Archive for September 18-24, 2000Sunday, September 24, 2000 Musings of My Mind
Nut-n-Honey
That about sums up my day-- I didn't go with Brian to Costco so that I could preserve my back for going to the grocery store which required more detail. I did do the grocery store run but, that is about the extent of the excitement of my day.
Yes, life will be more exciting for me once I get through this back crisis but, I do see light at the end of the tunnel and it isn't a train that's going to cause a trainwreck so . . . we'll be moving on . . .
More if time and excitement permit. Have a good evening!
Saturday, September 23, 2000Hmmmm . . .
What is there to report to you? Well, my back is much better. In fact, that is what I concentrated on today: doing absolutely nothing except keeping heat on my back and taking the Motrin that I had left over from my oral surgery. I firmly believe that that is why my back is ever so very much better.
The downside, of course, is that as a result of my back being better, I read and finished "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier. Barbara Thompson recommends it but I didn't know that until after I had mentioned that I was reading it the other night. Excellent book. Frazier's style is interesting and one of the things that I missed and disliked about "White Oleander" was the lack of tying things together at the end of the book. Frazier's manner of tying things together was subtle but, served its purpose so that there was a neat little package at the end of the book. I liked that. (With "White Oleander", I felt like the author was in a rush to finish the book, not paying much attention to the details of how she closed it out.)
I didn't have a fire in the fireplace last night but I pulled down one of the candles that I had put on a shelf. It started out chilly this morning and I had hope of needing a fire by mid-afternoon but, it turned warm and that made the prospects of a fire, once again, look very dim.
Another slow day tomorrow probably although the weekly trip to Costco must take place. We missed last week due to camping and I think Brian may be going through withdrawal from Coke-- there's only a case left in his office!
Until tomorrow . . .
Friday, September 22, 2000The Key
Apparently, the key to getting rid of something is to surrender to it? Is anyone else confused? Yeah, okay-- my back is WAY better than it was yesterday!! I think it is the heat-- man, I just feel better all the way around. Much to Brian's relief, I could pick up the clothes from the floor of our bedroom-- I could take them off, i.e., jeans, but couldn't pick them up to put them in the laundry bag!! So anyway, I am much better and definitely on the mend!! Definitely a relief!!
Other Stuff
Today's weather has been funky: when I went out this morning, it was misting and that was soon followed by real raindrops followed by sunshine as I type this post! Pretty cool indeed. Speaking of cool, the temperatures have dropped drastically since the early part of the week. I'm for starting a fire in the fireplace tonight-- perfect weather!
Plans for the Weekend?
Who knows?? I would like to be able to go fishing-- not likely as that involves standing, sitting, walking a fair distance, and casting my line. I'm getting better-- I'm not there yet. I'd like to go to the Gilroy outlets but I'm not up for standing and walking and shopping yet either. Hmmm, maybe I'll do some work on my Christmas ornaments . . . that and reading my book, "Cold Mountain" with a fire in the fireplace. Can you say Autumn?
Oh, yeah, that's right: Happy Autumn!!
This is one of my favorite seasons-- fall, spring and summer-- so I'm glad to see it come!!
As always, if anything exciting happens, I'll be back to tell you about it. In the meantime, have a good night everyone!!
Thursday, September 21, 2000I Surrender!!
I give up!! I cannot get a break!! What am I talking about? My back, of course!! Yes, I know-- there I go whining again!! Sorry but I'm really tired of being in pain in one form or another. With my luck, I'll get rid of the back thang and something else will hit and I still won't be able to ride my bike!!
Well, I went to a chiropractor-- I didn't even know my insurance covered-- this afternoon after work. I had electronic stimulation and heat applied in addition to adjusting my spine. Cool feeling, let me tell ya!! I'm going to have to go back several times and I found out why the ice packing I put on my back earlier in the week didn't work: I have a sacro iliac problem which is sometimes aggravated by cold so . . . heat is the solution. Our heating pad, however, is approximately the age of my car (1994) so I bought a new one on my way home. I'm okay, it appears, if I don't stand for long periods of time, or if I don't sit for long periods of time, or if I don't walk for long periods of time. Laying down hurts like heck, too so no, there is no comfort here!!
BTW, I specifically checked to see when I could ride my bike and the chiropractor looked at me like I was totally whacked (which, okay, I am but he just met me!) and said "Not now!" He further qualified it to be not for at least a couple of more sessions . . . I'm thrilled needless to say. Usually, bicycling would help a back problem but not this one cuz its gotten so bad . . . (Can you hear me grumbling??)
Something Positive?
So there has to be something positive, right? If not, I'm just another train wreck happening along the roadway of life. Somewhere there has to be something positive . . . oh, yeah, my sweetie!! My love-of-my-life husband brought me another bouquet of flowers tonight!! :>) I've got wheat and cat tails in this arrangement along with some beautiful snap-dragony looking flowers, mini-carnations and daisies!! Yeah, I know-- he's wonderful and I am very lucky!!
On Tap
Tonight, I'm a little limited in what I can do. Mostly, I'm going to stay on the heating pad but I'm going to try to read a little, too. I started a book on the camping trip last weekend: "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier. Interesting in style and so far, the plot is fairly compelling as well.
