Wednesday 8-21

We are watching the second season of Game of Thrones, the first episode.  I love this show.  It is really good.

Last night, I met up with Star and we went to tea.  It was nice and relaxing.  Star has decided on the song she is singing on Sunday for the Nursing Home Concert.  It is a nice piece that I think she will do well with.

Today, Calli and I cleared most of the counter and then Heather B-T cleared the rest.  It looks every so much better.  It really does.  I am very pleased with how it looks.  We have also separated all of our medicine into different baskets so I know where mine is and Bill knows where his is.  It really is a better thing.  I am happy with the changes or rather, improvements are being made around here.  They are really much better and it is making things look ever so much better.

We got a new to us table last night from my friend, Diane.  It is in excellent condition and the chairs are super comfortable.  They are wonderful.  I am pleased with them.  We now can fit all 6 of us at the table without us being all into each others' space.  It is a great thing.

Bill had his kidney stone surgery today.  I hope he heals quickly and the pieces go away for him.  He slept this afternoon and we just finished watching the Game of Thrones episode.

I got my bangs fixed today as they were cut crooked last time and it drove me absolutely crazy.  Now they are even and I am one happy camper.

I am going to play some word of friends and head for bed.  I am getting tired and I have to go to the doctor tomorrow.  It is a follow up from the procedure I had a couple of weeks ago.  I will also be weighed because they always weigh me.  I would refuse but they don't let me.  We shall see where I am at.  Next week is my appointment with Dr. R, the neurologist.  Nothing like a medical event every single week for a month.

The start of a new week 8-18

Ah, Sunday, a day of rest, sort of.  In the olden days, you didn't do any work on Sundays at all and some still hold true to that.  Stores were closed, nothing was really open but churches and family homes for dinners.  We used to have Sunday dinners with family every Sunday when I was very small.  Then after my grandmother died, we stopped having family dinners there.  Mom always had something special for dinner and when I was learning how to cook, Mom taught me something new for Sunday dinners.  I don't remember a lot of what I made, but I do know how to make good roasts and chickens.  I can make a mean pot roast with veggies.  I should shock everyone and do one!  That would be so surprising for everyone.  He he he!  I will!!!  I will get a good roast next month along with the veggies and make a dinner for the family.

Today the kids came home from camp.  It has been a quiet 4 days without them.  They left on Thursday and arrived today.  Both had a really good time.  Acer wanted to listen to some YouTube videos right away of the bop it games.  We were exploring YouTube before he left.  YouTube was not working too well today so we had to stop watching them.  Acer was able to get some on his ipod but even they weren't working too well.  I told him we would try again this week.

I am excited because Hannah will be having lessons again.  She is such a good piano player not to mention a really nice young lady.  I can't believe it has been 10 years since I met her and her family.  Her sister, Sarah, will be 10 next month.  She was a tiny baby when I first met her.  I have some fun new music for the young lady for her lesson tomorrow.  It is more music from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie.  It has such wonderful music in it!  I know that I enjoy the music a lot too.

Next week, Sunday, will be the summer concert at the Shelby Nursing Center.  I am excited about this because my friend, Jen will also be performing.  I asked her too.  I will be collecting the names of the songs that the kids will be performing at the nursing home.  I have to get some ink so I can make the programs.  I want to have them for the residents.  I hope that I make enough and not too many or not enough.  I think the kids will enjoy the concert too.  Acer and Calli are doing a duet of "Ave Maria" as they both know the song really well.  Acer will also be playing a piano solo and singing a vocal solo.  He is singing "Hands" but he and I are not sure what song he will play on the piano yet.  He is such an amazing young man.  He really is.  He and Calli sound so lovely together when they sing duets.  I really love how they blend.  My three little girls will be playing the piano too.  They are such good piano players.  It is hard to believe how young they are.  The twins, Brooke and Jillian are 6 and Aubrey is 8.  Aubrey is the youngest student who has ever been in the level she is in.  I mean, wow, she is amazing.  All 3 of the little ones are going to competition.  I am excited about that.  They are also writing their essays for their entries for the scholarship for the weekend.  I hope one of them wins!  I really do.  Everything is due so early for the competition this year.  I have to remember to contact Becca about lessons and see if she is going to competition this year.  I can't remember how old she is now.  Last year I knew exactly what I wanted her to sing but this year I am not sure.  I will have to give it some major thought.  It is something I will need to do in the next few weeks.

