Thursday, November 24, 2005

Christmas Tea in November

Last night the ladies from our church got together and had a Ladies Social Event...what we called "Christmas Tea in November". There was a lot of time and hours that went into planning and preparing for this event. It took a lot of organization, things had to be planned, phone calls & emails sent out, meetings, and many hours spent making booklets, bookmarks, cookies, squares etc. Along with the planning committee, we also had someone invited to speak, someone to sing, and someone to do a craft demonstration. Along with that, we had some wonderful ladies who volunteered to come and hostess a table which meant bringing their own tablecloths, tea & coffee urns, fancy cups & saucers, etc. and the tables looked absolutely beautiful when they were done setting up. Behind the scenes, we had the one special lady who agreed to oversee everything, and a few others who committed a lot of time getting things organized. Tickets had to be sold, and then came the night of the tea, and all the work of setting up, making things, organizing, etc. and getting ready for the arrival of the first guests. Two of our wonderful young ladies came to help out for the evening and did an amazing job keeping the trays of cookies stacked up and filling up tea pots, checking to see if anyone had any needs and helping with dishes. We also had the help of a few men, one who came & helped out in the kitchen, and a few others who spent their evening helping with the sound equipement. All in all, it turned out to be a lovely evening of entertainment, & fun and getting to know others. Each of the hostesses had their own plans for their tables and it was fun to see how they all spent time decorating, and setting their tables up.
I know I met several new people, and had the opportunity to talk to another lady who also suffers with fibromyalgia.
Many of the people who were visiting thought it was something we had done before. Everyone I've talked to really enjoyed their evening out and was asking when we might have another evening out. Since this was our first major event, I think they all did an amazing job and I'd like to thank everyone who participated and helped in making this evening such a great success and special evening for all.
Hopefully, somewhere down the line, we will be able to plan on something special for
another time of the year if everyone is willing to help out and participate in one again.
I wonder if anyone has any idea's or suggestions for another event...?? If you do, just jot some ideas down to be published on my blog.

The first real snow...

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone there. I was feeling pretty tired after being out last night, so this morning I sat & watched part of the Macy Thanksgiving Parade from the states. It's always a good one, although for a few people it turned out not to be when one of the large air balloons hit a lamp, then collapsed onto several people in the crowd causing injury to them. Rather a scarry situation to have to experience.
While today is not actually the first snowfall that we've actually had this winter season, it's definitely the first real big snowfall, that holds promises to stay for more than a day. There were winter storm warnings out for today, along with snow sqalls causing white outs in some areas. So far, the snow has totally covered everything. The driveway, & lawn & car are totally covered over in snow, and it's still drifting and blowing around. The temp. outside is dropping and it's a bitter cold temp. of 1oF, and still dropping.
This morning when I went out things were covered but no great accumulation. There was just black ice underneath the snow, so I had to be careful driving.
A rareity of happening in one area north of here was snow falling, while it was thunder & lightning. Now that doesn't happen very often! As I look out my window all I can see is blowing snow swirling all around, covering the cars, the trees and housetops. There is no sight of green grass around anymore, and out here, I can't even tell where the road starts and ends. I'm just glad I don't have to go out into this weather. While beautiful to look at, it is not so great to be out in or to have to drive in. Looks like winter is definitely on it's way. There's certainly enough snow out there!

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Nasty Flare up's

Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but living with pain just seems to be something that is a big part of my life. This week I suffered an awful flare up of pain, and could hardly walk for a few days or stand the pain. I think perhaps it's due to the changing weather and barometer. It's turned cold & damp with snow in the forecast, and strong winds.
My back, neck & leg pain was horrible and there were times when I wondered where the pain was worse when it seemed to be all over my body. I spent three days on the couch or in bed, resting and sleeping when I could, and just trying to deal with the awful pain. As it began to ease up a little and become more bearable I have been able to do a few more things, and finally get out of the house to get some groceries and take my dad shopping.
I'm certainly thankful for my family who helped out with a couple of the meals, and doing some dishes. It's amazing how those dirty dishes seem to just pile up!
The pain is still bad, but at least its tolerable and I'm able to get out and move and do more. Thanks to all who kept me in their prayers this past week.

