Sunday 2 December 2012

More weight gain

Hello all. 
I have been neglecting my blog lately.  I have been writing a lot for Forever Friends and have simply run out of time in my days.

I maintained my steady weight gain.  It may be a combination of boredom, being alone, and stress.  I don't know.  But I have gained about 20 pounds since August.  I have been exercising regularly and trying to watch what I eat but can still talk myself into anything.  Sure you can have that, you worked out.  I have only had one headache this month though.  It lasted 2 days so not too bad. 

It's still worth it I think. 

I would rather be healthy.  Not being in pain all the time is very worth it. 

Now to get through the Christmas Season. 

Merry Christmas all!

Monday 15 October 2012

Migraines and Weight Gain

I have some bad news for migraine sufferers everywhere. It would seem that the pills the neurologist gave me have made me fat. For a while after I got my dosage close to right I could not eat enough. I ate all the time because I was starving all the time. I noticed the scale going up but didn't put it all together.

One day I had my ahhha moment and read the side effects of my pills. Increased appetite and weight gain. Great. So the side effect of headaches is fat ass. (and head aches. Get that. One of the side effects of migraine pills is headaches) But I digress.

So I have gained 10 pounds since August when I had my last appointment. However now I know better therefore I will do better. (Mia Angelou) I know I have to watch what I eat even more. I can't eat a lot of bread and grain products. I can eat wraps and pita's in moderation. However bread of any kind gives me a head ache. I can eat homemade or bakery cookies but not a lot of cake. I can't eat oatmeal either. Even the gluten free stuff. So I am still not 100 percent certain what causes my migraines but at least I'm getting it narrowed down.

So I have joined boot camp here in town. I have started to watch my calories not in a crazy zealot kind of way, but in a normal-you don't need to eat that kind of way.   Hopefully I can stop the scale climb and maybe reverse it a bit.  It's amazing how you can cut out so much food and still find enough food to gain weight. 

But on the upside not many headaches.  Better all the time.  

I'll keep you posted.  Have a good day and thanks for the reads!

Monday 3 September 2012

Drinking and the good life

Football game yesterday.  (Way to go Riders by the way!)  As we have discussed before, football games are incredibly hard for me to cope with.  I love making appy's and dips.  They are my favorite thing to eat and make.  I love having company over.  I love fussing over company.  It is my favorite thing to do. 

Well second favorite I guess.  Second only to eating it.  So there I sat.  Eating.  And Eating.  I have been trying a more gluten free diet.  I have found that certain carbs don't seem to bother me.  So I like grapes.  That's not a big deal, I don't think.  I also tried a drink of vodka yesterday.  No headache today which is wonderful I think.  Not that I want to be a souse but a drink now and then would be nice. 

Still trying new things.  I haven't eaten pasta or bread and feel good not eating those things.  I like spaghetti squash so we eat that a lot.   The kids like it to so that is easier. 

The kids go back to school tomorrow so we will be back on a routine so I am actually looking forward to that.  It's funny how we all look forward to the end of the school year and then look forward to it beginning again. 

Have a good day everyone.  Enjoy the sunshine!

Sunday 26 August 2012

Update

Hello All!
There has been so much going on lately, I have been very neglectful of my blogging.  Which is breaking the first rule of blogging. 

I am getting a lot better at the whole carb free living.  I have figured out several ways of cooking some of my favourites with a relatively low carb way of eating. 

My family is happy eating cabbage instead of spaghetti.  I know it sounds crazy.  I tried it first on a whim.  The  grocery store in town had a ten things for ten dollars sale on.  (I Love the 10 for 10!!)
One of the items was the pre-bagged coleslaw.  So I bought a couple and for supper boiled two packages while I made meat sauce.  My teenagers liked it.  The four of us cleaned it up.  It was great.  We went from about 100 carbs worth of spaghetti to about 6 grams of carbs.  Not to even mention the calories saved.  I was so excited that everyone liked it.  I went back to the 10 for 10 and stocked up and threw them in the freezer.  Just as easy as spaghetti but lots better for you. 

