I want to....

I want to:

Fix up my house and stay here ** move to a condo ** different house ** another state ** Florida ** Tennessee ** New Mexico ** Nevada ** Arizona ** Vancouver, Toronto, St Thomas ** stay alone ** marry Gary ** never see him again ** see boytoy more ** never see him again ** meet someone else ** get a puppy ** have the freedom of no pets ** live in the woods ** live where I can walk every where **  stay soft ** go back to martial arts and bodybuilding, get hard ** be anorexic again ** cut my hair and make it curly ** keep it long and straight ** highlight my hair ** let it keep going gray naturally ** keep enjoying retirement ** go back to work ** work in a new field ** go to law school ** take chemistry ** throw out half of my clothes ** go on a road trip ** travel more ** stay home ** get a hobby ** become an expert at something, anything ** read less ** read more **learn to sing (hopeless) ** hire a landscaper ** continue to do it myself ** learn to tile a floor ** learn plumbing ** stop being so damned independent ** stop feeling so restless

Need a suit of armor

Every summer I carry on and whine about my yard work. You would figure my yard is gorgeous with all the time I spend in it, but the truth is it still looks awful. I am just one small woman out there trying to rip out and replace bushes that are almost 30 years old. The ones in the back went pretty much untrimmed for over 10 years. They give me privacy, but they have also grown out of control.

So I try. I have learned many things the hard way. Wear safety goggles when working with anything that can get near eyes, especially things like electric hedge clippers. Oil the tools and put them away. Wear work boots with steel toes. Did you ever drop a wheelbarrow or hedge clippers on bare toes?

Wear a padded bra. You know there is a story there, right? I was working in the back yard a few years ago, trying to trim some stray branches off the snowball and lilac bushes. Those branches are long, thin, and strong. My carpal tunnel syndrome had not been fixed yet, and I sometimes had trouble holding onto things. I was trimming away, happily off in another world in my mind. I had my heavy boots, long pants, and a t-shirt. Who needs a bra to do yard work? All of a sudden a branch slipped out of my hand and *zing!* snapped directly onto my nipple, bringing tears to my eyes. That is not a mistake to be made twice.

I remembered that lesson last night when a branch snapped back and stung my arm pretty hard, leaving a bruise on it.

On a good note, it was cloudy and hot, so the bee-things were all inside, doing bee stuff and finally let me get the really big weeds out of the front bed. One sentry was onto me, but his heart wasn't in it. I am sure I saw him looking the other way. Or are the nasty ones all shes?

BVD, BDU, UPS, USPS, MLB

In my other journal, the ladies and I were discussing uniforms. In general, I don't get it. A lot of women are immediately turned on by seeing a man in a uniform. Some women like any uniform, some prefer a certain kind. I allowed that perhaps a baseball uniform is interesting.

I was asked to throw the discussion out to the men, also, to find out how they feel about women's interest in uniforms and to see if anyone can explain the attraction.

Any thoughts on this topic?

 

 

Cats can skate

Cats can skate on thin ice, that is.

I was outside with Baby so she could pee and show me what a good girl she is. We were outside maybe two minutes. With a 'feels like' temperature of 100 and high humidity, the dogs don't want to stay out too long.

We went in the house to find Molly lying on the kitchen floor, tail wrapped tightly, shaking, not getting up to greet me. A dog will greet you like a long lost friend if you are outside for two minutes.

I immediately ran to the counter and got her Robaxin, grabbed a tablespoon, and the low-fat peanut butter jar with "Molly" written on it. I jabbed the back of the spoon into the peanut butter, stuck a pill onto it, and let her lick the treat and the pill until both were swallowed. After that, all I can do is calm her until the 'neck attack' passes. Molly has a bad disk in her neck, and gets major pain attacks at unpredictable times.

What I do for her at those times is pet her and talk calmly to her, telling her she will be fine, and that she is the best dog in the world. She will look at me with terrible fear in her eyes, shaking. After a few moments of eye contact and soothing talk, she loses the fear in her eyes. She lies down, tucks her tail, and shakes with the pain. She knows she is a loved girl and the pain will pass.

So I was lying on the floor, eyes closed, bladder full. I couldn't go upstairs or Molly would follow me, so I was just waiting with her.

I zoned out, contemplating the world's problems and being calm and relaxed.

*THUD-SCREECH* --the 18-year-old deaf cat, Wiz, landed mere inches from my face, screaming at her finest. She had been on top of the table and concerned about me, since I don't lie on the floor. So she came down to investigate. This is the declawed cat that once attacked two dogs she thought were hurting me.

