So It's Tuesday ....

UPDATE:  So if you've noticed that I tend to post more often when I'm feeling good (and really bored) then you might notice that I haven't written anything today ..... on here or on Facebook.  Not a terrific day, pain-wise.  I keep waking up around 6:30 .... in pain.  Lots of it.  This morning it was worse than usual .... with both my shoulder and hip.  So it's been a very quiet day.  It's not unexpected to have bumps in the road, but still ..... it's frustrating and disappointing.
But I'm going to Circle tonight .... all drugged up.  And no,  I'm not driving.  A couple of my lovely friends offered to pick me up (they may not have realized that that's exactly what they may have to do .... literally!).  I'd like to just stay home, quietly suffering in my room .... but where's the fun in that?!  I know they'll make me feel better and I'll be very glad that I went.  Maybe not in the morning, but some time after that I'll still be glad.  :)
And I'm still optimistic.  And hoping that tomorrow will start off better than today did.
:)



.... which means that it's really Wednesday in most places on earth.

Things are going well.
So well, in fact that I find myself waiting for the proverbial "other shoe" to drop.
It hasn't yet .... and so I am choosing to look forward.  If it falls .... it falls.  I have learned that there is nothing I can do .... if it does.

I stayed home today and tried to stay on the quiet side.
I am happy to report that I was able to take my first full-blown shower today.
It was heavenly.

A good friend stopped by to bring the sons and me some dinner.  Thank you so much, D.  We loved it!

I've taken the pain meds today on an "as needed" basis.  Which is less than every 4 hours.
I'm happy to report that the "as needed" basis has worked today.
Who knows if it will work tomorrow?  But I'm optimistic.

I did manage to do some dishes today, as well as clean out the office .... and my bedroom.  And folded laundry.
I'm happy with the results.

The Daughters are coming home Thursday night.  Well, one of them is.  I think the other one will arrive Friday morning ..... before we have to leave for the airport ....I hope.

I think that my shoulder will be OK for the trip, as long as I remember to not drag a heavy piece of luggage behind me ..... or put a heavy carry-on into the bin above my seat.

Actually, it's not the shoulder that's giving me problems today.  It's my hip.  Again.  Yes .... again.
Most of you know that my left hip has bothered me since my surgery in February of 2009.  But now, at this moment in time ..... it's my right hip that is causing the problems.  And I'm not sure why.
I remember putting things in my suitcase, on the last day of our cruise, and standing up to realize that my right hip was in agony.  It was like I popped it out of place or something.
And ever since then, it's been a huge pain in the a**.
Huge.
Freakingly huge.

So I'm guessing that once we get past this shoulder issue, I'll bring up the "hip issue".
Damn.
Getting old totally sucks.
I may have to punch Jim in the jaw when I see him
 in Heaven.
For leaving me here to get older and older while he just hangs out in Heaven and has a great time.
Sigh ......

That's all for today, Peeps.
I'm glad that some of you, including "W', are pleased that I am updating m blog every day, sometimes 3 time a day.
It's good to know that you derive some sort of satisfaction from my boredom.

Happy Tuesday/Wednesday  Peeps.

For Widows Only ....

... I so very much hate that word.  You know the one.

I'd love to just write "For Our Circle Only" and every woman to whom that applies, the thousands and thousands of them, would know the word Circle means them.  Not just my small local Circle, but all of us.  We're all in this together and we need each other.  I chose the word Circle because a circle can grow and grow and grow, but it still remains a circle -- tightly formed, bound by grief, enclosing love and ..... hope.

     So, now that I hopefully have the attention of women in this Circle ..... I'd like to share something with you.

     Friday afternoon I received an e-mail from a very lovely woman whom I've never met.  Nor had she ever heard about me.  Not even out in cyber space.  Her name is Michele.

It seems that Michele went to her In box that day and found my blog sitting in it.  She doesn't know how, or why.  And neither do I.  

But, she happens to be a member of this circle, too .... for 3 years now. 

And she has learned, from being a member, to not take things for granted and to stop and look at what's happening around her.

So she went to my blog.

And then she sent me an e-mail.

And so I met Michele, the founder of Soaring Spirits, which I already had linked on my blog. 

