Heather Shrinks in Houston!

[Houston Heather]

While typing out a list of supplements for another thread, I got the idea to check my blood sugar. All I'd had was some diet soda. It was 105. Pretty good! I'm happy, and glad I bought that meter.

I've even heard some people check their CATS on the inexpensive meters. I'm sorry, but if Bubba is that bad off he will be getting his own pork roast, and then a trip to the vet. I would feel like I was torturing him.

But then, I never envisioned helping my blind husband get into wheelchairs, either. I guess things change when we get there, huh? Rarely Ron will tell me that I'm the one person who makes him happy he's alive. That he couldn't do it without me and I bring him a lot of joy. That delights me.

So. Decent blood sugar control on my supplements. I weighed about 171 this morning and that was after the sweet potato fries. I need to do something active and drink a lot of water to limit the damage.

I'd like to go to the thrift stores but I WILL NOT leave him until he is awake, happy, and says he doesn't mind if I go. Technically, the 24 hours he needed to be monitored is up.

I also want to give him some A/C/E supplements I bought. They'll help with healing and minimize scarring. Even though he is currently sleeping on top of his hand. I tried to "fix" him but he rolled back on top of it, the other direction.

My hair is scary, I need to take my pills, and I need a shower. I don't know what I want for breakfast yet, but I do need to eat it pretty soon.

If that's my worst problem I'm doing great.

[skeopple]

I have a huge organic sweet potato I was going to make into fries today. Would I be better off feeding it to the animals that wonder our woods? Seriously, is it going to mess me up? I've been losing ounces steadily and don't want to change that. My mouth is watering for them but I am willing to forfeit if you say so Just the fact that I want them so bad could be a hint to stay away from them???????? I'll respect your answer.

[Houston Heather]

Are you gonna eat the whole thing?

If so, I'd feed it to the critters. If you have DH or other interested party, I'd cut it in half. Feed half to critters. Fry up a small portion for both, and enjoy. Everyone wins! If you HAVE to have it, I'd say no. I don't have any cravings today so I am "OK" with sweet potatoes. White potatoes cause major problems for me.

Speaking of critters, I had a wild day. I saw a stray cat outside. I fed it and was petting it. Ron woke up. Wanted to see if the cat would come in the house. It did. Got in Ron's lap, even. I was petting her and all of a sudden WHAM she attacked me. I have several bruises she bit me so hard, puncture wounds, and some lovely gashes where I pulled myself away. Then she want back to acting like she wanted more love.

Ron thought it was something I did. I refused to pet her, even though she wanted me to, and she settled for Ron. All of a sudden WHAM she attacks his hand... the one that just had surgery! Thank God for the heavy dressing! Ron was furious and we threw the cat out.

I have never had such a bad bite in my life. I don't need stitches, but my arm is bruised pretty bad. It hurts to type. Also, there's a good chance I could end up needing antibiotics. Puncture wounds, especially from a bite... we'll see. I did crank up the olive leaf. I have great faith in Olive leaf. You can google olive leaf for more info. 4 nasty quarter sized bruises, 3 pucture wounds, and 2 tears. OOOoh.

I still love cats, but not THAT ONE.

Ron suggested we go to the county clinic and get another "old man". I think it's a great idea. I'd love to. We will probably be doing that in the near future, that's the good thing that's come out of this. There's a wonderful, sweet old male cat who'd love a nice warm lap, a sunny window, and a safe yard to stretch out in the sun. One who WON'T bite.

We only have 2 rules:
Thou shalt not bite
Thou shalt not pee

That cat was scary... anyway, glad she's gone. I was very disappointed.

I went out to Goodwill and I found an AWESOME dress. It's in my photo selection. I find it very sexy, reasonably modest, and nicely formal. I put on a little fashion show with my camera. I think you can get somewhat of an idea in spite of the poor lighting and flash.

