Puzzle time

It's become a Christmas tradition for the Lefebvres and Goldsmiths to do a puzzle on Christmas Day after the gifts have been opened. Last year we'd purchased a cheesy puzzle of Marco Island -way back in April. We left Cindy to finish it and she reported that it was missing a few pieces. She said she couldn't blame the damn cats though, since a few pieces from some other puzzle were inserted. Cheap!

This year I nearly forgot to buy a puzzle! Paul and I purchased it on Monday while doing some last minute shopping in Denver at an outlet mall. No missing pieces this year - it was a nice 1,000 piece puzzle.

Puzzle time was my favorite part of our Christmas trip. At one point Cindy and I were working on it and the kids and Paul were "resting", sitting in the living room nearby. Cindy and I were singing and laughing - driving the others bonkers I'm sure. We entertained ourselves though. It was a relaxing time - even Cindy took time out from cleaning up after the big Christmas Eve "sing-a-long" wingding at her house.

I don't know about you...but I find Christmas very stressful - and I don't even cook or entertain at home! There is such pressure for perfection, amongst the angst of loss. This is a time of year that many of us most miss our loved ones who have died. I think about Christmases gone by. What fun we had when I was a child - the excitement of the belief of the man in the red suit! That's what gets me through the super early build up of the season - knowing that the kids of today are amped up like I was.

I loved seeing our family. We arrived at our daughter Amy's place on Sunday afternoon - kind of a surprise as we'd failed to let her know we decided to drive out a day early. Hello Amy! She took us to hang out with her friends - fun! She and her girlies sang karaoke.

Feeling some Christmas spirit here...

I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of me with my Aunt Marty and cousin Amy. Doh! We stayed with Marty in Centennial, near my cousin's place. My cousin Amy Brownlee so kindly invited the fam over for chili - 2 kinds plus cornbread!

Niece Jordan and her girlfriend Jill were there, along with Brownlee's delightful children Matt and Kate. We got a brief glimpse of the new pup - a 6 month old yellow lab. It was great to see my cousin Richard too. Note: Post Christmas, All of the Lamm fam is in Mexico right now including the San Fran clan - my cousin David and his wife Lisa and 2 kids. Of course Aunt Marty is playing up the Matriarch thing! Hope they have a great time - I think Richard was making them all dress in their Broncos gear today...

Jordan, Jill, Amy

On Tuesday we were off to the mountains. There was a bit of snow to contend with once we got vertical.



Edwards

That night we ate Mexican with my sis Cindo. My endocrine gland and her eyeballs have been acting up and we were glad to see each other. Damn health problems! Good thing the things we have aren't life threatening. Phew! Next up for her - cataract surgery in early 2015. We drank margaritas. Jud and Kara arrived from St. Louis via the airport and rental car that evening. Yay - our gang was all there!

On the 24th, Jud, Kara, Amy and Paul all went skiing. Cindo and I ran errands. I took time later to shop in Edwards at my fave bookstore. That afternoon we attended a candlelight service and sang Carols.

Colby's GF Liv made the gorgeous cookies

The singing just warmed us up for what was to come....the Lefebvre party!

Fam photo 2014 - Amy, Jud, Kara, Paul

Liv, Colby, Cindy

We got out the music books that Bolder's mom sent him back in the 80's when they started these parties.

even Jud donned a grass skirt this year!

The party was a success! As much as it ever can be without the main attraction - Bolder. We sure miss that guy.

Christmas Day was nice - opening gifts at Cindy's place, eating little quiches and a new addition - Duffy Rolls from Denver. Uncle Bill introduced us to them - yummy. I received some cool and thoughtful gifts. Just right. Still...not as exciting as receiving a Johnny West or Secret Sam gun with a message shooter though...

Eric carves

We worked on the jigsaw puzzle noted above and it was very relaxing. The Goldsmith attended the movie, "Wild" - it is really good. Later we went to Pottorff's for Christmas din din. It was awesome as usual. Good food and friends. It was a great way to end our trip.



It's all over but the crowns - prizes after a fab meal

It was a snowy drive out. We ended up staying in North Platte on Friday night as the snow flew. We were glad to get home to snowless DSM. Especially Odie who found the tall snow in Vail daunting. My fam rocks!

Still Champs

Ron has a beard, Steve is on the right with mustache. Nobody has talking to Randy - by Paul, for a while

A couple Tuesdays ago I had occasion to be out of town the night Iowa State had a home men's basketball game. Paul and I have had season tickets for several years - ever since Fred Hoiberg took over the program, so even before we moved to DSM. They're fun tickets to have these days!

Paul had an extra ticket - so he reached out to his Creston buddies. One guy turned into three - and Steve Crittenden, Ron Riley and Jeff McFee (not pictured above as they won the championship during a year when Jeff lived elsewhere) made the road trip to Ames with Paul. The "gang" rode again.

This group makes up Paul's original Creston homies. I worked at First National Bank when we first moved to Creston and Steve was a Loan Officer (now he's in charge of the loan department - our former boss, whom I nicknamed "The Dickster" retired years ago). In 1987 I joined in a women's sorority with Steve's wife Barb and the two guys became friends and discovered their love of hoops. They formed a team and as you can tell - that year they were smart to stack it with youngsters!

I soon found out that "game night" wasn't just about the game. Oh no! The Elms Club followed - and oh the beer they drank. I truly believe it was then that we became Crestonites - learning the lore of the town. Me? I was home raising the children. No ill feelings at all. Right....Okay there was a little angst. But looking back, many good stories have come from those games and nights out.

Like the time Steve's nose was smashed by someone's wayward elbow during a game. Paul says it was flat on his face. He went to the hospital where they gave him some sort of treatment and he came back and played with tape on it. For City League! That's dedication.

Paul really enjoyed his reunion with those fellas. We see Jeff of course, but don't see Steve and rarely Ron. They arrived from Creston that afternoon and decided to go to Brick City Grill in Ames - the place that was voted "Best Burger" in Iowa this year. I had to chuckle when Paul related that Steve and Ron ordered the Farmer Burger:
1/2 pound patty
bacon
1 egg
cheese
and topped with a hashbrown patty
all on a bun!
I wonder if it came with Nitro Glycerin?

Steve always was a big eater...
After the game they stopped at the bar near Kelley (south of Ames) and had Chicken Gizzards. You only live once...and they got a week's work a fat in one day.

In the meantime - at my work trip I went to a restaurant in Davenport where I enjoyed Bison Meatloaf. They meeting I attended went really well and I got to see our former consultant, Laura Fiffick, who is now working for Burlington Northern SF - helping them to install an Environmental Management System at facilities across the county. We toured the Electronic Waste Facility at the Waste Commission of Scott County - where they're now pulling more recycled stuff out to refurbish. Very cool.

