Goings Ons

Why is it when you think things are going your way, something happens, and it kicks you right in the shins? I think that is how my life is going right now. Like someone kicked me in the shins...or the gut...or something...

I get an unexpected phone call on Thursday evening. It is from my mother. She’s calling to tell me she has breast cancer. Just like that. I should be shocked, but I’m not. After all the years of all the poisons she’s put in her body. She has almost no heart left, she’s on Nitro for that. Has been for almost 15 years. It amazes me she’s gotten this far. But she has breast cancer. A very aggressive type. It’s deep, too, making surgery the only option. There are also two questionable lymph nodes, so chances are, it’s spreading. It may only be a matter of time.

Then she had to find a surgeon. One that will work with Medicaid. Good luck with that. The Medicaid system is totally broken, especially here in Florida. The plan is broken, the doctors are all broken. I as sooner go bankrupt than let one of those quacks look at me. But she’s been in this system for over 20 years. When she had cervical cancer, it took over two years to realize she should have a hysterectomy, never mind the fact she was bleeding every day. And let’s not even talk about mental healthcare when you are on Medicaid. That’s a flippin’ joke all of itself. That’s why I’ve been hesitant to come all out on a gov’t healthcare program, because I’ve seen it first hand. It’s not pretty. But something has to be done. But, I’ve gone off on a tangent...

So she found a surgeon, and sees him on Friday. Nothing like rushing things along. I also wonder in the back of my mind, is she playing me? It wouldn’t be the first time. She says she has calcifications which never showed up before. Sil, who works an imaging system says that is very unusual, calcifications form slowly and would have shown up previously. Unless the last mammogram was read wrong. This is Medicaid we are talking about here. I just have to take it at face value for now. And so it goes...

That’s not the only news. My A/C died on Sunday. I heard a strange noise coming from outside the bedroom window. I thought it was the pool pump, but it wasn’t. Turns out the Fan Motor died. $422 later....OUCH! We had some odd power surges on Friday and Saturday, the a/c man says that could have caused it. Who knew? This just a day after DH fixed the a/c in my car (thanks to a $14 can of Freon) so now, I’m cool everywhere.

Friday, I did something I almost never do. Paid full price!!! Well, that’s not necessarily true, I did have a 20% off coupon. So my $58 jeans were actually $46. But they fit beautifully, just what I needed. Skinny Jeans!!! Seems like an oxymoron to call a size 18 skinny, but they are. The legs anyways, not the waist. I have the perfect apple shape, the experts would say. Totally round in the middle, with these skinny legs. Pants, especially jeans are impossible to find. Oh, and I’m short, too. A triple whammy! I found another pair of TH jeans for half price + 20% (around $30) and TH shorts for half price + 20% (around $20). I also got a pair of black Sketchers, for $37, plus half off a second pair, so I got a pair of work/dress shoes for about $10 (this was after coupons, too.) And I put a bunch of Hallmark ornaments on layaway. About 10, I think. The manager says they have cut production and will not be ordering more when they run out, so get them now or never. So nice of them to do layaway, so I don’t have to shell out all the cash at once.

Spent some time with the neighborhood folks Saturday night, between dodging rain and mosquitoes. While fun, it was short-lived. That’s okay, a bunch of us are going to the Tampa Yankees game on Friday, for free, courtesy of Dawn. And of course, today is the first day of school. Where did the time go? Sigh. Well, back to a daily routine for now.

Here we are...

Mondays, Mondays. Mondays always get me down. (Isn’t that a song?) Especially after a big weekend like the one that just passed. Waking up has been so hard this week.

Friday night we went to the skating rink for the girls’ birthday party. That is always an adventure, let me tell you. Actually, I think the word is cheap. As in cheap food, cheap décor, cheap entertainment...you get the picture. I swear walking into this place is like going back 25 years. It looks exactly the same. Not to mention the neighborhood isn’t the greatest either. (Not only was it cheap, but my guess is they waited until the last minute as well, or why else would we be having it at 5:30 on a Friday, when the place opens at 8 to the general public.) But the kids seemed to have a good time, and didn’t notice too much. I guess they are still too young. But that’s all that matters.

After the party we went home, and I packed up my stuff to go to Sebring for the Fried Green Tomatoes at Kenilworth Lodge. The Kenilworth is a lovely old hotel. They’ve done a lot of renovations over the last 3 or 4 years, as it was starting to show its age not too long ago. But now they have a new elevator, internet access, a flat screen TV (to watch the Bucs lose on, sigh!) and they made a little kitchen area in the ballroom where the cropping goes on. I know the kitchen helped Linda out a lot.

Linda and her gang work hard every year to put this together and it is always so good. I almost passed on it this week. The whole foot thing has been putting a damper on things, and I am just so wore out by the end of the day. But I decided just to shuck it all and go and have fun. And that’s what I did.

I got there around 11:30 on Friday night and went to bed around 2:30. Saturday I went to bed around 3. Both times because we were out on the porch catching up on the comings and goings on with the gang. Lots of laughs there. Just wonderful.

