Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Slim says, "I feel just like a newborn baby."
"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"
"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."
Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he! didn't need my help to leave the hospital.
After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.
"I don't know," he said. "She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown."
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy:
"So I hear you're getting married?"
"Yep!"
"Do I know her?"
"Nope!"
"This woman, is she good looking?"
"Not really."
"Is she a good cook?"
"Naw, she can't cook too well."
"Does she have lots of money?"
"Nope! Poor as a church mouse."
"Well, then, is she good in bed?"
"I don' t know."
"Why in the world do you want to marry her then?"
"Because she can still drive!"
One more . . . !
A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"
"No," he replied, "Arthritis."
KUA
12/31/07
A couple of old folks jokes ...
12/30/07
New Years Q & A. Snagged from my friend Annie
1. Will you be looking for a new job? Yuppers, I sure will. It's a full time job looking for work here in Michigan with it's depressed economy.
2. Will you be looking for a new relationship? Oh heck no. I'm very happy being single.
3. New house? Preferably in an economically stable area (if such a thing exists these days)
4. What will you do different in 2008? Many, many things.
5. New Years resolution? I quit doing resolutions years ago, you set yourself up for failure by trying to change everything at once. Why not change what needs to be changed throughout the year, as they need to be changed?
7. Any trips planned? Some small day trips with my daughter. Not sure where.
8. Wedding plans? Nope ...
9. What's on your calendar? Many things.
10. What can't you wait for? A job, I miss the income!!
11. What would you like to see happen different? I'd love to see Michigan heal from what ails it.
12. What about yourself will you be changing? My outlook on my health, and getting healthy once again.
13. What happened in '07 that you didn't think would ever happen? Not a thing, LOL.
14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about? I'm already nice to them, don't think I could be nicer, lol.
15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 2007? Definitely. I've lost about 60 pounds since getting sick. Nothing I used to wear fits me anymore. In replacing my wardrobe I'm updating it, too.
16. Will you start or quit drinking? I was just recently diagnosed as being a diabetic, so I'll cut my social drinking down even further (if that's possible, lol).
17. Will you better your relationship with your family? I'm very close to my kids now. But I doubt that the relationship I have with most of my family can be salvaged. We just can't see eye to eye on anything of importance, not that we haven't tried.
18. Will you do charity work? Once I'm financially able to do so, yes. I'd love to adopt a family for the holidays. Provide them with gifts and food for Christmas that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford.
19. Do you expect 2008 to be a good year for you? Oh yes! I've busted my butt lately to improve my life. And it's looking up!!
20. How much did you change from this time last year til now? I'm a totally different person. Even though the changes I've made really started in 2006, I entered 2007 feeling depressed and overwhelmed. Sure, I've had major health issues lately, but compared to the depression and all, I'm a much happier, more determined person.
21. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now? Definitely. 2007 was my year to eliminate the false friends and poisonous relationships from my life. I'm entering 2008 with dear friends, friends I pray are in my life forever!!
22. Major lifestyle changes? Again, just having recently been diagnosed as a diabetic my goal for 2008 is to get it under control and live a healthier lifestyle. I plan in being around to watch my grandchildren have children!!
23. What will you make sure doesn't happen in 2008 that happened in 07? Depression, feelings of helplessness, feeling overwhelmed. I've come a long way in twelve short months. I've learned to concentrate on the present and on my future, not dwell in a painful past.
24. What are your New Years Eve plans? I haven't any plans this year. It'll be a night to reflect on where I was and where I'm headed.
25. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight? Sadly no.
26. Wish for 2008? I wish for better health and continuing happiness.
Beaded Jewelry
Diabetic Alert bracelet, interchangable beaded band for alert bracelet and personalized name bracelet.
These are but a few of the beaded bracelets I make. They include personalized name bracelets and beaded medic alert bracelets for diabetics.
12/28/07
Christmas 2007
Brother's tree ... look at all those gifts!!
Just a few Christmas photos. Sorry, none of me. Always the photographer, never the photographee!!
Computer glitches, Gremlins and catching up ...
Christmas Eve my computer died. No warning, just poof, there it goes. Single Son took it apart last night to see if he could fix it. Nope, can't be salvaged. Seems there'd been at least one fire inside the tower. There were charred dust bunnies all over! Let my experience be a lesson to ya'll ... thoroughly dust the inside of your computers every few months!
Luckily we had an extra computer here. Single Son installed my old hard drive into the computer I'm now using. Thankfully I didn't lose any of my files!
