Mt_Rider

for all in harm's way.... ....our straight-line WINDS blew trees down this week. Beautiful one crashed on the roof of an old landmark building. I've been in that store and know the original owners. But it didn't damage it too much. Lost a nice tree tho. Wonder how they did at the horse ranch? MtRider ...I'll be there Saturday to ride.

I LOVE IT! Ahem....not that I can relate or anything..... Well....I got a bottle of Flonase and a box of Clariton (which I can start when I'm done with the prescription version of same). Breathing is much more clear. The Flonase is easy...does not drip. And the smell.....oddly, reminds me of Grma's house long ago. ?? ?? So it's all good. Y'know, I could get used to this breathing thing! Don't know what you're missing til you get meds........ Hmm.. The ear....dunno. It feels kinda numb. Not sure I'm hearing well out of it. But that may just be cuz I'm not wearing the hearing aid in that ear and I am in the other one. Had DH check it tonite and it's red/inflamed along the ear canal...which the ER doc didn't mention. Sheeesh, I hope I don't get something infected. THAT would complicate the airplane .... So glad your ear healed, Jeepers. Looked so painful! I set my alarm for 7am cuz D was going to pick me up for Bible Study so DH could sleep in/rest his back. She was coming at 8:20am. I woke up at 8:15!!!! I must not have put the alarm button on. Dashed around doing two things at once to get ready. Fortunately, she didn't have to be early cuz someone else was going to help set up our table arrangement. So she arrived at 8:30 and I was breathless but ready. Good Grief. Did I ask for more excitement in my life right now?? This was our last one or I'd have just skipped it, but it was good to talk/study with others. Haven't made progress with any packing this whole week. Just don't have it in me - with all the rest of what's going on. MtRider ...bed early. TIRED!

Posting at the same time....Jeepers. But yeah, I've done that a lot when my ears feel ...? ...uncomfortable. Just feels right. R one has been a bit sore today. Thanks MtRider ...I just need to and get everything back in place!!

Actually, I haven't gotten near the nasal rinse procedure for years. Cuz that's what happened every time. One cannot function with a bucket under the nose for drizzle every single time I bent over. Bah! I'll try the nasal spray instead. However, what you're describing makes sense as to WHY the rinse in not coming out all at once as it is expected to. Probably a chronic state for me? Except where the Hawaiian ocean salt air dries them up. But first I have to go UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN on 2 planes to get there. Don't wanna be screeching like the babies with their bitty painful ears. BTW , Jeepers....How DID The Case of the Gouged Ear Drum turn out? Did it repair itself...can you hear now? Does scar tissue occur? My ear drum is red and bulged out. Air bubbles too - somewhere. Don't think he said where the bubbles come from. He drew pictures to illustrate with a magic marker on the exam table cover. LOL MtRider ...thankful we still have advanced medical care...

Wow....I'm breathing more clearly than normal. Side affects include dry mouth, etc. Might not notice here in arid country.... or ...it could be worse. So far, 5 antihistamine pills taken, I haven't noticed. My R Eustachian tube area still is sore. I'm supposed to do that nasal fire-hose thing. But if I do saline flood nasal passages, it doesn't come out right away. Waits and floods for the next 5 hrs EVERY time I bend over. Might try it once but I have appointments T and B/S Wed and... well THAT just wouldn't be pretty! We had noteworthy WIND today. Oye, Necie! He could have broken his neck! Yeah...some adulting while riding the toy! He's gonna give you a heart attack! for good results in surgery and good behavior during recovery. Little Sister... "opened book and closed it." 30 days...29...28... He's got a real block there. Is it from non-success in high school? Miki .... for your dh to continue to improve. Finally? I'm kinda wiped out.....might even {gasp} go to bed early. Feel like sleeping right now and it's only 8pm. Are antihistamine pills also sleepy/drowsy pills? Flonase? Hmm... That's just a spray - not a flood, right? Maybe I'll have DH pick some up tomorrow...during yet another/different appt. MtRider

