Sept. 23rd, 2004 most productive day for me.....almost ever

Yup! For a day, I stopped being so lazy! So here are the events of my day.

6:20, Mum got me up to get ready for PT. I have to be there by 7:30 and it is only about a15 minute trip, so I don't need all that much time.

Left for PT around 6:55, and was in the waiting room at the hospital in plenty of time.
Was called back back by one of my Therapists, Mike, and PT begin. Today was the first REAL day of my PT, yesterday I went in to meet the people that would be working with me {Kristina is supervising, meaning checking in every now and then, and Mike is a PT student. This is his third year in school for this job.} and to figure out where I was as far as healing was and how we should do my PT.

After that, I was very sore even though I did not think I was going to be! All we did was some work with the muscles in my legs, like stretches and such, and the now healed cut had to be massaged to make sure it heals without a lot of bumpy scar tissue. Like I said I did not think I was going to be all that 'changed' the first day, but a few hours later!!!! OY BOY.

So, I got home around 8:30 and had breakfast with everyone. Tiff then went to class at the Y, and I headed off to get gas. The gas light had come on while I was driving home from the hospital. Also, I wanted to buy a new CD. Something I have not done since hurting my back and having to stay out of work.

Went to the Meijer gas station.....and got stuck in my car! The door would not work! Somehow, the door panel had come off the door frame and was now stuck on the bottom car frame. {does that make any sense to anyone? I didn't describe that very well. But lets just say the door was stuck and I could not get out until I slammed up against it a few times to ram the door open} From there, I went to Best Buy and bought myself "5 Alive", the live album from a group I just started listening to. Since hearing them, well and knowing who they were. Turns outr I had heard two of their songs before, and just did not know who they were. So, since hearing them and looking the band up, I have been listening to music I got off the net {through Amazon.} I got the CD, though, so I will be able to take it with me and be able to listen to it at other times then when I am only at the computer.

I am not sure what time it was when i got home, but soon after returning I left once again.This time, to go to AutoZone and get a peg to hold the door together, and to see if they could read the codes that Mandie has been throwing. They read them, and I got the peg and came home.

Fixed the door in the visitor parking spot out front of the house {stuck the peg in the door and punched it as hard as I could to get it to stick in the hole!! :D hee hee} and then weeded the garden with Kade, Mum, and the kids.


And I did all of this BEFORE 12! A time that, the past two months, has been my wake up call time!!

I was a bit tired after lunch, and did not do AlOt for a few hours. But around 3, I went on a walk and took with my CD number one from Carbon Leaf's album. I had already determined that I was going to walk the entire time music was playing from the headphones. Guess I should have checked to see how long that first CD was!! An HOUR later, I collapsed in the living room. :)

As well as all this, all day I have been doing my 'homework' given to me today at PT. To help support my back, I need to strengthen my abs. I am to walk around, sit, lay down, EVERYTHING, while sucking in my stomach and holding my shoulders as straight as I can. {this is also to help my posture.}

So see?? Rather productive huh?? :)

Boy am I tired! Mum says she has heard that three seconds of holding your tummy in, is equal to one sit up. I have done MANY sit ups today!! oy! And I got two blisters on my feet while on my walk! :(
Oh well! I had a fun day anyway!
All topped off by a nice chat with Tara. And tonight, Kade and I are suppose to go over to watch a movie with Chris.

We have decided it will be fun to go again, to the festival, since Chris' Mom has been given free tickets and offered us some. Tiff and I are going to go by ourselves on Saturday, it looks like, and we will go watch ALL the shows. :) YAY!! We will get to see the whip skit again, and all the way through this time!! YAYAY

So steadily go, the rain...

So steadily go, the time...

So steadily go, the season...

So steadily go, long ago... ..

.All the little mysteries of a big yard ..

.A little bit older, rake the lawn ..

.I am a field mouse in a tall tree ...

Dreaming past the world below

Na-na-now, we live it up lonely, but anyhow...

I'll not complain, nowadays

Na-na-Now, we live it up lonely,

high on the bow...

Mice in a maze, nowadays

"Imagination Fades With Memory"

I think I made that up (can't quite recall)

...So steadily go, the rain ...

