prairierose's Xanga

Alarms Going Off

Tue, 12 May 2009 03:04:47 GMT

As much as I don't want to, I will probably make a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I love my doctor to pieces, but I am getting really tired of seeing him. I would call this a precautionary appointment. I saw him last week for what I thought was a rash on my feet. The rash looks a bit better ... considering it wasn't a rash, according to him. Whatever it is/was, it looks different than it did last week. Which, after a week of Predinsone, it should. But, it sure doesn't look better. And I have a n area on my leg that doesn't look good at all. All kinds of alarms
are going off in my head that I probably should let this go on any longer. Its probably nothing, but it sure doesn't look like nothing, so I am going to hopefully see him tomorrow, if for nothing more than peace of mind that what ever he is treating me with Predinsone for, will eventually kick in and work on whatever it is that is on my legs (and my toes. Looks like they got ran over. All black and blue).On a funny note though, I have numerous bruises on my left arm/wrist. Part of it is my Coumadin, which we are tweaking to get it back in line right. But, I finally figured out where these bruises were coming from. I have been carrying a handbag that has a hard plastic handle. And when I leave the church at noon, I put my hand through the handle, and that handle is what is bruising my arm. My handbags are always heavy and filled with stuff, so that is only makes sense, esp with the location of where these bruises are. At least that is MY theory for the bruises. But I can't explain what is going on with my legs and my feet, so I had best call in the professional and see what he says. If there is something wrong, we need to take care of it instead of letting it go on any longer. *Sigh.

Working At Home

Tue, 12 May 2009 02:24:37 GMT

I am very lucky. I have worked 2 part time jobs for several years now. Not because we depend on it to keep our bills paid, but mostly because of the emotional ties to each. I work at the church in the mornings, and at my husband's office in the afternoon. He is the office manager for a trucking company and does all the dispatching, as well as other various things. I have helped with the paper work area.

Finacially, he has been able to pay all the bills, like electric, gas, phone, cell phones, insurances, camper payments, etc. I assumed the responsibility of making the payments on our Explorer -- which I paid off, and we have since then sold it. I also assumed the responsibility of making the house payments. We have like 8 payments left, and I'll be done with that. So, if something were to happen to one of these jobs, we would still be OK.

That something has happened. David and our boss have talked about it for quite a while now. And David and I have talked about it extensively as well. The bottom line is, the boss at the trucking company wanted his new wife (of a year -- 3rd wife), involved more in the trucking. Number one, because she is his wife, and before marrying him, she had managed a McDonald's for 25 years. So, she is very capable of doing what I do. Number two, they need to cut expenses within the trucking company. They have to pay me. He doesn't have to pay his wife. Kinda a no brainer.

However, this guy is not "wired to fire". Knowing his thoughts and feelings of what he wanted done, but had a hard time firing someone (his words) did a good job and he had never had a problem with, I let him know I was a team player, and I would bow out gracefully if that is what he needed me to do. I make a little bit of money on the computer, so now I have to put my money where my mouth is, and make this work. I no longer work at what was my afternoon job. I'm not worried though. With the health issues I have been having, its a relief not having to work full time. I would really like to pursue the "working at home" opportunities. I'm not sure medical assistant training school but I would be willling to take a shot at it, if I needed to. I really don't want to venture back out into the working world to pursue employment. The two part times I've had both have personal ties ... my church and my husband. Going into a "real" job, that is that -- just a job -- I really don't want to do that at this time. So, I'm going to treat my time in the afternoons like a "job", and see what I can do to make this happen -- here at home.

Working At A Grocery Store

Sat, 02 May 2009 16:24:35 GMT

If you ask Ethan what he likes most about working at the grocery store, he will tell you the people interaction. All the customers love him, and I have gotten lots of compliments about him and how friendly and helpful he is. Beyond the people part of working there, he loves working Tuesday nights. The manager has him help him pull tags to get the "right" prices up for the next day, which is when new stuff goes on sale. When they inventory, they use a barcode scanner, but changing out these tags, they have to do it by hand. But Ethan has gotten where he does it quickly and without mistakes. There are other things that go along with the job of working at the grocery store -- like facing ... which is pulling all the items forward after customers have gone through and gotten what they are going to buy. Facing is a never ending process, something that we, as customers, never think about, why the shelves always look so nice and neat, and everything is pulled to the forward. When the cashiers and sackers aren't cashiering and sacking, they are assigned an isle to face. Ethan says he catches himself facing items when he goes to Walmart or other stores like that. Force of habit.

Crossing That Bridge

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:05:03 GMT

Things might be changing for me. And if they do, I hope I can make it all work. I work with my husband in the afternoons, at a trucking company that he dispatches for. Our boss is newly married, and he would like to have his wife more involved. So, David is between a rock and a hard place of knowing what to do. He knows which would work better, but that doesn't give the boss what he wants. So, we are thinking about me bowing out gracefully, and just working at the church in the mornings. David has faith in me that I can keep the computer work I do working, and since I would have the extra time, maybe step it up a bit, and earn even more. I've been looking at a lot of different blogs that are strictly review-type sites. Product reviews, diet pill reviews, electric kitchen gadget reviews, baby product reviews ... just all different kinds. Its something I am going to think about -- but not even consider doing it until I cross that bridge of not being employed in the afternoons.

