An Award and Stuff

Hi All!

A little while back - before I headed to Charlotte - Coffee Bean gave me this wonderful award. Isn't it pretty? She also had some very complimentary things to say about me and my blog. What a great friend!

Now, there is no doubt in my mind that I am supposed to pass this thoughtful and beautiful award on to a certain number of other bloggers. My problem? It seems as if I am always a day late and a few steps behind by the time I do the award thing and everyone already has it! So - here is what I will do - if you are one of my regular readers and you haven't gotten this award - consider it given to you!

Is that a cop out? I hope not because I honestly have problems giving awards - I don't want to keep giving them to the same people who already have them but I don't want to forget people who don't have them yet and deserve them. Oh well - maybe some day I will work this whole thing out for myself.

On to other news and such . . .

It is chilly in Texas this morning. It was only 39 when I woke up - brrr! What is going on with the weather? Normally we are trying to decide if we need to put on the air conditioning by this time of the year!

Have I told you about my strawberries lately? Well, I planted three strawberry plants last year in a big container. I was sure that they would die this winter but - they survived and it looks like we will be having a bumper crop of strawberries soon - as long as the birds don't get them first! It is amazing how many little green strawberries I have. Maybe I will get to taking a picture of them soon so I can show you.

In other garden news . . . I have three hostas which are starting to poke their heads up. Now if only the moonflowers that I planted would follow suite. I think my little flowerbed will be kicking it this year!

Well - I guess I should get to work on some of the stuff I need for classes today!

Have a good one!

Trisha

Voice Update: My voice is still a bit tired from the weekend but it is doing well. Happily, I will have some time to rest it today while attending my ASL classes. I am doing my exercises and massage - one side of my neck is pretty sore - so things are looking up.

I've Been Tagged!

Hi All!




Well, it seems that the last tag that I was given wasn't good enough for the researchers to follow me around as I accomplish my stunningly exciting daily routine so . . . I have been tagged again. At least this time the collar isn't so tight!


Seriously, I have been tagged by Coffee Bean over at The Righteous Buzz for this interesting tag.




First, she gave me this wonderful award:

Thanks Coffee Bean! If only I looked that great and was walking a cat instead of a little pooch. Of course, I don't know that either of my kitties would tolerate the whole leash thing. Maybe if they thought they were walking me . . .

Okay - the next part is to tell you all five things that I am addicted to and/or passionate about. The original was addicted and it morphed to passionate about so I will use whichever works best for me!

1. I am addicted to playing Klondike Solitaire on my iPod. I start because I am bored and then I just can't quit. I am obsessed with winning and, since winning isn't very common, I have to keep playing until I win. And then I want to win AGAIN. *sigh* vicious cycle!

2. Speaking of iPods, I am addicted to my iPod. All of my music is on the device and I love shuffling everything together - you just never know what you will hear next and I find that I appreciate the music more hearing one song from an album at a time. Listening to the entire album is super too (okay, did I date myself by saying album? Should I have said CD? I never know these days!) but you kind of get used to the type of music when you do that. Shuffling continually keeps you a little off center so you are surprised by each new song.

3. Continuing the theme, I am addicted to collecting music. I love all different types of music except, perhaps, heavy metal and death rock. Any time I hear some interesting music I MUST get it. Why? To put onto my iPod, of course! I am also addicted to making music (which I think counts in the same addiction). Playing the piano relaxes me and I also like to collect instruments to play and display in my music room.

4. I am addicted to reading. Some people might think that I am simply passionate about reading but, I am pretty certain that I am addicted. If I don't have a book to read I literally get depressed and cranky. This has gotten to the point that even Hubby will notice and suggest that I go get a new book.

****Wait just a minute while I complete my morning massage routine. I almost forgot! Speaking of massage, I got the "thumper" out last night and really worked my neck and shoulders over (carefully around the neck because you don't want to massage your windpipe and choke yourself!). It felt GOOD!

5. This last one is a passion. I am passionate about spreading the word about Spasmodic Dysphonia. This is such an unknown disorder that I think people need to hear about it. Not being able to speak keeps many SD people from getting out there but I am just nuts enough to speak out even when my voice is bad. Speaking of which - do YOU know about Spasmodic Dysphonia? If not, please head over the the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association website and read up on the topic. Then, spread the word about SD!

There! I finished my tag. Hopefully, this one will stick for a while! I am supposed to tag five other bloggers but my problem is that I don't want to tag someone who has already been tagged. I am giving it a shot and, if I tag you and you have already been tagged for this post, let me know!

Ummmmm......

1. Flea
2. Asthmagirl
3. I'm Being Held Hostage
4. Mama Goose
5. Noble Pig

Trisha

Voice Update: Getting stronger as I get on with my routine. I was a good girl yesterday and did all of my exercises. It is hard to remember though! However, it is worth it! While I still have some missing 'H" words the p's and the troubling c's are back loud and clear.

Now I am to share 5 things that I am passionate about (Angela changed it from addicted to) and then pass it along to 5 other bloggers. However, I am going to answer with the 5 things I am addicted to because... well... I'm just feeling silly. I've given it a good think and decided I should put those things which I absolutely must do each and every day!1. Bathing!2. Moisturizing!3 Brushing my teeth!4. Wearing clean underthings!5. Eating!Bloggers I am passing the award on to:1. Paula2. Laura-Peach3. Chris4. Trisha5. April

An Award, Rain, and Hubby

Hi All!

