Good Riddance 2022!

Whether you prefer to stay home in your comfy clothes eating popcorn on New Year's Eve & watching a movie or you prefer to get all dressed up and go out on the town -----

Have Fun and Be Safe!

Kindness

I have friends in Buffalo. Yes, they are used to bad weather but this one took the cake even for them. This was bad on a Buffalo level. Can you even imagine as the snow melts you find dead people? In snow mounds? or in cars? on sidewalks? Being trapped in your house or worse, not at your home for days. They have already reached 100 inches of snow and it's only about to be January. They have a lot of winter left. Their record I believe is 200 inches. I recall a few years ago when they were in a contest with my hometown and my hometown lost by just 2 inches or something like that. Wild to me. It's 62 today as I type this. I don't want that kind of weather in my life that is for sure! Then who does? 

I found this story to be a heartwarming story of kindness. Everyone in this story went above and beyond. Because she put this on Facebook live she got help. 
But as you can see when she went live she was frantic. She didn't want this man to die. My understanding was she called everyone including the National Guard to come help get this man medical help. But strangers on FB showed up to help. 

I hope this man survives and doesn't lose his hands and feet. I also hope someone repays this woman somehow. My God, she was an angel!!

I have seen such nice stories too with a tour bus that got stranded outside a couple's home. Did you see this? A tour bus of mostly South Korean tourists was heading to Niagara Falls when they got stranded.  They knocked on the home's front door asking for help. They were invited in for dinner - here's the story.   I love how the homeowners had many Korean foods in their home pantry and their guests made them a feast!

Then there were a group of young people whose flights were canceled and they were all stranded. They were trying to go from Tampa to Cleveland.  Here is their story.  They were all so young and cute, check out the video.

I lived that last story but with only 2 other women. I still think about it and the moments of quiet over the bridge always make me smile.

Still on holiday break -- so here's my canceled flight story and my drive home with strangers.

Kindness - it's out there if you look very, very hard.

Crest Strips and 2023

Do you recall my story about my attempt at using Crest Strips?

Well, we saw a commercial for them last night.

Rick reminded me of this event and how much he was so grossed out by what he thought I had done.

To this day it makes me laugh because he's known me for 35 years how could he know me so well and yet think I would do this? Gross.

But he reminded me last night how much he was shocked, appalled, and disgusted, and listening to him tell this just makes me laugh. After all of that my teeth are no whiter. I don't have a lot of porcelain left and what I did have chemo has done a number on them so I guess teeth that look like chicklets are out of the realm of possibility for me. 

Here is the crest strip story because I am still under holiday sedation. LOL

2022 was a shit show but not as bad as 2020 and 2021. So let's hope Nostradamus is wrong and 2023 will be far better. Please?

The Holidays

  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

BUON NATALE!

HAPPY HANUKAH!

I hope each of you has the holiday you wish for in every language!

Blizzard Fun

There are times when I think people have gone mad.

Then I think, well, you were in the industry so you know what to do so give those people a break.

Then I think, Nah, they're nuts.

So far we are warm and toasty inside. It's bad but it could be far worse. Like my friend in Bismark. Those poor folks have -7 without wind chill and lows in the -20s.  Yep, we're doing just fine here. We have power and a great many around us do not. We have food, wine, batteries, and candles. 

We are set.

This weather system has been on the news for a week. 

If you were surprised I'd ask, where have you been?

I knew my niece who was just up here in Raleigh from South Florida was going north to see the family.

I asked if she ever watches the news when she appeared surprised by my comments on her flights. No. Only social media. First mistake.

She said that if she doesn't see it on social media she doesn't see it. 

Oh my, was my first thought. Ah, Millennials.

We never ever will go up north again during the holiday season after one year of being stuck there for days longer than we were supposed to. 

We missed work and it was crazy stupid of us to go up there during winter. 

So we will normally go up in the fall and say, "see you in spring." 

My niece was flying into Buffalo from Florida she told me. While arriving in Buffalo makes it a quick 80 minutes to my parent's home along lake Erie, I suggested she not do this during winter. But no one listens to me. I get it, it was cheaper to fly into Buffalo, but guess why? Bad winter weather in Buffalo, I know shocked aren't you? 

She booked a flight into Buffalo and was renting a car to drive to my parents along I-90.  I was watching the Today show and saw the weather, I saw it on the evening news and then I text her earlier in the week.  The forecasters were worried about I-90 closing due to visibility and blizzard conditions. 

I suggested she call the airlines now and rebook before you don't have a choice and they pick the date. BUT, she kept saying, BUT what if it isn't canceled. Oh, but it will be, it's Buffalo for 1 thing and 2 it's a blizzard. 

This may impact the plane coming into you or the stop in Atlanta, etc. 

I suggested calling the airline reservation line or the travel agent you booked it with. "Oh no, I did it online." 

Oh, then you are on your own. You can call the airline but well, you'll see.

She didn't call the airline to be rerouted before others called the airlines. 

Nope, she waited until I saw it was canceled and I sent her the site link. 

Then the airlines rescheduled her on their terms so she now leaves on Dec 27th, not the 24th. Told ya. She now asks me my opinion. I told her what I had told her before. If you had called before the flight was canceled they were waiving all change fees so you could have said, can I get the 25th? You'd still be there for Xmas dinner. The day after the blizzard.
But you waited. You get what you get. At least the highway will be open again by the date you arrive.

The moral of the story is don't fly to Buffalo NY or Erie PA in winter. 

Wait until the thaw, around May. 😀

So far we are warm and toasty inside. It's bad but it could be far worse. Like my friend in Bismark. Those poor folks have -7 without wind chill and lows in the -20s.  She is visiting her family there from Vancouver. I can't even imagine that kind of cold. Brrr....

Yep, we're doing just fine here. Hope you all are toasty warm inside as well.

Me, The old fuddy duddy

The hair salon I've been going to since moving here is making me testy.
They will not talk on the phone. 

They are millennials you know, so they only text. 

To make an appointment you must go online. They make changes that I would prefer to discuss. Like when they raised the price $21.00. 