I ache everywhere today and it is more than usual.  I don't really know why, but I am taking stuff for that.  I feel much better than I did earlier in the day but I am still more sore than usual.  I figure after another night sleep I should be better tomorrow.

A Beautiful Day 8-17

It is so lovely outside!  It really is.  Heather B-T was ambitious today and she has taken down about 6 trees that are growing in the wrong places in the patio so far today.  I am impressed and it looks so nice without those trees where they don't belong.  She is a master gardener and a landscaper.  There really isn't much she can't do with flowers and trees.  They grow like magic for her.  It is beautiful to see.  I really appreciate a beautiful garden, I just know that I don't really have the skills to create it myself but I love beautiful gardens that others create.  A garden is such a lovely, living, breathing element that brings peace to me.  It always has.  Mom had that magic too and she loved working in the garden.  When we were small, we also had vegetable gardens and nothing was cooler than going to the garden to get our dinner.  I tried to grow on many years ago but since I had no idea when they were ripe and ready to be picked, I killed them all.  Some of the vegetables didn't even grow so that was the last time I tried to create one myself.  Now, I just bask in the beauty and appreciate other people's work.

Maisy wasn't a happy camper for some of the afternoon as she couldn't go out with Mama.  She had to stay in with me.  At one point that was fine.  She came up into my room and was on my bed snuggling with me but then once Heather B-T and Bill came back in the house, we both came down the stairs.  She is sitting in the hallway where she can see all three of us.  Maisy likes to know where her people are at all times.  Such a sweet little fluffy dog, she is.

I have an Hiatal Hernia.  There really isn't any treatment that I am not already doing.  I am taking both Zantac and Prilosec so I am covered.  They say most people don't really have any symptoms and that is it with me so I am glad about that.  It hurts occasionally in the area but I don't believe it is the hernia at all, just the usual fibro stuff.  With fibro, you can have weird pains at any time and I am no exception to that rule.  I do have weird pains at different times but nothing too serious.  I take my medicine and if necessary some Tylenol and then I am back to the usual me.  I am glad that the bleeding is gone.  I do have issues with bleeding but I am glad at this point I am not bleeding at all or as far as I know anyway!  Dr. T does want me to see an Hematologist though.  I will ask why when i see Rachel this coming week.  I actually see his Physician's Assistants and I don't mind.  I usually see Linetta but she is on maternity leave so right now I am seeing Rachel.  I do hope to return to see Linetta soon because I really do like her and I think she has helped with the IBS and tummy issues a lot.  I just don't really want another doctor to see but I will talk it over and then make a decision.  I go to see Rachel on Thursday.

Today is a regular pain day, including the headache pain.  It isn't too bad, it isn't gone, it is just there.  I was super tired earlier since I did have to get up early and I didn't sleep too well last night but that is normal for me, especially on a Saturday.  I don't have any lessons tomorrow so I can sleep in.  I did have to go and get some Tylenol Pm and Regular extra strength Tylenol since we were completely out. I didn't bring Maisy as I was going into the store and I don't bring her when I go into stores because I don't like to leave her in the car.  I don't ever like to leave her in the car so I only bring her when I am going through drive thrus or to get gas or to the bank because then we don't get out of the car.  There is a gas station around town that will actually pump the gas for you and since I can't stand the smell of gas (it makes me nauseous), I will drive 8 extra miles to go there.  I really will and naturally, if I can, I will take Maisy.

I am doing pretty well on the words with friends game.  I am improving, which is my goal, of course,  I enjoy the game so I play it pretty much every day.  I am not so into the other games I was into like the angry birds as I was when I first got my nook.  Now, I just play words with friends.

Maisy is sitting right next to me right now as Heather B-T and Bill went to get dinner.  I am not sure if they are cooking or picking something up.  It doesn't matter.  Either is fine with me.  I love sitting next to Maisy.  She is such a soothing presence.

