Is It Snoring OR Sleep Apnea...

Tomorrow I go in for a sleep study.  I stay all night, wired up for "sound" (pity the techs who must listen to me snore all night!).  I told my doctor about the many complaints from my family on how loud and disturbing my snoring is.  My husband says "I open and shut drawers in the dresser".

My oldest daughter has video taped me and recorded me on her cell phone.  I cannot tell you how embarrassed I was, but how hard I laughed!!  You'd think snoring THAT LOUD I would wake myself up.  Guess it is an indication of how soundly I sleep...

My doctor told me he was not as concerned with my snoring as he was about sleep apnea, when one actually stops breathing while they sleep.  I guess we will find out...I am concerned if I DO have sleep apnea, I would have to wear one of those masks while I sleep... I have claustrophobia, so the idea of some mask over my face creeps me out BIG TIME...

Guess I will find out.  I have toured the room and it is very nice.  So are the staff.  I am not suppose to take any naps or drink any caffeine during the day.  I go in at 9pm and am supposed to be ready for sleep by 10pm.  Generally, I have no problem going to sleep...but just in case, I may bring a good book...

Sad News In Learning of Poet Hugh Prathers Death...

Did you ever read, NOTES TO MYSELF by Hugh Prather?

If you were like me, and millions of others, it was one of my favorite books of poetry.  He was the first published poet who wrote "free form verse poetry" like I did.  He just wrote from his heart.  My copy of this book is well and often read...

I loved and related to his work.  He motivated me to organize my box of poetry into journals and began a habit of keeping journals for over forty years.

I read in the paper this morning he died in his hot tub after suffering a heart attack on November 15, at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He is survived by his wife Gayle Prather, their two sons and a son from a previous marriage.  He was 72. 

The article said he was a very humble and unassuming man, who was often quoted saying, "I'm no better than anyone else".  People often offered to pay him for his advice and he would humbly refuse.  If someone insisted, he would donate the money to charity.  He wrote several books, which I have seven.  He and his wife Gayle co-wrote a series of advice books for married couples.

Some  favorite quotes from "Notes"...are:

"My trouble is I analyze life
  instead of live it."

"Don't fight a fact, deal with it."

"Fame isn't fame. It only appears that way from a distance"

"Love unites the part with the whole.
Love unites me with the world and with
myself.  My life work could well be love.
Love is the universe complete.  Detachment
is the universe divided.  Detachment divides
me from myself and from others.  Love is
the vision that can see all as one and one
as all: "I and my father are one".  Is
there but one reality and one truth? Love
shows me where all minds and essences unite.

How do I get love?  I have it.  I must
drop my definitions of love.  Love is not
saying nice things to people or smiling or
doing good deeds.  Love is love.  Don't
strive for love, be it.

I love because I love."

Thank you Mr. Prather for all you have written and what you have meant in my life...

Home Again, Home Again...

We are home again.  We came home a day early.  My husband's daughter and son could not get off work today, so we decided to save the cost of another night in the hotel and another night of boarding for Izzy, and just come home.

I have to say, the beds at the Ayres Inns are INCREDIBLE!  Thanksgiving night I slept twelve hours straight and felt so relaxed and rested the next morning.  We inquired on the make of the bed and they have their own style beds.  I got the card and plan to investigate...

I wrote a more detailed account of our trip on my other blog, Mystical Journeys.

Izzy was so happy to see us and we were glad to see her little fuzzy, scruffy face too.

She is curled up with my husband watching TV, so I think I will sign off and join them.

I Am Thankful...

We leave early tomorrow morning for southern CALI to spend Thanksgiving at my oldest daughter's home. We normally spend it with my Mom and siblings, or we travel from my brother's house to my daughter's house to squeeze in two visits, or we stay in Nevada and celebrate with my husband's two sons and their families.this year, it is CALI's turn, but we are slowing down and only going to one house.

