what a day!

Today was busy from the moment I woke up until... now. And as the day progressed it got a bit wild and strange too.

I had my sweet granddaughter until around noon and an air conditioner repairman all morning too. I then rushed to make a hair coloring appointment at the salon and then decided to cast my early vote afterwards at about 3pm.

That's when the excitement really began!

I waited in a long line that actually moved fairly quickly. I chatted with some people near me and thought about taking my driver's license out of my wallet but waited a little longer. I was almost at the front of the line when I discovered I DIDN'T HAVE MY DRIVER'S LICENSE! And I had to leave the line and go home....

I looked everywhere! I never take it out of my wallet so it was very perplexing. I took everything out of my wallet and everything out of my purse. I looked under the seats in my car, in drawers in the house... in the hamper, in pockets....

I kept trying to go back in time and remember ... and then oh.. Yeah! On Monday I walked to our neighborhood mail boxes because we were getting new keys since the old boxes had been replaced with brand new ones. We needed to show our I.D. to be issued our new keys. That's the last I remember seeing my driver's license. 

I then searched my clothes again, pants pockets, washing machine and dryer, plastic bag I carried my mail home in, my recycle bins inside and outside... even searched through my two-day old garbage with plastic gloves... I mean, I looked everywhere! Even called our Homeowner's Association to see if maybe they hadn't handed it back to me. I checked my mail to see if someone found it and may have mailed it....

At this point I began thinking I better get on-line and search out "how to replace a lost driver's license". I did everything I could think of but then it occurred to me that I would NOT have put my license in the bag with my mail. I would have put it in my pants pocket. That is definitely what I would have done. But it was not in my pants pocket and the pants had been already washed and folded. 

So I looked in the washer and dryer one more time. More carefully. Very carefully. 

And there it was...  inside the dryer, stuck on the drum. I hadn't seen it the first time I looked which is understandable because it wasn't even in view unless I practically climbed into the machine!

And that's when I decided to hop in the car .... and stood in another long line a second time to vote.

And this time I actually DID!

I can be very unwilling to give up, persistent and stubborn when I want to be!

But I am exhausted.... 

we all have those days

Having one of those "I forgot my list so it's such fun to go home and see everything I forgot to get at the store and my hair looks horrid and I feel itchy and stuffy-nosed and just achy today....and I'm looking around and seeing all the junk in my house that isn't in its place and I'm irritated at everything especially myself" kind of day! 

 ...sigh...Whoa! That was a lot. 

On the bright side....

I fixed the settings on my camera and it's taking wonderful photos again!

I made reservations to visit family on Thanksgiving. I am flying on Thanksgiving day, but that will be fun too!

I ordered that foyer light I have been wanting. Finally going to change out the old builder's brass monstrosity!

My daughter took some wonderful photos of my grand daughter and me. What a little joy!

And I'm so glad Autumn is here.

figuring it out

I may have just stumbled onto something pretty significant. After months, actually almost two years now, of wondering just what I "have" as far as my health goes, I think I may have figured it out.

Seems like arthritis, but sometimes not. Pain in my thumbs, top joints of my fingers, wrist pain that came on very suddenly and has stuck around. Moved to both wrists. And the tops of my feet and sometimes toes... and elbows. Both sides.

My doctor did some tests and x-rays and was able to eliminate scary stuff, like bone tumors ... and even Rheumatoid Arthritis. No gout. Good lab work.

So I figured it was arthritis. It's somewhat better than it used to be. The pain has died down some. But sometimes there are flare ups.

But now I found something called Inflammatory Erosive Osteoarthritis and that seems to describe it perfectly. It tends to mimic Rheumatoid Arthritis somewhat but isn't serious like RA. The symptoms are similar but the inflammation gradually dies down although the damage to the joint, if there is any, will remain. But the prognosis is excellent and doesn't require scary medicines other than simple pain relievers.

It generally hits middle aged, menopausal or post menopausal women. Bingo.

Lots more to it but I have also been able to make a correlation between my diet and flare ups of painful symptoms. Losing weight has helped because when I am in weight-loss mode I am eating less processed foods that are generally high in sugar and saturated fats. Those types of foods promote inflammation in the body.  When I eat fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish and lean meats in moderation, I not only lose weight, but my body does not produce the inflammation that causes pain in my joints.

Simple. Yes. But it's been a lengthy process for me to figure that out. I'm pretty confident that I'm figuring out what's going on in my body... and I'm so thankful because the "cure" is good for me. A healthy diet and moderate exercise every day. Nothing strenuous. Just keep moving without over taxing my joints.... My elliptical machine, walking, riding my bike, yoga....

I feel so much better when I do what is good for me.