Writing by jennifer on Saturday, 24 of May , 2008 at 11:42 pm
So much is going on right now. I haven’t had time to update lately. There’s so much to say and right now, I really don’t have the energy to share all of it. More for later, I suppose.
My mother is preparing to begin dialysis treatments. Her renal function has dropped to just 12 percent and it’s not looking good. She’ll be taking treatments at home, spending each night hooked up to the machine that will rid her body of toxins and keep her alive. It’s scary, but quite honestly, I do believe that this will help her feel better than she has in a very long time. She’s going to talk with people in Portland about the possibility of a transplant (her meeting with them is in June), but for now-dialysis is the plan.
We’re still awaiting the completion of our bathroom floor. I’ll be so happy to have it done and out of the way. As of now, we have a very non-descript bathroom decor as I don’t even know what pattern the floor will be. I cannot wait to see an end to this.
In other news, I joined Weight Watchers and it is going quite well. I lost 7.8 pounds during the first week. Of course, it won’t always be like that, but I just had a very long way to go. My father also joined. He lost 6.2 pounds his first week. I am quite certain that I’ve lost this week, but it won’t be as dramatic as the first. And, I’ve got a long way to go before my goal is met. Still, I feel better than I have in years. Not a bad start, if I must say so.
One other thing I love about being on Weight Watchers is how it’s improved my bartending skills (you weren’t expecting that, were you?). Since I’m counting points (it’s a WW thing…), I’m measuring EVERYTHING. I hadn’t been using a jigger when pouring drinks; I just ‘eyeballed it’. This change to my routine has led me to discover that I’ve seriously been shorting myself. When mixing bloody marys on ice with the full 1.5 oz vodka, I’m getting enough to feel ‘warm and fuzzy’. Warm and fuzzy enough to know when to call it a night.
Goodnight. 
Tags: Uncategorized
Writing by jennifer on Monday, 12 of May , 2008 at 9:48 am
Back in the office and feeling much better.
But my sinuses just started burning something fierce.
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Writing by jennifer on Saturday, 10 of May , 2008 at 7:14 pm
I’ve set myself down in front of the computer countless times these past few days and each time, I find myself struggling to compose coherent sentences. It’s not writer’s block or anything like that. I’ve got plenty to say, but I simply lack the brain-power to do it well.
So with that said, please accept my apologies if this is more rambling and less interesting than usual. Although, given the lack of substantitive posts in this blog as of late- this is really becoming the norm.
I am experiencing what I hope will be the beginning of the end for this cold bug. Things were looking especially bad yesterday, but today is not nearly as bad. However, I have been medicated since I first awoke this morning and have still had to take numerous naps during the day. (the drugs make me sleepy, too.) Still, I feel like I’m moving in the right direction and am hopeful that I’ll be over this in time to enjoy the splendid weather that is forecast for the coming week.
Another malady has taken power over me and I regret that the cure is not as easily attainable as that of the common cold. I’m talking about Wanderlust. Due to financial constraints, I have been tethered to my post here at home. I long to hit the open road, to take leisurely solitary walks amongst tall cedars and granite spires, to feel the warm desert breezes on my face (and grit between my teeth), and to mark new coordinates on my GPS for further exploration. And instead- here, I sit. It’s going to be a while before relief from this overwhelming force and I’ve got to ride this out. But it’s as real and as powerful as any longing I have ever experienced. I don’t know how long I can hold out.
And since I’m feeling so challenged to find the keystrokes required to explain this, I’ll simply leave you with these memories I have of some of the more remarkable places (both near and some far) that I’ve visited in recent years. For now, this will have to be enough.
John Day Painted Hills National Monument- near Mitchell, Oregon
Mono Lake- near Lee Vining, CA
Sunset on Mount Rainier- near Eatonville, WA
Sunset on Lake Tahoe- near Stateline, NV
Tags: health, lake tahoe, longing, nevada, oregon, photographs, photography, photos, road trips, scenic drives, tahoe, travel, wanderlust, washington state
