New Orleans...they have the weirdest ideas.

I've had the last couple of days off, and it's been really nice.  Especially this morning, as I remembered to turn off my phone alarm....

I've not been doing too much....grocery shopping, a trip to the pharmacy, etc.  Today I spent the day cleaning the downstairs (all the bedrooms are upstairs), and by far the dirtiest, since we spend the majority of our time in the living room and kitchen.

***Yesterday when I started this post I kept getting an error message that the post would not "save".  So, after fooling around with it for a few minutes, I figured I would go back later and finish (or start over).  I was rather surprised to see it this morning.....so I guess I will continue on.....

Anyway, I vacuumed a prodigious amount of dog hair, most of which had glommed together into big rolling balls.  I think I might need to replace the bag in my canister vacuum.  It seems that Sioux (my son's rescue who is part lab and part greyhound) is embracing her lab side and shedding to the degree that I wonder she isn't bald by now.  I love dogs.  I would love to have a lab someday.  Perhaps I'll do it just to keep myself active by requiring lots of house cleaning...lol.  After I'm retired & can afford to clean daily.... hmmm.  This is one reason our dog is a scottish terrier....they don't shed much.  The downside is the grooming (which I don't know how to do, and don't really want to learn), which can be a bit pricey.

It is a beautiful morning, nice & cool with a slight breeze & not a cloud anywhere.  I'm enjoying the new screen door and the fresh air.  After gorging myself on french toast and coffee.  I think I'm in the mood to do some yard work.....

Love, 365

Rainy day at the zoo...

Hey!  Bring that umbrella down here will ya?  It's wet!

The baby giraffe was feeling shy....

The birds were unfazed by the rain...

The baby elepant was soooo cute!

The "man" of the hour ~ our new Tazmainian Devil enclosure.  

You go, girl? guy?  I couldn't tell, but she/he entertained us by running around.

We decided that going to the zoo earlyish on Saturday was probably the best idea....to avoid crowds and the rain that might happen in the afternoon.   Ha!  It was packed when we arrived, and began to rain after the first 30 minutes.  I brought umbrellas "just in case".  I would have been more comfortable if I had brought a jacket, as the rain cooled things off quite a bit.  A quick trip in the gift shop showed they were more in tee shirt mode (of course, for heaven's sake it's Memorial Day Weekend, why woud they stock sweatshirts or jackets??).  It wasn't that bad, and we wandered around for a couple of hours before heading home.  

I love the zoo, and always took my kids at least once a year.  I know some people have issues with them ~ the animals have such small enclosures, they become bored with their lot in life, etc.  All this is true.  However, in many cases, zoos provide sanctuary for endangered species (go there for more info), and allow scientists the opportunity to observe and study animals.   Do you want to make the zoo a better place?  Then support them by visiting, or simply donate.  

Love, 365

*@&#&*%%$ passwords

(courtesy of Bing Images)

Is this a funny cartoon?  Of course.  Have any of us ever done this?  Absolutely.  Is there anything more frustrating than formulating or retrieving a password?  I swear.....even with the password help apps and systems, it's still a pain in the ass.  I discovered that I could take another class at CNM (sooo much cheaper than UNM), so decided to check out the fall schedule.  Only to discover that I forgot my password to the CNM login for students.  I didn't use Blackboard (online class) for the statistics class, and our instructor didn't use it for quizzes or tests, and after 4 months of relative inactivity, I forgot my old password.  It wasn't hard to reset it.  It's just the process of having to memorize all of the ones that I have ~ for e-mail, UNM, CNM, banking, bill paying, etc,  Of course I have them written down ('cept for the CNM one of course).  I use to keep them on my laptop, until I had this brilliant thought ~ what if someone hacks into my laptop, and I've conveniently listed all my passwords on it? Uh, that's not a good idea (and I know people who do just that).  So, I have my handy notebook full of all my passwords (again, not the CNM one for some reason).  The only real problem is I don't carry the notebook around with me (kind of a pain to do that), so if I'm at work and take a few minutes to sneak into a website or check e-mail & have a brain fart, I'm out of luck.  

Now that I've written this, it reminds me that I need to change a few....

Love, 365

Gonna kick it back......