Well, anyway, it has been such a lovely day and now when I look out my window, I can see more of the backyard and less of the trees that don't belong in the patio in the backyard.  It looks every so much nicer.  Heather B-T does a nice job.  I can see Mom's roses much better now too.  They are fully blooming and are red.  They are carpet roses and the bush is huge and I mean huge.  It hasn't been looked after for about 10 years so the little bush is now a huge bush.  We had something weird happen to us this week.  One of our neighbors, with their dog, walked into our backyard, looked at it and walked out.  Now, in order to get into the back yard, you have to go through the side yard but wow, who goes into neighbors yards like that?  It was very strange.  We have some good neighbors and some strange neighbors.  That is all I can say.  We do have one that complains about our yard (or used to) when Mom was still here.  I could only afford to have someone come and cut the yard every couple weeks so the lawn would get long except in July when it would be brown because of the high heat and no rain (not like this year where it rained all July).  She would call and complain and then complain to the board of directors for our sub.  It finally got to the point where the head of the board went and told her exactly what was going on here, how Mom was really sick, and that I couldn't afford to have it done weekly.  She left me alone after that but still, mind your own lawn.  I was doing the best that I could do.  Mom had to take top priority with me.  She needed me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I helped her with everything.  I do miss taking care of her - not everything - but somethings.  I miss our walks, picking out her clothes, and things like that.  I miss taking her everywhere with me.  A daughter's revenge on mom for clothes that she put me in as a child (not that I didn't like everything she ever put me in, because I did - she had good taste), was for me to pick her clothes out for her everyday. I made sure she looked super cute at all times.  Momma had to have the hair, the clothes, the shoes, everything put together to make her look adorable and she did, let me tell you.  I brought Mom pretty much everywhere with me.  Near the end, I had to have someone come and stay with her because she couldn't walk that well, but up until that part, she just came with me.  It never occurred to me to leave her at home.  Why would I?  It wasn't a problem to bring her.  She started coming everywhere with me in summer of 2006, she pretty much came everywhere with me prior to that but she could still drive at that point so she didn't come to the store with me, I didn't own it at that point.  If I wasn't going to work, she came with me but if I was going to teach, she didn't.  Once my brother and I bought the store she came with me to work and she loved every minute of it.  It made her feel so important and that was good because she was important to me.  I miss being with her all the time.  I know people would say take time for yourself and I did when I needed to but I knew there would come a day when I would have all the self time I wanted plus some.  I wanted to spend the time with her and that is what I did.  We were a team.  That is what I remember the most.  Momma and I were a team.

On to words with friends and then some dinner soon.  I am getting a bit hungry, which is unusual in itself.  I don't get hungry very often.  It isn't quite time to feed the Maisy girl yet either so we will both be eating about the same time.  She is sitting patiently at the hallway at the top of the stairs, waiting for the rest of her "people" to get home.

TGIF???? 8-16

I am not sure if I am glad it is Friday as I do have a lesson on Saturday.  Other than that there isn't much going on.  I may go and see Tilley and the family but I am not positive yet.  I have my little Ryan today.  He is such a sweet young man.  He is 6 now and is going into 1st grade.  Ryan is doing very well with piano.  His younger brother, Nick, may start too.  I don't know for sure though.  His mom is working with him at home to see if he is interested.  The boys are such sweet boys.  They really are.  Robyn has had to take a couple weeks off of lessons to get things together and then she will have them again.  Acer is at camp with Calli and Natalie is on vacation.  Friday is a busy day for lessons.  I think next week my Emily will be back and boy, I can't wait to see her.  I miss her so much!  I really do!!!  She has been in Poland for the summer and I do hope she has really enjoyed herself.  I will find out next week!

It is soooooo quiet in the house as I am the only one home.  With both kids at camp and Heather, Bill, Maisy, and Brandon all out for the moment, it is awfully silent around here.  I don't mind as it is nice to have some silence mixed in with the commotion of everyone being here.  I am enjoying the view out of my window and I even have seen some new flowers poking their heads through!

Ryan finished his lesson.  He just learned a new hand position and it is giving him a smidge of trouble.  He did much better with it today than he did last week when it was brand new.  Ryan has a really good memory so when he does his flashcards, he does a really good job even with the new notes thrown in.  I expect that in a few weeks, it will be super easy for him.  I am going to switch to the regular Alfred books after this level since I think the prep books will be too easy for him by the time we get to level D, plus, I really dislike the level D book.  Parts are okay and parts are not.  It just seems that at the end of level 1B, D, and 4 they throw in stuff just to learn and who cares that it sounds awful or at least that is what I think.  I switch to more original classical music for level 4.  It seems to interest the students much more.  The exception in Isabella and that is because she is new to me but not new to piano.  It will be the same with the new student tomorrow, Karen.  I am looking forward to meeting her.  She sounds really nice on the phone.  Her first lesson is tomorrow.

