 P.M.!

Keep in mind that he'd been admitted for back surgery.  Then left ON HIS BACK on a gurney for nearly SIX HOURS.  Not good.  He was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty before they even got him to surgery.

The procedure went beautifully, but because it was so late in the day when they finished it was decided that he should stay overnight for observation.  We learned that "overnight" is a relative term.  By the time he was released and we'd picked up a prescription for an antibiotic that he was given, it was 2:00 p.m. before we got him home.  Nearly a full day after we expected to be able to get him home.

He was tired, irritated, and suffering from nicotine withdrawal by the time we got him out of the hospital, but luckily his pain level was not as severe as he expected.

This afternoon he was doing better, still having a little post-op pain, but much better than yesterday.  I can already see an improvement in the way he holds his body, so I'm hopeful that the procedure has actually helped his problem.

What a week.  I'm glad tomorrow is Friday!

A Busy Morning

I've been a slug all week. I'm still recovering from a vile sinus infection, so I've been really tired.  The stress level at the office was even higher than usual this week, so that added to the fatigue.  Last night I actually fell asleep in my recliner and woke just after 4:00 a.m. with a vile migraine and a fever blister.  Happy Saturday.  *bleah*

I had a lot of housework to do since I was too tired to do much of anything in the evenings after work this week, so I'd made myself a "To-Do" list for today.  It was so long it made me tired just to READ it. So, I decided to just take each task on the list one at a time and work in 20/10 increments (20 minutes working/10 minute break).  I'd just work until I ran out of steam and quit, no matter where I was on the list.

I did pretty well for about 3 hours, then just ran down. That's okay, though. I checked off several tasks, and maybe after lunch and a little nap I can check off a few more.

For now, though, a bit of knitting and Netflix sounds pretty good.  :-)

My Dad finally got a surgery scheduled to repair the compression fracture in his back.  He'll have surgery next Tuesday; we're very hopeful that it will help alleviate the pain he's been suffering for the past several months.  Keep a good thought!  The procedure is interesting, and minimally invasive, so his recovery time should be relatively short.  Mom asked the PA how long it would be before Daddy could get on a treadmill, and he said probably a week or so after surgery.  I asked Mom if she'd checked to see how long it would be before he could drive, but she'd forgotten that. I suspect Daddy'll be much more anxious to drive than to get on the treadmill.  *LOL*

Sinus Headaches Suck....Just Sayin'

About this time last week I awoke with a miserable sinus headache.  Over the course of the next few days it never went away.  It sometimes lessened in intensity, but sometimes it triggered a migraine.  My regular migraine medication (Maxalt) would help the migraine, but the sinus headache remained.

Yesterday it was more intense than it had been previously.  Feeling truly crappy, I dragged myself to the office.  As the day wore on, I felt worse and worse.  Finally, at 3:00 pm I gave up and turned in a sick leave request for the remaining 90 minutes of my workday.

I drove to my neighborhood Walgreen's and purchased over-the-counter sinus medication and nasal spray.  When I got home, I checked in with Mom and Dad, took a dose of the sinus medicine, sprayed my nose, nibbled a few crackers, and went immediately to bed.

I slept for a few hours, then awoke for awhile in the middle of the night.  (Just in case you wondered, there's not much to watch on TV in the middle of the night.)  I finally dozed off again and slept until 5:00 this morning.

I'm feeling a bit better.  The headache has subsided, but I feel a little dragged out this morning.  Several area school systems are on an altered schedule or closed today because of weather conditions.  Oh, how I wish we were on a delay.....I really dread getting out in that cold breeze this morning!

Okay, enough whining.....time to get in the shower and prepare to face the day!

Weird, Weird Weather

Okay, keep in mind that it's January 30 and I live in northeast Tennessee.  When I left for work this morning, I carried a lightweight jacket over my arm.  That's right, in JANUARY I left the apartment WITHOUT A COAT.  It was in the low 60's, and the air had a strange, tropical feel.

The wind was beginning to kick up a bit, and as I looked to the west I saw that cloud cover was beginning to skitter across the moon.  My commute in the morning is mostly west to east (meaning that on a clear day I'm driving into the sun both on my way to work and on my way home in the afternoon).  As I drove to work this morning, I saw scattered clouds in front of me, but in my rear view mirror I saw an ominously heavy mass of dark clouds.

Just as I arrived at work, a light sprinkle of rain began to fall.  I was happy to get inside before heavier rain arrived.

We're under a tornado watch until 1:00 pm today, then the temperatures are supposed to fall drastically with a chance of snow tonight.

So, the moral of the story is:  If you don't like the weather, wait a couple of hours.  It'll change.

Ever Have One of Those Weeks?

I've been trying to get rid of a headache since last Friday.  Well, the truth is that I'd probably had it for a day or two before that, but I've become so accustomed to having a mild sinus headache that I don't even notice it until it's gone.  Winter sucks.

Yesterday I thought I'd finally shaken the headache.  I wasn't WELL, but I was much better.  Then, wouldn't you know it, I got behind a school bus on my street, and the diesel fumes touched off my headache again.

Today it's dull.....bearable but just irritating.  And first thing this morning I had to go have blood drawn for my regular checkup next week.  I have a dime-sized bruise on the inside of my elbow to prove it.  *ick*

When I got to the office I found out there'd been a minor disaster.  Nothing that can't be fixed, but bothersome none the less.  The rest of the day turned out to be a series of minor irritants.  A bit like a swarm of tiny gnats on a warm summer evening.

This may turn into an evening that involves taking a long, relaxing shower, sipping a hot mug o' tea, and slipping into bed early with my Kindle.

