All Things Sad Become Untrue

2022 Was Supposed to be Better

2022-02-10T04:04:09Z

2022 was supposed to be better. A better job, a healthier life, the plague finally becoming endemic rather than pandemic.

But Monday, a man walked into the local Kroger Fred Meyer that's just a few blocks from my house and started shooting. He killed a man and another is critical. He ran out of bullets, or interest, or he heard the sirens and left.

My lunch is at 11:00. I thought of running to the store to put gas in the car and buy some sushi or a rotisserie chicken for lunch, but decided to walk the dogs as I had a vet appointment 10 minutes after work.

It takes about 3 minutes to get to that store from my house, which is why I go there constantly. I'm always there, at least 2 times a week because I'm always forgetting something.

The man started shooting at 11:04. It lasted 7 minutes.

I was walking the dogs and heard the sirens.

The store has been closed the past two days, but how do you go back? How am I supposed to walk down isle 14, the Asian food isle that has my rice and the gluten free soy sauce, knowing a man was killed there?

How do you walk passed the customer service counter, right near the entrance, knowing another man was shot there, and he is still in critical condition?

How can I walk into that store again, knowing a young man died, shot several times, bleeding out on the floor?

How do I not go back? It's my favorite store. I know a lot of the employees, smile and wave at them whenever I'm in there.

The man in critical always smiled as he worked. He sang and whistled and made the day a little better.

My heart is broken.

comments

Happy New Year!

2022-01-03T05:51:16Z

It's been a long time since I posted here, but this last year has just been a roller coaster, and I think I've just been struggling to keep my head on straight.

I lost three friends this past year, all due to Covid. I was let go from my job of 4 1/2 years and found a new one. I had a hysterectomy, which I've wanted for a long while, and am feeling so much better.

Yesterday I tested positive for Covid, and I'm just so thankful I'm vaxxed and boosted. I don't feel great, but I know it could be so much worse.

I hope all of you are keeping safe and doing your best to stay healthy. We're living in crazy times, but hopefully things will start to get better.

Happy New Years, all!

comments

Still alive!

2021-04-04T05:45:32Z

Hi, everyone!

Just a quick update. I had my hysterectomy on the 31st and everything went well. I was able to go home that day. So far, the pain isn't too bad, but it's mostly in my hips and back, WTF?

Anyway, I've been sleeping a lot and trying to rest as much as possible. Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers.

Shirebound, I received your card today. Thank you so much!! It means the world to me!

comments

It's been one hell of a year

2021-03-13T04:11:27Z

Hey all, long time no see.

The past year and change has been wild, hasn't it? And I mean that in the "May you live in interesting times," kind of way.

A year ago exactly, my company sent us all to work from home. It was lonely, but I still had employment and roof over my head, so I couldn't complain.

In June, my water pipes burst. Yes, all of them. I had to have the entire house re-piped, and insurance didn't cover a dime. $8000 later, and at least I have all new pipes.

Then in October, my boss informed us that he had sold the company to a different company, and we were only guaranteed 6 months employment.

I had my very first flat tire on the highway in October, then in November I had to go the ER for the first time in my life.

Two days ago, almost 6 months exactly since my boss sold the company, I was let go. I didn't fit their vision going forward, they said.

And today, I found out I have to have a hysterectomy. It's scheduled for March 31st.

Not to mention the world wide pandemic, a president who was worse than useless, and an attempted coup on my nation's capitol.

Whew, what a time we live in!

On the other hand, I have new tires on my car, new pipes in my house, and after March 31st I won't have to worry about periods. We have a new president who I think truly has the good of the country at heart, and a vaccine that is becoming more and more available.

I don't think enough people yelled Jumanji on New Year's Eve, but I'm still holding out hope for this year.

I miss my friends. I'm lonely and scared and worried for my future. But I have my family and friends, and I know I'm loved.

I love you all.

I hope you are well.

I hope you are happy.

I hope that, when everything calms down and the world wobbles back to its equilibrium, you are engulfed in the biggest hugs of your lives. Above all, I hope you know that you aren't alone, and we will get this craziness together.

