An Ode To Public Libraries

We are all faced with trying to find ways to cut back on our non-essential spending during these difficult economic times. Since I love to read I have had to be more careful about purchasing books, magazine subscriptions and other media items like DVD's. OF course I am a HUGE fan of the public library, and am blessed to live where we have a terrific selection of items at our library. This is my number one source for all of the above. The nice thing about the library is you can try new authors, new genres and movies you might not have seen otherwise because they are free. If you don't like them, you haven't lost anything. I have discovered some great authors simply by browsing the shelves of the local library. I have also found TV shows that I didn't watch when they were on, that have now been released on DVD, and discovered some real gems that way. I encourage you to make your local library a regular part of your life.

Another wonderful thing I have found at my library are the free programs they offer. They have everything you can imagine - from classes and lectures on every theme imaginable to live music and plays. Most of these are completely free, and if there is a charge it is usually very nominal, a few bucks at most. You can learn how to make jewelry, all about another culture, see a Shakespeare Comedy or listen to Do-Wop music under the stars! If you have little ones, just about every library offers a "story time" for the kiddos - a great way to get them interested in books and reading, even before they are old enough to actually read!

Reference Librarians are another great resource of your membership. They can help answer questions on a variety of subjects and point you in the right direction for finding information on whatever you might be interested in. When I first started blogging, my local reference librarian was able to find many books not only blogging, but also on the social networking sites, like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Any books they didn't have at my branch were simply ordered from another branch and sent to me. He even had some ideas for books that I would never have thought of, many of which have helped me a lot.

Lastly, our library system offers free passes to some of the major museums in our area. Because I live just outside NYC, that means I can get into many of the major museums in the country, like The Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. With the cost of admission for a family easily reaching over $100, this is a big savings and a cultural goldmine. Check with your local library to see what types of passes they might offer for local cultural attractions nearby.

The best part of all this is the library card, completely free, and in the words of a certain credit card commercial we all know, "PRICELESS" !

Whew, Is It Really only Tuesday?

Hectic week (again) with doctors. Tomorrow I am having a renal scan with Lasix, aren't you all jealous?! LOL!! Hopefully this will provide some answers as to what may be causing the nephritis and whether it is anything to worry about. I have a friend who has had the test, so I have a pretty good idea of what I am in for and I am NOT looking forward to it.

On the brighter side, tomorrow evening I am going to my first book club meeting. My girlfriend has been a member of this book club for years and is bringing me. I even read the whole book, 'The Flamenco Academy' by Sarah Bird, so I should be able to discuss it. I am looking forward to meeting all the other women and having some discussion that doesn't deal with medical tests, doctors or prescriptions!

Tonight we finally got all the Christmas decorations and the tree down and away. The is the latest I have ever had things up. It couldn't be helped, but it was driving me crazy. I am still on antibiotic for the sinus and ear infection. If that clears up, I am due to finally get this tooth pulled next Tues. The pain is incredible and I hope it all happens. I am so sick of doctors, tests and the like. I cancelled an appointment on Monday morning because my vertigo made it impossible for me to drive. The doctor called because he was upset that I had cancelled on short notice. I have cancelled on him before and I guess he thought I just didn't want to see him. I wish these doctors could get a sense of what day to day life is really like for us. I have reached a point where I really try not to schedule more than one doctor a day. I just can't do it anymore, physically or emotionally. And of course, I have my mother living with me as well, so I attend her appointments as well as my own. That means that everyday we are at one doctor or another. All this and feeling poorly too.

I had wanted to participate in Wordless Wednesday this week, but alas, I don't think I will get a post up before the test tomorrow. If I feel well enough after I may try, otherwise, it will have to wait until next week. I miss all my Wordless Wednesday blogging buddies! It is fun to do something different and not focus on the health stuff.

Back From Break

WOW, it has been awhile since I last posted. I wish I could say I was away for the holidays, but in truth things haven't been too well with me. I needed to take a break for health and personal reasons.

Those of you with chronic illness will understand. By it's very nature it flares up when it feels like it and there isn't always a lot that can be done other than wait it out. This time it really got to me emotionally. I was in a real blue funk for awhile and just didn't feel like posting when I felt like that. But, talking with a good friend made me realize that I needed to post, because that is the truth of being chronically ill. Not all times are good, we can't always think our way to happier times, and I would be being dishonest not to admit that I go to that place sometimes too. I write a lot about gratitude and self care, and I fully believe in both and practice them regularly, but I am not immune to bad times.

