Heaven sent freedom prescribed

I used to blog so frequently. I think I had a lot more to say. Or, I had more time to say it. Or maybe more motivation to write it. I don’t know. These days, I just lack the interest in this blog that I once had. I mostly blame external factors, but there’s a large part of me that I can’t change right now. The part of me that dictates my moods right now.

I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my neck and migraines recently. The last few weeks, maybe months, I’ve been on a rollercoaster of migraines and general pain. It got to the point where I lost any hope to live a day without one. When you have a migraine for more than a day or two, you start to lose the hope that yes, it will go away. No matter how many drugs and natural remedies like wheat pillows and essential oils you throw at it, it never goes away. It’s always there bubbling under the surface. It’s easy to understand why you lose hope, why you just exist from one day to the next. Existence is not really living and over time, you start to feel that sleep trumps existence any day.

So, I slept. I’d get up for work, with the migraine firmly ensconced in my head and neck, drag myself to work, with limited productivity until I dragged myself home, ate dinner, was crabby for a few hours before I put everyone out of my misery and went to bed. I was so miserable. I stop being interested in pretty much anything I cared about before.

It finally got to the point where I realised that I was suffering needlessly and I made an appointment with my doctor. With migraines, you sometimes act without sense and you become paranoid. It’s part of the condition which I just learned recently. I had put the doctor’s appointment off because in my head, I had made the argument that my doctor would give me a hard time and wouldn’t prescribe the things I needed to get rid of the migraines. But I had to give it a try and see what happened.

The doctor took one look at me and asked two simple questions: “Do you have a migraine right now?” Yes. “How long have you had it for?” Over 10 days, on and off.

I walked out of the surgery with some hope. I have been prescribed a migraine preventative called Sandomigran and given a script for mersyndol forte in the event that they return.

That was last Friday. I have been without a migraine for about 10 days. Ironically, my last migraine was the afternoon of the first tablet. It was a really bad migraine which forced me to bed with two mersyndol fortes at 8pm. It was my last hurrah, as I’ve not had a migraine since. I’ve had auras and all sorts of other symptoms, but no migraine pain, as such. It’s so foreign to me.

The downside to the medication that I can see so far is it increases yours appetite and for some reason, I am finding it hard to wake up properly in the mornings and when I do sleep in, I feel really groggy and achy. It’s all very much trial and error right now, so I’ve got some options still. But to go this long without a migraine feels very surreal to me.

The culmination of no migraines has also been the delivery of our new chiropractic bed which has been heaven sent. I dont think I’ve slept this well in about six years, maybe more. It’s just weird!

So, as I’ve sorted out this problem, other problems can be focussed on and I guess that’s where I am at right now.

The painting at our house continues to occur. The June long weekend really proved productive, but Glen and I nearly killed ourselves painting the master bedroom. Two windows and an unreachable (in parts) wardrobe have proven difficult. However, it’s basically done.

Painting left to do:

• Bathroom, toilet, dining room/kitchen and laundry - all one colour
• computer room, which scares me beyond belief due to the amount of shit Glen continues to hoard in there
• Lounge room repaint - the original paint we rushed to get done on the weekend of settlement has never agreed with me and we’ll be painting over the offending walls - except for the lovely feature wall which stays

Then we’re done. It’s something I can’t quite believe, but it’s almost over if you look at it like that.  At some point, I’ll try to post before and after shots, but I might wait another week because I just lack the motivation and interest. See, this is where I am at - general lack of interest.

Stay tuned.

Home Improvements

Tiling!

Originally uploaded by Sams76.

Glen and I spent every single day of our Easter weekend focussed on finishing the crappy bits of our kitchen. The biggest hurdle was getting the tiler in to put the tiles on the walls. We’re very pleased with the end result and it looks awesome, as you can see.

This will be a brief entry, but what we managed to get done was:
* Paint the external door inside and out
* Paint the architraves and internal doors
* Cut pieces for the skirting boards and paint them
* Clean out the computer room and replace all the books that Aella and Midgy felt needed to be stowed under the bookshelf or behind it
* Mowed the back lawn
* Did all the washing
* Watched every episode of Lost, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica and Gilmore Girls

Really enjoyed my weekend. It felt productive and even though I was tired after it, I felt good.