*Hugs*

comments

Happy Labor Day

2020-09-07T17:15:42Z

Hello all, and happy Labor Day to my friends in the states! I don't know about anyone else, but my plans include being in the house, watching TV, and coloring. There may be a glass of wine thrown in.

The air is very smoky around me, almost sepia in color, so I'm not venturing out without a mask, which, thanks to the current pandemic, I have about 5 of!

We were supposed to have a very small get together today, but we just learned my mom may have been exposed to Covid, so we're all just holding our breath and crossing our fingers and hoping that's not the case.

My sister, who lives in London, tested positive for Covid a few months ago and is still experiencing side effects. This stuff is no joke!

Anyway, I hope you're all doing as well as 2020 allows.

Air Hugs to all!

comments

2020 can suck it!

2020-07-22T14:38:05Z

Soooooo...

I don't know about anyone else, but 2020 has so far really kind of sucked, on so many levels.

For me, personally, it's been a hard couple of months.

Last month, my water pipes burst and I had to have the entire house re-piped and the main water line replaced. Insurance didn't cover anything, so I was left with an $8000 bill. I was without hot water for 3 weeks, but thanks to my mom, who lives just down the street, I was able to go over to her place and shower.

I was also able to do a loan from my 401K and had a GoFundMe to help pay the rest, and barely managed to squeak through. It's all down now, and a week later I'm still getting over the stress, lol.

Then, yesterday, I got bloodwork back and it appears I'm mildly diabetic. This isn't a huge surprise, my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are all diabetic, so I was fighting against the inevitable.

I don't want to start medication for this but try to control it with diet. My mom is Type 1 diabetic so she is helping me figure out meals and what to do.

I'm trying to look at my blessings through this, though. Now I have new water pipes in my house, I don't have to worry about anything breaking in the middle of winter. Also, hot water!

As for the diabetes, well, I need to lose weight anyways. This is just giving me a nudge.

I hope the rest of you are doing well. Take care of yourselves, and each other.

comments

piplover @ 2020-03-24T06:33:00

2020-03-24T13:34:32Z

My state has ordered non essential workers to shelter in place, so after today I'll be working from home. I'm doing all right, still coughing but no fever or other signs, so hopefully everything will work out.

Such very scary times! It almost feels like we're in a horror movie right now. I wonder, in ten years, what the movies will look like about this.

Stay safe everyone, and love you all!

comments

piplover @ 2020-03-17T21:31:00

2020-03-18T04:36:40Z

Deciding to play it safe, I called the teledoc today about my cough and shortness of breath.

Because I haven't had a fever, she didn't believe I have the Coronavirus, and she didn't want me to go to the urgent care to get tested, as that would put me in too much danger of being exposed.

So, because I'm in the high risk group, she has me self-quarantined for 72 hours, and she prescribed me a new inhaler and another asthma medicine to see if that would help.

If I develop a fever in the next 72 hours then I have to get tested, but otherwise, she's just erring on the side of caution.

So... Three days of unpaid time off. Not what I wanted, but I guess it's better than 2 weeks of unpaid time off, and I really don't want to risk getting anyone sick.

At least I have an abundance of books to read!

Take care everyone, stay safe!

comments

The world is a scary place right now

2020-03-14T18:02:00Z

The world is so very scary right now.

I live in WA state, the state hit hardest by the virus so far, and we just had all the schools closed for 6 weeks. There has been 3 confimred cases in my town, which means there are actually hundreds more.

My asthma has been acting up, and my allergies, as everything is in bloom, and I keep telling myself not to freak out, that I'm fine. But it's hard not to panic when you're short of breath.

I have no fever, no new aches and pains, I don't feel sick, so I'm trying very hard to thwap myself on the head and tell myself to stop panicking. I've done all the preventative measures, though I have been to the grocery store recently, and we have clients come into our office all the time.

I figure, if the worst comes and I do get sick, I know what to expect. Everything I catch goes straight to my lungs as it is, so I'm prepared for bronchitis and pnumonia symptoms. I had bronchotis in January and February and have finally got over that, so going through it all again isn't quite as terrifying as it could be for some.

But I'm in the high risk group, because I'm immune compromised, and I'm worrying about what will happen to my dogs if I'm put in hosptital and can't work. I worry about my mortgage, and bills.