So steadily go, the time

So in love with the notion of being in love

And all my old friends...newly married

Acquaintance now, kiss them good-bye

[Chorus]

Such a cold day for letter writing

Cup of tea, warm regards

Window paints a Herb Jones kind of weather

Wouldn't have it any other way

(at least today...)

[Chorus]

Two great Saturdays in a row?? I could get use to 'recovering'!!

I just got back from a WONDERFUL time at the Palace! Tiff and I went there tonight to watch the Rock & Roll Gymnastics Championship. This is our third or fourth time attending one of these types of shows. Before, however, we have gone to the John Hancock tour, or the TJMaxx tour of champions. This is the first time we have been to a 'competition' with this many big names. I put the word competition in quotes because, while it is a judged event, it is mostly for show.
It was AWSOME!! Just great!! I loved it! And, very much like last weekend where I screamed my head off at the Ren Fest, I do not believe I will have much of a voice tomorow! I yelled and hooted and hollared SOOOO much, and loved every minute of it!
Paul and Morgan Hamm, my two favorite male gymnasts were there, as was Shannon Miller, who has been my, well I dont like to use the word 'idol' but at the moment I can not think of anything else. Since watching her in the 1992 Olympics, I have been captivated with her and the sport of gymnastics!! She is my number one favorite gymnast of all time!
I got a poster, but the pictures that I took with my digi cam did not turn out all that well, and that kinda bums me out. But I have the memories of tonight, and the poster, and let me tell you, those both will last me for a very long time!

I am tired and need to go walk around or something. I have been sitting for quite some time, and my back is starting to hurt. Wanted to say really quick though, that my friend and I talked the other night, and she said she did not mean to hurt me that bad with not coming with me to the Ren Fest. There were other things that she did not tell me at the time, that kept her from joining us. We have now made up, and I feel much better. She was there tonight too! It was so funny. I did not see her, but I knew she was going to be there, and we tried to find each other, but were unable to.

Oy I am tired! Wonder how much more of this 'recovery' stuff I can take!

Later I will fill in the rest of tonights happenings. But now I need to go rest!


Grant, I am so happy you had a good day! You have been worrying me, and I hope this lifts your spirits, to have had a good time with friends! Have a great time of fellowship tomorow at church!!


Night all!

`me on cloud nine!!`

Stuck with me for another six weeks!! :P

Thats right. I am off work for another six weeks. My doc and I agreed that it was best to wait till after my PT is over, for my return to work. I was really hoping that he would say that! While I don't like the 'no money coming in' thing...........I can take that in exchange for being at home with everyone all the time! Mum was saying she thought I would really be wanting to go back after all this, and when Kelly called this morning {she is an old friend of Mum's, and was like a big sis or Aunt or something when I was younger. I was in her wedding when I was 5! :) She is still very dear to me!} she said she too thought she would hear me say I was looking forward to going back!

HHHmmmm, do I seem like I am unhappy? Or do I act like I dont like my family? Hope not! I am really enjoying my time spent with them!


Three years working at Meijer! Just had my anniversary date pass!! Wow! I was only 17 when I started there! Kinda wierd to think! Lots has happened while I have been there. And I have now broken the two year at one job thing I though was going to become a tradition. Although I cant remember how long I was babysitting Kyle, Cameron and Sean. I think it MAY have been longer. Maybe three years. Think I was at Lisa's with Kade longer than two.....but I cant remember! It has all been so long ago!

I hate my brain sometimes! I can remember something a friend said five years ago, but I cant remember what I said two minutes ago, or what I did five years ago {or lately, things that happened two months ago!! oy} or where I put something three hours ago!

I am a Dork! OyGrr, thats all I have to say! And ArghyLaLa

I hate the way you talk to me,

and the way you cut your hair.

I hate the way you drive my car.

I hate it when you stare.

I hate your big dumb combat boots,

and the way you read my mind.

I hate you so much it makes me sick;

it even makes me rhyme.

I hate it,

I hate the way you're always right.

I hate it when you lie.

