PHYLLIS....
...so  far, lucky, no cane inside the home as my MS and body can change in the flicker of an eyelid, when at its worst I can grab hold of things as I slouch my body around from room to room, at most times I can get myself around....Falls I know, will now be a part of me.....I am aware of a connection when I tilt my neck forwards, a nerve connection that triggers a movement in the top of my right leg, so I need to be very aware of that happening...it was doing that the time I washed my hair over the bath that I had a blackout and went down....

Well my dance with the shovel and snow blower are done for the time being...went into town and picked up milk  and coming out of the store I slipped. I didn't go down as I caught myself and a passing fellow remarked to me "Fancy moves there lady"

I am home to stay now as I need to get things done before tomorrow..
Jackie good job you didn't hurt yourself.

Hal, I would gladly give up these dates with the two winter time fellas.
Enjoy your day.everyone.

AMY....
...best to nip these chain reactions in the bud...when one takes a fall, all fall down in succession...or in your case Amy.... a
" fancy mover..."

Good morning, Joan, and all the other morning friends.  Thanks for breakfast this morning.

I didn't get in here over the week end.  I was out early on Sat. morning to go to an Amish Market up in Shrewsbury, Pa. My son took me and after shopping, we went to another nice gift shop/produce market/ and café and had lunch in the café.   Then, Sunday, I went out to lunch with some long-time friends.  So, I had a busy week end.  Some days, I don't do anything, and then several things come all at the same time. I was tired, but it was a good tired, and I did get some little gifts and some goodies at the Amish Market.

We had a lot of rain over night, but the sun is shining this morning.  They are calling for colder temperatures at the end of the week, and a little bit of  that "dreaded" word. LOL

Jackie, I am sorry that you had a fall, but, glad  you didn't hurt yourself too bad.  I have trouble walking and am always so afraid I will fall. I have to really watch where I am going.  I, too, tend to hit my toe sometimes, as I don't always remember to "pick up my feet".  I  try to be very cautious about that.

Nothing much going on today.  I need to get myself moving along.  Hope everyone will have a good day.

Joy

Hi everyone on another overcast morning after a night of rain.  We will only get to 59 degrees today and late tonight and into the early morning hours we have 100% chance of more rain.  The rain is welcome as we are in a drought here in South Carolina.  Pat did go to church with me yesterday and then we ate lunch out.  The housekeeper had the flu last week and missed on Friday but Pat talked with her last evening and she will be here this morning.  I plan on attending my Monday noon meeting and I don't know what else we may do today.  We need to go to COSTCO for some major restocking but not sure it will be this afternoon.

Gloria, actually your emails are stored on the Gmail site and not on your computer or phone unless you save them to a folder and then, I believe it is only a link as you can mark a message to multiple folders if you want.  When I move a message, once read, to a folder or archive it if it already has a label assigned, it does not appear again in my inbox.  The deleted messages are only retained for a 30 day period.  I have found that as I have used Gmail over the years they keep increasing the amount of storage I have available for saving my emails on their server.  Currently I have used only 42% of my available storage of 19 GBs.  I hope this makes sense. Your description of the Yankee Swap is the way I have experienced the gift exchange although we usually limited it to 3 swaps and then a gift was retired.

Don, glad you were able to play Santa at the mall again.  That was a long shift.  Did you get a break at least?

JaneS, it sounds like you home is very festive, especially the outside.  Last year I bought a nice Christmas wreath for our front door and I put it out right after Thanksgiving this year.  That is the extent of our outside decorating. It worries me to see that you have been climbing on ladders.

deAngel, you are such a social butterfly with all of those parties to attend.  I hope you enjoy each one.  Mexican Train is a fun and easy game.  We used to play it a lot with two other couples where we moved from.  We haven't established any social ties here as Pat hasn't' been up to entertaining. Our socializing is usually during the day and with our church friends.  Your rehab experience sounds like prison--dreadful. 

