Dragon Mood? -- a little embattled
It's the morning of the last morning of my four-day weekend ... and where has it gone? Sadly, I don't know.
I arrived about two hours before S's mom and grandma arrived here late Thursday evening and since then, the time has either flown by or been sucked up by the big family-of-S time Hoover. Do I sound bitter? I'll try to keep it under wraps.
Friday, S and Grandma and I made a fun trip to Horrock's for coffee, beer, gourds and flowers. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and I think we all enjoyed the trip. Sally went to her doctor's appointment. I didn't feel like cooking Friday evening so Sally bought us some pizza for dinner.
Saturday was a slow-moving day. I fixed a big pot of creamy chicken-and-vegetable stew. Mark and Lindsey arrived around six with Preston in tow. They dressed here for their Halloween party while four "grandmas" hovered over the baby.
Sunday was a blur because we were all sleep-deprived from having a seven-month old baby in the house. I took almost a two-hour nap late Sunday afternoon because I was tired, cranky and resentful of all the people in the house. Last night, we played four-handed rummy (even 89-year-old Alice played), which was lots of fun.
As a social Sagittarian and water Dragon, I enjoy people, but .... then GO HOME! I need my solitude and quiet! I am NOT fun to be around when people are here non-stop with no end in sight! (The only exception to that rule seems to be my wonderful dragon-kids, Lina and Yosh!)
Today is Halloween and I don't even feel like carving pumpkins! That's practically sacrilege, in my book. Who doesn't want to carve pumpkins, for crying out loud?
Thankfully, as I write this, the house is quiet and I am alone. Thank you, God! Believe it or not, I am actually looking forward to heading back to our pied-a-terre where I can hear myself think ... and do what the hell I want!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Saturday morning
Dragon Mood? -- pooped and winding down
I was shocked to realize that I haven't posted anything for eight days! Yikes!
I was also shocked at how fast-paced this past week seemed. I drove to the pied-a-terre Sunday evening, and before I could believe it, it was time to drive back to our home in the pine trees.
Why so fast? That's what I've been asking myself. I worked four long ten-hour days at work. I went to a meeting on Tuesday afternoon that I left from so pissed off, I promptly went back to my desk and posted my resume on Monster.com.
Even more surprising was the fact that within an hour (maybe even a half hour), I got a reply from a corporation telling me that I had "passed" the first round of screening and would I please respond to a second "pre-screening" document of only about twenty essay questions. Yikes! Talk about surprised!
So ... in hindsight, I think the 20-question essay exam definitely accelerated the pace and the pressure of this week. I decided that I wanted to respond no later than Friday, that is, yesterday. Thanks to Lina, my daughter and resume-writer extraordinaire, who helped me on four of the toughest questions, I met my own deadline. I laughed at the automated reply I received saying that I would hear a response back from the corporation no later than 30 days from now! Hah!
Today, I want to do some Christmas elf sewing, some for-fun sewing, watch the Michigan State homecoming game (even a little bit!) and maybe even take a nap. Our elderly neighbor, Bill, is coming over later today to drink some celebratory champagne with S and I, and maybe even play a little euchre.
S and I talked about guests last night. She had a good and lengthy phone conversation with her mom and grandma, who I think will be visiting us next weekend. Sally has a doctor's appointment next Friday, so she will be "down" anyway. We also talked about houseguests for Thanksgiving and even beyond to Christmas. I think we are going to have lots of family and new family around. I don't think S could be happier. As for me, I could be happier only if Lina and Yosh could defy the laws of physics and be in two places at one time! I have sweet memories from last year when Lina cooked up a storm and Yosh carved the turkey like a pro! Oh, well!
I was shocked to realize that I haven't posted anything for eight days! Yikes!
I was also shocked at how fast-paced this past week seemed. I drove to the pied-a-terre Sunday evening, and before I could believe it, it was time to drive back to our home in the pine trees.
