October is here.....

Boy September was a busy month I cannot believe it is over already. Took a trip to LV, celebrated 3 birthdays, mine, sisters and mom's. Now it is already a week into October. The leaves here have begun to change already and I find I need to have the yard raked weekly. It is still warm , in the 80's but very cool mornings. We've also reached a mildstone, the puppy Coco is now house broken and gets to sleep in the room with us. Yes she does wake us up at 4 am to go outside, but I am getting myself in shape for March when my daughter has her baby. She has decreed I come to Va to be with her for 3 weeks post partum. It has been years since I had to do that, the other set of grands are in their teens and twenties. I feel like I have to start all over again but I am excited......

Vegas Weekend

Took a long weekend , went to Vegas. We stayed off the strip the first night, it was the weekend of the VMA awards and rooms were going for $300. So we ( my sister and I) stayed at the La Quinta Inn, while my daughter and her hubby stayed at the Platinum Hotel. It is a non-smoking Spa and Hotel no Casino. The second night we ( sister & I) moved to the Monte Carlo, room rates had dropped to $99 on Sunday & Monday night. Now they had a Casino. Funny though I was not in a real gambling mood . Sunday night my son-in-law had tickets to see "Monty Python's Spamalot". He has a classmate from high school, who is the lead actress ( The Lady in the Lake), in this production, so we had good seats and got to meet her after the show. It was at the Wynn. We did gamble at the Wynn and it was nice. Not a lot of folks, a few smokers and the slots were paying off. I won two nice jackpots on the dollar machine. Back at the Monte Carlo I won some more and so did sister. On Monday we headed to Henderson,NV while my son-in-law worked the Travel Agency Trade Show. He works for a company that supplies software to the airline/travel agency industry. The 3 ladies got a much needed manicure & pedicure. It was lunch time now and we found a great seafood bar & grill and had wonderful lunch. My daughter found a Target Greatland and we had to stop there. I found a Sonic and we had to stop there. For they uninitiated Sonic is a drive in soda/burger place found mainly in the southeast. We returned in time to rest and head out to a community called Red Rock. My son-in-laws friend ( who lives there) had recommended a restaurant the "Kona Grille" and a new Casino that had been built out there. It was about 30 minutes from the strip. The food was great, it had a Hawaiian flavor mixed with oriental and the location of the grille was in one of those trendy shopping malls with boutique stores. The Casino was about 10 minutes from there. Again it was very nice, new shops and restaurants, with a few smokers and loose slots. In fact sister won 400 quarters on a bad machine after it had been repaired. It hit 2x- 7 -x5, which paid off 400 quarters, she was happy . Then back at the Monte Carlo I played a little more with $92 I had cashed out the night before, but left it there. Tuesday morning it was time to leave. I left with a nice taste in my mouth I think I will go back again.

Bed Bugs

OK so we get back from the relaxing weekend in Memphis and by Tuesday I am feeling my undies rubbing on what I thought was a mole. This i am use to because I am a mole laden person, I inherited the gene from GM28. So by Wed. PM this is no longer a mole problem I discover several red bit marks on my neither regions most namely on the inner aspect of my thigh, lower butt cheeks and belly and knee ( 5 ) bites in all. Now I am wondering where they came from. Hubby thinks I got them at work. By Thursday I am reduced to wearing a skirt and thongs to work. This is no longer funny, but becoming a major problem. Thursday night I have chills and a fever of 102. I call my boss that night to tell her I will not be in to work. I sleep with fever and chills , pain in all the bites but worse in my inner thigh, it burns and stings. No itching here. At 8 am I call and make an appointment with he doctor , see him at 10:00 he thinks it is a tick or flea. I think not. Any way he gives me an antibiotic prescription, has blood drawn for Lyme titer and I am on my way with the assurance I will feel better in 24-48 hrs. In the mean time I can barley sit on one hip let alone on my butt. So I have been bed ridden for 48 hrs. Those bites have turned into what the doctor calls deep cellulitis. The one on my inner thigh has made me bed ridden mainly because I cannot sit on my butt. Today being Saturday have been on antibiotics for 2 days and these thing are coming to a head, the one on my thigh has begun to ooze, the one on my belly is ready to pop as is the one on the inner aspect of my knee.
OK I feel better I have shared this adventure with the world. I remain convinced it was bed bugs since I have never had this type of reaction to fleas, ticks or mesquitoes.

My Weekend

Just got back from a relaxing weekend in Memphis. Hubby has been dying to see the stage production of the Lion King, somehow we always managed to be in the wrong city while it was playing. So when it was announced it was coming to Memphis he quickly got tickets. The stage production was beautiful. So many costumes so many changes. I told someone you have to have a great imagination to appreciate this play. We were lucky and got aisle seats. As the characters marched down the aisles to the stage you could almost feel you were on the Savannah. All the actors were so graceful, their roles suited them well. I particularly like the giraffes and the panther. The actors were the epitome of grace while portraying these animals. And the young boy and girl who played Simba & Nola what a treat to see such young actors at their best.
We also made the requisite trip to Beale street. It has changed, so much commercialism you miss the flavor of the old Beale street. We went to the Peabody Place mall first and found out the Issac Hayes restaurant we like was closed, no customers to keep it going. In fact several venues were closed, making it look like the malls at home. I guess the merchants have moved on. So over to Beale street we went. Now it has changed to shops and open venues where alcohol drinks are sold from side windows. Folks were parading up and down the sidewalks looking and being looked at not caring about the music, in fact you do not hear the music that use to make you want to sit and listen. The old WC Handy park is now surrounded by a tall iron gate, no impromptu music here. Everyone is hawking something. If you go in a restaurant there is now a cover charge, if there is music being played. No more Rufus, he died some time ago. I guess folks came into hear the music for free but did not eat. So now you have to pay to hear the music and if you eat so what. We ate at BB Kings place ,the service was slow and the food was average. The crowd was sparse and the drinks were $9 & $10 if you wanted a specialty drink. You got to keep the glass but had to trade it in the gift shop for the glass you got to keep. Another way of getting you to spend money , heard you out the gift shop entrance in hopes you spend some more of your money.
We'd gone to a restaurant at the Peabody but got up and left. The food might have been good but a meal for one cost as much as a whole meal for 2 should have cost. A piece of Salmon with a salad and a potato was $45, that did not include a drink ,which was $10 for a glass of white Zinfandel. If you wanted a small lobster tail it was $65. Well I told hubby for that price we're better off going to Beale street. We'd just bought 3 lbs of King Crab legs at Sam's for $24, so I could not in good conscious spend $45 on my plate.

