Car Crash

Just wanted to let you know that this afternoon I survived what should have been a fatal car crash. Westbound, I had been stopped at a light and was the second car to enter the intersection after the light turned green. I was struck by a southbound car who ran the light at approximately 70 mph. The impact sent my car spinning into the air and it continued to circle as it landed and bounced on the pavement twisting me backward in the seat, still restrained by my seatbelt, which saved my life. Actually, of course it was God who saved me.

My car and the other car are totaled, but, like me, the other driver is alive. He claims no injuries and my own are limited to soft tissue. Chest and knee damage ,which is quite painful just now, but not serious I am sure. I was released from the hospital with pain meds and instructions for to rest and all the normal protocols for soft tissue injury.

I would ask your prayers for a quick recovery, a replacement car and would also ask you to join me in praising God for extending my life. I am humbled and in awe.

I Love Apple

We had Bible class this morning and cleaned the children's rooms after. Then we drove to the Apple Store in the Florida Mall where my Mac had an appointment at the Genius Bar. My Mac has been misbehaving and getting more schizoid by the day. Then last night, it went completely bonkers and I feared I might never see any of my data again, so I got on the laptop and made our appointment for this afternoon. The earliest opening they had was 6 PM. We were there three hours early!

We bought another external drive and backed up our files as we waited our turn at the bar. They had made room for me to set up and do the backups. Very accommodating of them. Finally, our turn came and they worked with our Mac for quite some time, answering many of our questions as they repaired permission files and worked on system corruptions.

When we were finished, the young man strongly suggested we do an erase and reinstall of our system as soon as we could. I asked how much we owed and he said, "Nothing. Genius Bar is a complimentary service." Wow! I love Apple!!

The Mac is functional now and I have a chance to retrieve and copy files, but it will not be right until I wipe the hard drive and start over. The problem is that each time I have bought a newer computer or operating system, I have imported all my old files and preferences to the new environment, and in doing so, I passed some unhealthy stuff all along the way. I had preferences from 1997.

So, tomorrow, I will begin again. It will take several days to sort through all this junk and to reinstall my software, so I may not be posting until it's done. I am amazed at the number of files I have... unbelievable!

We've Been Sick

Richard stayed home sick from work Saturday. In all the years he's been working, I can count on my fingers the days he has ever taken off sick. He looked awful. Sunday was a bit better for him and he went to work. He was off yesterday and today as regular days off and by now seems to be feeling fine.

Also, I haven't felt well for the past several days, and I'm thankful to be more chipper today. I only put two tasks on my to-do list, deciding that would be plenty considering my recent energy levels, but I actually got an energy boost from cleaning at church. They are having VBS now and there is a beach motif... lots going on in all the rooms as well as outdoors.

I had a good visit with Mike after my work was all done, then headed over to MT's to work on the Orlando Brain Injury Support website. She is amazingly organized and we were able to get things worked out quickly and have time to visit and get to know one another a little bit. She is an animal lover like we are and had a sweet older dog and several cats, one of whom thoroughly explored the innards of my purse which she had managed to open.

I mentioned I had been under the weather for a day or so, well my Mac has been in critical condition! It got so bad I had to reinstall the operating system and I am still not sure about it all. I may need to take it to Apple for repair. All my fixes have only made things worse, and the manual they sold me is too elementary to help. I am going to tinker a bit tonight, so if you don't hear from me tomorrow, I may have killed it.

I am praying for solutions and healing... for the computer as well as my frustration with it. And I am trusting God to provide. He has never failed me. Oh, there have been times when I could have thought He did from my human, frail and sometimes faithless point of view, but in the end, I can always look back and see His wise and loving hand in all my affairs... and it was always better than my way would have been. Lessons were learned, insight was given, feeling and compassion were deepened... faith was strengthened and joy heightened. Such are the ways of my loving Lord!

Time & I

Somehow I was busy all day and got quite a bit done, but only about half what I had expected to do. Not unusual for me, and I continue to be bemused that time and I are so out of sync with each other. I never seem to catch up even when I schedule tasks farther apart and allot more time for completion. I don't let it get to me much any more because I think it is just the way things are for me. It only upsets me when I let others down because I have not estimated or managed time well. Today, I am the only one "shorted."

