"Laura Lipscombe"

April 2012 ME Story: Laura Lipscombe

I almost missed this month's story.  I had so much going on I didn't realize today is the 12th of the month and a new Becoming VISIBLE 4ME story is up. That would have been a real shame, because this month's story, by Laura Lipscombe, is really impacting. Many of the feelings and situations...

4Walls and AView

Dekker, Geese, Cotton and a Birthday

I thought I had updated everyone on this last weeks many challenges but it appears I … forgot!  Imagine that!  :-)

I no longer have a mold problem.  As a matter fact, my letter was responded to within approximately 12 hours.  I was happily stunned! That also is a huge bonus for you as well as I now have had SEVERAL showers!  LOL!

I also have found something very important to me this past weekend …

my energy!  Yup!  I think it’s back.  I still find that my Rubber Band doesn’t seem to have quite the same elasticity it use to so I have to be careful about not overdoing.  However, this is summer time and I have pretty close to my normal energy levels – for this time of year at least – so I have been enjoying it very much.  Twice this week I went to our pool.  I don’t really swim – that takes way too much energy.  I just kind of float around and sit in the water.  It was really nice.

I noticed something I have never experience before in both trips to the pool this year.  If lots of people are in the pool and creating a lot of movement in the water, whoa … do I get dizzy and off balance.  The first time, I thought it was the pollen or something but when it happened again on my second visit, I knew better.  So I will now go to the pool during the day when the little one’s are NOT there.  Much quieter as well.

I have also started taking my slow walks with Dekker again.  With our temperatures pushing 95 or more and then with humidity pushing them even further to 98-107 (107 this coming Saturday) we don’t go far, but we are making it about 20-25 minutes which I’m totally fine with.

These past several weeks I have begun to wonder whose home Westport really is.  Let me show you what I mean. [click to enlarge photos]

"Dozens of Geese"

"Geese and Babies'

No matter what angle I took the photos from, I could not capture the sight adequately.  We are being over-run this year with the Canadian Geese.  At last count I counted 75 new babies.  And I think I just saw another mother Goose with her newest offspring!  I have to be honest, I love watching these birds.  It is amazing how quickly the babies grown.  In the top photo, just last week these were my toddlers!  Now their teenagers!  Yikes!

On the yucky side, we are still fighting tons of pollen.  The cottonwood trees just aren’t letting up.  There is cotton floating everywhere you go.  Poor Dekker gets to walk in this!

"Cotton on the groun"

I have enough trouble with this stuff in the air, I can’t imagine being Dekker and having my muzzle in this stuff while I’m sniffing out my next potty spot!  Speaking of Dekker,  I have to show you another photo!  I ordered Dekker a special treat this month: an Ostrich Femur bone.  Only one problem, though.  :roll:

"Dekker and his Ostrich Bone"

I bust out laughing every time I see him with his new bone!  Ha Ha!  When I first showed it to him, he ran away!  LOL!  The look on his face in this photo says it all!  Like, “What were you thinking mom?”  Oh gosh that is too funny.

Lastly, I received this today.

"Winnie the Pooh Birthday Invite"

Is that not cute?  My son-in-law to be made this.  I love it!  Alyssa looks like she is gonna grab that cake!  LOL!  And if you look closely at the list in Winnie the Pooh’s hands, the first thing on the list is $!  Too cute!  The whited out sections I did so my daughter’s personal info was protected.   How adorable is this!

This will be my last post until Tuesday.  I am playing with the idea of changing the theme on my blog so I need the weekend to do that.  Plus, knowing that we are going to be at 107 degrees on Saturday, I hear the pool calling my name!

Have a great weekend!

*Note:  For those of you who are in the bumper edition of Ayo’s magazine, there are in the process of finalizing the draft.  I will let you know when the publication date will be as soon as I find out!

Determined to continue forward,

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About Dominique

Dominique is a part-time writer and blogger. She currently writes about the challenges of living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Fibromyalgia (FMS) which she has now lived with since December 1992. She also has her own column, which is published in Life Skills Magazine (LSM) in England. In Feb. 2011, she founded, Becoming VISIBLE 4ME, an organization designed to help raise awareness about the reality of living with ME – 1Story@aTime. Dominique has a BS in Drama with a minor in English Lit. ***When not writing, she spends time working on a variety of creative projects, playing scrabble, reading audio books, and looking forward to spending time with her daughter and grand-daughter as often as possible.
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Comments
  • Jo June 4, 2010 at 3:53 am

    Yahooo! I share your joy in the removal of the mold. And not before time either! My daughter’s partner suffers from sever ashtma triggered by mold which they have in their flat. The landlord is so slow about doing something about it. Grrrr.

    Great that you feel better. Enjoy the hot weather and the pool. I’d love a pool right now. It’s hot here too.
    .-= Jo´s last blog ..Stocktaking. =-.

