Hey, it's raining.
Oh, my goodness has it been raining.
I am not talking rain like the pacific northwest. Oh no, not here.
We are having R.A.I.N. Pounding heavy rain. (for weeks now)
My petunias are not diggin' the rain.
My cushions on my outdoor furniture may grow mold before they are ever dry.
I am not a fan of our summer weather. The 3 H's. Hazy, Hot and Humid.
Oh God, it's humid. I seriously fear that after monsoon season it will automatically be in the 90's both in temp and humidity. I must decide, can I live with the rain or do I want, "Oh my God it's so hot and my Air conditioning bill is over $300 this month?"
I need to move where it is 72-78 daily. I know, San Diego. Can you give me a few million to buy a small fixer upper if I move there?
Rick and I have been spending a lot of time of late of where we want to move next. If we can ever retire do we stay here? We are leaning on the answer of No.
But then where? Everywhere I would love to live has winter. Oh, I don't mean winter like we get here, but WINTER. I would love to be in upstate NY, around Lake George perhaps? My first choice is Ontario but we all know they get winter with a capital W. See my dilemma? Rick won't do Florida and I won't do the south, which I call N. and S Carolina and Mississipi etc. A Big hell no to Texas even if it is cheap it's too well, Texas for me.
(except Austin.love Austin but it's not cheap like the rest of their state...see the pattern here?)
No, I'm not a southern gal nor could I be.
You see my header, straight up no chaser, they pretend to be nice.
I don't have time for such nonsense. I'm just nice or if not feeling particularly nice then I don't go around people. I am never mean on purpose. I can't say, "bless her heart" with saccharin but what I really mean is fuck you, which is what it means people. I don't pretend or backstab, not my nature so I can't go south. Now don't write me letters, that has just been my experience with the south over my many years. It doesn't mean it's yours. When my sister moved to Alabama I thought her head was going to explode. (her hubby is from there) After a year she called and said, "my goodness they aren't nice, it's all an act. As soon as you leave your glass of sweet tea they are talking about you" That made me laugh. Yep, my experience too. She kept saying, "Why didn't you tell me?" I said, "if I had I would have clouded your view of the area. You needed to make your own mind up." Her husband warned her but she thought it was just his family.
Now they live on the eastern side of Washington state.
It was a compromise and a job.
So where do we go? Oh, such decisions. The west coast is too expensive and defeats the whole being able to retire thing unless a large lottery win occurs. Then no issue. We can live wherever the hell we want.
I think I need to buy a lottery ticket.
_____________________________
I will be visiting my newest doctor of Rheumatology tomorrow for my follow up. My internist or regular doctor as I now refer to her, wrote me an email to say that Dr. Rheumatology sent her a consult letter and she saw that she did a very thorough blood panel and she was very happy to see that. She thinks this will be the ticket to my eye and my constant body inflammation that we have been dealing with for so long. Hell, I've been dealing with it for 30+ years. I hope she is correct. I can tell you I have never had so many evening phone calls and emails from her in 10 years.
_____________________________
I bought new pillows. Both Rick and I have been complaining about our pillows. I broke down and bought My Pillow that you see advertised around the clock on TV. Well, don't believe the hype. Not so great. Sending it back.
When we were at the lake and it was raining all weekend Rick was flipping the few channels the house had and saw this guy on TV. It was QVC. Much cheaper than his As Seen On Tv price. So I ordered them.
They arrived flat as a pancake. The card enclosed said to put in the driver for 20 minutes or so. I don't recall exactly right now. I did just that. It was fluffed up like a pillow. But it was lumpy feeling, very odd. I thought it was comfortable as all get out. But sleeping with it was far different. It was hot, I mean to tell you after a few minutes it felt like I was sleeping on a heating pad.
Now I am a woman who likes the window open in the dead of winter and a very cold room to sleep in. I can't sleep if it's hot. So this was not good.
The first night I kept tossing and turning it over and well that was a restful nights sleep for no one. Then I tried it again, and again. The 2nd night my husband threw his on the floor and proclaimed, "I HATE THAT THING"
I soldiered on. But now I give up. Too damn hot.
I called the customer service number for the company and the response was, "well it's not supposed to be you probably did something wrong." What did I do wrong? It said no pillow cover and nothing but a 100% cotton sheet. Did that. He said, "well it's not supposed to do that so what do you want from me?" oh my goodness. I said, "nothing but thank you."
I called QVC and asked if I could return these two pillows and indeed I can.
I made the mistake of going to look at reviews after that phone call. They were all horrible and the BBB gave them an F. So I should have done my due diligence before buying. But I listened to a friend. She loves her pillow. Lucky her. I so wanted to too but just couldn't.
So like my can opener, I will ask you my dear readers....any suggestions on a great pillow? I have a bamboo one - too hard. That is the one Rick loves right now.
I may need to go to the Westin Hotel again because their heavenly beds are to die for. I wonder what pillows they use? Hmm....may need to spend a night at a hotel soon.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
Quick Update .....even if you didn't ask.
It's official no cancer found. Yipee.
So if they had listened to me they would have known that.
Could have saved me a boatload of money. Where the money will come for all this is just beyond me. A lot of things aren't covered. It all sucks.
To be sick and then worry about paying for it isn't the added stress one needs.
But hey, we live in America where only the rich can afford to be sick.
Lymph nodes, breast, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and the list goes on. All clear.
With the exception of my brain, everything has been seen.
I am bruised from all the IV's and blood draws. My arms look like they have been in a bad accident with paint colors of blue, green, purple and red.
I saw the rheumatologist on Thursday. Which the ocular oncologist doctor told me on my first visit with him to see after all my test proved negative. I made the appointment before the last round of tests because I felt strongly I didn't have cancer and I wanted to see her right away.
My eye isn't getting better and only getting worse.
She has heard of this thing in my eye. Between her beautiful accent and the long name, I can't pronounce it. I asked twice. My God did I drive this nice doctor nuts with all my questions. At one point she told me that she loves when a patient is this involved. Involved? It's my life, my eyesight, why wouldn't I ask for clarification and questions?
She too wanted more blood.
I wanted to scream. For the love of God please leave me some!"
I mentioned to my rheumatologist that after the CT Scan with contrast I actually felt so much better. Even the pressure on my eyes was gone. The 2nd day as the day progressed I was losing that feeling. Rick felt it was the 32mg of steroids I had to take. (those 16 pills remember?)
She too felt it was the same thing.
I have a feeling I will be on some sort of steroid to combat all this inflammation.
She kept telling me that this can leave me blind and if I am being honest, I'd prefer cancer than blindness.
I am certain most folks thinks that is crazy. But it's how I feel. I can fight cancer. I can't fight blindness.
Hopefully, we can get this figured out and quickly!
I see her again Thursday the 1st. Hopefully with a plan of attack.
In the meantime, I am planning on planting some flowers since we may have a few hours of no rain. My goodness, it's raining here like the Pacific Northwest only harder.
I plan on making frozen gin and tonics that I saw Clinton Kelly make on The Chew and I plan on eating some type of food that can be put on the grill and just be scrumptious.
Have a wonderful holiday!
So if they had listened to me they would have known that.
Could have saved me a boatload of money. Where the money will come for all this is just beyond me. A lot of things aren't covered. It all sucks.
To be sick and then worry about paying for it isn't the added stress one needs.
But hey, we live in America where only the rich can afford to be sick.
Lymph nodes, breast, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and the list goes on. All clear.
With the exception of my brain, everything has been seen.
I am bruised from all the IV's and blood draws. My arms look like they have been in a bad accident with paint colors of blue, green, purple and red.
I saw the rheumatologist on Thursday. Which the ocular oncologist doctor told me on my first visit with him to see after all my test proved negative. I made the appointment before the last round of tests because I felt strongly I didn't have cancer and I wanted to see her right away.
My eye isn't getting better and only getting worse.
She has heard of this thing in my eye. Between her beautiful accent and the long name, I can't pronounce it. I asked twice. My God did I drive this nice doctor nuts with all my questions. At one point she told me that she loves when a patient is this involved. Involved? It's my life, my eyesight, why wouldn't I ask for clarification and questions?
She too wanted more blood.
I wanted to scream. For the love of God please leave me some!"
I mentioned to my rheumatologist that after the CT Scan with contrast I actually felt so much better. Even the pressure on my eyes was gone. The 2nd day as the day progressed I was losing that feeling. Rick felt it was the 32mg of steroids I had to take. (those 16 pills remember?)
She too felt it was the same thing.
I have a feeling I will be on some sort of steroid to combat all this inflammation.
She kept telling me that this can leave me blind and if I am being honest, I'd prefer cancer than blindness.
I am certain most folks thinks that is crazy. But it's how I feel. I can fight cancer. I can't fight blindness.
Hopefully, we can get this figured out and quickly!
I see her again Thursday the 1st. Hopefully with a plan of attack.
In the meantime, I am planning on planting some flowers since we may have a few hours of no rain. My goodness, it's raining here like the Pacific Northwest only harder.
