daily 2008 march page

Kay's Daily Journal
March 2008

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2008 Old Farmer's Almanac Predictions for March 2008 in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Temp. 46.5° (2° above avg. north, 5° above south)
Precip. 2.5" (1" below avg. north, 2" below south)
1-3: Sunny, mild.
4-7: Rain, cool.
8-12: Showers.
13-17: Rain and snow, then sunny, cool.
18-22: Scattered t-storms, warm.
23-26: Sunny, mild.
27-31: Very warm, then t-storms.

Important March Dates

Holidays Etc:	Anniversaries:	Birthdays:	Miscellaneous:
March 1 - St. David's Day	March 19 - Earl & Gail	March 6 - Kay	Birthstone - Aquamarine, Diamond
March 9 - Daylight Savings Time	March 19 - Ed & Linda	March 8 - Joyce	Flower - Jonquil
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day			Optimism Month
March 19 - St. Joseph's Day			Play the Recorder Month
March 20 - First Day of Spring			Poison Prevention Awareness Month
March 21 - Good Friday			National Craft Month
March 23 - Easter Sunday			Red Cross Month
			Rosacea Awareness Month
			Save Your Vision Month
			Spiritual Awareness Month
			Women's History Month
			Workplace Eye Health & Safety Month
			Youth Art Month

March 31, 2008 - Monday

I'm actually typing this journal up on April 12, 2008. A lot has happened at the end of March. Not only was I sick, but I had a complete computer failure. Jim got me set up with another computer but he's had a time trying to retrieve all of my data. On my former computer I had two hard drives with a dynamic split. Now I really don't understand what all that means, just that it was an unusual setup that apparently didn't catch on. So I had 160 gb of data that we couldn't access. That included all my web pages and stuff that was in the folders ready to be put on the web pages at a later date. It included all my music mp3s, all my photos, all my genealogy, all my personal records (like blood tests results for the last several years etc), all my audiobooks and well, you get the picture. Bless his heart, he has managed to recover 90% of my data and is still trying to figure out how to get more of my data. But for now, most of the data was restored. I did lose a portion of my mp3's, backup accompaniments, some photos (of which he was able to retrieve some of the photos!) I lost all my audiobooks, but those can always be re-done as the missing mp3s can be also redone. So he's working on it continually. Jimmy also did research and has helped us out alot with the new windows vista. It's really a learning process for me since it is somewhat different than my old windows 2000.

So unfortunately, I have lost my March Accomplishments document and dumb me, I hadn't backed it up yet. Actually, I hadn't backed up anything for several years. I'll see what Jim can find on the old system and then I'll see what I can reconstruct. It may be missing a few accomplishments but I'll do the best I can. It will be listed later in April after we figure out how to re-upload stuff to my webpages online.

Lesson Learned: Back up everything. Often. Back it up, back it up, back it up. Some things are hard to replace, reconstruct or redesign. Back it up. BACK IT UP!!!!!! Important. One more time, BACK IT UP.

OK So I'm adding this section on April 26th for the Reconstructed Accomplishments of March 2008.

Accomplishments for March 2008: At least what I can remember or reconstruct...

Bible Read (NIV-New International Version):
     1st Chronicles
     2nd Chronicles

Home Studies:
     Online SS Lessons: 2008 - 1st Quarter:
          03/07 - 10. Discipleship Under Pressure
          03/14 - 11. More Lessons in Discipleship
          03/21 - 12. Mission and Commission
          03/28 - 13. Patterns of Discipleship

Note: Online SS Lessons are available at: Current SS Lessons

Daily & Continual Readings:
     Chancellor Church Daily Devotional - March 1 - March 31

Books Read - Non-fiction:
     Windows Vista Book - ??

