Again

I am using my phone staring up at a ceiling fan. I've written many a post in my mind while lying here this past 5 days looking at this ceiling fan. Which I might add needs dusted. If only I could remember them when back at my computer.

This is temporary and I'll be back I think tomorrow. 

2020 can suck it!

A Man and His Dog

A man and his dog watching TV. 
When Rick would laugh Izzy would look at him and then back to the TV. 

These two are attached at the hip. My two loves right there!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American blogger friends. Please do it safely!

Wednesday

My stress test was fun. Someone told me that a nuclear one was painful but I don't know what they possibly could be referring to. No pain except the prick in my hand for the IV.  They won't tell me anything so I have to wait until I see the doctor on Monday.   I had to laugh when the woman told me to take longer strides. I said I am 5'1" and my inseam is 25 inches. I can't make longer strides. 

The woman who said this was an amazon. Gorgeous but a big girl. She had to be 6 feet and she reminded me of Ashly Graham if you are familiar with that model. After I said my inseam, she turned from the machine and looked at me and said, "Ha, you are a short one, sorry, do the best  you can."  Tall people just don't get it. 

I am watching so much tv now that I feel like crap. Rick and I are watching Undoing on HBO with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. I didn't really care for the 1st episode but the following Sunday I watched episode 2 and boy I got into it. Each week we say, Oh the husband did it, the next week, ooh maybe Nicole's character did it, then this past episode that we watched last night we thought maybe the victim's husband did it. Then the ending came and we both gasped a loud audible gasp. Never thought it was that person. Oooh, it's getting good and only 1 episode left. Donald Sutherland does more acting with his face than most actors do. I just love him. Nicole is so darn good. I find Hugh Grant's character to be smarmy but maybe that is because that is how I view him. If not watching and you like murder mysteries and you have HBO give this a chance. Don't be like me and judge it by the first episode. This show sucks you in.

We are not having a holiday with family or friends. Nada. Just us. We feel strongly about this and we aren't gonna mess around. I feel like each day Rick goes to work we are playing Russian roulette. A man across the street from us told us this morning while walking his dog that his mom has covid and is in the hospital. She went to a church gathering. My goodness people are killing themselves. To me that is stupid. Pray at home. If you believe in God he can hear you no matter where you pray. It doesn't have to be in a certain building. Then again maybe she was ready to meet her maker at the ripe old age of 49. 

And lastly, I read where Mango Mussolini was told by his aides he didn't have to concede but he had to allow the transition to take place. His poor aides are psychologists as well. You don't tell a bully loser that he lost. So in his warped mind, he won even though he had 7 million less popular votes and 74 fewer electoral votes. I know I make fun of the ass a lot but in all seriousness, I think he has severe mental problems. And if lucky he too will be a long hauler with covid.  You almost have to pity him. Almost. I am certain that Cuomo winning an Emmy fried his arse. Cuomo was the recipient of its annual Founders Award, which cited his “effective use of television during the pandemic.”  I do not live in NYC but it was helpful to have those updates to know what was happening.  Facts were shown and explained and he can put a sentence together that doesn't sound like a 5th grader. (Bad virus, very very bad virus) Someone had to do it. I do fear another lockdown coming like Toronto and the UK. I better get my hair cut. :-) Priorities....lol

I hope your holiday is all you wish it to be. Be safe and enjoy the holiday we have. next year we're all going to have a blowout!!

Tuesday

 

Monday

I had a bit of a setback and the weekend was very very mellow.

I did a lot of tv watching wrapped in blankets.
I swear since mold didn't kill me the process to remove this nasty toxin will.

Here are some observations from the weekend.

1. I finished The Crown. I don't know how much is true of this show. But listening to Princess Diana's tapes of her life in the palace it sure seems like it. (Yes I watched Diana's secret tapes for the Morton book) 

I find the royals to be despicable people. Lacking any sense of empathy. They also are so narcissistic about who they are and their place in the world it is frightening. What they did to Diana was wrong on the most basic level of human decency. It's like we chose you to be in the "family" but we will not help you maneuver your way through it because then we can't laugh at you, just scold and make you feel worthless. Charles is depicted as a spoiled, self-important, spineless, jealous, frivolous twat. (as my friend from the UK calls him) That is the absolute nicest thing I can say about him.  I now understand why the Queen doesn't wish to see him be King. He's a damn fool.  He is spineless and he can't discern between duty and what he wants to do. 

The show was a fun ride for me before we got to the 80s. I don't think I will continue if there is another season. Harry did good leaving. If they did treat Megan as horrific as his mother I so understand it all now. He should run, run like hell, and never look back. These people are despicable. Likely for Megan, she married a man that she chose and who chose her. Unlike Di and Charles. Harry loves Megan and I am certain she had the backbone since she was not 19 yrs old to stand up and speak up. Di didn't until it was too late and The Queen blamed her for everything.

2. I learned more about Margaret Thatcher than I ever knew. She too was unlikeable. She was very mean, very trump like in her comments about those out of work, those struggling (she felt they were just weak) and she was not nice to women who she felt were weak as well. She was all for apartheid and not helping South Africa in any way even when the Queen explained they were the only country not doing so. Again those are people that are "lesser" she didn't care. The things said I imagine were on record so her dialogue made me want to throw something at the screen.  She was even horrible to her daughter. She admitted she liked her son better (they were twins) because he was strong. Nothing at all to like about this season of The Crown. It would be like watching the trump family. You hate one even more than the other. They say stupid things. And if you have not read the op-ed piece by ivanka's best friend who could no longer be her friend then you should!

3. The actress playing Thatcher deserves an award. She was perfect in all ways depicting this woman. Gillian Anderson is the actress. I never watch any of her stuff, like X Files, etc. But to see her as Thatcher, if I didn't know it was her I would never have known it was her? Were you surprised? I bet she gets an Oscar award or whatever they get being on Netflix

4. If any of you watched 60 minutes and still believe Covid -19 is not real you need your head examined. These stories were heartbreaking. I also now see why the hospital was so convinced I had covid when there. I saw a lot of my symptoms on the show. The show for those who did not see it was about the "long haulers" It appears that the majority of long haulers are between 20s - 40s. Relatively healthy individuals who still have all the side effects of this dreadful virus. A marathon runner learning to walk again. It is all so sad and they don't know why. There is an After Covid center at Mt Sinai in NYC. They have a waiting list. And our leader has done nothing. I get that this is so far over his education level (6th grade) but he should have a task force other than pence who is trying to pray it away. 