I plan on making frozen gin and tonics that I saw Clinton Kelly make on The Chew and I plan on eating some type of food that can be put on the grill and just be scrumptious.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Long Weekend
It's a nice long weekend and I am ending the week with some fun memes. I enjoyed these and I hope you get a kick out of 'em.
I wish you all a wonderful long holiday weekend.
I wish you all a wonderful long holiday weekend.
okay my favorite is this one.
so true isn't it?
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Throwback Time
We continue Throwback Thursday to the year 2010.
I don't think this screams me as much as my hubby does.
I think the story of how I broke my nose says far more about me.
But here ya go. It wouldn't copy and paste without a line through it.
Who knows why. Please just hit the link below.
http://straightupnochaser.blogspot.com/2010/10/october.html
Who knows why. Please just hit the link below.
http://straightupnochaser.blogspot.com/2010/10/october.html
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Another Test Bites the Dust.
The last couple of days has been interesting and a bit funny.
Only 2 more tests to go but luckily not until June 8th for those two.
I am dreading those 2 the most.
Yesterday was my CT Scan with contrast. It involved math - I hate math.
There were pills to take at different times. However, the medication was not covered by insurance and it was over $300.00. There was a generic for only $10 but the issue according to the pharmacist was that I would have to take 8 at a time instead of 1 to get the same amount. Okay, that was fine, I will swallow 16 pills instead of 2 to save $290.
Only 2 more tests to go but luckily not until June 8th for those two.
I am dreading those 2 the most.
Yesterday was my CT Scan with contrast. It involved math - I hate math.
There were pills to take at different times. However, the medication was not covered by insurance and it was over $300.00. There was a generic for only $10 but the issue according to the pharmacist was that I would have to take 8 at a time instead of 1 to get the same amount. Okay, that was fine, I will swallow 16 pills instead of 2 to save $290.
I had to take medicine/pills 12-14 hrs. before my appointment
I had to drink this horrific chalk like drink that they sweetened with a berry flavor which made it far worse!! Just chalk would have been fine.
It was a big bottle too.
No food or pills for 4 hours prior to the test.
Then I had to take more of that chalk drink 2 hrs before the test.
I had to take 8 more pills 2 hrs before the test.
Lastly –
I had to take 2 Benadryl 1 hr before the test.
Now I can’t take 50mg of Benadryl and be upright.
So I felt like this was Weekend at Bernie’s – Rick is holding me up and I am in such a fog when we left. I felt drunk. I don't like that feeling at all.
Then when I get into what they called the IV room before the CT room I am given an IV, they draw a bit of blood, and give me more of this chalk shit to drink.
I get in the room with the CT scan and I am given another damn drink.
This one is like the other BUT they put in something that the nurse said would be like pop rocks or Alka-seltzer. Oh goodie, chalk with fizz. Yum.
Finally, I along with my IV climb up on the table and it does its thing. Hold my breath and then exhale. I would be dozing off and then they would scream instructions. Hey - I'm sleepy you made me take benadryl and then you want me to do things on command. Think about what you're asking of me. I am seriously trying to stay awake and it is not easy.
Finally, I am done. I get down and I am woozy and having a difficult time.
This feeling is just not fun to me. I am trying to hold my gown closed and not show the room my privates and walk straight. I couldn't seem to do it well. I am barely awake and I am having trouble not walking like I’m a drunken whore on a bender.
I just can’t function on Benadryl especially when they had me take 2 of them.
I had to focus to keep my head up and when I laid on the table it was like heaven for me. These nurses thought it was funny.
As I was leaving the 1st room with the IV to move to the CT room the cute nurse looked at me and said, Oh I see it happening to you, are you okay? Can you walk, want to hold my arm? I did take her arm. At one point she said to the other person in the room, We’ve got a sleeper here today. I laughed and said, doesn’t everyone have this effect with the drug? She said, “no, about 75% do though. You’re little so that could be why” I told her I loved her for calling me little. I am not little anywhere but I am short. She was like 6’ blonde amazon gorgeous woman. The other woman was probably 5’8”. Apparently, I was quite funny they told Rick so who knows what the hell I said but I do recall being told to come back anytime I was a fun patient. I wonder if I should be embarrassed? Probably. And no thank you, I do not wish to return unless you add some vodka or tequila to that chalk substance!
I was very hungry when I got home but could barely stay awake.
Rick made me scrambled eggs and brought them upstairs to me while I was changing my clothes.
I wolfed ‘em down and crawled into bed.
I slept for 3 hours.
I was still very groggy and went to back to bed around 7:30p but I must admit that my abdomen was not in pain for the first time in a year.
So this chalk either coated my belly well or all the drugs did something to me.
Even this morning I feel better, not as good as yesterday but better. Hmmm.....
They did say I’d hear about the test in 24 – 48 hrs. No news was good news she said.
That was a fun Tuesday. I hope ya'll had more fun than me.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Throw Back Thursday
Today is a long day so I'm throwing back.
All tests thus far are proving negative. (mammogram and chest/lungs)
😊Told ya.
So here ya go my annual Memorial Day weekend post.
Since we no longer have a home there we won't be there this year over the holiday. We are leaving tonight for a long weekend. It's Rick's birthday on Friday and he so longs to go fishing so he is. We were generously offered a home to stay at that our old neighbor knew. He worked it out for us. Literally around the corner of our home.
So here is my Thursday Throw Back for you.
Memorial Weekend 2008.
More than you'll ever need to know about my Big Guy.
_______________________________
All tests thus far are proving negative. (mammogram and chest/lungs)
😊Told ya.
So here ya go my annual Memorial Day weekend post.
Since we no longer have a home there we won't be there this year over the holiday. We are leaving tonight for a long weekend. It's Rick's birthday on Friday and he so longs to go fishing so he is. We were generously offered a home to stay at that our old neighbor knew. He worked it out for us. Literally around the corner of our home.
So here is my Thursday Throw Back for you.
Memorial Weekend 2008.
More than you'll ever need to know about my Big Guy.
_______________________________
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2008
Does a Bear Shit in the Woods?
What a crazy weekend.
We were on the lake riding around on the boat burning gas like every good American over the holiday weekend. We were returning home from our new favorite Tiki Bar on the lake. All of a sudden my hubby announces that he has to go to the bathroom and NOW. We are not even close to home and it's just as far to go back to the Tiki Bar and apparently he can't wait from the way he is driving the boat.
As I sit up front I see him heading straight towards what appears to be a deserted island. Either way too damn fast heading straight to this land mass.
Now we have been known to anchor our boat at one of the 31 islands throughout the lake and have a picnic or just anchor and play in the water but this was a bit different. He did not slowly go towards the island and anchor. Oh no! As I sat in the front he was going full speed ahead to this land mass. I yelled, "what the hell are you doing?" He yelled back, "I can't make it home!"
We went right up to the sand and he almost fell out of the boat, his foot caught the top as he went tumbling over to a tree and tied up the boat. He grabbed the toilet paper(which he carries in the glove box which is a whole other blog)and ran like the wind into the woods. I, being the ever good wife, am laughing hysterically at him. All I could do was laugh....and take pictures of course.
He comes back out of the woods shaking his head with a bit of a smirk. I asked if he felt better. He laughed and said, "Yes, but there is a walking trail here. We have to go."
"NO! You've got to be kidding me! Are you sure it's an actual trail?"
He said, "Well, as I was...you know...a couple was walking and I looked over and saw the husband steer his wife/girlfriend in the other direction looking appalled. I was mortified too but I couldn't get up at that moment. So we really should leave - quickly.
For God's sake do you think you could put the damn camera down Margaret, please?"
He begins to push the boat off the land and he jumps in the boat.
I am still laughing and he is a bit pissed at me. But c'mon it's damn funny.
As we made our way around the island we realized that this was a new part of the state park and not only was there a new guarded beach there but also walking trails. OH MY GOD.
He wasn't kidding me.
There were a million antidotes going through my head but decided to not share them with him because he was already mortified by this whole event.
One thing is for sure, My husband is never boring!!
He always keeps me laughing!(I removed all pix w/his face to protect the "innocent" but check out the TP under his arm...that cracks me up!)
We were on the lake riding around on the boat burning gas like every good American over the holiday weekend. We were returning home from our new favorite Tiki Bar on the lake. All of a sudden my hubby announces that he has to go to the bathroom and NOW. We are not even close to home and it's just as far to go back to the Tiki Bar and apparently he can't wait from the way he is driving the boat.
As I sit up front I see him heading straight towards what appears to be a deserted island. Either way too damn fast heading straight to this land mass.
Now we have been known to anchor our boat at one of the 31 islands throughout the lake and have a picnic or just anchor and play in the water but this was a bit different. He did not slowly go towards the island and anchor. Oh no! As I sat in the front he was going full speed ahead to this land mass. I yelled, "what the hell are you doing?" He yelled back, "I can't make it home!"
