Shingles 2014

About 3 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Shingles.  They were all over the right side of my face and I became a recluse.  The only time I ventured out was to pickup my drugs prescribed by my doctors.  The blisters on my face have all but disappeared....The ones under my hair seem to be leaving slower, but definitely going.
The worst is the headaches on the right side and the right eye.  That seems to be leaving the slowest of all.   But I am grateful that my face isn't covered with them, anymore...that was the worst of all.
When I was in Walgreen's picking up my drugs, the Pharmacist had some "encouraging" words to say to me about how to take the drugs and when to take them. However.......It was a bit of an embarrassment to me when he asked this one elderly lady at the counter if she was the one with Shingles, and she kept saying "What"?....  I think she thought she was being diagnosed by the Pharmacist!  I finally stepped up to the counter and said that I was the one with Shingles (by this time, all eyes were on the Pharmacist and those that were in a close proximity quickly moved away).....I am not certain, but I thought I heard an announcement over the loud speaker about a Toxic spill  in the Pharmacy area and to evacuate immediately!
After all the screaming and yelling, pushing and shoving, things calmed down quite a bit and the Pharmacist explained all the things he needed to explain to me....except it was hard to hear him because with everyone gone there seemed to be quite the echo in the Pharmacy, but I was ready to leave as soon as possible and get home, so I just nodded  and said "OK.." to make sure he didn't feel the need to repeat anything.  He was very kind to stay and tell me all this as it may have been easier to email me or call me on the phone.  I told him that, but he simply smiled and said that "it is his job".
As I walked down the empty aisles, I turned to wave good-bye to the Pharmacist, but he was busy taking off his Hazmat Suit and was getting out the "Disinfectant Spray" for the area.  The empty aisles were free of people and store clerks.....I hurried out to the parking lot as I was unnerved and somewhat uncomfortable. 
Outside there were no cars or people walking, and I saw some Tumbleweed blow across Winnetka Ave.....the word "Desolation" came to mind....I hurried home to my apartment complex and was grateful to get home. 
Shortly thereafter, I saw people begin to continue walking and the cars were back out on the road.   I haven't been out since......But maybe tonight.... at the French Fried place....
At least I don't look sick....  just a headache!
Wish me luck!

Sandy

November 13, 2014 ~~ The Dreaded Crud

     Since June I have been fighting a nasty bout with eczema, and have finally come to a point where the rash has almost totally cleared up. I was euphoric! However, the rash seemed to be reappearing in different areas (the top and side of my head) and it was very sore. So I used the prescribed ointment on it and tried to make it better. Then the headaches began on the right side of my head and would send shooting pains down my right side of my head to my eye, ear and neck. The pain was far more intense and I really began to think that this was very different from before. My scalp was unable to be touched by my hand, let alone brush my hair.
      Then the "lump" appeared on my neck. I freaked......(To me the lump was at the very least, the size of a basketball, but that was my brain running away with my common sense.) I was convinced that I had a very serious malady. And the lump told me that it was probably cancer.
      So, I go to the doctor and as he walked into the exam room, he stopped and said, "Oh, Sandy, Look at you!" with a very concerned look on his face....And I asked, "What?"........Then he sat down and told me right away that what I had was "Shingles". And that explained the pain, the fiery burning and the red skin and scalp. So I am on meds for the a few weeks and have my wonderful pain meds that I love with all my heart! My right eye is affected and I hope that it can make it through without any permanent damage to the eye/vision.
      Please pray....

November 9, 2014

November 9, 2014

A lazy Sunday morning for me.....I got to bed early last night and got up relatively early this morning.  Still have ironing to do and I may (or may not) finish it up, today.  For some reason, I am in a pensive mood.  That always scares me as it generally means that I start a new project.  And I am not ready for that.  So, I am trying to clear my head and concentrate on what the present has for me to do.  Which is a lot of stuff.

Reading the news, this morning surprised me.  Pope Francis seems to have shown some new  colors to the public that haven't been visible before.  A Cardinal of the United States was "demoted" by the Pope for disagreeing with the Pope on issues of Gay rights.  The Cardinal was very vocal and quite anti-gay and did not care for the Pope encouraging the changing atmosphere to welcome gays into the church.  Long story short .....Time Magazine reports on November 8, 2014  that the "Highest Ranking Cardinal of the United States" was relieved of his duties and demoted to a "Chaplain" status. 

The Cardinal apparently likened Pope Francis'  leadership to "a boat without a rudder".   Hmmmmmm....I am not certain that I ever remember someone of Cardinal status being demoted.  But I suppose I could have missed others. I am still not trusting Pope Francis, completely, and I shudder to hear people saying that Pope Francis is so much like Pope John XXIII.  I totally  disagree.

Enough of my rambling.....  

It is a grey day here on Emerald Pointe , and my ambition  is gone (actually never showed up!).