I hate it when you make me laugh,

even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it that you're not around,

and the fact that you didn't call.

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you.

Not even close,

not even a little bit,

not even at all.

WOW that was fun!!!

Despite the HUGE heart ache I had when I felt my friend had let me down, we went to the Ren Fest and had a WONDERFUL time! It was great!! Kade and I got up at 7 in the morning, to begin our prep. We were all ready, and I had even been on the computer for a few minutes, by the time Jen got here. She came at 10 and had two outfits with her for us to help her choose from. We had her go in the green dress, because she would then match Kade and I. We then went over and met Chris and the boys and soon after, her aunt arrived with her grand daughter. The group set off and we were all on the road by 11. The drive seemed very long, since there was a lot of construction on I-75 and it was down to one lane in many of the areas. The three cars {we had to take three since Jen had to leave for a wedding, at 3 and Chris' Aunt needed hers incase she needed to leave early.} pulled in and the eight of us all filed into the festival around 12. Just as we were beginning our walk around the shops, we were stopped by a very large parade! It was really fun! The people in it were, of course, all dressed up as different things, and were yelling out and talking to all the standers by. When we did not smile, they would tell us things such as "Better smile, you are going to be here awhile." Or "Well if you are not going to smile, neither am I!" promptly followed by a frown or scowl. That would of course make us all laugh. The parade must have lasted for like five minutes or so and then we restarted our trek. One of the first stores I saw, was named Cassie's Garlands. I took a picture of that to show to Cass!! The streets were filled with vendors if different sorts of things, like a stone that had holes in it that made noise when you blew through them. And pickles! Oh the pickles!! There has got to be like three or four pickle stands in that one fair! And the people manning those things are the loudest, but very funny. You can hear their shouts for probably blocks, were it not for the other noise that go on at these things. At one of the shops I stopped and got some VERY expensive fudge!! {Later in the day though, I was very glad to have that.My sugar dropped and I had a bad case of the shakes. Nearly fell over and would have had I not had the fudge to bring my blood sugar back up to normal! Thank you Lord for having me buy the chocolate!!}
So lets see, what did we do next? Well, we walked all over the place, and my back held up pretty well! I didn't even really need to sit down till shortly before Jen had to go.
We went and watched the joust, and that was really fun. We did not get to see the entire show, but the opening speech made by the queen was enough in itself. Being as how it was on Sept. 11th, I wondered if they were not going to have something in reverence to the anniversary, but did not know how this would be achieved in a Ren. Era manner. It was done very nicely by the Queen when, after welcoming all the those competing in the joust {keep in mind this is all scripted! It is not like people are pulled from the crowd or anything} she began a small tribute to those lost in the attacks of Sept 11th 2001. The words United States of America or even USA, were never used in this small speech, instead she simply said that she wanted to bring a new set of colours out. {the riders and teams each had a set of colours.} and went on to say that there were many killed 3 years ago. This was our nation, she said, and we need to remember them. While I can not remember the actual terms she used she mentioned that we would need to stay strong and united, and this was the way we would win in the war we now had to fight. {that was a lot of w's did you notice??} After she ended her brief statement, the American Flag was brought out and hung over the banister, while Taps were played. There were two members of the Honor guard there, one of which held the flag pole during the song. It was all very sweet and never once did she fall out of character!

We got the last half of "The zucchini Brothers"! Very funny show, very clean aswell! I was very impressed with this fact! Just goes to show you, you can be funny and exciting and NOT have to be crude. We also caught the beginning of Dead Bob. I use to really like this act, but lately he has gotten very political, and like to do a large bit of Pres. Bush bashing. So we did not stay around. Besides, this was at the time that I was having difficulty standing, due to the low blood sugar, and everyone else needed food aswell. We had not really eaten any lunch...just nibbled a few things here and there....and did not have a sit down dinner or anything either. We did get some really great chicken and chips though. They were great! There were a few other shows that we stayed to see the last portion of, or that we got the tail end of, but none really worth mentioning that I can remember. However, the BEST one IMO was....WhipBoy. And, for all of those that have dirty minds, no it was not a crude show! :) WhipBoy is a master of the Bull Whip. According to him, he is a world known whip boy and does the worlds most difficult whip trick. He also does a balloon warm up, in which he swallows a long and skinny balloon.......really! I have no idea what happens to the thing, cause he did not ever take it out...that he showed us that is. His show is a comedic danger act. I laughed SO very hard, and he was the reason I had no voice the next day! I was not sure how I was going to be able to sing at church the next morning. He had everyone yelling at the top of their lungs and screaming and laughing and hootin and hollering. Great time!! That act is definitely going to be at the TOP of my must see list for next year! {he even has a website. WhipBoy grew up just a few miles away from me!!! :O :http://www.commidiots.com/stunt.htm }