We went right up to the sand and he almost fell out of the boat, his foot caught the top as he went tumbling over to a tree and tied up the boat. He grabbed the toilet paper(which he carries in the glove box which is a whole other blog)and ran like the wind into the woods. I, being the ever good wife, am laughing hysterically at him. All I could do was laugh....and take pictures of course.
He comes back out of the woods shaking his head with a bit of a smirk. I asked if he felt better. He laughed and said, "Yes, but there is a walking trail here. We have to go."
"NO! You've got to be kidding me! Are you sure it's an actual trail?"
He said, "Well, as I was...you know...a couple was walking and I looked over and saw the husband steer his wife/girlfriend in the other direction looking appalled. I was mortified too but I couldn't get up at that moment. So we really should leave - quickly.
For God's sake do you think you could put the damn camera down Margaret, please?"
He begins to push the boat off the land and he jumps in the boat.
I am still laughing and he is a bit pissed at me. But c'mon it's damn funny.
As we made our way around the island we realized that this was a new part of the state park and not only was there a new guarded beach there but also walking trails. OH MY GOD.
He wasn't kidding me.
There were a million antidotes going through my head but decided to not share them with him because he was already mortified by this whole event.
One thing is for sure, My husband is never boring!!
He always keeps me laughing!(I removed all pix w/his face to protect the "innocent" but check out the TP under his arm...that cracks me up!)
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Checks in The Mail
Due to this pesky kidney infection, we had to postpone my CT Scan with Contrast that was scheduled for tomorrow. I am thrilled.
I had to drink this awful stuff and take a drug as well as Benadryl in case I had an allergic reaction. One Benadryl knocks me out and I had to take 2 of them.
Then we were to leave for the lake at 5p. Yeah right.
Rick would be holding me up like the guy in Weekend at Bernie's.
So I go next Tuesday morning and can relax a bit and enjoy no one poking at me for a few days.
In other news.....
I got two checks in the mail yesterday.
That doesn't happen often without asking for the money.
One was from my insurance agency for $998.00
With all the medical bills adding up I thought God heard my prayers.
Reality set in shortly after that thought went through my head and I thought that while this sure seems like a fun thing to arrive in the mail, it could be a mistake.
What if I cash it, spend it and they ask for it back? It only makes a very very small dent in medical bills but I don't want to have to give it back. So I called them. I said it was sure fun to get this check but I want to know why and I don't want to give it back. The woman who answered said, "good call" She went into the account and it was an overpayment on my part for our homeowner's policy. With the addition of us changing to their newer policy that added to the change of payment as well. So all around - YIPEE for me.
She wrote me an email with the details which I have saved to a folder because I want to spend it. (on medical bills, I wish something fun) Saving the email will at least CYA just in case.
The 2nd check I received was for $0.61. I did not call the medical facility to see what this was about. I am assuming this too is an overpayment and for a whopping 61cents. I can live with it if they ask for it back.
Even I can afford to repay $0.61.
I walked away from Facebook a week or more ago. I deactivated it. I want to keep my stress to a minimum and FB stresses me. No matter how much I remove political shit I still keep seeing it. I just want to deal with my health right now and be as stress-free as I can. Hard to do when everyone wants money you don't have. It really is awful to have to decide, should I have the tests and can't pay the bill or die? We really shouldn't have to make these kinds of choices.
Anyway, I got a few emails. One from my step daughter on Mothers Day. (or step mommy day as she calls it)
She was all in a tizzy that she couldn't find me on FB. Try picking up the phone. You know where I live. The world is not ending because I am not on FB. I am kind of liking this so I may continue this social media ban for longer than originally thought. Besides my mother just got on FB. That will stop a gal all on its's own.
Speaking of which - My mom called me and said that I had the word Fuck all over my facebook page and why would I do something like that? I laughed and said, "it wasn't me ma"
She insisted so I made her go to her computer and pull it up. I still had to walk her through it. (My goodness, I don't want to be this behind when I am her age.) She was most disappointed in me as she kept telling me over and over again. I kept laughing because I knew it wasn't me. And besides, I am a 61-year-old woman and my mom is yelling at me for swearing. I find that funny.
Mom was looking at my feed and said, "did you just take it down?"
I replied, that it was never up there. I don't have that type of thing on FB, I save it for my blog....tee hee. She said she swore she saw it. I suggested she look at my sister Stephanie's page. She did and said, "oh my it's her. Wait until I talk to her." That made me really laugh because she was so serious. She was acting like my sister was 13 years old. My sister is 53 yrs old do you think you are going to yell at her and she will stop? I said as much to my mom and she said, "Oh she will hear me out, that is just not nice, what about her kids? I taught her better than this. For heaven's sake, your aunts and cousins are on here" I just laughed. I agree with my mother to a point, but find it funny that she thinks my sister will change it all for her. Then again, that ole Italian guilt may just work on her. I can't wait to hear what Stephanie has to say.
Knowing Stephanie she'll just say, Fuck it.
I had to drink this awful stuff and take a drug as well as Benadryl in case I had an allergic reaction. One Benadryl knocks me out and I had to take 2 of them.
Then we were to leave for the lake at 5p. Yeah right.
Rick would be holding me up like the guy in Weekend at Bernie's.
So I go next Tuesday morning and can relax a bit and enjoy no one poking at me for a few days.
In other news.....
I got two checks in the mail yesterday.
That doesn't happen often without asking for the money.
One was from my insurance agency for $998.00
With all the medical bills adding up I thought God heard my prayers.
Reality set in shortly after that thought went through my head and I thought that while this sure seems like a fun thing to arrive in the mail, it could be a mistake.
What if I cash it, spend it and they ask for it back? It only makes a very very small dent in medical bills but I don't want to have to give it back. So I called them. I said it was sure fun to get this check but I want to know why and I don't want to give it back. The woman who answered said, "good call" She went into the account and it was an overpayment on my part for our homeowner's policy. With the addition of us changing to their newer policy that added to the change of payment as well. So all around - YIPEE for me.
She wrote me an email with the details which I have saved to a folder because I want to spend it. (on medical bills, I wish something fun) Saving the email will at least CYA just in case.
The 2nd check I received was for $0.61. I did not call the medical facility to see what this was about. I am assuming this too is an overpayment and for a whopping 61cents. I can live with it if they ask for it back.
Even I can afford to repay $0.61.
I walked away from Facebook a week or more ago. I deactivated it. I want to keep my stress to a minimum and FB stresses me. No matter how much I remove political shit I still keep seeing it. I just want to deal with my health right now and be as stress-free as I can. Hard to do when everyone wants money you don't have. It really is awful to have to decide, should I have the tests and can't pay the bill or die? We really shouldn't have to make these kinds of choices.
Anyway, I got a few emails. One from my step daughter on Mothers Day. (or step mommy day as she calls it)
She was all in a tizzy that she couldn't find me on FB. Try picking up the phone. You know where I live. The world is not ending because I am not on FB. I am kind of liking this so I may continue this social media ban for longer than originally thought. Besides my mother just got on FB. That will stop a gal all on its's own.
Speaking of which - My mom called me and said that I had the word Fuck all over my facebook page and why would I do something like that? I laughed and said, "it wasn't me ma"
She insisted so I made her go to her computer and pull it up. I still had to walk her through it. (My goodness, I don't want to be this behind when I am her age.) She was most disappointed in me as she kept telling me over and over again. I kept laughing because I knew it wasn't me. And besides, I am a 61-year-old woman and my mom is yelling at me for swearing. I find that funny.
Mom was looking at my feed and said, "did you just take it down?"
I replied, that it was never up there. I don't have that type of thing on FB, I save it for my blog....tee hee. She said she swore she saw it. I suggested she look at my sister Stephanie's page. She did and said, "oh my it's her. Wait until I talk to her." That made me really laugh because she was so serious. She was acting like my sister was 13 years old. My sister is 53 yrs old do you think you are going to yell at her and she will stop? I said as much to my mom and she said, "Oh she will hear me out, that is just not nice, what about her kids? I taught her better than this. For heaven's sake, your aunts and cousins are on here" I just laughed. I agree with my mother to a point, but find it funny that she thinks my sister will change it all for her. Then again, that ole Italian guilt may just work on her. I can't wait to hear what Stephanie has to say.
Knowing Stephanie she'll just say, Fuck it.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Candid Camera or Punk'd
I had the weirdest Friday ever.
Now when you read the event, please understand that it is NOT WHAT WAS SAID, BUT HOW IT WAS SAID TO ME that upset me. Now it's funny as hell to me but at that moment in time I was not finding the funny just yet.
Aside from them trying to find cancer in me and all the poking and prodding I got a UTI. It began about 2 days after we went to that depressing town of Altoona/Patton PA.
I just did what all gals do, drink all the cranberry juice and lots of water to flush it then I got AZO over the counter.
That makes your urine orange - that's a trip to see in the bowl. They really should put that tidbit on the box so when it happens you don't think you are suddenly bleeding internally.
