Free At Last!!! Free At Last!!! Thank My Sweet Lord, I'm Free At Last!!!

2013 was definitely not my year.  I was not on my A game, to say the least.  Looking back, I really didn't feel well for most of the year; but I kept it to myself for the most part.  
For many years I've suffered from intestinal problems.  I've been diagnosed as lactose intolerant and with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  That IBS has been a booger during 2013.  As the year progressed, I seemed to suffer more and more.  To make matters worse, I began to have headaches/migraines more often and more severe.  The moment that began to change my life was the day after the worse migraine I've ever had in my life.  
Not taking away from the suffering of so many people with migraines, but this was the first time I got physically sick from migraine pain.  It was a bad one.  It lasted for 1 1/2 days.  Also, my longest migraine to date.  That was Dec. 9-10, 2013 - less than 48 hours after returning from the most wonderful trip to Disney World.  
On Dec. 11, 2013, I was reading something that a friend from my hometown wrote on Facebook.  I private-messaged her and she shared many things with me about her husband's health and what he was doing.  I began to research and ordered a book that she recommended.  It's called Grain Brain.  Some of the book gets a bit too medically detailed for me to grasp, but there is such great information.  I learned from the book that, more than likely, I was gluten intolerant.  And I learned that sugar most likely contributes to my migraines.  That was enough for me to make a major change in my life.  On Dec. 12, 2013, I began eating Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and Sugar-free.  It's been almost 3 weeks.  I haven't felt this great in a very long time.  Tom sees a tremendous difference in me.  His description of me tonight is that "you've got IT again."  That's so funny to me.  I guess I'm back to where I once was when I felt really good.
For almost 3 weeks I have not had ONE gassy episode, not ONE bout of diarrhea, not ONE lower intestinal discomfort, not ONE headache//migraine.  There has GOT to be something to this G-D-S-free eating plan.  I'm a believer!!!  The added bonus in this will be for me to lose weight in the process.  And believe me, that's secondary to just feeling great.  In two words . . . . . .  I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!

Ok, People. . . I'm Just Keeping It Real

I know you've heard the statement, "I don't sweat . . . I sparkle!".  Bull hockey!  Whoever made that statement famous has never sweated like me and my family.  It's the family curse, if you will.  Thanks, Mom AND Dad.  I didn't have a chance to be a normal, non-sweating person.  With two parents who perspired profusely, I was destined to follow suit.  And this isn't a condition that hit me during the big "Pause".  Nope.  I've been blessed to have overactive sweat glands since childhood.  However, it seems that the older I get, the worse it is.  Bummer.  

I searched the web tonight and now I have the official name for my condition:  Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis.  Sounds like an ADHD child who can't focus on water.  In my particular case, it's primarily my forehead and the entire circumference of my head at my hairline.  Here's a common occurrence that happened today.  I volunteered to help pack cookies going to prison facilities in the state.  I was in a cool gymnasium and my job was to simply place 12 cookies in a brown bag.   Not strenuous.  Not taxing.  Not hard work.  So why, 15 minutes into it, was my brow wet, my hairline leaking "water" and my hair getting wet?  Twice I had to excuse myself from packing cookies just to sneak into the restroom, wipe my face and try to dry my hair.  EMBARRASSING and ANNOYING!!!  Sure takes the fun out of volunteering.  It is truly affecting the quality of my life.  

In my daily world,  I choose my plans depending on:
1. If I will be required to stay outdoors for more than a few minutes in spring/summer
2. If indoors, (in spring/summer) is it cool enough or (in fall/winter) is the heater turned up too high
3. On Sundays at church, can I make a strategic and quick exit if I sense my hair is about to drip sweat
4. If I'm away from home, where is the nearest restroom so I can "freshen up" (there is only so much one can do to wet, short hair and it is a false belief that short hair dries quickly

And heaven forbid that I ever wear facial lotion.  That just makes me sweat immediately whether I'm hot or not.  

Needless to say, I own very few coats and rarely wear one.  I absolutely detest turtle necks (on me; not on others) b/c I feel like I'm choking and, of course, I get hot.  

