The Heart of the Matter

First, big thanks for your prayers for our DIL's daddy!

G'daughter Sarah (who drove down from North Carolina) wrote on her Facebook page:

"Praise be to God for seeing my grandfather through triple bypass surgery. All of the prayers, well wishes and positive thoughts have been felt and are very much appreciated. Please keep them coming now and in the days and weeks ahead."

Meanwhile, back at the ranch …

… I'm cautiously optimistic.

Tom's no longer talking about giving away/selling his 'stuff.'  In fact, he came back from visiting a friend yesterday with a new (to him) plane, salvaged landing gear, etc.

And when it's too wet and dreary outdoors ...

I'm thinking …

When creating my vision board, I should have been more specific about  putting 'road trips' out in the Universe.

Gosh, I used to love spending hours at a time behind the wheel! I even entertained the idea of piloting an 18-wheeler. 

Well, between UAB and Opelika (pulmonologist) - not so much anymore.  I suspect Tom and I've begun to exhibit symptoms of 'carcolepsy': An affliction that makes some people fall asleep as soon as the car starts moving."   

(Thanks Susan!)  

I've decided …

To postpone my stress test … perhaps indefinitely.
I've not heard anything amiss about my echo last week.  Plus. I know this makes no sense whatsoever, but I can't shake the fear terror of experiencing a heart attack while on their treadmill.  (As some of you know, that's what happened to my former husband.)

But you know … 

It's all good!  In spite of these road bumps, we're mighty fortunate to be on the receiving end of modern medicine.

On a lighter note …

About time, right?

Thanks for being here … you matter to me!
(Stay safe!)

Hugs, Myra

  

Sunday Stealing: Winter Questions

Aw, y'all talked me into it!  Thanks, Bev. :)
This week's winter questions stolen from

Want to play along?  Join in Sunday Stealing HERE.

* * *

How do you get past the gray skies during winter?

Grey skies don't really bother me. Even on days when it's far too warm, there's times I'll look up and remember my parents' saying, "That looks like a snow sky."

Do you like snow?

I love snow!

Unfortunately, it took me a long time to realize that the dry crunchy stuff we enjoyed in the Rockies is far different than say, Tom's hometown of Chicago.  (Yes, he hates the snow and ice.)

What are your favorite activities to do during the winter?  

Once upon a time … in a land far, far away.

The best day of the year was when they'd open the skating rink at the bottom of the Omega canyon bridge.

What does a perfect winter day look like to you?

Durango, CO (1982)

Nowadays?

I'm just delighted when there's no rain and temps stay below 50*

What are your favorite meals/food you enjoy eating during the winter?

I'll never turn down a hearty pork stew.  

I really need to put my reservations aside and experiment with some of the (southwest-specific) Mexican food recipes Tom so enjoyed.

What is your favorite winter holiday?

New Years Day.  No pressure, just promises.

What is your favorite pizza flavor and toppings?

Olive oil and garlic base, shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and MontAmoré®. Finished with a garlic aioli swirl and a spritz of black truffle oil. Garnished with fresh chives and shaved parmesan."

(Source: Mellow Mushroom's 'Holy Shitake')

What are some items in your daily bag/backpack?

Phone/credit card case, rose-quartz angel (gift from a former co-worker), eye drops, and 

My mother's hankie

Your favorite snacks.

Peanuts, pistachios, popcorn w/ garlic salt  ….and Bellavitano cheese when I remember to buy it!

Some foreign countries that you would like to visit?

I've been blessed to visit most of Europe, but would love to see Austria's Vienna Boys Choir.

What things remind you of home?

Thanks to my mother's passion for trading with the pueblo Indians, much of our home's décor is New Mexico pottery.

Sunday mornings before church, my father would burn pinon incense in this little kiva. 

If you have one, some items from your Amazon Wishlist.

Nope.There's little I need -- or want, at least for which I'm willing to pay retail.

What was your favorite Christmas gift?

Oh, another thing!

If you're inclined, we appreciate prayers or good thoughts for my DIL's daddy, Nook.  He suffered a heart attack Thursday morning - and, despite having pneumonia and a UTI, is scheduled for bypass surgery tomorrow morning.  

Thank you … stay safe!

Hugs, Myra

PS 

Sorry! I've no idea what's going on with the formatting, but I'm too lazy to start over. 

My Grown-up Bucket List ..... etc.

It's no secret, I'm all about fresh starts:

New Years Day … Mondays … heck, even the wonder of a sunrise.

But.  If you look close enough, even a field of new-fallen snow is bound to contain a few yellow spots.

Pretty sure it was Rick who changed his 'Bucket List' to read, 'Things I Really Want to do List.'