Why so fast? That's what I've been asking myself. I worked four long ten-hour days at work. I went to a meeting on Tuesday afternoon that I left from so pissed off, I promptly went back to my desk and posted my resume on Monster.com.
Even more surprising was the fact that within an hour (maybe even a half hour), I got a reply from a corporation telling me that I had "passed" the first round of screening and would I please respond to a second "pre-screening" document of only about twenty essay questions. Yikes! Talk about surprised!
So ... in hindsight, I think the 20-question essay exam definitely accelerated the pace and the pressure of this week. I decided that I wanted to respond no later than Friday, that is, yesterday. Thanks to Lina, my daughter and resume-writer extraordinaire, who helped me on four of the toughest questions, I met my own deadline. I laughed at the automated reply I received saying that I would hear a response back from the corporation no later than 30 days from now! Hah!
Today, I want to do some Christmas elf sewing, some for-fun sewing, watch the Michigan State homecoming game (even a little bit!) and maybe even take a nap. Our elderly neighbor, Bill, is coming over later today to drink some celebratory champagne with S and I, and maybe even play a little euchre.
S and I talked about guests last night. She had a good and lengthy phone conversation with her mom and grandma, who I think will be visiting us next weekend. Sally has a doctor's appointment next Friday, so she will be "down" anyway. We also talked about houseguests for Thanksgiving and even beyond to Christmas. I think we are going to have lots of family and new family around. I don't think S could be happier. As for me, I could be happier only if Lina and Yosh could defy the laws of physics and be in two places at one time! I have sweet memories from last year when Lina cooked up a storm and Yosh carved the turkey like a pro! Oh, well!
Friday, October 14, 2005
Doris & Hemie Update
Dragon Mood? -- thankful and relieved
Three weeks ago, hurricane Rita was pounding the Texas/Louisiana coastline. I know because it was the day before Sarah and Matt's wedding, Lina and Yosh had arrived from Wisconsin early on Friday morning and Sally and Grandma were here, too.
But Doris & Hemie were on our minds, as well. They live in Port Arthur, Texas, a fading refinery town right on the coast. I had called them late Thursday night; in fact, I woke Uncle Hemie up (Hemie is a nickname for Herman), scolded him about staying even for the night and encouraged them to leave.
Thankfully, they left within an hour and made it safely to the farm.
Now for the update part. I called Aunt Doris Wednesday evening, trying to locate them. I had no luck then, but happily, Aunt Doris called me back yesterday morning. We had a rapid-fire exchange for over 20 minutes, me asking questions and her answering them just as quickly back.
They got back to Port Arthur sometime late Sunday. Their house is still standing, the roof is still on (minus only ONE shingle!), the big old live oak in their backyard is alive and standing. Even the single-car carport on the hurricane-side (the east side) of their house was standing and in good shape, while Doris noted that 95% of nearby carports were damaged, if not destroyed. She thanked God while I sacriligiously noted that the standing carport was a testament to Hemie's superlative carpentry skills.
They didn't escape completely unscathed. Their step-down den, an addition sitting on a lower slab of concrete, and an adjoining "patio" which is a rustic, closed-in porch had both been inundated with six inches of water. Aunt Doris reported that the water was gone, but there was plenty of black mold, high-water marks on the wood furniture and carpeting still squishy with moisture. She said it smelled. And we didn't linger on the topic of all the frozen foods, good ol' farm sausage, shrimp and other meats they had to completely throw out -- after nineteen days of no electricity for the freezers. I told her all that can be replaced.
She said their yard was filled with debris. She briefly alluded to the fact that they spent a couple of days cleaning that up. She also credited the debris with channeling the storm surge away from their house, sparing the main living areas. (After spending a few days with them last spring though, I'd say Doris and Hemie do most of their living IN the den and the "patio." Ironic!)
As she talked, Aunt Doris expressed frustration at how long it is taking to get an insurance adjuster to the house to assess the damage. I guess not just one adjuster, but several. She noted that they had flood insurance (which I was very thankful to hear!) which requires a separate assessment. We never talked about their car or truck.
They are spending evenings and nights with Hemie's nephew(?) and wife, Doug and Sharon. Again, thank you, God, for caring family! Doris commented on how nice it was that Sharon is fixing meals for them. She also mentioned that the chemicals she's been using to clean are causing her body to itch. She said she's tried a bunch and had settled on Lysol for cleaning and removing the odor. I cautioned her on breathing that stuff too much. Her body's itchiness is already a VERY CLEAR sign of warning!
I asked about their church and their pastor. She reported that Pastor Dinger is "up" in LaGrange at Camp Lone Star. I presume he evacuated there, but we got sidetracked before I could follow up with her on that.
Just for all the folks who might be reading this, their house phone is back up and working (thanks to Uncle Hemie's sweet nature and asking the phone man "n-ah-ce and friendly"). Aunt Doris says she'd love to talk on the phone. But she also knows they've got a mighty mess on their hands and she's gonna be plenty busy for awhile.
Let's all give thanks that we still have our Aunt Doris and Uncle Hemie.
Three weeks ago, hurricane Rita was pounding the Texas/Louisiana coastline. I know because it was the day before Sarah and Matt's wedding, Lina and Yosh had arrived from Wisconsin early on Friday morning and Sally and Grandma were here, too.
But Doris & Hemie were on our minds, as well. They live in Port Arthur, Texas, a fading refinery town right on the coast. I had called them late Thursday night; in fact, I woke Uncle Hemie up (Hemie is a nickname for Herman), scolded him about staying even for the night and encouraged them to leave.
Thankfully, they left within an hour and made it safely to the farm.
Now for the update part. I called Aunt Doris Wednesday evening, trying to locate them. I had no luck then, but happily, Aunt Doris called me back yesterday morning. We had a rapid-fire exchange for over 20 minutes, me asking questions and her answering them just as quickly back.
They got back to Port Arthur sometime late Sunday. Their house is still standing, the roof is still on (minus only ONE shingle!), the big old live oak in their backyard is alive and standing. Even the single-car carport on the hurricane-side (the east side) of their house was standing and in good shape, while Doris noted that 95% of nearby carports were damaged, if not destroyed. She thanked God while I sacriligiously noted that the standing carport was a testament to Hemie's superlative carpentry skills.
They didn't escape completely unscathed. Their step-down den, an addition sitting on a lower slab of concrete, and an adjoining "patio" which is a rustic, closed-in porch had both been inundated with six inches of water. Aunt Doris reported that the water was gone, but there was plenty of black mold, high-water marks on the wood furniture and carpeting still squishy with moisture. She said it smelled. And we didn't linger on the topic of all the frozen foods, good ol' farm sausage, shrimp and other meats they had to completely throw out -- after nineteen days of no electricity for the freezers. I told her all that can be replaced.
She said their yard was filled with debris. She briefly alluded to the fact that they spent a couple of days cleaning that up. She also credited the debris with channeling the storm surge away from their house, sparing the main living areas. (After spending a few days with them last spring though, I'd say Doris and Hemie do most of their living IN the den and the "patio." Ironic!)
As she talked, Aunt Doris expressed frustration at how long it is taking to get an insurance adjuster to the house to assess the damage. I guess not just one adjuster, but several. She noted that they had flood insurance (which I was very thankful to hear!) which requires a separate assessment. We never talked about their car or truck.
They are spending evenings and nights with Hemie's nephew(?) and wife, Doug and Sharon. Again, thank you, God, for caring family! Doris commented on how nice it was that Sharon is fixing meals for them. She also mentioned that the chemicals she's been using to clean are causing her body to itch. She said she's tried a bunch and had settled on Lysol for cleaning and removing the odor. I cautioned her on breathing that stuff too much. Her body's itchiness is already a VERY CLEAR sign of warning!
