MUSINGS ON A RAINY DAY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I recently told you that my crape myrtle bush hadn't bloomed this summer, possibly due to a hard frost in the spring. Well,
I'm happy to report that it is beginning to have beautiful red blossoms on it this week. Last Sunday, son Barry and I went to Dalton to eat lunch out and get haircuts. And, everywhere we looked during the drive, we saw gorgeous crape myrtles, some large and some small, in bloom. Our county seat, Chatsworth, is a designated "crape myrtle bush"town. And, it seems the entire area of the county are covered with the plants. Since we live at the foot of a mountain, all of our plants seem to take longer to bloom. By the way, I got a very short haircut and I can shampoo and dry my hair in a matter of minutes with no worries about it.

Our wonderful friend and neighbor, Genevelyn, brought another bag of green beans fresh from her garden last week over here.
Southern style green beans seasoned with salt pork is Barry's favorite vegetable. And, he cooked the beans in the Crock Pot 10 hours. Despite the fact that the nutrients were destroyed, he thoroughly enjoyed the beans and ate half a bowl of them with enough left over for the next day. He did point out that the beans still were rich in fiber so that was good.

The beans were cooking while Barry was at work. And, I was also cooking a pot roast and the aroma of the foods filled the house as I went about my chores. I was in my bedroom folding laundry, when the smoke detector in that room started chirping, scaring me half to death. Next to a death in the family, the worst possible thing that could happen to me would be to have my house burned down. I tried to stay calm as I went through the house and didn't smell or see any smoke. The smoke detector stopped chirping and I called Barry. He said that the smoke detectors were very sensitive and he reminded me of when we had one in the dining room and every time we baked something in the oven, it sounded off. So, he believed the strong aroma of the foods had caused the false alarm, thank God.

Last year, I bought a "memory" mattress that feels like I'm floating on a cloud when I lay on it. Trouble is, I think it is also alive. The mattress and box springs are thicker than my old mattress and I have to climb up the side to get into the bed. Then, I feel like I did on a feather mattress at my paternal grandparents when I was s kid. The mattress seems to fight me as I move across the bed to the center where my "memory" is located. But, despite that, the mattress feels wonderful and worth the struggle to get to the "memory" position.

See you next time.

REPORT ON HEART TESTS RESULTS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

In my last entry in this space, I told you I had an appointment with my primary care doctor regarding tests that showed a body inflammation four months ago. I had lab work and the ICG recently and yesterday I returned to the doctor's clinic to hear the results. The diagnosis is Malignant hypertension and Edema, peripherad (swelling or fluid). The doctor changed the dosages of the three blood pressure pills I take and increased dosages of the various vitamins I take. I will return to the clinic in a month for another ICG test and follow-up.

Son Barry and I weren't familiar with the ICG test so he researched the machine on the Internet and found that the ICG test is a completely non invasive test that can be performed in either a physician office or hospital setting to provide your physician information about your heart's ability to deliver blood to the rest of your body, the force your heart has to pump against with each heartbeat, and the amount of fluid in your chest.

In a doctor's office, the ICG test does not replace any tests that your doctor is currently performing. Many patients are familiar with the EKG test, which measures the electrical function of the heart. The ICG test measures the mechanical function of the heart, and provides different information than an EKG.

See you next time.

WAITING FOR HEART TESTS RESULTS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I recently had an appointment for lab work at my doctor's office as my tests four months ago showed a body inflammation. At that time, my doctor changed the dosage on my Lipitor. My research shows that body inflammation disrupts plaque, the build up of cholesterol and other materials in and on the artery wall. When that happens, according to Dr. Paul G Donahue, who writes a question and answer newspaper column, "the ruptured plaque attracts platelets, which form a clot within the artery. The clot blocks blood flow and leads to either a heart or brain artery."

The doctor says, and I've also read in other articles, that "it turns out that statin drugs not only take care of cholesterol, but they also reduce inflammation, so they are a doubly effective prevention of heart attacks and strokes."
Lipitor is the statin drug I take and I am hoping the larger dosage I have taken the past four months has reduced my inflammation.