When I got to the salon I asked why it was costing more this time vs the last time I got a haircut. Why Kyle was now a Level 3 stylist she tells me.  

Okay, I understood that, but I wasn't thrilled. When this happened at another salon, it popped up that they were letting me know my stylist has moved up to Level 3 or whatever and that this time they will honor the old price but her new price was going to be XYZ from now on. I thought that was a nice way of doing it since it was all online.

Today I had to cancel my January appointment because I am attempting to grow out my short pixie haircut and felt it didn't need to be trimmed just yet. So I had to text that I wanted to cancel since they don't allow you to do that online. Then to rebook it stated I needed to pay 50% down upon making the appointment. 

F-No!!

I text them and asked why I must do that. I was told because that is how it works if you chose to book online. Choose to book online? I'd surely prefer to call you and make an appointment but you don't allow that. When I asked why you could only book online the first time I went they made this lame ass excuse that with all the blow dryers going it is difficult to hear the phone.  I laughed and asked how many people believe that? She too laughed and just said, "well". I understood. they don't wish to use the phone.

Today when I text I told them to cancel my appointments. 

When they asked if I wanted to rebook I said no. Then and only then did they say, well if you tell us what you want we'll rebook it this time for you. This time? No. This time only is not what I want. Kyle is booked 2 months in advance. I am not paying for a haircut 2 months in advance. 

Yes, 50% is only $31 but it's the principal for me. do they keep it if you need to cancel? It didn't say and I didn't ask because frankly, I knew the answer. 

I am not doing this. Period.

Now I need to find someone all over again. No one I've researched does anything with a human touch. Must all be online. Can't ask questions. 

I was considered a barber cut in the drop down menu online at the last salon which is why it was only $62. So looking at other places what is it called? Argh! And since I am growing it out is it still a barber cut? What is their name for a haircut? How I dislike all this impersonal way of doing business.

I will find a new place. I am certain I will have a much longer commute but if I can get a cut and speak to a human I will be fine.

The doctors here make you schedule online, the hair salon you must schedule online, and physical therapy you must schedule online. I am an old fart who doesn't like this way of doing business.

I'm old and boy does it show. 

Friends

Friends come and friends go. 

But do real friends really go? Or it's just their time is up? 

Has the friendship just run its course and now everyone needs to move on?

I'm leaning toward the latter. Has this ever happened to you?

I have had friends, maybe more acquaintances who just disappeared of late. You call to check on them and they say they are fine, but you know that isn't true. You reach out via text, call, etc and they don't respond. I am no longer chasing them. I am too old. If you don't wish to be friends anymore fine. It just can't be one-sided all the time. It is hurtful, and mean, and not something I wish to tolerate anymore. 

If they don't care why should I? How many times do you get ignored that is appropriate to stop the one-sided communication?

I am thinning the herd.

There are two bloggers who stopped blogging who are my good friends now. One lives here in my backyard. One is 2 hrs away. They are more friends to me than others. They reach out. They both sent me the greatest cards while ill. They respond when you text or call. They drop notes to see if you're doing okay and when you do the same for them they respond. We make plans to get together and do. We share. They both have very busy lives and yet friendship doesn't stop for them. I hear it all the time, I'm so busy. 
A lame excuse.

So those who just chose to check out I'm done too. It really is okay, the friendship just ran its course I think. They can do that I suppose.
I don't have time to play games or be involved in toxic relationships. 

I'm too old to play that game. And truth be told I should never have played that game when I was younger either. If you say, I'm not dealing well with things can I get back to you later? Absolutely! That would worry me and I would continue to check in in a roundabout way (maybe a spouse or other friends of ours) to be sure they were okay but there is a fine line between bothering them and being sure they aren't going to jump off a bridge. 

I'm lucky to have friends all over the country because I have lived all over the country. I also worked in the travel industry and those of us in that industry know your friends /family are all over the globe.  

But you miss them. You still stay in touch. Calls, texts, emails, and the like are all small pieces of the rope that ties us all together.  

None of my real friends say things like oh I'm too busy. 

If a man did that to a woman everyone would chastise those men! 

Too busy for a quick text women would scream. Too busy for 20 minutes in your day to reach out? You would say those men just don't care enough about you and you'd be right and you'd move on. So I am doing the same with fair-weather acquaintances and friends. 

I admit that at first you're hurt but then you realize this is your last chapter in life and why are you doing this to yourself? Move it along. It ran its course. That's okay and we have to learn it's okay.

It was nice until it wasn't and that's your sign as Bill Engvall used to say. 
A big sign, flashing lights, and flares.

My cousin B. is like a brother/friend to me. His life at times has been difficult. His life at times has been more stressful than any of us can imagine. But he never lets you down. 

He just had surgery on his brain. He called me just as I was finishing my 6-month journey of drugs and chemo to see how I was doing. 
He said no more text, I need to hear your voice. He sounded just fine.  

He was funny and loving and all that B. is. We were on the phone for an hour mostly laughing and joking. He and I get one another.

Then I heard 2 months later he went to his hometown and mine and my mom and others were concerned because he just didn't look like himself. A swollen face for one. No one knew what was happening to him and why. He began to have cognitive issues as well as falling etc. I worried that like his mother he may have dementia. They finally figured it out. He was leaking spinal fluid into his brain. They had to drill a hole and release the fluid. After they saw it worked, they then went into his head in surgery to put in a stent so the fluid could drain. He is doing so much better, his cognitive skills are coming back, his balance coming back, his face is back and he's funny again. 

I sent a funny card to him and he text me yesterday asking where I find these cards. (em and friends online) It made him laugh so hard it hurt his head. SORRY I explained, sure didn't mean to do that. But glad it made him laugh because he said he has needed a good belly laugh. I told him that is always what the doctor orders. I was just so relieved he is coming back and they found the issue. If he wasn't related he would still be a friend that I would think I was so lucky to have in my life.

I have a great many wonderful friends and I can't imagine my life without them. They are all like a warm hug. I don't wish to lose them. 

To the others, it was sure fun while it lasted. 

I've decided it was fun until it wasn't and it is just a natural course of life and everyone moves on.

