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It’s good to be back, and thanks to those of you who commented. I find I am greatly influenced by the praise of others, which I should be getting over by this time of my life. And so it is you find me posting again, the second day in a row. This will be quite a different sort of story; a tale of horror and strange invisible forces.
It all started Friday morning when I woke up, sometime in the vicinity of before 11 AM. Still ostensibly recovering from a bout of flu as well as a bout of getting-up-early-for school, I was sleeping in with only a tinge of guilt. I yawned and reached across my back to scratch an irritating itch. I got up and headed for the bathroom, idly scratching a few more places. By now my mind was becoming aware that, despite all the helpful scratching, the itching was becoming decidedly worse. A look in the mirror showed raised, red welts in blotchy patches across my torso. What was this? Had someone sabotaged my bed with poison ivy? Was I becoming allergic to my poodles? Did I have (shudder) bed bugs? I showered and found some hydrocortisone cream to smear across the welts. My mouth felt kind of funny too
.my lower lip was swelling and feeling a little numb. I pulled all the sheets and blankets off my bed and dumped them in the washer with a goodly dose of detergent.
I kind of ignored everything after that and headed for work. The business of the day put the morning’s troubles out of my mind for the most part, though the fat lower lip was kind of hard to forget.
UltraDad came home that night, and the next morning I thought I had a few new itchy red welts, though he didn’t seem to have been bothered. We discussed setting off bug bombs. That was as far as it got that day, and we went off to town with Pat, to dine out and enjoy the new Indiana Jones movie. It was, as were the first ones, filled with swashbuckling, supernatural events and one disaster after another. As we exited the theater, UltraDad voiced his opinion that the movie was not realistic. “You don’t think so?” I asked sarcastically. “No,” he said. “Harrison Ford has got to be in his 60’s. A guy that old couldn’t really do all that stuff.” Hmmm.
That night UltraDad slept in the back bedroom. I think he might have had premonitions of the evening’s horrors to come. I went to bed fairly early and other than a few idle scratches, gave no thought to the monsters that might be lurking under, around, and in my bed. How could I have slept through it all, you may wonder, as these denizens of the night roamed across my body, biting at will? I have asked myself the same question, time and time again, but the fact remains. I DID sleep through it and the next morning found my worst fears confirmed. The red welty patches were tripled and this time it was my UPPER lip that had been bitten. It was swollen and tight, protruding hideously. It was clear I would NOT be going to church that morning.
This time the bug bombs were set. We put the cat outside, gathered up the poodles and headed to Pat’s house to while away several hours until it was safe, as per bug bomb instructions, to return. “Can you believe this?” UltraDad asked Pat, his words clearly showing his concern, “She looks like she is from the Planet of the Apes.”
“No she doesn’t,” Pat said, examining me critically. “She looks more like she is from the planet of the Parrots.” So much for sympathy.
Pat urged some Benadryl on me and I reluctantly accepted. I seemed to remember not responding well to Benadryl in the past. Seemed like it made me feel kind of weird and jumpy. We settled down to watch one of the old Indiana Jones movies Pat had purchased the day before. This time around the Benadryl affected my in quite a different way. I conked out. At one point, I stumbled back to Pat’s guest bed, and when I woke up, the movie was long over and UltraDad had gone back home to de-bug-bomb the house. And the lip seemed not quite so misshapen.
The invisible forces have not been back, though they haunt me in my dreams. My lips were bad enough, but what if they had bitten my nose, an appendage not tiny to begin with? Maybe some day the memories will fade and I will once again have a peaceful night’s slumber. I pray it comes soon.
UltraMom
Wednesday, May 14
School is out for the year, and I’m feeling a mixture of relief and wistfulness. I suppose I should be ‘mature’ (nice way to say ‘getting old.’) and wise, and talk about how much I learned about myself, but I don’t really think that is the case, except the ‘mature’ part, of course.
The last day for all classes was Wednesday. I brought my special oatmeal-peanut butter-chocolate chip-raisin cookies to each class, and had enough left over to wreak minor havoc on my latest WW weigh in. In C N A, we finished up our skills testing. Reminiscent of a cheesy game show, we turned over cards laid out on a table top, which determined which three actual skills each of us had to demonstrate. Actually, I had finished mine last week, having drawn ‘feeding a patient’, ‘making an occupied bed’, and ‘perineal care.” Classmate Erica volunteered to be my patient for the first 2 skills; ‘Sarah Johnson’, the dummy in bed #1 would do for the third.
