The past three days, a working total of 12+ hours, I've been working on Mom's computer situation, which has once again gone south.  What a pain in the arse.

It all started when I disconnected her computer tower and moved it a foot while they moved Dad's new recliner into the room. Then when I went to reconnect everything and power it up, the computer didn't recognize the monitor or mouse. We tried another monitor that I had but still nothing. From what I could hear, it was still booting up to some extent so hopefully it's not a complete loss (as in the data on the hard drive).

Mom was obviously upset and wondering how she could get a new computer but in the meantime, I hooked up my VERY slow little laptop to give Mom something to use until we could figure something out.

During the holidays, Mom talked to my Aunt Jan and told her about the computer woes.  Jan recently bought her a MAC laptop and was wondering what to do with her 3-year old Compaq computer.  So Jan sent it to Mom by way of some friends who were in California for Christmas but live up here.  They delivered the computer to us just before New Year's Eve.

So, on New Year's Day, I went to work to install the internet software, etc., but I couldn't get the CD drive to work! GAH! Jan said it was flaky and she wasn't kidding. I opened it up to make sure everything was connected and didn't shake lose during transit from California but everything was fine.  I suddenly had the brilliant idea to take out the working CD writer drive out of the old computer and install it into the Compaq. 

It didn't take long for me to figure out that although I knew how to connect the drive, I couldn't get it into the computer because I couldn't see how to pop off the face of the Compaq to install it.  I was exhausted and it was late, but knew I couldn't sleep until I at least got the internet up and running. 

Click to EMBIGGENNext, I did a big no-no and opened the computer up again, plugged in the working CD drive then let the computer boot up.  As the internet software was installing, I held the CD drive with my right hand and clicked the mouse with my left had at the prompts.  After a while my arms began to ache, then suddenly, it occurred to me that my parents' movies were within reach, so I built a support system. I had to take photos of it with my phone because it looked so funny.  Sometimes I'm brilliant beyond my imagination... or perhaps just odd.

Believe me, I was grateful that there was no major seismic activity while I installed all the software I needed to or the Great Leaning Tower of Movies would crumble along with the working CD drive. 

I've pretty much have the computer done but the next steps are to find someone who can 1) extract the data off the old hard drive and 2) replace the non-working with working CD drive.

Hmmm.... Our neighbor rebuilds computers all the time so perhaps he will come over and help.  I've done as much as I can.

On another subject, congrats to University of Utah football team who played in the Sugar Bowl and beat Alabama 31-17.  W00T!  (sorry Pam!)  GO UTES!

My mom has always been a hero of mine but today she became even more heroic.  She found my pinky ring!!   It was not in any Chex Mix (whew!) but on the floor in the laundry room.  So...  said ring must have gotten in my sheets and fell out on laundry day.

No more will my thumb reach over to my pinky and feel nothing; it will feel my pinky ring again. 

I feel whole again.  ;-)

Graphic found at Glitter Graphics

I forgot to mention earlier that I lost my pinky ring the day that I made all the Chex Mix before Christmas.  I could have sworn that I had it on when I went to bed that night but I cannot find it anywhere in my bed, bedding, or in my room.  It's not in my bathroom, it's not down the kitchen drain (because I had the drain catchers in the sinks, nor is it anywhere else in the house.  I'm guessing that someone in my family or one of the neighbors who received the Chex Mix got a surprise; sort of like the prize in Cracker Jacks, only better. 

I keep forgetting that if something like this will happen, it will happen to me.  At least life isn't boring.

I have been resting a lot since Christmas and if I didn't know better, I'd say that my rump is glued to the seat of my recliner.  I have been enjoying a lot of DVD goodness, such as Bones Season 3, Supernatural Season 3 (thanks to Pete and Emma), The Closer Season 3 (thanks, Annie), and Lost Season 4 and Seinfeld Season 9 (thanks to me). 

So if I disappear for a few more days... know that I'm being entertained with lots of DVDs.  Ah, life is good.

I'm trying not to let all the stressful times and the fact that I totally over did things to spoil it.  There were some ugly times due to me being completely exhausted and the fact that I'm so sensitive to noise (part of Fibromyalgia) but I survived. 

The days leading up to Christmas, I did things I shouldn't have and as I look back, I should have either not done them or should have asked someone else to do the tasks (although I don't know who I'd ask!).

