Hi All!
The rash is retreating pretty quickly. Currently there is only one little patch left and a couple of "splotches." It should all be gone by tomorrow and then I can start walking/swimming again! I miss it!
The doctor said that since I am so "white" I am more susceptible to sun poisoning - which I had already known - and that I should take precautions like wearing broad brimmed hats when going out during high UV times (between 10 and 4) and wearing sunscreen all the time. I think I am going to listen. This experience is NOT one that I want to repeat anytime soon!
Well, Hubby and I are going to try the entire "Buying a Car" thing again! We went to a different dealer yesterday afternoon and put down a deposit - AGAIN - on a car. Once more the car is not in the area and needs to be "picked up." Hopefully this dealership will be more forthcoming than the last one and I will actually get a car in the near future! Keep your fingers crossed for me!
By the way - it is the same kind of car - a Toyota Venza - in the same color and with the same options as the last car we tried to buy. We will see what happens!
In other news - I am not feeling well - AGAIN! It seems like I am always sick these days! I have a stomach "issue" which pretty much demands that I stay near my "home base" instead of roaming around. I had this problem pretty much all day yesterday and spent most of the day sleeping then Hubby picked me up to go to the dealership. Prior to leaving I took an Imodium and it lasted until we got home and I took another nap then . . . no dice!
Last night I was up at least three times (there might be more that I can't remember because I was SOOOOOO tired!) and this morning . . . still not back in "fighting form." I just returned from an eye appointment (I am heading towards needing glasses but I am not quite there yet. I will probably need glasses in another year or so!). Apparently, 40 minutes is the longest I can be out of the house because I was very thankful to be home!
My stomach is making sounds I have never heard before. Maybe I should record them and they could be some sound effect in a movie about aliens or something!
That is all my news since I was so "productive" yesterday! I hope your day was better!
Trisha
Voice Update: Well, I didn't really talk too much yesterday so I also didn't do too much of my exercise list. I certainly didn't read out loud because I was asleep. However, my voice is still doing rather well, if I do say so myself!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mystery Solved!
Hi All!
Well, all it took was a quick trip to the doc and the mystery of the rash is solved. The rash is . . . . . (drum roll please!) . . . . severe sun poisoning!
Apparently, sun poisoning CAN spread even though I have never had it spread before. It spreads when the skin cells die and then the healthy cells touching the dead cell die from their contact with the dead cell (etc, etc. I am sure there is a more technical explanation but . . .).Anyway - it is sun poisoning.
I now have a steroid cream to put on the rash and am taking - of all things - Zyrtec to stop the allergic reaction I am having. It is as simple as that! Well - almost.
I am also not to go out in the sun AT ALL until the rash is gone since the sun will only exasperate the situation. When I asked how I was to accomplish this since I do live in TEXAS and it is SUMMER I was told that I should wear a broad brimmed hat at all times when I am outside - even if just walking from the car to a store! My morning walks are also cancelled for the time being. Rats!!!
The good news is that the rash should be gone by Saturday at the latest - Friday at the soonest. I will admit that after only two applications of the cream the rash is already MUCH improved. YEAH!
My second appointment of the day was at speech with Susan. She told me that I am doing well. My throat wasn't too tight even though there were spots that were a bit "bound up." Her massage helped that out a lot! Now I am doing even better with my voice. We worked on several of the words/phrases that I was having problems with and one of my problems is that I stop the air when I get to "difficult" sounds for me. So - I am working on that . . . by talking while holding my nose. For some reason this works well. Odd, huh? It was a good appointment. We are still going for the once a month appointment. What an accomplishment!
So that is all the news. Except for this . . .
Well, all it took was a quick trip to the doc and the mystery of the rash is solved. The rash is . . . . . (drum roll please!) . . . . severe sun poisoning!
Apparently, sun poisoning CAN spread even though I have never had it spread before. It spreads when the skin cells die and then the healthy cells touching the dead cell die from their contact with the dead cell (etc, etc. I am sure there is a more technical explanation but . . .).Anyway - it is sun poisoning.
I now have a steroid cream to put on the rash and am taking - of all things - Zyrtec to stop the allergic reaction I am having. It is as simple as that! Well - almost.
I am also not to go out in the sun AT ALL until the rash is gone since the sun will only exasperate the situation. When I asked how I was to accomplish this since I do live in TEXAS and it is SUMMER I was told that I should wear a broad brimmed hat at all times when I am outside - even if just walking from the car to a store! My morning walks are also cancelled for the time being. Rats!!!
The good news is that the rash should be gone by Saturday at the latest - Friday at the soonest. I will admit that after only two applications of the cream the rash is already MUCH improved. YEAH!
