Just a couple of words here – I found, once again, that trying OTC pain relief makes for a difficult day. I tried it again Saturday which was a waste. The pain gets a bit dull but continually nags at me and I get whiney. Whinier. Ask Bob, no, don’t ask Bob…. The actual break isn’t the source of much pain any more but the muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, red and white corpuscles, you name it, whatever resides in my right arm and shoulder are not happy with the use they are getting and not much besides heat helps... and Rx pain pills. I guess this means another call to the Doc. The last Rx was for fewer pills and it was supposed to last a week longer. I hate being dependent on them, but, for now, I guess I am.

Yesterday I picked up my copy of Faith for a Lifetime, the Women of Faith Devotional I got last year. I was trying to see if it would point me in a way which would help my frustration. I mistakenly turned to today's page but wouldn’t you know what it said was, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18. (Actually it had a type-o and said ‘in everything give things’ which isn’t bad either.) I can pray and I can be thankful but that ‘rejoicing always’ stuff just isn’t happening. Rejoice - To feel joyful; be delighted; to fill with joy; gladden. This is definitely not happening.

One of the reasons I want to use OTC pain meds is to get away from the numbing the Rx stuff gives me. However, it is the numbing that keeps me from being as grouchy from the pain.

Another definition of rejoice was ‘be very happy about something’. Pain tends to keep me centered on myself and I know I need to find a way to get beyond me – and that means doing something.

Yesterday I did do a bit of mending and that was a major accomplishment. I had a new pair of PJs that was too long for me. I was putting them in the wash when I noticed the bottom couple of inches of the pants were filthy from being worn by a short woman. I took a deep ‘growing’ pleat above that and now they fit. I know I’m not going to need to let them down some day but it got the job done quickly. I was going to put on another pair of PJs that were too long. The elastic had come unstitched, making them longer yet and I was putting up with it until last night. I cut off the waistband and re-applied the elastic. I don’t know how many of you can relate to this but it is just wonderful to not be tripping on my PJs - especially now. I don't need to fall again. It wasn’t that it was so difficult to fix but it did mean that I had to do it.

Well, the ‘couple of words’ seemed to stretch, as usual. I did have a great time at Tami and Aaron’s today. It is delightful to have them so close – about 52 blocks away. Toni and Chucky brought the salad and the newest addition to their family – Spooky. Toni says she gets spooked by everything. It was fun to play with a kitten again. Alexis and Becca really loved playing with her too, but the kitty preferred to sleep. She was a feral kitty they had rescued from where they live. The vet said she would have died from fleas if they hadn’t taken care of her. She is black with a tiny bit of white in her ears, is between two and three months old and is mostly ears. Aaron and Tami’s cat, Jasmine, was definitely not happy to have a visitor - maybe because they are both females.

It is time for me to go to sleep. It took Bob his usual 1 ½ minutes to fall asleep about two hours ago. It takes me much longer to wind down at night because I'm usually feeling much better than I do the rest of the day. I would love to feel as good in the morning as I do at night….

Kathleen