Have you ever just watched a friend disappear?

Google Maps

A while back I told you all about Rick being in a clinical trial for RSV. 

After his initial shot, he was sent home with a thermometer and a diary link. The first week he had to report in every day via the link. His temp must be taken and reported on this link daily. 

After the questions, he could tell them if he had any issues at all. 

Simple things like a headache were even to be mentioned.

After the first week, he only has to check in via the link on M-W-F. 

Last week he had a headache, then sniffles, then just feeling like, what's that professional term? Oh, like crap.😉

On this Wednesday check-in, he wrote how awful he's been feeling since Monday and they immediately called him. They asked him to come in for an exam. All of this is free including any medications he may need. Plus they pay him to come in and see a doctor. (if hospitalized they pay that too)

He was examined this morning and thankfully he has a common cold with the onset of bronchitis. The rattling just began. They gave him a steroid inhaler that normally costs $600 on Good RX and due to being in the trial he got this for free as well as they paid him $120 for coming in. Wild right?

They were glad this was not RSV and he will take this until better and continue his check-ins and if things change - they will see him again.

Each time he goes in whether to see the doctors or for something they request it is automatically $120. The monthly pay for doing the diary is $80. Honestly, it feels like we're stealing. But there ya go.

Rick got home and shared the experience and said, I'd go to the doctors more if they just paid me. Yes, who wouldn't? 

They again stressed to Rick to mask up. 

Right now it's very bad out there he was told with the flu/RSV, covid, and pneumonia. 

I do mask up already. I have seen more masks lately than I did during the peak of Covid. But there is no way I wish to get anything so mask-wearing is my thing. I've had a flu shot, all my boosters, and I've had a pneumonia vaccine so I SHOULD be okay but why chance it. Besides a mask means no makeup for me. 

 At some point last night our mailbox was knocked over. We had a delivery at 5:00ish (AM) from Amazon. I was up when I heard it hit the front door. By the time I got to the door to see what the sound was, I found no one was there except for my package. I never even saw that the mailbox at the end of the drive had been knocked over. It was too dark. Did the Amazon driver do this? It was fine yesterday when we took our walk and then got our mail.

It was intact when Rick brought out the garbage last night too. 

I'm thinking the amazon driver did it.

On Rick's way home from his exam today he stopped and got some things needed to fix it, like cement. It is rainy, cold, and damp today. Okay not cold, 60-61 but it's damp. I told him to let it go - it is upright now and this can wait. I mean he's sick and he wants to go pour cement outside in the rain. Men! He wasn't going to listen to me but if he gets sicker I will remind him of what I said because I am a ball buster. And yes, I said that to him and he laughed knowing full well I will. 

I used to get bronchitis every year like clockwork. 

But since my discovery of having celiac and changing my diet, I no longer have seasonal allergies, have not had bronchitis, no more eczema etc. So while it sucks to eat like this I don't mind not getting sick all the time. I have had bronchitis every year since my teens. I do not wish to get this from Rick so I told him to not kiss me. Bad enough we breathe the same air and are together 24/7, but I don't need to swap spit and get this. I am not in a clinical trial so my medicine won't be free. He laughed. He's been staying far away for some time now so I didn't get this. But I mean how far can he go? It's humorous really.

Today I also dropped off some books at the library. As I was leaving I was heading toward Target. But I didn't know how to get to "my" target from here. So I put it in my phone. But google maps wouldn't come up. I tried several times. Then I began to laugh alone in my car probably looking like a damn fool. So I remembered there is a Garmin GPS in the middle glove box. I took it out and put in the address not noticing anything else. It told me it was over 4hrs away. WHAT? Then I realized it was still set to Virginia. 

So then I'm playing with settings and not finding what I need. 

Which makes me giggle all the more. I am stranded at the library and honestly, I can think of worse places to be stranded. I tried my phone again.

I had internet but not google maps. So I then pulled up a map and tried to see which way to go. I thought I had it when Rick called me. He asked where I was at. He needed me to pick something up for him. I began to laugh and I told him I'm in the library parking lot because I don't know how to get home.  He told me to shut my phone down and then turn it back on. 

I did that and it worked. 

I need maps people!

I made it to Target and I made it home.

Whew!!

A conversation in our home.

R: How many years has it been?

P: Been for what?

R: How many have we been together?

P: Together or married?

R: Both.

P: 35 and 29.

R: For which?

 Now I am laughing.

P: Seriously think about what you just asked me?

Now he is laughing at himself.

R: Well, you knew what I meant. You just have to bust my balls, don't you?

P: Hell Yeah, that is the glue that has held us together for 35 yrs. 

R: Oh is that what it is?

P: Well and that we're too tired to leave one another.

R: Well, that is certainly true.

P: Oh, I so don't wish to train someone all over again Rick, you can leave me but I'm going with you. You know that's my rule.

R: Ah, I can't handle two women now anymore anyway and I'm too tired to run. Remember I no longer bend or run.

I'm laughing

P: Good, then we'll have our 29th anniversary in a few weeks.

R: Yep.

He says yep as if he knew that was the correct number. I could have said 36 and he'd say yep.

Weather Outside is Frightful.

My niece's husband is one of the coaches for a small college football team in Florida. 

His team made it to the playoffs and they are set to play in the NAIA Football National Championship being held in Durham NC on the 17th of December. 

She will be coming up from south Florida for the games and she is bringing her daughter and asked if we could meet them. Are you kidding me? Of course, I can't wait!!  Her in-laws are also coming so they have made all kinds of plans. 

The school has arranged their hotels etc. 

I asked if we could babysit Avery while they did adult things. She said Avery goes to the games too. Damn it. I bet grandma and grandpa will probably have her. 

I so wanted to have Avery stay with us for a bit. She is just the cutest little shit. 

I don't get enough time with them. Oh well, at least I will see her on Saturday. 

Rick said, 'let's hope for a flight cancellation and they have to come to stay with us"

I laughed and said that is a horrible thought but I so understand!

They arrive Friday night. The game kick-off time is 12/noon Saturday. 

We are meeting for dinner Saturday and then they live early morning Sunday.