Sunday in the South

It is hot here and I mean HOT. The temp on the deck says it is 105 ! I have been up since 8 am. I find I have to get up early to do the laundry on the weekends in the late summer. It is too hot to do it during the shank of the day. I thought I could do it in the evening but it has not cooled off much then either. At 10:00 pm it is still 87 degrees. The A/C has been running non stop for a week.
Mother has improved but is still not up to to much mobility. I had plans yesterday to meet with friends for lunch and needed to take mother to get her glasses fixed, since the frames were bent in her fall Wed. night. I got her moving early so we were out by 10:40 and back by 11:40. I knew it was to be another hot day in the South and it was 103 by noon. I needed to get her in and out before it got to hot. After we finished at the shop we headed to Sonic, my favorite place and her's on Saturday. I got her a Bistro breakfast sandwich and headed home. Dropped her off then off to lunch with the girls.
Karren & Amy were there, Johanne & Sara with baby Micah, and Debbie who recently had fallen and broken her wrist. We caught up on all family news.
That is what is nice about this group we worked together for 15 years, before we were all downsized right out of the job. We know all about each others families and have watched the kids grown up. When we go out that is our topic, what is everyone doing and the kids achievements. We all have different jobs now and no longer see each other daily, it has become a every 6 weeks kind of get together. I am the ring leader I pick the place and set the date and time. They all show up. We do have a few who miss on occasion because of family or financial obligations,but I am always there holding the group together. They all love it and make every effort to be there since we have so much history. It is kind of like a class reunion but on more often.
Today I have chosen to rest and read, there is nothing on TV this time of year. All the shows are re runs of re runs and movies that have been on at least 3 x in the course of the year. Now is a good time to catch up on those books I have stacked by my bed. I do inter space the reading with some computer time. I have discovered you can download free games that give you and hour to test drive them. I like this because I do not get bored with a game I just get to move on to the next one. So far I have played 4 different ones and they are fun. I also blog on 2 sites so that is fun too.
I fixed mother her lunch a little while ago, so I have to go check on her. As I mentioned she will be 89 next month and her energy level seems to be dropping, she stayed in her PJ's today and was not up to doing more than sitting in her lounge chair , reading and watching TV. Gotta Go.....

Mother and Me

Tonight my daughter told me I was truly living in the sandwich generation...she on one side with her pregnancy questions, concerns and happenings and my mother on the other side with her slide into very old age. I also have a husband who has his own serious health issues. Oh and a dog who has puppy issues. I work full time about an hours drive from home. It is a job that requires I be on the phone from the minute I get there until eight hours later when I leave. So I am talking all days, approving or denying issues that people consider very important to their life and lively hood. To say this is a job with pressures is to say the least. At home I have major pressures too, and this happens everyday. I never get a break from the pressure of work because if I take a day off the pressure is here waiting for me in the form of mother.
Last night she had an episode.....it started with her saying she was dizzy, I took her blood pressure & pulse both were fine. Next it was she had to go to the bathroom, so off she went. She was back in a few minutes telling me she was dizzy, this time she was nauseous. OK back to her room get her in bed, at which time for the next 3 hours it was vomiting and dizzy. In between I am cleaning the kitchen, collecting garbage and trying to get ready for work the next day. Finally I get her settled, I think . I go to her room collect the garbage and leave as I get to the kitchen I hear a thump, I run back to her room , my husband runs down the steps , there lay mother on the floor. She had gotten up to go to the bathroom again gotten dizzy and fallen. We pick her up , get her to the bathroom then back to bed. I give her a bell to ring to call me if she wants to get up. She is very independent and wants to do things herself. I guess it is hard to loose that sense of being able to do for yourself. She never rang it. I asked her why and she said I was able to get up without help. Me I did not sleep well all night because I am was waiting for the bell to ring. My husband wears a CPAP machine to sleep at night and of course last night there was not a tight seal so it squealed off and on all night, that also contributed to my not sleeping well. So today I get up call and cancel all her appointments, make one for the Dr., call in late to work. Get husband to help get her in the car and off to the Dr. we go. It is 10:00 in the morning and 80 degrees a with comparable humidity. I am sweating rivulets of water down my face. I push her in the wheelchair into the Dr waiting area, there we sit for 30 minutes then 30 more minutes in the treatment room. Finally we are free to go home and she wants lunch. It is now 11:45 am and I have to go to Burger King to get her a sandwich. Now we can head home and I can make the 1 hr drive to work. Yes the frenzy is waiting for me since I am now 5 hours late. OK so I do what I can then head home get here in time to cook dinner for her and a light salad supper for me and husband. No the night is not over, she is better wants dessert , watermelon, then she sneaks a piece of chocolate candy, asked me for Cashews ( this is her usual feeling good routine) so I know she is not nauseous any more. I go to my room to rest, she calls me on her cell phone to tell me I need to call her companion to come to take care of her tomorrow because she has diarrhea is weak and needs help. She has no idea how she will feel in the morning but knows she will need help. She fusses at me because I tell her she has diarrhea because of all the above junk food, says she does not have diarrhea daily and something is wrong. I offer to call a GI doctor for her, she is still mad at me . I come in here to write a note to my sister but remember she is mad at me because she says am never there for her. When do I have time ? I am never there for me either. So I write this blog to vent..........

Sunday

Sunday...last night I told GMD28 we'd go to church today it was the first Sunday and that is the Sunday she likes best, not for the message, not for the length of the service ( it is long) but because she gets to take Communion, that seems to seal her faith in the lord. I digress, so this morning like most Sunday's she comes down to my bathroom to take her shower at 8:30 am. I usually take this as a sign we are going to church today. I finish reading the paper, get a light breakfast go take a shower and wash my hair. As I finish up I look out and here is GMD28 making her way to the kitchen in her Saturday outfit. I accost her and say "I thought we were going to Church", she answers" well you said you had a headache last night so I did not think we'd go to Church today". Long story short she finished her breakfast and got dressed in time to leave.

