Another Year Older

 

Yup, today is my BIRTHDAY!  Another year older and I'm not sure how I feel about that.  It also means I am one year closer to that dreaded 60.  I have to tell you 50 wasn't so bad but somehow 60 is kind of freakin' me out!!!  It's truly an odd feeling, especially when I feel still in my 40's, even if the body is kind of breaking down a bit.  It's funny, my parents, when they hit that fifty mark kind of just said, "We're old," and just acted OLD!  They pretty much retired from life except for the grandkids and were literally dying since.  Momma made it to 70, barely and it wasn't pretty.  Daddy will be 80 this year and he just creaks around.  Heck, my mother-in-law will be 88 in September and that lady has got it going and lets nothing stop her from doing stuff, just the body is not cooperating sometimes.  It is SOOooooo much a frame of mind. 

The saying, "You're as young as you feel," is just so very true.  It also applies to how you act and stay up with EVERYTHING!

Momma just refused to get on the computer bandwagon.  I tried to show her but she was not open minded.  In fact she viewed Daddy's computer as a mistress.  She was so jealous of his time spent on it.  It was truly sad.  You have to keep the mind young and keep learning.

So Happy Birthday to that person I kind of don't recognize.  Here's to that next step in life!  Cheers to all my friends and family!

You're As Young As You Feel

I have always said that I don't feel like I am whatever age I was at that time.  Today I am 58 but I certainly don't feel like I am 58, I feel more like I am still in my 40's.  I just saw a thing on AOL about aging, some kind of study about basically the phrase, "You're as young as you feel." That has been my mantra for many years and this new British study backs up that phrase, and to living longer.  My Daddy is a perfect example of that because when he hit his 50's he basically shut down his business (the oil thing did it) and sat in his chair and retired from life.  I guess he told himself that he was old.  Oh my goodness, you just can't do that, but that is what he did, and I think it took a toll on him.  Yes, yes, he will be 80 this summer but it has been an agonizingly long 30 years of him telling himself that he is old.  I still like to listen to head banging music, rock-n-roll.  I don't do roller skating or climbing mountains and stuff but I do try to stay up with current world things, like the computer, TV, the world.  I help chase around a 2 year old, I work, I read, I paint...I love life, "You're as young as you feel."  Here, here!

Also, side note, finished up the 30 painting challenge...

HIPAA SCHMIPPA

HIPAA SCHMIPPA....I am PISSED!

Daddy and the doctor...Yes, yesterday we had another doctor appointment as Daddy is still not well.  He apparantly is anemic and his blood volumne, platelets...something is down, down, down, low blood pressure.  I know they have given him blood before and he was on iron when he was in the hospital/skilled nursing care, yet they have neglected to tell us why.  Hi count should be over 12 I think they said, his is 8.  7 and they will do blood transmission.  Anyway, the clinic still did not have my phone as the contact from a month ago.  The only thing they changed was to put the word CELL by Daddy's home phone number.  The problem is he rarely answers the phone and flat won't talk on it.  Explains why I have not been called to set him up with a cardiologist.  Now we had to get an appointment for a colonscopy, another referrel.  Today I decided to wait and see what was going to happen.

The phone rang and finally got the referral for the colonscopy and it is all set up.

NOW why I am so mad. Since the gastro place called I was afraid that they may not have pushed the heart doc referral so I called the clinic. I just got a call that "we're afraid that we cannot discuss anything with you because there is no HIPPA form or verbal that they can." I told the lady that I didn't have an issue scheduling the other appointment, just scheduling. She still insisted. Then I said, "look they just called my Daddy and he could not hear and then they called my number." She still could not help because there is NO HIPPA FORM or verbal, she needed to witness. I said I was JUST IN THAT DAMN OFFICE AND THE DOC AND THE NURSE AND THE RECEPTIONIST just saw me interacting with my Daddy and helping and they told me this was fine. She told me I had to bring him back in and fill the HIPPA form out in front of them. CRAAAAAP! Good grief, why did they not have us fill out that form the two times we have been there. I will have to go get him next week and take him to that damn office just to say 'YES, talk to my daughter."