It is a whirlwind. 

My niece lives in Florida and it's going to be cold here so I warned her. She's been in Florida for less than 5 yrs I believe but she like me can no longer deal with the cold.

The storm that is dumping snow and rain on the west coast is moving here.

I saw where our weather will be changing by Thursday and it's going to be very cold. About 20 degrees colder than normal. I wanted her to know so she could plan accordingly. Sitting at a football game does not sound appealing to me in cold weather. But then I don't care for football so I wouldn't enjoy it in the summer either.

She asked the temp. I told her right now 62 but that storm you are seeing on TV will be coming our way. It will mean colder than normal temps beginning on Friday when you arrive. Highs only in the 40s and lows in the 20s. Brrr....

That is so not the weather we are used to and I know she is gonna freeze. 

I am gonna freeze and I don't live in Florida.

I asked if she had gloves, thermal anything, etc. She has a hat, scarf, gloves, and her coat from living up north. Last night we were texting. I told her I had to be in Durham on Thursday for a gyno/specialist appointment at Duke. 

I can drop a box off for them at the hotel which is about 3 miles away from my doctor's office.

I called the hotel to be sure this was something they would allow me to do. 

I've done it often but each hotel is different so I thought I would check. 

No issues, in fact, they said it is done all the time. 

At least now when they arrive on Friday night they can just give this box to them at check-in. They will be all set for Saturday's early game. 

I know she wears a medium but I have a size large thermal top. It is silky and thin like a pair of silk panties but it is a Thinsulate warm top. Think modern long johns. 

I also have heated socks. I will charge them and they will be ready to go. I asked her about the top if she wanted to try it even though it is a size large. She said OH MY GOD YES. So she didn't seem to mind that it is a size larger than she wears.  

It's thin and under a sweater or sweatshirt who will know except she will be warm. 

I then asked if they were going to take blankets from the hotel to use at the game to wrap around their legs etc. She said they really didn't wish to pack that so they were hoping they could take things from their room. I told her I would give her blankets too.

I washed all the items Sunday. These blankets were in the garage storage because I used them at the beach a lot. So they needed washed they smelled stuffy even though I knew they were clean when they were put away.  

I have put together a box of two big Mexican blankets, a Thinsulate top for her to wear under her clothes, hand warmers for 5 people, heated socks for her, a pair of Merrells, and some fun things for her daughter.  We will be having dinner with them Saturday so she can give me all the stuff back and then they fly home very early Sunday morning. 

I told her what was in the box and she was so excited. The blankets she kept saying were such a good idea. She and her MIL were concerned about sitting in the stands and freezing. They really didn't wish to pack things like that. They just wanted a carry-on. The blankets are both huge and they are very warm blankets. I literally got them in Tijuana which is a long bad story. 😊

I charged my socks and then this morning after I saw they were fully charged I tried them by inserting my hand in them. Rick kept saying to try them on to see if they were working. I had washed them I wasn't going to put them on my feet. 

They got warm quickly so I know they are ready to be worn.

She is gonna love them. As she will all the warm things in the box. This weather is going to be a shock for her and her in-laws. They are from Florida so unlike her who grew up on lake Erie and has lived in the tundra, they do not have clothes for this.

When I saw I had so many more hand warmers I decided to put enough in there for everyone. I would bet they may poo-poo at first but by the end of 1st quarter, they will love them.

She asked me why I had all this stuff since I've been in the south for so long. 

The weather in VA and here is almost the same. 5 degrees give or take if they are different. Of course, if it is not the same temp then it's warmer here. 

I explained that since I have lived in VA and here totaling over 25 yrs I am no longer able to deal with the cold like I used to. So I have all this because I had a dog to walk. My dog preferred cold weather. She could walk forever if cold. I could not. So I had hand warmers, heated socks, hat, gloves, scarves, and Thinsulate tops. (I lost the bottoms somewhere in the move which is odd.) I said I am no longer a tough snowbird, I am a weather wuss now. If it's in the 40s/30s I am freezing and I need all that stuff to be walking a dog. Now I walk every morning and find it helpful to wear some of these things when it does get cold and I can't blame Izzy. But it hasn't been that cold until this coming week.

She is going to be flying up to our hometown on lake Erie over Xmas and it will be far colder up there that is for certain and I can bet my house on the fact that they will have snow and lots of it. So she will be going through this again in another week. Her daughter, 3 years old, has never seen snow so this will be a real treat for her. 

She asked us if we wanted to go to the game. I told her that we really want to support Myles but in all honesty, we don't understand football so we will have to find another way to support him. She howled. She knows we are not football people but she wanted to ask. 

I hope where you are the weather is not bad, no mudslides, no tornados, no heavy snow or blizzard conditions. Stay Warm!

Password Breach

 Last evening I made "my" popcorn as Rick refers to it and we settled in for a movie. Nothing like popcorn and wine with a movie. 😁

The movie is called Don't Worry Darling and it was on HBO and HBO max. 

When it was over Rick turned to me and said, "What the hell did we just watch?"

Good question!

I will say that Harry Styles was far better than I would have ever thought and that Florence Pugh is the reason to watch it at all. She is very good here.

Cross between Stepford wives and I have no idea what.

If you've seen it please tell me what happened at the end. What was the experiment that they wouldn't share? It was a bad movie and honestly poorly directed. That was the other thing, Olivia Wilde was being hailed as this great director. 

Oh no, this was not her best.

We received a message from google a few months back stating that our passwords were all compromised. So I had to change 150 or so passwords. I started with banking which I felt was most important and ended with media like Sirius, Hulu, hbomax, Netflix etc.

Because I share with my niece I had to give her my new sign-in. I also share HBO max with my friend Melanie so I had to let her know of the password/sign-in changes.

Then this week I received an email from HBO Max saying we see you added a profile. And they give you the customer support number if you need help. I went into our HBO account and saw that the profile added was Gary. My friend Melanie's husband is Gary so I assumed it was his. I text her to ask and she said NO he says he didn't remember doing that.

