Missing the ocean

Finally home after a week of vacation!  Its good to be back but at the same time I miss the ocean, waves, sun, and salt water.
I'm completely hooked on surfing now.  Getting up on the board was actually really easy but it was the balancing and standing part that was hard.  I was expecting the complete opposite so it was really satisfying to nail the getting up part but kinda disappointing about the standing.  I only had a hour out there so leaving was hard.  I had an itch to get out there and do it until I got it.  But I left with more goals and a hankering to get even stronger for next year.

The paddling wasn't a problem,  Just walking through knee deep water with strong currents was really hard.  Next time I'll just paddle.   My instructor was really helpful and understanding.  For the lesson he pushed my into the wave.

Besides surfing I had lots of fun.  We went shopping in lots of little art and craft shops.  Got to see tons of birds and a few dolphins!!  And went swimming whenever I could.

Beautiful sunsets!

Saying goodby

Since the weather has cooled down POTS has become a bit easier to handle.  Which is a nice relief to say the least.  I'm hoping to get a few projects done this week.......we'll see how that goes!

A Summer with POTS

This past weekend brought 70 degree weather and with it, the first time I felt so good in a LONG time.  Anything over 80 degrees makes me feel pretty awful.  The heat is back today but this weekend gave me hope that I'll really will be feeling better within the next month or two.

During the last couple of months, I have had a hard time sitting at the computer for more than a minute before I'd feel exhausted and develop extreme nausea and the feeling like someone punched me in the stomach.  Hense the lack in posts, email, ect.  School and working out have also become extra difficult with brain fog, shear exhaustion, weakness ect. Since I also have EDS, putting off a good workout or even moving around is not an option........that is if I don't want to get right back to where I was at the beginning of this year (joints shifting, subluxing, and very painful ............NOT FUN.  But the workout has easily been taking the entire day as opposed to an hour or two.   My physical therapist is so encouraging but insists that as long as ALL of the 16 exercises are done and there is a day off inbetween,  my "Pokealong" workout is just fine.

It has certainly been a challenging and at times a very frustrating year.  I had to do a lot of letting go when I wanted to take over and make myself study or workout.  I don't make daily 'schedules'  and plans anymore because I know that my day is going to be totally unpredictable with POTS.  I really just have to go with the flow. There have been many times when I hated doing it but I had to close my physics book because in reality, with all the brain fog and inability to understand a sentence, I needed to find something else that I COULD do and be a little bit more productive in.....although sometimes it was nothing.

Summer re-cap

I always look forward to the summer months mainly because of the warm weather. But this year hasn't exactly been something that I would have looked forward to (POTS wise), had I known.  Its definitely been a struggle with school and simple daily tasks.  Making a phone call or sitting down to write a simple email can be hard.  School is still slowly coming along (though I think graduating early has long past and is not realistic any more).  Its not having POTS that I have a hard time with; its just learning how to live with it, and how to make the most of my time whether I'm feeling good or not.  I've also been trying to figure out how to keep working out and staying strong while I'm so tired. I'm hoping the cooler weather coming will make a difference!

As far as this past month with POTS and having a busy week, not much has been going on.  My summer has been fun despite 'everything else'!

Thursday a good friend of mine went horseback riding with me.  We rode trails up a nearby mountain were a battle took place during the Civil War.  It was cool and shady, a lot of fun and my horse was the best :-)   We went in the morning when it was cool.  That helped a lot. 

I like riding Western because its not as stressful on the ankle and all as opposed to English.

This morning we went to watch a Civil War skirmish at the courthouse.  After that, there was a living history camp.

The Confederate 1st Virginia Cavalry

County fair

Every year I look forward to spending the weekend at our local county fair.  Despite the heat and missing my best friend this year, we had lots of fun :-)

Ready to show in the 4-H tent

Loved the safari :-)

The turtle was really cool!

Must take a picture of this draft horse :-D

Frisbee dog competition

The highlight of the fair was the clogging competitions.  Lots of energy!

I was a little concerned that the heat would be a problem and I wouldn't be able to stay for as long as I wanted, but Hawaiian ice, ice cream, a milk shake and plenty of cold ice water was just right... + my Gu Brew!!  All before lunch.   Well, I had a chili dog somewhere in there.   It only happens once a year.  "It's my one weakness."

My Art Studio!!!

Since I have more concentration and all I have started drawing more. With school almost finished I can't wait to get into it!! SO, I set up my own act/craft studio!!

My table.  I came home to it Saturday.

Its set up!!

