When Fiction Imitates Life

Well, my life that is.

"...What she wished for most was to be the self she might have been if she'd never been sick, the person she could have become if she hadn't been stopped in some way, if she hadn't stopped herself."
-Blackbird House, Alice Hoffman

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

The Rock Orchard: A Novel by Paula Wall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An off-beat and sometimes racy (sexy) Southern read; one of the best southern novels I've read to date. More real, earthy and gritty, less sugar sweet and cliched than many southern reads. These characters will linger with me. (If you offend easily when it comes to 'sexy' stuff or sometimes colorful language, it may not be the read for you!)



View all my reviews

Saying Goodbye

We had to put our kitty down today; it was the right thing to do so he wouldn't suffer any longer or more than he was. It's one of the worst decisions one has to make. Absolutely heartbreaking.

But, knowing he was suffering, knowing that anything done wouldn't change the outcome or return his quality of life, knowing he would only suffer more if we didn't make this decision today, it was truly the best thing for him. I love him too much to let him suffer needlessly.

In a matter of two weeks he lost half of his body weight, his left kidney shrank to the size of a pea, his right balloned abnormally and his bloodwork was the extreme opposite of normal. 'Sudden onset of incurable/acute kidney failure.' When I took him two weeks ago because he wasn't acting like himself, his bloodwork was fine, his weight was normal as were the size of his kidneys. But this is apparently common in 'Tuxedo' cats (along with urinary tract infections; his were under control via med and wet food since August of 2009 along with routine bloodwork which showed his kidneys were fine until the bloodwork done today).

My little lap cat. Oh how we will miss you!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

The Unexpected Brings Lasting Joy

The swans have arrived at the river for a visit. They will disappear as quickly as they appeared. 48 of them again this year.

Progress, A Wordless Wednesday Post

Yesterday I got on the treadmill at home for the first time since June, 2010. Progress. Slow & steady wins the race. So to speak.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

From Our Home To Yours...

A Happy Valentine's Day!
(Remember to celebrate love in all its' forms every day).

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday

It's a messy day in the neighborhood here in our neck of the NJ coast. The ice which coated everything this morning has begun to melt as the sleet & freezing rain has turned to rain. We're very lucky to have not lost power though since yesterday morning there has been a "digital channel service disruption" in our area with the cable; the tv's with cable boxes have no channels so we disconnected one box in order to see the news & weather channels (without the box there's no issue - no 24 hours of Ground Hog Day on Encore dernit). I'm glad that's the worst of it so far.

It's a good day to say in and, as pictured above, you can see that's what I'm doing. Curled up under my favorite quilt with Country Homes & Interiors (British Edition) & Artful Blogging and a kitty (or two, the other is out of the frame).

I don't have much of a choice in the matter as I started having bouts of extreme dizziness on Monday which is so far being attributed to the new arthritis medicine I started last Tuesday since nothing else seems a-miss. My electrolytes and sodium levels are a tad low despite being hydrated and I may (or may not) have a sinus/ear infection (no fever to speak of thank goodness!) so it's back on bed rest for yours truly.

Since the first new arthritis med I tried this year had me breaking out the epi-pen within 20 minutes and now this, I believe I will sit out anymore new arthritis meds until I'm given the all clear to resume my iv medicine.

Of course, there's the chance that the dizziness is being caused by my arthritis attacking my nervous system/inner ear/eyes or the week long infection and high fever I had last July actually damaged my heart function in some way (though bloodwork gives no indication of that as of yet) - I appreciate my doctor's honesty and thoroughness, truly, but sometimes the possibilities are overwhelming, ya know? But first bed rest, fluids (including hot broth and pedialyte to keep my levels up) and a antibiotics to try and clear any possible upper respiratory infection as well as monitoring my temperature (in case a fever starts in which case it's hospital time).

Disconcerting is an understatement.

Many "little" things are piling up in addition and I'm not handling them well at all.

I'm exhausted, overwhelmed and to be honest, scared.

But I'll make it through.

Thank God for my Husband. He is a Blessing and a life saver for me. I don't know where I would be now without his love and support these last 6.5 years. As I was wrapped up in his arms last night, I never felt more grateful.

I hope you're safe and sound whatever the weather in your neck of the world.

For now I'm off for lunch of mac & cheese and to watch my Ground Hog Day dvd.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®