At least my house is clean and I have stocked up on groceries. I also had a good, long time in the Word and in prayer. We had a nice meal and this evening I sorted out the CD's, DVD's, Videos, and software discs. I even found the Microsoft Office code number I needed to make the software operate. After my laptop crashed and we had to wipe the hard drive in 2006, all the software was reinstalled, but I had lost the "key" number, or code or whatever they call it and could not operate the software. So, I am especially thankful to have found the original packaging with the prized number.

Kim called to say her trip had been cancelled, so we won't see her or Peyton next week, not until we go to Colorado in August. Too bad, I had really been looking forward to spending this time with them both. I so enjoyed it when I met them In Destin and spent several days. Oh, well, what is, is.

All in all, I've had a lovely day and the Lord has blessed me with His presence and His unconditional love. I really am totally amazed at the depth of God's love, care and the supreme sacrifice made for me... and anyone who would accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus.

Diet Pills

This was the first day on my diet pills, phentermine. Since I have low blood pressure and am in good health, and since I struggle with real hunger, my doctor agreed to a limited period of use to put a curb on my rising weight. I have been discussing this with him for some time now.

Although some people feel jittery or hyped with this medication, I didn't experience that at all. What I did notice is that I was not hungry all the time. I ate a reasonable breakfast, modest lunch and good dinner, and I was not hungry after eating like I usually still am. Normally, I eat what my "diet" says I should, but I am still hungry and could easily eat three times the allowed amount - and sometimes do!

Feeling satisfied after a meal is a huge boost. I feel like I can actually do this without feeling deprived all the time, then getting frustrated and mad and bingeing. My big problem is I'm afraid I will regain the weight like I always do. I'm talking to the Lord about that. Sometimes I feel like He thinks I spend far too much thought and emotional energy on my weight.

I saw my neurologist today. I see him every six months. Today's visit was brief and not nearly as exciting as previous checkups have been. Usually, he's quite an effusive fellow, dramatic and intense.

Donna and Donnie gave us a desk which I brought home today. It's still in the garage while I try to figure out how to rearrange the office so it serves for us both and is a workable place for genealogy and family history work.

I was busy all day, then went to Advanced Cognitive Workshop at Giveback. It's always a challenge and ever a blessing, but now I'm tired and ready for a restful night of slumber safe in the arms of my Lord.

Wrong Info!

What a day! We got much done. The dog to the vet for her bath and pedicure; Bible class; cleaning the children's area at the church; buying a much needed printer (yay!); picking the dog up after her ablutions and doing some digital and practical chores around home. I am happy with most of it, but less than proud that I was a basic dead head in Bible Class.

First I had not adequately prepared. I was up all night last night and was dull witted. Left my notes home, but they were less than complete. I gave unreliable info on part of scripture. I talked it over with Mike later and he says he gets into the same trouble at times. Of course, we all do, and I would feel less bad about it if I had been better prepared. I know how unreliable my brain is, so I ought to prep twice as much as anyone else.

I'm so glad there are precious Bible lovers in that group and they set it straight.

I have an appointment with my neurologist tomorrow and Giveback tomorrow night plus some web work to do for a friend, so I am heading for bed soon with a prayer that the folks in Bible Class will forgive my poor performance today.

And my days were like this...

• 22:49 (yesterday) Finished with brain injury web site for tonight. I am happy how it came out. Now to do my planner and relax. 
  
• 16:55 Hooking up new laser color printer. Samsung for only $159 at Sams Club, wow!
  

The Good Life

Monday, Monday... Old Mamas and Papas song. I liked it a lot. I loved that group. Sonny and Cher were also favorites. My mind is wandering back to old times. Sit-ins, protests, flowered bell bottom hip-huggers.

I had an old Studebaker with the long sloped hoof and trunk. On my trunk was a giant peace symbol made of glow in the dark reflective tape. Richard was in Viet Nam. I was being hauled off by the police during a non-violent protest of the war. I called the white house and my congressmen a gazillion time. I ran for county commissioner on the animal rights platform and lost by a mere nine votes, Praise God! I was arrested and went to jail for a parking ticket protest.