My dear friend who was here recently is not celebrating Thanksgiving with any family. Just she and her small family of 3. Her partner's family believes that he has turned into a "pussy Yankee liberal" because of her. Yes, those were their words. 1. she is not even a Yankee. And do you really tell your son this about his partner, using the word pussy?" What a bunch of redneck hillbillies then. Ha - we can both play that game grandma.

They sent a polite group text to all explaining why they wouldn't be there this year and they urged them to be careful. Ending with much love, their names. She sent it to me to see. It was loving and polite and was not political. Well, that sent them off. She was called all kinds of names. Why only her? They do not believe covid exists but these numbskulls don't believe the holocaust happened either and that dinosaurs were an idea created by liberals to disprove the existence of God. 

WHAT?  

She was so upset that his family was blaming her and she told her partner if he wanted to be with his family to go, get tested, and then quarantine before coming home. He said, are you nuts? Someone there will be sick and I believe what you believe. I believe in science, I believe that the people dying is real. Screw my family were his words to her. She was quite upset when we chatted. I felt for her. Sometimes I think it's great that I have no in-laws for the most part.

This is when I hope to see Karma doing its job sooner than later.

60 minutes also had a study of those over 90. It has been ongoing for 6 years. It was fascinating to me. I do wish I had been smart enough to go to school for the brain. That subject interests the hell out of me. Always has.

This beautiful woman of 102. She looked in her 80s perhaps. She was dressed impeccably and she had such sparkling blue eyes. She didn't have any memories. Oh, she was just delightful to speak with but she was clueless on a lot of things. Yet seems to be living a good life.  She couldn't tell you the president or the one before. (I wish I could block that out too) Her case was fascinating as was a 99 yrs old who could pass all tests of memories and was feisty as could be. But his brain showed Alzheimer's yet he didn't have it. Why? That is the study. I found it all so interesting. Scary because I am of that age, but interesting. Check it out if you didn't see it. 

I'm off to buy Rick some food for sides. I don't do Thanksgiving foods. Hate it all especially the turkey. Okay, I do love the potatoes be they sweet or white mashed. But that's it. Not my holiday. But I am thankful for a lot.

I am still kicking, Rick, always thankful for my Big Guy and thankful that in 4 weeks some idiot can be removed legally and forcible for trespassing.

Feeling Good

I am feeling so much better. I honestly don't even believe it.  Of course, still taking my stress test just to be sure all is okay.  One never knows.

It appears to be due to the mold toxicity "shit".

You see I am cleaning out my body of this toxic stuff through acupuncture and herbals. It is working so well. I have so much less inflammation. My hands are no longer puffy as are my face and body. I am down 1 size in clothing and I did nothing different in eating. That is all in the last month.  BUT, my doctor suggested to continue this method but she wanted me to take this Rx that was originally given to me to 'help me along' (her exact words) I listened to her. But it was too much too fast. It was the ultimate die off fighting back with high blood pressure to almost make me die. 

After the hospital, my doctor realized what she told me was too much for me and told me to stop immediately and get this out of my system. Of course, I did. But it takes a while. So hopefully when these mold toxins are out of me my bp will be normal or low again as it always was without medication. Everyone thinks so at least. 

My face is no longer swollen and looks normal again. My rings are too large and as I said my jeans are one size smaller. I hope to continue this pace. Slow and steady is better for me and I am okay having this take 6-12 months as they originally told me it would take. Boy was my doctor apologetic. She's called me at home twice now to check on me. I know she feels responsible.

I slept a great deal last night. Today I have energy. I walked Izzy the normal length and I felt fine, not 100% but so close. I can breathe pretty well and I have no chest pains. I could dance a jig.

Mold is a bitch, isn't it? It takes so long to get a diagnosis (years for me) and it will take a long time to rid itself from me. I don't wish this on anyone I like and love!

My husband is hovering like an old Italian Grandma. He made me my favorite, Chicken soup. My God the man makes great chicken soup. He put things away in the dishwasher and we may never find these things again but he did it without me asking. He did a load of laundry but dried some tops I never dry. I have a feeling one will only fit now over my left side leaving my right boob exposed, arm and belly exposed.  Then again maybe that was the man's plan. 

He told me proudly that he cleaned the stovetop. It's an ongoing joke here that when he tells me he cleaned up the kitchen after he cooks he never really does. You see to him that means he put things away. The island is always a mess, the stovetop is a mess and not cleaned, etc. But he really did this time. I wanted to say, See, that wasn't so hard, was it? But I kept my mouth shut and just said, "Thank you."

If I made a move last night, or a sound, he'd jump and look at me and ask if I was okay?  Can I get you anything? Are you comfortable?  He hovers.  It's cute.

He told me last night I can't die because he will never find anything ever again.

True! Oh so true!

But I'm not going anywhere, too ornery to die. That is the only time 64 is young you know. 

So that is that. But I left my glasses at the acupuncturist last night. 

They are not open today.

So I ran to Walgreens this morning and had to buy some readers. I couldn't go all day without being able to see the computer, my phone, or read anything. Tomorrow I can go pick up my glasses. 

I'm going to leave you with my meme of the week.

Healthy...oops dead.

I may have told you this before but I couldn't find it while doing a search so I'm writing again.

As you all know who come here my mom died at age 44 of breast cancer. I had just turned 13.  I got a new mom when Dad married again. Along with the new mom, I got another sister and a small awful toy poodle. The sister was great.  (they had 2 more after that) Hated that damn dog though. 

So now here we are shy of 50 yrs later and when I say, My mom, I generally mean what others call my stepmom. She got to be my mom longer than my birth mom sadly. So to me, that is my mom for the most part.

Now the sister that came to live with us is of course not blood-related. 

But to me, Stephanie is my sister. She came to live with us when she was 5/6 making her now 56 years old. We grew up together. In our 20s we were roommates again at the beginning of our careers. 

