Ear Aches and all that can come with it

I have not posted my second half of my vacation yet, I'm truly sorry about that.  I will eventually get around to doing it, and art and all of that, but right now I've been tired.  Let me tell you a bit more about our vacation, because in all of the fun there was one part that was uncomfortable, and then in the end it turned painful.  No emotional pain, don't worry, pain killers took care of it, but I did get to go to the ER first.

Did you see the spin on that? "Get to"...rather than let's say "have to".  I could have stayed in pain longer, but I did finally go of my own free will to the ER, a place that freaks me out, stinks, and I'm sure will make me sicker by being there than if I had stayed home.

Back to the beginning though.  In our adventure up to Washington, my ear began to ache, and then it got all clogged up...well I thought it was clogged up.  This is why I got the ear wax clearing up kit, and squirted water into my ear, and held my head to the side hoping all the stuff would drain nicely onto a towel rather than my shirt.  From what I know now, this was the wrong decision to make.  My ear problems began to worsen and my cousin and his adorable wife, both Dentists decided to pull out the ear probe and check out my rather upset ear.  Just to let you know, this is not the first time I've been around them with some form of medical mishap, I think they bring it out in me, or my body knows they will get it or try to figure it out...or maybe it's just kismet.  What they determined after consulting their medical books, and seeing I did not have wax in my ears, was an ear infection. This was news to me, I've never really had this before...still wishing I could say I have never had this before.  I was then told that only antibiotics would cure it, and to make an appt. with my doctor.

We left Washington armed with knowledge, and a drawing of what my infected ear looked like.  Some where between their house and work the next day things took a really unpleasant turn.  There was more pain, and seepage.  I do not do well with bodily fluids seeping out of me, eewww gross.  I tried to call for an appointment and found the number had been disconnected, tried the next day...this time looking for a new doctor.  That night though, the pain was so intense, I called my dad. He confirmed that I was not being a baby, and that at 9pm it was important to head to the ER, or if we were lucky and open urgent care.  We were not lucky so we sat in the ER until the wee hours of the morning until I was finally helped, and then give Rx to fill as soon as I could.  We left at 3am the next morning, we had been there about 5 hours.

I learned a few things, the extra pain was cause by a rupture, water was not allowed in my ear, and only antibiotics would clear it up.  If it did not clear up with the antibiotics, I might need stronger antibiotics, and I may need a patch on my ear.  I'm not sure if she only said ear, or eardrum....

I have been living with a clogged feeling ear since Labor day weekend, roughly half the month.  My antibiotics ran out a few days ago, and now my some times my ear pops open like it wants to hear again, but then it gets all shy and closes back up.  I really miss hearing with both of my ears.


I did see my doctor, and have now been referred to an ENT.  I've always wondered how the process began with seeing specialists...I'm not curious any more, it can stop at any time.  They have not called yet, so I have not yet seen them, but each time I head back to the Dr's office (back I am going back a few more times for other fun PCOS  type things) they check my ear and tell me it is healing.  This is good to know because I can't check  myself and I really want to meddle, to clean it out and help...but I've been told this would be bad.  Although I have had some really gross stuff come out of my ear now, stuff that might even turn the stomach of one pretty famous ogre.

I've been MIA, and this is why. I'm really sorry. I've neglected my duties in helping my friend recover from her surgery... and that makes me feel bad, but I've almost fallen asleep with her there a couple of times and it's getting embarrassing.  I'll post more, soon...when I'm not so tired and drained of energy.  There are other fun things that have happened...I'll even get the picture my cousin drew on here soon.  I've been given permission to turn it into an abstract. It will go well with my soon to be other health type paintings that are mulling around in my mind and really need to be put to canvas.

Happy trails all.....

  As promised, a picture of what I've been told my ear looked like over the Labor Day weekend.  The stuff at the top is normal stuff collected by the ear, the black dot is a black and white version of the red spot that was the injury.  There was an inflamed bump with a red  gash type thing, I was told it looked like someone poked me with something, and it was swollen around the injury. All of this was before the rupture that I learned about at my visit with the ER doctor. 

Trip down memory lane...part one

One of my favorite scenes in Washington

This is the ending picture of a lovely surprise journey we took over the Labor Day weekend.  I was lead to believe we would be staying in the local area, but there were plans forming in hubby's mind that he had decided to surprise me with, and it was a wonderful surprise.  First we went to see where he grew up, and then we went to see my Aunt & Uncle, and my cousin's and their kids.  I love traveling so does hubby, but it's lots of fun when he does things like this to surprise me.
Some people have hobbies together, or have other things they like to do together, we like to travel.  Of course we like things like movies, and bowling as well...but really we like to go to new places.  Three day weekends provide a great time for us to get away together.