Tuesday morning, Kathy called me to share the news that an organization brought ten wrapped gifts for Elyssa and two for Kathy and her roommate, Brenda.  They also receive a $50 grocery card, which will really help them out.  The thought of people doing such a generous thing brought tears to my eyes.  The gifts for Elyssa were almost all clothing but she needs clothes.

Tuesday afternoon, Mom and I played Santa's helpers and assembled a toy for Elyssa tha arrived early.  Santa has so much to do, we told him we'd help him out.  He sent the Jumpstart Trampoline and boy, I see why he couldn't get any of his elves to help out on this one!  I had trouble puting the frame together because the directions weren't very clear and I appreciate the English language.  I'm not a novice at assembling things, believe me, but this was a pain.  Putting on the trampoline part required two adults and the instructions did not lie about that.  Picture my mom with her severe arthritic hands and me with my fingers and wrists (also arthritic) hurting so bad trying to stretch some REALLY tough elastic rope.  Then both of us pulled tendons in our lower arms.  I'm sure Santa's elves were lauging about that.  When we finished, Mom asked me, "Now where was this made?"  I looked and it was made in Santa's China Workshop.  That explained the rotten instructions.

Christmas Eve dinner was nice but the fact that all the preparation and energy expanded for the past two weeks, was over in about an hour.  That frustrated the hell out of me and I know that it's normal but I know the underlying facts that 1) I cannot do as much as I used to, and 2) I felt like poo interfered with my attitude that was supposed to be good - and that was a bit bad. 

Later that night as we were getting ready for bed, the doorbell sounded and someone knocked on the door (loudly enough for me to hear it downstairs). A couple of minutes later, Mom came downstairs and she asked for me to come help her. When we reached the top of the stairs, I saw a big box that Mom needed help moving. Neither of us really knew what to expect, but it was filled with potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, a big jar of mixed nuts, a book called, "Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright, a big jar of money in change, a card with a $20 bill and a $50 gift card for a local grocery store. The card was signed, "Some of your friends and neighbors." We stood there in shock but so touched that someone would do something that nice. I think I know who is behind it and they're such giving people. They say that, "Charity begins at home," and I agree with that. I also agree that it's difficult to accept such gifts but it's part of charity.

Christmas morning arrived and we brought the trampoline upstairs for Elyssa and she freaked out when she saw it and knew exactly what it was. 

She was SO excited!  It counts, plays music, animal sounds, and funny sounds.  Watching her and the fun she had made the aches and pains disappear... for a little while :-)  Yeah, it was worth it; she is worth it.

It's amazing how the good can banish the bad, if we let it.  (click on photos to EBMIGGEN)

Oh what fun it is to bake the Christmas goodies.  I took advantage of a day when I felt better than usual and then a day when I utilized pain pills to get some baking and candy making done.  Today?  I'm having an extreme PJ day.  Writing this post is the only thing ambitious (other than taking a shower) I'm going to do today.

It all began Friday after I got home from my 2-hour pool workout.  I felt like tackling my annual spicy Chex Mix marathon, which at the time meant I wouldn't have to do it Saturday as planned.  I made about six batches, which was half what I did last year... see, so I'm really cutting back.  I ended up with two HUGE bowls filled to the brim (see the photo below, but it's filled with something different... because the fun did not stop here) and that should be enough for some of my neighbors and for my siblings. 

After that, I decided to tackle the white chocolate cranberry orange nut fudge (that's a mouth full) that is totally sinful and quite orgasmic to the taste buds.  It turned out to be a bit sticky but who cares, it melts in the mouth.  If anyone wants the recipe, let me know. 

Then Saturday morning, I crawled out of bed and reached for my pain pills.  I hurt everywhere but soon felt somewhat better.  I planned on taking it easy and to not over do it but Mom needed my help and I felt that was more important than my pain.  Mom needed to go shopping and asked if I would keep an eye on Dad.  Then she asked if I could make the pumpkin-cranberry bread while making my caramels, which turned out to be an all-day job. 

Before Mom left for town, she told me to triple the recipe on the bread but neglected to tell me that it couldn't be done in the mixer.  I followed the recipe instructions and mixed the dry stuff in a separate bowl, which was a good thing because when I had all the other ingredients in the mixing bowl, there was not even tablespoon of room in that bowl. 