Contrary to Johnny’s assertion, making an occupied bed involves no witchcraft, just finely honed skill and a lot of making the patient roll over from side to side of the bed. When I had finished, Erica gave me a gentle reminder that I had forgotten to lower her bed. “I hope I don’t fall out of bed. It’s going to really hurt from way up here.” Thanks, kiddo.
I dumped the dirty linens, rewashed my hands and returned with instant pudding and a glass of water. “Hi Erica, I’m Kathy. I’ll be your C N A today, and I’m going to feed you your snack,” I rattled off, practicing my ‘7 ins’ while pretending to draw the privacy curtain. I tied on the ‘clothing protector’ (Link would call it a ‘bib’) and got to work. “Mmm,” said my patient, “this is good. Did you make it yourself? I would like to get your recipe.” “I did,” I told her “but I’m afraid the recipe is a family secret.” I didn’t mean to lie, but I did so want to impress.
The unfortunate Sarah Johnson in Bed #1 was missing both arms, had a bed sore or two and was badly in need of a good hair combing. I said missing both arms, but one arm actually lay next to her in the bed. She did, however, have a thoroughly clean and dry perineum by the time I was finished with her.
On this Wednesday, the last day of class, I was the patient volunteer for Donna. Donna already works in this field and made my occupied bed in about half the time it had taken me. She then took my right arm and hand through a set of range of motion exercises; then headed over for Sarah Johnson. Out of 20 or so skills, Donna had drawn two out of three skills the same as the ones I tested on. I must admit, she was a tad more competent.
After Donna’s testing, we received our pins and certificates. Now all that was left was to schedule our state board testing, and cough up another $100 or so.
My last Tai Chi class was short; our instructor had to leave early to pick up his wife from the airport. I have the 9 forms routine down pretty well, but the Liang Gong and warm up exercises are pretty hit and miss. But I have enjoyed this class.
Usually I would run home in between classes to let my dogs out, but Pat was taking care of that for me this day. She took the day off work for a Dr. appointment and we met in town for lunch at Taco Bell. UltraDad does not enjoy Mexican food, so I try to enjoy it when not with him. And I really do like Taco Bell’s vegetarian burrito loaded with beans, rice, cheese and sour cream!
I spent the several hours before “Drugs” class sitting in my car going over the terms I would be defining for my final. We had also done this activity the first day of class, and our answers this time would, ostensibly, show improved understanding. ‘Addiction, co-dependency, co-addiction, 12 step programs, uppers, downers, alcohol dependency, alcohol addiction, recovery, relapse’ and so on. The teacher made a point of saying we need only write a few lines defining and giving an example of each term, but I seem to be incapable of that. I was the last one to leave, and had covered 3-4 hand written pages.
Directly after handing in my final, I drove over to the VFW hall to lead a Weight Watcher meeting, rounding out a very busy day.
In some ways, I’m looking forward to a slightly slower pace for summer, if the weather ever cooperates enough to head in that direction. There is gardening to do and, hopefully, some trips to take. Where I’m headed from here remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain. I will be back!
UltraMom
Nice to have you posting again, congratulations on finishing finals!
You are so interesting. John had a major incident at the cabin the other day involving leaving a chainsaw sticking up in a log in the middle of the river and I thought, if only Kathy were here to write about this. Love you Cougar, Ultra sister
Long time, no post. Congrats on finishing finals!! I hear that you guys are coming up to Howe next weekend. I’m planning on going up there too!!
UltraPanther, You need to write that story up yourself. You told it to me tonight in living color! You can be my ‘guest post’. Come on, just do it!
Jessica, that is cool you will be in Howe this weekend too. I’m looking forward to seeing you. Jim says you have been working out. So, you can you beat Jim in arm wrestling yet?
Congrats on being done for the summer. Now you and your friends can lay around all day talking about how bored you are and how there’s nothing to do in your town. Ha. We’d better hear from you if you’re going to be in Howe this weekend.
Chenoa, we’re going to be in Howe this weekend! Any chance you guys can come out on Saturday?
First of all, very best thoughts and wishes to UltraGirl, the new mom on the block. Hope you are healing and finding motherhood more rewarding than exhausting!
As we know, Mother’s Day is a commercial holiday designed to improve business for florists and jewelry store. A time for expectations and obligations. That said, I still appreciate the day for the reason of phone calls and well wishes from my kids.
