Heather Shrinks in Houston!

[Houston Heather]

2 hours out in the yard, I had a good time. I wasn't pukey while working but it's acting up again.

I mowed the yard, set up my compost bin, and started filling it up. I made sure to drink lots of fluid.

The only real excitement, Ron screaming my name as I came in the house. The cat is making the bad meows, the ones that mean he brought something home.

Sure enough, a poor huddled mockingbird fledgling. It had all it's feathers, about half sized. It was shaking. I picked it up (the birds are always very docile with me), and locked the cat door with my free hand as I took it outside. I put it out in the garden, and sweet talked it. It was still shaking. I left it alone, checking on it a few minutes later. Still quivering. The bird wasn't physically harmed, so I figured either the shock would kill it, or it would recover.

In the meantime, I locked Bubba in the laundry room for a while. When I checked on the bird, it leaped away from me, chirping loudly for Mommy. When I went around the tree, it was gone. So the baby's fine... but won't like cats or humans much.

Now a fine feast of hot dogs and cheese, not hungry enough to fix a big meal, but it's enough to hold my pills. Go away, nausea.

[Houston Heather]

Ugh. Still pukey.

I had to take my night pills, especially after reading of a horrible case involving a mentally ill woman off her pills and her newborn. I will not go into details.

I ended up taking the pills with a can of pears in juice. 18 net carbs... I would rather go up a tad on legal carbs than go unmedicated.

I really had so much fun in my garden today. Tomorrow, I'll put my seedlings outside so they can get some more sunshine and fresh air.

I finally put the afghan down; weaving in all those ends is not my idea of a good time. Just because it's mine, though, doesn't mean I should be careless and sloppy... I went to a lot of trouble (well, "we" because Frosty "helped") to make it and I want to take care of it. Since it's acrylic yarn, it'll be here centuries after I'm gone.

Tomorrow I get paid, garden center, and fun on the "main drag". I need some more of the rose-scented handsoap from the dollar store, for instance.

I also started on a garter stitch scarf in purple wool and alpaca yarn. It's completely simple and fun, and I adore purple.

[Snowman]

Hope you have a good nite and wake up refreshed tomorrow!

Such good therapy (for anyone) to get out in the garden! Glad you enjoy it so much, Heather.

My DS is getting married on Sat., so I have been busy getting ready!

[Houston Heather]

Awww! That is wonderful!

Busy day. I woke up, went to work. Took all the money out of the vending machines and counted it. The other vendor, "Hot Legs" was there. Even his wife calls him that when I'm around! I started calling him that before his lap-band. He was feeling very unlovable, fat... he was about 300 something. He wore shorts to work one day and I noticed his legs were very muscular and trim (like a lot of guys, he carried it all on his belly). I said "Hey, Hot Legs!" and the name stuck. Now he is 208, very proud of it, as he should be, and I still call him Hot Legs.

I found a "Silver Certificate" dollar bill in the "pull". Since I hand count I immediately noticed it was "different". I checked the year. 1935. Wow. I told Hot Legs and he said he collects old currency. I went out and told Ron when I finished, and mentioned that Bruce (aka Hot Legs) knew it was legit based on some basic checks (look in the corner, Heather... what does it say?). Anyway, Ron said, trade it to Bruce for a regular dollar.

I think that single act made his whole month. He was THRILLED. I didn't care, it wasn't my money, but it made me happy to give him something. The bill was not in great shape, boy someone must have been HUNGRY. I wonder what was so tempting they put it in the machine? And the machine TOOK IT! I love my machines!

The "pull" was decent, considering the lousy business. Enough to pay for our merchandise and cover my pay.

Then the bank. I was pretty goofy all day, by the way. I still managed to get the deposit done, and get my pay.

Then Walmart. Ron wanted some tomato juice. I had him "leave" me there and he went home on Metrolift.

I looked around a little. I'm meeting my aunt tomorrow, and seeing my doctor. I like to dress up a little. I tried on some jeans, and the size 10's fit! Awesome. Only $12, gotta love Walmart. I also found a cute fitted tank top.

