Will You Be My Valentine?

We've had a relaxful Valentine's Day. Completed a few household chores. After lunch we went to what they call the "Pit" at Senator's Wash. There were approximately 25 musicians who played and sang for two hours, much to the delight of their audience. They were over the age of 70. :D I tried to encourage Dwain to participate but he wasn't ready. I expect next week he will play. Felt good to sit in the sun and enjoy the music.

By the time we came home I was light-headed so tried to relax in my recliner. Can't figure out the reason for the light-head. The temp was approximately 78, but there was a nice wind blowing. It was not uncomfortable. I had a bottle of water and YES I drank it. As I write, it is 7:45 pm and I'm still light-headed. Guess I can chalk it up to Fibromyalgia.

I have so enjoyed the Facebook Fibromyalgia site. The ladies and gentlemen have become a family. It's like having our own neighborhood. Lots of uplifting Valentine wishes today. I would encourage my followers to look into the Facebook site. The participants are a tremendous support to each other. There is also a discussion board that is well-used.

We are watching the Olympics. What an amazing experience for the athletes.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Kindness

Kindness is a flower always in season

I found this decorative plaque while in one of my favorite shopping stores, Mad Marys in Joseph, Oregon. I placed in our living room, which is where we spend most of our time while inside. Sometimes we, meaning everyone, forget to show kindness to our spouse. It is easy to snap or respond in an unkind manner. Our tone of voice does not always show kindness. Sometimes it is nice to have the reminder...

Not Much Going on Today

Don't have much to write today..I'm a little brain dead tonight. :(

Worked on taxes for most of the morning. After lunch, took an hour nap. Dwain had gone for a walk in the desert with his camera so it was nice and quiet. When I woke I had trouble with being light-headed. I sat in my recliner and read for about a half hour before starting dinner. Dwain returned with several beautiful photos, including a few with a great horned owl.

After dinner checked Facebook and now watching American Idol.

Pain in my back, neck and head continue to be my stand-out problems today along with Fibro Fog. Sharp cramps in my upper right leg as usual.

Tomorrow we are planning to go to Yuma Market. This involves alot of walking. Thankful there are places to rest. We will also pick up drinking water and propane.

Having trouble concentrating on writing so will close for the night.

Tuff Fibromyalgia Day

Today has been a tuff Fibromyalgia day. We drove into Yuma to pick up prescriptions and do laundry. We stopped at the Christian Service Center and registered. This enables us to receive our mail and registers us for emergencies. The road we travel from our parking spot in the desert to the highway is rutted from the recent rain and rough. Dwain drove slow but it was still jarring. Half way to town I needed pain medication. I haven't used one for a long time. It really knocked me for a loop. I've never felt like that after taking the medication. I'm sure it was from being tense that I could feel the relaxation.


We accomplished our errands, had lunch and returned home. Dwain helped me hang the laundry then I laid down. After 15 minutes, Seth called. It was wonderful to hear his voice. All's well in Chicago. They were expecting another snow storm. Dwain BBQ'd dinner.


I'm now sitting in my recliner. I have my warming throw on the back of the recliner. I've bunched it under my neck. My back and neck are receiving the warmth. I should turn it up as it is not relaxing my muscles as fast as I would like. Instead I think I will go to bed.

As I was about to save and publish this post, Dwain turned off the generator so I'm closing out this post Tuesday afternoon. :D

Attitude is Everything

"Your attitude will take you up or take you down. So the question is, what are you thinking?"


Casey Treat



If you have Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you know that your attitude is important. If you take the stance of poor me, you hurt more and you are depressed. You don't want your IBS to rear its ugly head either. Who wants to go there? Not I.


If you do not have a chronic disease and take the attitude of poor me you still get depressed.

Your attitude is everything. It's ok to have a pity party periodically, but don't go there daily or you will be in a pickle.

Watching the Superbowl and it's a great game so far.

What Happened?

Inside every sick person is a well person wondering what the hell happened. Anonymous


I think I posted this statement before. I ran acrossed it again and thought about it often today. I think Fibromyalgia sufferers do consider why did the good Lord pass this nasty disease to me? I've thought about God wouldn't give you anything you could not handle.

I feel I understand and am handling my Fibromyalgia.

I know that when my body says it can't continue, that I must at least sit but best to lay down. My body needs to rest.

If I continue to push myself, a flare is a given.

I know that I can't have more than one glass of wine or my pain increases the next day.

I know I can only walk or exercise for a short time or my pain increases or a flare takes over.

My IBS is under control unless stress is in my life. Anxiety...I'm still working on.

I'm doing well on my prescription medication. I was fortunate to have a doctor who put me on a good regimen.