Link to Heather's dress photos

[skeopple]

That's a tough decision, Heather!!! I really, really love them all but MY favorite is the blue outfit. I think it's actually very slimming. Although you may have a tan to show off on the cruise too, so maybe a black dress; hummmm. I vote the Old Navy blue one. No belt. Just the way it is. Maybe some sideways pictures would help with the decision? You sure got some gorgeous formal wear there!!!

Too bad about that cat.....take care of the wounds, please!

[Houston Heather]

Oh, yeah, I did the whole (icky ahead)

I rubbed them to make them bleed more, because Dad always said to do that with a puncture. He used to swear the best antiseptic was your own blood, coming out. Then the peroxide, and the rubbing alcohol. I plan to put a hot compress on it, too, with some tea tree oil. Worst case, if it even LOOKS unhappy, I will go to the clinic and get fixed up with antibiotics. We even have some leftover Bactrim from you know what....

Thank you Sharon! I need good feedback... you are a huge help. I have some other outfits I'll probably "do" on Saturday morning, when I get good light in the bathroom and don't need a flash.

[Houston Heather]

I did some research, and I'm taking antibiotics now. Why wait for an infection when I can prevent it. I've taken this before with no problem, my only issue will be replacing it when I'm done.

[Houston Heather]

God bless the Mexican internet pharmacy!

I'm taking Augmentin, the protocol for cat bites. 3 days, 2 x a day. No infection.

I'm getting some terrible bruising. You can look at my dress link and see:
1. Cat bite photos, not very good quality photos, though.
2. A whopper of a bruise I got because I take my pills.
3. Knitting photos, putting all my scraps together.

Bubba discovered Bad Cat trying to get in through our cat door. He did a smackdown twice! In the middle of the night, waking us up, but he's a good boy and I love him. I sure didn't want to wake up to Jaws!

He also came out through the cat door and greeted us when we came home. He's a sweetie. It's about to rain but we're going to Burger King.

I was a little traumatized from that bite, and didn't want to pet Bubba, but he's insisted. He's a good boy, he says. How many times have I petted a cat in my life? How many times have I been bitten?

[Houston Heather]

OK, back from Burger King. What have I been up to?

Went to work, showed my bite to people. Lots of exclamations. It really hurts to rotate my wrist, or shake my hands off like I do when I'm drying them off. It was somewhat puffy last night but not red. Now it is smooth and flat, normal looking except for the punctures, lacerations, and bruising. That's good.

I went up 5 pounds - partially the antibiotic - it's gotta be good for blaming! And partially due to a pity party whipped cream overload .

I am SO GLAD I am already taking antibiotics! Our deliveryman said "Oh, I had a terrible case of pinkeye but I'm not contagious." His eyes were so red he looked like a DEMON. As soon as I got inside, I washed my hands repeatedly, put rubbing alcohol on them, got the disinfecting wipes, and more rubbing alcohol and got everything he touched! EW EW EW.

That's the problem with small businessmen, we work sick!

So, only the one delivery. Ron did pretty much everything he normally does. I helped, yakked at the other vendor, did what I could. When I leave a snack machine unstocked for 2 days, I like it to look like it missed me. Almost every coil was nearly full. That's BAD. However, big rains this weekend... SO that means we will get good sales. We're going in on Sunday to make sure the kids are happy - sometimes power outages make them cranky. All we generally have to do is open them, turn them off, turn them on again, clear out a few messages, and back in business.

The other vendors NEVER go in on the weekend. Let's play that up: We're here working, just like you, two people trying to pay the bills. Oh, THANK YOU for buying that soda! I mean it, too. Without them, we're SCREWED and I never forget it.

Ron was tired by the time we left, and so was I. We came home, I took those pics, posted them, took a nap, got up, Burger King, home, and then later Starbucks. It is darky and thundery but no real rain yet. Hopefully we won't get any.

