Heather Shrinks in Houston!

[skeopple]

Heather, people are stupid.....Last week our county had a case where, at 3:30 am a first responder came upon a car wreck. For 2 hours an 18 month old and a toddler were laying on the pavement in 32 degree weather. The drunken mother was still in the car and didn't know what happened. Thank God that no other traffic came along to run over the babies. Urghhhhh......I hope the children don't have to be with her from now on. She'd already lost her license for driving while intoxicated. Not gossip either. True, sad story.

[Houston Heather]

Oh, yeah.

What really gets me is the whole family is acting the martyr. What a terrible ACCIDENT.

No, he murdered his own children, and the people who let him drive drunk with all those children in a compact knew better, too. Look what happened when Britney drove with her baby out of a carseat, everyone, even papparazzi, knows better.

The mother was on TV - seems very insecure. Hopefully she will not face criminal charges, and take good care of her surviving child, a 10 year old. She hardly looks older than the kids!

Anyway, we went to Starbucks. I told them we are voting with our money to keep them open. They started my drink when I walked in and figured out Ron's. We hung out and talked for a little bit.

His ride came and he went home. I went to the thrift center and found the dark silvery-gray shirt I had envisioned getting him,

Bubba says hello!

And another nice blue and white vertical striped oxford. How come women have the horrible horizontal stripes, but guys get vertical? HIGHLY unfair.

I had a good time. I ran an errand for Ron, got some bunless burgers, and ate them. Why, you may ask?

Well, the bus stop was right next to a donut shop and I had just missed the bus. I was hungry! I know better than to sit next to a donut shop, hungry.

Then I came home, took a shower (had to wash off the sunscreen) and watched Snakes on a Plane. An EXCELLENT movie, one of the best.

[skeopple]

You did great to buy the bunless burgers rather than donuts Good for you. Sounds like you had good luck at the thrift center too. I can't find anything my size at ours. I'll be so happy when I am a normal size!

[Houston Heather]

Well, Houston has been named "Fattest City" more than once! That doesn't hurt!

Bubba brought me a live lizard, just like Frosty used to do. And, just like always, I caught the terrified creature and put it outside again.

[skeopple]

Oh no! Just how big was this lizard?

[Houston Heather]

3-4 inches?

Here's a laundry list of critters I've been given.

Frosty was very fond of bringing me little brown garden snakes, about the diameter of a pencil, about pencil length to up to a foot long.

Bubba is into lizards, live birds, brought me Frosty, and rodents, alive and dead. If it's alive, I catch it somehow and put it out. Lizards get picked up in a dustpan or bare hand, same with garden snakes. Birds I catch with my hands. They never peck me. The things that bother me are katydids, insects, and moths. Ick. Those get killed.

One morning I was incredibly depressed. It was my day off. I decided to spend the entire day in bed. Bubba kept meowing at me and wouldn't leave me alone. I ignored him.

He went out and caught a live adult mockingbird, brought it in, and released it into my bedroom! He KNEW I wouldn't let him torture it to death in front of me. I got out of bed, caught the bird, released it outside, and got on with my day.

I got a new avatar. I was waiting outside, waiting on our ride, wearing my SPIFFY hat, and thought "Here's a good avatar photo shot".

[Houston Heather]

YAY!

I have video. I have video of Bubba eating a num num. I have video of me and Ron! The num num video has a great visual of my belly. But it's pretty much my voice and you can hear me baby talking the kitty.

Oh, I'm so excited. Mom gave me her old digital camera and I figured out how to do video! When video #2 uploads, I'll post links.

Heather knits, the junk food queen

Let me know what you think!

My face is a little fat, I think, but I think it's because I'm actually USING my face instead of sitting still for a photo.

[skeopple]

Heather, I totally enjoyed your videos and your blog!!! You are such a sweet couple.

Your ride plus your later conversation with Ron was not so good, huh? I don't know how you handle it so well. I'd be crying.

[Houston Heather]

Well, you have 2 people with brain damage. He is more impulsive and more tempermental, and WAAAAY more introverted than he used to be. I can generally drag him out of his shell but by himself he would rather be left alone all day.

I am very sensitive about my "shortcomings" - I know I'm different and most times, I try to celebrate it. Most times he appreciates me.

