Heather Shrinks in Houston!

[Jean@125]

Hope all is well Heather.

[skeopple]

for you, Heather. Want to know how things went for you today. Is your aunt able to log on for you and tell us stuff? Love ya,

[Snowman]

Heather ~ Just checking on you and letting you know I'm thinking of you and praying your alright!

[Houston Heather]

NO GALLSTONES
Vitals were DEAD NORMAL.
I spent 19 hours there. Actually very good care. Lots of vending machines , waited about 8 hours in the waiting room.

They took my vitals TWICE while I waited, so they're already ahead of the other place. When they took me back, I had not one but TWO nurses in and out of the little room I shared with 4 other beds. They were very kind and professional.

They drew blood, got an IV started, and started running tests. The doctor came in and examined me, she was very kind. My gallbladder was "owie" and I was pretty queasy.

She got me some phenergan, then ordered an ultrasound. It showed some shadows, and thickening. They ordered a CAT scan. I drank a liter of some awful-tasting stuff and had to wait a while. I actually dropped off for a bit.

We had an interesting progression of people:
* Car wreck lady, who was OK
* Diabetic foot guy, who was almost in tears when he told the nurse "They stuck my finger and told me I'm diabetic!"
* Chest pain lady
* Abdominal pain lady
* Stroke guy, going to ICU
* "I drove drunk, wrecked my car, and busted my face"
* "I got drunk and picked a fight, and some guy whacked me over the head with a baseball bat"

Some real Saturday night specials. Finally, all the test results came back around 5. Normal. No gallstones, anywhere.

My gallbladder is inflammed and irritated. I probably passed a stone Monday, the last stone, and my gallbladder is not happy about "giving birth". It's pissed off, and being asked to dump bile everytime I eat.

It gets it's revenge by hurting me. I did notice that eating the low-fat potato chips out of the vending machine (I was hungry, queasy, and needed to take my pills) didn't piss it off as much as usual.

So, I'm going to try lower-fat, low carb for a bit (a week or so) and see if that calms down the old gallbladder.

The good news is NO STONES.

I just ate some lean smoked turkey, whey protein, and lithium tablet. So far, so good.

Oh, the hospital sent me home because my tests came back OK, and vitals were fine. They will have the surgery clinic call me about being evaluated for gallbladder removal.

We'll see. Thanks for your concern. I love you all.

[skeopple]

What a relief, Heather. Just wanted to check on you before we leave for church/Baptism. I hope they do take it out, be rid of it!

[Houston Heather]

I worry about recovery. If it's really empty, and behaves itself, I'd just as soon leave it alone.

Maybe all my grief the last little while has just been one "birth" after another. That would piss me off, why not my gallbladder?

The lower-fat seems to be helping. I don't hurt after I eat and my other symptoms are better. I have some turkey I have to eat up today anyways, so I might as well just have a big whack of lowfat meat at every meal.

I'm not feeling deprived, but it does mean I need to plan more.

I'm still at 171 :clap after, and I would only tell you, five bags of baked lays out of the vending machine. I am sure they can support the whole hospital district off those machines!

Here's a link to my other blog, I am focusing on the positives today.
I have a lot to be grateful for

I had a great night's sleep, and I feel really refreshed after 5 hour's sleep. I need to get up around 6 tomorrow so this will work out. It rained yesterday so I don't even need to mow the back (believe it or not, I do need to mow! ) or water the little guys.

Tomorrow, after work, Ron's going to drop me on 1960 (the main shopping drag). I can go anywhere I want and will probably take a cab home. Another nice thing about feeling so lousy, I'm only out the $10 tip I gave last night's cab driver. He was so happy to get it! But I figured, he picked me up from a bad area at 5-something in the morning, on the weekend, and was very nice and professional.

I can certainly afford $20 or so for a few plants tomorrow, and another cab ride. I would pay $15 not to ride the bus for an hour and a half (about the time it takes to get home, I have to ride 3 buses and walk half a mile).

I need to shower. My hair feels horrible.

[Zer]

Love your list of positives from your Valentine's Day visit to a county medical facility. Nice! Good care over an 11hr span of time - and now you know where to go IN CASE!!!

[Snowman]

Heather ~ I am so glad your ok and back home where you belong...with Ron & your cats!!

I am also thankful that your feeling better and hope you continue to feel better each new day God gives us!!

That's such wonderful news too, that you found a hospital that treated you the way you deserve to be treated!!