Rewind to me in my early 20s. I go to see an allergist. My cousin Bob, who I adore, was seeing this allergist and referred me to him. I am given paperwork and then the doctor comes in. He sees that Bob referred me and says, Oh I see Bob is related to you. He said nice things about Bobby. We make small talk. Then he goes down the list, "how is your fathers health?"
Me: Very good.

Doc: How is your mothers health?

Me: Also very good.

Me: WAIT! My mom is dead.

The doctor looks at me like I"m an idiot. 

Me: Sorry, my mom died when I was 13. I was referring to my stepmom which I know is not blood.  So Sorry.  

He is looking at me like I'm looney but I pretend I don't notice.

Doc: Do any of your siblings have allergy issues? 

Me: Yes, my sister Stephanie has all the same things as me. She suffers as well.

Doc: Have you both always been like this?

Me: Yes. Oh, wait. Ah, sorry but Stephanie is a step-sister. I forgot. So no,  my blood sisters do not have allergies like me.

He puts the paperwork down and just stares at me. 

It felt like he was looking through me I had to look away.

Me: I know I sound crazy but I never think of half-sisters or step-sisters we're just sisters to me and I'm sorry, I know what you needed, blood sisters. None with allergies!

I don't think this guy thought I was playing with a full deck. It doesn't help that I giggled either. But by this time it had been 20 years and we've all grown up together. Dad adopted Stephanie immediately so to me it always just felt like a family with no 'step' before it. But I know what others thought.
Then unfortunately I did this again.

At the cardiologist this week he asked the same questions.

Doc: Heart disease in your father's family? 

Me: Nope

Doc: In your mom's?

Me: Yes.  My mom just had a leaky valve repaired.

Doc: Do you know when and how they found this? 

Me: She had a lot of the same symptoms as me but they found it on a stress test.

Doc: Good did she have the surgery to repair or replace.

Me: To repair. (gee didn't I just say that?)

Then it hit me, Oh God, wrong mom.

Me: I'm sorry, but I just told you all about my stepmom. My birth mom died in 1969. I'm sorry. I had my birth mom for 13 yrs and my stepmom for 50 so sometimes I just go with the flow of her being my mom and honestly forget. 

Doc: I get that a lot in here so no worries.

Me: Good I didn't want you to think on top of all this I was having dementia issues too.

Doc: for feeling so bad you're funny.

I did not see anything funny here but I let it go. If he thought it was funny okay with me. 

I imagine in today's world of blended families this is something that comes up a lot I said to Rick. He believes it doesn't. Most blended families are from a divorce so he thinks it wouldn't be the same. Guess that could be true.

I admit I would have preferred my parents divorcing because I could still visit my mom. Who am I kidding, I would have gone to live with my mom. But you know the point I am trying to make. I could see them both if they divorced. That to me would have been ideal. 

I saw Wolfgang Van Halen in a 2 hr interview talking about losing his dad. The pain was something he felt would never leave him. My first thought was you are 29 years old you had him for 29 years you lucky dog. But pain and loss is pain and loss no matter how long he got to have his dad. That thought wasn't nice of me. I was just jealous for a moment there. Listening to him and the things he and the interviewer said to him were so off to me. You never get over it. Never.

The pain is different and softer over time. But it's always there, no matter the age. It's just no longer in the forefront. You just learn how to deal with it or so you hope. 

Just don't tell the physician they are healthy after they passed. They don't think much of you after that. :-)

More boring Medical Updates

I am writing in my pj's and bed head praying that nothing turns worse so I don't get taken to the hospital like this.

When I was a kid my mom used to lay out my clothes for school. No, not high school. I did not wear a helmet in the house. I was a first grader. 

Apparently, on this day I didn't see the panties on the top of the dresser so went in the drawer and got a pair. 

I went to school all was well. UNTIL I got home.
As I opened the door into the kitchen to yell, I"m home, my mom was there at the door and immediately lifted my dress up!  She then sighed and said, "My God I thought you went to school with no underwear." She went into my bedroom after we left for school and she saw my underwear on the dresser so she assumed.

As I got older we laughed about that day. She also always said to wear your nice underwear in case you were in an accident. By the time I was 12 I asked if they would let me die if I was wearing no underwear or bad underwear. She would just make a motion with her hand dismissing me and say, Oh Peg. but she'd laugh. I admit making my mom laugh was a goal. Especially when she was dying of cancer. When I got her laughing it made my day. For some reason when you are 12 you think that will make her feel better. I'm sure it did but not in the way I was hoping at age 12. But I digress...

Last week when I realized I had to go to the ER I did my hair, changed from a sports bra to a regular bra, and actually thought of the above story. Will they mind I'm in an older pair of panties? Will they let me die? I had a chuckle to myself. But yet I blow-dried my hair and changed bras. What a damn fool. 

Something similar happened at the cardiologist. My bp was normal. But my chest pains are still off the charts as is my shortness of breath. They did the 100th EGK and of course textbook perfect. He wanted to check my swelling. What swelling I asked. I took off my boots and he felt around my ankles and I was wishing I wore high socks instead of no-show socks. Did I shave my legs? No not since returning from the hospital. Damn, he is all over my legs now. Shit!  

Why the hell does this shallow shit concern me when I can barely breathe. If I was as hairy as Sasquatch he would still have to work on me. So why do I do this to myself? Why does my mind go there?  Walking from the parking lot into the medical building was a huge strain. It did not matter if my legs were freshly shaved or not. Add the wind and boy it was difficult. I got to the lobby and there were 4 chairs with no one in them. I sat a bit and caught my breath before going upstairs to the doctor. 

Because my blood work and all exams were great yet I can't breathe well and have chest pains he is having me take a nuclear stress test on Tuesday. That will tell us if I have a blockage, a leaky valve or whatever. Yipee. I don't want either but I want a reason this is happening and I want it fixed STAT. I am not patient. I like getting up and moving and I am not a person who enjoys all this sitting around. In fact, I hate it. Don't get me wrong I like to be lazy from time to time. But I'm done. I want to exercise me and the dog and I want to move...without difficulty. Hopefully sooner than later. Walking Izzy has been a real strain. But this damn dog knows something is wrong with me and she is being so good.

