Over Do Did

Posted before about the desire to start my own cat card biz. It'll be named after a cat, who is the founder and CEC aka Chief Executive Cat. I already see these cards, stationary and maybe a t-shirt taking off. Yep, can see the success as plain as the car across the street.

Today I had the opportunity to launch it. A chum was peddling her jewelery line at a small craft fair. She said I could lay out a couple of cards. Nothing grand, just a few postcards I printed off with photos I'd snapped. I played with the effects and liked the end result. After the broo-ha-down in the toilet of finally figuring out how to get the printer to work--I did what I've done in the past--

I over did it. Yep. I worked two days on figuring out to MAKE the card, because my PC wasn't compatible with something. That's after I needed a new USB cable for the new printer. So once I got the printer down, I should have just done about a dozen. Just to see.

Naw, not me. I become an entrepreneur possessed. I do three different shots -one, I feel is a real 'money' shot. Total of 148 cards. Yep. So I head to where my chum was and I decided 4 for a $1. This was a small craft show--it was in a woman's house--so not as much traffic as I thought might be.

I got oohs and aahs. I even offered 4 to a lady and her daughter who had a cat--for free. She didn't take me up on it. Maybe she was mad that I didn't buy any of her daughter's homemade jewelry either.

Anyway, I soon left, because I was parked by a fire hydrant and I knew within a few minutes, this was not the right venue for me. A few postcards were left behind--just as a giveaway for my chum if she chose to. All in all, I did get reaction--which is what I wanted. I also know, I need a better, eye appealing product-like the type of card plus note cards I wanted to originally go with. All is possible. I AM an Aries.

I can so see the future, just like this kitty views from the window...

Yet, I sometime forget the 'get there' steps in the middle. Folks did like my photos. Made me feel good. So now I have 148 postcards in my possession. Can't wait to to figure who and where I mail them too...If you would like me to mail you one, send me an e-mail for snail mail.

Over did it. Yep.

However I'm glad I over did do it instead of not even doing at all.

December....already?

Wasn't it just yesterday it was over 100 degrees and I prayed the a/c stays on?
Now it's just a few weeks until Christmas!
Where did the time go?
Right now I have a kitty I call Earl Gray
At my feet taking a gander up at me..
I still wish the cats would get a job--
Then I'd feel better about paying the mortgage...
In the mean time-
I still have a hankerin' for some
Pumpkin pie and Cool Whip...
The air of Thanksgiving can still waltz thru the house...

Wednesday With Coumadin

Yep, I take the stuff. Have been since March 2006. Do I want to? If I had my choice-

Of course NOT!

Today I had a POKE--which is what I call my Protime/INR test. Basically a drop of blood is put on strip and run thru this little machine. Pretty like the one folks use to check their sugar. I get these POKE's at the most twice a month, usually just once. My blood range needs to be between 2.5 and 3.5--not too thin, not too thick--to prevent clots around my mechanical mitral valve.

So I sit, waiting for my name to be called. Once again, I realize I'm one of the three youngest people in the lobby. I sit by another POKE person. We both get involved with a cooking show on the Food Network--then I strike up a chat, because red peppers are being used.

OK, this other POKE person began to complain how Coumadin was rat poison (yes, it was used for rat poison once upon a time--I think in China or somewhere), how it's the bane of her existence, and how she takes more than me--then I tried to explain how Vitamin K affects Coumadin (I won't bore you with how--unless you ask) and she looked at me like was I was nuts. Then she made a comment about our President--and he was nowhere, nor was he on the cooking show we watched--then she went on to start cussing-and I tried to be calm and thought, "Well, there are a dozen doctors here if I punch her..." Then they called my name.

The young lady, Holly, who administered my POKE, says that lady is not very nice. And when Holly told me she saw my name, she came to get me, eventho the other POKE was before me. Holly says the lady has had to be restrained because she spewed racist comments about Hispanics and just got loud. None of the girls like her. Holly says she knows she made the other girls mad by taking me first--but oh well.

After all that, I was in my range. I don't get POKED again for another month. The only side effect I've really had because of the Coumadin, is fatigue--and if I'm real tired, I get a little loopy. Yet, that's usually at night--like now--and I just rest. I've learned to listen to my body.

Speaking of listening to my body: did I tell you if it's quiet and you're close enough to me--you can hear me tick? It's the opening and closing of my mechanical valve.

Coumadin may have been used to kills rats, yet its little orange pills (and this orange kitty) keep me tickin'..literally.

..and I like it like that.

March 14, 2006 was Tuesday

On this day in 2006, was my open heart surgery day to replace my mitral valve. Did I ever mention I didn't even KNOW I had a mitral valve until they told me mine was damaged by this infection called endocarditis? Anyway, since my date with the surgeon was to take place at a sister hospital, the paramedics were to come get me at 6AM.

They didn't. More like closer to 7am. I'd been awaken to take a quick sponge bath, change into my surgery gown, gather what belongings I had left and wait to be taken. Well, I waited.

When the guys did show up, I was strapped to a gurney and rolled on my way. All the nurse that taken care of me said their good byes and told me to call them to let them know everything was OK. For the brief moment I was wheeled outside from this hospital to the waiting ambulance and into the sister hospital, I had my first taste of fresh air in 15 days. Even filled with exhaust, I didn't care. Wonderful. The paramedics told me there was no way they could have picked me up at 6AM because, they didn't even start their shift until after 6. Oh well.

Since I was late, and my surgery was first of the day, the nurse in charge of doing prelims was ticked. I was released from the gurney and then she walked me to different stations to take my vitals. I realized how weak I really was--I couldn't keep with her on these short walks. The nurse grumbled how all surgeries were now pushed back for the day. Considering I didn't WANT a surgery, I was kinda OK with that. Anyway, the nurse took vitals and I remained silent and did as I was told. Then after the vital taking, a group of folks helped me back on a gurney to get me prepped.

They were all nice, asking if I was OK as they measured my mouth for a tube or somesuch. jabbed me for IV's and whatever else they did. Then I heard "Put her out."

Next thing I heard was, "Good Afternoon!" I squinted at the clock. 3:45PM. A tube was still down my throat. I just knew I would choke. I heard a female say, "She woke so fast. Where's the doctor?" I heard the same female voice talk to the doctor by phone, "Yes, she's awake already!" All in all, I was later told, by that female nurse she'd never had a patient wake up as fast as I did. They needed the doctor's OK to get the tube out of my throat. If I hadn't been strapped down, I was gonna pull that sucker out myself.

Fast forward to this day in 2010. Got my praise on at Inspiring Body of Christ Church, with Pastor Rickie Rush. Once again affirmed how people in your life, can step between you and your blessing. They may still be committed to the flesh, while you are now committed to your spirit. I thought of folks I've loved, yet at the present are out of my life. I love them, but we just don't connect--at least, for right now.

As for the rest of this Sunday, it's over 70 degrees. Sun continues to shine. The flowers posted up top are in my backyard at this very moment. Downed iced coffee and pet Perry the 81/2 year old orange tabby cat who was nice enough to keep me company while I typed this.

Now if you will excuse me, Mama got new tennyshoes and gots to take a walk. You see, because of this day in 2006 with my trust in One Who Knows to guide surgeons while I lie on that table with machines keeping me alive --I can. .

So I woke up too soon from surgery, eh? Well, I have things to do.

I am blessed