TV Specials:
     Scrubs, Season 1
     Gaithers: Jerusalem

Contests Entries:
     Total Contest Entries for the Month: 1887

Honestly, I don't remember much more that I would care to post publicly. Needless to say with a computer failure I managed to get more housework done than usual! So I'll close with my usual disclaimer:

Note:
If you are interested in reading or listening or watching any of the listed items above, please check with your local library. Most of these books, audiobooks, CD's, cassettes or DVD's can be found on their shelves. The household, craft and hobby projects are mostly my own and many can be found on these webpages under the same category. If not my original ideas, then credit is given, if known, where due. For instructions, corrections, additions or comments, please email me at the address listed at the bottom of this webpage. Hope you have enjoyed my entries.

March 19, 2008 - Wednesday

My first trip out (yesterday) since I've been sick except for last week when I had blood drawn. My trip out was for the doctor's appointment yesterday. Not really because I was sick but my routine check. Because I'm diabetic and have some other various medical issues that require medications, the doctor is obliged to run bloodwork on me every three months or so to make sure that the meds aren't messing up my liver and kidneys. That's the worst thing about it, all the side effects.

So, they did my bloodwork last week and it had to be discussed yesterday. I've got a couple of tests running too high, but that's because stubborn old me decided to quit taking some of my meds. So he, the doctor, wasn't too happy with me. But the reason I had quit a couple of them was because of known side effects that I started having. Am I supposed to call him everytime I get a little ache or pain? I know the routine. Drop that med and we'll try a new one. Guess what? I'm on the 4th type of statin and this is the last one I'm gonna try. After that, I'm done with them. I'll find some other way to get my cholesterol down. I know. I know. Lose weight, eat healthier. I'm working on it.

As far as my cold goes, he said that it's going around and it's more of a "deal with it" sort of thing. Nothing they can really give you to help. At least he didn't offer anything. Guess he figured I might not take it anyway...

So bottom line is, I'm still sick, but not as bad as yesterday or the day before that, thankfully. I feel a little better this evening than this morning also. I'm still coughing and that's a real irritation, keeps my chest hurting, my head hurting. But I can breathe a little better and that helps alot. I still don't feel like doing anything at all, but if I can just start getting some stuff done around the house, I know that in itself, will make me feel better!

And the truth is I actually did a couple things today. I would work on a couple things then rest, then work again, then rest. Funny how after being sick for a couple weeks, you have NO energy! But at least I felt like I was doing something!!!!

Storms coming tonight. I see the line on radar and it has held together over the mountains. It sounds like it's a little breezy outside too. So whatever comes will be quick. On the radar it's moving at about 33 knots which is faster (if I remember correctly) than 33 mph. So I figure it's less than an hour and a half from us currently and most likely picking up speed at this point. The front really sucked up some warm air along the mid-Atlantic. It's about 11 pm and still 68°. Good fuel for a thunderstorm. I don't think it will amount to much, however, power has flickered twice this evening already. So we shall see. I won't sleep until after it passes by us.

Last update before I shut down on this end. Looks like the line has slightly intensified just west of Fredericksburg. They should be feeling the effects in the next 30 minutes or so and us within the hour also. Interesting.

March 18, 2008 - Tuesday

Virginia - Tornado Preparedness Day

You might wonder about this one. Tornadoes? In Virginia? Yep. We have them every year. Rarely like the ones in the mid-West but definitely tornadoes. You can't see them coming in this part of the country very well due to the terrain and trees and we normally don't have the huge F4 or F5's or I guess now they are the EF4 or EF5's. We do have alot of smaller type tornadoes in Virginia, in the spring and summer into fall. Our worst outbreaks usually accompany the tropical storm remnants that we frequently experience here in the Commonwealth. You may get the big hurricanes in Florida or along the Gulf Coast. Then it floods the Tennessee Valley and if it comes up the East side of the Appalachian Mountains, we get heavy rainfalls and tornadoes. Since I've lived in Virginia, I've witnessed several funnel clouds and seen a couple small tornadoes at a distance. Never up close. We had an apparent small tornado that went over our house as a funnel cloud raining stones down just like hail. We have heard another one go over top the house or close by during a storm late one night. It's a distinctive sound that once heard, you never forget. So awareness is a good thing. They are teaching the students in school what to do. The first year my sons attended the local middle school, high school, a funnel cloud went right over the schools. They brought the students from the trailers into the main building and had them sit in the hallway until the storm had passed. Jim & I were up the highway and saw the funnel cloud pass right over route 301, not touching the ground that we could see. So it's good to know what to do. Some have referred to Virginia as Little Tornado Alley recently, when we had all the remnants of Tropical Storms and so very many tornadoes that one summer!

