PRACTICE, PRACTICE = PICTURES - Sunday, March 21, 2010

I put my mind to getting pictures taken and posted!! And, I have made some progress!!
I went out and bought a camera for ME and I have "squirreled" the instructions and CD instructions away for ME!! Selfish, no just safe as I do not want this camera to be closed by DUCT TAPE!!

So, here is my progress!! Not all that interesting, but I was so anxious to prove to my self that I could do this!!

Above is the January, February and March PINE GLEN Monthly series of "Tie Up" Pillows. I am going to make a nice basket out of these along with the monthly "Tuck" Pillows also!! As is, simply is too much temptation for Miprezious to grab one, or more, and declare "oh, a pillow and just my size"!!

Above is my fireplace wall. Recently removed television table to make more room and thus television got placed above fireplace. To the left is my oxygen modulator. Not real attractive, but a bit necessary!! Much to loud to place it elsewhere. To the right is the main hallway with master bedroom at first right and "Stitching Sanctuary" to second left with the bathroom straight ahead. To those familiar with my original

Above shows the best "cloud" wall. To the right, is Max's "rat nest" that he spends about 20 hours per day in!! And, the red jar is "TREATS" and that is Miprezious' private stock. In front of the coffee table is Miprezious' own nest and she demands comfort!! My furniture is Hoveround "friendly" and not really deco attractive!! It was hard, but I am learning to live with things!!

And, you can see the six "store fronts" that I stitched many, many years ago!! They took a period of over FIFTEEN years!! They are definitely my pride and joy!!

Oh, the walls are the newly "faux" painted "clouds" by faux paint designer. And this picture shows the sun shining in on the brand new carpet showing that it is actually several shades of royal navy blue.

And, this completes the tour and the first camera practice!!

Love and Hugs!!

Deborah

It is DISCO Night - Friday, March 19, 2010

What do you wear for the 70's DISCO? Well, we had a Nurse, Physical Therapist, Max's Personal Caregiver, Eunice and a variety of other friends surveyed and got no two answers that were the same!! Thus, we went just as we were!! This was the event that Max could have successfully worn my dress slacks and actually got away with it, rather than the dismal center of attention he was at the church's Annual Meeting!!

Yes, tonight was DISCO NIGHT at our church provided by our active Social Committee!! I never saw such a variety of disco lights, black lights and lava lamps!! There was a real DJ and overall this was quite well attended!! We actually enjoyed our selves by just getting out!!

I am about to embark on a brand new "step" for me!! "I" bought a new digital camera today!! All by my self, "I" decided on a camera to buy!!
Well, to be perfectly honest, I can not say this!! Kohl's had a "POLAROID" digital camera on sale in their newspaper advertisement today and tomorrow!! I got lots of "Kohl's Kash" when I purchased my new shower drapes and accessories a few weeks ago!! Thus, this $105.99 camera cost me $21.19!! It has anti-shake, zoom, USB Cord to connect to computer or television (that will be the day I have learned every thing any one ever wanted to know-NEVER), no red eye, etc., etc., you know!!
I have already learned how to put in the date and time!! This is huge moment for me!!

There is a CD that you play that is supposed to teach you every thing you need to know to take pictures and put them online for people to view!! We will certainly see!! I am going to give it my very best as I truly want to get caught up on all my pictures and make them the best pictures I can do!!

Thus, I am off to try and figure out where this round thing goes!!

Love and Hugs!!
Deborah

Can you Say DISCRIMINATION?!! - Saturday, March 13, 2010

I intend to make this as to the point as possible as I am still absolutely so lividly "pissed", yes you read it "pissed", that I can barely get my thoughts organized!!

After sitting by and watching helplessly, I finally demanded a "Care Conference" regarding my hubby, Max, about a month ago!! Well, THE day arrived on Wednesday of this past week!!

It is a LONG story, but most know the horrific Hell that we have been living in since Max was first diagnosed August 15, 2005!! The only thing I can say is thank God our community's medical people were wrong again and Max has far outlived the six months he was given!!

We have been put through a daily living Hell and been through all the hoops and government red tape you could ever imagine!!

I was not getting any where at this Care Conference, however, most points brought up were completely wrong or had no validity whatsoever and thankfully I had asked Eunice to be with us and to feel free to speak up whenever the urge hit her!! Eunice finally had her "fill" of the BS we were dealing with and asked, then somewhat demanded, to know just where Max was on the National Donor Transplant List and just what the Iowa City, Iowa VA Hospital was doing for him!!

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! NOTHING WHATSOEVER!!

Eunice "pressed" a lady psychiatrist that Max has had to see as part of "the process" monthly forever it seems!! Eunice demanded to know just where Max was in the miles of red tape we have conquered, or so we thought!! After much hemming and hawing, this woman finally said, "Well, quite honestly, Iowa City is simply not considering Max for either the kidney he so urgently needs or the liver"!!

Why after these years of jumping through hoops and being at Iowa City VA's beckon call!! Because I AM DISABLED AND IN A WHEELCHAIR!! Yes, Max is to suffer because I am disabled!!

Well who was going to oversee Max's care after the transplant surgery?
Who was going to the pharmacy and obtain his necessary prescription medications and who was going to dispense them daily to him. Who was going to see that he ate properly, got adequate exercise and rest, and was cared for at times when he could not care for him self???!!!
Well, the simple answer to these questions is the same damn person who has been doing it for the last thirty plus years!!!
ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! ME!! and ME!!

