melworks

Happy Memorial Day!

I'm taking the day off of my low-sodium diet and just binging on sausage, potato chips, cold slaw and soft drinks. Tomorrow, I go back to be a low-sodium dude. Tonight? We feast!

I went back to the doctor's today to follow up on my visit a few weeks ago. As I said in an earlier post, the dizziness has improved but lately I've been having some disomfort in my right ear. It feels a bit like I've got water in that ear and it just doesn't want to come out. Which makes sense as according to my NP, I probably still have fluid in the ear. They suspected my eustacian tubes might be compressed, adding to the problem, so advised I use FloNase twice a day for three days. He also said he'd write me a perscription for antibiotics, which I'm surprised he did because he said my ear doesn't look infected.

So, I guess I'm just playing a waiting game at this point.

On another matter, my blood pressure was ridiculously hight: 160/105. Jeebus! That's high, even for me! I usually over about the 140/95 mark. I'm wondering if a combination of factors didn't lead to it being artificially inflated: a large meal the previous night with a lot of salt, an energy drink and then lack of hydration today? I don't know, but I guess I have to start walking again to see if I can get the damn numbers down to something better.

I don't remember if I mentioned this here or not, but for the last couple of weeks when I wake up in the morning and get out of bed, I've been experiencing intense dizziness. It doesn't last long, but this is unusual for me and after a while I decided to call my doctor and make an appointment.

I went in today and spoke with the NP, Mark, who I've seen a few times. He's always given very good care, even though every time I go and see him he looks scruffier and scruffier. After listening to my symptoms, he checked my ears and said that my right ear canal looked like it was blocked. So, he and the other nurse spent about fifteen minutes flushing out that ear and, eventually, going in with needlenose forceps to remove a chunk of compacted ear wax.

Mark thinks this was causing my dizziness. The good news is there didn't look to be any sign of infection with the ear drum, etc. so I didn't have to get antibiotics. He suggested I do the Valsalva manuever a few times a day to help equalize the pressure, and said that the inflimation that was present should drain normally over the next couple of days.

I think the dizziness has improved. I just got up lying from a prone position and the room didn't spin like a merry-go-round, so that's some kind of progress. If the dizziness persists, I'm going to go back and we'll discuss other possible causes.

But, gods willing, this will solve the problem.

I really want to start walking again, but I really hate my nightborhood. It's just nothing but hills and dead ends, with minimal sidewalks. And I don't want to drive anywhere to walk, as I would rather just be able to leave my house and go whenever I feel like it.

*le sigh*

I'm trying to do better. I really am. But sometimes I feel like the universe is sabotaging me.

Or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse. :(

Gonna have to rething the point system for my diet. Went back and looked over my old notes and realized that I changed things up so the system wasn't so extreme. Pheh.

Will pick it back up in March when I've had some time to think about stuff.

On the good side though, I've already gone down a belt size.

Yay!

I went and saw my mom today, which is always "fun." Mostly, I just sat there for three hours while she bitched about other family members, etc. I left when it got dark.

Don't get me wrong. I love my Mom, but sometimes visiting with her is a bit . . . much.

I saw on FB that there was an Anti-Trump protest planned for the statehouse today, but there were conflicting times. The FB page said it was going on at 2PM, but the official site said it was happening at noon. In either case, I didn't go, although I did think about it. I've never been to a protest before in my life, but the fact that I'm considering doing it should indicate just how fed up I am with the way things are going.

In other news, my new diet is going well.

I've decided that Tuesdays will be a Free Day for me when I can step off the diet fasttrack and just take a breather and enjoy some things. I think that's a good way to save my sanity. Or what's left of it. Ha!

Today, after leaving Mom's I stopped off at Circle K and grabbed an extra large Polar Pop and filled it to the brim with Cherry Coke. This may, or may not, have derailed my effort to quiet the Soda Monster that lives in my brain.

Points: 100
Points Used: 08 (Polar Pop)
Points: 92

Today is Monday the 13th. Where's the horror movie about that? Huh? Huh?!?

Todnight is also the first Full Moon of 2025 and it's the Wolf Moon. Apparently, from an astrological point of view, tonight's moon is meant to have a lot of juju. Dunno.