However, my needs and abilities clash with his needs and capabilities... not pretty! I can't give him what he needs and he gets very upset!

Does he intend to be hateful? Absolutely not. The way you see us in the video is generally how we are.

Bubba is ALWAYS that sweet and handsome, though. Such a lover!

My only regret is not figuring this thing out before Frosty died.

[Houston Heather]

Yay! Bad cat is gone! Good thing, the scratches I got yesterday have my right pinky pretty stiff. Ugh. I feel like a mass of scratches, bites, and contusions. Kind of like a survivor at the end of a horror movie.

I know sun will make the injuries scar, so I need to cover them up somehow.

Yesterday, I didn't take my morning pills. I doubled up at night. I'm just feeling really unpleasant today - as in grumpy and irritable. Bad cat in the trap made a lot of racket, keeping me up. That doesn't help.

I started my period today, yay for that. Seems to be every 28 days now. No real cramps, but I took asprin anyway. The Black Cohosh really seems to help. It's nice to know the water retention and bloating will go away now.

I've been a little sloppy, a sugarfree pudding here, tater skins there. I need to get back to cleaner eating.

I thought Walmart had cute silver sandals, but I can't find them now. AGH. I'm just really grumpy today. I'm hungry but I don't want to eat anything I've got around.

PMS? Not sleeping? Bipolar? I don't know. Probably all 3. It's a nice day and I want to get out and enjoy it... but first I have to slather up with sunscreen and bring my shawl.

[Violet Skye]

Heather, you should change your screen name to "Hottie Heather", because that pic in your avi is positively smokin'!!!!

[Houston Heather]

Thank you! Football Mom told me I should change it, so I took her advice.

KITTIES! You have the cutest babies. Which one is the boss?

Well, I got smart. I went out and had what I wanted for lunch - bunless double cheeseburgers at McD's. I had unsweetened iced tea and kind of grumbled a little, still cranky, cramps not good.

I thought "Hey, let's get a 2 for 1 special here. If I buy some Aleve at the gas station it'll work on my cramps AND raise my lithium level! I was feeling evil enough to know that I needed more lithium anyway.

SO, I did it. All the rest of the day, I smiled at people. Even when I missed a bus, I felt very peaceful and serene. Thank God for vitamin L! I'm glad I know how to "work" it, too.

Not many people know the lithium tricks. Since I was outside and I'm not supposed to get too hot (I am at risk for heatstroke due to meds) I was covered up in my light cotton shawl and wearing my glamorous hat. I drank lots of diet soda (not advised, but ) to hydrate and had fun.

I just ate the burgers, went to the mall, went to starbucks, went home. Ron's asleep. Bubba's curled up in my bed.

I'm going to take a nap. When I get up, I'll cook some gumbo, taco meat, and start freezing the potroast and things. There's some other food thing I need to do but I'm forgetting.

It was pretty funny when we got home from Walmart. Ron and Bubba are both sniffing at the potroast. I offered each some potroast and they both gobbled it up with identical expressions of glee! The happy faces were cleaned and they each lay down for a nap. But not together. Bubba isn't that kind of cat. But I'd still love him if he were.

[Houston Heather]

Ron ate the burrito I made him for dinner from scratch. Well, I bought the tortilla and the beans already made.

He said next time just meat. I was sneaky. He didn't want veggies or salsa but I put the salsa next to his plate. He found it and ate it.

After he was finished, I got the strawberries out of the fridge and put them on the table in front of him. Oh, lookie here. And some splenda.

The man who didn't want any veggies or fruit ended up eating quite a bit! Stupid married tricks.

[Houston Heather]

Ron at work footage here:
Heather knits, the junk food queen

[Houston Heather]

Today was a good day. We got up early, went to work. I commiserated with the sandwich guy about the difficulties of owning your own business. He keeps thinking he can trust the business to a family member while he takes time off with the family... ah no.

I made sure the other vendor got back the exact light bulbs we'd borrowed this week. They all seem to be doing pretty well.

After work, we went to Burger King. We had a straight trip which meant we'd be there for about 2 and a half hours. Fortunately, when Chuck came by yesterday, he said "Give me a call if you need a ride anywhere" so we did. Ron asked me when I wanted to go to SuitLand (that's what I'll call it). I told him, not until after I get paid, a few weeks probably.

