Author: Dackel Princess

While I was suffering standing in line waiting for my flu shot yesterday, I called Hubby to complain. He, of course, smelled a story, and came down to the pharmacy and snapped pictures of the “event” and sent them to our states largest newspaper, with an e-mail and then followed it up with a phone call.
A reporter called him back and they spoke at length last night about the fact that the state has allowed a private company to come into New Hampshire to give flu shots, and will not be providing flu shots to their public agencies until later this year. Quite the scandal!
In any case, I got up this morning and went down to get the paper and what is on the front page of the paper?

with a credit for the picture to my very own Hubby!!!
I can be seen waiting for my flu shot in the bright yellow shirt. One thing I should tell you, is that although it doesn’t look too crowded, there were people down the isles in the store and in fact there were close to 100 of us just standing there waiting.
So now that he has had a front page picture printed, there will be no living with him, I’m sure. But I am proud of him because when he sees something he thinks is wrong he goes right after it.
Here’s to you, Honey!!!

My entire day was taken up trying to get a flu shot. The flu shot clinic was supposed to start at 10 AM. I decided to get there early because I didn’t want to spend the entire day in line. When I got there at 9:25 I got a number, 63! It was then that they told me that they were only giving out 100 shots!!! Soon all the tickets were gone and the store was full with people waiting for their shots.
The nurses didn’t arrive, and didn’t arrive and at 10:20 a woman called to find out where the nurses were to give the shots. Oh, they were lost! But would be there soon. Then we waited and again someone called and now the Supervisor of the program said she would come and bring the supplies herself, but it would take an hour, so we all waited some more.
I was with a group of women, old and young, and we talked and talked and we all got tired of all the waiting. But it was nice to talk to these women.
Still we waited and no one came to do the shots. I nearly left, but by this time I had waited so long I hated to leave without the shot! So I waited and waited and finally after waiting three and 1/2 hours the nurses came .
They were not terribly nice, and as I was back a ways in the line I was watching and noticed that they weren’t using gloves!!! That freaked me out and I stood there thinking maybe I should just walk out and not get the stupid shot. I spoke to the woman next to me and we decided to demand they wear gloves when they did our shots. We got a rather sharp look, but they put on the gloves and gave us the shots.
Never have I had to pay $25.00 for such a long and terrible time!!!

You Should Get a MFA (Masters of Fine Arts)

You’re a blooming artistic talent, even if you aren’t quite convinced. You’d make an incredible artist, photographer, or film maker.

What is “stress”? I went to the dictionary and found that the 6th definition probably describes what is happening to cause my current stomach ailments.

Stress:

1. A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.
2. A stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition.

Okay, so if the “stress” level in my life has chosen to hit me above the belt, then I guess it’s time for me to “de-stress” myself and start to heal the stomach which has been torn up by the “stress” with excessive acid. It means taking control of my emotions, (not something I have always been good at). It means changing my diet to facilitate the healing in my stomach so the pain goes away and I feel all better.

Part of the “stress” I can do absolutely nothing about. The underlying problem only affects me in the long term. So, I have to simply take it and toss it out the window and hope to God that it works out in my favor. If it doesn’t, well, we will simply have to deal with that when the time comes.
The other “stress” I also don’t have control over, but I do know that this “stress” will be over soon.
Meanwhile, I plan to keep myself busy. To plan good, bland but nourishing meals and to go and meditate in a closet if it all get’s to be too much.

I started out the day with all kinds of energy. I made breakfast for Hubby and the Old Boy and got them off on their trip to southern New Hampshire, and then set about doing housework. The dusting had been neglected for so long that I did not have dust bunnies, but dust elephants! But I got things cleaned up and I even pulled off the slip covers and washed those too.
After that I decided to put together the lasagna for dinner, so that all I have to do tonight is pop it in the oven I made the usual lasagna for Hubby and Old Boy, and I made an all cheese one for me, due to my finicky stomach. Mine has no tomato sauce at all. Just noodles and cheese.
Then it was back to laundry and then I figured that I needed to kick back a little and so I made myself a cup of tea, (I know, I’m not supposed to drink that, but darn, when I don’t feel well I want tea!) and sat down with Shubi.
I ordered 2 dozen rawhide bones from a mail away place as they have the best prices on large compressed rawhides. Greta is such a chewer, and I cannot seem to keep them in the house.
Shubi has a little tumor under her arm and it is starting to weep blood. The Vet has already seen it and he said that we’d just leave it until it started to bother her. Since it’s starting to bleed, it may be that she’ll need to have it removed.
It’s dark, cold and damp. Rain is on the way and high winds. What wild weather we have had this year!

Today is our first fire in the fireplace. It’s cold and damp and I feel chilled. After going shopping, and then taking a nap with the two dachshunds, I felt really cold. So, Hubby got the wood and built me a beautiful fire in the fireplace. I was sitting enjoying this when the girls demanded to go out for a walk. So I put on my coat, (it’s only 43 degrees) and stood outside with them and inhaled the wonderful smell of wood smoke from our fireplace. I just love that smell. There is nothing like it on the face of the earth, especially in the fall.

I decided today that since we had another frost, it was time to clean out the camper. I took the two dachshunds out with me, while I folded up clean blankets and put them away, and got out the last of the bottles of soda and juice. All that’s left to do is drain the water tank, and that’s Hubby’s job.
It’s another dark and dreary day here. Rain is expected any minute and our temperature has soared to all of 42 degrees. I feel like the seasons really have been messed up this year.
Winter is coming. Usually I’m happier about that. I love to down hill ski and winter here means snow, which means skiing. Yet, I just can’t seem to get into it right now. I guess I have too much on my mind.
For now I’ll just enjoy the morning frost.

Continue reading “Megan’s Friday Questions”

We finally had our first frost last night. Not a hard frost, but enough to make the grass crunch under my slippers when I took out the girls. The thermometer said 29 degrees (F).

I planted my spring bulbs yesterday. I planted Day Lilies in a variety of colors, against our stone wall. I think this will look nice. Of course the bending and planting motion has my lower back just a little sore this morning.

Although I am thrilled to death that my gallbladder is fine, the alternatives of either an ulcer or acid reflux disease are leaving me feeling grumpy. Both require very low fat, very bland diets, with NO coffee or tea. Not even decaff! They want you to drink lots and lots of water. Now, I believe that water is for bathing in, for cooking in and for watering ones garden. But, I simply hate to drink water! Yuck!
I also love spicy food. Give me tacos with jalapenos and super hot salsa, or steak with horse radish sauce, or even the hottest Buffalo wings! Heaven! Plain chicken cooked with no bread crumbs or spices or anything served with boiled vegetables…well, it’s too much to even contemplate! Part of me would almost rather have the darn gallbladder cut out and be done with it!

I loved The Apprentice last night with The Donald. Letting Kristi go was the smartest thing. Not only was she a bossy know it all, but she was abrasive and unfriendly to everyone else on the team. Randal, who I really like a lot, had her sized up very quickly.
And Martha’s Apprentice was also quite good. Although I think the young father who acted so outrageously during the project, (I think his name is Jim) should go home soon. He is just plain obnoxious!

Keep your fingers crossed that Hurricane Wilma doesn’t go into Punta Gorda, FL. They really got clobbered with Charlie last year and still have not recovered. I lived there for 6 years and have many close friends there and would hate to see them have to go through that again. Of course I feel like a real genius for moving back north. But after a while I started to find Hurricane season, fire season, tornado season, hot, hot, hot etc… all a little hard to take. Snow I can shovel, the rest down south was more than I could stand.

A happy Friday to all!!!