Buddies......

Today was our last day of work this week....we are all SO ready to have some time off and relax!  I am off until Tuesday, then work Tues & Wed, and then off until June 4th.  It's gonna be lovely.  At least I know that by June 4h I won't have my cast on anymore.  I am so very tired of it.  On the plus side, my left hand is much better with manipulating the mouse.  I might continue to do it after the cast is off...maybe.  :-)

We're planning a trip to the zoo to see the Tazmanian Devil that our zoo recently acquired.  Apparently they have been affected by a facial tumor in the wild, and are now considered endangered.  They are kinda ugly.  But I think they are so cool....

"Don't mess with me!!"    Bing images

I went to UNM this monday to meet with my advisor.  It was rather a depressing meeting, and I decided to meet with the Anthropology advisor while I was there.  I am happy to report that we made a small change to the specifics of my major and I believe I will find enough classes either online or in the evening so that I will be able to graduate there.  Carla told me they are adding online classes all the time, and chastised me with "Don't tell me you can't do it!".  She is rather hard to read.  I believe she is Navajo, and they are very reserved (at least the Navajo I know and have met).  I was so happy when I left, that I stopped at the bookstore and purchased a UNM t-shirt.  So, thank you, Carla!  You really made my day.  I'm making progress ~ I registered for "Evolutionary Medicine" for the fall & plan to register for another class for the fall....I just don't know what yet.  

Love, 365

It's Sunday, but it ain't gonna be lazy....

I got a kick out of this painting in a New Orleans restaurant..

**Yesterday I went with my husband to get a screen door for the door that takes us into the backyard. There hasn't been a screen door on it for several years...because dear ol' hubby one day got a bug in   his ear and decided to take it off and throw it away.  Why?  Who knows.  He is quircky that way.  So, on a nice day, I can open windows & such, but I can't open the back door to enjoy the breeze (which nearly always blows from south to north in spring & summer).  Have you priced screen doors lately? Wow.  We purchased an inexpensive one for $94, partly because we have no idea if our son's big dog will destroy it (as she has nearly everything in the backyard, ha ha), and partly because I didn't want to spend $264 for the next price point up.  Besides, no one really notices screen doors.....unless you don't have one.  

**While at the store, I began to feel sick.  Long story short, I ended up with a migrane and spent the rest of the day sleeping (after the requisite barfing, of course).  So, we missed our grocery shopping trip, and the restaurant reservations I made last weekend for Mother's Day (not liking very crowded spaces, I figured it would be better to go the following weekend).  Pooh.  This is the second one I've had in a month, and here I was getting used to the 3 to 4 a year I've been getting.  I hope this isn't some sort of trend.  In which case I'll see the Dr (maybe) and see what to do.  I just hate taking pills.  I've never had any luck with any migrane med's, mostly because I don't get a lot of the signs of impending doom.  Ah, well....

**Of course, here's the requisite bitching about my cast - *&#>?(&^< %$%$ #&(().  There, now don't I feel better?  You betcha.

As I've been typing I've been watching and listening to the installation of the screen door.  It must be going well...no door slamming, no cussing, no muttering to oneself of the difficulties.  Of course, I'm inside and they (husband and son) are outside, but I see this as a good sign.  Sometimes these projects produce a lot of irritation and aggravation, but it would seem that this one is going fairly smoothly.  Maybe it's because I'm not helping......hmmmm, food for thought.

Love, 365

A little later.....never mind about the installation going smoothly.....it appears I am out of the loop (thankfully), and apparently there are NO INSTRUCTIONS so it's not going as well as I imagined.  I know it wasn't made in China, because there is an American flag on the side with "proudly made in the USA".  So, there you go.......

18 more days, but who's counting?

