HAPPY NEW YEAR 2000!
Nature Songs ~~~~
JANUARY, 2000
The secret of genius is to carry
the spirit of the child into old age
which means never losing your enthusiam.
~~unknown
January 1,2000 - 01/01/00
Yeah! No Glitches here! I press the magical keys and there it is - the new millennium date in place there at the top of the page just as it should be. The laptop has passed its test and come through with flying colors. Guess I'll just have to venture in to the larger reproduction and find that it works as well. I would feel pretty silly myself right now, if I had found that I had need of some of the clutter of preparation needs suggested as having on hand in case things malfunctioned with the coming of Y2K. I felt well prepared without rushing out to buy or do extra stuff and sure enough, it all came together just as nature would have done if left alone to carry on the tradition of life.
The unexpected happened yesterday in the form of Tbird and her brood. I rode up the mountain with them and sat in the car while she shopped a little at the Shoppes at the Park Mall. She was hoping for some good prices at the Carter Children's Outlet and Big Dog. I took the occasion to carry along my new little toy and took some pictures of the last day of the Twentieth Century to try out on the computer later. She is also collecting ribbons that we may use this year for making some Christmas ornaments like some I made several years back. Seems they are something that friends and family would like more of and now is the time to get the best buy on the ribbons. Surprisingly, she has found some great rolls from places that had leftovers at the end of the wrapping season.
BJ and his wife were visiting with Mother so I drove over to spend a little time with them and got some more pictures with my new toy. A little later Wes came by with BingoKid and I got their pictures. This is something that can be a lot of fun and has lots of possibilities. There are a few drawbacks and limits to use of the digital camera which I have. I have to have patience for it to store the image before it is ready for a new one, and this camera does not have a playback to preview without downloading to the computer first. Of course, with regular film and camera there is a waiting time before viewing the pictures, so that really is not a problem. I'm happy with what I have.
While others were celebrating and partying together to welcome in the new millennium, I sat on the sideline and watched alone. As the day and evening progressed I really became quite tired from all the information from visiting around the world. Each country was entrancing, pleading for my attention to its own individuality, folklore or tradition. I could not help but wonder at times just how much of some of it was done especially for the world to view. It appeared at times that perhaps one country was trying to by chance "outdo" others? Or was it just the magic of television? Did television choose to have "programs" to televise as they swept the world? I'm sure that far more of the people were such as myself and only there to watch; not to take part in the activities.
There are no major changes on the planning boards for me this new year. There are goals to attain which I hope to follow through on. There are some desires for happiness waiting to mature. There are areas of doubts and fears. There is the dawning of each new day waiting for its chance to be filled with as much of life as possible. Much, too much, slips past unfulfilled.
January 2,2000 - 01/02/00 - Ah! Yes! It worked again. Both of my computers are just as they were a week ago. They changed over to a new millennium just as they should have. Nothing lost or changed, or messed up; business as usual. Wish I could say the same for myself.
First impulse this morning was to back out of going to church and staying home. Looking back, I should have listened to that urged to stay home. I chose instead to meet at McD's as planned and make the church scene. That turned out to be one of my less acceptable choices. The sermon had barely begun and my lungs began to burn, itch, twitch and lunge to cough. I knew I had to get up and leave because I was into one of my fits without letup. Water did not help any more than the cough drops already consumed, or the dose of syrup I took before leaving home. I meandered back to the Heritage Room stopping to talk with a doctor friend along the way. He seemed concerned about the sound of my cough. Others offered me mints and more cough drops, but there was one still in my mouth doing little to stop the fit I was bent on having. I went into my Sunday School Class room and got a cup of coffee and sat for a while. It was obvious that I was ready to head for home, so I picked up one of the new lesson books to read on through the next three months, and started my trail back up the road.
Strangely, this was one of those days that a lot of different activities were going on around the area. I set my cruise control on the speed limit and let the cars sporting skis on top of them and cars and trucks pulling off-road motorcycles and all-terrain four-wheelers whiz by me in their rush to get to the mountains for a time of fun and exploration. I got home in time to watch my Baptist Service on television, so I did get church in today. After resting a little, it was then time to take in the next agenda for the day.
Allan's family had a cookout for Buddy Boy's second birthday. We were a group of grownups trying to out cough each other since we have all gone through the flu this past week or so. While we were all dragging, the children were in high gear and enjoying the great weather and getting to be outdoors. Buddy Boy had gotten a small four-wheeler for Christmas. He and BusyKid had fun taking turns with riding it. Neither of them wanted to stop when it was time to eat. Allan got a pontoon boat for his Christmas present this year and everyone wanted to climb up on it and check it out. Next will be giving it a trial on the lake. It seems to be a big hit with the kids, except maybe DynoKid.