So here's the Common Sense List!

Responding to Tornadoes

Know What To Do

• Stay tuned to your local radio or TV for weather reports, or listen to a NOAA weather radio for more detailed information when weather conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes.

When a tornado WATCH is issued:

• Tornadoes could develop in your area.
• Stay tuned to your local radio, TV or NOAA weather radio for further information and possible warnings.
• Be prepared to take cover if necessary.

When a tornado WARNING is issued:

• A tornado has been sighted or has been indicated by NWS Doppler radar.
• Warnings are given to individual counties or cities and include the tornado’s location, direction and speed.
• If you are in or near its path, seek shelter immediately.

If a Tornado is Headed Your Way

• Seek Shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building. Go to the building's basement. If there is no basement, move to a small, windowless interior room such as a closet, bathroom or interior hall on the lowest level of the building. Be sure to use the stairs to reach the lowest level, not an elevator. Protect your body from flying debris with a heavy blanket or pillows.
Take precautions if you can not get to a substantial buildings. If you are in:
• Open buildings (shopping malls, gymnasiums or civic centers): Try to get into the restroom or an interior hallway. If there is no time to go anywhere else, seek shelter right where you are. Try to get up against something that will support or deflect falling debris. Protect your head by covering it with your arms.
• Automobiles: Get out of your vehicle and try to find shelter inside a sturdy building. A culvert or ditch can provide shelter if a substantial building is not nearby — lie down flat and cover your head with your hands. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass or bridge, because debris could get blown under them or the structures themselves could be destroyed.
• Outdoors: Try to find shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building. If no buildings are close, lie down flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
• Mobile homes: Do not stay in mobile homes. You should leave immediately and seek shelter inside a nearby sturdy building or lie down in a ditch away from your home, covering your head with your hands. Mobile homes are extremely unsafe during tornadoes.

March 17, 2008 - Monday

Happy St. Patrick's Day !!!!

Did you wear green today? I did. My coloring seems green. Nah, just kidding. Though I am still pretty sick. No, not sick to the stomach as the "green" coloring might indicate. Just a bad cold in the head and chest. And it's been a weird one in that I never had a sore throat. But I cough all night long, all day long. What a pain. Keeps the chest hurting constantly.

March 16, 2008 - Sunday

Really tired of being sick. Did my dishes today. That's it. Great accomplishment of the week! Ugh. Jim's still sick too and I think he's getting tired of me being sick too. Well, yes, and of course, of himself being sick also.

March 15, 2008 - Sabbath

I really truly hate being sick. I'm SICK of being SICK. I guess cause I'm actually starting to feel a tiny little bit better is when I get frustrated with being sick. Enough time wasted, I want to get some things done, I want to feel better again. I've been reading online about colds and things you can do to ease them. Of course, there is no cure, but there are things that help the chest congestion and the nasal stuffiness. So I'm all ears!!!! Well, eyes I guess, since I'm reading it not hearing it.

Enough. I just want to feel better.

After being on my computer last night, I walked into the living room and the blinds were open and Mrs. Bandit (the raccoon) was on the deck. When she saw me, she came over to the window and stood on her hind legs and watched me. When I started towards her, she dropped down and moved back to the far corner of the deck. I had peanuts out there for her as well as some Kibbles n' Bits (left over from when we had a couple foxes coming up to eat everynight). So I closed the blinds so she could eat in peace. She comes up several times a night to see what else is there. Maybe she's looking to see if I've added any new peanuts or whatevers?