I have a family history of heart attacks and my daddy died of one when he was 65 years old. So, I want to do whatever I can to prevent one myself. So, naturally, I am anxious to get the report of my heart tests in a couple of days. I tell myself that if the results were really bad someone from the doctor's office would have called me.

I will keep you posted and please remember me in your prayers.

See you next time.

SUMMER MUSINGS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

This month marks my 6th anniversary of writing weekly in this space. At the age of 81 now, it gives me an outlet for my writing ideas. Also, writing weekly keeps my self-discipline working. Here's to six more years!

The crape myrtle bush that my sister-in-law, Joyce, and her late husband, Ray, gave me when my mother died in 2000 hasn't bloomed yet this year. It is healthy looking with dark green leaves but no blooms. Son Barry said yesterday, he saw some tiny buds on the bush, so it may bloom after all. We had a hard freeze back in the spring with temps in the 20s so that may have kept it from blooming. It has always been in full bloom on my mother's birthday, July 4th. Our pear tree had already bloomed when we had the frost and it doesn't have a single pear on it this year so I guess the frost can be blamed for that, too.

For several years, I have drank caffeine free tea and coffee. Recently, Barry suggested that I try caffeine free Diet Coke, too, as they have quite a lot of caffeine.So, I switched to that drink. So far, I haven't had insomnia for a while. Now I feel like I need a lift when its hard for me to get moving. But, I'm sure I'll get used to it.

One recent day, I was thinking that my mind had finally gone.
I walked into the den and heard a loud humming sound. I hurried to the door to check and see if the sound was coming from outside but all was quiet. Then, I noticed that the sound seem to be coming from the T.V. but it was turned off. As I stood there, listening intently, I heard the sound of voices talking. So, I thought, maybe I was hearing noise that wasn't there. When Barry came home, I told him of my experience.He laughed and said the two speakers he bought recently for my television were left on all the time and if someone in the area was talking on a CB radio the speakers would pick it up. Boy! Was that a relief.

Back in the spring, Barry planted wildflower seeds in a large container on the patio. The flowers are blooming now and are so pretty. All of our plants are thriving and the asparagus fern is beautiful and is the largest one I've ever seen. Barry takes care of all the plants now and does a super job.

See you next time.

INHIBITION SHOULD BE SELF-CONTROLLED

By OLIVENE GODFREY

A new-born baby expresses his real feelings, and exemplifies
the psychologist dictum: "Be yourself." He isn't the least bit inhibited because he is totally un-self-conscious. And he won't be self-conscious until he enters into communication with other human beings. Probably millions of people suffer unhappiness and failure because of inhibition. Now, we know that we must have a certain amount of inhibition in a civilized society. But, the individual who has a self-fulfilling, creative personality follows the course between too much inhibition and too little.

If you make a habit of rushing into situations which are bound to get you into hot water, if you constantly find yourself in trouble because of your impulsive actions, and if you are a loud talker who can never admit you are wrong, then chances are you have too little inhibition. On the other hand, if you are frightened by strange and new situations or if you consistently feel inadequate and self-conscious, always holding yourself in, then you are probably to inhibited.

Persons who suffer from too much inhibition need to practice being less careful and concerned. Don't fret and wonder what to say next. Just say it and play it by ear as you go along. Continually act and correct your actions. Some people wonder, "Should I have said that?." or "Maybe I shouldn't have done that. What if someone got mad?,"and so on. Self-criticism and self-analysis can be useful and good. But, a constant dose of it is defeating. Think of your assets, well, everybody surely has one. If not, then get to work and become good at something.

Maybe the best way to overcome one's inhibitions is to let people know when they are liked. Inhibited persons seem to fear expressing good feelings as well as bad ones. I've always admired individuals who let people know when they are liked. And I think if you start a campaign to compliment, say, three persons every day, you'll be surprised at the results. It's really easy. If you like Jane's dress tell her you do. Be direct, say, "I like that,Jane," or, "You did a fine job". Needless to say, your compliment should be sincere. Nobody likes a phony.