I can't believe you have to mow the lawn!!! We have snow on our grass!!

[Houston Heather]

I'll put up some photos tomorrow. It's too dark right now.

Remember we have a good 5 months of hell with 80-90+ temps, high humidity, sun... and or course the occasional hurricane just in time for my birthday. My parents should have picked a better month to have me.

I had some sardines in oil (about twice as much protein as fat), a homemade protein shake, and I actually have an appetite for the first time in ages. I plan to basically do my diet as 45% fat, 50% protein, and 5% carbs.

Everyone I've talked to says I sound so much better today.

[skeopple]

I'm so glad you're feeling better!

[Houston Heather]

Today was busy.

I got up after a great night's sleep (but still tired) and worked with Ron for a few hours. Here's an example of work logic (I work at a Post Office processing plant, filling vending machines): My stockroom runs on 2 different circuits. One light switch is out in the TV room, and controls the TV room, and half my stockroom. The other light switch is out in the hall, and controls the hall between my stockroom and the other vendor's, and the other part of my stockroom.

I was OK with letting the guys change out my light bulbs to something more energy-efficient. You're reading a woman who has a fair mix of incandescent and CFL light bulbs, even before they became popular. I have a CFL bulb in the lamp to my left on the computer desk, even.

When the contractors came in, they tried to put a ladder on top of a pallet of sodas. The sodas would have caved and he would have fallen off, possibly breaking his neck. While we have insurance, we don't want anyone suing us. When he saw me watching him, he suddenly figured out a "better" way to do it.

We also have a long track record of theivery - to the point that we have a lock, hasp, and padlock on the stockroom door. The lock has been cut off the door before. No one gets in except me or Ron. In an emergency, they have our permission to cut off the lock. Also, the maintenence manager has a copy of our key, to be used only in EMERGENCY. He's fine with that.

So, the light bulb guys have been asking everyone around us to get into our stockroom. Apparently, they need to install a motion detector light switch. I asked someone how that would work, what with our lights on 2 separate circuits. I'm not letting the guys into our stockroom, but we're not dropping everything either.

We put a note on the outside of the stockroom door "For access, contact Ron B [cell phone number]" If they want to get in so bad, they can call and make an appointment. I don't want some turkey showing up when I'm in the middle of helping Ron and say "You have to open the stockroom now", because I'm going to be sitting there in the stockroom, while they work. I don't trust anyone but my husband in that stockroom, I've had too much merchandise walk away. I am very protective of Ron and his business interests.

Heather the Pit Bull, in addition to Heather the Hatchet. Envision me, growling softly outside the stockroom door.

So, after work, Ron and I went to Burger King. The double cheeseburger was a little too much burger for him, so he got his beloved burger shots (baby hamburgers). I practiced restraint, and only got a triple stacker. It was good, and lasted a long time.

The tweaks to my eating plan have worked well, BUT I notice I get hungry suddenly. I'll manage it.

I actually ate some sardines yesterday and they were good, so I might get some to carry in my bag - the tin looks pretty sturdy. I always like to have some portable food.

So, Ron went home in the Metrolift while I stood on 1960. First stop, most important, cat food. ACK. The prices have gone up, about $10, since I last bought it. Golden cat food. But when I finally got home today someone slept on my foot while I napped, so it's worth it.. all FIFTY dollars for 14 pounds of cat food.

I bought a 12 pound bag for $40, and a 2 pound bag for $10 - I'm keeping it for the disaster kit. If I'd needed surgery or been really sick, the poor cats would have been SCREWED, so I need an emergency bag. Now I have it. I'm feeding the boys off the 12 pounder. Frosty came running as I filled the endless food bowl (holds 3 pounds at a shot, great for brain-damaged pet parents who might otherwise forget to feed the children).

I put the cat food in my rolling cart and then rolled over to the dollar store. They didn't have the earphones Ron wanted, but they did have some nifty bungee "ropes" as Ron calls them. The part of his brain that holds names for things got messed up in his accident, so I get some interesting names from him. I like it. Who else is going to call them "Bungee Ropes?"

After that, a short wait at the bus stop. Two younger, white women came up and waited with me. One was smoking and holding a coughing baby. It got better. They got started on someone they knew and went into a racist tirade. It was horrible. I was dying to yell at them to put out the cancer stick, snatch the baby away and give it to a loving mother, and scream at them that my husband was black and the bus driver probably would be too, so could they SHUT UP? I got out my knitting and turned up my music loud enough to drown them out.

