Thai soccer team and coach

I don't know how I could have missed the news of the 12 Thai boys and their coach trapped in the cave. They have been trapped a week, and I just read about them today. Trapped in the cave by heavy rains that flooded the passageways. I am thinking positive thoughts and praying for the boys and their coach, their friends and families. I am glad that teams from many different countries are assisting the Thai police with the search efforts. And if the rain stops and the water recedes, the boys and their coach will be able to come out safely.

Happy Father's Day!

This is Father's Day weekend. My Dad is going with my brother, sister, their spouses and my brother's friend to a baseball game. They have reserved some seats in a suite and he will be served food and drink. I sent him a card on Thursday. Hope he got it! My husband, son, daughter, her husband and my little granddaughter will have a big breakfast tomorrow at our house. We will visit for a bit. I have to work and it is important that my son-in-law celebrate with his family before they head to his mother's house in the afternoon. I bought my husband a fun card and a hard boiled egg maker--the kind where he cracks the egg into a device, slips the device in water and then boils it. As seen on TV. It should come in handy for egg salad sandwiches and deviled eggs, but is also a joke, because he is always taken with the merchandise "as seen on TV." I hope to drive out to the tri county horse show to see the mini horse competition. Depends if it is still going on after work. Selling merchandise online is stressful. I had to tell one interested party the merchandise was sold and the person made me feel bad. Having trouble with acid reflex so I am trying to eat whole grain, fruit, vegetables, non fat dairy and lean meat. I have been indulging in sugary treats which has caused all kinds of havoc.

Training the Mini Horse Dory

I ride every Tuesday and am hoping to show my school horse, Hope, in a training show in early July. I have performed the same walk and trot test for the past 2 years. This year I am going to show Hope in western dressage, Need to switch things up a bit. I have to learn to canter soon if I am going to show Hope in the canter test next summer. I have to canter for one year before I can test. My teacher has two mini horses. I hope to lease Dory beginning this month. I will train and show her (next year) in the obstacle course, walking over a bridge, and pulling a cart. I have watched a youtube video showing Peggy train her mini Mantra to pull a cart. It is amazing how seamless the training is. My horse obsession is an expensive hobby. My Dad says (when I tell him the cost to lease Dory, "That's not bad. It's a hobby, like golf." I may have to pick up an extra shift or two to pay for this expensive horse hobby of mine. Or have a yard sale.

Empty Nest

Our youngest daughter interviewed with a company in Chicago and was offered a job. Her start date was May 21. A week ago she and I drove to Chicago to find an apartment. We were lucky--a young woman had signed a lease and paid the first month rent. Sadly she lost her job and the apartment went back on the market. I happened to see it, and my daughter was able to fill out an application. Her file was completed the next day and she was approved. I had to hurry-scurry to pack her things in boxes and label them. My husband rented a trailer. My son helped load the trailer and we headed off to Chicago on Saturday. The trailer was extremely heavy and we had to drive slowly, arriving in Chicago about 7pm. We parked in a tow zone with the hazards on and with the help of my oldest son and his partner were able to unload quickly so that we could move the car and trailer. Spent the time until the wee hours of the morning assembling furniture. My husband and I grabbed a couple hours sleep. leaving Chicago at 4am so that I could be at work at 11am. I have been slowly sifting through items, trying to figure out the best way to sell them. Now it's my husband, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 4 fish and me at the house.

Geriatric wellness exam

I went for my annual "geriatric" wellness exam on Tuesday. Because I'm now old enough for medicare, I have old people exams. I planned to tough out the painful esophagus, but my physician's assistant convinced me to take the acid reducer, rantidine. I agreed to take it until May 7. The esophagitis is healing and less painful. I do need to watch my diet and exercise because the ac1 test shows pre-diabetes (low end). I'm on a roll..eye exam next week, mammo in May, colon screening in the fall. I'm hoping that if I'm clear of polyps, the screening can be every 10 years. Fingers crossed. In addition to taking physical inventory, I am trying to ask myself, with regard to my contribution to conversations, I ask myself, "Is it kind?" and "Is it helpful?" If a comment does not meet these criteria, then I am not going to speak. I do not want to offend family or coworkers. Very sad about my relationship with my long-term friend, because I am not comfortable visiting the center where she lives or even visiting with her. During the last visit, I became tense. Maybe I can get her some gel pens and some fill-in books and drop them off with a card.

Need to remain strong

Last week, I woke up with severe esophageal pain. It lasted several days, was painful enough that I searched the web to find remedies for immediate relief. I know the long term remedy--lose weight so that stomach fat does not press on the lower esophageal sphincter, causing acid to rise up the esophagus. I had many symptoms of acid reflux, hoarseness, chronic cough, radiating pain in my chest and upper back. I am on a mission to lose weight, 30 pounds. Even 5 to 10 pounds will help relieve the pressure on the LES. It's a scary thought that stomach acid can change the lining of the lower esopagus, Barrett's syndrome, a precancerous condition that can develop into esophageal cancer. I visited the doctor twenty or so years ago because I was concerned about hoarseness in my voice. He diagnosed acid reflux and for several weeks I took an acid reducer. In the last few months, I've noticed that I've had frequent and painful heartburn. I felt a bit better and regressed with my diet, eating cookies with chocolate middle, popcorn and doritos. Because I know, that the pain could return any moment and that I need a long term solution, not antacid or PPI, I need to remain strong. Wishing all women a happy International Women's Day!

A Place for Everything and Everything In Its Place

Two weeks ago my husband suggested that I try to sell a health rider and bowflex online. I posted photos but to date have had no luck. I posted photos of a white three drawer dresser, a kicking/punching bag, flute, lime green dress, two exercise balls and a chinchilla cage. Someone bought the dresser and the kicking/punching bag. I prefer to sell these items to someone who can use them rather then have them sit unused downstairs. About 23 years ago, I started practicing voluntary simplicity. I believe neatness and order help keep my seasonal affective disorder in check. The less things I have, the more time I have to make memories. My daughter and her husband closed on their house today. I'm hoping that we can move her twin bed and two dressers that a friend gave her for her birthday. She also has a microwave and some other wedding gifts that can be moved to her house. And our youngest daughter will be moving furnishings into her own home soon. So couches, chairs and lamps that are in the garage, and kitchen and bathroom supplies that are in the basement will be used in her apartment. I dream of one of those little houses on wheels. They are so clever, "a place for everything and everything in its place."