A Resting Sunday

it has been a slow fall as far as lessons this year. I have 12 students so I am happy for that.  I have room for about three more then that is it.  Everything will be full for me at that point.  Christmas music is being pulled out at this time for students as we have a Christmas recital every year.  Other than that, no new news on the teaching front.

I got to see Kathy very briefly yesterday and three of her children.  I was happy to see them.  Matthew, her oldest came to my car to get the guitar books I told him he could have, the girls, wanted to see Peony as I brought her with me, and I needed to have some paperwork signed by Kathy.  I have updated my power of attorney and patient advocate papers as well as my will. So she signed the two that she needed to sign. She was visiting her mom so I met her there.  It is about 45 minutes away.  I didn’t mind the drive at all.  Much stress was lifted because those papers were signed.  It was so needed.   I am now covered incase something happens to me.  I am rather pleased with myself that I am.   On the plus side of this, I did get to speak to Kathy and her children!!!!!

Not much going on today.  I watch the latest episode of NCIS New Orleans. It was good.  I also watched another episode of law and order Los Angeles.  I don’t care for it.  I will stick with the shows I have.  Tonight the NCIS LA is on so I can watch that tomorrow on cbs.  The rest of tonight I am just resting.  I have two lessons tomorrow.  One is a make up from Saturday and the other is a regular Monday lesson.  I may potentially have another, it depends on his work schedule   We have it scheduled but sometimes we need to reschedule for another day. Anyways, C is here for the weekend.  I have enjoyed her company so much.  I got some nice quality time with her yesterday. She is with friends today.  She is just amazing.  A seemed to really like having her help him with his geometry homework.   I thought it was cool.

That’s all for now!!!!!

Downton Abbey Evnt

Saturday was a magical day from start to finish.  I had three lessons. Then my very best friend, Kathy came to see me!!!!  We were going to dinner and a movie during this visit!!!!  Our friend, Jenn was joining us!!!!  I was so looking forward to this for so long!!!   Jenn was coming in from about an hour away so we weren’t sure when exactly she would arrive.  We planned dinner early enough so we wouldn’t hit the dinner rush.  It was a good call. About 10 minutes after we sat down, Jenn arrived!!!!  We ordered and the visiting commenced!!!!!  We talked about everything, just everything!!!!  I was so excited and happy about this day. Then we moved on to the final event of the night!!! The movie!!!!!  Kathy had told me she wanted to see the Downton Abbey movie with me in about June.  I had seen a few episodes but not anything dedicated to it.  I said I would look at the first few to see if I would like it.  She kept telling me I would love it.  I watch the first two and was intrigued. The next thing I knew I finished season one!!!!  Whoa!!!!  Then two and so on!!!!  I simply loved it!!!!!!   I was prepared to see the movie.  When I asked Jenn if she was interested in seeing the movie with me she said she hadn’t seen any of the episodes. As far as I knew it was okay because it would be a stand alone movie.  She is now thinking of watching the entire series.  We have a concert ion our hands.

Today, Kathy and I went to Tim Horton’s for Brunch and chatted some more.  She left to go to her mom’s house.  It is on the way home for her so I am pleased that she went to visit her mom also. It was a beautiful, exhausting weekend.  I napped for about four hours today. I will be okay for sleeping tonight.  I am just so thrilled that it went well.  I did have a bad tummy yesterday but it was under control and wasn’t super bad like the previous week.  I am so glad about that.  Overall, this was worth the wait. It was worth the exhaustion and definitely worth the few days it will take to to recover.