MADDER than a wet hen I am.  

Random 5 Friday

Random 5 Friday is at hand.  If you would like to join in then please our host, Nancy at A Rural Journal to see how it's done!

• I read the local paper every single day and the most interesting section for me are the obits.  Not that I'm morbid but I read to make sure I DON'T know anyone listed.  I'm also struck by the fear that I will someday grace these lists of the dearly departed and as time passes the time gets nearer and nearer.  The ages of a lot of them are at least 58 -70 years old and I realize that I will soon be 58!  EGADS!!!
• Insurance, we all have some sort of insurance don't we.  We have life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, fire and casuality insurance, liability insurance, worker's compensation insurance, general liability insurance...oh I could go on forever.  We met with our "insurance" guy yesterday for the business insurance and I am struck by the absurdity of just having to have insurance.  Really it is for the "What If" in your life, be it home or in business.  Frankly, we have had a couple of instances in our business to use the "What If" factor in insurance.  I think the only one benefiting in the industry are the insurance companies on our "What If" fear.  
• The wind lately blowing around is just about to drive me crazy.  I am hoping it is helping to blow away this stupid never-ending winter that just keeps hanging on.  It is almost April and we are still having below freezing temperatures!  Enough already.  My hammock is calling my name please.
  
• This random stuff is kind of hard.  When I think of something that is random enough to write about I'm usually in my car with no paper or pen and no place to write it down.  
• Anyone want some zebra finches.  About 3 years ago a friend called me, since she knew I already had birds, to ask if I wanted some zebra finches.  The story was that a lady friend of hers daughters had given her 4 zebra finches for Mother's Day and she absolutely, under no uncertain terms, HATED them and was going to let them out the front door.  Well, for one thing the little guys are African and not meant for Oklahoma, maybe the summer but not the winter.  Especially the winter we've had here.  I fell for the story and took the little fluttery things in and quickly discovered that there were two males and two females.  Thank goodness I had lots of cages to separate them.  I love birds but I'm really ready to find them some new homes.  I'm tired of taking care of them but will continue because that is what I signed on for but I really would like to find them another home.  Have to get hard at work at that be it the zoo or Craig's List or maybe an assisted living center!  

Happy New Year!

Well, well, well, it is officially 2014!  I can't believe it.  When I graduated high school in 1974, 40 years ago (blech-bad taste in my mouth), I never in my wildest dreams understand that I would be alive in the 2000's let alone 2014!  I'm OLD!  EEK!  Not really but when you see the numbers....shivers!

Last night we kept little Rio for New Year's Eve, while her parents hosted a party.  She was good except for trying, yet again, to get her down for bedtime.  Before she came though I spent about 30 minutes of some quiet time with a nice cup of hot tea to relax because I knew I would be busy, and indeed I was, gladly.

Bedtime was a bit rough but she was down at 8 and I soon followed knowing she had a tendency to wake up fitful.  Again I was write because at 12:30 she was awake and not happy.  It was only an hour ordeal :( but she was back asleep but I wasn't.  My mind kept me tossing and turning till about 3 when I finally drifted only to jolted awake at 4 am.  So up we were and she was quite happy, as was I when she giggled at me.  Awww, the joy of a grandbabies!  I will nap later!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Fabulous Fashionistas

This film was posted on my daughter's Facebook page.  It is called Fabulous Fashionistas and I am in love with the wonderful women it shows.  It is about 50 minutes long but will be the best 50 minutes you ever spent.  Please enjoy!

Daddy Update.