All I was doing for this UTI wasn't really helping me and I thought on top of everything I twisted in a funny way and that I had a muscle strain on my left flank area. I chaulked it up to when I was planting our tomato plants etc. BUT - It got so bad that I was barely moving and the pain was out of this world, off the charts and I couldn't stand much more.
Thursday night Rick said, "do you think this is your kidneys and all this that you're doing yourself for your UTI spread to your kidneys."
Ah, smart boy. It was like a light bulb went off. Damn, I'm a dummy.
I promised him I'd go to urgent care first thing in the morning.
My doctor is off on Friday's. So if you get sick on a Friday you are screwed.
I drove over to Urgent Care, which is very very close to me. I sat down and they called me. Whew was my first thought - until I saw the damn scale. Really? Why must you weigh me? They then asked me to pee in a cup. I remind them I'm on AZO and so my urine will be reddish orange. "Fine, we're aware of this with AZO", little miss sunshine says back to me.
That was all that was said. They get my weight and send me to a room. I sat in the chair and the woman told me to sit on the table to take my blood pressure. I tell her I've been taking Dayquil and Nyquil so my blood pressure may be elevated.
She takes it and announces it's fine. It wasn't fine, I saw it. But maybe for most people that is fine. 154/70. I normally have low blood pressure. She never actually LOOKED at me, addressed me or smiled.
Little Miss Sunshine leaves the room and I'm sitting on my table and I get a text from Gary. Issues I have to deal with. Great. Then a text from Rick. He is in Fredericksburg and should be done in 40 minutes or less. I am still sitting here thinking I need to get back to the office. Then in walks a woman in a white lab coat. She did not tell me who she was. She just barged in like Kramer on TV's Seinfeld show.
Her arms are flailing as she says to me, "You have to leave. red blood cells, white blood cells. YOU MUST LEAVE"
Readers, I am confused.
Why do I have to leave? Am I to go to another room?
What the shit is she talking about?
I say, "Why do I have to leave and where am I going?"
She appeared to be quite flustered by my stupidity that I didn't understand the YOU MUST LEAVE.
She said, "you are too sick for us to see. Here is a copy of your urine analysis. But you have to leave."
I asked, "you're a health care facility and you are telling me to go home because I am too sick?
She said quote, "Don't be stupid, get yourself to a hospital right now"
And walked out of the room. I muttered, gee thanks under my breath.
Who does that? Again as I said at the beginning. It was not what was said but how it was said that threw me.
For example, if she had said, "Hi I'm Dr.Twat. (and yes she was) I have looked over your urine analysis and you are quite the sick old lady. I can't do enough here at this facility so we are going to ask that you go to the ER at the hospital right away. Bring this copy of your urine sample information for the doctors there. They will probably do their own but this is a good start. I wish you the best of luck. Again I'm sorry we can't help you here."
Gee, I would have understood that. But no niceties or explanation just repeating with her arms flailing about - you must leave, you must leave.
But to just keep telling me to leave and not why made me feel like an idiot and admittedly confused.
I thought at first, are there cameras here? Am I being punk'd, candid camera, something like that?
I drove myself over to the hospital. Again, close by thank goodness.
I get to the ER and they ask if my name is Margaret such and such.
I must have looked shocked. She said that Urgent Care called.
They took me right back, no waiting and that was wonderful. Hey at least they called and told them that typhoid Margaret was coming.
I got an IV of fluids right away but not before I peed in that cup. They took my print out of my pee. The doctor came in, who by the way was cute, smart and NICE. (yipee for me.) He began to hit my left flank as he called it and I screamed. Now I have a strong tolerance for pain I have been told many times. But this brought me to my knees. Apparently, my kidneys are involved in this UTI. I had an awful kidney infection as well as the UTI. Boy, I am just a fun date of late. They gave me antibiotics and all kinds of things in my IV, but not pain meds. The doctor said that he couldn't give me something to help the pain knowing I have to drive myself home. I just want the pain to go away at this point in time.
As if on cue, my phone rang. I asked if I could answer it. They said yes. Thankfully Rick was already on his way home. I asked how much longer I would be there. The doctor said a while more, we need blood and test that etc. I got off the phone and told them my husband was on his way and coming straight to the ER. I gave them his ETA and they said, "give her some morphine." Whoa!
I asked, "morphine really?" He just said, "Oh yes."
By the time Rick got there I was flying. I don't recall leaving the hospital completely. I came home and went to the office and dealt with what I could. Rick worked for me the rest of the day. Whew.
The couple of antibiotics I am taking make me extremely drowsy. I take them every 12 hrs. It's great at night because they knock me out. But during the day I am doing all I can to keep my head upright.
I am feeling better but it's not great yet. I have to take these for awhile.
I am just having so much fun lately I think it just shouldn't be allowed.
In the meantime, my chest x-ray is perfect. I assume my mammogram will be too. I'll know by the end of this week I think. In the meantime having some more things done to me. I may have sell a kidney to pay for it all though. Just not this one. The other will be fine. :-)
Now when you read the event, please understand that it is NOT WHAT WAS SAID, BUT HOW IT WAS SAID TO ME that upset me. Now it's funny as hell to me but at that moment in time I was not finding the funny just yet.
Aside from them trying to find cancer in me and all the poking and prodding I got a UTI. It began about 2 days after we went to that depressing town of Altoona/Patton PA.
I just did what all gals do, drink all the cranberry juice and lots of water to flush it then I got AZO over the counter.
That makes your urine orange - that's a trip to see in the bowl. They really should put that tidbit on the box so when it happens you don't think you are suddenly bleeding internally.
All I was doing for this UTI wasn't really helping me and I thought on top of everything I twisted in a funny way and that I had a muscle strain on my left flank area. I chaulked it up to when I was planting our tomato plants etc. BUT - It got so bad that I was barely moving and the pain was out of this world, off the charts and I couldn't stand much more.
Thursday night Rick said, "do you think this is your kidneys and all this that you're doing yourself for your UTI spread to your kidneys."
Ah, smart boy. It was like a light bulb went off. Damn, I'm a dummy.
I promised him I'd go to urgent care first thing in the morning.
My doctor is off on Friday's. So if you get sick on a Friday you are screwed.
I drove over to Urgent Care, which is very very close to me. I sat down and they called me. Whew was my first thought - until I saw the damn scale. Really? Why must you weigh me? They then asked me to pee in a cup. I remind them I'm on AZO and so my urine will be reddish orange. "Fine, we're aware of this with AZO", little miss sunshine says back to me.
That was all that was said. They get my weight and send me to a room. I sat in the chair and the woman told me to sit on the table to take my blood pressure. I tell her I've been taking Dayquil and Nyquil so my blood pressure may be elevated.
She takes it and announces it's fine. It wasn't fine, I saw it. But maybe for most people that is fine. 154/70. I normally have low blood pressure. She never actually LOOKED at me, addressed me or smiled.
Little Miss Sunshine leaves the room and I'm sitting on my table and I get a text from Gary. Issues I have to deal with. Great. Then a text from Rick. He is in Fredericksburg and should be done in 40 minutes or less. I am still sitting here thinking I need to get back to the office. Then in walks a woman in a white lab coat. She did not tell me who she was. She just barged in like Kramer on TV's Seinfeld show.
Her arms are flailing as she says to me, "You have to leave. red blood cells, white blood cells. YOU MUST LEAVE"
Readers, I am confused.
Why do I have to leave? Am I to go to another room?
What the shit is she talking about?
I say, "Why do I have to leave and where am I going?"
She appeared to be quite flustered by my stupidity that I didn't understand the YOU MUST LEAVE.
She said, "you are too sick for us to see. Here is a copy of your urine analysis. But you have to leave."
I asked, "you're a health care facility and you are telling me to go home because I am too sick?
She said quote, "Don't be stupid, get yourself to a hospital right now"
And walked out of the room. I muttered, gee thanks under my breath.
Who does that? Again as I said at the beginning. It was not what was said but how it was said that threw me.
For example, if she had said, "Hi I'm Dr.Twat. (and yes she was) I have looked over your urine analysis and you are quite the sick old lady. I can't do enough here at this facility so we are going to ask that you go to the ER at the hospital right away. Bring this copy of your urine sample information for the doctors there. They will probably do their own but this is a good start. I wish you the best of luck. Again I'm sorry we can't help you here."
Gee, I would have understood that. But no niceties or explanation just repeating with her arms flailing about - you must leave, you must leave.
But to just keep telling me to leave and not why made me feel like an idiot and admittedly confused.
I thought at first, are there cameras here? Am I being punk'd, candid camera, something like that?
I drove myself over to the hospital. Again, close by thank goodness.
I get to the ER and they ask if my name is Margaret such and such.
I must have looked shocked. She said that Urgent Care called.
They took me right back, no waiting and that was wonderful. Hey at least they called and told them that typhoid Margaret was coming.
