TrishW's Journal

The ridges are much clearer this morning again than they've been in days.  False sense of security, tho.  There's a heavy smoky smell outdoors;  that red circle in the sky that we call the sun is out here this morning, but no warm rays reach the earth.  Yesterday's news calls for another 2-3 weeks of smoke, minimum, as firefighters make sure no fires "re-start."  All of our fires are now fully contained.  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to the Senior Center thrift store this morning to put in my 2 hours of volunteer efforts.  Or at least attempt it.  I have no high hopes that this will be painless, etc.  I've been unable to get rid of the pain in my knee resulting from my first week there; no reason to expect it to disappear today.  The folks at the thrift store told me in the past that they don't care how much I can volunteer - they'll accept anything.  Guess I'll find out if they truly meant that...:)  Depending on how it goes for me today, even w/braces, I may have to tell them I have to help them out fewer hours than i already am.

I've received lots of comments and messages about my thinking that I might need to change what I write about in my journal entries, and the overwhelming consensus is for me to NOT change anything.  That being said - and the fact that I asked - leaves me w/the awareness that writing about my daily activities (or lack thereof) is what folks look for in my journal entries.  And my occasional, more serious, reflective pieces.  Issue put to rest.

I had hoped that, by getting some sleep last night, these "jumping beans" in my arms and legs, hands, and feet might disappear at least for a few hours today.  So far, that's apparently not to be the case.  I'm also becoming more and more aware of the fact that my increasing number of typos is because I have those 'spasms" where my hands or arms arbitrarily jump and hit a different key just as I'm about to type something.  Or I don't hit any key hard enough when my fingers/hands suddenly jump/spasm. 

I don't know if I explained this well enough for anyone to really "get" what I'm saying.  But it's a relief for me to understand what's going on and why I'm typing worse ans worse all the time.  My brain is not malfunctioning so much as my hands and fingers are.  Well, it could result from a brain malfunction, true.  Or it may be a combination of some of my meds interacting negatively. 

These spasms are more than the little tremors I've had for months - well, for about a year - now.  The spasms have only recently begun - not replacing the tremors, but right along w/them.  It will be nice if some or all of this is reversable.

I haven't yet heard from a neurologist's office or from my GP about a neuro referral.  Guess I'll call my GP's office this afternoon when I get back from volunteering.

One of the ladies at the thrift store is a diehard Neil Diamond fan.  I got his newest CD a couple of months ago - while I was in LA for Ryan's particiption in the State Science Fair in May.  There are a few good songs on there, but nothing that I need to keep the CD for.  I was going to sell it, in keeping w/my clutter-clearing chores in the family room.  Instead, I retrieved it and decided to take it with me this morning and offer to let her listen to it while I'm volunteering today.  When it's time for me to leave, I'll just quietly tell her to keep it - and hope she keeps quiet, too.  She's a sweet older lady, tiny spit of a thing, and as helpfjul as a person could be in training me and helping me feel welcome there.  hopefully she'll just accept the disc quietly, w/no fanfare. 

We need to hear about a referral for Jess, too, for a urologist.  If we do't get some phone calls this morning, I'll be making a few myself this afternoon.  Sheesh!   I hate having to be our own doctor, nurse, scheduler, and everything else all rolled into one person: ME!!!  They are just overworked in doctor's offices anymore, from the doctor on down.  Insurance companies pay so little that offices have to double and triple book patients into the same time slots.  Then doctors have to run from room to room to keep up.  No wonder they burn out and leave private practice before long.

Guess I'd better get off my soapbox. 

I need to shower, change, and get my braces on, then do some personal paperwork before it's time for me to head into town.  I'll be back later today.

Blessed be.  Namaste.