And it all comes Tumbling out! (the new edition of Going's ons!)

I've been going through a dry period of not writing often on the blog, but I am not down and out! Oh no, I'm still here, still the original Jungletart from February of 2006, and I still Roar!

I have some good things going on in my life right now. I am doing the 'Baking Opportunity' which just got very 'real feeling' since I got Finally got paid on Thursday. Yaaaay!

I am now also a Library Volunteer at my local library. See my sister blog of goodness and happiness, Jungletart's Good Stuff for more happiness and joy on the subject!

I will be a Newspaper Indexer, yes, an unpaid position, entering geneology information into my state's database. I am so excited about this!

I feel I have been led by God to this position, not even knowing now how it will all 'pan out,' what its true purpose is in my life.

I doo think it will teach me more time management at home, structure my day more (one of my goals - see sidebar), and teach me what it's like to be self-disciplined and work at home.

It seemed to just fall in my lap now, after I had done the work by filling out the application and WAITING, months I believe, to actually be called. To be called.:)

This job is right up my alley, since I love to be on the computer and be at home and be away from people. Yup, you heard it here, I can be alone and happy for looooong periods of time.

Heck, my husband's home now, and I'm in the home office typing away. I should probably get off of here and go hang out with him!

So, as it may work, for either a bipolar or just anyone, I don't know, a dry period is punctuated by a 'wet period' where I can type more or maybe I just have more to say.

Maybe I just saved it up for a while and now it all comes tumbling out. Maybe I'm just feeling better because I'm amped up on a Mega dose of Antibiotics.

That reminds me, besides all my psychotropic meds for bipolar and heart oriented things (high blood pressure & high cholesterol) they put me on antibiotics because of this Really Ugly Bug Bite on my leg that is very infected and almost sent me to the hospital to receive intravenous antibiotics(!).

Who knew a bug bite could be such a whopper? And I believe I received this in my backyard, too!

The Doc will see me on Aug. 21, to check on that and to check on the second kidney, etc., test they took on me a few days ago.

It seems the numbers are funny and he wants to make sure they are consistently funny before deciding what to do about it.

I Certainly Hope none of this will interfere with my real vacation coming up on Aug 28 - Sept. 1!

August 28 is the national holiday of my birthday for some already, and soon to be sweeping the world, I am sure!

I am soooo excited because my inlaws have actually invited us to a major beach (we are their second choice but that's okay, because I'm goooooing!!!) for that weekend!

I hear there is a pier there and I am looking forward to casting my hook in its probably overfished waters. Yaaaaay! I'm such a kid.

I have also lost 5 pounds, by being good and having salads and sort of watching my Points (a Weight Watchers thing)!!

I have finally gotten under a certain number so I hope this is not losing bizarre water weight or something - but as you can tell, I'm Happy about it! Let's hope this is Real!

Also, I started Physical Therapy again on Monday for my back. Oh, this is good stuff people!

If you have problems with your back, you should know about strengthening your core, the muscles in the abdomen are going to help.

And you've got to learn how to activate those muscles without giving yourself a sway back (if you're like me and have scoliosis and naturally want to stick out your butt when trying to find where the heck those muscles are located!).

I'm supposed to practice 'activated my core' when sitting, standing, washing dishes - basically doing anything!

And the best part is today its Friday, and I feel like I get it, it's working. I'm keeping myself up straighter. I'm even imagining myself without any tire around me, I AM STRONG! or at least tall, purty and straight-backed!

And there you have it. I have been busy. Oh, and about that baby shower - we decided that we can only afford one trip states away this year (and hardly that!) and its going to be....drumroll......Christmas!!

Yes, Christmas is a big deal every two years in Husband's growing large family and we wouldn't miss it. Besides, as Raine pointed out, we will be able to see the actual baby then.:)

So, today, since I'm not going to the baby shower (and instead will be on vacaaation at the beach that day!) I shopped the baby registry online to buy gifts and am having them wrapped and sent to the lucky Mom for her shower.

Oh it was soo much fun! I'm not sad that I'm not the one having the baby, I'm genuinely excited for the Mom-to-be (Husband's cousin, states away) and now that they know they will have a daughter, it is just wonderfully fun.

I bought one item off their registry and then had to send them pink baby booties, which were not on the registry. I just think they are the cutest, most adorable things and what little baby girl couldn't use baby booties. Even if they got a ton, she can just start a shoe collection now.

And that's the goings ons for the Jungletart. Until I roar again...