Next week I see my doc, that's an all day trip on our day off... plus I need to go to Walmart next week after I get paid.

Ron said, "You're buying me clothes, I don't mind paying for them". OK. We decided to call Chuck.

Chuck is a very stylish guy. He will never be seen on "What not to wear". He looks good every day. He likes to dress up and looks even better when he does. He looked so dignified, that at our wedding my aunt thought he was Ron's boss!

We found the place and I unbuckled my seat belt. Chuck asked me if I'd like some company, and I said yes.

I figured he could be my "fashion police". I have questions, especially regarding men's clothing. For instance, should a tie be worn with a short sleeved button down? I got a good answer from Chuck. What about this with that... he said it could work, meaning NO.

I picked out 2 nice ties and Chuck found some nice stuff he plans to come back for later.

I used to be extremely sensitive about fashion/style issues. I hated what I saw as the implication that I was too stupid or broken to dress myself "properly". I bought a good book on style "Fabulous You, Unlocking the Secrets to your personal style" and discovered I am a sporty/romantic. If I stick with sporty and romantic styled clothes, I feel and look great. Take my shawl. Not many women could wear a drapey cotton shawl every day with denim shorts and a tshirt, but I pull it off.

I try to celebrate the things I look good in, and as a result I look good most of the time. No one's going to gag over my choices. More importantly, family/friends won't be embarrassed to be seen with me, which yes, has happened. Pretty painful for everyone concerned.

One good piece of advice I was given in the book: Pick someone the opposite style type (Chuck is a Classic/Trendy - exactly opposite my style) and shop with them. They'll be better able to point you to good things. It works great.

My aunt is a Traditional/sporty, so she works too, we share a style type.

My older sister also gave me some good advice: Always overdress for the occasion.

When I've listened, and gotten things that are my style, I do well. Part of it is the issue I've dealt with my whole life: admitting I need help.

I, like my husband, have a TERRIBLE time asking for help. I'd rather flounder alone. But I have an information processing disorder. It doesn't make me a bad person, weak, or stupid, it just means that when I was a child I had meltdowns if taken to the mall. I'd get overstimulated and freak out.

Kind of hard to learn lessons about clothing and style! Explaining why certain things were worn together went pretty badly too, because it was all audio. I don't really get things explained to me.... I have to see it. Mom found it was easier to buy me clothes and set them by my door. No overload for Heather or Mom. I'd get clothes as gifts, too.

As I got older, my tolerance developed and by the time I hit my late teens I liked going to the mall. Then I had all the self-esteem issues (and poverty) that truly limited my clothing choices as a 20-something.

Now I'm confident in who I am. I enjoy being Heather. I can't imagine being anyone else.

And I'm glad I'm smart enough to ask for advice so Ron will look great on the cruise.

[Houston Heather]

Back from Starbucks. Bubba's in the computer room window, on the other side of the curtain. Such a sweet boy. He'll never be Frosty but he's a wonderful Bubba.

Ron's been complaining a lot recently. I talk too much, it's too cold. I didn't put enough salsa in his burrito... UGH. Sometimes I wonder if anything I do makes him happy, but then I have to remind myself.

IT'S NOT MY JOB TO MAKE HIM HAPPY. My job is loving him and providing for his needs, as he provides for mine. My job is to please God with my loving spirit, not please Ron with my actions. If it's about making Ron happy I will die an unhappy, miserable, unfulfilled death. If it's about making GOD happy then I know I've done my best. I could always do better (when was the last time I picked up my Bible and read it? ) but I'm not doing a bad job.

I had another one of those "Is it me?" instances where the driver demanded I sit in the backseat with Ron and another client, because she had some stuff in the front seat. Why not move the stuff? Was it personal? The other client said she wanted to sit in the front, too, but the driver wouldn't let her either. I guess that she's just one of those "NO one get too close to me" types who doesn't want "Strangers up in my space". Some people are like that , but not me. Too much time riding public transit!

Anyway, I decided not to take it personally.

I know I've told you the story of JW - the "slow" guy in his late 20's. He lives in a group home for the "slow" and works at a local fast food place. He can be difficult. He is pushy, talks a lot, wants to know very personal information about everyone, talks endlessly - Ron thinks I'm bad?