I went to the candy department, and then the pharmacy. I very sweetly asked the cashier to ring up a bag of snickers minis, then stapled the receipt to it and gave it to her! I call it "vitamin C". They were all so busy! They love the chocolate. My lithium was only $20 or so, a very good deal.

I paid up and left, then off to the dollar store! I got 2 bottles of handsoap and some fun lavender things for my aunt. She loves lavender and I love the products, and she'll use them. The doctor's office girls love hand sanitizer, so I got them some little bottles to go with their mini snickers "copay".

I check the discount bookstore, and found a great soil science tome. Great for reading in book and it's a subject I find very interesting. I got a couple of other garden books.

The last time I was at the garden center, I mentioned I was getting some kale seed. The cashier was very interested, so I told her I'd bring her some. My seed arrived Saturday; I purchased an extra packet.

Today I managed to get over there. I always have a good time. They feed a very haughty, stray calico cat. She makes a big point of ignoring me. One time I even brought her cat treats and she walked away!

I gave the cashier her seeds, she was thrilled. She's in an apartment now so she wants to grow something. Kale ought to do nicely. It even tolerates partial shade.

I found myself a bag of bonemeal, a lovely tomato (I need to look it up), a gotu-kola - it's a spreader so I put it in a big pot, and a stevia plant. Total cost $7 and change. Good deal! I missed my bus, so I got the giant 1 liter of Diet Dr at the gas station and then got out my book. I always have a book. I read that until the bus came. Remember I am carrying a big canvas tote bag and my backpack, 'cause I have a couple of hardback books, candy, dollar store purchases, 3 plants, a bag of bone meal, a pair of jeans, and 2 tank tops. I did it!

I went to Starbucks. Ron called me. He was fixing the gate, then he took a nap. A good day for Ron at home, doing whatever he wanted. I got my drink and left, carrying and toting my stuff.

I got home with everything and went straight to the backyard. I put up the trash cans, tended my plants, and got inside. Since I'd just had my whipping cream, thing, I took my pills.

I was very very tired but I couldn't drop off for a nap. Aagh. I decided to do chores. I got up and washed 2 loads of clothes, wove in all the ends on my blanket, washed it, and had a cube steak cookoff. Both Ron and Bubba came sniffing around, batting big green eyes at me. I gave them each some. Ron kept claiming he wasn't hungry as he ate an entire steak. He then proclaimed me "An Excellent Cook".

I froze mine intact, but cut up his so all he has to do is warm it up and eat it right out of the ziplock.

I set up a tote bag with the stuff I'm taking tomorrow, and once my outfit was washed laid it out and found my sandals. A busy day.

When I spoke with my aunt earlier, I said "I may walk around dopey half the time, but I think I enjoy my life as much, if not more, than the average person."

It certainly applied today. Ron even kept the doom and gloom talk to a bare minimum!

[Snowman]

OOPS, double post!

[Snowman]

I am glad you had a good day today, Heather!

Do you want to know what I think about you??!! I think you are such a giving and caring person!! You remind me of my dear Mother. She passed away almost 2 years ago.

Have a good day with your Aunt tomorrow!

[Houston Heather]

I will! We're eating BBQ! It's really nice to see Ron enjoying some foods again.

[Houston Heather]

RIGHT NOW: Getting my HINEY kicked with a nasty sneak attack depression. UGH. Bad enough that I took an additional, quick release lithium. Yuck.

This morning, woke up early - bad kitty lots of loud meowing. Took my shower, went outside in my bathrobe (thank God for privacy fences, or I'd have blinded my neighbors in my ancient secondhand store bathrobe) to check on the babies. I left the sprouting seedlings outside overnight. They were fine, of course. God made them to grow outside. Watered everyone, made sure they were happy, and went inside.

I had a feeling lunch would...be an issue. I fixed myself a sausage patty and a days' worth of veggies with butter. I ate it all, good thing. Got dressed, new jeans are COMFY and nice! Love them! They fit perfectly, just a little slack in the butt and thighs.

I felt cute. I had a large tote bag with the blanket in it (my aunt wanted to see it). I brought some soda and all. Even put on some makeup.

Our ride came and it was a straight trip. NICE! I enjoyed it. I knew I wouldn't get a repeat to go home.

