Boo Hoo

Not that anyone cares about my nose issues, but I felt the need to share all the same.

For three weeks now I've had nose bleeds. This is not only unacceptable, but really quite unheard of for me. Sure, sure I've had a yucky bloody nose before due to sinus infections and whatnot, but never an actual NOSE BLEED. I'm nearly 30 and my nose has never bled before.

Three weeks ago, I woke up feeling quite grand and was getting ready for a first birthday party, when my nose started bleeding for no reason at all. Ten minutes later, when it finally decided to stop, I was a little worried. I brushed it off to the fact that three days before I had a MASSIVE headache and had taken six Advil just to dull the pain (the headache only left completely after about 12 hours of sleep, another unheard of thing for me).

That was on a Saturday, the following Wednesday it happened again. This time I woke up, took my cat to the vet, then came home and took a nap. Fifteen minutes after waking up, lo and behold, another nose bleed. Fifteen minutes later and I finally got it to stop.


The following Monday night I had another nosebleed at work. Took twenty minutes this time.

I had convinced myself I could manage without going to the doctor. People kept telling me my sinuses were probably just dry from the cold weather (even though my sinus had never done this before), so I decided to just leave it at that. However, this week, I have managed a nose bleed every single day. So, I reluctantly made a doctor's appointment.

Today was that appointment. After the exam (which consisted of a light in both nostrils) the doctor informed me she saw a "hole" in one of my veins in the left nostril (which is where the bleeding was coming from). She told me to use saline solution nose spray, a humidifier, and Vaseline to combat my dry, irritated nose and my vein would heal itself. If that doesn't work, then I will have to get a referral to a specialist and they will BURN the hole closed. I repeat...BURN the hole closed.

So I got what she told me to get and guess what? No luck. In fact, now the nose bleeds are worse. Whereas they used to only come when I blew my nose, now they just spring a leak whenever they feel like it. I have had so many nosebleeds today/tonight, that I've lost count. I can't move without running to get tissue and pinching my nose together. I've ruined my shirt. And quite frankly, I'm disgusted. As gross as it is for all ya'll to hear about my nose problems, imagine how gross it is for me. I only talk about it because I'm worried too death about it.

Now its BOTH nostrils that bleed. It takes longer and longer to make them stop. I'm worried that I will have to get both sides burned closed, something I am NOT looking forward too at all. But mostly, I'm worried about my little head. Two years ago I was in a wreck that left me with "closed head trauma" and I still do not remember a darn thing about it. I don't know if the leaking pipes have anything to do with the head injury, but it scares me too death that it does.

I am not happy with my current situation at all. :-(

Earthlings

Short post. Promise.

Not going to get on a soap box here. No preaching coming from me. Just an offer for anyone who wants too, please watch this documentary. Be advised though that it is EXTREMELY graphic. Very little is held back. Please do NOT let your children watch it.

Anyway, let me just say, this movie has made me terribly uncomfortable. There were parts of it that I couldn't stand to watch and that's saying a lot coming from a farm girl. Growing up we would raise our own beef and pork. Typically we sent the animals off to the Mennonites in Manchester to have it processed, but we would kill the pigs (sometimes we did this with the cow, but it was rare) ourselves and boil 'em to get all the hair off, cut 'em open, and all that jazz. It was a process that took an entire day, but fed us for months. I have had a great many pets that I have done my best to take care of through the years, most of them (some of them have died unexpectedly from illness and things out of my control) have lived to ripe old ages and passed away due to their age. We have always had chickens for both meat and eggs. My Dad and I operated a dairy for quite a few years. So I am no stranger to what happens when animals are used as pets or for food. I have a very realistic idea of what goes on to get a burger on my plate. That being said, this movie has made me want to be a vegetarian or vegan.

Its highly unlikely that I will follow through with that, but what I have decided to do is to only eat meat and milk products if I know where they are coming from. I don't want to eat factory farm food. I've known for years that bad stuff happens on the farms, but to see some of the images really made it hit home. I'm not comfortable with the comparison of eating meat to being a Nazi and I love seafood, red meat, and cheese, so I'm not trying to be pious and put down anyone's personal choices. But I hope that ya'll will watch this so that it makes you a little more aware of how we, as humans, treat animals, especially those that we think are yummy.

