59/365

EARTH WITHOUT ART IS JUST EH
That quote is all over Pinterest.  ;-) I haven't been feeling well and I've been busy with a bunch of things... I'm running behind on my art class... I'm not the biggest fan of watercolors. I never was.  Tascha is such an excellent teacher, though, so it's been really fun.  Just wish I felt better and could focus more on it. Going to try to catch up tonight... next lesson comes out tomorrow!

58/365

YOU'VE GOT (WAY TOO MUCH) MAIL
Im going to try to do these posts in the morning so I don't fall so far behind... Need to get ready for another appointment for the Glo-worm. She has 11 appointments for two eyes...  I've never seen something so complicated before... her whole procedure was different. The Dad was finished with both in  two weeks and had one followup. She has five appointments for each eye and an overall followup.  At least I don't have to do the eye drops!  Anyway, my goal today is to go through some email.  I have a little too many!

57/365

THIRD EYE BLIND
Glo-worm had her first cataract surgery today... it was an early morning and all day excursion.  It's a little difficult getting her places. She almost fell when we got there.  Between my arm and my coffee I couldn't hold her up!  I had to go get her a wheelchair. Things got a little delayed because her heart was doing something weird and she started hallucinating when we got there... I really thought she was going to have another stroke or seizure. She wasn't making any sense at all.  She said that her husband Norman and his brother Elmer and I were across the hall in another room. I think she meant my mother - not me.  I told her I couldn't be across the room when I was standing right next to her bed.  She just wasn't getting it. IDK - I guess they came to visit.  She said we were bringing her cans and peanut butter and she said a bunch of other things we couldn't make out... This was all BEFORE anesthesia!

They finally ended up doing the surgery and the first thing she said when she came back was - where's Dave and Lily?  I told her Dave wasn't coming and Lily wasn't allowed to be there. She said they were just there and she was talking to them.  I told her she must have been dreaming.  She said that was ok - Lily was bad and she should go home.

That dog gets no love! ;-)

Anyway, one eye down - one to go...

56/365

TEA TIME

I still have Christmas gifts downstairs for a few people...  My organization and planning skills have really gone down the drain.  I forgot to post this the other day... I bought a tea party lunch groupon for Chrissy for her birthday (in June!)  I'm running a little behind with things so we went the other day (the last day you could use it.)  If you look right above the handle you can see Paula - she was also there with some friends!

55/365

GIRLS GONE WILD
Chrissy, Cara and I went to visit Glo one day before going over to start packing up her apartment.  There was a lady selling suckers to be delivered to the room on Valentine's Day. We bought one... When I went up to the room that day I saw that Glo stuck it in the arrangement on her windowsill (which is actually a centerpiece from my wedding.) I asked her why she didn't eat it and she said if she did she wouldn't remember we gave her a present. She said she just wanted to keep it. For ever.

Every single time I visit by myself - she asks if "the girls" are with me. If I tell her no she waits a couple minutes looking out the door like they are going to come in and surprise her.  I have to repeat that they are busy or at work or whatever. Maybe I'm just not exciting enough on my own. ;-)  Anyway, when the girls do come, we usually end up getting really loud and she asks if we were out drinking and we end up talking about cake. ;-) Here's another video discussing whether or not we should have a party for her 85th birthday coming up in April.

54/365

JUST A LITTLE PRICK (X3)
I had to reschedule Lily's vet appointment to yesterday to get her tested for Lyme Disease.  Remember the tick incident? After the news about Daddy I was hoping things would go better but it started off - let's just say - not on a good paw.  A new girl tried to get blood out of Lily's leg for the test... she found a vein but no blood!  So she did it again.... nothing.  Apparently, her veins were rolling and she wasn't having any luck.  I told them that my Dad has the same problem and they were joking saying she must take after her Grandpa.  We were all laughing and then I stopped.  The other girl said she would take it out of Lily's jugular.  I kind of freaked.  I don't have any pictures of us in the exam room but the only thing that came to mind was this of RoseBud (dead) and I honestly thought I was going to pass out.

I questioned whether it would be a good idea to take it from her neck... I couldn't get to my phone fast enough to text Carey and ask if it was ok... Lily twirls a lot and is a wiggle worm.  I was afraid she was going to puncture something.  By now Lily was whimpering pretty bad because they were holding her down and I felt like the room was spinning. Before I could snatch her off the table and run away to a deserted island she was done. In a matter of one second she got what she needed.  We had to wait awhile in the office for them to get the results but I didn't care... because you KNOW I thought she was going to end up bleeding out so better to be there than somewhere else! I even stopped on the way home to check her.

FYI -  everything turned out to be fine!!!

53/365

JUST GIVE ME A SECOND
Saw this today and thought it was hysterical... It's been crazy hectic here this past week - I've been posting but haven't added any photos yet so I never published anything... stay tuned, friends, for some back posting. A little later... ;-)

52/365

I'M GETTING SICK OF THIS SHIT
I had to cancel The Bud's vet appointment tonight because we ran late at my Dad's kidney doctor... I knew something was up - the usual way the appointments go was different.  Turns out his kidney function dropped and he has to have "the talk" on dialysis, transplants, etc...

