Marinol...

It looks as though my step-dad has been the final lap with medical care. He went to see his heart doctor today and was told that they have done all they can do for him...in every capacity. He is losing weight and so very frail, not to mention in pain 24/7. They have tried many pain meds, but each one comes with its own little bag of ugly. Most cause severe dementia, even violent behaviour. It was recently recommended that he try Marinol, which is synthetic THC. I was at first in favor of this, having come through the late 60's and early 70's in a pretty active fashion. I assumed that the Marinol would affect him like Marijuana...alleviating his pain, relaxing him, and increasing his appetite (which is almost non-existent). I went to a site and read a bit about Marinol and now I'm not so sure. Manufactured THC is about 98% pure (the Cannabis plant is between 2% and 10%). The unfortunate result is that there are terrible and severe side effects that don't exist in the natural form of this product. One of the worst that I read about is hallucinations and extreme fear and paranoia...he has been down that road with the meds they have already tried. Please pray for some resolution to the pain situation for him.

Be Well!

Peace be still...

It feels like autumn today. The sky is overcast and the temperature is only 80 degrees. I came home from work a bit ago and turned the AC up to almost 85, then opened the window by my desk. I am sitting here listening to the wind blow gently through tree tops and pampas grass. The only other noise is the clicking of my keyboard and the occasional buzz of locusts. I would not commit the sacrilege of inflicting the foul blast of television noise on this perfect afternoon! Even a dogs bark would seem a huge transgression. I love these times when the world is at peace...at least my corner of it. It is almost more restorative than sleep.

Be Well!

Poles...mud...volleyball...and other acts of insanity...

An entire week has passed since my last post...it has flown so quickly that I didn't even realize it until I sat down to do this one! The past week was not a good one, Shane was very sick for most of it (scary sick). No one in our family ever gets normal illnesses...we always have weird stuff:

1. Bacterial Lung Infection(Chas)
2. Heart Arrhythmia brought on by reaction to Seldane(Shane)
3. Cracked Tailbone(Chas)
4. Viral Pharyngitis(Shane)
5. Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum(Shane)

...and that's just the stuff that readily comes to mind. Shane's recent bout with number 4 on the list has finally wound down and he is feeling much better! I hope everyone stays healthy and well for a while!

Work is erratic...this time of the month is strange. Water bills and related issues have dwindled down until the new bills go out on Friday, but the community at large seems to be in a gripy mode. We have been getting calls on all sorts of petty complaints from water in a ditch...to..."my neighbors grass is too high...I don't want them to know that I"M the one who called though!" Although a lady called this morning and her complaint was extremely valid...she had a snake in her house and wanted compliance to come and remove it (which they did post haste)!

I think that being confined to the indoors due to the extreme heat that we have had for a while has caused some people to become bored to the point of ridiculosity. A rumor started last week that one of the "Gentleman's Clubs" (I have never understood where this name came from...it seems to me that "Slimeball Club" would be a more apt description) from a neighboring city is opening an establishment in our little village. Although this rumor is most decidedly NOT true...it is growing rapidly. (A sure sign of boredom). This morning someone noted that a truck load of "poles" had been spotted in town...(for dancers assumably)...good grief Charlie Brown! We had a bit of fun with the whole thing at that point...noting that paraphernalia for the mud wrestling pit would be delivered this afternoon...as well as the naked volleyball fencing. It wouldn't surprise me to see an uprising of citizen concern over this non-existent enterprise at Council tomorrow night!


Be Well!

Another one bites the dust...

