Think ahead for others, please

When will courtesy, even in our own judicial system, exist? I do not mind, really, being selected for a jury pool. I know this is a civic duty and I'm pretty much fine with that. However, when I'm given a WEEK notice, I'm not as understanding. Some of us have to make work arrangements, daycare arrangements and all for perhaps not, as a lot of these trials end up being cancelled. Plus, when I do have to attend, I'm really not being compensated for money lost from not working my job. I think one gets what, $40 a day. Sorry, I make a bit more than that in a day. Aren't most trail dates set months in advance? Getting a weeks notice seems a bit ridiculous if that is the case. In my nursing job, there is me and one other nurse who work. And she works full time at the hospital on top of this job, so her availability to work for me at moments notice is pretty slim. What do I tell my patient if none of us can show up? It's just plain rude to have this kind of a heads up. If anyone who works in a court system somewhere is reading this, here's an FYI fer ya: Consider that the people in the jury pool have jobs, kids, responsibilities outside of what you're doing. Giving us 2, better yet, 3 or 4 weeks notice is MUCHLY appreciated!

My new 10

You all know the pain scale? 0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain... yes? Well, I have found my new 10. Yeeow-zaw! I have had back problems for a while now: degenerative disk disease, mild arthritis... it usually requires a cortisone injection 1 o 2 times a year to be tolerable. It had been almost 100% for quite sometime. In fact the night before my new 10, I remarked how good I had been feeling. I went to bed that night (Wednesday) with a mildly sore back (which is normal for me, esp. after some house cleaning), and thought nothing of it. I got up early Thursday morning and started getting ready. I bent over to pick up some clothes and just like that, I'm in major pain and can't move! Horrible. I was still determined to get ready for work, I thought maybe this would pass, like a cramp does. Not so much. To walk, to stand, to sit, to lay was sheer agony. I honestly was pretty scared. It took one hour for me to dress myself. I managed to get out to our living room and had to sit in the recliner before I passed out from the pain. I could not get up! It was a very dismal feeling. I waited for Tony to get home from work. (fortunately, Aria was at Uncle Dustin and Auntie Kim's house that morning and Taryn was sleeping soundly in her room). Tony got home and i was in a sort of panic: there was no way I could go to work much less get out of that recliner. Tony made a few phone calls for me and then we discussed what to do next. I took a muscle relaxant and would see if that would help while Tony slept. He got in about 3.5 hours of sleep when Dustin showed up to drop off Aria's stuff the the night over with them. Talk about good timing, cuz as he walked in, the school called to tell us to come get Aria from school as she wasn't feeling well. So Dustin, bless his heart, went to Chester to get Aria and Tony helped me get ready to go to the ER. I couldn't stand up straight, and to move was terribly painful. I kept saying I hope I'm not being a baby about this but it's seriously the worst pain I've ever had. We got to the ER. The doc didn't think it was disk related, but ordered x-rays to be sure. If I had symptoms like numbness and such, he would've ordered an MRI, but I didn't have those symptoms. Getting on the x-ray table was rough, but we got it done! The x-rays didn't show much changes from previous ones, but he did not that the normal curve that is in the lower spine on me today was completely straight due to muscle spasms. Yikes! I got Morphine and Toradol IV and that was a bit helpful. Tony remarked that I was catching up to his ER experiences as that is what he gets for kidney stones. Toradol is a great drug. I spent most the day in the chair or up trying to walk around. The doc encouraged me to get up and walk as long as I could tolerate. I've been taking strong pain meds and anti-inflammatories, and it seems to be working, slowly. I woke up Friday morning feeling a bit better. Saturday, if it weren't for my left side feeling so tender, I'd feel pretty good. Once this lets go entirely, I'll be working on getting a strong core and strengthening my back. I will have to be very careful, esp. bending over, and use my legs. Tho, I must add that went I bent over, I was sitting. I do not want to go thru this again! Throwing out your back, as they say, is much more painful than it sounds. It should be called so painful you can't move or do anything for yourself back... or SPYCMODAFYB.

