WEEKEND

Golly, the weekend has come and gone AND I STILL HURT!!!! Ok, I'm done complaining. But, I just had to say it. Because, tomorrow is Monday and that starts therapy, all over again. Don't worry, I'll get used to it and not say anymore about it.....hopefully.

How was your weekend? Good, I hope. Mine was very uneventful. I spent most of it in bed. But I will have to tell you. My sweetie, the ol' CodyCoyote, went to go fly model airplaines and he got rained out. But that was a good thing for us. The head of the fly club had brought 4 lbs of Elk meat to make hamburgers. Since the rain came, Port gave codycoyote 2 lbs. to bring home and do whatever. WELL....let me tell you....we had some AWESOME CHILLI, made by the Ol' Coyote.......maaaaaaaaaaaaann, he really outdid himself. That was the best chilli I have ever eaten....Bring on the Elk hunting season....if only we could get a tag, dang, it was super.

Saturday it rained and the temps changed dramaticly. The weather reports were for rain/snow for today, but it's just been spiting, so the only chance we have this weekend for snow would be tonight....ain't gonna happen. It's 43 now and I don't think it wants to snow yet. We usually get our first snowfall the first week of October, I was hoping this would be a different year.

This is sad, I honestly can't think of anything else I did (thaat was fun and worth talking about), so, I guess I will sign off for today and hope for a better tomorrow. Ciao!

SUCCESS

OK...we are going to try this again. It won't be near as long as the first (post, that did not post) because I hope to click publish before the power goes out againi. We've lost it three times now, so cross your fingers!!!

I got up this morning to beautiful blue skies and white puffy clouds and it was gorgeous. The coms were moooooooooooing in the field behind us and the geese were in grreat form honking accross the sky. Somebody must have done something someone didn't like because it sounded like one of them was giving the rest what for. Anyway, it was a site to behold and the smell was so fresh, wow, there is just no place like Wyoming...there is a reason they call this place GOD'S COUNTRY, it is just so fabulous.

I had to go to physical therapy (second time) today, and, well, it was you know, uck. Brian is my therapist and he is the sweetest guy (not in the gay connotation, he is straight, but cool) He is not used to being as gentle as he has to be with me. He said that in the seven years he has been doing this, I am without a doubt the most sensitive (to touch) than anyone he has had to work on before. Well, that made me feel badly, I felt like crying, I hate being different. It's so weak. Whenever I get mad or angry at myself, I cry...it was all I could do to keep that smile on my face today. He used ultra sound and that hurt and he only had it on 1.5.....then he did the manipulation and massage and then the neck stretching, yeeeeeeeeeouch!!! Ok, then after my torture, he placed a wide ice collar around my upper back and neck, oh, that felt soooooooooooooooooo good. I heard the bell and wanted to just become invisable so I could be "under ice" just a little longer.....didn't work, he found me. He took the ice pack and I got my stuff to get dressed when I noticed the poster on the wall. I think it was there just for me. It said, "SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY - NOT A DESTINATION. It made sense to me. I can do this. It's not for the rest of my life, it's only temporary, I can get thru this....

Thank heaven it is Friday, I have two days away from my torture hours. When we left, we went home because the ol' coyote was hungry (duh) and since he drove me, he didn't get to eat lunch at a normal time. I just wanted to lie down.

After lying down for a while and coyote had finished his lunch, the sky was looking like it might rain some more. I had the quilt show to go to and the quilt shop to go to and I didn't feel like driving, so my sweety said he would take me to the quilt shop, since that was more important....he doesn't do quilt shows. I don't really know why. I do gun shows and car shows with him. mmmmmmmm. Oh well, I was just glad I got to get my quilt square for this month.

It's really interesting to me how many things or people can change your day. I awoke so positive, happy, pain free (almost). Now it is the close of the day and I feel frumpy, I hurt, I'm lonesome and not happy. I know that we are in charge of ourselves. And only I can make me happy or sad. But at this point, I guess I just don't have the energy or the desire to make me happy. I guess I will stop now and pray I feel better.
Good Night...

