Thr Travelling Wall

Going here today.  Not to the real one, the traveling one.

It started yesterday. Sister 1944 wanted a sister to go with her to the genealogy picnic. I said "Sure". I wasn't doing anything. I got myself up and ready, made my calico beans and went. I don't know what has happened to me over the past few years but I have become a super-charged extrovert. This is a 180 from when I was growing up as a shy, bashful introvert. How does that happen? I have no idea.

Regardless, my medication (that I have taken for maybe a  year, now) has exacerbated the extrovertism. Ha, that isn't a word. But,you get the idea.

Gabapentin is the generic name. Here is a list of side effects.  I seriously think it would have been easier to print things that it "DOES NOT" do.

Hyperactivity. Oh, yeah. I got that one covered. It started about 11 o'clock. It did not stop until I was by myself in the car on the way home at 4:30. Sometimes I wonder if my brother-in-law just wants to tell me to shut the f@ck up. My sister laughs with me. I think he just tolerates us. (Seriously I think he really enjoys his wife laughing and having a good time. She is under a lot of stress right now). I certainly am the one to entertain.

I was the bingo caller at the picnic. When they said they were going to start the bingo game I automatically got up to call. Sister 1944 asked me how I knew I was going to be the caller, I just gave her my incredulous look. Like "Seriously? Who else would do it? Who else has this big of a mouth?"

We stopped on the way home to visit another sister and brother. The laughter did not stop. Sister 1944 was getting a headache from laughing so much. The movie "The Mask" with Jim Carey comes to mind. When he spins and says "Somebody stop me!"  That is truly what I feel like because I feel like I cannot stop myself. I am like a runaway train or a bouncing ping pong ball.

In the car by myself,  I do calm down a little bit. Not much, though. I crank the music and sing. Maybe I should begin to cut the caffeine intake. Sigh.

Anyway, sister 1944's husband was a marine in the Viet Nam war. They said they are coming to my neck of the woods today to visit with their grandson and if I wanted to go. I said "I'm not doing anything,  I'm in!"

We will go today and I will definitely be curbing my hyperactivity today. When I read that there would be clergy and counsel available I began a slow panic. Oh, no. I can't handle the crying. I am going to be bawling like a baby and I don't know one soul who passed away in the war. None that I can think of anyway. No cousins, either. Oh dear. The other side effect to the medicine:  Over-reacting too quickly, and too emotional. Oh, dear, dear, dear. I am done for. Focus, I  must focus. I need super glue for my mouth because I know I will be going up to people, hugging them and asking them to tell me all about their lost loved one.

I'm talking complete strangers, here. I have no fear. If somebody is freaked out by my actions, I read the environment, back-pedal and move on to the next victim..err, person.

The vocation of counseling does run in my family. I have three relatives in the therapy area. We seem to know what to say and when to listen. The drawback is we fall victim to the emotional vampires. People (co-workers) who unload all their problems and issues onto us. Then they feel better and we become depressed - zapped of our energy. They sucked the energy right out of us when they go on and on about their problems. How does a therapist do it?

Bombs bursting in air

I have read that is why we celebrate Independence day with fireworks. To remind us of the "bombs bursting in air".  Really though, if the bomb bursts in the air - does it fail to achieve it's purpose?

Or is that the bomb "spray" so to speak? I have to say, I am no bomb expert. However, off topic - I did watch Nova's Manhunt: Boston Bombers.

I have passed on my "annual" 4th of July celebration for the second year in a row.  It was way too much for me to do any more. Money wise and energy wise. I just don't have it in me. Maybe I'll pick up the tradition again some day.

I guess my family date has more or less been moved to Labor day. That seems to be my date, now. Since the trees in my neighborhood have grown tall enough to obscure the family from seeing the fireworks from my front lawn. Ah, such is life.

Evidently not MY trees, since they are gone.

At one point yesterday when I took my dogs out to do their business, you could smell the sulfur in the air. It was SO strong. It must have been the rainy weather held it still around the area.

Celebration

However you celebrate it  (Independence Day) - have a good one.

As for me - quiet today.

A crew is coming in on Saturday (the 7th) to grill. I told them I was not 'doing' the fourth this year. Sigh. They said they will bring everything. Go for it.

I am on some new medication for migraines. And am scheduled for an MRI. I called earlier in the week when I got yet another headache. They are not full blown migraines but my quality of life really sucks. I am trying to find a solution to this "staying home and staying quiet all summer" theme that I have committed myself to. Until I find out what the hell is causing this or what is going on, I am laying low. If it is menopause then I may just have to deal with it until it all passes, but I am not taking it laying down. I will fight but only when I can muster up the energy to do so. I look like shit.

The ones coming in this week-end do not get headaches. I love them and I hope I do not get grouchy. Screw fire works. I hate the noise.

Okay, enough for the negativity. My new med is for seizures but also is believed to help with migraines. Anticonvulsant. Two days in and so far so good. Time will tell. I am certain the MRI will tell nothing, but at least I'll have gotten it out of the way. They seriously asked me if I had any pins or bolts in my head. Really? What am I? Frankenstein? I said the only metal I had were teeth fillings and my mouth is full of that. That is another story. Welfare children do not get to pick much from the dentist arena. Every dentist I have been to since I turned 20 has cursed the dentist that pulled one of my molars at 12 years old.

Okay - back to quiet. Seriously - have a good one. Grill outside if you must but get back into the shade or the Air or a big blue pool. God Bless America. And anything/anybody else who wants to bless us. Every one.

I think I'll go online and try to find an American song by Andy Griffith. I like to hear him sing.

Oh, and wonder of wonders. My computer sputtered on me this morning. I swear! Every fourth of July or close to it (you can go back in my archives and look for yourself) this damn computer crashes. WTF? It is back up and running but it gave me a good scare. I immediately backed up a lot of stuff. I am running out of external hard drive space. Prices are coming down, I think I'll get a 2 TB one.  Newegg has a WD for $129.

Bethink

Patriot Guard Riders

After the funeral procession I watched on Monday I heard about and educated myself about this organization.
Outstanding.

Standing in the sun

It was about fifteen minutes before twelve when the secretary of the building I worked at announced that the superintendent was inviting anybody and everybody to stand outside as the funeral procession for a local fallen hero drove past.

Immediately I printed up some quick pics of "Support Our Troops" signs and went outside. I looked up and down the street. I walked up to a few folks and handed them one of the papers to hold. Flags lined the street. You can read the story here.

It would be forty five minutes before the procession rolled by. It was something to see. The sun makes me sick. As the heat beats down I get ill, faint and dizzy. Yesterday at noon in the heat I felt nothing but pride and sadness for this young marine and his family.  The amount of bikers at the beginning was a sight to see. The many men in full uniform (some in air conditioned cars, some not) was another breath taking sight.

No amount of sun would bother me this day. I was sweating profusely but it was one of the most memorable processions I have witnessed in a very long time. If not the most memorable. I would not have missed this for the world. We need something like this every now and again to bring our lives and our thoughts into perspective.

The staggering amount of people that drove to join us, parking their vehicles along the street or in our parking lot, getting out of their vehicles to stand proud and salute as well as the folks who came streaming out of their houses was beyond belief. The tears flowed. It was soul inspiring. It was a much needed reminder for this old gal.