..
I created this graphic for
the Adoptions Team I belong to.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!
Well... this is the last
Journal for 2001...what I want to know IS....
where did the year go???? I know the
belief is that "the older you get the
faster they go" BUT THIS is
ridiculous!!!!!I began the year in the
USA, actually, on New Years Eve I was in
Florida and it was the coldest weather I've
EVER experienced there. I'm ending the year
back home in Hervey Bay, Australia,
SWELTERING and longing to be back in the cool
weather!!So much happened in
between...
On the personal front I
redecorated my entire home, all 11 rooms plus
entrance and hall all by myself except for
the installation of my new kitchen and the
painting of my 30 or so doors (and we all
know what a disaster THAT was!). That took
some months and as time passed the garden
became a jungle "overnight". I had
to pay people to come and cut back and do the
lawns. Got the two HUGE Gum trees removed
from the front garden, the roots were
reaching the foundations of the house. Plus
they'd be a danger in a storm. Then the pool
liner was replaced about March or May... I
think, and the first time I had time to get
in it was Boxing Day (26th December!).
Jason
moved back home..... I had endless meetings
with staff at Jared's school.On the world front what
sticks out most in my mind, like everyone
else is the September 11 tragedy. A disaster
the world will never forget. Then the United
States got a new President after a great deal
of hassle. We, here in Australia somehow
re-elected our boring, monotonous,
self-serving Mr Howard for another term in
office.
The year here has ended with
horrendous fires all over the State of New
South Wales. We have lost almost the total
area of the oldest National Park in the
country. Who knows how many of our native
animals perished. Many people lost their
homes and their possessions.All in all it has not
been a good start to the 3rd Millenium. I
pray that 2002 brings us all better days.
*********
Now, since my last
Journal entry 2 weeks ago we've had rain and
unbearable heat, more of the latter
unfortunately. It's been so very
uncomfortable... especially trying to get
everything ready for Christmas.Christmas Day was a
disappointment. Jared got up and didn't wake
anyone, so by the time I got up he'd opened
all his presents already and I missed out on
the ritual photo taking.
I guess the weather
took it's toll... I was very teary and had a
cry to myself, thinking Christmas Day was
going to turn out just like every other
day... nothing special.What topped it off
was... Jason told me he and Jared had been
invited to the beach to spend the day with
his ex girlfriend's sister and her family!
THAT really put the nail in the day!!
But by
the time they left I didn't care any more.
They didn't get back until 7:30pm and
EXPECTED dinner to be ready and waiting... IT
WASN'T!
I gave in... made dinner
(for Jared's sake) and we didn't eat until
about 9:30pm. Of course Jared told us Jason's
ex was with them all day. How he could spend
time with her after the trouble she's caused
him... I don't know. It wouldn't have been so
bad except that Mum and I have had to put up
with the moods etc since they broke up. I'm
not happy.
One fun thing DID come
out of Christmas though...Jared got his Dad to set
up the video camera so Santa could be caught
in the act "that is... if there REALLY
is a Santa Clause" He also came up with
the bright idea of putting a sleeping pill in
Santa's milk... so he'd still be there when
he got up..... we didn't allow THAT of course
*S*
Well, he got to watch
the film on Christmas Day... his little eyes
just about bugged out of his head when he saw
"Santa"... He said "O.K., I'm
convinced... there really is a Santa
Clause"
I don't think we better
carry on the ruse next year or he'll be the
only 10 year old in the world who
believes....
SANTA GOT CAUGHT!!!!
Prior to Christmas I had
a check up with the doctor about my hands and
feet and to see how the medication was
working. The Vioxx is working beautifully for
my hands but had no effect on my feet...
they're still killing me. I told him I was
getting an excruciatingly painful burning
sensation in my left leg if I spent any time
with my feet up. He said that was probably
coming from my back. During the course of the
appointment he asked if I'd made the
appointment with the Specialist in Brisbane
yet... because of Christmas.. I hadn't.
I
asked him to refresh my memory as to what the
specialist could do for me.He told me that he'd
check on how the prescribed medication he'd
given me was working and may even prescribe a
more POTENT drug to help ease the pain.
Well,
the word POTENT jarred my brain, like someone
sticking a knife in me! I've never been one
for taking drugs, potent or otherwise and I
was close to tears. In the meantime he gave
me a script for Panadol Forte and Panadine of
which I was supposed to take one of each
(together) EVERY morning.I left, sat in the car
and cried.
I DON'T want to be a pill popper
or the rest of my life. We used to have a
pantry shelf that was almost taken over with
medications when George and Dad were alive..
almost like a Chemist shop. BUT they were a
lot older than I am. The medications for
Jared and Mum have been allocated a smaller
shelf in another small cupboard now. I refuse
to add to them.As I headed home, what
the Dr. had said about my back stuck in my
mind....
I pulled in at my Bowen Masssage
Therapist to make an appointment and to let
him know what the Dr, had said. He took me
straight away and within half an hour I was
walking like I'd never had a problem in my
life!! I asked why he took me right away ...
he said because I looked such a mess as I
hobbled in.Unfortunately he's had
time off over Christmas/New Year and my next
appointment isn't until January 4th.
Stupid
me... feeling great for the first time in
ages spent the afternoon pressure cleaning
the paths! Of course... instead of giving my
feet a rest after him working on them, I
stuffed up all his good work <grrrrr>!
However, they are still better than they were
and I don't feel pressure at the front of my
ankle any more (this was making it difficult
to walk). It still hurts if I walk on uneven
ground, but after my next appointment I'll do
as I'm told!! If there's a slight chance I
won't have to take POTENT medication... I'll
do anything! By the way... I never got the
script for the Panadine Forte and Panadol
filled *S*
We had friend visit over
Christmas and the days after, the first time
in years. It was nice to relax in the pool
for a while, and share stories.Mum hasn't been at all
well, the heat and humidity is really getting
to her. She worries me... I dread something
happening to her. She had a blood test and it
appears she's on the verge of diabetes.. She
hasn't got it yet BUT it means a total change
of diet, not that she's ever been a junk food
junkie... hell this woman wouldn't even drink
a soft drink (soda) if it was the last drink
on earth.
ALSO ..,like my friend Faith
said in a message she sent recently, probably
not realizing how it fitted in exactly with
the way I was feeling... but it made me laugh
*S*DID YOU KNOW!
If you love something, set it free.
If it comes back, it will always be yours.
If it doesn't come back, it was never yours
to begin with.
But... if it just sits in your living room,
messes up your stuff,
eats your food,
uses your telephone,
takes your money
and doesn't appear to realize
that you actually set it free in the first
place,
you either married it
OR
GAVE BIRTH TO IT!!!! Need I say more???
I'm going to anyway
(L.O.L.)
Jared and his Dad have
both had lectures on how Mum and I are not
their personal SERVANTS...CLEAN UP YOUR OWN
MESSES!DON'T LEAVE THEM FOR
US...We'd like a life out of
the house once in a while too!*******Well, it's New Years
Eve, pouring rain, wind blowing but it only
lasted about an hour and a half... damn!!
At
least it's temporary relief from the searing
heat. As each day passes it's a day closer to
Autumn (Fall) which can't come soon enough
for us.Happy New Year to all my
friends, I love every last one of you and
wouldn't make it through the year without
you. If you haven't yet seen my Special New
Year greeting for all of you, you'll find it HERE
.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
HUMUNGOUS HUGS,
JAMIE
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