Saturday, Teri and I braved it to the local winery to try a hand (er, foot) at grape stomping. Well, Teri did, I just went along for the ride. But it was not to be that day. Apparently, this was the day of their yearly festival, with lines out the wazoo. Did I mention it was outdoors (read: HOT!) Oh, and it’s a farm actually. You know with chickens, and crops and stuff like that. Well, we talked our way in, just to buy a few bottles (they wanted $6 bucks admission.) And of course, as soon as we buy our stuff and head out, it starts raining. I really feel for those people waiting in line getting poured on. (Hey, feel for me, in the hot sticky cast on the leg!!!) Oh well, live and learn.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a crop without the food. We had a snack of Fried Green Tomatoes, of course. Then Melanie made her famous oven-fried chicken, with green beans, potato salad, corn bread, and for desert, Elle made a Krispy Kreme Donut bread pudding. YUM!!! Those girls all cooked their asses off this weekend. Of course, we had all our meals served with a smile by Linda, who doesn’t let anyone see her complain, right?

So, of course, a good time was had by all. This is a short week. I’m off Friday. Big sale at Macy’s on Friday. Doorbusters from 9-1 (remember when they used to only do that the day after Thanksgiving? Now everyone does it all the time!) Keep your fingers crossed that I FINALLY find a pair of decent fitting jeans (that aren’t made for the Jolly Green Giant) for the trip coming up soon! Oh, speaking of trips, if you haven’t already, make your way over to Facebook and check out the hotel we’re staying at. It’s in the middle of everything it looks like, with a fantastic view!!! Hasta!

Good Monday Mornin' to ya

Happy Monday to all. Man, what a week I’ve had. It’s really been up and down. And it’s not over yet, let me tell you.

DH and I spent four days at the beach for our anniversary. It was so nice and relaxing. Our room has been totally renovated, with new carpets, bedding, appliances, countertops, you name it. The best thing is that they have replaced the cook top stove with an apartment-sized oven. So, I am planning for next year, because this will come in handy if we want to warm up some pizza, or have something for lunch other than sandwiches. Will save us some money on food, too.

We had Thursday dinner at Sloppy Joes. That was really good. We had the wings for an appetizer, they were crunchy, sort of like Hooters. But they had a peppery taste to them. We may go back just to get some take-out wings to go. I had the fish tacos. Hadn’t had them in a while. Dh’s friend Ricky recommended the sweet potato fries, and they did not disappoint. DH had the fried shrimp, and he enjoyed those as well.

Friday was our 10th anniversary. My, how time flies. Seems like only yesterday. We went to our usual place, LeeRoy’s. Dh tried my fried green tomatoes for the first time. He was hooked!!! I had to chow mine down to keep him from stealing them. Haha!

Monday, we went to Rays game. Our office had gotten us all seats in the Checkers Bull Pen. That was pretty neat. They feed you down there too. Hotdogs and chicken and chips and stuff. Then I came home. Which I shouldn’t have...

Amazing how a simple thing like getting your mail can change things for the worse. When I fell on it, I honestly thought it was just a bad sprain. I figure, well, I can walk, right? Can’t be that bad... Well, after two days of being in pain, and the swelling not going down, I went to the doctor. They took some xrays. It’s broke. No, it can’t be. Yep, it is. The tip of the bone broke off. Yuck! So, three weeks in a soft cast. Guess it could be worse. Uggggg! Why me?

So, I’ve been adjusting to that. I’m not supposed to take it off. But I do take it off to drive. Or else, I ain’t getting to work. Don’t go to work, don’t get paid, that’s the way it goes. I didn’t wear it much yesterday. Was too lazy. So it is sore today. So I’ve got it on all day today. I’ve got to stop at the mall, too. (Westshore) This out to be fun. But things have to get done, no matter what.

We had our big rehearsal on Saturday. They also had auditions for the ensemble and solo pieces. I did mine. It wasn’t very good. But that’s okay, it’s just about getting the experience at this point. I’m thinking about hooking up with my friend Sil’s voice teacher. She’s in Temple Terrace. We’ll see, maybe after the 1st of the year. My pal Sharon from the Orlando group came over. We all had dinner at Panera Bread. Afterwards, I went to Bella’s to have a snack with my pal Gloria. Lots of chatting and gossiping and stuff. Fun, fun. I’ll have to tell you more about Saturday, but later on.

This Friday is the girls’ birthday party, at the skating rink. We were there last year, not sure why we are there again. Guess because it’s cheap. Oh, it’s from 5:30 – 7:30. Obviously this was a throw together at the last minute deal. I guess since none of that crew works, really, it’s no big deal. Right? Sigh! Because then I get to go home and pack my stuff up to drive down to Fried Green Tomatoes. DH says I should just skip the party, but I know them all to now. They will remember. Best to suck it up and just go. So, I get to Sebring late, at least I’m there, right?

And remember, the things you are liable to read in the Bible, they ain’t necessarily so....