Have a good one!
Wedneday, September 20, 2000News Reports
Well, including updates . . . Lynne Walder has added her recipes page link to the Netwidows Recipes Page here . . . my brother-in-law in Brazil has sent the first journal entry from Brazil-- its good to know that they are okay and in one piece! (As I told them, it is always good to get that first piece of email or whatever to know that they're okay . . . )
Other Info . . .
My back seems slightly improved from yesterday. Barbara Thompson put an interesting spin on things for me this morning:
As I told Barbara though, it doesn't matter-- I still love it! There's nothing like the open spaces and seeing ALL of those stars!!! She also observed that Brian looked pretty relaxed ignoring that fishing line and he did-- seeing him enjoy himself and relax is half of my joy (for a competitive person like me, that's good!) in this life!!
From: "Barbara F. Thompson"
To: "Marcia Bilbrey"
Subject: Camping WoesHa,
Now you see why we gave up camping and started staying in B & B's. Your camp site looked like a lot of the ones we used to find when we camped.
But, "that ground don't get no softer" as you get older. Between that and getting tired of crawling in and out of the tent was enough to make us give it up even after we went to a dome tent.
Let's see, you had a great time but...you messed up your back, got bit by mosquitoes, sunburn...okay?
Work!!!
Work is unbelievable!! For every agreement we get signed, we get two more in the door to work! And there's still another week to go before the end of the quarter!! I'm having a blast!! The COO (Chief Operating Officer) came by my desk today to drop off a folder of signed agreements; he asked how things were going and I just smiled and said "Nutty!!" He smiled and knew exactly what I meant. We like it busy (never any such thing as "too much work") but, man, it is getting ridiculous!! We need help desperately in the department and it is known that we have got to expand our department staff-- soon! He's well aware of the situation which is one of the reasons why it is a good company to work for-- management doesn't play ostrich! I like that in a company!!
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On that note, I've gotta run-- bills to pay, stuff to do . . . it is cooler tonight which helps a lot . . . still gonna be snack night for dinner though-- I'm working on light butter popcorn as I write this post . . . have a good evening!
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
(Update at 8:45pm)A Night of Miscellany
I've got a bunch of things to catch you up on so I'll get started:
1. I screwed up my back while we were camping-- I've mentioned it before: there's no way to cushion the ground itself and between the coldness and hardness of the dirt, an air mattress doesn't stand a chance!! That and we once again found the curviest road in California to drive home on so my back is wasted-- it'll probably take two or three days of Ibuprophin and my back brace before I can get it straightened out (pardon the pun). In the meantime, I'll moan and groan while trying to walk upright but, look at it this way: I provide some small amount of humor for Brian's otherwise book-centric life right now. He needs all the help he can get!!
2. Brian mentions his mosquito bites and that I took a miss on them-- no way, unfortunately!! It just took a day for mine to show up!! I've got about 15 bites in various awkward spots and I'm really sick of itching already!!
3. We've heard from my sister, Sue-- they have arrived in Bauru, Brazil!! They did not have their luggage, other than carry-ons, arrive with them however the airlines assured them that they would get the luggage there shortly. That was Sunday's report and by now, they surely have their luggage, etc. Yes, the computer (at least the tower) was going to be carry-on luggage so we know that got there okay. The monitor may or may not have been brought with them-- they were debating purchasing a new monitor since it was so cumbersome to carry.
4. My work is heating up (almost as much as the Bay Area's temperatures!)-- we are really swamped!!! Its amazing-- I have time to do nothing but answer email and review agreements and they just keep on coming in!! It is really cool!!!
5. Speaking of my work, I couldn't say anything before but, we messed up pretty bad: our administrator, Nina, who has the patience of a saint for putting up with 7 different personalities and convincingly takes care of us on a daily and sometimes, hourly basis, had a birthday in August. When did we remember? September 7!!! How do you make it up to her?
Well . . .
-the first day, you give her a birthday cake
-the second day, you send flowers
-the third day, you give her a one pound box of Godiva chocolates
-the fourth day, you give her a gift certificate to Macy's
-the fifth day, you give her a weekend for two to her favorite city (Monterey)
-the sixth day, you take her to her favorite restaurant
-the seventh day, you give her a stuffed animal andI believe that's where we've finished it. We have all got it marked on our calendars for next year-- we can't do that again!! She's thrilled to death, needless to say. Its not smart to forget the admin's birthday!!!
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And, on that note, I've got a trip report to write . . . more later if time permits!Okay, so time permits a little . . .
I've finished the trip report for the Clear Lake fishing/camping expedition! Enjoy!! (As always, let me know if there are any linking problems!)
Monday, Sepember 18, 2000We have survived!
Yes, indeed, we have survived yet another adventure into California's "wilderness"-- or as much as you can say of "wilderness" in California. It was a pretty civilized state park but thankfully, not to the point of KOA status! YECH!!
Short-n-sweet tonight-- more in the trip report! Because of being out of town and away from computers, I missed sending Leah Syroid a timely birthday card!
Happy Belated Birthday, Leah!!
And of course, we need to welcome back Barbara Thompson from another of her travels, as well!
Everyone take care and we'll catch up more with you later . . .
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