I have to admit that I was hurting quite a bit after setting the table up.  Not sure how I would do it next time though.....probably ask someone else to help me!  At least its up :-)

Christmas in July :-)

Some supplies unexpectedly came this morning!

"The kitty" colored pencil drawing

I've always wanted to try drawing on black paper.  So the other day I did for the first time.  I picked out a photograph and watched a movie while I worked on it! It was SO much fun!!! Can't wait to get more of this paper soon :-)

An Afternoon at the Fire Station

My brother and I headed down to the nice and cool station after getting some ice cream.  Took pictures, watched the Olympic trials, and um......I took a shot at pool but I have to say it was a disaster........need some serious practice there:-)  The hot weather has been a little bit of a challenge for POTS but hopefully not too many more weeks of this heat! And hopefully we will get some more rain like last night.  Just don't want the wind ;-)

My brother getting his gear on. 100 pounds with air pack and all!

The station's two year old ladder truck.  Pretty impressive in person!

Bear Xing

Friday we ventured up to the Skyline Drive.  It was a beautiful day and about 60 degrees up there.  Once up there for about five minutes, we came across two cars with their caution lights on and a bunch of people taking pictures.  A sure sign that there is something......usually not deer......there's enough up there where you don't have to stop every mile to get fifty shots of them. It was a bear! And her two cubs.  The lady who had been there for about twenty minutes said that at one point the bear did a false charge at her.  But it seemed pretty relaxed when we got there.  The cubs where up in a tree so that is probably why. We kept a door or two open................hmmm.......might be a good idea to have an escape rout planned..............JUST in case!

One of the cubs up in the tree

 

Mountain Laural

Harrier Hawk, Glider

The homeschool co-op that I go to for Chemistry had a visitor there Thursday!! A falconer and his Harrier Hawk.  It was really cool!! Here are are few pictures.

Glider

Glider and his owner, Mr. Straka

Take a look at those talons!

I'm so glad that I took my camera! It was a beautiful, cool, and sunny day.  The weather was perfect.  

Her Highness Olivia Rose, Champion Napper

Yesterday I promised to make another post of K's cat, and here it is.  Livy (the gray kitty) is also known as Her Highness Olivia Rose. Enjoy!

June 2005

Her Highness's repose is guarded by her sister Pansy.

January 2005: cat nap

Livy and Pansy catch forty winks together

September 2005

A basket full of cats

August 2007

October 2007

 June 2011

July 2005

Livy the Cheerleader

Air raids, milk shakes and a country drives

Well, first off, no, its is not WWII and we are not being invaded......................well maybe.  Before you start to panic, its nothing you'll hear about on the news.  So I better start and clear something up before I go on.  K and I happened to be eating our lunch on a mill stone under some trees (minding our own business of course:-) when I seemed to have been the target for an unsuspecting bird in the tree.  Yeah, I know.............I probably said GROSS like a hundred times and washed by hands about fifty (more like five times................in a row:-) Fortunately it landed on my hand and didn't really get on anything else, THANK GOODNESS!! So K and I are going to announce to our family that we survived air raids when they get back:-) LOL

Next, we went and fed da horses carrots!

 Then we saw the Sheep.

 

There was a few in the pack that were total pigs! They LOVED the grass:-)

 After seeing the sheep we headed out and got milkshakes.  Then went on a country drive.  Welcome to the mountains! Enjoy:-)
 

 

 Some old barns.................

 

Now finished our excursion, I'm not sure what we'll do.  Might watch North and South later on.  I think I'll go see Livy. Livy is K's cat.  She is so sweet! Here are some pictures of her...............oh wait. On second thought I'll have a new post of her.  Ya'll see why:-)

Five Days and Counting!

Mom and I start our trip down south in five days to spend a few days visiting friends !!  I also get to hang out with my oldest brother!

Right now its more of trying to get school done and some chores.  As a matter of fact, packing hasn't even begun and probably won't until Saturday.  First a chemistry test, finish a lab report and maybe another test or so.

I didn't go to PT today :( For the past few days my poor heart can't seem to make up its mind to speed up or slow down.  The plan was that if it wasn't better this morning that we wouldn't go to PT.  This morning it was better but just not enough.  We think its just having to do with my body getting use to the new medication and possible being too active Friday with a field trip and picnic and fun.  Huh.  More energy so more fun.  Crash.  POTS is so persnickety!

Finally I think its time for some humor.  How about my favorite character in Hogan Heroes with my favorite saying!

(Google image)

This is actually the back of a T-shirt!  Go here for more information.

(Google image)

Sgt. Schultz
(Google image)