My second appointment of the day was at speech with Susan. She told me that I am doing well. My throat wasn't too tight even though there were spots that were a bit "bound up." Her massage helped that out a lot! Now I am doing even better with my voice. We worked on several of the words/phrases that I was having problems with and one of my problems is that I stop the air when I get to "difficult" sounds for me. So - I am working on that . . . by talking while holding my nose. For some reason this works well. Odd, huh? It was a good appointment. We are still going for the once a month appointment. What an accomplishment!
So that is all the news. Except for this . . .
It is supposed to rain, rain, rain today. So far it has managed to work up a pretty good drizzle and that is it but . . . I have my fingers crossed!
Have a good day!
Trisha
Voice Update: I said it all above!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Heading to See the Doc
Hi All!
Well, my rash is NOT going away. Actually, it is here with a vengeance! Last night there were new "welts" and the entire area was swollen and raised and itchy and painful!!! Not my idea of a good evening!
Because my rash is hanging on and it is now officially driving me nuts, I am off to see Doc Feely this morning. I am hoping and praying that he will be able to tell me what the heck is going on!
Here is the rash this morning in a picture with bad lighting . . .
Well, my rash is NOT going away. Actually, it is here with a vengeance! Last night there were new "welts" and the entire area was swollen and raised and itchy and painful!!! Not my idea of a good evening!
Because my rash is hanging on and it is now officially driving me nuts, I am off to see Doc Feely this morning. I am hoping and praying that he will be able to tell me what the heck is going on!
Here is the rash this morning in a picture with bad lighting . . .
Mom says it looks like I have a lace collar. *sigh* if only!
A couple of the lotions I have tried on the rash have been mentholated and that means that Miss Cleo has hunted me down for a lick.
Because I can't stand her licking my neck (or really any other part of my body) and she is DETERMINED to get at the menthol this is my solution . . .
I put a small dab on the towel and let Miss Cleo go at it. She will lick the towel for a LONG time making sure she gets every last bit!
By the way - I have talked to the vet about Miss Cleo's odd addiction and he says that giving her a tiny bit won't hurt her. After all - we have been doing it for at least 8 years!
Well - I am off to the doc's and then to speech. I am not sure what will happen there because I doubt if Susan would like to touch my rashy neck to give me a massage!
Have a super day!
Trisha
Voice Update: Did my reading in the Psalms last night. My voice is still doing really well!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
No Car!
Hi All!
Remember how I posted that I was getting a new car? Well . . . apparently not. At least not this week.
Here is the story. We went to the dealership and told the salesman what we wanted. They did a search and found the car we wanted in Oklahoma (we had done an Internet search and found the same car). The dealer said they would get the car for us. They said that they had called the dealer in OK and told them that they wanted to get the car and that the OK dealer said fine.
Then. . . the delays started.
First it was that the OK dealer couldn't decide what they wanted to trade the car we wanted for.
Then it was the the car our dealer was taking to OK had a problem - the check engine light was on and they couldn't find the problem (doesn't that make you feel good about the service department there?).
Next it was that the problem needed a part ordered to fix it.
Then it was that they were putting in the part.
Then. . . . . silence.
Actually, there was a pretty healthy dose of silence intermixed with all of the above. We were only called once during this entire process. The rest of the info came from calls that we initiated! Can you say poor communication????
Hubby and I finally decided that if there was no car by today we would go and get our deposit check back and start over somewhere else.
Well - yesterday Hubby called and was told that they hadn't even arranged for the trade!!!!! WHAT??????
Needless to say, we now have our deposit check back.
What was odd is that no one from the dealership talked to us to try to get us to stay with the deal. No manager or "higher up" talked to us - the salesman just walked out with our check.
Apparently, they didn't want our business. Which, is a shame because we tend to be loyal to dealerships we buy from (in fact we had purchased my 4 Runner from this dealership about 7 years ago or so).
Oh well!
Now the search starts all over. At least we know what kind of car I want!
Today I walked and swam and my neighbor, recently back from Mexico, walked and swam with me. It is HOT here! Thank goodness someone invented the air conditioner!!!
I have a lunch "date" with a teaching friend of mine today and then I think I might peel peaches to make a "Jello" peach pie. That is a peach pie which isn't baked and which uses Jello in the gel on the fruit. It is scrumptious!
Doesn't that sound like a plan??
Oh- Skor apparently wants to go to the pool with me tomorrow!
Remember how I posted that I was getting a new car? Well . . . apparently not. At least not this week.
