how'd that happen?

here it is, february, and already i am not quite succeeding at one of my goals for the year, which was to write more often.  it isn't that the inspiration is lacking - far from it.  it is just that in the evenings a cup of tea and a book or another mystery from the bbc has seemed so much more enticing than sitting in front of a computer.  i cannot even say i have spent my standard time in front of the computer, because i did escaped the office for a ski vacation to snowbird, a few days sick with a particularly nasty cold and vertigo, and another for scans and to get more pills.  add in trying, but mostly failing to get to the gym - vertigo kept me away for a little more than a week - and to yoga - same thing here with the vertigo - and the month has passed quickly.

about the scans, there isn't much exciting news and coming as it did just a few days after the onset of my occasional dizziness, the fact there's nothing to report was a huge relief.  instead of wondering whether it was something in my brain causing the spins or whether it had to do with my ears, we could safely say it was probably related to my sinuses/ears.

a visit to the friendly ENT allowed a chance to test my hearing once again (not much change since last time) and determine i had a case of BPPV and we began treating it then and there.  treatment, in my case, involved layingon a table on my back, with my neck hanging over the edge.  i turned my neck to the right and looked straight ahead, only, my eyes darted back and forth as though they were trying to focus on something.  that's because they were, and to try to resolve the issue i had to, with the help of the audiologist, whip my head around to the other side as fast as i could without injuring my neck.  we did that a couple of times and i was pretty much good to go, with limitations on exercise for a bit and rules for sleeping.  i won't get into the mechanics of the vertigo, but it is on its way out as i write this.

the last weekend in january brought skiing with my goddaughter on what we thought was a cold day.  the sun was shining and we were out of the wind and i think we were all overdressed.  there was a big difference between this year and last year as far as the skiing goes, and the permagrin was sign enough this girl has some of her dad's love for skiing in her.  mom is looking forward to sitting in the sun and reading a good book.  i am a little torn about the two potential activities for future ski adventures.

wrapping things up, valentine's day is a national holiday in our house because it is mom's birthday.  mother nature didn't disappoint, delivering a bit of snow as well as a shot of truly cold winter air for the celebration.  we finally opened the english-style party crackers leftover from christmas, and entertained ben (and ok, the rest of the family was laughing, too) with the balloons inside each surprise.  it isn't often we are together as a family and time after time we get a chance to remind ourselves how much fun we have together and how lucky we are to celebrate the happy moments together, instead of having to pull together when times get tough.  but we laugh then, too.

the wind is howling outside and my coffee is gone, a sure sign it is time to get on with the day.