Ah to be young, but not again, please! It was wonderful, but once was enough. I've enjoyed every stage of my life except, perhaps, the last part of seventh grade when I was a changeling, not a child yet not a teen, either. But life was and is still good. Life has new surprises for us every day, some good, some seemingly not-so-good, but in His own time and way, God weaves them all into a marvelous tapestry uniquely our own, just as He has promised throughout His Word, see Romans 8:28-29, for example.

Richard went to Dr. Lama today for his initial visit. Dr. lama is my primary care physician, too. A wonderful man and caring, capable doctor. God led us to him. We always go to doctors together, as we told Dr. Lama, "we're a set." We also went shopping and to the library, then pulled weeds, picked up dog doo and got our yard mow-ready. Mowing is set for tomorrow.

I spent much of the afternoon waiting in vain for a prearranged telephone call from an expert who will prepare a loss of earning potential report for my lawyer. The call never came. Finally, Richard prompted me to check the dates. I had the call in one planner for today and in another for tomorrow.

We go back to Dr. Lama's office tomorrow morning for my appointment. Just a routine thing - I am not sick. Dr. Lama is a popular doctor and even though his office is often full and we usually have to wait, when he is in the office with you, he is all yours, never rushed or hurried, always ready to discuss any issue and answer any question. We are indeed thankful for him, and for health insurance. There have been times when we had no insurance and that always seems to be when you will get sick or have an accident.

And my day was like this:

• 08:15 - Off to the gym.
  
• 09:42 - I'm now reduced to a digital workout machine. The machine tells me if my workout is on track. My body already does that.
  
• 16:42 - Waiting for conference call from lawyer and lost income expert.
  

$1,800 Less

I'm so glad we already bought and paid for our flight, hotel and rental car to go to Crystal's wedding in early August. If we hadn't, I'm afraid I might have been tempted to say we couldn't afford to go. I might be tempted to worry about money...

Not long ago we got notice that my California disability benefits had been exhausted, and today I got a letter from Workmen's Comp saying the next check I receive is the last one one I'll see because I have now drawn $18,000 in permanent disability payments. What is that some kind of magic number that pops out of the air?

When I was injured on the job I was earning over $45,000 a year. That was like four years ago. I've been really getting rich on those benefits. Actually, I was drawing temporary disability until 2006, and that was more than double what I've been getting lately.

Nonetheless, between those lost influxes to our coffers, we will need to live on about $1,800 less. It's time to do some serious budgeting. But it is not time to worry, because God has made some glorious promises and He has a plan and a purpose for everything He allows to come into our lives.

I've been so used to eating out any time we felt like it, buying anything we want and generally being worry-free about money that I've forgotten that we used to live on a very tight budget, and I do mean tight! When our son was seriously injured in an accident and we had no health insurance, we both worked and struggled to get him needed medical care and equipment, provide for our large family and keep from sinking into hopeless debt. Even now, I doubt our kids fully understand the effort it took.

Don't get me wrong, those were great times, too, but we were often tired and stretched to the limit. My faith was much less strong then and I had the idea I had to fix everything... you might call me compulsive, maybe still a bit that way, but God and I are working together on that.

So! I am glad the trip is all paid for and we chose a nicer hotel than our previous trips. It will be interesting to see how the Lord provides...

And my day(s) were like this...

• 10:08 AM July 18 - Off to the gym! I need to make it a happy habit. By nature, I'm a slouch. 
  
• 12:45 PM July 18, 2008 - Got a decent haircut. I was shagged out.
  
• 3:54 PM July 18, 2008 - Finally got $9.60 discrepency in home insurance cleared up with mortgage folks. Been messing with it three weeks! Should have paid it myself.
  
• 4:33 PM July 18, 2008 - One last try to get Sprint to refund the money they charged for future service even though we were no longer on their plan. No luck.
  
• 1:38 PM - Today - Home from cleaning church. Stopprd for a quick blessing at the Maddox house. Now lunch and MT.
  
• 3:12 PM - Printer is down an all driver data is hiding.
  
• 7:22 PM - Playing with graphics. 

Brain Drain

Home now from Giveback's organization/business meeting. I'l let my Twitter define my day since I am brain drained and ready to drop...

And my day was like this...

• 09:32 All my to-do lists are in total sync. Now let's see how amazing I can be with a false memory. Pseudo memory?
  
• 14:21 Finally got address books out, will send to all family. Finished class roll, only 3 months overdue?!
  
• 17:28 Frustrated!!! Can't get Mac and PC to play nice together. Almost time to leave for Giveback. Quitting! 
  

Digging Out

It is amazing how often and how quickly my life spins out of control. Before you make any assumptions about that statement, let me place a few modifiers on the term "out of control." First, let's eliminate any associations related to drugs, alcohol or illegal behavior, and, except for the occasional food binge, basic self control is still operational.

So, what is chaotic and out of control relates to tasks, memory, organizational skills, executive function and the like. Things begin to pile up and I am terrible at prioritizing, so I end up spending tons of time on things that happen to catch my attention, but at any moment, I can get side tracked into one or more other undertakings. Often, I can't remember if or how much I have done. As time passes, disorganization and clutter mount until there is complete loss of control and I am buried.

I am now trying to dig out from just such a condition. I spent untold hours getting organized on my computer, iPhone and planner, however somehow completely forgot that there were a number of things I had promised folks (including me) I would do, which, of course have not been taken care of. For example, I was to call Michael Sunday evening - I just found the note. I stopped and pondered why I was to call him. Finally, I remembered that it was because I had not called him as promised back in June! I must stop making promises!! Or find a better way to track them. I have an iPhone, I can make the note right away and always have it. 

I feel better already.

Also, today I realized that I am supposed to go to the gym every day. I stopped going when we went on our recent trip and it somehow never entered my mind to resume my daily workout. I'm going back in the morning. I made a note in iCal (my Mac planner) which will sync with the iPhone and I also wrote it in my low tech, paper planner. The iPhone which I wear all day, rings to remind me to check my planner, which is stored right there in the phone itself. Ingenious!

I am not naive enough to believe this system will solve all my problems with spinning out of control, but it has at least made me feel like I am actually digging out and regaining control so that I can better focus on what is truly important in life.

And my day was like this...
14:33 After Bible class, we lunched at Doughmonde. Very good! Now, it's back to work...
18:36 Catching up on personal & financial paperwork. Computers were supposed to simplify work, instead folks just set higher work load goals.

iPhone Mania

Armed with a bottle of water and a James Patterson novel, I was parked outside of the Lakeland, Florida AT&T store at 11:30 pm Thursday night determined to snag the long awaited iPhone when the doors opened at 8:00 am.

Several cars cruised the area, but no one stopped for about two hours. Then, within an hour several more cars came and one man brought a chair up to the store and sat under a light. I decided it was time for me to do the same.

I read and visited with others in the line. It was all very civilized. The only real problem was lack of rest room facilities. During the next six hours, our numbers grew, and I am unsure how many people were gathered by the time the store opened. I was blessed to buy the first unit from that store and had none of the problems reported by some news media. My phone worked fine from the start. I think Apple's iTunes system, which is needed to activate and synch the phone, didn't become overloaded until more buyers in time zones west of here entered the fray.

Knowing I was planning to have my phone Friday, I registered for an iPhone workshop at an Orlando Apple store. It was a mad house! People were lined up in both directions and security guards worked with Apple employees to do business in an orderly fashion. Needless to say, since the workshop was held in the open area of the store which was crowded with people, I got almost nothing out of the training. I did take some interesting pictures of the lines. See link below.

The iPhone is basically simple to use and I absolutely love it. It is ideal for brain injured folks. All the stuff I need to know is now in my phone. Now all I must do is remember to keep the phone with me 24/7.

And my day was like this...
07:49 Actually slept all night even after my day nap yesterday.
15:40 http://twitpic.com/3rpk - apple store at mall
16:41 Went to iPhone training at 2:00 and also got Leopard book and genealogy software for Mac. 
17:42 Got cat food and now wending my way home. Will stay off the crowded freeways I'm a city person now!
20:27 Too tired for dinner, both of us. My body is OK but my brain is fried.

All Nighters

I was up all night last night getting all my contacts together in my Address Book application on the Mac. I entered everyone in my planner and gmail and all other contact lists, all 712 of them. They are sorted and I even have pictures on some of them.

I wanted to be up all night so I would sleep today and be ready for an all night vigil at AT&T. Everyone selling the new iPhones will open at 8:00 in the morning and the phones will sell out fast. I want to be among the first to get it or I probably wont get it right away.

