Bicycles and Broken Arms

-->

I have to say people all over town seem to know I broke my arm. They read my thank you letter in the paper.  On April 27^th I went for a short ride on Tom’s bike, one mile, and was turning around to head home when the next thing I knew I was on the ground. I felt rather dazed, as I have no idea what exactly happened. One minute I was up, the next I was down. I know I was turning around to head back home when it happened and as best I can tell I went off the path and into sand and gravel. Tom thinks I hit the front brake to hard, but I was using the back break, not the front. I really do not know what happened.

Two very nice young ladies stopped to help me one on a bike and one in a car.  They were wonderful.  The one on the bike checked out the bike and made sure it was not damaged, while the other check me out to make sure I was okay, she happened to be a nursing student.  At first I thought I will just get back on the bike and ride back home, but I was a little shook up, so said I would walk the bike home. They kept asking if I was okay and the one asked me several times if I was sure I did not want a ride home. I ended up taking her up on the offer.  I was sore, but did not think anything was broken and neither did she, though she did point out that she was not a doctor and that I might want to get checked out by a doctor if I felt like I was really injured.

I loaded the bike in the trunk of her car and my arm did hurt, but I really did not think I had broken anything at that point; after all I could use my arm and lifted the bike.  She drove me the mile home and helped me get the bike out of the trunk. I thanked her and put the bike in the garage and went inside to shower off the dirt and the blood from where I had scraped my face.  

It was when I went to wash my hair that I realized how bad my arm hurt to move.  I rinsed off, got dressed and texted Tom, who was still at school due to art club, that I was taking myself to the ER as I thought I might have broken y arm.  In reality I thought I probably just sprained it or dislocated something. It did not look very swollen and was not turning black and blue.

The doctor at the ER was surprised I had driven myself, though once I was there and they gave me Vicodin for the pain I called Tom and told him he needed to get ride out to drive me home. They sent me to x-ray where they made me turn my arm every which way and it was painful.  The doctor came back in and told me that I had broken my radial bone just below the head and they were going to splint it and give me a consult to orthopedic specialist.  Tom drove me home after I was splinted and put in a sling.

After a little over a month, of no cast as they do not want my arm to stiffen up and a couple weeks of exercises from occupational therapy, it is improving slowly.  It still hurts and there are some things I cannot do, like lift things or use my rotary cutter, it is improving.  I have more exercises and will follow up with the doctor and occupational therapy when we return from our trip next month, until then I am to continue with the wrist splint and use the sling in crowds, and to rest it when it is aching, and most importantly continue my exercises and in two weeks add in the new ones they gave me.  When I return we will start working on strengthening my arm, and hopefully they will let me use a rotary cutter so I can cut fabric to continue my quilting. The one good thing is I can type now, because using the hunt and peck method was not a very fast way to type.

-->

I am back on the back of the tandem, but will avoid riding a bike by myself for a while, just to be on the safe side and besides I am not sure I could work the disc breaks without it hurting. I need a good old-fashioned pedal brake bike.

 

Women's Health Issue

It is that time of year again, when I get my yearly mammogram.  While reviewing and reading blogs this week I came across the link I have included here.  I have dense breast tissue so this is important to me and I gives me more questions to ask my doctor.  I do not know the density of my breasts, but plan to ask my doctor on my next visit.  I strongly suggest that you look into finding out where you fall on the density scale.  I am passing this video on because it touched a nerve with me and I hope that it touches one with you.  All women need to be on the lookout for changes in their breasts and to have their yearly mammograms.  Please take the time to watch this video and remember to call and schedule your yearly mammogram.

Letting Go....