Anyway, in 2004 when we first moved here, we met him. I slowly regained my weight over the last couple years, until hitting my alltime high in late 2007. We were riding on the big van together. He started pointing at me as I got on:
"What happened to you? You got fat, that's what! YOU GOT FAT! YOU USED TO LOOK GOOD, NOW YOU'RE FAT! WHY DID YOU GET FAT? YOU'RE FAT! YOU USED TO LOOK GOOD, NOW YOU'RE FAT! WHY ARE YOU FAT..." 20 minutes of this until we dropped him off.

Anyway, today was the first time he'd seen me since then. His eyes bugged out and he said "You look GOOD!" I'll take it.

[Houston Heather]

Last week I went out in the garden and picked some leafy greens. I brought them in the house and prepped them (wash and chop). They've kept nicely in their gallon ziplock all week, so I plan to do this at least every week, if not more often.

It's incredibly easy to reach in the bag, grab a few handfuls, and sautee/steam/braise the veggies for a few minutes and add to my dinner. Tastes a lot better than frozen, too, and I GREW THAT. You can't beat that feeling.

Tonight I froze some potroast (on beds of the greens) and ate the rest. Yummy. I did some food prep for tomorrow's likely "cook day". I prepped the onions and celery for Ron's gumbo, and prepped various veggies for my veggie soup. I like summer squash in soup if it is shredded, but it's a hassle to shred. I did it, chopped a Texas 1015 onion - so sweet it tasted like candy, and prepped other veggies. Tomorrow I'll pick more leafy greens and literally throw them in the pot. All I need to do is make some stock and throw my veggies in for 20 minutes or so.

I decided to try the eggplant. I was scared. I have never, to my knowledge, eaten eggplant. On the plus side, I didn't have any "Ick, Eggplant!" memories either. It looked interesting when I cut it up. I salted it and put it in the colander. I'm not sure how much good it did.

I cut up some onions, red bell pepper, and summer squash per "The Joy of Cooking" Ratatoullie recipe. The onions really carried the whole dish, in my opinion. They were very mellow and flavorful. I always wondered "Why buy the 1015 onions?" but now I know. I hope mine turn out half as tasty.

I put some olive and canola oil in my big iron skillet. I added a good dash of chopped garlic, and heated it up on medium. I threw in the veggies and tossed to coat in veggie oil. I sauteed them until they looked done to me. So far, so good.

It was OK. Not great, not horrible. Like I said I mainly tasted very good onions. The textures were not objectionable and no strong, bad, flavors. Just odd textures. Maybe shredded eggplant and greens sauteed with lots of garlic... I dunno. It wasn't bad. Do I love it? No. I told Ron it was a 5 on 1-10 scale.

I'm glad I'm expanding my palate. Tomorrow, I plan to get some Chayote. Foodtown caters strongly to the Latino population and they love chayote.

Zer would be so proud of me.

I really want to focus on a healthy variety of veggies and fruit, in addition to meat, oils, and dairy. I don't ever plan to add in grains, but I do plan to add a few starchy things like winter squash and sweet potatoes (by the time I finish).

We've got some good rain going tonight, going to ruin a lot of plans. Ron and I had planned to stay home so I'm not affected.

Bubba cat got in my chair with me and sat next to me for 45 minutes. He never did that before Frosty died, but I think Frosty told him he had to step up. Fortunately, he doesn't lie on my knitting like Frosty did.

I'm wearing one of my new "flattening" underthings today. It takes a little getting used to but I am getting used to it. I didn't want to deal with odd, uncomfortable sensations on the cruise... enough new things as it is. I figure, get used to them now and then it'll be no big deal.

Off I go to veg. Have a good weekend!

[Houston Heather]

Woke up with a little bit of a headache today. I think the whipping cream things are a culprit. I don't want them to be... but my weight has been pretty stuck (with the way things have been this year, I can settle for stuck but I'd like to see some losses!). Anyway, I plan to switch to tea instead... with a little bit of brought-from-home Stevia.

I took some video of us this morning. Ron is really cute eating his burrito, and I even put on makeup for YOU.

That, and I need to get the hang of it before the cruise. We've all seen women with badly applied makeup. I don't want to be one if I can help it.

