Thankful Thursday

[an occasional exercise in gratitude]

1. The man of the house is no longer in the hospital with a 104F (40C) fever.  (That…was scary.)

2. My new job has better health insurance than we had previously. (I’d prefer a single-payer solution, but it’s what I’ve got.)

3. Hospice care is providing more monitoring for my father to help avoid surprises and ER visits — and they come to HIM, which is much better than ambulances.

4. My father is happy in the care home where he lives and is getting good care.

5. Supportive friends and chosen family, for helping me to stay sane.

 

Thankful Thursday

[an occasional exercise in gratitude]

1. Things appear to be getting into “routine” with the parent, instead of “crisis-to-crisis”.
2. I’ve also been able to cross some major tasks off my list, and more are in sight.
3. Adding more tasks to my to-do list (managing the parent’s mail and bills, coordinating his care, etc) is making me focus on priorities more.
4. I have a credit union I am happy with for checking, savings, mortgage, & credit card.
5. My IRA is with The Vanguard Group, which is owned by the the investors.
6. The man of the house, for being here.

 

Thankful Thursday

[an occasional exercise in gratitude]

1. My father has been in his new Adult Family Home for over a week and is doing well.
2. The political-bloggers-with-zombies novel Feed that I’ve been compulsively re-reading for the last year did not win the “Best Novel” Hugo but it came in second.  Feed and its sequel Deadline are by Mira Grant aka Seanan McGuire.
3. While I did not get to Worldcon this year, I do get to enjoy this ustream of the comedic “Just A Minute” competition, including discussion of various Apollos, the seven dwarves, parallel universes, what’s wrong with steampunk, and Seanan McGuire requesting a big boo for Bill  Willingham.
4. I am getting better at enjoying things without feeling that I have to own them.  For example, a password book, a typewriter bookend, or a Crayola rollerball pen, or the entire ThinkGeek “Geek Toys” catalog (including an Adipose stuffie!)
5. Cooking at home and relaxing with the man of the house.

How’s the week going for you?

Thankful Thursday

[an occasional exercise in gratitude]

1. Sherlock is on Netflix instant streaming.
2. A mild summer.
3. My new dress (this, size H, in blue) fits great, is nice and cool, and has pockets.
4. My father and his new care home appear to be getting along.
5. I am getting enough sleep and my anxiety is decreasing.
6. Next weekend will be three days thanks to Labor Day.

Hope this finds you well.

Photo by jcolman on flickr

Thankful Thursday

[An occasional exercise in gratitude.]

At the moment I’m thankful for:

1. My temp gig is continuing to go fairly well.
2. My father is doing better.
3. I got over my “but things can’t get better” thinking and saw my ARNP about my anxiety, insomnia, and depression symptoms.  My ARNP prescribed Celexa (for depression) and Ambien (for insomnia).
4. Ambien does help me sleep.  Celexa does seem to help my depression.
5. I am continuing to do other things to take care of myself.
6. The man of the house loves me.
7. Our friends are also supportive and helpful.

Overall: my life is not perfect. My life is not terrible.  I am coping — sometimes day by day, sometimes minute by minute, but coping.

How’s y’all?

Some things I’m glad about today

1)  Riding the bus to my new job means I’m walking daily again, at least on weekdays. Funny how walking even a 1/2 mile or so every day can feel good, even if it’s spread throughout the day.

2)  Yes, I have a temp gig.   At the moment it’s a better fit than the old place.

3) The commute is a short bus ride and a longer bus ride – if I make connections badly it can take 90 minutes or more.  I am getting better at making connections, though, and the long bus route is conducive to reading books or surfing the net (many of the buses have wifi).  De-stressing on the way home is a good thing.

4) The trees are blooming, but my meds are keeping my asthma largely under control.

5) From s. e. smith’s thought-provoking post on what our culture means by  ”taking care of yourself“:

They don’t care about my health. They don’t care whether I am happy, whether I enjoy my body, whether I like moving and living in my body. They care that they don’t like looking at me and wish that my body would go away, would shrink, would dwindle away so that it will no longer offend their eyes. This is what people mean when they ask me if I’m ‘taking care of myself,’ when they give me a sidelong glance while I eat a doughnut, when they scrutinise me if I start to wheeze on a hike, because of course, I must be wheezing because I am fat and out of shape, not because I have asthma.

6) Hugs, kisses, and dinner from the man of the house.  :)

Interviews, Interviews

I’ve been getting more job interviews lately.  Researching the companies I’m interviewing at and other interview prep is taking a fair amount of time.   One place I interviewed at Monday has called to arrange a second round next week, which is a hopeful sign.

I am still not getting full lung function, but albuterol, Mucinex, and the humidifier are helping.  Doing an aerobics tape in the morning seems to make me feel better for the rest of the day, and the fact that I can (instead of collapsing with a major coughing fit after 5 minutes of warm-up) is a good thing too.

We’ve had some nice sunny weather lately, inspiring me to prune roses and cut down some blackberry canes.

The man of the house is making dinner – steak, mushrooms & peppers, and potatoes.

I’m also enjoying SJ Tucker’s new single:

How’s with you?

Thankful Thursday

I think it’s time to do this again.  See, my job was eliminated.  Not fun, but I’m at the stage now where I’m thankful it happened, because:

1) Much less stress.  The old job was changing and had become a bad fit, and now it’s OVER.

2) I qualify for unemployment.

3) …also, we have money saved.  I’m touching wood as I type this, but we’re okay for a while.

4) …and, really? I didn’t want that job anymore anyway.  I started looking for a new job, sporadically—like once a month—in June.    Maybe if I’d rolled faster with the changes I’d still be there, but the “not wanting the job anymore” was a big part of why I didn’t roll with the changes well.  I didn’t mean to be obstructionist, but I became obstructionist because I didn’t want to do heavy lifting to change a job I didn’t want.   It became a negative spiral that I’m glad I’m not in anymore.