Brother and I have taken turns and spent time together during the days with Daddy at the hospital since Tuesday.  They did a CAT scan on Wednesday and yesterday they informed us that he definitely had a small stroke.  They still don't know what is causing the fever, and he's having horrendous headaches but that may be the stroke.  We left yesterday afternoon when the rehab people came in to assess his capabilities so we're not sure how the legs are working but he was flailing them a lot in the ER on Tuesday trying to get comfortable on the bed after about 7 hours.  They only thing we can detect is a bit of confusion sometimes but that only comes up when the fever comes up.  The doctor said that could be part of the stroke too but just don't know.  Daddy told us and the doctors that he was sick for 4 days with fever and had not eaten for the 4 days and I was sure that was what caused the weakness, but...last night I talked to his neighbor and he told me that Daddy was standing out back by the fence yakking to him on Sunday night for about 30 minutes.  Hmmmm, makes me think he is saying this stuff about "4 days of being sick" because of the stroke and that he can't remember.  Makes much more sense.  He's always been kind of liberal with any kind of information, stretching the truth, and such it just seems a bit more wild.  We have to remember this when he tells us stuff and not take anything he says literally.  Anyway, he's still in the hospital at least till Monday when they determine if it's rehab at home or at a center.  

What's Expected



(Lathe-see I actually know what this is)

Do you do what is expected of you?  Do you expect too much from your wife or husband or child?  Sometimes I feel that I do what is expected of me too much, that I try to please to the detriment of myself.  Maybe the word is pleasing someone.  Oh it's such a muddle in my brain here.  When I was a young girl just out of high school without a hint of opportunity or encouragement of college I was expected to get a job, get married, move out, grow up and move on.  For awhile after high school you could not blast me out of bed and my Daddy tried I can tell you.  He would call my Mother from work and ask if I was up and if not then "GET HER UP!"  She has to get a job.  If that didn't work he would call my phone.  I was just enjoying time away from 12 years of solid school but he would have none of it.  Finally, I did what he expected of me and got up and went to work, at his work.  Daddy owned a machine shop and all three of us kids worked there at one time or another, brother following the career to this day.  I got up and dressed in the nastiest clothes because a machine shop is dirty and greasy.  I would pack a lunch and show up to do a little office work for Daddy and then he taught me to put gear boxes together.  I would do that day in and day out and occasionally he would put me on a drill press or punch press and sometimes a lathe.  It was really great fun, but, oh, my hands suffered.  In the end, I did what was expected of me.  I went to work.  I have followed the guidelines that are expected of a woman of my era, at least in my world, in the Midwest, not California or New York.  I am not saying that I'm unhappy with my life, NEVER, but I am just saying sometimes you wonder about the paths you have chosen in your life.  I was expected to not go to college, which I later did.  I was expected to get married and have children, which I did.   [Hmmm, interesting turn of phrase here: - "Am I expected?" or "I am expected."  One is a question and one is a statement of fact.] 

Now, here I am in my 50's, yes 50's, (leaves a bad taste in my mouth), am I expected to act and assume the role of a 55 year old woman!  I say NO, absolutely not.  I color my hair, I listen to modern music (except Rap-Crap), I try to exercise to keep my joints a moving.  I'm fighting off the unexpectedness of being 55 years old.  I know it is a futile battle but hopefully it will be helpful when I hit the 70's and 80's and maybe 90's.  I am expected to do stuff, to live, to honor and obey...hey wait...honor and be a partner and life long friend.  I am expected to be ME!

(How's that for a ramble!)



I Dropped Daddy In The Dirt

Tuesday was not a very good day.  Bro asked me to help him with Daddy and the doctor visit.  His back has been an issue and getting Daddy and a wheelchair down two steps has been worrisome for him.  Sure I can help.  First, the wheelchair is a bit old.  In fact, looking through old pictures I found this...it is of me when I broke my leg at age 11, forty-four years ago, I'll be darned, I think it is the same wheelchair that Daddy is using.  It was my great grandmother's.  Could be another one but it is still OLD!