We got there an hour early, and hung out in the deli for a while. We went in to the doc's office and he saw us early. He had another resident with him, which I love. Like I told her, "Who's going to see me when the doc retires?" I gave him a nice onion from the garden, which he told me repeatedly would be his dinner tonight.

I told him, I'm a little mixed, a little groggy from the meds, but I'm OK. We did my refills. He never got my test results, aggravating. Ron complained about me when I get manic... and doc basically said "You're going to have to accept that" I'm going to have some symptoms for a bit until I get it under control. I always go up on my lithium the minute I start getting manic, so I was a little hurt. I felt like, if you can't accept my illness then why did you say you could? [sigh] But like I said, I am running depressed right now so I can't trust my feelings.

Then we went downstairs and met my aunt for lunch. She's doing great. The lunch was not so good. I got maybe 6 ounces of meat for $10. I wasn't happy. I felt like Ron got ripped off. We went to Starbucks after and I had my heavy whipping cream thing - the meat was rather lean.

Our ride came, 2 dropoffs before taking us home. Not bad! I did something nice for the driver. We came home, I started getting depressed. I finally ate and took the nightime pills, but I don't want to wait a few hours on the lithium. I took a little quick release to tide me over 'till then, 'cause this is shaping up to be a nasty depression.

UGH. I get tired of mood management.

On the positive side, a few hours at work tomorrow, a basket of calamari for lunch. Maybe a trip to the Asian grocery store to get some seeds, or some transplanting. I don't know yet. I intend to stay busy if I don't take a nap, or that depression will have me for dinner.

[Houston Heather]

The lithium did it's thing... I already feel better and planned out a FUN trip to the Farmer's Market downtown, on the bus, this Saturday. I wrote out the directions and everything. Lots of fun!

I'm not manic, just me again. Thank God!

[Houston Heather]

Woke up pretty groggy, held off on my pills for a few hours. When I took them at work, I got really sick to my stomach. A good "6" on a 1-10. UGH. Got into my Pepto, drank some Diet RC, and reminded myself that being crazy/mean is a lot worse than nausea. I also reminded myself I knew this would be a side effect... inside my head I was complaining, but outside I seemed fine.

Dealing with food, though, wasn't much fun! We had a great ride home.

Waiting on my ride to lunch now, it's about to rain but I don't care. I want my squid!

Ron was absolutely delighted when I told him about the trip to the Farmer's Market tomorrow. He's excited for me to go, and have fun. We always enjoyed the Farmers Market when we lived in CA.

[Houston Heather]

You know, I used to feel completely persecuted for no reason at all, before medication.

Today, I'm glad I have my medication... why? Because it's hard not to feel persecuted when you have a ride home scheduled for 1:14, and it's almost 3 and no one's there. Yeah.

We got there right as the sky opened up. According to my rain gauge, we got about 1.25 inches. Ron and I got drenched. I enjoy rain, I laughed as we ran in. However, CHILLY air conditioning... not so fun. Then some foolish Heather drank iced tea. We had a good meal. I was freezing, though, and went outside to wait. Ron waited inside, until he got cold. Then I got him and brought him out under a big umbrella-table.

Loooong wait to be picked up. Ron was not happy and let me know. I still had fun. He finally called a cab, and it was worth it to get home. When he called to cancel the trip, they said they didn't have any trips for him... so it would have been an even worse wait.

Finally home now... I fertilized the garden beds lightly before I left, because I figured it might rain. It did. I don't have to water and I already did 95% of the weeding. I had my seedlings in a plastic tray, I took the pots out and set them on the mulch. I don't want the baby sprouts to drown!

Naptime, then some dinner and getting ready for tomorrow. Just a trip to the Farmer's Market for me.

[skeopple]

The farmers market sounds like a great time! They aren't doing too well around here. Too cold this summer. Stuff is getting blossoms, but not producing veggies! Have a fun day.

[Houston Heather]

Oh, it's been pretty hellish, and a HORRIBLE drought in our area.

I set my alarm for 6:20. I woke up at 6:45 because I had my blinds open and the light woke me. We had a power failure, and I didn't have battery backup.