My friend, Jen, has reported that when he husband went under the knife yesterday, his doctor was shocked and mystified to discover that his heart had apparently healed itself. He was at a complete loss to explain how it could have happened. Jen was very grateful to everyone for the thoughts and prayers.

I went into the Store today to work on the January book project. Jorg and Shadow were there, mucking about, Poor Shadow had an accident in the Store. I keep telling Jorg that Shadow's is getting older and they don't need to be feeding him rich human food. His poor stomach just can't take it.

Got through about 90% of my project. Downpriced over a hundred books. Next, I'll have to work through the stuff in the cabinets.

Still can't shake this damn cold. I feel fine now, but I know that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'm gonna be snotty all over again. PHeh. I think it might be time to pull out the vodka & OJ.

Today, I did not do my usual errands as I will be doing them later on in the week.

But, I did go by the mall and got some thai food and a four-pack of Cinnabons.

I'm pretty sure one or the other was a mistake.

I was lying on the floor in my bedroom, propped up on my pillow thing, and when I stood up the whole room just spun. I had to stand still for a few minutes until things stabilized.

I'm not sure what caused it, but I suspect it was the MSG in the thai food. I think it caused my blood pressure to spike, and changing positions like that so suddenly threw my body out of wack. So, I suppose I'd better get that back under control, which means monitoring my sodium/sugar intake and eating healthier.

Pheh. I did NOT make any New Year's resolutions, but now it feels like one is being forced on me: eat better or else!

Pheh.

Also, I've developed a wet cough. Fun.

I'm not feeling very Halloweeny this year. I haven't even decorated the Store, which I normally do. The most I've done is reposition my old witch figure from her secret nook to the front counter by the cash register. I'm just hoping no one decides that it's okay to sell her.
I'm surprised Jorg's wife hasn't done anything to decorate the Store. She bought one of the 9 foot skeletons and a pumpkin arch for their house, but hasn't done anything for the Store. Eh.
In other news, my roommate is in the Phillipines and he's been there for about a week. He's been chatting with this woman online for, like, ages, and they decided to meet. I honestly don't know how they first met, but he seems to be enjoying himself over there, at least from the pics they've posted. I was a bit worried because no matter how many common interests you might have with someone, if there isn't any realspace chemistry I don't think the relationship will work. Just my humble opinion.
I've been playing around with Chat GPT as an edition tool and it is HORRIBLE. I may give Gemini or Claude a try, just to see what they're like. From what little I've used Gemini, it seems smoother. At least, when it's working.
The weather is starting to get chilly here and I have pulled out some of the winter clothes and my winter sleepware. I'm amazed that my inflated bed remains as comfortable and functional as it is.
I need to lose some weight, so I'm doing intermittent fasting(IF) again. I thought I might do OMAD, but that just isn't practical for me. IF works better with my schedule. I just have to drink a hella ton of water outside my window, which isn't a bad thing. My hydration has dropped quite a bit lately. :/
Also, and this is really good news, a new Barnes & Noble bookstore has opened up on my side of town! Yay! I've already bought 3 books from them, so I'm set for reading material for a while. Although, after looking at their free rewards program, I've realized it's a waste of effort. You have to spend $100 to get $5 off your next purchase. *eyeroll* What the hell kind of reward is that? Also, every time I go into the store someone tries to convince me to buy John Scalzi's 'Starter Villain.' Ew. No.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to read outside.

I have taken the bandage off of my knee. It is a bit scabby, but I can put weight on it and now I am bandage free. LOL. Now, if only the scar on my forehead will go away so that I'm not walking around, looking like bloody Harry Potter for the rest of my life.

It has been twelve years since I published Dawnwind: Last Man Standing and I have the strong urge to take another crack at the sequel. *fingers crossed*

I'm feeling very creative lately. I think I'm going to publish something soon.

Just finished T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)'s latest book, 'What Feasts at Night.' It was very good and I read it all in one go. Fine reading for the Spooky Season. I hightly recommend it.

Also, since I have finished the book, I am now allowed to buy another one. Yay! But what should I buy? Any suggestions would be welcome. :)