Coffee Bean was such a sweetheart and gave me this award. It says "You are the sun on my rainy day, thank U."

Thanks Coffee Bean!

Like normal, I am just in from walking with C and Mrs. N. It was very muggy out today - it rained yesterday (I know! Twice in one week!) and so it was humid and then it was trying to rain the entire time we walked. We were treated to some really neat lightning and thunder shows.

By the middle of our walk we were hoping it would rain on us to cool us off. There was NO breeze today and that makes for a very, very sweaty walk. Of course C never really sweats (!!!) and Mrs. N only sweats a bit. Then, there I am sweating my way through my shirt by the time I get home. Nice!

My lunch yesterday at the Magnolia Cafe was very nice. The food was great and the desserts . . . wow! They were amazing! My only "beef" with the place is that it was rather noisy and that isn't too good for those of us with SD. I managed okay though. There were a few times I had to repeat myself and I think my friend did a bit of lip reading but hey - that is what you get with an SD friend!

Hubby came home last night. He had been at a conference for his work since Monday. I was looking forward to his return because, let's face it, I love the guy! Then, he came in. The first words out of his mouth were "Did you drive my car?"

Well, duh! He took my car to the conference and I am not a hermit so . . .

Anyway. The next thing out of his mouth - "Did you park it THAT way?"

Again - duh! I certainly didn't have the valet park it!

The "conversation" continued:
Hubby: "Did you notice how close you are to the cardboard boxes?"
Me: (crickets)
Hubby: "Cardboard can be unforgiving you know."
Me: (louder crickets)
Hubby: "You always complain about the way I park and then you park like THAT?"
Me: (silent stare)
Hubby: "I mean, you had the whole garage!"
Me: "You wanted me to park in the middle of the garage when I knew you were coming home today and would need to put my car away?"
Hubby: "I am just saying . . ."
Me: (silently waiting to hear what he was "just saying.")
Hubby: "You have to be careful when parking my car. I am always careful when I park YOUR car. If I park it wrong, you let me know! Cars can be damaged by cardboard you know. . . "
Me: (grabbing car keys and storming out to the garage to pull the car out of the garage and to leave it in the center of the driveway)
Hubby: (when I was on my way into the house again) "You heard that when you got in, didn't you? I told you that you were too close . . .(rest of sentence lost due to me entering house and throwing keys across room).
Me: (going up to our bonus room to avoid any more conversation)
Hubby: "Did I say something to upset you?"
Me: (crickets again)

Just what was he thinking?

We did eventually talk this out again and I tried to tell him that there might be a different way to greet me after he has been gone all week than with a passive aggressive conversation. He doesn't think he IS passive aggressive. Yeah, right.

He is lucky I love him so much or . . . "One day Alice, POW! Right to the moon!"

Trisha

Voice Update: Good but still tired. I don't feel like talking today. That isn't an unusual feeling for me these days. Having SD and talking can be such a struggle - it wears you out! I am still doing exercises and reading out loud. I have fallen a bit behind in the massage area (No - I haven't forgotten about the podcast - I just have been too lazy to get it edited and online!) but . . . I have good intentions to get back on track today!

An Award and Speech Update

Hi All!

Look at this nice shiny award I got from Asthma Girl! Isnt' it nice? It is my second award and I am thrilled. Of course it has taken me a while to get it on my blog . . . I am slow that way!

The rules for this are as follows:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

I do have to say that SEVEN is a lot of people! Hmmmmmm. Let me think. I think I will nominate these people:

1. Coffee Bean
2. MUD
3. Sara
4. Noble Pig
5. Woman in the Window
6. Diet Coke Rocks
7. April's Reign


Okay - speech update. I had speech yesterday and my therapist was beside herself with how good my voice was doing. All of that exercising with my friend the timer has really paid off! Also, my larynx was looser than it has ever been - thanks to all of that massaging! YEAH ME!

I did talk to her about my continuing problems with those darn unvoiced consonants and she gave me some exercises to do which will hopefully help. It is sort of tricking my vocal chords into saying the sounds by letting them think we are skipping the sounds and moving on with the rest of the words.

Confusing? That is what I thought when I first heard what I was supposed to do. Here is the basic plan. Take a word like "heave." Instead of trying to start off with that vexing "h" sound - I try to start off saying "eave" first and then sort of sneak that "h" onto the front. It isn't too easy for me right now but I am working on it. I have a list of words to practice. Fun, fun! MORE stuff to practice! Oh well, it will all help me in the end, right?

Oh - did I mention that my therapist offerred me a part time, temporary job doing some medical billing for her? I have never done that before but am willing to give it a go. It will only be one or two days a week and hopefully not for long (okay - I will explain that in a minute). I think it will be nice to get out of the house and earn a little money!

The explanation - the real secretary/receptionist who normally does the billing is in the hospital. She is a wonderful woman who happens to share my birthday. They had to operate to take a mass out of her lung and it may or may not be cancerous. I am hoping for the non so that she will be back to work in just a bit which would end my temporary job.

Such complicated reasoning!

Trisha

Voice Update: See the post above - I won't bore you by repeating!

My Award!

Hi All!

Look at this wonderful Blog Award that Coffee Bean gave me! Thanks Coffee Bean! This makes me feel like I really am making a difference!

Trisha