Derby Dance School of Psychotherapy

I took another water class at the Healthy Living YMCA this week. I do my best reminiscing in water. Go figure!

It was a type of yoga/stretch/dance class. While I was in an aqua ballet position, the song "It's a Beautiful Morning" came on the boom box the instructor, Yvette, had set up. It reminded me of a time I danced to that song in a leotard with a whole host of others. Prior to the dance recital performance I had trained under the gracious tutelage of Janice Derby who ran a successful dance school in my hometown of Atlantic, Iowa.

I don't recall exactly why I signed up to be in dance in around eighth grade - ninth grade(?) I suppose it was because my friends decided to dance. And just like lemmings had they jumped off a cliff, I would have done so too. I signed up for ballet and tumbling along with my friends Robyn, Sherry and Theresa. I'm sure there were others but the 'ol memory machine can't bring them forth. During this time, sister Betsy also took lessons. There's a lovely picture of the two of us in our recital costumes posing - alas I can't find it. I wonder if Betso has something to do with that.

What I do remember is the classes. Janice Derby was a good listening ear, and my friends and I were full of teen angst. Some of our sessions ended up full of drama as one person or another (Sherry Smith) explained to Jan what the current goings-on were. I was more of an "onlooker" to the drama, but definitely was there. Who said what to whom and how high.

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

The big excitement was the annual Dance Recital. I only made it through one. Our group had two numbers. "It's a Beautiful Morning" and the tumbling routine was to the theme from Mission Impossible, where we wore a black leotard with a pink sequin belt and mask - hooha! Whenever I hear those songs I feel like breaking into those dances. I only know the beginning steps.

Of course the real star at the dance recital was older (a whole year) - someone who had been dancing for years - Pat Riggs. She did a solo dance to Witchy Woman. (I might have made song name up but it seems right...she was a graceful dancer, that girl.)

As I completed my water class Wednesday, I thought too of my friend Theresa who is no longer with us. What a kind soul she was - and I feel I didn't really get a chance to know her. Because I was such a kid when I was around her - and she was just there. I took her for granted like I did all my friends back then.

Today I know better. I cherish my friends and am not afraid to admit it. I don't have Janice Derby in my life as a therapist - but those friends - they do pretty well!

Giving is the best feeling

Sure, I remember going with Mom to purchase birthday gifts for my friends' parties. Piggy banks, porcelain cats and horses, toys - we bought it all. Sometimes we forgot to get a gift and at the last minute, Dad would produce a little robe/nighty combo from his lingerie sample bag. No, my father wasn't a cross-dresser. He was a lingerie salesman. Robyn recalls receiving such a nighty. I wonder if we gave her a pack of cigarettes to go with it? haha

But the first actual gift I remember buying all by myself was a Christmas gift for my mother. I must have been around 12 years old - at the age when I realized I could do this. She had mentioned that she needed a new wallet and I wanted to get it for her - without help!

In my hometown, there weren't many options for wallets. I decided to go to Rex Pharmacy, right on Chestnut Street, to see what they had. The place had it all! Laundry soap, Playboy magazine (Laurie Reinertson and I had checked those out to see what the big deal was), perfume, electronics, jewelry and wallets. Plus medicine.

A sales clerk very carefully showed me the selection of wallets. I knew what Mom's present wallet looked like. I wanted to get one shaped like that. I had my eye on one that was made of real "kid" goat skin. It was something like $15 - a lot of money back then. But I was a miser and had been saving up. I purchased the wallet and had the clerk gift wrap it. (I'd not yet met Mr. Paul Goldsmith, gift wrapper, supreme).

I was so excited for her to open the gift - so proud of myself and my purchase. Pleased that I would finally be able to show Mom how much I care for her and how much I appreciated all she did for us.

I don't really remember her reaction when she opened the gift. I wasn't adept enough at reading others' reactions to know whether or not I'd chosen wisely or not back then. So maybe I blocked it out because she didn't. Or maybe I just got carried away with my own gifts in the moment. But I do know that Mom used that wallet for years to come, and that made me happy.

Giving - the gift that keeps on giving!

Christmas Anticipation

When I was a kid we always had an Advent Calendar during the Christmas season. Oh how I loved opening up those little paper doors.

Each one meant we were a little closer to that special day - presents! We distracted ourselves in the meantime helping Mom decorate Christmas cookies (and eating a few along the way). She'd pack the cookies into Lorraine Lingerie boxes and load them into the large upright freezer in the laundry room. Later, Mom would find empty spots on the wax paper where cookies should be.

Recently Ted Simpson posted a picture of cookies his mother, Sue used to make. I recognized them because our moms were in clubs together and would do an annual Christmas cookie exchange. I always looked forward to eating fudge.

We had an ancient gingerbread house that Mom would decorate with each year. We would use the little figurines like Rudolf and elves. We'd have fun playing with them and re-arranging the "angel hair" which was really fiberglass. I'd stare at the presents already under the tree with my name on them endlessly. What could be in there? Shake, shake.

If we were lucky there was snow on the ground and we'd drag out the Flexible Flyer sleds and the aluminum toboggan. My mother was a saint to put up with the in the house out of the house, boots on, boots off action. Mittens and hats went on the big industrial sink in the basement when they were sodden with snow. Back then we had rubber boots that we wore our shoes in. They weren't that warm.

These days the countdown to Christmas is not nearly as exciting. There's no Advent Calendar - just my Google Calendar. The big excitement is getting to see my family - cousins and aunt in Denver and Amy, Jud and Kara at sister Cindy's in Vail. Nephew Colby will be there too along with our pals Bonnie and Eric and the rest of the gang who attend the Christmas Eve bash at Cindo's. Hugs from each of them are better than any present I ever received. I did love my GI Joe jeep though...

Reconnecting with Bobbie and Jeff

My grandfather was a gentleman farmer. Wallace Bullock used some of the proceeds of his job selling children's clothing across Iowa to purchase several small farms around Atlantic. I remember riding with him in his Volkswagon bug (a real farmer's vehicle...) to visit his tenant farmers. We'd smell the hogs (before confinements) and scrunch up our noses. Bubba (our name for our granddad) would say, "That's the smell of money"!

That is not the way our friend Jeff McFee, a cattle farmer work it. He's a real farmer, often working 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold. This year Bobbie and Jeff had a vacation in September and when they got back it was harvest time. He's been running ever since. I'm glad he took some time off to hang out with us.

