tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-129777642024-03-13T01:15:45.950-04:00Life...or something like itDaily observations, rants, moods, feelings of Life...or something like it.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-16973310443902225572009-09-19T14:59:00.004-04:002009-09-19T15:16:03.595-04:00When the Devil comes knocking at your doorI can deal with cancer and I can deal with college planning. I am having a hard time though dealing with a child who is being difficult and an ex that I invited to help. It always backfires in some way for me.<br /><br />All the cancer surgeon asked me to do was eliminate stress and I've had nothing but stress for 2 weeks. A kid who is having difficulty adjusting to campus life. I wish I could be sympathetic but she's not having a hard time fitting in. It's more like the others kids don't measure up to her and her idea of friends. Hard to be sympathetic when dealing with a brat.<br /><br />She wanted to drive to Providence to visit a friend at school last night. She's been a nightmare in some fashion each and every day. I called the ex to let him know her plans. He called her and told her she can't go. We didn't want her driving their alone, especially for the first time. It was rush hour and about 1-1/2 away.<br /><br />Of course, she hates me more for telling him. He also told her to be home at a reasonable time last night and asked me to text him when she got home. She got home at 2:50 a.m. He came over today to talk to her and of course she wasn't receptive so he took the plates off her car. Mind you I own the car and its registered in my name. He took the plates with him, he said so I wouldn't cave in. I wouldn't but I'd like to have the plates here to the car that I own and insure.<br /><br />We are in the works of buying her a much newer car. That topic came up while I was outside with him as he took the plates off the current car. He owes me about $2000 from April to June when she graduated. He doesn't seem to make an attempt to pay me. He told me that when we sell the current car that I can keep the money and we're even. I asked him how that was fair because it was my car. Well, that started a big long thing and him telling me that if I didn't agree he would call the lawyer forcing me to sell my house immediately to give him the remainder of the money I owe him. Child support ended when she graduated. I've been waiting for the money to make some minor repairs to put the house up for sale. He pretty much forces my hand and if I even question him he uses emotional blackmail and holds the house over my head.<br /><br />He said I was giving him attitude for questioning him. I told him I wouldn't dare give him attitude because I know where it would end up and I continued to sob at the unfairness he throws around. Then he proceeded to say "you wanted the divorce" mind you loudly so the neighbors walking past the house could hear, "so now this is what you get."<br /><br />I just quietly sobbed and walked in the house. Now knowing how much the kid hates me lately and dealing with the devil I let in to help parent his child. I should have known better.<br /><br />I can't wait to wrap my head around emptying the house of unneeded stuff and repairing the things that need attention and moving so I never have to have him just walk in when he feels like it; what was once him domain.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-8504788025531547532009-09-05T17:22:00.002-04:002009-09-05T17:35:37.440-04:00College<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYl3rHD0zzpkVe5XA7win8wSq554g5X2JQZ79Bj-xyGOYiktiagEd7zK69HwnNV_DRO2K6Fi1tdJM9KTkofRs7dook71BCX1F5-K9P_tjgZPJwVqqys9EkA92NcZAVR64-fNs/s1600-h/IMG_0211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYl3rHD0zzpkVe5XA7win8wSq554g5X2JQZ79Bj-xyGOYiktiagEd7zK69HwnNV_DRO2K6Fi1tdJM9KTkofRs7dook71BCX1F5-K9P_tjgZPJwVqqys9EkA92NcZAVR64-fNs/s320/IMG_0211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378097130052834850" border="0" /></a>The kid is off to college....close enough to be home this weekend. I think its going well for her - first week - mood changes every couple days, LOL.<br /><br />On a serious note, with Breast Cancer Awareness month around the corner, early detection is key! Don't put off those mammograms. I have a journey upon me that I am thinking of as another project in my already busy life. I'm happy to say that it was an early diagnosis but that doesn't change the fact that you hear the doctor's words 'malignant' and 'treatment.'<br /><br />I usually don't share such personal stuff as this, but I'd like to get the point across to people to please keep your appointments, and schedule appointments annually if you don't already.