Not a promising start, however, I managed to eat a good breakfast (protein shake and sausage patty, plus pills), get my insulated cold bag, and head out the door in time to catch my bus. I caught the bus. This is the first time I've ridden this bus downtown. What a LONG route for a "local" bus! I laugh everytime I see the sign, which says "limited"! I got downtown. Years ago, we used to have problems with homeless "bums" bothering us at the bus stops, asking for change and generally making everyone nervous. I didn't see a one!

I was probably the scariest thing downtown, waiting with my backpack and "cold bag", with my hair stirred up into "wild cactus" by the wind! As promised, I had a very short walk to the transfer point and a 5 minute wait for the second bus.

The next bus came. A pretty short ride to my dropoff, and then (I had mapped out everything and gotten VISUAL directions, very important for me!) confidently stepped off to my destination. A half mile walk, with a growing-heavier with every step tote bag.

I drank a Diet Dr Pepper. That helped . My mood was great, a normal, outgoing mood.

I found the Market. This is a market run by Urban Harvest, they focus on organic gardening in Houston. They have tons of community gardens all over. The founder has written THE book on organic gardening on Houston, which I'd decided to buy.

I walked in, the first vendor had a lot of yellow pear tomatoes. I grew them back in 2005, and was not impressed with the flavor. They are interesting, but in my opinion, pretty bland. They had lots of okra, eggplant, and peppers (all hot weather crops), but nothing grabbed me.

I looked around. They had a coffee guy - I had the BEST plain iced coffee, just cold coffee over ice, so tasty! I will buy some of this coffee for gifts, it's so good. Bakeries and I kid you not, the Center For the Retarded selling cookies (obviously not the "clients"). I thought about asking for the FAS discount. But I don't want cookies.

I saw about 3-4 soap and candle ladies... also good for gifts. Damn. I could have bought my sister a present. ACK! Oh, well.

I saw the Urban Harvest booth. I took out my $45 and said "I want the book!". The guy laughed. I have the book, it is very dense and hearty reading.

They had a couple of dairies, a couple of ranches (selling meat), and some egg farmers. One egg farmer sold duck and chicken eggs. I bought 2 duck eggs (fifty cents each), and a dozen chicken eggs. They had photo albums of the farms, chickens, and living conditions. When I die, I wouldn't mind going to live on one of those farms!

They had a guy selling Amaranth greens. Amaranth does very well in tropical conditions, and I've seriously considered growing some myself. I bought some. I told the guy I wanted some of the greens and he kept stuffing and stuffing and stuffing the bag full! I asked him how much and he said $1! He said it's good cooked with garlic, (said in a strong Eastern European accent) "Must use garlic!" He also sold preserves, which... again... presents. My tote bag stuffed half-full with dark green amaranth leaves, 2 duck eggs, and the chicken eggs, I wandered around some more.

I bought a basket of "Porter" tomatoes, which have a very good flavor and look beautiful. They were bred to perform in our summers and they do!

I also got a little butternut squash. The farmer was very apologetic, the drought, the heat, but that's fine for me. I told him, "I do low-carb, Atkins, and I can't eat a large one before it would go bad!" We all laughed and had an interesting talk about eating natural fats vs man made ones.

I got a basket of sad-looking "heirloom" tomatoes. They have an excellent winy flavor, but they look horrible. I'm eating some now with sharp cheddar cheese. TASTY.

Another farmer also had some small, varied items. I got a white eggplant, a small pepper, and the lady at the Urban Harvest booth gave me a bitter melon. I am to soak it in saltwater before cooking it.

I got another dozen eggs and I was ready to go. Everything was stuffed into my cold bag. I walked back to Kirby and Richmond, and the gas station there had a big sign 'No public restroom". Well, he lost out on a diet dr pepper sale, didn't he!

I walked up Kirby to West Alabama, the location of WHOLE FOODS. It's way across town, and I thought it would be really difficult to get there from home. No, it's actually probably harder to get to my "local" Walmart on the bus.

I went in. I was wanting a can of squash puree. They don't sell that. They did have frozen chunks of butternut squash, so I got 2 bags. They hung out in the cold bag, keeping things chilly.

I looked at the tomatoes, and to my delight found a delicious looking "Black Krim" tomato. They are very delicious. I'm saving that for Ron. Isn't it hideous?