To all the happy people out there in Blogger Land:  Have a wonderful day/evening/night!

November 7, 2014

My daughter and her two cats are staying with me until she can find an apartment that she can afford and like and be comfortable in.....  They have been with me since April or May  (I don't keep track of the details).   When I was in the house I had a spare bedroom that was never empty.   My son stayed with me for a few years and then my daughter's boyfriend (who lived in PA and then found a job here as an intern).  And then a friend coming back into town to live and needed a place to stay to look for an apartment, and for awhile my daughter and her boyfriend lived in the basement, and another friend who needed to find an apartment, and then another friend who needed to get out of the apartment she was in and stayed with me until she could find a better one than the one she was in.
And everyone of them had a pet or two.
My son had two Sheltie's, my daughter had two cats, her boyfriend had 1 cat, another friend had a black Lab, and then another tenant had a cat and a beautiful Jenday Conure (A Bird) (And she was a beauty!)
Not all stayed in my house at the same time, but there was a time that there were 2 Shelties and 3 Cats all at once.
It was a busy place, and it certainly made my 9 years at the house go by fast.
When the Black Lab (Lola) stayed at the house, she loved to play.  And at the time I was out of work so we played a lot.   She was very smart dog....At first her owner told me that it was okay to keep her outside, but I was ok to have her in the house with me from time to time, but the rule was that she was supposed to stay outside until her owner came home.
Here is a story that I remember very well about Lola...

There is this dog on my back porch that is breaking my heart.....I walked into the living room and there she is looking through the glass on the closed door. I didn't want to acknowledge her as then she would get all excited again and her owner said she would be fine out there all day until she comes home....She tried to get my attention by walking back and forth in front of the French Doors that lead from the living room to the back porch......I could see her going back and forth out of the corner of my eye. When that didn't work, she stopped and started making noises while she sat in front of the door....first these little whiny sounds.......and when that didn't grab my attention, she picked up a cat toy from the porch and held this little jingly thing with feathers & bells in her mouth and would shake it every once in a while to make it jingle....she looked sooo funny! But I stood strong..... Then she spit out the jingly thing and "mrrrfed" at me.....she would wait and if I didn't move, then she would "Mrrrf" again, each time becoming louder and louder until the "mrrrrf" finally became a bark... ...Apparently she didn't want to bark, so after one bark, she stopped. Then she ran outside.....I thought she had finally given up......But, soon she came back to the window.....in her mouth was a tennis ball that I had used to play fetch with her last night. I am on my way out to mow the lawn and did not want to be side-tracked, so I just ignored her........and then, her "coup de tat"....She quietly held that ball for the longest of time, and as I started to get up to get my shoes on to go outside, I heard it. At first, it was a quiet little sound, and as I began my exit, I heard it again a little louder......with every step I took to exit the LR, this very distinct noise came. It was a squeak. She found the one ball in the yard that makes a squeak! And it would squeak with each step I took. I couldn't help but crack up when I heard that sound. This sad little squeak won me over! I guess I could play a little fetch before I mow the lawn.....I turned to look at her and she sat there looking at me with that red ball in her mouth, and then all of a sudden there was one very long sad drawn out squeak. She must've bit down very slowly to make that noise....what a smart dog! and I started to laugh and then the noise was of a very happy squeaky tennis ball! it was great!....Well I had to run, and play with my new found friend. Stormy (My cat) is looking at me with his "I cannot believe you are falling for that old squeaky tennis ball gig!" And then he got up and walked up the stairs....I called after him "Stormy, I love you!", but all I heard was a cat version of the "Mrfff".
Think it will be an interesting few months!

I love animals and found that they could really teach people quite a few things. And they love unconditionally. They are the greatest gifts of all.

Tuesday November 4, 2014 Vote Day!

Tuesday Morning and seemingly very typical/usual... And that is until.......
Da Da Da Daaaaaaaaaa!
All 3 cats were in the Patio Door Window, enjoying the sunshine streaming into the apartment, the sun selectively landing on the horizontal surfaces of things in the apartment and showing a rather thick layer of dust everywhere. I could hear the leaves rustling outside and when I looked up I saw 2 large geese coming up over the hill and headed for my patio. The cats crouched down into attack position and started making weird noises while standing still as cat statues. The geese slowed their descent and took their sweet time as they sauntered nearer and nearer to my patio. I was so entranced with the scenario that a thought of grabbing my camera never entered my head. Finally, the geese made it to the patio........they stepped onto the patio and I swear that Stormy (My cat) was going to go through the screen as the glass door was open. The two geese settled in on the patio and looked around and saw the cats (although I think they knew that the cats were there the whole time). The 3 cats and 2 geese stared at each other, and then one of the geese made a loud "HONK", and the 3 cats freaked and ran to the bedroom, while stepping on each other and running across the coffee table and all the papers and things sitting there were in the air and eventually on the floor. They knocked over the ironing board filled with clothes to be ironed and knocked over a waste basket filled with things to be recycled.
While messy, it was hilarious! The geese are gone but the cats have not resurfaced from under the bed.
It was just one HONK, but it was loud and timed perfectly! What a way to wake up!
Wonder when I will see the cats again.......
Have a great Tuesday!