I also hosted a football party.  The hardest of all parties for food temptation.  So I decided to set my self up as well as possible.  I made lots of pepperoni and ham chips.  (3 min in the microwave.  I have a chipster from epicure so the fat drips away but a plate works too.)  I cut up veggies and made prosciutto, pickle and cream cheese rolls.   I was going to have oysters as well but the teenagers admitted to eating them when I looked and couldn't find them.  Even though I knew I had them.  Oh well, next time. 

Years ago I watched an episode of Oprah when they talked about going vegan and talked about "leaning into it".  Obviously I am more of a meataterian than a vegan but the same principle exists.  When I tried to cut all carbs in one day it was terrible but as I keep at it, I'm getting better. 

I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for reading!

Saturday 4 August 2012

Ketosis and headaches.

Good Morning all!

I have an update for you with my new lifestyle choice.   I have been following my diet pretty well.  I did snap one day and eat some Pringles and have an iced tea.  It has been a very crazy couple of weeks.  We have been running a couple people down for weeks now at work.  Everyone is taking their holidays so it's been super busy. 

I still haven't lost very much weight, only about 4 pounds.  However I have lost about 4 inches as well.  I can see it in my shape and feel it in the ways my cloths fit.  So that is a definite plus. 

Here is the biggest change.  I have only had one start of a migraine in the last month.  I took one of my Maxolt pills and it went away almost immediately and never came back.  That was a refreshing change.  I have only had a few low grade headaches this month as well.  So here is where it gets weird. 

I have always been a no fuss type of woman.  I didn't get my nails done.  I didn't get my eyebrows done.  I always thought that I was okay the way I was.  I never spent much money on clothes.  I just went with the basics and felt pretty good.  Or so I thought.  But here is what seems to be happening.  As I continue to feel better than I have in my whole life, I seem to be spending a lot more time and money on myself. 

I feel so much better that it seems I now feel like doing more for myself.  I have got my nails done and love the look of it.  I got my eyebrows done and really like the look.  Not so much the pain but the look.  I have also gone shopping three times this month.  And spent money each time.  I also wore sandals to work one day.  I have had these shoes for years and just decided to wear them.  It went okay.  Didn't gross me out too much.  I even bought some very funky boots with a heel and wore them a few times. 

So here is my idea of what the heck is happening to me. 

I think that because my head doesn't hurt nine days out of ten it has left me feeling so much free-er.  I feel lighter in general.  My brain doesn't think about the pain so it is free to think of other things.  I feel like I want to try things.  I have even considered "doing" somethings.  (If you follow this blog you know I have never been a big "doer")  I have considered going to a free concert in the park in Regina.  Considered it.  This would have never crossed my mind three months ago. 

Now I haven't actually "done" anything yet but I think I might.  Just wearing sandals is a stretch.  Maybe it is a sensation thing.  Three months ago bare feet would make me gag.  Literally, I am not kidding.  Now, I wore sandals to work.  It doesn't seem like a big thing but to me it seems amazing.

So my low carb-high protein diet is successful.  I can make chips out of salami so I still get to eat chips and dip.  I still slip up once in a while but that is okay.  All in all I feel better and am beginning to see a better life in the horizon.  And my life was pretty good before. 

Here's to a pain free day!  Cheers everyone!

Saturday 21 July 2012

Holidays, Ketosis and Blessings

Back to the world of the non vacationing.  I was off for a little bit on holidays but am back now.  Summer is such a strange time of the year.  Everyone seems kind of disconnected with reality.  Either just back from vacation or preparing to leave on vacation or wishing they could go on vacation.  It's like a four month long vacuum. 