That's not "our" tomato but that's what it looks like. I walked out with the squash and the tomato, and the nice bagger got me some ice for my tote bag.

I told her "They don't get much greener than me! I don't even own a car!". She laughed.

The bus driver who got me downtown was so nice I immediately called in a compliment as soon as I got off the bus. The poor call-taker was so shocked that I had something NICE to say! I was actually offered a job with Metro bus, working in the call center, back in 2000. I stupidly turned it down.

Anyway , I called my aunt, yakked for a little bit from my transit point, no bums, no hassle! How nice! Downtown DC and San Francisco were really grim, lots of people hassling you, but not downtown Houston, not today.

I am well aware, that without medication, I will be one of those "bums", assuming I didn't kill myself.

It seemed like only a few minutes before my local bus came, and I hopped on. A long ride to get to my part of town, and then I jumped off at the "Soon to be closing" Starbucks near our house. I got my heavy whipping cream thing, drank it, and got the next bus, which runs pretty often for a Saturday.

I got off and walked about half a mile to get home. I put up the eggs, and stored the "Don't refrigerate" stuff on the kitchen counter. I checked on the garden, read my new book for a while, and took a nap.

Then I woke up, cut up a tomato and some cheese for a snack, and came here!

[Houston Heather]

I had a uniquely Heather dinner: stir fry amaranth greens, onions, pepper, eggplant, and summer squash with a side of all beef hotdogs.

I have a huge sack (about 2 gallon size) full of greens. I took one out. I had seen the owner washing the greens before putting them out, so I felt safe eating one straight out of the bag. I nibbled it. Tasted like any other salad green. Perhaps a little GREENER but I like a strong flavored green. No bitterness, but that wouldn't have been an issue for me because I don't mind bitter greens.

My only complaint about growing mesclun mix (a mixture of strongly flavored greens) is that they bolt (go to seed) as soon as the weather's warm! I'd spent some time cleaning the kitchen, so I had my veggies organized. I cut up the eggplant, peppers, onion, and squash, leaving them on a plate next to my wok.

I threw some canola blend oil (canola + soybean oil) in the wok and got out the chili/garlic paste I got at the Vietnamese grocery. I pulled out a few bunches of greens, enough to make a decent meal (probably between 1-2 cups), and chopped it up somewhat.

I heated the oil, as it smoked I threw in the onion and sauteed it for a few minutes. I'm glad I did it that way, it was perfectly delicious. It was a sweet onion, only available for a month or two in the summer because they're lousy keepers. So good! I threw in a dab of chili garlic paste and stirred it in.

It smelled really yummy, so then I threw in the rest of the veggies and "wokked" them". I threw in a little olive oil at the end.

Once it was done, I threw it on the plate with the hot dogs. I enjoyed eating my veggies tremendously. The chili garlic added a little bite, but not too much. The various veggies added texture. I enjoyed the amaranth a lot.

I definitely want to grow some in my garden now; I have plenty more to eat in the meantime!

I checked my balance. I have some kind of royal screw-up going on with my bank account. I have to fix that tomorrow (my bank is open then), and hopefully get it sorted out. If I don't, I'll close the account.

I also plan to run to the Vietnamese grocery store for some seeds, and maybe Foodtown for some more "pop".

[Houston Heather]

Ugh. Basically, I hallucinated all night, hearing things I knew weren't there. Very wierd, detailed, vivid, distubing dreams. Normally I love to sleep in but not this morning.

The actual hallucinations aren't so bad, mainly annoying... but dealing with the baggage of "I'm having one" is huge. "Shut up and let me sleep!" I kept telling my brain.

As I said before, UGH. As soon as I finish this post I will be taking an additional dose of my Risperidone. It will make me groggy and foggy but it will shut the door on the hallucinations and the other psychotic features crap.

Surprisingly, I'm not really into the "why me" stuff. Based on statistics I would become ill, considering the family history. I don't think a one of my mother's 3 surviving children could say "I don't have any issues with my moods". Genetics.

One of the many, many reasons I don't have kids. When I was a toddler, I can recall feeling very lonely. My mother was trying to do laundry, but she was very depressed. I was following her around, pestering her to pick me up. She said no and shut a door in my face.