I got an IV of fluids right away but not before I peed in that cup. They took my print out of my pee. The doctor came in, who by the way was cute, smart and NICE. (yipee for me.) He began to hit my left flank as he called it and I screamed. Now I have a strong tolerance for pain I have been told many times. But this brought me to my knees. Apparently, my kidneys are involved in this UTI. I had an awful kidney infection as well as the UTI. Boy, I am just a fun date of late. They gave me antibiotics and all kinds of things in my IV, but not pain meds. The doctor said that he couldn't give me something to help the pain knowing I have to drive myself home. I just want the pain to go away at this point in time.
As if on cue, my phone rang. I asked if I could answer it. They said yes. Thankfully Rick was already on his way home. I asked how much longer I would be there. The doctor said a while more, we need blood and test that etc. I got off the phone and told them my husband was on his way and coming straight to the ER. I gave them his ETA and they said, "give her some morphine." Whoa!
I asked, "morphine really?" He just said, "Oh yes."
By the time Rick got there I was flying. I don't recall leaving the hospital completely. I came home and went to the office and dealt with what I could. Rick worked for me the rest of the day. Whew.
The couple of antibiotics I am taking make me extremely drowsy. I take them every 12 hrs. It's great at night because they knock me out. But during the day I am doing all I can to keep my head upright.
I am feeling better but it's not great yet. I have to take these for awhile.
I am just having so much fun lately I think it just shouldn't be allowed.
In the meantime, my chest x-ray is perfect. I assume my mammogram will be too. I'll know by the end of this week I think. In the meantime having some more things done to me. I may have sell a kidney to pay for it all though. Just not this one. The other will be fine. :-)
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Thursday Throw Back
Due to all that is occurring in my life right now and all these medical tests I going through not as much time to write.
I thought I would throw at you some oldies from the files. A lot of newer readers here so you folks who've been with me awhile - go read something else because you've seen this.
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I thought I would throw at you some oldies from the files. A lot of newer readers here so you folks who've been with me awhile - go read something else because you've seen this.
_______________________________________
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012
Labels
There was a dish I grew up with that I found out later in life that was endemic to my hometown.
I have never lived anywhere that had this on a menu or if I mentioned it, no one had ever heard of it.
There are four things you need to know before I tell you about my meltdown.
One, my parents made us eat everything on our plate. We didn't get to have a mom who was a short order cook.
I have never lived anywhere that had this on a menu or if I mentioned it, no one had ever heard of it.
There are four things you need to know before I tell you about my meltdown.
One, my parents made us eat everything on our plate. We didn't get to have a mom who was a short order cook.
The words "Peggy won't eat that so I'll make her chicken nuggets" were never uttered in our home.
If mom made it we had to eat it or not eat anything at all.
Never was there an exception to the rule.
If mom made it we had to eat it or not eat anything at all.
Never was there an exception to the rule.
A tablespoon of everything was the only rule at mealtime. But a tablespoon of lima beans or beets can seem HUGE when you hate them.
I hate beets and by God she always made beets.
I hate beets and by God she always made beets.
Why when you know I don't like them?" was my standard question to her.
I was always told I wasn't the only person in the house.
I hated that damn answer. I get it as an adult but as a kid, I hated that answer.
Oh, there was plenty of drama about food at my house.
My younger sister, Pam, hated peas and carrots.
Another one of those things my mom made all the time.
Canned peas and carrots no less. Yuck.
I like peas and I like carrots but canned? Yuck!
I was always told I wasn't the only person in the house.
I hated that damn answer. I get it as an adult but as a kid, I hated that answer.
Oh, there was plenty of drama about food at my house.
My younger sister, Pam, hated peas and carrots.
Another one of those things my mom made all the time.
Canned peas and carrots no less. Yuck.
I like peas and I like carrots but canned? Yuck!
But I ate them.
My sister being the drama queen would give an Oscar winning performance and gag and then vomit them up on her plate. She would gag with the dramatic flair of noises and then heave her body against the table and then the chewed up food would be on her plate. Gross. How did they not see through her tricks? They never made her finish them or give her more. I was in awe of her talent. I could never do that trick. And my goodness she could make Meryl Streep proud! Then she would look over at me and smirk. How did she get away with this. I knew I couldn't.
When it was lima beans I would torture myself and play with them until I was yelled at. Then I would hold my nose and shove them down and chug my milk. I would make a face and of course be yelled at for being so dramatic. ME? What about Pam who regurgitates them on her plate?
Oh if only I could have done that I wouldn't have to eat these awful things. I think this is why I could never be bulimic. Besides the fact that I love food I just can't make myself throw up. I think it's a skill that I don't possess.
The 2nd thing you need to know is what I did when I made the mistake of refusing to eat eggplant once. My father was so angry he began his "there are children in India, Africia...name the country" speech.
You know the one where they have no food so I should be thankful and eat what is on my plate.
Well, this one night after my father went on his tangent of poor kids in India I told my father to, "Name one" after he said his, "there are children......."
OH. MY.GOD.
If you want to see your father's face turn beet red and his head explode then just tell him to name one of those kids in India that would eat your awful eggplant.
I was slapped across the face and sent to my room with no dinner.
I cried but I was so okay with not eating what I thought at the time was horrible eggplant parmesan. Now I would love it!
The 3rd thing you need to know is that dish I referred to earlier as something only found in my hometown was the final straw for me.
It's called, "City Chicken" right there on the label in the store it reads, City Chicken.
City Chicken is veal and pork cubes on a wooden skewer.
My mom rolled them in egg then breaded them and put them on a wooden stick like a kabob. She then fried them to get crispy on the outside, turning all sides and then baked them in cream of mushroom soup in the oven to finish cooking. This was then put over egg noodles.
One of the few things we ate that were what I called "American" and not Italian food.
The 4th thing you need to know is I HATED CHICKEN.
Gnawing on a chicken thigh/leg creeped me out as a kid.
My sister being the drama queen would give an Oscar winning performance and gag and then vomit them up on her plate. She would gag with the dramatic flair of noises and then heave her body against the table and then the chewed up food would be on her plate. Gross. How did they not see through her tricks? They never made her finish them or give her more. I was in awe of her talent. I could never do that trick. And my goodness she could make Meryl Streep proud! Then she would look over at me and smirk. How did she get away with this. I knew I couldn't.
When it was lima beans I would torture myself and play with them until I was yelled at. Then I would hold my nose and shove them down and chug my milk. I would make a face and of course be yelled at for being so dramatic. ME? What about Pam who regurgitates them on her plate?
Oh if only I could have done that I wouldn't have to eat these awful things. I think this is why I could never be bulimic. Besides the fact that I love food I just can't make myself throw up. I think it's a skill that I don't possess.
The 2nd thing you need to know is what I did when I made the mistake of refusing to eat eggplant once. My father was so angry he began his "there are children in India, Africia...name the country" speech.
You know the one where they have no food so I should be thankful and eat what is on my plate.
Well, this one night after my father went on his tangent of poor kids in India I told my father to, "Name one" after he said his, "there are children......."
OH. MY.GOD.
If you want to see your father's face turn beet red and his head explode then just tell him to name one of those kids in India that would eat your awful eggplant.
I was slapped across the face and sent to my room with no dinner.
I cried but I was so okay with not eating what I thought at the time was horrible eggplant parmesan. Now I would love it!
The 3rd thing you need to know is that dish I referred to earlier as something only found in my hometown was the final straw for me.
It's called, "City Chicken" right there on the label in the store it reads, City Chicken.
City Chicken is veal and pork cubes on a wooden skewer.
My mom rolled them in egg then breaded them and put them on a wooden stick like a kabob. She then fried them to get crispy on the outside, turning all sides and then baked them in cream of mushroom soup in the oven to finish cooking. This was then put over egg noodles.
One of the few things we ate that were what I called "American" and not Italian food.
The 4th thing you need to know is I HATED CHICKEN.
Gnawing on a chicken thigh/leg creeped me out as a kid.
I would not eat chicken. Period.
(still, not chickens biggest fan but will eat it)
Thankfully my father wasn't a big fan of chicken so we didn't eat it much so I didn't have to deal with the angst of chicken for dinner. (He worked on a chicken farm as a kid and that is what turned him off to chicken.)
On this particular night of my meltdown my mom made city chicken.
I was convinced this was chicken.
I sat at that table refusing to eat it.
Oh I ate the noodles and I drank my milk but that city chicken wasn't being eaten by me if I could help it.
Thankfully my father wasn't a big fan of chicken so we didn't eat it much so I didn't have to deal with the angst of chicken for dinner. (He worked on a chicken farm as a kid and that is what turned him off to chicken.)
On this particular night of my meltdown my mom made city chicken.
I was convinced this was chicken.
I sat at that table refusing to eat it.
Oh I ate the noodles and I drank my milk but that city chicken wasn't being eaten by me if I could help it.
It just sat there on my plate.
My father said I was not getting up from this table until I ate my dinner.
I got the lecture that he works hard for the food on our table and damn it I was going to eat it.
We ate dinner between 5-5:30p. I sat there until after it turned dark.
The table was cleaned off and mom was doing dishes.
I was still sitting at the table staring at my 'chicken'.