When I was away I didn't follow my diet very well.  I have found that I seem to be able to eat sugar more so than bread and pasta.  So I seem to be able to eat a handful of gummy bears and feel better than if I eat a cup of pasta.  So I am not sure if its all carbs I have trouble with or just wheat or all grains.  The problem is that when I seem to go off the wagon I will do ten different things and then am not sure what caused it.  Although to date I have only had one migraine and it was after I tried to have a drink.  Everything else I did that day I have done since and haven't had a headache so I know that is still a major trigger for me. 

And it's too bad really.  Some days I have a life I would love to drink away.  (I'm kidding. )

Last night I was out for a walk with my husband as the sun was setting.  There wasn't a breath of wind and it was beautiful out.  We just walked to the end of the lane way and back but the fact that we get to live here and live the life we live if fantastic.   I am so grateful for all I have in my life.  There aren't really words to explain it.  I just feel humbled and blessed all at the same time. 

Oprah said something to the effect that "If you focus on what you have more will come to you but if you focus on what you don't have, then you will never have enough."  I have so much, great friends, a great job, fantastic family and a house I love to call home. 

Thank you to everyone who reads.  I appreciate it.  It is really a great feeling knowing that someone read something you wrote.  Enjoy your day!

Saturday 7 July 2012

Low carbs and the high life

I am not a fun person.  I mean I am funny but not fun.  I don't particularly like to "do" stuff.  I like to visit with friends but I don't really like to play board games or go to the beach, or play golf...you know things that other people consider fun.  I may have mentioned this before. 

So here's what happened.  I had gone a whole month without a migraine.  I was feeling pretty good about myself and the new drugs and the diet.  We got invited out to the lake with some of our friends.  They have spots down at the lake.  We went down there.  We had supper down there and I had some garlic toast and some chips.  I have had both of these before and only had a tightening in my head so I thought it would be okay.  But here is where I went wrong.

I decided to try a drink.  I had a ceaser with vodka in it.  I have virgin cearsers all the time and do okay so I thought I would try one.  So on Saturday, no problems.  We stayed up until about midnight and then went to bed.  I slept pretty well. Got up in the morning and went boating.  Came back in had corn on the cob and a hot dog and another ceaser and went back on the boat.  I had to take two Advil before we went out on the boat.  I wasn't worried though.  I had minor headaches all month just not a migraine. 

It was sunny out.  I enjoyed it for the most part.  I hate to sound whiney but I'm just not an outdoorsy person.  I enjoy reading and now blogging.  Not really a tubing/boating type of gal.  However, I do really enjoy the people that I was with.  So that's the best part. 

We left about 4 and headed home.  By the time we got here, I had a headache.  A growing into a migraine type of headache.   I took one of my good pills before bed and hoped for the best.  Not to be.  I had a migraine until Tuesday in the night it finally broke.  It leaves another type of a headache that I call a brain bruise in it's wake.  So Wednesday I had that and then Thursday it settled into just a headache.  Finally, by Friday it was gone. 

I think its safe to assume I will not be taking a hot holiday anytime soon. 

So I am trying to be a little more strict with myself.  My eating is okay during the week but I have more trouble on the weekend.  I am reading a book called "Protein Power" that I am hoping will help. 

I will not try to have a drink again anytime soon.  I will also not try to sit outside again in the sun anytime soon.  I hope this upcoming month will keep me moving forward.  Thank you all for reading about this. 

I know many people struggle with the same thing I do.  It's good to know that I'm not in this alone. 
Thank you.

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Ketosis & Me & Nylons

Okay so here is an update on this week in the life of a realtor/insurance broker on a low-no carb diet.

 Not so good. 

I gained back all of the weight I lost.  Which is only four pounds but I had hoped I had found the miracle cure.  That part of it doesn't worry me too much.  However I did get a little cocky this weekend.  I had chips, cookies, a couple of chocolates on Monday.  I had been doing so well that I was thinking I was off Scot free.   This resulted in a day of minor headaches.  I took two Advil in the morning on Tuesday and woke up in the night on Tuesday/Wednesday with the worst headache I have had in a month.  Not a migraine but a pretty bad one.  Although I took two Advil again and it went away so I am close to getting better.  There was a wicked storm on Tuesday night and I am sure the barometric pressure has something to do with it. 

