A Visit to the Doctor

I hate going to the doctor or dentist.  They both give me the willies.  But there are times you can't get out of it.  Need a prescription renewed or you have a sinus infection or something else.

This is a tale of how the visit goes with the doctor.

You call and make an appointment and you begin to get the jitters.  You know you have gained weight since the last time and you wonder what the doctor will say.

You have to go, because your head is killing you and when you bend over it feels as if your face will fall off any minute.  Yeah, all the symptoms of a sinus infection.

First off, on appointment day, you dress in your best panties and bra. Of course your thinking there is no way you will be undressing for the doctor today. It is only a sinus infection!

You slip into your nice clothes, because you want to make a good impression.  Do you want to be known as the slob?  Really people, everyone dresses up nicely to see their doctor, don't they?

You arrive early, heaven forbid if you are late for anything.  I worry about being late, so I arrive early by ten to fifteen minutes.  You fill out new paper work because it has been a year since you were last in.  All the time your hands are shaking so much you can hardly hold the pen and your penmanship looks like a first grader.

Then your called to the back and this thin, young nurse tells you to step up on the scale.  You step upon the scale, murmuring in a nervous voice, "I've gained some weight since the last time I was here."

"Really, I am trying to lose a few pounds before my sister's wedding,"

"Oh!  I wish you luck,"  You look at the young woman wondering, Where in the hell does she need to lose weight?  From her head?  The woman is thin by anyone standards.

You try to read the scale, but without your reading glasses it is a lost cause.  "How much have I gained?" you whisper as she leads you down the hall to the exam room.  She doesn't answer and you remember most Doctor offices have gone computerized and she may not have last time's weight.


You sit down on the exam table wishing you were any where but here.  You hate sitting up so high and sitting on top of crinkly paper.

"Hmm, your blood pressure seems a little high.  Is that normal, or you taking blood pressure medication?"

"My blood pressure is on the higher side because I am in the Doctor's office.  It is always higher in here, my nerves seem to do that.  My blood pressure medicine works fine, unless I'm at the Doctor's office."

"What is the name of your blood pressure medication?"

I look at her for a few minutes like a deer staring into headlights.  Finally my brain kicks in, "It's . . .ah, . . . penxaprile  or something like benoprile.  I know it starts with either a b or a p."

"Do you know what milligram you are taking?"

"Ah, . . . it's a little pink pill.  Hmm, ten milligrams I think."

She gives that look, you know the look, like am I for real.  "I'll look it up on the computer. Why are you here today?"

I look at the young woman for a few seconds, wondering why the hell I am here today.  "Oh, yeah, I have a sinus infection."

She writes that down on the paper and looks at me for a few seconds murmuring, "The doctor will be in, in a few minutes."

The minute the woman is out the door, I slide off the exam table and stand in the middle of the room looking around.  I glance at some magazines in a rack.  They look like they have been in there forever and I wonder what kind of germs cover them.  Rocking back and forth on my feet, I look at the walls and wonder why doctor's exam rooms are always so ugly.  Are they trying to scare the germs out of you?  A poster on the wall advertises some heart medication with a picture of what a real heart looks like.  I wonder if our hearts are really blue and red.

Okay . . . I am running out of ways to entertain myself and I begin to wonder if I really need to see the doctor.  Maybe the sinus infection will go away on it's own.  Just about the time I am thinking of bolting, in comes the doctor.

"How are you doing?"  The doctor smiles and glances down at the clip board in his hand.

"I'm doing fine," I answer wondering why they always ask this question.  I mean really would I be here if I was doing great? But then again, why do I always answer with fine, when I'm not fine?

"Then why are you here?"  The doctor smiles looking at me with laughing eyes.


"I have a sinus infection," I mumble looking down at the floor.  Lord help me from smart alec doctors.

"Hop back up on the table and let's take a look.  Your blood pressure medication is Benazepril ten milligrams."

"Wow, I was close."  Does he expect me to remember that?  Lord, I will be lucky if I remember it by the time this visit is over.  The druggist never asks me what I am taking, he just reads the prescription and fills it.

He looks in my ears, throat, nose and listens to my heart.  "Have you been coughing?"