I am anxiously awaiting the second season of Game of Thrones.  I will miss the 2 characters that they killed off, but I can't wait to see what happens with the kids, Arya and Sensa.  They are such strong girls.  I have to read the books too and right now I am finishing up a different series but I will get to that soon.

I have to plan the Christmas presents soon.  With all the things I need to get (hearing aids, pay off 2012 property taxes, and save for a car) I have to get them over a few months.  I can't wait until December because then no one will get anything.  I have an idea of what to get Kathy's kids.  They aren't too hard, the girls are the hardest but I will have suggestions from Kathy and I will go to the craft store and see what I can pick up for them.  Her boys are so easy.  They love itunes so I get them itune cards.  Acer and Calli are a bit harder although I think I know what I am getting Calli and I have a good idea of what I am getting Acer.  With his love of percussion, I am going to scout out some percussion sound effect instruments.  He doesn't have any of those yet so that is what I am going to look for.  Heather and Bill, I know what I am getting them, they are easy.  My students are a bit more difficult as I don't know what type of ornament to make.  I know I am making them something, I just don't know what yet.  It will get easier when September rolls around and I start thinking seriously about it.

Speaking of competition, all the stuff is due the week before Christmas.  I am worried that it could have an impact with the entries.  I hope not, but it might.  I will get the stuff together to hand out to students by the beginning of September.  I must be tired as I just wrote march and had to delete to write September.  Oh my.  What can I say?  I am tired.

Everyone is home but the kids now.  Maisy was very excited that all her people were home together.  I got out of my car and she came running to me.  She was so happy to see me and boy, was I so happy to see her!  I did enjoy myself with the extra peace and quiet, but I am glad she and the others are home.  I have a new recipe for a new drink to try here at home.  I have to get some Cinnamon sticks and apples.  You slice apples thinly and put it one Cinnamon stick, put in bottom of pitcher, add 1/2 with ice and then water.  It is healthy and supposed to taste really good so I will try it.  We have lots of pictures.

Heather B-T, Maisy, and I toured the gardens in our house.  Heather B-T has been busy all spring and summer working on the yard.  The flowers are blooming and I think the yard is shaping up nicely.  We are keeping the one rose bush that Mom planted but all the others that mom planted died years ago so everything else will be new.

Well, I am off to play words with friends and then reading.

Thursday 8-15

It is the middle of the month and my music room still looks pretty much like it did at the beginning of the month, which was not my goal.  I wanted it done by now and it is not.  I have imposed a deadline on myself that by the end of August.  I have to make that deadline because the room really needs to be in order.

I had Maisy with me most of today.  She was in my room right before Heather B-T and Bill left to take the kids to camp and stayed until they came home after dinner.  Maisy was so good when we went to Panera for soup and McD for my drink.  She was such a good girl and stayed on the passenger side of the car.  I was so pleased with her.  Then I had one lesson.  I took a nap after that and Maisy snuggled with me during the nap.  I was happy about that.  She is such a snuggly dog.  I simply adore her.  I know she barks too much and has been known to do doggie business in the house, but overall, she is a good girl.

I don't have any plans for the weekend, other than working on the music room.  I do hope to go out to lunch with Heather B-T and use one of the gift certificates that I have.  If we don't, that is okay.  We will eventually.  It isn't like these expire because they really don't.

I am watching project runway right now.  This is last weeks episode.  The new episode will be on right after this.  I love this show.  I was planning to go to choir, but I am not feeling so good today so I didn't go.  I miss going to church but with these headaches that happen so much, there isn't much I can do about it.  I will eventually be able to get back to it.  The doctor is doing the best that she can with the medicines.  I told Dr. A yesterday that I would not take anymore medicine that would cause weight gain and she said sometimes you just don't have a choice.  Well, I do and I will not do that anymore.  I am finally losing the weight so I do not want to gain anymore weight.

I am getting very tired.  I think I will try to stay up and watch the next episode but I am not sure I will stay awake.