When we get to church there is a big travel bus in the parking lot. This is a signal to me we have guest and this will be and exceptionally long service. GMD28 does not seem to notice. We we get in the church there are approximately 50 folks. They have arrived from Columbus,AR (where ever that is) to share the Sunday with us and their young preacher will preach the word.

About an hour into the service GMD28 looks at me and says "where are we", pointing to the bulletin and I tell her the Sermon is next. Another hour goes by and she looks at me and says "I was going to say lets go", I point out to her he is almost finished and we came for communion.

Thirty minutes later we have communion, a perfect time to leave, since we had to go to the alter, but she sits back down. Now it is time for more singing and bible readings. We've been in church 2 hours now, she begins to fidget, I ask what is the problem, "She says "I have to go to the bathroom". I tell her "we will leave as soon as they start to sing. More talking goes on , twenty minutes later the young minister ask his entire congregation who have made the trip to stand up...we make our exit. I practically run out, GMD28 is dragging up the rear her exit is seen. The usher runs to help her , I tell the usher "she has to go to the bathroom", she understands, she has taken GMD28 there before. It has now been 21/2 hrs and you know how GMD28 is about the bathroom we had to drive right home no stopping for a meal. Yes they were serving a meal after church but we had no plans to stay.......

In my Opinion

Here's a question ? Why is it people call you and ask for your opinion on some urgent matter (theirs) then get annoyed if you don't answer it they way they think you should ??? Why waste your time or theirs ? People really don't want to hear what you have to say, they just want to use you as a sounding board. They want you to say uh, uh, uh and um ,um, um, if you offer an opinion it is not the right one or "obviously you are not in a position to solve the problem ( have the correct answer) , so sorry I bothered you". If you don't offer an opinion you are selfish, only interested in your own selfish self ". So why do we allow ourselves to be beat up verbally by these folks ? One we don't have a choice they are related to you , You can not refuse to have them in your inner circle, God (or your parents) has taken care of that. You will see them at family gatherings, funerals, weddings, birthings and any other family social gathering. Two you really feel you have something to offer from your own experience. But it becomes quite clear early on your opinion is not what is wanted. So here is some advice if you don't want an opinion expressed during your melt downs don't call and solicit one.

NAPS

Naps are something I never use to take, but I find as I get older a nap is essential. Take Sunday's, it seems after I get up on Sunday the day calls for a nap around 2 pm. I get up around 8 or 9 and then I take the dog out and get the morning papers. IF mother wants to go to church I eat breakfast, read some of the paper, get ready for Church go and come home. By now it is 1:00 and I need a spot of lunch, then I finish the paper. No sooner than I finish that paper my bed calls to me so off I go for my Sunday afternoon nap. Hubby is in his chair TV on watching a car race or some Sci Fi movie. Mother is at the table eating her lunch and reading the paper. Coco is at my feet ready to play. I forgo that game and head for the bed. When I was younger I never naped, I had a fear I would miss something important in the world. I guess now I know there are not too many important events that happen you can't catch up on when you wake up.

Baby Musings

I know it is TDMK's baby, but I have already looked at books I need to buy her and her DH, thought of the perfect names for Baby D boy or girl and scouted out the cutest furniture for the nursery. I guess I am living vicariously, Googmom2 and I were the same way with the wedding but this time we have to sit back and let them do the work, after all we've had our chance now it is hers'. Good news is I can spoil this one and not worry if she/he will not turn out perfect or not from being so spoiled. I will set aside a shopping fund so I can buy all the cloths and toys like "TDMK" got from her grandmothers and grandpa's. I am sure Gogomom2 will set a side her jewerly fund.

Back to Basics

Well gogomom2 & Hershey are gone, they left at 3:30 in the morning to make a 5 am flight. They made it home safely not without some glitches. I'll let gogomom2 tell you her story.

I was so tired I got in bed and fell asleep at 9:30, woke up briefly to see the news fought to stay awake for Jay Leno, but failed miserably.

Today DH called me to asked if he could make dinner , being one who enjoys others cooking I said go right ahead. So he went out to the local Wal-mart bought himself a Wok and came home and made stir fried shrimp....it was delicious. He was inspired by gogomom2's meal last week. I think she needs to come back often to inspire him in the cooking relm.

I called all my friends have neglected the last few weeks found out I had missed a lot by not calling them sooner. One had gallbladder surgery after months of thinking she had some rare disease, the Dr.'s could find nothing wrong until they did a PIPIDA scan and found she had a non functioning gallbladder. She is home and doing well. The other friend had her blood pressure medicine changed and was up late one night soon after the change, blacked out and as she described it you do not faint like they do on TV where you swoon in real life you drop face forward like a stone/slab. When she woke up 10-15 minutes later covered in blood. She had been carrying a tray with a bowl on it, when she fell it broke and she fell into it and cut her cheek, forehead, lip and broke her nose. Being a nurse she drug herself around on the floor cleaning up the mess, drug herself to her bed and then called 911. She then had to drag herself to the front door to open it to let them in. I chastised her for not calling me and/or giving me or someone a key since she lives alone. Again being a nurse she knows we don't usually rely on anyone to take care of us we usually are the ones taking care of others. My next friend was at home tripped over something , broke her wrist and had to have surgery. She is back at work, now she says feeling better and able to type. This is how I found out what really happened. I had heard it from another friend who had been down and out with her bad back. The more I think about it we nurses as we age seem to all be falling apart.

Lastly "thedivinemissk", will find out tomorrow if she is PG or not. Can't wait to be the grandmother of her unborn children...they will have to call me "Mrs. Green".

Faithful Companion

Coco is my faithful companion, no matter who is visiting or what time of day it is Coco is beside me with her red ball. We have company, Hershey is visiting and I thought for sure I'd have a break from the red ball , but no when I walk in the door there is Coco. She runs to find the red ball no matter where she has left it that morning she goes looking for it. Today when I came in Coco & Hershey met me. Hershey said hello, wagged his tail, jump up for a rub and was gone. No not Coco she went looking for the red ball. Found it, ran back as fast as her little short legs would go to bang the red ball on my foot, followed me to the bathroom, tripping me as I tried to change cloths, red ball in her teeth, banging it on my foot. Off to the kitchen to fix a meal, there is Coco with the red ball wanting me to throw the ball. Finally she is distracted, she sees I am making dinner for her. Hershey shows up to get his too, can't be left out. When dinner is over they both disappear. I get to read the paper in peace. Now I have to go to the drug store to get my prescription, I slip out of my house slippers into my flip flops, Coco hears the slap, slap of my shoes , she shows up knowing I am headed out, she is the first one at the door, this means she wants to go. So I load her up in the car and she spends the time as we drive to the store looking for food I might have dropped. Get to the drug store the girl hands Coco a doggie cookies, this distracts her momentarily while I get my prescription. Then all the way home she sits on my lap trying to get into my purse and find that bag, she is sure there are more doggie cookies in there. Finally back at home she goes to greet Hershey but settles in under the computer desk at my feet. Time for her nap she has had a busy day.