"A little," I mumble, "not a lot."

"What color is the phlegm you are coughing up." he asks?  I shake my head.

Once again the deer staring into the headlights.  Lord have mercy, I don't go around looking at what I cough up into a tissue.  That's so gross!

"Have you been blowing your nose a lot and what color is the mucus?"  I shake my head.


Headlights!!!  Do these people go around looking at all the crap their body expels from different places?   If I wanted to look at that stuff, I would have become a doctor.  Just write a prescription and let me get out of here before I come down with a horrible disease.

You do realize Doctor Offices and hospitals are a bed of breeding germs?  Have you ever notice you get sick after visiting a hospital to see a friend?


"When I bend over, it feels like my face is going to fall off."  I am hoping this news will speed things up.

They not only make an exam room ugly, but I'm just saying I would hate to pay for the cooling bill for this place.  It is like that large refrigerated area you walk into, to get eggs, milk and etc at CostCo.   Chill bumps are playing chase up and down my body.

"That sounds like a sinus infection.  I'll write you a prescription for an antibiotic.  Are you allergic to any medication?  If you don't feel better after taking all the medication, come back in."

I shake my head, and a slight smile curves my lips as I inch myself toward the edge of the exam table.  If I have to come back in, I'll be madder than a wet hen.  He really doesn't want to see me in here again.

He hands the prescription over and I slide off the table, pick up my purse and cram the prescription inside.  Slowly moving toward the door.


"Your blood pressure is a little high.  Do you keep a check on it?"

"I explained that to the nurse.  My blood pressure raises when I see the doctor.  Yes, I own a cuff and check my blood pressure."

 It's not all a lie, I do own a blood pressure kit.  It's only . . . the only time I take my blood pressure is if I happen to be by one of those machines in the mall or store.  Then if there is no one around, I slip onto the seat and have my blood pressure taken.  It is usually in the normal range.  Well . . . that is if I haven't gained a lot of weight.

He nods his head and writes something down and I open the door, look back at him giving him a big smile, "Bye!"


I walk quickly down the hall and out the door to freedom and clean air.  Lord I hope this medication works, I don't know if I could go through that again.

How do you feel about doctor offices?

Oh Yeah, while I have you here let me remind you to buy my books.  I mean really, do you want a grandmother to run a round in holey clothes?

See you around the block.




 

Living The Diet

I have a link to U tube showing an eagle trying to get something out of a river.  It is very entertaining and shows you how he solves his problem.  Eagle of Baton Rouge

I am still working on walking for exercise.  I love going to the malls or other big businesses to walk.  This way I can window shop and watch other people.  I enjoy watching people and forget I am really exercising.

WIP is still giving me fits.  I can't seem to get from B to C.  Simmering a lot of different ideas on how to do it.

I have also been trying to read and do reviews on the books I've read.  Then reading all the blogs I follow, face book and Pinterest, I have been a busy girl.

I have also enjoyed spending time with my son Jesse and his wife Tina.  We ate some fantastic BQ last Saturday.

Those who are near and dear to me know I have been fighting the weight monster all my life.  Give it an inch and it will add a mile to my ass body.

If I had put all the money I have spent on all the new diet crap  fads, I would be loaded in money.  You name it, I bought it and tried it.

As you remember I am back on Weight Watchers and I listened to what I was thinking the other day and realized why I have never stayed on it for very long.  It was because as you lose weight your points became a smaller number and I was worried about going hungry.  Yeah, that right I do think, once in a while.

With this in mind, I begin looking through my library of diet books and ran across "Eat What You Love Love What You Eat" by Michelle May, M. D. 

I began to thumb through it and she told me the same as all the other diets to be mindful of what I eat.  I never really understood that.  I thought I was paying attention to what I ate, but I'm not sure I really was doing what they wanted me to do.

I read all of the book this time and I realized what she was telling me, was to know the signals my body sends when it is hungry and when it is full.

I don't know about you guys but I had forgotten how it felt to be really hungry and when to stop eating before I was in pain.  I ate by the clock and I ate until my plate was clean.

