This is not fun...

I woke up last Saturday morning with a horrible pain in the small of my back. I spent the day sitting on the heating pad trying to get some relief. Sunday I had a little relief but the back still hurt. Same thing Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. Had a lot of trouble shelving books on the bottom shelves. Even more trouble getting up and down but the pain was tolerable - until today. Normally independent, I learned to ask students to pick things up for me. Had a lot of difficulty shelving books. Really doesn't help to have an over abundance of books to shelve and no offers to help.

Anyway, the pain got so severe this afternoon I placed a call to the doctor. Her advice: no bending, lifting, stretching or twisting. Also, apply ice to the area at least once an hour.

Ice - not heat... I should have known better

No bending, lifting, stretching or twisting - that is my job: pick up book off rack, turn (aka twist) toward shelves, bend over to shelve on bottom shelves, turn toward rack and repeat. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday. If I make it through the day at work tomorrow I will have the weekend to recuperate. I would take the day off tomorrow but the work will still be there next week - only worse.

I haven't worked out at all this week. I missed Zumba, aqua fit and working out on the treadmill, recumbent bikes and cybex machines. At least I knew the right thing to do on this count.

Lasagne Dinner

Worked out at the Y most of the afternoon then came home in time to pop the lasagne in the oven. Dinner tonight was two pieces of lasagne, salad (with non fat dressing), delicious asparagus, garlic bread, and milk. For desert, strawberry cheesecake. Guess this all cancelled out the exercise.

Parent teacher conferences this week. Don't know if I'll be eating right but I have a delicious salad for lunch tomorrow. Will cut up some turkey and cheese for some added protein.

Casserole Swap

I'm part of this really awesome cooking forum on-line. It all started with a search for a recipe. Then, I started visiting the various forum sites. Last month, I participated in the ABC "B" Swap which I posted some pictures of. I didn't have my camera home when my B swap package arrived but there was some really cool stuff in it, including: a souvenier hockey stick (my swap partner is from British Columbia, a "bag" for my toiletries when traveling or going to the gym, an awesome butterfly magnet and butterfly windchimes, a bubble/bobble fishy pen (really cool)... all in all some really nifty fun stuff.

This month, I'm participating in three swaps (I think I'm addicted!) The swap themes are:

1) Spring/Easter

2) Casserole Dishes

3) Garden/Spring

Today I went to the post office and mailed the box of goodies to my Spring/Easter partner and the first of two boxes to my casserole dish partner. Later, when I got home the postman visted and left me a box of goodies from my casserole partner. It is really strange because she included some extras in my box. The extras were all items I have looked at recently at the store but have been too "cheap" to buy them. What's really strange is I was planning on shopping this weekend and would probably have picked them up because I thought it over ....... My swap partner is a stranger who has only met me in this forum and e-mailed back & forth a couple of times but it seems like she really knows me.

Just in case she is reading this, I won't tell what is on the cutting table and sewing machine in my craft room but will post pictures here after I finish them and she receives them. But, for now, here is a pictures of the goodies she sent me.

I will post pictures later this month after I receive my spring swap package and garden package. If all goes well, my garden swap package should go out in the mail tomorrow or early next week. I just need to buy tape to seal the box.

Back on Track

Well, I think I'm back on track - trying to shake away the winter blues. Spent most of Saturday with a friend and a whole host of strangers at the Women's Expo. Then off we went to the mall and a yummy lunch an Panera Bread. Next stop was Barnes & Nobles where I found John Lescroart has released a new and Linda Fairstein's new book will be released this week. As much as I would like to buy the books, curl up and read them now, I'm hoping the books will be released in paperback in time for vacation this summer. They would be perfect reads on the plane and while lounging in the South Pacific.

Today was spent with Jill & Jessica at the Y. We started on the treadmill (Jessica on Eliptical machine). After walk ~ 1/2 hour on the treadmill we moved to the stationary bikes. Next step was various Cybex machines - the abs should hurt tomorrow! Jessica left for work and Jill and I finished our land exercises then went downstairs to tread water for 50 minutes, sat in the hottub and sauna. Lunch/dinner at Subway and wandered around Wal-Mart. Tomorrow is Zumba and I'm looking forward to it!

Hopefully will bring packages for swap partners to the post office. One box contains a beautiful casserole dish, the other box is full of spring gifts. Tomorrow, partners should be posted for the garden swap and I've already done most of the shopping for this swap. Soon a new swap will be posted - right up my alley - bookmark/magnet swap - and the cool thing is, I already have started shopping for this one too! The "B" swap was so much fun, I think I'm addicted!

March.....