I slept last night. 6 hours. It was wonderful. 

Someone sent me this meme from Holmes, Make It Right. (I love this guy and his crew!)  I had mentioned that people ask the price and then say things such as, Is that your final price? (I want to say, you need a lifeline, it reminds me of who wants to be a millionaire) Or they ask if we can do this for less? If we could we would have told you a lesser price. What other profession is this asked in? 

When you get a hair cut do you ask them to charge you less because you are special? 

A man tried to fix something himself. It was a hot mess. Far worse than it was when he started. So we were called in by his contractor. It was so bad Rick sent me photos. (we find these things funny) The man said how embarrassed he was, yada, yada, yada, 

I'm an attorney, not a handyman he said smugly to Rick. 

Of course, his handiwork makes more work than if he had just had us fix it the first time. So a price was given. He said that it was 1/2 of his Mercedes payment. Could we do it for less? First of all, the pompous balls on this guy to say his car by name. why? 

2nd no, Rick explained how he made more work for Rick and showed him how and what was going to be done. The man had made a hole as well so now he had a leak to the floor below which he didn't have before. 

He thought about it and said, "Okay" So we fixed it for the 'lawyer.'

I wonder if we hired him we'd get a break on his hourly rate? What do you think?

So you can imagine how much I like this meme that a friend sent me.(and she also knows how i love Mike Holmes)  See I'm slowly coming back to my smart ass self....very slowly, but I'm in here, bear with me.

Cardiologist Day

Because I can't really sleep I was watching a lot of TV. BP is still dangerously high with all the meds. 

This made me giggle and shake my head at the buffoon. So the people that voted for him in NY State he doesn't even care about. How the fuck, yes, I said fuck, can't the simple minded fools see this?  Selective blindness I guess.

Home

 I am not even sure how to begin this. I am home. I am still not 100% and I have a lot of doctors to see now. yipee.

Thursday I was feeling bad, oh so bad. As the day went on the pain got worse. I had a sharp pain in my chest on the left side up to my shoulder. I also felt like a truck was sitting on my chest. I had a slightly annoying cough and the worse was shortness of breath.  Each hour that past this got worse. 

I took off my baseball cap and did my hair. I took off my sports bra and put on a bra. I felt I needed to go to urgent care so I did the shallow shit. Because it felt like a heart attack I took 2 aspirin. When Rick got home he looked at me and lovingly told me I looked like shit. I told him what was going on and he said, we're going to the ER.  Well while he was in the bathroom I called the closest Urgent care and they told me my symptoms had to go to the hospital ER.

So at 5:15 we went to the ER on Thursday. I thought I'd be home by 7p. Boy was I wrong. I had to fill out a form with covid symptoms because I had 3 of them they treated me as if I had Covid. I was put into a room unlike the others and I had the fun tickle your brain Covid Test. In the meantime, they hooked me up to stuff and my blood pressure was 222/117. Stroke territory. 

Now here is the funny part my bp is normally 110/65. They kept asking me if I took bp meds. Nope. Do you have diabetes? Nope. Every question was NO. One doc asked what prescription meds I take. I told him thryoid. He said you are 64 and that is your only drug. Yes I repeat. Why does everything think I should be on a shit ton of medication? (But now who knows) I had an IV inserted into my arm with a "thingy" attached to it so that they could give meds through this "thingy" They put a shot of something in to lower my bp but it only went to 202.  In the meantime, I had a CT Scan for my lungs (covid) with contrast. The tech said it will be warm and feel like you peed yourself, do not move on the table, or be alarmed, it is just the contrast. I am so glad he told me this because honest to God it felt like I had peed right then on the table. 

I had so many EKG's that were textbook perfect. Everything was now pointing to COVID.  Finally, the test comes back, I am negative.( I knew that)  I had shots in my IV and medicine orally. At 8:30 the doctor came in and said I can't allow you to go home with your bp being this high. We need to monitor you overnight. I begged to go home but they were having none of it. The Dr then held my forearm and said I would be a terrible doctor allowing you to go home now. We have got to get this down. I knew he was right. 

I got to the ICU and to my delight had my own room for the night. Oh what a night it was. No sleep at all. I was hooked up to all kinds of things. My temp was taken nonstop. I had a clip-on my finger for oxygen and a thing in my nose for oxygen. I had a bp cuff permanently on my arm. I had an IV that was pinching like hell in my left arm. Each time they put a shot in the IV to lower my bp I would get nauseous. I threw up a lot that night. I will never eat Mexican again. I had some leftover Mexican that I had made the night before for lunch. I literally only had a 1/2 bowl for lunch so I think I was vomiting things from days gone by for Pete's sake. But it was the Mexican flavors that I had coming up and that ruined that for me for a while if not forever. 

They tried all kinds of things. Finally, they gave me nitro around 1:30am. That stopped the chest pains. When they came to give me another of those shots to lower my bp I knew I was going to get sick again. The nurse, who was terrific in every other way, just didn't believe that was making me sick. Finally, I said to him, I am 64 yrs old I am not a medical professional but I know my body. Medicine sometimes does this to me, in fact, more often than not I have reactions. But it went in one ear and out the other. So me and my bucket were together all night long.

Around 4 ish I felt like I could maybe sleep. I think my eyes were closed for 45 minutes and back in came Arin, my nurse. Another EKG and another textbook perfect EKG. I did have a TV in my room but wasn't much into focusing on it all night. I asked Arin at 5am if anything happened in the world, you know like trump conceded. He laughed so hard, I was thinking that wasn't funny. He said no, "the ape will never, he'll have to be taken out in handcuffs because he is a baby"  Okay then. He went on, "you don't seem like the type to vote for him so I thought I was safe." I said, "you were. Thank you for not seeing me as a racist, simple-minded fool."  More blood work taken as it was all damn night. Another EKG.

When it became light out they asked if I wanted breakfast. I said no. Then the nurse came in and he said, "yes, you said you ate last at lunch yesterday you need to eat something" so I got 2 real eggs scrambled and orange juice. All tasted like metal to me. I ate one bite of egg and 2 sips of metal orange juice and just didn't feel like eating. Rick came by in the morning before work and I asked him to taste my food. He thought the eggs tasted odd but the juice was good and he finished it.