Oh my gosh. I am heading towards the edge of the pain scale

So I have been making small monthly payments to my doctors office.  There was still a balance on the account. They had about a year ago merged with another healthcare group. Wow. I was dismissed from the office. I had no idea. I went to make a payment and get my pain pills refilled and my anxiety pills refilled.  Yeah that is how I found out.  So I paid what I owed and was loaned some of it because I didn’t have it all, the called back with the reference number  now I am waiting to see if I get reinstated or not.  I am in more pain than usual because of the no pain meds. It isn’t anything oxy type. I can’t take them as I get really bad bad headaches from them.  The top part of my back hurts most than usually and so do many of my joints.  I will see how I feel during the night.  I hope to hear by tomorrow morning.  This is nerve wracking and when the fire this wouldn’t have happened. I hope this works.  I have Tylenol and ibuprofen but they don’t do a lot but they do a bit and that is what I need right now.


I have added into my checkbook app on my phone a payment to my doctor every month.  I have two more doctors that I need to pay this month.  This checkbook app has really helped in keeping me on track with stuff. I am really pleased with it.  I have all my monthly bills listed. It is super easy to balance with the bank. It just is so good.  I am quite glad to finally find something that works.  I didn’t like any of the other ones I had tried.

Four more days until Kathy is here!!!!  We are so excited to go and see the downton abbey movie!!    Our friend, Jen is coming too.  We don’t know where we are going for dinner yet but that is okay. We will decide and let Jen know. I can’t wait to see it. It should be marvelous.  I belong to a fan page on Facebook. It is absolutely a hoot.  I had Kathy join too.  She is in love with the show as I am.  She should be as she is the one who got me completely hooked.  She said oh you will love this.  So the skeptic that I am grudgingly watched the first episode. It was interesting.  Then I watched the second and before I knew the first season was over.  I was hooked.  I binged watched all six of the seasons.  I am just so thrilled they made a movie of it.  I hope for many more!!!  From what I have seen, so so many others do to!!!!!

I do hope for some decent sleep tonight.  I have physical therapy tomorrow. I will be bringing my walker in with me to be sized. I want to have it checked so I know it isn’t causing injury to me. So many I see lean heavily bent over on their walkers and I don’t want to do that.  I don’t want to be bent over while using it. Of course I will lean on it. I just don’t want to be bent over.

I am hoping that by tomorrow morning my scripts will be filled and I will be able to pick them up and be in the regular amount of pain. Not this insane amount of pain.  Even my skin is hurting tonight. Even my skin.  Ugh.

Who Stole My Sleep???

I can’t sleep. I have dozed off and on for the last few hours but not really sleeping. I hate this part of fibro so much.  I mean, seriously!!!!  I am so exhausted all the time and then bedtime comes and I can’t sleep??  There is something wrong with that picture.  Something completely wrong. I have read Facebook and read my nook. I took my zolfran med at 2am as usual. I slept for about 45 minutes than woke up nauseous. Zolfran should have taken care of that. I went and got some bread to eat and that has helped a lot.  It absorbs the extra acid in my stomach.


Every night I get to play this game called, will I get cold or hot in the middle of the night and need to change pajamas accordingly.  I got hot and put my hair in a ponytail. Then I changed into my shorts pajamas. I tried to sleep. Still hot. Then I changed into a tank top style pajama top. Now I am fine. I go through this every night.  It is just part of the routine.  I always have the shorts and tank top pajamas near by.

I got my hair cut today.  Heather BT did it. My hair was hurting.  These past few days have not been my best.  When I get a flare up of irritable bowel, I generally also get more of a headache too and it is harder to brush my hair because it hurts to do so.  The last three days my hair has hurt. I could feel every strand of hair on my head and they hurt.  I asked her to cut my hair. I needed it done anyways it wasn’t like out of the blue. I just hadn’t decided when to cut it or how I wanted it done. She cut about five inches off. It feels better now and it doesn’t hurt as much.  Hopefully by noon it will be even better.

I have one lesson planned for today. Victoria.  She is 19 and beautiful.  She sings so lovely and is a really nice person too.  I just love her.  All the littler students love her too.  She is a good role model for them.  Quinn is playing volleyball for her school.  This is exciting too as she is finally in a grade where she can play on team sports at her school.  I am so excited for her to have this opportunity to do this.

