New Year??? Where? When?? How???

Well, I'll be damned!  Where the HELL did 2010 go anyway?

Whoooooooosh!  And there it went.........bye bye 2010, and HELLO 2011.

I am another year older, and .......wiser?  Hm?  not sure that applies to me.


And so................another year begins!  What will it bring? Heartache? More pain? More debt?  There can't possibly be any more debt, LOL! Well yeah..........I guess there could be actually.  But hopefully, if I play my cards right, the debt will resolve itself this year, HOPEFULLY!

I've been trying to revamp my blog, with a different background and a different set-up. As you can see...........I haven't gotten it to work yet!!  I love to write, but when it comes to the techie side of things, I'm truly a lame-brain!

I guess I'll figure it out sooner or later! LOL!  

Changes - Changes, Everything Changes!

Paleeeeeezzz Be gentle, patient, and understanding folks!

I am revamping my blog, so if it appears rather Topsy-turvy, that's why!

Coming back soon.......I promise!

The HEAT Has FINALLY Let Up…Sorta, Kinda!

...Finally!

            I can walk out the door and not break into a sweat immediately!  Our highs' are still getting into the 90's on most days, but as the Sun sinks in the southern skies, the temperatures cool down to the 60's. At least the nights have been cooler! Right now the mornings, and late evenings are the best times to get outside, due to the temperatures having fallen to a comfortable level.

The humidity this past summer has been through the roof!

Although we have not had the dry weather that has plagued the mid-west. It was so hot every day, that most times the heat would bring a rash of scattered storms by late in the afternoon or evening, and plenty of rain for those of us in the south. I am looking forward to the milder temperatures of the fall season.

 

 Okay, change of subject here...... 

As you all know by now, the hubby is an avid golfer, so when he lost his left leg in a surgical mishap several years ago, he worked continuously toward getting his "handicap" golfing scores back where they were, before the loss of his leg. He has had numerous prosthesis replacements, and due to his golfing activities, his prosthesis has continued to improve and update. Both his spirit for golf and his sense of humor always got him through the really bad times.  Me? Well, I can tell you that during the time when he lost his leg, I am damn sure I was having a nervous breakdown. However, at the time, I didn't realize it……..not until much later

                                  Anyway, since the hubby is an avid golfer, he needed a prosthetic leg that was able to do more than just hold him upright. He received a new prosthesis just about a week ago, and this thing actually has a computer in it. It actually senses when he is standing or walking up or down a hill! And, will detect when he sits down and automatically adjust to that positioning.

                            As you can see, it is one of the most advanced prosthesis made. The computerized box sits right on the limb encasement, backside of the prosthesis. It's quite amazing what can be done with artificial limbs these days. He could probably run in it, if he were so inclined. But he's NOT into running, or much of a walker either, LOL. However, he is quite proud of his new prosthesis.

                           Like I said, he is an avid golfer, but only IF he can play with a golf cart. He NEVER walks the course, even when he did have both legs, he NEVER walked a golf course, as far as I know. I suppose that, in his youth, he might have walked one or two?, but in his youth, he was a little more energetic, and agile. He just turned 65 last May, and he's already had one heart attack, along with arterial sclerosis. He has two stents in his heart, and another one in his femoral artery. Just a few weeks ago, he was going all A-Fib on me. Anyway, you can clearly see why he does as little walking as possible while on the golf course, LOL!

Okay, enough about hubby. I, on the other hand, am a mess, sorta….. kinda.

                           I just had seven teeth extracted on Monday this week, so I'm still in the process of healing. The surgeon did a magnificent job. His name is Dr. Elliot Maxwell, DDS. ……….Oh! And being the most good looking man on this side of the universe certainly helps!! Hehehehehe! 

Hey now!! - I might be old, but I'm NOT dead yet! The man was definitely Calendar mat'l!

                            On another subject, I have decided that I must tackle one of my addictions! 

Smoking?.......umm, Well………soon, Okay!? But that isn't the addiction I was talking about. Chewing my nails?…….well, yes that is an addiction too, sort of, (more of a habit), however........ since the surgery I've not been able to chew them at all.  I take this as an opportunity to quit at least this one annoying habit.     Soooo, I'm working on that too. 

                                   No............ the addiction I was speaking of is called, "Procrastination". I am finding out that this behavior is as addictive as say, obsessive, compulsive disorders.

Here is just a small piece of information that I collected from this site: Procrastinators Anonymous Website

According to the author and founder of this group , "Chronic Procrastination is NOT a Time Management Problem! This is something that I was sure glad to know. 