A SLOW THURSDAY

Man, this week has just flown bye...wow, where do I begin. Let's start with the ol' coyote. He has been on the phone and thru the catalogs and scratching his head and walking around in circles a whole lot....over the ATV. He is going to put it back together. He has gotten two quotes on parts needed. One was off the internet for $2400. I said that was kinda spendy! So then, he got a call from Dustin, the owner of the Bombardia Dealership....their price on the parts bundle was only $3400....hummmm, I don't wanna say anything, but this is just not going to fly, or even get back on the road at these rates. The other thing was that both of the places said that the factory repair manual was backordered, so the coyote was pretty down. Then we got a call from our Oklahoma friends and Robt. found the manual on line in a cd that is totally awesome. We had a factory manual for one of our cars on cd and it's great. You just fire up the ol' puter and go to the section you need, print out the page(s) and you can get them as greasy or crumpled or ripped and when done, toss them. So that was a good call from Robt. (thanks, he needs all the help he can get) This is a major deal for him. He is a VW mechanic and does the oil, plugs and all that stuff, but completely rebuilding this ATV is overwhelming.....Coyote gets overwhelmed very easily. But, that's good for him, it keeps him home, I like that.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was my firs day of therapy. I put it off as long as I could, yuk, 3 times a week for THREE MONTHS!!!! Now some people like massages, I don't. I have such sensitive surface nerves that everything hurts just to touch. When I take a shower, the water feels like needles going into my skin. I don't know why, that's just the way it is. Same way with spas, hot tubs with the jets, yeowweeee, no way baby. Ok, back to the therapy. I have Brian, who is the head of the department. He is very nice, even nice to look at. He just can't believe how sensitive I am and how tight all my muscles in my neck and upper back are. But at least he believes me and is working accordingly. I once had a doctor who treated me like I was a baby, even called me a big baby, after an accident I had. They were doing an electromylagram on my neck and down my back. The pain was excrutiating, it brought tears to my eyes and all he could say was "why are you crying, it doesn't hurt that much" - slammed his stethascope on the table and stomped out. The next day, he did come in to my hosp. room and apologize. He said that he had never done the test on anyone with the severity of mine......duh.....gee, thanks!

So, Brian did the ultra sound on the back of my neck and then after that, he lightly massaged the back of my neck and upper back. And, of course, today, I hurt, it starts all over again......oh, the other thing that he said would be good to loosen my muscles would be heat.....ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I HATE HEAT.....what can I say...he just shook his head, looked at the coyote who shrugged his shoulders and we all just smiled. I know deep down Brian was pulling his hair out.

When we left therapy, we had an appt. with one of our friends that we don't see too often. He is the great hunter. We got to the hunter's house and he was there waiting for us. The reason we went to see the hunter is because he has a mega supply of ivory. You see, Elk have 2 ivory teeth in their mouth's. So he said that he would sell me some ivory, I want a ring and a pendant. BD makes jewelry and I figured if I brought the ivory, it wouldn't cost so much to get the jewelry made. So, we were there over an hour, I swear, people talk to you like there is no tomorrow. Anyway, to make a long story short....I walked away with some ivory, 2 T-bone elk steaks and 1 elk roast, all for at least a third of what I should have paid, for his price to a place called Mystic Lady....wow, I really felt I should have given him more, but, he was ok with it. Now I have an elk roast and my Oklahoma gang aren't here to help us eat it. Of course the coyote isn't too sorry about that...more for him......laughing

Since coyote knew I wasn't feeling well after all the measuring and manipulation, we got in the car and he said, "how would you like to got to El Tapitio for dinner", waaaaaaaaaaaaaahooooooooooo...what a guy!!!! That's our most favorite mexican resaurant. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it was sooooooooooo good!!! I'm so glad that ol' coyote loves me.

Today was a down day, just didn't feel up to snuff..the weather is trying to change and when that barametric pressure changes, so does my mood, I guess. Just felt out of sorts and not like doing anything I should have done. So, I called Gail and asked if she felt like going out to lunch. She did, so we went to Maxwell's and had a very nice lunch. Then we came home, and I watched a couple episodes of Grey's Anatomy, I got to buy the second season, ya ya ya...and then we had pot pies for dinner and here I am. I just went to put the dogs out and realized it rained a little (very little, but never the less rain is rain). Really boring day, but I'm thru it..."tomorrow is another day"
Good Night.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Golly, here it is Saturday night and here we sit, quietly in our little house, just the cat, 2 dogs and the coyote and me. It's so quiet and lonesome. I miss my friends. They left yesterday, early and I wish they were back already. We had such a great time. That midget is a kick. She keeps you laughing all the time. And, she has gotten so pretty, changing from a child into a young lady. Can you believe it.......her legs are longer than mine!!!! Sheesh, it's amazing, simply amazing how they grow now a days.