Christmas went okay, I guess. I haven't been feeling good lately, and woke up Christmas morning to feeling worse than usual. Besides feeling like crap I had to deal with the disfunctional family who was at their finest this year. Needless to say, it's another holiday I'm sad to say I'm glad is over!! I'll spare ya'll the boring details, really. I think I was actually glad to claim I wasn't feeling well so I could get out of there early!!
I'm always complaining that I can't see the buttons on the remote control, so Married Son fixed me but good. For Christmas he gave me a giant remote control. And I mean it's HUGE. Yup, that's a pic of it below. So big it takes two hands to use it. I laughed until I cried when I saw it. Paybacks war is on!!
Other gifts this year included gifts of cash and checks, clothing, a fuzzy lap robe, computer games, and a beaded key ring.
I still don't know if my grant transfered from Baker to OCC. I won't know until January 2 when I go to OCC. Hopefully I'll be able to register for classes that day.
Still no word on when surgery will be. My glucose counts aren't anywhere near where the doctors feel comfortable doing surgery. I really want to get this stuff fixed but to be honest the thought of being a diabetic and having major surgery scares the hell out of me. I may be justified in feeling scared, but the surgeon that will do the surgery actually specializes in diabetic surgery. I know I'm in good hands.
No big plans here for New Years. The kids all have plans. So it'll just be me and the cats here on New Year's Eve.
Hoping ya'll have a safe and Happy New Year!!
Friday Five
As we await the approach of a brand new year and anticipate new beginnings . . . what are the first five New Year's Resolutions?
I know you all knew this was coming . . . but here is a twist, as a bonus . . . and optional . . . top five highlights of 2007 in your life.
New Year's Resolutions
1. Live healthier (diet, quit smoking, continue weight loss, etc).
2. Join fitness center (and stick w/ an exercise regiment!)
3. Maintain (or raise) my 3.452 GPA
4. Find a job
5. Move the h-e-double hockey sticks out of Michigan!!
Highlights of 2007
1. Continuing my education.
2. Making memories with family and friends.
3. Reuniting with an old high school buddy after 30 years
4. Making many wonderful new friendships.
5. Getting medical insurance so I can finally take care of all of my health issues.
If you would like to participate in the Friday 5:
Copy the questions and post your answers to your blog,
Leave a comment on the page at The Friday Five @ 360
or The Friday Five @ Multiply to let others know your post is up so they can visit your blog..
You can participate at either page or both, the choice is yours.
Fun, easy, and no time limit.
Let's Play !!
12/23/07
12 Days of Christmas (adult language)
December 14, 1972
My dearest darling John:
Who ever in the whole world would dream of getting a real Partridge in a Pear Tree? How can I ever express my pleasure. Thank you a hundred times for thinking of me this way.
My love always, Agnes
December 15, 1972
Dearest John:
Today the postman brought your very sweet gift. Just imagine two turtle doves. I'm just delighted at your very thoughtful gift. They are just adorable.
All my love, Agnes
December 16, 1972
Dear John:
Oh! Aren't you the extravagant one. Now I must protest. I don't deserve such generosity, three French hens. They are just darling but I must insist, you've been too kind.
All my love, Agnes
December 17, 1972
Dear John:
Today the postman delivered four calling birds. Now really, they are beautiful, but don't you think enough is enough. You are being too romantic.
Affectionately, Agnes
December 18, 1972
Dearest John:
What a surprise. Today the postman delivered five golden rings, one for every finger. You're just impossible, but I love it. Frankly, all those birds squawking were beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love, Agnes
December 19, 1972
Dear John:
When I opened the door today there were actually six geese laying on my front steps. So you're back to the birds again huh? These geese are huge. Where will I ever keep them? The neighbors are complaining and I can't sleep through the racket. Please stop.
Cordially, Agnes
December 20, 1972
John:
What's with you and those freaking birds?? Seven swans a swimming. What kind of damn joke is this? There's bird poop all over the house and they never stop the racket. I can't sleep at night and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny. So stop those freaking birds.
Sincerely, Agnes
December 21, 1972
O.K. Buster:
I think I prefer the birds. What the hell am I going to do with 8 maids a milking? It's not enough with all those birds and 8 maids a milking, but they had to bring their damn cows. There is manure all over the lawn and I can't move in my own house. Just lay off me, smartass.
