Hop on in here, girlfriends!
This is my first 2016 Currently post and link-up with Becky at Choose Happy. So I think I am going to throw in a few things that I have been doing since the new year began along with some of the thrilling stuff I am doing…
currently.
Here’s what I am up to:
Learning. My PC is an Army veteran with 23 years service. He has become interested in brushing up on his shooting skills and bought a couple of guns in the fall. He wanted us to be able to do this together so I bought a cute little .38 special revolver.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would ever, ever shoot a gun. And yet…I am shooting a gun for the first time EVER. And not doing too badly at it, if I do say so myself.
Practicing. That first time must have been beginner’s luck because I didn’t do nearly as well on my second trip to the Ft. Bliss Rod and Gun Club.
See all of those bullet holes way outside of the little smiley face? Yup, mine. I was having trouble closing my left eye and keeping my right eye open. Not sure why that wasn’t a problem on my inaugural trip out but it wasn’t. And then if you look closely at the picture below, you will notice a Band-aid on my right wrist.
And I think maybe that little ouie…owie?…ouchie? was keeping me from shooting my best because I was…
Hurting. That morning I had gone to the doctor to have a ganglion cyst drained. From what I have read on the Internet and my daughters have told me, it’s not known what causes ganglion cysts, possibly trauma to the site where the cyst appears. Curiously, my mom and Lorena, the library sub who is working opposite of me at Guerrero, both have one on their right hands, too.
Photographing. The procedure. I wanted to be able to show Brennyn and Lauren what the doctor did, so I took pictures! One-handed.
The ultrasound shows that the cyst has expanded into a chamber running up from my wrist and starting up my arm. The doctor attempted to drain the cyst and then the first chamber immediately behind it. While I did feel some better right away, the doctor cautioned that the cyst would return and keep returning unless I have surgery. Sure enough, it is already back. I have an appointment with the surgeon on Thursday of this week.
Shopping. And not. I signed up for the Let’s Be Shop Free for Three (minutes? no, MONTHS!) challenge some of my blogger and Facebook buds are doing. And I have been shop-free, at least as far as buying clothes/shoes/accessories goes. Which is forcing me to “shop” my closet and try some of the pieces that haven’t received much love. So in getting ready for my doctor’s appointment, I pulled together this outfit.
Not crazy about it but wasn’t sure what the dress code is for ganglion cyst draining. This worked. And what’s going on with my mouth, my smile? It looks to me like I am wearing dentures, ill-fitting ones, at that. Like my gums are receding – is that possible? You know the way your mouth looks when you pull your lips over your teeth and move your mouth up and down, like you are gumming food? That’s how my mouth looks lately. I mean, clearly, I do have teeth but something is making me look a whole lot like my Grandma Rosebrough.
(Over-)Joining. (Possibly) Too. Many. Challenges. Since New Year’s, I have joined about five challenges among my blogger and Facebook friends. The Be Shop Free for Three that I just mentioned hosted by my blogger bud Carrie from A Lovely Little Wardrobe, a Health Challenge created by another blogger buddy Sheila at Making the Most of Every Day, the #EternalCrown365 picture-a-day with themes photography challenge sponsored by new friend Kellea at Eternal Crown Photography. I am also trying to read at least one book – a month – in order to successfully participate in my pal from Puppies and Pretties, Alison’s Reading Lately Challenge. I joined Casey’s 21 Day Fix Start Sweating, Sweetheart Challenge, although I am off to a slow start because my Beachbody kit just arrived, a week after the rest of group started work. And I had an epic fail at sweet friend Lisa at Daily Style Finds What to Wear Challenge. She put together such a great list of pieces but something happened with the email delivery and I didn’t get the first emails. I have enjoyed watching others participate, though. I might have over-extended myself. I do have a problem knowing my limits and biting off more than I can chew…literally and figuratively. Here are some pictures taken with my iPhone for the #EternalCrown365 challenge.
I really, really want a new camera. Maybe if I get half-way through the photography challenge, I can treat myself to one.
So that’s what I have been up to currently. How ’bout you? How are you spending your free time this new year? Are you keeping up with any resolutions you made? Are you participating in a challenge or two or TEN? Please leave me a comment below, I love to hear from YOU. And stop by to see what Becky is up to at currently. Click here to run by her blog.
