Well Shoot!

I tend to find that life is much easier to deal with if I ignore anything/anyone that bothers me.  I didn't say it was a healthy solution, but it generally works for me.  However, I don't usually ignore a medical condition.

After my second time with chemo, I noticed that my hands and especially my feet, were always tingling.  Kind of like when your feet fall asleep and then tingle as they come back to life.  Except it was constant.  My hands aren't so bad but my feet have always been quite noticeable.  Lately, they seem to be getting worse with hardly any feeling (yet I can definitely feel the constant tingling).  It's the hardest thing to describe.  They feel numb, yet I can feel almost constant pain in the balls of both feet and the constant tingle.  I was told it was called neuropathy.  I'd just as soon not know what it's called 'cause the less I know about it the better I like it.

Today I bought new slippers and when I tried them on, I scared myself.  I kept trying to cram my foot into a size that I know I always wear, trying to get them all the way on.  I suddenly realized they were on, I just couldn't tell.  I couldn't feel my toes.

Luckily, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.  I started doing some checking and found that quite a few people have what is called Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).  I had no idea that neuropathy could get worse over the years, in fact, I expected it to get better.

And as for the slippers, I bought them, but I still can't tell if they fit.  I can't tell if they're too tight or too loose.  I wonder why this is happening all of a sudden. 

The doctor had better come up with a solution for this tomorrow as this is totally unacceptable.  I won't tolerate it!

Happy First Day of Fall!

Yes, it's my favorite post every year.  Welcome, first day of fall!

and, I just had to add this picture because, damn, that had to hurt!

Not Quite Home...

Jake, along with his fellow soldiers, returned to the US about 2 weeks ago.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the happy return we had all been waiting for.  Jake has bad knees and they're keeping him in Seattle until they can figure out if he needs surgery to fix them.  Most of the soldiers from the 116th have all now returned to their families in Idaho, but not my son.

If he has surgery, he'll need physical therapy afterward so he could be in Seattle for a long time.  I was happy that on the spur of the moment, his wife decided to pack up the 2 girls and drive to Seattle yesterday to spend a day or two with him.  They all need this time together.  Jake posted on Facebook that they all had dinner in a food court together last night - and it was the best dinner he's ever had.  That made me happy.

If he stays in Seattle, here in a few weeks we'll all chip in and help send Heather and the girls to see him again.  Only this time we'll make sure they fly so they can have those 18 hours spent driving on this trip, together.

I'm so happy to have him back in the states, but so sad that he's stuck alone on a military base.  I know how hard this last year was for them all - it's time to be back together.

Written on Sept. 12, 2001...

The following was shared by a friend on Facebook.  We all remember what we were thinking in the days following 9/11/01 but he says it so well...


By LEONARD PITTS JR., Miami Herald


It's my job to have something to say.


They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.


You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.

What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause.

Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.

Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.

Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae - a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though - peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.


Some people - you, perhaps - think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.


IN PAIN


Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.


But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.


I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.

In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.

THE STEEL IN US

You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.

As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started.

But you're about to learn.

Oh Roaming Gnome, Roaming Gnome, Wherefore Art Thou, Roaming Gnome?

Several years ago, before she moved up here to Hidden Springs, mom was trying to sell her house.  Some of her Bunco friends who are Catholic told her about burying a St. Joseph statue in her yard.  Supposedly that will help you sell. 

Becoming desperate to sell, because it's so hard to compete with the short sales in the area, I thought I'd look it up to find out how and where to "bury" St. Joseph.  I found something I wasn't prepared for.  You can actually buy St. Joseph in a friggin' kit.  Yep, he can be bought for anywhere from $1.39 (cheap plastic) to $27.89 (pewter).  Some of them are labeled "EcoJoe."  They're made of clay.  Seems kind of sacrilegious to call him Joe...  Anyway, who knew you could buy it in a kit?

Well, I don't have time to order St. Joseph in a kit so the closest thing I have on hand is my Roaming Gnome.  So, he went into a 30 cent garbage bag and Ival buried him on the farm.  I hope he can remember where he put him so we can dig him back up.

St. Joseph is supposed to be buried upside down.  I hope it doesn't break his pointy hat.

We only have a few days left.  We've got the house for sale by owner and are taking it off the market the end of September.  We'll try again next spring.

One of My Favorite Songs...

Today is Rick's memorial service and he loved country music.  To me, this isn't a sad song, I love it and I think Rick would love it too.


I hope you're enjoying a Corona - here's to you old friend...

Somehow, I have a feeling Hank was there to greet you.

Fond Memories of an Old Friend...

About a year and a half ago, when Ival and I took our last cruise, I got to meet up with an old friend from high school before we left our port in Florida.  I hadn't seen Rick Dewey since 1974 when I graduated.  He was a year behind me in school, but with only about 50 kids in the whole high school, we were all good friends. 

They lived up at Terrace Lakes.  Rick had this boyish smile that always made you want to ask him what he was thinking.  I was happy to see that he still had that smile when we met up with him 36 years later.  It was almost like we had never missed a day of seeing each other.  The visit was easy and it was so nice to catch up.  What made me the happiest though, was how obvious it was that he loved his wife and how happy they were together.  He told us how he was estranged from his family, and that made me sad.  He had an older brother that drowned a few years after I graduated, but his father and a few siblings were still alive.  I didn't ask why, but not being close to his family was obviously very hard on him.