During most months of the year, I miss out on occasions that make me sad.  I do not attend outdoor weddings.  For obvious reasons.  (Thank the good Lord that my three children married indoors!)   I don't attend outdoor activities at church or in the community.  I do love to walk for exercise, but even when it's quite cool outside, my face gets red and my hair gets soaked.  I'm just a hot mess!!

This post is certainly not my usual style.  No stupid humor.  No light or crazy subject.  But today I'm keeping it real and speaking from the heart.  I'm seriously looking into solutions and/or treatment for my PFH condition.  At least I have a name for it now.  Dr. Andy . . . beware. . . I'm going to ask you for a referral!!

This Adventure Was Truly A-Maizing!!

See my daughter in front?  This was her reaction when we exited the corn maze.  Let's back track just a bit . . . .
My daughter-in-law Michelle is wonderful in trying to get all of us together so the grandchildren can play and make memories.  Her suggestion for Saturday was going to a farm.  This particular one had a great pumpkin patch where the little ones picked their very own pumpkin.  Then we went on a 30-minute wagon ride all over the huge property of the farm.  Then we headed to the corn maze.  (insert music from "JAWS")

At this farm there are two mazes: (1) for children, called the Mini-Maze and (2) a much larger and difficult maze for adults and older children.  Well, the Rucker clan inadvertently entered the wrong maze.  Mind you, we had six grandchildren (from ages 5 down to 19 months) and 7 adults (Andrea was in Canada helping with a baby shower).  

When we entered what we thought was the Mini-Maze, we were all laughing and having a great time.  We'd walk in different directions and then meet up around the bend.  So fun.  We all stayed together - trying to keep the little ones corralled.  After about 10 minutes, all the adults verbalized that this probably was NOT the Mini-Maze.  Hmmmmmm.  This was a nice, huge maze; the corn stalks were at least 9 feet tall.  The paths were well marked with fencing material staked along the path to keep everyone on the path.  At that point we were the only one in this maze or at least we didn't see anyone for a long time.  We feverishly tried to get out of this maze and for a long time.  We soon realized that we were lost.  Seriously.  We didn't have a clue in which direction we entered, nor in which direction the farm was; we only saw beautiful blue sky above us and cranky kids below us.  The three oldest grands (5, almost 5 and 3 1/2) were astute enough to know something was wrong.  Two were worried and one was squalling!!  All of us were hot, tired, thirsty and hungry.  This is about the time that Abby's husband Matt went off in a different direction from the others.  Abby was afraid she'd never see him again. We also met up with a family and their two teenagers.  They, too, were frustrated and lost.  Throughout the maze we saw signs with numbers.  As we were discussing our options, we noticed the sign #8. My sweet DIL Michelle did what any modern-day young mother would do - she got on her cell phone and called the farm's office for help!!!   Michelle told the office that we were lost and were standing at sign 8.  At first our men thought it was ridiculous to ask for help, but they soon realized (when they kept walking in circles) that we needed help and NOW. Soon this wonderful man from the farm came and saved us.  However, as we followed him for what seemed 10 minutes, he made at least 2 wrong turns!  I'm telling you, this maze was a bugger!!! (I kept looking around for dead bodies.) At the end, we finally saw Matt coming to meet us.  He chose not to re-enter the maze for fear he'd get lost and never see his family again HAHA. 
Now we can laugh about it.  Afterwards, we found a wonderful, shady spot on a hill to have our picnic lunch.  The grands enjoyed playing in the shade after they ate.  We enjoyed sitting down and laughing about our corn maze fiasco!  Memories were made for sure yesterday!!!
One more picture of exiting the maze:

Can you see little Cady's sheer joy when she sees the exit??!!  Priceless.

People Watching At The "Lob"

Since Tom and I do not have hot water (re: post below "I Only WISH I Was In Hot Water), Tom took me out to eat.  Ya know . . . it's difficult to wash all those dirty, greasy dishes in cold water.  We decided on The Lob.  Wow, were we in for a treat.  We were so determined to eat seafood that when they told us the wait time was 1 hour 10 minutes, we didn't flinch.  So we sat on a bench just inside The Lob where both entrance doors were to our right and left.  What a treat it was to people-watch during that long wait time.  I took notes on my iphone so I wouldn't forget one thing.  Here, my friends, are the 13 observations from The Lob tonight.  