Paul and I started out yesterday fairly early at our fave breakfast place, the Waveland for sustenance for the day. We had lot of errands to run. We arrived home to watch the Cyclones get their injury-ridden tails whipped. Prior to the game, Paul dug out Christmas lights for the front and back of our town home.

Clark Griswold, Jr.

During the game, to distract myself, I heaped ornaments on the dainty Christmas Tree in our living room. Bobbie and Jeff arrived later in the afternoon after a bit of shopping. It had been many weeks since we'd seen the two of them so we had a lot of catching up to do.

I'd made reservations at Ohana Steakhouse. It is a Teppanyaki cooking house - where they cook on a big hot griddle in front of you. It's fun to watch and we had a good chef - he was quite intelligent and witty. And a good cook! My scallops with lemon sauce were delish.

Bobbie and Jeff check out the veggies

  It was a fun night with our longtime pals. We retired back to our place...and all had a hard time keeping our eyes open while the evening football game played out.

On Sunday we attended the ISU Women's game against Stony Brook University, thanks to free tickets from McFee's daughter Kristina. We met their other daughter Kim for lunch at the new Wallaby's. There I ran into my high school classmate Jeff Becker and wife Sharon with their son. Small world department. We made fun of Roger Underwood. haha

The Cyclones made the game closer than it should have been - but pulled it out in the end. Phew! One place we couldn't go this weekend was the best dive around - the Locust Tap. It's out of commission, shut down by the health department. I have high hopes that all problems will be remedied by the slumlord soon!

Health update: the shoulder continues to improve, I continue to take Methimazole to block the thyroid - I will have another blood test soon to see how the hormones are doing. I feel much better than I did prior to being diagnosed. Graves Disease is a journey and I'm now a warrior on that path.

Long time no post

I know, I know...I haven't posted all week. It's been chock full of activity!

• Paul and I attended the last ISU Cyclone football game. It's been another rough season, but somehow we seem to have fun. After all - we're hardy Cyclone fans through thick and thin.

• I got to see an old friend at the game - Kathy Cornwall Francis. Plus a couple other A-town peeps - Mark Johnson (in high school we called him Chauncey - now he's a doc in Atlantic) and his wife Pam. Their sons play in the fabulous Cyclone Varsity Marching Band.

• My college roommate Jane Flack and her sis Susan met me at the game. I always love to see those ladies - they make any conversation more fun.

Better football days - from the Iowa Game - at the Keg Stand...Jane is behind me and Susan over my shoulder

• After the football game, Donnie, Paul and I met Todd Stofferahn and Matt at the bar just south of Ames. Jane and Susan stopped there too.
• There I got a message that my sis Cindo had suffered a torn retina in Vail, Colorado. Ugh! She had surgery on Tuesday this week in Denver and is sidelined there until next Tuesday. Daughter Amy has helped chauffeur her along with sister Susan. The tears (there were 2) was spontaneous. This is aging thing sucks! I'm thinking of her as she recovers from this injury, poor kiddo!
• Sunday I got some Christmas shopping done. Crowds weren't bad. Paul got our 2 foot Christmas tree out - I've yet to decorate it. I'm not a big decorator. #Scrooge.
• Monday Paul and I attended the Diamond Brooke (our townhouse association) Christmas party at Bravo restaurant near Jordan Creek. I kind of talked Paul into going and we both ended up having a very nice time. There were 20+ people there - some were around our age, some older.
• Tuesday was our baby boy Patrick's birthday. It's hard to believe it's been 23 years since we experienced his short life. Even though it's been a long time, I felt emotional that day - thinking of what life might be like if he were around.

Patrick George 12/2/91

• We attended an ISU basketball game that night. The Cyclones won.
• Wednesday night I had a work meeting at my old workplace at the former landfill - now transfer station between Afton and Creston. That sure brought back memories!

I'm sure you're all very busy too! It is that time of year. Let's not allow business overtake us. Okay?

Don't fail to allow failure

Are we a nation of Helicopter parents? This article in HuffPo has me scared. The title is, "Are We Raising a Generation of Helpless Kids?"

A couple of the stories in the article have me shaking my head. What have parents come to? We're afraid to allow our children to fail - paving their way through life until...when? How will they react when something doesn't go their way?

One story in the article is about a college freshman who receives a C- on an exam and right in the middle of class, she calls her mommy who wants to speak to the prof. He declined. Pat Bullock wouldn't approve. She believed in the school of "hard knocks". You deal with it. Mom did have her limits.

She picked me up when I didn't get any bids to be a sorority girl at ISU. Mom knew when to swoop in when necessary. (I guess Betsy's car getting nailed before her early morning in-home nursing visit in Omaha didn't qualify - sorry Bets). Staying in Ames would have left me hanging in the wind all weekend at the dorm while the other girls I went through rush with were getting ready for their welcoming ceremonies - torture. I don't remember the ride back to Atlantic for Labor Day weekend, but I'll wager it was painful for both of us.

Mom had encouraged me to go to Ames for Rush Week. I was a Kappa Kappa Gamma legacy! She loved her sorority experience at the University of Iowa and remained active as an alum. Cindy also loved KKG at Drake. Neither of Mom nor I knew what was in store - that the Iowa State University Greek system was at an all time high in popularity. That this little somewhat introverted SW Iowa bumpkin without the hair fixing gene was ill-equipped to face the gauntlet of rush.

While getting ready for the tours and parties - I started to "get it" - I wasn't a good fit for sorority life. I'd put my clothes on (I hadn't purchased a new wardrobe for this occasion) and a little eye shadow. Done! The other girls - oh the gyrations they went through and the beauty that emerged when they were through. I still don't know how to do that stuff, and obviously don't care to learn...it's not in my nature. Why would someone want to curl their eyelashes. Ouch! My makeup kit is a joke.

After my rejection from the Greek System - it was hard to return to ISU. But I sure wasn't staying in Atlantic! I bet Mom was fretting about it as she dropped me off again. Of course I wasn't thinking about her - I was all about me!

Dorm party - my roomie frosh Loraine on the left, Vic on the right and Jane in the back

The good news was that my pals Sal, Julia and friends I was soon to meet - Vicki and Jane, were not sorority girls. They lived on my dorm floor. It turned out better than okay for me - I met lifelong friends and did just fine without the Greek system. Thank goodness my mother didn't call the KKG main office and force them into admitting me into that house. I bet she considered it though...


My fro makes me taller than 5'10" Sally?