However, I am beginning to feel better, emotionally at least, and wanted to get back into the swing of things. I miss posting on Wordless Wednesday and Photo Hunt Saturdays and plan to get back to those this week or next.

I did have some fun over the holidays including:

• A day trip into NYC to look at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and skating rink as well some of the store window displays. It was SO crowded the day we went in that it wasn't as much fun as I had hoped, but because I am a former city gal, I made a go of it anyway, taking my mother and friend on a tour of Grand Central Station, The Ford Foundation and Tutor City. Grand Central Station had a holiday laser light show on the ceiling in the main room that was a nice surprise treat.
• For my birthday a friend got us tickets to see "Oliver" at the John W. Engeman theater in Northport. The cast are all equity actors, so it really was Broadway caliber and we enjoyed it immensely. We went out to dinner after to celebrate my turning 42.
• I visited Old Bethpage Village Restoration for a "candle-light walk" with my upstairs neighbor and my mom. It is a village with original houses from the 1700 and 1800's and they had people in period costume at each location. They also had a huge outdoor bonfire, sing-a-longs, music on 18th century violins, as well as hot cider and cookies. It was a nice evening and luckily the weather cooperated.
• Local trips to see Christmas lights in the area. The neighborhood we live in really does it up right, and it was nice to walk (when weather and health permitted) or drive by, and see all the different displays.
• Midnight Mass on Christmas complete with the choir singing before for an hour - the highlight of my holiday for sure!
• Going to Hick's Nursery to see the Christmas displays and watching all the children ooh and aah over the animatronics display. They also had a brass quartet playing Christmas carols and gave bells to the little ones to play along. There is nothing as much fun as seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child.
• Going to see the tree and skating rink at Rexcorp in Uniondale at night.
• Spending time at my friends house after the holidays enjoying her family, good food and lots of laughs.

I talked in my last post about needing to take a break from doctors appointments. Unfortunately my break is over and I have been going to doctor's each day. I have so many things going on, so many tests happening at once, plus my mother to tend to so the days are full once again with that. I have had two appointments (yesterday and today) with new specialists who listened and are taking seriously some of the things that have been wrong for awhile now. It gives me hope. I am changing from the internist I had been seeing, who I had written I was so unhappy with, back to one I had seen years ago whom I had liked. I am hopeful this will lead to a better handling of my overall health situation.

My girlfriend talked me into signing up for a yoga class at our local recreation center. I have to be very careful because I hyper extend easily and injure myself, but I am going to give it a try. I won't be able to do what everyone else can, but I will do what I can.

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. I try my best throughout the year to take care of myself and improve in ways I can. Each time I fall down, I pick myself up and try again and that's good enough for me. I find the pressure of resolutions usually makes me fail, but just aiming to improve my health or outlook is more manageable, for me anyway.

I will post some photos of some of the fun stuff in the next day or so. I appreciate everyone who visits and reads my blog and the patience you show when I am away for an extended period of time. I hope that everyone had a good holiday season and that the New Year is starting off on a good note. I know the holidays are always a mixed bag for me. The religious part and the spirit of Christmas that brings out the best in others always makes me happy, but at the same time I also feel a sadness for those who aren't here. Let's just say I am happy to be in January and especially past my birthday.

Speaking of birthdays, I know I will get some heat for this, but I want your comments so I am bringing this on myself. . . when did we stop sending paper cards or calling someone for their birthday and begin thinking it is okay to e-mail or send just an e-card? I was offended at how many people took this way out. If it was a money issue, I would be understanding, but those that did it weren't the ones who are struggling financially. Am I the only one who thinks that a card or call is still in order?

Thanks again for allowing me to be real here, even when the reality isn't pretty. It helps to know that there are others who struggle and get through the bad times too. Blogging and meeting so many great people through it, has been a huge blessing. Well, I have rambled enough for one post - see ya again soon.

Holiday Fun!