I have opened up more availability for students at Takelessons.  I had a new student but then something happened in the family and she can’t start lessons. I am disappointed but I know I will get something else soon.  I am looking into different ways to market myself as a teacher. It is interesting to be a member of this one group on Facebook that talks about the marketing yourself. I haven’t listen to all of it but I will tomorrow and finish up on Tuesday.

That’s about all for tonight. It is now 3:15 am.  I am going to try to get some more sleep!!!!

Back Home Again

I was at my beautiful Ellers these last four days.  H, R, and A were there. We had a good time.  We had some chuckles and some smiles. We also had N get mad at all of us and storm out for a couple of days.  She is going to do what she is going to do.  I want to tell her that everything will be okay but she is going to have to figure it out herself the hard way as many of us have in the past. I unfortunately came home with my irritable bowel syndrome in full swing so today has not been my best day but I am better than earlier, of which I am grateful for. I missed my Peony as you can imagine.  She is one of the loves in my life. I had no lessons today. Both Joe and Ava needed to reschedule which was a good thing. A really good thing. Ava is a pianist who recently start several months ago and Joe is a saxophonist who I have had for the last few years. I have a good amount of students now.  I may be able to handle one more but not more than that. With fibromyalgia I can only work about five hours a week. It keeps me involved enough to help pay bills and make me happy.

My favorite season is upon us. I love fall. Simply love it.  It is the best season of all.  I don’t ache as much as I do in the high humidity or the super cold. I love the turning of the leaves. It is nice enough to breathe and my asthma isn’t so bad either.  Time for tea at night when reading in my room.

So I hope this is a nice weekend to hang out and teach a few lessons and read.

Friday!!!!!!!

It is so hard to believe September is among us already.  Summer was rather stressful.  Things did get worked out of which I am so glad!!  I do hope the fall is much less stress and so far so good.  I have a pretty full schedule for lessons right now.  I no longer miss the 60 lessons a week I used to teach.  I have come to accept the part time I can do. This has taken many years to accept.  I know my limits.  Kathy is coming in a couple of weeks!!!  I can’t wait.  We are going to see the Downton Abbey movie as we are both big fans of the show.

Currently I am in physical therapy.  It is for balance this round.  I don’t have very good balance at all.  I feel like I am going to fall when I walk to far without my walker or coming downstairs. I also need better posture which will help with the not falling.  Tuesday I nearly fell.  It was so scary.  I had to pause and decide if I needed help.  I was okay I just took it slower to get to the car.  I will say the pt is kicking my butt.  I am rather sore by the end of the night on pt days.  It is working on muscles I forgot I have!!!  That is good though.  I am not sure how long I have for pt. I figure my therapist will tell me when I am done.  She is an expert after all.  Heather BT says she has noticed I walk better and seem to be more confident.  I am glad.

Monday I am heading to be with my friends kids for a few days.  She needs to be out of town so I am going to be there. You know how it is when your a mom, you have a short list of who you trust to take care of your kids.  Well I am happy to be on her short list.  I love her kids.  I know I will have H and R. I am not sure about T and A.  A has been doing a lot of babysitting for his brother’s roommate.  He has a toddler and A watches her while he works.  I really enjoy the kids company.  H and I get into some really interesting conversations. R is quieter and is an excellent artist.  H is an excellent artist too.  He likes graffiti art.  She likes all types of art.  I will come home on Wednesday just in time for lessons!!!!!

It is time to pull Christmas music out again.  Sammy came and took care of that.  I have redone the vocal music drawers.  I have everything divided by genre then alphabetical.  It is so much easier to find stuff now!!!!  I was going to do this with the piano music but I have nine file cabinet drawers of piano music so yeah not gonna do that.  I just want Christmas at this point separated.