The next challenge was that D I got in Biology! Mom didn't call anyone then either. I figured out on my own how to change majors (several times - ending up with Fred Hoiberg's dad as my advisor), looked into (and rejected) the idea of going to a smaller school, and arranged for a tutor. It was all really hard to do. Doing all these things helped me grow up. My parents provided support to me in weekly phone calls (and cash). By spring semester I was getting As and Bs. I took Biology over and received an A my sophomore year. Still, as a third child and an introvert, it took me a long time to mature - many more years past college. Growing up is hard, even with supportive parents.

We parents do not like to watch our children fail. It hurts! Just like when they fall down - our urge is to rush in and fix it for them. When they were babies and took a spill - you could downplay it. Instead of rushing over you could say - from afar, "You're okay!" They'd often dust themselves off and keep on going. Real life can work like that - encouragement goes a long way.

Paul and I cannot claim perfect parent status. Just ask out kids. I swear they remember every parental "No No" I ever did, not thinking about the times I read to them, took them to the playground - the good stuff! But we did allow failure, and punishment when they were naughty. Again - not perfect but not helicopter.

In 1997, when I worked as Recycling Educator in Creston and my office was at Creston City Hall, the McFees and Goldsmiths took the children to the Lighted Christmas Parade. There was a soup supper at the Meal Site at City Hall. The kids got antsy and started running around. Amy and Krissy locked themselves in the City Council Chambers. That infuriated Kimmy and Jud who poked a plastic thing into the lock and snapped it off. Oops!

Jud and Kim HS Grad

The parents required them to apologize to the City Manager (the custodian was able to remove the plastic item) who gave them each a couple hours of trash pick up duty around City Hall as penance. Lesson learned. (At least it made me feel better - haha.)

One other thing we held back on was talking to coaches. And our kids played about everything so there were lots of opportunities! Parents get too wrapped up in this little microcosm of life -we were guilty too. We talked about sports too much at home - in front of Amy and Jud.

Coaches (and teachers) are like bosses - you're going to have good and bad ones. Kids need to learn to deal with them. It will help you later in life. They shouldn't have to put up with abuse, but when it comes to playing time - let them deal with it.

I believe in people being accountable for their actions. Too many parents today are trying to find ways to hold others accountable for what their kids do. How will that help them succeed in life?  I'm preaching to the choir here - I just wanted to let you all know that you're doing the right thing. It's not always easy. But it's right.

Water therapy Reminded of Sally's Pool

I always go to water - in good times and bad. Water is my happy place, my solace, my cure. Perhaps is started long ago with amniotic fluid - or maybe it was the Country Club swimming pool. My grandfather, Wallace Bullock, was the first person hit the water in that pool. I doubt he ever got in again, but he made sure to be first. I think he was on the committee.

And Pat Bullock certainly kept the rest of us in the H2O ever after that. I've written about my escapades as a lifeguard and on Atlantic's Swim Team. I'm comfortable in water. I float! #notasinker

When it comes to rehabbing my shoulder and getting back in shape, water exercise just makes sense. Warmth, resistance, and my mecca - all the best for me. I was exercising in the warm water Thursday night...and the Wayback machine drove by. No...I didn't see those pods like the movie Cocoon.

Sally Rodgers - probably age 12ish. Post braids

The Wellness YMCA keep  the water warm - much like the water at a pool I spent much of my childhood in. One owned by the Rodgers family - Wayne and Anna Day, parents of my pal Sally. Last night I pre-occupied my self with thoughts of the Rodgers' house and pool as I put myself through water aerobics paces.

When you're the third child your parents don't really notice when you're gone. Sal was the youngest in her fam - bit spoiled, really. She'd invite me to spend the night - and sometimes I'd be there all weekend. I guess I was an easy kid to have around hanging out playing board games, throwing snowballs and in the summer - swimming in the oval in-ground pool in the backyard.

One of the adults had to be available to "guard" us. (I be Marci loved that!) We spent hours in that thing - until we were wrinkled like prunes. Last night I thought about how we'd compete - seeing how far we could swim without taking a breath. We do backflips off the little diving board and practice flip turns for swim team endlessly.

Sally and I would pretend to be members of synchronized swim team - though that was left better to our friend Candice and others more graceful in the water. I think my sinking leg move was awesome though...in the privacy of Sal's backyard...

One birthday (she's a Leo - August) Sal held a pool party with boys and I broke out my very first bikini there. It was a far cry from the Atlantic Swim Team Speedo I was used to. #meethethegirls
I was blessed to spend so much time with Sally and the Rodgers. Anna Day was a peach and I got to know Wayne more later when I got a horse and he was my mentor. They were special people.

In the meantime - last night I did jumping jacks, cross country and various other under water exercises. Today - my shoulder feels good. And my mind feels good thanks to all those happy memories. See....therapy works.    

Magic 8-Ball/Steam Bath

One of my favorite authors this past couple years has been William Kent Krueger and his Cork O'Connor series of books set in northern Minnesota. That character, Cork, is a former sheriff solving mysteries with Catholicism and Indian faith thrown in.

Cork has American Indian relatives and friends. I especially enjoy reading about American Indian spirituality. There is a recurring character who is type of medicine man. When there is a most difficult problem - they do a "sweat" and heat up rocks - one rock is called "Old Grandfather" for a sweat lodge. The sweat causes them to have visions or dreams that help them have the grace to go through the hardship they're going through.

I think about this as I sit in the steam room at the Healthy Living YMCA after working out. Recovering from an illness is a spiritual experience for me. Before being diagnosed with Graves' Disease I wasn't sure I'd make it through what ever had me in its grips. That was partly the illness working on me - anxiety is one of the symptoms. Now that I've been diagnosed, I know that this illness is not curable, but is treatable - so I must get my mind around how I'll live well with it.

I've enjoyed having the steam room all to myself nearly every time I've used it this past week. It's dark - with the only light enters through the glass door. It's hot and steamy of course and periodically the "steamer" runs sending more delicious hot moist air into the room which is set up with two levels of tile benches.

I have started thinking of the "steamer" as my Magic 8 Ball. When I question something in my mind...if the steam starts - there's my answer! haha. No not really. But it is a therapeutic place.

Speaking of therapeutic, Judson David visited this weekend.  We didn't see much of Kara who was hanging out with college pals - fun times with longtime friends for her.

Jud went to the ISU game with us. We pre-gamed at Kari and Kevin's house before heading to the parking lot for a bit. I enjoyed meeting their son - he and Jud chatted. We saw Donnie and Marilyn and Dwight plus Phil. The weather was pretty darn nice for mid-November. Too bad the hapless Cyclones couldn't come through with the victory. It was like old times riding in the car with my boys - listening to their sports talk.

