A Weekend with A Diverse Group of Women

This past weekend could have been described in 1,000 different ways. To start it was great to be able to get away for a few days after having several weeks of personal issues that are still up in the air for me. The business meeting part of it was something that kept me wondering why some people would question making the changes that we ultimately have decided to go ahead with but not everyone thinks the same and some are just clueless whether by choice or not. The old saying, "you can't get a group of women to agree on everything" definitely is a statement I hate to admit is true. But in the end we made one major decision for MO women. I hope that we will move on and make it a group that is user friendly by all ages of women. Only time will tell....whatever Missouri Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club Inc. decision is I hope my decision is to be apart of it..

We did have a little fun too. Although I didn't go shopping, just spending leisure time with one of my wonderful friends was great. The ride up was filled with a variety of conversations, laughter and at least we can say we didn't get hit by a turkey (a little inside joke between those of us from our group who were there).

Meeting new people is always fun. I find that my networking skills get better as I mature. I'm not the little wallflower I used to be..I also even discovered something about one of my friends that we had figure skating in common. How that subject had never come up before I will never know but we now have something new to talk about when we see each other again.

Building Powerful Women is part of the theme of the 90th Celebration of this group that will get together during the summer for as I can only imagine will be a big blowout get together from women from not only MO but also possibly from all over the country. A modern day hen party probably but whatever excuse we use I am positive it will be something we will all remember.

If I Could Snap My Fingers

I know this seems like a strange title of a post but I needed to go into the fantasy of being able to snap my fingers and have the ability to change things at a given time. I know that probably seems selfish but if I could have one wish and I am sure I am not alone I always thought it would be terrific to have the ability to go back in certain parts of history and to be able to alter certain things. Mind you I am not trying to be God but I have always been intrigued by movies that dealt in this. Certain times in our history I thought I would like to have been there.

To be able to experience times during the Civil War and the courage and abilities to get through tough times and fight for the things that they did. I often heard stories from my grandparents about the early 20's and 30's the joys and sorrows but the sense that even what little they had brought them happiness. I would definitely like to relive my childhood (the saying if I knew then what I know now) I am sure we all would like to have do-overs. This may seem wrong to just be happy with what we have been through, done and accomplished but I guess the perfectionist just wishes I could have done things differently.

Part of the reason for this post is I know it is a part of life in general but my always having the need for everything to go beautifully and without forks in the road has again come to rear it's ugly head. I know I am being unrealistic.

I recently had to have a breast ultrasound after an issue with a mammogram. I am now in the process of having a biopsy shortly due to in their terms, "irregular, dense fibroglandular tissue present".

Of course I am thinking the worst, as I usually do so the past several weeks have been a little unsettling. I am really trying to keep positive, yes I have already done the why me?

So...If I could snap my fingers--snapping, snapping, I truly hope that things will come out fine.

Optimism is the Objective

I had a very hectic week and it seemed every time I tried to do something positive something got in the way. But the determined person that I am I forged ahead kicking and screaming. With all of the uproar I couldn't help but go back to two times this week that I saw interviews from Michael J. Fox who you would think would be the least optimistic person around. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 18 years ago he has taken a literal 180. How would I know you ask? Well I have a little experience.

When they filmed the trilogy "Back to the Future" parts of the movie was filmed in my old neighborhood in CA. Our house was actually in one scene (if you blink really hard) but the hours upon hours of preparation time made for some wonderful pics of the kids on the props. During this entire time there was an absolute hoopla in the neighbor. It was exciting except for the fact that the filming was done entirely between midnight and 2 a.m. And in all that we never once saw Michael J. Fox. When the crew was asked if he would be around they said, "Sorry he will only appear for his scene's, no exception, his choice". At the time I thought well it's not surprising. He was known back then to be very unreachable. I guess like anything a life-threatening situation changes your perspective on things.

He mentioned on the interview with David Letterman how now that he has Parkinson's he can't really "hide" because his body movements are so noticeable that he addresses when people ask questions of him.

Isn't it funny it usually takes a life changing situation to change your perspective .Why is that? It isn't like we don't know we need to change the things we do or how we are? His optimistic attitude that a cure for his disease and other's gives other's hope.

So I hope to have a great weekend, another busy week is around the corner, optimism will be my objective.

The "M" Word I'm Not Ready For That Yet?

Over the last several months I have happened to watch alot of the reports about women and menopause. You never really know when it will happen or how it will happen to you. I have heard from people over the years who had terrible experiences and those who said they went through it very easily. Of course you take each recommendation with a grain of salt and basically throw the dice and hope your experience is easy both on you and those around you. I have intently listened to the Suzanne Somers experience and don't really think she is so radical on her ideas. I have always been one who really hates with a passion to take even a Tylenol for a headache. I know what long-term birth control can do to your system and don't want to live that again. I can only hope to that I don't pay for it in a few years.

