Yes, I know that others have far heavier life burdens - but this is mine, and the past week it's almost taken me to the ground.
In late 2011 the head began experienced tinnitis (ringing in the ears) all day every day. Pulsatile (every heart beat) and the regular kinds - "sounds" that can vary from dentist's drills to "whoom whoom" to constant loud "thunder." Many "big" tests - not even tiny answers. Scientists think they know why this happens, and it happens to MANY MANY people in various degrees of "loudness," but for now there are no answers or real cures. We just go dinging through our days.
I try to keep mine to a standable (Yes, I know this isn't a real word) level most of the time by attention to diet, exercize, and TRYING to keep stress level down. Air pressure can also be a factor. And I take one small prescribed pill each morning - and on rare days I take two. I do not like taking two a day - but sanity has it's cost. And radio headphones are boon companions... As are a variety of sound distractions from the You Tube. Waves to Tibetan ringing bowls.
Anyway...., life usually manages to go along at a level that I don't constantly go around bitching. And I haven't cried about this is well over two years. (Used to allow one serious cry a month.) But the past four days. - well... for some reason the "sound" is most often at "8 of 10." "Hearing" this non-existant "ever sound" is wearing brain and spirit out. But there is much to be done! And I would like to do it in Sue Style - upbeat, enthusiastically, sense of humor, yadda yadda yadda. Sigh. Get up. Get moving. Get along, little doggie.
Took a pill about half an hour a go so am expecting level of "sound" to be down a few pegs for maybe an hour or two. One appreciates any lowering of the level.
Yes, brain is thinking of you everyday heroes who go on through your days bearing your bundles of crappy life stuff and yet live your kind smiling helpful lives. I use you as meditation motivation. I think of Helen Keller. I think of FDR. Certain sports people. The No excuses people who surround us every day. A goal is to be one of those for others. I do not know how our heroes handle their bad days. You know how you handle yours.
Enough pissy moany. We are lucky enough to be breathing in another day. We've almost made it through October. On to November and it's Challenges. Parts of our family know it's always The Best Year Ever! Time for tea, toast, and the "sounds" and sights of the day. One Christmas cactus is starting to bud! The bluebirds versus the grey squirrels has been very entertaining so far this fall feeding season.
Thanks for putting up with the bitching. I will try keeping it to a minimum. I envy you your ability to consume the season's candy intake. LOL. At least a little! Ever onward. Back to dealing with bears.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Sunday, October 29, 2017
String
We so often take things for granted.
String, for example.
This ball of cotton string has been in our home so long that I have NO idea how long it's been here.
On that shelf in that hallway closet.
I never think about it until it is needed.
It is sometimes "in the way" - in front of something else more needed. But it stays in front because I would forget that it exists - and it IS needed from time to time.
I don't know if we bought it new. I used to crochet lots. In the 1960's and '70's. Long before crocheting and knitting became what they are today. Yarns and crochet cotton were not at all as exciting as what is available now. Baby Yarn was exotic. The internets did not exist. Aunts had to teach you.
Back then I went through many balls of crochet cotton - creating snowflake Christmas tree ornaments (each ornament took me exactly one "Phil Donahue Show" to make. Do the math - hourly "wage" times one hour - for every one). One year I used a number of balls to make a blue ribbon winning cotton smock. And almost as soon as I made it I spilled a something on the front that I could never fully remove. So I probably wore this piece maybe once or twice. All those hours. One little spill. I try not to think about it - until the State Fair comes around.
Now I mostly use this string to tie up coffee filters cut in half to make tea bags. It works. I am glad there are still quite a few bags worth of tying ability left on this squat cardboard tube. And that it sits patiently - ready to be put to whatever use we choose.
Time for one last cup at tea tonight.
Time to tie up this post.
Tomorrow holds the first day of setting up Peggy's Holiday Boutique in Roseville Minnesota. I always wish we had a time-lapse camera noting the transformation of the large empty hall at the John Rose Oval Center into a holiday wonderland FULL of wonderful things to see, taste, and buy. It takes five full days to do this. Every year many things the same. Every year changes and having to be flexible in the outcome. Every year still amazed that it all comes together!