Because she said it wasn't him I changed everything again to be safe. Today I got an email stating she thinks it was her husband. He was doing something with Roku in the bedroom. He doesn't think he did the profile thing but he also isn't certain he didn't. She was apologizing profusely. I told her it was okay. We made the change and we're all fine.

Gary has just been through the wringer with esophageal cancer and radiation etc. Then some issues with prostrate and more radiation. So the guy has been through hell in the last year. He hasn't had chemo though.

She told me that he has been doing a lot of 'stupid' things more often than usual. She is beginning to worry about his mental health. I said I found out that chemo brain is a real thing and it will take up to a year for me to feel back to normal. Could radiation have done this to him as well?  I'd ask the doctor before you panic.

I get it though, we're in our mid-60s and shit begins to happen.

I told her if she was going to watch Don't Worry Darling to please explain it to me.

She asked what it was about and I said I don't know. Part Stepford Wives and part who the hell knows. I was as confused as ever by the end as was Rick. She laughed and said that isn't a good recommendation.  I told her to watch for shit and giggles and let me know her thoughts. I can't wait to hear from someone who has watched it. What was that? What was that ending and what does it mean? Did everyone die? I feel stupid because I did not get this.

Have any of you seen it and can you please explain the ending? 

What was the Victory Project besides a misogynistic treatment of women? Oh they know too much, they must be insane, let's drug 'em, kill 'em, give them electrical shocks.

When it was over I googled reviews. 

This line from one review says it all to me.

Should have read them before I watched huh?

'Don't Worry Darling is a pretty film to look at, and has a partly intriguing mystery on its outset, but it ultimately succumbs to a lack of development and a predictable, half-baked ending that just isn't worth the two-hour wait to get there.

I put a trailer up but blogger said it was too racy so I took it down. Have they been out into the world? This stuff is in prime time now. Geez. 

Friday

After my appointment with the chiropractor on Thursday I headed to the library. I wanted to get a library card. 

It's a nice small library. Not really small but smaller than the one I went to in Fairfax. Anyway, everyone was so helpful and nice. Then the woman helped me put some books on hold and showed me which computers to use for that.

I came back with 2 books to check out. 2 were put on hold for me and they will alert me via email when they come back in.

In the meantime, the ladies showed me their book club. They have a book club for food books/cookbooks and they have a book club for novels. 

I saw the novel for the first book club meeting in January. I googled the book and it is something I most definitely would read. The book club is at 10:30am on the 2nd Thursday of the month. I can't wait. 

As I said to Rick, it could be a bust, or I can meet like-minded people. 

It's something I want to do so whatever happens happens right?

I win either way because I am reading again!

I came home with books and pamphlets about the library and its activities. 

I may consider seeing if they have any part-time jobs available. I would love to work around books. I don't want a full-time job but a couple days out of the house may be something I would enjoy.

As I was filling out forms at the library the wonderful woman who was helping me was peppering me with questions. How long have I lived here? Are you from NY?  No, I asked why would you think that? She said your sweatshirt. I looked down and laughed. Duh!, I said. She laughed. 

I explained it was a baseball thing. Oh, she says, I guess I shouldn't assume. I told her well I would assume from my sweatshirt too. This is the woman who gave me a tour of the library, my pamphlets for the book club and then passed me on to another woman. 

The 2nd woman reminded me of an aging hippie. She was dressed a bit like Frankie on Grace and Frankie. She had almost waist-length wavy gray hair. She was a feisty bird and was making wisecracks. 

It was so friggin' refreshing after Wednesday's day of awful people and awful service. 

I left there on a high. 

See what I mean, I drove 4 miles outside of my county and was in Wake county where people are somewhat normal and nice. The county I live in is filled with rednecks, farmers and bigots. When the woman asked me if I lived near such and such in Garner I said no I live in south Garner, Johnston county. The smile left her face and she just said, Ooh.

I said, I understand that 'Ooh', I hate it too, and probably for all the reasons you said, 'Ooh.' But your realtor isn't allowed to tell you that unfortunately. 

We both laughed and dropped that topic!

Rick began a movie with J.K.Simmons and Sissy Spacek. I love both of these actors a great deal. It is on Prime and it's called Night Sky. 

I saw the first episode but I have to be in the right mind set to watch this and I just wasn't. I was tired and my body is sore from the chiropractor visit and I just didn't feel like watching a movie.  Sci-Fi too which normally isn't my genre but it isn't like star wars or that kind of sci-fi. 

I read where it deserved better than it received from people. Because no one was watching it was not getting a second season. 

Here's a trailer in case it is something you may enjoy. 

Again, it's on Prime if you subscribe to that.

Just a quick drop in

I did not plan to write today but wanted to share this.

I went to my old chiropractor this morning. I had manipulations/adjustments and dry hydrotherapy (which is wonderful) and walked out paying nothing. So that just proves to me that this other place was a big scam!!

I am so tight and so sore and he said this is what happens after someone has been hospitalized or sick for a long time. Yep all that laying around.  He suggested a massage. (Wanna give me $200 for it?)  Maybe at the first of the year, I will do just that. 

Okay just wanted to share what we all knew but now we know for certain.

Big scam yesterday. 

Appointments

I had an appointment with the cardiologist in early November and they called and canceled it. They said they would switch me to Dec 10th at 3pm. I said fine. But unbeknownst to me because he didn't write it on the calendar as asked, Rick had an appointment there the same day at 9am. 

We are down to 1 car right now. So Rick has to drive to Cary at 9a for 2 hr appointment and then hurry back in this direction and then I drive back there. I thought I could sit there but then I'd have to sit for 6 hrs until my appointment. (at 3pm) then Rick would have to sit there for 4 hrs. It wasn't a great option. I realize we are retired but who wants to sit in a doctor's office. Especially this one with no TV to amuse me. 
I called the doctor's office and explained and asked if it was possible since they canceled my first appointment to help me make this work out for us. Can Rick come in later? Or closer to my time? Can I come in closer to Rick's appointment time? 

No one said, "gee let me work on that and get back to you" 
But no, I was met with "Sorry it is what it is what are you going to do?"

I said I would think about it and get back to them.

