Bump

Crazy thing - fell asleep on the couch and in a disoriented state, I got up to go back upstairs and knocked my head on the door, and within seconds, I had a golfball sized bump on my forehead. Had to wake up Roger and we iced my forehead for about an hour. Just when the itching subsided with the poison ivy, then this!!! Anyway, by the morning, swelling had gone down and the bump was hardly noticeable.

We had a nice Monday. Melanie and Ivan came over for lunch. It's still warm enough to eat on the porch, but I am afraid that those days are dwindling! Edward stopped over and met his grandson Hugo who is a little younger than Alan. They became instant friends, because Hugo brought over a guitar for Alan to play with. Edward (remember, he's the chef), is ready for us to cook together again. He enticed me with onion soup this time and some other dessert I can't pronouce, but Melanie said was really good - but you use a blow torch to make it. I'm not sure if I am ready for that!

Later, Roger came home from work early and I headed out for a little quiet time. Brought my guitar and ended up at a park and played for a long time....THEN - and remind me to never do this again - I had the stupd idea of eating McDonalds....It's been a very long time since I ate fast food like this - I am still suffering while I write this. The fries were good, but the burger was cold and tasteless....I felt sick almost instantly....Then a quick stop at Barnes and Noble and then home in time to see Alan before bed.....

I will treasure today for a long time

I will treasure today for a long time. Suzanne, Edgar, Alan and I took a peaceful hike though magic meadow. As it’s pretty late in the season, the tall meadow grass is overgrown with dried wildflowers, berry-sticks and ivy, about waist high. But a path leads the way to the site of the last bon fire. Suzanne pointed out that you could also see wax melted on the rocks that leads the way to last month’s drum circle.

Alan kept thinking we were heading for the “mighty Hudson River”, and would stop periodically when he discovered a stone he thought would be good to throw. He carried a fist-sized rock for most of the way back, and we pretended that the Hudson was a dry creek with a slight trickle (puddle). Sure enough, he made a pretty big splash.

Then we headed for Mount Tremper to visit the Zen Mountain Monastery. When Suzanne originally chose this as a destination, she wasn’t aware that a memorial was erected in honor of our cousin there. It’s been about 10-15 years since my last visit, but I found it immediately. It’s a short hike up a secluded mountainside. A wooden stake with Richard’s name is there among about 25 others in an outdoor Buddhist Temple. We spent about an hour creating rock formations by his memorial. Alan helped too. I felt very connected here, it is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been.

Later, our group split up – Alan and I headed home for a little while so that Edgar and Suzanne could continue their visit to Woodstock. I quickly put together a meal for us which we later enjoyed outside on the porch - ravioli and a salad (and of course birthday cake!)

Happy Birthday Suzanne! Love you!

October or July?

Hot! Good thing I didn't pack away the summer clothes yet. Mom and Dad, I think it was hotter here than in Arizona? 86 degrees! I have a little sunburn from sitting out too long at the farmers market. It was great though - Jules and Rick were the featured musicians today and I really enjoy their music. Too hot to nap, Alan had an early night. My sister Suzanne is coming up tomorrow and there is a Mum festival at the park....

Michy's Got her Groove Back

I felt great today - even with the poison ivy. Deserted Saugerties for nearby Woodstock - needed to get out of town for a little while, even if it's just a few miles away. Spent sometime with Alan at the Andy Lee playground and tried out the Woodstock Library. I guess I needed a change of scenery....Had another run in with "the Gooch" (two bagel day!) He's driving a charter bus these days. He introduced me to the entire library staff. I still think he's working undercover though. (He's a private investigator as well) He told me once that he has a whole closet filled with service delivery clothes. I believe it.

Alan had a great nap, and I practiced some new Raffi songs on the guitar. Then, we took a pleasant afternoon walk around the village and met up with some neighbors for a quick porch visit. All in all, a great day.

Hope to catch up with some Ulster Mommies next week. What's everyone's plan for Monday??

Update - ivy and more

As my poison ivy slowly heals, i have totally lost track of time. They tell me it's October already. We're just scratching the surface of the fall folliage, and the only thing changing colors in my self-absorbed life are the various rash hues on my arms, legs (and other parts). Dark red to pail pink. I am trying really hard to not be so hyperfocused on my condition. I apologize in advance if you were one of the lucky recipients who I felt the need to show my battle wounds to - especially in its early stages. I am over the hump, and feel about 75% better, but still have isolated itchy spots that get vigorously sprayed. With all of this stress, I've let my diet go and my exercise has been shotty. Chocolate seems to help alleviate itchiness when eaten in large quantities. I need to get back into my routine - for everyone's sake.

In other news: My sister Suzanne is turning 35 next week. She's coming up on Sunday with my aunt and uncle. She wants to visit the Zen Mountain Monostary...I also received an e-mail from cousin Monica about a girls weekend in November. That sounds fun! And Roger lost 10 pounds on his new medically supervised diet with Northern Dutchess Hospital. Alan had a growth spurt this week, and looks taller - his legs are very long, and he is talking in more complete sentences. He continues to love music and strums the guitar with me. Playing the guitar has been such a great outlet for me. I am really loving it!

Well, that's all for now!

Day 3 Poison Ivy

Productive day despite having this awful condition. Today I found if I just kept extra extra busy, it helped distract me from itching. Compared to yesterday, I am feeling a little bit better. I did have several non-itchy moments, but my skin looks so awful! Can't wait for all of this to be over! Roger just went to the store to get me more poison ivy spray - seems to work the best out of all of the things I have tried.

Other than being so self absorbed with all of this, I did have a good day. Went for a long walk with Alan this morning around the village, took him for a grilled cheese sandwich and built a giant castle with multicolored blocks. I also completed some tasks on the computer, etc. With being so focused on my skin the past two days, the house was a mess, but tonight I was able to get everything back in order and Roger was nice enough to vacuum up the trail of baking soda in the bedroom. I made a healthy dinner (Roger has lost 10 pounds), and I was careful with the pile of laundry - not sure which clothes were explosed to the poison ivy.

I am hoping to be back into a routine tomorrow. I missed the gym for two days now, and have been eating more, though today I didn't have any chocolate! (only because I ate all that was in the house!)

Hope you are all doing well and thanks for reading this self-absorbed account of my day....

Poison Ivy 3AM

Day 2 of a really bad case of poison ivy. My whole body feels itchy and I can't sleep. I thought that typing on this computer would be a great distraction from not scratching, but I find myself pausing after every 3rd word to itch either my arm, leg, etc. I can't take a Benedryl for another hour. That seems to help a little, but tonight it's affect diminished by an hour, leaving me counting the minutes until my next dosage. I made two urgent visits to the pharmacy today and spent a fortune on various creams, medicated pads, sprays, antihistamines, etc, but nothing seems to work. (bad word should be inserted here!) Natural "home remedies" like baking soda only work a little, and a trail of white powder on the floor, bed, couch, etc mark where I have been. I even placed a bananna peal on an infected area, wasting a perfectly good piece of fruit. By 4pm this afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore, and went to the "doc in a box" and they prescribed me prednizone. Hopefully this will speed up the healing process. I never did like mums.