I know that if I take my medications before 9 am I do fine. But if I take them after, my whole day is off. I hurt more.

I feel I'm under control, except if a flare arrives. I get a flare when I've overdone and pushed my body to do things that are now difficult. It's hard to remember you can't participate in life as you did before Fibromyalgia.

So I wonder "what the hell happened" EVERY day.

To Be Loved

Tw Love and be Loved is to feel the Sun on Both Sides

Author Unknown

February is the "love" month. Valentine's Day, chocolates and flowers.

Do you know why you love others....really love them?

What are the qualities they possess that bring you to them?

Do you know why others love you?

Do you know what qualities you possess that bring them to you?

We should take the time to think about the answers to these questions. We often fall in love then take for granted the relationship. If you love and are loved, you can feel the sun on both sides.

Blogspot won't let me place my own spacing. I hope you can read this ok

Movin' On Down The Road

Had a leisurely breakfast this morning then prepared the RV for travel. We moved south, about an hour down the road, to another BLM long term visitor's area (LTVA). The area is called Senator's Wash and is located behind the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds. It is dry camping but there are many amenities. Water, dump station, garbage, drinking water, propane, thrift shop, library, mail, and a gentlemen sells solar panels. We have access to the Army base to see a movie. The base also provides emergency medical care with ambulance. We can see for miles and look at the Chocolate Mountain Range. So quiet here.

As we were pulling into the LTVA we saw a couple we met two years ago, Harold and Judy.They were out for a walk. It was nice to see them. We found an available parking area next to the one we had two years ago. There are many more folks here than two years ago. We are only two RV's away from Harold and Judy. The area is very rocky. I could feel my body tense from the rugged roads. BLM grades them each year, but with the extra traffic, they are torn up.

After setting up the RV, we had lunch and I took a nap for an hour. Judy poked her head in to say hello for a minute. They were expecting company so could not stay long. We will have a good visit on Saturday.

Fixed chicken for dinner. It was good. Have been doing computer work this evening. Dwain has been playing his harmonica and I need to get away from it soon. The high pitched tones in the evening are shrill. One of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia is light and sound sensitivities. I have the most trouble with sounds in the afternoon and evenings. Seems to be when I'm more tired. The light bothers me anytime of day.

Tomorrow we will go to Yuma and do a little grocery shopping. Dwain wants to go to Home Depot and get the oil changed in the truck. We will probably have lunch at The Golden Corral, which is a buffet.

My Fibromyalgia has been doing ok today. Had a little trouble with the drive and the rough road, otherwise symptoms have been contained. :D

Time to do the evening dishes and get to bed.

Catching Up With Friends

On Tuesday we drove to Mesa, Arizona to visit with our former neighbors from Knappa. This is nearly a three hour drive. Two of the three rest areas were closed. We didn't stop to stretch so we were both a little stiff-legged by the time we arrived. Gary is struggling with congestive heart failure, diabetes and kidney problems. He is now on dialysis three times a week and will continue for the rest of his life. We had a great visit and were able to meet two of their friends. It was another three hour drive back to Quartzsite.

Wednesday we did a few chores before heading for Parker, Arizona. This was a 30 minute drive. We had lunch with our friend, Betty. We met Betty when she spent a summer in the same RV park in Wallowa. We hadn't seen her for three years, but we talk periodically on the phone. Betty suggested we eat at Paradise Cafe in Parker. The cafe was decorated in happy colors but not over done. We all enjoyed our lunch. But the best was conversation with Betty. After catching up for three hours, Betty headed back to Needles, California where she is staying this winter and we stopped for a few groceries. We plan to do big shopping on Friday but needed milk, etc.

When we returned home we did chores towards getting ready to move the RV to Senator's Wash tomorrow, which is 20 miles north of Yuma. It's about an hour drive south from Quartzsite. By the time we got back to Quartzsite this afternoon, I was exhausted. My body felt like it weighed 300 lbs. I sat for a bit then got dinner into the oven, but couldn't do more. I read while dinner cooked.

Our visits with friends is uplifting. Certainly worried about Gary's health, but such a joy to see our good friends.

Life

Life is about to get so much better...

When things get rough, it can feel like they'll never get easier.
Like difficulties are here to stay forever.
But hard times never last.
How could they, when people like you are working so hard to leave them behind?
Remember, good times always return - especially with hope to hurry them along.

I copied this from "A Moment For You" in an older Women's World magazine.

We can support one another and have a good time in the process. We need not suffer alone with today's technology and local support groups. We communicate through blogs, Internet sites, email, telephone. If we were our Grandmothers, we might have suffered alone. Time has been good to our generation.

We have hope that there will be a cure for Fibromyalgia. In the meantime, let's take care of each other.