So I am back to my pretty strict no carb thing.  I am trying the unrefined carbs if it's not possible to have none, and none is pretty hard to accomplish.  And some of the long term side effects of no carbs sound pretty horrible as well and I would rather avoid that if I could.  I have to combat the fatigue in every way I can because I do work a lot and need to have as much energy as possible.  Finding that balance seems hard to do.  But I will keep you posted. 

Here is my next dilemma.  You know that I have been trying to expand my horizans a touch.  Not a lot but some.  You all know that I tried a skirt on last time I went shopping.  I didn't buy it but I did try it on.  I am going shopping again and would like to try a skirt but here is the thing.  What do you wear with a skirt?  You see, if I don't wear socks I kind of feel like gagging.  Are nylons that horrible that no one is allowed to wear them anymore?  Would I be lynched in the town square for wearing nylons?  Would I be allowed to wear a peep toe shoe if I had nylons on?

The gauntlet goes out to all my fashion loving readers...What the hell am I supposed to do? Please comment and weigh in.  Guys you too.  I will take a vote from you as well.  Yes or no? 

Thanks for the reads and the advice.  Have a great night!

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Compulsion+Craving=Still No Headache

I am not sure exactly what is going on with my eating.  I am trying really hard to adapt to this carb-ish free life style but am not a hundred percent sure how long the adaption process is going to be.  I am totally ready to get it over with. 

I can tell when I eat a lot of carbs because my head gets tight.  If you get migraines you will probably understand what that means.  I don't get a full on head ache but my head and jaw get tight and feel like they are starting to build pressure in my jaw.  Weird I know but what can I say. 

However because it is raining every freaking day, its hard to tell what the barometric pressure might have to do with it as well.  I really want some chips.  I hate feeling guilty for eating hummus with snap peas.  I mean for the love of Pete- IT'S HUMMUS.  How bad can it be. 

My energy is my main concern though.  I just feel like someone pulled the plug on my energy.  Maybe it has to do with the weather but I have no energy and feel exhausted all of the time.  If anyone out there lives on this low carb diet I would love the input as to how to avoid this exhaustion or how long this takes to get over that feeling.  I keep waiting for my body to figure out how to make other energy but oye!  I am eating like a pig and still haven't got energy. 

But the plus side is 3 full weeks and no headaches.  That in itself is amazing.  So I guess I should quit bitching or eat the carbs and live with the head aches right?  Okay, quit bitching it is.  I guess I just never thought it would be this hard.  I kind of thought that I would feel so good with no headaches that I would breeze through this.  No change is easy and I guess I thought it would be.  Okay blogger land, I will try to quit griping about it.  I will go home now and go to sleep early and fingers crossed, will be better tomorrow. 

And to everyone in the last week that looked at me with concern and said "Are you okay? You don't seem yourself?"  the answer is "Yes I am ok.  I am on a diet to rid myself of pain and apparently get healthy in a way that makes me look like death warmed over just to fool you!  I don't want you getting all the low carb hummus in the store before I do!"

Regardless of my warped humor, its still worth it.  I'm sure my kidneys and liver are thanking me for not riddling them with the toxins of Maxolt, Tylenol and Advil by the handful.  It's still worth it.  It's still worth it. 

Gotta go.  Have to find some beef jerky to gnaw on at work tomorrow.  Have a good night!  Thanks for listening!