We enjoyed see Kara this a.m. before they headed back to St. Louis. Happy that they'll be with us at Christmas.

PT Graduation Day

Me and my shoulder are winging it after today. I graduated from physical therapy after making my last visit this afternoon. No, my shoulder is not perfect. But the two of us are ready to go it on our own - exercising at the YMCA and at home - working to strengthen my wienie noodle arm.

I'm going to miss Christine Young-Denny MPT and the folks at Penn Physical Therapy. It's not a fancy place. I picked it two years ago when my right shoulder froze because it's close to my office - right across the freeway, near Lutheran Hospital. The people there are very friendly - especially Tammy at the front desk. She reminds me of Pat Barkalow who I had the pleasure of working with at First National Bank in Creston. A total sweetheart. And Tammy remembers everyone's name - it's amazing.

I've had a closer relationship with Christine, my physical therapist, than with most other people these past couple months. We've gotten to know each other - chatting about our lives during my treatment. Sometimes she was applying an ultrasound device to my shoulder - a comforting touch to an area that was screaming for help.

I think she also tried to distract me with chatter during times she was torturing me. It was what my surgeon called "aggressive" treatment designed to prevent my shoulder from freezing up again. I'm afraid I was a wimp at times - less than a stiff upper lip. Christine handled this situation with grace.

And sarcasm. We share a birthday and that personality trait. I enjoyed hearing stories about Christine's family. Her son is a frosh at ISU and is a former high school hockey player. Her daughter is fifteen years old and sounds like a sweetheart. I shared information about my cherubs Amy and Jud - like how happy Paul and I were to hear that Amy and Jud saw each other every week when they were both at ISU during 2007/8. Then we found out Amy was Jud and his friends' booze connection. #siblinglove

Christine has helped see me through a really tough time in my life. She was calm, caring - and funny. She made sure that I didn't get shuffled off to other PTs, keeping me to herself. I thanked her today for her care and she simply said, "I love my job." What could be better than that! Hats off to all my relatives and friends who are Physical Therapists. Our nieces Karen, Annette, and our friend Stormy - the work you do is so important to those of us in need!


Karen - a recently scanned pic from a special day

Another recently scanned pic from a Gsmith Christmas - Annette & fam

Stormy - wedding pic

 

Now the work is up to me!

Yimka, Lycra, Big Buck

I joined the Yimka today. What? You don't know what that is?

If you were a friend of mine in college you might. It's part of my college lore. I was serving as lifeguard at Beyer Hall on the Iowa State University campus one Friday evening. Beyer was the big pool on campus back then and was busy. My responsibility was the shallow end - and lane one was, I'll say - ethnic. All nationalities were jammed into the shallow end, swimming with young children in various stages of dress.

Beyer Pool ISU

I was sitting there lifeguarding my ass off when a young Asian woman approached me with a question. "Where can I take sweeeming lessons?" It was a bit hard to understand her, but I caught on. I began to list places she could learn to swim. Being a Red Cross girl (thank you Betty Lou and Nancy Pellett) of course I mentioned that organization. And my roomie Sally Rodgers had worked for the City of Ames. The woman said, "what about the yimka?" Hmmm, what is this yimka thing I asked myself. Finally it came to me...YMCA! And ever since then - the Y has also been know as the Yimka to me and my pals.

Now that I'm feeling better it's time to start working out again. Last year I belonged to the Healthy Living Center YMCA in WDM and today I ponied up for that joint again. I planned to start slow and just walk today but when I walked through the door I knew I had to get into the water. It's like a siren to me - calling!

Good thing I took my swim suit along. Bad thing it's tight and Lycra! Sports bras and Speedo swim suits are like straight jackets for girls with wounded wings. I'm glad I selected a locker room bay that was empty besides myself for my gyrations. It was worth it! I didn't swim laps - instead utilizing the warm exercise pool with dumbells (tools not people). I showered, put on my other stuff and walked a mile later. It was good to be back. The shoulder is complaining a little - but not howling like it was a month ago.

Paul had a very good weekend! He took a very good buck deer on Saturday. The deer was a very formidable opponent and we give thanks for the majesty he brought to the timber. The meat will go to the HUSH program to feed the hungry as we already are using the meat from the doe he shot earlier. Paul respects his foe and enjoys the hunt so much. He spends countless hours in his tree stands and scouting areas to hunt. This is hunting as it should be. Congrats to my honey!

Ghost Story

We all have a few ghost stories in our lives. Paul and I lived in Creston, Iowa for 26 years - and that town has a few stories that we have adopted as our own. I've not been blogging about much lately - mostly because I've felt like crap! That doesn't mean I've not thought of you, dear reader. I've just thought of myself more. #memyshoulderi'msotired

Here's the good news - the fog seems to be parting. My shoulder has taken a turn for the better (about time, huh?). And I'm staring to feel like doing the little things - like cooking and blogging. Hey, what do you know. Maybe those T3 and T4 levels (thyroid hormones) are regulating. Hoohah!

Anyway - I've been thinking of this blog since Halloween. Creston has some scary lore. It's an old railroad town and just radiates with good stories. None of these actually have anything to do with the railroad...

When Paul and I first moved to town I worked at First National Bank. That was where I learned of the Haunted House on Higbee. I think the bank I gotten it back on a re-possession. The lore was a man had hung himself on the upper floor of the once impressive home in a nice older part of town. I imagined it similar to the house from the movie "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Loved that show! We used to drive by the place...just because it was creepy. Eventually some nice people bought it and fixed it up.

Next, when I was preggers with Judson David Goldsmith (but before we knew that who the little bugger would be) and Bobbie McFee was with child (Kimberly McFee), we learned of a creepy headstone at Graceland Cemetery just south of Creston. The story is that it was installed by an upset widow, who thought her husband was somewhat of a dick - so  made sure the tombstone was shaped like that piece of male anatomy. Goldsmiths and McFees decided to view this creepy appendage stone on a cold winter night after hanging out at the Cromwell Tap.

This is the cemetery entrance...not the special stone

Due to our pg condition, Bobbie and I weren't even inebriated. But we were under the influence of hormones... nonetheless it what creepy out there, looking at the stone at night. A few years later, in the light of day, I dragged some of my fam out there to see the thing - even posing Sarah Kohan with it. Creston Lore at its best!

As young Creston parents we'd heard our friends talk about an abandoned farmstead outside of Creston - Hooker's Farm. The Hooker family had evidently taken off in a hurry - leaving furniture and home furnishings behind - making it a great party house for youngsters. There are many stories about Hooker's Farm - but I just have one. The time the Goldsmiths visited the place.