I had an Echo Cardiogram in the morning. My bp was still 188/75. Still way too high. My heart was strong and all chambers were clear and no obstructions to be found. Textbook good for a woman my age.  When she left they took off my cuff and I asked if I could perhaps lay on my side so I could try to get some sleep. Just as I got comfortable another person walks in sing-songy Good morning. Oh geez.

She asked if need help upon leaving, wheelchair, caregiver and the list went on. I told her I was ambulatory and I lived with my spouse so I will be fine. As soon as she leaves, they come in to ask about lunch. I said I didn't want lunch. Oh, this little tiny Asian woman was not having any of that. She said, "I look like I'm small but I am forceful. No one tell you about tough Asian ladies?"  She was indeed forceful. They say you have to eat so you must pick something"   Well now everything on the list has gluten. I tried using that to get out of eating. But now, she was bringing me a burger with no bun with lettuce and tomato, broccoli, and beef broth. So I ate a bare burger and 2 broccoli spears. I was so full and just was done with food. These people are like my Italian Grandmother, "what you mean you no hungry? then just have a sandwich" which would then be thrust at your face.

A cardiologist whose accent was so heavy I could barely understand him viewed my echo. He asked the same friggin' questions. Do you have diabetes, do you normally have high bp, do you take medication for high cholesterol? NO, NO, NO. Do heart problems run in the family, no one asked so I volunteered this. Yes. My mother's side of the family. I just thought they should know for some reason.  He gave me his card to make an appointment right away. He gave me an RX for a few meds. (my cholesterol is 192, not great but not so bad I need medication) He gave me lipitor for high cholesterol. When speaking with my doctor she said do not take it, he was making assumptions. You do not need this drug. But all the others were great.

Another doctor came in and said she heard I wanted to go home. I told her that was correct. She said if the last test is okay we'll let you go. So you know if I'm home it too was textbook perfect.  

Rick had a light day because he was seeing his knee doctor for that damn knee that is plaguing him. The doctor said I could go and I told them my husband was on his way. It all worked out well thank goodness. I got my orders and RX's. We went thru the drive-thru and picked up my meds. I came home and took what I had to and laid in Rick's ugly chair. He insisted and it made me chuckle. And I admit it may be ugly but he has converted me now. 

I had the best damn nurses I have ever encountered. And I've had lots of surgeries. Arin, my 6'3" hunk-a-hunk-a burning love was also textbook perfect. Clara was my day shift nurse. She too was wonderful. I have never seen two young people who were so compassionate and understanding and patient with me. I will be writing them thank yous because being in the hospital, scared to death, and having them be so damn attentive and good to me really helped me along. Poor Arin with the vomiting alone and having to take my bucket and dispose of it, what a lousy job. But he never made me feel bad about it. Arin was with me from 8:30 to 8:30. I asked if he ever went home and he said I'm going home now I just want to let you know. He said he works 12 hr shifts 3 days a week. But with the upswing of Covid, it may change. I told him to be safe and be well. He told me the same and he touched my hand. He was just a lovely young man.  

Clara sat on my bed and asked me questions to get up to speed. She said in the morning meeting this is what I was told, do you have anything to add? Damn, she's thorough. I like that in my medical professional. We were talking about the racist march in DC that was on the TV that at the time, was upcoming. She just shook her head. She is a young smart, gorgeous I might add, black woman. I said this makes my heart hurt seeing these foul people I can only imagine what it does to you. She stared at me and then said, "Thank you for understanding that"  Would I even be human if I didn't? was my thought. But there were a few thousand racists in the streets of DC this weekend destroying monuments and anything that annoyed them so I understood her. She did all the tests again with the same results but we couldn't get my bp below 188/75. But they sprung me anyway.

I am still having chest pains and shortness of breath.  But the pain is no longer sharp, more like a truck in on my chest. I have called my dr and I have called a cardiologist who my husband sees who's English I can understand. I will be seeing him soon. 

I am back in the office and doing as much as I can. 

I do wish to share a funny story. The woman who came in to do my Echo showed me things like my chambers being clear etc. Then as she was finishing up she said, I just have to ask. Is your hair colored this way or is it natural? I told her this color was courtesy of God and Covid. She laughed and said, "boy are you ever lucky" I thought about that for a minute and said, "I'm in the ICU with good hair color. I'm not seeing that as lucky" She laughed and said well when you put it like that...Okay, that was better than I thought it'd look like shit but it looks great, right?

I don't know how much I'll be posting for a bit. Everyone says I am looking like myself again, but I don't feel it just yet. So when I can I will post. The fatigue is mind-numbing yet I can't sleep. I see why they thought I had Covid, but I thankfully don't. 

Only 34 more days until the orange man is taken out in handcuffs. It does make me so angry that he won't transition so the new covid things can begin, you know a national plan as in other smart countries. National Security means nothing to him and he has put us all in harm's way not allowing the transition. He only cares about himself, not even the idiots who blindly follow him. 34 more days - unless he has us nuked before them.

Be safe and well out there. 

WTH?

FIRST... I am Fine.

I am in the hospital and will not be blogging for awhile.

See you all when I can.

Ramblin'

Yesterday it rained all day and night.  

The humidity was horrendous. It made our home so dang humid and thick.

Once we went upstairs to bed it was far worse.  While the windows were open it was so hot in our bedroom. The temp wasn't real high but boy the humidity was bad.

I got up at 1am because I was so hot. i went downstairs and Izzy was sleeping under the ceiling fan probably giving her some air. I sat downstairs and thought just because it's November 11th doesn't mean you can't turn on the air. So I did.

I eventually fell asleep on the sofa. Rick came downstairs this morning and said, "Thanks for turning on the air, I was so miserable all night long. I heard it come on and thought I'd get up and close the windows. It helped! Thanks!"

I explained how I had to tell myself I am an adult I can turn on the air. I don't know why we were both so hung up on, Well it is November. Yes, it is late fall but when you are melting who cares what the calendar says - just be comfortable if you can do it. This morning he says, we should have known that if we got the fireplace repaired it was going to get hot. Figures.