Love, Tart

Goings ons

I had a good day with my Mom yesterday, mostly helping her shop for one flat sheet in queen size (not a set) and please make it pretty (not plain or Martha Stewart green stripes, but flowery - that's what she wants.) Needless to say, she's going to have to find it on the internet, maybe on Overstock.com or somewhere, to find the perfect one, because we couldn't find it at the various stores we went to. But it was nice to hang out with my Mom.:)

I made more stuff on Tuesday at the baking opportunity. This was a fruit cake without the hard candies (I didn't know that was what usually went into one) and instead had raisins, nuts, and dates/figs in there. Turns out figs are yummy! and so was the actual cake if you like nuts, as the cake with all its nutmeg, cinnamon and whatnot is pretty fabulous too! We also made an orange angel food cake that was very good as well.

The library finally called back about my filling out an application to volunteer there. I see them on this coming Monday to talk about it! They say they may have something available on Wednesdays, which would be nice to give structure to my days and weeks.:) A little work in the circulation department. (which sounds like 'getting plastic surgery on your heart' hee hee)

I start physical therapy again on Monday morning. This is for lower back pain (I have scoliosis down there which can't be helped much but the muscles can). I'm starting the day early so that I can be with my favorite PT helper from last time.

My Huband's cousin is going to have a baby and I have been so excited about it. I got a cross stitch to do a birth record for her (they know the baby will be a girl) that I hope to have done by Christmas. The baby shower I was just invited to is only at the end of the month which we were thinking of trying to get to (several states away), but we can only afford to go there either now or for Christmas, so we're still not sure what we're doing.

And that's the Thursday update for now. I've got to get it together to go do a little grocery shopping and get ready to go to the baking opportunity.

Ode to Physical Therapy (and a lessening of my back pain)

Bald eagle, Homer Alaska (Webshots)

As predicted, physical therapy for my back pain is just the ticket.

You have to work (gasp!) but it helps.

I'm working with a sphygmomanometer (honest, I think this is spelled right) - a blood pressure cuff!

It's such a slight movement, when I perform the exercise with the cuff in the small of my back, but it helps an ol' swayback like me know when I'm activating my core muscles located in my pelvis.

It turns out the core is deep in there, under muscles and also in charge of bladder control, at least in ladies.

It's a common problem for the muscle to weaken and therefore control of the bladder. Had babies ladies? You can understand.

And for those who haven't had children you're in good company - me! I'm convinced my years of depression, sleeping too long, avoiding breakfast and reality is all coming back to haunt me, now that I'm awakened by Abilify (I discuss this a few posts down).

Anyhoo, thank God that these people can help me, because my back was killing me.

Turns out you must strengthen the core muscles in the tummy in order to reach the multifidus, or back muscle, that runs the lenghth of your spine, widening at the base (read: source of my lower back pain).

I encourage people to talk to their doctors about physical therapy in lieu of drugs, that aren't going to last long enough for healing, or work very well anyway (my experience).

The physical therapist told me that 90% of back pain goes away for patients, regardless of what a patient does, but only 20-30% recur in those who do the exercises.

My thing is that I have found relief in a short period of time, and knowledge on how to help control it, just in the few light exercises I've had so far.

I'm just sharing my experience. I figure you never know when it can do some good for others.

Thank you, PT!

Excited about Physical Therapy

hoops & yoyo product off of Hallmark


Ever since getting the puppy 2 weeks ago, it's become apparent that I developed some Serious Back Pain. I know that others get chronic, horrible pain all over their bodies (God bless you) and this is no comparison, but if not for the pain meds, it would be even worse to Me I expect, is what I am saying.


The thing is, meds for a physical disorder don't seem to be doing much.



And more than that, my therapist actually spoke at our last meeting, saying when She gets that sort of thing, rather than suffer for 9 weeks or something (I couldn't suffer that long. That's why I go to the doctor.) she asks for Physical Therapy.


Oh. What a novel thought. (We both have insurance, which makes this kind of thing possible. It wasn't always possible. Thanks to Husband, today it is.:)


So that is what I did and I am SO excited to say: I'm gonna get some!


I have a referral and am waiting til Tuesday to call the Phys. therapist person.


I am carrying 80-100 pounds on the front of me. I won't discuss my bra size but it's not helping either.


I looked in the mirror today and started to cry. How did this happen? I feel like I woke up and There It Is.


I carry it nicely, except I think people think I'm pregnant. No, no, no. I'm not!


I want to be me again. I am very motivated, I just don't have a clue how to take off this weight. And I assume that doing/teaching me how is the goal, and I am soooooooo excited!!!!!!!


More on this subject as it comes along.