                                 Nor, is it a laughing matter, or source for jokes. No, this author gets infuriated at any jokes regarding procrastination. Why? Because there is NOTHING funny about it, not if one is suffering from true chronic procrastination. Lawyers have been disbarred due to it. Small business owners have lost their businesses due to it. People's lives fall apart and are destroyed due to procrastination.

                                 He goes on to say that the 'Psychological' community is totally blind in not recognizing procrastination as an addictive disorder. Every book or article he has read about procrastination talks about getting to the 'underlying reason' why one procrastinates so their problem can be solved. Now, granted, knowing why you procrastinate on a particular task can be helpful, but, it is not the whole solution – not by a long shot. It's like saying an alcoholic can stop drinking if he can only discover what's really bothering him. 

Now…here is an idea! Could it be that an alcoholic drinks because he has an addictive personality? And, that alcohol just happens to be his drug of choice. Ah-ha! Therein lies the truth of the matter.

The author goes on to state that he is a chronic procrastinator (even has graduate training in psychology)!....... who has also had to deal with a variety of addictive problems. He states that procrastination feels like addiction, and it is the hardest addiction to deal with.

                                    It is harder to stop procrastination than it is to quit drinking, smoking, taking drugs, and compulsive eating all wrapped together! Wow! Now I understand why the postings on my blog are so rare! I have a horrible addiction in procrastination!! It is not just a behavioral problem. Actually, my whole personality is an addictive one. I've had addiction to drugs, but not alcohol, that's the hubby's little addiction, although he also has been able to overcome that, mainly because of the medications he takes now.

Note: Procrastinators do NOT have a problem with time management. They DO, however, have a problem with compulsive avoidance. Procrastination is a form of addictive escapism that must be dealt with directly or there will NEVER be any recovery from it. Hm?  Why would I want to escape from my blogging?  I love to write!  Maybe it is because I am putting myself out there for the world to see, (and judge)!?

This website "Procrastinators Anonymous",  has brought me colossal hope for my future, and will possibly help cure me of what I always considered simply a bad habit, or pure laziness.  Although to be true to my inner self, I never have considered myself a lazy person. Anyway, I intend to join the group and use all the resources they provide!  We shall see!!

Till next time folks!

 

IS IT JUST ME?

Is it just me? 

Does anyone else notice our system of government is in chaos? It is as if Satan has taken control of our Federal, and State representatives.


Granted, I am not a terribly religious individual, although I do have belief in the Bible and what it teaches. Nor do I adhere totally to those teachings, as some folks do. I don't attend church regularly, but I keep the word of God in my heart. Now, if this causes me to go end up in HELL when I pass from this world, so be it.


With that being said, and looking at everything that has been happening in the world; i.e., disasters of terrible magnitude, earthquakes, tsunamis, horrendous floods, disease, and pestilence, and a huge increase in murder and mayhem, it really gets one to thinking that we could be headed for total extinction of the human race!


Scientists have been telling us for years that we could be facing another, "ICE AGE". 

Just recently I read an article containing a scientific report of a glacier in North America. The (Nisqually) on Mount Rainier, has been growing since the year 1931. You can read the article here:

http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/Ice_Age.html
 

One would think that information of this magnitude would have been a lead item in every newspaper in the world. This would lead one to wonder why it was not reported to the masses? The web article states that any competent climatologist would immediately grasp, (from said report), that glacial advances are an early warning sign of Northern Hemisphere chilling of the sort that can bring on an Ice Age. An Ice Age is determined with great scientific precision. Laurence Hecht, Editor of 21st Century Science and Technology Magazine wrote the web article referenced above.


I have to say, it makes one stop and think. After all, our continent has remained unchanged mostly, for a good many years, and we all know that Mother Nature is slightly unpredictable. Then again, all the hoopla about Global Warming makes one wonder if we'll experience the exact opposite. Whom to believe? In addition, how does one prepare for an event such as that? I'm not sure there is a way to prepare.


Nevertheless, I don't see it happening in my lifetime, or even my children's. However, the grandchildren could possibly experience such a phenomenon. Who knows what to believe nowadays, with the things that have gone on in the past 50 to 100 years.


On a joyful note, Mother Nature just happened to give us a spectacular sunset the other evening, so I got my camera out and took a quick picture. See below:

  But then Mother Nature doesn't always go out so peacefully, as the picture's below show her:

This was from the back of our home.  

And then it moved to the front side...........

Mother Nature put on a real amazing light show just last evening.  I tried to take a couple of pictures, but unfortunately my camera just isn't the best in the world, doesn't take real good nighttime pics,........so I didn't get the lightening show like I wanted.  But it was amazing! It was miles away but you could see the storm going on nonetheless.  The lightening was almost continuous!