I have to say, Necie....that does look like a wonderful tool! ....ahem, but if you look really hard, it COULD look like a fun TOY too! Glad you're better Jeepers. How is your DH, Miki? Mother....I wanna find a house cleaner too! Good idea, tho expensive. Well, I ended up in the ER today. Not anything that bad but again, it was just bad timing. I woke with definite pain in the Right ear. I've been having trouble with it - and leaving that hearing aid out and then put it in; then leave it out again. Sweet oil and Tea Tree mixed kinda worked but not this deep into Eustachian tubes. This this was pain without the hearing aid in. So DH was afraid it might be an inner ear infection...which gets nasty fast. And since he works tomorrow, I got shower/dry hair...and we went in. The doc and DH talked after I gave the floor to DH. Dr said it was good to come in. Both ears are "congested"...?.... But the right tympanic membrane {ear drum} is apparently kinda knarly. He saw red marks and it's bulged out. Fluid behind it is doing that. No infection back there ...yet. Etc. Soooo....what? So yeah, good to come in before infection sets in. He thinks it's all from seasonal allergies. Hmph! We're to have 50-60 mph WINDS this week. And they've already begun at this (late) hour! Blowing stuff all over. Right thru gaps in chinking of logs. AND.....I have a very simple diagnosis for WHAT I respond to for allergy: All Particulates. I'm not choosy. I react to all of them: from dust to pollen - and the pine trees are about to start. Oh boy. And I have to get on a very long plane ride soon. I have a couple weeks to solve what's causing this. AND...probably more of what caused this to flare: I'm stirring up all kinds of DUST as I'm digging into far corners to find stuff for Maui trip. And sorting/organizing/clearing. Air travel with inner ear difficulties is challenging/painful. So....we stopped to get a script for antihistamine. Took 3 today. Have a 7 day supply and orders to see my primary doc. My next yearly wellness appointment in July. ( I skipped last year due to giving the neurologist all of 2023) But I'll have to make an appt before we leave...5/20. I really do not want to be in serious pain on the descent of the planes (2) going to Maui. But the salt air in the islands is wonderful for my sinus/allergy issues! I really did wonderfully while living there! That would be nice. Well, that's my eventful day. $$$ to the ER....cuz this landed on the wrong day again. Can't drive myself and didn't want to wait till .....well, I'm booked all week! Odd. Usually I'm at home all the time. ....the anatomy of the inner ear is ...weird! God made some really complex things when He created us. I do remember, now that I'm thinking about it, having some seriously painful ear problems as a young kid too. Sleeping on a hot water bottle. Something about tiny Eustachian tubes? Now I'm old, we're doing reruns? Obviously the right one isn't draining. Hmph. MtRider ....late for bed! But Maui time - I'll be right on normal schedule!

( I wouldn't know anything about this 'jumping into cart' business ...) that you're feeling better, friend!! Oh wow, Necie! I guess that's the flip-side of having big families. Someone is always doing someTHING! for healing and pain relief. Ribs are not fun. Have you been told what EXACTLY your grown up son was attempting when this little incident occurred??? Sheesh, "boys" and their toys! Miki... your dh will feel a lot better now with meds. I rode horse today....dressed WARM cuz it was WINTER at our house. Cold, solid overcast. NOT gonna freeze like last time on horse. Arrived at the ranch and SUNSHINE! I'm not wining the Guess-Colorado's-Weather game. Took off some of my layers and had a good ride. Still a bit chilly so I didn't shed all layers. Stopped to buy a clock with a 24hr alarm setting. So I can have a reminder to call Mom. I canNOT get used to the summer long sun and the time change. So I set the alarm and went to bed for a nap. Didn't wake up. It didn't go off. Didn't call mom in time for her two-hours-earlier-time she goes to bed. DH figured out I hadn't paid attention to the 24hr setting ....so it would have gone off at 5:30AM. Quickly fixed that! Didn't get much packing/sorting done. Long nap and DH sent the dog up to porch....wet! Guess who's a water dog and likes to TRY chasing "Fred and Wilma" across the pond? F and W are any pair of Canadian geese who light down on our water each year. Sometimes we host Barney and Betty too. That distinguishes them from our geese. Goose. Only one left this go-'round. Dog wasn't bothering our birds and the Canadians were laughing at her. Being a good part Lab, she swims well but not like water fowl. She had fun but I had to towel her off....then sequestered on a horse blanket so she doesn't get the carpet wet. The pond isn't muddy so that's good. She was quite pleased with her adventure. The Chase; the Swim; and good Lovin' with towel. I need to get to sleep again. Nap went too long so I'll be getting to bed by...2am. Tomorrow, got no where to go; nuthin' to do when I get there.... MtRider

