Daily Ponderings

In 20 minutes, a new month begins. I can't believe how incredibly busy July has been. I remember during the winter, I kept trying to think of things to do to keep myself busy during the summer. I bought 2 paint-by-numbers so I could do them since I have not been working on jewelry much lately. I thought I'd have plenty of opportunities to do them, but I've only worked on one of them twice so far! August promises to be a bit less chaotic, so perhaps I'll be able to do more things around the house, and the paintings! I just don't like the fact that this summer is disappearing quickly!!

Here we are, a week later since my last post. I swear, I had very many good intentions on blogging this week, but then either something came up and I'd forget, or I'd just plain forget, or I would get ready to do it and figured I was too tired. Ugh. I think part of it is laziness, too! Anywho.... Sunday was Joan's last bridal shower in Canada, and it was nice. It was a cash shower, and there were no games involved, but we sure did eat. If what we had at the shower is any indication of what the reception's going to be like after the wedding, then I might as well start fasting now. Holy smokes, the food just seemed to keep coming! There was antipasto (antipasta??), which included lots of tomatoes and cheeses, ham, pasta salads, etc. Then bowls of pasta were brought out. After awhile, they brought out chicken covered with some kind of mushroom and bacon sauce, little potato puff things, and cooked green beans and carrots. And a salad. Everything was pretty good, although ...

I've been having such a lazy Saturday, and it's been rather nice. I didn't have to worry about getting up early to go to rehab, or bring my mom to the doctor's, or bringing Shelby to the vet. I got up a little late, read the news in bed for a bit, and eventually got showered and dressed. I didn't sit down for breakfast until it was 12. I really haven't done too much since! I shut the a/c off in my apartment, despite the fact that it's currently 90 degrees and feels like 97. Am I crazy? Well, most people would say yes. lol However, I'm so sick of the a/c being on, that I just wanted to use the fan. I'm a little warm, but not uncomfortable. I do wish it would rain, though, so maybe the mugginess would go away! I got a text alert earlier stating that Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment. Now, while I cracked a joke about it, that maybe she should've said yes, yes, yes to rehab, I have to admit that the situation is rather sad. And, w...

Today was very hot here. Opressive. Although there was a lot of wind going on (which I think was a saving grace from downright hell), the temperature was in the 90s, and it felt more like 108 at one point. It doesn't get THAT hot here! I know I'm not supposed to really be venturing out in weather like that, but I had to bring my mom to her eye appt at 9:30, so we left at 8:30. We didn't get back home until almost 4. After the appt, we ventured around the mall for a couple of hours, something I haven't done in, years?? I just don't shop like I used to! We met my friend, Renee, for lunch at Panera Bread, and had a nice time chatting and laughing! Then we went into the Hallmark store, where I bought a gift for Mo's baby shower. On the ride back to the Falls, my mom fell asleep. I wish I could've, too, but I was driving!! We stopped at Mandy's house for a little bit, so my mom could give the kids shirts she bought for them. And then we finally got home. I wa...

I love summer. It's my most favorite time of year, and that's because it's warm! And sometimes it's really really hot. And sometimes it's unbearably hot, but I still love it anyway! I try so hard not to have the A/C running for myself in my apartment. There are so many days where I can have all the windows wide open, and a nice breeze flowing through the entire place. I usually run the A/C for the person upstairs and close up my vents. I just really hate the coldness, since I already get enough of that in the winter!! This week, though? It's been brutal the last couple of days. It's mostly the humidity in the air. And as much as I truly didn't want to do it, I had to open up all the vents in my place and put the A/C on for myself and Mittens. I just can't breathe when it is that bad! The next few days are going to be in the mid-90s, and there's no way I can let a breeze flow through the house. There might not even be one! So, for this week at le...

Well, my busy week ended on Saturday night when I got home from being in Horseheads, NY, for Joan's bridal shower. We had no idea how many were actually coming since I only had one person RSVP! We ended up with about 25 people, I think, and it was a great time! I saw some family I haven't seen in a long time, and some I don't really remember. lol The food ended up being really good, the games were so much fun (especially toilet paper bride!), and Joan got some very nice gifts. The day was a nice one, and I was very happy to end the week with my sistores all together, even for a short time. This week brings some relaxation, and also some very hot temperatures. It's supposed to be in the mid-80s to 90s all week, but also humidity. I wish somehow the humidity could be low! Then I'd be able to open my windows, even despite the heat. However, I had to put the air conditioning on for my apartment this morning, not just for my neighbor upstairs. I just couldn't breathe...