March 14, 2008 - Friday

Well, I know I must be starting to improve a little, because I'm starting to worry about all the things that I haven't done this week that I was supposed to do. Had to reschedule some things, postpone others. But I'll get there.

My hearing deteriorated just slightly with this cold, but didn't lose it completely this time, like in November. However, the distortion in my left ear has increased some, which means the fluid build-up has increased again. Ironic that just last week, I woke up during the night one night with liquid coming out of that ear. I know, gross. But suddenly I could hear in that ear for a few hours with little or no distortion. So that gives me hope that it will improve again, once this stupid cold has released it's grip on me!

Have just tons to do around the house too, since I've been too sick to do anything other than just the dishes. Haven't even cooked, Jim has had to just be happy with sandwiches and salads all week. I haven't felt like eating. Well, let me refrase that. I've been hungry (I'm always hungry), but I found early in the week that if I eat, I feel much worse. And it's bad enough that I won't eat. But today, I was able to drink some chocolate milk to take my meds with and a salad for lunch and a "Smart Ones" the Santa Fe Beans & Rice, for supper. I did manage to eat a few crackers with some peanut butter also. But I'll probably wish I hadn't eaten those.

Thank goodness for microwaves and dishwashers! Sure helps out when you're sick!!! Now if I could just get some energy to do some laundry, we'd be sittin' pretty!

But I am getting pretty tired of being sick. This has dragged on way too long! I absolutely hate getting colds. Seems like I just can't kick them like I did years ago!

Otherwise a good Friday, heard from both of the boys, so that makes me very content! And especially since all is going well for both of them!

March 13, 2008 - Thursday

There's been alot going on with Jim's parents this week. His dad has been in the hospital all week, since last Saturday night, and it's been a really tough week. Keep all the family in your prayers.

Still pretty sick, at least I am. Jim is starting to feel a little better. He has gone to work the last couple days, even though he's coughing badly. Me, well, I had a really rough night last night, but today I feel like I'm doing better as the day wears on. Last night, I literally walked the floor until 5 am. This, whatever it is, has caused my ears to close up abit again, not like before but it was scarey, thinking it was going into my ears again! But just can't breathe cause I'm so congested and can't take a deep breath due to coughing and sore chest. But I finally was able to sleep for about 4 hours this morning on the sofa and picked up a couple more this evening! I switched meds and maybe that is helping also. I was taking the Advil Cold & Sinus, since that always has helped me in the past. But when I had the bad cold in November last year, the Advil wasn't helping so Jim had bought me some of the Robitussin to try. I think it is working better than the Advil. At least I don't feel so "panicky" about the breathing for the last few hours.

Could also mean the worst is over, I hope I hope I hope? Anyway, as the day has come to a close, this evening or should I say tonight, I'm feeling a little better. Well, I am still taking meds but regardless, I'm hoping the worst is over. I'm running about 3 days behind Jim, so perhaps I'm on the mend at last!!!!

It was such a pretty day outside, I had wanted to go out and take some photos of my jonquils in bloom, but I just couldn't do it. I didn't do much of anything today after last night!

March 12, 2008 - Wednesday

So all the things I had to do this week have been put on hold while we're both sick. On top of that, Jim's truck needs some work done and so I don't have a car for a few days. Oh well, I'm too sick to go anywhere anyway!

Blood tests results came back and just like I figured, they were a little out of whack. I'm sure, in my defense, that it was because I'm sick. But I know the cholesterol is high since I quit taking the Lipitor, last September. It was making my legs hurt, just like the 2 previous statin meds I tried, Zocor & Crestor. I blame the Zocor for my broken ankle and torn achilles of June 2006. I had been on it for about 8 months when that happened. Plus my legs had been hurting more and more each day. Didn't know that the statins could do that to some people back then.

The Crestor worked for about 2-4 weeks before the pain set in. So then I went to the Lipitor. Guess what? I used it for about 4 months before the pain started up again. So this time I just quit taking it. I know the Doctor will be upset with me. But he had a student in with us at my December appointment and I just forgot to tell him about it....