Agnes
December 22, 1972
Hey Shithead:
What are you? Some kind of sadist? Now there's nine pipers playing. And Christ do they play. They've never stopped chasing those maids since they got here yesterday morning. The cows are getting upset and they're stepping all over those screeching birds. What am I going to do? The neighbors have started a petition to evict me.
You'll get yours! Agnes
December 23, 1972
You rotten prick:
Now there's ten ladies dancing. I don't know why I call those sluts ladies. They've been balling those pipers all night long. Now the cows can't sleep and they've got diarrhea. My living room is a river of shit. The Commissioner of Buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why the building shouldn't be condemned.
I'm calling the police on you! Agnes
December 24, 1972
Listen Fuckhead:
What's with those eleven lords a leaping on those maids and ladies? Some of those broads will never walk again. Those pipers ran through the maids and have been committing sodomy with the cows. All twenty-three of the birds are dead. They've been trampled to death in the orgy. I hope you're satisfied, you rotten vicious swine.
Your sworn enemy, Agnes
December 25, 1972
Dear Sir:
This is to acknowledge your latest gift of twelve fiddlers fiddling which you have seen fit to inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McHolstein. The destruction, of course, was total. All correspondence should come to our attention. If you should attempt to reach Miss McHolstein at Happy Dale Sanitarium, the attendants have been instructed to shoot you on sight. With this letter please find attached a warrant for your arrest.
Cordially, Law Offices of Badger, Bender and Chole
12/22/07
American Diabetes Association - Recently Diagnosed with Type 2
Recently Diagnosed - Type 2 - American Diabetes Association.
This is a must read site if you've recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
Friday Five
This week's theme was provided by Compromised . . . click here for Compromised's Multiply page.
We are in the midst of the holiday season . . . and although Christmas holiday and the legacy of Santa Claus have been the featured holiday, the Friday Five understands there are many other holidays celebrated around this time of year. There was no intention to omit any holiday or group from participating . . .
Using Christmas only as an example . . .
1. When do you begin your shopping?
Typically when I have enough funds to go shopping. I'll grab a gift here, or there, throughout the year if I find something really good on sale, otherwise I usally cash my birthday checks (Dec. 19) and then go shopping.
2. When do you put up decorations?
This year I didn't decorate. But in the past, we start decorating the first week of December. The tree traditionally is put up on my birthday, and taken down on January 5, my brother's birthday.
3. What was the best gift you ever received?
I've had a lot of great presents, but the most sentimental is a *peridot* ring my brother gave me when he was still alive (I realize the deceased don't give gifts, so that statement does sound a bit odd). It was just an inexpensive little thing, he was in college and couldn't afford much. He felt bad he couldn't afford more. But I still wore that ring like it was the most cherished thing I owned. He's long gone now, the metal on the ring has flaked. I'm planning on having those stones reset into a new band soon.
4. What was the most awful gift you ever received?
I was a teenager. I got the ugliest sweater I ever saw ... don't think I ever wore it either. So glad some of those color schemes are out! LOL!
5. What was your most memorable Christmas? The year my son was born. He was six weeks old, in the hospital after just having had surgery for "pyloric stenosis". It was touch and go for a while, but after ten days he was allowed to come home. 28 years later, he's fine.
If you would like to participate in the Friday 5:
Copy the questions and post your answers to your blog,
Leave a comment on the page at The Friday Five @ 360
or The Friday Five @ Multiply to let others know your post is up so they can visit your blog..
You can participate at either page or both, the choice is yours.
Fun, easy, and no time limit.
Let's Play !!
All I want for Christmas ...
All I want for Christmas is to feel better. That's it. No fancy stuff, nothing expensive. Nothing the elves have to wrap in pretty paper.
Sorry that I haven't been around the last few days. I feel like absolute crap. New meds are kicking my butt right now. Big time.
Let's see, doc's appointment the other day was okay. There's no date on when surgery will happen, they have to get my diabetes under control. The good news is that the hernia doesn't seem to be as bad as they originally thought. Either that or it's untwisted itself for the time being. Doc's thinking at this rate we can wait until spring break to do surgery. Yippee! I don't want to miss any class time. I know, I know ... don't be an idiot. My health is more important ...
Doc prescribed two new meds, and a gloucometer and lancets. Got the meds no problem. What a headache getting the gloucometer and lancet prescriptions filled. Finally got it all sorted out, after two days of phone calls and trips to the pharmacy. One of the new meds (metformin) is kicking my ass big time. Can't move without wanting to get sick to my stomach. Feel like I've gone ten rounds with The Hulk, I ache all over. Hopefully I'll adjust to this medication, and soon!