My oldest daughter will cook for my youngest daughter, newest grandson, her boyfriend, her husband and two boys, her husband's parents and us.  We will get to enjoy a small gathering and more time with the grand sons... We will  be back home on Sunday... Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, dear friends...

I am thankful

for my health,

happiness,

my husband,

my children,

my grand children.

I am thankful

for my Dad and Mom

my four brothers

and my sister.

I am thankful

for each and every one

of you

dear blogging buddies

who listen

who support

who share

laughter and tears.

without whom,

I would have

many lonely days.

I am thankful

to live

in these United States,

for our

many freedoms;

despite

all the challenges

our country

now face.

I am thankful

for the food

on the table,

the roof over

our heads...

for the Blessing

of spending time

showing love

with my family

and friends.

~dkb~

Learning From These Three Things...

" I've learned

that you can tell

a lot about a person

by the way

he/she handles

these three things:

a rainy day,

lost luggage

and tangled

Christmas Tree lights."

~Mayo Angelou~

I just LOVE this quote.  When I first read it, it reminded me how often we humans allow some external thing to obliterate our internal feelings of calm and peace.  Case in point the three things listed above.

I LOVE rainy days.  Rarely ever will the rain upset my day, normally, it lifts my spirits and I feel cozy or adventurous.

Lost luggage?  Fortunately for me, it has never happened to me...but I would like to think I would look upon it as an opportunity to challenge myself and find quick replacement outfits at a tag sale or second hand store.  Admittedly, I would panic if my jewelry or camera was misplaced, but generally I always carry these items on my person or packed in my carry on bag...

Tangled anything has always been an interesting challenge to me.  For some odd, unknown reason....maybe it is my love of puzzles... but I actually enjoy untangling anything.  One day, while shopping in a store, a young female clerk looked very frustrated as she had the task of untangling a glob of tangled mess of necklaces. 

I offered to help and her look of surprise tickled me.  I told her I had this quirky self entertainment in untangling things.  Her reply was, "Knock yourself out and thank you very much!"

What about you?  How do you respond to the above three things?

Simple Fun Times...

Last night my husband and I went to our friend's home.  We take turns going to each other's homes, or going out to dinner on two for one coupons.  She made a wonderful turkey, mashed potato, broccoli dinner.  Her husband, who is from Switzerland, made his signature shredded carrot salad with special dressing. Everything was delicious!

Afterward, they introduced us to a card name we had never played called SKIP BO.  The game is played with partners.  We decided on men against women.  It is multi tasking and strategy game because players must pay attention to the five cards in their own hand, their individual pile in front of them, which must be played to the last card in order to win, plus the four ascending or descending piles of cards in the middle of the table, in addition to your partners cards, as well as the two opponents cards.

It was so much fun! 

In between the game, we chatted, laughed, snacked and ate her home made, yummy, banana cake with sour cream frosting for dessert.  What a blessing to have such good friends to enjoy simple fun times and great company.

Mag 41 Almost 4 am...

Magpie Tales

Inspiration picture below:

Photo by Tess Kincaid

Lying paralysed

on the

wooden floor

staring

at the

clock...

 world

literally

upside

down...

Almost 4 am

Tears pooling

in ears

and

splashing

beneath

like

a

bucket

of

cold water...

Allowing

 time,

situations,

to slip

away

 dissolving

dignity...

ignoring

inner

wisdom

indicates

idle

indecision

indicating

immaturity

Clarity

comes

like

thundering hooves

on

cobblestone streets

not

distant

echos

of fading

intelligence

Don't...

please...

wait...

observe..

listen.. 

Learn

the

lesson.

~dkb~

Monkey Man: Mag 40

Willow has another challenge at

Magpie Tales

The picture below is the inspiration.

I surprised myself with the words

that poured forth

after being sucked into

this intriguing piece

of jewelry...

Photo by Tess Kincaid

mysterious monkey man

making me laugh

giving me chills

sweeping me

away

to

the

top

of

the

trees

wild with abandon

as your

cool sweat

whispers at my neck

like

misshapen rare pearls

head back

breasts to the sky

eyes slit with passion

burning

like molten gold

Embed yourself

within my soul

keep me

use me

lock me

in

your

chest

of

jewels

~dkb~

(Where'd that come from?)

