Jul
26
2009
For a long time some (most) of my kitchencabinets have annoyed me. I cannot imagine why today, kitchen-makers still default to shelves for the bottom cabinets. Shelves below the waist, so if you want to get something out, you have to kneel down, and dive in.
With my knees, often plagued by pains and swelling because of the RA, this quickly became such a painful event that I rather left everything on the counters than store it in the cabinet. Not precisely the most handy thing to do.
But no more! Today we fixed my two main cabinets with drawers. I could have replaced the front bit as well, having 'real' drawer-fronts, but I chose to use the old door instead, saving a bit of money along the way. The installation went smoothly and using the doors worked as expected. So now I have fancy drawers, instead of messy shelves. I still have to put all the stuff back, and probably move around a few things for easy access, however, I already feel thrilled about it. The access has become much easier, I don't have to lean over or around the door anymore and I don't have to sit on my knees either.
This will make it so much easier for me to access things. I still have to do the bit by the kitchen-sink (those yellow things), the cabinets there need replacing and I will replace them with similar ones as these. I already found a kitchen-sink-cabinet with a drawer and have eliminated enough stuff from under the kitchen-sink (only frequently used cleaning-supplies, the infrequent used supplies have their place in the hallway-closet) to have a pretty good idea that a drawer will also work. I think they come with one, at the bottom, but possibly also with another (half) one halfway. Either will work great!
Have already started saving for it, it'll take more time and money to get that bit done, but after that, I'll have redone the entire kitchen :)
Jul
13
2009
My RA started acting up with the rain, so I decided to take naproxen twice daily until it calmed down (which seems like the best solution so far, even though it gives me tummy-aches). Usually I stick to one naproxen, but it got so bad this time that I decided to suck it up and take two.
And I've had so many weird dreams since I started them. I still blame the plaquenil, as that caused weird dreams when I started it, however, the naproxen seems to have a part in it too. I have no doubt the medication causes these dreams, as an interesting side-effect. Sure beats the cramps and nausea...
A few nights ago I dreamt I witnessed the disappearance of my father (that in itself doesn't really fit) on an ice island near the North Pole where I tried to fight of pink slimy monsters that came to invade my house from the other side of the island, by following the barb-wire on the edge of the island (near the icy cold water) that we used as phone lines.
Last night I dreamt I got caught up in a robbery and had to follow the bad guys with as many cold coins in my pockets as I could carry and then getting locked up in a boat.
I've had weird dreams all my life, but these recent ones really top the rest. Extremely vivid, and even though it would normally turn into a nightmare, I remain calm in the dream (and afterwards) and basically go with the flow. I just wake up with this huge WTF-feeling.
Maybe I'll start writing them down, they're pretty cool really :-)