After reading Emilie Richards' blog "Out With The Old, In With The. . . Maybe Not" posted on February 4th I decided it was time to do some purging of things myself.  Now books will be a hard one for me as I see my books as friends and many I have read more than one time, others are just hard to part with.  I am currently purging my teaching materials and finding some hard to part with even though I am retiring at the end of the year.  Some are ones I have really enjoyed using, or were ones that I got in conjunction with a class I took and I feel are useful.  The other thought in the back of my mind is "What if I decide to return to teaching at some point?"  I might want some of these materials. Other books are very out of date and though I am offering them to friends they may well just need to head to the recycling bin, which is a tough call as they have been useful to me in the past.  I am finding it easier to go through my files and delete copies of old assignments or articles I saved to use in class than to sort through my books.  I know I am probably saving more than I really should, but it is hard to cull the books.
I am making a possibility pile that I will go through again in a few days to see if at that time I still feel the need to keep a particular book, but most are heading off to new homes and a few are finding their way from school back to my house for possible future use.  In a year I will go through them again and see if I plan to return to teaching or if I am really ready to let go of all the books that tie me to the last 26 years of my life. It is hard to clear away and let go of things that have been useful and that I have become attached to.  
I have spent half my life in a classroom as a teacher and many of the materials I have used for several years, so have been sitting in a box the last few years because instead of teacher English which I love, I have taught history, which I enjoy.  If I return to teaching I think I would like to teach English again rather than history as I enjoy writing.
I have no problem purging anything related to special education as I am done with the meetings, and paperwork.  That is a part of my life I hope to never experience again.  It is funny what thoughts come to mind as I sort through materials and the memories that are attached to some of them. 
One book in particular stands out from those I sorted through yesterday; it was one that had different ideas for using literature in the classroom. One of the ideas was to put Hansel and Gretel on trial and I remember doing that with a special group of students when we lived on Adak. I can picture some of them in their roles as attorneys, a judge, the jury and witnesses, as well as the main characters from the story. That book is one that was hard to let go of, but I passed it on to a friend who I hope will enjoy using the ideas in it as much as I did.
I have several more boxes of books to sort through in the coming weeks and I know I will find more memories and say goodbye to more friends. I hope that those who I pass the books on to will enjoy using them with their students and that many memories are made in student's minds as in the teachers. I know there are some students out there that remember putting Hansel and Gretel on trial and enjoyed that experience as much as I did.
Next are the books on my shelves at home, and some of the many things I have collected over the years that I really do not need.  I hope my trash is someone else's treasure.

Day by Day

I am taking life one day at a time this year.  Each day is a new beginning and new experience.  I am trying to spend time sewing or knitting, or doing some type of craftwork every day.  I know from past experience that it helps keep me in balance when I do.  I am eating healthy and trying to avoid junk food, though when I get stressed I do crave sugar.

We have been drinking Dr. Oz's Green Juice for a week now and I feel like it is helping me. I think I need to really drink it for a month before making any real claims, but I do feel that it of benefit to me. I am not as hungry and I do not crave sweets, which could be because I am not eating them or a result of the positive effect of the Green Juice.

I am monitoring my weight and exercising so that my heart is healthy, and the rest of me as well.  I working very hard to not let school stress overwhelm me, though there is one student who is driving me insane with his incessant talking.
This weekend was very relaxing. I started the weekend off with a massage. It was wonderful.  The masseuses said I had huge knots in my shoulders and though she worked for an hour on them she was not able to get rid of them all. This was a very stressful week and my shoulders are where I carry stress.

I have 87 more days to work before retiring, and I am trying very hard to keep them as unstressed as possible.  I am not bringing a lot home and trying to make the evenings my time, but the days are full.  I am also playing soothing music in my room all day, which I hope helps me as well as my students as music is suppose to help focus the mind for learning.

I am hoping that this week is less stressful and that time passes quickly at school, yet allows me time to get all the special ed paperwork done. There is so much paperwork in special ed, that be paid for doing two jobs, one clerical and one as a teacher.  The paperwork takes the most time, and then you add on the meetings. I hate meetings. I will miss the kids when I retire, but I will not miss the paperwork or the meetings.

It is time to get things rounded up for tomorrow and head towards bed.

Dr. Oz's Green Juice

This week Tom and I have started drinking Dr. Oz’s Green Juice. It is all natural and made with fresh ingredients. It is suppose to optimize your health and help you loose weight. We are trying it for a month to see.  I read of one woman loosing 54 lbs. and another loosing 127 lbs. I want to loose 50, so we shall see if it helps me do that.

Taste wise it is not bad. Tom was afraid it would taste like grass, but it does not taste or smell like grass. It has an interesting taste that is hard to describe, not bad, not sour or sweet, different and I like it.

Day one I made us each an 8 oz. glass. It was rather thick and more like a smoothie that you eat with a spoon.  I decided to modify the recipe slightly on day two.

Day two I added a little to much extra liquid (orange juice) and we ended up with three 16 oz. glasses, of which Tom drank one and I drank two. I also de-strung the celery so it was not so fibery.

Day three I de-strung part of the celery, and reduced the added liquid (orange juice) to get two 8 oz. glasses that were easy to drink as they were not super thick. I think I have adjusted the recipe to make it just right for the two of us, using about half of each ingredient.  A friend of Tom's, Alan, was here this morning and I gave him a small juice glass of Green Juice to try. He drank it and said it was not bad.  Not sure he would be game to drink it every morning for a month of not.

I am going to prepare the celery and other veggies today for tomorrow morning when we return to work so that it is quicker to mix the juice in the Vita Mix, instead of having to wash everything in the morning.

 I will let you know how the weight loss goes and if we feel healthier over the next month.
If you are interested in trying it yourself here is the link to Dr. Oz's site:

Dr. Oz's Green Drink | The Dr. Oz Show
www.doctoroz.com

"Make the breakfast drink that Dr. Oz swears by! This "green drink" is high in fiber, low-calorie and rich in vitamins. Ingredients: 2 cups spinach 2 cups cucumber 1 head of celery 1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root 1 bunch parsley 2 apples Juice of 1 lime Juice of 1/2 lemon Directions: Combine all ingredients"

Leave me a comment and let me know if you try it and what you think.

2010

This year has been a rough one for me personally. My oldest son went to jail for a while, though all charges were dropped in the end it was not a good experience for him. He ended up in the hospital seriously ill because of poor medical care while in jail.
In March I lost my father to cancer, and though we had a long period when we were not in touch because of my stepmother, we had reconciled and it was and is a major loss. He was a good man, and I loved him very much. He served his country for over 20 years in the Air Force, and worked for the U.S. Postal Service. His funeral service included military honors and I proudly display his burial flag in my home in remembrance of his service. I know he is up there watching over me along with his mother, father, and two sisters who passed on before him.
I am very happy that I survived my own health scare and celebrate each day as a gift from God. I plan to live life to fullest and to be around for a long time and enjoy every day of it. I am feeling better every day and working hard to regain my strength and stamina. Some days I forget and over do, but I am working on that.
I have a wonderful loving husband who took excellent care of me through all of the bad and who I love very much. I also have two sons who I love and many wonderful friends who were there for me when I needed them.
I was truly blessed in 2010 and pray that am so blessed with family, friends, and good health in the New Year.
I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. May you be blessed with good health and much happiness in the coming year.

Pets Belong in the Home NOT in Stores!

Boycott Barnes and Noble Bookstores. They let non-service dogs in the store and in the cafe.

I was in Barnes and Noble Bookstore today and a lady came in with a dog she was trying to hide under her coat. It was bigger than a purse a dog and set my allergies off so bad I had to leave the store.

She was in the cafe and wandering around the store. When I reported her I was told she could bring the dog in the store, but not the cafe. I turned around and she was in the cafe again and no one chased her out.

Dogs do not belong in bookstores, or any store other than a pet store, unless they are service animals. People please do not bring your animals shopping with you, as there are many of us who are severely allergic.

I will pay for the dog being in the store for at least two days, if not more. And yes I do take allergy meds, but they do not always work. It depends on the kind of dog and if I had known there was going to be a dog in the store I would not have gone in there.

I am so angry. I love to hang out at the bookstore and sit in the cafe or by the fireplace and read or write on winter days when I am off and just need a change of environment.

I came home and took a shower, threw my clothes, coat and all in the laundry and took more allergy medication. My nose is itching like crazy and my eyes as well.

People need to keep their pets at home. I understand that some people think of their pets as children, but they do not belong in stores. There are many people in the world who are allergic to animals, some of us to anything with fur, and we should have the right to shop in an allergen, health hazard, free environment. My entire day was ruined because one idiot thought her dog belonged in the store with her. It was not even one of those little purse dogs it was a medium size dog and was fighting to get out of her arms all three times I saw her. Her dog should have been left at home, or she should have stayed home with it if she is that attached to it.

The one thing I am very grateful for is that it was not a cat, as they are worse and a cat could have sent me to the emergency room.

I am writing to the head of Barnes and Noble books to file a complaint and to let them know that if they continue to allow dogs in their stores, other than service dogs, that I will no longer be shopping with them and I buy a lot of books and such from them. Borders Books will be getting my business in the future.

For the health of all those with allergens, boycott Barnes and Noble Books.