0 Thank Melinda

I've been shamed into posting. I ran into Melinda in the grocery store. She is so very sweet. She is the mother of Cara's 'first husband'. The two of them were in grade school together, and Cole came home and told his parents that he was going to marry Cara. Cara told me very matter-of-factly that she was going to marry Cole. I laughed, but it surprised me that the two of them were very determined to marry for a couple years. They are still good friends, even though they are past their college years. So Melinda and I exchanged news of our children, and she commented that she really missed my blog.

Life has been busy here, full and active and rife with a ton of unbloggable stories. That's not necessarily bad. It's not necessarily good. It's just a whole lotta stuff that is not my story to tell.

I've also been sick for about six weeks, and that has made life challenging. I've been dragging, and really struggling to get the things done that I need to get done. Respiratory problems, almost like asthma, interrupted my sleep, and my wheezing and coughing kept Tim awake, shaming me into moving to the sofa where I could sit upright. I also broke out in enormous hives that were so severe I was waiting for my doctor one morning, my face and lips horribly swollen. Even after the cortisone treatments, the hives did not go away completely, and flared up regularly for a month. Benedryl only made matters worse. I also had an especially awful bout of gastro in the middle of all of the other stuff, one that lasted close to a week.

It was obvious that I was allergic to something, but it was very difficult to guess what. I suspected a food allergy, perhaps to a food additive. I got this idea that perhaps what I needed to do was simplify my diet, eat more whole foods. I wanted a Magic Bullet , but they were pricey, and you know me...I decided to ask for one for my birthday. In May.

I happened to be online, when a message popped up. A seller was advertising a Magic Bullet. He'd received it as a gift, didn't use it. He was offering it on the online garage sale site for $30, still in the original box. I usually am not quick enough to make these purchases, but I quickly replied to tell him that I'd take it. He told me I was first, and could have it. I asked him where he lived and it turns out he's our new neighbor. He lives about a half block down the street. I shrugged on my coat, and out the door I went. I'm sure it was the quickest sale the site ever had. 15 min after the post went up, I was walking home with my new toy.

I'm actually amazed at the results. I make two smoothies a day, which provide me with a minimum of 8 servings of fruits and vegetables. I felt so much better so very quickly it was a little shocking. I haven't had hives since I started this (I'm finishing my second week). The respiratory symptoms have subsided completely. I haven't intentionally become a vegetarian, but my diet has changed dramatically.

I knew that I felt better, lots better, but I'm a cautious person by nature. I was surprised to see my cheeks were rosy. At my dentist appointment, the hygienist said, "Wow. You look great! What are you doing?" I told her I was juicing. She said, "Your hair is great and your complexion is glowing. You really do look great!" I was a little amazed that other people can see what I can feel.

I'm not sure whether it's the fruits and vegetables, or the extra hydration or a combination of all of it, but it is a big relief to be feeling back to my old self again.

So that's a part of what's going on.

I also fell out of bed last night. I woke up, uncurled myself from Tim and went to roll over and get out of bed. Unfortunately, (too late) I realized that Tim was not in the middle of the bed. He was scootched way over on my side. I rolled over not realizing that I was already on the edge of the bed. I hit the floor, sent the bedside table sliding, and the pile of books on it, along with the miscellaneous other necessities went flying everywhere. What a commotion! Poor Paddy-Paws was sleeping at my feet. He went sailing off the bed with me, and I saw him streaking from the room like someone had tied a firecracker to his tail, poor cat-let. I sprawled there totally shocked. Tim slept through the entire thing.

So that's it, really. William and I spend a great deal of time making a great deal of memories. We go to the playground every single day we're not getting snow or rain. Winter has dragged on forever here, and we are due for yet more snow tonight.

Aren't you all glad that Melinda guilted me into posting? You might have missed all this.