They did offer to let me board the bus first (and the driver was black) . Oh, well, I'd make a lousy God. I'm a little quick to judge at times. Me? Yup.

I went to the garden center. The driver found it interesting that I wanted to go. It's a very high end garden center. I found EMERALD EDGING! The best edging ever! I bought six pieces. They weren't cheap, there goes the whole internet fun money budget, but worth it. I've been wishing I could get more for YEARS. Each piece was 4 feet long. Good thing I had the bungee "ropes"! I also got my favorite brand of organic fertilizer for the garden. I was out of fertilizer completely.

After the fancy garden center, I went to good old Home Depot. I found red onion transplants. I had to look around a little for some GOOD ones,but I found 'em. They'll get planted tomorrow. I also bought what I believe to be a Spanish Lavender plant - they do well in Houston. If I'm wrong, it'll die. Hopefully I'm right, but even if I'm not it smells glorious.

I also found a beautiful plant. I saw one once, about 5-6 years ago, at ANOTHER Home Depot. It is beautiful and smells gloriously of lavender. I thought I saw one today, and I DID! It wasn't labeled but I remembered. It grows WELL in Houston, too.


I like the idea of tucking a few perennials, herbs, and such into my garden beds. I believe in a happy blend. I picked up some seeds and a little sprouter with some seeds already included. I love sprouts.

I went outside, sat on a bag of potting soil, cart at the ready, and called Yellow Cab. I gave them my information and got a cab quickly. With a name like "Heather", I was a pretty safe trip. A lady cab driver picked me up.

We had a good yak (I'll talk to anyone who seems rational and kind) on the way home, and I gave her a good tip for her trouble. I used one of Ron's "tipping lines" "This will buy you half a tank of gas".

I got home in less than half an hour, as opposed to at least an hour and a half, lugging around a heavy handcart, on the bus. $15 seemed like money WELL spent. I still have plenty of food in the fridge.

I didn't find any scented geraniums today, but I did find some glorious scented plants. I found some cute veggies and a good sprouter - I've been wanting one for years. I came home, Ron was asleep.

I put everything up, and then took a nap. Frosty came and slept on my foot like a furry slipper. $50 for cat food? Worth it.

[Zer]

Heather, love the image of you asleep with a furry/purry "slipper" on your foot! Glad you are finding sardines a fast snack food. Be sure to pack plenty of bags to contain empty sardine containers. I double bag mine, to keep trash from all the stink that empty sardine tins carry. Try "BuyTheCase" for buying sardines, if you decide to stock up and don't want to tote a load home. I went that route when my favorite sardines (skinless, boneless, in olive oil) became hard to find at Trader Joe's. Now I buy caselots (12) and never run out of flavorful fishies!

[skeopple]

I enjoy your blog, Heather, but can't make a comment there so I'll do it here. I admire your positive attitude. I want to be more like you. What is a 'gold card'?
I'm going to go around a visit others now. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Zer and Heather, do sardines taste at all like tuna? I've never had them.

[Zer]

Lately I'm dosing my sardine filets in olive oil with cayenne and balsamic vinegar - a combo that hits a lot of taste buds, which is key to satisfaction in eating, I'm told. The resulting melange fools my Feast Beast into thinking I'm eating a naughty treat. Hey, whatEVER works!!!

Never tried that combo with tuna in olive oil. Tend to use Mrs.Dash's Lemon Pepper or Xtra Spicy with my tuna. Not sure that ANY fish tastes like another fish. Try sardines!

[Houston Heather]

Sharon, it's a program for low-income, uninsured residents of the county. I don't know that I would qualify, but when Ron went to the hospital years ago they only sent him a bill for $175. We could certainly manage THAT. Thank you.

Oh, I got about a dozen tins of sardines, Zer.

I don't have your bias against soybean oil, but I did remember how you mentioned that some sardines come - complete. I'm squeamish. I don't want to eat anything with eyes or "insides". I want them nice little bits of meat, so I went with words like "bite-sized" "filet" and "boneless, skinless". I also got some baby clams because I love clams, and they can be a real treat when I have PMS.

I'm cooking up a nice veggie stew right now. I have a little bit of onions, green beans, tomatoes, tiny bit of baby limas, cabbage, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, and a small amount of carrots. A big spoonful of crushed garlic, some salt and pepper, and some italian spices. Yum, yum.