There, too, I first heard of something called a Vision Board.

After learning a few of you have also created Vision Boards (aka, Dream Boards), I wanted in.

It still felt like resolutions.  Plus, all those cut-outs and sticky paste. Yuk. I'd just about talked myself out of it, then happened on a website featuring do-it-yourself cyber Dream Boards.

Because it looked relatively simple -- and free, I signed up with one called Dreamitalive.com.

There's plenty of intentional phrasing to be had, sure. But I most like -- and can relate to -- visualizations.

Myra's 2020 Vision Board

Props to Martha Jane for the phrase about resolve!

On the down side, if you want to edit/adorn your 'board' that's all fee-based.  No worries. I saved my visuals to a collage at PicMonkey.  Now, I'm debating whether to have this made into a 5"x7" tile or card stock that won't get shoved aside and forgotten by St. Patrick's Day.

* * *

In other news ...

I've an unexpected favorite!

Last month 'Santa son' and family gifted me a weighted blanket. However, given (that) I'm a restless, thrash-about sleeper who hates being too warm, I was reluctant to try it.

Finally, we experienced a spell of cold weather a few days ago. Now or never!

After I wrestled its 18 lbs. onto the bed and crawled underneath, that was the first sound sleep I've enjoyed in years. Not every night, no. But my constant shifting to alleviate my hip pain has just about disappeared.

So, the girls conned me into taking them out at 3:28 this morning. Normally, I'd suck it up and put on the coffee.  Nuh-uh!  Four hours later I opened my eyes.  All cocooned, the word 'safe' popped into my mind. (Where that came from I've no idea. But I'm owning it.)  Now I can see why son, who suffers from PTSD, and DIL take theirs along when they travel.

I'm a believer!  

And that said, I believe it's time for a glass of wine!

Enjoy your Friday … stay safe out there!

Hugs, Myra   

Update

Not sure why the folks at Marriott deemed this necessary 'decor' in their guest rooms.

Probably, I'm not sophisticated enough to appreciate modern art?

Hi there!

So, up until late yesterday we still had no answers from UAB.  Naturally, I was in a funk: Couldn't book the girl's groomer, their vet appt., my hair cut (etc.) for fear we'd get The Call saying "come back tomorrow."  Picture, if you will, a duckling swimming furiously round-and-round ….. going no-where fast.

Spoiler alert:

Sweet lady phoned to ask if Tom's available Feb. 10 for another cardio cath and TEE.

(I don't know where HR finds these people, but on a customer-service scale from 1-10, I'm giving her an 11.)

* * *

Overwhelming.

You know the story of the country rube who goes to New York City?  I didn't stand on the corner with my mouth agape, but the enormity of UAB's footprint felt that way.

  

Live and learn!

While our hotel sat directly across from the hospital, it was a good hike to Tom's appointments at Kirklin -- via a maze of elevated, enclosed walkways.  Naturally, the 'dear man' refused a wheelchair and was pretty winded by the time we arrived.

Oh man!  I suspect they do everything there, save major surgery.  Signs read like a smorgasbord: Plastic surgery to the left of me, liver transplants to the right. (Seriously!)

Couldn't escape this crazy feeling I was in an episode of Grey's Anatomy … complete with a cast of young, energetic, good-looking doctors and nurses. 

After more tests, we met with the CHF cardiologist. He wasn't particularly optimistic; his accent hard to understand. But still I liked his straightforward approach.

The two surgeons we met with were more reassuring.  Unlike Dr. Asaad, they believe Tom's stenosis is more moderate v. severe.  But due to internal scarring (radiation) they're reluctant to go forward with the TAVR right away.  They were to meet with the CHF doc and promised to call in a few days.

Exhausted.

We hiked back to our hotel and wound up ordering take-out from the Chinese place across the street.  I don't remember Mongolian beef ever tasting SO good!  Except. It must have been loaded with MSG, because a little later I became really thirsty; I couldn't quench my thirst.  Yep, the next morning my face and fingers were all puffy-ugly.  (Was it worth it? You betcha!)

Best part of waking up is Folger's crystals in my cup!

So now y'all know what we know.  Just wish I could call my momma.  But it feels really good to be able to share my impressions -- even my anxieties -- here.

Thanks to Victor, I now have a new 'feel-good' song in my heart.  Want to hear it?

I double-dare you not to do a jitterbug in your chair!

Have a great Saturday, OK?  Stay safe!

Hugs, Myra

Recapping the Weekend

Good morning!

Before doing hitting the road, I'm sharing a few glimpses of life on (watery) Chapman Road.

