Come Have A Look

I’m trying out Wattpad with a repost of one of my own favourites. For those who haven’t read it before, it’s The Day I Taught Angelina Jolie How To Knit.

Inside My Washing Machine

 

 

I know – I know – Sounds weird doesn’t it? But I spent one whole week cleaning inside my washing machine.

Now for those of you who get queasy cleaning drains clogged with hair etc. – maybe you should avert your eyes.  It was similar but different. Read on.

When I came home from my brother’s at the beginning of November, I decided it was time to do a major clean through this big old barn. Let’s face it – two men – alone – for five months? What do you think!

The Man is a very clean and tidy person. That being said he has tunnel vision – for computers. Everyday dirt and grime build-up doesn’t show up in his world.

As for Sam our housemate? Hmmm. Love him – but…………… he’s different.

The guys (probably out of sheer guilt) decided to get me a gal to come in and clean – or help me clean – depends on the day. I almost felt sorry for her those first few weeks. I’m sure she thought a lot of things, but mostly – ugh!

While she attacked the bottom floor bathroom, I started in the laundry room. And for some unknown reason (to me anyway) I started cleaning the washing machine. Inside.

I remembered that the sounds of the machine as it went into its final spin didn’t sound like a machine that was draining properly. Looking inside I could see that most of the little holes in the main tub were plugged! No wonder the water wasn’t draining out. A lot of it was remaining in the tub!

Being the resourceful person I am, I dashed off to the top floor (puffing madly by the time I got there) and searched out one of my grandmother’s crochet hooks. Dashing back down to the first floor (not so puffy this time) I attacked those holes, pulling out fibre and hair and grunge! It was gross! Believe me!

I spent at least 3 days before I broke and begged Sam to take the machine apart so I could get at those holes easier. This is what we found………….(look away if you don’t want to fall into the trap I did)

                  

                  

                     

                  

                  

                  

As you can see from the holes, I had poked quite a bit of ? with my crochet hook but it just wasn’t enough. I had to take the drum over to the self-serve car-wash and blast away at it for almost an hour. It cost me $22!

What you see around the base of the spindle was like cement. We chipped away at that with putty knives to get it off! It was quite an adventure to have on my first days back from my summer at my brother’s.

What was it? I’m not sure but I do know a number of guides have washed their wetsuits in that machine. I believe a lot of it is the silt from the river mixed with the calcium etc. in our drinking water and sprinkled with dog hair (and Sam hair-Sam sheds a lot!)

So go ahead – have a look inside your washing machine. Is it pristine like it really should be or does something else lurk in there……?

I think I lost January Somewhere

Has anyone seen it??

Last night The Man bought me a new Android phone. Now I don't do technology all that well. What I have instead are 2 appointment calendars, some headphones on a cord, and a MP3 player that I only know how to turn on, select my audio book of choice, and then turn it off again. I NEVER touch the remote on the tv! And when a technician comes around and tries to explain something to me I always say 'Talk to The Man'. That or 'Back away from my noggin if you know what's good for you! It may go off at any moment!!'

I only mention the phone because he was inputting my appointments for me. When I happened to see yesterdays date I was astounded! Where did it go? What happened to January? Glancing through my calendars I see that my January went with all the doctor appointments I had. If you are like me and can only tell the day of the week (not necessarily the month) by your next appointment - then there is something sadly wrong.

I'm beginning to wonder how many hours my backside has warmed those uncomfortable seats you get to sit on in a waiting room of any kind. Where do they find those chairs to begin with? Now I have to buy different pants to fit the shape my buttocks have taken on.

Let's get back to that phone again. I'm telling you right now that I'm probably never going to learn how to use most of it. And if anyone catches me texting - just shoot me! Ack - digression!
What I keep meaning to say is that nearly all of January has been filled with doctor appointments. Don't you wish you had my life?

Uh - No - you don't. Believe me.

At present we are once again waiting for an appointment with a specialist. As we all know, here in Canada it can take an awful long time to get in to see one. Where they used to say up to a nine month wait, now they are saying a year's wait. Most of us have learned to be patient or forget about it altogether. That way when the call finally comes that you DO have an appointment - then it's time to bring out the cake (and the ice cream of course)!