I did go to my mom's house yesterday. We wrapped all her gifts. She gave me my belated birthday gift, a beautiful sweater that I'll wear for Christmas. Had the usual arguments. My mom's always accused me of faking illnesses for the sake of attention. Funny thing is, whenever I did have a complaint it was a legit complaint. Maybe that's why I take the "big deal" approach to my health. Growing up constantly being told "you're faking it", you learn to just shut up and deal with whatever. Heaven help she's sick, though. The kingdom stops everything to take care of the "Queen Mum". But gawd help if the *pheasants* get sick. Went out to dinner with my folks afterwards. Mistake. The Queen Mum got to experience first hand what food has been doing to me for the past few months now. Now let her say I'm faking *that*. I know, TMI, sorry folks. I just thought it was a hoot that maybe now the old battle axe realizes I'm actually not faking it!
I realized last night that I actually miss the Gremlin. I'd rather be bitching about him and his antics than feeling, and blogging about feeling, like shit.
Aw, poop. I just realized, too, that I didn't do the Friday Five yesterday. Oh well, a day late ...
Gonna try to catch up on blogs today and hopefully make a beaded bracelet or two to go with my new sweater.
Hoping ya'll have a great weekend.
12/20/07
A Screwy Sorta *Murphy* Birthday
It was definitely an interesting birthday.
Started off I went up to OCC to finish registering for classes. Ha!!
My car won't start! Never fear! Single Son is home, I'll just borrow his van. I wake him up, tell him I'm taking his van, that my car won't start, and I *need* to go. No problem he says and off I go to OCC ... and couldn't get registered! I am in the process of trying to get my Pell Grant transfered over, and having a hell of a time doing so (probably because of the holidays?). So that done I hop in the van and ...
Ha!!! It won't start!!
Crying won't help, neither will getting mad. I called Married Son ... he's back in town. Why is it the day Married Son gets back to town Single Son and I have car problems? Hmmmmm. But, yup, he'll be over to rescue me. Hang tight. By the way, Happy Birthday Mom. Brat! Well, he was busy and after about an hour I said phooey on it, and called the campus police. They jump-started the van. I'm good to go.
So, yeah, it was an interesting birthday.
Never a dull moment.
Didn't do anything else today. I think I was too afraid other plans would backfire, too. LOL!
I have a doctor's appointment later today to discuss diabetes and the surgery. I have not yet started the car. I'm praying it'll start. I'm doubting it'll cooperate with me though. Not that I'm being pessimestic .. but hey, never fails when I *have* to be somewhere. I'll probably blog later about how the docs appointment went.
12/19/07
12-19
As of 12/19/2007 9:49:16 AM EST
You are 48 years old.
You are 576 months old.
You are 2,505 weeks old.
You are 17,532 days old.
You are 420,777 hours old.
You are 25,246,669 minutes old.
You are 1,514,800,156 seconds old.
There are 366 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 49 candles.
Those 49 candles produce 49 BTUs, or 12,348 calories of heat (that's only 12.3480 food Calories!) . You can boil 5.60 US ounces of water with that many candles.
I FEEL OLD!! And damn, can't I get through turning 48?? They have to remind me that next year I'll be 49?? OUCH!!
12/18/07
Ten Thoughts Tuesday
2) Single Son was fixing my bedroom door lock the other day. He ended up locking us both in the room when he accidently closed the door with the rest of the knob mechanism on the *wrong* side. Luckily his tools were on the right side of the door, otherwise we'd have been stuck until someone came to rescue us.
3) The hernia won't kill me. The diabetes won't kill me. The stress of being in the passenger seat while Alien gets road experience WILL!!
4) Went to get my new glasses the other day. I only had the appointment the day before. What a trip getting used to lined bifocals. My last pair had the blended bi-focal. Of course, Alien teased me unmercifully. I'm still trying to get used to the lines!
5) I'm really having trouble coming up with ten thoughts today. This doesn't surprise me, really. Most weeks I have trouble with ten thoughts.
6) I haven't got out much since the snowstorm the other day. Our subdivision streets are still pretty miserable. So is my driveway. Obviously I'm not going to be shoveling snow, not that I did before. But I'm sure not doing it now with this stupid hernia.
7) Why is it that before being diagnosed with diabetes I could have cared less about chocolate? Now I'm craving it. Is that just because I know I can't have it now? Weird.