We began Friday with what I thought would be a quick trip to Montgomery for my monthly B-12 injection.  Because the waiting room was packed I had to wait nearly an hour. Then, because I forgot to turn off my phone, I became an unwelcome center of attention.

Some months ago I downloaded the WFLA weather alert app. But the cute-sy sound selections weren't doing it for me.  What would wake me from a sound sleep?  A civil defense siren. Ya, that's the ticket!

I hadn't filtered all the settings, so (of course) it went off while I was waiting.

Oh man, you should've seen the faces. When I hastened to say, "It's just my weather app",  one lady looked like she was ready to bolt: "What does it say?"  Another, "Well, that would sure wake you up."  

We'd not visited an estate sale in ages, but spotted signs for a nearby sale … I felt the familiar tug.

Like my auld lang syne cup/bowl, this is so not me.

Yet I was inexplicably drawn  -- maybe because it matches the window treatments in the dining room. $2, mine!

On the other hand, this adorable 'bean pot' is totally me.  $2? Welcome home!

Friday night we met my funeral-home friend for supper at nearby Mexican restaurant.  I was dying to ask, but didn't dare.  Nevertheless, Beth opened: "They still haven't replaced you."  I feel sorry for her, because (she said) the stress is awful, but she's not yet eligible for Social Security. 

Thank y'all so much for your thoughts and prayers for safety!  About Noon on Saturday I finished prepping the bathroom/shelter and we began to monitor television coverage.

Poor Tom.  He still struggles to adapt to these weather patterns. Then, the meteorologist said Alabama leads the nation in tornado-related fatalities (per capita).  If given the chance, I think he'd move back to Arizona in a heartbeat.

Thank goodness, we only experienced angry winds and rainfall. Tom was horrified to see where our flag mount was bent and twisted.  It could have been so much worse.

One of my Bible-study ladies made me laugh out loud.

To protect her kids, Sally's granddaughter put them in the tub and stuck a big pot on Myla's head!

That expression on her face.  I can't even!

Then, there's the life-long Southerner:

"When there's a tornado watch, but you're ready."

Rocking those ruby slippers!

In a little while we'll drop the girls at 'camp' then drive up to Birmingham.  I'm still carrying around a Cheesecake Factory gift card that's burning a hole in my pocketbook.

I'll be reading your posts, but not sure how much responding I'll get done on my phone's itty-bitty keyboard.  Thanks for understanding!

'Til Friday ... be good, be safe!

Hugs, Myra

Feeling ...

Groovy!

Monday's Bible study.  

I'm 3rd from left, trying to keep my paper glasses in place.

Conflicted ...

Remembering my funeral-home friend talking about her church's band, I asked Tom if he'd like to go.  

Just keeping it real. I don't think either of us have ever been in a Baptist church in our lives.  Wasn't sure what to expect!  But it sure wasn't their energy and joy-filled contemporary service … so unlike the traditional, scripture-based services we attend.  The minister's message was captivating and real.  (Tom even stayed awake!)

I dearly love the folks at our church, but I'm leaning towards splitting my/our Sundays … and hope Pastor Janet doesn't catch on.

Happy …

To unwrap this new (to me) Auld Lang Syne cup! 

Actually the size of a soup bowl!

I was immediately drawn to Jon's cup when he recently shared his antique dishes.  Then, in spite of my inexplicable distaste for the color blue, he and I began an online search.  Happily, Jon was able to locate this over-size cup on eBay at a "let's do this" price.  Chili, anyone?

Excited ...

To try my hand, making collards and ham hocks later today.

While browsing the produce department yesterday, I was so curious about these huge green leafy 'things.'   When this little old lady stopped to select a bunch, I moved in. "Excuse me, but what are those?"  Startled, then a big smile."Why honey, these are collards."

She went on to explain how one goes about preparing them. Tom joined in on the conversation and the merits of ham hocks v. smoked turkey.  And that, my friends, is how we happened to become new owners of an InstaPot.

Apprehensive …

An hour ago, from our weather folks --

"All available data still points towards a significant risk of damaging wind and/or tornadoes Saturday across Alabama."

Helmets- ✔ Whistle- ✔ Closed-toe shoes- ✔
(…. and the list goes on)
Wonder if I'll ever become accustomed to these sorts of threats?

Silly ...

(Because, you know, I hate to close on a downy kind of note.)

Borrowing from a popular meme, I was intrigued by one particular poser:  "(Do you) have any idiosyncrasies?"

Couldn't think of a thing!

Then. While on a recent errand, Tom asked, "Why do you always lift your feet when we cross the railroad tracks?"

Yep, mine's an involuntary carry-over from childhood.  I'll own it! Does anyone out there still do the same?

Have yourselves a great -- safe -- Thursday!

Hugs, Myra