(1)  The Slamming Doors
Seriously, The Lob needs to adjust the doors so the slamming ceases.  It really got comical listening to one SLAM from the right then another SLAM from the left. . . . for over an hour! Glad I didn't have a headache.

(2) The Hatfields and The McCoys Hatfields
Tom and I sat in between an elderly mother and her daughter.  I asked the daughter if she wanted Tom & I to scoop down so she could sit with her mother and she said, "Heaven's no . . . I'm with her all the time."  Elderly mom leaned over and piped up, "Well, I don't want to sit next to you either."  Not much conversation went on between those two.  

(3) Chatty Cathy Kevon
This 11 yr old boy snatched the first empty seat on the bench which was beside a sweet little man.  The man simply asked Kevon one question and Kevon's floodgates opened.  That boy didn't shut up for a minute during most of our entire wait!

(4) Inebriated Dad
Kevon's dad stood the entire time while we waited.  I know I saw him with 3 beers before we were seated.  Hope he wasn't driving Kevon home.

(5) Boob Mom
Goodness gracious.  It's fine and dandy if God gives some women extra boobage.  But do ya have to flaunt it with a low-cut top . . . with two small children . . . one of which you were holding and the kid kept pulling on that top? 

(6) White-haired old man with long, very thin and stringy ponytail
Enough said. 

(7) Sugar Daddy
And I'm not talking about candy.  This was a dirty old man with a very young chic (and they were definitely a couple).

(8) "What Not To Wear" Woman
Picture this:  Woman wearing VERY thin, light-red leggings with a high crop top which revealed an ugly tat on her backside and a piercing on her navel!  Oh My Heavens!  Mrs. Hatfield's daughter (re: #2) laughed out loud.  I was afraid this sleazy-looking woman would b****slap Mrs. Hatfield's daughter if she didn't hush up!  Thankfully, Ms. Sleazy decided to not wait to eat.  I'm so glad b/c I don't think I could have stood looking at her backside for one more minute.

(9) The Displaced Cow Girl
Cow Girl had on boots, pants with sparkly beads (think 70's), slinky top, cowgirl hat and a face with enough Botox to make her look like a wax figure. She HAD to be well over 50.

(10) While sitting on the bench, I saw people with crutches, walkers, canes and oxygen.  Looked like a rehab center.  

(11) Cellulite Lady
Now, to be honest, I would definitely take 2nd place in the 2013 Cellulite Pageant. No doubt!  HOWEVER, I'm smart enough to not wear shorts that are SO short that they were up in her crotch.  No kidding.  Major cottage cheese front and back.  I got it, too.  I just hide it.

(12) Screaming Baby
While we were eating, several times a small child screamed bloody murder.  I'm talking ear-piercing screams.  So much for a quiet meal.

(13) This is the one that really burns me up.  The Lob offers "Endless Shrimp"-which means that you can get as much as you can eat.  Well . . . . some people don't play nice.  The table beside us ordered refills on 3 items TWICE. That makes a total of 6 refills of different kinds of shrimp dishes.  But did they eat any of the refills?  NO.  They put all 6 refills in takeout containers.  That's just cheating - plain and simple.  (I almost typed that I hoped they choked on the leftovers, but that's not nice.)  

This "No Hot Water" meal was very entertaining!  Like no other evening I've ever had. 




So . . . . . . . .

Boy, I Only WISH I Were In Hot Water. . . . .

Thursday night Tom and I were discussing the age of our water heater.  (Why do we southerners usually say "hot water heater".  The heater doesn't need to heat water that is already hot, does it?  Why not "cold water heater."  Better yet, just plain ole "water heater".) Any who, back to our water heater.  He asked me how old it was.  I said I remember that we bought it in 2001 so it was 12 years old - sorta in its senior years of life.  Tom stated that the water heater might last for years, months or days.  Then we wished it a long life and moved on to another riveting subject.