We had much fun shopping through all of the stores that are there in the festival. They have everything you can think of! Each year, Kade and I get gifts for everyone in our family. This year, we got Mum the traditional Copper Roses but we also got extra smelly oil so that she can refuel them! :) The rose smell is SOO very real, you are nearly fooled into thinking you are smelling a real rose instead of the copper one! For Dad, this year, it was the tip of a dear antler. I thought it was pretty cool! Seems he did aswell. David is always the hardest one to find a gift for at this thing {and even on OTHER non-ren days he can be a hard one} since they did not have fun 'gadgets' like he likes, back in those times. They did, however, have leather. And one shop made leather Zippo lighter holders. So we got him one of those for his prized zippo lighter. {no, my brother does not smoke, he and I are just pyros! And when you are addicted to fire, you have to have cool flame throwers. He has a really neat silver zippo...that now sits in a black leather pouch!} Sammy got a leather pouch aswell, but his is for bigger things that lighters! :) For the girls, small clay necklaces. They were really pretty and have glitter and paint on them. They are in the shape of a small swirly shell. I got Tiff a green and silver bracelet, and she got me a tiny heart shape prism pendant. It is so beautiful! The past two years, I have seen and wanted a Rams Horn. I am not ReAlLy sure why, but I thought they looked cool and have nearly gotten myself one each year, but managed to talk myself out of it before I put the money out for it. Well this year I DIDNT! I got it! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have my Rams Horn! It is a pretty one at that, as far as Rams Horns go. It is black and shiny and has a brown leather rope so that it can hang around my neck! Now I just have to get good at using the thing. {see it is an actual horn made out of a rams horn.} Dad can do it really well, and the sound can be heard on all three floors of our house. I just seem to get those in the room with me really upset!

We left the park at oh 7:30 maybe. I think it was rather close to 8 though. We got home at 8:30 {the trip home is always faster isn't it?} and I found that I had been burned really bad by the sun! I had not even though of sun burn! My worries were on hot and cold and making sure I did not become too much of one. It seems though, that the sun had a direct path to my neck area and the only part of me there that did not get scorched was the bit that was covered by my rather large necklace. {a purchase from a past Ren Fest visit}

Sun burn or no, though, we had an absolute WONDERFUL time, and I would get do it all again in a heart beat! Sun burn and all!! :)

When I got home, I told Mum I had one big problem with the Fest!

It was over!

Well, David has moved.

Back into the basement that is. For the past two months, since having his back surgery, David's computer has been up in his room. While that has been how he has wanted things for as long as I can remember, he said it was not as good as he had hopped. The reason for this was that, to fit his computer in there, they had to put it at the end of his bed. He had to lay in just the right way to be able to see the screen, and then that hurt his back. So he was either in pain, or not able to see very well. Plus, the computer was at the foot of his bed and the TV at the head! So he would have to switch positions depending on what he was doing. I am glad to have him back down here with us. It could get rather lonely when Tiff was at work, and I was the only one down here. Plus, since just about everything he needed was in his room {i.e. TV and computer.} there were days I did not see him, save for meal time. That was very weird sometimes. There would be days when he was gone to PT and I didnt know it because I had not seen him all day so thought he was still in his room!! The one nice thing though, to having him in his room....is that for 2 months I have not heard "BIRD! Hush up!" or "QUIET BIRD!" or "OOoh BIRD!!!" or "BIRD!!!". *Sigh* It was peacful down here. Lonely and quiet, but peacful! But I guess I can traid my peace and quiet for having my big brother back in the family!! :D