51/365

ONE STEP AT A TIME
There was a time several years ago where my whole life revolved around cycle days and tongue diagnosis and acupuncture needles.  I miss acupuncture and Mo and I really need to go see Dorit but I can't afford it.

I am having so many problems with this medication and god only knows what else.  My hand is going numb and things are just dropping out of it - forks, paintbrushes, pens. It's really annoying. I'm still having trouble lifting my arm and I'm not sleeping and blah blah blah.  I think there is something else going on here - I just haven't had a minute to try to figure it out...

I need some help - stat. Does anyone know a cheap reflexologist - wink wink??

Anyway, thought this was interesting... I wonder how accurate this is.

50/365

AND YOU SAY (S)HE'S JUST A FRIEND
I heard that today on The Dad's XM... God I will always think of Denise when I hear that song! ;-)

49/365

TAKE ROOT

I  have a bunch of meditations and different things on my phone... One night a couple weeks ago I was having trouble sleeping and wanted to do some breathing exercises.  I must have hit the wrong one and all of a sudden this affirmation came on from a hypnobirthing and fertility thing I have... there's one line in it that is similar to the above quote and it gets to me every time.  I haven't heard it in a long time and I think I ended up crying the rest of the night. Some days (and nights) are worse than others... this whole baby thing - am I ever going to get over this? I don't think so.

48/365

BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE
I woke up in a panic today actually gasping for breath. I woke up from a dream... Mum was leading me into the rooms at her house... never said anything just kind of smiled at each other and moved along... every room moments flashed... standing in front of the tree with RoseBud in the sun porch... setting the dining room table...  getting the Florida trip folder out of the desk.  She finally opened Deanna's old bedroom door and David was just sitting in there and she left. Take that for whatever you think that means. I'm sure we all have our own interpretation.

47/365

NO PARKING BABY
I think Emily is dying.  Glo-worm is completely oblivious... in fact, I walked in and she told me how much better she can see and that once the "other" eye is done it will be great.  She didn't have the cataract surgery on the first eye yet - it was just the pre-op appointment! I kept telling her they didn't do it yet on Thursday when we went to the doctor but she had no idea what I was talking about.

It's really sad walking down the hall and seeing all these people... it's almost like dogs at the pound. There's no one to take care of them or no one that wants to. It always takes me longer because I go in and talk to some of them or wave by the door and ask how they are. I think a lot of them think I work there.  The other day one of the ladies saw me walk out of Glo's room and when I got to her she told me I looked like I had it all together.  I didn't want to shatter the illusion so I just told her that some days are better than others and changed the subject and told her her hair looked nice which she was really happy to hear. She had just gotten it done in the beauty salon.

David told me yesterday that I'm juggling a lot of balls and I should let some go... I think that's a noble statement and I get the point. I also think it's a selfish and inconsiderate one as well.  Life isn't to abandon those around you when it gets tough.  I'm just saying.

The nurses started putting these signs up. ;-) Like a moth to a flame, they all congregate at the nurses station or when they see the med cart come they flock to it. It was getting hard to leave because there would be five or six wheelchairs right outside the elevator. I'm not sure this is going to go over so well.

46/365

SEVEN BLUNDERS OF THE WORLD

45/365

TGI-WHAT DAY IS THIS?
We had a Friday Night on Thursday and now I'm all screwed up... Glo-worm had the first of eleven appointments for her upcoming cataract surgeries.  I sprung her out of the joint today... we were ten minutes late for her appointment because she wanted to go get "those good ice cream sundaes" we ate when the truck crashed off the road (from McDonald's.)  I knew we would never make it in time if we stopped but I figured they would probably be running late so I called and told them we were running a little behind schedule! Then she wanted a "Ronnie Burger" for dinner. All the girls at the hospital were jealous - she must have told them how delicious they were. I got it cleared with the doctor for her to stay out all day. We ate and sang Happy Bday to Twin and she was like "can you take me back now."

44/365

LONELY HEARTS CLUB

43/365

THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO MARKET
The first thing I thought of when I walked in the grocery store was that Mr. Brady made a scale model of the south hills market district and plopped it in there.

I haven't been to the monroeville store in awhile and this was the first time I saw the remodel...  They have a little baby hot foods section and all the other stuff....

I miss the SHV store so much. I used to love that store. I've said it before - I have a really strange fascination with grocery stores.

I didn't have a list with me and I was wandering aimlessly... I ended up getting this cute Valentine's Surf and Turf thing and The Dad and I had a romantic pre-Valentines's dinner.

42/365

NAMASTE, BITCHES

I'm a quote girl... I use words in my art all the time... I have journals full of quotes I like.... I'm not knocking the love and power and inspiration of something that speaks to you... It does bother me though when I see a quote that isn't quite finished...or out of context. You know - someone is using it as their life motto and it isn't exactly what it really means. It's almost sad. There are lots of fake Buddha quotes, among others, around...  ideas may be the same just lost in translation somewhere. Just know what you're talking about peeps before you start spreading your fractured wisdom around.

