Dear Fellow Bloggers:

Hi guys! Thanks so much for checking in with me this week.  I've been really sick lately with various infections and a seemingly never-ending case of pneumonia.

First my face blew up - my cheek and right ear were full of infection - some sort of skin virus.  I went to the ER a few times, and they sent me back home with medicine and instructions.

Then the pneumonia hit, and the nurse practitioner prescribed anti-biotic pills for two weeks.  But I was still in bad shape after that, so we switched to I.V. anti-biotics for another 14 days.  I still run a temp now and again, but I am definitely on the mend.  My face is looking better too. Oh, and by the way for those who saw me after my "awful" haircut last month - well, it is starting to grow out. Thank the Heavens!!  The sides were so short and uneven.  I found someone who'd be willing to cut my hair for free.  She is a hair stylist who comes to the facility to offer her services on her days off.  Isn't that great??!?  Sure beats paying $17 and not knowing what you'll get.

In other news, thanks so much for your visit last month, sweetie Steve!  I wish I had felt better during your visit, but am glad you liked your birthday party.  And if you come again next Halloween we will have to remember that the costumes are judged in the morning.  We showed up at the afternoon party. Steve was not in costume, but I was "decked" out as an Ace of Hearts card!!  I even had a red sparkly hat, heart socks and tennis shoes!!!

Well, will close for now.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday...  A peaceful, joyful Thanksgiving.  Give everyone you love a big hug; and remember the holiday's mantra - food, food and more food!!

Peace, Love & Kisses,

Love Always,
Darci

Western Week

All this week here at North Mountain has been Western themed.  I plan to get up for one of the festivities tomorrow.  In the morning will be square dancers,  (I'll pass on that) but in the afternoon I will strap on the old cowboy boots and attend my very first Hoedown.  I have no idea what to expect but it should be fun finding out what a hoedown entails.

In other news, Monday, September 17th, will be my first wedding anniversary.  Steve and I had our commitment ceremony (finally) last year here in the Leisure Room. Can't wait for your visit next month, Sweetie!!  Love you always and bunches!!!

Well, sorry this is so short this week, but it's been kind of an up and down week.   The eyes are bothering me again.  But I promise I'll write again when I can.  

Til then--
Love always, Darci

Labor Day and MDA

I went looking for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon this Labor Day weekend, as I had missed it last year for the first time in years.  Turns out, I hadn't missed it after all - there is no Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon!!  I looked all over this year, found nothing.  I looked through all of my T.V. offerings, and it was nowhere to be found.

So I went investigating with the help of my buddy, Chris.  This is what we found: yes, Jerry Lewis is alive. He's mid-eighties now, and still lives in Las Vegas. And there is still an MDA Telethon - of sorts.  It's broadcast from L.A. now, and is only for a few hours on Sunday.  It's only broadcast on a few local channels.

I'm not sure how I missed all of these changes, but I know I wasn't the only one bewildered when I went looking for the event on Monday.  As near as I can figure, apparently Lewis made a homophobic remark (in 2010) that was picked up on microphone and greatly displeased MDA big wigs.  Jerry & his Kids parted ways in 2011, and the last 2 years the pared down telethon has been in effect.

What a shame that one mistake has resulted in the demise of such a  beloved Labor Day institution.  I have always looked forward to the Telethon, and even helped collect money for the cause with my church youth group.  The little old ladies were the most generous - with their hard earned money, as well as lemonade and cookies!!  MDA became even more memorable to me when my grandmother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (or ALS) when I was in my teens.

After all those years of service to MDA and all of those millions upon millions that Jerry Lewis helped to facilitate, it's a damn shame that one remark - mind you, a stupid, uninformed, careless remark - brought a near halt to the fundraising efforts, and therefore research efforts, of such a wonderful organization.  I don't recall the final tally for this year, but I do know it couldn't begin to compare to pre-2010 results.

Jerry - your Kids and your fans missed you this past weekend.  We applaud all of your work for MDA, and we wish you well.  I hope MDA officials feel it was worth such a loss for one politically incorrect mistake - nothing like chopping off your nose to spite your face.  If it is not P.C. for me to say that, so be it.  I'm feeling very crabby about the whole issue of political correctness.  We are a nation of peoples who are easily offended and WAY TOO sensitive.  Does one off-the-cuff remark really deserve to put an end to one man's personal quest to snuff out Muscular Dystrophy?  I, for one, don't believe so.  What do you think, bloggers?  Let me know.

Love always, Darci

Planet Janet

My Mom will be turning 79 years old this September 5th.  But she doesn't look or act her age, and doesn't mind people knowing her age either.  That in and of itself is pretty remarkable - particularly in our family which isn't exactly known for its longevity.  But what is even more impressive is how active my Mom is for someone of a "certain age".  No, my mother is not a retiree sitting on the porch sipping tea.  Far from it!!!  She's still very hard at work every day.  She works two jobs every month.  She is a college professor who teaches computer science.  After raising us kids she started college, earned her PhD and began her teaching profession.  This is her "main" job - the one that requires the most from her.  She also works certain days for Wells-Fargo Bank as part of their "Silver Bullet" program.  She will also accept jobs grading papers online by assignment.  Besides all of this - until a few years ago - Mom ran a tiny vending machine business, and at holidays worked as a "Grandma" baking cookies for Cookies from Home.  Are you tired yet from hearing all of this?  Because I know it tuckers me out just listing everything!!!