I gave myself a panic attack the other night thinking of all this, so I'm determined to just do what I can and try not to venture outside unless I absolultely have to.

I hope you are all taking care of yourselves. I hope that we can escape this pandemic relatively unscathed, wiser and more prepared for next time, because there will be a next time. I hope this will bring the world more together, and not tear us apart.

I hope you are all well, and know that you are loved.

Take care of yourselves, and each other. *Hugs*

comments

Spring is in the air!

2019-06-06T03:03:39Z

Our weather is finally settling into something like normal. It was a weird winter, with temps in the low 60s and even 70s in January, and then a massive blizzard that dropped about 3 feet of snow in two days and stayed around until March. I almost made it through all the horrible road conditions until the very last day of snow, when my car skidded and hit a snowbank and I had to replace the bumper.

Now, we've had temps steadily climbing into the mid 90s, and today we have thunderstorms. I love to sit and listen to the thunder and the rain, but my dogs aren't too fond.

I've been on my new RA meds for about 5 months now and doing well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it continues to work. I can deal with two weeks of feeling like crap for six weeks of feeling good.

I've been trying to walk more, as a friend of mine is being very kind and taking me to Disney World in September. I've been trying to walk at least a mile every day, though some days are better than others.

Also, I've been writing again. It's for a little fandom, the Eagle. I've always loved the movie since it came out in 2011, but the past few months it's pretty much consumed me. It feels nice to write again, even if the fandom is very tine. Oh well, we don't write for others, necessarily. I have to write what my heart tells me to, and if only a few people read it, well, that's a few people who have hopefully enjoyed it.

If anyone is interested, the links are here:

archiveofourown.org/works/18991648

archiveofourown.org/works/18723814/chapters/44410798

Not much else is going on. I hope you all are doing well!

comments

Cool meeting

2019-03-22T04:24:39Z

I've given up on any type of normalcy with posting.

But today I had a really good experience. I met the amazing Margaret Stohl, one of the authors of Captain Marvel, among many other works. She was so lovely and sweet.

I had her sign a comic, and then I told her Captain Marvel had made me cry, because I was a veteran and I could empathize with her so much. She paused in handing me back the comic, took it back, and wrote, "You're my hero!" Then, she took a Captain Marvel pin off her jacket and gave it to me, and we were both crying a bit.

She then wanted a picture of me, which I was more than happy to do, if a bit embarrassed, as the line was really long, so I didn't get a picture on my phone, but she took it with hers!

She spent a lot of time talking with people and really interacting with them. Such a lovely lady!

I hope you all had a good day, too.

My new RA infusions are a type of chemo, so for about two weeks after I'm totally messed up, but I'm feeling much better after that initial amount of ick, and I hope that I'll have my energy back soon, and won't be in as much pain. Here's to a good year!

Love you all!

comments

Snow!

2019-02-11T05:22:18Z

The part of Washington state I live in doesn't get very much snow, which is frustrating for me since I LOVE snow. But last Monday we got about three inches, and then it started snowing on Friday and didn't stop until this morning. Needless to say, my snow fantasies have come true! I think we got over a foot, so I had a lot of shoveling to do today!

I started a new RA med on Friday, but I feel pretty good right now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one works! Oh, and my doctor thinks I have Firbomyagia. Sigh. Oh, well. One thing at a time. I'm just happy I'm still mobile and able to be active. Plus, I totally rocked the snow shovel today!

Have a safe and wonderful Monday my friends!

comments

Merry Christmas!

2018-12-25T18:09:31Z

Merry Christmas, my friend! I hope today is filled with love, laughter, and great memories. Thank you all for being my friends.

comments

Summer is here

2018-07-15T16:29:58Z

I haven't been around very much lately, so I'm sorry if any of you posted something and I haven't responded.

My doctor put me on a new medication for my RA and it caused me to get really sick, to the tune of some internal bleeding. I'm finally starting to feel human again.

I still have low energy and hurt, but I'm doing much better, so I'm hoping to be around a bit more.

I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the summer. It was 107F here on Friday, and today is supposed to be much the same. I managed to go out and do some weeding because my yard looks like an absolute jungle, but I have a loooongg way to go.

I don't have a lot to say, as most of my days consist of dragging myself to work, then back home to curl up and be a puddle.