My mom was bustling around the kitchen with dishes etc.
She kept telling me over and over again that it was veal and pork and not chicken. "Just eat it, she'd say, you'll like it Peggy"
I just kept saying,"Then why do they call it chicken if it's not chicken?"
She tried to explain because it was on these skewers it looked like a chicken leg.
I was more inclined to believe my mom than my dad but I was still buying none of this.
I began crying and having a wailing meltdown about this whole thing.
Not good. That just made my father come into the kitchen.
He yelled at me. That made it worse.
He gave me 30 more minutes or I was going to bed hungry.
I told him I wasn't hungry under my breath very quietly.
He yelled, "What did you say?"
I had visions of what happened when I told him to name a starving kid in India.
I was smart enough at 8 to know to shut the hell up now.
He left the kitchen.
I sat there staring at the friggin' city chicken wanting it to just get up off my plate and walk away. I was convinced it was a leg of a chicken anyway.
My mom sat down next to me. She calmly tried to tell me again how this wasn't chicken. How I loved veal and this was veal. That I was making Daddy really angry and did I really want to go to bed without eating? I knew my mom was frustrated and she didn't seem to be lying but I was not completely convinced this wasn't chicken. My mom was then summoned into the living room by my father.
My father said I was not getting up from this table until I ate my dinner.
I got the lecture that he works hard for the food on our table and damn it I was going to eat it.
We ate dinner between 5-5:30p. I sat there until after it turned dark.
The table was cleaned off and mom was doing dishes.
I was still sitting at the table staring at my 'chicken'.
My mom was bustling around the kitchen with dishes etc.
She kept telling me over and over again that it was veal and pork and not chicken. "Just eat it, she'd say, you'll like it Peggy"
I just kept saying,"Then why do they call it chicken if it's not chicken?"
She tried to explain because it was on these skewers it looked like a chicken leg.
I was more inclined to believe my mom than my dad but I was still buying none of this.
I began crying and having a wailing meltdown about this whole thing.
Not good. That just made my father come into the kitchen.
He yelled at me. That made it worse.
He gave me 30 more minutes or I was going to bed hungry.
I told him I wasn't hungry under my breath very quietly.
He yelled, "What did you say?"
I had visions of what happened when I told him to name a starving kid in India.
I was smart enough at 8 to know to shut the hell up now.
He left the kitchen.
I sat there staring at the friggin' city chicken wanting it to just get up off my plate and walk away. I was convinced it was a leg of a chicken anyway.
My mom sat down next to me. She calmly tried to tell me again how this wasn't chicken. How I loved veal and this was veal. That I was making Daddy really angry and did I really want to go to bed without eating? I knew my mom was frustrated and she didn't seem to be lying but I was not completely convinced this wasn't chicken. My mom was then summoned into the living room by my father.
I assume she was talking to the enemy and had to go into the living room with my dad. She kissed the side of my head and ran her hand over my hair and said, "Peggy just eat it baby please." (I remember that vividly.)
At 5 minutes before my time was up I held my nose and took a bite.
Oh my goodness this was so damn good! Even cold.
I wolfed it down. This wasn't stinky chicken this really was pork and veal.
I inhaled it.
I put my plate in the sink and went into the living room and told my parents that I ate it.
My father just said, "good. now go get ready for bed."
My mom came into my bedroom and said, " Thank you Peggy. Now wasn't that good?"
I didn't want to tell her it was good because she'd tell my father but I adored my mom so I did anyway. "yep it was really good. It tasted like the veal cutlets you make."
She laughed and hugged me and said, "Thank God"
My grandmother used to love to tell that story of me asking my father to "name one" when we kids were all adults.
At 5 minutes before my time was up I held my nose and took a bite.
Oh my goodness this was so damn good! Even cold.
I wolfed it down. This wasn't stinky chicken this really was pork and veal.
I inhaled it.
I put my plate in the sink and went into the living room and told my parents that I ate it.
My father just said, "good. now go get ready for bed."
My mom came into my bedroom and said, " Thank you Peggy. Now wasn't that good?"
I didn't want to tell her it was good because she'd tell my father but I adored my mom so I did anyway. "yep it was really good. It tasted like the veal cutlets you make."
She laughed and hugged me and said, "Thank God"
My grandmother used to love to tell that story of me asking my father to "name one" when we kids were all adults.
My niece's heard that story one day and all collectively gasped when it got to that point - they know their Grandpa. They turned to look at him and of course, he is laughing about it all now. He knows it's funny.
Today I would love to have some city chicken made like that over egg noodles!!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Just Funnies
As if all this shit isn't enough I have a wicked cold.
It's almost been a week now.
Everyone who hears me says, Oh I had that. That will last at least 2 weeks.
YIPEE for me.
You know the saying God only gives you what you can handle.
I've had enough now God.
A lot of the tests I have to pay out of pocket because I have not met my deductible. Wish I had been sick more to have used up the deductible. And my deductible is incredibly high darn it.
Here are some funnies for you today because I was busy having tests.
And Lastly while sitting in a gown for the world to see my business today I read this by Andy Borowitz, whom I love....
It's almost been a week now.
Everyone who hears me says, Oh I had that. That will last at least 2 weeks.
YIPEE for me.
You know the saying God only gives you what you can handle.
I've had enough now God.
A lot of the tests I have to pay out of pocket because I have not met my deductible. Wish I had been sick more to have used up the deductible. And my deductible is incredibly high darn it.
Here are some funnies for you today because I was busy having tests.
This isn't so much funny but too true right now for me.
And Lastly while sitting in a gown for the world to see my business today I read this by Andy Borowitz, whom I love....
Who could have predicted that electing a game show host with a string of business disasters and a glaring personality disorder would turn out so badly?
Monday, May 8, 2017
Doozies.
I wanted to share with you some doozies from my day.
I had a woman today ask for an in-home estimate.
Me: Would you please give me the address of the home?
Her: 1234 Sand Bank Sq
Me: Is Sandbank one word or two?
Her: Hell, I don't know.
Me: I say nothing but think, you idiot you live there and you don't know?
Her: Why do you need to know anyway?
Me: It helps when putting it into the GPS but no big deal I can find out.
Her: Do you want me to go look at the street sign?
Me: No, I'll google it that is okay. Can I get the phone number in case the technician needs to call you?
Her: No, I don't think so.
Me: Okay, but I do want to explain that the technician will only call if he is running early or late.
Her: I don't care. You're lucky I gave you my address.
Think about that for a minute, will you? She wants us to come to her home and WE'RE lucky she gave us her address. Oh, my.
A man called and it went like this - no niceties like hello or anything -
Him: how much does it cost to fix my bathtub?
Me: Can you share what is wrong with the tub sir?
Him: Don't you do that?
Me: Do what? I am not sure, can you tell me what you are looking to have done sir?
Him: You should know that is why I call you.
Now his English was terrible so I was blaming it on that.
So I slow down and explain that to answer his questions of repair cost I need to know what he needs to be repaired. For example a hole? Rust? Chip? Does he want it repaired or repaired and fully refinished?
Him: I need repair and you refinish all of it.
Me: I quote the price for his bathtub
Him: That is for the tub and all the tile all around the room, by toilet, everything - yeah, that's a good price.
Me: No, that is for the tub sir, you never mentioned tile.
Him: Oh if it is more, that is too much. (I haven't even told him the price yet)
I call someone else.
Me: Okay thank you for calling (sounded good but not sincere I admit)
These folks all sound like birds, cheap, cheap, cheap
Me: Hello blankity blank blank May I help you?
Her: WOW you picked up the phone.
Me: Yep, I sure did. How may I help you?
Her: No one is picking up the phone today.
Me: Well, I'm working so I sure did, is there something I can do for you today?
Her: Why did you answer the phone?
I look around my office there must be a camera for heaven's sake. This woman is either mentally challenged or someone is messing with me.
Always the smart ass I say: I answered the phone because it rang and it's my job.
Her: laughter - over the top. (I am now convinced this is a mentally challenged person)
Me: What I can do for you, ma'am?
Her: Oh I wanted to talk about my bathtub.
Me: (for the love of God spit it out) What is wrong with your bathtub?
Her: It's ugly.
head about to explode.
Me: Are you looking to have it refinished?
Her: I'm not sure.
This went on and on like this. Now I realize she is not mentally challenged as I thought. She did not go to special education classes, she's just an idiot.
Finally, we figure out what she wants and what she needs and costs etc.
Her: You're really nice. I like you.
Me: Thank you. I will send an email confirming all your appointments.
Her: I won't read it.
Me: Okay then I won't send it. I will call a couple of days in advance to remind you of your appointment and...
Her: (cuts me off) I don't answer my phone.
I gave up.
But you know what? It makes me completely forget that I have tests the rest of the week. It also makes me thankful I'm not a complete idiot or that I have to wear a helmet in the house like I assume these last 2 do.
Now that is something to be thankful for.
I had a woman today ask for an in-home estimate.
Me: Would you please give me the address of the home?