It is getting chiller out now.  I don’t mind.  We no longer have central air.  It died four years ago.  We do have a portable a/c unit that we put on the kitchen counter.  We also have an attic fan. I have a window fan in my window which also really helps.  Overall we tend to stay pretty okay.  I have been aching more lately but I think that is due to the physical therapy.  I am not totally sure but by bedtime, especially if I have to fill the dishwasher, I am pretty sore.  My headaches are still there like they were three years ago.  I have now had a headache everyday since March of 2003.  My bad headaches aren’t quite as often but I still get them. I now have cyclical vomiting syndrome. Basically I feel like I am going to throw up all the time.  I am on two different meds for that.  They help control most of it.

I am not sure what is up this weekend.  I plan to read and go on Facebook.  I check on my peeps that way.

3 years

Wow!!  It has been three years since I last posted.  Now that I have it for my phone, I shall try to update more often.

Summer is almost over as we are heading into Labor Day Weekend.  I have no real plans except for just hanging around. I have one lesson on Saturday and one on Monday to teach so it isn’t that bad.  So much has happened in the last few years!!  I still have stomach bleeds about once or twice a year.  Considering the meds I take, it isn’t bad.   I have about 13 students right now.  It is a good number. I could take a couple more on but that is about all.  I get way too much pain and exhaustion if I have too many. We did a community service recital this summer as we have for the last few summers. I only allow my students to pick happy songs and songs that the seniors would know.  Once September hits, it is time to dig out Christmas music and competition music for those who are attending.  I am not as involved as I used to be.  The politics have gotten to me.  It just seems to me that my help isn’t wanted. Last year the job I generally do was no longer available and the job I physically can’t do was. So I have come to the conclusion they aren’t interested in anything I can do. If my students want to go, we will go, if they don’t, we won’t. That has never changed.  I have never forced any student to participate.  I don’t believe in that.

Peony is doing awesome.  She is such a beautiful dog!!!  She is my heart!!!!  We enjoy hanging out together as much as possible.  We have two more dogs in the house now.  Xynda, who is a pit bull/boxer mix.  She is 11 and so so sweet. Then we have Valerian.  He is a Yorkie. He is just over a year now.  Peony plays with him unless he is in my room.  She barks him out of my room.  It is like she says no my space.  You can’t invade.  She is getting better at that though.  Xynda she lets do whatever Xynda wants.

Currently, I am doing physical therapy for balance.  My posture is not very good these days so I am going to pt two days a week.  Boy, does it wipe me out!!!!  It is helping though.  That is the good part.

Not much else going on right now.

Update

I am using my phone to type this blog post. My computer has died. Completely. I can't afford a new one right now but once I can, I will be. I have missed blogging. So what has happened since my last post. Hmmm. Well, I got super sick at the beginning of April and actually had to cancel lessons for six days. I am still not 100% over the sinus infection but I am somewhat better. Three of my students went to competition in February and came home with many first and second place trophies along with one third place trophy. I was very pleased with the outcome. Christmas was spent at my aunt and uncles house. My brother was there too. He made me mad but I did calm down and didn't leave. I wanted too but I didn't. He was being a jerk and sometimes I am way over sensitive. New Years was fun. We had friends over. I lasted until right after midnight and then I was out like a light. In December and January I went to physical therapy for a pinched nerve in my back. It is healed now. I have some trouble with a muscle that goes from the front right side and wraps around to the back but the excersizes seem to help it too. I also stand much straighter than I did.

Peony is adorable as always. She is a very good companions d I love spending time with her. I have had more issues with concentration again. Thankfully my lessons are spread apart so I can rest I between or I would be in deep trouble. Focusing is also continuing to be an issue. Nothing new for either of them but I am losing words more than ever now. It drives me crazy. I can't think of the proper word that I have used a million times. It makes me feel stupid at times. I know I am not and it is just Fibro but it gets to me.

Well, my mind is about to stop thinking of what I want to say. I am glad that I now know I can post from my phone.

a headachy way to start the month!