We all had so much fun in the cabin and in the park. We got to spend two whole days in the park searching for animals and looking at the sites. Wow, the colors are changing already...It's just so beautiful, green, red, yellow and orange. My only complaint was that the Derby fire in MT caused all the smoke to lay in the Park and in our Big Horn Basin....I miss my blue skies and puffy white clouds. I'm hoping the fire will get put out soon. They have lost over 20 homes and still counting. It's so sad for all those families.

We got home Thursday night and all of us were exhausted. Needless to say, with them leaving the next morning EARLY, we all just went to bed. They left around 6am and Skip and I just looked at each other....we couldn't decide to go back to bed or stay up and start the day. With so many things to do, we just stayed up and started our chores.

Today is Saturday and we worked around the house, went to Wally World, I needed some yogurt and Skipper needed some stuff, too. I got to talk to Jim today and he is cleaning all of Deb's things out. He is selling an antique upright piano on ebay and he told me he didn't know what to do with her antique tredle SINGER SEWING MACHINE....I told him I would take it. He said he would take it to the mail people and all I would have to do is pay for shipping....WOWWWWWIE, I couldn't believe it. So I'm really excited about that. It needs a belt and some other things, but shoot, I've always wanted one of those and the plus is that it was my best friend's......I'm just so excited!!!!!!!!!!

Another call I got today was from my oldest Grandaughter, Alyssia. We got to talk for over 20 minutes....that's rare. Usually, her mother has so many things for her to do that we never get to talk. I'm really hoping we get to see her when we go to her dad's house in November.....hope,....hope.....hope. We have not gotten to see her for a year, not fair....not even right.

This was the day for calls. My neice Amy called and we talked about her new baby girl, Ella Kiersten Hall. I can hardly wait to see her. We are going to Washington, for the baby's blessing on Oct. 8, 2006. We don't get to stay too long, the coyote doesn't like to stay away from the house too long......

Speaking of the coyote, he just finished watching his movie, Batman Begins, so I guess I better close so we can get ready for Choir Practice in the morning, before church. Time to turn in, I wonder where Lips and the family are? They are still driving home. They went up to Dead Wood after they left here. I heard from her earlier and they were somewhere in Kansas, still a long way from their home in Miami, Oklahoma...Sure hope they are safe.

I can't believe that I didn't blog in 5 days, wow, we must have been really busy.....good night!

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RIDE

Robt. and the Coyote got up early today and went on a ride into Sunlight Basin. While they were gone, I got to talk to Jim Cook about Deb and that was nice. He gave me the name of a florist in Soddie Daisy where they lived. So I was able to call the florist and they were open today, so the woman was really nice and took my order. She will be fixing a nice basket for Deb. There will be roses, babies breath, Irises, Daisys, lots of other flowers all in a basket with a white banner that will say, "To my best friend". I think she and the family will like that. Then I signed it from the both of us. I sure wish I could be there for the services, Wednesday, 6 September 2006, @ 10am. I'm glad that Jim and the family understand that we can't get there....but it really sucks.
We took the day easy and when the boys got home, everyone was tired. We stayed home and fixed Chicken Fajita's for dinner and looked at the great pictures that Robt. took all day. Great scenery and beautiful views. They even got a really close picture of a group of deer. All in all, the day was good. No one got hurt, no machines dies. The midget took both the rotties for a walk (one at a time) They pull her the first part of the walk, then they walk beside her on the way home. Those girls are gonna miss that girl when she leaves to go home. Oh, one other place we girls went today, The Buffalo Bill Dam. When it was built, it was the tallest dam around, in 1905. It was really a difficult task. The weather got as low as 116 below zero. I can't remember how long it took, but they did go thru a lot of people before it got done.