Happy Doctor Day 8-14

I can't believe it but I made Doctor A happy with me!!!  I know!  It is a miracle!!  Well, she is very happy with the 28 (yup down 28 now) pounds I have lost.  Also, I asked for a prescription for a walker, one with a seat so that I can sit after walking for a bit.  I am trying to do more walking than riding on a scooter.  I am hoping that with more weight loss, I will be able to walk better and longer.  I would also like to be able to stand longer too.  I just have to be patient and boy, do I know that is so not one of my strong suits, but I will work on it.

I also finished Game of Thrones season 1 last night.  Oh my, the ending was epic!  Dragons!  3 Dragons!  How cool was that?  I loved the ending!  Originally, i didn't want to see the other seasons but now I do.  Arya kicks butt!  I love that character!  She is such a strong girl!  Not to mention, she has a sword called needle!  I will admit that I have to turn my head every so often as the sight of blood does make me sick to the stomach but mostly you can tell that is about to happen or at least when they are about to cut off someone's head.  It is such a good show and I am anxious for the rest of the seasons.  I can't believe I waited so long to see this show!

Maisy and I had a lovely snuggle for about 35 minutes today.  I loved every minute of it.  It was so wonderful, just me and the little snuggly dog.  Acer and I were listening to music the entire time I was resting and snuggling with Maisy.  I was so exhausted.  It could have something to do with the fact I went to bed at 1 am this morning because I was watching all of the rest of the Game of Throne episodes.  Yes, it certainly did.  Tomorrow I don't have to be up until I want to get up as I don't teach until 2:30 pm.  I won't sleep that late but I will sleep in, I am sure.

Not much exciting on TV tonight especially after watching Game of Thrones last night.  Everything else seems so, well, dull.  Completely dull in comparison.  It is almost like a let down after such an interesting show.  Kathy just finished listening to the audio book of Game of Thrones.  She says the show is very close to the book so I am super glad about that!  I don't like it when they are not the same or similar enough.  I just need to finish up my tea and take my bedtime medicine before words with friends.  I am doing alright.  I am getting better.  I hope Star made her move today!  I am now playing against her too.  We shall have fun with this, I think.

Pain level is rather high today.  I think part of it is because when I see Dr. A she always checks my range of motion and that often makes me sore.  I am not sure why else other than that but I was medium sore before the appointment and very sore after.  I know she doesn't mean to hurt me, it just happens.  She has to check my range of motion.  I have improved some with my left shoulder.  I can now put my arm over my head and behind my back, which was something I could not do a few months ago.  Like I said, I had one happy doctor there.  She wants to see me again in 4 months although I am doing so well she said it really is just to see how I am doing on the weight loss.  Dr. A is very excited about my losing of weight.  I figured she would be happy but wow, I didn't know she would be this happy about it but I am not complaining!  I like happy doctors!  I like making my doctor happy that is for sure.  My daily headache was really bad this afternoon, which is unusual, usually it is bad in the morning and at night, but now it is medium bad.  I am hoping for some improvement when I go to bed.

Tuesday - a Game of Thrones night 8-13

I have yet to totally recover from the trip to Kalamazoo.  I expect a couple more days and then I will be back to my regular self.  I am not as tired as I thought I would be though so that is good.  I am watching Game of Thrones season one episode 7 right now.  I do enjoy this show more than I thought I would.  I am going to watch a few episodes tonight.  i didn't realize I made the discs overdue.  I will try to watch them all this evening before I go to bed.  Bill needs to return the discs tomorrow.  This is interesting because the king is dying and the hand of the king, Ned Stark, did not write exactly what he was supposed to.  Hmm, this will be interesting that is for sure.  I wasn't sure I would like this story but I do.  i also have borrowed the book from Kathy to read.  I have already started it.

Last night I went to tea with Star.  We had a nice chat as usual.  She is such a nice young woman.  She has grown into an unusually compassionate and kind lady not too unlike when she was a child.  Star has always been an old soul.  You look into her eyes and you see an old soul.  It is just the way she was and is now.

It was a bit chilly today.  This whole month has been rather chilly and not a day over 90 degrees, I don't even know if we hit 80 degrees.  I don't know.  I do better in this weather than i do in hot weather.

Kathy has received the 2nd disc of the Game of Thrones!  I am so excited even though we just saw them this weekend.  Tony hasn't seen them and they are watching them together, which is really nice.

Ah, the King is dead on the show.  Oh my, let the games begin!

