General Board

foot warming advice from a "stranger"

Posted By: *tink* <isytkiybbfb@yahoo.com> (38.33.144.81)
Date: Monday, 25 December 2000, at 11:26 a.m.

(The stranger is me, by the way! Remember me?!? LOL)

And now for the foot-warming advice:
When I lived in shelter, they gave me this "thing" I call my "corn bag". It's a rectangular bag made of double layers of flannel, half-filled with Iowa corn. (Important that it's only half-filled so it conforms to your body.) Popcorn doesn't pop in most microwaves, so I've been using my Y2K excess. It's about 6" x 12" or so. You heat it in the microwave for 3 minutes or so and it stays warm for literally HOURS between the covers at your cold feet. It cools off a little faster on the floor under my computer, but still is a joy. It's also nice for female cramps or anytime a heating pad would be useful...But this is totally portable. I have plans to make a couple of smaller ones for my son's coat pockets.

I got this bright idea to cheat and fill some of those cheap fuzzy stockings and simply whip stitch the tops. I've been able to give them away en masse. The security guard at my apts carries his inside his jacket on these cold nights. (We've had record snowfall this month with wind chills to about 50 below some days.)

Just don't use them on the elderly or infants (or anyone who isn't "with it" enough to be able to move it away if it gets too hot in one spot.)

Here's wishing all my Abby friends Happy Holidays, in whatever ways you celebrate the season. Cody and I put up a gumdrop tree and he has multi-colored lights all over the floor. We baked my traditional teacake cookies yesterday and tried out that enchilada casserole recipe that Jenna posted here awhile back. (It's a "keeper", by the way!)

We have lots to be thankful for at our house. Our apartment is weather tight, the car starts even on cold mornings, we have warm gloves and new snow boots each. We have candy sprinkles to top our hot cereal and food in the freezer for when we get snowed in. My depression and insomnia are still bad, but somehow it doesn't matter so much when compared to being homeless a few years ago. I contentedly snuggle in my bed each night (yes, still alone), remembering that although it's a roll away bed, so old that the stuffing is now coming out of the mattress (and a replacement probably isn't even MADE anymore...lol), that it's MINE. I am warm and safe, with the basics taken care of, good friends in my life that check on me even when I'm reclusive, and a sweet ex-boyfriend who still has the hots for me despite the fact that we'll never walk down the aisle together. (There is something to be said for a great friend who values monogamony and knows "just how" you like your orgasms. LOL)

Until a better life comes along, I'm fine with this one. I am alone, but not lonely. I am poor, but not lacking. I'm mentally ill, but I like my therapist. I'm the exact same weight I was this time last year (mainly because I stopped dieting), but this year I like my size and I don't let people who *DON'T* upset me anymore. You guys here are the biggest reason I accept my body now for the first time in my life. Thanks for a year of encouragement and for opening my eyes to the fact that I'm ok and worthwhile, JUST AS I AM.

I look at it this way: a crappy life here in the U.S. is a better life than most people of many countries ever get. And a tolerable life is more than most people of the world could ever hope for.

I'm as happy as a clinically depressed person could be, I guess. LOL Enjoy your holidays and remember: All things are relative. If you hate your life, there's always someone who has it worse than you do. If you're unhappy during the holidays, volunteer in a cancer ward and your pain will melt away. If you feel unneeded, donate something to your local women's shelter. You never know when something as simple as a flannel bag of dried corn might touch someone's life and bring comfort.

I love you guys dearly.
*tink*

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