To my credit, I made no sound, did not pee the floor, but did levitate off the floor completely, I am sure.

I resumed my contemplations while I remembered to do my Kegels. I guess they work. Molly appears to be back to normal. I may never be.

 

Frog water and pigs

Is this close to frog green? I took the beagles for their constitutional a few minutes ago. I had to keep it closer to 3 miles than 4, because it is still very hot out.

It went pretty well. I have rearranged the walk as much as possible to avoid other animals. The frogs are still in the water, but the water has such a scum on it that I don't see them unless something disturbs them. Still, I always stop to look.

While I was scanning for frogs, I saw a baby bunny. I was jumping up and down and pointing (yes, I know dogs are unable to understand a pointing finger) and yelling, "Rabbit! Rabbit!" Sadly, the hounds didn't see it. Maybe it's for the better, since the howling probably would have disturbed the frogs.

Back on the road, down around the corner, past the big church. Down the next street, the one where I almost got run over for not yielding to a car while crossing the street as a pedestrian. Past the school. Then in the next house, I saw a dog in the back yard.

At least, I thought it was a dog. I thought it was a very fat, odd-walking dog. Baby took a sniff, and looked at me in total confusion. She usually barks at other dogs. I started laughing.

It was a pot-bellied pig. My daughter went to school with the girl who lived in that house, where her parents still are. I remember hearing about the pig. It seemed an odd snout for a dog!

Our next adventure was with that same white little dog with the curly tail. Just as the black lab jumps at us from one side of the street and all 3 dogs get to talking loudly, this white thing tends to cross the street and threaten my dogs and me too. Soaking wet, it might weigh 25 lbs. For the first time ever, someone was in the yard with it.

The man appeared to be of middle eastern descent and didn't speak much English, or chose not to. I told him the dog usually crosses the street and follows us. I even was kind enough to leave off the threatening, growling, and teeth baring parts, since he never actually bit us. The guy seemed to think I had no idea what I was talking about, because his dog stayed at the edge of his property. A childrode by on his bike, and then almost got knocked off as the little white thing charged across the street at us. The kid slammed on his brakes. The owner called the dog back.

I turned over my shoulder, "As I was saying, your dog usually chases us down the street." And went home. Giggling.

Who Am I?

I don't do the Weekend Assignment or the Saturday Six. My journal is for me to write what I want. If I want homework, I will go to law school. I still might do that, but who knows.

However, a long time ago I wrote out a list about myself. The lists are going around again. I am too lazy to find mine and have no idea when I wrote it anyway. So I am going to do one again because I feel like it. I had promised myself that today I would do all of the things I have been putting off. Now that, I don't feel like doing.

1. I procrastinate. Badly, sometimes. I have missed going on trips because I waited too long to order tickets. I still haven't posted my pictures from Toronto in April. Surprisingly, I did get some from Montreal in March posted.

2. I have two beagles and one very old cat. The beagles are the sweetest dogs in the world. Anything spoiled that much should be sweet.

3. I have one daughter, age 25. She is a mystery to me.

4. I divorced when my daughter was young, 20 years ago, and have not remarried.

5. Other than my ex-husband, I never lived with a man. I spent all my weekends with one for several years, but we maintained two homes and stayed in our own homes during the week.

6. I was a Children's Protective Services Worker. Nothing shocks me any more. I have seen it all and heard it all.

7. I am 5' tall. My feelings are hurt when I hear people joke and say they are afraid of midgets. I am taller than a midget, but close enough that I find it hurtful.

8. I am a self-recovered anorexic.

9. I am a cheap drunk.

10. While I can sometimes appear flighty and silly, I do have a master's degree in business administration.

11. I really do want to go back to school.

12. Being retired means I can do everything "tomorrow."

13. I can't sing. At all. Ever.

14. I used to teach judo to teenage boys. Breaking up fights between them was always a good way to get respect from them. I miss martial arts.

15. I also took aikido, karate, and some other forms of martial arts.

16. I broke a bone in my hand falling over my daughter's shoe. Had I let go of the pizza box and broken my fall properly, I would not have been injured at all. I fell forward, but landed on my back safely. (other than the hand)

17. When told to move the shoes, my daughter put them at the top of the stairs. After I almost took a header down the stairs, I told her I was changing my will. She put them away.

18. My mom tried to kill me. Twice.

19. My brother and I, plus one of his 5 children, have reddish-brownish-goldish hair. His was curly, mine just has body. His son's hair is in between. No one else in the family has this color hair.