I've never waited outside a store to buy anything, and I always thought those who did were a bit dingy and far too materialistic. Ha! Never judge, for you could find yourself eating your words. Here I go. Will write how it went tomorrow after I sleep.

And my day was like this...

• 07:20 ¨mI workem all Nihjtbut I 
  
• 14:56 Awake again after a long sleep following an all-nighter fixing up address book, etc. I was pooped. Last post says it all. 
  
• 16:37 Will my cable work for you? I can lend it to you.
  
• 21:49 I am home from Giveback and getting ready to go to Lakeland to wait all night to buy my iPhone. Never done that before.
  

Short

And my day was like this...

• 13:01 Home from Bible Class. Had a phone visit with David on the way. 
  
• 13:36 Omelets for lunch, yum! 
  
• 19:31 Getting address book and iCal in order to be ready to sync with new iPhone Friday.

I'll be working on this project most of the night and into tomorrow at this rate, so we ate cold sandwiches for supper, and I'm going back to the project. It's long overdue, by the way.

Cell Hell

We went to Lakeland today to talk to Sprint and AT&T. It was a disaster dealing with Sprint and I completely lost patience with their system of dealing with customers and numbers. When our contract was up, we went into a Sprint store and they offered to reduce the number of minutes (we never once used the 1500 minutes they had originally talked us into) and our cost. I told them I didn't want to sign up for a new contract until I checked out the new iPhone July 11. No problem, or so they said.

Then the bill came. It arrived at our house July 5 but said it was due June 28... What's up with that? Also, instead of owing less than our 1500 minute plan, this bill was almost double!! They charged for BOTH plans and added a bunch of services we did not ask for. I called customer service and got no explanation, simply a request that I pay my "overdue" balance. I had just received the bill that day!

So I called Monday and was told the same thing. So today my phone won't let me call out at all, except customer service, so we went to the Sprint store in Lakeland where a bright young man talked down to me as if I were four years old, yet he was unable to intelligently respond with a single one of my concerns. All he could say was I needed to pay my bill. I told him I wanted to port my numbers to another carrier as prescribed by law, therefore I did not plan to pay the next month's inflated charges that also showed up on this bill. In essence, I wanted to just pay for what I had already used used ad quit the service since we're not under contract.

No way! I can't even cancel my service unless I pay for in in advance. How crazy is that!?

So off we went to the AT&T store where Richard picked out a phone and we opened an account and ported his number from Sprint over to his new AT&T phone. They couldn't move my number over because the iPhones are not out yet. I must wait until Friday. The salesman there told me that Sprint would probably not release my number unless I paid what they had already billed, even though her agreed it didn't seem right. Of course it's not right, it's fraud!!!

So I called Sprint again and indeed, I must pay the extra month before I can close my account and move my number. I am outraged!!!

So, there was some good to our day... God is always good, although, I must admit scripture says, "Be angry but sin not." I'm afraid that in my being angry, I became also unkind. No, I did not use profanity, I never do, but I let the Sprint folks know how displeased I was, plus I made Richard and other folks around me uncomfortable.

Right about in the middle of my rant at the AT&T store, a police car showed up and the officer got out with his rifle and headed in next door, a check cashing and advance place. He soon left, so it must not have been too bad a bust. At least it gave us all something else to focus on.

Next, we went purse shopping in the pouring rain, cruising around to consignment stores looking for Kathy Van Zeeland purses. What a saint is my hubby! I finally found two fabulous, big handbags I just love.

Lastly, we took my broken Sony to the electronics store where that said they can't help us. Sony claims not to recognize the model number. I had already used up my anger quota for the day so just laughed and left. We'll deal with it another day.

Oh, big news, we're going back to Denver. Crystal is getting married August 9. Will share plans tomorrow, I'm drained tonight.

And my day was like this...

• 10:17 Trying to find a replacement part for my camera, just the picture-taking button. Sony never heard of my camera. It's A Sony from Wal-Mart! 
  
• 10:49 Sprint shut our phone off! We went in when contract ran out and they put us on a cheaper plan but no contract , so now we have no phone. Ick
  

Weekenders

Today was the first day of Richard' s weekly three-day weekend. Seems like every week, we run errands and do chores the whole time he's off, but today we just hung out, except for a fun trip to the library, grocery and bank. The errands were more like play because we weren't rushed and we only had a few things to pick up.