I got on Facebook the other morning and started reading all the new posts.  There was a status update on his page from his wife saying how sorry she was for his friends and family, but Rick had died the day before.  My brain went numb.  Rick was a contractor and I thought maybe he had been killed in an accident.  I sent a message to his wife and told her how incredibly sorry I was because I knew how much they loved each other.  She sent me a message back telling me that Rick had killed himself.

I still can't believe it.  I hate suicide.  My first husband did the same thing 34 years ago.  I just don't understand how people can do that to all the people that love them.  He seemed so happy, yet sometimes there can be pain so deep that you get very good at hiding it after having it for so long.  I'll never know what caused him to do it, but I'll certainly miss keeping up with him. 

My hope for Eileen is that she can someday find peace, keep the wonderful memories, and always know how much Rick loved her. 

I'm going to miss you friend.  Happy Trails...

Call Me Old Fashioned...

but to me, texting and dating are not a good mix.  It's been a while since I dated - a long while, but I'm trying to imagine what it would have been like to have someone text me for a date instead of the good old fashioned phone call.

I love to see people flirt.  It's adorable!  When someone texts you and asks if you want to go out, what fun could that possibly be?  You can't hear any emotion in their voice, and isn't that part of what really turns us into a drooling mess when we discover that we may like someone?  I've had the good fortune in the last few weeks to watch someone I care a lot about, flirt with someone.  It was adorable.  I haven't seen him act that way since he was a teenager.  To watch his eyes as he looked at her and to hear his boy-like voice as he teased her about things just melted my heart.

But with texting you get none of that.  I've watched several younger girls who are in the beginning stages of dating someone and they're always texting.  How can you tell what the guy is thinking if you can't hear it in his voice.

If I were dating in this day and age, I would be emphatic.  Unless it's an emergency, NO TEXTING!  If you can't pick up the phone and actually talk to me, then don't bother.  Are we at a point where we decide if someone is a good fit for us by reading what he types?  I guess we can quickly discover if he has grammar problems, but how can we really get to know someone without hearing their voice?  It just isn't possible.  I don't think it should even be considered interaction. 

Consider it in the simplest way:

Text: Wanna' go out?
Text back: k
Text: Bardonays Sat at 7?
text back: k  :)

REALLY?  With a phone call, you can at least hear in their voice some kind of flirtation or how serious they are about the date.  You can even tell if someone is smiling when you talk to them on the phone.  Plus, it's generally more than a few words and leads to an actual conversation.  Face to face is even better, you can see in someone's eyes if they really like you.  But texting, it's safe I suppose.  No emotions involved., only a few typewritten words.  It's really very sad.

To you younger girls still dating I would offer this advice.  No texting while dating.  Tell him to call.

Would you have liked "texting" instead of a phone call when you were dating?  Do you like texting with a friend instead of a phone call from them?  Maybe it's just me.

Ree and I Made Meatloaf!

I had hamburger thawed in the refrigerator today and decided I'd make meatloaf.  It was either that or Shepherd's Pie and we had that last night at Heather's house.  Elmer doesn't like my meatloaf so much.  It's pretty plain.  So, now that Ree and I are such a good team (ok, not so much) I decided to see what she had for a recipe.

It was called My Favorite Meatloaf.  I read the recipe and had all the ingredients I needed and none of them were expired so I thought I'd give it a try.  I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical when I saw that Ree's favorite meatloaf is covered in bacon.  Never heard of that, but I happened to have some bacon.

Ree's...

Mine...

Ree's finished product...

Mine...

She should however, have put in a little note somewhere of how I'm supposed to ever get this pan clean without getting my hands wet.  That sauce and bacon is cooked on there good.

Believe it or not, Elmer said it was the best meatloaf he ever ate.  Get outta here! 

The only thing I'd change is not adding so much bread.  I think I'd only add 3 slices instead of the 6, but I have to admit, it was good!  Want the recipe?

Elmer had also brought home some fresh green beans that someone at work had given him.  I would have just put them in a bowl and steamed them until they were mushy done, but what the heck, I'd thought I'd see what Ree had for green beans too.  These were to DIE for! 

Sorry Ree, but I wasn't about to cook bacon for the grease and not chop the bacon and cook it with the beans.  I also didn't have any red pepper so I left those out.  But they were the best green beans I've ever had.  I'll definitely be making these again.  Here's the recipe.

Ree's...

Mine...

I've been told by Sheri and Kate  a few people that I won't mention, that my photos are "shoddy."  I do need a new camera and I would imagine that you two critics could probably find me a pretty nice, new camera on Amazon.   I think today I would have made Ree proud (except for the photos).

I hope I don't start getting good at cooking or Elmer might expect me to do it every day.  I hate to cook...

PARAPROSDOKIANS

PARAPROSDOKIANS
(thanks mom, for sharing these!)


Here is the definition: "Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."

"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.

Ok, so now enjoy!

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.


My personal favorites:  #1, #11, #13, #17, #23 and #27

Yours?