I never should have blogged about what a 'winner' I was! I don't know whether I've attracted some bad karma, it's the way the moon is aligned, or exactly what is going on with me, (probably life), but it just hasn't been my week.
FIRST, I may be done with the %$&*# gourds! I had cleaned the outsides of seven more gourds, decided what shape I wanted them cut, and drew fairly accurate lines on them where I would be cutting. A girlfriend and I were outside visiting, sitting in lawn chairs. I picked up one of my small gourds and began cutting around the top with my X-acto knife...and stabbed myself, drove it right into my upper thigh! I looked down at my favorite pair of tan, capri overalls, which now had a hole in them and blood on them, and I threw the knife and the gourd down and ran to our motorhome. My heart rate was doing about 180 and I immediately broke out into a sweat. (Saying that I hate doctors and hospitals - is putting it mildly - they scare the hell out of me! I was just sure I'd have to go see a doctor, be stuck with numbing needles, and sewn up). Thank God, I quit bleeding fairly quickly, so knew I hadn't severed anything too important. T used hydrogen peroxide on it, then antibiotic cream and gauze. My whole upper leg ached for a day and a half (poor me!) but I think I'm going to live.
AND THEN...we went to a small, nearby town to trade my paperbacks in at a used book store. There was a beautiful cat there, and she looked much like Miss Kitty, (though not as pretty!). I talked to her and when she rolled over on her back I put my hand on her tummy to rub her. She immediately dug claws from both front paws into me - and bit me! Drawing blood!
AND THEN...one afternoon we went out for Chinese food. Here in the land of Mexican food - I crave Chinese. And I was starving. I went to the buffet and poured a cup of hot egg drop soup. I was bringing it back to our booth where T was standing, just as he whipped his jacket off his shoulder and threw his arm out - hitting my arm. Yep. The arm with the hand carrying the hot soup. Now there was hot soup all over my hand. Only burned my thumb and a couple inches above.
AND THEN...my winter friend left for Vegas for the races, and on to her home in California. My friend that I sit outside with, that I see every day, and that I 'click' with. You know, those people that you are just totally comfortable with? Like you are two peas in a pod? We'll stay in touch, but I won't see her until next December. And I'll miss her.
AND THEN...we took a day trip to Salt River Canyon, and drove all the way to Show Low (with an elevation of over 6,000 feet) where it was lightly snowing. Didn't make me miss being home! We'd taken pictures all day and when we got home and were going to unload the camera - it was dead. It had never died before. I fully charged the battery in it - and still nothing. My Nikon died! Here's some pictures we took last year of the Salt River Canyon. It's so beautiful driving into, and up, and down, the rock mountains.
SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS WEEK: we had some winter friends over for dinner one evening and had a great time visiting.
T went in to town one day to get the oil changed in the Element, and brought me back goodies for my 'gourding'! He bought me transfer paper, a compass, a set of wood files, and an awl. That was a nice surprise. I'll try only to punch holes away from my body with the awl!
And when we went to this little 'going away' get together before my winter girlfriend was leaving, there was a little 'surprise' birthday thing because the 'leavees' would miss the three of us that would be having birthdays in March. When they said that T had made my cake, I know I had a strange look on my face. And then they brought my 'cake' out. I wish I had a picture of it to show you. It was made of candy corn, circus peanuts, citrus fruit slices, and was put together with toothpicks! (I can't eat fat, hence no cakes or pies, but I LIVE on fat free sugared candy! As T well knows).
Come to think about it, I guess it's been a pretty balanced week. And, of course, if these are the worst things that happen to me - I'll still be a pretty lucky girl!
That cake sounds like your winter friends have gotten to know you well.
Posted by: Quilldancer | March 02, 2007 at 06:39 PM
Oh! When was your last tetnus shot?
Posted by: Quilldancer | March 02, 2007 at 06:40 PM
Nice pics Jackie, it looks a wold place. I bet you have mixed feelings about leaving, but you will be back next year.
Posted by: Dave M | March 02, 2007 at 11:38 PM
I guess we have to take the bad in order to appreciate the good. Glad you weren't hurt worse! and those pics are just beautiful. *sigh* I wish we had scenery like that around here.
Posted by: Janet | March 03, 2007 at 06:49 AM
Quilly - my winter girlfriend was going to bake a cake, but T told her that since I couldn't eat it - HE would make my cake. And did. I can't even remember when I last had a tetanus shot...but la la la la la la la....I didn't hear you!