Isaiah and my Vacation

Well I guess I spelled the man's name right. Anyway he was on Larry King tonight I had every intention of hanging on his every word but alas i did not get the opportunity. Seester is visiting and things are not as calm as I had anticipated. She says it is because I do not walk in the door and say "I need 30 minutes". I guess I feel I have to much to do to slow down before I climb into bed. Take for example tonight. Seester and GM28 picked me up at work at 5, then the hour drive home where I usually decompress did not happen it was raining hard , traffic was bad and we were talking. By the time we got home it was business as usual , lets get dinner cooked, someone always needs something else at the table that was forgotten. GM28 needed a small dish for her salad, she can not eat it off the same plate as her main meal. DH needed garlic bread made, dogs needed dinner, seester was sitting I decided it was my duty to get all those things. Dinner started no one wanted to be the first to dig in so I start to boss folks around and get snide comments for doing so. It was snip, snip ,snip, after that..finally Isaiah was on TV you'd think we'd watch in silence no the comments and opinions started, after a few minutes I gave up and went to my room DH went upstairs and seester got the computer. It was down hill after that. I ended up washing dishes, a load of cloths and putting up the now dry dishes. I wiped down the kitchen, paid GM28's on-line bills, did her eye drops and evening snack...what is different ???

July

Happy July to me. Gogomom2 has come to visit I am on vacation. Last night was the last meal I cooked and seester has taken over all of the chores associated with MD28. They went grocery shopping today I did not even have to do that. Of course she left her faithful traveling companion Hershey with me and Coco. That Hershey is like a baby he whinned the whole time she was gone. Eventually I got tired of the whinning so I left him to his own devices ( I am not sure I'll make a good grandma babysitter, althought Brittny & James survived). Coco followed me to my room and climbed into her bed and slept. I watched Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Finally I heard the car alarm and the hubster yelling I think they are back. Coco & Hershey beat me to the garage door. I helped unload the groceries and went back to my bed & TV. Finally Coco decided she needed to go outside, so I got up took her out fed her ( Hershey came along and ate her food )she did'n'tcare she got her red rubber ball and has been hassing me again.
Ok now I smell food being cooked so I better go she what seester is cooking.

Squirrel Hunters

I have two squirrel hunters in my family, a furry 6 lbs four legged one and a two legged human one. Every morning the two of them stand behind the patio sliding glass door, B.B. gun in hand, ball cap turned backward as not to obstruct the view. Coco takes her stance at the bottom of the door lying quietly in wait,watching for the band of 6 rodents to show up for the sunflower birdseed. Quietly they stand there, waiting for the moment. Pop ! Pop ! Pop ! goes the B.B. gun. Shoot ! missed again. This goes on for at least one hour each morning, it has become a ritual started several years ago when the rodents chewed up a few bird feeders and when that was not available started chewing on the roof.
Today was no different than usual, they took their stance, waiting....Pop ! Pop ! Pop ! only this time I did not here shoot ! missed again. I didn't think much of it until I passed by them standing in the door on my way out. There standing in the door was human hunter, furry hunter was at his feet, they were staring out onto the deck. I looked over at them and the human hunter says "I got one". I go over to the door look out on the deck and there on the bench lay a "dead" squirrel. Flopped over on his back. I asked human hunter "is he dead or stunned", human hunter says "dead, I think". I asked him not to leave it on the deck or throw it in the yard. I head off to work. Later in the morning I call from work to see if there have been any more victims. This was when the story got funny. Human decides to shoot a few more rounds when he notices the "dead squirrel", twitching. It continues twitching unit it lands on the deck floor at which time the furry hunter notices him. Now she begins to chase the critter and DH begins to chase the dog. The critter now with one gimpy leg is skittering across the deck like a one legged critter with Coco yipping and DH yelling. By this time the critter manages to find an opening in the deck fence and flops off, crawling into the ivy to hide out from the two fearless hunters. I just about laughed out loud because I have seen DH and Ming chase a rat and wondered who was more afraid of whom.

Spicy Blogs

I must admit life is very interesting on other peoples blogs mine always seems so mundane. I think I wll try spicing mine up a bit as soon as I get some spice to write about.

Dinner

Well it is Saturday night, I have just had a long week. I arrived home from Va. on Monday evening with a bad cold. I am not sure if I got it from sitting in the airport for 8 hours Friday or 5 hours Monday but never the less I was sick. I'd taken off Tuesday to rest from my travels but ended up taking an extra day Wednesday since I was still feeling puney. While I was gone DH fixed gourmet meals for himself and MD28 but as soon as I got home it was business as usual. Gogmom2 always says tell them here are the ingredients,fix the meals but that never seems to work. They just sit there wating for someone else to cook.

I finally get tired of waiting for someone to voluneer so I get up and cook.

Today I stayed in my room and DH finally showed up at 2 pm to fix a sandwich and disappeared until 9:45 pm up stairs, ostensibly working on his book, when he finally came in the bedroom and commanded the TV, I readily dispatched him to the guest room to watch the fight. MD28 has been sitting in the kitchen most of the afternoon, she finally fixed herself a hambuger.

Now everyone is in their respective space watching TV.

Me I am on the computer blogging.