Jeepers, tell your son that is baaad! MtRider .... {couple giggles escape}

Snowmom. I hope your health will settle and let you have just normal doc appts. MtRider ....had a few too many this past year myself but ... all is well.

Oye! I'm late to the party AGAIN! Well, I hope there's some leftover cake and ICE CREAM! for you, Darlene. Glad your girls were there for Awwww...baby calf on your Bday! Didja name him "Steak" ?? MtRider .....going to mark things on the calendar...cuz I sure don't have any memory left!

MtRider comes skidding in.....definitely late. It's 8 minutes into Sunday here in CO. However... Happy Birthday, MomM!! and MtRider ....we all should have an earthquake party at Darlene's house again, right?

I did more laundry and more sorting. I found different swimwear stuff that I'd completely forgotten. When we took mom out to VA, I stayed out there for a week to help her get unpacked/adjusted. We spent July 4 on Bro's boat. Thus the swim suit. Kinda. (how do you tell a "sports bra" from a bra you wear under sporting clothes? ) This one is black and green...whole halter top. Have a polyester tank to go over it. Swim shorts. And a colorful sleeveless "dress" that goes over it all. Probably a better arrangement than the decades-older versions I'd been looking at. We'll see. So I got normal laundry plus more of the clothes-dug-out-of-back-of closet. Still sorting. Nap...needed it. I'm up late again. Talked to mom today and she said she was at the doctor's yesterday. Mebbe? She gets days all mixed up. I GET DAYS ALL MIXED UP. But she doesn't remember if I forget to call. Two days ago she told me she doesn't have a watch - "someone took it". Then today she says the watch band is pinching her. Uh, when did you get that? Hmm.... She also came up with a great idea to eat more. Put milk in chocolate Ensure to thin down the thick texture and strong/sweet taste. Brilliant! ....course I've been telling her that since last November when I was out there..... I've told my brother that too! (if I had to gain weight, I'd use ice cream and turn it into a shake....but that's me.) Okay....I'm getting sleepy. Y'all take good care. MtRider

Love Crocs since they are light and spacious on my feet. I wear my shoes large for some reason. Wore out a pair and used shoe goo to fix it. Still wearing them. Find all of them at thrift stores. Got a pair to take to Maui. Might wear them on the plane. Always barefoot in Iowa childhood. And Maui too. We had a church gathering at a member's house one night. Grande house on the golf course. But the folks were precious. However Harriette did wonder who walked off barefoot without their shoes. Me. On these Rocky Mts...I wear shoes! The crumbling granite is so very sharp. And all there is ...all granite. No lawn. No mowing. Not barefoot but Crocs are the next best thing.....cuz you don't have to bend over to put them on or take them off. I do have compression socks and I'd thot of that. I've been having a weird thing with my legs when I stand too long - like a shower. The legs turn a bright pink - not dark but bright! And the veins are very dark purple. I've scheduled a yearly wellness exam with my primary after we get back. I'd like to know if that's something I need to be concerned about....esp with flying?? I've never had any trouble. It takes and hour and half at least to get to the airport. Flight leaves at 5am. Plane change in Phoenix....and a 5 hour layover. THEN we go to Maui - about 5 hrs flying. Arrive at around 3 in the afternoon. I think those numbers are right. So we'll be heading over to the city early in the afternoon. After dropping dog at the boarder's house. We'll get a hotel/motel ? and go eat early supper with my friend who lives there. Then try to sleep before getting up at 3am. ****can you tell how we got cheap tickets? **** Oye. But we'd have to leave soooo early in the morning, we would not get any sleep. And I am a Nervous Nellie about getting to airport and THRU THE BLASTED SECURITY ...and to the gate well ahead of time. I'm early boarding with wheelchair. {I'm wringing my hands just thinking about airport! } Once I'm at the gate on time....then it's THEIR responsibility to get the plane there. (which they didn't when I flew last Nov. 4 boarding tickets and I never got out of the airport until the next morning. ) Just checked...13.5 hr travel time - includes the layover. Yeah well that's better. MtRider