So the blood tests are off, up or down depending on what test. And I feel like I'm getting bad test results on the thyroid. I know what I feel like, when the meds need to be adjusted and yet the blood tests are reading very low. So I don't get it.

Of course the A1C, which is a diabetic measurement giving a result for the last 90 days, well, that one was right at the top of normal, which is good, considering I was sick when the blood was drawn and typically my sugar skyrockets when I'm sick. So that was good anyway.

March 11, 2008 - Tuesday

Feeling terrible. Can't breathe, can't sleep, can't stop coughing. My chest hurts and my back hurts from coughing so much. I mean really bad. Like I've been kicked in the back by a horse. Maybe a better analogy would be like when I've got fresh kidney stones. That's what it normally feels like before they move out of the kidney area. Like I've been run over by a truck or kicked by a mule. Nasty feeling.

March 10, 2008 - Monday

Well, I caught Jim's cold, it's official. He's been sick since Friday and now, since yesterday, I have it too. Just a nasty cough and head/chest cold. But it's pretty miserable.

I had to go get my routine blood tests today also, which probably means the results will be messed up, but I can't reschedule at this point.

March 9, 2008 - Sunday

Busy around the house today. Just rearranging and housework. Other stuff going on but too tired tonight to elaborate. Just keeping busy, busy and more busy! What can I say? It's all good.

Jim is still sick and honestly, I'm starting to feel stuffed up and achy, like I'm coming down with a cold also. Bummer.

March 8, 2008 - Sabbath

I just added the coolest thing to my home page! It's called "How Many of Me?" It's a link that you can click, which takes you to another website. You type in your name and it will tell you how many people in the U.S. have the same name. It also has some neat statistics. Check it out!

Jim is down sick. He went to sleep as soon as he came home from work and slept until after 2 pm this afternoon. He NEVER does that. I don't think he has ever slept so long since we've been married!

March 7, 2008 - Friday

So guess what I had for lunch today??? My leftover Olive Garden food! It's like eating there for TWO meals! Yep, it's one of my favorites!

So today I did a little grocery shopping (as opposed to "other" shopping) and housework. I just wanted to have a few fresh salad things for the weekend. I guess eating that good salad last night at Olive Garden made me hungry for more salad! Well, I love salad anyway, so that's a good thing!

I moved a couple small pieces of furniture around, vacuumed, dishes and stuff like that today also. I would call it routine, but it wasn't quite, since I don't normally move all the furniture around. Of course I do like to move it around in the spring and fall for Spring & Fall Cleanings. So, I guess we could call this part of my Spring Cleaning 2008.

Jim is feeling bad tonight, looks like he might be getting sick. Bummer. Not only because he is sick, but because we have so much going on right now. And also because, I always catch whatever he gets. Bummer.

March 6, 2008 - Thursday

Happy Birthday Kay !!!!

How old am I? Well, it's like this. The way I say my age is, 29 again and again and again and again and again and again and again and, well, you get the picture... Hm-m-m-m, sounds like the beginnings of my new country song, "29 again and again".

And the best present ever is (if you're a mom you understand!), I got phone calls from both of my "boys" to wish me a Happy Birthday! That's EXACTLY what this Mom wanted for her birthday!!!!

Busy day today. No, not only because it was my birthday but because I just had alot of things to do. Had errands to run in town, had chores to accomplish, phone calls to make, doctor appointments, things ordered to pick-up, laundry to do, housework always to be done, birds, squirrels and raccoons to feed, what else can I add???

Jim met me in town and got me a camera for my birthday! I love it!!! I'm always getting the little "one-time" cameras to take photos with and they just don't do a very good job. So I'll post some photos from it soon! And then he took me to dinner at Olive Garden which I love also! They have such delicious food! I love their salad and bread! And when the main meal is actually served, I'm already almost full!!! So I saved half of it, got a container from the nice lady and brought the leftovers home!

