Four. In. The. Morning!

Hi All!

You remember these two cuddly critters, right?

The brown one is Miss Cleo and the white one is Skor. They are my darling little angel kitties. Just look how nice and sweet they look cuddling on my bed! Who wouldn't want these two cuddled up with them?

Me!

Well - let me clarify that statement. There are times when I am more than happy to cuddle with my kitties. They purr and snuggle and are sweeties. However, things are not quite so rosy when they decide to snuggle and purr at FOUR. IN. THE. MORNING!

That is right. Four A.M.

Last night - or should I say this morning - both of my darling kitties decided that I needed to be awake in time for the thunder storm so they hopped up on the bed purring and snuggling and cuddling. They managed to wake me up quickly because I am a light sleeper. I was wide awake in time for the storm to start.

Then - I tried to drift off to sleep again. Nope. Both kitties worked as a well-oiled tag team to ensure that I didn't get a moment's sleep until the storm and the rain was done. What time might that have been you ask? 6:00 A.M. Just about when Hubby was ready to get up and hop in the shower.

So - I have been up since four this morning. I did manage to get about a half hour's worth of sleep while Hubby was in the shower but then my little "angels" decided - as they do every morning - they they just couldn't eat a bite until I was up and about in the kitchen.

*sigh*

I LOVE having kitties.

Today I am heading to the DAC again after a two week absence. I miss my friends there. Then it will be back home for a nap and more house cleaning in preparation for my Thanksgiving company. I might even start to sit down and plan out the menu and ingredients I need to buy at the store. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Have a super day!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing more inhale and massage seems to be helping a bit. My voice is getting marginally stronger. We will have to wait to see how it handles company over the holiday.

Returning Things

Hi All!

Let me tell you how much I hate, dislike, cringe to think about returning things. I try to make sure that I will like/enjoy/fit into the product I buy before I buy it because I hate returning things. Then - returning things online - just that much worse!

In earlier blogs I believe I have told you about my iPod earbud problems. The original earbuds conked out after about three years and so I went on a hunt for new ones. Because I like the products I have gotten from the website - iFrogz - before, I ordered earbuds from them.

The earbuds arrived and I was thrilled - they look so cool with a neat design on the sides and everything. Plus - they sound good.

However - they really hurt my ears!

Trying to tell myself that I just need to get used to them, I struggled through a week and more trying to "get used to" the new earbuds. No dice. In fact, at times they hurt my ears so much that I couldn't stand to keep them in my ears! Not good!

Well, I stopped by Wal Mart and picked up a cheapo pair of earbuds to see if they were any different. Surprise, surprise, they felt wonderful right from the start and the sound quality wasn't noticeably different (not that I would notice something like that unless it was HORRIBLE!).

The decision was made to return the iFrogz earbuds. Admittedly, I have been putting it off because of my afore mentioned dislike of returning things. However - today I have taken the plunge and have started the process. We will see how it goes. I hope iFrogz is as good about returns as they are about ordering and shipping.

How do you feel about returning things?

Trisha

Voice Update: After a long bout of inhalation singing on my way to work yesterday my voice seems marginally better. We will see if it keeps improving. I think the inhalation voicing helps relax my cords and get them back into a more normal "groove."

And So It Continues . . .

Hi All!

Yesterday work wasn't too bad - a bit frustrating because I have decided that I need to take a more active role in the whole insurance thing. Up to now I have been leaving the complicated ones to Linda when she comes to work but . . . there have been questions when I am there so I am jumping in to figure out what is going on!

Let me just say that some insurance companies are pretty good - they send clear EOBs (Explanation of Benefit forms) and their help lines are actually helpful. They also pay for things like speech therapy for kiddos who can't say words correctly. Other companies . . . not so much!

There is one company in particular - which shall remain nameless - which is a general pain in the booty! They always want medical records and session notes - usually multiple times for the same patient within a couple months - their phone help lines are annoyingly complex and keep you from talking to a real person for as long as possible. And the real people you talk to eventually . . . sometimes they are not understandable - maybe in a different country?

Every time you manage to talk to a person on the help line they say something different from the last person you talked to. What fun!

Oh well! I have to do it so . . . I am doing it.

The other thing I have decided is that I am just planning to work every day. That way I don't expect a day off and get disappointed when I have to work. Thinking this way helps me think more positively and makes my life better in general!

Oh - what is the genesis of this post? Linda has another medical complication - nothing serious but enough to keep her out of work. So I continue to work . . .

I am beginning to think about an exit strategy though.

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing fairly well. Not good but not bad. Still working on massage and inhalation exercises.

Hubby

Hi All!

The weather here is still chilly - only 43 degrees when I woke up this morning! Both Fred and my lettuce found their way into the garage yesterday while I was working and/or at class so that they are protected from this cold spell.

Who made this happen? Hubby. I didn't even ask him to move the plants but, he remembered them and moved them. He is a good guy.

That simple act got me thinking about Hubby. He is a pretty quiet guy. He never really stands out in a crowd - by design, I should say. He likes being in the background observing.