Here is the story. We went to the dealership and told the salesman what we wanted. They did a search and found the car we wanted in Oklahoma (we had done an Internet search and found the same car). The dealer said they would get the car for us. They said that they had called the dealer in OK and told them that they wanted to get the car and that the OK dealer said fine.
Then. . . the delays started.
First it was that the OK dealer couldn't decide what they wanted to trade the car we wanted for.
Then it was the the car our dealer was taking to OK had a problem - the check engine light was on and they couldn't find the problem (doesn't that make you feel good about the service department there?).
Next it was that the problem needed a part ordered to fix it.
Then it was that they were putting in the part.
Then. . . . . silence.
Actually, there was a pretty healthy dose of silence intermixed with all of the above. We were only called once during this entire process. The rest of the info came from calls that we initiated! Can you say poor communication????
Hubby and I finally decided that if there was no car by today we would go and get our deposit check back and start over somewhere else.
Well - yesterday Hubby called and was told that they hadn't even arranged for the trade!!!!! WHAT??????
Needless to say, we now have our deposit check back.
What was odd is that no one from the dealership talked to us to try to get us to stay with the deal. No manager or "higher up" talked to us - the salesman just walked out with our check.
Apparently, they didn't want our business. Which, is a shame because we tend to be loyal to dealerships we buy from (in fact we had purchased my 4 Runner from this dealership about 7 years ago or so).
Oh well!
Now the search starts all over. At least we know what kind of car I want!
Today I walked and swam and my neighbor, recently back from Mexico, walked and swam with me. It is HOT here! Thank goodness someone invented the air conditioner!!!
I have a lunch "date" with a teaching friend of mine today and then I think I might peel peaches to make a "Jello" peach pie. That is a peach pie which isn't baked and which uses Jello in the gel on the fruit. It is scrumptious!
Doesn't that sound like a plan??
Oh- Skor apparently wants to go to the pool with me tomorrow!
Trisha
Voice Update: Doing well despite my poor exercise habits this weekend. I didn't read but I did talk a lot and I did do massage.
Monday, July 5, 2010
My Weekend
Hi All!
I hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July!
We were a little worried here that rain might foil the plans for our fireworks and for our annual 10K/5K run. Luckily, it stopped raining for the morning run and Hubby and I were out front cheering on the runners.
I cheer every year with clapping and encouraging comments. A lot of people think I am weird standing out there alone (or with Hubby but he doesn't clap) but I have had people thank me for the encouragement so . . . I keep doing it!
This year a young girl was running by and said "I think you were my fifth grade teacher!" When I asked who she was . . . sure enough! I taught her in fifth grade at McCoy Elementary! A while later her mom ran by and said the same thing! They live in the next town north/east of us. Small World!
After taking in the race (which was at eight in the morning), I headed out to meet some of my friends from college. We were meeting to wish Stephanie a "Bon Voyage" as she gets ready to leave for college on the East Coast.
We met at the Genghis Grill (a new favorite for me) and had a great time chatting and eating and chatting and . . . chatting!
It was nice to see Stephanie before she heads out. We will all miss her but we know that she will have a super time in college and will have experiences she will never forget!
Have I mentioned peaches lately?
Doesn't it look yummy?
And then we added fresh peaches! Yum!
sfgh
Trisha
sfgh
Voice Update: Still rockin' and rollin'! I didn't read out loud Saturday because I spent all that time chatting with my friends and yesterday . . . well, Sunday is my day of rest. I have been massaging though and looking forward to a speech session this week!
I hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July!
We were a little worried here that rain might foil the plans for our fireworks and for our annual 10K/5K run. Luckily, it stopped raining for the morning run and Hubby and I were out front cheering on the runners.
I cheer every year with clapping and encouraging comments. A lot of people think I am weird standing out there alone (or with Hubby but he doesn't clap) but I have had people thank me for the encouragement so . . . I keep doing it!
This year a young girl was running by and said "I think you were my fifth grade teacher!" When I asked who she was . . . sure enough! I taught her in fifth grade at McCoy Elementary! A while later her mom ran by and said the same thing! They live in the next town north/east of us. Small World!
After taking in the race (which was at eight in the morning), I headed out to meet some of my friends from college. We were meeting to wish Stephanie a "Bon Voyage" as she gets ready to leave for college on the East Coast.
We met at the Genghis Grill (a new favorite for me) and had a great time chatting and eating and chatting and . . . chatting!
It was nice to see Stephanie before she heads out. We will all miss her but we know that she will have a super time in college and will have experiences she will never forget!
Have I mentioned peaches lately?
My neighbor has three peach trees and this year each of the trees had a bumper crop of peaches! Of course, she has offered me many. I took a bunch and made two batches of freezer jam (which turned out a little runny but absolutely delicious!). Then . . .
