Hope on the horizon???

Couldn't sleep. Huge surprise, right??? Ugh! Actually I think I would have slept more, but with the onset of more stinkin' rain and my period's arrival, I was in major pain. So my head was exploding and my lower back was screaming. More sleep just wasn't happening.

So I dragged my sorry butt downstairs, made some coffee, took some meds, slapped on a Thermacare, and held my hot coffee mug up to my throbbing forehead. This sucks. This sucks monkey balls!!!!!

This isn't fair!!!!! I was seriously getting so mad and so frustrated! Wasn't there something I could do??? And no, I'm not going through menopause. I can't sleep but I have none of the other symptoms. And going to see the doctor isn't exactly easy. You see we're military stationed overseas and I'm merely a 'dependent'. I'd have better chances of being seen if I were an illegal alien or a criminal!! You call for an appointment, and if you're realllly lucky, you'll be seen in a month. Or so. Or be told there's nothing available and to call back. Later. And yes, it really is that bad. So unless I'm dying, or if it's for Bella, I avoid the frustration of trying to get the benefits I'm entitled to. That's just my reality.

So I'm just sitting here, trying not to cry. I checked my email. Then I hit up my Blogger dashboard to see what's up with the blogs I follow. Hopefully someone will have something interesting up that I can read and forget about my sorry situation.

And there it was.

The post that gave me hope! Praise God!!!!! I found this review, which will hopefully turn this whole pathetic mess around! I read the entire post, went to the company website, read reviews and shopped around. What else did I have to do at 2 am???

Philips HFC 3332

Product Description

Philips goLITE BLU Plus energy light, the number-one energy light sold worldwide, is clinically proven to naturally boost your mood and energy and fight winter blues in as little as 15 minutes a day. Featuring breakthrough Bluewave technology, goLITE BLU Plus provides the blue light you need to naturally boost your mood and energy whatever the season. This deluxe energy light is rechargeable and features an easy-to-use touch screen and a digital backlit clock with timer for convenient use. And thanks to its lightweight, portable design, the goLITE BLU Plus can go wherever you need it--at home, in the office, or on the go.

An Official Light Therapy Product of the National Sleep Foundation

Philips and the National Sleep Foundation are working together to help people understand the effects of light on overall wellbeing. Learn more about sleep health and how to work with your natural sleep and wake-up patterns to feel more energetic throughout the day with the sleep education guide, "Managing Light for Better Sleep," from the experts at the National Sleep Foundation. Each Philips light therapy product comes with a free copy of the guide.Together, Philips and the National Sleep Foundation are helping you to sleep smart, wake smart, and live smart.

Treat Winter Blues Naturally

Scientific research has shown that the natural rhythms of our bodies are regulated by light. In the winter, our exposure to sunlight is reduced, especially in northern areas. For some individuals, this reduction in sunlight exposure can result in a mood disorder commonly known as the winter blues, which is manifested by reduced energy, low moods, and disrupted sleep patterns.

Research has also shown that as little as 15 minutes of light therapy each day can significantly reduce symptoms of the winter blues. The Philips goLITE BLU Plus energy light effectively mimics the natural patterns and spectrum of sunlight that our bodies need most, providing a natural way to fight winter blues.

Advanced Bluewave Technology

Philips goLITE BLU Plus uses Bluewave technology to boost mood and energy levels and help fight winter blues. With Bluewave technology, goLITE BLU Plus is smaller in size and less intense than traditional white boxes. The goLITE BLU Plus also features a wider field of light than other light boxes and is uniquely angled to shine at your eyes. This means you can work, watch TV, read, or eat meals while using goLITE BLU without having to sit close and directly in front of it.

Easy-to-Use Touch Screen and Digital Backlit Clock with Timer

Philips goLITE BLU Plus features an easy-to-use touch screen and a digital backlit clock with timer. You can set goLITE BLU Plus to turn on at a specified time each day and for a specific duration--from 1 to 60 minutes. Or you can turn it on whenever you need energizing light therapy. Use the touch screen to adjust the light intensity to your particular brightness needs.