Oh, yes, that sounds quite lovely.  The best thing to do with a crummy day is to end it.  Good evening, all, and I'm hoping for a better tomorrow!  :-)

I Should Be Ashamed

I can't believe how lax I've become about blogging.  I'm always notoriously slow about correspondence, but DANG this has gotten out of hand.

Yesterday an old friend mentioned on Facebook that she enjoyed reading my blog.  Then I thought, "Oh, wow, I wonder how long it's been since I blogged."  Too long, that's how long.

It's not difficult for me to blog.  In fact, I rather enjoy dribbling thoughts out onto the composition screen.  So why has it suddenly turned into blogging once every month or two?

1. I've been really busy.  Baloney.  I'm always really busy.  I always find time to do things I enjoy.
2. I've not been feeling well.  True enough.  But that usually doesn't stop me from blogging either.
3. There's nothing interesting in my life to write about.  Heaven knows THAT has never stopped me from blogging.

So what's the deal?  Truth is, I have no idea.  I think I've simply gotten out of the habit of blogging.  I'm writing this entry during my lunch break at work, but that isn't always possible.

I think I need to just set aside blogging time, just like I set aside time to do everything else in my life.

Here's hoping I'll be back much sooner than has been usual for me lately.  Have a great week, everyone!

TWO MONTHS??

I can't believe I've not blogged in two months.  Even for someone as pokey about blogging as I am, that's pretty extreme!

And oh my, it's been an eventful two months!  The most important news comes first:  on October 11, 2012, my handsome grandson, Nio, was born!  His arrival has been long-anticipated, and we're all so very grateful that he arrived safe and sound!

Isn't he adorable?  (Not that I'm biased or anything....*LOL*)  Nio lives in Australia, so you can imagine how much I'm aching to get my hands on this wonderful little guy.  Plans are being made for Nio and his mommies to come visit me next Easter, so keep your fingers crossed.  :-)

Work has been as hectic as usual; I find myself coming home from the office and piling into the recliner, where I often nap for a bit before going to bed.  I did manage to get some rest over the Thanksgiving holiday, which helped considerably.

I'm much further behind in my Christmas knitting than I intended to be at this point.  I really MUST get more done in the next week or so.  When I'm as tired as I've been lately, it's hard for me to pick up the needles when I get in the recliner.

Enough whining.  I will now close my blog entry and KNIT.  :-)   Hope you all had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Talk Radio and Other Stuff

I was a devoted listener of the "Bob and Tom Show" during my morning commute for several years.  Then, my local station (Z Rock 99.3 if you'd like to write them a letter of protest) discontinued Bob and Tom and starting running something they call the Chainsaw Circus.  Maybe I'm just getting old (okay, so I AM getting old), but that's just not my cup of tea.  Still in mourning for Bob and Tom (and especially Chick McGee), I scanned the FM dial for something else to listen to on my way to the office and happened across a familiar voice.

It took only moments for me to identify the voice of Steve Hawkins.  Hooray!  I was a long-time fan of Steve when he was the news anchor of WCYB-TV (and frankly think they need him back DESPERATELY), and was happy to hear his voice at 92.9 on my radio dial.

As I listened to the show this morning on my way to the office, it was "Plug Something Wednesday", when callers can call in and plug a local event for free.  One of the events plugged was the "Fall Folk Arts Festival" at the Exchange Place this weekend.

My parents and I have said for a long time that we wanted to go to the Exchange Place "one of these days".  Well, if the weather cooperates, I'm hopeful that we'll finally go there this weekend.  Admission is only $1 for adults, and it looks like there will be lots going on there during the Festival.  Lots of demonstrations of skills that were necessities back in the 1850s, not to mention the anticipation of the aromas of Brunswick stew and apple butter being stirred over open fires....fun!!

I personally am looking forward to demonstrations of spinning and weaving, but you know how I am about fiber crafts.  *LOL*  They also have some Cotswold sheep that I look forward to seeing.

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

TGIF

Yes, I know it was a short work week because of Labor Day, but still.....TGIF.  I had taken Thursday and Friday off last week, so I had a 5-day weekend, but still....TGIF.

I returned to work on Tuesday, rested (no headaches for FIVE WHOLE DAYS!!) and resolved to have a good, productive week.  I was determined to meet the oncoming stressors with calm reserve and deal with them one at a time, refusing to be overwhelmed.  My good intentions lasted until about 8:45 that morning.

By yesterday afternoon, my migraine was so severe that I had to leave a couple of hours early.  Luckily it was cloudy yesterday; I don't think I could have driven myself home if the sun had been out.  I was violently ill by the time I got home and could barely call Mom and Dad to let them know I'd arrived home safely.  I took my migraine medication, crawled into bed and slept for two hours.

When I woke up, the medication had worked its magic.  I wasn't well yet, but my head was numb.  Sometimes numb is enough to get me through.  I'd been too sick to eat lunch, so I steamed a potato for supper.  I called Mom again to let her and Daddy know that I was feeling better, then ate my potato in the recliner while watching a show I'd TiVo'd earlier in the week.

At 7:30 I felt the heachache creeping back in, so I took another Maxalt and went back to bed.  At one point (still pretty early in the evening), my downstairs neighbors woke me with a VERY loud television in their bedroom.  I stuck in my foam earplugs and went back to sleep.  I woke at 4:00 this morning, finished a book I'd been reading, ate a bit of breakfast, and logged into Facebook to see what's going on in my friends' worlds.

Now it's time to shower and dress and face another day at the office.

I'd rather have a root canal.