This journey began with a rouse and ended up in a small town, where I got to see places that my hubby grew up in. He doesn't tell stories like my family does, but this sort of thing works too. 

outside house he lived in a long time ago

Park in Wapato right down the street from his old house

Outside the old church, he used to walk his dad to this church

a re-enactment of a bicycle accident

The day was filled with lots of memories as my hubby showed me where he spent his younger youth growing up in Wapato Washington.  We had a lovely lunch and continued on our journey to see my family in Bremerton Washington.


 I will post more pictures and the second half of our journey later.

First Swimming lessons were held here

It was lots of fun to see this quite town and walk around all the places and see how much has stayed the same.

You say Potato, I say Potatoe...you get the idea

Camping, not quite the camping I was thinking

Having dinner with the family

an Ice Cream Social

Because there has to be watermelon

My Idea of camping was much different, not so "plugged in".  We had a great time, we biked around the lake, watched Little Miss play in the lake, and watched my dogs walk her.  I really should have had my camera for that, and taken video, it was priceless.

Now I get why these movies that show people going camping, end up at a resort type facility, they exist.  I would never have fought against camping so hard if we went to places like this, there were showers, and a store it was amazing.

Making new friends

loading those bikes was as much fun as untangling Christmas lights

not the tent type camping I was used to, but the bed, shower, and air conditioning were great especially since it was hotter than hades out there this last weekend.  I hope your summer weekends are filled with fun and adventure, and a lot less bugs bites than mine was.

Trip to Lake Tahoe with the family

Little M. playing dress up

Posing

Mother and Daughter

The Lake, just before the rain

Playing in the sand

Shopping!

Playing games

The whole crowd

group shot

It was great to get away for a weekend.  We all had a great time together.  David and I took off to have dinner on Sunday afternoon.

The view from Harrah's on the 18th floor is spectacular.  David seems to prefer the view of the golf course, but I prefer the view from this side, of the Lake.  

One day it would be nice to have both halves of my family together, but soon we will be visiting my sisters in Utah.  I did say sisters, it was not a typo.  My family knows of my blood sister Blessed Rain, mother of my of my niece Prissy and nephew Little Man, but my BFF has been rather adopted into our family.  She really did not have a choice, we claimed her as a sister soon after she and I became friends.  I will post pictures of that adventure as well once it happens.

For now though, here is another view of Lake Tahoe

September sales to look out for, and a heads up on the seasonal produce

Remember those sales cycles: Coupon Seasons?

 Well, here are the September ones to look out for.  I'm a fan of the apples, grapes, oranges, pears, squash, tomatoes, and winter squashes. I will be looking for fun produce at Apple Hill this year!   

September:

Back to School Sales through labor day:  crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Diabetes:  Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal
Seasonal Produce: Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chile Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Orange, Valencia, Pears, Asian, Pears, Bartlett, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash

If you are unfamiliar with Apple Hill, I have pictures.  This is a place I love to be, dear hubby took me there before we were engaged, and dating for the last round before we got engaged. (We have a long history) He did a fabulous job of taking me to fun and adventurous places, he's still good at finding new places and traveling together. It's the recovery that's worrying me now, it's taking longer and longer, but we have a fun time.
Back to Apple Hill, I will post more after we go this year, but here are some fun pictures to keep your interest up.

So, these are some of the close ups, and not the broad picture.  There are lots of things to see, and farms to visit.  Some are more busy, and others are more intimate. 

Well, eating locally and in season is fun during the fall, especially with this fabulous grouping of orchards and vineyards.  Keep looking for the fun in the changes.

Labor Day travels

Hearst Castle - outdoor pool

Hubby in the Hearst indoor pool

Me in the indoor pool - it was very hot, and kind of like a sauna in there

Diner - at a Mexican restaurant close by Hearst Castle - they have Stevia as a sweetener option!

Checking out Downtown Covina

It's hard to believe this is right by L.A.

Family Labor Day/Birthday diner

After the softball event

And the evening was wrapped up with a group of Turkeys walking down the street

Views that inspire my art

 

Here is a view I had while creating my "Foggy day at Stinson Beach"

I took a closer view point of this scene, and exaggerated the fog to represent what I saw earlier in the morning.
There are no words to explain what I feel or see when something strikes me as beautiful or intriguing.  I've been asked what goes through my mind when I paint, generally it's what ever I'm feeling during the day, and how that scene struck my heart.  Not a very precise answer, but then art is not something that relates to peoples minds as much as their hearts.