20. My mom's mother, my mother, my daughter, and I all have the same middle name. My mom paid me $100 to do it.

21. I don't like gender roles, although I also don't like to take out the garbage. Since I live alone, I do all of it.

22. I like to assemble things. I also like to repair things. I like tools and I keep them in good shape.

23. I love to travel, and will go almost any place at least once. However, I am not good on road trips. After an hour, I want to do something else. That is bad when I am driving alone.

24. I hate bees, wasps, hornets, and most yard work. Maybe I will stop hating the yard work if I can ever get to to a stage where all I need to do is "putter."

25. I want to learn to golf, but don't want to spend a lot of money on lessons until I can find out if my shoulders are good with the movements needed.

26. I like to dress up girlie rather than wear jeans and t-shirts, although I do both.

27. I love shoes and purses. Also lingerie. I think it's because I can get those things in my size without a hassle.

28. I volunteer teach computer classes to senior citizens. It is rewarding, and I learn from every class.

29. When I travel, I like to walk the cities as much as possible. This was difficult in Montreal in March. It was really cold.

30. I hope to live in Florida some day. I get a few weeks of Florida weather every summer (I live in MI) and I bask in it like a lizard on a rock.

31. I have had skin cancer twice and pre-cancerous things removed at least 3 times.

32. I had Botox done on my forehead a few weeks ago. It was worth it for the entertainment value alone. If anyone wonders how it came out, my doctor said the one wrinkle is gone (I had only one) and it's now "perfect."

33. Like Mrs L, I like younger men. I am 55. Most men are younger than I am anyway, right?

34. I never, ever wanted to be a social worker. It was an accident that lasted 27 years.

35. I like to bake cookies.

36. I am often alone, but I am never lonely.

37. I do not watch television, but I read a lot of books. Usually maybe 5 a week.

38. I went from legally blind without correction to normal vision with Lasik. It was like a miracle to me. I wore contact lenses for over 30 years.

39. I had years of ballet, but refused to go on pointe. It is a good thing I refused, since I found out later I had a congenital foot issue that caused 3 nerves in my right foot to be seriously crushed, requiring surgery. I had the strength and was ready for the toe class, but refused.

40. I am afraid of bridges, except in Florida. I can't explain that.

41. I live in Michigan, and if I never see another flake of snow in my life I will die happy.

42. My older beagle snores loudly. She also has a damaged disc in her neck and requires medication at times. She tells me when she needs it. If I miss the signal, she is in a lot of pain.

43. A year ago my white blood cell count was very, very low. My doctor told me I could be at serious risk from a bone marrow or blood disease, but I had to wait 3 months for another blood count. Those were some long months. The count went back up to low/normal.

44. I want to go to law school and get the degree, but I don't want to work as a lawyer.

45. My daughter can't plan past dark. I plan my entire life out.

46. I might marry again, in maybe 20 years.

47. I think women's rights have come a long way since I was young but I wish they had never needed to. How did we let ourselves be second class citizens to begin with?

48. I have a major case of insomnia. I have always had it. I need 9 hours of sleep, but have gone years with 4-5.

49. Decorating bores me. I am like a guy on that topic. A very straight guy.

50. I walk a lot. I walk the dogs 4 miles a day when the weather allows, and up to 15 miles a day over all. It's a rare day that I don't walk 5 miles or more. I don't mean throughout the day, I mean specifically on a walk for distance. I don't count walking around the house or doing errands.

51. I do not feel I have any talents at all. I do not excel at any one thing, or any few things. I can kind of do many things.

52. My mother was a fundamentalist baptist and did not accept evolution. I am an atheist.

53. My parents felt that girls didn't need to go to college, but that I should maybe go to a secretarial school to perfect my typing and filing. Perhaps a little bookkeeping. I was to marry, have 3 children, and never work unless my husband died. Then I could work until I remarried. I had to work a long time to pay for my degrees myself.

54. My mother didn't want me to have long hair, because it would attract attention from her. At age 14, I threw something back at her that she had always told me. I told her a woman's hair is her crowning glory. She did not make me cut it off again. I promptly grew it down to my hips.

55. It is important to me to be a good friend.

56. I am a good neighbor too, since I carry poopy bags when I walk the dogs. It's always Baby. Molly is totally a lady.

57. I used to make all my own clothes. I designed them, too. I had no choice. I was short, skinny, and petite clothes did not exist. I enjoyed it.

58. I listen to current music. I like the Killers-type music, hip hop, rap. Sometimes this embarrasses my daughter, but at least we don't argue over radio stations in the car. My music taste is too urban for some of my nieces.

59. I maintain a 4 bedroom house on a large lot in the suburbs on my own. I have no idea why.

60. I can multi-task very well. My mind does it all the time. I can't stay on one track in my mind. I have to have more than one going at any given time.

