Where Have I Gone?

Over the next three weeks, Husband (H) and I will be grudgingly in travel mode.

This week, Oct. 20-22 ,we have a 3-day trip to Springfield, MO for my appointment with endocrinologist which includes tests to see if my perceived Vit. D deficiency is correcting itself, or we have to pursue another diagnosis. Of course, there is the obligatory shopping and Luckie boards at her spa.

Then Oct 26-28 we will be in Little Rock, AR for H's hearing and ear checkup.....and more obligatory shopping, plus Luckie boards at her spa.

On Nov. 4 H, Best Friend and I see our allergy/asthma specialist, also in Little Rock, one day trip. And more obligatory shopping, but Luckie stays home.

Additionally, all of us seem to have a backlog of 6-month appointments with this that and some other physicians in November, including my oncologist.

I'm thinking of hibernation the rest of the year [no Thanksgiving or Christmas] if I live through all these physicians and tests. I don't know how we got in such a mess in one month.

So no telling when or what you will find in this space for awhile. My trusty notebook accompanies me everywhere, as does at least one camera. There is a new Sam's Club in Springfield near our lodging. I'm sure I'll check that out.

Maybe I'll post a Mickey Mouse movie! sing M-I- C-K-E-Y....M-O-U-S-E!

Who knows? I'm sure I'll post something, but the journalistic who, when, where and why probably not apply? Stay tuned for a wild ride.

However, today I am posting a YouTube modern hymn, I've learned to love. My bio indicates a love of gospel which usually means traditional. However, H and I have moved into a universalist emerging church philosophy which embraces new as well as old religious music.

This is one of my favorite new songs. The title is THE HIGHEST PLACE. [one of these days I'll learn to post these with more than a link, if I am ever free from appointments!]


Post Script: Apologies to those who cannot understand the YouTube link: It is the in ENGLISH but is some mission group in India and the only clip I could find of the song. The melody and English words are on the screen are correct.

'You Gotta Wanna!' & 'I Don't Wanna!'

Please excuse the colloquial language of post title... I lapse into sloppy language occasionally -- Apologies my English teachers.

In a past weight loss journey I attended a Weight Watchers summer camp (June 1979), located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Montreat, N.C. The camp director was a dynamo Weight Watcher leader, Ruth Harper (I think I have the correct name.)

Ruth's enthusiasm could energize and inspire you to do handstands and calisthenics at the same time, if required to lose weight. She knew how to make the food program palatable. The program in those days required 3-5 'fish' (not fried) meals and one LIVER meal weekly--not my usual weekly menus, but my menus were not weight loss compatible!

In the week I spent in camp we had lectures by Ruth daily. These lectures were designed to stoke the fires of enthusiasm to complete the journey to a specified weight goal. She could set off firecrackers under our fat fannies in 10 minutes. Each lecture ended with the admonishment: YOU GOTTA WANNA!

Yes , I should tatoo it on my forehead, or as the Biblical Israelites of old, scripture was written or tied on the forehead.[Deut. 6:1-9 ,25]

Weight Watchers dislikes the word 'diet' associated with their food program; they prefer a 'nutrional food program for life.' Sorry! to me it is a starvation diet. How else can you describe 40 medium size grapes as a serving? Nope! it's starvation.

When I left camp I swore I was having a tee shirt and sweatshirt made with the slogan, YOU GOTTA WANNA, back and front. I don't remember ever doing it.

In subsequent weight loss attempts, I remembered Ruth Harper and her slogan. I remember it every Wednesday a.m. when I weigh and record my gain or loss at Weight Watchers on-line.

In fact the slogan is applicable to other life events, too. In my senior years with increasingly long lists of aches, pains and physical ailments, I become weary with doctor appointments, and discouraging news.

Recently, blood tests discovered I have a slightly elevated calcium and parathyroid hormone levels in my blood. This is indicative of benign adenoma(s) in one or more parathyroid glands, but may also be indicative of kidney failure. None of my doctors suspect cancer. I had an 'eye to thigh' PET/CT scan in October--nothing "lit" up in the terminology of PET scanning.

My GYN physician made an appointment with an endocrinologist in Springfield MO for July 7. This involves a 2-hour drive and 2-3 nights stay, plus boarding Luckie.

My self-awarded license to practice medicine, not my legitimate license to dispense medications, enables me to prognosticate I think my irregular blood levels are due to discontinuing Boniva last October because of gastric distress. My diagnosis does not hold water with anybody, but me!

I DON'T WANNA GO. I've looked for every excuse, consulting with my primary care physician and oncologist looking for support to cancel. Nope. They say I GOTTA GO. Grrr...@#^%$#!

Reluctantly, I GOTTA GO. I started the first steps Monday in making reservations at La Quinta Inn for three nights. I spent yesterday filling out a package of information sent me by the endocrinologist's office. But still, I DON'T WANNA go. But I GOTTA.