Oh Yeah, I Have a Story For You!

I have already funded my Roth for this year, so that was one of the things I wanted to accomplish with my working for the summer...The other was, I wanted to buy a really good blender.  I have smoothies about one a day.  I love them.  With my stomach problems, they help me digest and I can put flax and chia and veggies in them that I would not really eat otherwise.

I usu put 1 - 2 small servings of fruit 1/2 cup or so.  about 8 - 10 oz liquid, handful of spinach or kale and ground flax, ground chia, ground hemp - if I can find it and scoop of vegan protein.  I also put in frozen 1/2 banana and maybe couple ice cubes.  Blend and enjoy.  Sometimes I put a little honey, or pb or stevia - for a little sweet treat.  I make them for my husband and my aunt and uncle - everyone loves them.

You can also do less liquid, more fruit and basically create a sherbert/ice cream consistency and enjoy with some fresh fruit garnish or some nuts/seeds on top.  A smoothie "bowl". 

Anyway, I have used my $150 Ninja from Walmart for about 5 years.  I still like it, it works fine.  Is noisy and does not blend quite as smooth as the store smoothies - but I am convinced these smoothies are just for once a week treat - they can't have the fiber and nutrients mine from home have - or they would not taste so good.

So, I finally saved up for my $500 Vitamix.  I was so excited.  I ordered in on Prime day Monday, so I saved $70.  When I got home Friday, it was waiting for me.  I did not see the box it came in, DH had already taken it out.  (I would have taken pictures - the box was almost too small).  But the unit looked perfect - no visible damage whatsoever.  Even the box of the machine inside the brown cardboard box looked fine.

Well, I put my fruit in, my liquid (almond milk), my half banana, some garden spinach, my protein, etc.  I blend it and pour it out.  Honestly, DH enjoyed our smoothies - but the spinach was in chunks, not obliterated, about the same as in my clunky old Ninja.  I washed the pitcher and was about to leave the kitchen...I see the Vitamix unit itself flashing an electronic error message.  Sure enough, DH and I consult the manual - it says to call 800# for support.

So, I call - it is well after 5pm central time - they are closed.  Call during the week.  Uh, what?!

What do I do next?  What I always do - Google it.  Basically the message mine was flashing after one mediocre smoothie was that the motor had "heated up" too much.  What?!  You have to be kidding me.

I promptly requested a return on my Amazon account, printed the label and boxed the unit back up...in the barely big enough box.  I told DH that a much better strategy would have been a box big enough to allow for padding in between the two boxes, not a barely bigger box directly up against the normal smoothie box.  I would not be surprised if the jarring of shipment damaged the inside of the unit with no visible outer damage.

Oh well, not my problem - at least once I get my refund. 

I went to Walmart and bought an $80 magic bullet type blender.  I already gave my aunt and uncle my Ninja and was happy to do it, after they are letting me stay with them on and off for 4 - 6 months.

I would love any smoothie stories out there...Anyone? 

Low Energey

This is my first week working 3 days.  The drive to the city this morning was difficult.  I was sleepy, which NEVER happens.  I went to bed at 8:30 and got up at 3:45.  Just still feeling sluggish.  I did not sleep well all last week nor this weekend.  It will pass.

Then this weekend, DH and I have his aunt's funeral and my friend from H.S. LJ - her service.  I learned of her passing Friday as I was driving home from the city.  Very sad. 

I am just low energy all around.  Maybe next time I check in here I will have something interesting to say.  Not today.  Did help DH mow the yard Monday.  So that helped him feel better about having to do it all alone with his back pain.  He wears his belt, and uses the riding only, when I can help - I use the push mower.  But I think he goes a little too fast on the riding and does a bunch of unnec jerking backing up and making sharp turns - why?  when I am there to do the sharp turns with the push mower.  Oh well, once again, he refuses to listen to me. 

We had overall good weekend.  We did not much - too hot.  Was in mid 90's and 90's humidity.  But I did do some shopping, go to the gymn, cooked couple meals, made some banana bread, walked the dog and worked in my garden.  He did something for my on Monday that gave me hope that things will be ok between us after all.  We have had a rough year.  Which is ironic, because we are coming up on our 12th anniversary next week.

More on that.  Hope you all out there have a great week!

Little More Chatty

These are some of my pretty lilies.