June, sure hope today finds you "liking yourself" again.  We still love you.  Hope you had a better night last night. 

Jackie, I always shudder when any of our folks here report a fall.  Glad you were not hurt anymore than you were with the extra aches. 

Phyllis, I find I prefer snow now on the television newscasts.  Snow is not something we have to worry about here in the South as it is a rare occurrence and doesn't stay on the ground very long. 

Hal, wouldn't you like to have a spray can that generates a large fee with each spurt?  I have had many friends who have had that procedure. 

We have a white world this morning but the sun is shining so I don't know how long the snow will last.  We are just under 40 degrees.

I haven't been up long enough to make a decision as to what I'll do today.  My Christmas decorations are downstairs and I hesitate to go down there while Tom is working down there; he does a lot of phone work.

Jackie, I'm sorry to hear you fell and I'm glad no broken bones or bruises.  Amy, it's good that you are nimble enough to keep from falling.  I marvel yet at the fact I did not break anything when I fell in September.  I walk very cautiously.

Mary Ann

Hal I only had one break; that was at 3 o'clock, four hours after I started. It was for one hour which gave me time to eat and relax and get ready for another three hours.

Now I have to get suited up again for a photo shoot and interview for our church newspaper. They are coming to me so at least I don't have to go out.

My housekeepers took extra long today--they did extra jobs that they only do occasionally.  I stayed out of their way and away from the computer.  I read all the posts and now it's time for my nebulizer treatment.

A new day, a fresh start in life. I have been downstairs and got an iodine treatment of my sore. I learned that if the scab were removed, my leg would never heal. With my PAD, the scab is essential. So I learned something new. I know you are all falling over in amazement at my acuity. 

Speaking of falling, I am using my cart ALL of the time now. If it is just going from one chair to another, I must have that cart. Just this morning I carted myself into the kitchen. Opened my pantry sliding door, and started to fall over backwards.....no warning. Fortunately I could grab the open door. Cart was to the side of me, so of no help. Gosh, how we have to keep learning !!

We are having another cool day in Stanton. 66 degrees . Right now the sun is shining, but it is supposed to cloud up now and again. No rain in sight.

Today is a free day for me. There are programs to attend, but I am content to stay here with all of you. I will go down for lunch though.

Amy, I would love to be dancing in the snow with you. Don't ever lose that dear !

Larry, Every day is a new chance to Live And I intend to take advantage of what is given. Thanks for your message.

I have a bunch of Thank You cards to acknowledge via computer, so off I go to do so.

June--Obviously your wound is the type that needs a scab.  Please, please be super careful--we don't want you falling.  Do you get dizzy or just lose your balance?  Enjoy your lunch.

Larry, don't worry about my "ladders".  The highest I climbed was a 2 step kitchen stool.  My ceilings are low and that's all I need to change light bulbs, get things off shelves or change out my seasonal flags.  I don't stretch or reach when I'm up and there's always something solid to hold onto.

I went to lunch with my former PA House office friends today.  We always laugh a lot and we did that today.  It's good to stay in touch with friends.

Back to the candy making.  Enough goofing off!

Bis, I just took another trip downstairs to the Clinic as I noticed my leg wound was slowing oozing. The Nurse said "well at least now we know what is going on. " I asked if that was good news, and she said "Not necessarily", but we should continue with the daily iodine. I wasn't dizzy at all Bis, when I started to fall this morning, I just started to go over backwards, and luckily grabbed the door, and all was stable again. Readers are going to get tired of my complaints so I will try to "straighten up, and fly right !"

Jackie.  Now do you think that there are a lot more people now coming down with MS. Maybe when younger we just never thought or saw people with it. I have known many now in past 10 years.  I went to a meeting couple years ago as I have a close friend who has it and I wanted to learn a little more.  Was amazed how many were at that meeting and it is not a town with more that 115 thousand all together.  Ages there with it from age 12 up.  It is a much larger group now.
Still cold here but stop snowing. Will dress and go out for awhile. Need some exercise.  Will have to be indoors.