Sunday 17 June 2012

Update on my headache free lifestyle

I have had a few odd things that I have noticed with this new diet. 
I am trying to do the whole ketosis thing to get rid of my head aches.  I have noticed that there are some side effects so to speak but one of them is that I am down four pounds as I said before.  So that is kind of a weird spin off because I am eating enough to sink a small ship.  I thought that since I don't really need to worry about weight loss as much that I would work to be satisfied with this new way of life so that I don't end up hating it and going back. 
I eat a lot now.  All the time it seems.  However I have had some wicked cravings. The need for carbs seems to consume my brain.  It seems to be all I can think about.  I have caved a couple of times and then I notice the real difference in what the carbs do.  For example.  I have been incredibly tired this week.  Exhausted actually.  Bone weary tired.  Some of the reading I did on this diet warned about being tired but I did not really expect it to be so bad.  And because I have been paying attention I noticed that my cravings have been fierce.  My guess is that my body is craving the energy from the carbs. 

On Saturday I caved to my cravings and had some popcorn.  It was awesome and the spin off side effect was energy.  Almost immediate.  I had the energy to clean my office which was a huge mess. I forgot and put a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee in the morning and I had a peice of licorice that my loving husband brought me.   So I can really see the difference in the carbs vs not having carbs.

Resolve has been tough but there is one huge upside.  I have not had a migrane in 2 1/2  weeks.  This is the longest I have been without a headache in at least two years.  I have had to take advil three times but all three times the headache has gone away.  "Often with one dose" lol.  I take two magnesium citrate pills, one malic acid with magnesium, my other headache pills and a multi vitamin.  And the multi vitamin doesn't contain any calcuim because I have found that calcium triggers migranes as well. 

I am continuing to eat as few carbs possible.  I will keep trying.  I read that this diet does give you more energy as the time passes and your body gets used to it.  I will keep trying.  Not having a head ache is worth it.

Thanks to all of you for reading.  It means a lot. 

Friday 8 June 2012

So Far Ketosis and Me!

Okay so the strangest thing is happening.  I have gone a week without a headache.  Well sort of anyways.  I took two Advil for a headache that was coming today and it went away.  This was very cool.  Now the key will be if I can get through the weekend.  Sunday's have always seemed like headache day so we will see how the rest of the weekend goes. 

I also started my second dose of the Sandomigran so we will see how that works now too. 

I haven't lost anymore weight but since I was never too concerned with that I am okay with it.  I have also been eating like a pig lately because I have been starving and PMSy so bad combination. 

I tried a low carb pizza crust made with milled flax seed that I got from SaskMade Marketplace in Saskatoon.  It's local and organic so a really good choice.  It was good.  Not real pizza of course but still really good.  And really easy.  You could easily make it on a work night as the crust doesn't really have to rise, just rest for 5 min. 

I did have some wicked cravings this week.  Two evenings actually.  And I caved and had a couple of cups of popcorn on night but other than that a pretty good week. 


But this is by far and away the best thing that happened this week.  I am an Auntie again.  Meet Choochie, I mean Brooke.  She is perfect and I can't wait to actually meet her. 

It don't get any better than this!

Thanks all!

Monday 4 June 2012

New Diet sort of? Ketosis and Me!

Well everyone I am trying to do something for myself now to make my head aches better.  The doctor put me on Nortriptyline that didn't do very much at all.  I had to go back to the neurologist this last week.  I was very full of hope the last time I left his office but was very quickly knocked back down. 
I got a head ache three days later. 

For the record, when I say headache, I mean a migraine.  I don't mean a headache that you can take two Advil for and have it go away.  When I see the Advil commercials that claim that Advil can fix a headache "Often with one dose"  (I hope that is the right quote.)  I always roll my eyes.  (Sorry Advil).  I mean, really, who calls that a headache. 

When I get a headache I start by taking two Advil.  This is my hoping stage.  Sometimes this does actually take a headache away for me.  But it never stays gone.  When I realize the hoping stage isn't going to last long, I take two Tylenol.  All of this is extra strength by the way.  About an hour later, the pressure begins.  The pressure I think is a lot of the pain.  The pressure feels like my brain is going to swell and push my teeth out.  It feels like if I could pull out my back teeth, that I would have relief.  I know that isn't true but that's the best description I have.    