I had a great weekend.  Got lots of stuff done, but also spent some great down time with DH.  I listened to a podcast this weekend (I Survive).  This gal was admitted to the hospital end of June - had some poor medical care, they called it the "july Effect".  She had a counselor who helped her with post partum - go to bed same time, get up same time.  I suggested this to my DH as he is struggling a little with depression I suspect.  He said he is tired all the time and does not want to get up.  I know he is adjusting that I am not there all the time now, but part of me still feels this is the correct thing for me to do right now - work.  It doesn't have to be forever, I just needed to find an outlet while we adjust to this new life we have.  In some ways I feel DH is adjusting, them we will have a weekend where we don't want to be around each other and I can't wait to leave for work.  Then when I leave, I am really sad and miss DH and our dogs and our house and our yard. 

I have a friend at work who is a lot like my husband, told me to present it as cavemen did it, rather than connection to the earth woo woo stuff.  He said since I go to yoga but DH doesn't, would not be as effective, haha.  So, I hope DH will try to go to bed and get up same times - but I feel like once I am gone to work, he just does whatever he wants to do. 

Part of the issue he is dealing with is constant chronic back pain.  He can't get any relief, but he is also unwilling to try anything like chiropractic, traction, exercises and stretching, meditation, diet or anything except 1)  surgery - which he tried in 2009 and 2)  medication (more about this in an upcoming post).  So, then I get disgusted and am not very sympathetic one minute and then feel very sad for him the next.  At least when I am gone to work, I am not judging him and being critical. 
I guess honestly it is a good way for me to keep my own side of the street clean and work on prayer and acceptance...and love...as we approach our 12 year anniversary. 

But at least this week they made if official at work and told me I am cleared to go to 3 ten hour days, so I can have Monday and Friday off and get things done at home and just be in the city 2 to 3 nights a week. 

Super Soul Podcasts re Reverend John Gray...building bridges.  Loved it.  I need to listen to more inspirational pods, books and music.  I listened to It is Well by Kristene Dimarco and loved it.  Have a great Tuesday!

Sentimental Fool

I wrote this on my school FB group today.  I am sentimental because my dad's death anniversary was Friday and today is my sister's birthday.

Hope you have a great Monday.

Morgan County will forever and always have a special place inside my heart, even though I have not lived there since ****.  We are the class of ****!  We will always be connected!  UNTIL THE DAY I DIE.  I told my little sister (whose birthday is today) that from now on, I will not pass up an opportunity to tell someone how they have positively impacted my life.  So, while I am sitting here crying at work...I wanted to post a shout out to my awesome classmates, fellow county neighbors and some darn fine valuable close friends I LOVE YOU.  You all continue to keep our classmates in your prayers.  N****, L*** and C*****...and several others who are going through difficult times and shall remain anonymous.  But know that there are many of us who hold you all tight in our hearts and prayers.  Don't miss that opportunity to reach out.  Have a wonderful MONDAY a beautiful summer day.  Perfect day to call someone, write a text, send a card.  Thanks for reading this.

Challenge of being 85

My sweet uncle took a fall last night.  I was glad I was up here in the city because I drove he and my aunt to a downtown hospital at 9:30 last night.  He has serious health challenges, heart, lungs, kidneys.  We were worried about his ribs/lungs. 

We had just fixed a nice meal of baked potatoes and salad.  I brought my aunt and uncle some tomatoes we grew that we were very excited about.  He was in so much pain he did not have one bite.  It was so sad.

He was admitted.  Aunt and I not home till 2am.  She is having some challenges of her own.  My heart goes out to them at this time.  I slept 5 hours last night and made it through the work day.  Barely.  I am going to go take a leisurely walk and then go to bed early tonight. 

I hope the ribs are not broken.  He fell in the kitchen.  Fell pretty hard.  Appreciate the little things, family, friends, love because things can change so quick.

On a happier note.  The picture with my arm in it is my catalpa tree we planted 2 years ago.  The picture was taken in late April or early May.  2nd picture was about 10 days ago.  I drew the line where my shoulder is for comparison. 

Dog Days

Went to see a family member in the hospital last night, more about that another post.  On the way back, I went by our old temporary extended stay hotel.  I snapped a pic and sent it to DH for a laugh.
It is hot and possibly stormy here in city this weekend.  I think supposed to be drier my state, rain-wise.  DH is wondering if I will have to put up the convertible top.  We bought it in April and have not put the top up yet.  I will let you know.

Kali Coleman of MSN wrote this article, which I found interesting:  The “dog days of summer” refers to the hottest, sweatiest, most oppressively sweltering stretch of the year. And though you might think the phrase comes from worn-out, overheated pups laying lazily in the sun, too hot to play even one round fetch, you’d be incorrect. Turns out, the phrase “dog days of summer” has very little to do with dogs at all.