I arrived and we started the decent down the two steps.  The trick is to practically lay the wheelchair, with Daddy in it, down backwards and then easily let it roll down the steps.  Well, those big old wheels just went WHOOSH and Daddy was on his back in the wheelchair.  DRAT!  The tread came off the wheelchair and we quickly got Daddy upright.  Shook me up for sure but Daddy was fine.  Since he was pretty much laying down he didn't fall far but I DROPPED MY DADDY!  I now have a call into the doctor to see about getting a new wheelchair for Daddy through his Medicare.  Brother has been doing this all by himself for a few weeks now and I realize it takes two very strong people.  I also realize, we need a ramp.  So the call, or text message, as that is the only communication with Sis right now, has gone out to possibly build a ramp.  The Bro-In-Law, her hubby, is a carpenter and should be able to help, should being the word to use but not necessarily going to happen.  Okay, I may rant a bit here but Sis has been to see Daddy once in the 4 weeks he has been home and talked to him on the phone once.  She lives not far from him while I live in another town.  He has laundry to do, trash to take out, groceries to buy and just company for him.  I also manage his finances right now too.  Bro has been great with getting Daddy to the doctors.  It takes "ALL" of us but right now we are down a third and not sure why. 

Responsibilties and Parents

  Last week B and I went to one of the Borders that is closing in town and I gravitated to the audio books.  I love listening while I tool around town in my car.  I found this one called Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.  Not sure why I was drawn to it except the cover art.  I am finding a correlation to my real life as I listen to the thing.  It is about two sisters who have a horrible relationship with their Russian born mother.  The mother, so far, is a very, very cold person and makes it difficult for the girls to relate to her.  Their father, who both girls have a wonderful relationship with is the buffer and glue between them all.  When he dies they are forced to deal with their relationships with the mother.  So far that is just about as far as I have gotten in the book, halfway, but the part I find that identifies with my life is the girls dealing with an aged parent.  The mother is showing signs of dementia, or so they think and is not able to take care of herself, again, or so they think.  This part of the book comes as my siblings and I are facing the health and living problems with my father. 

Tuesday Daddy had yet another minor surgery and they have found that the "infection" has gone clear to the new hip area.  The infection is probably the result of his pneumonia last year.  This probably means more surgery, no driving for a very long time, and his increased dependance on us three.  Daddy actually made the comment about having the feeling of helplessness and dependence.  It has got to be so very scary.  I can't even imagine going from being a big tough guy to totally reliant on others.  He needs us to take him to the doctor, get his meds, his food, his everything.  Plus he lives alone and is incredibly lonely.  I feel so bad for him.  He actually made a statement about thinking about one of those retirement communities.  It made me really contemplate that as an option but I'm not sure if he could afford it.  It would be nice to have him around people.  I think it would help a lot but probably not just yet.  It will probably be an inevitable thing. 

It was weird yesterday but as my brother and I were getting him dressed to go home I too his bicep to help him lift up and pull his pants on and was amazed how strong his arms still are.  Wow, lots of strong muscle.  I think it helps that he is really in very good condition and eats very well.  He's still my very strong Daddy that I used to love to watch. 

Nothing At All

I really have nothing at all to say today but felt the need to at least post something.  I'm getting up there in blog posts, I think 823 or something like that.  This month will also be my 4 year anniversary of blogging and Friday (June 4) will be my 54th birthday.  Lots of stuff going through my head right now about age with the impending B-day.  54, that is just a bit too close to 60 and I'm not liking that at all.  I will just have to continue to exercise and live life to the fullest and do what I want to do.  I want to read, enjoy the hammock, have fun with friends, paint, enjoy the family, do what makes me happy.  Happy, healthy and content will get me hopefully get me a longer life.  I think that this should be the second or third or fourth phase of my life and I hope to live it to the fullest.  I was thinking about this yesterday, about the phases of "my" life and they may be different for everyone else.  I had the younger years with Momma and Daddy and Bro and Sis, the formative years.  Then it was on to the newlywed years (3) before we dove into the children years.  The children years go on for the rest of your life but there are stages there too, baby, toddler, school, young adult then adulthood.  Now I'm into the empty nest and all about me years.  I like all about me.  Haven't had that and I'm still struggling to fine tune the all about me.  It's kind of hard when you have a partner that has to be included in the all about me phase and that is just fine as long as he is working with me to achieve it and vice-versa.  Oh I am ramblin' today I see.  Think I need another cup of coffee to get my mind running straight.  It is a Monday on a Tuesday. 