Now to begin to combat that, I begin taking pills.  Usually two X strength Tylenol and three migraine Advil every two hours for as long as the headache persists.  Usually about  three days.  I have Maxolt now so they work better and I don't have to take so much by the way of drugs.

So with all that being said, I have been given a new pill to take everyday but I am also very interested in how my diet affects my headaches.  I have spent most of my adult life trying to figure out what causes my headaches.  I have always approached it in the way that one specific food triggers a headache.  That's what everyone always says anyways.  So when I looked up migranes it always had a list of trigger foods.  However, when I took them all away I still had headaches.  Not exactly what I had in mind. 

So I have embarked on a new adventure.  It is called the ketogenic diet or ketosis diet.   Basically no carbs.  So I started it last Friday and have already lost four pounds which is pretty cool but not why I am doing this.  So I invite you along for the ride.  I will explain more of my new plan and if anyone wants to try along with me, post along and let me know how you are doing too.  I would love to have company for my adventure. 

Thanks for the reads.  You all amaze me every time!

Sunday 3 June 2012

Twenty Years!

(This is actually a reprint from another blog I write.  I republished it on this blog to help everyone that may want to follow me with my new journey.)

Twenty Years


I do a lot of volunteer work but sometimes the one who needs help is me. I realised this today when I was sitting in the doctors office crying because someone finally listened to me.

It started with a nurse practitioner in town who listened to my complaints about my chronic head aches and took steps to actually help me a few months ago.

Over the years I have suffered with head aches. I remember my first head and stomach ache in grade three. I remember the doctor telling my mom that I probably just didn't like my teacher.

After my kids were born a doctor told me "You have kids, what do you expect?" After a few years another doctor told me "You're a woman, that's what happens." A few years after that one said "As long as you're working sixty hours a week don't come back to see me about this." (And for the record, after I sold my business and didn't work at all for six months and the head aches were just as bad.)

Throughout the years I envied people with what I considered low grade headaches. You know the people. The ones who can take one or two Advil and the headache goes away. I couldn't even imagine it. To put it in perspective, when I get a head ache I take three extra strength Advil and two extra strength Tylenol about every two hours for three to five days. I do this so I can function. My headaches wake me in the night. I was given Demerol, however that was kind of a joke. (That by the doctor that told me I was a woman.) I was also given a type of Aleve that was apparently quite strong. These were not helpful unfortunately. These all dealt with pain.

My headaches peak in the evening usually in the third or fourth day. And by peak I mean they get so bad that I will lay on the bathroom floor. I have, in those dark moments, contemplated banging my head against the door frame. The thought is that if I hit my head hard enough I would pass out and it wouldn't hurt anymore. Even typing it sounds crazy. But I know I'm not.

Because I was lead to believe that my head aches were normal, it never occurred to me to go to the hospital. (Which apparently does help you get noticed by the medical types.)

In all this craziness of Demerol, Advil, Tylenol, Maxolt and anything else I could try, I would wake my husband in the middle of the night to tell him what I was taking. I wanted him to be able to tell the EMS if anything happened. It became a running joke in our household because what could we do but laugh.

So with my last really bad headache prompted my husband to tell me to go to the doctor again. And he supported me/ badgered me until I went. And this is when Angela came in. She listened. She ran some tests and tried me on some stronger pills. (Maxolt is the spelling I think) My pharmacist came into play here too. She warned me about the pills, watched my refills and when I came back for the third refill in less than three months on a prescription that should have lasted a year, told me to go back to the doctor. She told me the drugs weren't doing what they were supposed to. Took the time to explain what they were supposed to do. The best thing about a small town is that these people are your neighbours. They care about you.

The new pills reduce the size of the blood vessels therefore taking the pressure off in my brain. They would take my pain away for a few hours but it would always return. I know nothing about pills. What I just told you is a dumbed down version of what they told me. Most of what they told me I don't really remember. I do remember Kelly telling me not to accidentally kill myself.