I find it interesting that everyone in my family is self-employed, save one.
Oldest brother: Jeweler, works on contract making silver jewelry. Off the grid survivalist, too.
Oldest Sister: works for VA, would like to work as a psychiatric nurse.
Older sister: Self employed party planner.
Older brother: Owns his own photography studio, also personal photographer for Arnold Schwartnegger.
Me - self employed vending
Younger brother: Self employed hair stylist, works at a very posh salon.

I find that very interesting, that the various Moms and Dads raised us to be hard workers, independent, good work ethic, non-bigoted (one sister married an Italian, another married a Chinese man, I married a Creole whom most would view as "Black"). They did a good job.

I know my birth Mom is up in heaven, spoiling Frosty rotten, and proud of her 3 kids. Dad remarried when I was 5 - and to quote another poster "Steps are for walking".

[Houston Heather]

Today's video. Heather knits, the junk food queen

[skeopple]

I'm really enjoying your videos, Heather! How did your Foodtown trip go for ya?
Hope you're having a nice evening!

[Snowman]

I'm with skeopple, I'm enjoying the videos! I think your getting the hang of it!

I'm the same as you, Heather.......I look at a potato & gain 5 lbs.!! I think you look fantastic!!!

Bubba is a real cutie!

It amazes me that you can go pick lettuce from your garden already!! Yesterday, we had rain & hail and today it's 85 degrees! C-R-A-Z-Y Pennsylvania weather.

I'm finally down to 183. I'm going to catch up to you!!! YOU are one of my inspirations, bet you didn't know that?!

[Houston Heather]

Yay Snow! Thank you! It's a good thing I'm giving up aspartame AGAIN.

I had a great time at Foodtown. What the heck is a pork chunk? They had them for $1.20 a pound. They looked meaty. I got some and one's in the crock pot right now. I also got beef skillet steaks, pork chops (for like 50 cents a chop), and some turkey wings for soup at $1 a pound.

I got some fresh veggies and stuff for Ron, and plenty of canned pumpkin (on the stationary aisle of all places) for pumpkin pudding. Too bad I forgot the butter! I only have 1 stick left!

I got home and started Ron's gumbo. Then I started the turkey wings in a stockpot. I finished the gumbo and the stock, and put the gumbo in the fridge. I'll scoop the grease off the top (gumbo is very greasy) and then Ron'll cook it down tomorrow. He likes doing that. I strained out the turkey stock, removed the meat, threw away the skin and gristle (no poultry bones for the cat or the neighbor dogs), and prepped some veggies. I made turkey and veggie soup. I like it with Okra, celery, a little onion, green beans, fresh greens, etc. All low carb and delicious. I only cook the veggies for 20 minutes. I like some texture.

I had a bowl and it was very good.

Then I got out a pork chunk and put that in the crock pot. I put some onions in the bottom, then tomato sauce (8 ounce can, just tomatoes and herbs), and garlic and pepper. I figure it ought to come out well. If it doesn't, I still have another chunk. At $1.19 a pound I had to get it. I hope it came from a pig!

[Houston Heather]

I accidentally bought the wrong kind of coconut... with SUGAR. I ate about 1/4 cup before I stopped myself.

I am such a junkie. Tomorrow I will bury the stuff in the bottom of the trash can.

[Houston Heather]

First of all, I'm having a GOOD day. I meant to get out and do some weeding, which I'll probably do later. Now I'm finishing Ron's gumbo and watching mystery diagnosis. My turkey and veggie soup turned out delicious. So much gelatin it looks like a jello mold! A nice bony cut is the secret to a good stock which equals an excellent soup. I dished up 2 (4 cup) bowls plus a 2 cup, and the 2 I ate last night. Yum.

The pork chunks, whatever they were, went well in the crock-pot. Ron and I both agreed they were delicious treated as a nice braised potroast. It was delicious! I have loads and loads of yummy, cooked meat. I had to invest some time into cooking it, but it's worth it.

I still have pork chops and skillet steaks for me, and some ground beef to make Ron more of his beloved () burritos if you saw my video.

All that said, it's been interesting times. I live in Houston, an international city. I love it. We have things like the Hong Kong Food market and Latino Carnicerias (butchers) all jumbled up together. I love this town passionately. I always have from my first visit at age 10. Just seeing the skyline as we go downtown makes me choke up, every time.