Dave, I always haved mixed feelings about leaving. Love the desert and area surrounding it - but sure do miss our little place on the hill. I'm fortunate, I know, to be able to have both.
Janet, thanks. You know what? I'll bet that you've got great scenery (tho not the desert) around where you live. You are probably so used to seeing it that it doesn't register anymore, but I bet there is lots around you that the rest of us, who aren't familiar with your area, would love to see. T and talk about the fact that while we travel, we stop and see everything...and that we don't do it at home!
Posted by: Jackie | March 03, 2007 at 07:56 AM
hi love.
the pics are beyond breath taking so thank you for sharing my angel.
But...
what the heck happen with this wk? oh my goodness! oh my darling, you didn't go to the hospital. trust me i understand how you don't like them hon but maybe you needed stiches or something..oh my sweet and then the bite and the burn oh my! i'm so glad you had some positive in that wk too..i'm so sorry your friend left back home.
may i send you some kisses and hugs and all my love. and i'm even more amazed of the grandeur of your heart for as bad as your wk was you still had so much encouragement and love for me??!! oh my. your heart is great and i am soooooo blessed that He put you in my path. you and yours are a great family. how nice to be a part of your heart. i love you. i wish you better days..
XOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Posted by: Chana | March 03, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Sending good karma your way. Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate....
Posted by: Jackie | March 03, 2007 at 07:28 PM
Oops, that last was by me. Mistake result of violent eruptions in life recently.
Oh boy.
Posted by: Jenn | March 03, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Wow, I really hope your luck starts changing!
Posted by: SilverNeurotic | March 03, 2007 at 07:39 PM
You know there was a lunar eclipse, right?
Posted by: Nessa | March 04, 2007 at 07:34 AM
Oh my gosh. You are far away from me. It might be best to keep that arrangement until your Karmactic Kloud passes over. Prepare for blessed rainbows, Jackie. Lord knows you deserve one soon!
xo,
G
Posted by: Gawpo | March 04, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Beautimus pics, by the way!!!!
Posted by: Gawpo | March 04, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Chana, girl, thanks for the love and wishes! You are just too sweet. But now I feel like a fraud! Nothing was THAT bad...I just like to piss and moan...I'm so good at it! lol
Jenn, thank you! I was a little surprised to see "Jackie" in blue - and wondered how I'd posted on my own comments and hadn't known it! I'm a little slow some days - sat here thinking about it for quite a little bit - before I read your next comment! lol (Sorry about your violent eruptions - all okay now?)
Silver, thanks, I'm on to good and gooder times!
Nessa - hey, that might explain things! :-)
Posted by: Jackie | March 04, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Gawpo - thanks, all is good here. We'll be heading in your direction before too long. Will be at Cindra's first part of April - and then going over to (your town) one of the days before we start our last leg home to the mountain. I'll bring only good karma as I come through!
Posted by: Jackie | March 04, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Holy cow, any more accidents and T will need to keep you in a bubble! This has to be a melancholy time, getting to wrap up your temporary home, people coming and going.
Posted by: Kat | March 04, 2007 at 09:31 PM
March 5th!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear Sister.
Happy Birthday to you!
Posted by: Quilly | March 05, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Fabulous pictures!
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Katie | March 05, 2007 at 09:10 AM
I wish for you a very Happy Birthday!
The pictures even if they were from an earlier time are beautiful.
Posted by: betty | March 05, 2007 at 11:40 AM
a beautiful birdie told that it was a mighty special day. a day to celebrate your birth and to thank God for another angel he lend us to make our world better..thank you for coming to us and for letting us be a part of your world..we love you oh so much...
Happy Birthday My Sweet!!! Here is to many, many more and a life full of family and laughter and peace and health and joy.
I and the kids send you a million hugs and kisses.
Posted by: Chana | March 05, 2007 at 06:40 PM
Did you wonder, as you stabbed yourself in the leg, if you might be "out of your gourd"? ;-)
The pictures are beautiful. I can see why you were disappointed that your camera died when it did.
And I've just read a few more comments...Happy birthday, Jackie! I hope you've had a wonderful day.
Posted by: Velvet Sacks | March 05, 2007 at 07:13 PM
Jackie,
Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! Your sister mentioned it was your special day today.
Hope it was a good one!
Angela
Posted by: Angela Rush | March 05, 2007 at 09:57 PM
Jackie, I've been a little slow on line but I'm so sorry to read of your troubles. I hope the cut /burn is healing and that your Nikon starts working! Holly
Posted by: Creekhiker | March 07, 2007 at 09:06 AM