I asked about their church and their pastor. She reported that Pastor Dinger is "up" in LaGrange at Camp Lone Star. I presume he evacuated there, but we got sidetracked before I could follow up with her on that.
Just for all the folks who might be reading this, their house phone is back up and working (thanks to Uncle Hemie's sweet nature and asking the phone man "n-ah-ce and friendly"). Aunt Doris says she'd love to talk on the phone. But she also knows they've got a mighty mess on their hands and she's gonna be plenty busy for awhile.
Let's all give thanks that we still have our Aunt Doris and Uncle Hemie.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
an excerpt from, "I'm at your service, Mr. DeLay"
I am unabashedly in "like" with Garrison Keillor. I like how the guy thinks and writes and exclaims!
Here's a wonderful open "letter" to Tom DeLay from GK:
Here's a wonderful open "letter" to Tom DeLay from GK:
This country was not built by nervous Nellies and Sunday school teachers but by bold marauders, dodgers, Sooners, buffalo hunters, forty-niners -- people who saw what they wanted and took it. You're one of them. Politics is about power. You grabbed hold of it and became King of the Republican Hill, a majority leader who knows that one can never have too much majority. I am disappointed by your attempts to beautify yourself. It's pitiful, sir, and demeaning to blow-dry your hair and try to project warmth through those drill-sergeant eyes and belt-sander voice. You're the man, sir, who redrew the map of Texas to squeeze more Republican congressmen out of it, and got Indian tribes to pay for you and yours to fly to Scotland first class and play golf, and who paid his wife as a consultant, etc., etc., etc. Personal warmth was not what got you to the dance. The rest of us tiptoe through the tulips, fearful of giving offense, but you, sir, are one brass monkey.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
learning about RSS feeds
I am constantly amazed at how the web is growing, morphing, expanding.
I consider myself fairly computer-literate, but up until recently, I didn't really get the significance of RSS feeds. Maybe I still don't get them completely, but the ol' light bulb is starting to glimmer and glow.
Today, just today, I realized that I could get RSS feeds from Monster.com on job listings! As my sweet mijita will tell you, my looking for another job, well "that is a very good thing."
I'm hoping with all fingers crossed that this will help make that happen!
I consider myself fairly computer-literate, but up until recently, I didn't really get the significance of RSS feeds. Maybe I still don't get them completely, but the ol' light bulb is starting to glimmer and glow.
Today, just today, I realized that I could get RSS feeds from Monster.com on job listings! As my sweet mijita will tell you, my looking for another job, well "that is a very good thing."
I'm hoping with all fingers crossed that this will help make that happen!
Monday, October 10, 2005
from USAToday: about those ol' Spartans
"QUOTE TO NOTE: 'We're not as good as what people thought we are. That team down there [referring to Michigan] still has five recruiting classes that were in the Top 10 throughout the country for the last five years. We're getting better and better, but if we don't execute to the best of our ability we're not a very good football team.' — Michigan State head coach John L. Smith on his assessment of his team during the bye week.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK'S GAME: at Ohio State, Oct. 15 — There may have been time for a breather in the bye week, but there can be no let-up in intensity as the Spartans face one of the tallest tasks in the country in trying to win at Columbus.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Drew Stanton — He took the loss to Michigan hard and had an extra week to think about it before playing Ohio State. If Stanton can come through with an outstanding performance vs. the Buckeyes, he should be a serious Heisman Trophy candidate for the rest of the season.
WR Kyle Brown — Caught four passes for 53 yards against Michigan. Brown knows how to get open and is dangerous when he catches the ball in stride. He has caught 21 passes for 315 yards and two TDs.
RB Jason Teague — Freshman stud Javon Ringer has 404 yards and averages 7.9 yards per carry, but Teague can still get the job done. He had 72 yards and looked solid vs. Michigan.