More pictures later when I’ve got the camera software sorted on my machine. Glen had to blow away my laptop over the weekend and I just got it back tonight.

House Warming Invitation

House Warming Invitation
Originally uploaded by Sams76.

Glen and I are getting close to finish out kitchen! Yay! Today, we got the range hood installed, which is a bit of a huge feat for us. Now, all that is left to do is install the pantry light, finish the cornices and paint the architraves and feature wall in the adjoining dining area.

Anyway, if you are in Melbourne and you know me fairly well, you are probably welcome to come. If that’s the case and you are free, email me or leave a comment. I don’t expect anyone will want to come that I already haven’t invited, but you never know

Update only

Just a bit of an update.

Friday, I got fitted with my orthotic innersoles at the podiatrist. He’s very optimistic about my future. Apparently the arches on my feet collapse, which places pressure on my knees, which in turn puts pressure on the muscle which connects to my hips and then gives me migraines because of the pressure it places on my spine. So, I suppose if I got my feet sorted out, maybe I won’t get migraines? It’d be nice.

As usual, the weekend flew past without feeling like much was accomplished. Oh sure yeh, we accomplished a fair bit. Cleaned the spare room, unpacked some boxes, filled the garbage bins, drilled some holes etc.

Same old shit.

Bah Humbug…

Sorry for the lack of posting. I’ve either been busy or sick, or both. The weekend has kinda come and gone, and am pleased to say that Glen and I got a lot done around the place.

We had a curbside collection this week, so got into the garage and cleared out all the junk. We filled the curb with kitchen cupboard doors, bits of crap wood, some old exercise equipment, dodgy suitcases and various other crap. It was very cleansing and what resulted was a garage which no longer barely fit two motorbikes in it but can also fit a car in it, with ease.

On a completely unrelated topic. Melbourne had gale-force winds last week and over the weekend. Whilst out driving, our car was hit by a random rubber tyre (yeh, wtf?) and then a poor galah, battling to maintain control of his flight path, smashed straight into the side of our car. It was terrible. The poor thing died instantly.

Sprinkled through my weekend and the last few days have been the odd migraine, sore back and cracking floor boards. Yes, floor boards - they are cracking - big fat cracks right through them. Very unsettling, but am told it’s fairly benign.

Anyway, this is a boring post. Sorry to click the publish button, but it saves discarding it. Bah humbug.

Progress for the Impatient…

We’ve had a hugely busy weekend, but very productive. Finally, finally the sink has been stuck in - literally. Glen got the silicone glue gun out and stuck that sucker right into its big fat hole! Yay! The cooktop has been plonked into its hole, newly created for it on the weekend. Whilst I was sleeping last night, it was magically stuck in place by the cooktop-sticky-fairy! Amazing! Plus, the oven has been sat in its hole, but is not quite secured. However, it is working and lovely bright red numerals light its display.

All is right with the world - almost

It’s Monday night here, so on Wednesday, Mr Plumber Man will be visiting us in our lovely house to install the mixer tap, connect the gas to the cooktop, connect the dishwasher and fix up the trap under the sink. Yay! Hopefully by the weekend, we’ll be cooking on the cooktop and baking in the oven, plus cleaning all the dishes in the dishwasher!

In other news, I had my talent discussion today. Basically a review of where I want to be, what I see my strength as and what I think I need to get to the next level. My boss, whom I have worked with before seems to have great confidence in my abilities (he’s good for the old ego!), so it was quite shocking to hear him say that he couldn’t see anyone more perfect for his role than me, ie: when he moved on, he wanted me to replace him. This is a great hononur, but what is more pleasing is to know his manager holds me in high regard and sees me as the next manager of the team. Very pleasing. Anyway, my manager basically said that he would undertake to give me more work to do - more of his work every now and then, to get me familiar with his role and he would take more time to mentor me. So, the glass ceiling isn’t as close as I thought it would be.

Anyway, still a very tired chicken here. So, off to have my evening shower and prepare for bed. Yes, I am a nanna.

