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I will not be shaken!!!!

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I watch the news once a day, normally in the morning between 6 & 7, because if you watch more than that you are only seeing regurgitation of the exact same stories and film at noon, 4, 4:30, 5, 6, 9 and 10.

Every single media outlet is in my opinion inciting more fear, stress, depression and triggers for individuals over the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also does not help that the current occupant of the White House must be in front of the cameras everyday with the people whose noses are so far up his tail and they are constantly praising his leadership!

I have not seen a true president, he has not calmed the country nor the economy down throughout the pandemic thus far. He continues his xenophobic ways by calling COVID-19 the Chinese virus, which does nothing but cause more xenophobic behavior in our country.

COVID-19 does not discriminate as we can see, it is unfortunate that the first truly reported hotspot was in Wuhan China. We must be better than we have been and remember that “BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE GOES I!!!”

San Antonio is about to be pretty much shut down in the effort to prevent the spread of this horrific virus. Cruz and I are okay with this. Will we hurt financially, possibly but we both have our own underlying health issues and need to be careful. We will continue to live our normal lives and keep as much of our routines as possible.

I also lovingly say, if HIV/AIDS hasn’t killed me in over 23 years and my alcoholism and cocaine addiction off and on over the last nine years hasn’t killed me – no COVID-19 is gonna kill me either!!! I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN!!!

Cruz and I send our thoughts and prayers to everyone everywhere being affected in any way because of COVID-19

That’s what’s in My Rattled Cage, thanks for stopping by!!!

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Blogging from A to Z April 2018: Orthopedic

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Blogging from A to Z April 2018

I have written previously about having surgery to repair my torn rotator cuff and my displaced bicep tendon in my dominant shoulder, my right shoulder. This surgery took place just about ten weeks ago on January 23rd, 2018. Since that time I am surprising myself at how well and rapidly my healing and rehabilitation is happening. This Wednesday I have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon Dr. John R. Green III with the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio Medical Arts and Research Center.

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I truly believe that Dr. Green will be so proud and happy with the progress that I have made and my incredible progress with my range of motion. I am able to move my right arm/ shoulder all the way up in the air, I can swing it to and fro and have done quite a bit of physical therapy by way of my edging of four yards with my Ryobi battery operated trimmer. The back and forth motion has been so therapeutic. I also am able to bend my arm and reach almost all the way up past the middle of my back. I also am able to grasp, pick up and carry items that are no more than 10 pounds. So yes, I am very pleased with my progress.

My concern now is that my left hip has gotten so bad and the pain is constant and at an 8 – 10 on the pain scale. My normal orthopedic doctor Brad Hall once again gave me a steroidal injection on 3/27/18 and ordered X-Rays of both hips as they are both giving me issues. By the way the injection did not even last for two weeks. Dr. Hall told me to have Dr. Green review the x-rays so that we can determine if there is a possible surgical procedure to correct whatever the issue is with my left hip. All I know is that I am tired of being in constant pain and as a recovering alcoholic and cocaine addict, there are days that I just want it to end forever – no matter how that may be. I am still clean and sober, but boy do I need relief.

That’s what’s in “My Rattled Cage” today, thanks for stopping by!!!

 

 

 

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#JusJoJan Daily Prompt – January 19th, 2018 – Darkness

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This post is part of #JusJoJan Daily Prompt – January 19th, 2018.

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As a recovering alcoholic and cocaine addict I have heard the statement above hundreds of times. Unfortunately it make take multiple times before the dawn sticks. The fact of the matter is that until this darkness comes most of us who struggle will not take the first step in admitting there is a problem.  But once we do and we truly mean business the dawn and new and fulfilling life without alcohol and drugs is very possible. We just have to work extremely hard, rid ourselves of PEOPLE – PLACES – THINGS, surround ourselves with a support system that is unfailing, get into some support program such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or any type of program that will work for us. I attend online meetings with Global Steps Alcoholics Anonymous through IntheRooms.com which is a great accompaniment to face to face meetings. I also have The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, 24 Hours a Day, According to Bill, Daily Reflections, Living Sober and several more books that are personal stories of those who came before me.

This blog is not nor will it ever be a religious preachy blog. But I will tell you that you may often read items about my faith and how it intertwines and continues to mold my life. The great thing about 12 step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous is that they are SPIRITUALLY based but they are not religious. For those struggling with their spirituality anything or anyone can be their Higher Power. I choose to call my Higher Power God because I am a very spiritual and faithful Catholic. That does not mean that my faith has not been tested and shaken because of my personal demons. I do know that when I am right with my faith and my spirit all things are possible through my Higher Power.