So you may not want to stop eating meat and you may not become an animal rights activist, but watch the movie and try to make a more conscious effort about what you put on your plate and into your body. When you watch some of the video, ask yourself if you are really comfortable with eating something that had to live in those kinds of conditions before it was slaughtered? Ask yourself, if you really know what happens to the meat before it gets to your plate, even after its slaughtered? I know not everyone can afford organic or free range or cruelty free. I can't really afford it either. But everyone can ask for a few more restrictions on factory farms or at least for adequate investigations and follow through with regulations that are already in place.  And by all means, we can all afford to go to our local Farmer's Market and buy locally grown and produced items (even if they are just veggies and eggs).

I support farmers. I think people all over the world need to eat. And I like a cheap grocery bill. But egads, this movie has further made me worry about the state of the food we are putting into our bodies these days. If you find that you can't stomach this film (pun fully intended), then check out "Food, Inc." because it will help you to educate yourself on the whole process. "Earthlings" is more about the animals themselves and not just food animals, but wild animals and pets.

So, like I said, watch it, think about it, discuss it, and then make up your own mind. For the love of all that is holy, don't watch it in front of your children or when you are eating. And for the record, our dairy wasn't like the one in the film. Our cows were never chained up to holding pens and such and we didn't use chemicals to make them produce more milk or anything of that nature. If they were sick, they were given vet approved meds and taken off the line until they were well. They were adequately fed and watered and allowed to roam the pasture land every single day when they were not being milked (which didn't take too long to milk them anyway). You need no further testament of love put into a small scale family owned dairy operation than the fact that my "pet cow" is actually one of the herd and she's every bit of 15 years old (I don't know her age for sure, but she's waaay up there), which means she has outlived the "average" dairy cow.

And another thing, just the simple fact that I'm posting this is why I was so pissed when my neighbors had the nerve to call the Humane Society on me just because Emmie has a big mouth and was in heat. Like I would ever be cruel to any animal. For gosh sakes, I still feel guilty about running over that 'possum the other night! Phew!

Without further ado...here is the link.
http://www.earthlings.com/

City Mouse vs. Country Mouse

I'm home.

Not home, as in, "a place to sleep" but actually H-O-M-E.

People have had a hard time understanding why I've moved back to Jackson County when I've been living in Richmond these past several months, so I thought I would try to explain.

First, there is the obvious...its cheaper. True, it will cost more as far as gas is concerned, but other than that, it is a lot cheaper to live in Gray Hawk. I don't have to pay rent and I have a home of my own (albeit a tiny little thing) that I've been trying to fix up the past several years. I have bills outside of paying my rent and because I'm moving back, I've been able to pay off three of those bills. Its a great sense of accomplishment to be able to say I'm a little closer to being debt free. So yeah, its cheaper. The distance I have to travel to work and class kinda stinks, but I can live with it. I've done it for years, so I'm pretty sure its nothing I won't be able to handle for a while longer.

There are other reasons I moved back though.

I'm a small town kinda gal, I've discovered. In all my traveling, its the smaller towns that I enjoy visiting the most and when my travels are finished, its Gray Hawk that I enjoy coming back too. Living in Richmond was nice because it was convenient. I could walk to my favorite restaurants, go shopping at all hours of the night or day, it took five minutes to get to work, and thirty minutes to get to class. It was great for those reasons...but really, those were the only reasons it was great.

I thought when I moved to Richmond I would get to see the people I care about more often. I was wrong. Everyone has such busy lives (including me) and it was hard to get everyone together. I lived literally two minutes from my Goddaughter and yet I hardly ever saw her. My life centered around work and school. The only time I was actually at the apartment was when I was sleeping. Sad but true. Sure I had a couple of parties and I shared my futon with my cousin, Kayla, but otherwise, it was pretty lonesome. I'm quite shy and quiet in person, but as a general rule, I do like being in contact with people from time to time. Living in the apartment made me feel like a hermit. Someday I'd like to be a hermit living all alone in a cabin way back in a hollow somewhere, but that day isn't anytime in my near future. 

I like living in Gray Hawk. I have a love/hate relationship with Jackson County most days. There are things I hate about my hometown. I mean, I despise some things! But on the whole, I like it here. Its home. In all my time living in Richmond, I never called it home. It was always "the apartment" and when I came back to Jackson County on the weekends, I always told folks I was "going home."