Danielle is not doing very well with her mother's passing.  I did expect it would be hard on her.  It is hard no matter how old you are to lose your mother.  I know how hard it is.  I still miss my mother so much of time.  I am glad though, that Danielle has 2 children to distract her and help her focus on something other than her grief.  At times I know how overwhelming it can be.  Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that it seems as though you can't breathe.  Other times, it hurts so bad that it feels as though bricks were pressing so hard on your chest.  It is just awful, but I do know it eventually becomes somewhat more bearable.  It won't be everyday for her, but it will come and go.  I do worry about her and her siblings.

Well, on to more game of thrones and some words with friends.

Girl Time 8-11

I went to Kalamazoo yesterday to spend yesterday and today with Kathy.  It was a well needed break as this summer has not been so good.  It hasn't been the worst, but it certainly hasn't been the best either.  I had made these plans on the fly this week.  I called Kathy and asked her what her schedule for the weekend looked like.  She said it was pretty open so we put the plans together just like that.  I left yesterday about 9:30 ish so I would get there around noon.  I picked up Kathy and the fun began.  We went to lunch and discussed what our plans were.  I had decided that we really needed to have pedicures as neither of us have ever had one.  Boy, was it awesome.  I didn't have the lady paint my toenails though as I usually don't.  Kathy picked a really pretty bright pink.  It looked really good.  After that, Kathy's kids and husband, Tony came to the hotel and they all went swimming while Kathy and I chatted.  I amused Kathy with many stories about Maisy and how much I love that little dog.  I will freely admit that Maisy has me wrapped around her little paw and she KNOWS it!  Trust, she knows.  Maisy just gave me that look and I was hooked forever.  That is all there is to it.  So while the kids and Tony swam, Kathy and I chatted up a storm.  We caught up on everything, although I will have to admit, there wasn't too much to catch completely on because we text each other quite frequently, like almost everyday.  But we talked about so many different things.  After the kids and Tony went home, Kathy and I headed to Panera (yes!  Thankfully they have them there too!!!) for dinner.  We each got a salad with shrimp.  Oh, the shrimp are huge and wonderful!  We brought the salads back to the hotel so we could eat and watch the DVDs I had brought with me.  Kathy's son, Matthew (the oldest), had brought his PS3 for us to use so we could watch the DVDs.  I had brought discs 2 through 5 of Game of Thrones Season 1.  I did already see the 3rd episode that Kathy hasn't seen but that was okay to see it again.  We watched episodes 3, 4, 5, and 6.  Oh my.  I DID need to turn my head a couple of times because it was either about to be gross or was gross but I expected that that would happen as Bill did warn me about the graphicness of the show.  I love the story line though. I just wish it wasn't so explicate with both violence and nudity but it is an HBO show and the do this because they can.

Oh my, I must digress from the weekend.  Maisy is a ninja dog as we call her.  She just did the most ninja thing yet after the candy incident.  Well, I was sitting here in the dining room writing this post when the little dog came into the room with something in her mouth.  Apparently, there was a blue bag with 3 ziplock bags full of dog food on top of the dog food container.  (It is a rolling container and fits a huge bag of dog food in it).  Well, she managed to get that bag down from the top of the container and then get into the bag to get a bag of food out of it.  Needless to say, I threw cold water on her plans.  Maisy did NOT look sorry for that one bit.  Not one little bit was she sorry about her ninja skills getting the dog food.  The bags were not even for Maisy, they were for Q who eats about 5 times the amount that Maisy does since he is about 5 times the size of Maisy.  of course, after she was caught, she wanted a tummy rub, two of them in fact.  Yes, I caved and gave them to her after I hung up the food bag.

Back to the weekend.  I drove Kathy back to her house and then went back to the hotel to go to sleep.  As usual, I did not sleep very well, but that is normal for me.  We then had lunch at IHOP today before I drove home and took a nap.  I did have to turn around about 10 minutes into my drive home because Kathy forgot her wallet in my car.  Silly Kathy, she would need that for driving and grocery shopping and all those good things.

Anyways, it was a nice overnight away.  I have 4 more episodes left for Game of Thrones season 1.  I am rather tired tonight so I think I will just read for a few and then go to bed.  I have 2 lessons tomorrow so I can sleep in if I want, which I probably will want to.