Her: 1234 Sand Bank Sq
Me: Is Sandbank one word or two?
Her: Hell, I don't know.
Me: I say nothing but think, you idiot you live there and you don't know?
Her: Why do you need to know anyway?
Me: It helps when putting it into the GPS but no big deal I can find out.
Her: Do you want me to go look at the street sign?
Me: No, I'll google it that is okay. Can I get the phone number in case the technician needs to call you?
Her: No, I don't think so.
Me: Okay, but I do want to explain that the technician will only call if he is running early or late.
Her: I don't care. You're lucky I gave you my address.
Think about that for a minute, will you? She wants us to come to her home and WE'RE lucky she gave us her address. Oh, my.
A man called and it went like this - no niceties like hello or anything -
Him: how much does it cost to fix my bathtub?
Me: Can you share what is wrong with the tub sir?
Him: Don't you do that?
Me: Do what? I am not sure, can you tell me what you are looking to have done sir?
Him: You should know that is why I call you.
Now his English was terrible so I was blaming it on that.
So I slow down and explain that to answer his questions of repair cost I need to know what he needs to be repaired. For example a hole? Rust? Chip? Does he want it repaired or repaired and fully refinished?
Him: I need repair and you refinish all of it.
Me: I quote the price for his bathtub
Him: That is for the tub and all the tile all around the room, by toilet, everything - yeah, that's a good price.
Me: No, that is for the tub sir, you never mentioned tile.
Him: Oh if it is more, that is too much. (I haven't even told him the price yet)
I call someone else.
Me: Okay thank you for calling (sounded good but not sincere I admit)
These folks all sound like birds, cheap, cheap, cheap
Me: Hello blankity blank blank May I help you?
Her: WOW you picked up the phone.
Me: Yep, I sure did. How may I help you?
Her: No one is picking up the phone today.
Me: Well, I'm working so I sure did, is there something I can do for you today?
Her: Why did you answer the phone?
I look around my office there must be a camera for heaven's sake. This woman is either mentally challenged or someone is messing with me.
Always the smart ass I say: I answered the phone because it rang and it's my job.
Her: laughter - over the top. (I am now convinced this is a mentally challenged person)
Me: What I can do for you, ma'am?
Her: Oh I wanted to talk about my bathtub.
Me: (for the love of God spit it out) What is wrong with your bathtub?
Her: It's ugly.
head about to explode.
Me: Are you looking to have it refinished?
Her: I'm not sure.
This went on and on like this. Now I realize she is not mentally challenged as I thought. She did not go to special education classes, she's just an idiot.
Finally, we figure out what she wants and what she needs and costs etc.
Her: You're really nice. I like you.
Me: Thank you. I will send an email confirming all your appointments.
Her: I won't read it.
Me: Okay then I won't send it. I will call a couple of days in advance to remind you of your appointment and...
Her: (cuts me off) I don't answer my phone.
I gave up.
But you know what? It makes me completely forget that I have tests the rest of the week. It also makes me thankful I'm not a complete idiot or that I have to wear a helmet in the house like I assume these last 2 do.
Now that is something to be thankful for.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Positive Thoughts
Thank you all for your positive feedback. Means the world to me.
I am calmer now. My personal doctor called me last evening.
The ocular oncologist was not in on Friday. She told me she called because she wanted to discuss this with him.
She told me some info just to put me at ease. I just had bloodwork and my CDC? oh geez, I can't remember if that was it. Anyway, this particular test would have shown cancer. Also, my white cell count and the list goes on for all the blood work I had done as well as my mammogram done last year that was all fine.
I also had a scan of my abdomen just a few months ago as well and all was clear.
She was being so kind, she said, "Listen Peg, I know this is a lot to hear in 24 hrs. Your head must be spinning. I just want you to put your mind at ease and see the big picture. And in the worse case scenario if you do have this cancer it couldn't be that long because of your other tests of blood work just 6 weeks ago. So if it is there, it's being caught quickly.
Now, do I know if that is true? I don't. But I appreciated her telling me this.
So now I am of the mindset that until they prove it I have nothing but a huge mass in my eye.
Over 30+ years I have been dealing with inflammation in my body. That also reared its head in my blood work. We can't seem to regulate this and when I say to you I have been to countless doctors for this that is no exaggeration. I asked Dr. Kate if this could just be that. She said that is the issue she wants to discuss with him. I asked if it was normal to see other diseases in your eye. She said, "ABSOLUTELY," She told me something as simple as a white ring around your eye will prove high cholesterol. There are so many diseases you can see in your eye that is why you should have your eyes checked regularly.
After speaking with her I did feel better. She has that effect on me I admit.
So until they prove that I have the Big C I am in denial. I was in denial about Celiac too for a long time and we all know how that worked out....tee hee
But Rick is a hot mess and it's so cute that he thinks he hides it well.
He's made dinner two nights in a row now.
I may need to milk this ladies. When we find nothing is wrong I'll be back to kitchen duty.
I am calmer now. My personal doctor called me last evening.
The ocular oncologist was not in on Friday. She told me she called because she wanted to discuss this with him.
She told me some info just to put me at ease. I just had bloodwork and my CDC? oh geez, I can't remember if that was it. Anyway, this particular test would have shown cancer. Also, my white cell count and the list goes on for all the blood work I had done as well as my mammogram done last year that was all fine.
I also had a scan of my abdomen just a few months ago as well and all was clear.
She was being so kind, she said, "Listen Peg, I know this is a lot to hear in 24 hrs. Your head must be spinning. I just want you to put your mind at ease and see the big picture. And in the worse case scenario if you do have this cancer it couldn't be that long because of your other tests of blood work just 6 weeks ago. So if it is there, it's being caught quickly.
Now, do I know if that is true? I don't. But I appreciated her telling me this.
So now I am of the mindset that until they prove it I have nothing but a huge mass in my eye.
Over 30+ years I have been dealing with inflammation in my body. That also reared its head in my blood work. We can't seem to regulate this and when I say to you I have been to countless doctors for this that is no exaggeration. I asked Dr. Kate if this could just be that. She said that is the issue she wants to discuss with him. I asked if it was normal to see other diseases in your eye. She said, "ABSOLUTELY," She told me something as simple as a white ring around your eye will prove high cholesterol. There are so many diseases you can see in your eye that is why you should have your eyes checked regularly.
After speaking with her I did feel better. She has that effect on me I admit.
So until they prove that I have the Big C I am in denial. I was in denial about Celiac too for a long time and we all know how that worked out....tee hee
But Rick is a hot mess and it's so cute that he thinks he hides it well.
He's made dinner two nights in a row now.
I may need to milk this ladies. When we find nothing is wrong I'll be back to kitchen duty.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
The Big C
Boy, it sure has been a fun 24 hrs for me.
So the optometrist (Dr. Song) sends me to a retina specialist immediately after looking at my eyes yesterday. (Chantilly VA)
I see the Retina specialist (Dr. Barazi) a few hours later and he sees a mass that is damn large and sends me to his colleague in the same group but a different office. (Manassas VA)
His colleague is an ocular oncologist, Dr. Deegan (in Fairfax VA)
I have driven all over the northern VA area in 24 hrs.
I see Dr. Deegan today and he tells me this is not eye cancer BUT he sees this a great deal. It generally will mean there is cancer in my body. Again he tells me that it will generally be located in the breast, lymph nodes and or lung when this thing rears its head.
He asked how long I've been having vision issues. I said for the last year or less I have noticed that my eyes couldn't focus well with my glasses on.
But lately, it has gotten far worse so I made an appointment. I truly just thought my eyes were aging like the rest of me. I mean to tell you there is no way I would have thought any of this.
He told me proudly that this is a big one, bigger than he usually sees. It is a gel-like mass. Oh goodie, I have a big mass. I feel better now. Do I win a prize?
So now I have to have tests to find cancer somewhere in my body.
I just heard my insurance has been repealed so how will I pay for all of this I just don't know. That is as frightening as the diagnosis.
I asked if he could be wrong.
He stared at me for what seemed like a very uncomfortable amount of time and then said, "I suppose I could be so let's just do the tests and find out if I am"
I said." I hope you are". I don't think I convinced him.
So there you have it. I went alone today and I had a good cry in the car and I'm fine right now. Nothing that a glass of wine and a big ole hug from Rick can't fix.
So the optometrist (Dr. Song) sends me to a retina specialist immediately after looking at my eyes yesterday. (Chantilly VA)
I see the Retina specialist (Dr. Barazi) a few hours later and he sees a mass that is damn large and sends me to his colleague in the same group but a different office. (Manassas VA)
His colleague is an ocular oncologist, Dr. Deegan (in Fairfax VA)
I have driven all over the northern VA area in 24 hrs.
I see Dr. Deegan today and he tells me this is not eye cancer BUT he sees this a great deal. It generally will mean there is cancer in my body. Again he tells me that it will generally be located in the breast, lymph nodes and or lung when this thing rears its head.
He asked how long I've been having vision issues. I said for the last year or less I have noticed that my eyes couldn't focus well with my glasses on.