This week we are trying something new! :-O New you say? Yes, new. This Tuesday was the first day of school for the little ones. When we were little, there was no computer and no TV allowed before school time, and that started at 9am. {we got out of bed at 7, had till 8 to get ready for the day with dressing, and hair brushing, and bed making and such. Then at 8 we had breakfast. Then had till 9 to clean up and get the jitters out before sitting down for Bible class, which was always first.} I think they kids start school a bit later, but they are little and only take about an hour or at most two, to finish all thier work. So Mum was saying she was going to start the rule back up again for the three kids, of no TV and no computer. Saturday I think it was, Caeley came up and said she had seen something on TV that had really bothered her. It was a man with no clothes on, but parts that should not be seen had been covered by a black box or blurry section {like they do with peoples faces on COPS and such shows} She was asking why they had to show things like that on TV, and she said it was on a little kids channel but I am not sure if she was mistaken or not. Katren, Caeley, and Sam got to talking with Mum and they {the three kids} came up with the idea of not watching TV for awhile. Just to take a break and see if they could last and find other things to take up their time. While it was just suppse to be Mum and the kids that were on this TV Strike, I decided I was going to go along with it aswell and Tiff did the same. Dad said that he did not think it was fair to watch TV in the living room and have the kids leave the room to keep their promise, so he too went on this project as well. {David has a TV in his room like I said, so he is able to watch and not have interupt anyone or bother anyone.}We have done it before, but last night Tiff and I pulled out some games and started playing. Dad joined in, and Mum was in the kitchen with us washing the dishes. Soon, David came down and was making silly comments about our questions and answers for Trivial Pursuit. We had a blast and even stayed up past 11 all together, something that is odd on a school/work night, since Dad and Mum have to get up before 5 in the morning. I laughed so hard that my back hurt, and Mum was crying!! I mean not crying like BOOHOO, but there were tears rolling down her cheeks! It was great! Dont know what we will do, if anything tonight. The kitchen computer is having problems and is giving Dad a HUGE bad attitude while he trys to fix it!

Grant got his drivers license yesterday!!! WAHOOOO!! I am so very happy for him. Was just talking with Tara about it! :) Everyone is very proud of you! :)

Oh, I got a reply email from one of my cousins in Canada. She is my mothers oldest niece and is seven years older than me. Yesterday I wrote to her, in hopes of maybe starting an email correspondence. Maybe I will be able to get to know a bit more about that side of my family!!!

Well, my hands and back are starting to hurt, so I think it is about time to finish this up. Besides, if I have to look up a word in this pocket dictionary of mine, one more time to correct my own spelling, I think I am going to cry!

GGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so upset! Next week is the ren fest, something we have been planning for MONTHS. My sis and I started our planning right after the last one, in 2003, but we have been making plans with friends for the past three or four months! Tonight, I was calling around to let everyone know what time we were meeting and heading out. What do I find out? One of my friends says she 'forgot' to ask for the day off! How can you forget when we have been talking about it for forever, AND when we JUST talked about it Tuesday? That is not called forgetting, that is called not doing. If she did not want to go, thats fine. Tell me! Dont lie to me for the past few months and tell me how exciting this is going to be and how much you are looking forward to it, and then make a lame excuse last minute. To make things worse, another one of my friends that was suppose to come did not get the day off, but then NEXT day. So she is not coming either! The one and only co-worker that IS comeing, has to leave early to go to a wedding!

I am so mad right now. Mad, and hurt and upset! This is not the first time this has happened, and I am so tired of being lied to! I have no clue what the problem is. We have made plans before, and last minute she has said she cant do it......but says something that lets me know she never had any intention of doing it in the first place. We have a wonderful time when we are out together, and I love her to death, but this lying is getting on my nerves and starting to hurt my feelings! *SIGH* I left a message on her voicemail saying {grr, I said it in a 'happy laughing' way} that I think she did not ask for it off cause she did not want to go. I pray I have enough guts to tell her that again, but this time in a "I am SO hurt" tone, when she calls me back.



*cry*