When I get manic

A - don't worry about it.  I always wait a while before moderating a comment. 

Pretty tired today.  Um, more barking excitement last night - someone's dog got out.  The boy across the street, the one whose house is for sale, now has a leg cast.  I guess he climbed over the wrong gate (he used to to that with our yard a lot).  Thank God it didn't happen on my property. 

The 10 little piggies next door are building a new junk pile.  I throw anything back over the property line if it comes to visit, and put their trash cans (still in the street well after trash pickup) back on their side.  But, they're quiet, sane (the homeowner threatened to kill the cat, and meant it, because he LOOKED at her), and don't invade our property.  I can live with the junk piles. 

I'm actually a very messy housekeeper, out of anyone on the block, I'm probably the least upset.  As long as they don't have food trash, and Bubba (cat) comes home with an empty mouth, we're good.  If I start getting dead mice; I'll make ANOTHER call to the health department.  They were really good about that. 

Happily, I think I am cycling out of the depression and into a mania.  It's about time.  I'll keep taking my pills, keep things at a happy level, and enjoy it.  God knows I've earned it! 

I still have some shame about my illness, especially the manias.  Sometimes I feel guilty for feeling so energized and lively.  God has let me know it's OK to enjoy it, as long as I keep taking my medicine.  Doc, and Ron, and all my loved ones "feed back" that I am within a good parameter.  If I'm not, I'll hear it.  Dad will soberly query "How would you evaluate your mood?"  - which means he thinks I am manic.  Ron will say "You're manic" or "You're talking a lot/revved up today".  Doc would probably say "Let's check your lithium level"  [laugh]

I can also direct the mania at some organization, and yarn purging.  I plan to sort through my yarn and only save one bag (13 gallons).  I have a few partly finished objects, and their yarn.  Just save that; and put the rest on Craigslist.  Some of the yarn is very nice wool.  Some is more basic acrylic.  I'm sure some happy crafter would love to get it for $10-20.  That's on the to-do list, when I get manic. 

The yard looks pretty good.  I actually had a dream during my nap; I needed to harvest my beans.  I went out there and found about 2 cups of bush beans, and a couple of really nice pole beans.  They were all delicious, raw, with a little ranch.  The birds like my elevated poles and trellis; lots of bird manure in the garden bed.  Good.

I seldom eat any vegetables, but I will if I grow them. 

The potatoes look pretty miserable.  They are not a hot weather veggie.  I'm beginning to see why Dr Bob with Urban Harvest says they are not the best for Houston.  But, I'm glad I attempted to grow them, and who knows what I'll dig up?   The tomatoes aren't ripe yet, but look good.  The Patio tomato has some pretty large fruit.  The Red Cherry is looking OK, but not great.  I need to figure out what to do.  I have a few little corn ears, but when I get manic I need to trim back a tree that shades them in the afternoon. 

For me, making my "when I get manic" list is just a part of life.  For a normal person, it must be a really odd concept; when I climb out of this major fatigue and depression, and get LOTS of energy, I'm going to do this; and that... I really ought to make a list. 

I've done a good job keeping up with the laundry, but I need to attack the dishes.  Ron said he'd like it if I cleared off the counter. 

I realized since my love language is quality time, and Ron seems to have the concept down very well - I should work a litle at speaking his love language (acts of service).   Ron does a good job speaking both; he loves to walk out to the bus stop and wait with me, bringing me a cold soda. 

He understands, on some level, that I want to spend quality time (I don't play with my phone, or read - but actually talk to him) with him.  His way of saying he cares is doing something - bringing me a soda.  So, when I want to speak his language, it's "doing something".   He loves it when I cook for him, or mow the yard.  Bring him a treat (which is actually another love language). 

He was delighted I helped him download some tunes today (we buy them off Amazon).  I did ask, if I could do something around the house to make you feel better, what would it be?  He finally mentioned the counter, said it would be nice, but he wasn't asking. 

He's getting pretty good at realizing I don't have much energy when I'm depressed.  However, when I get manic, I can direct some of that energy at the counter.  He was really happy I DID clear off the table.  I'll remember to keep it clear. 

Someone had asked about the Driver Candy - had I been keeping that up with everything going on?  Every week or so I make a huge sack of about 70 items, and dip into that every day as I leave.  Well, today I brought a double handful (bagged candy with a scripture booklet, and a few New Testaments bagged with candy) and gave it all away.  I'm not distributing AS MUCH, but I'm handing it out as I go.  People really love it.  I am phasing out the caramel and chocolate due to the heat, but I have some other good heatstable items people enjoy. 

I figure, worst case they can throw away the "Jesus" and eat the candy, and who knows where the booklet will end up?  I read a great story of a man who got saved by buying a bag of peanuts.  He was in India, and Hindu.  He was having a major depression.  He only had a few cents, and bought a bag of peanuts from a street vendor.  The vendor wrapped the nuts, in a GOSPEL TRACT.  The man read the tract, got converted, and became an evangelist!  From a "wasted" tract! 

I love stories like that; and it will come as no surprise that some of my God money (I have a modest amount allocated) goes to Bible, scripture booklet, and tract distribution.  That's how I found God; reading the Bible. 

My family was pretty tepid - we went to church and prayed before dinner, but that's about it.  I got saved at Bible camp, but I had years of Bible-reading before that.  I believe the Bible did most of the converting; one reason I'm so passionate about sharing.  I can get on a soapbox and preach all day, but God has a way of taking even a tract or scripture booklet and hitting someone in the heart.  I have seen this; when someone opens up a Scripture booklet in my presence and reads it.  It always seems to have a significant impact.   Anyway, some big crises in 1988 led to my Dad getting saved and a better home spiritual life. 

Still handing them out.  No Bible Handouts yet; but I have a feeling we will have another major crisis, closer to home, and God'll have me do my handout then.  In the meantime I'll hoe my row of scripture booklets!  A lot of farming analogies in evangelism! 

Speaking of, I need to go do my God Time.  More later, taters!