After Prom

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:10:04 GMT

Ethan wasn't real happy with the way the prizes were given away at the "After Prom" activity. There were a lot of prizes, including mini-refrigerators, microwaves, toaster ovens, gift cards, luggage (I don't know if it was Samsonite luggage, but I'm sure it was nice), camping furniture ... etc. They had been given raffle tickets to sell earlier in the year to help fund this event. Ethan sold all of his tickets (well, ok, he didn't "sell" all of them, but what ones he did sell, he put his own money in and didn't put his name on those tickets, so his money obligation was meet). 45 of the kids were eligible for the bigger prizes.

This is where Ethan was "not happy". When they first entered the Rec Center where the After Prom stuff was being held, a number was written on their hand. Ethan was #45. Instead of having 45 numbers in a hopper or bowl, and pulling out numbers randomly, when they gave away prizes, they said "1 thru 5, go up and pick out your prize". Ethan was the last person to go up. Needless to say, all the "good stuff" was pretty much gone. Now, if they had randomly drawn numbers and he would have been the last number drawn, he would have been OK with that It was the luck of the draw.

At any rate, he got a camping chair and a gift bag, I think. I'm not sure. I do know when its all said and done, he came home with some "good stuff", even if it wasn't a fridge or microwave. He got a $50 Visa card, $30 gift certicate from BP (local gas station), $25 gift certificate from the Bowling alley. $10 gift certificate from Star Video, $25 certificate from Dairy Queen, $25 in Burlington bucks (he can spend this anywhere in town). I think there were a couple more ... so, I'm saying he did OK, and he's happy about all the certificates. And, the bottom line is, it was a good night, all the way through. He had fun. He got to catch up talking with a good friend (his date), he looked nice. A special night, one to remember, and that is what is important.

Prom Night

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:44:20 GMT

He Cleans Up Good

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:27:11 GMT

Ethan looked so handsome in his tuxedo last night. Last night was Prom Night. He went to the flower shop a couple weeks ago, ordered his tux, flowers, the whole nine yards. And then. He waited. Impatiently. But the night finally arrived. His date really wasn't a date. Just a really good friend. Who happens to be a girl. Since he wasn't joining any of the large groups that were doing suppers, he made reservations at our favorite Mexican place, and invited us along. I was afraid it might be a little awkward, lots of moments of silence and those "not knowing what to say" periods. But that didn't happen. Number one, this is Ethan we are talking about. I mean this in a loving way, but he is our Mister Motor Mouth. He talks. Non. Stop. And even though him and this friend text and call most every day, not to mention keeping up with each on Facebook, they still had lots to say, and gave us plenty of opportunity to jump and join the conversation. From the sound of it, they had a really good time. I was concerned about the "after after prom" tradition of going to the local truck stop that is open 24 hours a day, and its 16 miles away. They went there at 4:00 this morning. But, they did fine, and everyone got home, safe and sound. As the owner of the Mexican place they went, Ethan cleans up good. And he does!

Running Out Of Time

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:49:52 GMT

Its hard to believe that graduation is less than a month away. I need to get with David's sister and brother and see what their plans are for their kids. As far as family goes, it only makes sense that we should just have one big reception. With three of our kids all graduating together, it would put alot on the family to have to bounce from one reception to another. And we will be missing the reception of a really good friend's child. Its the same day as ours, same time.

Besides the reception, I need to go shopping for gifts. The nephew will be easy. He would be happy with any sports gifts given to him. The niece will be going away to college, so will probably get her something she can use in her dorm. Or maybe money. What kid can't use more money? And Ethan? he will be the hardest to get something for. Helping him get on his feet in his own place will be part of it. Porbably money for him as well. I don't know. And I'm running out of time to figure it out!

Finding The Right Balance

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:29:47 GMT

I love my doctor to pieces, but I got a little annoyed with him at my last appointment. I had strep throat. My throat was killing me. And he wanted to talk. He asked me lots of questions, and some of them had to do with my weight. He wanted to know if I had ever considered using a diet pill. Or there are several other options that I could consider that he would be willing to talk to me about and help me with. This was all fine and dandy and I DO want to talk to him about what we can do to turn things around for me.

But. I couldn't talk. My voice was in the bass range, and very gravelly. Not to mention the pain factor. He did give me a few things to think about, as well as an antibodic for the strep throat, and I was good as new by the end of the week...which THEN I made another appointment and then we were able to talk. He has a couple of ideas, and he's going to get some information together for me, and we will go from there. He says it just all depends where I want to spend my money. Ideally, I want the most effective plan for the least amount of money. Which, can be done. Lifestyle change, a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables and grains and .... and less chips and pop and all this other junk we eat. I willing to try. Just need some help putting some menus and such together that are truly balanced.

On The Outside

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:46:39 GMT

Maybe its because he is turning 50 this year, but David got a haircut this past week, and when I was commenting on how nice it looked, he asked me if I thought he should get hair loss treatments. Yes, he has a receding hair line, and then tufts of hair on the top, and then this bald spot in the back. But, for as long as I have known him (we have been married 25 years), this has been his hair pattern. To change it ... well, it just wouldn't be him. And I love him just the way he is. Although, even if he did change it and got the treatments, I would still love him, because I base my love on the inside, not what he looks like on the outside.