Here we go again! Moms' back in the hospital again. "They" think she had a mini/mild heart attack. She seems to be doing fine now, other than the fact that she's still in the hospital. Even though both sis & I were told she was being released on Thursday. It's Friday and she's still in there.

My bro, B. was going to pic her up if she was released in the morning & I was to pic her up if in the afternoon.
When I got off of work at 2pm, I called and asked for the nurses' station from the parking lot of work, which I was connected to. This is where the fun began. I was told "she" would find out for me if Ma was being or had been released and she'd be right back.

I was on-hold from the time I started my vehicle to the time I got off of the elevator on the floor of my mothers' room at the nurses station. 28 minutes! I walked up to the nurses' station, apparently looking none too happy, where upon a nurse asked if she could help me. I said "yes, listen," and hit the speaker button on my phone so she & the other 3 nurses sitting there could hear the familiar music + "We appreciate your patience, someone will be right with you." I then proceeded to tell them that I had been on-hold for all the time it too me to drive from work to here. It was at that point that another of these nurses picked up her phone and disconnected the call.

I'm sure  you've already guessed my mood at that moment. I went to my moms room and waited until the manager came in. She did try to apologize but we all now that that doesn't help. She actually told me that I could've hung-up and called back. Somehow, I don't now how, but somehow I stayed in my seat. I then explained to her that, yes, I'd thought of that myself but since no one knew I was coming, I just thought I'd see what happens. Well, I found out. NOTHING happens.

By the way, as I said mom is still there. I took her a change of clothes today & her phone so that when she is sprung loose, she has something to where & is able to call us.

There were a few other items of mis-(or should I say lack of) communication that repeatedly occurred but I won't bore you with the details. Just know that I wrote an email describing in detail the unbelievable events of the past 2 days to the patient care of the hospital. I can't help but wonder what kind of response I'll receive.

I just don't get the medical profession and it's seeming lack of respect of patients and families of patients, their time, concerns, fears. Any of it. I just don't get it.

On to a lighter note.

I went to a cowboy nightclub last week to celebrate the birthday of K., another friend/co-worker. Boy, was I out of my element. However, I did have fun. Did the Electric Slide, danced with my friends, chit-chatted. All in all, it was a fun time. Expanding my horizons. Tee-hee! I did wear 1 of my new s__t-kicker boots. Very cool & comfy.

I was finally able to get back to dance class last night. It felt good to move that way again. Sadly, no class tomorrow but I'll be back on track, next week.

I'm going to be testing out my new idea for a class format on my friends at work next week. I'm pretty excited about it. I gave 1 friend a brief run-through and she really seemed to like it. It's only going to be a 30 minute class, although it could be a full 45 minute class if wanted, but it packs a powerful punch. Simple, short and tough, though can be adapted by anyone to their abilities. I can't wait.

I took my pals' D.'s Beg. TRX class on Wednesday. Whoa! I think her beginning class is the same as anyone else's regular TRX class. Quite a workout. I was so thrilled that I could do everything but 1 portion of 1 exercise. Prior to my surgery, I had great difficulty performing many of the exercises, and in many instances couldn't, because it put so much strain on my knee. It was amazing to know that although my strength still hasn't come back yet that I can do these exercises and just keep getting stronger. Regaining my prior strength, long lost but on the regain mode, is important to me. The pain I felt was muscular weakness not joint pain. That I can fix. Yahooey-looey!

The 1 thing I couldn't do was "run" with my heels in the cradle and hips up off of the floor. I got my feet in, laid back, lifted my hips but thats as far as I got. The "running" just wasn't gonna happen yet. BUT, thats ok, something for me to work towards. I just held my hips up with my feet in the cradles. That was still pretty tough, let me tell you. Thought my hammy's were gonna explode outa my legs.

In the words of James Brown, "I feel good...and I knew that I would, now."

I just looked into the other room and all 3 of the "boys" are out cold. Putney's dreaming away. His paws are twitching so he must be running swiftly through the fields. Ah, the life.

I bet if an alien came down to our earth, he'd go to the 1st dog he/she/it came to ask to srr their leader. We walk them, feed them, clean their poop, throw things for them, play with them, etc., etc., etc. They'd believe them to be the dominate species. 