It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and I haven't decided what I'd like to do. Part of me wants to go out and have fun. No real good movies on Sci-fi, even. I'm not so big on bad alien movies. The feature movie is a sequel to a movie that I thought was horribly boring the first time around, and the trailers were yawners. If the trailer is boring, you can sleep through the movie.

I do plan to do some more knitting - please check out the link above! I have knitting pictures! The other day at Foodtown it was funny. I was knitting in the checkout line. A nice Indian man, his wife, and his mother were waiting behind me (Houston is beautifully multi-cultural). "Mom" began exclaiming in Hindi and pointing at my knitting, then reached forward to pet it. I love showing off my work () so I took out the ziplock full of scraps and demonstrated "I'm using up my scraps here". By then, it was checkout time.

I want to go out, but don't know about the weather. If I stay home, I'll be bored. Yes, I could stand to do some housework (I won't be posting photos of the kitchen), but I want to do something FUN.

I'll have to wait and see. I'll figure something out.

[dee730]

heather I have to agree with sharon I love the blue dress on you and no it does not need a belt it may look to you like you look wider but let me explain what I am seeing in the pic your hips look a tiny bit wider but your waist looks smaller it gives you a great hourglass figure

[skeopple]

I like to clean my kitchen and floors. Then go out. So when I come home, my house greets me happily cleaned. I've gotten so that if my house is in disarrrrray, I don't like to leave. I'll surely get company if it's messy and dirty!

[Houston Heather]

Thank you for the feedback!

Ron wants gumbo, so I'll have to clean the kitchen. Then, off to Foodtown to buy some chicken, and probably a potroast and or soupbone for me.

As we were getting ready to go to Starbucks, the sky opened up. It was pouring. It was so bad I got out the bright yellow ponchos. We arrived at Starbucks looking like 2 lemons, but like Ron said "We were dry lemons". I told him that sounded like a bar drink; "I'll have a dry lemon, please!".

When I drank, which was rarely, I liked cherry brandy. I'm sure it was full of sugar. Now it's full of bad mental illness symptoms if I touch it, so easy to say no.

Anyway, we had a good time except for an annoying, spoiled teenager who wanted me to buy him something. He had no idea how pampered he was.

Anyway, we had a good time, Ron felt very spoiled by the "special" frapp they made him, and I had my heavy whipping cream thing. I told Ron they probably start it as soon as they see the Metrolift pull up out front.

Still raining - but I'm glad I figured out my plans for tomorrow. I really like the Foodtown meat and I love to spoil Ron. He adores the gumbo.

[Snowman]

WOW HEATHER, that bad cat did a number on you!

I vote for the two black dresses, my #1 is the same one you like and then the Evan Picon black one and then the blue one! Really though, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, you look GREAT in all of them!!

I've never had gumbo, but sure I would like it!

Glad you had a good day today and hope tomorrow is even better!

[Houston Heather]

I cleaned up the kitchen.

Funny story. Bubba occasionally meows at the front door when he wants valet service; instead of using his cat door.

Since I already accept that he's my Master, I don't mind. I even call him Master.

Anyway, meowing while I was on TV. Normal meows. I turn my head and BAD CAT is staring at me through the cat door. I got the broom and chased her off.

I swear, Bubba was laughing his furry butt off as he saw me chasing her down the street, cursing and waving my broom!

I don't think she'll be back. Later on I heard Bubba teaching her some manners, as well.

What a stupid animal. I would have spoiled her rotten. Bubba's eating his Tender Beef Feast right now and says hello.

I'm tired, and going to bed EARLY. It's my day off tomorrow and I'd like to get all the sleep I can.

[Snowman]

OH MY GOODNESS, HEATHER......I'm rolling on the floor laughing, picturing you running after the bad cat with your broom!!!

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Anyway, meowing while I was on TV. Normal meows.

What station were you on??!! I missed your television debut!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

ENJOY your day off tomorrow!

[skeopple]

Running past, stopping to wish you a fun Saturday off. We'll be working that fundraiser today so I'll probably not be online until tomorrow some time.