Battles...

to lose this poundage

which hugs my core

to make my clothes

fit looser on my body

so grunts and groans

STOP

pouring from my mouth

to eliminate all

the clutter

to know the peace

in simplicity.

to accept what is

to allow

possibilities

to focus

on the now

and STOP

worrying

about the future

to enjoy

to savor

the simple things

to STOP

concentrating

on the age spots

on my hands

and find

something worthwhile

to do with them

to love

with all the love

in me

yet

still keep

some for me

to take

each day

as it comes

and do

my best

to make it better...

~dkb~

In Search Of A Dream...

Yesterday morning

My daughter and I

found a beautiful

manufactured home

for $59,000

built in 2005

3 bedrooms, 2 bath

1225 square feet

with an incredible view

of the valley

in Calimesa.

I left two messages

for the Realtor

and she finally

called back late last night

to tell me

the park rent 

was $425 a month

plus an average

of $200 per month

for utilities.

I should have known 

it was too good

to be true...

If the price is low,

the HOA or space rent

is high.

For now,

we will stay

where we are

and keep searching...

I've noticed

a huge change

in my husband's mood.

I complimented him

on how much more

relaxed he is.

He told me,

"I feel a lot less stress

knowing 

I don't have to

return to work

when we get home."

~dkb~

Learning To Slow Down...

On our drive out from Nevada, my husband normally tries to beat his last land speed record in seeing how quickly we can arrive at our destination.  Pity me if I need to use the restroom.  When he is on a mission to get somewhere, stopping, is not on his agenda....

He started our trip in the fast line with a determined look on his face.... I reminded him,

"Remember honey, you are retired now, we have all the time in the world.  We don't have to rush anymore".

He looked over at me and smiled, "Yeah, I need to learn how to slow down.''

Today is our third day in California... Our schedule has been jam packed, me going one direction and my husband going another.  Our challenge is to visit with as many of our large family as possible within a one week period. Today I went with Mom to her church group which helps young Mothers, to the nursing home for Dad's 90th birthday celebration given by the nursing home, then back to her house to wait for my husband, who had gone to Riverside to meet one of his friends for breakfast and then have lunch with his youngest son.

We barely had time to change clothes before piling in the car to meet the rest of our family at the nursing home to celebrate Dad's 90th birthday. Everyone made it except one of my brothers who was delayed on the freeway. The party was a big success and Dad was ready for bed when we all kissed him good-bye.  Afterward, we caravaned to my second oldest brother's home in Covina Hills for a delicious spaghetti dinner.  We got back to Mom's around midnight...

Tomorrow he will return to Riverside to see his daughter, after he drops me off at 7:30 am in Claremont to walk and spend time with my sister.  Later my sister will drop me back off at Mom's where I will meet up with my husband, pack up and we will drive to Beaumont to stay with my oldest daughter and grandsons.  My daughter's husband is away in Colorado on a hunting trip.

My youngest daughter, her husband and baby Jacob will also arrive Saturday and we will all spend the night at my oldest daughters. Sunday we celebrate my second youngest grandson's birthday.  Monday and Tuesday is whatever comes up and we return to Nevada on Wednesday...

Maybe we can work on the slowing down part on our drive back home...

Keeping It Light...

"Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need--a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink, for thirst is a dangerous thing."

~Jerome Klapka Jerome~

Since his retirement, my husband is doing his best to relax and I have been cheer leading with positivity, but both of us are two peas of the same pod, we both cannot "lighten up" until all our T's are crossed and our I's have dots... 

Gathering all our supplies and safety nets to supply our journey into the uncharted seas of retirement has been weathering both of us.  We have another full day tomorrow and then we leave for California on Wednesday.

We had a wonderful talk this morning and the above poem spoke to me.  It is the direction we wish to sail...