October 10th - 2014

Gonna be a Happy Day for me:

Full Sun, Mid 50's, Light Breeze.   Mmmmm ..  Weatherwise, that is my kind of day.  Add to that  mix: a beautiful array of Fall colors and you have a simply gorgeous day.  Depending on how I feel, I may go for a walk.......or, even better try to assemble my bike and go for a bike ride.  (Or maybe I will ride the bike around the parking lot  until I get the feel of the bike.  It has been a long time since I have been on a bike.)  I bought this little number at Walmart in the early Spring and there it sits in my dining room still in the box.

It is not a bike with speeds, just a plain, old - time cruiser bike. ( The kind you have to brake by back-pedaling.)  The true lure for me to purchase this bike was its color.   The color is called Pistachio. And it is beautiful!  I should go out around 3AM when the traffic is very light, but I don't think that that will happen either. We will see what happens.  If nothing else, me and my camera will go for a walk.

Wonderful news today!!   

The young 15 yr old girl that was shot in the head and almost killed while on a school bus in Pakistan a couple of years ago (because she thought that young girls should be allowed to go to school). She had come to be known for her campaign for education for girls and, of course, the Taliban had issue with this.  And they shot her in the head......because she said out loud that girls should be able to go to school. 
Well this wonderful child (now 17) has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize...  And well deserved!  She literally laid her life on the line, by simply believing that girls should be allowed to go to school.
Her name is Malala Yousafzai and is now 17 and she shares the prize with  Kailash Satyarth, a human rights activist in the same country, also known for her fight for the rights of children...in the same area.  Here is a link to the CNN coverage of this amazing story.  She is the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.  Simply Ahhhhhh-mazing!

I am off to do some errands and then time to move onto my bike...

Blessings!

Sandy

The Blood Moon (October 8th, 2014)

      I was checking out the Blood Moon this morning and I thought it was great and tried to take some pictures and I was standing between two cars in the parking lot of my building, and this guy comes up behind me and tells me to step away from his car.  I told him that I was watching the Lunar Eclipse, and trying to get some pictures of it. He said he didn't care and said to just step away from his car. So, as I was "stepping away" I asked him if he saw the moon. He grumbled "Why....." and I told him there was a lunar Eclipse going on. He said, "A What?? What is that?" and then he waved his hand as a dismissal and went to unlock his car (the whole time looking at his car for something, and I figured he was trying to see if his car was scratched).. So, before he got into his car, I tried once more to tell him about the eclipse and he said, "Look....I don't have time for this...just stay away from my car." And then he drove away.
      Shortly afterwards two young High Schoolers came out to wait for the school bus. They both nodded (w/sullen faces reflecting their dismay at the early hour of the day) at me as I said "Good Morning" to them. And I thought I would try again...... I told them the moon was in the last stages of a lunar Eclipse, and......... That is all I got out and they both smiled real big smiles and asked me to show them where and did I get any pictures, and stuff. It was so neat! As they were looking at the moon and its last transitional stage, I felt good. These two kids were so excited about the moon, while the "Adult" I spoke to earlier was far more interested in his car.
      I would like to say that this incident was a good example of teens vs. adults and how this shows that the world is/will be saved because of the up and coming generation...... But... Actually, I think it was just a busy man who may have just purchased a new car and there was this old lady standing too close for his comfort level to his car....and the kids, while showing excitement about the eclipse, quickly got onto the school bus and rode away. They both had someplace to go to.
      What it probably shows is that people are busy... busy doing their "Things"/going to their "Places"/Thinking about their "Stuff....etc..."
BUT.....I saw the Blood Moon and took some pictures that show a tiny dot in the sky and that will be my wonderful memories of this Blood Moon morning. 
It was beautiful....

     As you go through your day, today, remember take in the whole picture, because the little things that you can miss can make a difference in your day. 
     There you have it....my first Blog!  Stay as long as you like and I hope to be adding more in days to come!

Hello World! It's Sandy

Hello!

     Please allow me to introduce myself... 
     My name is Sandy and I was introduced to the Art of Blogging by my friend Genta Sebastian.        This is something new to me so, please bear with me while I settle in.
What I plan to do is share my world with you.  I tend to see the humor in most situations and  my intent is to bring smiles/laughter to you......well, most of the time, anyway.  I am also working on publishing some of my works and finally becoming a "Published Author"....or is it an "Authoress".  Whatever it is, I hope you stop by from time to time and pull up a chair, relax and let me take you into my world where reality is sometimes very far away!
     Let me know what you think  (be kind!) and let's get to know each other!