I've been craving it so much I dreamed of veggie soup last night. It smells REALLY good. I'm going to let it cool down a bit or I'm going to burn myself eating it.

Man, I wish I could slurp it down with some cornbread...I forgot to mention that my hospital "adventure" has triggered some major carb cravings. For the first time in a year, I'm tempted to actually eat the crap we sell. AGH. I keep wanting potato chips and bread, but I'll keep resisting. I know what eating carbs does for my body.

Worst thing that happened today - I forgot my MP3 player. Oh, I missed it.

We went to work, got the milk, put it up. The vending machines were all full. It was so quiet Ron and I sat down and had a break - which we never do. I had a nice time.

He had been a little moody and irritable - since my schedule got screwed up I've been a little "up" - just talking more. But later on, he thanked me for "being me". I thought that was sweet.

After work, we went to Walmart. They have some CUTE dresses! I'm going to get at least one, they're only $15. I got more marigolds, in yellow this time.

I'll have fun in the garden tomorrow, on my day off!

I got enough "Ron food" to fill up half the freezer, my half has frozen veggies and meat, his is all TV dinners and Hot Pockets. Good thing I'm not tempted to eat THEM. They're easy for him to fix himself, he's healthy, and he's not losing weight. I'm content.

Tomorrow I'm going to Food Town and maybe a garden center. It's not far from us, but I've never been there. I also bought 3 scented geraniums off the internet - a spicy, a pine-scented, and a rose-scented. I love scented geraniums so WHY DON'T I HAVE ANY IN MY GARDEN?

I've been kind of queasy recently - I think I'd be depressed if I weren't taking my pills. I always felt physically nauseous, tired, and not-hungry when I was depressed. Thank God that's all I've got! No mental symptoms, just physical. It's liveable.

Off I go to murder that soup.

[Houston Heather]

When I started crying during a commercial that normally doesn't affect me, I knew it was time for another one of these:


I found an image of my exact lithium brand and dosage.

[Zer]

I think I'll ask Dora to bring me some marigolds from the garden center. I can gift them to our housekeeper for her raised gardens just behind the kitchen. I'll sniff them for a day or so, then gift them to be planted and to enjoy the sun!

[Houston Heather]

Still running a little depressed. If I stay home, it won't go well.

I'm going to go out and run some errands.

[Zer]

Sorry you are feeling a little down. Maybe a bit of gardening will lift your spirit and keep you from being aggravated by ANYONE if he is a little aggravating, as many a man can be when he's not got enough to do. Okay, maybe leaving is a really good idea. Have a g'day!

[skeopple]

Heather, I'm glad you know how to figure out the cause and effect of what you need to do with yourself. How's the weather there? You could come help DH move some snow today. You would have a good time. Just enough snow overnight that it has to be cleaned off and moved. Especially the vehicles and sidewalks. You could wear your heavy coat though, it's very windy here today. Wishing you a better day as it proceeds forward.

[skeopple]

Heather, what can I (we) say to someone who feels this way? I'm copying from another thread:

go to post #13 please

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/em...l#post11577449

[Zer]

Edit: Just saw an upbeat post by same person, suggesting a LCF gathering at a posh home in Mexico, with someone who is looking at a new home today with hopes of moving to a hillside estate! I'm pretty sure the writer who was feeling desperate and blue is feeling more stable, as of noon Wed 2/18!

Tell her to call an emergency hotline right now. With her recent medical stuff, I am almost sure there is a counseling connection available to her, if she is not willing to talk to a hotline. But a hotline is probably available faster than any counselor she may be seeing right now. C'mon, we are a LC support list. I am not a licensed counselor and do not pretend to be competent to deal with what is being reported by a LCFriend in extreme distress and using drugs and alcohol as a cry for help. If I recall rightly, her partner was online with us, bringing us up to date on a recent health crisis. Am I right? This partner has shown some caring. Maybe he is worn out or knows he has limited skill to cope. Is that a bad thing?

Oh, you were not asking MY opinion?
Eeek! I'm babbling in Heather's thread!

[Houston Heather]

The sad thing about that poster, she says she doesn't "need" medication for her illness, that it is "well controlled by a healthy diet".

I mean, on the one hand I feel bad for her, on the other I want to slap her for refusing medication. For some, medication is a step that means they are "crazy" and one they're unwilling to take. Others begin to take medication, but refuse to commit for life.