June, I had an incident earlier this year when I straightened up and I guess I straightened up too much because I suddenly found myself going backward at a rather rapid rate and I could not stop.  I backed up to the davenport where I could sit down.  A couple feet further and I would have been on the floor.  I could not stop so I am fortunate the davenport was where it was. 

Mary Ann

To all who seem to be falling, including myself....My late father would always tell me,... Jacqueline, " expect the unexpected..." ( he always called me Jacqueline...)....Ah ha, yes, now I understand....not that I shall be expecting to fall, but be prepared for one....

JEANNE P...
...cant really answer your question as I never came across many who had it when I was young apart from one female cousin who was in a wheelchair in her 20s....but I am sure meeting many with MS now....But I have to say, I am meeting a few who were diagnosed in their 50s and 60s like myself...so maybe it is not just a young thing anymore...

JUNEDRABEK...
...you are not complaining, you are just stating a fact....

Janie--Glad you are extra careful when using a ladder.  Nice that you could get away from candy making for a bit and lunch with your friends.

June--You aren't complaining.  We want to know what's happening with you.

JeanneP--I don't know that statistics about if more have MS these days or if they are doing a better job of diagnosis.  I know several who have it.   My 74 y/o friend in North Carolina was diagnosed when she was 20.  She's a nurse and had to quit working when she was 30.  She has to wear braces on her legs.  That doesn't slow her down much.  Just this past summer she painted their 2 story house by herself--climbing the ladder etc.  Her husband was no help--he has Alzheimers.

Mary Ann--You were very lucky the davenport was right behind you.

Vanilla-Jackie--That was a good saying your father had.

It's very quiet here in the SS.  Must be folks are busy doing other things.  I am going to go watch the news.

I've been involved in chocolate except for the time I went to pick up TLH and she was here with me.  And I'm going back to the chocolate now. 

Mary Ann, what a lucky thing that your davenport was there to break your fall. It is a scary feeling when one starts to topple over, and with frequency at that.

Vanilla, thank you for your message, you are kind. And I am so happy that you have the advantage of the M.S. meeting to attend. It is a comfort to know that others are sharing the same problems we have.

Bis, it does seem to quiet down. Perhaps those that have snow don't go out as much so have less to share. I had a good lunch with pleasant friends, came home to read a bit…..Yup, fell sound asleep. Woke with a start and thought I had missed Choir Practice. After scolding myself for being so dumb, I realized it was Monday…not Tuesday. So an apology to myself is in order.

Janie, do you ever indulge is all those Christmas candies you make ? I would surely need to sample each one as they are made. They sound sooooo good!

That's a good question June.  Someone asked me once what something tasted like and I said, "I don't know.  I don't eat this stuff."  However, I do sample and I really indulge in the coconut cups, raisin clusters and chocolate marshmallows.  Thank goodness, Christmas season is rather short or I'd be rather wide!

With my old teeth, I think your chocolate marshmallows would suit me to a T..
There was a day when things like butter brickel, peanut brittle, etc. were my favorites. Now just a happy memory.


It is only seven fifteen, but my eye lids are getting heavy, so I had best wish you all a very peaceful nights sleep and a happy tomorrow. Hugs, Love and Prayers. June

well we went grocery shopping Killed the day and the pocketbook.I am tired so I bid you all a good night and sweet dreams.

Lloyd

Good Night Everyfriend and may God bless us, every one!

Just wanted to stop in and see what is going on......

JACKIE, so glad you were not hurtin the fall you had, especially your head.  Take it easy. 

JUNE, I do hope the wound starts to heal and will not get any worse. 

DON, I am so pleased to read you are SANTA once again! 

I must get off to bed.

Pleasant dreams to all.