Friday is birthday and this month I have to renew my drivers license.  Think I'll wait till the gray is covered for the picture.

McLinky Monday: What-do-you-do-now!

Today, Monday's question of the week from RHOK is What Do You Do Now...They are talking about what do you do when the kids are gone, when the house is void of the pitter-patter of little feet running around.  Well, I've been living that life for awhile now and I can say it is glorious.  The Hubby always said that when the kids are gone he would be able to run around naked.  When the youngest A moved to Phoenix about 2005 we were in the process of moving into the newly remodeled house we had purchased in the fall of '04.  It was kind of a whirlwind of movement that year.  I actually didn't have too much time to truly enjoy the empty nest concept because after the remodel and lots of workmen around I was thrown into the death of my best friend and the deterioration of my mother and her passing in that year.  I was in a tailspin of depression and then I turned 50 in the process.  It was not good for me but I sought a little life coach counseling to get me focused and onto the next part of my life, life with out kiddos, without mother and friend.  That is when we went to Paris and London and last year Ireland. 

I tried to decide whether I wanted to write or paint, and experimented with both.  I joined writing groups and took a couple of classes and at the same time enrolled in the art class.  I found my voice I feel.  The art has given me a new thrill in my life and I feel that it will carry me through the rest of my years.  I had not attempted anything like the stuff I'm doing now since I was about 14 and I think the brain has changed.  I am doing drawing like never before.  I amaze myself with it.  One thing I'm afraid of though is turning into one of those gray-headed old ladies that picks up art and paints landscapes and vases of flowers.  I would rather be a Georgia O'Keefe kind of gal and be innovative, I'm trying.  I belong to an art group that meets once a month and it is scary to sit in the meetings and see all the gray staring back at me.  I AM NOT OLD DAMMIT!  I still write, in my journal and here on the blog but the feel of spreading paint on the canvas and mixing the colors just moves me.  I have also discovered that I can draw fairly well when I thought I was not good in that area.  I'm not sure where all this will lead me but I am happy and I wasn't for a few years there.  It's kind of hard to become an empty nester, lose a parent and best friend all in the same time frame, takes a toll on the emotions but I'm here to say I'm well on my way to good.  The next phase I think will be grandkids sometime in the future. 

So to simply answer the question "What do you do now?"  Well, I work, still.  That will be until The Hubby decides he is ready to shut down the business.  I work, I am an artist, I am a wife, I am a mother-still, I am a daughter, I am!

What Is A Housewife

This is a challenge from the new place I love to go...The Real Housewives of Oklahoma...I have been challenged to write about this subject...

"What Is A Housewife." 