Bob Hudek (RIP Bobby)

It was Bob Hudek's 45th? birthday - being celebrated at Nancy and Kenton Groth's house on Prairie. I'll admit it, some drinks were drunk. At one point we sang, "bare your butt Bob" and were treated to a nice Bob H. moon. It was summer and the kids were entertaining themselves. When it got dark someone suggested that we should visit Hooker's Farm!

We piled into several vehicles - kids and all - and drove up the long dirt lane. We had a few flashlights - not enough though. I know Amy was there but don't remember if Jud was. We were in the dining room and of course others tried to jiggle things and scare us. It worked! I believe the old place has now been razed. Several talented CHS grads made a CD called Hooker's Farm in the 90's.

Growing up in a small town might sound boring to big city kids - but we small townies find a way to make life exciting wherever we are.

Mr. Salty in the Bedroom

Paul walked out of our room Sunday with a perplexed look on his face carrying a jar of nuts. He wanted to know just why those crunchy legumes, a jar of Mr. Salty Peanuts, were in the bedroom. He looked a little jealous - though the lid hadn't even been cracked open!

I had to explain to my dear husband that my physical therapist Christine has assigned me some exercises for my shoulder. I decided I was ready to add in a bit of weight and looked in the cupboard for a soup can...but then I spied Mr. Salty. He is a nicely weighted plastic container with a waist so he, um, I mean it is easily gripped. Not to worry Pablo - you've not been replaced by nuts.

The cleaning crew came to our home today. I put Mr. Salty away in a drawer, but I did leave out a few more of my workout tools. I hope they don't think I'm kinky....

a rubber thingy on the door knob - glad it wasn't on the ceiling fan...

There is also a pulley and ropes on my dresser. All such fun stuff! My arm is doing about 172 degrees - not too bad.

Other health news: Today I went to Methodist for a blood test to see what those T3 and T4 levels are doing after 3 weeks on the Methimizole. It takes about that long for the thyroid to give up the stored hormones...so this is when I should start feeling the effects of the drug which is a blocker. I hope it's more like the front line blocking like the Dallas Cowboys rather than the ISU Cyclones.

I renewed my drivers license

I will be 65 years old when I need to renew it again. Yikes ya'll! Now that got my attention. I was able to renew online, so that was cool. For 8 years! How can I possible be 57 years old? Time is flying...I must be having fun.

It was a pretty darn good birthday as birthdays go when one attains this stellar age. For one thing, I planned a workshop for that whole day - ensuring that I'd have a captive audience. When I introduced our speakers I made sure to announce that it was the day of my birth - and that all 50+ people in attendance should be kind to me. They were!

Angie Clark from my office even took the time to bake a fab ISU cake that brought to the workshop. she broke it out at lunchtime and the whole gang sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I wasn't successful in getting them to do the polka version after that though. My pals Cory and Tom (our consultants for our EMS program) bought me a pretend drink after the meeting. Later I met Paul for a nice prime rib and Nick and John's in Waukee. He gave me tickets to a great musical - Book of Mormon. Good stuff!

Amy and Jud each phoned with well wishes - I always love to be Queen for a Day. Plus I received some nice greeting cards. I am a sucker for a good smart ass card.

My physical therapist got into the game and gave me a card. She and I discovered we share a birthday - which this year happened to fall on voting day. I didn't see her that day, but her office went with the theme and they all dressed in red, white and blue and posted "Christine" campaign promises around the office - in keeping with the day. Just like Iowa's new senator, at PT, Christine makes me squeal.

The rest of the week was pretty good too. My college roomie Vicki called - we talked for an hour of course - just catching up. We've known each other so long we can talk in shorthand, even if we haven't talked for a while. Love that girl.

Today my sissy Cindo called. On Veteran's Day it will be 2 years since her husband, our beloved Boldie, died. We miss him so.

Boldie - I bet he is watching over us...and yelling

Joan Collins massaged me

No...not her.

The masseuse Joan. My physical therapist told me about her masseuse who happens to have the same name as a famous actress. My last masseuse, moved to California. I've written before about my issues with my personal space. Once I find my touching "peeps" I don't like to change. I've only had a handful of hair stylists in the past 20 years. Most times I've been forced to switch by their moves - I've not left them because I've been unhappy - even if I might have been a little bit.

So...needed a new masseuse. This one made me feel comfy right away. And she has the hands of an angel. Her business is All About Massage on 86th and Douglas. Ahhhh. Just what I needed. Without the bitchiness of the actress - a gal we all loved to hate on Dynasty. My shoulder has been a bitch, lately just like actress Joan Collins. It needs some TLC so it starts treating me nicely.

Joan "angel hands"

Joan worked on it for an hour. It's amazing what those people do. She could tell exactly where the hurt was. Hats off to you Julia Hoilien - my High School classmate and friend who does this work each week in her hometown just outside Bolder, Colorado. There is such caring in those hands. I appreciate the work they do.

He's my Handy Man

A couple months ago Paul and I attended "Team Building", the Thursday after work gathering of federal and former fed NRCS workers. They meet for beverages at local establishments and shoot the breeze. Sometimes the DNR director even shows up...so I'm on best behavior when I go! That last time I attended, we learned that several of them were going to attend the James Taylor Concert November 1. Gary was in charge of getting tickets. We were IN. I'd never seen one of my all time fave musicians live.

I've loved JT, well forever. This week before the concert I kept thinking about one particular song - from the first James Taylor Album I ever purchased, "Handy Man." sweet song - young James

I was a lifeguard at Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic when that song came out. And I had to have it! It was one of those songs. You couldn't hear it on the radio enough - must own! I likely buzzed over to Omaha on my day off from protecting the world's children from drowning to purchase it - on the album JT. He had hair then. And mine was a semi afro...

I'd kinda had my heart broken that summer. That spring I'd met a guy at ISU. He seemed very interested in me. We'd been to each other's spring parties. As school wound down and I was studying for finals and starting to pack to head home for the summer, he sent a dozen red roses to me. I mistakenly thought that meant we were something! Then that summer, nothing. I wrote to him - with no response. Good thing my fab Sunnyside friends were there to distract me with parties and fun...

Sigh. Still I needed a song like Handy Man! I didn't know then there was a Paul Goldsmith in my future...a real Handy Man. Funny - a few years later, when I was married, Paul and I went out with a couple in Council Bluffs - and I found out the other gal had also dated this fella. At the same time I had! Cad. He prolly sent her flowers too.