Philips goLITE BLU Plus is compact, unobtrusive, and portable. And because the light box is powered by a rechargeable battery (included), and because it comes with a protective case, it is easy to take wherever you need it. A battery indicator lets you know when it is time to recharge the unit.

The goLITE BLU Plus is backed by a two-year warranty.

side view

So I shopped around and found the best price on Amazon. Only one problem...they won't ship it to APO addresses!!! What the fragglerock??? Noooooo!!!! You can't do this to me! I shopped around some more and either this item was out of stock, on backorder, cost a lot more, or again, didn't ship to APO addresses. Now I was really pissed! You can't just dangle hope in front of my eyes and then snatch it away! What to do???

Time to activate "Find a Way, Make a Way!" mode!!! I thought, who could I ship it to, who would in turn re-box it and mail it directly to me?? Who would be willing to take responsibility for this, and the pain-in-the-ass hassle of going to the post office for me?? Most likely someone who really cares about me, and understands first hand the agonies of insomnia. I shot off a quick email and sure enough, got an almost immediate response of yes!! A hero!!!!! You know who you are, and I'm so incredibly grateful!!!!!

So it will arrive to my Hero's place of work on Monday and then will be sent on to me afterwards. I asked for Priority Mail, Delivery Confirmation AND insurance, just because we are all aware of just how dreadful my post office is!! (asshats!) I just have to hang on a little longer....

This light is also good for people who suffer from ADHD and other focusing issues as well, so I will be plopping The Bellaboo in front of this bad boy every morning in an effort to get her little brain chugging along and hopefully help with her day-dreamy, winter brain!

AND I ordered some Melatonin too, which CAN be delivered to APO addresses. This brand/product got a ton of great reviews, didn't cost that much and at this point I'd try just about anything. Seriously!

So fingers crossed and I will keep you posted!! And three cheers for my Hero too!!!!!

Honeymoon - Tues 6/3

Breakfast started with juice, tea and poached pears with lemon whipped cream.
Then we had blueberry pancakes (unlike ANY I've ever had!!) and applewood smoked bacon.

After breakfast we relaxed in the garden, before walking around Wright Square.

After walking, and shopping!, we had a nice leisurely deli lunch before our rescheduled carriage ride at 1pm.

The inn and restaurant 17hundred90 where we ate dinner later.

Info on their "haunting:
Rumor has it that a friendly, early 19th century ghost named Anna Powers haunts the inn. According to folklore, Anna fell in love with a married seaman in the early 1800s. She is said to have thrown herself to her own death from the third floor balcony onto the brick courtyard below, just as the sails of his ship left her sight and headed down the Savannah river to the sea. Some have suggested that the young Miss Powers was helped ad finestra by the seaman's jealous bride. Since then, her ghost has purportedly been seen wandering the halls throughout the inn and restaurant, particularly in room 204. Many of our guests and employees have reported strange occurances day and night which can only be attributed to the actions of the broken hearted Miss Powers, as she awaits her lover's return from the sea.

After our lovely (but HOT!) carriage ride, we went upstairs to shower and change before tea.

Tea Time! One of my favorite parts of the trip! Today we had blueberry tarts, lemon coconut puffs and mini chicken salad tea sandwiches. And we both had alot more than just two of each!!

We "rested" after tea - it had been a long, hot morning outside most of the day! We had drinks and hor d'oerves at 6pm and waited for our tour/dinner at 7pm.

Our tour guide

Amateur photographs of "Anna" at 17hundred90. They all suspiciously look alike but many have said they've seen her.

When Savannahians ran out of room, fences of cemetaries got moved.....but the graves didn't! YIKES!! They say if you take 100 steps in downtown Savannah, you've walked on someone. Frankly I don't think it would take that many steps!! When the historic district was saved, many remains were found under foundations and in gardens.

Each square was numbered. This fire bell was struck to alert the population of a fire, and the number of gongs was the square which had the fire. Every man was expected to come and help. Savannah had two great fires which each nearly wiped out the town both times.