It was, as I told Johnny, an uneventful day. UltraDad was home, and his feet are feeling better. He got the swamp cooler ready in the event that we actually do get summer, let alone spring, and did some week-whacking before heading back to Ruby Valley to prepare for another work week. I went to church, cut UltraDad’s hair and had a nice nap this afternoon. I went over to Sis-in-law Pat’s house and we played cribbage and ate steak.
Johnny called, was available for call back and had a online chat with me, all much appreciated. He even wrote me some verse: Roses are red, violets are gay, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.” And a song, sung, supposedly to the tune of La Cucaracha:
“Happy Mother’s Day
It’s like any other day,
‘Cept unlike any other day
This is Mother’s Day.
I told him he needed a few more words, and maybe a mariachi band to pull it off.
Had a very nice Phone chat with Heather, which I always enjoy.
Talked to Jim, and heard “You must not like your mother’s day present. You never put pictures of it on your website.” Of course I must prove him wrong on that score, so here is my beautiful, fantastical Mother’s Day Woodburning of antlered elk.
Signed by the artist!
UltraDad and I went to see Iron Man in the Movie Theater yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed it and I came home inspired to make a few changes to my Mother’s Day woodburning.
Ironman saves the elk!
And so, commercial or not, the sentiment of honoring Moms, imperfect though we may be, is a good one. So Happy Mother’s Day to all, and to all a good night.
UltraMom
Happy Mother’s day Cougar and congradulations Bob and Tomo!!!!!!!!! What a cute baby!!!!!! Had a great Mother’s Day myself with both of my kids calling.
I’m glad you had a wonderful mother’s day. That woodburned elk looks really nice. Jim is quite good at doing that.
Happy mothers day mom!
So we are currently staying at the in-laws house for a month under the previously-mentioned satanic Japanese tradition of satogaeri. I’m finally seeing the benefits of this way of doing things. First, we eat healthier than we probably would be if I was trying to put the meals together. Second, there is a third set of hands happy, no, brutishly insistent upon changing and caring for Linc. Third, and this is I think, the wider cultural phenomenon behind the tradition, it makes the husband quite eager to get back to work, no matter how crappy their job might be. <- (Please advise on how in the heck that sentence should have been punctuated)
Obviously from the lack of blog posts, we are busy maintaining a newborn human. I have to say, aside from the above paragraph and some sleep deprivation, I’m loving it. It is fantastic to see the little changes in Linc as he develops. An amazing development is that yesterday I laid him on his tummy to do a short round of neck-strengthening exercises and he managed, at 13 days old, to roll himself over on his back. My brother Johnny can’t even do that yet.
Alright, I know I know, enough with the chit chat, get to the pictures already right?
Welcome back, and birthday dinner for Linc and UltraGirl
The placards for naming day. UltraGirl wrote these.
Linc in his crib with the naming placards.
Daddy and Linc at bathtime. He likes the bath.
Beautiful baby browns (with a shade of blue) with bottle.
I love the pics, and I am quite jealous that the other grandmother gets to hold, bathe and kiss little Link while I have to do it all vicariously:(
I’ll have to do mine all at once! Keep those posts and pictures coming.
UltraGrandma Kathy
Those name placards are beautiful. Link is too cute. I can see some resemblance to him and his UltraGrandma McDonald in one of the pics. We’re glad you are all doing well. Give Link a kiss for us.
I lovet the photo of you sleeping with Link. I also love the name. I may have to steal that for my own kid some day.
Happy Birthday UltraGirl! May 4, 2008
I know in Japan we have already moved on to May 5th, but here in the USA it is still UltraGirl’s birthday. UltraAuntDebi, whose birthday is on May 3rd, and I were discussing the different time zones and decided, just to be safe, that we would celebrate our own birthdays for a week before and after the actual day. I think UltraGirl should do the same!
I know you already have what you have hoped for above all else, that perfect, adorable little Link, but I hope you also got some extra spoiling.
I’ve had a busy week, as usual, but I only have two more weeks of school left, so it should slow down some after that. I went to work at a different prison store on Friday, filling in for the regular storekeeper who is recovering from a knee replacement surgery. It was a 14 hour day, including the driving, and was the 3rd Friday I have done this. I probably have one left to go. Ironically, two weeks ago while working there, I hurt MY knee, and it is still giving me problems. I also have to check the MacGallery and Dynamic Duo website every hour or so (when a computer is available) for any updates or new pictures of Link, which takes a lot of time! Saturday, I drove to UltraDad’s house in Ruby Valley. UltraJimbo was already there, having driven up Thursday night. The guys spent Friday at Ultradad’s sister Kathy’s place (a ranch about 45 minutes away) hunting gophers. Per UltraDad’s request, I printed out an album full of Link pictures for his brag book.