Travel by Plane

Traveling by plane has become a nightmare. Friday I left home at 9:30 headed for the airport ans a trip to DC with hopes of arriving at a decent time. My flight, at 11:40 am to Cincinnati went well, but when I got there I checked the flight board and found out the flight was delayed one hour , OK, I felt I still had time to get to DC to make the rehearsal dinner but I would be late. Within a few minutes the board changed again we would now be leaving at 3:30 instead of 2:30 and at a new gate. Rush to that gate, by the time I got to the new gate the flight was now delayed again. So instead of leaving at 3:30 I would now be leaving at 5:30. I now know I will miss the dinner, it started at 6:00. So I call my daughter tell her to go a head and I'd call when we landed. Little did I know we now had another gate change and it involved going to a new concourse. So now I have to take a shuttle bus to that concourse. OK so now I have been in Cincinnati 7 hours and it is now 8:30 pm. The board now says we board at 8:40...no 8:50.no 9:00. Yeah we are on the plane it is 9:00...oh no we are not taking off until 9:30 make that 10:00 pm, finally in the air, arrive in DC at 11:30 pm. I had started this trip at 11:40 am...
OK you thought it was over no on Monday as I started back home the same scenario played out. Left DCA on time 10:00 am got to Atlanta, there I had 3 gate changes, one concourse change and spent a total of 5 hrs on the ground there. I was due in LR at 2:25 but got in at 5: 25. Finally got home at 6:30 with a vow the next time I travel it will be non stop.......

A Family Wedding

Just got back in town from another family wedding. This one was on my fathers side of the family. The father of the groom is my first cousin, an orthopedic surgeon, his wife is a Psychiatrist. The groom is an orthopedic surgeon himself, following in his fathers footsteps. The new bride is an RN. The guest numbered over 350, it was possibly the biggest wedding I have been to in a long while. The wedding it self was a catholic mass at 10 am, the bride and groom are catholic, she is from El Salvador and her family came up for the wedding, he is from the DC area. Following the ceremony there were lots of picture taking and chatting in front of the church as we waited for the bride and groom to make their appearance. We finally proceeded to the Mayflower Hotel in downtown DC, a walking distance from the Church. They had planned a reception that included a one hour open bar with horderves, ( or as Fred Sanford us to say horse divers) . The bar included any kind of branded drink you could name including Champagne. The "horse divers", included jumbo spiced shrimp, crab puffs and baby lamb riblets all finger foods. After an hour of drinking , snacking, picture taking ,glad handing and catching up we headed across the hall for the actual reception. There were round tables of 10 set with all the necessary table ware. The chairs were ones I was familiar with, because we and to hunt for them here in AR. Dinner consisted of your choice ( made in advance) seafood brochette of shrimp/scallops or a small cut of prime rib. The vegetables were baby green beans wrapped in a bundle, bok choi, 4 strips of baked new potatoes and a small summer "hat" squash. The bread was the usual affair a variety of specialty types and those yummy crackers that and long and loaded with seeds. The best part was the butter was shaped like a heart blended with strawberry jam and it was soft. We got our choice of red or white wine. Tea or coffee and water. We toasted the bride and groom with Champagne. Finally after much dancing and shaking our booty to a live band, the bride and groom cut the cake , it was white with marzipan icing and fresh raspberries in the cake. When you thought you could eat no more they opened a curtain and there were 2 chocolate fountains, one dark chocolate and one milk chocolate and a variety of fruits , cookies and angel food cake you could dip in the fountain. The decorations were fresh Flowers on the tables and the dance floor had a spot light with the bride and grooms name spotlighted on the dance floor.

Coco and her Red Rubber Ball update

I am not trying to emulate the Chronicles of Hershey but only share the story of the "Red Ball".

The back story is that Coco had a ball it was multicolored with knobs on it, that way she could get a great grip on it. Well the minute I'd walk in the door from work Coco would find that ball no matter where it was last seen she knew exactly where it was. She would proceed to follow me around banging the ball on my foot. Let me tell you, it was hard so it hurt. It did not matter if I had shoes on or not the ball would be bopped on my foot. So one day I took the ball and hid it. She was so funny, she'd walk around on her hind legs trying to see up high up on top of the table or the counter looking for that ball. Eventually I'd feel bad and give her the ball back again. One day she dropped that ball on my foot and I said that is the end of that ball.

While I was at PetCo, the Dillards for dogs, I found a replacement ball, a soft red rubber ball. The problem I did not realise when I bought the ball was it had the tendency to feel wet and cold when it was rubbed or dragged over your bare foot or up your bare leg. True to form as soon as I walk in the door she takes off looking for the red ball no matter where it is. When she finds it she is relentless...Oh and it has nice big holes in it so she can grab it and hold on for dear life. I have swung her around, lifted her off the ground and she will not let go. Now I am in search of something that is not wet, cold and hard to get away from her.

The bridal shower was a hit. It started at 10:00 am and was over at 11:00 am. My kind of Saturday shower. I was expecting at 10 am some kind of breakfast food but what we got was a traditional shower cake and pineapple punch. There was coffee and tea but I was looking for fruit, muffins and juice. So off to Sonic I went as soon as the shower was over.The bride to be got a lot of beautiful gifts from the guest. There were about 15 women there. My only beef had nothing to do with the party but with the bridal registry at the local store. Dillard's ! I had gone there last week to purchase two gifts, the wedding gift and the shower gift. Everything I wanted was already purchased or at least the registry was updated to say so. Well you can imagine my surprise when the gifts were opened, mine was among the first group, there were 2 of the gift I had gotten. Now I know the young lady who waited on me took my list and scanned the gift in because I watched her so I can only surmise the other sales person had not scanned in the other gift. Some one needs to alert the sales folks if it is a wedding/shower gift from the registry scan it in.Any way I had a good time and cannot wait until the wedding ,which is an hour drive from here in the woods no less. Oh well I had fun.....

Friday

It has been a busy week and now the weekend approaches. I have a full one as usual. Tomorrow I am headed off to a bridal shower at 10 am, who has a shower at 10 am on Saturday ??? Any way I am obligated to go, the mom and I have been friends for almost 18 years, we worked together and she lives in my neighborhood. I have known the bride-to-be since she was a young child and she even calls me her second mommy. Her first wedding was a small one, out of town with only family. It lasted 7 rocky years. I think the guy was a nut from the beginning but she was anxious to get out of the house. Those marriages seldom last. This one I think will be better they have been engaged for a year.

Memorial Day

Finished one book last night and am working on # 2 today. I did sleep in, I took advantage of the fact I did not have to work. Got up took a shower,washed my hair. Went out to get a few last minute food items, ran to the mall to get a shower gift. Checked out the new shoes and purses, called TDMK to check on wedding weather for coming event. Mean while DH was home working on his BBQ, I even had GMD28 working on the deviled eggs, I had made a Chipole pasta salad the night before. Called Gogomom2 to get her B.Beans recipe since DH had said his meal needed to include B.Beans with ground beef, coleslaw and deviled eggs to go with his grilled Baby Back ribs. He had a new recipe he wanted us to sample, curry/ginger chicken wings cooked on the grill.
I bought some gas, I have made a vow to not buy Shell or Exxon, so it is cash for Kroger or some other brand. Stick to your guns no gas from the profit makers.