We are having a celebration of Maia's life on September 1.  On one hand, I am so glad she is no longer suffering and isn't in pain anymore, on the other, I can't believe she is gone.  I just can't at times.  I know it is selfish of me to want her here when she was suffering so much and no, I don't want her here suffering, I want her here like she was before she got cancer.  I want her healthy and here.  I miss her a lot.  I know her kids and the rest of the family misses her too.

Maia 8-9

My lovely cousin and friend, Maia, passed away about 10 am yesterday morning.  Our hearts and broken.  She was put in a coma on Wednesday because she was in so much pain and just suffering too much.  We had someone with her at all times.  She was never alone.  Her son was with her when she died so she did not die alone.  Maia is no longer in pain and is not suffering anymore.  I can't really write anymore tonight.  Maybe more tomorrow or on the weekend.

8-5

Maia's pain medicine has been raised again this morning.  Other than that, she is hanging on.  I have such a hard time with the fact that they have not been able to control her pain.  I don't understand why.  I hope it is better now.  As of right now, I am not heading to Windsor today.  I don't know about the rest of the week.  It all depends on Maia.

I had 2 lessons this afternoon.  Isabella and Bob.  Both are doing well.  Bob has started a new piece called "Toccata in D Minor" by J. S. Bach.  It is a famous piece that was featured in the original Fantasia movie.  I simply adore that song and I was surprised to realize that I NEVER gave the song to Bob to play!  Talk about an oversight!  Well, it is completely fixed now.  He has it and is doing rather well with it.  I am quite happy with how he is playing.  He plays very well and I have had him for a student for many years now.  I think at least about 6 or so, maybe even 7.  I am just not sure.  Bob really enjoys playing.  Isabella has been playing for a few years but I have had her for 2 weeks.  She also plays very well.  I think she will fit right in with the rest of the students.  We discussed competition today.  Isabella will need to be to speak with her parents about whether or not she wishes to participate in competition.  I am hoping that she will since she plays so well.  I know that Natalie, Aubrey, Jillian, Brooke, and possibly Rebecca are going but that is about it so far.  I don't know about Isaac or any of the other students.  I will know in the next few weeks or so.

On one hand, I am anxious to get into fall so that the fall planning can start and on the other hand, I don't want fall to arrive because that means cold and winter!!!!!!  Winter is not my favorite season.  I am a spring and fall girl not a summer and winter girl.

Bill brought home the rest of season one for the Game of Thrones for me.  I am so geeked to watch some more of this.  I think because I knew what was in it, that I can handle it (so far anyway).  We shall see how long I last though.  I am hoping through the first season because I really do like the story and the characters.  I like this kind of fantasy story.  I don't read a whole lot of them, but I do like them.  I don't watch a whole lot of movies in general anymore so I am not even sure what is out there.  I know the newest Percy Jackson movie is coming out.  I do wish to see that.  I have to re-read the entire series because I cannot remember enough of it at this point.  I do know some of the differences between the movie and the first book, only because Isaac told me about them, not because I remembered the book.  I read the books after we lost the store and really, I was in a dark spot at that point so I don't remember too much about what went on at that point.  For about 4 years of my life (1/2 of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 1/2 of 2012) I can't remember too much except we lost the store, Momma died, and Richard stopped speaking to me.  I was also so sick at that point.  From November of 2007 to February of 2009, I was in the hospital about 15 times (including ER visits).  Some of them were just ER visits, some were overnight ER visits and some were extended stays.  It just seemed it was one thing after another.  now, I feel like I am getting somewhat better or as better as I can get.  I am eating healthier and cleaner, I am resting when I need to, and I have eliminated as much stress as possible in my life.  I am working on alternatives for some of the health issues and making sure that I am as healthy as I can be so that I don't get sicker and sicker again.  That was just not fun.  It really sucked and I do not want to be there again.

Maisy is sleeping right near me.  She is snoring!  It is so adorable!  Of course, outside of doggie business inside and barking too much, everything she does is adorable!  I simply adore that little dog!  She is lying on her side and it is so sweet.  We didn't really snuggle today because she was up with Heather B-T most of the day.  Heather B-T wasn't feeling too well.  She has had a migraine for 4 days now.  I am hopeful that it is much better now.