Today Lisa came over for maybe 20 minutes or so before I headed off to rehab, and her little guy rode a Thomas train car down the block with her. He tried to find Mittens when they got in the house, and when he got a little too close for Mittens' comfort, Mittens ran out of the cupboard and cried all the way to the bedroom and under the bed. Oh well, at least he didn't bite anyone! I went to rehab and did a good workout, but I was pretty exhausted when I got home. I had three things I wanted to accomplish for the bridal shower on Saturday, but the first thing I had to do was take a nap after I watered all the plants outside. Mittens hung out with me on the bed, but I just couldn't really doze. I spent maybe half an hour just laying there, and then decided to get up. I made hummus with roasted red pepper. Done! Then I started working on one of the games I'm going to do, when I heard a knock on my door. Lisa was back for a bit! She actually helped me with one of my other ...

The last couple of days, I feel as if I haven't been living here. lol I spent most of the day out of the house yesterday, and I was out most of the morning/early afternoon, and then evening today. I'm trying to catch up on rest in between, but I've got stuff that needs to be done around here, so I'm starting to wear myself out. And poor Mittens seems to be missing me when I'm gone because he bashes my legs with his head for awhile when I get back! At least we did get to take a nap together today. I miss him, too! It's nice to be busy, but I also miss the relaxing I usually do. Hopefully that'll change next week!! Tomorrow I'm hoping to get some things made for the bridal shower we're having on Saturday for Joan. It's our family bridal shower. We're going to have some finger foods, and I'm going to make hummus for it, so I need to get that done tomorrow. I also have to retype a couple games I found since I'm adding a few things to them...

Here it is, the middle of July, and another busy week is planned. This time, most of my time will be spent with my family. This includes Lisa, and her little guy, who both arrived in town tonight for several days! It was so nice seeing them even for a short while at my parents, and I look forward to the week ahead. I know one night my sistores and I are planning to go out for dinner and drinks! On Friday, we'll be heading to my grandma's for a night, and Saturday will be our family bridal shower for Joan. So, lots of stuff going on yet again, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to keep up!

Yesterday my family and I hung out at Mandy's house for the evening, eating good food and sharing lots of laughs. The kids were quite energetic, and played in their pool for a very long time before deciding they wanted to have dinner. While we were all in the garage, Mandy told us how her son, who is now 4, was playing one day and came up to her with a beaded necklace under his nose and around his ears. He said, "I'm Aunt Colleen. I have a breathing problem." We all burst out laughing! I thought it was so cute and funny at the same time! Then a little later, my niece, who was sitting next to me, was in mid-sentence trying to tell me something when she said, "Ooh, your lips are kind of purple, Aunt Colleen." Well, I hadn't been wearing my oxygen for a bit, and so I guess it was time to go put it back on. lol I'm at least glad that both of the kids know enough that I have a health problem, since they've seen me since they were born with the oxygen...

Today as I was driving to pulmonary rehab, I kept seeing people out exercising. Some were just casually walking. Some were power walking, pounding the pavement in a serious stance as they sped down the street as if there was a fire behind them. There were a few who were running quickly, and a few who were jogging. No matter what they were doing, they were at least burning some calories and I'm sure their bodies were appreciating it. And as I watched these people (and the road, I was also watching the road!!), I thought to myself, "What would I do if I were normal??" Now, by normal, I certainly mean physically! I have spent many times pondering this very question, and most of the time I've come back to wanting to do one thing if I were ever go through a transplant or, best of all, there was a cure for pulmonary hypertension: running. Yes, I ran when I was a little kid, and yes, I got completely exhausted doing it. But, in the last couple of decades, running is somethin...

I had heard over a month ago that a Canadian band I just LOVE was coming to play for free downtown on July 2nd as part of a free concert series through the Hard Rock Cafe. I was so excited!! I have tried twice to see Our Lady Peace in concert, and twice I wasn't able to go, even though I had the tickets. So I really wanted to see them! My friend, Dee, and I kept tossing the idea back and forth between last night and this afternoon. First we didn't know how hot it would be. Then we didn't know if it was going to rain. Then she wasn't feeling too great with her sinuses and stuffiness, and then I wasn't feeling top notch. In the end, we just decided to wing it. We went downtown, actually found a parking spot I could mostly deal with, even though we still had to walk quite a bit, and we headed to the new TGI Friday's that just opened up Tuesday in one of the hotels. It was crazy busy! We sat at the bar, which was a little better, but not by much. We waited forever f...