I wouldn't change a thing.

Peace out folks. find what moves you and makes you happy.

Keep dancing.

Again, 2 weeks since my last post! What the heck is going on? I will say that since coming home from Michigan, this will be my 1st time having 2 days off. My fault, but a fact. The 1st Saturday, I went to an all day aquatic conference.
That was a lot of fun for the most part. I was dismayed by only 1 presenter. Her presentation and workshop showed me nothing particularly new, considering the topic was the benefits of aquatics on osteoporosis. I thought it would be a most interesting subject since most of the research I've heard of says that osteoporosis is NOT helped by aquatic work. So, I was actually excited about it.

As far as I could tell, her only point to any advantages to working in water for osteo. is that the client/patient has less of a issue with bones breaking on impact. Folks with osteo can't really work hard on a treadmill to improve bone density, or get a good cardio beneficial workout. So, to that point, yes, I see that. You are less likely to break a bone in the water and yes, you'd be able to get a good cardio workout in the water too.

Then, her verbal presentation, she just read from her powerpoint. OMG! I was so bored. The aquatic workout didn't give me much either. After 2 hours that's all I got.

I wanted to question her about the not helping osteo bit but I was afraid of how I might've said it being unphased by her presentation so I just let it go. I seem to show and speak exactly what I'm feeling. Oh well. Moving on.

I did, however, get some refreshing ideas from 2 other presenters. One was a physical therapist from San Diego, I believe, who's presentation was on aquatics and total joint replacements. Right up my alley! The other was a presenter I've known for over 20 years. Craig Stuart. I love him. He's also the creator/owner of Hydro-fit. He brings enthusiasm to his presentations and you just know he doesn't just sit back on his laurels, he continuously researches and grows himself. I love (and own) his equipment, too.

This was the 2nd time I've gone to some all-day seminars this summer. I know I can receive CEC's on-line but I really like going to live workshops. Getting hands-on experience is priceless. Yes, I typically have to travel a few hours each way to get to them, but I usually find it worth the getting up super early & driving at the crack of nothing to get there.

I honestly wish more fitness instructors would do this. Considering how many there are in this state alone, I believe very few actually take the time and spend the money to go to these things. I think it highly important to continue learning, even if you feel it's what not to do, you can learn, stay refreshed, excited, current and give your clients some new information. No, I don't always agree with the presenter. I remember, much of the time their presentations include a lot of their opinions. You don't have to agree with it all, but you may be able to take something away with you.

I've learned to not give all of my new ideas to my classes all at once. I did that in the past and just about killed them, so I sprinkle in the new stuff over time. My classes used to say that I wasn't allowed to go to conferences or seminars anymore because of it.

But, I'm much better now!

I did, however, get caught in a haboob on my way home.

What the heck is a haboob, you may ask? Well, it's a massive dust storm. All you can see is beige. No sky, no roads, no street/highway signs, nothing. I was on the freeway near Casa Grande when it got so bad that I couldn't even see the highway exit signs about 25-50 yds. ahead of me. they were there, then they weren't. You couldn't see the cars/vehicles ahead of you either. Very freakin' scary. 

I decided to pull over and wait it out, which took a whopping 15 min. of my time. Turned off the lights, took my foot off the brake pedal and sat. In just a bit of time, I looked in my rear view mirror to see about 6-8 other vehicles lined up behind me. Unfortunately, many others just kept driving. I was definitely not in that big of a hurry.

It did, as I said, begin to move off and I could see enough ahead of me to feel confident  to continue on my way. Then I got hit with the remnants of a thunderstorm. Oh well, cleaned my truck off some.

I had my annual Dr.s visit a week ago. Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I just don't understand why, oh why do we have to make appointments for these things? I waited 1.5 hours to finally be seen by Dr. Unreal! I needed to get bloodwork done but had another appointment elsewhere so I said I'd have to come back some other time, to which he said, "Oh, thats ok."  I answered back, "No, it isn't." I then tried to explain that my original appointment had been 2 weeks prior but something got screwed up and they scheduled me for an hour before what they told me. Great! I had then asked to get my bloodwork done and was told "Sure". I waited 1.5 hours then only to be told "I don't have any paperwork for you." I was so pissed by then I just got up and said "I'm done." I was afraid of what would spew outa my mouth if I let anything else out. My Dr. said nothing to that accounting of events except " I must not have been here because they usually just walk around the corner and ask me for it."
I was stunned. If he wasn't there, why did I have an appointment? AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I left, had my massage, poor Sergio, then went to get my bloodwork drained.