That stray cat finally realized what she could've had!

[Houston Heather]

I was on Sci-fi, Snow! Actually, Dr G, but I'm not ready to star in HER show (she does autopsies).

Yeah, funniest part, I was COOKING BACON. I'm sure the smell drove her nuts.

Ron is feeling bloodthirsty. NO ANIMAL will hurt his wife. He's making noises about (me) catching her and (he and Chuck) taking her to animal control. If she's a documented biter, she gets the needle.

I'm happy I ran her off with the broom.

It's raining... and raining. I need to look at a weather map and figure out my plans for today. I had planned to go to Foodtown.

In Houston, we have a major sporting event, the MS 150 bike ride. It's 150 mile ride, over 2 days, from here to the state capitol. We have beautiful highways at this time of year, Mrs. Ladybird made sure of that. The verges are seeded with glorious wildflowers - it's a spectacular ride.

When Ron was in Austin (state cap) and I lived in SW Houston, I used to ride the Grayhound to see him every weekend after work. I'd get there Friday night and leave Sunday morning. He asked me to stay in after dark, and I basically lived on my own for 4 months. It was interesting, but I NEVER minded the ride home because I'd be staring out the window at the gloriously blooming wildflower of the week. The great thing about Houston? I could afford to live on my own.



When Ron came back, it wasn't hard to adjust except for 2 things - way more TP use, and the thermostat! He used to like it really cold (that changed after the accident), while I like it set at about 78.

It would be an amazing ride, but it's been cancelled this year - severe weather. Thunder, lighting, RAIN. Both Bubba and I are annoyed. We had PLANS today, admittedly my plans were Foodtown related.

I had planned to make some breakfast casseroles for me, and some gumbo for Ron - I need more converted rice... some of that Festival floor cleaner, boy it has a LASTING fragrance - the stuff I used to clean out the trash cans. It will be fun to get out, too.

Oh, my weight is down a couple pounds - I was really freaking out after the antibiotic when it said 175. 3 more doses and I'm done.

Oh, I almost forgot. My arm looks WAY better. The bruising still hurts but it doesn't look as angry. I was so paranoid about taking antibiotics after what happened to Ron, but those puncture wounds needed some attention.

Ron and I just had an interesting talk about women's rights (they have none) in Iran. Boy, I'm glad to be an American.

[Houston Heather]

April photos link, with lovely shot of me in giant yellow poncho

I went to Foodtown in the pouring rain and had a GREAT time. Check out all I got:
My food:
Diet Dr Pepper 20 ounce 6 pack - $2.49
Fabuloso cleaner, one bottle each pine and lavender - $1.98
Meat $4.56 - a nice selection of truly meaty soup bones - 2 pounds
Pot roast - arm - $3.66
2 cans tuna in water $1.32
Frozen okra (no breading) on sale : $.88
He rang it as a cucumber but it was a zuccini .79
California blend veggies (broccoli, cauli, carrots), $2.99 for 2 pounds
1 pound carrots for soup - $.50
Texas 1015 onions (the Lone Star's version of Vidalia) - $.72 (1.84 pounds)
Mexican squash - some kind of green summer, it's good: $.32 at 1/3 pound
Quart of Strawberries: $1.29
Pomada de Arnica - Arnica salve is EXCELLENT for bruising - $4.35
Single Red Bell Pepper: $.50
.4 pounds eggplant, the style I'm growing - $.76

Ron's stuff:
1 can refried beans $.50
3# bag parboiled rice - for gumbo and burritos
Fryer thighs $3.56 - 8 nice thighs - for gumbo, 3.5 pounds
Extra Lean ground beef - $5.10 - 1.5 pounds
Celery $1.99
Pork Sausage $2.99 - 14 ounce link style
Burrito shells, huge ones, $2.99
Taco seasoning mix - .69
Generic Ro-tel tomato and green chili blend, mild: $.69

I also got him a ham and cheese pastry from the bakery lady. He also wanted, and got, some eggrolls.