5)  Finally, I’ve been able to enjoy the time I spend with the man of the house more.  His support has really helped.

I’m also thankful that my blue blazer I got 5 or 6 years ago still fits and looks great with various tops.  ;)    I’ve had a few interviews, but no offers yet.

Things I am thankful for right now

1) Yummy food and friends / chosen family to enjoy it with.

2) A positive discussion of Health at Every Size.

3) A warm house.

4) Interview scheduled for next week.

5) Laughing with friends while playing board games ;)

Some Good Things

Riot Nrrd explains why  judging other people’s health can be inaccurate.

Despite turning my ankle a couple times Monday (and working too much and walking too little these past weeks) I didn’t have problems walking over a mile at the Sounders game Tuesday night :)

Manufacturer's pic of my preferred CPAP mask

My new CPAP mask arrived! Somehow I’d broken the widget that connects the nose piece to the headgear.  I’ve got another mask which is smaller and has fewer breakable parts and drives me NUTS because it vents “down” from my nose, thus sending a steady stream of air ONTO MY BODY to KEEP ME AWAKE.  So once again I got a replacement of my preferred mask.  (Among other features, it vents “up” from my nose.)

Searching this blog tells me this last happened in May 2009.

I find it interesting that I didn’t even try to sleep without my CPAP.  I used the backup mask a few nights and the broken taped-together mask a few nights, but no non-CPAP nights.

Last weekend the man of the house and I spent a night at the Seattle Westin Hotel. We did one of the “romance” packages, with sparkling wine, breakfast in bed, and a late checkout.   I enjoyed it immensely, and I’m really glad we got to do it.

Oh, and the view wasn’t bad either.  The only camera I had was my cell, which wasn’t the best, but it’s a nice memento of the weekend.

Elliott Bay and some of West Seattle

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

The man of the house baked a chicken with some rosemary this evening.  He accompanied it with broccoli with cheese sauce,  green beans steamed with red potatoes, corn cooked with onions, cold sliced beets, and French bread.   As we were eating he said, “So did I make the Thankful Thursday this week?”

So. Um. Today I’m thankful for:

1. The man of the house (and not just for cooking dinner!)
2. The guest room TV is now connected to the VCR for using ancient aerobics tapes, and we cleaned, dusted, and vacuumed in there over the weekend so it doesn’t irritate my allergies to be in there.
3. This positive article on Health At Every Size.
4. Having my asthma under better control.  I’m not only breathing (and feeling!)  better, I’m also getting sick a lot less.  I think some of those cold/flu “things” I would perennially have were asthma/allergies (and/or the asthma made me more susceptible to having them).
5. New Alexander James Adams album to preorder.  :)

This isn’t all that’s going on this week by any means.  I just find it helpful to focus on the positive sometimes.

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for:

1. I’m getting better at exercising regularly.  It’s having results in terms of feeling stronger & being able to do more physically.
2. The rain is watering the yard for me. One less item on the to-do list :)
3. …and the roses are still blooming.
4. Fresh strawberries and shortbread with tea this afternoon.  Decadence!
5. A friend posted a link to a skit from the old Seattle comedy show Almost Live!  Yay being able to laugh at ineffectual middle management suck-ups.

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for:

1. I have a job. Yeah, there were times Wednesday when I really just wanted to LEAVE, but … I have a job.  It provides me with income.  Income good.
2. Nudemuse’s post on beginning body acceptance.  This rocks, and I’m glad I read it.
3. The relaxing effects of a walk.
4. Tylenol.  I am glad I have something to ease a headache that isn’t just “lie down”.
5. I never pursued a prescription for Meridia, even when friends were raving about it.
6. Hugs from the man of the house.

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

Not too hot today, so the HVAC system at work going out for most of the day didn’t lead to sweltering….

Helped the man of the house move some equipment that I distinctly remember was really heavy … only it didn’t seem that heavy when I was carrying it tonight. (The dumbbell workouts are paying off!)

Fun time with friends watching the Sounders game.

I’m getting better at cutting back the blackberry canes in our back yard without scratching myself.  (Blackberries are weeds here.)

Getting enough sleep.  :)

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

1. Being reminded I live in a Futuristic Sci-Fi World.
2. My desk at work is now closer to a window. Something about “getting some natural light” is nice.
3. Being able to take some time during the day to stretch.
4. Fresh strawberries…
5. Celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary this week with the man of the house.   :)

Finally waterlilies are blooming here! Image by tanakawho on Flickr

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

1. Tomorrow is Friday.
2. Tomorrow is FRIDAY.
3. Tomorrow is Friday.
4. I showed my dad the “chair squats” exercise on Sunday and he mentioned it would be easier if I lost 50lbs … and I stayed calm and “Every time I’ve lost weight I’ve regained it all plus more.  I decided to stop while I’m ahead.”   This probably says something about how I don’t expect acceptance from my dad (which I don’t) but I’m also glad it didn’t send me into a freakout.
5. The weather is nicely ranging between the 70s and 80s in a not-crazy way.
6. This weekend?  I have no plans.  I have nowhere I have to be.  I am pleased.
7. I’m routinely doing twice the workout I did in November.
8. Oh, and did I mention that tomorrow is Friday????

Thankful Thursday

[a not-always-weekly exercise in gratitude]

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for:

1. Being able to help friends with various.
2. …while getting to play with their cats :)
3. A relatively normal week at work.
4. Got through June without getting sick.
5. Benefits meeting at work reminded me that the man of the house and I are employed, enjoy medical/dental benefits, and are doing okay financially.