I like that when I see people out, even people I don't really know, I can say 'Howdy" and they will say it back. I like that when there is a funeral procession driving by, people stop on the side of the road out of respect and wait for it to pass. I like that people wave at you when you meet them on the road, whether you know them or not. I like that people I know ask me how my family is when they talk to me and how that people I just met can look at me and know who "my people" are just by the shape of my nose or the way I smile. I like the feeling of being connected to people when they figure out that they went to high school with one of my cousins or used to work with my Mom or whatever the case may be.

Living in a small town can suck, don't get me wrong. People gossip about everything and everyone. If someone has a grudge against you, then you will hear about it for years and years. Certain families can't get along with other families. A lot of things are "political" in nature. There isn't a wide variety of places to shop or eat or have any other form of entertainment. There are brilliant people and there are ignorant people, and most of us fall somewhere in between. But you will find all those things in a lot of other places, at least at home, I KNOW where I stand with folks. I know who to avoid and who I can trust.

I like being able to open my windows and let in a cool breeze. I like that my cats can climb trees in my front yard and that Emmie can meow as loud as she wants and no one will tell me to get rid of her. I like that I can walk for miles down my road, by myself, at night and still feel safe. And while I'm walking there will be at least half a dozen people that know me that will stop and ask if I've had car trouble and need some help. I've had it happen lots of times. I like the trees and the flowers and the birds and all the other animals. These things I've missed since I moved to Richmond.

And I like that first glimpse of my family's "homeplace" when I drive over the hill. There is no prettier place in the world than that hillside when the sun is setting. No place.



So that's why I moved back. The catalyst may have been a cantankerous lying landlord, but in the end, its because this place makes me feel happy, safe, and loved. I couldn't ask for anything better than that. 

Renter No More!

I get to move out this week! This both saddens and excites me. Its definitely mixed emotions at this point. Allow me to explain...(as if you had any other choice).

I like living in Richmond. I like being within walking distance of my favorite restaurants and my bank. I like being able to go to Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Meijer's at any point in the day. I like being five minutes from work and thirty minutes from school. I like the fact that I can run over and visit my Goddaughter whenever I feel the need and I can go home during my lunch break instead of eating out of a fast food joint. I like knowing that when it snows, I can usually make it to my own bed, rather than crashing on someone's couch. I like all these things about living in Richmond. But...that's about it. In other words, I like the convienence of it, but nothing more.

When I first moved up here I thought it was going to be sooooo much fun! I would have people stopping by all the time and maybe even have a few parties here and there. I could go shopping whenever I wanted. I could take naps during my lunch breaks. I could work out at the gym across the road. I could drive a short distance and visit Kayla and Ashlee whenever they were home. It was going to be AWESOME!!!

Guess what? It wasn't like that at all. Ashlee and Kayla are super busy with work and school and having little baby girls running around their homes. Kayla moved shortly after I did. I don't have parties. I don't take naps. I go to the gym, but I can do that regardless of where I call home. No one visits, because I'm never home. I go to work, I go to school, and I come to the apartment to sleep. That's about the long and short of it. I don't even get to shop because all my money is going to rent and utilities, so there's no moolah to spend.

This is disappointing, but I was willing to stick it out up until the "cat incident". Yeah, that's what I'm calling it now.

For those that don't know me well enough, let me explain something about myself. It takes A LOT to make me angry. In fact, I've been told that I am way too nice and laid back about things. I don't get angry enough with people. But when I do get mad about something or at someone, then that is the absolute end of it for me. I will never like that person again and that particular situation will make me miserable until I remove it from my life. Since the "cat incident" I have been miserable here in Richmond. After work, I drive around for twenty minutes to try to avoid going back to the apartment. I hate it there now...and I despise everyone that has anything to do with it.

So today, I went to talk to the landlord. I wanted out of my lease. I don't want to pay for something that I'm not using (which coincidentally is one reason why I should have never thought I could rent in the first place. I am not the type that likes paying for something that will NEVER be my own.), so I had determined I needed to get out of the lease ASAP and using any means necessary. Now I was prepared to be mean about it, but I hated to do that. Of course, there is no real nice way to tell someone "I am not going to pay you anymore. Kiss my ass." So I opted for a strategy I have seen work many, many times for other women I know. A strategy I have never used in my life and feel somewhat ashamed to have stooped to such a level. I feel its beneath me. I used...pity. Yes, yes, I swallowed my pride and used pity. "Poor little April. That nice, quiet girl next door. She just needs a break and she's having a hard time of it right now. We should all feel sorry for her. Oh...and let her out of her lease." ;-)

Well...it worked. Helps that the landlord is a man I suppose. A woman would have seen right through it. And I'm also happy to report that I did not have to resort to crocodile tears. I was prepared to do just that, but it wasn't necessary in the end.