Colonial Cemetary - Soldiers and families that died before and during the Revolutionary War.

Many sidewalks and streets are made with cement using shells from the coast. It's very pretty!

You will see fish and dolphin drain spouts all over Savannah. Most originally were on homes of marine merchants to denote their occupation, as well as to bring good luck.

decorative cast iron garden gate

Notice how the window trims are different on each floor? The original owner's business made these (out of cast iron no less!), so this was showing off as well as advertising. It became a funeral home in the 50's and is now an Inn. The kitchen is in what used to be the embalming room!! It is also purportedly very haunted.

The Davenport House - first home in the district saved

This is used to scrape off your boots before entering the house!

Clapboard home - as the original Savannah homes were built. Notice the unique "haint blue" trim. The following is info I found on the Web:

I recently read about a "haint" blue color that was used around many homes in Savannah. The color is a bright blue, maybe close to royal blue, and it was believed to ward off spirits or ghosts. The color is painted on window sills, doors, porches, or the trim of the home generally. Apparently, the color symbolizes water, which the homeowners believed was something the evil spirits were incapable of passing over. I never noticed it before I read this information, but now I've actually noticed it on several homes around downtown Savannah. Keep an eye open next time you're driving.

I discovered that Haint Blue is a spiritual and cultural based color especially in the South. Milk paint formulas were mixed in pits dug right on the properties where the painters were working. One ingredient in the milk paint formula is lime. A common trait associated with Haint Blue is that it keeps bugs from landing, lingering, living on outdoor porch ceilings. Upon further investigation, I found it likely the lime in the blue paint mixtures is what deters the insects, not the color itself. Modern paint formulas do not contain lime, so I'm not so sure that painting your porch ceiling in a Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore blue is going to help shoo the bugs, but it certainly can be an attractive treatment.

The significance of Haint Blue is that it is believed to ward off spirits, particularly evil spirits. Especially interesting is that several rooms at Prospect Place have the original Haint Blue milk paint which was probably applied circa 1856 when the house was built. If you will recall, I mentioned that Prospect Place is considered one of the most haunted mansions in Ohio. Put two and two together and one has to wonder why the servants painted their private rooms Haint Blue!

I managed to get a sample right from the walls thanks to George J. Adams, great-great grandson of George W. Adams. Obtaining custom formulas of two Haint Blues that the Savannah Historical Society reproduced and authorized for use in 1980 was quite exciting as well. One renders as a crème de menthe color; the second an ocean teal. I've come to understand that Haint Blue is more of a culturally iconic hue that falls in the light blue to blue-green range rather than an actual, specific color. I attribute the marked variance in color to the pigments and raw ingredients that are available region to region and site to site.

We saw Ann's grave in the Colonial Cemetary

Ann's bedroom windows on the top floor.

The most haunted mansion in Savannah. Purportedly by a very angry and dangerous entity. This house is never lived in long before it's sold again.

Broken glass on property wall to ward off evil spirits. We're told it didn't work!

The neighbor painted the front porch ceiling in Haint Blue. You will see many Savannah buildings with this protective detail.

Once upon a time you could order just about anything from the Sears catalog - including homes. This builder however put this window trim up upsidedown! D'oh!!!

Carriage house - top floor for slaves, bottom horses. That had to have smelled truly awful in this climate's heat and humidity. The flies?? wow!

17hundred90 - with "Anna" in the window

Top three windows are room 204, where Anna stayed when this was a boarding house.

Original slave quarters to the inn. Also haunted by a previous slave.

Famous mirror where Anna was captured in a photograph.

On weekends there is live entertainment

We were tired!! Long day of siteseeing and shopping and a very late dinner!

Dinner

7 ounce chicken leg quarter pan seared with fresh thyme, shallots, diced tomatoes, sliced button mushrooms, and finished with a white wine butter sauce and served with the vegetable and starch of the day.

Couple next to us at dinner. It was her birthday.