Take care of yourselves, and HUGS to you all!

comments

Infinity War

2018-04-30T02:59:37Z

I saw Infinity War twice this weekend.

I went in slightly spoiled by accident, so I had an inkling about some of what was going to happen. I'm putting this under a cut for massive spoilers.

( Read more... )

comments

Spring weather

2018-04-19T04:22:36Z

It was such a lovely day today. We've had horrible winds the past few weeks, in the 30 to 40 mph gusts. With everything blooming allergies are going crazy!

The past month I've had to wear a heart monitor. Nothing serious, but my heart has been fluttering and feeling weird, so they're monitoring to see if they pinpoint what's going on. It's been a pain in the butt more than anything. Saturday is my last day to wear it, thank goodness. I can't wait to wear something other than the loose, baggy clothes I've had to wear at work!

Also, saw a new ob/gyn on Monday. For the first time talking with a doctor about how painful and awful my periods are, the choice a hysterectomy was mentioned. I don't think it's something I can do this year, but it's nice to know that it may be an option in the future. I really just want to be able to function.

It's supposed to be in the 70s F next week, which I'm really looking forward to. It seems this winter has been rather long and cold. I hope everyone is getting some sunshine soon.

comments

Sickness has caught up to me

2018-02-25T19:00:05Z

So far this winter I've managed to escape the flu or my annual bronchitis. I thought I was out of the woods, but this last week I started coughing and now I have no voice and feel like crap.

I am very thankful, however, that it's not the flu, just seems to be the normal concrud I get after going to a convention.

Honestly, I'm a little relieved. It's like, OK, I can stop waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I've been holed up in the house since Friday, since I don't want to spread this around to everyone. Not sure I'll be able to go into work tomorrow. I'll see how I feel, but I don't want to get them sick, either. My work is pretty small, only 8 of us, and my boss is a germaphobe. The office policy is pretty much, if you're sick, stay the hell away from us!

Anyway, I've just been crashed on the couch, alternating between Olympics and movies. Today I may play a computer game, just for a change of scenery.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

comments

piplover @ 2018-02-04T21:26:00

2018-02-05T05:32:01Z

Did anyone else record the Super Bowl so you could fast forward through the football and just watch the commercials? I watched Puppy Bowl instead, and then Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

Honestly, I could never understand how a game with four 15 minute game plays could last for 4 HOURS. Dear Lord, football is boring.

Don't really want to go to work tomorrow. The wind has been terrible the past few days, with gusts in the 40 mph range, and my ears are all stuffed up and hurting. Yuck. Plus, we were supposed to get rain today which never happened, so it will probably be tomorrow.

I have my infusion on Friday, which is good. Not that I'm looking forward to it, but after the first few days I usually notice a big difference in my energy and pain levels. My plan is to get fish and chips and crash on the couch watching the Good Place.

I made a roast chicken today, which turned out amazing, and then made chicken soup, which also turned out great. I'm nailing this being an adult thing.

Hope you all had a great Sunday.

comments

The Good Place

2018-02-02T05:06:31Z

The Good Place had its second season finale tonight, and OMG! Spoilers under cut.

( Read more... )

comments

piplover @ 2018-01-31T06:56:00

2018-01-31T15:12:58Z

I keep saying I'm going to be better about blogging and I really fall down on that.

My life is chugging along. I started Orencia infusions in August, and so far they really see to be helping. I've had less pain days, and more energy. The only down side is I pretty much lose a whole day, because after I have to go home and lay down. The one time I went to get groceries after I was sick for nearly a week.

On the plus side, I've started to feel creative again. It's been so long since I had ideas randomly start popping into my head, I'm loving the feeling of wanting to write again. I have ideas for Dr. Strange and Sherlock, and even some little nuggets for Lord of the Rings.

My current happy place is the Good Place. If you haven't watched it yet, you should. It's an amazing and clever show, and it packs a lot into only a half hour. Season 2 ends tomorrow, but they've already been renewed for a season 3, so I'm just enjoying the ride.

Also, I have become addicted to Homicide Hunter. It's a true crime show on ID in the US. Detective Joe Kenda recounts his cases from his 22 years of service. It's sad, and clever, and funny, and I don't know why I love it so much except maybe he reminds me a bit of a real life Sherlock Holmes.