GMD28 is still stitting at the table working on her e-mail and DH has retired to his big chair, I think I hear him snoring. Coco is in a cool spot resting from overseeing the BBQ cooking. I've cleaned the kitchen put up the left overs and I am now taking a few minutes for myself. I am stitting here typing, to full to lay down. Better get back to that book. I am determined to finish it tonight.

Hope your day was great mine was.

Mothers Day

This year mothers day was especially nice, not just the weather but the day. Gogomom2 had come to visit with her constant companion Hershey of the" Hershey Chronicle's", fame. The day started off with waking up finding a mother's day card and Sunday papers on my bed. The cards were from DH, the grand kids and Coco. After reading the card, I got up and headed for the kitchen where I found two beautiful floral arrangements. One was for me from DH and one was for Gogomom2 and GMD28. That DH is such a good guy, he thinks about everyone. I looked for DH to thank him and found him in the garage completing a task, he was using armour all on the car tires. He had taken the caddie out to wash it and now was making the tires shiny. After a small breakfast Gogomom2, DMD28 and I got dressed and headed out to church. Our regular minister did not preach even though he was in attendance, the assistant minister gave the sermon. After a long and not so relevant sermon we headed home to DH. We had planned a lunch by the lake.
After we picked up DH we headed out for lunch at a local seafood place. We like the restaurant because you can sit outside under an umbrella and enjoy the breeze off the lake. As I stated before it was a beautiful day. There were boats of all kinds on the lake , noisy ones ,family ones , full of family members and quite ones, seniors out for a sail. The folks arriving for lunch by boat and car. While we waited for drinks and lunch we decided to take a few pictures and this was one we like, Mother and her 2 daughters. Home after lunch we took off our church cloths, headed for our respective resting places and took the required nap. Dinner was catch as catch can. Then we started making and receiving mothers day calls to the Aunts. Our kids called us finally and so I think all and all it was a great Mothers Day.
Happy Mothers day to all.

My New Fan

To combat the humidity & heat in "my cubicle", I bought a personal electric Red Fan. I got it at my favorite store TARGET.... it is 6" around, tilts up and fits right next to my computer. That is at the level of my face, the part I need the fan on most.
Now I am like all my other cubicle mates. They have all had personal fans for sometime. I was the last hold out hoping they would get the A/C fixed this year.
Today was not so bad they had it partially fixed but by 2 pm it was warm again. Maybe they will have it fixed in time for us to freeze to death in the winter. Did I mention the heat is a problem in the winter? We sit wrapped in blankets then, but that is a winter time story.

Air Conditioning part Du

Ok as if it was not bad at home with the A/C saga, I arrived at work today, Monday, and the A/C at work was in a state of repair. Since we do have a dress code we were not allowed to strip down to our skivvy's so we suffered in silence. They promised it would be like this the rest of the week. First thing tomorrow is go buy a personal fan. Last year we suffered because the A/C was old and they were going to replace all the roof top units. We got to wear shorts and tank tops. Conveniently the building sold in the winter and now the new owner es are responsible for putting in new A/C. This is the hottest week ( it hit 90 today)so far and it is only May.
As I was leaving I took the elevator down with a building repairman and he promised it would be better tomorrow...that remains to be seen.

Air Conditioning

Ok the hot weather has arrive here, the temps have been in the high 80's all week and today it almost hit 90! In fact our thermometer said 91 on the deck. Actually in the shade a cool breeze was blowing and it was not so bad when I took the dog out. I think the humidity was low. If it is high we sweat and I have not done that yet. My 88 year old mother lives with me and let me tell you 90 was just right for her. I remember this time last year we had the same discussion,I turn on the A/C, she gets out her sweater and robe , she wraps herself them.She tells me "it is not hot enough to have the A/C on yet, what are you going to do when it really gets hot". I tell her it is to warm for me now and I need it on. I think if the temp in the house is 80, it is a little warm. We go round and round about this all summer. It is really no better in the winter, we all wear short sleeves and shorts, because it is to cold for her and I turn the thermometer up to 80 degrees to keep her warm, but I will be darned it I fail to turn on the A/C in the summer to warm her up after all I have my principle. She will just have to stay wrapped up ,we strip in the winter to accomodate her.

My Week in Review

To say my week was interesting was to say the least. Monday DH and I had to put my car in the shop for a new windshield. It had been cracked from trucks throwing rocks on my daily drive to LR. On the way in DH decided he needed Krispy Kreme, so we stoped bought 2 dozen , he took his two and a cup of Java I took the rest to work. I was blessed all day by my hungry group of co-workers. I had made the mistake of showing up one day with none when they had expected me to arrive with donuts in hand. DH remembered that, hence the stop on the way in Monday. Tuesday I woke up dead tired, arrived an hour late for work and I live an hour away so that really made me 2 hours late. Wednesday I did not have the energy to get up, not sure if it was the rain or the fact I was just tired. I stayed in bed, called in sick, something I rarely do. It was 3:00 when I got motivated to go out, I took Mommydearest28 with tme. We got a late lunch and did not have to cook dinner. DH had to fend for himself. On Thursday I was on my way in and got hung up in traffic at the scene of an 18 wheeler having trucker troubles. The Looky loo's slowed traffic waaay down so I was late for work again. Back at work and greeted with much enthuaism, I was missed. By Friday I was so happy it was the end of the week and I could sleep in the next day. However,before the day was over I got a call from a local head hunter. They had called me the previous week, to tell me about a job that would fit me to a T, in a place I had come not to like. On this Friday they were calling to tell me I was not what the cliet was looking for. I could have told them that since 2 years ago the client had said the same thing. I did not really think things had changed that much so I was not dissappointed. By the end of the day a co-worker who lives in my town had submitted her resignation effective in 2 weeks. That was sort of a bummer since she had given no indication she was looking. Turns out she found a job that lets her work from home doing the same thing she was doing there. She has a teen at home and a husband who fussed about her continued daily commute. It is a $400 dollar a month savings in gas and eating out. I guess I was a little envious I was not he first to abandon ship. So to reward myself for a week well spent we went out for dinner and I had a glass of Sangria.