Sooo, I have decided to listen to my body and found out, It doesn't take that much food to make me comfortably full.  I was amazed and thrilled to realize the difference in how I felt after eating the right amount.

Now I wait to eat until my body says it is hungry.  Sometimes though I'm not sure, so I drink some water or have a cup of coffee, tea and walk around for a bit to figure out if I am hungry or if I am just bored.

I have found I eat more often, but I eat vegetables or have soup for the extras. 

Unfortunately, or it could be fortunately I don't need all the points to fill me up.  I figure I will listen to my body and let the points worry about themselves.  I mean do we eat the same amount of food every day?  I know I don't, what about you?

Maybe this time, I have found the key to successful weight loss and keeping it off.  Time will tell.

Of course don't get me wrong. It is not easy to understand what your body is telling. So there will be flubs along the way, but I will keep trying to get it right.

What have you found helps you to stay on your diet?

What helps you to stay on your diet?

As for the walking it is going great.  I find myself walking around the house without thinking about it.  I get up from in front of the TV and just start walking.  It's like my body has a mind of it's own and it wants to move.  Go figure!

See you around the block.

Read Directions

Last week was rough, abused body exercised faithfully everyday.  Believe me every other day my body was sore and I had to force myself to do the walking.

I wondered why walking ten thousands steps a day could be so rough, so I hunted up the booklet that came with my old pedometer.  I never looked at it before and really I need to start reading directions.

But if you know me, I close my eyes and jump into things with both feet.  I do everything flat out, without a look back.

Sooo, anyway I'm am reading the little book and it says, Step one, "Wear your pedometer for three days and write down the totals and then calculate the average number of steps you have taken each day.  This is your start point."  Didn't do that!  It also tells you to pay more attention to your weekly total, rather than daily total, because on some days you will walk more than other days.  Hmm, this would keep you from killing yourself and almost having to crawl around the next day.

Yes, I should have read this book first, then I wouldn't have days of my ankles and knees killing me.  This happens after walking almost twenty thousand steps a day.

Sooo, I have lost another one and a half pounds last week.  A total of three pounds in two weeks.  Not the greatest but I figure it is better than adding that many pounds.  I remind myself think of butter.  You know the image to show how much I did lose.

I've lost almost an inch in some places and almost two inches in others.  I figured this measurement is probably the one I should concentrate on because the numbers make me happy.

Added this clip art because I like it.

Have you guys been on Pinterest?  Lord have mercy, it is interesting.  I have been enjoying myself, really way too much on this, but it is a great way to save some things you know you will use later.  Like recipes and etc. 

Also this week, on one of the pins I pinned, it said to use car wax on faucets, sinks and etc to make them shine.  I tried it, it worked fantastic on my newer faucets, but not so great on old, old stainless steel sink.  That thing has seen a lot of abuse over the years.  It does look a little better, but it doesn't shine like the newer faucets.

I also did some reading and remembered to give a review of each book I read.  I think this is important to do and it helps the author find more readers.  So remember if you read an e book or even a regular book go to Amazon and other sites and write a review.

I downloaded the Kindle app onto my lap top and my pc, because I thought my Kindle had stopped working.  The Kindle finally charged and I can use it again.  I find myself using my lap top to read books I down load to it more often.  It seems handier some how.  I think one reason is, when I change it to larger print, so I don't have to wear my reading glasses, I see more of the page, then I would on the Kindle.

Oh well, each to his own.

For those that don't realize it, on Amazon before you choose to buy a book, you have to chose which system you want it to down load too. 

I am writing, but it is not good stuff.  I'm having trouble getting the story to pull together and flow.  I can't hear the music yet in the words.

I notice Kale is all the rage now for eating.  Which is fine with me since I love Kale.  My grandma fixed all these types of greens all the time, collard, mustard and etc.  So I have always eaten them off and on.  I did fix some Kale Chips the other day.  I had never had them before and they were great.  The only problem was the recipe did not tell you to remove the big stem from the center of the leaf and that part is chewy.  Next time I am removing it.

Here is what Rosemary Harris  thinks about certain foods becoming the rage. 

Like her, I wonder who decides which food will become popular.  I mean really, why all of a sudden something is sooo good for you?   Go figure.