I am a work in progress – PROGRESS not PERFECTION and that is all I can be on a daily basis. I once had 2 1/2 years clean and sober. Over the last year and a half I have changed my sobriety date more times than I care to admit. Today I have 45 days clean and sober. I know that when I went to my ACTS Retreat 11/30 -12/2 I had a most extraordinary faith affirming, transformational and life changing experience. I have said in previous posts that I have heard many times to leave your burdens on the alter. At that retreat I prayed, I meditated and I left my alcoholism and cocaine addiction on the Alter of the Tabernacle. Since the retreat I have been blessed to not have the incessant crippling obsession – no desire – and no thoughts. That being said I am still working my program and continuously asking my Higher Power to assist me in remaining clean and sober.

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JUST FOR TODAY, I WILL REMAIN CLEAN AND SOBER!!!

That is what is in My Rattled Cage today!

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#JusJotJan – January 7th, 2018 – Indelible

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This post is part of #JusJotJan 1/7/2018 – Inedelible.

What a great word for the prompt. As a recovery alcoholic and cocaine addict I look back and see many great and horrible memories of all my antics and yet none of them are truly indelible.

What is and will always be indelible to me is how transformational, faith affirming and life changing my experience was during the St. Cecilia Catholic Church and Mission Concepcion ACTS Retreat that I attended 11/30/17-12/3/2017. The speakers who shared about Adoration, Community, Theology and Service were extremely powerful. The activities that we participated in were very faith affirming. But for me, the most indelible memory for me is that I left my alcoholism and cocaine addiction at the Alter of the Tabernacle along with some health issues that I have also been struggling with.

Since the retreat my faith, which has always been strong but has a times wavered, has just been increased tenfold, my wanting to increase service to not only my church St. Cecilia Catholic but my parish as well. The greatest thing to come out of attending the retreat is that since the retreat I have no desire nor the crippling obsession for alcohol or cocaine. Along with this several of those physical health concerns regarding my lower back etc. have pretty much disappeared!!

God is good all the time!! All the time, God is good!!!

This is what is hanging out in “My Rattled Cage”!

 

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Extremely Late SoCS 10/7/17 – Save/Safe

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This is an extremely late entry into Linda G. Hill’s SoCS for 10/7/2017.

My disclaimer for my lateness is that on Saturday and Sunday we had volunteers and contractors here from the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation and the Students Together Achieving Revitalization with students from The University of Texas at San Antonio’s College of Architecture  and students from San Antonio College doing minor reservations and painting our house and our next neighbors house who is 80 years old, I have been doing her lawn maintenance for over 16 years.

The first four pictures of the house are the before pictures, the last three are the after pictures after day one.

That being said sometimes a huge save comes into your life or a huge save is removed from your life that will keep you safe as long as you allow it too. No this is not riddle, I received a save when after earning (3) points having one absence on 8/25/17 due to throwing out my lower back; leaving work at 2pm on 9/12/17 and being out on 9/13/17 and getting a doctor’s note because of extreme pain that intensified when I inhaled – turned out being a bruised rib in my back; and leaving at noon on 10/4/17 with doctor’s orders to be out on 10/5 and 10/6 with abdominal pain and diarrhea which turns out I had viral gastroenteritis which is highly contagious from what the doctor says.

You the save came when I received notification that because I reached three points in my 90 day probationary period I was terminated from Unifirst Corporation, where I was an outbound appointment setter calling businesses to get the sales representatives foot in the door at businesses across the country. I was not very good at it and I did not receive the full tools that I needed to perform the job, even while reaching out to my boss several times. I say that this save will keep me safe because I was becoming extremely stressed and we all know that for a recovering alcoholic / addict stress is a huge TRIGGER.

JUST FOR TODAY, I WILL REMAIN CLEAN AND SOBER!!!!

This is what is in “My Rattled Cage”.

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SoCS 9/16/17 – Evolving

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This post is a late submission for SoCS 9/16/17 -VOL

 

So on Thursday September 14th I turned 51. For my One Liner Wednesday post I stated that  after my crappy 50th year, I hoped that my 51st year would be one hell of a lot better. How will that happen? I have remind myself daily that as a recovering alcoholic and recovering cocaine addict I am constantly evolving.

Part of the process of evolving is making sure that I remember to stay away from the 3 “P’s” – people, places and things that cause those triggers to come to the surface. I always tell my husband that I am and always will be a work in progress. There will never be a time when I will not be evolving.

JUST FOR TODAY I WILL REMAIN CLEAN & SOBER!!!

That is what is My Rattled Cage!!!

 

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One Liner Wednesday 9/13/17 – This Crappy 50th Year

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This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s One Liner Wednesday!

This CRAPPY 50th year will be over tomorrow when this very grateful HIV+/AIDS having individual thriving not surviving, recovering alcoholic and recovering cocaine addict turns 51, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me and may the 51st year be one hell of a lot better!!!!!