Tomorrow we leave for the park and our fun little cabin, we are all excited. So I will talk to you later....good night

A DAY OF REST & REGROUPING

Well, this being Sunday we didn't do too much. Robt. and the Coyote spent most of the day in the shop, trying to figure out just exactly what parts were needed to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. The Coyote came in thru half the day and announced, "well, we figured it will ONLY take AROUND $1,500.00 to fix things. That being the case, it's going to be a while until H.D. gets fixed. In the mean time, since Robt. is still here to ride, the Coyote is using my machine, OMG! Say your prayers rabbit....I like my machine, I wanna keep my machine.

Lips and the midget and I went to Wally World and K-Mart to pick up some last minute things for our fun trip to Yellowstone where we will be spending one night in a cabin. Then we will spend the next day in the park. I hope we get to see lots of animals.

UH OH...OH NO!!!!

Things are going from bad to worse. I can't begin to tell you the range of emotions and feelings of this day. I woke up to a phone call from my girlfriend's daughter, that her mother had passed away yesterday. Debbi Cook, a great giant among women. She had risen above so much and was doing so well. She had tonsil cancer and had gone thru surgery, chemo and radiation. She had the usual side effects to go thru, the vomiting, the hair loss, the burned throat, etc. She was really on her way up. She was attending a conference for work and had a seizure. The paramedics were called and responded immediately. They brought her back and then put her in the ambulance and transported her to the E.R.. Once they brought her into the E.R., she seized again, and they were not able to bring her back. WHAT A SHOCK!!!!! I'm really sad, she was such a great friend, and I won't be able to attend the services. Good bye for a little while, Deb, I'll catch up with you....

Then, if that wasn't bad enough, the coyote and Robt. went ATVing today while us girls went shopping. We had a great time. We ate lunch at the Irma Hotel in Cody, WY, and shopped until our legs (feet) gave out. Then we came home and got ready for the men to return. It was after 1900 when the phone rang and it was them, almost home. Once home, I waited for the to unload, unpack and all that. Then the coyote came in and asked how my day was....I told him about Debbi and then he proceeded to tell me of his day. They had a wonderful time until about 1430 when the coyote lost it and yes, you guessed it, he totalled his ATV!!!!

September 1st 2006 - MIXED EMOTIONS

Gosh, I can't begin to tell you how excited we were when Lips and the family drove up. They tricked me, first of all! Lips calls on the cell and says they are in Meteetsee, oh, maybe it's Thermop, then, in a matter of 5/8 minutes, Lips calls and says did you move, there is green grass and no more dirt in the front yard. I ran to the front door and there they were, new green jeep and trailer with the ATV....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah HOOOOOO!!!
They were here before dinner, it was so good to see all of them. And...just as I had expected, the "midget" has LONGER LEGS THAN I !!!! Sheesh, kids, they are growing them much taller these days; she is beautiful...the midget looks like a young lady, and she is gonna be a knock-out....her dad said that he has his shotgun all ready positioned at the front door. We all went out to dinner, talked forever and then everyone dropped like flies, it got really tired out and it was bed time.

September 1, 2006, it's my granddaughter's fifteenth birthday....We were all in the car, driving again (poor bottoms) to Billings because I had a Doctor's appointment I couldn't put off. We called Alyssia in Texas and everyone in the car sang Happy Birthday to her. I think she really liked it, she sounded really happy. She was haveing two friends over for the weekend, since it fell on the Holiday weekend. As for my doctor's visit. I felt really badly, throwing everyone in the car again, after they had driven for two days straight, but, what do you do....they were sure good sports about it. The doctor/surgeon was very pleased with the placement of the plate and 6 screws and the way my bones are adjusting. So now, I can drive again. He said I could do anything I wanted too and I was so excited. I said all right, even ride my ATV??? and of course, the doctor said, anything but that. It's too soon for that. CWAP!!!

So, after the doc, we went shopping and then out to one of my favorite restaurants, the Texas Roadhouse...and.....Robt treated us, yummmmmmmm, it was great food, a little too noisey, but great food! Then we drove home and again, it was really tired out, so we all went to bed.

This was the day that my very dear friend passed away. In Memory of Deborah Cook.