That will have to do. Any more and I will be getting into the more personal stuff, lol, and that goes in the other journal.

Take That!

Anyone who has read me for awhile knows how I feel about bees, wasps, and hornets. I am terrified of them. It's pitiful, but what can I do? I have only a few fears, and stinging insects is one. I got stung two summers ago and my arm swelled up pretty bad and it hurt for two weeks. So I am in no hurry to get stung again.

I have been achingly polite for the last few years when working in my yard. When I go after weeds and they buzz my hair, I back off. I have enough yard work to do all around the house that I can just mosey on to another area. Truthfully, sometimes I run.

To be cautious, I wear work boots for yard work. That also protects my toes if I drop an axe on them. Don't ask, OK? I wear long sweat pants, no matter how hot, with elastic at the bottom so nothing can get up my pant legs. Usually I wear a t-shirt, not a sleeveless tank top. It cuts down on the scratches.

Recently I started wearing a little white baseball-type hat. I got tired of coming in the house and having things jump out of my hair. I put my hair up in a ponytail and stick the hat on top. I shake the hat off before I come back in the house.

Yesterday late afternoon I decided to put the patio furniture together. I got the dolly out and dragged all the heavy boxes to the patio in back. I have a glass table, 4 chairs, an ottoman (more coming), a side table, an umbrella base, and an umbrella. There is also a sort of tent umbrella, but I will get around to that later. I got most of the things assembled, but there is a part broken on one table. I called the store, and they gave me an 800 number and said they will send me the part free. I guess it happens a lot, so I will ask for some extra parts.

Then I grabbed the camera, to be able to post some pictures. I very carefully shot a few angles of the existing patio furniture, minus the damaged table. I threw in a few shots of my pretty trees across the back of my yard, and one or two of areas that need a lot of work. I came inside, feeling I had accomplished something. Then I remembered that earlier I had removed the media card to download some pictures someone had asked for. I wonder why the camera acted like it was working? No idiot light for that?

After that, I spent 3 hours doing yard work. I hate doing it. I always hate it. The hornets love to bomb me and see how fast I can run. For once, they let me get some of the biggest weeds out before they came after me. It is amazing how long their legs are. I see them a little too close up.

My back and neck were aching from sawing off branches and ripping up weeds. My right hand was screaming at me for using the hand clippers so much to trim bushes and small tree branches. The new patio furniture seemed a good cure. I grabbed a beer, and sat on one of the chairs. They have adjustable backs. I leaned one back, stuck my feet on the ottoman, and set the beer on the side table. It had been years since I sat outside on my own patio.

It was so calming. My muscles relaxed and I just sat there and looked at my back yard, at the trees, at bushes, and thought about changes I want to make out there. It was so relaxing that I decided it was time to spray the hornets.

The hornets have nested in the wood siding right next to that window I bonked my forehead on. The thought of sleeping inches from a hornets nest is not relaxing. I have spent weeks trying to get up the courage to spray them. The beer helped, too. I grabbed the can and confidently strode out the front door and stood out in front of the crack in the siding.

I pushed on the top of the can and heard a "pfffhhhtt" and that was about it.

I tucked my tail between my legs and snuck back in the house without peeking to see if any neighbors saw me point a can bravely at the siding and have it flub on me.

 

*Yawn*

Who needs to make up stuff to write? You know how some days things just don't go right?

First of all, I knew it was a teaching day for me. For those of you new to my journal, I volunteer teach basic computer classes to senior citizens. All goes well, as long as I pretend to be a saint. The patience is needed. However, I was thinking of the time I go to physical therapy, not class time. Woops - I needed to be there at 9 am, not 10 am. I woke up at 8:15 am.

I woke up wondering where I keep my car. I was dreaming I lived in an apartment in a large city, and had to park my car on a street all the time. But when I woke up, half asleep still, I couldn't remember where I actually do keep my car. Then I couldn't remember the word for it. Eventually "garage" popped into my head, and I decided I better get moving.

Over my bed is a window. It's like a headboard. If the window is open and it's raining, my hair gets wet during the night. I can't read in bed or I would fall out the screen. I like the window right there, but there are some drawbacks on occasion. I stuck my arms straight up and back to stretch my shoulders, which drew my head back also. I bonked my forehead on the window ledge. OK, that woke me up. I got up and headed for the bathroom, where there is a mirror, so I could see if I was expecting a bruise on my forehead.

You ever feel a need to have people to talk to? Get a bruise or put a bandaid on your forehead. It works every time.

So I hit the bathroom, which also has a fairly large window. After checking the mirror, I turn around and look out the window. It looked very pretty out this morning. Luckily, I didn't see anyone outside. I forgot that I wasn't dressed yet, and here it was only 8:15 am and I had already flashed the neighborhood. (I usually close the window as soon as I go in the bathroom in the mornings, but I forgot because I was in a hurry. The window is frosted.)

So it has to get better from there, right? I went downstairs, let the dogs out, let them in, and fed them. I checked my email, and then got up to get my jeans off the top of the washing machine where I had left them to dry last night.

As I was walking to the laundry room, I noticed a smell. Sure enough, Baby, my younger beagle, had dropped a few turnds on the throw rug. She doesn't like to get her feet wet, and the grass was still wet from yesterday's thunderstorms. OK, that is allowed. I taught them they could go on that throw rug if I am gone. I used to work some long freaking hours, so they needed a backup plan when I was late.

The jeans were, of course, still wet. This summer I seem to have been transported to Florida. I live in Michigan, but it has been very swampy and hot this summer. I love it, no complaints. But I wanted to let the jeans air dry, since I had recently made a bad judgment call and thrown a new pair of white cotton capris into hot water and the dryer.

Due to the smell, I grabbed a can of Lysol and sprayed the laundry room. I hadn't moved the jeans, so now they smell like Lysol.

I stuffed myself into another pair of white capris that I hadn't shrunk yet and put on a light yellow top and went to school.

Class starts at 9:30. I got there at 9:10, and reminded one of my 80-year-old male students that he had 20 minutes to sit and watch the ladies in the water aerobics class (the classes are all in the community center) and then he needed to show up for the computer class. He smiled, leaned on his cane, and obviously was having non-aerobic thoughts about the ladies in the pool.

By 10:10, I dribbled a little diet soda on my shirt.

Class ends at 11:30, in theory. However, no one seems to ask a question until 11:25. I left at 11:40 in a hurry, since I needed to get to the other side of town for lunch. As I was rushing in the car, my phone rang. My lunch partner told me she couldn't get on the freeway from two different entrances as they were closed, and she was having a bad morning and was sorry, but she would be late.

Lunch conversation was therapeutic, for both of us. At least she didn't mention my forehead.

deflowered

I am no longer a journal virgin. I am a guest editor's pick. Thank you, Mrs L. I never expected to lose my virginity to such a pretty blonde lady! Who knew?

So I wish to extend a big welcome to any newcomers. Come on in, the air conditioning is on, I have cleaned up, and there are healthful snacks. Beer, too. Can't always be bark eaters, can we?

Speaking of bark, please just ignore the two beagles jumping on you. They will eventually stop howling. They love company. You can also ignore the screaming old cat. She is going deaf and can't hear herself any more. She will fetch rubber bands for you, if you throw one for her.

I was not prepared for this honor. I didn't get a notice from AOL, and editor's picks were made on Friday. I didn't expect them to change picks in the middle of the week. There are some other good journals listed there, go check them out!

Thanks again, Mrs L. I know you are all dressed up as Guest Editor this week!

 

 

 

 

Lunch is on me

Today I picked up my new patio set, thanks to the good work of my broker. It even fit in the Highlander. However, one of the boxes was 70 lbs, and I do live alone. I hope no one tells my physical therapist that yes, I did lift that box out of the car and store it into the garage until it stops raining and I can set it up on the patio.

Earlier this morning I sent an email to a fellow journaler who lives in a city where I will be going next summer, sending a heads up that I will be there. I almost said, "lunch will be on me," when I realized last time it was. It was literally on me. I was laughing too hard to even deal with the concept.

So let me rephrase that. I will be paying for lunch this time!

Pictures of new patio set should be following soon.

Here, kitty kitty

Today would have been my dad's birthday, had he not been a smoker and contracted emphysema. It is also my older dog Molly's birthday. She is 6 today. She will get some doggy ice cream later. Shhh, it's a surprise.

Friday is Vampire day at my house. He is my massage therapist from Transylvania, Romania. He does incredible things to my muscles and joints. A vampiric foot massage just about makes my eyes roll up. I walk so much, my poor feet take a lot of abuse. He gets me just about in a trance state by the time the hour is over.

He swears there is no such thing as a vampire.

So why did raw cat sound good after he left? Do you think this is a bad thing?

For the thin blue line

If you have already done this, then good for you. Pat yourself on the back and go get a candy bar as a reward.