8) I'd have thought that giving up my carbs would have been more difficult. But no ... the carbs are easier for me to watch than I thought.
9) Been reading in a lot of blogs lately from my friends who are diabetic (or newly diagnosed like me) about the benefits of apple cider vinegar. I'm seriously thinking of trying that route. Of course, I'll follow whatever the doc recommends, but a couple of spoonfuls of cider vinegar can't hurt, can it? I just wonder what torture it'll cause me with the hernia? Everything I eat causes problems right now. Hmmmmm, think I might just hold off until after surgery.
10) And now I have this stuck in my head ... "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down, the medicine go down. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way" ... somehow i'm thinking, though, that a spoonful of vinegar won't go down in a most delightful way ...
12/17/07
Catching up ...
That's what's been causing the pain I've been in lately, among other symptoms that I haven't blogged about (they fall into that TMI category). It was pre-surgical testing that uncovered my diabetes. Weird thing is, the 55 pounds I've lost to date was from the diabetes, and not the hernia. So ... that's where we stand on that. I'll just be glad to be pain-free again! Then I can concentrate souly on the diabetes and my continuing weight loss. And college, of course.
During one of my many doctor's appointments lately, I had a chance encounter with a job placement counselor (head hunter). We got to talking. I mentioned I was going to Baker College - not to be confused with Baker University (a fab institute of higher learning, btw). He said they don't make it a practice of hiring graduates from certain schools. Guess who one of them is? Yup!! Said they're considered "McEducation". McGreat!! Just what I didn't need to hear. Anyway ... I did a little further research, called some influential people I know out in the computer world, and dammed if he's not right ... they won't hire graduates of certain "institutes of mediocre learning".
I just found out this morning that I've been accepted to OCC. If I weren't in constant pain, I'd be doing the happy dance here.
And it gets better!!
I've twice gone to OCC. Once in 1979 and again in 1988-90. They dusted off my old transcripts. My old GPA of 3.452 is still good!!!!
I'm a happy camper!! What a great birthday gift to myself!!
Speaking of birthday, LOL, I'm going to help my mom wrap gifts on my birthday. Don't want a fuss this year because of my health. Told Mom that we'll do something for my birthday after surgery, when I can enjoy food again. Red Lobster to be exact. A birthday tradition.
Ya'll have a great week. I'm still working on catching up with ya'll.
12/15/07
Friday Five
We are in the midst of the holiday season . . . and although the Christmas holiday and the legacy of Santa Claus have been the featured holiday, the Friday Five understands there are many other holidays celebrated around this time of year. There was no intention to omit any holiday or group from participating . . . many apologies.
Using Christmas only as an example of whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year . . . as a bonus to the five questions, talk about your holiday traditions, what they mean to you . . . whatever special memories you would like to share.
What are your five favorite Christmas songs or movies?
Movies:
1. Frosty the Snowman
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (either version)
3. Shrek the Halls
4. A Christmas Carol
5. Miracle on 34th Street (original)
Songs:
1. I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas
2. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
3. Frosty the Snowman
4. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
5. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
(Hey, I'm a kid at heart, what can I say?)
If you would like to participate in the Friday 5:
Copy the questions and post your answers to your blog,
Leave a comment on the page at The Friday Five @ 360
or The Friday Five @ Multiply to let others know your post is up so they can visit your blog..
You can participate at either page or both, the choice is yours.
Fun, easy, and no time limit.
Let's Play !!
12/11/07
Ten Thoughts Tuesday
2) What wild weather I've read some of my friends are experiencing!! Ya'll keep safe and keep warm!! All we've had so far is rain. Yeah, it freezes when it hits the ground making for some slick sidewalks, but the roads appear to be okay.
3) Well dammit. How much more screwed up can my health get?? I was out yesterday when the lab called me about my pre-surgery bloodwork. Left a message for me to call them back today. So anyway ... can we say high blood sugar? 236 was my count. Diabetic. At least now we know why I'm so tired all the time. And probably why I've been having headaches so much. Dammit.
4) I'll regulate this through diet. Maybe pills. I'm so not going to start insulin! I have my reasons for it ...
5) Going through some other crap lately, too. Pain. Depression. Frustration. Feels like for every forward step I make, I'm pushed back and lose two steps. Or ... that's how it's been feeling lately.