This summer has been exceptionally HOT and HUMID.  Ever since the first week of July, every day has been in the 90's, with humidity levels at 100% almost every day. Just makes it extremely uncomfortable to be outside for very long!  It's hard to imagine an 'ICE AGE' coming with temperatures like this.  But then again, the last winter we had down here stayed extremely cold for an extremely long time! 

Anyone else ever think about this stuff, or "Is it just me?"

Tsk, Tsk, & Tsk Again…..Are You Blogging or NOT - Make Up Your Damn Mind Woman?!

Here it is July and I am behind as usual. One cannot expect others to follow one’s blog if they  are never blogging on it!    Sighhh  :o(

 It is my own fault, however, I hope you will take some small amount of time and stop to read my updated  content.

Allot has transpired since my last post which was much too long ago!

It has been weeks since I even sat down at this computer to do anything but glance at email,  and read everyone else's blogs.  I know that I don't post on mine often enough for people to bother following me. I hope I can change that for the better in the near future, since I am definitely planning on taking on another blog, lol! 

The next one will be totally about "Affiliate Marketing", and exploring it's venue.

In the meantime, on 'this', my personal blog, I have much of which to apprise.

We had company with us for approximately four days. These  two people are very good  friends, and we both, (hubby and I), enjoy their visits tremendously.  We didn't get to the  beach however, and for that I am sorry.  It was damn HOT and humid that week, and the  beach was packed with beach-goers.  It was around July the 4th holiday, so it was to be  expected.

I sincerely hope they enjoyed that visit as much as we did, as it was a wonderful time, and of course we all ate too much!  Isn't that the way of it! LOL!

Anyway, the next week or so passed rather placidly with no real fortuitous happenings. Then,  I got an email from one of my "Fan-pages'.  It was the local 'Country' radio station, emailing  me on "FaceBook" that I had won tickets to the Toby Keith "American Ride Tour" concert!   Imagine my total shock and truly happy surprise at winning these tickets!  I had only just  become a fan of the station on Facebook, and BOOM! …….I won tickets!

However, the tickets I had won were definitely NOT exactly what you would call VIP 'seats'. In   fact they were "Lawn" tickets.  Meaning, exactly that, we were to sit anywhere 'on the grass  surrounding the regular seats.

It was a good thing I had thought to bring a large beach towel, as we, (my friend and I),  needed it to lay over the grass! I wished then, that I had had the aforethought to bring binoculars, lol.  Oh....and NO, that is NOT me in the red shirt!

As you can see we truly were "On the Lawn" literally!  Although the stage was so far away that it was easier to watch the huge TV screens that they had erected on both sides of the Amphitheater stage.

Some people were sitting down, others were standing and swaying to the music as you can  plainly see.,,,,,,

Youth…..Ahhh,  if only!

As the evening wore on, there were more and more people standing up and dancing around  the lawn, but I must admit, most of those were YOUNG people, and most were '20' something  women, who looked to me like little girls playing grown-up!  Geeez, I was definitely feeling  my age at that point!  Young girls all around us…..with tanned legs up to their elbows!  It  was literally depressing to realize I can't dress like that anymore.  Oh wait!…….I never dressed like that anyway!  ROFLMAO!  However, IF one could get their youth back, then one has to think about what comes with it that is NOT so appealing, i.e. cramps, pimples, peer pressure , boyfriends, etc, etc.

The night was at first, hot and humid, but as the Sun fell off the horizon, the breezes picked up and the night ended up being very comfortable actually.  No mosquitoes  anywhere, so I assume that they must have rigged some type of repellent in the area of the lawn.  Usually I get attacked by them in swarms, but not one bite all through the evening hours. I was glad for that alone!

Trace Adkins was the first one to appear and perform, and Wow!  Did he ever!  I can describe him for you, but I thought maybe I would scrounge up a recent close-up pic from the internet.  For those of you who've never had the pleasure of seeing him live in Concert, well………the man puts his all into his performance.  I can tell you that he sounds exactly like his recorded 'CD's'  Nothing fake about this gentleman!  He has one song that kinda describes the way in which he portrays himself on stage.  The song's title is, "Dirty White Boy".  But truthfully he is a devoted family man, with a beautiful wife, "Rhonda (Forlaw) Adkins, and five daughters of different ages. Two of his daughters are from a previous marriages, but they are one great big very happy and centered family.

When he is performing, he protrays himself as a sexy 'dirty white boy', and he pulls it off with charm, true wit, and a great deal of talent!  Typical fans are the young ladies who attend his concerts, but there are a mix of all ages and genders who follow him and his career.

The other, and main, artist in this what is the "American Ride Tour", was Toby Keith.

