HMMMMM

i gave my third lot of plasma yesterday and AGAIN my blood pressure was high. not overly high but for it to have been high for my past three donations, the nurses at the blood bank want me to get a clearance from my GP before i give again in two weeks time.
so it's off to the doctor on monday to go through the motions.
YES...i am taking anti-inflammatories that are known to cause stroke, heart attack and BP
NO...i can't stop taking them
YES...i have a family history of hypertension (both maternal and paternal sides)
NO...i don't want to go on BP meds (i'm only 42 for crying out loud)
i don't know what the doc will say but i am not going to stress about it.

mark and i had a good talk about it all last night and he thinks that maybe the events of the past month or so (the death of the four boys, their funerals and extended family stresses) haven't helped. and i tend to internalise a lot of my stress - walk away from conflict rather than have it out with whoever is causing me grief.
i don't know...*SIGH*

i am off to a scrapping day organised by my LSS on saturday...now THAT'S a great way to de-stress. a day of scrapping and being with like-minded ladies.
don't know what goodies we will be making - it's never a straight "bring your stash along and crop" kinda day that julie organises.
it's always fun though and they put on THE best lunches and morning and afternoon teas.

i am also looking forward to heading up to ipswich to a Christmas crop with the fabulous EMM ladies, on december 3.
and spending the day and the night with my gorgeous ruthy.
the only downer is that so many of the girls who live too far away won't be able to make it but ruthy and i have devised a way to at least get the gorgeous miss marie to be there with us.
and no....i'm not telling....you'll just have to wait and see.
*WINK*
i will stay with ruthy in toowoomba on the sunday night and work my way back home on monday through brissy, stopping in to visit the new ikea and some scrapping stores i want to check out.
should be a blast- can't wait !!!

i know that the three of us are all looking forward to the EMM retreat in march next year - i am so excited about FINALLY meeting my gorgeous gal, marie, and her and ruthy and i all being able to spend time together - scrapping and laughing and talking - that i talk about it here at home all the time.
mark and the kids actually banned me from any retreat talk for a few days last week cause they were sick of hearing about it.
*LOL*

and that is all i have to waffle on about today.
have you visited some blogs today and left a nice comment...???
let's all try and spread some happiness and love about the place.
i've sent some emails off to some girls who i know were devastated by what has been written on certain blogs in the past few days - i hope they helped to brighten their days and helped them smile.

take care everyone and have a happy friday
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo