I Must Be Crazy ...

Like I really have any extra time on my hands ...

I never seem to get anything accomplished lately.

So, what did I do?

I attended a volunteer orientation last night.

For Special Olympics in Virginia ...

I'M GONNA DO IT !!!

I think it will be sooooooooo rewarding.

"Let me win; but if I cannot win, let me brave in the attempt."

Camp Shriver Photo Gallery Photos Courtesy of Special Olympics © 4/4/2007

I Have A Decision To Make ...

When?

Now or later? or not at all ?

Are you confused yet?



I went to a follow-up doctor appointment with an orthopedic ...

I have a torn meniscus in my left knee.

Do I live with the pain (which isn't constant but there none the less and rather intense at times) or have arthroscopic surgery?

Has anyone had this situation and what did you decide to do?

Pros and cons ??

Like I said above ... I have a decision to make and I'm not quite certain as to what to do.

Any comments are welcome.

Fun Monday - # 35 - Questions or Birds

Lisa at Lisa's Chaos is hostess this week and her assignment is:

What is one thing you would like to ask your readers? Come up with a question to pose to your visitors and throw it out there on Monday. As we’re all visiting each other’s Fun Monday posts we should answer the various questions we come across.ORShow&Tell me about a bird, I’m easily made happy.

When I woke up this morning, my creativity must have stayed in bed !!

So, instead of a question ... you get a bird ! Not the adorable kinds of birds that Lisa photographs, but a BIG BIRD. And I will warn you in advance ... my photography skills are NO WHERE NEAR the caliber of Lisa's. Hers are fantastic !

This bird lives in a pen with a bunch of it's relatives down in the woods of Spotsylvania county. It is a special kind of bird because one of it's parents was of the albino variety. And this particular offspring has a look of it's own ...

Take a look -

Isn't he handsome?

To see the vibrant colors (which I didn't seem to master), pop over to a post that my sister did in March.

Also, take some time (and put on your thinking caps too) and go visit Lisa - there are some awesome questions out just waiting to be answered !

See That New Thingy On My Sidebar

The one that tells about the Freedom Walk ...

I am walking in DC on September 7th ... (no falling this year !!)

Check out your town and see if they are having one too ...

We must never forget ...

And for the troops ... America Supports You !

I'M BACK Once Again !!

It's been a while ...

Life has gotten in the way lately and it didn't help that I had an internet connection problem (really a software problem). Many thanks (yea, right ... it's their job) to the folks (whom I had trouble understanding) at HP way over in India who were able to reestablish my IP address and graciously took up 2 hours of my time and a small chunk out of my budget! BUT, the mission was accomplished and regardless of their urging, I don't need to purchase a new CPU.

So, while I get my act together - I leave you with this tidbit of advice ...

Consuming a lot of chocolate doesn't just help the chocolate manufacturers. It's also a real boon to health clubs, diet centers, and the guys who make control top panty hose.

So, enjoy some chocolate and know that you are helping to boost the economy !!

Fun Monday - #34 - What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

This week's host is Irish Coffeehouse. The assignment is:

Careers- Then and Now

THEN: As a child day dreaming of what your future would hold for you, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever pursue or achieve it?

NOW: If you could be trained and placed in any career beginning tomorrow, what would it be?

THEN:

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher - an elementary education teacher. One who could mold the little ones from the start of their venture into learning.

Did I pursue or achieve it? NO.

What did I do? Not what I should have done ... I got married. I had 2 sons. I became a single-parent with two little ones to raise alone. I worked to make ends meet. I never went to college ...

I raised those kids. They are both married now and have kids of their own. I now work for a well known Department of Defense contractor as a Administrative Support Specialist (sounds impressive, but it ain't !!)

NOW:

If with the click of a finger and the blink of an eye, I could be (or do) anything I wanted - A teacher it still would be!!

Go over to the Irish Coffeehouse and grab a cup (with a muffin if you would like). While enjoying the brew, be sure to check out everyone else's careers - then and now !

Some Days are Better Than Others ...