She gave me MORE!
We had peaches sliced and over Angel Food Cake.
Then . . . while my neighbors are on vacation . . . I told them that I would pick the rest of the peaches on the last tree and use them . So . . . I made one more batch of freezer jam and . . .
Ice cream!
Doesn't it look yummy?
And then we added fresh peaches! Yum!
fjgk
It was very good!
ghjk
Car Update: Still no car! Very frustrating! We are giving them today to get the car and if they don't get it . . . we are getting our deposit back and going somewhere else. I mean - the car is only 180 miles away and it has been a WEEK and they still don't have it?!?!?
ghk
Not acceptable!
fgjk
Not to mentions extremely frustrating!
fgjk
Whenever I feel frustration taking over I just take a hint from Skor and do this . . .
sfgh
Trisha
sfgh
Voice Update: Still rockin' and rollin'! I didn't read out loud Saturday because I spent all that time chatting with my friends and yesterday . . . well, Sunday is my day of rest. I have been massaging though and looking forward to a speech session this week!
Friday, July 2, 2010
STILL Waiting!
Hi All!
Guess what!?! I STILL don't have my new car!!!!!! Apparently, the car that this dealer was going to trade to the dealer in Oklahoma (who has my car) had something wrong with it yesterday so they couldn't take it up to trade it for my car. They said that they might start out last night but . . . I won't be holding my breath!
In fact, I am beginning to think that I just dreamed the entire thing and that I really didn't buy a new car. Of course, we only put down a down-payment until the car is "delivered" but . . . is it real or just a dream?
I am wondering!
Do you remember my rash? Well, it is pretty much all gone with the exception of a few red blotchy, itchy spots here and there. However, the entire area which was covered with the rash is VERY dry. I have been moisturizing with some heavy duty stuff and finally resorted to slathering it with Vaseline last night. I think I will head to Wal Mart today to check out some other options . . .
I swam and walked this morning. It was a bit warmer and more humid than yesterday but, it was still a pretty nice day for swimming. It is overcast and there is a nice breeze. The water was nice and cool which made the whole experience rather refreshing. Of course the walk home took care of that refreshed feeling!
In addition to swimming I do push-ups and triceps lifts in the water (much easier than in the "real" gravity world!) and some other arm exercises. I may be delusional but . . . I think my arms are starting to shape up a little. Maybe. I hope. Possibly?
When I was cat sitting for my neighbor I picked a large bowl of peaches. They are soon going to be peeled and sliced and made into either Jam or ice cream - depending on my mood. I may even have enough for both . . . wouldn't that me exciting! If you live in my area, come on over for some jam!
That is pretty much it from my neck of the woods. Nothing too exciting.
What is up with you?
Trisha
Voice Update: Did my reading last night - I am up to Psalm 36. I am noting the words/phrases which are giving me trouble so I can take them to Susan to work on them. Did I tell you all that I only go to speech once a month now? That still amazes me. I have come so far from having absolutely NO voice and having Susan tell me that she though I would have to speak on the inhale for the rest of me life to having a pretty normal sounding voice. Yes, miracles do happen (with a lot of work on my end but still a miracle!!!!!)!!!!
Guess what!?! I STILL don't have my new car!!!!!! Apparently, the car that this dealer was going to trade to the dealer in Oklahoma (who has my car) had something wrong with it yesterday so they couldn't take it up to trade it for my car. They said that they might start out last night but . . . I won't be holding my breath!
In fact, I am beginning to think that I just dreamed the entire thing and that I really didn't buy a new car. Of course, we only put down a down-payment until the car is "delivered" but . . . is it real or just a dream?
I am wondering!
Do you remember my rash? Well, it is pretty much all gone with the exception of a few red blotchy, itchy spots here and there. However, the entire area which was covered with the rash is VERY dry. I have been moisturizing with some heavy duty stuff and finally resorted to slathering it with Vaseline last night. I think I will head to Wal Mart today to check out some other options . . .
I swam and walked this morning. It was a bit warmer and more humid than yesterday but, it was still a pretty nice day for swimming. It is overcast and there is a nice breeze. The water was nice and cool which made the whole experience rather refreshing. Of course the walk home took care of that refreshed feeling!
In addition to swimming I do push-ups and triceps lifts in the water (much easier than in the "real" gravity world!) and some other arm exercises. I may be delusional but . . . I think my arms are starting to shape up a little. Maybe. I hope. Possibly?
When I was cat sitting for my neighbor I picked a large bowl of peaches. They are soon going to be peeled and sliced and made into either Jam or ice cream - depending on my mood. I may even have enough for both . . . wouldn't that me exciting! If you live in my area, come on over for some jam!