Hubby is one of the "good guys" of myth and legend. He is kind and thoughtful in his gentle, kind way. He never really says too much but he does a lot. If he sees something that needs done, he does it. If someone needs something, more often than not, Hubby will help them get it. He wants everyone to be comfortable and happy.

When I first noticed the symptoms of SD in my life, Hubby was right there supporting me as I imagined the worst. As I struggled to continue teaching, he was roped into recording all kinds of things for me to use in my class - vocabulary tests, instructions for a practice TAKS test. Hubby only gave me a token complaint before sighing and recording.

As my voice continued to make itself scarce, Hubby picked up the slack. He made lots and lots of phone calls. He drove me to doctor appointments. He listened as I cried out my frustration. He tried to make people on the phone understand that yes, I was there but no, I couldn't talk. Literally.

It was Hubby who found information on the Internet about SD for me. He was the one who figured out how to get my amplified telephone which gave me that ability to use the phone again. He walked with me every evening when I needed to work on my breathing endurance. He even endured all of my vocal exercises - some of which sounded absolutely weird!

When my voice was returning and needed constant amplification, Hubby even accepted my being miked pretty much 24/7 with good humor. He did complain about the unintended feedback which I learned was caused by entering or leaving the car with the mic turned on but - who wouldn't?

Hubby has endured a lot over the past couple of years.

And his support continues!

Even now that I have a voice Hubby is supportive of my as I navigate classes and work and whatever else life throws my way.

Hubby is wonderful. I love him and can't imagine what I would ever do without him. He might be quiet but . . . he is my hero!

Trisha

Voice Update: Mehh! Still hanging in a balance between good and bad. Most of the time my voice is okay but I am still struggling with different unvoiced consonant sounds. How frustrating!

Fred

Hi All!

This morning is chilly in Texas - it was only 47 degrees when I woke up! In preparation for my morning walk I pulled on my thermals which I got in Ohio last Christmas, a nice turtleneck, my new walking pants, a heavy sweatshirt, and nice thick socks. I was nice an warm - except for my ears. Before heading out, I did debate with myself about wearing earmuffs but . . . obviously I lost and went out without them.

My ears were almost frozen when I got in. Not so much from the temperature but rather, from the constant STRONG wind.

Normally, the wind is strong but only along certain streets of my walk. Today - it was windy EVERYWHERE! So windy that it was difficult to hear my podcasts!

Before Hubby left for work this morning, he looked at me and said, "You might want to bring Fred in for the winter. It is getting too cold outside for him to stay out there much longer."

Who is Fred? Well, for those of you who have forgotten, Fred is my date palm.




This was Fred at the beginning of the summer. I am very proud of Fred since I actually planted him from a seed from a date that I bought at the grocery store. Actually, I planted something like six seeds but only got one sprout - Fred!

It is difficult to see in this picture because of the lighting but . . . Fred has grown a LOT! He now has four leaves and one is very broad and thick! Go, Fred, go!

Currently, Fred is on the back porch in a sheltered corner so that I can gradually move him inside without shocking him by the drastic temperature changes. I also need to spray him for bugs!

In other news - I work today. I will probably also work tomorrow. Wednesday and Thursday are up in the air for now but I refuse to make any plans because the last time I did that didn't turn out too well!

Have a fabulous Monday!

Trisha

Voice Update: Still lingering between good and not-so-good. I am trying to do my massage and stuff like a good girl but . . . I didn't do any yesterday. I know, I know! Twenty lashes with a wet noodle!

Friday Finale

Hi All!

Thank you for your get well wishes yesterday. I feel much better today - still a little foggy but much better!

Yesterday I went to bed and set my alarm so that I would get up in time to go and visit the DAC. Didn't happen. Apparently, I slept through the alarm because I didn't wake up until noon. OOPS! I had promised a classmate that I would meet her in the ASL lab to work on a class project at 1:00. That means I had to jump in the shower, eat something, and get myself in the car to drive the 40+ minutes to the college!

I did make it to the college and worked with my classmate on two different projects - one which is due on Monday and one which is for our final exam. Then I headed home. On the way, I remembered (thanks to the light on my dashboard) that I needed gas. Hubby had told me to get gas from the Kroger gas station so I headed that way.

The gas station is next to a yummy custard shop which has pumpkin custard this time of year. How could I not get some?

Then I "hit" Wal Mart to pick up some earbuds for my iPod. I have decided to see if they are more comfortable than the ones I recently bought. Guess what? They are! The other earbuds will be going back soon!

After shopping (and picking up a lovely pink shirt and a Christmas gift for Hubby) I went home to find . . . Hubby!

Hubby was working from home!

He NEVER works from home! This time, however, he was having problems with a needed website/program at work and it works fine at home so . . . he was working at home!

When he finished up, I took him to the scooter shop to pick up his scooter. It is now working wonderfully! Yeah!

Hubby made omelets for dinner and we went to bed early.

Not too bad of a day for such a bad start!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing better but still needing some work. I am massaging and doing inhale e's. Hopefully that will get it back "in whack" soon!

I'll Get Back to You Tomorrow.

Hi All!

I have a headache brewing so I am going back to bed. Sorry! I'll talk to you soon!

Trisha