Can any one direct me to the best discrimination law firm in the entire United States? Can any one write their Senators and Representatives in Max and my behalf?

As you may easily see, I am yet beyond discussing this situation without the worst anger I have ever had emerging from every fiber of me!! And, as an added bonus the VA is sending in yet another siege of "Visiting Nurses", "Social Workers" and "Physical Therapists"!! I got to the point of threatening the last "Nurse" with my friend, "Betsy Winchester", and I will gladly do it again!! I can still remember my own Physical Therapist tightening his grip on me and whispering, "they will cuff you and take you to jail"!! As I told him then, I do not care as it will give me publicity to this atrocity they refer to as Iowa VA system!! Well, I truly would never do harm to any other individual as has been done to Max and my self!!

For the record, I have climbed ladders and I have crawled down an entire flight of stairs on my belly to get what I needed done and I will do what ever it takes to keep my little family of three's best welfare and safety as my only purpose in this life together!! I am dealing with the loss of use of my legs, not my brain and fortitude to take care of this family. I will do what ever is needed to take care of the three of us!! I have set my self back many times in getting things done that needed to be when I had no other options!! I have taught my self how to get things done, albeit perhaps quite "unconventionally", but all the while done!! And, thus far, I have been fortunate to hire extra outside help when the need has presented it self!! We have never went without any thing we needed or for that matter wanted!!

I can not believe that there is some one who does not have any idea of who I am or what I am made of has the power to possess a rubber stamp that denies my husband the right to his life!!

PRAY you never need to rely on any Veteran's rights and benefits in Iowa City, Iowa!!

GOOD GRIEF - Wednesday, March 03, 2010

I do not ask for too much!! Why can I not just curl up in my stitching nest and just stitch any more?!!

I have been fighting my new home renovations for weeks now and am ever so close to finishing them. I am HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, with each, and every, one of them - well almost!! I do not like, no I honestly HATE draperies!!

I worked till I was ready to drop yesterday trying to finish up every thing I had here available for me to do!! I can not make up my mind on the bathroom curtains, shower curtains, rugs, etc. I am hedging on "toasted almond", but I do not plan on ever redoing any thing ever again!! Thus, I want to be absolutely sure positively!!

I had to hang the living room draperies yesterday. Kathy K. had called me for our afternoon chat and had very much tried to discourage me from trying this. I thought with my directing Max could do the actions!!
WRONG!! I attempted to make a few climbs, however, my legs screamed in worst pain I have had in awhile and reminded me do not do this stupid!! Thus, I thought if I got all the drapery hooks placed that Max could just put them in the traverse rod holes. I have a set of pinch pleated sheers and "silks supremes" to hook. I got most of sheer draperies done and was thinking we surely could do this job easily!! I then promptly run a drapery hook in the middle of my middle finger on my left hand to have it exit the top of my finger!! OUCH!! OUCH!! OUCH!! Not quite, I had some of the worst words I could ever imagine flow out profusely from me along with a whole lot of blood I was trying to keep off the draperies!! So much for stitching!!

This morning Miprezious had an appointment with a new Groomer. I had instructed Max to stay inside the home of the Groomer today so as Mi could get acquainted with the Groomer and we could evaluate if they got along well or not. I will not leave Mi any where she shows any apprehension at all!! Max can NOT drive any longer alone and honestly it is down right scary to ride with him!! I will gladly take world's worst roller coaster over ride with Max any where any more!! I gathered up my "Windows 7" instruction books and Max loaded them in the van. I planned on simply staying in the van and reading. As usual, Max did not pay any attention to me and promptly came outside after just dropping Mi and running!! I was very irate, but agreed to go to breakfast and come back for her!!

Max went in to pick her up and simply did not return. I had the worst feeling in pit of my stomach that I would be seeing the Paramedics pull up to this home as no one knew I was sitting outside in the van when he did not return. Soon, the Groomer and her assistant came out to the van with Mi and Max was sheeply following them. They promptly told me that Max had fallen down a goodly number of stairs as far as they could tell as they did not witness the full fall, but rather just Max rolling down the steps and onto the floor. The Groomer was just overwrought with fear Max had been severely hurt. Max simply kept saying all was okay until the Groomer and her assistant disappeared and then the complaining began and went on and on!! Evidently, Max did get hurt quite badly, but as of this evening, he still is in complain state and refuses to see a doctor!! Wait till about midnight when every thing always worsens for any one with any thing it seems!!

Thus, I am back to reading my "Windows 7" books tonight and simply staring at my stitching!! I am contemplating on how I can safely touch my fabric though and hope to get back to stitching very soon!! I have gotten through much worse stitching dilemas and will surely again.

I did call my "faux designer" who did the painting of my new rooms and she said she would be right over to assist me with my draperies this afternoon. After four hours she "Googled" on suggestions to handle traverse rods!! Followed suggestions step by step and she now has the drapery traverse rods in pieces across the living room. She went home about supper time with promise of returning first thing tomorrow morning to get this job done one way or another!! I can only hope!!

GOOD GRIEF, I am so glad this day is gearing down!! Tomorrow is a fresh and new day that I will rejoice in seeing come!!

Love and Hugs!!
Deborah