for Jeepers and your Four Dollar Rebate. And the insurance company paying their part of the house stuff was pretty neat too. So glad for you. This has been an incredibly difficult era for you. It doesn't need to be overly expensive out of your pocket too! AND..... I realllly accomplished things today. {oye, I'll likely pay tomorrow} Oh well, I'm pleased today. Had the Bible study this morning - which wears me out. A lot more sensory overload than I'm used to. But after lunch I began to sort thru clothes - all over. Dug out from back and top of closet. In boxes. All of it. Cuz I need to see what I've got that's appropriate for our Maui trip. The swim suit trial was....interesting. I haven't had those on for...30 years. Oye. I ended up with a couple possibilities...with a cover shirt. Since we'll be stark white with no tan, I bought a long sleeve shirt - polyester or something "silky" that I can wear over the swim suit. 2-piece only but not even near bikini. LOL So I've got some options that fit comfortably. I want to actually be ON the water in a kayak or something but... {excited to see the ocean again....after I see the o'hana, of course!} Anyway, I sorted out clothes from everywhere. I was trying things on for hours. Have things for thrift store donation; things for winter put elsewhere; pile of probably pack for Maui; things that now fit into the drawers..... I have not, however, tackled the hanging clothes in the closet...nor the footwear. That's the next thing. But I'm thrilled to get so much cleared. Course I'm putting a lot into the laundry - ran 2 loads and a blanket today. PROGRESS ...on packing and on Clutter Clearing. .....might be a bit off tomorrow tho. I'm sure that was a load of adrenaline to get that much accomplished when I was gone this morning too. Oh well. I have to keep pushing this. It's been SO long since we went back, got to think in a whole different way than our mountain existence. And then there's the 15 hrs of plane flight to survive. Need to get really creative with that too. MtRider

Sorry you've run into this, BeccaAnne. My parents were/are in their 90's but my dad had ever-increasing dementia/paranoia. It was not fun. Mom is more even tempered so when she gets hissy.... it's quite a shock. She's been coming up with odd stories and reactions to things for the past several years. It's more and more frequent, but most of the time her errors are merely getting the time of day mixed up. { IT'S STILL HARD} The emotions switching up like that is disconcerting - to say the least!! Huh, what? You'll have to be very adaptable...flexible....and you've already noted that. I think my brother is still trying to figure out when to duck&cover and when to relax cuz 'Mom's here in the now today'. Not that "other woman" who can't be satisfied or made happy. But it makes the good times more precious. My mom was MIA tonite when I called. Twice. It was early so she shouldn't have been asleep at 7pm East Coast time. For the past 30 yrs, she and I talked from 10pm til ....up to midnight sometimes. Until she changed time zones to east coast. 2 hrs difference. It's a pain to remember now that the sun sets so much later with the change of season. I've had to set an alarm clock to remind me. Hope she's ok. She wouldn't have had her meds by that time so someone will be in for that....and will see if she's okay. But this is hard to rely on staff when we can't reach her as normal. MtRider ....not exactly enjoying this aspect of this season of life.