It's a Saturday!!!!!

 Today is Saturday!  On this particular day I do not have any lessons.  Greg is absent and so is Madonna.  I so love her name!!  I am sitting in the living room I teach in because it has a/c. My bedroom does have a portable a/c like this room but I really don't feel like going up there right now.  Peony is in here too.  She is just hanging out with me.  Because of the bursitis in my shoulders, I cannot hold my arms up long enough to wash  and dry my own hair so I go to get it done.  Usually, I get it done on Thursdays, but this week I had a doctor appointment so I needed to reschedule to today.  I so love that when I do need to reschedule that the two young ladies on Saturday french braid my hair.  Ruth, my usual person, does my hair a bit different and I really love that too.  Overall, I really like everyone at the salon and the owner is my across the street neighbor so I am supporting a good neighbor!!!!!  

It has been really hot for the last few weeks here.  Today I really really just ache a lot from it.  My everyday headache is more than the usual level.  I am not as nauseated as I was yesterday, just the usual amount of nausea.  Thank goodness starting tomorrow it will be cooler for us.  I am so glad.  

Last night I was sitting at the table with C. and I was finishing up my dinner when I took a drink of water that went down the wrong pipe.  It happens so often now.  I don't know why.  Anyways, Heather BT happen to be in the kitchen/dining room area when this occurred.  I told her this happens a lot when I drink water.  She said to use a straw.  I have since then and wow, it has really helped.  She was also right at how much you drink more of because you are using a straw!! I now have chosen some reusable straws for my water bottle.  It was so much easier to drink all the water I needed to last night.  Generally, it is a huge struggle because of the swallowing issue.  I am just really happy about this.  reusable  straws rule.  

In my Michigan Lipedema group, a woman was giving away her old vibrating plate machine.  I was the fourth one to say I am interested in getting it.  Apparently, the first three either didn't get back to her or never came to pick it up, who knows, she messaged me to see if I was still interested, which I  was and told me to come and get it.  James and I went the next day.  Now, I had no idea what it looked like or size or how to use it or even what it would do, I just knew that some members of the group said it really helped.  We picked it up.  Bill brought it in later that day and when he asked me where I wanted it, I said oh in my room would be fine, he laughed then said it won't fit in your room.  I said, oh, the living room?  That is where it is at.  I have used it a few times.  Because my standing ability at this point in time really sucks, I can't stand on it very long, we're talking at most, 1 minute.  The problem that has arrose is that in about 30 or so minutes later, my daily, never ending headache gets worse.  Yes.  Fortunately, I say my neurologist and she knew exactly what machine I was talking about even before I showed her the picture!  She said she wasn't surprised about the pain getting worse afterward.  C asked about me sitting in a chair and putting my feet on the machine and using it that way.  Dr. A said that would be really good because then my head won't be vibrating also.  The cool thing though, is that both Heather BT and James love the  machine.  Heather BT uses it everyday.  I am so happy about this.  She is up  to 10 minutes and I am really glad.  I just now need to find what will work for me.

On Tuesday, both C and I will have our botox shots at the neurologists office.  This will be my third round.  It was funny because when Dr. A asked if I thought they were helping, I couldn't answer.  I didn't know.  I said I think so.  After this round I will pay more attention.  I did tell her I had bought a chronic pain tracker.  I hadn't used it, but I have it.  She laughed and said she wasn't surprised.  I said I really try not to focus on my pain level.  That Dr. A said is good.  I am donating the chronic pain tracker book.  I used it once.

Pictures: Top picture is Valerian - he is a Yorkie.  Then Me and Peony.  Third down is Peony, my dog, Fourth down is my sister, bottom, Peony

new portable a/c unit

 About a week ago, a new portable a/c unit arrived!!  It has helped a lot.  I will be ordering another one this  week.  I am really happy about these because we are expecting a very hot and humid summer.  Not as hot as the south, true, but for SE Michigan, hot.  I  have one for my room and we have one for the living room, which is where I teach.  The next one, I am no longer sure where it is now going.  It will be helpful no matter where we put it.

Anyways, enough about that.  I can't believe it is July already!!!!  Where did June go?  Seriously??  Peony and I have been hanging out as usual.  She is such a beautiful little pup.  She is 8 now.  8!!!  What a joy she sure is.  All my students love her.  One is afraid of dogs so I always have all the dogs blocked.  I will not force our dogs on anyone.  It is mean and rude to do that, especially if the child is afraid.  I was afraid of dogs for the longest time growing up.  I was walking past a house in our sub and that family's dog jumped over their fence, pinning me down.  I was screaming.  I was not very old.  Early elementary age, I think.  The family was in the back yard but they weren't paying attention to their dog.  They didn't even notice it wasn't in their yard.  a neighbor was pulling in our sub and happen to see my pinned to the ground by a big dog.  He and his wife hopped out of their car to help me.  It seemed to me it took a long time for him to get the attention of the owners in the backyard.  I, naturally, was still rather upset and crying while she was trying to calm me down.  I do remember them driving me home.  They knew where I lived as they were neighbors.  They told my mom what happened and boy was she mad.  I finally calmed down.  I avoided walking anywhere near that house for years.  They moved several years after that incident.  So, like I said, I understand being afraid of dogs.

I have been so so so nauseated these past few weeks.  The heat has really gotten to me and so has the pain.  Generally, the meds I take help enough to take the edge off.  Not these last few weeks.  I have also had way more migraines than usual.  I know a lot of it is the weather and the changes of the weather but not all of it.

I am hungry so I am going to go and get something to eat now.  I hope your 4th of July was a good one!!!