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-39292577044135558462009-03-04T08:50:00.004-05:002009-03-04T08:59:27.785-05:00Updates<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVugaHNOhpQpS6Yu9wzvbudSv8ontJxfXRt71i0guQ0qS9mN91HHq9p6diROpHvNuKxOy7v5Jm-B3gtrDzL0wt2YnKKoVlno8mDMvJLDr72kgHcZE0HHQ1-vZCp9zzcVm604o/s1600-h/twilight_book_cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309329735238173698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVugaHNOhpQpS6Yu9wzvbudSv8ontJxfXRt71i0guQ0qS9mN91HHq9p6diROpHvNuKxOy7v5Jm-B3gtrDzL0wt2YnKKoVlno8mDMvJLDr72kgHcZE0HHQ1-vZCp9zzcVm604o/s320/twilight_book_cover.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm reading the Twilight series based on the recommendations of two friends. It's hard to put down!<br /><br />It's frigid cold here, after our big snow storm on Monday, and I'm looking forward to this weekend's temperature of about 50 degrees. Current temp = about 18 degrees. It would be nice to be able to wash my car.<br /><br />Mom's birthday is this weekend. My cousin is coming from New York and we'll surprise her with a little family party and do it up big because she deserves it after the year she had last year. Dad is doing well. My parents have begun planning family vacations for July and Thanksgiving due to his progress. They want all of us to be together before my daughter goes to college and my niece goes off to boarding school.<br /><br />It's been busy at work and busy at home and I've been trekking along.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-92209541270438760292009-02-07T18:45:00.002-05:002009-02-07T18:45:51.931-05:0018<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Fxp8SOBef0W7g-UXpxgA1Q7SxFJWk8hMIrOTVauUPtnseFgeAKb4_EpqiXW6LuRYHULobv-WjCR6rMPm-TDwUotG44a9sip9Ghck9qIhq6QkSvBM8bT73otTsvf57d9ZrWRt/s1600-h/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Fxp8SOBef0W7g-UXpxgA1Q7SxFJWk8hMIrOTVauUPtnseFgeAKb4_EpqiXW6LuRYHULobv-WjCR6rMPm-TDwUotG44a9sip9Ghck9qIhq6QkSvBM8bT73otTsvf57d9ZrWRt/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300205880534924706" border="0" /></a>Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-59999642751758459072009-02-06T12:50:00.008-05:002009-02-06T14:08:36.140-05:00A Year of Milestones<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;">I turned 50 on January 20th.</span> My sister has been trying to have a big birthday party for me since I was 30. The day before my 30th birthday my father-in-law passed away. She had to cancel my surprise birthday party. On my 40th she was trying to plan something and I could tell and I wasn't in a great place in my life at the time and didn't want a party. I did, but I didn't. So again, she started planning and wanted to do a back yard party last September to throw me off completely. But September was a bad month for dad in the hospital so she put that on hold. So in early January my oldest friend spilled the beans about my sister's plans and she spilled the beans in an attempt to get the party on hold until July when it would be her 50th. 'I don't think so' was spinning in my head and disappointed that she told me about my sister's plans because I love surprises and I wouldn't want anyone to go to any trouble. So I told my sister that the friend told me and of course she was disappointed. I told my sister I didn't want her to go to a lot of trouble and expense. Well the beau caught on to all of this and in his own thoughtful way overtook the whole thing but smartly didn't tell anyone. So last Saturday night I thought we were meeting two couples that we usually go to dinner with at a favorite restaurant. It was a long and tiring day and our reservations weren't until 8:00 p.m. I was dragging. For some unknown reason we couldn't pick up and ride with the friends as they were coming from different directions because the guys worked on Saturday until late...so I was told.<br /><br />The beau could tell that I was dragging and didn't love that reservations were for 8:00 p.m. although I never said a word about it. We left the house and got to the restaurant just for 8 and were lucky enough to find a front row parking spot. We walk in and the place is crazy crowded and up against the back wall is 25 of my closest friends and I looked at the beau and said, "what is my sister doing here?" At this point, I still didn't get it. And then I said, "Why is she sitting next to your brother-in-law?" "She doesn't know him." and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Talk about slow on the uptake.