6) I just wanna take off for the day. Don't know where I'd go, but just out. Anywhere. The possibility of more wintery weather and the fact that I'm about broke right now will keep me homebound today. Dammit.
7) Bought a new computer program yesterday. Comic Creator. Ten Bucks at the used games store (Game Stop). My combined birthday and Christmas gift to myself.
8) It's the perfect day for me to install and play with that program. Just gloomy outside. Bummed about this diabetes shit, too. That program looked pretty neat. I can upload my drawings, or use photos, or whatever. Create personalized comics for any occasion.
9) Bah freaking humbug. Dammit.
10) LOL ... and here I thought I wouldn't make ten today!! Got my report card yesterday. I got A's in both of my computer classes and my cartooning class. I got a B in my graphic communications course. WHEW!! Didn't think I'd do that well in that class to be honest with you. That was the class that was a bugger and a half for me!! Anyway ... I earned a 3.67 GPA this quarter, bringing me to a 3.24 GPA overall. Just enough to put my butt back on the Dean's List. Never thought I'd recover from that C I got in Algebra!
12/7/07
Friday Five
Click for her Multiply page and for her Yahoo 360 page . . .
Santa has made his list, wrapping the gifts and packing the sled . . . we are in the midst of the mad seasonal rush to buy the perfect gift.
Since is it more blessed to give than receive, let's think about the gifts we have given over the years.
What gift have you given that was the most . . .
1. Unique ... This also falls into the funny category. Years ago my mother had complained that my dad never gets her "good" gifts for Christmas. She said if it wasn't two carats she was going to return whatever he bought. Being a beaded jewelry maker I ran right up to the bead store and purchased four carrot beads, two for each earring I would make for her. It was the gaudiest pair of earrings I'd ever I'd ever made, ever laid my eyes on, with it's two glass bead carrots dangling off each ear. I got a nice box from a fine jewelry store, wrapped and tagged it for my dad.
2. Life Changing ... This one I'm not too sure of ... Actually, maybe it's the two carat carrot earrings mentioned above. Mom's not whined or complained since about Dad's selection of gifts.
3. Difficult ... Not Christmas, but Mother's Day 1991. My 25 year old brother had passed away just a month before. He was born on Valentine's Day, so my other brother and I decided to pitch in and buy her a beautiful heart charm for her charm bracelet.
4. Funny ... Oh, hard one. I'm one of those who loves to give fun or funny gifts. I'd say not so much an actual gift, but how we wrapped a gift one year. It was a cassette tape my Dad had wanted. Remember cassettes? Man, seems like a lifetime ago! Anyway ... Daddy wanted this cassette but we kids didn't want him to guess what it was by the wrap. So ... we wrapped it up, then put it into a box and wrapped that with Christmas wrap. We got a bigger box and repeated ... six or seven more times. We taped every seam, the smaller boxes were even completely covered with tape. By the time we were done the little cassette tape had taken a total of nine boxes, four rolls of paper, two rolls of tape and unknown amounts of packing peanuts. It was the biggest gift under the tree that year!
5. Memorable ... Back in the 70's you could take a gift to the mall and have it "canned". Yup, in an actual tin can. They'd seal it. The gift recipient would need a can opener to open it. My mother's electric can opener had died earlier that year. Dad bought her a new one for Christmas. Yup, you guessed it ... we had her can opener canned.
If you would like to participate in the Friday 5:
Copy the questions and post your answers to your blog,
Leave a comment on the page at The Friday Five @ 360
or The Friday Five @ Multiply to let others know your post is up so they can visit your blog..
You can participate at either page or both, the choice is yours. FRIDAY FIVE IS NOT LEAVING 360.
Fun, easy, and no time limit.
12/6/07
Doctor's Appointment ...
The *good* news is that my weight loss to date is now 55 pounds. Yippee!!
However ... that's the only good news I had today.
Seems I have what's called a strangulated umbilical hernia. I guess it's from the six major surgeries I've had in the abdominal region in the past 28 years. My previous quack of a doc told me it was no big deal, no hurry in fixing it. Wrong! This stuff is serious. I'm facing surgery once again. Soon. Very soon. More than likely in the next few weeks.
Doc already did the blood work the surgeon will need and a few other typical pre-surgical things today. Ultra-sound, and an EKG (I think, I'm bad w/ remembering what the tests are called, lol). Get a running start and get this fixed ASAP.