First let us find the definition to that heavily weighted word, housewife according to Wikipedia.  It refers to the housewife as a woman not employed outside the home and manages the home.  That is all well and good.  My mother was a housewife as was my grandmother although they both worked at different times when necessary before children arrived.  I used to threaten The Hubby that when I die I do not want my obituary to read "she was a housewife."  I'm not a housewife.  I promised that I would come back to haunt him!  I work outside the home, sort of.  I work at our office and when the girls were young the office was in the home.  Actually, we are all housewives if you take the definition from Wikipedia to heart, we manage the home too.  We work outside the home and inside the home.  We do it all.  I'm not sure I really like the term, housewife.  I've done it all.  I work.  I've raised two daughters.  I went to college while raising those two girls.  I also worked in our business, still do for nearly 31 years.  I've managed the house and paid the household bills along with the work responsibilities.  Hey, I think I'm tired.  Housewife, I'm not sure I've managed to figure out that term myself.  I've cooked, cleaned, done the laundry.  I've taken the kids to the doc and the pets to the vet.  I've been a nurse and caretaker. I've championed my girls at their school and extra activities.  I've been a chauffeur and WalMart runner at the last minute kind of gal.  I've been ready for the family dinners at our house with a smile on and a killer meal to boot.  I've been the glue for the family, especially the extended family.  I have been the wife, the patient wife who is there for her guy.  His dinner is kept warm for hours and when he walks in the door I'm not mad but caring for his long day.  I am happy to be with him, to sit and watch mindless TV, to talk about his day.  I am there in good and bad.  I am more that a mere housewife, I am woman, hear me roar!  Oops, better get off the high pedestal that I've climbed up on and get back down to earth.  Oh gosh, I don't know if I can define what a housewife is, I just know who I am and I am much, much more that a housewife, like many, many of the women today.  We need to coin a new phrase, don't you think!  I can't even think of one word that would fill that in so housewife I guess I will stay.

Inspiration and Compliments

I'm trying to find some inspiration to paint.  I have lots and lots of pictures to choose from but just can't seem to get myself to sit at home to paint.  I have some time this morning but just am not in the mood.  Hopefully this weekend, while The Hubby is at the Tulsa Swing Fling I can spend some time with a canvas.  I had a great time in class on Tuesday and feel that the painting is going well.  I have a few goals in this painting endeavor.  One, is that it relaxes me and makes me content.  Two, is that I am using my creative outlet.  Three is to make a little money, not much money, but a little.  My friend in class, who is an AWESOME artist, sold one of her paintings for $800 the other day.  YES!  That is what I want to do eventually, but ultimately I just love to do it.  Makes me get a warm feeling in my belly when I can cover a canvas and make it turn into something wonderful. 

Possible Paintings:

This one I've started on canvas but not sure of it yet.

Now to (2) compliment(s).  Last weekend while at the cabin on Friday night, sitting around a fire pit, a new cabinite asked how old my kids were.  I gladly told her 30 and 24.  She was stunned and could not believe I had children that old.  I was very appreciative of the compliment.  Last night it happened again at a night club that we went to after dance class.  We were sitting with three other couples from the class and I was having a discussion with one of the guys when he asked me if we had children and how old they were.  I again offered up the ages and he was visibly stunned.  He actually told me that he thought I was about 42...I'M 53!  I thanked him and my head grew with pride as I thanked my Mary Kay regimen of lotions over the years, working out and good eating!  Also, laughter and contintment with life helps. 

So I'm feeling pretty good about myself lately. 

Day by Day

Monday is upon us like any other day.  It's day by day by day and each of those days we get older.  I really hate that and don't feel older most of the time, until I look in the mirror.  Every five weeks or so I have to go in and cover the most obvious sign that I'm getting older, my silver gray hair.  I'm just not ready to look older.  For a long time I didn't look my age, actually up until a few years ago, but now, well, I look all of my 53 years.  I don't like it but growing older is really something we can not halt but we can at least help it to not "hurt" so bad.  So a little hair color, a lot of night cream, exercise, laughter and I think I'm holding my own, except in the weight department but I'm actively working on it.  So it is just day by day by day. 