DT Domata Peko — His 74-yard return of a fumble in the fourth quarter for a touchdown allowed the Spartans to tie the game and send it to overtime. Peko plays with fire and is very stout in the middle of the defensive line. He has 26 tackles, one TFL and one sack."
ROSTER REPORT: LB David Herron Jr. is still getting dizzy after coming out of the Sept. 24 game at Illinois, while fellow Kaleb Thornhill has "chronic knees." They should be ready for Ohio State. ... DL David Stanton and RB Javon Ringer are expected to recover fully from slight shoulder injuries. ... CB Irving Campbell and WR Aaron Alexander, who have spent considerable time on the bench with injuries, also are expected to re-join the team shortly.
Be outrageous ...
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?
Good advice from Oprah's Mission Calendar Inspiration
Good advice from Oprah's Mission Calendar Inspiration
Sunday, October 09, 2005
I don't usually post about football BUT ...
Dragon Mood? -- dragon eyebrows lifted in surprise!
...Yesterday was a BIG upset day in the Big Ten.
First of all, Minnesota beat U of M. That's a reason to celebrate for any truegreen (as opposed to trueblue)Spartan! Minnesota won the game with a field goal in the last second of the game, 23-20.
Northwestern beat undefeated Wisconsin, 51-48. That's a BIG surprise!
And the biggest shocker of them all, is Penn State. Nationally-ranked #18 Penn State beat #6-ranked Ohio State in what sounds like a defensive slugfest, 17-10. Wow, Joe Paterno can still remember how to coach a winning team. Penn State is now LEADING the Big Ten with a 6-0 record! Let's hear it for the geriatrics!
Michigan State was idle yesterday. They travel to Columbus, Ohio, next week and hopefully will whoop the Buckeyes for a second time in two weeks.
Go State! Beat the Buckeyes!
...Yesterday was a BIG upset day in the Big Ten.
First of all, Minnesota beat U of M. That's a reason to celebrate for any truegreen (as opposed to trueblue)Spartan! Minnesota won the game with a field goal in the last second of the game, 23-20.
Northwestern beat undefeated Wisconsin, 51-48. That's a BIG surprise!
And the biggest shocker of them all, is Penn State. Nationally-ranked #18 Penn State beat #6-ranked Ohio State in what sounds like a defensive slugfest, 17-10. Wow, Joe Paterno can still remember how to coach a winning team. Penn State is now LEADING the Big Ten with a 6-0 record! Let's hear it for the geriatrics!
Michigan State was idle yesterday. They travel to Columbus, Ohio, next week and hopefully will whoop the Buckeyes for a second time in two weeks.
Go State! Beat the Buckeyes!
Friday, October 07, 2005
More on Ms. Miers
Dragon Mood? -- the choices are what?
I found this in the Houston Chronicle, written by Ellen Goodman from the Boston Globe:
I found this in the Houston Chronicle, written by Ellen Goodman from the Boston Globe:
The one thing we know for sure is that the Texan is a certified FOG, Friend of George. In this case, the acronym is all too apt.Well said, Ms. Ginsburg!
In the last days, she's been described as the president's "work wife," "pit bull," "fixer," and "a capable indentured servant of the Bush family." The word that has now attached itself to her hem is "crony." As one Republican strategist griped to Slate, the choice was "Crony or wing nut? Crony or wing nut? OK, this time we'll go with the crony."
It's progress of a sort when a woman can be called a "crony." It's better than being called a crone. [I beg your pardon!] But I am reminded of what Ruth Bader Ginsburg said last week when asked whether she wanted another woman on the bench. Yes, she said, but "any woman will not do. ... Some women who might be appointed would not advance human rights or women's rights."
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Bush and SCOTUS nominee Harriet Miers
Dragon Mood? -- is there no limit to this man's audacious stupidity?
from Daily Kos:
On a more serious note, I was stunned to hear about this comment from George F. Will, the conservative columnist:
from Daily Kos:
Cheers and Jeers: Thursday
By Bill in Portland Maine
Harriett Miers, meet the late-night crew...