<br /><br />He planned the nicest party without a hitch. He couldn't stand the thought of me knowing about a party or helping plan my own party so he took over. It was a great party and I made a few friends at other tables by being a little crazy.<br /><br />The beginning part of the day was a college tour that my daughter and I planned and we brought my sister and niece. The school is phenomenal and my daughter saw that in the informational part before the tour even began. It was so special that ten minutes in I started to well up with tears because I knew this was the school she belonged in and I wanted her to come to that realization on her own and I knew that she'd be safe and cultivated in this wonderful school. Now this school was about 3rd or 4th on her list so this was a pleasant surprise because by the end of the tour while I was talking to the admissions director, she blurts out "Ma, I wanna go here...what do I have to do?" Thank God the admissions director didn't hear her and I giggled and said, "You don't have to do a thing, they've already accepted you. We just have to send the confirmation letter in saying YES."<br /><br />At the end of the tour we went into the bookstore and she wanted the hoody sweatshirt with the college name on it. She wore it all day that day with a big smile on her face.<br /><br />So I was thrilled that she too could see how special this school was. It was a bit of a stretch because its an all girls school and I didn't think she'd bite. But this all girl's small catholic private school in contrast to all the state schools we visited impacted her as much as it impacted me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">My baby turned 18 yesterday. </span> We've both been sick all week. She's been dragging butt to school as not to miss anything major. We're having a family party tomorrow and about 5 of her closest girlfriends are coming too. My sis and niece are still sick as well. I'm guessing last Saturday we were all getting sick and all together walking the campus in the frigid weather so that was the start of it. But my dad and mom, my ex and his mom, hopefully sis and her beau and my niece and the girlfriends will celebrate. My beau is headed to Florida to visit his daughter for her birthday. I have a wonderful chocolate cheesecake in the shape of an "18" and beautiful pink frosted chocolate cupcakes to go around it.<br /><br />So my last Saturday was special because I was happy in the biggest sense of the word that my daughter found her college and that it was a pleasant surprise coming from fourth place into first place in standings of the schools she chose to apply at. After all of these months reciting what her first choice was. Everything happens for a reason. Her first choice college which we thought was a shoe-in has put her on a wait-list. Thank God she realized she loved the other place before she received the letter from the first choice.<br /><br />And then being truly surprised at dinner was great. It was overwhelming.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-35419204061013940792009-01-31T19:14:00.002-05:002009-01-31T19:19:49.748-05:00Peaceful......and happy.<br /><br />Making a ton of chili for Super Bowl tomorrow and it smells good.<br /><br />Went on a college visit today and this is a "surprise" school. It was 3rd on the daughter's list and today's visit was great and its a great school and she's already been accepted there and knows after today's visit that this is where she wants to go even though she hasn't heard from her #1 school yet.<br /><br />Her #1 school is the only school we haven't heard from and I told her we waited this long, let's wait until we hear but I'm thrilled that she has picked today's school. It's an exceptional school and they have a lot to offer. I know she still will be excited to hear from that one last school but I knew today the first 10 minutes in that today's school is where she belongs and she saw it too.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-59084036956305197862009-01-10T15:29:00.001-05:002009-01-10T15:29:34.065-05:00the snow is comingWe're due to get 10 inches of snow tonight. It's already started.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-38226838063267370062009-01-01T11:50:00.002-05:002009-01-01T12:12:43.730-05:002008: The year in reviewThe year blew by quickly, and at times seemed frozen in time, as dad's hospital stay took up most of the year and our time from April 24th through the week before Christmas! It tested everyone's mettle. All in all I'd say we did okay.