I love my 'job'

In order to make enough money for my art and craft supplies, I do some ebay. Sometimes it is fascinating. Just this week, for example, I am mailing packages to Estonia, Brunei Darussalem, Ireland, England, Australia and New Zealand! Talk about virtual travel!

I enjoy using old newpapers for packing filler, imagining that they might be of interest to people in other countries.

I also enjoy chatting via email with them. The woman from Brunei Darussalem in particular has been wonderful to 'talk' with :-} I hadn't even heard of her country before she bought some of my books.

I had some disappointing news today, the time allowed for a response on my SSD has expanded to 22 months, which means I probably have another year to wait. It could be worse. I recently heard of one woman who was granted SSD and received checks for 5 months before the government changed thier minds, and then to top it off asked for all the money back. Where is she supposed to find it, I wonder?

It cheers me up to have ebay to do. I started working (and paying into the Social Security fund) when I was 12 years old and worked for 6 weeks every summer detassling corn for Dekalb. Although I never made much money per hour at any job, I've almost always HAD a job for 30 years. I am glad that, although I don't make enough money to survive, at least I help with the household expenses as best I can, put a little into savings, and pay for my 'fun stuff'. I know Oscar would do whatever he could to make certain I had art supplies or anything else I might want, but I'm glad he doesn't have to. Right now he's working 12 hours of overtime each week, to put toward the mortgage.

Our goal is to pay off as much of our bills and mortgage as possible, sell this house, and move to a house with Universal Design. I am able to save $50 to $150 each month from ebay, directly into the savings account. If we can hold out for another year, and if SSD comes though, it will make a huge difference in our lives.

Small 'steps'

A few weeks ago I got my ADA transport card. This means a bus will come pick me up when I order it and take me anywhere in town for $2. Home again for another $2. (The getting home part is important, eh?)

Today, I looked up information on the wheelchair-accessible pool we have here in Washtenaw county and found out there is a $50 discount in membership to the recreational facility because I'm disabled. Then I called to ask my Doc for a note of disability, which should arrive in the mail by next Monday. Either Ebay will come in or Oscar will get paid by the 4th to pay for the $135 yearly membership. So, all things considered I can start swimming once a week (more often as I gain strength) within the next 2 weeks!

I am excited and nervous. But its a matter of life and death for someone of my weight. That's worth a little discomfort at being seen in a swimming suit. I'd probably feel more comfortable naked. But I'm weird like that, and it could get me arrested in public, so swim suit it is :-} Maybe if I dye my hair flourescent Pink it will distract viewers?

Grandma Dorothy Miller

I happened to catch a few minutes of Mitzi Gaynor doing the Charleston on TV tonight, and suddenly I remembered my Grandma Miller teaching me the steps when I was pretty small.
I remember prancing around for the back and forth steps and practicing for what seemed like hours to do the trick of my hands passing in front of my knees. I asked her to do it again and again, fascinated by the slight of hand making the knees look like they were hinged on the sides instead of in front :-}

Grandma Miller died last summer, but I still have a lot of her in my life. I was blessed by living so close by when I was growing up.

I used to spend almost every saturday night at the brick house she built herself. I'd crawl around on the floor, helping tie up one of probably hundreds of comforters meant for gifts she made through the year. Then we'd watch Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart (in that order) and I remember laughing so hard my belly hurt the next day.

She also had a currant bush in the back yard, and I helped her make currant jelly. That's why my currant bush is special to me. Every time I look at those beautiful rich red droplets ready to pick, I think of her. She also helped foster my love of gardening, especially my love for peonies.

I loved all my grandparents. I lost three of the four last summer (Grandpa Miller died first, several years ago). I was damned lucky to have them in my life so long. Ooops. I meant darned. Sorry Grandma.

Wonderful Gift

Someone just gave me a gift today. She asked if I'd heard of the 'Spoon Theory'.
My mind ranged ideas from cooking to healthy eating to some weird method of explaining the cosmos, but when I looked it up online, I found something that touched me, and made me feel less alone. I've pasted a quote below, but I urge you to read the entire story here at But You Don't Look Sick
Finding the website is another gift. I'm hoping to find coping tools :-}

Its hard, the hardest thing I ever had to learn is to slow down, and not do everything. I fight this to this day. I hate feeling left out, having to choose to stay home, or to not get things done that I want to. ... When other people can simply do things, I have to attack it and make a plan like I am strategizing a war. It is in that lifestyle, the difference between being sick and healthy. It is the beautiful ability to not think and just do. I miss that freedom. I miss never having to count "spoons".

New goals..