Productivity

My Weekend…

Friday night : No, we won’t purchase any kitchen appliances because we can’t afford it and it’s too annoying to bother looking.

Saturday afternoon : Maybe we should look at some stores and see what we can get when we do have enough money?

Saturday night : Let’s go out tomorrow and purchase just the oven package and leave the dishwasher to another time.

Sunday afternoon : Totally demoralised at Hardly Normal and Goofy Guys, we rock up to Retrovision assuming they’ll give us the same story - “Sorry, but that package isn’t that cheap anymore”.

Sunday evening : Feeling smug as Retrovision beats original package price by $120. Deposit has been paid, oven package arrives in about a week. YAY! It feels a bit more real.

Monday morning : Absolutely no work was done on the kitchen. Slackness.

Oven, gas cooktop and rangehood have been linkified here.

Dishwasher will be procured upon receiving next pay packet.

Something to talk about…

I must be the most boring blogger right now. I keep whinging about my kitchen and the dramas of it. But you know, when I am out and about, daydreaming or even riding the scooter, I think of interesting blog entries. When I get home, and begin an entry, do you think I can remember what the hell I was going to write about? Alzheimers! I swear.

Anyway, it’s the end of another weekend, progress has been made in my kitchen and I shall forthwith download some photos I took. We picked up the three pieces of kitchen that were incorrectly made and have managed to put the rest of the kitchen together today.

You didn’t think that we actually finished all of the kitchen, did you? Nope. The kitchen place fucked up again, and another piece requires replacement. I swear, the sheltered workshop could do 100% better with no guidance and no computers. I shall be composing an email to them shortly.

We also painted this weekend. Compared to the ceiling, you wouldn’t really know that we chose a colour for the walls as opposed to white! I swear. Hrm. It does look darker than I first thought though, so hopefully it’ll all work out.

We just have to save up $3500 for our appliances, call for a trademan (yeh, right!) and attach our cabinets to the walls, install the benchtops etc etc. ARGH@! I get overwhelmed thinking about all the things to be done before I get a kitchen back - amusing, I typed bitchen - hrm!

This week, my old boss, soon to be my new boss, Phil begins his life at his new employment. It’s all good and I am stoked. I’m looking forward to understanding everything and feeling more at home than I do. I can’t wait. I have enthusiasm and excitement about going to work tomorrow It’s great.

Countdown…

Twas a busy day for me. Didn’t get too much sleep last night on account of not realising the time last night and staying up waaaay later than I should have.

Went to the chiro this morning, cleaned out the car and washed it and got some vet products for the dog. Yay for me. Very exciting.

I sugar soaped the kitchen/dining room ceiling in readiness for our paintings tonight. The paint we bought yesterday looked a lot more ‘coloured’ than it does on the wall. It’s meant to be a subtle, light colour to complement the cupboards in the kitchen, but when I put a layer of it on the wall today, it was as if I hadn’t painted anything! Hrm! *laugh* Oh dear, doesn’t matter.

Anyway, one more day of freedom until I start my new job. I’m both excited and a little trepidatious. I’m sure it will be fine, but the unknown is always scary. I am looking forward to the new challenge and the new bunch of people I’ll be working with.

In other news. For the first time since I started riding my scooter, I haven’t been able to wear the inside thermal layer of the jacket because I have been too fat. Tonight, I tried it on with the layer inside and it all fit Yay for me.

Making ends meet

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }

Making ends meet, originally uploaded by Sams76.

After busting our balls most of the weekend, Glen and I realised one thing - the machine shopping of woodwork via a computer and template isn’t fail safe.

Our kitchen manufacturer fucked up their kitchen to us and as you can see, things just don’t meet.

This is the first of about three things about our kitchen which have been ballsed up. On Tuesday morning, I will be phoning the company and demanding they rectify the issue and make it known that they are now holding us up. Although the above pictured part of the kitchen doesn’t hold us up - other things will.

Grrrr.

Tomorrow, I am planning to go to the paint store and purchasing some paint for the kitchen walls. As you can see, the colour of our kitchen is like a plummy-brown colour called Raisin. So, one must find a colour which will mesh with it. No mean feat.

Anyhow, enough bitching.