Rick had mentioned he wanted Zuppa Tuscano for dinner and as the day went on I kept thinking, really you want soup in this weather? But I made what he asked for and we had a nice soup for dinner. Rick's "diet" is him cutting down on his intake. Not eliminating total food groups. So last night he had a good size bowl and that was it. He told me he wanted another but he was going to be good. And he was. He has lost 10lbs since Monday. How the hell does he do it? I swear he decides to diet and then it just falls off him. But he has another 40 to go. 

Have you ever made this copy cat soup of Olive Gardens? 

It is so easy. I do it in a crockpot - easier that way. And I don't use kale. 

Rick and I don't care for kale so I used fresh spinach. If you'd like the recipe I'll send it to you or post it another day. 

Every time I've made this soup it's such a hit. 

_________

My life is getting smaller again since the uptick of Covid. Even if we do get a vaccine in spring do you wish to be the first? I think those in nursing homes will be first as well as our front line workers at hospitals etc. I don't imagine the likes of me will see a vaccine until later in 2021. Normally "they," say it takes 5 to 10 years for a vaccine. That seems long. So all those vaccinations I got as a kid it took them that long to develop?  And what do anti-vaccination people do? They still will get it and die and can they give it to those vaccinated? So many questions and no one leading us with information. 

I listened to a very long interview with Governor Cuomo on Sirius. 

God this man to me is terrific. He made sense. Common Sense. Which no one has anymore. He was very open about trump and even complimented some of his staff who reached out to help when trump stopped all supplies going to NYC and NY state because they were blue. So he is the president of the whole US but he will only help people lining his pockets. Others he can let die. How can a human be so awful? Hitler yes, and now trump too.

_______

Let's jump tracks...

This is a book and soon to be a movie.

Did you see this on The Today Show?

Hair

I saw a crazy neighbor outside while walking Izzy. 
I have not seen her in 8 months. 

I now have salt and pepper hair and no longer dyed brown hair. 

Thank you, Covid. That is a $200 savings each month!

Her: Wow! Your hair. The last time I saw you, you mentioned you wanted to stop coloring your hair. Guess you did. Was it Covid? Honestly, I thought you'd look like shit but I am very surprised at how great it looks.

Me: thanks????

As Izzy and I walked home I thought about that backhanded compliment and had a good laugh. People are friggin' nuts. Do they hear what they say? I just wonder sometimes. Well, the positive out of this is she liked it. I'll take the positive and just laugh. 😁

Is it February Yet?

I am one of few who voted for Biden that is not on an election high. 

Don't get me wrong I am THRILLED he won by over 4.5 million votes and his electoral votes are so far higher. (306 with GA to 214)

But Mango Mussolini is quiet. That should scare us.

You know how when your child is quiet in the other room and you run to see what the hell they are up to? Yep it's like that.
I just feel something and I don't like it. When I get "feelings" over my life I have learned to heed them. Pay attention, something is happening.

As you may or may not know, DC just closed their borders to all.

I don't get how this works to be honest. I know NY has done the same.

With people coming here as tourists I would think this will be difficult.

The only people we saw in the District a week ago without face masks were tourists. How do I know? Their clothing, their visiting of tourist things I had to bring our guests to, and riding segways, etc. Tourists are obvious here. 

God, I want this feeling to go away. It scares me.

In other news. 

I got a call from my gorgeous niece Alexandrea. She and her two sisters want to come to the inauguration. They asked to stay at my home. How can you social distance at the inauguration? I am so torn.   Rick's doctor has said, if he gets this with his pulmonary issues this can do him in. 2020 just sucks. I so would love the girls to be here but...

I am the only one in my family who is diligent about this. They don't wear masks. (2 of the 3) They go about their lives as if nothing is going on. They held a wedding with no masks. They danced. WTH? Alex has already had tests. She is a teacher and a student was exposed. She has had several tests. And let us not forget she lives in the petrie dish called Florida. The other two are in PA and for the first time, they had 80 cases in one day. They will soon see how they should behave to stop this. But will they? 

Speaking of weddings. I follow Karen and Mina from the show Good Bones on Instagram. Mina's sister got married. The band that was paid in full called an hour before the wedding that they were not showing up. They had to call another band at the last hour to come to save the wedding. I saw the videos of them dancing, hugging and laughing. How can a wedding like that take place? This is why we are having another surge. Everyone has gotten used to or comfortable where they are at and they aren't thinking or using any form of common sense or kindness to others. It frustrates me.

Oh well. Nothing I can do but worry about me and my Big Guy. He is dieting right now and he is grumpy. Rick's diets never last more than a week, if that long. But he has gotten big and he has a cardiologist appointment in 3.5 weeks so he is trying to lose weight so he won't get yelled at. WHAT? I said how about you do this to live longer with me? How about you lose this to get off some medication maybe? He laughs. I guess I should be thankful for whatever reason he's doing this right?

Let's hope he can do this for a full 3.5 weeks. If he does. I will then say, How about another 3 weeks? I'm doing it with you. We shall see. It's looking as good as the donald congratulating Joe Biden.

As you can see, hear, feel, I am not my normal self.

So i am going to leave you with some of my weekly memes.

I love bad ass Betty White

I've never seen a star wars movie or sequel but Rick says this fits.

Parody

I won't be able to breathe until he's dead or far far away from DC.  Florida can keep him. Heaven knows Melania won't be keeping him. I can bet the farm on that. Maybe he can canoodle the Melania look-alike, she was kissing on him all over in Pittsburgh Rally. A sure sign it wasn't her along with the fact that her face, hair, and body are different. HA. 

People need to really pay attention to details. Once I paused the TV and showed Rick he was blown away. She's been out there a few times. She is affectionate with him. That should tell you that it is someone else right there. But you'll see.

This parody of Simon and Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence was sent to me over the weekend. I thought I'd share.

Thankful

 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😊😷😷😷

MRI's and Injections

What do you think these anonymous commenters think we are going to do with their 'kill the baby boomers and hope the baby boomers die' comments? Seriously? And not always anonymous, some are called Pauline Hickey or Paul, some have a famous person name. They think they are so clever.

Oh dear, I am going to go cry in the corner now because I'm a baby boomer and you are wishing for my death. We all know it's a troll, maybe not even from this country. Heaven knows when I got several in Arabic, which I can not read, I assumed it told me that baby boomers deserve to die just like the others. 