Touch of Grey

The Hubby and I spent the evening visiting with his mother at her retirement community.  We had dinner from the buffet and then "enjoyed" an evening of music...yup, I said music.  As in the Grateful Dead song Touch of Grey, we watched as the MIL and her peers seranaded us.  Watching the stage as they sang songs from Cats, The Music Man and Fiddler on the Roof to name a few, I was struck by the many touches of grey that graced the stage.  Most of the performers hobbled their way up to the stage with their little music books in hand to share their versions of many songs, an hour worth.  Very brave some of them I can tell you.  The director would lead them through the sets and then would carefully step down three steps to allow soloists to perform and sit and wait on a stool.  The whole choir sat during the performance which I was glad as I didn't want to have to pick anybody up off the floor.  Most of the audience were in the shade of grey catagory (actually I am too, I just hide it very well) and were up well past their bedtimes.  One elderly couple caught my eye as they sat across the aisle from us.  They had to be in their late 80's but what caught my eye was when he gingerly reached over and took his lady's hand in his during the concert.  Ahhhh.  A short time later The Hubby reached over and took mine....AHHHH!  Yes, he still has it.  The Hubby and I whispered about what the future holds for us in this realm.  We laughed quietly and talked about the kind of music our generation would be seranading our children.  Could we see aging tattooed ladies singing Katie Perry's I Kissed a Girl and I Liked It, Madonna's Papa Don't Preach or aging Harley riders singing Michael Jackson's Thriller.   Interesting thought, don't you think.

Women Drivers...no wait...Elderly Drivers

Yesterday, after a very long, boring day at the office I headed to the grocery store for a few odds and ends.  I don't know if it was the impending rain for the week but it was a bit crazy.  I don't quite understand it but it is what it was.  First of all the shopping cart area was almost void of carts as they were all residing in the parking lot.  Second, it was almost a constant traffic jam up and down the aisles of the store.  You would think there was a snow storm coming or something.  I guess the idea of fall and winter brings out survivial stuff in people.  When done with picking up the few things I needed I headed out to my car.  There in the middle of the drive in front, sideways was a huge Lincoln with a very elderly lady at the wheel.  She had a handicap thingy hanging from her mirror and was waiting for the very first handicap slot that was filled.  I was walking behind her to my car when I saw the backup lights come on and she was backing up.  I ran pushing the cart in front of me.  I could see my life flash in front of my eyes and the brief thought was that she would forget she was in reverse and rev it into the store.  I got to my car and then she started honking at the car in the slot.  The Lincoln lady was totally blocking all of the traffic and the car she was waiting on was not moving, at all.  HONK! HONK! HONK!  Finally, the parked car moved and Lincoln lady moved in.  I watched as she creeped into the slot, a bit crooked but it was next to a no parking spot and not too bad.  She got out of the car, stooped over and trudging, walked around and noticed she was a bit off, slowly made her way back to the driver side and backed in and out to get it just right in the lines.  When she was where she thought she should be she went in to shop totally oblivious to the havoc she had created.  That, my friends is where her family should take her driving privileges away from her.  I'm a bit afraid of little old people driving tanks.  We had to take my grandmother's privileges away when she cremated a couple of mailboxes in her T-Bird.  Sometimes it just has to be done and I don't look forward to grounding my father in the future. 

Ultrasound

Since my appointment was early this AM I decided I would not be able to squeeze workout in, but I did plan on at least catching an extra 30 minutes of shut-eye.  That didn't happen, at least the extra sleep, and I needed it after last night.  My allergies don't bother me until I doze off to sleep and wakeup coughing from the flim very early in night-night time.  So last nights sleep was not good and the bladder didn't cooperate nor did Clayton.  He wanted to be petted and loved after The Hubby fixed his breakfast.  Rats...just get up and get on with the day. 