It is November and we are enjoying some beautiful weather.  Unlike last year when it was 18 degrees and snow, it is 75 degrees and simply beautiful out.  Unfortunately, it doesn't do anything to take away the headache I now have.  I have 3 more lessons tonight but that will help distract me from the pain, I hope.  Nothing is worse than teaching with a bad headache.  It isn't too bad, yet, but it will get worse as the night goes on.  It is one of those types today.

Earlier today, Peony and I went visiting a friend.  We had lunch and a nice visit.  I am so glad we got to visit before the head got worse.  Donna is a nice lady.  She has so many health problems, wayyyyyy more than I do.  She is waiting for surgery again on her back.  She is older than me too but we get along very well.  Donna enjoys Peony too.  Peony loves everyone so she loves Donna.  She will sit on Donna's lap while we are in the car going to and from places.  You can see the joy on Peony's face as she does this.

I am so glad for Peony because much of the time at night, she comes in my room for a while to see me before she puts herself to bed in the other room.  She even let me pet her for a very lonnnnngggggg time on Sunday.  I think I was petting her for about 30 or so minutes.  We both were in Heaven.  Then she wanted me to read for a while, so I did.  I like to read before bed at night because it relaxes me and gives me a chance to focus on something other than pain.  Sometimes, though, I can't because the pain is too much but usually, I can, even if for a tiny bit.  Peony also gives me a good distraction and helps me to relax.  She is just the best little dog ever.  I love her so much.  I really do.

We are getting ready for the Christmas Recital around here.  Most everyone has picked their songs.  We plan on one song but just in case I am having everyone learn 2.  For the Spring Recital, we really could have had everyone do 2 songs but I didn't know that until it was too late.  This time, I am prepared.  We have about a month before the recital.  I have that long to make all the Christmas Gifts.  I am making candy sleighs.  I saw a picture on Facebook and saved it.  They look so adorable.  It is completely made with candy (candy canes, Hershey's miniatures, and I am not sure what other kinds of candy yet).  It will be fun to make too.

We are having corned beef for dinner tonight.  One of my favorite foods!!! I love corned beef!  I could eat the whole thing, possible in one sitting.  I am not sure as I have never done this, but in theory, I think I could.  Bill puts it in the crock pot first thing in the morning and C just added the vegetables.  It will be a nice family dinner.  We usually eat together every night except band night, if we can.  It is something I really appreciate.  I try to be done with teaching by the time Bill comes home from work so we are all eating together, then after dinner, C and I do the dishes.  I enjoy the time we have doing the dishes, no so much doing the dishes, although they are a piece of cake since we have a dish washer and have very little hand washing to do.  We just enjoy each others company.  I enjoy everyone's company in the house and treasure the time I get with each of them one on one.

Well, my student is here!!!!  Yay!!!!!

Almost Halloween

I seem to be posting about 2 or 3 times a month now.  A far cry from when I posted everyday.  Life is just so full now with teaching part time and having a house full of people.  I like it though, a lot.  It is so much better from when I lived alone and was grieving so deeply.

Another year has past since the dear Momma has passed away.  It has been five years now.  Sometimes, it seems like a lifetime, others, like yesterday.  I will always miss her.  I know that now.  My friends who have lost a parent or parents, have told me this.  I met up with my friend, Jen, on Monday.  She lost her Dad a few years before I lost Mom.  She still misses him a lot too.  It has gotten easier as in I am used to her not being around anymore but not easier in the missing her part.  I suspect it never will get easier in that part.  I still find myself looking out and thinking, what a beautiful day, if only Momma were here.  I did pretty well on the anniversary itself.  I was pleased.  I took my friend, Donna out for a drive and we had ice cream in honor of Momma and her love of ice cream.  She really loved ice cream.  I mean, it was her favorite food, ever.  We stopped into McDonald's and got a cone for each of us.  They are big cones too!  It was nice to talk to her about Momma because she misses her too.  Donna and Momma were good friends.  I just wish Donna had known her before the Alzheimer's kicked in but such is life.