Short version: She needs to be in a hospital. In a hospital, they can force her to take medication until she's stable at least, keep her from hurting herself, and hopefully convince her to "keep taking it". Based on what she is saying, she is having a mixed episode (look in my bipolar link) and people having those are at high risk of suicide.

That's why I'm glad my illness was so awful before - nothing will convince me to stop my medication. I would contact the mods - perhaps they can use her IP address and contact emergency services in her area. That actually happened on another message board, he was obviously spiralling into a horrible depression and left a very ominous message. The mod contacted 911 with his info and they were able to get him help.

I'll repeat, SHE IS UNMEDICATED. Her spouse is probably completely worn out. I was so awful and unpredictable that even Ron wanted to get away from me by running off to a nursing home.

It was a bad one, too.

[Houston Heather]

It's sad but true, many people with bipolar disorder don't manage the illness. For one, you really CANNOT drink. Any relief that is felt is temporary and it makes your symptoms way, way worse in the long run (it's documented).

I am beginning to see why my doctor finds me so refreshing. I'm getting somewhat mixed, with primarily depression symptoms. I really didn't want to get up and I felt very hopeless. I think that's why God equips us with bladders.

So, I got up and planned my attack. I didn't want to go anywhere, but I knew I had to get out of the house. Ron had planned to sleep in all day regardless. That would have been "bad" for me. I try to avoid bad things.

I figured, first I'll go to the Garden Center, and that's what I did. I got my little cart and rolled off to the bus stop, $30 fun money budget in pocket. I felt pretty crappy but it felt good to be outside. It was warm, overcast, and very lightly drizzly. I made sure that today was going to be about things that make me happy. I brought sodas and some of my favorite reading material, inspirational romance novels.

I got to the bus stop, and missed a bus. Good thing - it broke down! I read my book at the bus stop. My umbrella reminded me of Ron, it was so cantankerous. I drank a soda. My medication ( see why I get so upset?) started to kick in. I was feeling better. I started getting really sweaty. I knew that was the Lexapro stabilizing all those neurotransmitters in my brain.

I caught my bus. I rode it. I have a disabled card and I feel fine about using it. I ask society for very little, but I can't drive and I am disabled so I'll take the 50% discount.

I caught the other bus. The nice thing about the 2 routes, they run pretty close together, and I only waited a few minutes. I asked the driver about a drop off, and she said she'd have to let me off "Under the Freeway".

I have a fear of busy traffic. First of all, trying to process all the information kind of melts my brain. Secondly, I'm a little post-traumatic. Ron got hit by a car and for years I would have panic attacks at bus stops. My medication completely eliminated that. I started taking the bus again after Ron got so sick last year and it's worked awesomely.

So. I'm under a freeway interchange. I know I'm near the nursery but it's scary. It's gloomy. The sand they used on the freeway during the winter has migrated down and it's difficult to maneuver my cart. One of the "idiot boxes" as Ron used to call them is broken, so I have to rush across a few lanes of traffic without the little green man telling me it's safe.

I cross the other way. I wait patiently, while all the right-turning cars turn and go go go. Finally someone stops. I smile (I actually felt like it by now) and wave. It's a little challenging for about 1/3 of a mile, because I'm dragging the cart through knee-high weeds in a vacant lot, right next to a busy freeway. That's why I know the pills work. I was having a decent time. I was very engaged in something outside of me, and that's really the secret for me. That, and my medicine. Common theme here.

So, I got there! Several people asked me if I needed help, I just told them, No thanks. I took 2 buses and walked a mile to get here... OH! MARIGOLDS!

I didn't get any marigolds, but I got swiss chard transplants, mesclun mix (I got a spicy greens mix, asian greens mix, and a red lettuce mix), herbs, oh you name it. All well within my budget, and I even got a little bay tree.

I kept hearing birdsong, so I rolled around. They had huge aviaries, full of birds. I really enjoyed the lovebirds and the cockatiels. They have a lot of personality.

See, some of my favorite things, going outside, enjoying a garden, birds, Diet Dr Peppers, were all coming together. Ron was happy (I had called him). I was happy. I paid up after a good hour or so and left.

I thought, why go back to the freeway interchange? I can go the other way. Well. The other way involved me being menaced by a stray dog (I used Victoria's technique from It's me or the dog, turned my back, and ignored it). I ended up walking about a mile to the bus stop and when I got about 50 yards... the bus went by.