She had nothing to give, except custody which she gave to my dad when they split (a very loving gift and the best she could have done in the circumstances). I know many days I have very little to give due to medication, so I wouldn't want my child to feel like I did. The pain is still fresh. I understand, but it hurt. I was a very clingy child.

So, with the hallucinations and extra pills on board, today I have to go to my bank and try to sort out this crap. Last I heard, I had $12 in there, so what the hell is this minus $165? I think someone got ahold of my card number like they did with Ron's. Or, something.

Worst case, I close the account and use money orders when I want to buy some seeds or something. I can live with that... but I already feel like my brain is full of glue. I know the risperidone will only magnify that.

It's going to be a very interesting day! I hope they don't think I'm a drug addict, so I'll probably have to tell them I'm bipolar and properly medicated... which I hate to do because they may think it's some kind of stunt to get them to drop these charges... or maybe I'm just insane in the brain today. AGH.

Progress! I have moved from UGH to ACK.

In about an hour, we go to the Waffle House. That's what Ron wants. What's a little trans-fat between friends? I will bring some veggies to eat with my omlette. I am really trying to eat veggies with every meal.

I forgot to weigh today! Ooops!

Later on, I plan to hit a grocery store and get some pork stew meat. I want to make a stew with the butternut squash and some homegrown onions. More "pop" of course.

[Houston Heather]

Ron just told me he "Called the police on that creep and his bass." Apparently, there WAS music last night... I wasn't "hearing" it.

UGH. Glad I hadn't taken my pill yet.

[Houston Heather]

Back from Waffle House. The Amaranth greens are a little strong, raw. I was rushed eating, so I just brought them home and steamed them, then drizzled with a little olive oil.

I am OUT of soda, that makes me CRANKY! Now, I have to go to the bank and sort out this hideous SCREW UP.

Good news, I took my pills.

[skeopple]

I hope you have a greater day today, Heather. Our banks have no access on Sundays. Hope you find the missing money and that you can prove it! Good luck there.
Thinking of something fun to do today; not wanting to go anywhere but DH does. Oh well. Enjoy.

[Houston Heather]

Well, I was a wreck but I went to the bank. I started with "I think my account was hacked" and it was. Someone in Australia got my number and ran through $100 in Melbourne. Well, I don't have $100 in my account, so I got smacked with overdraft fees. Good news, they will investigate, and I will get the charges deleted. I made sure that Bountiful Gardens will approve, I did get the seeds and that would be really rude of me to rip them off. Besides, I plan to order again!

So, considering I got ripped off, I was in a good mood. I thought I screwed up my account somehow. They closed it, of course, and my debit card is in pieces. I can't open a new account until the old one is cleared up, about a week. That's OK. I fixed the problem, and it wasn't my fault.

Little do they know, but the criminal is now on my prayer list, along with the kid who shot me with the BB gun and other's who've hurt me. I wasn't mad, mainly relieved. Ron is furious. No one rips off his wife! I find it cute.

I went to Starbucks and got my whipping cream thing, because I missed the bus to go to the Vietnamese grocery. I got over there, by now I was getting really queasy. I walked out with 3 packets of seeds (including amaranth!), and a package of cozy stomach tea. It has ginger and licorice root, good for tummies, plus black tea. Yum.

Considering I got ripped off, had to walk around in the heat, got stuck at a bus stop waiting until I almost passed out from the heat, almost got passed up by the same bus, violently queasy the whole time, I had a great day.

Really, I did. The person who robbed me will answer to God. Way to go. Ripping off a crazy brain damaged woman. If they used the energy they invested in the theft into honest labor, they'd be a millionaire.

I went to a regular American grocery and decided to be adventerous. I know I misspelled that, but I am still queasy and very tired. Anyway, I got a couple of small turnips, some boiler onions (for the pork/squash stew), and a can of rutebega (net carbs = 3). I have never eaten turnips or rutebega, but why not? Vegetables won't give me a migraine, it's grains, nuts, dairy. I might as well make the most of the foods I can eat. Besides, what if I discover I adore turnips? I can grow them if I like them, like I did with the amaranth. I actually have turnip seeds in my seed box. And Rutabega? I know nothing about it, except I have a can of it, cubed, in it's own broth. Warm it up with some butter.