This week has been a good week.  It flew by.  I can't believe it is Sunday again.  Time flies around here.  I have a new student this Saturday.  A singer.  I am excited about this.  Mondays are completely filled at this point.  I can have about 3 or 4 more students and then I am completely filled.  Saturday is completely filled also.  I can only have about 4 a day because of exhaustion problems and they can't be in a row because that also causes much exhaustion.  Monday I have breaks in between lessons.  Saturdays I have a break too.  They are very important.  I can't over exhaust myself because that is how I end up in the hospital with headache problems or bleeding problems.  I don't know how I get bleeding problems from exhaustion but I have before.  Mostly, I get bad, uncontrollable headaches from exhaustion.  I do have a few more than I used too, which is awesome.  That means more bills get paid.

This weekend was a lot of fun.  Friday, C and I watched the 2nd of the Harry Potter movies.  I gave the audio description for her.  It was hard because of all the dialog.  There wasn't as many lulls in the dialog to explain what was going on.  Then Saturday, I had 3 lessons: P.J. (my autistic boy) - piano, Isabelle - voice, and Hannah - voice.  I took a nap after that.  Later that evening, C and I watched the 4th Harry Potter movie.  We couldn't watch the 3rd one because I no longer have it.  I loaned a former (she was my student when I loaned them to her) the 2nd to 7A movies and she didn't return the 3rd or 6th movie.  I was not happy.  At this point, no Harry Potter movies will ever go out again.  I do hope that eventually they will have audio description on them and re-release them.  I doubt it, but it would be nice.  I am not sure when we will see another one but one never knows when C has no homework and is available.  All depends on her schedule!  She is such a busy young lady!!!!  Today, A is back from camp and our friend AE is here also.  He went to camp with A.  AE's siblings will be arriving sometime soon.  I haven't seen them in a few weeks.  He has a great family and we are very close.  I often will go and watch the kids overnight.  It is a lot of fun when I do.  I want to go see a movie with their mom, Elle soon.  I want to see the movie, "The Intern".  It looks so funny.  I love Anne Hathaway. I just love her in every movie I have seen.

Halloween is Saturday.  I don't particularly like Halloween.  I don't like the gore or scary stuff.  That is just me.  A will go out trick or treating while C will pass out candy.  I will hide inside as usual and read or something.  I just don't do Halloween.  I won't go out at all if I have my way.  I don't know if I will or not.  Momma loved the costumes on Halloween of the little kids so she loved passing out candy.  Me? I stayed inside and listened to her go on and on.  Sometimes, I would come and look.  Christmas is more my speed.  That is when people are generally nicer to each other and think of other people, which I like.  I also love buying presents for my friends and family.  I know what I am making my students this year.  It will be fun, I hope.  I am excited about it.  I know what I am getting my family too and my friends, the few I exchange presents with.

Well, this is pretty long now.  I hope this week is great.

Monthly Blood Test Day

Today was the day I saw my hematologist for the monthly blood test.  Because I take blood thinners, I have to have it checked every month to make sure it is in therapeutic range.  I don't mind because I don't ever want to have a blood clot again.  It was awful, simply awful.

The myofacial pain is better today than it was on Sunday.  My teeth pain is better too.  Unfortunately, my sinus pain hates me, which is to be expected in this weather.  It happens every fall.  It is just the way it is.

I have had all my lessons this week.  I hope to get a few more, then I will have enough to keep me busy enough without exhausting me.  How I used to do 50 and 60 a week, seems to blow my mind but I was so much healthier then.  It was before my blood clot and the vasculitis.  They seemed to have made the fibro and definitely made the headaches worse.  The only thing I hate about fall is the headaches seem to get worse at night again.  I find myself getting up at night and going downstairs to get some Advil.

This is a short one today.  I have a lesson arriving soon.  She is a really talented girl and super nice too. She works very hard.