Saturday, August 08, 2009

Many things...

Today is my son's 33rd birthday. He has worked every single day since July 3, so we were not able to get together today. Somehow this feels like a sad thing today, but I know that is ridiculous. Three years ago, he was on a ship headed for Iraq on this date. The year after, he was just completing his tour of Iraq and was in Kuwait. So, he is now 3 miles away, safe and sound in his own home.... too tired to come over to mom's for dinner after having worked all day.

I had another migraine today and reluctantly took migraine medication. It is always my last resort because it makes me so ill. So, I spent most of the afternoon in bed, and I think that is just depressing. My friend called this afternoon and asked me to go to church with her, and I had to decline which was sad. Her husband is out of town and I am sure she could have used another adult to help her with her baby. I would have loved to.

About the migraines? I think I am going to have to resort to doing something my doctor suggested. DAMMIT! He told me years ago to knock off the caffeine. I didn't think my caffeine consumption was that great, but I think I am going to have to try quitting it altogether. I love, love, love Diet Pepsi, and I know this love affair (like all others I have known) must end.

I went to a wonderful meeting this morning, followed by group conscience, and then a long, standing outside, conversation with my group's GSR. He goes a long way in restoring my faith in the survivability of AA.

Random gratitude: I am so grateful I have no plans to fly anywhere, especially down the Hudson River. I am so grateful that somehow I never killed anyone with my car when I was drinking and driving. I am grateful for ceiling fans and the sounds of cool breezes blowing through the trees. I am grateful my former son-in-law decided not to go into debt to take advantage of "cash for clunkers" and instead sold his old car for less than he could have gotten for it, and got a car he could afford.

I am also grateful for a floor fan. I set it up in my bedroom this afternoon. I am hopeful the noise will drown out the noise of my new neighbors who like to stay outside in their hot tub most of the night on weekends. They are not loud, but I am such a light sleeper almost any sound will wake me, and I find their conversations very disruptive in the night. (I find sleeping with central AC on unpleasant unless it is brutally hot, which thankfully it isn't.)

Unintended consequences: One neighbor who has lived here since these houses were built in 1989 decided to sell her house. She decided on a reasonable selling price, against the advice of her realtor. She had two offers and sold the house on the first day it was on the market - at the asking price. The next week, my friend and neighbor put her house up for sale. She got her asking price - it took less than 2 weeks. Now I have new neighbors, and there are "for sale" signs everywhere. I am encouraged that our homes have actually gained in value in this market, but I am not thrilled with having new neighbors.

And it is funny... we increasingly have a bimodal demographic socio-economically. The new neighbors have Mercedes, Lexus, and BMWs. The old neighbors have big old pick up trucks and Toyotas and Fords.

I am WAY OFF topic here - whatever the topic may have been. I am slightly addled from the migraine, the medication, and the scrambled brain that results from them. But I am still grateful for God's infinite Grace and Mercy.

9 comments:

Mike Golch said...

The love affair does not have to end.Pepsi,Coke make cafeene free Diet sodas as well.All the pleasure and none of the guilt.

Ed G. said...

Good luck with your health issues - personally, I hate dealing with them...

I bet you have some things to learn from your new neighbors - I hope your lessons are easy and pleasant...

Blessings and aloha...

dAAve said...

The topic is whatever you decide to write about.
Take care of that migraine.

Scott W said...

White noise machines are cheap and very effective in blocking outside noises.

Isn't there a caffeine free Diet Pepsi? You may have to switch to Coke products if not.

Lou said...

It is awful to not know when a migraine will strike. That makes it a condition that is very hard to deal with.

For awhile, a few years ago, I was passing out. I tried keeping a log, but there was no pattern. I had many tests, and it was very frustrating and disruptive to my life.
Finally, in desperation, I made some significant life style changes, and the episodes went away.

I hope giving up the Pepsi lessons the frequency of the episodes.

Pammie said...

damn, I'm sorry about the head pain darlin'.
We can't hear anything outside because of A/C, fans, air filter machines, and our own snoring.
Nothing wakes me up and that's kind of scarey.
I wonder where everyone is moving to?

Trailboss said...

New neighbors, what are neighbors? I haven't had any in so long I have forgotten what it like, and that is a good thing. I am sorry for the migraines. I know how that is. Like Lou, I had them and tried to find a pattern but never did. I finally divorced my husband and moved on w/my lift and they slowly went away. The ten plus years of having them were horrible though. I hear women have migraines more often than men. **sigh**

Tall Kay said...

Willing to go to any length...but not the Diet Pepsi's. I would have to be in lots and lots of pain to give up the Diet Pepsi's. Hope you're feeling better.

Syd said...

I went to Pepsi Zero. And decaf coffee. It helped with a lot of things--no headaches (or minimal), no heart palpatations. I use ear plugs at night to keep out the sounds of the frogs and insects.