I couldn't really sleep last night.  I kept thinking I heard the phone ring.  I think I finally fell asleep around 5 am.  I think I have to be up for a noon lesson tomorrow.  Oh yeah, I do.  Not a problem.  I hope to go to bed earlier tonight and sleep better tonight than I did last night.  I kept thinking and dreaming about Maia.  I hope she is in less pain tonight.  Kayla is staying with her tonight.  We have someone with her at all times especially at night so that she isn't alone.  I just want her out of pain that is all I want now.  No more pain.  She is suffering and I don't want her to suffer anymore.  No more pain and no more suffering.  I know Maia is strong, but really, how much can one woman take?

Maia 8-4

I received a text message from my cousin, Maia's daughter, Danielle at about 1.  She sent it earlier but I didn't get it as I was sleeping.  She said to come right away so I did.  I got dressed and went to Windsor.  Maia nearly died last night and the hospice staff feel that she will pass away tonight.  Maia is still hanging on though so I don't know if she will or not.  I remember when the doctor told me that Momma would pass away and she lasted another 5 days so it is hard to say.  Our family is stubborn and strong at the same time.  I hope for Maia's sake that she isn't in as much pain and her passing is quiet and fast.  She has suffered enough.

Darrin and Luana, Maia's brother and sister, were also there with their children.  Pretty much the entire side of Maia's family and me were there.  Lia, Maia's oldest daughter, and Alex, Maia's oldest son, came in from out of town.  They are here indefinitely since the end is quite near.  This happened much faster than what they told us originally.  The doctor said she would have about 6 months, then she went into the hospital and now it is only weeks from when we were told months.  It is so fast.  I don't think you can really predict this type of timetable at times.  With Maia having so many types of cancer and it spreading so fast, I don't know how they could predict really anything with her.  The skin cancer is spreading and the other cancers inside her are also spreading.

It was somewhat nice to see other cousins but only somewhat because of the reason.  If it wasn't for the reason why, it would have been really nice.  I met Alex's fiance, Laila.  She was really nice and Lia's husband, Rick and daughter, Esther were there too.  Esther is almost 3 and Elizabeth, Danielle's almost 5 year old were playing together.  They really didn't understand what was going on at that age.  I wouldn't have expected them too.  They are just too young.  I was with them by myself for a while.  It was nice to focus and watch them for a while.  I did learn that both girls' favorite color is pink and Elizabeth's 2nd favorite color is purple.  Mine are reversed, I like purple first and then pink.  Esther didn't really have a 2nd favorite color.  They were playing pretty nicely together for the most part.  Both girls have so much energy it is amazing to me.  If only they could pass some to me.  That would be beautiful but they can't so I just watch them.  Lia was planning on spending the night.

When we all left at 5, Maia's boyfriend, Mark had arrived.  He requested everyone leave and let him be with Maia alone.  He has been so solid through this whole thing.  I am so glad that he is able to spend some time with her.  Tilley went to pick him up from work and then she will take him back.  I am also glad he requested that we all leave because otherwise I think most of us, including me, wouldn't have thought to give them some time alone.  I think most of us would have stayed in the waiting room.  I am not sure though since he did ask all of us to leave.  Danielle didn't want to but I think she did leave too.  I came home.  I didn't want to go anywhere else.  I needed to come home and rest.  I am not sure what the week will bring so I have to rest when I can.

I don't know what is going to happen when Maia dies outside of there will be no funeral.  She doesn't want one so there won't be one.  It is her choice, instead she would like a celebration BBQ at her mom, Tilley's house.  It will be a potluck, like we usually do, but all Maia's kids have to be there, which makes perfect sense to me.  I am not sure who all will be there, but I do know I will be.  It is for Maia and she is my closest cousin.  Maia was there when Momma died and she helped me as much as she could with Momma.  She was there for me after Momma died.  We visited with each other quite frequently.  We talked online a lot too.  It will be so strange not to have her here.  Just like it was so strange and still is strange without Momma.  So much of this reminds me in small ways of watching my mother die.  I was all alone when I was at the hospital.  I went everyday.  I had to.  How could I not when each day could be the last day my mother would be alive?  I still miss her terribly.  I probably always will.  Maia is only 50 and her kids are 19, 22, 27, 28 or something like that.  They are so young to lose their mother.  They really are.

What will tomorrow bring?  Will Maia survive the night?  I only pray that she isn't in so much pain and that she passes quickly and effortlessly.  I love her so much, we all do.  She is very much loved and important to all of us.