[Houston Heather]

Ron and I just had a stupid fight over the freezer. I forced him to decide on a few LARGE items he had hogging it up. Then I had him look at it again.

Then he asks me what I'm doing as I wash some dishes. I told him "I'm doing dishes". Why. "So I can cook my dinner, unless you're cooking for me tonight."

[Houston Heather]

I figured out why I was so snappish.

When Ron and I first met, he had a female friend. I found out later they had been involved, but he dumped her to date me. At the time, I was told she was "a freind only - I'd NEVER be with her".

She tended to be very clingy and demanding, I didn't like her much. She was always nice to me but had a boatload of issues. Her favorite thing ever was talking about terrible things that had happened to other people, ya know?

She was ALWAYS calling him with personal crises... wanting to talk for hours. I had sex with that guy on the dating service, I think it was too soon, do you think he thinks I'm easy now? Ron worked 10 hours a day. Slept 8... and then would spend an hour or two on the phone at night, OUR time, talking to her.

He is a "fixer" type and he was always trying to make things better for her. Sadly, I always knew he had NO love for her. I think it is sad considering they were intimate.

Anyway, right before we moved here he told me the truth. I was furious. I might very well have left him over that but he'd already bought his ticket and given up the lease on the apartment.

Periodically, she would call with some great personal crisis. She is so obese that on one occasion, she had to be taken out the bedroom window because she couldn't get out through the bedroom door on the gurney. They took out the window, somehow, and handed her out.

She once got very angry when we ate at a restaurant that had a sign: "A fat man knows where to find good food - Bubba" She was so irate she had a whole hissy fit in front of the manager, then ate an entire pizza and a pitcher of coke by herself afterward. Then she wanted to go out for dessert. She was ALWAYS complaining about her weight but never did anything.

We didn't hear from her for years after Ron's accident because "It was too upsetting for her". Say wha? When I lost the weight on Atkins, and Ron told her, she had every excuse in the world.

Her husband was diagnosed diabetic, and she called Ron hysterical. Ron told her about l/c, and "He'll never give up his rice". Now he is on dialysis.

I don't like her, and I see her as a time/energy/love thief. Ron is an introvert and only wants to spend a couple of hours a day around people. She steals that time from me, and what do I get? Nothing except Ron wants to gossip about people I don't know or care about for a few minutes, then go in his room by himself and shut the door.

Today I tried to call Ron several times from the store. Busy busy busy. I got home, he's talking to her. I had food so he hung up, then later on called her BACK and talked for at least another hour. It was all about her problems, as usual.

It really pisses me off because I feel that he doesn't really want to hear me talk about anything that's interesting. He makes an obvious, polite show of interest for a few minutes and changes the subject. But he'll listen to HER go on for hours about her brother in law molested her neice? GRRRRRR. I need to come up with a way to say this that doesn't sound shrill and envious. I'm not envious of her. I resent that Ron gives her so much time. He could say "I can only talk for 10 minutes" if he wanted, and he chooses not to do so. God knows he shuts me up 'most every opportunity.

On top of that, I have to be quiet because "He's on the phone, don't bother me". UGH.

I'm surprised I didn't get ugly. All I did was tell him to eat his frozen crap in the freezer before I'd make him some gumbo.

I would like to see myself as a good, loving, person, but I really hope the next phone call is some family member saying she's dead of a heart attack. Horrible, but true. I just don't LIKE her.

Ron mentioned the low cost of living in Houston to her and I got very angry, I told him "Don't you DARE get her out here, you'll never get rid of her!" If she was that clingy and demanding out in CA with all her other friends and family around, she'd be a freaking LEECH out here. But she said no, it's too hot.

Thank you Jesus.

[Houston Heather]

It's not a bad day but I am completely fed up with Ron.

He does not HAVE to curse me out, complain ......

Nevermind. You ge the idea.