This man represents everything America is about. Honor, honesty, integrity and assuredly presents himself as a down home "All American" country boy.  I have to say, in concert he is 100% as good as in his music videos!  He puts on an excellent performance! He was amazing to see and hear at work. 

Sometimes with a concert of this magnitude it is as enjoyable just to watch the reactions of the crowd of fans too!  The little twenty-something's went wild and it was a sight to see!

The concert was NOT in Myrtle Beach, unfortunately, but that’s okay.  It was at the "Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, N.C. Approximately a three & one half hour drive from home.

My good friend (female), and I spent the night in a nearby motel and drove home in the morning, taking our time  on Monday morning, since the concert was on a Sunday evening.

It was a good thing I'd had a relaxing and enjoyable Sunday night, and Monday morning, because as soon as I got home to the hubby, my enjoyment came to a quick and unhappy halt.

I had no more than unloaded the car and walked into the house, than the hubby was informing me that he wasn't feeling well.  He was looking pale, and telling he was very lightheaded. He had been checking his pulse and said it felt um, irregular.  He was right, I put my two fingers at his neck and it was beating very fast, and very irregular.  I walked around the couch he was sitting on and picked up the phone and called his doctors office. 

Fortunately they could get him in within the half-hour, so I took him in.  They did an EKG on him and they discovered his heart was beating at 169 beats per minute!  Yikes!  They instructed us to go immediately up to the emergency room at "Grand Strand Regional" hospital.. 

The triage nurses did yet another EKG on him and they diagmosed it as Atril Fibrillation. It was a matter of just a few minutes before they got him back there, however, they didn't as yet have a room for him, so they put him out in the hallway until such time as they did.

Once they did get him a room back in the emergency dept, they did yet another EKG. Guess what?  He was no longer Fibbing.  However, his heart was still doing a little jig every now and then, so they made the decision to keep him overnight and have his cardiac physician make the call as to what should be done. They got him a room on the 3rd floor. 

Now, it just so happens that this hospital is rated in the top 5 for patients with heart problems. They have excellent heart surgeons, and a heart department that is very competent, and almost incomparable. The hubby had a heart attack about four years ago now, and his heart doctor literally saved his life at that time.  He is one of the best in his field!

The next morning a technician came in and did an Echo-cardiogram.  I stood there and watched the screen and could see my husband's heart beating. It was amazing to see. I could even see the way it was stuttering, and quivering every few beats.  According to the doctor, my husbands heart had, for a lack of better words, "had it's wires crossed". It was sending constant electrical signals through the top part of his heart, causing the blood to not get pushed out to the bottom part like it should have.  This was why he felt light-headed. He was not getting the correct amount of blood flow.

The doctor added a new medication, and also increased the dosage on one of his other meds. He got my husbands heart in regular sinus rhythm by the end of the next day, and the hubby was allowed to come home, although, with strict orders to curb his intake of all salt, and eat healthier foods, instead of the junk he'd been eating.  You see, when he'd had his cancer and lost so very much weight, he was told then by the doctors to eat as much as he could, and whatever he wanted, as long as he ate something!  Well, he got used to eating what he wanted, and now he's finding it very hard to stick to this low-fats diet thing.  He doesn't understand that low-fat is as important as having NO salt.  His arteries are in no better shape than his heart. High fat foods, will, with time ,block an artery - no matter how much medication he takes to keep that from happening!

But he seems not to have listened very well to his doctors from what I have been able to observe this past week. I'm not going to nag him. He is a grown man.  If he wants to die a little sooner rather than later, that’s his choice.

I'm not going to yell at him, or force him to eat food that he doesn't like.  The funny thing is, while he was in the hospital, he ate almost everything he was brought to eat, and his meals were low-fat, and totally NON-sodium food.  AMAZING!  But then, of course, he was forced to eat it or starve, LOL!  But, he did tell me that most of it was really good stuff. But to him, low-fat transmits to low taste, no taste, bad taste period!  He is stubborn, and set in his ways, this is what he tells me all the time.  So be it. But if he ends up having a stroke, and being paralyzed or worse.....

Well, I can't or won't be able to take care of him. I do not have the energy or the strength for that.  I suppose I'll worry about that if the time comes, hopefully it won't!  My husband is not one for making sure his loved ones are taken care of upon his death.  He just doesn't care.  He feels that once hes dead, they (his family) can worry about it. Selfish, yes..........but what ya gonna do? Oh, he has life insurance, but the amount of insurance MIGHT be just enough to take care of his funeral.  Just barely.  

I don't plan to be that unfeeling of my family's feelings or expect them to take care of everything.  I'm getting life insurance soon, and making out my will. Not something one likes to think about, (dying), but it is a reality that must be faced.