Santa Claus Parade

Today was the local Santa Claus Parade. The weather was cold, but sunny,and no snow(at least not by the time it started) so I think it was enjoyed by most everyone.
The past few days we've actually had snow lying on the ground and bitter cold temperatures, and such damp cold winds that just go right thro' you to the bones. Thankfully the sun warmed things up and took away the little bit of snow that remained on the ground.
Our church had their own float again this year. While I wasn't able to be involved in the decorating & preparation of it this time, I was able to join in on the final preparations, and early start, and be on the float with the kids. I'd rather have been out walking along the streets giving out the brochures & candy canes, but I do enjoy being up there on the float as well, and I just can't walk that distance anymore. The parade theme was "Christmas in Canada" and our church group decided to do our float with a theme of what Christmas might be like in Northern Canada...an Inuivut Christmas. They had part of an igloo at the one end with Mary & Joseph & the baby Jesus in a manager. They made a little box in the middle with some red crepe paper and a fan underneath that was supposed to look like flames coming up and a fire. There were two of the youth on some drums, and on the front was a sleigh and they put two of the youngest children in there, and had my daughter in a fur coat looking like she was out getting her dog sled ready. We just didn't have the dogs. The younger children along with a few of us adults sat on the float, while some others ran back and forth from the float handing out little flyers, and candy canes, and one guy was dressed as a trapper, while someone else dressed as a seal.
We sang while the drums played, and waved and yelled Merry Christmas all thro' the parade, and a fun time was had by all. If you haven't been involved in the preparation of getting a float ready, it's a lot of work & preparation ahead of time(much done by our youth & leaders along with the pastor), along with many hours in the cold outdoors getting the final things done to the float, making your way to the starting point, then waiting in line as all the floats arrive, and making any last additions to the float and getting people ready.
The flyers not only took some to make up & cut and roll, but then they had to be tied with ribbons and a candy cane attached to each one. That is a very time consuming job as well, which some of the ladies worked on. I believe from the time many people went outside, until they got home and helped break down the float and got home to some warmth, 5 hours had passed by. Brrrrrrr...it was good to get home to a nice hot coffee, and to enjoy some fellowhip with some good friends. For me that was probably one of the best parts of the day, getting out amongst friends, and being able to just forget about everything else and have some fun for a little while.
Tomorrow is the big Toronto Santa Claus Parade and I'm looking forward to watching it from the comfort and warmth of my home on the television!

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Saturday, November 05, 2005

digital camera's

Ok, I don't know how many people might be reading my blog, but I'm wondering how many of you happen to know things about the digital camera's. If someone is interested in starting out with one, what advice would you give them and what would sort of things should a person look for in a digital camera? Once you have the camera, what other expenses are also involved if you want to use the pictures and put them on your computer?
Any advice you have would certainly be helpful......

Painful days...

Ok I'm sitting here once again, just taking things "one day at a time", or better yet, today I've been trying to take things one moment, or one hour at a time, and waiting for this day to end, and hopefully to wake up to a much better one tomorrow.
I've been having not only 'one of those days', but several of those days lately where for me, the pain has been so great, and all over that it's such an effort to get around. I know it may seem to some that I'm just sitting here complaining about the pain, but if they had to live with the constant, everyday pain, for years, and years, knowing that it will never likely go away, then I think perhaps others might be writing about their pain too. If I stand for any time my legs and esp. my knee's are throbbing with pain. If I sit too long, they are still hurting, and weak and it's all I can do to just stand up and get around. Even sitting here, I'm not sure where I hurt worse. My fingers, my hands, my arms, my neck, my head, my chest, my ribs, my back, my stomach, my legs, knees, feet......
Some days the pain is not as bad as others, but those days seem to be few & far between. Lately the pain has just been so constant, and never ending, and bad. Right now I can't even touch my sides as they are so painful. My fingers and hands are stiff with the arthritis that is in them, and tonight is one of those times when it does hurt to sit here and type. I just have to keep believing that there is a reason for it and for all that I go thro', and all that others much endure in their lives.
Sometimes it's really difficult to understand why bad things happen to us, or what we must go thro' the trials we are forced to endure. I suppose if I'm able to help someone else who has had a hard time then that is something I need to try and do.
I know I've put some weight on lately, so I fear that this is adding to my pain, and it's something I really need to try and do something about. I cannot continue to put on the weight, and eat things that will add to it. Somehow I need to find out what foods might possibly be aggravating things.
Right now I can't sit here any longer, so I need to say goodnight and try to move about, and loosen things up so I can get up the stairs...now that should be interesting tonight!