"Big news this morning at the White House, President Bush defended his nominee, Harriet Miers, calling her 'plenty bright.' Not only that, but then the president said Miers has 'real purdy hair.' Then he got on a mule and headed south."
-- Conan O'Brien
"She's never been a judge before...never served on the bench. This is part of President Bush's strategy of surrounding himself with people who are also in over their heads." --Jay Leno
"Welcome to the 'Late Show,' ladies and gentlemen. It's like the Supreme Court, anyone can get in here."
--David Letterman
"As you might expect some people are criticizing the pick, especially conservative Republicans who worry that Harriet Miers is too liberal. Other critics say she's not a good pick because she hasn't been a judge before. Uh, had Paula Abdul been a judge before? Nobody had a problem when they picked her."
--Jimmy Kimmel
"Well, certainly the president can claim executive privilege. But in the this case, I think with a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, you can't play, you know, Hide the Salami, or whatever it's called."
--Howard Dean on Hardball
And, as usual, the political cartoonists waste no ink. [See below for an example.]Y'know, it's just too easy. Like shooting cronies in a barrel...
------------------- ~ -- ~ -- ~ ------------------------
On a more serious note, I was stunned to hear about this comment from George F. Will, the conservative columnist:
... It is not important that she be confirmed because there is no evidence that she is among the leading lights of American jurisprudence, or that she possesses talents commensurate with the Supreme Court's tasks. The president's "argument" for her amounts to: Trust me. There is no reason to, for several reasons.
He has neither the inclination nor the ability to make sophisticated judgments about competing approaches to construing the Constitution. Few presidents acquire such abilities in the course of their pre-presidential careers, and this president particularly is not disposed to such reflections.
Furthermore, there is no reason to believe that Miers's nomination resulted from the president's careful consultation with people capable of such judgments. If 100 such people had been asked to list 100 individuals who have given evidence of the reflectiveness and excellence requisite in a justice, Miers's name probably would not have appeared in any of the 10,000 places on those lists...
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle!
Dragon Mood? -- Confusion; what's blogging again???
The last time I blogged was Monday, September 19th. Today is Wednesday, October 5th. That's two weeks and two days!
Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle -- that's sixteen days without blogging!
So much has happened in the past couple of weeks, where to start?
Sarah and Matt are now an old married couple. They were married on Saturday, September 24th. It was a wedding with:
Sunday was more partying, hugging new "family" members, watching Matt and Sarah open wedding gifts.
For some, Sunday was hangover recovery time and/or travel time. Sadly, Yosh and Lina had to leave and head back to the "other side of the lake." (insert sad, frowning Mamacita emoticon here.) Lina avowed she was feeling fine and then hurried into the bathroom to puke her guts out. Then she again vowed she was fine! What a lying, denying wench!
Sunday evening was crash time, sleeping, wakening with that heavily drugged feeling, and then falling back to sleep for another twelve hours! It's safe to say I don't function well on four and five hours of sleep for three or four nights running!
Monday was all about preparation for S's surgery. Last minute errands, phone calls, handling details. Monday afternoon we spent with Sally and Grandma, including seeing the film, An Unfinished Life, with Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Jennifer Lopez. It was an unhyped film, but I liked its quiet, reflective feel. Themes included the idea of family and forgiveness.
Tuesday was S's surgery. Without going into a lot of detail, it went well. Better than I had dared hope. Thank you, God!
Wednesday, she was inundated with visitors. Fourteen to be exact, including me. Too many!
Friday, I brought her home, feeling like a mother bear who needs to protect a weak, vulnerable cub. Stay away! Leave us alone! OR I'LL RIP YOUR FACE OFF!