This evening we went to a local tree lighting ceremony. Since this is our first holiday season living in this town, we hadn't been to this event here before. It was really nicely done. The local shops got together with town hall and put the event on. There were Christmas carols playing, a horse drawn carriage ride through one of the upscale neighborhoods to see the decorated houses, Santa came on the fire engine and then got on the carriage ride with the kids. After you finished the horse drawn carriage, you were given a gift bag from the local merchants, which actually contained some nice things, not just junk and coupons. Then there was hot cocoa and cookies while you waited for the tree to be lit. We took our neighbor and met up with some friends. One of the girls had her son, who is 8 years old with us, and it was so much fun to watch it all through his eyes! The local cable station was there and had us all tape holiday greetings that will air the week of Christmas. They collected a toy or canned food as your "fee" to ride the carriage, so all those go to benefit the poor and needy in the area. We brought board games (Chutes and Ladders and Candyland) for the kiddies!

This is another reason I really enjoy living here, they have fun events like this all the time, they are free, and everyone in the area participates, so you get to meet new people while doing something different. The only thing that could have made it more perfect was if it had snowed a little, but it still had a nice postcard quality to it. I will post some pictures from it tomorrow.

Another Way To Enjoy Books

Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE to read. My idea of a perfect day includes some time curled up by myself with a good book. Unfortunately one of things I suffer with all too frequently is vertigo, which for me is made worse by reading. Sometimes an attack will only last a few hours, but other times they last for weeks, or even months. Those times have been trying in many ways, but especially because not being able to read is like a punishment for me. Of course books on tape, then CD and now download able to IPODS and MP3 players have come into existence, but they weren't around when I first started having this problem, and as much as I enjoy them, it isn't the same as being able to read a book myself.

I love everything about books, the feel of one in my hands, the cover art, the different fonts, the crisp pages, even the smell!! However I am grateful that these other options have become available for those times when I can't read a book for myself. I just discovered another wonderful option that I wanted to share with all of you. I was at the library yesterday and was walking past the books on CD section when I noticed something different. I stopped to investigate and saw that they have "playaway" audiobooks. Not sure what it was, I picked one up to investigate. This is the description from the cover "Playaway is the simplest way to listen to an audiobook on the go. Each Playaway comes pre-loaded with an audiobook, and batteries are included. Simply plug in earphones and enjoy. No cassettes or CD's. No downloads. there's nothing left to do but listen." What a terrific idea! They are like tiny little MP3 players and my library had an impressive selection of titles to choose from. I could learn a foreign language, read the latest bestseller or find almost any non-fiction subject that might interest me. I had no idea these existed! I knew I could download books from the Internet to my IPOD, but of course there is a charge, and it takes time, and sometimes the narrators are better than others. This is all done and ready to go, all I need to provide are the earphones, and since I can get them at the library, they are free!

Maybe you already know about them, but if you don't, they are definitely worth a look. I don't ever want to discourage people from actually reading books, I still think it is the best way to enjoy a story and to exercise your own imagination, but if health or time is an issue, this is a great tool! I immediately thought of what a terrific gift these would be for someone in the hospital or home bound. I had a dear friend who had to have surgery on her eyes for macular degeneration and wasn't allowed to lift her head for several weeks after surgery. This would have been a God-send, and a much more pleasant way to pass the time than just listening to the TV.

Anyway, to me, it was just one more reminder that no matter how "limited" I think I get by my illness, there is always a way around things. I am grateful that I have a library that carries these, as I imagine it could get expensive to buy them all the time. Please consider looking into them for yourself or as a gift for someone else! Happy Holidays!

I received The Kreativ Blogger Award Today!!

WOW, imagine my surprise this morning when I opened my e-mail and saw that Connie, from Brainfoggles had made me one of her choices for the Kreativ Blogger Award!! I was so thrilled, touched, happy and surprised. Connie has been such an awesome support to me as I go through learning about blogging. She has freely given to me of her time, talent and knowledge and I wouldn't be able to have done most of things I have on my blog without her. In addition, she has been warm, compassionate and supportive of me as a person as well as a fellow blogger. I am so thankful that she nominated me for this award.

My instructions are to tell 6 things that make me happy and then pass it on to 6 people to make them happy. Isn't that a wonderful idea? So here goes. . .