When I walk my dogs, I take along my cell phone. I don't take it so I can chat with my friends. In fact, my last phone bill showed 26 minutes of use in a month. No, I carry the phone for identification purposes, mostly. If I happen to fall and knock myself out, police or someone else can use my phone to call my daughter. They can trace who I am with the phone, also.

So if you haven't done this, go get your little cell phone. Program in one number (or more) to your phone list that is an emergency number. You might want to list your home phone number and label it as such.

It only takes a minute, but it could save your life or get needed help that much faster.

Besides, when the police call you a dumb butt for falling on the curb and cracking your head open, they can call you by name.

My morning at the hospital

Blood red ink seems the correct choice today.

I have been having symptoms of a low thyroid issue, so I was tested for that lately. My doctor was surprised to see the results show normal for thyroid, as was I. However, my human growth hormone levels were low. So she decided to over-test me and sent me for a more invasive HGH test.

I say "invasive" rather than "intensive" because I don't like IVs. I had no warning on what this test would be like, other than I would need a few blood draws over a few hours and I had to fast. I don't care about the food, but I do care about the water.

So after being totally confused at the hospital as to the directions I finally got to the rigth place. Being lost in large hospital campuses isn't unusual, but my child was born there and my mother died there. I should know my way around.

At the check-in desk, the woman noticed where I used to work, and said, "you been case worker?" I said no, protective services. She got very nervous at that information. I smiled, and made a joke about it being the job no one wants, but I was wondering why she was so nervous.

I want to add a disclaimer here. I love nurses. Nurses have gone to bat for me after they have listened to me and the doctors didn't. Nurses have been there for me when I have had bad reactions to general anesthesia. Nurses are trained medical professionals caught between a rock and a hard place. They have to please patients and doctors, and I do not envy them that.

However, this was not one of my favorite experiences. First they stick me in a little room with a recliner built for the Jolly Green Giant. A Papa Bear seat for Mama Bear to sit in. My feet barely touched the ground. I was unprepared for the procedure, and asked the nurse to explain to me what she was going to be doing so I could relax better.

I was also unprepared for a nurse who had English as a second language. She ignored some questions, but finally caught on and went to ask another nurse to get some information for me. Nurse #1 told me that she would have to draw blood 5 times and would be inserting an IV. The way she said it, it sounded like 5 pokes plus an IV. I told her my limit per arm is 3. She put the IV in, and then hooked up a bottle of arginine. 300 ml of an amino acid I knew nothing about was going into my arm, rather fast and cold.

Finally nurse #2 came, a nice, professional English-speaking lady and told me that she had no written information and offered me the package insert from the IV. I took it and read it, but told her I was content now that they had explained the procedure somewhat to me.

Nurse #1 went to do something else and nurse #2 drew blood. #1 came back and drew again. #1 returned and called in #2, and they argued, in front of me, regarding which labels went on which tubes of blood. They seemed unsure.

Nurse #2 told me I might feel "icky" after the liquid was all in my veins, but it would maybe go away after I ate. She allowed me some ice chips, which perked me up considerably. Any test that does not allow me to have diet soda or water for 12 hours is just wrong.

Eventually I was trying to sleep between draws. #2 did the 3rd draw, finishing at 11 am. #1 came in my room and started to prepare fresh draws at 11:02. I explained that it was just done. At 11:15, which was supposed to be 30 minutes, they did it again. And again at 11:45, and I was finally released to go home.

I was told that they drew enough blood that I should be careful, and that I should probably eat steak for dinner. I was given a turkey sandwich with an expiration date of today, so I ate it. It was slightly greenish, but I was hungry. I mentioned the chair being for Big People, and #1 laughed and said, "yes, some little old ladies come in here and their feet don't touch the ground." Oh, really?

It wasn't easy getting my blood out, and they had to pull the needle back some, and wiggle it around. I had visions of a black and blue hand, but I see no mark at all.

 See, nurses are good people. They know how to abuse without leaving marks.

Strike any key

I think there is a conspiracy Out There. I know I am not a computer expert, so I tend to keep my mistakes to myself sometimes.

But - xometimes when I am typing, I suddenly lose the whole thing. I have heard others say that, too, but no one seems to know why it disappears.

Some other times when I am typing, all of a sudden the cursor goes elsewhere and I find I am typing right in the middle of another word, on the address bar, or another box totally unrelated.

Some other times I will be typing and all of a sudden a few words, sentences, or paragraphs disappear. (in fact, it just happened exactly like that - leaving me just the first paragraph. Grrr)

After trying the 4-letter magic words, I will try CTRL+Z and sometimes the words return. Not always, but sometimes. But what made them go away in the first place? The computer only does what we tell it to do, right?