This past Saturday was the big game: Michigan State up against its arch, instate rival, U of M. (Heavy sigh) Suffice to say that MSU's field goal kickers blew not one, but TWO chances to win the game. Final score: UofM 44, MSU 41. Now we have to listen to all those blowhard asshole fans for yet another year! ArrrghhhH!
Yesterday, Matt and Sarah came out to visit and have dinner. Matt, bless his heart, cleaned the ubiquitous pine needles out of our gutters, and used the leaf blower up on the roof. He also clipped away some tree branches that were brushing the roof. We fixed burgers and a nice, mixed-greens salad for dinner. They left by 7 p.m. because they're in the middle of a big painting project at their house.
I downloaded 70 to 80 more wedding photos from friends and family of Sarah and Matt. I've got plenty of photo fodder for Photoshop. On-the-job training is how I'm looking at it!
Which brings me to today.
Relaxing, drinking coffee, surfing the web, and what else, posting to my favorite blog, calypsoDragon13!
The last time I blogged was Monday, September 19th. Today is Wednesday, October 5th. That's two weeks and two days!
Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle -- that's sixteen days without blogging!
So much has happened in the past couple of weeks, where to start?
Sarah and Matt are now an old married couple. They were married on Saturday, September 24th. It was a wedding with:
- humor (a "unity" candle that refused to light!),
- elegance (a ballroom replete with pearly pillar candles encased in hurricane lamps, red rose petals, hundreds of twinkle lights and finally, jacquard-sashed white-covered chairs),
- tolerance (S and I danced as a couple with the other "parental unit" couples) and
- loads of fun (mugging for the camera, drinking, smoking cigars and dancing til our feet ached!).
Sunday was more partying, hugging new "family" members, watching Matt and Sarah open wedding gifts.
For some, Sunday was hangover recovery time and/or travel time. Sadly, Yosh and Lina had to leave and head back to the "other side of the lake." (insert sad, frowning Mamacita emoticon here.) Lina avowed she was feeling fine and then hurried into the bathroom to puke her guts out. Then she again vowed she was fine! What a lying, denying wench!
Sunday evening was crash time, sleeping, wakening with that heavily drugged feeling, and then falling back to sleep for another twelve hours! It's safe to say I don't function well on four and five hours of sleep for three or four nights running!
Monday was all about preparation for S's surgery. Last minute errands, phone calls, handling details. Monday afternoon we spent with Sally and Grandma, including seeing the film, An Unfinished Life, with Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and Jennifer Lopez. It was an unhyped film, but I liked its quiet, reflective feel. Themes included the idea of family and forgiveness.
Tuesday was S's surgery. Without going into a lot of detail, it went well. Better than I had dared hope. Thank you, God!
Wednesday, she was inundated with visitors. Fourteen to be exact, including me. Too many!
Friday, I brought her home, feeling like a mother bear who needs to protect a weak, vulnerable cub. Stay away! Leave us alone! OR I'LL RIP YOUR FACE OFF!
This past Saturday was the big game: Michigan State up against its arch, instate rival, U of M. (Heavy sigh) Suffice to say that MSU's field goal kickers blew not one, but TWO chances to win the game. Final score: UofM 44, MSU 41. Now we have to listen to all those blowhard asshole fans for yet another year! ArrrghhhH!
Yesterday, Matt and Sarah came out to visit and have dinner. Matt, bless his heart, cleaned the ubiquitous pine needles out of our gutters, and used the leaf blower up on the roof. He also clipped away some tree branches that were brushing the roof. We fixed burgers and a nice, mixed-greens salad for dinner. They left by 7 p.m. because they're in the middle of a big painting project at their house.
I downloaded 70 to 80 more wedding photos from friends and family of Sarah and Matt. I've got plenty of photo fodder for Photoshop. On-the-job training is how I'm looking at it!
Which brings me to today.
Relaxing, drinking coffee, surfing the web, and what else, posting to my favorite blog, calypsoDragon13!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)