<br /><br />Everything this past year felt like the last time of everything for me because for me it all revolves around my daughter being a senior in high school and it's the last time we will do all these things. The last homecoming, the last prom, the last winter concert...etc. Possibly our last Christmas in this house. I need to see what I will do come the end of her school year. If I will stay in the house where we built all the memories or move on.<br /><br />Moving on..........<br /><br />The ex and I have become even closer friends this year. He called me last evening just to chat. I usually don't get too warm and fuzzy about it but I guess I should embrace it. <br /><br />On the romantic front, I don't feel any closer to wanting a more permanent situation than I have in the past few years. Just not ready. I like things the way they are.<br /><br />Work is okay and there are many changes happening. I'm okay with that. I think it might actually improve things. I have a superior who is incapable of making decisions and it drives all the staff crazy.<br /><br />I've been toying with a New Year's resolution to not swear this year, or at least use the "F" word as I feel I may have overused it this past year. Frustration plays a big part in that! I shared this with a co-worker and she said "Why?" She thinks its an absolutely wonderful word and uses it more than I do. The ironic part is that she's such a conservative looking lady, strict Irish Catholic. I still think I need to make an effort to stop using that word and some associated with it.<br /><br />Lastly, I need to pay more attention to me. I'm turning the big 5-0 in 19 days and I need to spend more time on what I want, pampering myself, being healthy of mind and body.<br /><br />My girlfriends and I went out on Monday to celebrate the holidays and our mutual 50th birthdays and went to this little diner that doesn't look like much but had a wonderful menu. My one friend who is already 50 let the owner in on our birthdays and the whole diner sang to us. It was corny, it was funny, it was heart-warming. My girlfriend who I share a birthday with was teary-eyed the whole time as the birthday thing has her wigged out. She's not happy about her life, where she's been and where she's going. I can honestly say, there's nothing in the past that I regret or would change - its made me who I am. And not knowing what will happen in the future is okay too. I'm hoping and working towards making things the way I'd like them. I'm forging ahead. It may work out, it may not. I'll have to wait and see but I do know that I'm gonna keep forging ahead and trying to make the best out of it all. I'm hopeful.<br /><br />Happy New Years! Forge ahead!Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-67622002475584220162008-12-31T09:15:00.002-05:002008-12-31T09:15:45.314-05:00.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoSmtwxf6HDurxd6MV7qb8VyjemEX73DHKnk9Jpugcqqk7W7iYF-IZ3VbnnKC-09ZvB0D1pqqfgUHJXnwlZj0SQ-VT8hvMHHNVWier2klxEi0Dk_9Mf-Esd-dglYsqElDkzfG/s1600-h/HappyNewYear_MD.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoSmtwxf6HDurxd6MV7qb8VyjemEX73DHKnk9Jpugcqqk7W7iYF-IZ3VbnnKC-09ZvB0D1pqqfgUHJXnwlZj0SQ-VT8hvMHHNVWier2klxEi0Dk_9Mf-Esd-dglYsqElDkzfG/s400/HappyNewYear_MD.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285957726864372178" border="0" /></a>Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-36707019987503552992008-12-28T20:44:00.006-05:002008-12-28T20:53:58.986-05:00NYC today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYOLN7Sj6br9V1wimAC7QSqsEgE7tHiydU-Se8NqA6p3sRariDW1-UrR043cXdXAvlKGiIo2fAcnxUdZHf9D8Cobkh2jIlYWS_SVVSsF5zTCIUkAsbFz2lTwCySY_LYE6SWh0/s1600-h/IMG_0218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYOLN7Sj6br9V1wimAC7QSqsEgE7tHiydU-Se8NqA6p3sRariDW1-UrR043cXdXAvlKGiIo2fAcnxUdZHf9D8Cobkh2jIlYWS_SVVSsF5zTCIUkAsbFz2lTwCySY_LYE6SWh0/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285023525164156194" border="0" /></a>I went to New York city today with the beau and his daughter and niece. It was such a warm day that you could wear a tee shirt and we did!<br /><br />New York is so pretty at Christmas. We did whatever the girls wanted. We went to the wax museum, had lunch at Planet Hollywood, went shopping and then walked around and went to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree.<br /><br />I think the "Regal" is a theatre; I saw it from the wax museum and had to get a photo of it.<br /><br />I hope your holidays were everything you hoped for.