I should add that Tony and Aria were so wonderful to me. They always are, but they went above and beyond! Tony took over in every aspect of the household; from cooking, to cleaning, to baths, he was so helpful. And Aria, my little attentive nurse; she would look at me every so often and say "okay, mom, time to walk again", and she would even try to help me up and let me lean on her shoulder as I shuffled throughout the house! If I asked her to get something for me, she wouldn't even complain or procrastinate! Such a sweet family that I have been blessed with- thanks Lord!

to speak or not to speak

Do you ever let your emotions rule your words? Is it okay to express your honest opinion to someone, no matter how close, or is it better to jut let it mellow and keep your mouth shut? Am I a good friend for being honest about an issue that I think needs to be addressed or is it not my place to say anything. Are you a better friend/family member if you say your 2 cents and risk the relationship or keep quiet and keep the peace? I'm really struggling with this issue right now. Some things need to be said, need to be addressed, need to be brought into the light, but I'm no diplomat. However, if I say nothing, nothing will be done... things will continue to escalate. Would you rather, HONESTLY, know the truth or enjoy the rose colored glasses? Because knowing the truth could be somewhat hurtful, it could cause tension, it will not be nice. But by not saying anything, is that just as bad or worse? I thought people want transparency, they want honesty. Or is that just lip service? I say I want honesty, but ignorance is bliss. What I don't know won't kill me... same for you? I want to do the right thing, but what is the right thing; the truth or silence...

football, politics, & a PSA

Hellooooo out there?! What has happened to the people that I follow on this here blog-thingy? Look, I know life is busy; I have 3 jobs and 2 kids... got it. But, c'mon, man! Update your blogs people before I call the FBI on you (seriously, tho... weird things have been happening lately and I tend to think the worst right off the bat... so... there...)

Super Bowl is this weekend. Apparently, I'm the only female in my church who cares as they scheduled a baby shower that afternoon! I offered to help thinking the shower would be Jan. 29. Not one to back out of obligations, I will be late for our annual Miller Super Bowl Party, but at least it's still on! I am rooting for the Giants. It's almost cliche when the Pats make it to the big one. Plus, I love the Manning brothers. And speaking of that, what is up with the Colts, Jim Irsay and Peyton!? Irsay, the owner of the Colts, has one bad season in like 10 years and now he is cleaning house? Jump to conclusions much? Throw 'em under the bus, yes? Instant gratification, huh? Obviously, the team revolved around Peyton, but sheesh, I think Irsay is over compensating for something... and I think he's the one to blame, not Jim Caldwell or anyone else. Peyton is right; what Irsay is doing is not promoting a healthy environment in that building. Must be awkward to be hosting the Super Bowl in that location, and Peyton's brother is there! Now, I honestly don't know if Peyton will play again. I, as a fan, hope he does, but as a health care professional, don't know if he should. He could be putting himself in a dangerous position. However, if he rehabs well and becomes a free agent, I HOPE he considers the '9ers. Alex Smith needs either 1, to be replaced, or 2, mentored. A LOT. Peyton would look good in red and gold!

Whoa, the GOP primaries are heating up. Am I the only one who is totally disappointed with the potential nominees? If Romney get the nomination, it'll be McCain 2008 all over again. If Gingrich gets the nod, well, we'll see... he about as unpredictable as the weather in Montana! I like Rick Santorum, but he's lacks experience on a world level... and Ron Paul is just a wacko. Now, this is very disheartening to me. Obama is a moron; this should be a slam dunk for Republicans in 2012! But, they can't nominate a worthy contender. Obama could be re-elected because Republicans are too PC. It's stupid and it's maddening. Sorry, but for you Obama-lovers out there, we're screwed as a country if he's re-elected. His failure as a president is America's success. How can we vote for a guy who doesn't see any good in the Keystone Pipeline project?! In one sentence, he says we need to create more jobs, then the next sentence, he doesn't think the Keystone Pipeline is good for America. You bum! You hypocrite! You socialist! As Aria used to say, "Obama NO!"

This next topic I need to apologize in advance. I will be extremely vague and it's only because I don't want anyone thinking I am picking on them. I just need to say it and be done with it. There are a lot of fad diets out there. People, including myself, follow one or many of them. However, when you're behavior borderlines cult like behavior, when you obsess about it to the point that people become uncomfortable talking to you at all, maybe it's time to dial it back a notch or twenty. If it works for you, great. But that doesn't mean it will work for everyone that same way it did you. If you want to share your success, then great, but understand that when you stop taking your ridiculously overpriced magic shake drink, or stop obsessing about how margarine will give you dementia, that the weight will probably come back on and it'll be on to the next thing. Like it or not, to lose weight, it's about portion control and exercise. I don't like it, but that's all there is. And I am becoming increasingly surrounded by these (sorry, wack-jobs) who think food is killing us! "Too over processed!" "Too much preservatives!" "Too much corn sugar!" I'm sorry, but we will all die. So enjoy life, enjoy food, enjoy the fact that while you bemoan the evils of *cue suspenseful music* big farming, people like me are thinking "coo-coo for cocoa puffs" about you. This has been a public service announcement for whoever.