We grilled out in our patio/Florida room - I don't really know what it's called, but it's like a fully enclosed patio where you can open (or take out) the windows. We have a natural gas grill out there but have not really used it since the weather got warmer for fear it would make the room too hot, even with the windows open. But we turned on the big overhead fan and we were quite comfortable for the grilling and the meal: steaks, baked potatoes, roasting ears... yum!

We're sitting around the computers now just chillin' as the young folks say, and enjoying being in the same room with each other and our critters. After all, it's the weekend for us.

I uploaded our trip photos to Flickr as I noted in yesterday's blog, and may put more pics up since I now know a little of how it works. I also need to get working on my biography again. Then there is a wedding coming up in August, so we'll be heading west once more. I seriously need to get my camera fixed!

As you can tell thoughts are buzzing around my head like killer bees on a rampage. Time to slow down and challenge my honey to a game of canasta on Pogo.com.

God bless and good night!

Pictures

Sunday was not a good day for me. I missed church, a baby shower and an Independence day party,  but by late evening I was feeling better and got busy uploading photos to Flickr. You can check out pictures of our recent cross country trek at this link.

Now that I know how to upload photos, I'll put up some pictures of our house, pets, etc. But not tonight. It's almost two in the morning and I am ready for sleep. Enjoy the pictures... You can even see them in a slide show.

Satisfied

I'm satisfied with my Saturday listening to my iPod, I cleaned the children's area at the church. The rest of God's house had already been cleaned, so I was there alone with the Lord singing praise songs along with the music. He can hear the love in spite of my horrid vocal renderings, and it's good to know that my praise brings Him joy.

On my way home, I stopped in to see the man who bought our house in Kissimmee. He had installed some better toilets and was doing well. I invited him to church again, but didn't press. He has our card and the church card and I am praying for him, and the Holy Spirit is surely wooing him, so it's now up to him. I find it so hard to understand how folks can't quite see Jesus' love for them.

I went shopping without a list and without my repeating timer, which is always dangerous. I always buy more than we need and usually forget some very important items thus making a second trip necessary. The timer helps keep me focused and without it, I tend to ramble and may visit the same areas several times buying the same items again for a second or third time. Right after this brain injury, when we lived in an apartment in California, I would come home with $400 worth of food we had no room for and end up giving it away to my neighbors. Obviously, that brought on big problems with our finances and menus.

We had a great time last night visiting and celebrating with friends. They live where we could see Kissimmee's fireworks show quite well. And quite a show it was, too! What a blessing to have sweet friends and live in this wonderful nation!

I met several cool folks, and one lady had a bag I just loved. It was a Kathy Van Zeeland purse and I looked online for it but couldn't find that particular one. I'll keep looking, though. I love purses and shoes.

And my day was like this...

• 08:36 Leaving to clean at the church here on a glorious Saturday morning. 
  
• 14:16 Cleaned the church then went shopping. No list, got lots of what I didn't need, little of my needed items, but ah, it was fun, anyway. 
  
• 17:41 Looking on eBay for Kathy Van Zeeland handbags...
  

My Day

And my day was like this...

• 11:05 Getting a late start on my planner. Should I add completed items so I can check 'em off? Why not? 
  
• 13:47 Had a good time with God in the Word and just woke up from a nice nap. Time for lunch! 
  
• 14:46 Sorting trip pictures to post on Flicker if I can figure out how to do that.
  
• 23:05 Just got home from Giveback. I always learn and grow when I am there.
  

Wonderful Wednesday

After I got home from Bible Class, we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios, ate ice cream, played tourist and generally had a great time, then it was just a 10 minute boat ride over to Epcot where we walked in the rain, soaked up the atmosphere, celebrated with a great meal in Germany's Bier Garten Buffet where they had a loud and audacious show with lots of accordion and polka music. Next, there was a concert honoring the musical group Abba and a boat ride back to Hollywood Studios where we bundled into our comfy car for the pleasant drive home.

What a wonderful Wednesday!

How very blessed we are to live such an idyllic life! God has greatly favored us in every way.