Now A Bit of a Rest

[CrazyCatWom]

Yesterday was the visit with the neuro opthamologist (or I say, "Nervy Eye Doctor"). He finally got the evidence that I'm brain dead. I gave him a copy of my most recent brain MRI. His assessment after my light spot test, photographing my eye balls and looking at my optic nerves (amazes me when he looks directly into my eye, he can see the optic neuritis scars) was that everything has stablized. He's happy my neurologist put me on Aubagio. Anyway, he says he won't need to see me again (unless there's an emergency) until next year.

So I've got a two week break until I have to go back to see the doc with the foot fetish for the second round of the cortesone in my heel, and he can check on that nailless big toe. Then it is on to my neutritionist.

In the meantime, I'll be working deeper into my latest project: I can't write or photograph anymore, so cooking has become my hobby (my neutritionist probably thinks that's not a good hobby for me). However, the way my kitchen is right now (cluttered, not remodling) I feel like I should be preparing meals on the floor. I have so little counter space! And aside from my partner's tortilla chip and Doritos collection (Oh! and barbeque potato chips!), it has mostly been herbs and spices!

When we built our house 17 years ago, our kitchen cabinets had a corner cabinet where the shelves swivle, so I made it our spice cabinet. Unfortunately all the herbs and spices I moved into that cabinet were . . . . herbs and spices I'd inherited when my mother died.

So I've been replacing herbs and spices I use most frequently while not throwing out the acient ones! The new herbs and spices had taken over the island counter where my cutting board is! So I have to clean out the spice cabinet and clear off the counter. When that is done, I will finally have space where I can clean up and organize the pantry! Then probably by this fall, I can start clearing out all the other kitchen cabinets; paking up a lot of pots and pans because I can't use them. My partner blew up the stovetop when he took the lid off of a pot and the condensation dripped down into the stove's electrcal system. I just want my kitchen organized!

[jimeka]

You should write a book 👍

[CrazyCatWom in reply to jimeka]

Well, um . . . I actually did. 7 novels. One, in fact, was about a rodeo champion bull rider, diagnosed with ::drum roll please::: Multiple sclerosis! LOL! Hey, my writing professor told me, "write what you know!" I was sending them all out for publisher consideration, and starting an 8th novel, when my MS brain ceased forming complete sentenses.

[jimeka in reply to CrazyCatWom]

I can understand that, and I am sorry 🤗

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

I'm glad you're eye appointment went well! It's pretty cool all the tests they do! 😨 Good luck on organizing! 🤗💕🌠

[hairbrain4]

Sounds like you have a big job to get done. I know anything we do is a big job at times!

[CountryStrong]

Organization is good and important since it helps lessen stress. Stress is not good for my MS. I have recently done some reorganizing in our kitchen and bathroom by installing slide-outs under the sinks and bottom cabinets (helps with decluttering counter tops and can actually see and know what is there). Can be picked up at Lowe's or Home Depot . In the upper cabinets I use Lazy Susan's where needed. You can either buy them or use two different sizes of round biscuit pans and marbles to make your own.

[CrazyCatWom in reply to CountryStrong]

Great idea! I'll check it out! My really big problem, though, is my hanging on to spices and herbs that are up to 50 years old! They are no longer good, just taking up space. So I'm clearing them out to make room for the new stuff that's been cluttering the counter tops.

[mrsmike9]

AMEN!!! I did get a new kitchen and I am insisting as much stuff as possible is off the counters. I finally have enough counter space!! Do you have some kind of thing to hang to put your spices in so you don't have to use up an entire cabinet? I found a thing with cubbies years ago at an auction. I have my spices in it. The photo I've attached shows the cubbies. (The blue thing is a board with a cheap tablecloth on it from before the counters came.)

Kitchen

[CrazyCatWom in reply to mrsmike9]

Nice set up! I don't have anything to hang. I chose that one cabinet because I couldn't figure out any other way to use it. it is in the corner of the L configuration. It is a skinny cabinet with swiveling shelves. If objects aren't relatively small, they get caught in the door or fall off a shelf and wind up BEHIND the shelves. And that's a real challenge to retreive anything that fell. I have lost several seasoning and gravy packets and almost a cat that way. The cabinet that really frustrates me, is the one that used to hold my coffee cup collection. I packed them all away. Now the whole thing is my medications, otc meds, vitamins and supplements.