Triple batch in HUGE bowlI called Mom and asked her if I either misunderstood about the tripling the recipe part and was only supposed to put triple the cranberries in or something.  I did not misunderstand, she wanted me to triple the whole thing and that was a relief but now what was I supposed to do?!  Mom told me to use a bigger bowl and mix the rest of it by hand.  Oh, right, bigger bowl.

Then a light bulb went off in my head and I remembered the HUGE bowl that I used for the Chex Mix.  Yep, that's a lot of bread.  Mom said tripling the recipe should make about 16 small loaves of bread so I had 16 pans all ready to go... but 16 turned into about 18 plus two bigger pans.  Not all fit in the oven so I baked them in two shifts. 

I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw how beautifully the bread turned out!  It was a great day for baking; it must have been all the snow :-)

Next, I made some of my caramels and they ended up taking the rest of the day and into the evening; I finally finished wrapping the caramels at 7:30pm. I guess that's what happens when I make six batches!  Gee whiz, it was a lonnnnnnnnnng day. 

I'm done making any goodies this week but still have the Christmas Eve dinner to prepare for and I'll do most of the prep Tuesday and I know that will be easier than what I went through this weekend.  I still have my corn pops to make but that's going to have to wait until next week, for New Years.

Last Thursday night we had our family Christmas party and it was a lot of fun.  Every member of my family was there except my nephew Adam's wife, who had a final to take at the university.  It was the first time in years that so many could attend and it meant the world to me - especially because it made my dad so happy. 

I'm so grateful to my brother J Dee and my SIL Patti for hosting the party because if they had not, I doubt we would have been able to have the party.  We ate good food then played a game with the "white elephants."  Mom and I forgot the usual stories that we used to pass the gifts around so the family made an effort to play but it didn't last long and we had good laughs about how lame it was.  It was a good try though! 

Here are some photos from the party.  Click on them to EMBIGGEN.

Sisterly Love: Susie & Kathy

I must have over done things Thursday because Friday, I felt so rotten that I even missed my company Christmas luncheon. 

I took it easy most the weekend but I got some things wrapped and bagged. 

This morning, I had an early appointment for the yearly boob smash (mammogram)!  The technician was really good and there were not any "redo's" on the films.  After the boob smash, Mom asked me to stop by the post office on the way home to mail some gifts and cards for her. 

Holy cow!  I know, this time of year, is such a busy time there.  There was ONE parking space left, which was the furthest away, but I was grateful to get a place to park.  I walked in the door and there were two lines, one for the person-operated and the second for the automated.  I stood in the person operated line and it took me well over 45 minutes to get through the line, which was about the same as the automated line.  Strangely enough, the whole process took me more time than the entire mammogram process, from the registration, to the undressing, to the waiting, and to the smash. 

The later part of this week are busy between physical therapy, camera club party, and getting together with my friends for a late lunch/early dinner.  I do believe I'm done with doctor appointments until the first of the year (other than physical therapy).  Wow.  What will I do with my time?

Why is it more fun to be a bum when I should be doing something than it is when I am forced to rest?  This past weekend, I was finally forced to rest and try and get my humongous swollen feet/ankles/calves to deflate.  The swelling got increasingly worse since Thanksgiving but I had other things to do than lie with my feet WAY above my head.  My skin felt like it was going to explode, even when I wore my sexy ted hose.  Saturday night, a fairy must have visited me because Sunday morning the majority of the swelling was gone. 

However, all day Sunday, about every 20 minutes, to be exact, I had to pee.  The dams broke and I felt as if I lived in my bathroom!  According to the ritual, I get to wear the sexy ted hose for a couple of weeks so whatever this "Auto-immune Inflammatory Disease" is, won't come back right away. 

While I was forced to rest, I got over some really weird head cold that I caught.  I didn't feel rotten, twas just snotty.  I didn't share it with anyone so that was nice of me.  ;-)

Dad got the stomach flu though - so on top of recovering from the surgery he had to deal with the stomach flu.  Mom said in all their 51 years of marriage, this is as sick as she's seen him (as far as the flu goes).  Poor guy.  We think that he got it from someone at the surgical center.  Sadly enough, he passed it on to Elyssa and she was sick for three days but felt a lot better Sunday and was able to go to school yesterday.   