Thinking about UltraGirl brings to mind the great time Heather and I had on our trip to Japan a year ago last December. The best part was getting to spend time with UltraGirl and get to know her a little better. As I was looking at some posts I wrote about our Japan adventures, I realized I never finished the narrative. So, in honor of UltraGirl’s birthday, I will write about one of the trip highlights I never got around to writing about, though I had good intentions: Hakone. But first, a disclaimer. I cannot seem to find any of the notes I wrote about the trip. I just reviewed my photos and did a little research on the web, but what you are mostly getting here are impressions and snatches of foggy memory. Feel free to correct any glaring inaccuracies, but also, cut me a little slack and creative license!
Hakone: Land of Hot Water and Black Eggs
We made the drive by car with ultra capable UltraBob at the wheel. The scenery was interesting and varied and I took a lot of semi-blurry ocean pictures out of my back seat car window. Perhaps some of you can recognize this and tell me what it is:
I don’t know what town we were passing through, but a couple of building particularly caught my eye. One was the KathyMom Quilt shop. It would have been interesting to take a look inside.
The KathyMom Quilt Shop
This is, of course, the Merry Chapel Christmas Hotel. I don’t think I have every seen anything quite so garish.
I’m not really sure how long we drove, but I remember the road being quite steep as we drove up and up and up. And now we were seeing gorgeous hillsides in hues of red, green, yellow and orange. It definitely looked like Autumn, though the month was December. Perhaps that IS Autumn in Japan?
We walked on Owakundani Trail (at least that is what the sign in one of my photos calls it), winding along through an otherwordly sparsely forested hilly scene of bubbling hot pools and steam rising out of the ground. The signs instructed us to ‘keep left’, which I had a hard time remembering to do at times. In America, of course, we drive on the RIGHT side of the road. As we walked and climbed, I became aware of a whirring sound. I turned around to see that UltraBob had whipped out his razor and was shaving. It’s nice to have such an accommodating razor that will let you shave anywhere, but I still found this an odd choice of time and location for this grooming activity.
Be careful if you have a medical condition!
An other-wordly landscape
Time for a Shave?
Our destination was the hot spring shack to get some hard boiled eggs. These special eggs were boiled directly in the hot springs in special vats. The minerals in the water turned the egg shells quite black. At this very touristy location, we joined a long line of folks waiting to buy 6-packs of these eggs, the eating of which was said to increase your lifespan by 7 years. We joined the crowds cracking our eggs on black-shell-shard littered tables and passed the salt before consuming our, hopefully, life-extending eggs. They were quite good.
Egg Boiling Vats
Not really sure what they’re trying to tell us here…
Let’s go for 14 years!
Extending our lives
After some lunch, we made our way to Yunessun to sample for ourselves the delights of the hot springs. At Yunessun, we were issued a wrist band and an assigned locker, where we stashed our clothes and belongings as we changed to swim suits. The wrist bands could be used as credit cards of sorts, and eliminated the need to carry cash for purchasing snacks from vending machines or food stands. As one site put it “spending money was never easier!” You just settle up and the end when you check out. I didn’t actually take many pictures here, and I have lost my cheat sheet telling me how to insert links, so I suggest you check out this website by the cut and paste method.
http://www.yunessun.com/english/location.html
We had a wonderful time sampling the themed, outdoor hot pools. One was filled with red wine, another with green tea. Heather and I enjoyed laying out on heated stones. I had to get my courage up to leave one pool long enough to walk to the next one. It was a little chilly out of the water. There were some gigantic pools inside, Mediterranean in style, complete with jets and musical light shows at intervals. After we had our fill of that, it was time for the Onsen, or more traditional Japanese bathing, without the cumbersome swim suits. I believe this part was called Mori NO YU (from the website) and featured (thank goodness!) separate bathing areas for men and women.
UltraBob had to go it alone as Heather, UltraGirl and I made our way to the women’s side. Heather and I were glad we had UltraGirl to show us how it was done. First we washed ourselves completely, including our hair, in special outdoor showers. Then, armed with a small hand towel, we were off to the baths. The towels, UltraGirl showed us, could be used to cover strategic body parts while walking from bath to bath. While in the hot pools, you could tie or lay the towel on your head, but you were not supposed to get it wet. Of course that was one of the first things I did as I tipped my head too far having already forgotten the soft terry cloth rectangle balanced there.