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6MrBQlQ6K6ZOuam9qosmNLySflGTw4rKkh1uOoaEB4iZWiJMDcjtdHfROueBcl8Rqg9U35UCMCYehFL5Z4iVEM_qthdazTgZoDOBaUESxi4PK5UyICiJs5lnoH3Ma6YPBtP1/s1600-h/IMG_0184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6MrBQlQ6K6ZOuam9qosmNLySflGTw4rKkh1uOoaEB4iZWiJMDcjtdHfROueBcl8Rqg9U35UCMCYehFL5Z4iVEM_qthdazTgZoDOBaUESxi4PK5UyICiJs5lnoH3Ma6YPBtP1/s320/IMG_0184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285022000801601410" border="0" /></a>Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-75461403938430154242008-12-22T16:57:00.002-05:002008-12-22T16:57:59.093-05:00CollegeMy daughter has been accepted at three of the seven colleges she applied at. We still need to hear from the others. It's very exciting...even if I don't know how I will pay for it!Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-72061372640172244742008-12-19T16:57:00.001-05:002008-12-19T16:58:35.827-05:00HomecomingDad came home last night. Mom said he slept like a baby. I asked mom if she slept. She said 'No, it was like I had a new baby in the house.'Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-55679581021435292972008-12-14T11:45:00.002-05:002008-12-14T11:46:01.300-05:00So they say.......that dad will be coming home on Friday. If it doesn't happen Friday, it will be the following Monday.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-51631449814531004132008-12-09T06:49:00.004-05:002008-12-09T06:55:29.880-05:00Day OFF<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisdme-zZ77EC7XbEjmAONFqt81_4GkeuP7RnOOzPqUTXy-Ybe-Fp7Q-njspEDysLI7Ols5gQhN5pD1WFWh5wPpJ5tLgKcLGSB1dYzNd2QI8TNrVzCylwhiSuLMypY4uyokf_u/s1600-h/tree5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisdme-zZ77EC7XbEjmAONFqt81_4GkeuP7RnOOzPqUTXy-Ybe-Fp7Q-njspEDysLI7Ols5gQhN5pD1WFWh5wPpJ5tLgKcLGSB1dYzNd2QI8TNrVzCylwhiSuLMypY4uyokf_u/s320/tree5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277757339161716194" border="0" /></a><br />I need to take today to get a ton of stuff to do. The beau brought me a tree last night - I've not been in the decorating mood, but I will attempt to do that today too. I asked for a narrow tree and he did his best - its a pretty tree - just not too narrow.<br /><br />I need to do some important paperwork today that's been pressing on my mind and I'm going to look at cars for my daughter. Her car that the beau passed down to her doesn't have anti-lock brakes and therefore <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sux</span> on wet pavement. I almost got in an accident with it the other day. She admitted to me that she misses my Buick - that which she called a grandma car!<br /><br />Dad has been doing well and just might be home for Christmas. We'll see.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-56026852231897007232008-11-26T10:28:00.002-05:002008-11-26T10:29:02.252-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKukAc7us2qP_w2P2EoB1iLGj3CsnLoddPXaswNL4jyBdRgdbP6_ufegtcJPLk3PiYdMQUmIbjTbAKCY4SKCQ5K5pb-Rz2WPaauoUUv9D7vTuYLYV6kvtVpkSRW1Ek93CL7IX7/s1600-h/turkeys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272988629420998914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKukAc7us2qP_w2P2EoB1iLGj3CsnLoddPXaswNL4jyBdRgdbP6_ufegtcJPLk3PiYdMQUmIbjTbAKCY4SKCQ5K5pb-Rz2WPaauoUUv9D7vTuYLYV6kvtVpkSRW1Ek93CL7IX7/s400/turkeys.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-32804805220801663082008-11-25T15:13:00.003-05:002008-11-25T15:19:03.724-05:00Dad's progressI'm told that dad walked up and down the hallway with a walker today! That's big!<br /><br />Last week at the end of the first week they estimated that he'd go home in 6 to 8 weeks. I didn't expect him to be up on his feet bearing weight with a walker this soon. They are always surprised at his strength in his limbs. With a little luck, he'll go home sooner :)<br /><br />The 81 year old surgeon who my sister has worked for the past 30 years and is a close family friend and assisted in this last surgery, did dad's first bypass 20 years ago, is getting married on January 24th and they want dad their. <br /><br />Yes, I know, 81 years old and assisted....he is amazing. Three docs in their practice do what he did solely alone, each different specialty, years ago. They have him assist because of his skill and knowledge. He stayed in the O.R. all 16 hours of dad's surgery because he had the "blueprint" in his head of the rerouted arteries from 20 years prior.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-41919498853801116052008-11-16T16:37:00.005-05:002008-11-16T16:50:31.397-05:00Dad updateDad is doing well and continues to breathe without the vent or oxygen! He is actually ready to be transferred back to the 2nd place on Monday as they have an outstanding physical rehab as compared to a regular hospital in the way that they will see him every day for 2 hours a day, where in a hospital they may come 3 times a week for 30 minutes or an hour.