Allergens and Asthma

As many of you know, I have suffered with a chronic cough and congestion for the past 3 years. A couple of years ago my primary care physician referred me to a pulmonologist. He prescribed a chest X-ray and a CT scan for me; tried several different combinations of antibiotics; and, finally, took a sample of the junk I was coughing up and was able to customize an antibiotic. It worked beautifully in the short term; however, once the prescription was used up, the cough came back.

Time passed; I've continued to cough, continued to be congested, and several times I've been bad enough to go to the doctor. Each time a round of antibiotics has been prescribed and I do well until the round is used up.

A couple of weeks ago was my annual check-up with my pulmonologist; I was congested and was coughing. I told him I thought I needed to go to an allergist and he agreed.

Today was my appointment with the allergist; I learned that I am highly allergic to all trees, grasses, molds, dusts, and ragweed (as well as to cockroaches). But, even more interesting, I learned that my doctor wants to treat me for asthma! One of the first things I did was to take a deep breath exhale into a monitor; they then gave me a puff of ambuterol and re-tested me. As it turns out, I did 20% better after the ambuterol which indicated to the doctor I probably have asthma which is triggered by my allergies.

I have an arsenol of meds for both my allergies and asthma; I go back in 4 weeks and Dr.l Gupta assures me I will feel SO much better when she sees me again. . .

I'm looking forward to that!

AAUW Convention: A Home Run

After months (read, "years") of discussion, planning, deliberation, and sleepless nights, the 2008 AAUW TX Convention was held this past weekend and (to use a sports analogy) we scored a home run!

We celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Dallas and Fort Worth branches; we recognized the 2008 class of AAUW TX Women of Distinction; we heard from speakers who shared their insights, experience, trials and triumphs; we networked; we celebrated the formation of a new branch; we elected new officers; we laughed and had fun; and we renewed our commitment to the mission of AAUW.

It has been a joy and a labor of love for me to serve as President of AAUW TX the past two years and it is comforting to me that the incoming Executive Committee will continue to ensure that AAUW is alive and well in Texas!

Thanks to the members of my Board and congratulations and best wishes to the 2008 - 2010 Board!

It May Actually Happen1

Notwithstanding any alien intervention, all signs point to the closing of our construction loan at the end of this month!

I may, after all, not have to live my remaining years in an RV!

Serendipity, Polygamy, and Atrocity

Serendipity: I finished reading "Escape," by Carolyn Jessop the first week of April. Jessop, was raised in a FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) family; at 18 was the 4th wife of 50-year old Merrill Jessop; had 8 children in 15 years; and escaped the organization when Warren Jeffs came to power. Imagine my surprise to hear that the compound that Warren Jeffs created in Eldorado, when the pressure got to him in Arizona, was seized by law enforcement.

Polygamy: The FLDS know that multiple marriages are against the law; therefore, they have come up with the idea of "celestial" marriages for those after the first marriage. Under Warren Jeffs, marriage is required for younger and younger girls -- once a girl has a menstrual period she is eligible for marriage -- children are the ultimate goal of the FLDS.

Atrocity: It it abhorrent to me that this type of female abuse is going on in the USA in the 21st Century -- and particularly that the abuse is being done in the name of religion.

Pampered Chef Goes Co-Ed

I have always loved Pampered Chef (PC)parties: I love the food, I love the gadgets, and I just love a party. However, Carl and I just attended the best Pampered Chef party ever: it was a couples party and, rather than the PC rep doing all the cooking, we all got to do it! The host made a base of ground meat, onion, and garlic and there were three stations set up with the ingredients and the recipes to use: one was to use the base and make a chili, one used the base to make hoagy sandwiches, and one used the base to make stroganoff. It was SO much fun because we actually got to use the tools; plus we got to eat three different dishes and we laughed a lot!

I LIKE co-ed parties!

Simple Pleasures

Can you imagine what your car would look like if you didn't wash it for 2 years? If so, then you can envision what our RV has looked like since we've been living in it. Using park water to wash RVs is not allowed here at Jellystone, so Carl had purchased some low-water solution along with the requisite bucket and rags. But, no surprise, he has had no time to wash it.

Then, a couple of days ago, Prince Charming (aka Joe, the portable RV washer) knocked on our door. He comes to the RV site and brings his own power washer, supplies and water tank. In about 2 1/2 hours, he had washed and waxed our RV and it looks like new.

Oh, the simple pleasures in life!