See you around the block.

The Weigh She Goes

As my near and dearest know, since I have been spending most of my time at the computer writing, I have gained a lot of weight.  (I really mean a lot)

Some clothes I can't get into and other are a little tight.  Hmm, this is a problem let me tell you.  I hate shopping for clothes.  It is my least favorite thing to do.  Ugh!

The weather is heating up in Arizona and I know I need to come up with a plan for exercise, that does not involve being outdoors for a long time.

Sooo, here is my game plan and I started it on Monday.  I only allow myself to sit at the computer for an hour at a time and then I have to walk for fifteen minutes.

The first day my steps were slow and in the back of my mind I was remembering what I had read about if you want to lose weight, you need to walk ten thousand steps a day. 

Next day, my pace was a little faster and then I hooked up my Ipod and walked to the music.  My pace really picked up then.  Remember I had down loaded fast songs.

The Ipod counts my steps also and also I am wearing my pedometer.  I know you want to know why I am wearing both. 

The reason is, because I have dropped, knocked Ipod off getting groceries out of the food cart and etc.  You see how this is going.

 I'm not sure how many falls it can take before it decides not to work.  Sooo, I only wear it for the fifteen minute brisk walk with music playing. 

The rest of the time the other pedometer keeps track of the extra steps I am taking.

 I found I can stop the step counter on the Ipod and start new each time and it keeps tracks of all the steps I have taken with it.  In the evening I plug it into my computer and log into Nike+ and I can see all my steps on the Ipod for the day.  Neat, huh?

Okay now on with what else I am trying to do.

I heard on the news if you walk during the commercials you will have walked thirty minutes in an hour show.

Sounds good to me.

I am also following my old old weight watchers point diet.  It was the first one they came out with where you counted points.  Yah, I know, I never throw anything away. 

But, really I do throw stuff away and then wonder why I didn't keep it because now I have to go buy a new one. 

Well, today is the fifth day of walking and I am sore and tired.

I am thinking about that program "The Biggest Loser" and remember how those people have to push their selves to keep going no matter what.

With this in mind, I am forcing my body to keep going.   I have to keep my goal in mind of getting back into some of my clothes and maybe going down a size or two.  Plus losing one of my chins wouldn't be so bad either.

I have found I fall asleep faster at night now and maybe this will help to keep the insomnia away.  I can only hope. 

I am working on a new story.  So far the title is "Earning His Wings", but that could change.  I'll let you stew over the title for a while before I tell you what the story is about.  It's like a game and you can see if you win or not with your guesses.

I forgot to mention during the walking sessions, I am also doing arm exercises.  The back of my arms are sore.  Go figure!

What have you found that keeps you working out and sticking to your diet?

I could use all the help I can get.

See you around the block.

Choose a Mommy

Ann Kimball another funny mommy is over at Scary Mommy writing her blog.  talks about channeling different personalities of moms on television.   It is a funny blog and you will enjoy it.

I've come up with a few more moms for her to channel: 

Leave It To Beaver's mom June Cleaver.  She was always classy looking without a hair out of place.  She was soft spoken and her house was spotless.  Hmm, the magic of TV.

Does anyone remember The Donna Reed Show?  Donna had two teenage children and ran her house smoothly while looking as if she walked off a magazine.  Once again, her house was spotless.

How about Harriet Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet?  Harriet wore her pearls and her tiny pretty apron.  Yes, her house was spotless even though she had two sons.

Then can we forget Bewitched?  We all wanted to be a witch like Samantha and twitch our noses.  I mean who needs a maid (Alice) if the work can be done with the twitch of your nose?

What about Joan Crawford?  Remember the movie about her parenting skills, Mommy Dearest?

Lord if I could channel it would be Samantha.  With a twitch of my nose I could do everything and have life go very smoothly.  Yes, ...... Sorry I was picturing me younger, slimmer and a shiny clean house.

 Now onto something else.

Liana Brooks blog needs to be read by the people who do not buy the author's book, even though they are a Family member or a best Friend or a neighbor.  She has some ideas for what they could do to help the writer.   I hope some people will read this and follow her advice.

Please give an author a break!