But I understand how it happens. How much you want the pain to just stop. In March I had nine migraines. With Maxolt they lasted two to three days. Mathematically I had about nine or ten days without a migraine. After every headache I have a half a day of a "brain bruise" so what does that leave six or seven days in a month with no pain.

When I type it its seems awful. But my life is good. Just this one area is tough.

Today I went to a neurologist. I got referred by Angela. Again he listened to me. Validated my pain and gave me something to try to prevent the headaches instead of treating the pain. He told me that in three months my life will be better. I believe him. I cried. I told him how much I appreciated him helping me.

So here's to me and getting my life back.

And because this blog is supposed to be about Forever Friends here's the tie in. Some of the people in the medical field are fantastic. Some aren't but in Canada we get health care so we can have a second opinion. If you are in doubt about any aspect of your health go to a doctor until you get what you know you need. I am a huge believer in intuition. I have heard lots of stories with women that know something is wrong but get brushed off. If you KNOW then trust yourself. Go until you find someone that will listen to you.

This is not to dog on doctors that have missed something. To err is human. This is to hold up the people that listen, to the members of the profession that are fantastic. If you know them, tell them. They deserve to hear it.

Thanks to you all for the read today.

Tuesday 22 May 2012

I'm a Hater

I have been trying really hard in the last while to step out of my comfort zone.  You see I am a bigger hater of things.  I don't really enjoy anything normal people like.  For example thongs (the shoe or the underwear doesn't matter hate them both.), board games, any card game but poker, tobogganing, anything outside in the winter for that matter.  I have a perfectly warm house why would I leave it.  Most school events,  things that waste my time, people touching me, me touching people, bare feet, sand...and the list goes on. 

Anyways my comfort zone is really really small.  But I am okay with that for the most part.  Except lately I have noticed it's getting smaller yet.  And that has actually started to worry me.  This is tied in to my anxiety I'm sure and my fear is that I may get to the point when I never leave my house. 

So I am really trying to do things that put my outside of my comfort zone to see how I do.  One thing I tried was getting my nails done.  I know it wouldn't seem that scary to normal people but it seemed like a lot of touching for me.  One of my friends does nails.  I have known her for about 6 years.  I trusted her with my nails.  Now I like it.  I have had them done once since then too and I think it's neat. 

My sister got married and I was a bridesmaid which almost pushed me over the edge in many ways, but all good for me I guess.  I got my make up done for the first time and didn't mind that either.  In fact I may go back and get some help on picking colors for me and some application tips as well. 

I am a long way from being able to wear thongs to the beach without dry heaving at the feel of the sand on my feet but I think the nail salon was a good place to begin. 

Then I tried twitter.  Also something I thought I would hate but enjoy.  More than Facebook but don't tell Bono and Mark Zuckerburg.  My name is @DHysuick just in case you don't want to miss anything that happens in my crazy/boring life. 

I don't know what I will try next but I will keep you posted. 

PS If you see someone next to you at the beach this year gagging while sitting in the sand...it may be me.  Offer some kind words of support, pat me on the back, hold my hair, you know, show me you are proud of me for stepping out of my comfort zone. 

Sunday 20 May 2012

Wood Ticks Sask Style

I spent the weekend working and then working at home.  I cut wood until my arms shook which only takes about half an hour as the chainsaw gets heavy.  So don't think it was some big accomplishment. 
(As with anything I write, I hope sarcasm shows through clearly)  I love living on an acreage but it is an insane amount of work.  My husband is still cutting grass with a ride on lawnmower and its almost dark out.  He started about 2 this afternoon.  It takes about 9 hours to cut all the grass here.  Granted we did get a little behind. 