It was suggested by his brother that he may have to be superglued and tied to a seat for him to take his first ride - with his floatation vest on, of course. BingoKid got to shoot his new gun for the first time and all the grownups had to try it out after his initial shot. NascarKid shot it twice. His first time he took about two steps back when the gun fired. No doubt he will have a bruise to sport around as a remembrance of his first attempt with his cousin's gun. Well, there is a video of it to share with everyone later, too. I forgot my new toy to record anything with.
It was well after dark when I returned home. Mother was not about to let me get through the day without letting me know how long her day was and that I had not taken time to come see her. I had talked with her - twice. I even talked her through getting the right station for her church service this morning on her television. She keeps forgetting which numbers it is on her changer. I visited with her yesterday and the day before. I was just too tired to go through picking her up to go with me today, and we weren't sure she needed to be around the rest of us since we have been sick... I talked with her twice more after getting back home.
My bag is packed. I plan to hit the water in the morning. Hopefully, the moisture, and the heat from the steam room or sauna will help my breathing and ease the coughing. We shall see.
January 3,2000 - My druthers would have left me in bed this morning, but I dragged myself out and made my way down into the valley to Q4L and the water. I would have to comment that 99% of us there were in different stages of the flu and the rest were not feeling all that well. Our instructor didn't get into the water with us and looked as if she were druther be at home. The crud had attacked her as well. Word is that this is the earliest in the season that the flu has ever mushroomed like this and been so rampant in this area. Doctor's offices are flooded with it and there is really very little that can be done except give it time to run its course and that seems to be close to four weeks or so.
I did five minutes on the bike, but only at level one and then ventured up the elevator to my favorite corner to work out a little before taking to the water. I sat more than I worked out. Every time I got comfortable, someone was ready to use my resting machine and I had to surrender it and move to another one. They have added six new Swhenn bikes in that area since I was last there. We had new water weights (dumbbells) to use during our water workout today which added a new dimension to some of our movements. At the end of the session I swam two laps before getting out. By then we were all comparing our pruny fingers and knew it was time to move out and warm up some. I was beginning to cough pretty much so I skipped the steam and sauna and settled for a hot shower before heading home to REST!
I dropped off Allie and stopped in the drive to talk with Ms. Jay for a few minutes on the way home. Allie was one of those today that didn't look like she felt good at all. Ms. Jay and her whole family has the flu even yet. She was trying to take down some of her Christmas decorations, but was feeling pretty clammy and shaky and not able to get much of the work done. Her son was inside in bed. He couldn't make it to work this morning at all. I was only home a few minutes with Dad brought the boys by to spend a few hours with me so he could get some work in for the day. Giggles went back to daycare this morning, but was not at all happy about having to stay. With her being sick last month so much and the holidays, she was only in daycare for three days the whole month of December. Strangely enough I rested a little and got up to find that a third grandson has joined our group ... He was so quiet when he came in and didn't even let me know he was here or ask if he could stay awhile ... Grandmas are good for that sometimes ... After they all left, I was ready to rest for real.
Let's change that a little. I checked my email before resting! Perhaps a poor choice at the moment. I had tried to join in with a writing chat group for Virtual University over the weekend and was getting knocked off-line when I would sign in. I tried to see if it was working today. It worked fine, but that little effort put to work the magical pull of this electronic wonderbox to explore other related things. Checking over the new Spring Semester, I chose three classes to delve into about mid-January. I am now committed to six more weeks of extra work and time as I learn more about the world around me.
January 4,2000 - I just noticed a very strange thing about my laptop computer. Would it be a Y2K Glitch? I shall have to watch and see each day how it works. When I pulled up my page to work on it again, the date which was originally 01/02/00 is showing today's date instead. It should not have changed since I had saved it as the earlier date. Interesting!
Prainy rain
Rainy prain
Pain sprang
from warm rain
Winter sang -
"Bring on rain!"
Yesterday the temperature was in the seventies. Today the mid fifties and dropping; with rain and thunderstorms. Tonight the low should be low thirties with possible snow showers, but no accumulation. Something is not typical with this weather we are having. We finished out the old year with over eight inches below the normal water level and mild weather. Looking out the window this morning I find a bluebird eating on the dogwood berries. This is much too early for us to be having bluebirds around our area. Then again, it is most unusual to have skiing and cycling in the mountains at the same time, too. The mountains nearest us do not have as much manmade snow as the ones higher up since our weather has been as warm as it has lately. Our own children were running around playing in shirtsleeves and sweating just Sunday afternoon.