According to Christopher Klein of The History Channel, the phrase dates all the way back to ancient times, when civilizations tracked the seasons by sky patterns. During the hottest days of the summer, ancient Romans and Greeks noticed that Sirius—the brightest star in the sky—set and rose alongside the sun. And as Jay Holberg, the author of Sirius:  Brightest Diamond in the Night Sky, explains, Sirius is known as the “dog star” because it’s the brightest star in constellation Canis Major, which literally translates to “greater dog” in Latin.

Since Sirius moved in tandem with the sun during this time of immense heat, ancient civilizations believed the star was radiating all that extra heat to planet Earth. The Romans, therefore, referred to the phenomenon as “diēs caniculārēs,” which translates to “dog days.”

Thanks to advances in modern science, we now know that though Sirius is indeed the brightest star in the sky, it’s more than eight light-years away from the Earth. One light year, per the scientists at NASA, equates to nearly six trillion miles. For comparison’s sake, NASA puts our own sun as 92 million miles away from the equator. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to tell that Sirius is way, way too far away from our solar system to contribute a single joule of heat to Earth.

Additionally, our dog days are hardly the same dog days of ancient eras. The Old Farmer's Almanac says the current precise dog days of summer fall between July 3 and August 11. The ancient Romans and Greeks, however, are said to have experienced their dog days starting in late July. What’s more, as the universe shifts and changes and shrinks and expands at a never-ending rate, Sirius changes locations in the night sky.

“In 26,000 years, the dog days would completely move all around the sky,” Bradley Schaefer, a professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University, told National Geographic.   “Roughly 13,000 years from now, Sirius will be rising with the sun in mid-winter.”

Wow, I love stuff like this.  I hope you get a chance to see the stars in between the fireworks this weekend.  And have the love of family and friends around you.  Today I am going to lunch with my aunts, it is my Aunt C birthday.  And later I get to see my DH and my dogs.  Can't wait!  Friday we go to Sam's - good times.  And Saturday I spend with my sister's family.  I already told her I was going to bring the 7 layer dip.  Now I am seriously wanting some - I am making a dairy free version.

Have a great holiday!

Speaking of dogs, this is me and my dogs in our closet when a bad storm came through this spring.

HBD to My Uncle!

Today is my Uncle's 85th birthday!  After work, I am taking him for a ride in the convertible.  I have been talking about driving it up here for a couple weeks now and haven't until this week because of storms.  He can't wait to see it.  Isn't it funny how boys and men (and ME) like cars and motorcycles.  I have had many a young buy take photos next to or on my motorcycle.  I always offer to let them sit on it for photos.  They love it. 

I will say though, I rode in a parade a few years ago on my bike with my husband and our Harley Owners Group, and the most enthusiastic people of all in the crowd were young girls.  It was funny.  I always wave when I see kids, they get a kick out of it.

Monday before Holiday

I had a nice quiet weekend at retirement country home with DH.  We relaxed because of the heat.  In the 90's which is not too bad, but the humidity was 94%!  I got home mid day Friday and caught up with my DH, my dogs and my laundry.  Then we sat in the shade and read.  I watered my plants real well once it cooled off a bit.  Then light quick trip to store, dinner and watching TV.  

Saturday I took my pup for early walk, she was still panting heavily even though it had not reached 80 yet.  The humidity is just oppressive!  I watered everything again and did about 30 min of weeding in my flower garden box.  My sister came over and we took a ride in the new convertible and went to the farmers market and had smoothies.  I got a late in season box of blueberries.  They were good!

Then mid day she had to get home and DH and I got a little sun before it got too terrible and then I read while he napped.  We had baked potatoes and chips and salsa/guacamole.  No meat.  I forgot to thaw anything out.  But DH had picked out a really good watermelon and we had that for dessert.  I am on week 2 of no sugar (except for fruit).  I felt sort of like I was detoxing all weekend (stomach issues - but not nearly as bad as last week!).  Then, by Sunday, I felt pretty good! 

Since I have short week at work, I stayed at home until early Monday and got up at 4am and drove 3 hours to the city.  I told my aunt not to expect me until today.  Was fun seeing the sun come up.  No traffic till about 30 miles out of the city.  Now I sit here waiting for an assignment. 

Poor DH is growing weary of this working out of town.  I am too, obviously.  But he is lonely, I can tell.  We had some really good talks.  Some plans.  Some suggestions.  But we are in it as a team.

I hope you have a short week too!