My rant today however is wood ticks.  Gross ticks.  I would take a picture of one but they really disgust me.   And as soon as I see one I flush it long before I would think to take a picture of one.  If you have never seen one, just imagine a grape filled with blood.  And that blood is yours or your dogs usually.  They start out flat and small, about the size of the end of a pen.  They dig in with something on their heads and start sucking your blood.  After a few days on a dog they look like a grape.  People usually find them long before they get that big but still gross.  They start out black and end up grayish and disgusting.  When the dogs have ticks I can't even touch the dogs. 

And because I was cutting wood I had a tick on me.  Not dug in yet but crawling up my neck.  And my husband had one at supper and dropped his pants at the table for a tick check.  Because once you find one then your skin crawls for hours with imaginary ticks.  So disgusting.  I am assuming they exist because the birds eat them or something but besides that I can't think of anything else they might contribute to the world.  I can't think of one time anyone would say "I'm not feeling very well, must be all that excess blood in me.  Bring in the ticks." 

I have a feeling if ticks were described on the immigration papers all of the politicians problems would go away.  Who in their right mind would want to come to a place with ticks?

Just my take on the world.  Enjoy your evening. 

Good night.
Sleep tight.
Don't let the ticks bite.

Friday 18 May 2012

So...slow down you say

I know I have read a bunch of stuff on slowing down my life.  Take a deep breath enjoy the moments.  The guy on Oprah who's watch has no hands because the only time is NOW.  I know they're right but how on God's green earth do you actually make that happen.

I am pondering this while sitting at my desk eating my lunch from A1 Pizza in Indian Head.  (Which is very yummy by the way.)   Not that I am complaining I am just stating a fact.  I have noticed that the people talking the most about taking it easy are millionaires.  I could take it easy to if the teenagers that looked at me like I'm an ATM didn't require so much cash. 

I think it would be much easier to enjoy the moment if the next moment didn't involve paying a power bill with creative accounting or taking bottles back to buy groceries.  Now I exaggerate but sometimes it feels like that.  And I know there are people out there that do live like that.  Life isn't always about enjoying every moment either.  Some days just suck.  There is no other word for it.  They just suck. 

It is really hard to be grateful and enjoy the moment when the moment involves your teenage daughter telling you that you have ruined her life.  (Which is pretty much the plan because when they are that age they don't need a life.) 

So I guess the answer is to be grateful for the sub and the donuts my co worker bought to celebrate the long weekend.  I can afford a sub and I love the job I pour myself into.  As for taking a deep breath and slowing down maybe I remember to do that tomorrow. 

Monday 14 May 2012

R and R

I started blogging a little while ago.  I started to promote a charity I am part of.  However, I truly enjoyed writing.  I limit myself though by trying to stay on the topic of Forever Friends. 

This blog is all mine.  The views are mine alone.  No work, no charity work, just my ranting and raving.  Luckily I have a lot of opinions.  I do not intend to offend, although sometimes it happens inadvertently.  And if I do offend, I apoligize.  In advance. 

For starters-Seriously Kate Moss.  So you make a new lipstick and advertise it by walking barefoot towards a helicopter.  Who would ever do that in a million years?  I don't know a lot about make up but I am pretty sure there is no connection. 

My sister got married this weekend and I wish her all the best in the world.  It is very weird to think of her as married.  Even though she is twenty eight it still seems odd to my ear.  I enjoyed the wedding.  I am not a big partier so things like that usually are too much for me.  But I did okay. 

I suffer from anxiety.  It seems to be getting worse as I get older but I am trying really hard not to succumb to the pull of my anxiety.  I have to force myself to do things that are not in my home.  I am  good at my job.  I have a lot of contact with people all day everyday.  I'm not scared of people.  I work hard and I feel really comfortable when I am working.  However, anything that I do socially is very difficult for me.  Odd I know.  Maybe I can work through some of this stuff here. 

So this is my first and rather random set of thoughts.  My next one will be more structured, I promise. 

Thanks to anyone who might read this. 
Danah