I was lucky to have Allan here with me visiting this morning. By hook or crook, I seem to have sat down in the recliner and accidentally slid under the edge of the table beside it when I lifted up the leg rest. When I started to get up, the table begin to move and tilt along with everything on it. Allan came to save the day for me and rescued the table before it was tossed to who knows where and probably breaking my lamp along the way. The six piece magi set that I received for Christmas is still setting on the table! Just another one of those things I need to remember and look out for as I plunder through my days.
I'm off to the drugstore this afternoon to find out about my new payment plan put into action by the insurance company. I assume that my drugstore is taking part in the plan and accepting it since it is state employees and includes a lot of local people. Strangely enough it is set up on a 34 day month. That is not so strange if you consider the accumulation of difference from the 30 day month over the span of a year. It adds up to over an extra month if you stay with the standard month and not get the full benefit of what is allowed. Now to find out if I have to have my prescriptions written for 34 days in order to have them filled that way. It may not seem like much to some people, but when you take over a dozen different prescriptions in a month and some of those pills are over a dollar a piece, it can really add up to a savings or an added burden.
It will also be interesting to see how much I will be paying a month now compared to the old way. The old way was 20% of what "they deemed the lowest price and $250 deductible upfront and any amount that was left over on the original cost when purchased. Now it will be $10 for generic; $15 non-generic; $20 for non-generic with a generic available; no deductibles.
Okay! I've made the rounds and spent time at the nursing center while I ate my Subway sandwich for supper. (Wonder if I could lose over a hundred pounds if I ate only two low calorie subs a day like the man advertised in that new commercial and lost all that weight?) I ran into the Radio Shack to get an adaptor for my new camera to hook up to the computer. My doctor happened to be there. Now, I can truthfully say that I've spoken to my doctor about this cough I have tongue-in-cheek-like that is! Actually, he did say that probably he could not do anything more for me unless I was running a fever and showing signs of some infection. I'm not doing that, and promised to come into the office if I should get worse.
I got home to find out that I picked up the wrong male and female connectors for the adaptor I needed. Now I will have to go back and exchange them. I should have taken along my cord to show what I needed, but decided to stop by there on a whim while I was close by and of course, I made the wrong choice. At least, it is in the same mall with my Q4L, so I can run by in the morning and make the exchange. I'm getting curious about how things are going to do and what I've got so far with the pictures taken. Time's a wasting.
January 5,2000 - It's off to the water we go this morning; dragging our feet and eyes half open. We are two on a mission and neither of us want to back down. Somewhere in the depth of our inner being there is that other person wanting to break free from the image of whoever that stranger is that keeps greeting us in mirrors and pictures. We both know that there is more to us. We may be in our sixties, but we have a lot to accomplish and enjoy. The year 2000 is here and we are much younger than we ever expected to find ourselves. There are many things for us to get out and get involved in.
This time in the water is already bringing a new realm of friends to look forward to seeing again. Most of them are new friends, but it is exciting to find someone we already know that chooses to join us. Together we turn into prima donnas performing for the first time; square dancers docie-doeing; ballerinas prancing and twirling on our toes; a grand ballet in practice. We are gymnasts lunging, stretching and contorting into all kinds of different shapes and positions. All the while we are sporting our black and purple bat-wing gloves blending us into one as a whole using water resistance as we progress. Then it is time for the water weights and imposing our muscles to the test of person against water before we cool down and stretch before heading to the steam room and showers. Another day has begun for each of us. We pledge to converge again.
I run by Radio Shack and exchange the adapter for the camera/computer so we can try getting it to work this afternoon. Looking back to pick up my bag from the seat once I am home, I notice that Allie forgot her bag, so I call her from the car phone and run it over to her. It's just a case of Fibro Fog. We have way too many of those days. We understand each other when it comes to be forgetful.
I really did intend to watch the TV program on Fibromyalgia last evening. For some reason as I was updating my journal I noticed that I had not done the new calendar on the index page. That's getting to be a habit with me. In the process of copying it from my new month to the index I somehow lost it. Oh, I know! If you are copying something, you are to press the copy arrow and not that other one that replaces the highlighted area with whatever was saved earlier on the notebook. It's just that my fingers would not do what I told them to do. They often times seem to have a mind of their own. There is a short-cut somewhere between them and my brain and they seem to miss each other in passing. I ended up having to make a new calendar to use for both pages. By the time I was finished, the program on TV was over. Maybe there will be a repeat before too long and then I can watch to see what else is new or unchanged on the medical scene and Fibro.
continued
©2000 by Stormy Jeanne