The Imaging Center wanted me to arrive 30 minutes early and drink 32 ounces of water for my ultrasound of the "female" region.  I waddled in 20 minutes early, sloshing as I went.  The place is nice and seems to run very efficently.  I brought my new book to read, The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi but only managed to read the prologue.  I paid my $500 deductible (ouch) and was very shortly ushered into the ultrasound room by a darling young lady.  She was the nicest thing and just lovely.  In fact I told her she looked like the actress Heather Tom from The Bold & The Beautiful (before playing Victoria on The Young and The Restless.)  I was ready to get on with the picture taking so I could get rid of coffee and 32 ounces of water.  She then informed me that because of the spotting that they wanted to do the internal ultrasound so that I could empty the bladder!  WHAT!  She questioned me a bit more and then decided to do a quick look-see before the emptying.  What a relief when I was able to "let it go."  ......(excuse me...all this talk of full bladder and I have to run.......BRB)..................................... okay, I'm back.  As I lay on the table she shows me the ultrasound probe that was sheathed in a glorified condom with gel...lovely.  The technician probed and probed and I could tell that the coffee and water were making a comback...a little uncomfortable.  She suggested that I empty again which I complied.  Back on the table, probe reinserted she began the look-see again.  Then, with probe still inside she wanted to do the topside ultrasound to try and find my ovaries.  I suggested that that they may have dried up and she said that wasn't such a bad thing.  First good feel about the whole thing I had.  Finally, the test and picture taking was done and I was on my way.  I went to the little girls room again, then stopped at the house for another visit and get my bowling ball for tonight and then to office where I've made a visit there too.  In the mornings, on a normal day, my bladder gives me a run for my money. 

So this afternoon or tomorrow I am expecting a phone call from the doc!  Wish me luck that everything is all shriveled nicely and I can go on with this menopause thing. 

Busy Times

I feel like I have abandoned my bloggy friends.  I have not commented enough nor have I blogged enough but my life lately has been in absolute overdrive.  I seem to be constantly running with hardly a time to think about anything.  I haven't read a book and I'm finding it hard to sit down long enough to work on my art.  I hope it all slows down a bit, soon.  This week I finished yet another art project. YEAH!  Now I am in a frantic mode to draw something for the next project.  I went to the doctor for my "yearly" this week and I left not feeling too good.  You see, I had my last offical lady thing June 2008, but July, August and this week, September, it decided to hint at a return.  I told her about it and she said that I need an untrasound to rule out ...... "CANCER"...... Excuse me.  I know it is nothing and that I could just still be in the phase of my life but did she have to say that to my face, like that!  I don't think so.  The only kind of cancer that is my family is lung and prostate and one of those is, well not something I should worry about.  This has kind of bumbed me out a bit but I know I'm fine.  I have been in great health and feel great, except for my backache when I sleep too long, past 5:30 am in the morning.  So Wednesday morning I load up my bladder and try to drive in my little bumpy Miata to the ultrasound and have the test.  The last ultrasound I had was 25 years ago when I was pregnant with "A".  I will keep everyone posted.

This weekend is the 3rd annual "Hanging of The Bras".  My old friends from Jazzercise come the cabin and we laugh, drink, eat, laugh, sleep, laugh, and enjoy the bonds of friendship we have made.  I need to get off this computer and get my stuff packed.  I still need to go to the grocery store, pharmacy, liquor store and make time to have lunch with The Hubby.  Stay tuned for some of the wonderful pics from our weekend.  Toodles all and have a wonderful weekend...Oh, check out the latest pic "B" took in the office the other day.  My hair is really getting longer, thank goodnes.  I've been growing it for 1-1/2 years now. 

Hi Ho Silver and Away!

I'm having a time trying to come up with stuff to write about lately. Like most of the "projects" in my life, sometimes I get bored, and it is so about blogging I think. It is so very bad that yesterday when I came home from workout with my trainer, when my hair is at its worst, all sweaty and greasy, I got the camera out. Yes, I did it. I took a picture, not a good one of my gray, oh uh, silver hair roots. My plan was to take a before and after picture because I was on my way to have it hidden again. Do you know how hard it is to self portrait a picture of your scalp? I can tell you, very hard. The pictures did not turn out like I wanted them too so all I can do is write about it. Actually, the real deal is pretty scary and sends me screaming to my hair wizard to make the stuff go away. I keep telling her that maybe when I'm 60 I'll let it show, she just laughs at me. Funny girl! Hi Ho Silver and Away!!!!