She told me about finding my blog, reading it and connecting to the things I'd written.  She told me who she was and that she'd love to talk to me some time.

So I wrote her back and thanked her for her encouraging words and said I'd love to chat with her any time.

About an hour later, my phone rang.

And we talked.  And talked.  And talked.

I have met the most amazing women in this Circle.

Michele started this foundation to help us, to connect all of us and to give us hope.  That, my friends, is a mighty big job.  

But she's doing it, though I'm sure it's never been easy.  

It's easier to find support groups and help if you happen to have a heart that's broken physically, than one that's broken emotionally, spiritually AND physically.

But Michele has been working so hard that now something amazing is happening.  This coming July there will be the first ever (and hopefully annual) National Conference on Widowhood.

They have a target attendance of 2,000 women.  Two thousand of us who "get" each other.  In one place.  No searching on the internet, no trial and error of attending different support groups that don't quite fit ...... everyone in that room will fit.  Into a rather nice Circle.

So I am writing about this today to encourage all of us to try to attend this conference.  I cannot imagine the feeling of meeting so many of you whom I know, but have yet to meet.  I cannot imagine the huge sigh that will come from me as all of my inside stress, loneliness, grief, burdens and heavy, heavy masks fall to the floor that weekend.  

Just the thought of that relief makes me cry.

So go to Michele's site and see what you think.

If you decide that you want to attend you can still get the early registration price if you go with one or more friends, just contact Michele about it.

And then please let me know what you think.  

Because really ....... can you imagine?

:)

P.S.  I have met a woman new to this Circle and am looking for someone in the Friendswood,TX area who can help her find some support.  If this is you, or if you know of someone, please contact me by e-mail (jeggerstx@gmail.com)

Thank you.

Olympic fever

     Today was a busy day.  I played tennis this morning and then went shopping with the decorator for lights, knobs, sinks, fixtures.  I had no idea how many knobs are out there.  It's ridiculous!  It made my head spin.  And as for sinks .... don't get me started.

     They put my dishwasher in this morning!  Yay!  Oh, and good news that I forgot to tell you about --- someone dumped shrimp down my garbage disposal last week.  The new disposal.  The new disposal that was not yet connected to power.  You got it ..... gag a maggot, as we used to say in junior high (boy, THAT dates me .... junior high!  Are there any more junior highs left?  My kids all went to the much more politically correct, "middle school").  Anyway, I texted my decorator last night and begged her to make sure the disposal was connected this morning because the shrimp stench was killing me.  

From what I later heard, it didn't do much for the plumber, either.  Hmmmmm, guess that's what he gets for not connecting it when he put it in!

     Gabby and I went to dinner at my friend J's house.  It was Dr. J's birthday and her sister, brother-in-law and niece drove down today from Oklahoma.  Her niece could be a sister to my 2 nieces, K2 and M2.  It made me miss them.  Needless to say, a very cute girl.  :)

     Gabby was great.  Very calm and laid back.  It's so strange how quickly she has become a much-loved and important part of our family.  I can't explain it.  I know many, many people don't "get it", but neither would I ..... "before".  In my "after", it makes perfect sense, but mainly only to me.  And that's OK.

     I am loving catching the Olympics when I can.  And can I just say ..... the swimming .... last night?!!!!!  So much for the trash-talking French guy!!  HA!!!!!!!  En votre facade!!!

     Tomorrow I go to work for the first time in a few months.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and being there.  Mostly.

     And tomorrow night is my weekly dinner with my new circle of friends.  I call it the "Circle".  There will be 2 new women there tomorrow.  I look forward to meeting them and enlarging our circle.

     I'm planning on escaping to the lake this week.  I have 2 aunts, an uncle, a cousin and his wife coming on Friday.  I'm looking forward to seeing them and having them visit, along with my mom and D.  Our family is crazy and we have a blast whenever we're together.  

     OK, that's enough for now.  I hope most of you took the time to watch the Steven Curtis Chapman clip.  What a great family.  They love God and they love each other .... above all else.

They know what's important.  And what's not.

Got to go --- the dog's eating gravel.  I think that's probably a bad thing?

:)