1. Chocolate - ok, I know it isn't world peace or anything, but it truly makes me happy!!

2. My friends and family, who support and love me for who I am, what a blessing!

3. The ocean - the sight, sound and smell of it instantly relax and renew me. If I can't get there
physically, I will go there in my mind to take a mini-vacation anytime. There is something
so soothing about it to me. I can even look at a photo of waves on the sand and feel myself
relax and unwind.

4. All of the pets I have ever had. I don't currently have any, but each and every one has
enriched my life with their unconditional love and friendship. Animals take you exactly
as you are and love you no matter what.

5. Writing and blogging - I love being able to express myself through the written word. I enjoy
sharing both the real and the fictional and I hope someday to write at least one book.

6. Laughter - my own or anyone else's. Laughter truly is healing. I love the way I feel when I
laugh and I love to see others laugh too. To see that pure joy bubbling forth from someone
is a treasure. When illness or life get me down, laughter is one of the best tools I know for
recovering from any bad situation. To be able to laugh AT myself has been a huge blessing
in my life.

Now here are the 6 people I would like to award:

Kerry, from Lemon-Aide
Kitrona, from Warning: Schematic Inaccurate
Renee, from Renee's Reflections
Jenni, from Harvesting Hope from Heartache
Leslie, from Getting Closer to Myself
Jeanne, from Jeanne's Endo Blog

Fall Festivals

I love this time of year. I am lucky enough to live where I experience all four seasons, and Fall has always been a favorite--from the changing colors of the leaves on the trees to the crisp autumn days and nights, I really enjoy it. Another thing I enjoy is the Fall festivals that are held everywhere this time of year.

Today I am meeting up with friends to attend a festival held at the Waldorf School. This is my first time going to this particular one, but the friends I am meeting up with have been going for years, and have told me how much they enjoy it. What hooked me for sure is that they have an entire DESSERT room! I heard that and thought, "I'm in!". They have a white elephant sale, vendors, food and lots of other things for all ages. Churches, schools and many other organizations have these type of things and it is a fun way to spend a few hours. The weather here today is supposed to be lousy, so luckily this is all indoors.

Do you enjoy Fall festivals? What is your favorite part of one?

The Lighter Side

I have previously confessed my enjoyment with 'Dancing With The Stars'. I have to admit I was looking forward to it last night more than usual. With dropping on my medication on my mind, I wanted something fun and easy to watch. I find that when I get out of my own head for a little while, whether I use relaxation methods, hobbies or even just taking time to enjoy a TV show I like, it helps me to focus on things outside of the pain or fatigue of my illness. It gives me a 'vacation from myself' for a few moments and reminds me there is more to life than chronic illness.

Last night however, I did get annoyed that Cloris is STILL on the show while people who are actually dancing are being sent home. I admire Cloris Leachman, the woman is 82 years old and is trying to dance for goodness sake--that's admirable. But, I think it is unfair to keep someone on the show just for that reason. Week after week other couples have been sent packing, couples who may not be the best dancers, but who were at least DANCING! I hope the producers and the audience will wake up soon, we are half way through this season and it is time for people who have talent to step up and for those who don't to go home.

The Fall Television Season

Do you have a favorite TV show that you can't wait for the return of?  Are you looking forward to a new show you've heard about?  Are you like me and bummed out that some of your favorite cable TV shows have ended for the season?

I am a big fan of TNT's The Closer starring Kyra Sedgewick.  The last episode of the season aired this Monday night, leaving viewers with a cliffhanger ending that won't be resolved until January 2009.  I also enjoy USA's Monk, starring Tony Shaloub.  The defective-detective and his odd assortment of quirky friends has been making me laugh for seasons now, and I always feel a bit sad on Friday night when there isn't a new episode to watch.

I am looking forward to next weeks premiere episode of ABC's Dancing With The Stars.  It is one of the few shows on network TV that I truly enjoy watching.  I know there are some people who get upset about some of the skimpy outfits, especially in the Latin dances, and they have a valid point, but it is also one of the most fun and purely entertaining shows on TV for my money.  The contestants don't spend the whole time plotting how to get rid of the other contestants, they actually cheer one another on.  It is fun watching people famous for something else try something completely out of their element.  I give them a lot of credit just for attempting it.

I am interested in what everyone else is watching these days and what makes the shows you watch appealing to you.  Please leave me a comment and let me know your opinion.