8 Year Update

 I can't believe that 8 years have past since I last updated this blog. A lot has happened since then. Too much for anyone who isn't friends or family to care about. My writing has taken a back seat to work and other hobbies. These days I spend my time making necklaces, bracelets, and dreamcatchers. I sell the necklaces and bracelets as fast as I make them. When I wear my creations out in public, people often ask about them and I end up selling the item right then and there. The price is usually only $10, and people seem to be able to afford that. I don't make much after deducting the cost of materials. That's why I still work a full time food service job. Each week it gets more challenging because of my health issues. My doctors have been unable to figure out why my blood pressure fluctuates and my heart sometimes races. My partner thinks I have Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (Pots). There is no cure for Pots. You can only manage the symptoms. I rarely have symptoms when I'm at home. It's only when I overexert myself at work. Being a hard worker is having an adverse affect my health as I get older.

Because of the pandemic, I have been unable to visit my friends and family who all live over 1000 miles away in other states. I still need to get my enhanced drivers license and a Covid shot first before I travel. I've been putting it off getting the shot because of my health issues. Last April, just as the pandemic was getting underway in the US, I had partial knee replacement surgery. I've been dealing with side effects from that for over a year now. It took me 6 months before I could walk without aid. First I used a walker, then crutches, and finally a cane. I can manage without help now. But, I walk slower these days and have a noticeable limp. It was one of the hardest and painful things I have ever experienced. They make it sound so simple and easy. Make sure you have a high pain tolerance. After surgery, we found out that I was not able to tolerate the pain meds they were giving me. It was several days of trial and error before they come up with a prescription to control my pain that didn't cause a bad reaction. If you are considering knee replacement surgery, make sure you are healthy enough to endure the recover process. 

My Horrible Mega Bus Experience

Some times life can be a complete state of intrusion when you least expect it leaving your daily life in limbo.  That is what these last few months have been for me. One day life is simple and normal, then out of the blue I get an emergency medical call about my mother's health failing. So, naturally I do my best to get to Texas for her. The bus ride however, was long and enduring. An experience I shall never forget. This bus was called a Mega Bus, and I would not recommend it to anyone who wishes to travel cheap.

As for my mother, her health has improved a great deal since I first arrived.  So, I'm thinking its time I get on back home and be with the man I love and miss. Since my last trip on the bus was a complete nightmare, I thought I'd go by train. Only later did I discover that the cost would be way out of my budget and  I'd have to spend a night in Chicago. Therefore, that was not an option. So now I'm thinking, hmm? Looks like its a ride back on that horrible Mega Bus again. 

So, I go down to the bus depot that I arrived at when I first came to town, only to discover that it is now completely out of business. The local city transit has taken over the building and it is now also a Greyhound station. So, I asked  the lady to make  me a ticket to Eden Prairie MN. But, she can't find that city in her computer, and says I have to go to Burnsville MN.  When I get home, I get online and go to the Greyhound website, only it won't even let me purchase a ticket out of San Angelo. I call the 800 number and they tell me that I cannot purchase a ticket online from San Angelo because San Angelo's bus is Concho Coach. So, now needless to say, I have to make another trip down to the station to buy my ticket to Burnsville. 
  
If there is one thing I have learned from this whole ordeal, its that I understand why people with money fly when they have to go any distance. Traveling from State to State can be so frustrating when going by bus or train. After this trip, I have come to the conclusion that I am definitely going to lose my fear of flying, so I can get to Texas as quickly and easily as possible to avoid anymore pain and suffering in the future. It will cost more, but if you book at least six weeks in advance, you can get a better deal on airfare.

Gambling on Minnesota

It's been a while since I made any updates here, so I thought it would be a good idea to change the blog template and make an post. I do most of my updates on Facebook these days. This past year, my boyfriend and I moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota, got a new house, and I had to find a new job, so that kept me busy. We caught the tail end of the horse racing season at Canterbury Park, so I posted a picture of that. We were just learning how to bet, so we are looking forward to the 2012 racing season.

We have only visited two casinos in Minnesota. The largest one, Mystic Lake, is only 4 miles from our house, so we have to make sure we don't spend too much time there. Being a very large casino, it's easy to get lost if you get separated from your partner. We usually like to go off on our own so that we can concentrate on finding a good slot machine, but at Mystic Lake you end up spending a lot of time looking for both a good machine and the person you went there with. For a better experience, I would recommend trying the Little Six casino, which is right next door. They don't have as many slots to choose from, but you are less likely to get lost.