But lately, it has gotten far worse so I made an appointment. I truly just thought my eyes were aging like the rest of me. I mean to tell you there is no way I would have thought any of this.
He told me proudly that this is a big one, bigger than he usually sees. It is a gel-like mass. Oh goodie, I have a big mass. I feel better now. Do I win a prize?
So now I have to have tests to find cancer somewhere in my body.
I just heard my insurance has been repealed so how will I pay for all of this I just don't know. That is as frightening as the diagnosis.
I asked if he could be wrong.
He stared at me for what seemed like a very uncomfortable amount of time and then said, "I suppose I could be so let's just do the tests and find out if I am"
I said." I hope you are". I don't think I convinced him.
So there you have it. I went alone today and I had a good cry in the car and I'm fine right now. Nothing that a glass of wine and a big ole hug from Rick can't fix.
Hits Just Keep Comin'
I've been having some trouble seeing. I am finding that my glasses to read a text or a book just weren't doing the trick.
I have worn reading glasses since I was 15 years old. My vision has been a great 20/15, better than 20/20. A few years ago when I thought my vision was getting bad I went to the eye doctor and he said it had gotten worse, it was 20/20. So not bad right? But I still needed reading glasses and glasses for the computer.
But suddenly after work, I would find myself unable to see much of anything. I would take off my computer glasses and go to the kitchen to start dinner and I couldn't read anything with my glasses on. My eyes felt so tired and I just figured as with the rest of my old body my eyes were getting worse as I was aging.
I made the appointment to see my cute eye doctor for yesterday.
We were discussing the weather and then my glasses and why I felt my eyes had gotten worse. So the exam began.
When we go to the part of reading the chart with something covering my right eye, I could read the whole chart correctly. He said well that is great no worse there. Then I covered my left eye and had to see through only the right eye. I saw fuzzy nothing. It was like a snow storm. What the hell? It startled me. Then as I tried like hell to focus it was as if the font was bold on a couple of letters and then they would fade away. I was alarmed.
We then dilated my eyes. As I waited for the drops to take effect I was a bit scared. How did I not know I was basically blind in that eye? When did this happen and could that be why at the end of my day my eyes are exhausted? My poor left eye was doing all the work.
After the drops did their thing I had more exams. He pulled the thing away from my face and he had the scariest look on his face. The look on his face was fear and now I was very very scared. He said, "Your retina is detaching and you need to see a retina specialist and have this repaired in 24 - 48 hours. I am calling the best guy right now."
I was shell shocked.
My cute eye Dr. got me in to see this specialist at 2:30 pm yesterday. I was at the eye Dr for a 10 am appointment so I had some time. I came back to work, answered emails, voicemails and went on with my day. I called Rick and said do you think you can make it back here to go with me? I have had drops in my eyes and driving home was difficult and I know they will do this again. He made it home in the nick of time.
We got right in to see this guy. Apparently, he is a big deal with this issue. I had more drops in my eyes and more tests. Then they gave me a test where they put iodine in my arm and take more photos. God these were painful. I don't deal with light well, never have always have had light sensitivity so these flashes of light in my eye were difficult for me. I used to think the glaucoma test of blowing air in your eye was awful. This is 100 times worse for me.
After that exam, the dye in my arm made my vision psychedelic. Everything was red, orange, blue and yellow. What a trip.
Then they take me back to the room for the doctor to read the photos.
He asks about my health. Do I have any diseases? I have 2 autoimmune diseases I explain, celiac and hypothyroidism. Hmm....was his response.
Then he turns from the computer pictures and says to me that celiac causes a lot of inflammation right? I said I have been dealing with this most of my life. He says, Okay here is the plan. See this mass? This is either 2 things. It is NOT retina detachment but I understand why the eye doctor thought this, I would too if I didn't have this equipment. This is either a tumor or this is inflammation. We must rule out cancer first.
Oh My God people. I just wanted a new pair of glasses when I woke up yesterday morning now they are talking cancer, tumors, mass. WTF?
He said there is only a handful of Ocular Oncologists in all of America and that one of them is part of this group. He went on to boost that even Johns Hopkins doesn't have one. However, he was not at this location on Wed and Thursday so I would have to go see him today at the Fairfax location. Once cancer is ruled out then I will have to see a rheumatologist to deal with inflammation.
I am choosing inflammation.
This afternoon I will be seeing the Oncologists and he is going to say it is not cancer. I am positive of that. Okay, I have a bit of fear but I have had so many issues with inflammation that I am assuming that is it. Either way I want this over with.
Last evening my regular eye doctor, Dr. Song, called to see how it went and how I was doing. I wanted to tell him he should never look at a patient as he did me because that put the fear of God in me. But I did not. He was just concerned and being a good doctor. I get why he was like this. And in the big picture, how great that he followed up to see how I was physically and mentally. I told him I'd let him know how today goes and keep him in the loop.
So there ya go, birds falling and dying on my deck like it's a horror movie, dead possum under the deck and now this.
I'm ready for it all to be over now.
I have worn reading glasses since I was 15 years old. My vision has been a great 20/15, better than 20/20. A few years ago when I thought my vision was getting bad I went to the eye doctor and he said it had gotten worse, it was 20/20. So not bad right? But I still needed reading glasses and glasses for the computer.
But suddenly after work, I would find myself unable to see much of anything. I would take off my computer glasses and go to the kitchen to start dinner and I couldn't read anything with my glasses on. My eyes felt so tired and I just figured as with the rest of my old body my eyes were getting worse as I was aging.
I made the appointment to see my cute eye doctor for yesterday.
We were discussing the weather and then my glasses and why I felt my eyes had gotten worse. So the exam began.
When we go to the part of reading the chart with something covering my right eye, I could read the whole chart correctly. He said well that is great no worse there. Then I covered my left eye and had to see through only the right eye. I saw fuzzy nothing. It was like a snow storm. What the hell? It startled me. Then as I tried like hell to focus it was as if the font was bold on a couple of letters and then they would fade away. I was alarmed.
We then dilated my eyes. As I waited for the drops to take effect I was a bit scared. How did I not know I was basically blind in that eye? When did this happen and could that be why at the end of my day my eyes are exhausted? My poor left eye was doing all the work.
After the drops did their thing I had more exams. He pulled the thing away from my face and he had the scariest look on his face. The look on his face was fear and now I was very very scared. He said, "Your retina is detaching and you need to see a retina specialist and have this repaired in 24 - 48 hours. I am calling the best guy right now."
I was shell shocked.
My cute eye Dr. got me in to see this specialist at 2:30 pm yesterday. I was at the eye Dr for a 10 am appointment so I had some time. I came back to work, answered emails, voicemails and went on with my day. I called Rick and said do you think you can make it back here to go with me? I have had drops in my eyes and driving home was difficult and I know they will do this again. He made it home in the nick of time.
We got right in to see this guy. Apparently, he is a big deal with this issue. I had more drops in my eyes and more tests. Then they gave me a test where they put iodine in my arm and take more photos. God these were painful. I don't deal with light well, never have always have had light sensitivity so these flashes of light in my eye were difficult for me. I used to think the glaucoma test of blowing air in your eye was awful. This is 100 times worse for me.
After that exam, the dye in my arm made my vision psychedelic. Everything was red, orange, blue and yellow. What a trip.
Then they take me back to the room for the doctor to read the photos.
He asks about my health. Do I have any diseases? I have 2 autoimmune diseases I explain, celiac and hypothyroidism. Hmm....was his response.
Then he turns from the computer pictures and says to me that celiac causes a lot of inflammation right? I said I have been dealing with this most of my life. He says, Okay here is the plan. See this mass? This is either 2 things. It is NOT retina detachment but I understand why the eye doctor thought this, I would too if I didn't have this equipment. This is either a tumor or this is inflammation. We must rule out cancer first.
Oh My God people. I just wanted a new pair of glasses when I woke up yesterday morning now they are talking cancer, tumors, mass. WTF?
He said there is only a handful of Ocular Oncologists in all of America and that one of them is part of this group. He went on to boost that even Johns Hopkins doesn't have one. However, he was not at this location on Wed and Thursday so I would have to go see him today at the Fairfax location. Once cancer is ruled out then I will have to see a rheumatologist to deal with inflammation.
I am choosing inflammation.
This afternoon I will be seeing the Oncologists and he is going to say it is not cancer. I am positive of that. Okay, I have a bit of fear but I have had so many issues with inflammation that I am assuming that is it. Either way I want this over with.
Last evening my regular eye doctor, Dr. Song, called to see how it went and how I was doing. I wanted to tell him he should never look at a patient as he did me because that put the fear of God in me. But I did not. He was just concerned and being a good doctor. I get why he was like this. And in the big picture, how great that he followed up to see how I was physically and mentally. I told him I'd let him know how today goes and keep him in the loop.
So there ya go, birds falling and dying on my deck like it's a horror movie, dead possum under the deck and now this.
I'm ready for it all to be over now.
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