Hugs and kisses,
Lana
I think I”m in too many challenges too. I can’t keep up. But they always sound so good! I was cracking up that you took pictures of your medical procedure! And good for you for learning to shoot a gun. My hubby keeps meaning to teach me, but we haven’t gotten around to it yet.
deena
hahaha, I’m the same… over-challenged and starting to get frazzled.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I forgot that I had written all of my challenges on a Word document to keep track of them. I can’t remember anything any more.
Very sad. I have such high hopes of being able to manage everything I want to do with everything I need to do. Just can’t seem
to dance that fast any more.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Wow! You are in a lot of challenges! How fun that you are getting into shooting… my husband has quite a few guns and used to be into them much more several years ago. Since we’ve been married, we’ve only been to the shooting range once and it was the first time I had ever shot a gun! I was quite nervous, but I did ok! I would probably go with him again sometime, but we just haven’t gotten around to it. It looks like you’re having fun! And sorry for the cyst! Ouch! I had a cyst on my toe that I had to have removed surgically and although it was quite a simple procedure, it took a long time to heal and I had to wear a special boot for a couple weeks (yes! just for a small cyst on my toe!). Hopefully you can get it removed soon. 🙂
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, boy! I have thought about your cyst on your toe several times. Thanks for sharing.
I am glad to know I am not alone. And it is crazy how this thing aches. Now it looks
like they are thinking I may have a fracture in my wrist, on top of the cyst and another
problem they have been treating for about nine months. With Lauren’s baby about to debut, I need
to get whatever is going to be done, done quickly. I do enjoy going to the range but when I stop and think
about why we have guns, I get very sad and nervous. Hope to heavens we never need to use them.
lisa
You are one busy lady! I am impressed with trying shooting. I have shot one time – shot one clay pigeon and that was probably the last.
Lisa
Daily Style Finds
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hope I can improve my shooting skills or lack there of, very soon. We talked about trying skeet shooting. Maybe this spring.
Cathy crandall
Hello! Good grief woman!! While I am always quite amazed at all your various pursuits, I think you are suffering from one of my fav personal acronyms -P.I.E., although for you I am changing the meaning to Participation Is Exhausting!! I’ve been meaning to tell you I really liked your “closet shopping” choice from a week or so ago when your tops mixed stripes and polka-dots-I thought that one looked very good! So sorry to hear about your ‘wrist cyst’ and hoping it is doing much better now cuz it sounds quite dreadful actually. Hopefully one day this week I will FINALLY begin to put into writings the thoughts for my book that’s been going through my head for some years now; I’ll keep you posted on that if it starts coming together. Thanks again for all your inspiration, just joined the gym last week and my hubby and I got to go together today. My next thing in fitness is to try and conquer swimming laps (boy do I need help on that!!!). Also since my last (and only I must say) 5k was many years ago, I’m going to try and work on that also for this year- except for the fact that it’s supposed to be around 2 degrees this weekend here in MI so treadmill here I come! So tell me more about guest-posting sometime if you can…? Hope you’re feeling much better now & talk to you soon- thanks again for all your marvelous posts! C.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh yay!! Hey, Cathy! So glad to hear from you again. And with all your exciting news. Super proud that you are
beginning to write. I bought a new journal and hope to get started writing in it tomorrow. Tell me – are you
writing a story and novel and children’s book or an essay? So PROUD!!! I am thinking you might have inspired me
to get my story back out again.
Yay, for you and the hubby to join the gym. That is fabulous. What time of day are you going? Maybe you can work
toward another 5K, even a walk-run 5K. I am aiming for a 5k in March. Walked and jogged a bit of it last year. Wore a
tutu which was fun!
Hey, maybe we can inspire each other to swim. I am really wanting to get to the pool once a week. Maybe we could share a pic
from the pool…not necessarily in bathing suits! But inspire each other by encouraging each other to go. I need to get
to the bottom of this dumb wrist thing first, I am afraid.
So, if you guest post, you could write about writing, or about starting up your new workout/gym membership. We could think
of something we want to write about together and you could write a few paragraphs and I could write a few and we could put
it together in a post with pics. One thing I want to do very soon is to upgrade/update my About ME page. Apparently it is very
important. Maybe you could help me with that? Or we could talk about scrapbooking. We could scrapbook a theme – Easter, Christmas,
summer vacation, and post our scrapbook layouts?
Think about it and let me know. So glad to have your friendship! XO