Chaco Canyon ~ Keyhole door

**If you are ever in New Mexico, make Chaco a destination stop.  Yes, the road sucks.  Yes, it's out in the middle of nowhere.  Still, it will amaze you.  It is a very special place!

~~~~~~I have had this cast on for 18 days, and have 18 more to go before they remove it and x-ray my wrist to check for healing.  This damn thing had better heal up, because I don't think I can take much more of it.  It has forced me to "educate" my left hand, but it's no fun at all.

~eating....just you try to eat with your non-dominant hand.  My husband and son watched me with fascination the first few times, and commented "You eat like a 3 year old!! ha ha"  

~opening doors....I forget and am rewarded with pain when opening doors with my right.  I suppose it doesn't like the twisting motion.  I thought there wouldn't be any pain after I got the cast.  Now why would I think that?  Perhaps wishful thinking....

~washing dishes....I did finally try putting on the rubber gloves and washed dishes last night to give my husband a break from it.  It worked out alright as long as the items weren't heavy.

~I simply cannot make the bed.  What a pain in the ......

~people who ask me "What Happened To You??" 20+ times a day gets old.  However, I know they are just curious and trying to be kind.  My co-workers are probably as ready for for it as I am.  

~I know it's disgusting to think about, but using the toilet is difficult too.  I'll let you use your imagination.

~sleeping....if it weren't for the benadryl I've been taking, I probably wouldn't be sleeping much.

I have also been thinking about people who have lost limbs or are otherwise permanently lost the use of a limb.....I am humbled that they get through and do so well without it.  I realize my "disability" is only temporary, and in no time at all I will be able to resume all my normal activities.  I am not a patient person...I anticipate arriving early to the orthopaedist office and hopping from one foot to another.....

On the plus side, the semester is over.  Ended with a B in Statistics, and an A in Forensic Anthropology.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do in the fall.  I have an appointment with the adviser on Monday.  The problem is that there are very few classes available to me as a "non-traditional" student ~ in other words, most classes are 10:30-11:45 Mon, Wed, Fri.  I simply can't take that class.  I may have to switch to OSU, which offers an anthropology class online.  The downside is that I won't be able to attend a real graduation ceremony, which is not really the point of education, but I sure was looking forward to one.  I guess I'll find out on Monday where I should go from here.  

Maybe I'll become an activist for non-traditional students in Albuquerque with UNM.  Community colleges are very accomodating to us, but not the university.  

Love, 365 

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Your guidance and love

have brought me 

to where I am today...

As a child I felt ~

Cherished

Unique

Loved

My Mom did that for me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love, 365

Orange is the new black......

My very first cast.....& hopefully the last.

This week has been particularly challenging....

~I broke my radius, very close to the carpals.  Gotta wear this until at least June 3rd.

~My sister sent me a text message while I was at work telling me my Mom was going into the hospital (turns out she didn't, but I didn't find that out until that evening).

~I had to reschedule my final exam in Statistics, because I was unable to write until I got the cast you see here.

Sunday I figured I should probably have my wrist looked at - by a professional, ha - so, I called my primary care Dr's office at 7:30am on Monday, only to be told that they didn't have any open appts.  (Really?  I was kind of surprised that I told them that I may have broken my wrist, and they don't have any time for me?)  So, I went to MD Urgent care.  They were nice enough, but urgent care facilities (at least this one) can't put on casts.  So they fixed me up with an awful temporary thing that wrapped around my elbow which was in turn wrapped in about 4 rolls of elastic wrap bandages.  It was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever had.  I couldn't write, so I e-mailed my Stats professor to let him know.  He offered to let me take the test on Thursday evening and said if I couldn't write by then he would give me a multiple choice test if I still couldn't write.  After I got home from urgent care I called the Orthopaedics and they put the cast on Wed. morning.  I took my final on Thursday, and I received my results yesterday.

I made a B!!  I was so happy, because that was one bitch of a class.

Turns out my Mom was needing some tests that she was considering checking in to the hospital for, but then changed her mind and went for the out-patient tests instead.  Until I found this out, I was kind of freaked.  In her defense, my Sis was only trying to keep me informed.  She is feeling better, but still has more tests to take.  It seems like lately Mom is feeling awful more often than feeling good, which sends up tons of red flags, in my opinion.  I wish she would be more pro-active in her own health, but she just won't.  So, I continue to call several times a week to keep tabs, and chat.  One surprising thing was that I sent her a text (from work) and she actually saw it!  She will be dragged kicking and screaming into our new phase of communication, lol.

Well, that's all for now.  My arm is tired from all this typing!

Love, 365