What thrill is it to do something so silly? I don't get it. 

I do get about 10 a week of that type of comment. Now that I don't get email notifications I can't delete as fast but they are still coming my way. 

Last evening I watched Jimmy Kimmel with David Duchovney. 

I like the guy but most of what he does I never see. I didn't watch Twin Peaks or the UFO show that everyone loved. I did watch Californication for a few years. I like his books. I like his movies. I find he has a dry sense of humor and I do like a funny guy as ya'll know by now. (Make me laugh & I'm yours as Rick always says).  

Anyway, he was telling the story of his 90 yr old mother from Scotland who came to America in the 50s. She NEVER voted in her life. But she hates trump so badly that she got registered and got herself to the polls. At 90. 

So as David said, "Who says trump didn't bring out the votes?
David showed a photo of his mom going to the polls. 

I can't fathom not ever voting until you are 90 but whatever it takes to get you to vote is okay with me.

I am having another spinal injection today at 1pm. Half of me thinks, YIPEE, this should do it then with the pain and sleepless nights. The other half of me says, Oh God, not again, this is not fun. It's not cheap either and as I told you they do not take my insurance. None of the pain clinics take my insurance. Once trump got in office the affordable care act was tossed out of a lot of doctor's office. I pay $400+ something a month for insurance and trump decided to allow Drs to leave. So they did in droves. 

By March this ole baby boomer will be on Medicare and then I'll have to ask, do you take medicare? Some don't as you know but I think from seeing what Rick goes through it is far easier than what I have to deal with now. But my doctor doesn't take medicare either. But I am moving and I don't think I'll have this issue in another state. Then again, what the hell do I know?

Rick has the afternoon off since I can't walk or drive while my right leg is numb.  Knowing the procedure with this doctor and crew I made sure this time was afternoon and on a Friday. Hopefully, this will be the last one for a long time.

Yesterday Rick had an MRI. He said he kept falling asleep while they were imaging his leg. Unfortunately, the woman who was running the MRI kept saying, Mr. H are you okay in there? The 2nd time she asked he said, "I am fine. I am napping, you don't have to ask me anymore okay because you are waking me up." 

I gasped as he tells me this because I thought that was a bit rude. But he said she laughed and took it in the manner in which he said it. Half joking and half-serious. She did not wake him again until it was over. He said he had a nice nap when she stopped talking to him. 

When he was pulled out of the machine she asked how his nap was as she smiled at him above his head. 

He said she was middle eastern and in something like a berka. 

He said he could only see her face and she was stunningly beautiful. 

I said, "how nice for  you" He smiled and said, "yes but all that fabric...."  
That was all he said and for some reason that made me laugh. 'All that fabric'

Before Covid when you got an MRI at this place they gave you headphones and they asked what kind of music you liked and that is what you listened to while in the machine instead of the loud pounding noise the MRI makes. This time they gave him foam earplugs. They told him with Covid, they can't use the headphones. Rick was disappointed. But he said the earplugs muffled the sound enough that it was just a rhythmic beat that put him to sleep. Otherwise, as any of you know who have had an MRI, it sounds like a jackhammer in your head.

This morning Rick was coughing and I said, "Gee that doesn't sound good."  He responded with, " It's just my Covid cough"  

Not funny Ricky.

My friend Melanie calls him Ricky-dick. It applied to him this morning with that smart ass response to me. 

I'm off to get needles stuck in me. I wish I could nap while I had this done. It's over quickly. It's painful but quick. And besides, it gives me an excuse to have a glass of wine after work. I haven't had any wine since our company was here. I'm trying to fight off lbs. But I'm giving myself an excuse tonight. 

Have a wonderful weekend everybody.

Election Humor Meme's.

 Some Election Humor to alleviate some stress.

Okay this below isn't humor. This broke my heart when I saw it on a dear friends instagram feed. I can't say I understand 100% of what he goes through daily but just what I can grasp with my priviliage is difficult to swallow. 

This one below sounds like it's from someone in 3rd grade but this brilliance can only be the donald.  I saw this tweet and I laughed even though it's so sad. I mean if he was just the town idiot it's funny as hell. But the leader of the free world, now it's sad and pathetic. As a friend of mine in Europe said to me yesterday, I really overestimated the American People.  Ah, it's how the world sees us now. Stupid and Ignorant like him.

I have one more meme that I am hoping I can post soon. Fingers crossed.

Crazies

Let's discuss nutjobs that don't live or work in the white house.

We had a woman call and want just a tub refinished. She was a bit crazy on the phone but didn't appear too far out there. She asked a lot of questions. But she never heard the answers because this woman watches children and they were screaming and crying and I could hear what sounded like 10 kids at the very least. She was yelling at them as I'm answering her.

At one point I asked if she understood all that. She didn't even answer me. I then said, "Hello? are you still there?" She was too busy with a lot of kids to be on the phone with anyone.

I put all this info on the work order so if Rick got there and she didn't have done what she needed to do or if she said, "I didn't know that" Rick couldn't ask me why I didn't tell her. (it helps our marriage trust me on this) 

I told her but she wasn't listening.

The tub was completed. She paid and signed off stating she was happy.

I get a call 2 days later from a man who apparently lives in this same house.

I hear kids screaming. He wants us to come back to fix something. I didn't ask what because the screaming was annoying the shit out of me and I could barely hear him. I just told him we'd come back and booked it.

We went back. Rick was shown where she thought it looked light. When Rick moved to the right in front of the window it went away. So he closed the blinds on the window and called her in. She was too busy she said.  He resprayed there anyway, it wouldn't hurt.  He went to her and said it was the shadow from the window but I resprayed there anyway. I'd like you to come to the bathroom to view it. She said, "no, I am busy, just go"  Wow.

Fast forward to 2 days later and a man calls me. As I say hello, he talks over me in an angry voice and says, "Do you, people, even look over your work, or do you just take a check and leave?"  He sounded like George Constanza's father on Seinfeld, everything was yelling.

Gobsmacked and exhausted I said, "Please do not get snarky or take that tone with me sir. We can discuss this like adults. What is the issue? He didn't know but his wife was not happy.  (Seriously that is crazy)

So he talks to me like this and he doesn't even know the issue? I said we will always make it right and I booked a return visit. But I said, "Will your wife be home to view the job after anything is done?" 