But this time around is supposedly very different! This time they believe they know what has been causing all the pain and everything else. Three years of plodding along, smiling and 'Keeping my chin up' have been hard, but I've done it. I believe I've paid my dues many a time and now I just want to get the results from the latest round of tests and deal with it all.

I'm looking for anyone who has any of the following:

Porphyria

Lupus

Fibermyalgia

Celiac Disease

If anyone has either one of these diseases I'd appreciate contact and an exchange of knowledge, or support, or just a pat on the head in passing.

As it stands at present, tests have shown that I have all four of these diseases. That in itself is a little unusual and some of the diseases have the same symptoms, so we await the last round of tests for more positive results.

It is not the end of the world certainly but my doctor has once more asked me if I have my Living Will completed. A gal couldn't be having more fun I tell you! And if they can get rid of the pain that has taken over my body for over 3 years, I'll be a happy camper.

So if I say I've forgotten - I truly have. My short term memory stinks. Reeks even! It could be a number of things (obviously) but it could just be a result of the pain medication. In fact, we have found out that some of the pain medication was a trigger and causing me more pain! Even food can be a pain trigger - Hello smoothies! Do you know - I've never had a smoothie until this forgettable month!

I could go on and on - (snore) but I'm going to call a halt to this post right here. Any info or whatever will be gratefully appreciated. I promise!

Now I have to go answer that phone - (I think).

The Joy of Not Doing Any Christmas Shopping

That almost sounds strange doesn't it? Not doing ANY Christmas shopping?

Well it's true.

A couple of months ago I came up with the idea of taking what money we would have spent on Christmas presents and donating it to those in need - like Somalia, Uganda, World Wildlife Fund, Pakistan, Child Sight Foundation, Global Animal Foundation, etc. etc. The list of those in need is absolutely endless!

And we are not on it.

I brought my suggestion to everyone in my immediate circle of family and friends and they have all agreed to go with my proposal.

So instead of going crazy battling shoppers and worrying that we have everyone on our list covered, we are spending our time searching out foundations that we would love to support.

We do have one restriction. We want foundations that actually use the money donated for what the foundation is all about instead of for paying themselves an 'administration fee'.

And that's it.

Come Christmas day we are all going to arrive at my nephew's house WITHOUT gaily wrapped packages. Instead we will be arriving with items for a pot-luck supper. The Man is going to deep-fry a turkey, my brother is bringing Trifle, I really like brussel sprouts done in yogurt and garlic, Byron is bringing cranberries and probably more cranberries, and my nephew promised to dust the house in flour to make it look festive (and to tease Byron and I as we are both Celiacs and that might do us in).

Once our meal is over with (and the dishes done) we are going to sit down with our lists and explain who we have chosen and why. Our lists can be as long as we want or as short as we want. It doesn't matter at all.

And then comes that moment I'm really excited about. It is seeing my selected foundations up on the computer screen and clicking SEND. It's knowing that I'm going to be giving a far more valuable gift to more than one person this year and that my gift is going to make a difference. Perhaps it will be food or drinking water, or even the gift of a smile for a child. Perhaps it's keeping an animal from being euthanized or providing shelter for the homeless along with a good hot meal. And perhaps I can only give $5 or $10 dollars to a selected few or to many, but it will be done with joy.

Each donation I am able to give is going to be wrapped with love from my heart. You don't need to put a bow on that.

I Don't Know What To Think -

Truly.

My mind wanders here and there - higgily piggily. I've thought of a million blog posts? No - surely I exaggerate! A thousand? Bah! Perhaps around 100? That's probably more like it but I don't remember.

Words come but mostly they go. Memories - especially recent ones, evaporate into the ether and I can't find them when I turn around. They aren't under the ottoman or behind the drapes. They aren't under my chair or behind my monitor. But certainly - most certainly - they are NOT in my brain anymore.

I often wonder about the pathways in that gray matter that resides between my ears. Is it like a maze? Or perhaps it's more like one of those games where the little shiny gray ball goes in one end and you have to tilt it and jiggle it around corners and down blind alleys, until finally, finally it pops out the other end. You've done it!