Sunday evening...the weekend comes to a close and I'm saddened at the realization that not only is the weekend almost over...but summer is on the verge of bidding us adieu as well. We went for a stroll along the riverfront this afternoon, to discover the home of Wichita's Troll. As we walked along, looking out over glimmering water, the mid-day sun shone hot on our flesh...but in the breeze...was the inescapable whisper of autumn. It wasn't a chill, it wasn't even cool...but it was there. That tentative feel of seasonal indecision. That time of year when the elements are in flux, transitioning from Summer to Fall...not having quite decided just when the finale will be. Very soon now the days will become noticeably shorter...and though the temperature changes will happen gradually...a few degrees each week...the lush, green trees and foliage around us will give notice by donning their fall wardrobe in magnificent hues. The view from my window will change from green to yellow, brown, gold, rust, flaming red, and everything in between....eventually ending in a soft white blanket some morning...as nature moves on...into winter. I'm not ready yet...I love the heat, sunshine, birds, trees, and flowers of Summer! I love the early morning smell of fresh air and the feel of soft, supple, green grass under my bare feet. I love the freedom of shorts, tank tops and flip flops. I love fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, strawberries and ice cream. I love morning walks and evening convertible rides with the top down and the warm wind in my face. And so I watch and wait...knowing that the changing of the guard is unavoidable...and already I am counting the days until Spring next graces us with her lovely presence!

To my husband…

In the even time,
When stars draw near…
I count it good
To be right here.

This is where
I want to be…
Me with you
And you with me!

Even though
We sometimes see…
The things of life
Quite differently.

Just so you know
In case you ponder…
I hold your love
In awe and wonder.

I’m so amazed
You chose to be
So in love…
With one like me.

My heart is yours
And yours is mine…
Each the other’s
For all time!

Copyright©2007 by VSchoonover. All rights reserved.

Within my heart...

To My Kids...

My makeup’s way too heavy,
I’m dressed up like a tart…
As you gaze upon the outside,
Look deep within my heart.

My being isn’t flat and plain,
I’m quirky, strange and weird…
I’m not an average, boring mom,
My brain is ‘multi-tiered’.

Fun and play
Are part of me.
What you get…
Is what you see.

I love to swing and slide and bounce,
And play in tent and sand,
But when we cross life's busy streets…
I always take your hand.

I never made you clean your plate,
Or eat what you disdained…
But I’ve cried and prayed with all my heart…
Whenever you’ve had pain.

Though my “hooker heels”
…create a spark…
And my too blonde hair
…glows in the dark…

I’ve done my best,
I’ve always tried,
To be right there…
Close by your side.

When the day
Comes to a close…
Don’t dwell upon
My funny clothes.

Remember though,
For all time…
To be your Mom…
Is joy sublime!

Copyright©2007 by VSchoonover. All rights reserved.

The view from the window...

Towels on the clothesline across the street flutter softly in the early morning breeze. I watch them, thinking that they must smell fresh, and fabulous...and feel stiff and hard...thank God for dryers and dryer sheets. The man across the way prunes his meticulous shrubs with a weed eater...held high and sideways...I wonder why he doesn't use shears. The sprinkler next door spits a ten foot stream of moisture on the lawn as it turns in a jerky motion to the right...then clicks softly and rapidly back to the left...only to repeat the regurgitation of H2O again...and again. 6401 left their garage door open all night...I wonder if anyone pillaged it while they slept. Old Glory waves proudly in the sunshine of the garden at 6405...though it is tattered and faded and in need of replacement...one would think that such patriotic people would know better. The man across the way puts the weed eater in the shed...and emerges with a plastic bag and gloves and proceeds to rid the lawn of little gifts left by the dog two doors down. Meanwhile...I close my eyes and listen to the host of the weather channel droning on, from the living room, about the heat advisory for this afternoon...and the gentle whoosh, whoosh of the dishwasher from the kitchen. The freshly vacuumed carpet is soft under my feet and a smile of satisfaction steals across my lips. I reach for the glass of soda on my desk...reveling in the taste and feel of the dark, cool, bubbly liquid and wonder why everyone doesn't drink Diet Coke in the morning. This particular moment in time...is good...I encase it in my heart and mind...for remembrance later...when the stress and turmoil that is life...will undoubtedly overpower me.

Be Well.

Bible study...

It's ten o'clock...we just got back from attending a Bible study with one of the cell groups from Glenville. It was a nice evening, interesting study, very friendly people. The highlight of the evening for me was an old Pentacostal paster (retired), who is now part of this Baptist group! He was very cool! More later...that big ole, soft bed is calling my name!

Be Well!