That is pretty much it from my neck of the woods. Nothing too exciting.
What is up with you?
Trisha
Voice Update: Did my reading last night - I am up to Psalm 36. I am noting the words/phrases which are giving me trouble so I can take them to Susan to work on them. Did I tell you all that I only go to speech once a month now? That still amazes me. I have come so far from having absolutely NO voice and having Susan tell me that she though I would have to speak on the inhale for the rest of me life to having a pretty normal sounding voice. Yes, miracles do happen (with a lot of work on my end but still a miracle!!!!!)!!!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Anticipation . . .
Hi All!
Well, the car isn't here yet . . . so I am still waiting! I don't do too well with waiting so . . . I am pretty antsy!
While I am waiting I will share a couple more Ohio pictures.
First, Hubby, Mom and I on a bench in Coventry, Ohio after eating at Hubby's favorite Chinese restaurant - Hunan Coventry. We try to make a trip to this wonderful place each time we make it back to Ohio.
Isn't this a pretty little red bug? My Aunt Donna (who you can barely see through the windshield) got this car to be her "Summer car." She let me take it for a drive and it was fun zooming around in a little convertible. Unfortunately, it is too hot for convertibles here or I might have considered getting one!
Well, the car isn't here yet . . . so I am still waiting! I don't do too well with waiting so . . . I am pretty antsy!
While I am waiting I will share a couple more Ohio pictures.
First, Hubby, Mom and I on a bench in Coventry, Ohio after eating at Hubby's favorite Chinese restaurant - Hunan Coventry. We try to make a trip to this wonderful place each time we make it back to Ohio.
The neighborhood around the restaurant is an eclectic mix of little shops which are fun to browse in. We stopped at the cat shop - which also has things for dogs - and found new Mylar tassels for Skor's favorite cat toy. We have been looking for these things everywhere with no luck!
I don't know if you can tell but the bench has a big hand making the peace sign - which is why I am making the peace sign.
Isn't this a pretty little red bug? My Aunt Donna (who you can barely see through the windshield) got this car to be her "Summer car." She let me take it for a drive and it was fun zooming around in a little convertible. Unfortunately, it is too hot for convertibles here or I might have considered getting one!
In other news . . .
My swim this morning was wonderful. It was about 75 when I woke up and there was a nice breeze for most of the time I was walking. The water at the pool was nice and cool so it felt good to be doing laps (24). The sky is very overcast which helped keep the sun out of my eyes while I was doing the back strokes!
Yesterday my friend Donna met me for lunch. We went to a new pizza place in town and had a very nice time eating good pizza (even though it was thin crust and I prefer thicker crust) and visiting. She came back to the house and we spent more time talking about all kinds of stuff while the cats tried to decide if they should come out of hiding or not.
Both cats hid when Donna came into the house. Skor high-tailed it into the bedroom and Miss Cleo hid behind the couch. Eventually Skor decided to come out and he sat on the back of the couch behind my head. Miss Cleo hid the entire time.
Then, after Donna left and I finished checking on the kitties next door, my Mary Kay lady stopped by with my latest order. This time the kitties didn't hide and they actually both came within arms length of her to sniff her.
Weird cats!
I got a free CD from the Radio Bible Class (which publishes Our Daily Bread - a devotional booklet I use). Every few months I get an insert in my booklet advertising a free CD. At first I couldn't believe that they were really free but . . . they are. They are pretty nice quality too! My mother also get the devotional booklet from RBC but she NEVER gets the free CD offers. Mom and I keep trying to figure out why.
Yesterday Donna said that I was probably in the system under a different customer profile than my Mother. From something I do (buy on iTunes maybe??), the computer has highlighted me as a person who might buy music from RBC (there are many more CDs available for sale by the company but I never buy them - I just get the free ones) so they send me free CDs to "whet my appetite."
Mom must be under a different profile so she doesn't get the offers. She would LOVE to get them but then again - she ends up getting the CDs because I share them with her anyway!
I hope you are having a wonderful week! It is almost Friday!
Trisha
Voice Update: My voice is still doing really, really well. Yesterday Donna - who has been friends with me before I got SD so she has been with me through this entire process - and I were talking about my SD and how the people at the Colorado meeting didn't believe that I actually had SD and how that made me feel. We also talked about the whole SD support group thing. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who can still hear the traces of SD in my voice and still knows that I do indeed have SD even though I sound really good. She also knows how hard I worked to get my voice to this place and how hard I continue to work. Because of how long we talked and how long I talked to the Mary Kay lady - I didn't end up reading last night but . . . I still got my voice exercise in!
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