He asked why that was necessary.

I told him if she is the one who is not happy we want her there to fix her concerns and to have her tell us it is either fine or not. You told me you didn't even know the issue right?"

Omg that made him blow up - he began to scream. I spoke over him and said I am going to hang up if you continue screaming. 

He did and I hung up.

Asking for her to be there really isn't an unreasonable request on our part. 100% of the time it's the woman who is either happy or unhappy. They are the ones who bitch about the color etc.A woman booked a job and told me she wanted Kohler Bisque color. Her husband was there that day not her. Rick did this in Kohler Bisque.The woman came home and said it was not fine. Rick had to do it all over again. (but he charged just a lot less)  So now Rick will not do this if the woman doesn't approve beforehand if she can't be there. (this was when we started and we learned that lesson quickly)  It's always the woman to be honest with you.

I sent an email confirming our return to them.

The woman wrote back and told me I heard you screamed at my husband how unprofessional of you. I went with you because you have stellar reviews apparently they are all fake.  was going to write back but then I deleted it because why bother? She is severely mentally impaired.

Rick went back and she pointed to the non-slip surface she asked for.

She saw them on a tile that Rick has in his truck so people can decide if this is something they want. She chose to go with it. Now she doesn't like it.

So he removed them and resprayed. He asked her to come in. She said she was too busy. So Rick went and sat with the kids because he wasn't leaving until she saw and approved everything. She asked what the hell he was doing. He said, "I'm just waiting for you not to be busy so you can view this and I can go to the next appointment."  Ooooh, she was not happy. She walked (rick said she pounded her feet the whole way) into the bathroom and said, it looks fine. Rick said, Okay will you sign here? She signed saying she was happy with the outcome.

This morning I get an email from her saying Rick was there and fixed things but he told her he was going to go to his truck and get a clear coat and never came back - never said good-bye or anything.

I call Rick. We don't even do clear coats so I had no idea what she was talking about. I asked him to explain to me what took place before I told him what she said. He told me she came in and signed and approved and I left. I said did you say goodbye? 

He said," she walked me to the door, Margaret!"

Okay.  

Then I shared what she said.  Now he is upset.  Geez.

He asked,"where the hell did she get that from? I won't do clear coats? I would never say I have to get my clear coat. Where the hell...."

I don't know Rick where she got this,  the looney bin?

At the same time we both said, "bet she voted for trump" because she is certifiable and we had a laugh. Some people are so crazy.

The other day a woman said the old color was coming through on her tub.

She has a blue tile surround (3 walls surrounding the tub) When I booked this she did not wish to have the blue tile done, only the blue tub. 

So she now has a white tub and a blue tile surround. 

Rick knew the issue before going into the house. But sometimes customers have to see the answer instead of hearing the answer.

So he brought the roll of brown butcher type paper and some blue painters tape and covered the blue walls - invited her into the bathroom to view the tub. She said, "OMG it's perfect - that was so fast." 

Rick explained he did nothing more than cover the blue walls. The blue was reflecting in the bright white. She laughed, apologized for making him come out for just this and tried to give him a 20.

She then told Rick that maybe that girl in your office was right and I will do the blue tile next. Rick refused the $20 and she called me to book her tile. At least she was nice about it all. When she called to book she told me that my boss was so nice and he made me see the issue. He must have known if he told me that tile was the issue I'd never have believed him. 

That made me laugh but that is exactly why he did it this way. 

Then she told me that he was nice and now I want him to do all my tile in the bathroom. She then asked if I was related to him because we are both so nice. I laughed and said nope, just my work husband. wink wink

She got a kick out of that. She was so nice. Why must nice be rare?

Mistakes happen, it's how you deal with those mistakes and how you fix them that makes a difference. Most people don't get upset if an error occurs or like this no error but they had concerns. But then you get a nut job like the first lady that always throws a wrench into your week/day.  

It's a bad enough week already we didn't need her.

Waaaah

 😰

Holidays

Not a fan of the holiday season as you all know who read me.
But I do admit there are two Thanksgiving movies that are 2 of my favorites, thanksgiving or not.

Home for the Holidays and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

The movie, Home For The Holidays, was directed by Jodi Foster and stars Holly Hunter, Robt. Downey Jr, Ann Bancroft, and Charles Durning. The last two are big favorites of mine and they don't disappoint me here. Have you seen this one?

I relate to this movie on so many levels. The line, 'I look around and think, who are these people, where do I even come from'  I have uttered that line since the age of 14. This movie makes me happy though. 

Then there is Planes Trains and Automobiles.

This movie is everything one goes through who travels a great deal. 

When I saw it I was flying the majority of the week, getting stranded, stuck with a fat man next to me overflowing into my seat on the plane who CLIPPED HIS TOENAILS WHILE SITTING IN HIS SEAT!  I've been stuck in cities that I had no plans on going to only to be shuttled somewhere else or renting a car - just the whole damn movie was much like my life at the time. I've made friends with those stranded with me. I've done all of this movie, except blow up my car etc.  I love John Candy is this movie. You just want to hug the guy. Well, at least I do. 

 

I had horrific travel stories as everyone does who travels all week for a living. I also had some fun ones that started out as a nightmare like this one.  It makes me smile to this day. I often wonder if that older woman is still with us or the other is still up in Baltimore. 

That was one long day which was horrible but turned out very nicely. 

And as I always say to Rick, and I did it in high heels. 

You see Rick and I both traveled and told each other our horror stories. 

One Friday evening over a glass of wine we were both home and talking about our travel week. 

When he was done I said, "okay you win, but I did all that in heels" 

So that became a thing I'd say to one-up him and it never failed to make him laugh. Rick has used it as well.  Recently when he had his knee drained with nothing to drain he was hurting. I said to him that I have never had my knee drained. He said, "when you do, wear heels, so you can tell me how bad it was in heels." 

I threw a pillow at him. Yes, we are weird, that that sentence can make us laugh so hard. Inside joke, I suppose that just doesn't translate.

I'm queuing up my holiday movies for this thanksgiving. 

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving movies?