Here's the website the nurse at Doc's office told me to go to ... http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/cnoteShowLfts.asp?fname=07189&title=UMBILICAL+HERNIA+&cid=HTHLTH
The pain, yup, that's what's been causing the pains I've been experiencing for about the last year. Causing a whole lot of other symptoms that fall under the TMI category. The doc says that about 90% of my present health complaints will be gone after surgery. This is good.
All I can think about is how that former doctor of mine was really playing with my life here. First the mis-diagnosis on my gall bladder disease that damn near killed me and now this. My new doc is appalled that any medical professional (or so called) could have that "no big deal" mentality and not treat patients properly. He didn't blame me, though, most patients go with what their docs say as "gospel". Yeah, sadly, I'm one of them most of the time!! I'm seriously considering talking to a malpractice lawyer to see if anything can be done.
I'll keep ya'll posted as I find out more.
A little adult humor ...
Two old ladies were strolling along the beach, one using a cane. Upon seeing the thing sticking up out of the sand, she began to move it around with her cane, remarking to the other lady, ''There is no justice in this world.'' The other lady asked what she meant.
"Well, when I was 20, I was curious about it. When I was 30, I enjoyed it. When I was 40, I asked for it. When I was 50, I paid for it. When I was 60, I prayed for it. When I was 70, I forgot all about it. Now I'm 80 and the damn things are growing wild and I'm too old to squat!"
12/4/07
Ten Thoughts Tuesday
2) I've heard a lot of things in my life, but never the term "piscatarian" ... and I'm not sure of the spelling on that. We were talking in computer class yesterday, and the teacher says "I'm a piscatarian". Sounds really perverted, doesn't it? I guess it's a vegetarian who eats fish.
3) Book buy back today at school. I'm sort of disappointed. Four of my books are no longer being used by the school, so I couldn't sell them back. Guess I head on over to Amazon.com and see if I can sell 'em there. Otherwise, I got $150 for the books I was able to sell back. That's for six hundred bucks worth of books.
4) My computer just started making weird noises. It sort of sounds like an old propeller plane trying to take off but not quite able to build up enough power to get off the ground. Wondering here if I should shut down, keep going or have the phone handy in case I start to see or smell smoke. LOL! Yeah, ya'll know *my* luck ...
5) I really, really should be working on my final exams right now. In art class we have to do self portraits. Current portraits. Damn. I wanted to make myself look ten or so years younger. No such luck. Graphics final is easy. We have to take a circle and make it into a drawing. Well, ten different drawings. Pick your favorite two and draw them using the computer program - adobe illustrator. So far I've done a lady bug, clock, bowling ball, car tire, smiley face, button, spider, eyeball, door knob and cookie. I'm thinking my two favorites are the smiley face and cookie. Computer class final will be a breeze. We have an hour to answer 45 questions about the internet. Easy stuff!! After that we have a buffet breakfast. Yummy!!
6) I'm seriously thinking of waking Alien up early Saturday morning and heading down to Hell. Hehehe ... That's Hell, Michigan. Not the other Hell.
7) I keep thinking about that book buy back. Seems they've got a hell of a money maker there. Maybe that's the line of work I need to get into ... buying books for a quarter of their list price and reselling them for half to three quarters of their list price.
8) Then again, I'd do almost anything (legal) for an income right now. What was it I heard the other day? Unemployment rate highest in the country at about 7.5%. Some 500,000 laid off in the last few years just in Michigan. And under 100,000 new jobs created in that time. Hmmmmmm ... is it me, or do I see that the math here isn't quite right. Time to send a certain governor back to Canada where she belongs.
9) Hmmmm, computer just stopped making that funny noise. *Sniff* *sniff* ... nope ... don't smell smoke ... think we'll be okay now.
10) Thought number ten ... thought number ten ... Come on, thought number ten. Nope. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
12/3/07
Gremlin Strikes Again!
OMG!! What a day. My computer teacher had emailed me the other day, there was a computer glitch and some of my test grades were lost. Did I happen to copy the score sheets for the tests, or otherwise record the grades? Of course not, so I had to retake ALL of the course tests. No biggie. I scored 100% on all of them (but couldn't document that), I could do it again. Just come in early today to do the re-takes she said.
Right, early. Sure, no problem. Only ... the Gremlin had other plans for me at 8 AM besides sitting doing test re-takes.
I go out, scrape the ice off the car only to find that my left rear tire is every low. No biggie, just drive up to the tire shop. They know me. I'll be in and out in less time than it takes to say "fill it up to 30 psi, please". A few minutes later I'm on the road ...