Friday morning when I walked into the garage I saw water coming out of Tom's workroom.  Yep, you guessed it.  That darn water heater HEARD us talking last night and decided to call it quits.  Water was standing everywhere in his workroom.  I called Tom and he told me how to (hopefully) turn a valve and get the water stopped.  Did not work. Thankfully, he was able to leave work early to help a distressed wife.  

We had a grand ole time at the home improvement store choosing a water heater.  Nothing is less exciting than spending $$$ on a stupid water heater.  The sales associate said their "go-to guy" would be calling us Friday night to set up a time Saturday a.m. to assess what was needed for the job and then install the heater on Saturday afternoon. Guess who didn't call Friday night?  

Saturday morning before 8am Tom drove back to the home improvement store to ask about it and to give our cell numbers.  We were going to be at Aubrie's birthday party from 9:30 am - noon.  We didn't want to miss his call.  The sales associate tried to call the go-to guy but his number was busy.  He assured us that he would get in touch with Mr. Go-To.

From 9:30 - noon neither Tom's cell nor mine rang.  Things were not looking good for a hot bath tonight.  When we returned home, we had not one but TWO messages.  (1) from the go-to guy.  He wanted us to call him b/c he needed to come assess the situation (grrrrrrr).  (2) A lady from LOWE'S (there, I named the store) saying that if we wanted the installation, we'd better call back to set it up (double grrrrrr). Tom kept his cool and talked with the go-to guy who informed him that he was in our area this morning (triple grrrrr) but since it was now after lunch, he couldn't do the job until Monday (quadruple grrrrr!)  

Tonight we went into the empty home of our friends (who are out of town) and had the most luxurious hot shower!!  At least we'll smell good for church tomorrow.  

Fashion. . . Smashion!

I know I'm old, but today's fashion styles disturb me.  I'm definitely NOT in the fashion loop.  As a matter of fact, I don't care one flip if I'm fashionable.  Case in point, the boots above.  Who in their right mind would spend almost $100 for these ugly boots??  NO ONE could possibly look good in these things.  

To be honest, I actually do have a similar item in my closet.  And, yes, I have worn it in public, although I was embarrassed.  It's called . . .

An ORTHOPEDIC Boot!!

BooYah!  I guess I am fashionable after all. 

(But I still don't give a flip.)

That blasted Chevron

Seriously, people, what is pretty about this pattern???  It honestly makes me have a migraine aura!

Actually, this migraine aura is SO much better than the chevron dress.


When I see chevron dresses, scarves, jackets, purses, etc., this is what I see in my brain:

Chevron pattern makes my brain SPIN!!!


Here's to letting the chevron pattern die a quick death in the fashion world.  Let's put the chevron pattern right back where it belongs.

Am I Lady Grantham or Mrs. Patmore?

Ok, I joyfully admit that I am a brand new fan of Downton Abbey!  I'm late entering this game, but better late than never.  To begin with, I misread the title of this wonderful show.  I read it as "DownTown Abbey".  I mispronounced it for a very long time.  Now I pronounce it correctly and love, love the show.  Over several days I watched the entire first three seasons.  Now I can't wait until January when Season 4 begins.

One night Tom and I had just finished discussing our daughter, Abby, and what was going on in her life at the time.  I decided to continue my marathon Downton Abbey viewing so I began to exit our den.  I said to Tom, "Well, I'm off to "Downton Abbey" now. . . .".  Tom said in an accusatory tone, "Well, why in the world are you doubin' Abby?"  So funny!!!  (He has not joined me in the Downton Abbey world yet.

I love so many of the characters and I'm sad that so many have already met their demise; especially the character who died at the end of Season 3. (I'll keep it secret in case someone reading hasn't seen it yet.)  Some characters I love and some I love to hate.  Some I really get a kick out of and some I'd like to kick in the rear.  Some fondly remind me of my relatives and some sadly remind me of others.  This is a show that has very clean language, except for a mild cuss word here and there.  