Now every day at my old job I would call customers and say, 'this customer is selling her house and her tub must be done before closing and they moved her closing to such and such, would you be willing to switch dates with them? 90% said yes. Or a contractor was working on the remodel and they weren't ready for us because they were behind so I would switch folks if they were willing. We normally threw something in like a free non slip surface ($50) or offered something for the inconvenience. It was not their fault or the former customer's fault or ours. It was generally a contractor's fault.

Some said no, I understood. BUT I TRIED TO HELP THE CUSTOMER. 

I didn't just blow them off. The fact that they canceled on me with no notice the day before my appointment and inconvenienced me causing me to move things to make this work doesn't bother them one bit. 

Rick and I talked about it. If this were close by the 6 hrs in between appointment times, it wouldn't be a big deal. But it's not close. So I called back today and asked again if they could help me in any way. She said her job was to schedule not to move people for my convenience. Okay then bitch. 

"Can I move my appointment then?" 

She flipped out. "You know the doctors in this group are very busy and I can't just overbook for you." 

"I wasn't asking you to overbook for me but to make me a new appointment on a different date that would work for me. I didn't chose this date, you called and canceled my original appointment and gave me this date/time"

"Fine, how about in March will that work for you?"

Oh my god, the snarky bitchy tone. I so wanted to respond in kind but knew it wouldn't help my cause, but I was livid. 

"If March is the soonest I guess I will take March. I will need refills on my Rx then."

"pfft, That's not my problem."

That did it. I'm sure she could even have meant, it's not her area of work because she is a scheduler. But at that point, it didn't matter this young bitch was all I could take. I instead said, "Okay then let's cancel this Friday's appointment and I will find another doctor. Thank you for your time today"

She exhaled loudly so I would know she was fully annoyed and then said, "Good." and hung up.

So I canceled my appointment and decided since everyone at Duke has been top-notch for my eye why not just see if there is a doctor taking new patients at Duke. I certainly didn't wish to drive to Durham. They have many offices and I am certain there will be one near me. So I did my google thing. Yep, an office in Raleigh right by Wegman's and Costco. Yea I know where it's at and I love the location so I jumped on it. I picked out doctors that interested me and called and made an appointment. But 2 of the doctors were retiring this summer so they weren't taking new patients. I also didn't want someone right out of school either. I know, pain in the ass that I am. This doctor came from St Louis Heart and Vascular I was told and honestly, that means nothing to me. But I'm giving it a go. She works at this location M, T and Wednesday only. I want this location it's a quick 20-minute drive. So I go on January 3rd now. In the meantime, if I should need refills my regular doctor will have to do it for me.
No one makes anything easy. 

I bet Rick will say something to this doctor when he sees him. I told him not to but Rick feels he should know. The problem to me is that I don't think they give a flying F. That's where the problem begins.

Then if that weren't enough I am having a neck issue. I found a chiropractor here that I went to twice but it's so hard to get into him. He works 3.5 days a week and takes 2 hr lunches and then back to the office. Nice gig right? I couldn't get in so I called another. I asked if they took medicare. They said they did indeed. I said in the past it has covered everything including my co-pays is there anything I need to know? She said Nope.

I get there today. Fill out more paperwork than I ever did at Duke for Pete's sake. The last page is telling me what they are going to charge me today. Office visit, this and that of which I had no idea what it was. So the visit was going to be hundreds. So I opened the door and said can we go over this financial page. The woman walks into the room and explains that my medicare doesn't cover the office visit. So I have to pay just shy of $400 out of pocket, then she went into all other things. I told her I just wanted one thing I don't need all this. Oh but that is what they do. 

I asked, then what does my insurance cover? Spinal manipulation. That's it? Yes. 

I gave her my paperwork and said the following, "I called and I asked about charges and medicare. I was told it was covered and you accepted medicare as well as our supplements. So I made an appointment here. Now you are telling me I'll be lucky if I get out of here paying shy of $400. I have gone to other chiropractors and have not had to pay a dime. What could I have asked you to get this information?

Then the hand goes on the hip and she says, "well they probably didn't file it incorrectly."

I said, "do you know what EOBs are?"

"Of course, an explanation of benefits that are normally sent to you from your insurance."

I said, "yes and I read them and I see what they paid for, office visits, manipulation, etc. So telling me they did it wrong would mean that wouldn't be on the EOB. Something feels wrong here and I am not comfortable with this.

And honestly, I wasn't planning on paying $400 today. So I am going to leave (as I hand her my paperwork.) I'm sorry for wasting your time. But may I recommend you tell people all this when they ask. Because not doing so makes me feel like it's a scam.  I'm sorry.

I left and drove home with my neck still in pain but again I'm livid. What is with this place? Did I not ask the right questions?  This was the closest I've come to flipping out I was so angry. But I kept my cool until I got in the car. I screamed and pounded the steering wheel. I'm exhausted, I hurt and I'm broke. I am not paying $400 for something I can have insurance pay. I'm certain most people would just stay and hand them a credit card. But I'm 66 now. I don't do that. At 40 I would have paid it and been angry that I did but I would have been embarrassed to just leave as I did. For some reason being old now has made me not take their shit. I was polite but said what I had to say. Gee, I should leave a review. LOL

Mikey

I was offered a test for the Brca gene ,many years ago. 

This is the gene to show if you carry it, you may get breast cancer. 

Because my mom died of this at age 44 and her sister died of it in her 70's. Everyone assumed I'd want to know.

I asked, why? Why do I care? What would I do if I knew? Removed my breasts like most do? No, I am not lobbing off my boobs because I MAY get cancer.  If I get it I will then deal with this. Look I hate big boobs I've said it here a plethora of times. I attempted a reduction several times but having them taken off is not something I wanted to do so I never would. 

Instead if I found out I had that gene I would get a pain or a bump and automatically assume I have cancer and my mind would go to a bad place. So I felt it was better to give me peace of mind NOT knowing. 

That to me was peace of mind. Not finding out if I had it, that is the opposite of peace of mind for me.. 

I know so many have done it - taken off their boobs because they might get it. Then they put the drugs in their body like silicone - wtf is the point of that?