It's a little scary to live here though. This new flu is hitting Mexico very hard. It's already in San Antonio. I'm sure it's in Houston. I ride public transit, I will be exposed.

The good news, it's not the usual flu that goes after people like Ron (older and infirm). The bad news, it's the pandemic kind that goes after people my age.

One of my symptoms is paranoia and delusions. I get paranoid, everyone knows what that is... and I'm always convinced some terrible event is on the horizon. I'd better prepare for it! I was telling Dad last night about how, years ago, I wanted to build a fallout shelter because I was convinced we'd have a radiation incident. Oh, boy.

Something like this... could be very bad for me mentally. But, so far, so good. I'll take my pills. You can be damned sure I'm going to get refills on them, too. This "out of lithium" crap is disgusting... I'm getting 2 months' worth when I go and also extra anti-d and antipsychotic.

If I can't get to the pharmacy I'll have 'em. It's a good idea to have a couple months anyway. When I get suicidal, and I can't take it anymore, I go get help. I don't sit around with a knife in my hand. I don't cut myself (although I am a nail picker, which my sis says spans at least 4 generations of our family), and I've always gone for help when needed - so it's safe for me to have a stash.

Ron has some narcotic pain pills in his room somewhere. I don't know where and I don't care where. If he has a really bad day for the nerve pain, he takes one and it helps. It makes me a little nervous but I'm not the one suffering. Besides, Ron despises junkies. He would never allow himself to become an addict.

So, honestly, what CAN I do? Nothing much. I can start carrying hand santizer. I got more Olive Leaf, an herbal thing that can help the immune system. Ron and I seldom get colds or flus since we started taking it regularly. I wash my hands a lot, because I'm in the food industry. Just because it's in a wrapper doesn't mean I need to handle it with dirty hands. So I wash a lot.

I'll take my vitamins, like I always do. And that's about it. Either I'm a Christian or I'm not, either I'll get sick or I won't. I can't sit around panicking about what might happen... that's illness talk. I refuse to be the victim of my illness.

I know, whatever happens, God is right there with me, holding me up. It is nice to know I probably won't have to watch Ron, sick, again. If anyone gets sick it will be me. Not good for everyone else, but when I'm sick I just sleep a lot and get better.

Ron has plenty of canned food if I did get sick, and he could live for a week off of the contents of the freezer.

[Houston Heather]

More flu deaths in Mexico; U.S. declares public health emergency | World | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
Ron called in refills. I told him I don't want him running out of his Neurontin if we get quarantined or something. He agreed, and did it.

Well, the Chronicle says it's killing 20 to 40 year olds.

The odds of any one person catching this and dying are pretty slim but if God wanted me, would I be ready to go?

I would and I wouldn't. On the one hand, yes. I am "saved" and I've watched my husband resent the fact he got "sent back" after dying in the accident over 6 years ago. He's still resentful and angry, so Heaven must be pretty spectacular.

Frosty's there, my birth Mom, and all my grandparents. I've never met my grandpas. They all died before I was born.

I think I've done a pretty good job with my life, considering. Considering, I mean, that I was undiagnosed and umedicated for so long. I think I've done a decent job at trying to make amends since my diagnosis, and I've avoided a lot of pitfalls that befall people with bipolar.

I stay on my meds. I never think I can be without them.
I avoid drugs and alcohol.
I try to keep a simple routine.
I encourage others with my illness to get medicated and manage their illness so it doesn't manage them.
My doctor is very proud of how I manage, and has told me so during every visit.

I haven't cured anything, solved any great mysteries, or had a career in the medical profession, which I would have liked, but I think I've had a good life. I've been a loving, devoted wife and a decent Christian.

I tend to carry grudges but I'm working on that.

I'm too judgemental at times, and I'm also working on that.

I'm a sugar addict. I control it well by avoiding sugar as much as possible (if it's the 12th thing on a list of ingredients for salad dressing I may use it).

I'm a caffeine addict, but I'm not concerned with that - maybe I might get off it one day, but doubtful. I work odd hours and I like my diet sodas.