Yesterday was the first day in a week that Dad felt decent.  He saw his urologist and he's pleased with how well Dad's surgery went.  They're checking for another infection, just in case and we should hear soon what comes of the culture. 

So, it seems that we're back to the land of the living.  Today is my day to make a Christmas to-do list and check who has been naughty or nice.  Oh wait... that's not my job.  It looks as if I've watched "Santa Clause is Comin' to Town" too much the last few days.  Hey - don't laugh... it's great napping material.

There's a lot that has been going around in my head the last week - since I figured out that I am battling depression.  It's as if my brain is catching up with all the time I spent avoiding thinking AND doing things.  OK, you've been warned.

I've thought about what Christmas means and how much I'm sickened by the commercials I've seen, despite me DVRing everything and watch it later because I hate commercials.  I read about all the idiocy and utter selfishness of shoppers on Black Friday.  Oh wait, they had a driving force, it was for their child or member of their family.  Bullshit.  That doesn't excuse their behavior.  Commercialism is getting worse with every year and Christmas is about giving of oneself, not how many gifts one can give.

I'm not mailing any Christmas cards this year.  None.  I'm taking the $60+ and giving it to a charity or someone whom I deem needy.  I can email cards and write my personal messages and there will be every bit of personal effort that I would if I were mailing the card (except no paper cuts for me or the receivers nor will there be germs from licking the labels LOL). 

Financially, I need to cut back on the gifts I send to friends.  I've already spoken to two friends who are in the same situation and we feel that the gift of friendship is all we need and want.  My medical expenses are a driving force in the cutbacks but even if I had more money coming in, I would still cut back on the commercial side of Christmas.  I'd rather give of myself where and when I am able. 

Mom and I are cutting waaaay back on the baking/candy manufacturing.  Our family Christmas party is next week and we're just getting together to have dinner at my bro J Dee and SIL Patti's house (bless them for volunteering their large home!) and will play a couple of games with white elephant or silly gifts. 

I had an appt with my pain doc on Tuesday and he decided I have bursitis around my knees.  He injected one area below my knee with cortisone to see if that made a difference but I'm not sure yet.  My knees hurt so bad and at times, the pain radiates.  Then he told me to have my physical therapist C do some Myofascial Release from my hip down to my knees, which she did yesterday and it hurt but it felt good afterward.  She showed me how to do it with a rubber ball with spikes on it (it looked like a dog toy and I could probably use a dog toy).  C also told me that it would be very beneficial to come work out in the pool every day M - F so I'm going to try to do that.  I always feel so good in the pool; it's my happy place!

My happy place was really great yesterday because my lovely friends, the "Pool Ladies" were so happy to see me and they told me how much they missed me while I wasn't feeling well.  I admit that I was a bit overwhelmed at first and had to choke back the tears because it meant so much.  They're such incredible ladies and I love them to bits.  Yes, that means you too, Darlene!  Meeting these ladies is one of the most enriching things in my life and it keeps getting better. 

I got an email yesterday from a gentleman who works in Ogden at the US Forest Service office.  He asked if the US Forest Service could use some of my photos of Mount Nebo for a map!!  He said he couldn't compensate me but I would get credit by my name being referenced.  How cool is that?!  I'm waiting for him to tell me which photos he wants then I'll either email the photos to him or mail him a CD.  WOW.  I can't say how much this means to me to be recognized in such a manner.  What an honor.

I think my brain is done dumping for now...  whew.

I mentioned my friend, Clara Barker, a while back in this post about a video about her playing a song from her soon to be released album.  I want to sing her praises again... actually, I'll leave the singing to her ;-) 

Clara wrote a Christmas song, Christmas in New York, which is her first single!!  I'm SO thrilled for her and proud of her for sticking with her dreams.  Her first album, Indigo, will be released in early 2009.  However, it will not include Christmas in New York.  The good news is that if you go to Clara's My Space page, you can download it for FREE during the month of December.  You may want to use Internet Explorer because I had issues with FireFox... but that just may be my settings.  It's such a lovely song and it's getting me in the Christmas mood.

She was also interviewed by IOM Today and here is the video of the interview. 