Only to get stuck in traffic because of the 8:15 train that rolls through every day. I pull into the school parking lot at 8:45 AM. A full 45 minutes late. I see the teacher in the smoking area. She'd forgotten all about me coming in early today. So, no biggie about the rough start I had, she says. Besides, we're done with the book work, so there'll be an hour of class today to do my re-takes. Whew!!
Then there's my graphics class. Handed in all sorts of projects today. Worked on my last project, too. Only ... I messed up. I hit the wrong function button in the program and lost everything! Now I have to start all over again. It's due Wednesday. I'll be heading up to school tomorrow to do that entire project again. Geesh.
The rest of the school day went fine. We even got out of drawing class an hour early today. Yippee!! Until ... I get out to my car, only to see the same tire that was low this morning is now flat as a pancake. Great!! Just what I needed. Oh, WAIT!! I have a portable air compressor in my trunk. I search the trunk. Nothing. Someone must have borrowed it and not returned it. Then ... THUD!! as the high winds slam the trunk on the top of my head. Yup, still hurts hours later.
I called Campus Security. They have a compressor. They'll be right out to fill my tire. Moron they send has no idea how to use the damned thing. He finally figures it out, and I can see my tire slowly inflating.
Common sense says to head up to the tire shop and have them check it out. So that's exactly what I did. Or ... tried to do.
Maybe I should mention here that my gas gage doesn't work. Hasn't since I got the car. I use the trip odometer as my gage. A little math is required to figure out how many miles the odometer will show when I'm low on gas and need to refill. Sooooo ... that said ...
I ran out of gas on the way to the tire shop!! I ran out on the main road, but managed to coast about half mile (downhill) to the gas station. The car petered out just inches from the pump!! WHEW!!
However, the bad news is ... my tires are beyond help. They need to be replaced as soon as possible. Or, the way my schedule is this week, the sooner the better! LOL!
I'm praying they'll make it until Friday when I have a day to devote to the tire shop.
I wonder if I can keep the Gremlin distracted until then? I don't need him to make my tires his entertainment for the rest of the week. LOL!
12/2/07
Aliens, geesh ...
So, today she's bored to tears and filing out a multiple question survey thing. You know the ones, we've all filled 'em out.
She gets to a question that she just busts out laughing.
The question was ... "What would you do if you found a dinosaur egg" ...
Her answer??
"Wonder if my mom was pregnant".
BRAT!!
Dinosaur egg ... I'll dinosaur egg her!!
Philosophy of Charles Schultz ...
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life. You are reading this because you made a difference in mine.
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)
12/1/07
Snowy Saturday
Feeling like crap for the last week. Not sure what's going on. Pain in my stomach, on and off for the last year. This week has been absolutely miserable for me. Other than the constant pain I feel great. I've noticed any type of eating - from light snack to full meal - only makes the pain worse. I should probably say here I have a hernia just below my belly button. I'm wondering if it's not related. Soonest I can get into my new doctor is next Thursday. Yippee, a new doc. No more quack!! I'm confident this one will finally do something besides say "yup, it's a hernia". Damn quack ex-doc of mine.
Ya'll know I'm a Trekkie. Yup, a card carrying Trekkie, no less. We had a meeting Thursday night. Chinese Food. Yummy!! Had to leave the meeting early because of the stinking pain. Crap. I'm one of the "officers" in the club - the "Communications Chief". I write the newsletters and help organize club functions. I shouldn't be leaving early. I've also been thinking about volunteering for the position of Regional Historian. Basically it's the photographer for all of the area chapters. I'd go and take all of their photos for the StarFleet publication. The only thing stopping me is that Canada is in our region and I can't afford to get a passport. I'm still fuzzy on the new passport laws, but at this point I'd rather play it safe and have mine. My luck the way it is, you know? LOL.
Not much else going on. Just taking it easy. Don't wanna overdo anything, not with this pain. So ... it's homework, studying for finals next week, working on my final art project (a self portrait), and watching a lot of tv. Fun. Fun. Fun.
Not spending a lot of time right now on the computer, other than using the online study guide for my computer class. On top of everything else my mouse decided to die. Well, not die entirely, but he sure is limping around. Makes navigating damn near impossible!! Sort of reminds me of my early computer days, before computer mice. Back when we navigated using the tab key ... back before the internet. OMG!! Now I feel O-L-D!!
Hoping ya'll are having a great weekend!! I'm hoping to visit your pages today!!