I have begun a massive tapering campaign to get off the aspartame. I'm very proud of that. I'm already down a few pounds from my weight last week. I still have a few more pounds to go to get down to 169 again, though.

To quote a song I love:
"One day I won't cry no more.
Can't wait for the day when people won't die no more...
Won't feel no pain no more...
Won't have to walk lame no more.
Won't have to play the game no more..
I'm anxious to praise the Ancient of days...
My brain's still amazed
At how I can see
Knowing that pain is a phase
Soon to be eclipsed at the Son's return
When we get what He gives
And not what we've earned.
There's a day that is coming
Much better than now
No more hurts no more work
By the sweat of your brow
It'll be the end of rain and the end of planes
Being hijacked and flown into window panes
No more drugs plus no more thugs and pimps
I know when this life is over
We will live forever together with our king
Christ is the rock, and believe me he's Rock Steady
He drops heavy, so stop screaming
I'm not ready.
One day I wont' cry no more
Can't wait for the day when people don't die no more.."

If there was one song I would want at my funeral, that would be it.

Odds are very strong I'll be fine, and ranting about my neighbors, rude Metrolift clients, or God kows what.

In the book of Ecclesiates, it says it's good for a person to contemplate their life now and then. The writer actually says it's better to attend a funeral than a feast because it makes you consider your life and what comes afterwards.

Now, done with my contemplations, I'm going to take a shower, do some dishes, and take care of all the exciting mundane things that "go to make up a life" as Phil Collins once phrased it (Home by the Sea).

[Houston Heather]

I cooked most of my food, picked up the bedroom and did some dishes.

It was a nice day but I didn't leave the house all day.

Tomorrow it's up at 3 to get the Dr Pepper delivery. I'm going to take a relaxing hot bath, then a shower. I'll finish up the laundry and relax with some knitting. I'd better hurry up!

I'll call my sister tomorrow, she must be having a bad day. She has Mondays off so I can call with no problem after work.

[Houston Heather]

After a nice hot "Rose" bubble bath and relaxing shower, a delicious meal of roast pork and sauteed veggies, I'm ready for bed and feeling great.

Tomorrow I'll get an advance on my pay so I can get some supplies. I'm leaving the concerns to God. He'll take care of me, I've just got to listen.

[skeopple]

nighty night Heather. You have an early morning tomorrow. Have a great day Monday!

[Houston Heather]

It was pretty good.

Got up at 3 to go to work. I was pretty cranky because I didn't have any soda. I was down a few more pounds, down to 171. I was happy to see that.

I got to work and sucked down one Diet RC after another. They have NO RUNNING WATER AT WORK. None. Zip. They have portapotties and hand sanitizer. That's it.

Great, when you have a flu pandemic! My allergies are bugging me, I'm kind of congested and have a cough, but I'm not sick. I feel fine.

Bubba-cat slept on me last night. Such a sweet boy!

So what if I'm allergic to him?

So, allergies are bad. I got the delivery and put it all up (grrr - about one hour workout right there). I talked to some other people and we all complained about the lack of water in the building. Sales are pretty lousy, no surprise, and a food machine was "down". I fixed it and then helped Ron with codes (who is out of code?) and did snacks.

All done, except I wanted an advance. I got some money with Ron's permission.

We went to Walmart after work. Ron coughed some from the side effects of his medicine and the driver rolled down the windows all the way to Walmart. I got some of the Mucinex to decongest me. It works well for my allergies without making me freak, a big concern with most allergy stuff.

I got some anti-viral tissues and cough drops, but that was it. Then I got stuff I needed, like cat food. I did get a few things for the disaster kit, mainly some applesauce.

I cleaned them out of Lithium, I bet. I got 2 month's worth. I have a couple months of everything now, so I'm delighted. It's a good idea anyway with hurricane season almost here. Ron got an extra month of medication and we were set.

I got him some food (I'm more of a Foodtown girl) and we came home. Naptime!

[skeopple]

I'm happy you are prepared for emergencies, Heather. You have 3 lives to protect, don't you! We're pretty well prepared too, but I'm not sure how to prepare for a pandemic! I've researched today and looks like we're in need of a few things! Do you have a huge chest freezer? I'm wondering if I could find something useful there; such as filling jugs with clean water, freezing it.

You have a nice, deserved nap~