So I'm out of my lease. I am moving out this weekend. He already has another renter lined up. And I get my deposit back. Go me!

To be continued...

2011

Well, its that time of year again. Time to make resolutions that we never keep. So in the spirit of things, here is a "rough draft" of my 2011 resolutions (in no particular order). Please join me in laughing at myself 'round about January 2nd, when I realize I'm going to have to give up on most of these.

1.) Lose weight. Yeah, I know, I know. EVERYONE has that on their list. However, I am paying a gym membership and I feel like I need to put it to better use than I have been in recent months. So, I intend to lose weight in 2011. Do I have a specific goal in mind? Yep, 'round about 100 pounds. Big sum, but doable all the same.

2.) Write more. This includes writing in my journal and working on my stories. I think with a little time management I should be able to accomplish this goal just fine. Of course, as I work on my stories, I need to also submit them to more places. No, I don't think I'm going to make tons of money by doing this, but I still feel the need to try to get my work out there. You gotta start somewhere after all.

3.) Keep my 4.0 GPA. 'Nuff said.

4.) Apply for some more scholarships. I'm on a roll with those, so I'm gonna milk it for everything its worth.

5.) Learn to budget my money better. For various reasons.

6.) Get my remaining wisdom teeth taken out. This doesn't sound like much of a resolution I'm sure. But I'm tellin' ya, if I don't write it down and make it known, I will never remember to do it.

7.) Stop biting my nails!!!!!

8.) Spend more time with my family and friends.

9.) Go sky diving!

10.) Travel to Maine. (If I can't manage that, I'll settle for another trip to New Orleans.)

That's about all. Hope you folks have a splendid 2011. Many blessings and much love.

Merry Ickimickamas

That's how Dillon used to say "Merry Christmas" when he was a tot. I thought I would share that with all ya'll.

Its been a great Christmas this year. A WHITE Christmas...finally. The first white Christmas we've had in a LONG time. That was nice, but it did put a damper on some of the festivities because folks couldn't make it out in the bad weather. We had fun all the same.

Christmas Eve was spent like it has been for several years now...at the Nunn Christmas Eve Shindig at my Aunt Ida's house. It was a nice crowd, not quite as big as it has been in the past, but a good crowd all the same. We played our usual "Chinese Gift Giving Game" (which by the way, I have no idea WHY its called that but its fun all the same). I ended up with a reusable coffee cup, which was great, because I've wanted one of those for awhile now.

Christmas morning was spent opening gifts at home. Dillon got money (which is what he wanted). I got money, books, comics, and some cooking stuff for my apartment. So pretty much everything I asked for. It helps that I got to pick most of it out ahead of time though. ;-)

With my Christmas money I bought more comic books. I made a special trip to the bookstore today with the family just to pick out some books. I was hoping for some Ron Rash novels, but couldn't find any, so I bought a couple of "Y: The Last Man" graphic novels and a Stephen King graphic novel (and yes, I had them all read before the night was over). I plan on going back to that particular bookstore soon and getting more graphic novels (because I'm obsessed like that).

Tomorrow I have to make a trip to Richmond to tend to my cats at the apartment and buy Dillon some boxing gloves.

Anyway, just a quick blog about my holiday. Of course its not what you get (or give) that's important, but it is fun. Hope ya'll had a great Christmas as well.

The Final Countdown

In two very short years, life on this planet will be drastically altered. Ancient civilizations have predicted the end of the world. Some suspect we will go the way of the dinosaur and get hit by a passing comet. Others think its high time for an alien attack. Me? I'm getting ready for zombies. (C'mon, what else would you expect of me?)

Yep, that's right folks. I've said for years "Its not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN" and now we know our date: December 21, 2012. Mark it down and get ready. You have roughly two years to prepare for the impending zombie apocalypse.

Don't think just because I've suspected this for years, that I'm completely ready for the legions of the "undead". (For the record, I don't think they would be really undead. Once you are dead, you stay dead. But I'm shooting for some sort of crazy infection.) No, I have some work to do. I'm saving my hording of supplies (water, food, weaponry, etc.) for next year. I don't have room for it at the moment...besides, I'll be foraging once the infected are all killed off anyway. In the meantime however, here is what I need to do in 2011 in order to prepare. If I've forgotten something, please let me know, if I can stay alive, I will help you stay alive.