Well, March has arrived and hopefully spring will arrive soon, too. As I write this post, the sun is trying to peek through the clouds, shine through the window and on my face. (sorry Tresa, I think there should have been another comma in that sentence). Anyway, in honor of the coming of spring, I have signed up for not one, not two, but three (3) swaps on recipezaar.com. I may be crazy to sign up for three swaps in one month after just completing my first swap in February. Oh well, it is fun, almost like celebrating Christmas in March, buying gifts (and receiving) for three different soon to be friends on Zaar. I should probably go take a shower so I can go shopping to find my treasures. The swaps are garden, Easter/Spring, and casserole dish. The hardest one is also the easiest. I need to find a pretty and functional casserole dish to send to my partner. Actually, I can't purchase the dish until I have been assigned and zmailed a partner to find what her (his?) preference is: round, square, big, small, indifferent.....

What cha got in your wallet

Well, we finally did it. Applied and got a Capital One Credit Card. The only reason we got this card is for free airline miles. Used the card today. Charged our trip to Vanuatu. Boy, oh boy! Did this every rack up the miles! Too bad I don't like to fly.

Shadow boxing

Duke is driving me crazy. He stands and watches shadows. He dances and watches shadows. He wags his tail and watches shadows. He lays down and watches shadows. This constant shadow watching is getting on my nerves. I truly believe he suffers from OCD. This dog really needs a psychiatrist.

The things children say

I stopped in to visit a friend today in an elementary building where I used to work. As I was walking down the hall, I stopped to talk to a student, I think he is in 1st or 2nd grade. Here's how the conversation went:

"Hey, do I know you?"

"I don't know, do I know you?"

The student told me his name, I told him mine.

His eyes lit up and he stuck his head into his classroom and announced, "Hey everybody! Mrs. O is back!"

Several students came out in the hallway to say hi and give me hugs. (they are so good at that).

After greeting them, I suggested they should return to the classroom before we get in trouble, told them goodbye and then headed down the hallway. As I was walking away, I heard one of the students say, "That's Mrs. O? She used to be a lot older!"

Don't you just love children, you never know what they will say. Personally I love Sara the magician beautician who cuts and colors my hair in a style & color that must make me look younger.

We're having a heat wave

By Gosh! We ARE having a heat wave. I think the temp was above freezing today. To celebrate I wore my fleece jacket outside without my winter jacket on. A little chilly but I am tired of winter jackets. Winter sotrm is predicted for tonight but the brunt of the storm is supposed to be south of us. Guess we won't be "celebrating" any more snow days off work.

Finished my fleece jacket (which I wore today), now I'm crocheting. Don't know what I'm making but the pattern sure is pretty. Colors are tan, blue, yellow and pink. I'll post a photo in a couple of days - of the crocheting and the fleece jacket.

Cats and Dogs

The hubby worked 3rd shift last night. Normally, when the cats wake up, he gets up and feeds them (it could be 2 am, 3 am, whenever). If he doesn't, Leo, the little boy cat will knock everything off the dresser, fireplace, bathroom counter - anything to get attention. The hubby chuckled last night as he hinted I will have to get up to feed the little buggers. Nothing got knocked off last night. However, there was a huge cat fight around 4 am this morning. The fight started by the window in my bedroom. I through a pillow and the hubby's balled up PJs in the direction of the hissing and fighting. It didn't work. The fight escalated. I got up to break it up. The took it behind and under the bed where they know I can't reach them. So, I opened the cupboard on my night stand, brought out the catnip and gave it a shake. Out come both cats. I lured Leo out of the bedroom and shut the door in his face. When I turned around, Allie -the girl cat, was standing on the bed by my pillow. I put the catnip in the cupboard, moved Allie and crawled back in bed. Leo stood outside my bedroom door crying; don't know how long 'cause I went back to sleep. The empty cat dishes and the unopened can of food are still sitting on the counter where the hubby left them. The cats can eat dry food today!

The dog. The hubby normally lets the dog out when he gets up in the morning. Since the hubby isn't here (he is working 1st shift after working all night), the dog hasn't been out yet. I got up at 7 am because I assumed the dog needed to go outside. After all, he normally goes out between 4 & 5 and then again at 7:30 for me on weekdays. I open the door to his room and he can barely open one eye. I open the back door and invite him outside. Ha, I don't blame him. It's cold out there. But wait! I just got out of bed for you dog! You are going outside. He finally complies and is busy doing his duty when I spot the Chronicle carrier hoofing down the street. I slip my feet into my crocs and rush out to the end of the driveway while the dog is at the end of his leash choking and barking on the steps. Don't know if he finished his business but he is back in the house and sleeping on the carpet.

The cats keep giving me the evil eye. The forget who they are dealing with