When did the medical profession decide that our time was less valuable than theirs? 5.5 hours of my life wasted, that I'll never get back. I'd be fired if I worked that way. I just don't get it. If anyone can explain & make sense of it, PLEASE tell me. I'd really like to know.

Now, on to happier things...birthdays.

Going to celebrate some birthdays this weekend. One friend and my sis G. They're born on the same day but different years.  I gave G. a very uncharacteristic card yesterday. A sweet, honest, touchy, feely kinda card. It made her cry. I wanted her to know that she is one of my dearest friends and confidants, not just my sister. I don't think we tell our siblings that enough and I really wanted her to know her value in my life. We don't agree on many things but she means the world to me. She needed to know that too. I told her I gave it to her in private after I took her to lunch 'cuz I didn't want her blowing my reputation. I'll be giving her my usual sarcastic card tomorrow when the family takes her out to dinner.

I gave G. a 4 pack of Buck & Judy's Dang Rubs. She wasn't pleased, at first when she saw the gift but I told she'd be happy when she opened it....and she was. She's bugged me for these for some time. Glad she now has her own. So i9s she.

I love celebrating birthdays. Mine or other peoples. I feel awful for people afraid of their upcoming birthdays. I celebrate me and so should everyone else! Ta-da! read that any way you want, I love it all.

Off to finish cleaning the house. Enough of this slacking. I'll be back to dance class again this week so join me, won't you?

Peace out folks. Be healthy

I realize it's been a couple of weeks since I posted but I had gone to Michigan to a family reunion of my fathers side of the family. My sis G. & I flew out Thursday morning. We stayed for the most part with our cousin D. & his wife in their beautiful home on one of the many lakes in Battle Creek. Our last night, we stayed near Grand Rapids with another cousin J. and her husband. We finished breakfast to saw 2 fawns chompin' away in her backyard.

It was a blast. A much needed removal of the pains of August I went through. It was so incredible. We hadn't seen any of this side of the family in probably 35-40 years, but it was like we'd been there all along.

I got to see my God-parents, quite possibly for the last time but I hope not, who are both as with it as you or I. My Aunt strutted, and I mean seriously strutted, to her spot in the group family photo taken. I almost wet myself. Many of my cousins were there and we got to meet some we didn't even know we had. Lots of grown kids of cousins with their wives & kids. all so very welcoming and genuine.

My cousins' wife wrote a book which she gave a copy to each of us, called Return to Innocence, by Jill Edelen. It was a very pleasant read. I finished it before we landed back home.

G. & I both want to go back again sometime in the near future. Maybe not next year but maybe, the year after that.

The only bleak point is the fact I got eaten alive by chiggers. Oh dear lord, how much they itch. I've got clear nail polish all over my feet & lower legs. I'm taken anti-histamines but I just read that spraying Windex is also a good remedy. Might have to give that a go as well. Another thought was hydrogen peroxide. Right now the itch is down but I really thought I wad going to rip my feet off of my body. To make it worse, it doesn't seem like anyone else got attacked, just ME! Not nice.

My friend & co-worker J. stayed at the house with the 3 boys for me. What a sweetie. I missed them all so much and they seemed very happy to see me when I walked in the door Tues. night. My cousins' did have a couple of small dogs, Lucy & Rocky, that took to me right away so that made it a little easier for me.

Now I'm back home and trying to get back into the swing of things.

I have the 1 day off 'cuz I'm going back up to Phoenix to an Aquatic conference all day Sat. Time for me to get some inspiration. Hopefully, I'll return with some ideas and a fresh outlook. I need something.

Well, I'm off to get some more cleaning done today.

Stay healthy and rested. Take some Me time when necessary. It'll do ya some good.

Peace out