So peace of mind was not knowing for me and I don't regret it one bit. 

Now to alzheimer. I don't think finding out I have it would ever friggin' give me peace of mind instead it would cause me major anxiety. 

I wanted to be in the blind study because if i did the drugs would help or kill me. But they could help others in the future. When I was a bit miffed that they couldn't take me Rick pointed out that why would I want to know? He reminded me of the brca gene situation. Ah, he was correct. The more I thought about it the more I realized he was so right. 

That doesn't happen often. HA HA

So no more thoughts on trying to get in the study. I will deal with this shit as I age like everyone else. My doctor has warned me of the signs, loss of smell and taste, not remembering what your keys do, not where you left them, and things like that. So there ya go. Done with that topic.

We had Mikey the Golden Retreiver from Dec 1 - 5th. 

It got us over doggy fever that is for certain. We now know that we don't wish to get another dog. I will watch dogs and then glady give them back. 

It's a lot of work. I have grown accustomed to my lazy retirement life I guess.

This dog was obsessed with me. Followed me everywhere. He would never leave my side. I assumed it because he was so missing his pack. If Rick took him out for a walk, he would turn back to the house until I came out. So I did a lot of walking which was good for me and I am up to 2.3 miles now without any issues. I should be at 3 miles this week.

If Rick threw the ball in the yard - which he LOVED. I had to be out there. Yesterday morning I walked them to the back deck and then when they went down the steps I went in the house. He caught one ball and brought it to the back and door and stood there looking for me. So guess who went out in her pjs?  I don't throw it, Rick does, but he brings it back to me to hand to Rick. It was funny.

The first night he sat by the front door and just cried. It was awlful. 

When Izzy had anxiety we would play this CD we have for just this occasion and then I'd rub her - an actual massage. I did this for him and he fell asleep - for 30 minutes anyway. I did this quite a bit to relax him. We had a shit ton of long walks, we threw balls, we played tug of war, wrestled and then he did whatever I was doing.

I came into my office to get my phone off the desk. As I walked out of the room I went into the bathroom. I did not shut the door, just closed it. Forgetting I have a dog again. He was there so fast and as I peed he sat at my foot waiting for me.

We asked if he was allowed on their furniture. Nope. We asked where is his bed when they arrived. Never had one, sleeps with us. 

Oh, dear.

Our dog was allowed on our furniture but she knew to only get on the couch if "her blanket" was on there. If it wasn't and she wanted up she'd put her face on the sofa and look at you as if to say "hey I want to get up here but where is that thing you make me lay on?"  Ah Izzy was a great dog.

So to us, this was like watching someone's children and you must do as they wish for you to do. It's not your "child" to discipline your way or allow them to have snacks etc. So no sofa for Mikey. But what did bother us was the no bed thing. 

Izzy had a big ass beautiful bed that we got online at Amazon. Far superior to any bed we'd purchase from the low end at Costco or the high end at Orvis. This bed was in our living room so he had his own place to chill. It had bolsters that never ever collapsed like the expensive ones did. It was like her little sofa. Then when we went to bed she had one of the same ones in our bedroom and she slept there. This is what Izzy's bed looked like.

Mikey is far bigger than Izzy. Stronger than Izzy and he was a boy. Which meant apparently he had to hump everything and we had to stop that shit. OMG. I will stay with girl dogs I think. 

Once we got into the bedroom he would flip out on Rick. He was full-blown Red Zone or Cujo. Now if this was our dog the first time he'd do that he would be taken down. We have watched enough Caesar Milan and training dog shows to know how to deal with a Red Zone but it's scary as all hell. Rick tried to get in bed but he never would let him. So Rick slept on the sofa and then moved to his chair. It was rough on him. Rick never slept a lot. I tried sleeping out there one night with the dog. The dog wasn't having it. Mikey kept touching my leg and herding me back to the bedroom. I text Rick in there and said we're coming in so be out of bed, we're switching places. I know if we went in the bedroom and he was surprised seeing Rick there he would attack. 

I too got no sleep He was up and down all night. He would get so close to me that I was hanging off the bed. A King size bed no less. Then I moved him and he went sideways and I was so tired I didn't care and I too laid across the width of the bed. I got no sleep. 30 minutes here or there. 

It was dreadful. One night I looked at the clock and it was 5:30a and I thought dear lord allow me 1 hr of continuous sleep, please! At 6am he was up and raring to go. Lucky me.

Then in the morning, he was a perfect big dog again. 

But again, only following me.

We suspected the way he flips out if Rick was hugging me or attempting to get in bed with us that perhaps he was adopted and this male dog is protecting me from what he sees as a bad man. Maybe he lived in a house where the man beat the woman. Who the hell knows. But this is not normal. If it wasn't for this we'd watch him again but I can't go 4 days with no sleep again. 

Last night we went to bed at 7p and slept until 7am. It feels good to have gotten the sleep. I feel so much better than I have since last Thursday.

Otherwise, he was a great dog. If they need me to watch him for a day or something like that we will do it. But I can't go 4 days with no sleep nor can Richard. We are too old for that shit.

Here are some pics of this sweet by-day dog. 😀

Yep, this is in the bathroom. 

Apparently protecting me from the bathroom pirates.

C'mon look at this handsome face!!

After another rough nite of no sleep, he decides he is tired now. We tried to nap but the phone would ring or something was going on so we didn't always get to nap when he did. Besides he was unlike Izzy who could nap with the best of them. He napped for 30 minutes. He is 6 I would have thought he'd be a bit more lazy as they told us. (lies I tell ya)

He is so focused on me. He just stares at me until I play with him, rub him, cuddle him. He was a high-maintenance doggy but so lovable when not in Cujo mode. But the "Stare" got to me.

After dinner, he would wrestle with one of us. Then he always wanted to cuddle. I sat on the floor since he can't get on the sofa and he would just put his head on my leg. He lifted his head here because Rick came by and snapped a picture. Oh, this was my dog and he wasn't letting anyone near me.

He loved this game below as much as fetching a tennis ball. We hid the ball because that became a focus and nothing else mattered. He would have had us throw it at night if he saw it. So we played tug of war. I sat on the floor one night and we went back and forth with his play pineapple that got ripped to shreds. 