Working and being part of the Sandwich

Today I think I know what it is like to be a real part of the sandwich generation. My day started off with getting up at 6:30 am, get a shower, get dressed. DH still sleeping in his C-PAP mask. Head towards the kitchen, doggy is waiting with baited breath to go out. Take care of that chore, it is now 7:15 am . I was suppose to be on the road by 7:00, DH still sleeping ( I guess). Jump in car head out, hungry, head to Micky D's for SMGS & Coke, run past bank to get parking money (gotta go to UAMS today to do chart review). Head out for my one hour drive it is now 7:30. Due at work at 8 am (won't be on time again) ! Tune in favorite radio station to hear about AI, missed it because we were at dinner. Get to job it is now 8:30 am, met by support staff with questions for about a dozen calls that have come in since 8 am. By 9:15 have solve as many problems as I can , head back out to UAMS with promise I'll be back by 2:00. Make the 5 min. drive, park, get to cubicle start review by 9:40 (only 32 charts to look at) work quietly until partner arrives , she chats the whole time if not to herself to me ( get 2 calls for which I have to leave the area go outside where I get reception . One call from mother, one from co-worker...solve both delima's). Finally co-worker leaves at 12 noon....I get 1/2 of my charts done and leave for office at 1:45. Call DH he is still working on taxes, ask him to run erran for mother , he is not happy but does so. Get back to office at 2 pm, tackle list of calls, pile of paper request and field verbal questions from co-workers and support staff. Return all calls to folks who must have answers today !!! Finally leave work at 5:10 pm head for home, 1 hr drive trying to decompress knowing what is waiting at home , it is hard to do. Get home greeted by dog & mom. Both want to know what is for dinner. Go up to DH's office he is still working on taxes ask for my input ( I cannot believe it). Says he has not eaten all day wants soup. Go down stairs Mom is putting Chicken in oven to bake it. It is 6:30...( take dog outside) Fix DH his soup, fix remainder of mom's meal, feed dog. DH shows up for soup, mom sits for me to wait on her. I finally sit down for my dinner at 7:30 another 13 hrs day.....

Dining Out with G-ma

DH worked hard the last 2 days trying to get the taxes done. I worked hard at the job as I usually do. G-ma worked hard sitting at the end of the table working at her mailstation answering her e-mails. She sent Joyce out to get groceries and mail a box to brother dear. I asked her why she had Joyce do that work and why she did not accompany her out ? Her response was "she was to tired and did not feel like it". However, when I said lets go out to dinner she was the first one ready. So off we went to our favorite seafood house you know the one with the Red Lobster on top. Well I get so tickled as you know G-ma is hearing challenged, but when you talk about her she seems to be able to hear. I usually order a coke but tonight I had water. Did I mention G-ma is now addicted to Pepsi and usually orders one when we go out. Well tonight she wanted water too. I decided I would order stuffed flounder, then she decided she would order stuffed flounder, then DH said he'd keep his order a secret. I changed my mind and ordered stuff mushroom caps. When the orders were placed DH had order stuffed flounder too.
Ok so when the bill came G-ma says how much is my part ? I told her and she said " my food could not have cost that much what is the tax ? Are you trying to get more out of me "? I showed her the bill suggested we were not trying to cheat her and that was her share. When we got home she handed me her share and demanded I give her her "card". You know she carries a purse but she does not carry it, you do. Tonight she carried her change purse and credit card or should I say she said to me "put this in your purse". Finally got home and where did G-ma go right to her e-mail station and had to play with Coco and the red rubber ball....

Coco and her Red Rubber Ball

Tonight I had to give Coco a bath. I do not know why but she was very stinky. I guess it was becasue she spent the afternoon working up a sweat chasing squrrils off her deck. Then she had to go out front to taunt the big dogs next door. Then she came in and bossed me around as I cooked dinner. She is good at bossing folks around. Seems G-ma and DH never get the kind of bossiness I get from her. I get home from work and she meets me at the door with her red rubber ball, if she can not find it she spends the next 5 minutes hunting it down so she can trip me as I head for my room to change cloths. G-ma and DHare here all day, she does not bother them with her red ball just me.

Today as I worked on my taxes and G-ma's Coco slept, but the minute I move from my chair she was up with that red ball tripping me or trying to climb on my lap to play. Anyway she was so sweaty from her after duties I had to get up and go give her a bath. Now she has dissappeared I guess she is upstairs with DH while he is doing his taxes. She must be givign him advice. I see the red rubber ball is down here. I better get in bed before she see me and wants to play again.

On-Line Shopping Too

So I just read a blog concerning shopping on-line by my only child. I confessed I never shop on -line based on an experience I had with HSN. In a moment of weakness I purchased some very pretty Tanzanite earrings. The stones looked large enough on TV, so I took the chance. They came and they were small. I had to go out and spend more money to buy another set of stones to make the earrings worth even wearing. What I did not confess is I do shop on-line at reputable stores, that is stores I know by their name and are not in my state or stores Gogomom2 shops at in her state. This month I purchased a pair of summer sandals and a dress from Macy's. Last month I purchased 2 Poire cell phone carriers from Trend Girl. OK so I think I shop monthly on -line. What I have not done is buy something from an infomercial. I think most of them are a racket, abs, flabs, butt shapers and thigh shapers..poo. Case in point my DH has spent millions on TV infomercilas. He has purchased Canned oxygen, some slimy liquid (like Castor oil) and pills to make you stronger, he has purchased tools, Bee Pollen, Coral Calcium, books, DVD, C-D's ad nausem. Then there is the Publishers Clearing House scam. I truly believe DH thinks he must buy something to win. He has purchased more subscriptions than he can read. I think that is where the bill payment money goes, to PCH (and that is not Pacific Coast Highway) OK I digress.Back to me and the on-line shopping. I also shop on-line for the Great-Mommydearest..she likes items from all those catalogs she gets , so I order those items for her. Did I mention her Miles Kimble purchases. Oh and she shops her meds on line (for her it is cheaper). Ok I guess MissK comes from a long line of TV infomercial shoppers.....