[Houston Heather]

I'm feeling better. I took a five hour nap today. Sorry, garden, I didn't weed you today.

It was really bright and sunny so I'd've had to "rig up" and slather on the suncreen... seemed too hard.

And the fact that I slept 5 hours, and woke up with Bubba sleeping next to me, his paw trustingly in my hand was the best medicine of all.

I'm finishing off my beef and veggie stew. The "soup bone" was all meat, tiny bit of bone so I'm calling it a stew now. Yum.

It'll be an easy dinner.

[dee730]

heather just wanted to let you know that Zer is online she posted on the 300# april thread
glad you are feeling better

[Houston Heather]

YAY HAPPY DANCE!

THANK YOU.

[skeopple]

I hate that she is in hospice care I can't quit crying.

[Houston Heather]

Yeah. I don't know what it was that got her there but it's very sad.

[Houston Heather]

Ron died in the accident years ago and is still LIVID he got "sent back". Heaven must be pretty spectacular.

It's the half-dying that scares me.

I decided to make some beef and veggie stew. A lot of stuff I picked, plus some good l/c frozen veggies. It looked so good I took a photo of it.

Happily, I saw PART of a good scary movie "Snakes on a Plane". Not necessarily the smartest thing to watch when I'm about to fly in a month, but it's nice for me.

I can see the whole thing tomorrow night at 5 pm. Yay.

I need to go to bed, up at 5 tomorrow for donuts.

[skeopple]

Nighty night, Heather. I just took an Exedrin Back and Body Extra Strength. Hope it helps me get some restful sleep. Talk to ya tomorrow. Do you need some help with those donuts? yum. NOT.

[Houston Heather]

They are evil!

I do the whole mind control thing. I tell myself I can't eat them, they'll kill me. I have all kinds of delicious, derailing crap. Worst of all they have CLEAR WRAPPERS.

I just got an email from Mom, who LOVES all the dresses. Thank God. Oh, and my hair is "darling".

[Houston Heather]

All done with work, machines look good. Today was putting away the pallet day and helping Ron by stacking up cases of drinks. No wonder I'm maintaining! It's a lot of lifting.

I'm retaining a lot of water this time - but that should be wrapped up in a few days, thank God. My cycles are changing to closer together. Oh, well. Everything works, that's what matters. I'll be glad when I lose the chest water. I measured and I'm up about an inch and a half on my chest!

I'm sure when I'm done, I'll fit into the fantastic dress I found. If not I think I can do a little surgery on the dress and remove the bra pads (very thick). I would wear a bra with it anyway so I can take them out if needed. It is a gorgeous, fitted black lace over silver metallic so I'm very motivated.

I'm also cutting back on aspartame in the hopes that will help.

I'd like to go to one of those budget suit stores,they have names like Suits U, Suit Mart, stuff like that, to look for stuff for Ron but that is most likely not do-able on the bus. We'll have to use Metrolift.

I plan to hit the thrift center today after going to Starbucks with Ron. He likes going home by himself while I go out and have fun.

Speaking of fun, Snakes on a Plane is showing tonight on FX. I'll be watching it! I love a good scary movie and what I saw last night before going to bed looked a lot better than the average horror movie. It makes me happy.

I told Dad we should watch "The Posidon Adventure" - he got the joke. It's about a cruise ship that sinks.

My sister is going to send me some of the stuff she wore on her cruise. If I like anything, I can borrow it. She's a sweetie. I lost touch with her in my teens, and reconnected in '03. She didn't miss much, frankly.

I'm just glad I'm the family member people want to hear from these days.

I need to work on not gossiping - not that I re: family but current events, to other people. A drunk driver, talking on a cell phone, wrecked his car. He had 6 children inside, and another adult. It is very hard for me to feel sympathy.

The children were not riding safely to begin with - it was a compact car. They were riding with a drunk. The guy was a thug, in and out of jail for over a decade. At least one adult, plus the mother of the children, knew he was drunk when the kids were put into the car.