But first, that tea - Yes, I'm re-using a certain string-tied bag.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
String, for example.
This ball of cotton string has been in our home so long that I have NO idea how long it's been here.
On that shelf in that hallway closet.
I never think about it until it is needed.
It is sometimes "in the way" - in front of something else more needed. But it stays in front because I would forget that it exists - and it IS needed from time to time.
I don't know if we bought it new. I used to crochet lots. In the 1960's and '70's. Long before crocheting and knitting became what they are today. Yarns and crochet cotton were not at all as exciting as what is available now. Baby Yarn was exotic. The internets did not exist. Aunts had to teach you.
Back then I went through many balls of crochet cotton - creating snowflake Christmas tree ornaments (each ornament took me exactly one "Phil Donahue Show" to make. Do the math - hourly "wage" times one hour - for every one). One year I used a number of balls to make a blue ribbon winning cotton smock. And almost as soon as I made it I spilled a something on the front that I could never fully remove. So I probably wore this piece maybe once or twice. All those hours. One little spill. I try not to think about it - until the State Fair comes around.
Now I mostly use this string to tie up coffee filters cut in half to make tea bags. It works. I am glad there are still quite a few bags worth of tying ability left on this squat cardboard tube. And that it sits patiently - ready to be put to whatever use we choose.
Time for one last cup at tea tonight.
Time to tie up this post.
Tomorrow holds the first day of setting up Peggy's Holiday Boutique in Roseville Minnesota. I always wish we had a time-lapse camera noting the transformation of the large empty hall at the John Rose Oval Center into a holiday wonderland FULL of wonderful things to see, taste, and buy. It takes five full days to do this. Every year many things the same. Every year changes and having to be flexible in the outcome. Every year still amazed that it all comes together!
But first, that tea - Yes, I'm re-using a certain string-tied bag.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
Saturday, October 28, 2017
A Challenge - Six
Yes, this is a last hour - almost - post.
Because in Bullet Journal I'd written in Goals for This Week: blog six times. And had drawn six little boxes. Five of which are now blocked in.
The posts are not great posts.
But they count. Because they got typed and posted.
As will this one.
Sometimes it is not Quality that counts.
Sometimes is IS Quantity.
The kitchen table is covered with bears being made into greeting cards. But I choose to attempt finishing watching the previous season of Netflix' "Orange is the New Black." Husband has been done with this season since several days after it come out. I had to be reminded of plot line. And, is my style, fell asleep with laptop headphones on, and prison life going on without me. So woke up in early current season.
Time to "rewind" and get back on track.
And back on track with table top stuff, too.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
Because in Bullet Journal I'd written in Goals for This Week: blog six times. And had drawn six little boxes. Five of which are now blocked in.
The posts are not great posts.
But they count. Because they got typed and posted.
As will this one.
Sometimes it is not Quality that counts.
Sometimes is IS Quantity.
The kitchen table is covered with bears being made into greeting cards. But I choose to attempt finishing watching the previous season of Netflix' "Orange is the New Black." Husband has been done with this season since several days after it come out. I had to be reminded of plot line. And, is my style, fell asleep with laptop headphones on, and prison life going on without me. So woke up in early current season.
Time to "rewind" and get back on track.
And back on track with table top stuff, too.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
Friday, October 27, 2017
A Quick 30 Thankfuls
This dark October morning I am Thankful for
1)other peoples' cats
2)numbers
3)letters
4)cups
5)tables
6)hot ginger tea
7)this MacBook Air computer
8)ESPN Radio
9)paper
10) Grandma Rowe's original purple African Violet
11)being able to walk
12)being able to talk
13)being able to see
14)being able to hear
15)being able to read
16)being able to write
17)being able to chew
18) being able to think
19)being able to garden
20)being able to wonder
I am Thankful
21)that it didn't snow here last night
22)that certain plants are covered and wrapped
23)that I have work to do that I enjoy - usually
24)that Stillwater, MN has a good selection og coffee shops
25)that I visited the Hudson, WI chapter of Toastmasters dark and early Thursday morning
26)that some parts of the house are cleaner than they were a week ago - Keep going!