More Driving the Truck

So today the wind is very high and I am driving along in the big White Dodge Dakota Crewcab. I can now tell the real difference in a caddie and a truck. As Gogomom2 says driving a caddie is like driving your couch. Driving a pickup in high winds is like riding a horse. I was bumping and swaying with the wind. Even though that truck weighs as much as the caddie it is high profile so you get the force of the wind pushing you from side to side and front to back. Did I mention in the truck you can hear the noise of the 18 wheelers swoosing past you but in the caddie all you hear is your music.
I do like driving the truck as a change but I miss my caddie, especially the ability to change my music stations or adjust the volume on my steering wheel. Another fact I miss is my ability to adjust the temp in the caddie up or down digitally. Now that is important to a woman of my age who is cold one minute and hot the next.
When I drive in the garage Coco starts to bark, then when I get in the house she spends her time hanging over the steps trying to see what that big white thing is. I will be sorry to have to turn it in but as I said before it is a new adventure.

Driving a Pickup

I got my first opportunity to finally drive a pickup truck...As I've told some of you I had a "senior moment"...ran my caddie into a pole or two at the bank...do not ask me how I have not figured it out yet. Hubby went over to the bank to try to figure it out too. Seems I ran the car up on the ledge, banged the passenger side front door to the point it would not open and left yellow streaks on the door to boot. No I was not high on my Sonic coke and no Coco did not distract me. I have no excuse. Any way I had put the car in the shop and got a rental car ( we ahve good insurance). Hubby says when he went to "Enterprise Rent A Car ", to pick up " the car", they only had pickup's ! That is how I came to drive a big white 2007 Dodge Crew cab. It is longer than my Seville, barly fits in the garage but it does. I am sitting up high and can see the world. True it does not drive like my caddie, I can feel every bump and sway. I can also hear the outside noise. In the caddie I hear nothing but what is going on inside my car, usually my favorite radio station where I cruise to the music to and from work. I miss the special gadgets the caddie has but I am adapting without those gadgets. I do have power seats (driver side) and I have power locks and windows. The sideview mirrors are power too, unlike the Astro Van (1984) hubby drives. I have to adjust those by hand before I even get into drive it. Any way it is fun and I will enjoy my time in the pickup. I call it another adventure on my way to retirement

Election Funding

I started to write about how solicitations for campaign money drives me nuts. Phone calls, mail and now e-mails. Everyone wants money. I think you even get to check a place on your income tax to give money for the presidential election.
I signed up on the web for a candidate I think will be great. I like his ideas, I like his style and his fresh new outlook on how to accomplish what we need to go forward. What I don't like is the constant solicitations for money. I know that in order to run a successful election you need money ( sad to say you also have to have money), but give me a break. Just about every e-mail I get is "give me some money". I do plan to give, but in my own time and to the candidate I want to support. I do not believe in giving money right out the gate. I think you need to prove your self on the campaign trail first. I really want to see if your message is consistent, and how others view you as well. I do not mind folks asking for money but not so often. I guess that it is the way they eventually get to all the folks by continuously asking. It serves as a reminder..hey I did not give yet.

Pets

Well I was going to write about election funding but I am being harassed by my dog Coco. So I will write about pets. People (adults) think having a pet is great. It is one thing of those things they can now do without having to ask permission from Mom and Dad. Well I got a pet because I wanted a companion, someone to lie quietly while I read and watched TV. Someone who would not ask me to change the channel, someone who would not say "are you watching that show"? Little did I know having this dog would be worse. I can not watch TV or read.This dog wants to play. She has a red rubber ball, Yes I bought it for her, but I did not want to entertain her. As I write this she is sitting by my feet growling at me, did I mention she is a 6 pound Yorkie. I guess she thinks she is (as my sister and daughter say) the alpha dog, the leader of me. Now because I will not pay attention to her growls she is barking at me. I did not sign up for this but since I can not type I guess I've got to go play.....

Sandwich Generation..my take

I am what is known as being in the Sandwich Generation. I have a husband, a dog and an 88 year old mother who lives with me. I still work. I get up everyday, drive 60 minutes to my job. This a job I got because at my previous job I made to much money, was to long in the tooth and not as savvy as I should have been for my young boss. So I took the severance package, took a six month vacation and found another job in another city. It was not what I had done but it was easy enough to acclimate to. The women I work with are all my daughters age, but they don't see me as a mother figure they treat me like one of them. In fact they told me recently I was the youngest 60 year old they knew. I took that as a compliment.
At home it is a different story, my mother sees me as her daughter, someone she can tell what to do, someone she can ask to do a whole lot, even though I have worked an 8 hour day and driven 2 hours to and from work. Now I have made living with me easy for her. I have hired a woman my age to take her out 2 days a week to do what ever she likes. Shop, hair salon, nail salon, lunch, post office you name it JK does this for her. But mother saves most things for me to do on the weekend. Her excuse is she forgot to ask JK to do it while she is here. Did I mention my husband is retired and home too ? This is another source she can use to run her errans.
Yes I said my husband is retired and I still work. But that is another blog.
I like to watch TV in the evenings to unwind. That all stopped when mother came to live with us. I get to glimps at TV while I watch with her. She is very hard of hearing , wears 2 hearing aids, but you would never guess she still has trouble hearing what the characters say. I spend most of the show explaining to her what was said by the characters.
I know some of you will say " be happy", she is there to watch TV with you", well that is well and good but if you have kids at home, think about it. I also like to read the paper, but that has gone by the wayside too. Did I mention I have a pet ? A Yorkie to be exact, she demands my time too.
Well I am greatful for my mother, she taught me to be strong, to take life as it comes and not to expect to much of people. Live you life your way. I have never looked back or blamed someone else for my misfortunes....I take the high road.

A new blogger

I have decided it is time to post my life adventures on a public venue. At 62 I am new to this blogging but I am getting the hang of it. I am not much of a writer, I have spent most of my adult life taking care of people. I am an RN by trade, but as of late I labor in the field of health insurance. This has been an eye opener and I now see why the cost of health insurance is so high. I think you'd be shocked too. Today I got a call from an irate mother who wanted her child to have a medication that required preauthorization. This is because it required the use of another medication before trying this one. NO she wanted this one after all she said " we pay a lot for this insurance". Well I pay as much as she does but the issue was she had a child with ADHD and wanted "that drug", not because it worked better but because it was easier to get a patch on the kid than have her swallow a pill.