    • Dominique June 4, 2010 at 4:18 am

      Jo – I have no idea what time it is in the UK but I know I probably should be asleep at 4 a.m.! Ha! Yes, I am very glad not to have to deal with the mold anymore. Hope you are feeling better as well. :-)

  • Shelli June 4, 2010 at 10:18 am

    I love summer. It’s my favorite time of year, even though it gets so, so hot here in Hemet. It looks like you have a new blog layout — I love it! Very fun. And — glad you have no more mold!
    .-= Shelli´s last blog ..Color My World =-.

    • Dominique June 4, 2010 at 1:37 pm

      Shelli – So do I! Summer and Fall are my favorite seasons. I’m glad the mold is gone, too! :-)

  • Mo June 4, 2010 at 11:13 am

    No more mold!! Have you noticed any difference in your breathing? MAYBE that’s why you have more energy and are feeling better today. It;s cool that you have a pool available, but I couldn’t go out in the heat. The humidity is a killer for me. (It’s got a lot to do with my non-working adrenals…they help regulate your body temp, so very cold and especially very hot is not so good for me) We also are being bombarded by a storm of cottonwood. My goofy dog chases it and tries to catch it. Has Dekker attemped to gnaw on the big bone yet? It’s almost as big as him…too cute!

    Those geese are everywhere huh? They hang out in all the parks here and you need to be very careful where you are walking. We live very near to a community college that have so many that at night they have some guys come in with Border Collies and chase them away. Maybe Dekker could do that for your parks??

    I am so happy that you are feeling better!! Enjoy your weekend by the pool!

    xoxomo
    .-= Mo´s last blog ..Veteran’s Day in the U.S. =-.

    • Dominique June 4, 2010 at 1:39 pm

      Mo – Yes. My lungs don’t feel like there closing up anymore. Could be! Dekker has started gnawing on it although he still looks at me like I’ve lost my mind! Ha ha!

      Thank you! You too! :-)

  • Patricia June 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    Magic-Complete Computer Magic!! That is what this new look to your Blog is to me. I don’t have a clue how you do these creative
    things with your blog. Dekker with his BIG bone made me
    laugh. The geese are so wonderful – even if maybe too many.
    Thinking of a new theme for your Blog. I’m very curious.
    Seems amazing to me that your energy has increased so much.
    Must have been the nasty mold? I’m glad its gone. Bet
    you really enjoyed having showers again. Thanks for the
    link for Avast virus protection. Again AOL failed to help
    me; but with experimentation I got rid of the download
    file finally by experimenting. I first tried close, then cancelled,
    then ignored – and finally I clicked on “What’s is the risk”
    I was cautious doing this since I did not know the file
    and AOL said it wasn’t from them. It told me to save the
    file and then I could delete it. I cautiously
    saved it and it looked like it went to my documents but
    I could not find it there?!! Oops I thought. But
    I noticed an icon on my desk top with the file ID; so I
    deleted it off my desktop and it is gone! Now why couldn’t
    AOL tell to do that.
    Did I make sense. I can navigate the web again. How awesome you can take Dekker for 20-25 minutes walks.
    I hope and pray this significant improvement in your health
    continues and it would be great if it was you new permanent
    norm. – We can always
    Hope for that.

    • Dominique June 4, 2010 at 1:43 pm

      Patricia – Yes, I think that did make sense! Ha Ha! Were you able to download the Avast? You will get a message like in a month to upgrade but just say no and renew the free home edition. Okay?

      Have a great weekend!

      BTW, since you are on a desk top, if the new theme takes the whole screen, hit the control key and the negative key together and it will shrink the blog just a little so you can see it better in your monitor!

  • Patricia June 4, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    Thanks for additional info on Avast. I did not download it as yet.
    But is a good idea. With our 2 hour diff- later there – I hesitate
    to leave a reply – that means you have to look back at Fri for
    late replys. But if I wait for the next post I won’t remember
    anything without coming right here. A bit confused – nothing new LOL
    because this am your Blog looked very different – there was a window looking out to your street?–
    on the right top side instead of you and Dekker and your photo on the top left.
    And the bright red backround color was gone, and after I clicked
    on submit reply – I saw what I had typed – but it was doubled spaced -
    so I know I am wordy – but it really looked long that way.
    And this eve it is back to what I’m use to seeing. Oh well. So
    it sounds like you are doing some re-doing of your Blog. I will write
    down what you said if I need to shrink the blog. I have to write
    so much down in a notebook – but my notebook is as disorganized
    as my brain. I’m guessing what the new theme is – I have an idea -
    but will wait in suspence to see if I am guessing right.

    • Dominique June 4, 2010 at 10:04 pm

      Patricia – Yeah, once I got the last theme done I found it too heavy so I have been spending the past few hours looking for something more streamline, professional, yet … me! LOL!