I really don't think that after going to the gynecologist yesterday (of course he is male and even though he has practiced for years and years and years, I doubt that he really knows what a female body goes through) he brought up the "M" word yesterday and after the shock subsided, of course after I left his office I thought to myself "wait a minute I don't no if I agree that I am even there yet? To be perfectly honest I didn't feel positive after I left. It didn't help that when I stepped on their scales it was entirely off compared to mine at home (after stepping on it a second time I was happy with the reading it gave me) then on to blood pressure. Of course I took into consideration that it was slightly higher because I had to be in the doctor's office but hey I requested the nurse take it a second time, I don't think she was happy about that either, but hey it's my body I think I might no a little better than her what my numbers are.

When I returned home I quickly gave David a call and I could tell by the response over the phone when I said the "M" word that he probably went into a little bit of shock also. Although he sometimes probably figures when I bite his head off I am deep into it and denial at the same time.

All I can say is, I actually feel better than I have in several years, except for the occasional ache or pain, and I guess I should have spoke up to the doctor and said "Hey don't burst my bubble, until you have lived in my body, don't use that "M" word just yet....More to come..

The "Eyes" Don't Have it Anymore

I guess it's just a sign of dare I say getting older. I broke down yesterday and went to get my eye's checked. It had been almost 2 years and I had noticed little difference here and their for a while. I feel I have been fortunate because I didn't start wearing "glasses" until I was 21 years old. At the time it was due to lots of repetitive computer work. I wore them for a while then found I didn't need to wear them for up close work but that my distance vision got worse. I started wearing contact lenses about 13 years ago and I find those so much easier. I have always hated the feeling of glasses on my nose. I also the vein person I guess I am didn't like how I looked in glasses. I have to admit I remember the "four eyes" comments of my childhood probably didn't help my feeling about wearing my glasses.

Now that I have matured I find that the contacts work when I am driving or watching television but if I want to do up close work they really don't work. Sooo I am going to invest in both. Yes and I mean invest. $400 plus is alot and I know people probably pay way more for stronger prescriptions but if it helps I guess I have to suck it up.

The doctor tried to convenience me the possibility of bi-focals but I really don't see how they will help me personally. I can read and see up close just fine without either.

If this is the only thing I have to deal with at this time, I consider myself lucky.

Spring is Just Around the Corner-I Hope

Last fall after my little flying tenants left the birdhouse outside my office window I just knew that I had to make a move and spruce it up for the next family. It had been a long time since the house had a good cleaning and new paint job. There were multiple nests from years past so I figured this year they were going to have to work really hard. So with sandpaper in hand I scraped and scraped the old paint off the best I could, put filler where needed and got to painting. I kept the same color scheme so just in case the same winged one's would not get confused. Although since my neighbor across the street as one exactly the same one, it's always a possibility.

In the last several days I have observed several new prospective families taking a peek inside to see if this new digs will fit their families needs. Some of them look like they will be bringing in multiple children but that's ok the more the merrier. They have already provided lots of fun and laughs.

So--For Rent** Small, one story, high ceilings, one window, green and white home. High on a pole so possibility of larger prey not a problem. New paint and perfectly clean inside so you may redecorate as you please. Move in ready...Perks...Birdseed

"What Came First the Chicken or the Egg?"

It says alot if you can make the comment I saw something at the Post Office I had never experienced. You may ask what this has to do with the title of this blog but..read on..

I made the weekly trip yesterday to the post office to mail off a couple items and check our box. I stood in line to have the postage checked on my letters and two women were in line behind me. They were speaking what sounded like Ukraine or some Russian dialect. When they reached the counter they indicated what they were to pick up. The clerk left and returned with a rather large box with holes in it and hay spilling out of it and lots of "chirping" coming from the box. Apparently you can send "fowl" through the postal service. (I am assume these were baby chicks) This was new too me and rather surprising. Especially since 9/11 you literally have to go through a litany of questions when you are mailing anything due to explosives, leakage, flammable, perishable need I go on you get it. So I was shocked that you can do this.

Fast forward to today as I was on my way to the college for my power walk. A Dept. of Transportation truck was stopped on the highway, two guys jump out, one with a shovel the other to direct traffic so the shoveler could scoop up a dead chicken on the road.

We have a Tyson chicken plant outside town and trucks are notorious for spilling chickens (alive or dead) on the highway. It gets to be a constant complaint to the local papers and does seem rather inhuman. Of course the way they kill them before we get them on our dinner plate bothers alot of individuals also but just was interesting after my episode yesterday.

It was sad to think those cute little chirping chicks have a unfortunate destiny.

So, "What comes first?" Either way you look at it was a strange observation..