Just an observation... Most of these people that are on a mission to heal themselves wouldn't know what to do if their situation was worse.  I'm sick of these poor woe is me people that live on rainbow sightings and misinterpreted quotes. There's a whole fucked up demographic that is too busy searching for the meaning of their life that they forget to actually live it.

41/365

BESTIES
I got a call from Ms Brown, Glo's old roommate, yesterday morning.  She wanted to know how my burn was and how my treatment was going and just wanted to say Hi.  It was very sweet.  It got me thinking... The last time my husband asked how I was was back in August and that was only because Pat said I would have a hard time with radiation treatment.  That whole sickness and in health thing - as well as the others - really doesn't hold true, huh?  It's funny how you can spend twenty some years with someone and just toss them aside with no regard.  Anyway, I went to visit Glo and she was complaining about not wanting to stay there.  I asked her if she wanted to go upstairs and see Carolyn and we did.  They reminisced about their time spent together (last month) and all was well for awhile.  Cute.

40/365

DR FEELGOOD
These different questions in the Facebook status thing seem weird to me...

Not that great, Facebook. Thanks for asking, though.

39/365

ESCAPE PLAN

38/365

SOCK IT TO ME
I went to visit Glo and asked her why she had three socks on... She had one on one foot and two on the other! ;-)  Once she realized what I was talking about she didn't seem to think that was a big deal and just took the extra one off. ;-)

We were cleaning out her apartment and found this... She made her own padded hanger!

Very resourceful.

37/365

ANOTHER ONE?

OK - How many art classes can I do at one time? I have six going on right now plus LIFE BOOK... no wonder why I can't find the time to get on this blog any more... Anyway, so excited for Tascha's new class. Yay!

36/365

HEALTH AND HEALING
In my medical records it says that I REFUSED chemo... One of my doctors was reading notes from another doctor and I was like whaaaaat? I thought we kind of mutually came to the agreement that there was no reason for me to have it because my oncotype score was low and it wouldn't really do anything. Since it's still a new test the normal protocol for someone in my position would be chemo... therefore I refused it. I was told if we were in Europe it would definitely be what I'm doing - but not here.  Ok - I'm good with that. Because of this decision, I'm doing these injections which are not proving to be easy - with or without a giant burn on my tummy. BTW - for those of you keeping up with my burn I think it's doing quite well. Still noticeable but fading. Anyway, I'm doing the meditation and imagery route in lieu of taking anything else since I'm such a renegade when it comes to my health care! It's helping some of the time. I'm supposed to be on anti-depressants but I never got them filled. I saw my oncologist today and am considering stopping what I'm doing - the side effects from the shot and pill are causing too many problems for me. I just haven't made my mind up yet.  Out of the clear blue sky last night, I planned my funeral. I'm not done.  Just kind of thought about what I would like... flowers in trucks, prayer card is a quote from Rent.... In fact, I think I want them to be bookmarks. I'm not finished yet... just something I'm thinking about.  And I ordered this for The Dad. ;-)

35/365

ALL THE WOMEN WHO INDEPENDENT - THROW YOUR HANDS UP AT ME
I'm not a huge fan of Beyonce but I don't hate her... and I don't care if she was singing or not in front of Obama or if her booty shaking was responsible for the lights going out last night at the Super Bowl - she rocked it and there is definite girl power there. I'm sure Beyonce has days were she's a mess and I know this is a performance and a personality.  I mean we all need a kick in the ass some times and aren't confident all the time - you just need to know when to bring it.  I'd like to have a conversation about self confidence when I have more time...we'll come back to this.

34/365

SO THERE WAS A FOOTBALL GAME AT THE BEYONCE CONCERT?
No, seriously... I watched the game! I have some words about Beyonce but we'll get to that later... More importantly, what's the verdict on the Commercials? I think I saw all the big ones... First, I am a GoDaddy customer but, really, that kissing commercial was terrible... I know that was always their thing but NO. Not good. I wanted to ask for my money back after that. I think there was a Doritos one that was good but obviously it wasn't that memorable to me... Not real crazy about the Taco Bell old folks one... Audi and Samsung were cute and Leon Sandcastle was adorable.  My top three:

3. Partly because of the goddess that is Stevie Nicks but who can resist a good baby horse? Brotherhood - Anheuser-Busch

2. This was originally done on You Tube by Farms.com... Spoken word over still images... Yeah - can't go wrong with that. Dodge - So God Made A Farmer

1.  Dramatic Oprah, the troops, family, a dog that needs walked... COME ON.  Jeep - Whole Again

1 and 2 were really close for me but i have some allegiance to Jeep so that won... I came across this.  2015 maybe - so excited.  I'm much like a 16 year old boy with my obsession with trucks. Please, Jeep, come out with this thing already!

(I have been terribly behind on this blog and trying to play catch up with the four photo challenges I'm doing on Instagram so, hopefully, I'll get back on track here...)

33/365

GOOD CHEMISTRY

32/365

CARRY ON