So I figure I have gremlins. I have mentioned this to a few other people, who also have gremlins. This seems to only happen on laptops, and did not happen on my last one.

Does any one know what causes these things to happen? I was a secretary for years before finishing college, and I am a pretty careful typist. I do sometimes lie my wrists on the computer, but not often. So what keys are we bumping?

Or is it really gremlins?

Coincidence? I think not.

Weird things have been happening to me since I ran out of estrogen. Personally, I haven't noticed any changes going on. No power surges or anything like that.

But, things have just been weird. I am going to take the dogs for their walk soon and I am going to check out the frog sounds again. I don't think it's methane, Remo, unless pockets of methane gas answer each other. (At least I know now why I started thinking about my ex-husband when I was listening to the twanging noises.) Maybe I will take my camera. Either way, I am guessing I will never hear that sound again. The Mother Ship probably took Them home after their day trip.

Today I tried to buy a patio set. I don't know if I was successful or not. It's on order, but maybe not. At least, that is what the lady in the store told me. It was just a cluster of issues. I wanted ottomans to go with the set, because the chairs have adjustable backs and an ottoman would turn the chair into a lounge chair, perfect for reading. They didn't have any in stock. Can't order any. They have two in the store, but can't see them because they have to have them to show customers what they can't have. Finally the manager agreed to sell me one. Just one. They come in a set of two. Then the computer let the lady order me some, but she doesn't think they will come in. So either I have a nice patio set arriving in about 5 days at the store that I will pick up, or I am out of luck. Of course, they took my credit card. That isn't on back order. I still don't know the new expiration date, which apparently is none of my business.

After that, I went and stopped in my gynecologist's office. I tried yesterday, but they were closed. Golf day, maybe? Anyway, I was just going to ask for some samples of estrogen. I have to take a human growth hormone test and I was concerned that the lack of estrogen in my body might throw the test off, and I don't want to take it twice.

I decided instead to let my doctor get to the same result I wanted all on his own. I explained that I ran out, it will take at least two weeks for my prescription to arrive in the mail, and I am concerned about the test I have to take. He thought about it for a minute, told me the estrogen will not affect the test, and handed me a 30-day sample of estrogen. I love that man.

My computer and router are 3 months old. How do I know this? My router died this morning. Well, I am hoping it's not terminal. I know it was 3 months because I have 90 days free tech support. I got out the paperwork, and it has been 85 days.

Good thing I took the estrogen before I found the paperwork.

Did you say something?

I have lived in my same house since 1977. I have been walking dogs in the neighborhood every summer since then. Mostly I have walked in the subdivision on the sidewalks or on the main roads nearby, but I have been doing it for 28 years.

This week I went down a path I don't normally take. It's like a mini-forest that goes between two houses for several hundred yards to a school. It's totally shaded from trees, has grass on the ground (gets mowed regularly), and bushes along the fences on each side. I found blackberries in there on Monday. I tried to give some to the dogs, but they didn't like them. I didn't think there was any food they didn't like.

They found some interesting smells in there. I assume rabbit trails, so they drag me down that way every day now. At the end of the path is a running track for the school. I walked up to the track today and went to turn around when I heard a strange sound.

It sounded like a broken guitar string. A plucking sound. I looked around, trying to place this loud, yet dull, sound. I looked down. There was water there. I never knew it, but there is some sort of river or drain there. The water is gross, totally swampy green.

I am wondering if it was some kind of alien frog? Anyone familiar with that sound? I couldn't see anything alive in there. There was such a scum on the water that I can't imagine much in there being alive. It didn't really sound like an insect, but it could be. A broken guitar string is the best way I can think of to describe it.

Question

Have any of you used or know anything about liquid siding? It appears to be a ceramic paint that can be used instead of replacing siding. I was wondering if any of you have had any experience with it.

Please be careful this holiday. The house behind me burned down one Fourth of July not long after we moved in to this house, so fire is always on my mind over this holiday.

Other than that, feel free to eat and drink yourselves into a stupor to honor the hard work our forefathers did to give us the freedom to indulge like slugs!

Please find a moment of silence for those who are risking their lives for us to keep our freedoms.

I can't tell you that over the phone, ma'am

I don't use the phone much. Now I see why. First I have the issues with the pharmacy, which didn't make me mad, it made me laugh. This is a good thing, since it put me in the mood to laugh the second time, too.

I had a computerized call yesterday from my cable company telling me that my credit card has expired and they can't bill it automatically any more until I give them my new expiration date. Well, the new expiration date of my credit card.