See you next time.

WOMEN ARE MORE INTUITIVE

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Most women know one of the quickest ways to infuriate a man is to say of a certain statement she's made, "Well, I just know, that's all there is to it" And the man is even more furious when the woman's intuition proves to be right. According to some authorities on the subject, there are persons who do possess this mysterious faculty of just knowing things are true. While some men are intuitive most psychologists agree it's more of women than men.

There isn't anything super natural about this trait. It's perhaps first evident in adolescence. A boy is more interested in asserting himself in action. A girl is more interested in her own feelings and others. Psychiatry has proven that your brain doesn't waste any of the impulses that flow from your sense organs. Your brain stores them up in your unconscious mind where they are ready for use.

What then is intuition? It is, according to the experts, simply finding new and deeper meaning in people and events and in trying to make sense out of life. Psychologists tell us that anyone can develop intuitive powers by being alert, sensitive, and by disciplining the mind. Most women instinctively know that the way a person acts is more revealing than what he says. I once read about a man who said his wife always knew when he was just daydreaming about another woman. And, women rarely need to be told anything about their husbands.If a woman is intuitive, she knows all she wants to admit she knows.

Life can be more interesting for the intuitive person. When you are quick to understand another person's feelings, when you are quick to understand them from the inside out, they will mean more to you and consequently, you will mean more to them.

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Son Barry recently had lab work at our family doctor's office. He also made an appointment for a follow up visit to discuss his tests with the doctor as is the procedure in the office. He had a pleasant surprise when the doctor's nurse called him a few days later and told him his lab work was excellent and he wouldn't need to come in for his scheduled visit. I have an appointment in few days for lab work as my tests four months ago showed a body inflammation. The doctor changed the dosage on my Lipitor and I hope and pray that the lab work this week will be fine.

See you next time.

NIGHT WORRYING CAUSES INSOMNIA

By Olivene Godfrey
Scarlet O'Hara's philosophy of thinking about some things tomorrow has its merits--especially when we are sort of overwhelmed with a lot of projects or problems that must be faced "tomorrow." For years, I couldn't relax at night for thinking of all the things I had to do tomorrow whether or not they were pleasant or unpleasant things. Logic would remind me that worrying about tomorrow, losing sleep, was a waste of time. But, habits are hard to break. Once formed and rigidly set, it requires a great deal of strength to break them.

One day, I decided I'd at least try to break that aggravating habit. It hasn't been easy. There are still times when "tomorrow" worries me. Still, I am making some progress in adopting Scarlett's practice. Sometimes I have to give myself a lecture, like, "come on,relax, soon enough tomorrow will come and chances are everything will work out fine." It's true there are times when we have genuine reasons for worrying and we'd be heartless zombies if we didn't worry. Often our insomnia is due to worrying about things we can't do anything about late at night.

I never had insomnia until a few years ago. And, I've experimented with everything I've ever heard of and tried a few methods on my own. One thing I have discovered is that a person can only go without sleep for a certain period of time and, then, you're going to sleep, no matter how many things are awaiting you tomorrow. I don't recommend driving yourself until you almost collapse from fatigue, even if I occasionally did before I stopped driving. According to a 2000 study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers in Australia and New Zealand reported that sleep deprivation can have the same hazardous effect as being drunk. People who drove after being awake for 17-19 hours performed worse than those with an alcoholic blood level of .05, which is the legal limit for drunk driving in most western European countries. (Canada, the U.S. and U.K. set their blood alcoholic limits at .08 percent.)

Perhaps the best method for relaxing nights and eventually curing insomnia is to develop somehow the method of erasing everything from your mind-- letting everything go until tomorrow. And television or a good book can help to take your mind off of your own thoughts and help you unwind before bedtime.

See you next time.