But this birthday is the first one my Mother admits to "feeling" her age.  She doesn't have the time or energy to do all the things she'd like to.  She's cut down on some of her crafting ideas, which have always kept her busy when she's not "working".  She still makes quilts, and makes cloth purses and beautiful hair ornaments.  She works on those thing to relax.  Most moms sip wine while taking a bubblebath, BUT not my Mom!

She also does volunteer work for our church, and for International Rescue Committee (IRC), which is a wonderful organization.  She coordinates donations for them.  Mom has helped out here at the facility with me by donating bingo prizes and offering books to continue fleshing out our library here at North Mountain. 

My Mom has been likened by my friends to the Energizer Bunny (and sometimes to me as E.B. Junior!)  I don't buy it, but we do both read during TV commercial breaks.  Anyway, my point is for someone who is finally feeling her age I don't think she realizes how terrific she really is.  I think most people would love to have half her energy and lust for life!!  She feels like she's going a little soft, but she is actually still very, very tough and determined.  I used to refer to my mother as "Atilla the Mom" because she was a hard act to emulate.  Mom did have, and still does have, time to do all of the required Mom skill-set - - cooking, cleaning, laundry, kiss boo-boo, make the donuts!!  OK well, maybe donuts aren't a mom "thing"!!

Anyway, Mom, I love  you dearly and wish you all of the best ALWAYS,  and love you to death and beyond.  I hope you have the Happiest Birthday. 

Don't you think it's kind of ironic that Mom's birthday is so close to Labor Day??  HMM??  I think it is extremely fitting!!  Love you, Mom!!!

Love Always,
Your Devoted Daughter Darci, and sort-of-son-in-law, Steve

Have fun with the Little Widow Ladies Club Vacation (Ha!).  Seriously you and Peg have a wonderful time.!!

A good and bad week

This has been a good week and a bad week.  My bladder and my lower back as well as my stomach have been on a rampage.   I did get to go on an outing Monday, and I didn't tell them my bladder hurt.  I had a great time shopping at Target and spent a lot of my gift cards.  All but $11 was spent from the gift cards I had been hoarding the last two years.

My good friend Paul, the rock 'n' roller, died from a massive stroke Sunday.  That was the bad part.  He was only 43.  We are trying to get together a memorial service here at the nursing facility for him.  Paul had been here a long time - before I came here, and he had a lot of good friends here.  We would like to have a service in order to have closure.  I will always have great memories of him waking me at 7:00 a.m. with rock & roll blaring from his stereo.

Next week all the gift cards I have been hoarding from Walmart will be spent.  There is an trip to Walmart planned, and I have finally been medically cleared to go on outings.

Love always, Darci

Welcome to my second blog of 2012!!!  Unfortunately this one will also be very brief.  My eyes are once again infected, and it's making it very hard to see when both eyes keep trying to stay shut on me.  Can't read, can't write, can't see!  My left eye is so swollen that I can no longer put on my new fancy glasses.

Hope next Thursday will be better and will try to start from the beginning again since it's been long since I've been able to blog regularly.

See you next week!  Take care.
Love always, Darci

I'm Back

Hello Everyone! I'm so happy to be back at my blogging!! Since last time I have been going through quite the ordeal!! Right after Christmas I was diagnosed with pneumonia. The first two antibiotics turned out not to be the correct type of medicine for my particular type of pneumonia. The Doctors turned to an I.V. form of antibiotic. My pneumonia raged on and I was pretty miserable. Next I went through a series of shots involving long needles being inserted into my hips! Then I was given pills three times a day for 10 days. More X-rays showed I still had pneumonia, and my doctor decided another blast of I.V. antibiotics (the strongest she could find) were in order. So another I.V. was put in my arm and I went through another 10-day 3 times a day regimen. Blood work and X-rays finally showed some improvement (Yeaaa!). Several weeks ago tests finally showed the pneumonia had cleared up.
But I wasn't in the clear yet!! The tests had also revealed I had fluid in my lungs and two different "bugs" in my sputum. Fatima, the nurse practioner, ordered another I.V. antibiotic three times a day for 10 days. She also amped up my prescription of Lasix, which helps eliminate the body of excess fluid. I finished the I.V. treatment last week and continue my path toward healing. Tomorrow I go to the hospital for a procedure to install a port in my chest. This will eliminate the need for new pic lines each time I need I.V. medication. It takes about an hour to put the port in me.

Well, that's all for this week. I hope to be able to contribute to my blog on a more regular basis.

Have an awesome and blessed week!

Love always, Darci