My New Car!

Hi All!

I promised better pictures and here they are!

This is my new Toyota Venza. Isn't this color blue pretty? It is tropical blue metallic.

This back "gate" opens at the touch of a button and closes that way too! Not a feature I really needed but, it came that way so . . .

The pinstripe is hand painted and wasn't in the original deal but . . . I got it and I like it!

That front grill reminds me of a handlebar mustache (with the headlights) for some reason. Cute!

dghj

So - what do you think?

fhjk

Personally, I love it!

fhj

Trisha

fhl

Voice Update: Doing well. I am neglecting my exercises though - I can't get motivated. Of course, if I don't do them for long enough- my voice will "crash and burn" and then I will be really motivated. Not the best way to get going on my exercises. So . . . I will try to get to them before my voice starts showing the neglect!

It's Here!!!

Hi All!

My new vehicle is here! Check out the picture!


Isn't she a real beauty? I am so glad that this dealership actually got it right and went and got this from the dealership in San Antonio.

What?

You aren't impressed with this picture? No? Well, I will admit it isn't the best of pictures but I was in a rush to get it . . .

Okay - you still don't believe that this is my new vehicle?

I guess you are too smart for that!

Okay, smarty - here is the REAL vehicle!

Now, I apologize for the bad picture. You can't see how pretty it is. I was going to take the "glamor shots" of the car yesterday when I first got it home but . . . the battery in my camera was dead.

This morning, right after my walk, I snapped this quick shot to prove that I actually HAVE the new vehicle and it is in my garage. However, I didn't have time to get those "glamor shots." I plan on doing that this afternoon when there is nice light. When I show you those I will also tell you about my favorite new features on the vehicle.

I am not certain if I should call this a car, a truck, an SUV, or what. So - I am trying for vehicle at the moment.

This morning it is pretty overcast and it looked for a while (when I was swimming and walking) that it might rain. Now it seems to be clearing up.

Speaking of swimming - I certainly didn't feel like swimming this morning. I was tired! And I have a bit of a headache (which I am hoping WON'T turn into a migraine!). Not the best for walking/swimming but - I soldiered on and did my 25 laps. Now I am just waiting for my prize to arrive. It should be here any minute . . . I am just waiting . . .and waiting . . . and . . . waiting . . .

Trisha

Voice Update: I didn't read yesterday but I did talk a lot to the people at the dealership - including the customer service manager who really liked to talk! My voice did shape up from the problems it was having in the morning. I think it was just off to a slow start yesterday. Today it seems to be doing well. I just realized that I have been a bit remiss in my massage for the last two days. I will hop on that right now!

Hopefully, Goodbye!

Hi All!

Well, today is the day that I hopefully say a tearful goodbye to this . . .
adfg

My trusty Acura MDX. It has been a good car. It has been dependable (except when Hubby forgot to close the back door and the battery ran down overnight). I have enjoyed its leather seats, its heated seats (really nice in the Texan winters when the heater isn't warm until you are almost where you are headed!), it CD player, its satellite radio, all of its features.

adfg

*sigh*

sdgh

Hopefully, the new car will be picked up today (I haven't heard from the dealer yet - I am hoping it isn't a repeat of the LAST dealership!) and I will start becoming acquainted with its features. AND - I will hopefully have some pictures for you here tomorrow. I hope everyone is keeping their fingers crossed (has anyone else noticed how often I have used the word "hope" in this post so far??).

dgh

This morning was wonderful for walking/swimming. The skies were overcast and there was a brisk breeze blowing. While the pool water was a bit warm, swimming was nice even though I was tired. For some reason I didn't sleep well last night. I wore my broad-brimmed hat and slathered on sunscreen - which, I hope (there is that word again!) will keep the sun poisoning at bay.

sfh

Later today I get to travel to the grocery store and then I "get" to unpack all the groceries I buy. Aren't you jealous of my day??

sfgh

Have a good one yourself!

dfh

Trisha

dfj

Voice Update: Only five more psalms to go and then I am into the wisdom of Proverbs! This morning, while chatting with my neighbor on our way to the pool, I noticed that I was having some problems. I don't know if it is just because it was early and I hadn't gotten my voice "warmed up" or what. A bit frustrating!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder . . .

Hi All!

After four days of sun poisoning induced indoor living I finally (!!!) got out this morning and walked and swam!

dfh

It was soooooo refreshing to dive into this wonderful pool!

dgh

Of course the walk wasn't what I would call "refreshing" but I supposed I did sweat out all the toxins in my body! That is if the toxins could fight their way through the layer of SPF 45 that was coating my body!

dgh

I also donned my broad-brimmed hat for the walk to give my chest some additional protection (yes, I probably should have just worn a shirt but it is SOOOOO hot!). I am thinking of getting one of those shirts with the SPF treatment on/in it to wear during my summer walks. I haven't decided on that yet though.

dg

In non-walking/swimming news, Hubby is home sick. He started feeling bad Saturday evening (after we had been to Sam's Club but he didn't have any of the samples!) and got progressively worse until yesterday evening when he started feeling better.

gh

Currently, he is snoring away in bed since I didn't think it was wise to go to work only hours after having a fever of 100.9!

dgh

My new car is supposed to be on its way to the Metroplex today and should be ready for pick -up tomorrow. I am excited!!!! Did I mention that the dealership actually called me on Friday to let me know what the plan for getting the car was? A lot better than the silence from the previous dealer!

dgh

Hopefully, I will get another call today letting me know that the car actually made it to the dealership. I still have my fingers crossed!

fgh

Yesterday I finally used up the last of my peaches and made a peach pie with jello glaze. While some of the peaches were a bit past their prime, they are still okay and - I must say that the crust (made from scratch, thank you very much!) is excellent! I am hoping that Hubby feels better today and can help me eat it.

fgh

I didn't take pictures of the pie because it didn't look too darn good. The peaches are tiny and some are darker because I didn't put enough of the color preserver stuff on them (I don't have any lemon juice!). Just trust me when I say it tastes better than it looks!

fgh

That is about the sum of my entire weekend. Exciting, huh? I hope yours was more exciting than mine was!

fgh

Trisha

fgh

Voice Update: I didn't read yesterday but I did read on Saturday. I am still working my way through the Psalms. While I read I work on the few words and sounds that I am still struggling with. One technique Susan told me to try was to talk nasally. Apparently, one of my problems with these "difficult" sounds is that I stop the air and then can't get the sound going again. When I speak in a nasal voice I don't stop the air for some reason. So - I talk in a nasal voice to get the feel of how I should be making the sound and then try it out in a normal voice. This means I repeat one word of phrase several times in a row. Hubby says I sound like a skipping record (for those of you old enough to remember those things!)! Nice, don't you think?

Try, Try Again!

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!

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 . . .

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!

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 . . .

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!