K. B. Owens blog is really about racoons.  Some of the stories she tells are funny.  Living in the Arizona desert, I don't  have a problem with racoons, so I think of them as cute.  Aren't they part of the rodent family?  Ugh!  I don't like rats, they are as persistent as raccoons.

Bill Kirton  has a very interesting blog about Neanderthals.  I had watched a show recently about them and it turns out they were a little more complex than we thought.    I know it isn't about writing, but it is interesting.

And if you need a really big laugh......The bloggess   I was laughing so hard I cried.  This woman is completely crazy like the rest of us and doesn't mind showing it.

I think I will end this blog on a laugh.

See you around the block.

A Bit of Sugar

Today I spent time reading the blogs of other writers and found some really interesting ones and found some that made me smile with remembrance.

Jenny Hansen  blog brought back my youth with mention of American Band Stand and Dick Clark.  Lord I grew up watching that show and I also learned some of my moves on the dance floor.    Then Jenny had a clip from U Tube of  The Monkees.  I remember curling up in front of the TV to watch this show with my family.  I was lucky that my parents also enjoyed the music and shows. 

Mom and Dad watched all the musical shows on TV with us kids and took us to the drive in theater and the regular theater to see all the musical movies, such as Elvis Presley, the beach movies with Annette Funicello and the Beatles.  You name it I saw it.  They loved all kinds of music and introduced us to their music also.  I love a wide range of different music from Classical to Hip Hop.

I raised my own children listening to old and new music and watching old black and white movies to new movies.  My daughter adores the old black and white musicals and drives her husband crazy watching them.  LOL! 

We have lost both Dick Clark and Davey Jones and I can only say "Rest in peace gentlemen, you will always be remembered.

Rachelle Gardner  asks "What's the most difficult thing about being a writer?"  I think the most difficult thing about being a writer is continuing to write even though your e books aren't selling.  I keep telling myself maybe some day my books will be read and enjoyed. 

Abby  is complaining about getting old at 30 years old!  Goodness, wait until she is in her sixties and then she will have reasons to complain.  I love reading Abby's blog, she is entertaining.

Mark Williams  has a blog and today was about where and how he lives.  He makes his living with writing and could live any where he wants and in what ever style he chooses.   I found it interesting and enjoyed seeing the pictures he shared.

Scary Mommy  this blog was interesting and important for all of us to read it.  It is about raising a transgender child.  She gives you a link to follow to find out more about the family she is writing about.  Luckily more and more of us are realizing we can not expect everyone to be like us.  We need to accept people as they are.  With knowledge comes acceptance of what was considered out of norm as normal for the person involved. 

Nicole Storey wrote about a reading group who didn't want to read her Grimsley Hollow book, because the main character has autism.  She is letting readers know autism is not mental illness.   I read Grimsley Hollow and found it to be an entertaining book.  I loved it and the characters.    Really People, grow up!  Read the damn book and you will enjoy it!

Lynn Viehl has a test for writers to take if they are thinking of writing a romantic paranormal fiction.  Never know you could learn something from it.  I'm just saying ...

See you around the block. 

Boo Hoo!!

My baby girl and her husband left today.  Sigh!   They are heading back to their home in Reno.

I am missing them and their two adorable dogs.  No one to cook for  or talk with and no one to take for a walk.  

I have enjoyed having them here for a week.  Sigh!  I am feeling blue!  

My house feels so empty and quiet.  I think I can hear the air. 

We had a fantastic time at the Phoenix Zoo.  We walked over twelve thousand steps.  Our feet and other parts of our bodies complained about all this activity.  Sigh, I am sooo out of shape. 

The weather was perfect for being out doors all day.  Slightly over cast with a cool, light breeze.

We visited the malls, IKEA and other places to shop.  Window shopped like old times and watched the people. 

We also visited with my boys and their wives.    We shared great food, conversation and laughed a lot.

Now I am feeling lonely.  Sigh! 

Tomorrow I will have to get back into the saddle and work on my writing.

I will have to get back into the routine of writing and blogging.

Just noticed I need to paint my finger nails.  I'll paint them a happy color and maybe I want feel so sad.

See you around the block.