Except it's still just a shiny gray ball.

Words and memories disappear instantly. But some of them - especially the words, are caught by those around me and they pop them in their own mouths and finish my sentences.

It helps. But my frustration levels grow exponentially with each word or thought lost on the wind.

My brain is melting slowly. It used to be so slowly that I thought I was like everyone else. Those of us who walk around with words stuck to the tip of our tongues. A turn of the head with a question - 'What was I saying?'

But now - now it is something different. Now I look vaguely around me, searching the floor for the words and memories that surely must have fallen there the last time I was in the room. I've even asked the woman who helps me clean, 'Did you happen to see any words or memories on the Swiffer cloth before you threw it out? Were there any stray letters wrapped up in old dust bunnies when you swept under my bed?' Or - horrors upon horrors - perhaps they were sucked up by the vacuum and I will never see them again for sure! Not unless, of course, I switch to a Dirt Devil and I can rummage through the dust and hair myself and shake out the letters before I replace the little gray cup. Then I have to try and arrange the letters into words or elusive memories and I waste another day. Another lifetime.

Of course I don't know when I started to notice this. How could I? It would have been a short-term memory and I can't seem to keep those in between my ears. I think I noticed a couple of concerned looks that were instantly covered when I turned to search the face. 'Am I missing something?' The quick dissembling and reassembling could of been my first clue - but I don't remember really. Truly I don't. But it was there.

When those actions became something of the norm I knew something was amiss - I think I did anyway. My brother's darling face - the slight sorrow - the kind eyes - the turn of the head. Now I accept it as the norm when he seems to be the one speaking - finishing my sentences, popping in words. He admitted as much the other day. Funny thing is - he couldn't remember when it started either. How odd is that? Not really I think, because everyone around me seems to be doing the same thing - putting in a much needed word here and there for me - or just finishing the sentence. I didn't know I had so many speaking voices. I should have done something with that - acting or ventriloquism.

Did you notice that? I wrote tranquillism for ventriloquism and sat here stumped for a while - searching - using my hands to form something of what I was trying to say. It's little things like that. They may be small - uneventful for you really. But when your day is filled with these they do become extremely annoying. Yet it is still just another day.

I know of a doctor who swears that you wouldn't know you were losing words or memories if you actually were. I call bullshit on that! Who wouldn't recognize the frustration and the searching if it was happening to you? Surely this change in your lifestyle would be something of a flag just out of your line of sight? Anyone? Hello??

What I do remember and still say is that I have always had a love of words and I have clung to my memories good or bad and loved making them! I know this. I. Know. This. Each day is precious. I know that too. Sometimes people say, 'It's only words.' But that's not true. It's a memory as well that goes along with them. It's the physical movement of your lips and throat and a pathway in your brain that has opened and waits.

Still, my thoughts and words continue to run higgily piggily. Bouncing off the gray matter. Beating it down. Ricocheting off bone and leaving dents behind. I'm here! I'm here.

Ah well.

Now - what was I saying?

It Snowed Here Today!

Snow - not again! Ugh.



Makes going back to the Big Blue Barn that much easier!

Believe it Or Not!

I'm almost back!

However! I'm still at my brother's although Otter Rafting Adventures has been put to bed for the winter season and Otter Pottery is slowly making its way into the building.

I'm following doctor's orders and doing what 'I' want to do.

And that is taking it easy and working on forgetting the kind of summer(?) we had this past rafting season. I keep telling myself - "Look on the bright side! It's over!"

You know - it mostly works too!

At present I am spending my days with my brother - our hands covered with clay as we play at making beads. It's fun! It makes me happy! It makes my brother happy too and that means so much to me there are not sufficient words to cover all of these emotions.

But! I'll be back sooner than later. I must go back to my big blue barn at sometime. The Man would like me to come home sometime too although he told me to stay another week. Just coz! Ya gotta love a man like that!

I'll be back with pics of what I've been working on these past months that I haven't been here!

And - BTW - I've missed you too!