And today hasn't been one of the better ones - nothing catastrophic happened (thank goodness).

The problem is that nothing happened - I did nothing. I had the day off from work and the best of plans, but I basically did nothing. NOTHING, I am beginning to really dislike that word. Like a lot of other folks, I am in a funk (A feeling or spell of dismally low spirits).

The weekend was great and busy (SJ and her family were in town). I will post pictures later as they haven't been downloaded yet and blogger was being difficult earlier this evening. SJ and her family have left Virginia (to go back to her in-law's place for a few more days) and that makes me sad. Real sad ...

Back to today ...

I didn't get out of bed until 10:00 this morning.
I didn't get a shower until 1:00 this afternoon.

By then, the day is basically shot because any momentum one would possibly have - is gone.

I did get one thing done - and it wasn't part of the original plan. But, I don't know anything more now than I did before I went. Only that I am $60. poorer (and there will be more to come). My knee has been bothering me for quite a while. It hurts from time to time (well, to be truthful its hurts quite a bit of the time, but not all the time). There is a sharp pain when I get up from a sitting position or when I proceed to sit down. Going up and down stairs is a killer. It aches at night when I am trying to sleep (my legs are not straight when I slumber). It is swollen in weird places. So, I took a chance that my doctor would have an open appointment today - and he did. Of course, because I didn't do anything all day, it didn't hurt when I got there. He poked and prodded and bent it every which way AND probably thought I was a nut case for being there because I failed every "Does this hurt?" test that he gave me. But, he did notice the swelling. And sent me to get X-rays. And they, had me put my knee(leg) in some pretty odd positions. The x-ray tech must have seen something ... she told me to make the next appointment sooner than later. AND NOW, my knee definitely hurts. Goodness only knows when the next doctor (of the orthopedic variety) will have an open appointment. Oh, Joy ! More pain, more money to spend and time off from work that isn't scheduled (which will have to be made up because we no longer get paid sick leave or paid time off for personal business).

In anticipation of the weekend visitors (who spent the night), I tried to somewhat childproof my childless house by putting some things away and out of reach. I moved plants so the pull out sofa bed could be used with nothing in it's way and a path around it so one could get in and out of it without stepping in a potted plant. I moved the TV in my bedroom. I removed a lot of stuff from around the bathroom sink to make room for others to use it. I emptied off the day bed (usually covered with pillows and such), so I could sleep on it.

Tonight, everything is still where I moved it to. NOTHING got put back in it's place. I am a bit of a neat freak, so things out of place would normally drive me crazy - but I'm in a funk, so I don't care (at least not for right now).

The ice chest is sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor. The sink is full of dishes. The laundry has not been done (I never realized how many bath towels get used when you have 6 house guests plus yourself !). Pillows and bed sheets are in places other than the linen closet or on a bed. I haven't eaten a decent meal all day ... YEP, I'm in a funk that's for sure.

This morning (afternoon), before getting into the shower, I attempted to remove a wooden bead bracelet (really a necklace that was too small for my neck) from my wrist (explanation is needed so you guys don't think that I've lost it - my sisters and I (SJ included) each donated a dollar to a street person yesterday for some cheaply made wooden bead necklaces - LB gave hers to her daughter and SJ and I made ours into a bracelet) for at least 20 minutes. It has a screw type clasp and I couldn't get it off - I burst into tears !! Needless to say, it is still on my wrist and luckily the green and blue beads didn't bleed all over my arm.

Friday morning, I got my hair cut and I hate it. It is shorter than what I asked for. It will grow back ... in the shower this morning (afternoon), while washing it - AGAIN, I burst into tears !! Then I felt stupid ... why in the hell, am I crying over such petty little things ... I am definitely in a funk !!

I don't hate my job, but right now (lately) I hate my job. It is such a chore to get up in the morning to get there and stay for 8 hours. The OVERTIME hours during the last few weeks burned me out somewhat. I desperately needed a day or two off - and what do I do when I have one - NOTHING!

Let's hope that tomorrow is one of the BETTER ONES ...