James Taylor has a timeless voice. He told of signing his first record deal thanks to the Beatles in 1968. Look who is still touring and going strong at age 66. While he might not have the zing star power of the Beatles...he certainly has some iconic songs. I purchased the Best of James Taylor as a cassette and then a CD. Now he's on my iPod.

I like the "Steamroller" naughty version thank you! I remember listening to that with the kids in the car and thinking, "I hope they don't learn those words and sing "mfing blues" in front of somebody someday...".

Paul and I began our evening by meeting some longtime friends for supper and a drink downtown first. I had decided not to attend the ISU home game - thinking the chilly weather wouldn't be pleasant for my shoulder. Shivering and scar tissue - ouch (it's slowly getting better)! Painful ugly loss - ouch. I'm glad I didn't go to the game. It's been a long time since we've had a night out!

Deb and Larry Peterson met us at Three Olives (used to be The Standard). It was fun to spend some time with friends. We got the update on the big embezzlement scandal at a car dealership in Creston. Unreal. How do people think they'll get away with that? I feel guilty if someone gives me too much change...

We walked through the skywalk to The Well. There was a nice crowd at the concert and I saw Facebook posts showing several other people I knew were there to take in this great show.

JT played all my faves, plus some songs from a new CD. He talked about how many of his songs are "tree huggerish" I heart that! He ended the first set with "Shower the People you Love with Love". If only we'd remember to live like that every single day!

JT ended the concert with a couple encores. First he got us all up out of our seats to dance to "Mexico". The set of the concert was very cool - see above. 3 big screens and those posts could show videos too. Some of the songs had videos to go with them. For Mexico...we were there!

And then, of course, "You've Got a Friend". That song has been used for so many occasions through the years. James' wife came out for the last few songs. The final one was an Irish or Scottish folk song and it was gorgeous and a beautiful way to end the evening. Life is good.

Sundance Dad

My Dad, Dave Bullock, loved music. As Paul and I watched the 1969 movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" last night and the soundtrack played, I thought of him. Dad had that album because he loved Burt Bacharach. He played it on his Hi Fi system. "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" is a BJ Thomas song that even made it on the radio. I can just picture dad bopping around on the rug in our family room to the tune.

Regarding the movie. Though I enjoyed watching Newman and Redford, I found it somewhat slow moving. Is it because today's movies are different than older ones? I'm not sure. I need to watch some more classics. I did enjoy the music.

Dad was in charge of music at our house - before Susi became interested. He had an children's folk album by a group called the Limeliters. They were great. In a fit of nostalgia, I purchased their CD during one of my Music Buying Club frenzies in the 80's. Still loved it - and remembered many of the song words...though I hadn't heard them for nearly 40 years.
Limeliters Through Children's Eyes
(Amy and Jud will probably be tortured in the same way by music from Sharon, Lois and Bram's Elephant Show Music).

Dad wasn't Catholic - so Mom would take Susi, Cindy and me to church with our hats on (or doilies). It was pre-Vatican 2 don't you know). We'd come home to find Dad dancing with Betsy - her feet on top of his size 11 narrows. That looked like much more fun than church.

He loved Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. And he had another album with jungle noises on it. Dad had the single, Hello Mother, Hello Father. "Take me back, I hate Grenada!" He liked my Elton John music too - I can picture him jiving around to "Honky Cat", listening on my headphones. Groovy guy.

I bet you didn't know that my father was a musician. He had bongo drums. He kept them in the closet under the stairs. I can't say I ever heard him bop on those babies though. After a trip to Mexico he also came back with a bumpy wooden fish and stick. I call it a zither. The man lingerie salesman suppressing his inner Chick Corea!

Watching the movie last night made me miss my daddy.

Dad and Mom dancing - Christmas - 1979?

Fright Week!

Oh...you thought I meant Halloween? I suppose. I was really talking about reading the Graves' Disease Facebook Page. My God...one could go mad reading all the information online about illness. My sister Cindo is right. She said Boldie's doc told her as much. Don't read about this stuff - it will drive your crazy. So why do I?

It's frightening. I've noted before on this blog that I graduated from the Evelyn Woodhead Speed Reading course (no...not really) and can therefore buzz through various topics and attached comments chop chop. In no time I've perused articles about the various diets and discovered that if one follows them, one may eat sea salt on spinach. Yum!

Seriously...in a book I ordered online, one chapter described a diet that ruled out fruit, beef, seafood, some veggies and greens. And of course sweets. Organic eggs could be introduced slowly. I began wondering if it might be easier to print the list of stuff one could eat....

I will change my diet. From all my reading, it seems like people with autoimmune disorders like Graves' disease often benefit from doing just that. I just need to figure out just what that should be! I've seen everything from Gluten Free to Paleo to the one described above where you really can't eat. More study is in order but I've identified a few things I can start already.

I'm supposed to cut out coffee. EEEK as Jane Buck would say. It's not like I'm a huge coffee swizzler, but I do enjoy a cuppa with creamer. Dairy? Soy? Iodine is supposed to be BAD. I've put the sea salt on the table - better than iodized. I need to hydrate more - tough for me. I am going to try to journal (shock! I am going to write. Don't worry - I am not going to Blog my Graves' Journal). At least not for now...perhaps it will prove fascinating.

So...back to Halloween. When I was a kid it was really fun! At our school we would walk home at lunch (like we did every other day) and return in our Halloween Costumes. Then we would parade through all the classrooms in Washington Elementary and the measly small gym where some of our parents were awaiting, beaming as we pranced by. I think I liked that day even more than pretend Christmas celebrations at school.

I only remember a couple of my costumes. One - was one of the only two things I know of my mother sewing. A black cat costume with a stuffed tail that dragged behind and a little hood with ears. She also sewed a clown costume but I don't remember ever wearing that. In the upper grades, I partnered with Chris and Paula to be Tom, Huck and Becky (I was Tom) and another year Paula and I wore my Dad's Korea army uniforms and boots. No guns.

On Halloween night in Atlantic, we'd fill paper grocery sacks with candy - going house to house in several neighborhoods. Returning home, I'd dump my stash on the floor and answer the door when a few stragglers came to our house Trick or Treating. The whole neighborhood was full of kids traipsing around in costumes - few as original as the ones people come up with today. Many were store bought costumes with cheapo masks. It was fun and all that sugar probably set off my Graves' disease today. LOL

My pal Robbie Dob phone me today - and pumped me up. Just what I needed - a former AHS cheerleader giving me a chance to talk about my recent downs and a pep talk! I'm so lucky to have so many great friends and family members who are there to help me get through this shoulder thing and to be there for me as I deal with Graves' Disease. Amy, Jud and Kara sent flowers to my work yesterday - there on my desk as I returned from physical therapy. Nice! Texts and Emails and visits with Susi, Cindy, Bets, Jane, Susan and seeing Deb and Mona - it all helps.