So I made the call to my credit card company for a new card with a new expiration date. While I am on hold, I take the time to read the card which says it's good "thru 07/05." In my book, that means 07/31/05. Once the tech got on the phone, that was verified. My card is good through the end of the month, but he is sending me a new card with a new date anyway.

The good news is I am getting a card with beagles on it. That should make it easier to find in my wallet since my Discover, VISA and AmEx are all silver colored and look alike at first glance.

The bad news came when I asked what my new expiration date will be. He said, "I can't tell you that over the phone, ma'am."

So do I call back my cable company and tell them I have a new expiration date for my account, but it's a secret?

It's the law, ma'am

I wish I could make up stories like this.

My ex-husband is a pharmacist, and I quizzed him through all five years of his studies. We then owned a pharmacy for years, so I have a vague idea of how things work with medications.

This morning I went to take my estrogen and realized that for once I don't have a 3 month supply. That was my last pill. Oops, I am out of estrogen, but luckily I don't have a gun. I can either mail order a 90 day supply or go to CVS and get a 30 day supply for the same copay. I know that some local pharmacies can do 90 days on some maintenance Rx. I consider estrogen a maintenance Rx, so I called CVS to find out if they can fill it for 90 days or not.

Hello, CVS Pharmacy.

Hello, I am calling to see if you can fill estrogen for a 90 day supply.

You will have to bring the prescription in to the store.

If I get it filled, yes I do. I am calling for information. I want to know if you can fill it for 90 days or not.

I can't tell you that over the phone. It's the law, ma'am.

There is a law that says you can't give me that information over the phone? Just how do "they" know if you are answering me on the phone or if I am standing in front of you?

I don't know ma'am, that is just how it is. You have to bring it in.

So, knowing that many people who need maintenance Rx are disabled, someone passed a law stating they can't call for information, they have to go stand in line to find out? Is this a real law or store policy? I just want to know if you can fill it, I am not asking you to fill it without seeing the actual script.

I don't know ma'am, I will ask.

OK, I can do it just this one time. I need this information......

(she took all the information as if she were filling it, and I could hear hercomputer - she was doing what she would do to fill it....which is illegal...)

So I refused to give the doctor name, and eventually she told me that they can only do 30 days for the medication. Now how hard was that?

It will probably be two weeks before I get my Rx in the mail. Expect anything from me for the next two weeks, lol.....

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!

 

 

Just a little bit

I survived that storm from my last entry, and the even worse storm that arrived yesterday. It was the first time I ever saw signs in the community center warning that there was a severe storm warning for the county on the doors as I left after class. It was a doozy, too! Serious winds, heavy rain.

So far I am still surviving physical therapy, too. This PT seems to me to be a strange man. Did I write about him before? He scares children. There was a young girl in the class with a gymnastics injury. Something happened just before I got there, and she was crying. I could see she wasn't happy with him. He handed her the goop to squeeze in her hand to strengthen it. I smiled at her, and whispered, "Just pretend it's his head." She started squeezing hard, then laughed, and we giggled together for a while. That was all she needed, a little comic relief.

I should be done with therapy soon. I have full range of motion in my shoulder again. Last week he asked me what else I am doing, because my range of motion is now better than his. I had told him before that I normally have no issues with motion, that I am naturally limber, and more so due to dancing classes, aerobics, and martial arts in the past. But my neck was really tight on the left side, and my shoulder was aching, so I was sent to see him.

The Vampire was here again today. He agrees that I have full range of motion now, and my tight delts are loosening. He whispered in my ear, "I need to get it bigger so I can get in deeper." Sadly, he was referring to support for my shoulder so he could get deeper into my back muscles. Still, it sounded nice, right?

My cat who likes no one except me has decided that the Vampire is her best friend. Isn't there something in Vampire lore about that? He took the rubber band out of my hair to do a facial/scalp massage and the cat insisted he play fetch with her using the rubber band. I think she was hankering for a kitty massage. She is almost 18. She can do anything she wants.

I have a procrastination problem and probably have waited too long to get a flight to Minneapolis now. It's still a possibility that I will be there next week. I think I found someone to take over my class for one session and the child agreed to watch the dogs. She didn't complain too much. I wonder what that is about?

To complete this odd thought salad, I want to thank everyone again who sent emails to my students. They love it, I love it, and they learn so much faster. Five of the students in the class have never touched email before, and this is supposed to be a more advanced class, the third in a series of three. Attaching or embedding a picture into email is such magic to them. I really enjoy sharing knowledge with them. We might think senior citizens are like old dogs unable to learn new tricks, but I can vouch that it isn't true. Not true for old dogs, either. The trick is to never stop learning.