<br /><br />He took an "absence of leave" for two days...meaning, he wasn't himself at all and mostly slept and when he was awake he wasn't his typical character or behavior. I watched as mom tried to wake him on Friday evening. It took 30 minutes and then he was kind of agitated during his awake time and confused and paranoid.<br /><br />Saturday morning before mom got to the hospital, one of the nurses told him he slept for two days. When mom got there, he told her what the nurse told him and said, "why didn't you wake me up?"<br /><br />I know the physical therapy will be torture in the beginning for him. I'm hoping the special care place will follow what they are supposed to do in the way of maintaining his current state and not give him anything unnecessary.<br /><br />It seems we won't be having Thanksgiving. I've cooked every year since I can remember but mom doesn't want anything to do with it. She plans on spending the day with him in the hospital. I offered to cook on Saturday instead of turkey day and she turned her nose up. But she's home around 6:30 p.m. anyway and I can't understand why we can't have some kind of celebration. The way I see it, we're lucky and have something to celebrate.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My girlfriend's all black German shepherd started having her puppies this morning at 9:15 a.m. She was up to 8 puppies by mid-afternoon. They've offered a puppy to me and I would love one but don't know how I possibly could. We'll see. I'm impartial to shepherds as I had a really intelligent, loyal one when I was first married. They own the male that sired her. Two really wonderful dogs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhKNs8x4ZTBlxNpUIiwYDpOgYPuwPGsPJRO5Lo7S7eJovBBriOyNy2ktWSK9c8oRcTSD_Ok-kY9bptfof-h3nHadKHETWCYwzi1DfhgMo0yzCMzhpEhv_t8vlrASjyvvCB5l-/s1600-h/DSC00269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhKNs8x4ZTBlxNpUIiwYDpOgYPuwPGsPJRO5Lo7S7eJovBBriOyNy2ktWSK9c8oRcTSD_Ok-kY9bptfof-h3nHadKHETWCYwzi1DfhgMo0yzCMzhpEhv_t8vlrASjyvvCB5l-/s320/DSC00269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269375084545592962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">photo taken at 12:30 p.m. - 7 puppies at that time - one under her thigh and one under the puppy in the middle.</span><br /></div>Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-41363365851499466092008-11-06T08:18:00.002-05:002008-11-06T08:23:29.822-05:00Seasons ChangeDad has been off the ventilator for 10 days now and is doing well. He still has a little bit of a road ahead of him, but things are looking up. Once he is really stable we can then work on physical rehab. It's been 7 long months and he'll need rehab.<br /><br />On the work front, there were layoffs this past Monday. I work for one of those companies that is getting a lot of press these days in regards to that industry and stocks and such. 500 layoffs this month alone and more to come throughout 2009.<br /><br />I've been very busy with college admission stuff and am thankful that my kid has a really great guidance counselor who has been very helpful and very complimentary of the kid.<br /><br />The beau's birthday is this month and I never know what to get him. Ugh!Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-16191418057630603172008-10-21T12:22:00.002-04:002008-10-21T12:26:43.146-04:00F i n a l l yDad was moved back to the original facility yesterday afternoon. I feel good about things.<br /><br />They say: nothing they can't fix. <br /><br />I just don't want to take any steps backwards.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-48356629530671370072008-10-20T11:38:00.003-04:002008-10-20T11:42:43.841-04:00The price of oil has come down. Yipee!But it's still high and the cold weather is here. My thermostat is on 62 degrees and it won't be going higher than that.<br /><br />Think of it this way:<br /><br />When i get my oil delivered, if they have to fill an empty tank, the oil will have taken 68% of my paycheck.<br /><br />That's one paycheck for 2 weeks pay! And the oil delivery will take 68% of it!!!<br /><br />That leaves one check to pay the mortgage and 32% of the other check that won't cover bills! You know, the over-priced water/sewer bill, the over priced electric bill, etc. etc.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-60173281334422919722008-10-14T15:49:00.003-04:002008-10-14T15:53:20.201-04:00just waiting...and waiting...and waitingDad hasn't moved yet - the other hospital is at capacity so the wait has been a long one.<br /><br />He now has shingles. The doc says it's brought on by stress. The poor guy. <em>He's been managing stress well I must say.