Indian Summer

It was the perfect Indian Summer weekend - on the last weekend of October! Bravo Mother Nature! Pablo was hunting Saturday a.m., so I thought I would attend the last Farmer's Market of 2014.

I hadn't been there five minutes before my tailgating pal Kari Ehrecke hailed me. She was there with some biker chicks - they were going to ride bikes at Neil Smith Nature Area after checking out the Market. It was a beautiful sunny day - already about 60+ degrees at about 9:15 a.m.

I walked another block and heard my name again. This time it was Kristina McFee Carroll, standing on the corner where the Bail Bonds office used to be - I miss the Monopoly sign! Krissy was on the phone talking her mom Bobbie in from her parking spot. Yay - I was joining a McFee girl get-together! Kimmy joined us a bit later. It was fun catching up with my friends. I purchased some Dutch letters and headed home about 11 a.m.

Saturday afternoon I had a chance to catch up with another long-time friend, Jane Buck. She's been laid up with a blood clot in her leg. We had a grand time trading stories and sharing memories - that gal has a steel trap of a memory. Plus we swapped medical histories. It hasn't been pretty for either of us lately. But we're determined to get better!

Not our prettiest picture...but we're still here

Paul and I had a quiet night Saturday. He enjoyed watching the baseball game. I got a kick out of a pic Jud and Kara sent - they were ready for a Halloween Party they were going to - as a Double Stuff Oreo.

There was a later pic of Jud in his Oreo watching the Giants game. That made me laugh out loud. That's my boy!

Sunday Paul headed to South Dakota to hunt pheasants with his college pals Mike and Tom. He's known them longer than he's known me! My Aunt Marty will be happy if he gets one or two - and gives them to her! She likes to cook them up.

Sunday broke as another beautiful day. Paul and I started it at the Waveland. Best Game In Town.

 He left just before noon and so did I - heading to Madison County to meet my BFF Deb for a get-together for her birthday. It's been to long since I saw that girl! We lunched and then took a walk at Pammel Park SW of Winterset, talking non-stop. As with all good friends, we took up like we'd never been apart. I'd run over to Cheesecake Factory (they're our neighbors) and picked up a couple slices - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for her and Tiramasu for me. We ate that before we each headed home. It was a great afternoon! Except Paul was gone when I came home. Good thing Odie was here.


It was so quiet I called Amy and Mary Faber. I'm about talked out. Time for bed!

What a Circus

The Ringling Brothers Circus was in Des Moines last week. I saw pictures of my grandparent pals on Facebook with their grandkids - smiling and enjoying themselves. It made me think back on my experience with circuses. (real ones - not my life)

When I was a youngster, the Atlantic Girl Scouts took me to see the Shrine Circus in Des Moines - the Big City! We had to hold onto a rope on our way into Vets Auditorium. I believe my friend Robbie Dob was also there in her little Brownie dress. Sure there were elephants and flying acrobats. My most exciting moment? Purchasing a little plastic "zip" gun. You pulled the trigger and it looked sparky at the barrel and went zing, zing, zing! I loved it.

When I was about 10, our family went to Florida a couple summers to visit my mom's parents who had retired to Dunedin, Florida from Cedar Rapids. Mom took us to see the Ringling Brothers Circus Museum in Sarasota. I don't remember much about it except it was big and interesting. I probably had a sloppy snow cone and cotton candy too.

Doesn't Paul look dapper with a sweater around his shoulders?

Then next circus I attended was years later. The Carson and Barnes Circus was making the rounds in Iowa. Dad ran right out and got tickets for our fam - but not for him. So we drove to Atlantic and attended the circus. The tents were pitched at the airport. Amazingly, it was good - not rinkydink as I was expecting. Amy and Jud enjoyed it too.

How about clown cars? I don't really like/appreciate clowns. They're creepy. When the kids were young there was a nun in Creston that would dress up as a clown. Nice try Sister JoAnn. Your heart was in the right place but...creepy. Clowns at circuses are creepy x10 or more...

May in the next couple decades I'll make it to another circus.

Non Goiter Graves

Les
 

The good news...what I have is curable with treatment. And I don't have a goiter. Or any kind of growth according to Dr. Doelle, the doc I saw Monday at the University of Iowa Specialty Clinic. He reminded me a little bit of Les Nessman, the nerdy guy on the retro sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. But he inspired much more confidence.



Dr. Doelle

I liked Dr. Doelle. He spent quite a bit of time with Paul and me, answering all our questions. I'm afraid I got a bit emotional - it's been a long few months a feeling kinda crappy ya'll. Describing my symptoms made me sad. Dr. Doelle listened carefully. I could see his wheels spinning as he considered just what the hell might be wrong with me. He wanted to get another blood test before making his final diagnosis. But it was looking like Graves' disease.

That's a scary word - disease. So when Dr. Doelle called me today after I got home from work to confirm the diagnosis, he was sure to reassure me by saying, "this is curable with treatment." First with a prescription - Methimazole. Long term I'll likely need to decide the best way to kill my thyroid - with radioactive pill or with surgery. Then I'll replace my thyroid with meds.

I'm looking forward to feeling better! I'm sharing this so that if any of my relatives or others have symptoms...they will not waste many months feeling crazy and lost as I did. Dr. Doelle said this is hereditary in the sense that it was probably in my body...and then something set it off. Like many things - they don't know why. My symptoms are:

• frequent bowel movements - which had been coming on for a while. But it's gotten ridiculous. I had even tried to Google that...but came up with nothing. I didn't try to get medical help until I got painful cramps to go with them.
• pounding heart - mine has been masked since I take the Beta Blocker Atenolol for migraine prevention. I can hear it in my ears. It now still beats funky sometimes.
• poor heart tolerance - I thought that was just menopause
• swelling legs - that has been infrequent, but scary when it happened
• anxiety - I was sure I had bowel cancer, and spent many hours worrying about that. I've always been a fretter, but not to that extent
• sleep problesm - not sure about that. I slept pretty well until this should froze...
• Muscle cramps - is that what caused my abdominal problems? I've had feet cramps that are very painful.
• There are other Graves' symptoms that I've not had, thank goodness 

After my appointment in Iowa City, Paul and I walked around Kinnick Stadium. They grow corn there by the stadium. It's actually right by the hospital. I remember attending a few games there - some long ago, when I was actually a Hawkeye fan!

Here I am making a C for Cyclone - just in case you didn't know...