Clara and I go way back to when we both started blogging in 2001 when I knew her as the Lovely Princess Roo. Wow, we've been blogging a long time. I watched Clara grow from a want-to-be song writer to not only a song writer but a singer and guitar player. She's awesome!! I still have the CD she mailed to me of the first songs she wrote and the songs are proudly on my iPod and I listen to them often.  Now I have one more song to add since I downloaded it. 

I have to admit that I'm more excited for the album to come out than I am for the new season of Lost... and that's huge.

Lots of love to you, Clara and congratulations on your first single!!!

On another subject - Dad's surgery went well this morning and so far, so good.  The doctor said that his urethra was almost closed down completely so the doc had to do some cutting (ouch).  Good news about his once enlarged prostate is now not and his bladder looks great.  He slept most the afternoon and was just up to eat some dinner.  He gets the catheter out Thursday so hopefully everything will work!  Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers for him. 

Laughter and love go together like salt and pepper, beans and gas, fermented grape juice and drunk grandma (perhaps that's a story for another time), and siblings and borrowing/stealing.  That was quite poetic... but most of it comes from conversations I've had the last couple of days. 

My Aunt Lou Jean stayed over night with us Saturday and then stayed almost all of Sunday with us.  It's always a joy to see her and Mom loves to have her sister here. 

Saturday night, before I went to bed, I got an email from my friend Vickie B., who lives in Virginia but was raised here in Ogden (so she has to be cool, right?!).  She found my blog years ago and has been a faithful reader and friend since.  She even used to blog stories about her life and she's a hoot - go here and see for yourself.  Anyway... while reading her email, she mentioned how much fun she had playing dress up at her grandma's house and I wrote back how it reminded me how much fun my sisters and I had playing dress up in Aunt Lou Jean's closet.  

After I finished the email, I went to see if Lou Jean was still awake and her and Mom were just getting things settled while they chatted.  I told LJ how much fun I used to have playing with her high heels and dresses and what great clothes she had.  She got some big crocodile tears in her eyes and smiled brightly then gave me a hug.  

Karen Lynn, Mom, and Lou JeanMom started to laugh about her experiences with Lou Jean's closet while growing up.  LJ used to have to lock her closet because my mom would borrow her clothes without permission.  However, being the cunning person Mom was, she removed the hinges from the locked closet and got in and borrowed the clothes anyway.  Pretty sneaky!

Then LJ said that Mom used to spy on LJ and my late Aunt Karen and their dates because Mom slept in a closet that was just over the couch.  Mom's bed was the bottom of the closet since it was a small apartment.  Mom is 10 or 11 years younger than LJ and 5 years younger than Aunt Karen so I can imagine having a little sister really put a cramp in their dating.  They laughed about it all and I bet Aunt Karen would be laughing too.

In our family, laughter is never without love.

Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world. - Helen Keller

When this quote arrived to my cell phone yesterday as my "daily inspiration," it hit me hard because I realized I'm falling into a pit of depression and self-pity and I need to stop it before I can't get back out.  I'm grabbing a branch and I'm going to hold on and start to pull myself back up again. 

Depression comes with my illnesses due to the frustration, fatigue, constant pain, and basically feeling like shit.  When I think of others who suffer from the illnesses I have and more, it puts things in perspective for me.  I need to get off my pity pot and start living life again.  I'll always have limitations but it's what I CAN do that is important.  I need my butt kicked.  Right?  Right. OK then. 

Onto other things...

I received the Season 4 Grey's Anatomy DVDs before I suffered too much withdrawal.  I watched eight episodes but now will take a break for a couple of days with all the holiday festivities and preparations.

I took my parents to my dad's urologist appointment this afternoon and the doc wasn't able to open Dad's urethra so he'll have to have it done surgically on Monday.  I'm actually relieved since I had a bad feeling about it being done in the doc's office.

Have a good evening, where ever you may be!

As I finished watching a tv show tonight, I caught a bit of the news about a man who tried to rob a golf pro shop using a butcher knife and wearing men's underwear on his head as a "mask."

What impressed me the most was the anchorman getting through the story without cracking up. 

The alleged robber was chased by customers in a golf cart and held until police got there.  He was admitted to the hospital for cuts and to be "observed."  The robbery attempt isn't funny but the fact that he was wearing underwear on his head makes my mind have all sorts of questions about which part of his face stuck out of the pee hole... perhaps just one eye? 

Find the full story here.