</em><br /><br />Mom, however, had combat boots on today and was going in with a "kill" attitude. I'm sure heads will roll. She's upset that <em>she</em> noticed the rash and blisters and brought it to their attention (Shingles). It makes her wonder how long before they would have noticed. She was there yesterday when the order was placed for pain meds (he doesn't usually take anything) at 3pm, due to the Shingles and was upset to find out that they finally gave him something this morning.<br /><br />I tried to tell her before she went to visit to <em>say it nice</em>, but all I got was "I don't need a lecture from you" which means she's determined to let them know she's pi$$ed.<br /><br />So on and on we go.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-38743888053172343982008-10-06T18:15:00.002-04:002008-10-06T18:17:52.289-04:00seasons changeDad gets moved back to the original hospital tomorrow. There's nothing more that this special facility can do for him.<br /><br />There's a doc at the hospital he's going to tomorrow that has shown interest in treating him. They will be more aggressive but at the expense of his kidneys. It has come to ' we might as well try it because we have no other options.' Dad agreed, because after all it's up to him.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-55735977623547038182008-10-05T15:26:00.002-04:002008-10-05T15:33:40.510-04:00PressureI'll admit that I'm PMS, but the pressure of life changing all too fast is quietly eating at me today. The boyfriend never sees me in a bad mood and I'm bitchy under the surface as I pretend to be busy with other things, making soup, emptying the dishwasher...anything that prevents me from having to sit next to him or have a conversation with him or make eye contact with him.<br /><br />The possibility of moving next year and the organization to do so, dad, where would mom live, my daughter going to college - its all festering beneath the surface today. Work! I work for one of those big insurance companies that is getting screwed due to the comments of the politician, making the stocks spiral downward. What will happen? Will we end up folding or will it just be major layoffs? Maybe I'll have to worry sooner about the house than expected due to the careless comments of Sen. Harry Reid.<br /><br />I think about all the stuff in the cellar that I need to clean out. Leftover items of the exes, new stuff from the beau. I resent that my storage space is limited due to that and overwhelmed all at the same time.<br /><br />This too shall pass.Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-41754555166840467832008-09-21T09:50:00.001-04:002008-09-21T09:51:47.273-04:00Tears of a clownMy mom and I can't complete a conversation without making each other cry.<br /><br />We're overwhelmed with life changes ~ and we are the strong ones!Regalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977764.post-80573822838766625152008-09-18T15:34:00.003-04:002008-09-18T15:45:39.683-04:00I LOVE...my new iMac.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePHJlUr-QqRDZ4NfyWcojshROOcVW6AkejATTAGbHvttXpHvCVTlSM6e3gDYAq_fHoETOGEMFF_9IygcZRzB7jBDL8E3XTJso5LRB8dYWrE-WM2xTA_a7pTxN4HRJQ9o73mhV/s1600-h/iMac.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247447117855893650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePHJlUr-QqRDZ4NfyWcojshROOcVW6AkejATTAGbHvttXpHvCVTlSM6e3gDYAq_fHoETOGEMFF_9IygcZRzB7jBDL8E3XTJso5LRB8dYWrE-WM2xTA_a7pTxN4HRJQ9o73mhV/s320/iMac.bmp" border="0" /></a> I thought my learning curve would be greater but me and the kid have it all figured out!<br /><br />I've been busy with:<br /><br />iMac and saving computer files from the (not so) old computer. I may pull the hard drive out of that one and pop in a new one - that's a great P.C.<br /><br />College research, visits, applications, resumes, etc.<br /><br />Work and the craziness that entails - reorgs<br /><br />Committees for senior year all night party next June - I want to work on the decorations committee and get in touch with my inner creativity - they transform the school into something entirely different - the theme is a secret until the evening the kids step into the building - the party starts around 8:30pm until 5 a.m. the next morning (as if I don't already have enough going on!)<br /><br />Dad, Mom, sis - visiting Dad, keeping Mom balanced, keeping sis sane<br /><br />the potential of moving next Spring/Summer once the kid goes off to school and more...<br /><br />and because there will be reorgs at work, I think about reorg-ing me - might be timeRegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07964594558191182192noreply@blogger.com2