Not really much else going on right now, but I will try to update again sooner. If nothing else, I want to keyboard smash about the season finale of the Good Place.

comments

Happy Holidays!

2017-12-25T16:33:49Z

Merry Christmas and joyous Monday to all my friends! I hope today only brings wondrous things to you. ***HUGS***

comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

2017-11-23T19:29:26Z

To all my American friends, I wish you a very happy, joyous Thanksgiving! And to my friends around the world who do not celebrate, I wish you a wonderful day filled with only good things and much laughter.

I am so thankful for all the many blessings in my life. Things may be a bit rough, but I have so many things to be thankful for. My job, my health, my house, my critters, my family. I am so grateful to all my friends, and I hope you get only good things today!

comments

Vacation

2017-10-13T04:29:31Z

I was supposed to visit relatives in Michigan this month, but money wise that just didn't work out. The new roof really did a number on my bank account.

Instead, I took a train down to Portland to meet up with friends and we drove to Seaside, Oregon.

It was beautiful, and just the vacation I needed.

We laughed a lot, drank cider, watched the Good Place and listened to almost the entire series of Cabin Pressure. I checked my email twice, and didn't go online otherwise.

We spent hours and hours at the beach, and ate good food. It was everything I could have asked for from a vacation.

Things have been hard this year, and healthwise I'm still struggling in a lot of ways. But I have lovely memories of the beach to help me through the dark times, and good friends I know I can always talk to.

comments

piplover @ 2017-10-02T20:47:00

2017-10-03T03:47:26Z

While I was getting ready for work this morning my mom called. Early morning phone calls are never a good thing.

My brother's girlfriend, who is pretty much my sister in law since they've been together for almost 15 years, was at the Las Vegas concert.

She's OK, but very shaken.

She was in Vegas for a girl's weekend with two of her friends, attending the country music festival. They were right in the thick of it last night, and I honestly it's by the grace of God that none of them were injured.

One of her friends, KJ, dived under the stage with about 50 other people, and the girl next to her was shot 4 times in the back.

Laura, my brother's girlfriend, was separated from the other two in the chaos, but managed to take refuge in a Hooters.

I can't even say how thankful I am that she's OK. It so easily could have been her that got shot.

I can't even imagine what she's been through, and I just hope she's OK.

Hold your loved ones close. This world is a big, scary place, and it's only by loving each other that we get through it.

comments

Warm summer days

2017-07-28T05:02:14Z

For all that I live a very boring life, there are several things going on!

Thing the first, I'm getting a new roof on my house. We had a terrible storm on the 26th of June and I lost several shingles. My roof was leaking, and when I called my insurance agent, they came out and said, yep, it needed to be replaced. They cover most of it, but I have a $1000 deductible. Eek! I am very, very, VERY lucky that my mom is going to help me out. She's going to pay the $1000 and I'm going to pay her back in installments I can afford. So long as it's paid off within the year, she's happy.

Thing the second, I've finally been approved through my insurance to get infusions. My RA has been horrible, and one of the medications I was on, Planquil, was giving me horrible side effects. They wanted me to start the infusions back in May but I've been fighting the insurance company, and they finally authorized them. I'm really hoping this medicine helps, because my hands are getting worse, and honestly, I'm kind of scared about permanent damage. There is no cure for RA, but they can usually try for remission. Here's hoping!

And finally, I just got a letter today from my mortgage lender. I put in for assistance because I was falling further and further behind on my payments. I couldn't catch up, and I was just spinning my wheels. I have to call them tomorrow to verify what I read, but I'm pretty sure they're putting me on a modified plan and then putting any remaining missed payments on the back of my loan. Thank God! I've been stressing about this for over a year, and I'm finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not a train!

Work is still going amazing at the moment, and I'm so grateful every morning. I'm kind of hoping that if things keep going well, I may be able to get a new car next year. Mine is 16 years old and even though it's paid off and is doing fine, I'm starting to notice it's struggling a bit. I love my car, and want to keep it going as long as I can, but I think it may also be time to look at something new. Fingers crossed!

I hope you're all doing well. (((HUGS)))

comments