Anyway, I got myself some soda (feeling a strong sense of entitlement due to my nausea), and some instant iced tea. They had the decaf unsweetened, and the regular unsweetened. It has a "tad" of carbs, due to the filler they use, but I am in OWL, and I don't mind budgeting for it. Besides, I feel a glass of instant iced tea is probably healthier than a can of pop.

I spent about $20, checked out, and waited at the bus stop. An older man was waiting, and I encouraged him to sit down in the shade. Of course, as soon as he got settled the bus came.

"Treat everyone like they're Jesus" is my motto, and I try to live up to it. Naptime, and then a little fun planning out my garden.

[bjw]

Heather,
I love turnips boiled with some bacon drippings then drained and mashed. If they are too bitter try a tad of splenda in them. I never had canned rhutabega (sp) but it is prepared in the same way as turnips. It is more bitter so splenda will probably be in order. Turnip greens and turnips are great cooked with country ham till turnips are tender.
How did someone in Australia get your card #? I am ignorant about ID theft and would appreciate any info.
HAGN,
Jean

[Houston Heather]

I only use it online, so my so-called ANTI-VIRUS program sucks. I just threw out all my checks and deposit slips, $32 worth. I am glad I believe in Jesus, and know this person will face justice.

I only make a deposit when I want to buy something, so they only got me for about $8; plus the fees, which will be reversed because I didn't make the charges.

I will end up paying $12, plus $32; not too bad considering. I could even skip the $32 for a while, but you can be very sure I will be writing checks and mailing things from now on. The companies I use would be fine with that.

Pukey again! And I need to eat. Hopefully my Chinese "Cozy Stomach" tea will do the trick... I gotta take my pills. I was hearing music again during my nap.

[Houston Heather]

The tea helped enough for me to get my dinner. Now bedtime.

[skeopple]

That sucks, Heather. I was robbed on ebay once. $84 if I recall. Cancelled forever: ebay and paypal accounts!! It was over in Europe somewhere. Bleh. Lousy thieves. God will ask them some questions, for sure. I was never reimbursed or cleared either. Oh well. We must carry on.

I wished I like the taste of tea enough to try some of these remedies. I know that some teas I've tried had ingredients that caused allergic reactions and just don't bother with them anymore.

Have a blessed day, dear Heather. You're my hero!

[Houston Heather]

Thank you!

I think I failed myself yesterday, not drinking enough liquid. I felt fine yesterday.

I have problems with a recurring virus...a pain and annoyance, but nothing major. I was uncomfortable enough, and running a slight fever, so I didn't sleep well. When the alarm went off, I got up to use the bathroom.

When I take extra lithium, or I'm dehydrated, my urine really reeks. It reeked - so I am diagnosing myself as "toxic" today. I almost passed out several times in the shower, then near vomiting a few times. I looked at myself in the mirror, horribly pasty.

The worst part of waking up sick is telling Ron. He always wants to know am I really that sick, and then he gets angry at God. I told him I could probably work, but I'd take my bucket (a whey protein jar - perfect for an upset stomach and a screw on lid if I do puke), and I'd probably toss my cookies. I would get the donuts, do the meter readings, and curl up in a ball in the folding chaise lounge we have for times like this.

"Stay home". I crawled back into bed and stayed flat. I slept better this morning than I did last night.

Still somewhat queasy, I'm drinking Diet RC - I got 2 liters yesterday. I need to stay hydrated so flush the extra lithium out of my system. I had planned to go to Foodtown, but I don't dare. I'll go tomorrow.

Today I need to stay home, and focus on taking care of Heather. Not always easy!

Later on I will do some laundry, I need to get that done, but not in the middle of the day. It just runs up the electric bill to have the clothes dryer and the A/C running at the same time.

[Houston Heather]

I don't have much laundry to do, actually. I went out in the backyard and had some fun in the garden. I did a little planting (2 transplants), gave everyone a drink, did a little light weeding, and mulched.

I drank a lot of liquid today, and I'm starting to feel like I "could" eat later. Good.