Rick took a video but I don't have it to put here. Later I'll try. He is so much stronger than Izzy was. Izzy in comparison was a little girl and he is a brut. My God he is strong. They have him on a very strict diet and he could have snacks of blueberries or celery. He is not fat but he is big. When I grabbed all the fur I could see he wasn't a fat dog as Izzy was at different times. I was just shocked at the strength. That and the humping. He was in love with me and a blue blanket. 😂

We asked the female owner when she came to pick up the dog if he was adopted. She has had him for 2 yrs since marrying her husband. She thought he got him as a puppy. This dog was intelligent but it was obvious to us never trained. Now I understand why everyone thought Izzy was so damn good, she was. BUT, we trained her from 5 months on every day we worked with her. It was a lot but she never left our side on a walk, never needed a leash, when actually reprimanded she was hurt and would hide with her head down after being yelled at. It would make us laugh because she acted like we really hurt her feelings. But cuddling her after being reprimanded would never have taught her anything. This dog needs that. He is very very smart. He can do commands in English and Spanish. If I said, do you want to go for a walk? If he didn't, he would let me know. If I said, do you have to go potty? He would run to the door so we knew. So there is a shit ton of potential for this sweet dog, he just needs someone to work with him consistently and it is not for me and Rick. Nope, they can't pay us enough. 

There really are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners. 

I wish people would think of them as toddlers. You have to be consistent with your children too. That is how they learn. Same with a dog. A dog is a constant toddler. I firmly believe in structure, discipline, and love for both canines and kids. 

I will do this again but only for 1 day. If when the baby comes and they need 1 day while at doctor appointments or something I'd love to, but overnight I don't think so. And I can't tell you how hard it was to tell them that fact.

I felt bad but if they get a grip on the red zone shit he can come here any time. But this ole gal needs her sleep.

Fuggedaboutit

My father had Parkinson's later in life and he had what his doctors called dementia from Parkinson's. Apparently, that is different than regular dementia? I do not know. When I would ask I was given answers from my stepmom like, "well that's what the doctors said"  So I don't know. My parents never question doctors ever! She was confused but didn't want to question him she said. Doctors are God to them. No 2nd opinions, no research, whatever the doctor says must be the truth and way to go. So unless I went to his doctor I can never know. I offered to go years and years ago with her for something and she said, "No, you'll ask too many questions and he knows what he's doing." Yes, I would ask questions. She is correct.

I have an abnormal fear of the A's, Alzheimer's, and ALS. 

I'll take any others but please, not these two.
Alzheimer's scares the living shit out of me. 

I don't want to end up like my father.
I do not wish to not remember my loved ones. God this disease is so awful to me. I'd prefer to pass than live like that. My father had a half-sister that had it and they went to her house for a visit. They were unaware she had Alzheimer's. She lived in Cleveland and my father and his brother and the wives drove to Cleveland for a visit. She was to be having dinner. They arrived and she put a frozen chicken on the table. That was the beginning. 

Because we live in the research triangle we have a ton of medical trials here. Almost all of them you are compensated for. I told you recently that Rick was doing one for the virus RVS. He believes he got the placebo because when he had the shot it did not burn and the area of the shot was never sore. He told the doctor that yesterday and she said, "yep you probably got the placebo"

But honestly, it's an extra $80 for him to use for his epoxy which is so damn expensive. All he had to do was 1 week of a diary and take his temp daily and put it in the diary.  Now he has to fill out the diary online every M-W-F.  It's just one question and then he hits enter. Every month he gets $80 deposited in the visa that he was given. Not a bad side gig.

So that leads me to Alzheimer's. I received a request if I'd be interested in this Alzheimer's study. I so want to be in the trial but I am claustrophobic. Each time I've had an MRI that my head was in it or my full body I have had to be sedated. When I have a knee or ankle and the upper half of my body is not in the MRI machine I am fine. 

I filled out the form and it stated someone from Alzheimer's Research would contact me. The requirement was age, have not currently been diagnosed with Alzheimer but members of your family have it or have had it.

I qualified. Then they called me and told me there would be a few MRIs. They asked if I was claustrophobic. I said Yes. She said then you can't do this trial. I said can you sedate me? NO! She said if I had a quarter for every person who is claustrophobic and asks me about sedation I'd not have to work anymore. I laughed I get it. It's weird to others. I said so I'm not rare then huh? She giggled and said there seem to be more of you than those who aren't bothered that is why we have to ask upfront. 

I am seriously bummed out. But I know me, I can't do it. I've tried. It's horrific for me. The only thing more traumatic to me would be to be in a room with a cat or kitten with no way out. Dear Lord, I'd probably just die immediately! 

I keep thinking I should suck it up and do this. It's been 3 days since my call and I can't stop thinking I did it all wrong. It's not a cat. it's just a machine that I barely fit in and I feel like I'm suffocating but I don't know...

I spend so much time forgetting and trying to remember shit it drives me mad. Where is my phone? That's my biggie. Where are my glasses? That's number 2. Then there are silly things like why can't I remember how to make this recipe I've made for years? And taking out the recipe card/cookbook to review pisses me off.  Why do I need to do that suddenly? That shit scares me. 

My stepmom told me it was normal aging. Is it?

Then the other day the celebrity Valerie Bertinelli said the following in a tik tok video, 

"This is how I'm aging," she begins in the video. "My phone was hot, so I put it in the freezer while I made my coffee. I made my coffee, and then I couldn't find my phone, and I looked everywhere for it because I forgot it was in the freezer."

That made me feel a bit better. I'd love to know how long that took her. Could I hear my phone ring in the freezer if I called it from Rick's phone?

Haven't done that one yet. Give me time.

Where is my phone? Where is my purse? Why aren't my keys in the bowl? Why can I remember all the lyrics to Green Acres but hell if I know where my glasses are? I could clean the floor with a category on pop culture on jeopardy but remember what day it is? 

As a NY'er or Jackie Gleason on the Honeymooners would say, 

"Fuggedaboutit”