I've almost stopped quilting, spending most of my time doing ebay with some knitting thrown in. We have a new goal, to pay off as many debts as possible including paying down the mortgage as fast as we can to put ouselves in the best possible financial situation to move.
We aren't as loaded down with debt as many folks, but it will be good to have even those off our backs.
I need to face that at the rate of deterioration, even losing weight, I will ikely not be able to walk much at all within the next year or two. I've lost at least 30% of my mobility in the past year. Last summer I was able to mostly keep up with the garden, for example, and cook a few times a week. Until things are set up for the wheelchair, cooking's on hold. Mainly it involves getting things moved out of the livingroom again, but with Oscar working so much overtime, its hard to get done. It WILL get done, though, probably Thursday or Friday. Maybe we can just move one item each week.
After we get our debts paid down we will look for a universal design home, either here, if Oscar is happy with his job, or somewhere in the southwest. So. Its good to have goals. Between Oscar's overtime and my Ebay efforts, it will happen.

Ypsilanti is Odd

We have a lot of religious establishments in the area. One has a very striking name. "Burning Bush Ministries". We received a flyer for it in the mail a few years ago, and being Pagans who practice skyclad with candles, and sing "Never set the witch on fire" (a jolly rollicking tune) at the drop of a hat, we did get a good chuckle out of it.

Now let me say up front that although I know very little about this particular group, I have every respect for many churches, especially those brave enough to get new groups started, and who follow thier chosen path to the best of thier ability. So when I first spied a beautifully done bill board a few days ago for Burning Bush Ministries, my first thought was "Good for them!" They obviously are doing well enough to still be around, and gathering worshipers. When I got closer though, and read the full sign, I'm afraid amusement won out.

Thier full slogan:
"Burning Bush Ministries, Anointed to Make a Difference"

Very Proud of my Sis in Law

Lynn has created a fantastic piece of art. Oh Wow, My words would never do it justice.

You can see it here

ColorJoy

PLEASE check it out.

OSCAR's Birthday!

Oscar is my beloved husband, and the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Today is his birthday, and we've been celebrating for a few days now :-}
He's off getting a Birthday massage, then going to see a movie with some work pals.

As you can see, the critters love him too :-}

Nervous

I have a doc appointment today, with the rheumatologist who says I don't have fibro but prescribed relafen.
I ran out of relafen more than a week ago, and the doc says I need an appointment before he'll write another 'scrip. Its been a long painful week.

So, he's a nice guy, but I really hate going to the doctor. I always feel as if they won't really understand that I have a high level of pain, because my manner disguises it most of the time. Its worse because he's already said I don't have fibro (but neglected to give me any other explanation for the muscular pain and symptoms)

(caution, may be TMI in next paragraph)

And I guess because I haven't had enough positive experiences with the medical community to offset the bastards who butchered my stomach back when they did both a hysterectomy AND a gall bladder surgery with the same long incision, then didn't warn me about hernias.

anyway, I'm nervous. My appointment is in 2 hours.

Another turning point..

Another turning point in the year. We've passed Summer Solstice and thoughts are more toward preserving summer for the cold days of winter.
Good friends might be moving away, so we hope to spend time with them on the 4th, to strengthen connections.
The yard is hopeless. I will do my best to weedwhack what I can, but the weeds will have a 'field day' *snicker* until I can clear them enough to mulch, or have someone else mulch. Or maybe get a goat. We are in the township, and I think Kitsu Dog would be highly amused. The goat would likely eat what I didn't want her to, though. There is harvesting to be done, but I'll save commentary on that for the Green Tendril blog.
Another good thing about desert living.. no weeds to speak of. And as we are conservasionists, no lawn to mow. Container gardening would be very doable!
Another turning point, Oscar has the opportunity to change jobs within his company, and we are SO hoping for that change! There is always stress, but the stress in the new position is both less, and of different emphasis. He would SO love this job!
I am past the worst of the heavy ebay week, but I am feeling the efects in energy level and pain level. I am very grateful for the money though, it will help get that new recliner, and pay off some bills.
This will be a low level ebay week coming up.
I enjoy ebay to some extent, I especially love shipping items overseas. This week, we have books heading to the Shetland Islands and Germany as well as Canada, New Zealand Austria and Australia. We've had inquiries about shipment to Taiwan and Argentina as well.
I enjoy thinking about where the books are heading as I package the auctions up.
Having lived overseas for a time (about 3 years in Japan) I like to imagine myself heading off with the books :-}
I wish the SSD money would arrive. Talk about a turning point!

Images: Young Grape Leaves, and a fountain. Both from House Bonsai where we'll be spending time on the 4th.