27)that the Green Bay Packers have a bye week this Sunday
28)that there are more rabbits in the world than I can possibly draw
29)that Spring is less than six months away!
30)that there are hundreds (thousands?) of reasons to be Thankful
********
On to the day - whatever it brings.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
www.suerowe.com
FacebookPage: Sue-Rowe-Studios
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Another Bunday
Starting is better than not starting.
So - having a go at a lop-earred lovely found at the Minnesota State Fair.
I forget between paintings how much fun workng in pastels is. Odd. True.
This is as far as this bunny will get today - but it's starting hopping to somewhere.
Initial blocking in forms. I took an odd container of pastels to thecoffee shop. Often one has to work withwhat one has.
Bunny steps. Bunny steps. Don't be afraid of scary old iPhone shadow, Little Rabbit.
Now on to a few last sips of cold de-caf coffee. And reading a few paragraphs in "Tricycle" magazine, and crossing off two things from The List. Then on to the reality of self-employment up in the house on top of the hill.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
So - having a go at a lop-earred lovely found at the Minnesota State Fair.
I forget between paintings how much fun workng in pastels is. Odd. True.
This is as far as this bunny will get today - but it's starting hopping to somewhere.
Initial blocking in forms. I took an odd container of pastels to thecoffee shop. Often one has to work withwhat one has.
Bunny steps. Bunny steps. Don't be afraid of scary old iPhone shadow, Little Rabbit.
Now on to a few last sips of cold de-caf coffee. And reading a few paragraphs in "Tricycle" magazine, and crossing off two things from The List. Then on to the reality of self-employment up in the house on top of the hill.
Fare-thee-well,
Sue
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Posting
Seth Godin says that it is good practice to post every day.
I have no actual thoughts tonight.
A few things accomplished today:
1) One hour cleaning bedroom closet. Sorted the Pendleton shirts, Hawaiian shirts, Green Bay Packers stuff. Made pile for Goodwill. No, not of any of the above! But a goodly pile, nonetheless. Four books were removed. One is in a Little Free Library already.
A number of my journals are in this closet. I found one from the early 1980's. Some of the paragraphs will be used in a future blog. Words I totally forgotten I had scribbled, but words I'm glad I found.
2) More work in garden. Removing tomato and buttercup squash vines. Putting out more sunflower seeds on an overturned bucket. And getting within two feet of a chickadee coming to feed. A Personal Goal might be to get one of these perky birds to eat out of my hand before Spring.
3) Baking squash in order to freeze it. Frozen squash is a nice treasure to have close at hand for winter meals. If Todd wants spaghetti pasta, mostly-gluten-free-me simply thaws and heats squash to use with my share of the marinara sauce!
Back to watching "Viet Nam" on public television. It is a hard watch, but far less difficult than to have lived the actual doing. Life lessons are everywhere, though many are learned too late.
Fare-thee-well,
Sigh -
Sue
I have no actual thoughts tonight.
A few things accomplished today:
1) One hour cleaning bedroom closet. Sorted the Pendleton shirts, Hawaiian shirts, Green Bay Packers stuff. Made pile for Goodwill. No, not of any of the above! But a goodly pile, nonetheless. Four books were removed. One is in a Little Free Library already.
A number of my journals are in this closet. I found one from the early 1980's. Some of the paragraphs will be used in a future blog. Words I totally forgotten I had scribbled, but words I'm glad I found.
2) More work in garden. Removing tomato and buttercup squash vines. Putting out more sunflower seeds on an overturned bucket. And getting within two feet of a chickadee coming to feed. A Personal Goal might be to get one of these perky birds to eat out of my hand before Spring.
3) Baking squash in order to freeze it. Frozen squash is a nice treasure to have close at hand for winter meals. If Todd wants spaghetti pasta, mostly-gluten-free-me simply thaws and heats squash to use with my share of the marinara sauce!
Back to watching "Viet Nam" on public television. It is a hard watch, but far less difficult than to have lived the actual doing. Life lessons are everywhere, though many are learned too late.
Fare-thee-well,
Sigh -
Sue
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