Class Reunion

This weekend was the infamous 15 year class reunion. It was so nice to see some of my old classmates. Saturday afternoon we toured our old high school. It was a strange feeling to wander down the halls of a place that was once so familiar. Everything was still pretty much the same, but seemed smaller than I remember. The building where our class attended elementary school has since been torn down and a nice new elementary built ajoining the high school. I found myself really wishing that I could wander through that old elementary building one more time.
On Saturday evening we had a meal catered by the grocery store in New Sharon--it was delicious--and then everyone headed to the bar. I'm not one to hang out much in bars, but it was nice to sit and visit a bit without all of the smoke! Thank you, Iowa law maker people, for passing that ban! Craig and I hung out until about 10:00 and then drove around for a while enjoying the fresh country air and gazed at a few stars.
On Sunday afternoon we grilled out and had potluck. Initial disappointment in a small turnout yielded rather quickly to a refreshing feeling of gratitude as we really had time to reconnect. Matt, Alicia, Travis, Susan, and I (along with spouses) spent 3 hours sitting around sharing memories...recalling so many of those fun times spent together and laughing hysterically as we revisited how awkward those teenage years could be. It was just what I needed. Refreshment for the soul that made all of the unanswered phone calls, unreturned RSVP's, and frustration in planning this event worth the work.
Is it 2019 yet? I want to see my friends again!!

Facebook Status

I have a lot of things on my mind that I want to post as my status on Facebook today, but don't want to have an entire book for my status, nor do I want to change my status every 5 minutes to fit them all in, so I am just going to post them here. Lucky readers.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is not looking forward to tonight.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is looking forward to Wednesday.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel wishes that she could have some of that six patty high burger. I'm hungry.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel needs to do something productive.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is hot. Now cold. Now hot again. grrr.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel so enjoyed yesterdays picnic...it was the best part of the reunion, I think.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel needs a life


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel should probably eat something. It is 2:20 PM and all I've had today is a glass of water and some girl scout cookies. Dumb, but not regrettable.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel should clean up the mess hauled in from the car before Craig gets home.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel needs to call State Farm and Cancel the insurance on the car that we sold several days ago.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is looking forward to Jen's wedding and hanging out with her friends.

Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel just spent nearly two hours updating the class reunion blog with pictures and stuff and it still looks crappy and needs more work.

Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is signing off now.

A venti venti blah blah

I feel a little guilty about updating my blog right now because Craig's dad is grouting in the tile in the new shower, but honestly, I feel like crap. We've had several late nights because of the master bathroom remodel, and I had a follow up appointment with the ENT doctor yesterday. It was depressing. My hearing is not good. Matter of fact, during the word recognition portion of the test it was all I could do to not turn around and try to read the tester's lips. Embarrassed and defeated I left with a refill for the same dose of hctz and a recommendation for a hearing aid. Luckily, my hearing in my right ear is still very good.
The most frustrating part of all of this is that those around me keep trying to talk louder. It drives me crazy, because it is not that I can't hear, it is that I can't understand. The best that I can describe it is it sounds as if I am trying to understand what someone is saying while underwater. When people around me talk louder, it just gets nearly unbearable.
Yesterday after my appt I went to Lowes and Home Depot to pick up a few more supplies because SOMEONE (me) decided to change grout color. I became progressively tired throughout the day and by 4 pm couldn't even keep my eyes open. Then the vertigo started. Classic Meniere's, so I take a diazepam and go to bed with my puke bucket nearby, only when I woke up my stomach was very settled. This was not my Meniere's. What the heck?? Lights became hazy, I was starting to hallucinate a bit. Aha, it has to be the crazies coming to haunt me again. Those who know me well know what I mean. (I am NOT really crazy--all the time, anyway!). Luckily today is my last day for those stupid things this month. I called my Dr.'s office to make sure that it was ok to take my last dose today and found that I am one of only 6% that has those symptoms. Nice. I can't seem to fall into any cool statistics like, say, winning the lottery or being randomly selected to be on Wheel of Fortune, but when it comes to seeing floaties and feel like I am in a perpetual disco room I strike the jackpot. Whooppee!
Anyway, enough complaning. Things will get better, but frustration is the name of the game right now!
Thanks for listening,
~M