      Don’t worry about writing things down. I’m sure we all have our ways of hanging on to our memories. Mine is my BB (Blackberry)! :-)

  • Patricia June 4, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    I scrolled back up and enlarged the photos. Thank you Dominique
    for the fun. Dekker is so cute – did not know Pug’s have such
    long legs. And Happy Birthday to little Alyssa. My Ingrid
    will be one also on June 26. It is so fortunate for you to be such
    a young grandmother – you will be able to see Alyssa grow up
    grad from HS even college. I sure had to wait and I know the
    timing was right for my daughter but I do wish I had become a
    grandmother by at least 50. I had so much fun enlarging
    the photos. It felt like what families do – sending photos
    and keeping in touch – only wish my brother in Alaska was a
    communicator. He loves me dearly and would always support me
    but he doesn’t like e-mailing or even phone calling?! Even
    if he was not such a very busy vet (has his own clinic also) – has
    a hectic life. I just realized I’m e-mailing you on your Blog–
    this must be bad blog etiquette- I cross the line too easily
    because I don’t have a blog nor do we e-mail each other.
    Wow if all your “followers” did this you would be totally overwhelmed
    with too much to read. I will try to restrain myself. Just know
    your Blog added happiness to my day.

    • Dominique June 4, 2010 at 10:07 pm

      Patricia – No worries! I wouldn’t know what to do if you didn’t leave me really long comments! :-) They are what makes you so special!

      Talk to you soon. I’m gonna start narrowing down my choices for the next look for my blog I think!

      Hey, if you want … you can send me a photo (my email is in the right hand column on the blog) and I can create a gravatar for you so when you visit blogs your photo will pop up and then people will know it you right away! Only if you want!

  • April June 4, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    I like the new look! Wait, is something wrong with my computer or did the look of your blog change? Hooray for the mold resolution! I love these pictures. I just want to give Dekker a hug and maybe a cookie. Hug to you too!
    .-= April´s last blog ..Makes Me Happy =-.

    • Dominique June 5, 2010 at 2:34 am

      April – No. I decide to take my blog to the next level so I tried to create a more professional look. I added a little summer to it as well! :-)

  • Lillie Ammann June 5, 2010 at 2:30 am

    Dominique,

    I’m so glad you’re feeling better and have more energy. Congratulations and happy birthday to Alyssa!
    .-= Lillie Ammann´s last blog ..Don’t Forget My Quarterly Drawing =-.

    • Dominique June 5, 2010 at 2:36 am

      Lillie – Thank you! I glad I’m feeling better as well. I can’t believe she will be 1 next weekend. Wow, time sure does fly! Two more months and Rachael will be getting married!

  • Patricia June 5, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    I always thought your blog was very
    visually attractive and professional
    It does look sunny now in lighter
    colors. A gravatar – new computer
    lingo for me. My bro downloaded
    pics for my screen saver and
    he has sent me family photos -
    and I have photos downloaded of
    my grand daughter too; but there
    isn’t a single pic of me on the
    computer. I have a couple of me
    -recent- holding Ingrid on the
    memory card of my digital camera
    (had to learn the basics) I kept
    telling Shelley you can get copies
    for 14 cents much cheaper than
    me having to use printer ink and
    photo paper to have pics of Ingrid -
    no action – so I had to learn
    the basics of my camera – the big
    BUT I do not know how to transfer
    the photos on the camera onto the
    computer. Oh to be so computer
    illiterate. However, I am 62 and
    never used a computer until my bro
    gave me this 4 years ago – and -
    I never had anyone show me how to
    do anything. It has been all experimental with a very slow learning curve. So thank you for the offer
    If I ever learn to get a photo of
    me onto the computer I’ll take you
    up on creating a gravatar.
    BIG IF – if I can remember. I can send you a photo of Ingrid. That would be fun.

    • Dominique June 5, 2010 at 8:59 pm

      Patricia – If your computer has a USB port (which it should) you camera should have come with an USB cable. Hook that up to the camera, first, then to you computer. Thank your camera should tell you what to do next. Hope that helps.

  • Patricia June 5, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    I scrolled up and looked on the r
    top of the blog but could not find
    your e-mail. ? Was going to send
    a photo attached to an e-mail to
    you of my little almost one year
    old Ingrid.

  • Patricia June 5, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Hey you are on the computer late
    This is like IM’ing. I sent you
    a pic of Ingrid. A friend’s
    dau was here and she was looking
    for a USB port on computer but
    could not find it. Camera did
    come with USB cable. I’ll have
    to get brave and experiment. Have
    a lovely evening.

    • Dominique June 5, 2010 at 10:15 pm

      Patricia – Unless your computer is really old, it should have a USB port. If it doesn’t I’ll think of another way to do it.

  • Patricia June 5, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    BTW is Dekker’s bone real or a toy?!

    • Dominique June 5, 2010 at 10:13 pm

      Patricia – It’s real. It’s an Organic Ostrich Femur bone! LOL!

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