Jenny

DON....
....if its any consolation, the REAL Santa works 24 hours around the clock, not just 9 hours....I know, I know, you ARE the real Santa....   

Good Tuesday morning, Everyfriend.   There's Danish pastries to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a great day!!




Appreciate

Like a lot of married men, I got the "You just don't appreciate me" speech once from Juanita.

I promised to treat her royally for the remainder of the day. I took her to lunch at Burger King and Dairy Queen for dessert.

She's never mentioned it since.




Flea the Pea!
(By Greg Allen)

Charles Spurgeon told the story of a preacher who was strolling through a village. As he walked along, he saw a man going down the road with a herd of pigs following in line behind him like sheep following behind a shepherd. This was a very unusual sight, because pigs, ordinarily, are very self-centered, independent creatures that never follow anyone. So the preacher asked, "Sir, how do you get those pigs to follow you like that?"

"Oh, it's easy," the farmer said. "I have a sack full of peas in my pocket; and I just keep walking, occasionally dropping a pea on the road behind me. The pigs follow along wherever I drop a pea and gobble it up, never caring where I'm leading them."

"That's very clever!" said the pastor. "By the way; where are you leading them?" And the man said, "To the butcher's shop, of course."

The devil often follows the same strategy. The Bible warns us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8; NKJV). But he rarely carries a big sign that says, "Follow me, so I can devour you." He knows we wouldn't follow him if he was that obvious. Instead, he works subtly to draw us away from God's good will for our lives.

Just like the farmer in that story, the devil drops little, fleshly temptations in front of us through the elements of our culture: a suggestive movie or television show here; an off-color story or inappropriate joke there; a seductive advertisement or pop song here; a pornographic magazine or web page there. And if we aren't alert, we follow along behind, picking such things up and thinking, "I can handle this. This isn't so bad. It's just a little pea, after all. It tastes good. Who's it going to hurt? Who's going to care? Who's going to know?" We gobble these tempting little "peas" up, one after another; never realizing that they're forming a straight line that is leading us down a slippery slope to destruction and loss.

The answer that the Bible gives to such things is summed up in one word:

"Flee" (1 Corinthians 6:18).

As followers of Jesus Christ, let's remember the devil's strategy; and by His help, let’s “FLEE THE PEA!”



Self control comes from submitting to God's control.

--Author Unknown

Good morning everyone..

We are off to the city in a bit, hubby has two appointments today.   Foggy out now and I hope it lifts before we have to hit the road.

Yesterday we wrapped gifts, nice to get that done,now to deliver them.

Yesterday daughter in love went to a fabric sale and gosh she did well!! Not only did she score in fabric ,rulers ,thread she also bought a hand crank Singer sewing machine!!! She sent me photos and it is in pristine condition!!! I think I have created a quilting monster!!!

June I hope your leg heals and soon.

Lloyd, shopping does tucker one out and one is so glad to get back home.

Joan, thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone

Good morning, Amy.  I do hope that fog lifts before you have to be on the road.  You are a good teacher--your daughter-in-love has learned well.

Good Morning everyone! I see  Vanilla-Jackie bis and Amy here. I bid you all a great day, good to see you all. Amy hope the fog lifts it is no fun to drive in, and if someone cums up close behind you with head lights on is even worse. if I were i would hang back eve if I were late for appointments. sounds like you have  your thought your Ladie in love well. see you Later.

Lloyd

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I'm checking in this morning so you don't miss me but I've got chocolate melting.  When I went to bed last night, I checked the calendar to remind myself what time I have to work today and it's not until 10 a.m. so I revised my morning schedule.  I have chocolate melting and I think I can finish the pretzel dipping this morning.  My plan is to fee the doggies, let them out for their after breakfast stroll and then start dipping.  I figure I'll have until 9 to finish them and then time to relax while getting ready for work.  Sounds like a plan, right?  I'm off.  Make this a good day, Everyfriend!