1.) GET IN SHAPE.
     True, "round" is a shape, but "round" is not the shape you want to be in while a half dozen zombies are chasing you down for a little snack. No, no, I do NOT want to be round anymore when 2012 rolls around. This is why I have my gym membership. I don't have to look like a body builder, but I by doggies, will no longer be round. The trick is, I have to get slimmer, but not too skinny. I mean, I don't know where I'll be during the winters, I may need some extra padding. I do however need to be healthy enough to get away if I have to run or climb, and skinny enough that I can fit through small windows and other open spaces so I can duck and cover or hide. So 2011 will be my year to hit the gym and build up some muscle and stop being round. Remember what we've learned from "Zombieland", you must have good cardio!
2.) HAND TO HAND COMBAT SKILLS.
    Following right along with number one, I need to learn some good fighting skills. This can be accomplished any number of ways. I already know some handy dandy self defense techniques taught to me by a former cop, but I'm fairly certain zombies aren't going to be trying to kidnap and rape me (Oh horror or horrors, lets hope that is NEVER the case. As if they weren't bad enough already!). I need bad ass fighting skills. I need to learn how to properly be offensive and defensive in my hand to hand combat skills. So, 2011 will also be the year I start taking some sort of classes. Karate or whatever. Doesn't matter as long as I can kick undead booty come 2012.
3.) RUN FORREST, RUN.
     I will start running now as well. I need to build up my endurance, not just my speed. God "blessed" me with short chubby legs and clumsy feet, neither of which will ever make me a track star. However, I need to be able to run long distances at a steady pace...or short distances as fast as I can. Either one works for me. So, I'm going to invest in a good pair of shoes and officially take up running. After all, I don't have to be the fastest runner out there, I just have to be able to outrun YOU.
4.) LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
     As with any impending zombie attack fanatic, I have my own theories on how it will all go down. You know...what starts it all? How long it lasts? How does is spread? What "type" of zombies we will be dealing with (yes, there are types folks)? Who stands a better chance of surviving? Who will I feed to the zombies? (Yeah, I'll do it.) So, my current theory goes that it will be an infection. I'm iffy on all the details, but my train of thought runs that the infected folks will be very stupid and animal like in their actions (unfortunately I think they will be able to run fast...bummer), and therefore, they won't take very good care of themselves, which basically means, if you can survive long enough, they'll probably all die out. Now, the thing is, surviving actually has its own list of worries (as anyone that is a "Walking Dead" fan can tell you), but regardless of those, I'm just focusing on the zombies right now. I don't have time to worry about the psychopath down the road that now thinks he can do whatever he wants because there is no law in the land. Anywho...so my theory is, head North...or West. I figure if you go West there is less water and they will die out quicker. If you go North, it will freeze them out (or they'll catch colds and die or something along those lines), especially since the poo isn't going to hit the fan until December anyway. So, what I need to do is figure out where I'm going to go and how long it takes me to get there. I need to plan routes that will keep me away from major cities and clogged up roads. I plan on having a merry band of survivors with me, I don't want to risk them just to get five minutes knocked off the travel time (well, except for those I plan on using as decoys and bait for the infected...).
5.) SURVIVAL OF THE GEEKIEST.
      I need to start working on my survival skills. I love to camp. I'm a decent fisherman. I've never been hunting, but that's due to my own impatience and not so much to any moral aversion to it. So I'm not a girly girl in other words. I can make due on my own if need be. However, in a post-zombie world, there will be new things I will need to do. Like...I don't know...hot wiring a car or some such. I need to know basic survival skills for being out in the woods or in the cities. I also wouldn't mind knowing a  few basic first aid skills that I'm not really familiar with at the moment. So, 2011 will be devoted to furthering my own survival skills. Don't expect me to go all "Lord of the Flies" crazy or anything, I'm just gonna be prepared when you get frost bite after we've been hiding out from the undead walkers for a few months.

Either way, there is my list of things I intend to do in 2011 to prepare for the end of the world in 2012 (or at least the end of the world as we know it...with less people and more meat eaters). In the meantime, enjoy the photos I "borrowed" from the Internet. I hope they will help express the gravity of this situation. :-) Until 2012, remember the immortal words of Max Brooks, "Organize Before They Rise!"