I'm tired just writing all of it down in this journal. Whew! I sound like a busy lady, don't I? Don't kid yourself. I find a way and a time to put those feet up for a few minutes. Besides, can't miss the results show on American Idol now, can I?

March 5, 2008 - Wednesday

Since Jim had worked his 40 hours for this week by about 9 am this morning, he came home early and we went to a couple stores to pick up an item or two. We just really took the afternoon to relax and enjoy the spring weather etc.

Course he worked half a day by the time he came home and I had already run some laundry and did some ironing, so the day wasn't a complete lazy day. But I just love to shop. It's my middle name.

My jonquils have started blooming and hyacinths are up about 4 inches. Don't know what else is peaking up at this time, since I never know from year to year what the mice have eaten out of my yard. But when they bloom I'll see. I just know that of the over 200+ bulbs I planted last year only about 25 or so came up. I'll have to check my journal from last spring to see what the numbers were, but you get the gist.

March 4, 2008 - Tuesday

I've also tried to keep up with my contesting, run a few errands, like garbage out to the dump today. I made 6 large bags of garbage going through all those magazines and old catalogs yesterday. So they had to go. Funny thing is that I could probably fill another couple bags with the same things, when I finish going through them.

For the catalogs I just make sure I have the customer number, name of the company, phone number and website. Then I can toss the catalog. Magazines are abit slower as I look for recipes and stuff that I might wish to save. Those are set in a separate basket to be scanned at a later date. Actually, they're just being stacked into a separate stack for now to be gone through later looking for recipes and coupons. The next sort will get them into the scanning basket or trash bag. It's a complicated procedure.....

March 3, 2008 - Monday

What did I do today? Well, honestly I worked hard on my "sorting and tossing." You remember that I mentioned last month about all the old magazines and catalogs that I just kept saving and saving until they've taken up way too much space in my house? Well, that's the "sorting and tossing" that I'm refering to.

Jim had to work up in DC today and again tomorrow so those are long days for him. So I'm using my time wisely and getting some of the paperwork done.

March 2, 2008 - Sunday

So I was right, yesterday March came in like a lamb. Oh boy. I'm rubbing my hands together in anticipation for our surprise March 31st blizzard we are due to get. I'd kinda prefer it not be an ice storm. please???

Routine Sunday, did a little housework and contesting. Jim had to work today but was home by 1 pm and Jimmy paid us a visit today also which was really nice! He was surprised to see some of the changes we've made around the house and yard! It was hard not to tell him about them ahead of time. I'm not known for keeping secrets very well....

Oh, and here's a photo of Ms. Bandit paying us a late visit one night last week.

Ms. Bandit eating dinner of peanuts

Ms. Bandit making her Great Escape

March 1, 2008 - Sabbath

Happy St. David's Day !!!!

Whatever that is...

So this year, instead of going with the Easter theme, I decided to go with St. Patrick's Day theme. And I had the page all designed when I decided to look back in the Archives at my previous March Journals. Guess what?? You guessed it, same layout as in 2006. So, I've re-designed it to what you see now. OK, it's more of a Spring theme. Get it??

Yes, in Virginia it's spring. My flowers are up 8 inches, so don't tell me differently. I know some locals say you can get ice storms and blizzards herein Virginia in March. Well, maybe up in Westminster, MD where we used to live. Maybe on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where we grew up. Maybe in Colorado where a niece and nephew live. Maybe in Michigan where a brother lives, but in Virginia???? Come on now. (famous last words, she says hopefully????).

BRING IT ON. Let me see it. We haven't had a decent snow this winter. Just an inch here or there. Nada, nothing. So spring, as far as I'm concerned, has already SPRUNG!!! I even have tons of robins visiting my yard already.....

Just remember the old saying about March coming in like a lamb and going out like a lion. Since it has apparently been a lamb of a day, I can't wait to see what March 31st will bring us!!!

Hey, did you see how many contests I did last month??? 3018. That's over a hundred a day. Actually, it was about 2500 online, so it's really less than a hundred a day but regardless, that's alot of contesting!

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