[ProudCatholicMom]

Heather~

It sounds like you are doing great, and I know you must be so proud of yourself. Yes you have a tough job but just the fact that you are being successful amidst all that temptation show's how dedicated you are. Keep up the great work, and may God bless you!!

[karenb]

I had a good laugh about your 'hallucinations' really being a noisy neighbor. I shared it with DH and he laughed to. I know all about depression. Been on medications for years. I do have a good conselor I can tell anything to. She was such a great help and then I didn't need to see her for a long time until my sister got sick and I had to take over. I wouldn't have made thru if it hadn't been with Diane's help!

[Houston Heather]

Oh, yeah. I find it funny that all the years of therapy, and I just needed a couple of little pink pills every day.

Thanks, Mom!

I had some link sausage in the fridge, so I cooked that up. So, far, so good. I used the grease to cook a duck egg out of my stash. It tastes pretty much like the chicken egg, it's just bigger. Half goes for breakfast, and the other was dinner. Then I got a couple of my farm eggs and fried them too. They had darker yolks, and a better taste than the supermarket eggs. I saved one for tomorrow's breakfast.

I like the idea of getting eggs from a humanely raised chicken. The vendors had photos of the living conditions for the chickens, and they were pretty plush. Most of the vegetarian/vegan types I know object to the inhumane treatment of chickens. They're right - a lot of conventional stuff comes from bad conditions. However, I have no issue with eating eggs and chicken from well-treated animals.

I sauteed some more Amaranth greens in the leftover leftover grease, along with some garlic and onion. They aren't supposed to keep well but look pretty good to me! I planted some Amaranth seeds today, too.

Ever since I started filling up a "water dish" for the birds, I see them every day. I plan to start all my seeds INDOORS if at all possible so little feathered pests don't eat them!

I stripped down the bed and got all the bedding into the washer. Ron's asleep. He sleeps quite a bit, I don't mind. I'm the type where I need some alone time anyway.

I'm having a hard time remembering to drink, drink, drink, but I'm doing my best. I did take my night-time pills so I need to be careful. There's a thin line between enough and sick.

Oh, and I need to call the lab and get on them about sending the test results to my doc. AGH.

[Houston Heather]

Our local Farmer's Market has a table for people who don't have a lot of stuff, but still have things to sell.

I've decided to sell some transplants in a month or two. I'll get them started now and sell them when they're ready to go. I'm not the only person interested in green and purple sprouting broccoli, they're easy to start, and I could definitely get them on the bus without a hassle.

I discovered something, or some CAT, broke a stem on my rose scented geranium. I started cuttings on them. I really love the geranium, so I'd keep one cutting and maybe sell or trade the other one. The original plant is OK.

Without much effort, I could have a nice variety of plants to sell. I could barter some, and sell the rest. I think it would be a lot of fun, and I always have Saturdays off.

Ron and I went to work today, got it all done (things weren't too bad), went to the bank so Ron could deposit a check, and then went to Cracker Barrel.

I recognized the woman in the front passenger seat on the Cracker Barrel trip. She was very manic last time, tried to grab Ron's annual pass out of his hand "I just wanted to see it", had bags and bags of crap, and was very offensive. Apparently she is properly medicated, but as soon as the driver started to reach the pass back to us I snatched it out of her hand. I explained "Another time when we rode, a client tried to take the pass from my husband." The driver wondered aloud why anyone would do that, and I said I didn't know. It kept the client subdued at least.

I don't have a problem with other people with mental illness, but I have a BIG problem with people with mental illness who don't take their medication. I make sacrifices, it's not fun, but I do it so I am pleasant to be around. The least YOU can do it take your damned pills, shut up, and get your hands off our stuff!

We had a good meal. We had to wait forever (our rides were a little TOO good, so I expected this) on our ride home, but he eventually came. Then I came home, watered the plants, found my seaweed fertilizer, and started my stem cuttings.

Naptime.

[Houston Heather]

I checked the bus schedule. I can do this! I'll start some more transplants tonight, now is the prime time to start broccoli seeds in Houston.

I also had a good nap, and a fun time in the garden. I ran the netting around my compost bin, did some edging, weeding, watering, etc.