I've often thought I'd love to live during the era of Downton Abbey era - early 1900's - of course living in a mansion with servants and all those beautiful clothes, like Lady Grantham.   But honestly, I see myself as Mrs. Patmore.  I'm at home in the kitchen - planning, chopping, sifting, stirring, cooking and tasting.  And, like Mrs. Patmore, I can get aggravated when pushed for time while preparing a meal.  I like to take my time and I like it MY way.  Don't disturb or bother a cook.

So what Downton Abbey character are you most like??

The Birds and The Bees

Jane spent the day with me today.   I recently ran into her car while backing out of my garage. (That's a blog for another day!)  Her car was in the repair shop so we've had lots of convos today.  One thing she reminded me of is when our Mom had "the talk" with me.  I was probably between 6-10 years old; don't remember.  My sister Jane admitted that she listened at the closed bedroom door while Mom talked with me. (I'd thank Jane for the support, but I know she was just being nosey!!)  I don't remember exactly how she "told" me about SEX but I do vividly remember this part:

Mom:  Well . . . God plants a seed into the body of a woman and that seed grows into a baby.

Me:  . . . . . .(thinking). .  . . What if God puts the wrong seed in the woman - like what if God puts a black seed into a white woman?

Four observations:
(1) I was one smart(aleck?) little girl.
(2) Racism was alive and well in the sunny south in the late 50's/early 60's.
(3) I had not yet grasped the omnipotent power of our Lord.
(4) I'll bet Mom wished Dad had given this talk.

But here is Mom's final answer:

Mom:  God doesn't make mistakes.

WHAM!  Score a big one for Mom!  Way to go, Martha Florence!!  

And, you may ask, did she give me the DETAILED version of SEX?  Heck, no!  I learned that at a spend-the-night party at Harriet Arnold's house!!  I about puked! 

What The Kale?

Well, after reading about all the health benefits of Kale, I decided to give it a try.  Never noticed it in the grocery; never bought it; never ate it.  Apparently, I led a completely kale-less life in Georgia while growing up.  And that lifestyle continued when I moved to SC.  I pretty much cook similar to how Mom taught me but I have definitely expanded into food items Mom wouldn't have touched with a ten-foot pole. I mean, seriously, Mom never ate spaghetti.  She thought it looked like little worms.  She could never get beyond that.  So, while she greatly influenced my food choices over the years, I've definitely come into my own. 

 

I'm trying to cook and eat more healthily.  I'm eating more fresh fruits and veggies.  I'm also not eating meat - or more accurately, I've drastically cut my meat intake.  I've told Mr. T many, many times that I could be a vegetarian; well, actually I'm a "flexitarian".  But I digress. . .

 

I bought some kale and decided that I needed to prepare a recipe that would be "fun" - something that I would more than likely LOVE rather than a recipe that I was very skeptical about.  Kale Chips won out.  If it's anything like crispy potato chips, how could I not like it. 

 

So, here's to Kale Chips!



 

 

One head of Kale 

(Remove stems then wash and dry completely)

 

 

Break into 2-3" pieces

 

Put kale on a lined baking sheet.

Pour 2T olive oil and "massage" kale well with oil. (I must use gloves; hate dirty nails)

Bake at 300 degrees for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through. Watch and don't allow to brown, or chips will taste bitter.

 

 

Before I put my Kale Chips in a bowl to take this picture, I probably ate half of them.  Absolutely delicious!  Crispy and melt-in-your-mouth good! I'm making more tomorrow.

Where In The World Have I Been? What Have I Been Doing?

I'm backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!  I've missed blogging yet I began to doubt if I would continue.  I guess I thought I didn't have much to say.  Ok, that's not the truth.  The truth is that my daughter coaxed me into getting on Facebook.  That became my new addiction.  I began to put snippets of my life as my "status".  Then I noticed that I stayed away from blogging.  And I stayed away and I stayed away . . .

Now I've come to realize that blogging allows me much more space to speak, vent, complain, etc.  And if you know me, you know I'm a woman of many words!  So, looks like I'm back in Blog Land.

Much has happened in my life since I last seriously posted blogs.  I won't try to completely update, but over the next few weeks, I will slowly include some of my life on these pages as well as other mundane happenings.  Wish me luck that I don't bore anyone to tears.