I found this experience to be relaxing and invigorating at the same time, and is one I would not have liked to miss. I found one spot I especially liked where I could lay back, feeling the cool nighttime air on my face while my unencumbered body soaked in the stony pool’s hot mineral water, The dimmed lights and soft music helped in creating this peaceful atmosphere. I even kind of forgot about UltraGirl and Heather for a few moments as they moved on to try out other pools.
In time, we met back up with UltraBob, whom I assume was having a relaxing time of his own. UltraGirl and I got completely dressed, but UltraBob and Heather seemed loath to part with their stylish spa robes.
I really like the way many Japanese restaurants graphically display their menu choices in the window, complete with prices. You can see just what each menu option looks like and what it will cost you before deciding what to order. Another good thing: no tipping. After another, in a long line of, delicious meal, we headed back to the Ultras home. In just a few days, it would be time to leave.
UltraGirl, I hope you have enjoyed seeing Japan through my eyes. The next time I come, I will have something even more exciting to see and get to know: my little grandson, Link. I know you and UltraBob will be wonderful parents. Happy Birthday, my sweet daughter.
Much Love,
UltraMom
The best part was getting to spend time with UltraGirl and get to know her a little better.
Hey!
The first photo looks like the end of Kamakura beach maybe, and KathyMom is in Kamakura. I think you are missing the Hotel Chapel Christmas photo there matey.
<ol><li>It is only combined sales</li><li>It will have it in two days on the day</li><li>The pain becomes early if it outs it in the plastic bag etc.</li><li>Garbage of an egg to a trash box Let’s make Hakone beautiful.</li></ol>
What is not to understand?
P.S. It puts the lotion on its skin.
“Missing photo of Merry Chapel Christmas Hotel”? I don’t know what you are talking aboot, laddie, eh?”
I understand “Combined Sales” and “Garbage in the bag. Let’s Make Hakone beautiful” but
“It will have it in two days on the day?” and “the pain becomes early if it outs it in the plastic bag?” To me it loses something in the translation....like the meaning.
And of course the second best part of the visit was getting to spend time with UltraBob and getting to know HIM better again:)
Gah, now I really want to go to Japan and soak in those pools. I would think the green tea bath would make you 7 years younger too with all those antioxidants.
I assume the UltraFamily is bringing us all longevity in the form of black life-extending eggs when they come visit in November?
Thanks for the great post mom. That was a really great time and I had a lot of fun taking a stroll down memory lane. Hope your birthday was great Tomoko. Bob, I must insist on more pictures of my little nephew.
I green tea bath sounds awesome!! I wonder if they have spas like that over here.
Yes, I agree the marvels of the Orient are many, so day I plan to chronicle my journeys in Japan in a book called “The travels of Marco Polo II: The Nihon Saga”
Not only do UltraGirl and Link get out of the hospital today, but UltraGirl turns older than UltraBob again. Please join me in wishing her a very happy birthday.
Special guest mentions to UltraAuntDebi, Andrew, and Tod. Happy birthday to all of you too.
Happy birthday UltraGirl!!
Happy Birthday UltraGirl/UltraMommy!
Happy Birthday UltraGirl!!!!! I hope UltraBob spoils you rotton!!!
I was just thinking about UltraGirl’s birthday today! Of course here, it is a day later. Have a very happy birthday, sweet UltraGirl.
Love,
UltraMom
I actually got confused by it being slightly after midnight and screwed up. The birthday starts in 6 minutes.
Happy birthday UltraGirl! I’ll put an extra candle on Tod’s cake in your honor tonight. Have a great day at home with the family!
Hi everyone.
Thanks a lot for all the wonderful birthday wishes. I’m sorry it took me so long to get on and reply. I had a very nice birthday though I’m still a bit out of sorts. UB spoiled me a little, but promised a more complete spoiling when I feel more up to it.
Oh, itchy itchy itchy! Did you figure out what kind of bugs they were? We’ll be entering mosquito season all too soon here in Tokyo. I hate them!
Not fun. I too was wondering if you discovered what kind of bug it was.
That’s horrible that you got bitten so many times. I hate the thought of something crawling all over me in my sleep. Eugh.
Relax dude, it was probably just common household spiders crawling across you face, across your nose, onto your lips, into your mouth, ect. If it makes you feel any better, and I’m sure it will, you probably unconsciously swallowed a few of the unlucky souls that dared to enter the cavern of “Boca de la Madre.” I mean the spiders probably tell horror stories about those events too.
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