[BAD WORD] - sometimes I say [BAD WORD} instead of cursing. It is very satisfying to me.

I got out the book and another soda. I had bought a whole flat of plants, so I had to go home before I went to Foodtown. I went home, people on the bus loved the flat of plants, strapped to the top of my cart, plus my enthusiasm.

I had a great transfer and I dropped the plants in the backyard. I ate some lunch (veggie soup and cheese), spoiled Ron a bit, and left again.

Off to Foodtown. Wow, they had good deals. I want to play around a bit with adding different foods to my diet. I got some okra, eggplant, etc. Small amounts. I even got a little bit of Kumquat, Zer.

They had my beloved turkey ends and pieces. I got a nice little pot roast, some beef neckbones, and soupbones for my next batch of soup. They had awesome deals on soda, cat food, and cleaning supplies. I was very, very happy.

I must have walked about 4 miles total, most of that dragging a heavy cart behind me, but I had a good time. Tomorrow is planting day.

[Snowman]

Heather!!! WOMAN, you never cease to amaze me!! I am so glad you made it to the nursery and back safe and sound!! You did get your exercise today, that's for sure!!

Enjoy planting all you new plants!! I hope they bring you much enjoyment! I think I will plant some marigolds this year and when I do, I know it will remind me of you!! I won't be planting anything until sometime in May. We have to wait until there will be no more frost warnings.

[Zer]

What a priceless observation, Heather! How often has my bladder forced me to rise and move my aching body when all I want to do is lie still so nothing hurts! Even my chiro told me of his broken back and how he lay on the floor to ease his back pain as a kid, until he was FORCED to get up, to get to the bathroom. You say it well, how a bladder forces us to get moving!

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I am beginning to see why my doctor finds me so refreshing. I'm getting somewhat mixed, with primarily depression symptoms. I really didn't want to get up and I felt very hopeless. I think that's why God equips us with bladders. ...

...Off to Foodtown.... I even got a little bit of Kumquat, Zer.

Maybe you can plant some of the kumquat seeds and get a producing plant from that. Maybe? So nice to have your own producing plants! Kumquats, love 'em!

[Zer]

Meyer Lemon thread here! Just in case you have room to plant a Meyer lemon in your yard!

[Houston Heather]

Snow, frost is a [BAD WORD]. Funny, right as I started typing Ron came out of his room and wanted some help.

I told him about the pot roast. I got a nice 2 pound potroast at Food Town. I put it in the slow-cooker. I told Ron he could nibble after midnight if he wanted, and where he could find the potroast. He likes to nibble when I do a roast or something, so I went ahead and gave him "permission". I just told him to wait until after midnight.

Zer, the nursery carries "Lemon Drop" Kumquats - a hybrid between a lemon and a kumquat. I'd love to try one. I only have 80 square feet of cultivated garden, but I wedge a lot into the space.

Today I planted 6 marigolds, a bunch of Asian Greens (about 12 divisions), about 45 red onion transplants, another tomato (a heat-lover), a lavender, a lavender cotton plant, fertilized everyone (I found my fish fertilizer in the compost box - a plastic bin), watered the plants I brought home, cleaned up the garden beds, and worked on the compost pile. I was outside for about 2-2.5 hours. I had a blast!

It was nicely cool, upper 60's (that's "cool" in Houston ), quiet, sunny, mild breeze, 2 cats running around, my music. This morning I was acting drunk at work. I ran into walls a few times, time to back down on my lithium dose.

Chuck was a little concerned at first (we went out to lunch, all 3 of us, and ran an errand for Ron), but he found it funny when I explained "I was getting a little mixed (up and down at the same time) so I whacked it with more lithium!" I stomped my foot to emphasize the "whacked". He doubled over laughing. Apparently, I have a unique turn of phrase.

What does that mean? Well, I'm back down to 2 lithium tablets per day, and the "episode" has fled. I was just kind of dumb this morning, is all.

I kept saying, "It's a lot better than being sick".

[Houston Heather]

My best friend from Jr High and High School looked me up! Now she wants to come visit!

[skeopple]

Enjoy your gardening, Heather! We still have snow, ice, and cold. I wish it didn't cost so much to have a little hot house, but that wouldn't be the same as working in the ground. I can enjoy it through you until Spring is here, ok?
I'm happy to know you can control your own meds so well!
Happy gardening...........