Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Twists and Turns

Every once in a while, you have a week that is unforgetable. This is one of those weeks.

After several weeks of extreme fatigue, sick to stomach, most food tasting bad and generally feeling bad, my sweetie worked with his doctor and was deemed ready to start his kidney dialysis. We weren't sure what it was going to be like and certainly, he was unsure, wished it wasn't now and somewhat fearful of the unknown. He started on Tuesday and I have to say that right from the first go he felt better.

I really wanted to be with him, but had an appointment set up at the DMV and those are hard to come by. So he went to dialysis, I went to the DMV, took my written test (only missed 1), got my license and registered my car. It was a little pricier than I'm used in Ohio. In Ohio, my license renewal would have cost me $55. Here, I had to have my car smog tested - $60, pay "use tax" which was the difference in sales tax between Ohio's 7% and California's 7 3/4% on a car that I purchased last August - $136, then I had to pay for my license plates - $189, new driver's license - $26. And now I'm waiting to hear back from my insurance agent to hear what my new insurance cost will be here. At least we can be added to my honey's insurance and get a multi-car discount, age discount, and add Beka fairly cheaply.

Anyway, as you can see Tuesday was quite busy!!

Then he had to go back for day 2 of dialysis on Wednesday. I drove him there early, dropped him off and then headed to work. Beka is such a big help, she went to pick him up after her class was over, then brought him home. Again, he was feeling pretty good. He actually lost almost 4 lbs. in the two days. Plus has been able to eat and enjoy his dinner. I'm so happy for him. I know how important it is to feel good, have good energy and be happy. And I'm seeing a shift that he's getting back to his old self.

For me Wednesday was an important day. All I could eat all day and Thursday was a liquid diet, chicken broth, jello, tea, lots of water. But I didn't mind having a liquid diet. I felt like I needed a break, clean myself out and hoped to lose a couple of lbs. The big thing was the "electrolysis" stuff that I had to drink last night. It tasted like water with a little salt so it wasn't hard to get down because of the taste, but it was hard to get it down. It made me feel like I was going to throw up - but the next thing I knew it was working and in the bathroom I was!!! That was some amazing stuff!

Then today was my colonoscopy! And great news!! No issues, clean as a whistle, no polyps, no problems!! Made me glad to know!!

Tomorrow is his 3rd day of dialysis. But this time it's close to the house, it's his "regular" timeslot. I'm really happy about that. In the same parking lot is one of my gym's location, so I can go over and work out while he's getting done and then still have time to come and sit with him. That's great!! He goes 3 times a week, so that will be a good thing for me and for him. He'll feel better and I will too. Now that's what I call a WIN-WIN!

Pray for a kidney transplant!!

Take care

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
- Robert Frost

Saturday, July 22, 2006

just a hippie at heart!!

The 60's and early 70's - the Psychedelic Era. Tie-dyes - Long-hair on guys - Bell-bottoms, if I could find them - Beads - Flowers in My Hair - Peace - Love - Drugs - Rock 'N' Roll - San Francisco style music - California Dreaming!! I loved the free life style then and I love the parts of it that I bring forward with me.

Nothing can take you back to your teen years like music. And last night was no exception. We had a great trip down memory lane. 4 bands from the 60's:

-- Vanilla Fudge
-- Quicksilver Messenger Service
-- Jefferson Starship
-- John Kay and Steppenwolf

There were hippies everywhere....except they weren't young 20-year olds - they were the 50+ crowd. Men and women - some looking older some, looking younger. Being in southern Cali there were lots of Hawaiian shirts, tie dyes, flowing skirts, tank tops, and lots of hats.

The venue is FANTASTIC!! Pacific Ampitheater in Costa Mesa, California. Very open, assigned seating, located in the Orange County Fairgrounds, nice concessions friendly workers and clean bathrooms - that's very important :)

Our seats were good, it wasn't overly crowded, the food was good, the drinks were better! It was a great time!!! We had so much fun. Haven't been on a date in a while and what a great date it was!

We heard lots of great old songs. We liked Jefferson Starship the best - they have a new singer that sounded and sung just like Grace Slick! It was so wonderful -- lots of great songs, good crowd and WE LOVED IT!!

One thing that I learned. Some phrases sounded cool back then but shouldn't even be repeated now - such as John Kay singing an old Steppenwolf song - the chorus goes "Sookie, Sookie, Sookie, Sookie, Sookie, Sookie, Sue" For some reason it just didn't sound right, kind of like "GROOVIE" and "FAR OUT"!!!




"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
- Robert Frost

Thursday, July 20, 2006

me and my man :)




Having a fun summer! Hope you are too!


"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
- Robert Frost

This video is hilarious!!!!!!!! OH MY GAWD!!!!!

That's right, it's Hofficial... your favourite cult icon wants to take you home! The one and only David Hasselhoff of "Bay Watch" and "Knight Rider" fame returns with a cover of the
1975 classic 'Jump In My Car' and its a doozy. Recorded in Sydney last year with the legendary Harry Vanda (AC/DC, The Angels), the Ted Mulry Gang tune has been re-vamped with full Hoff gusto and this music video promises to rock the socks off all his Hofficial fans. Watch it, enjoy it, share it on Google Video, courtesy of Sony BMG Australia.

Want more? Buy the buy the track on iTunes Australia by clicking here:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=155871591&s=143460

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Day 4 and ....

Pretty much back to normal

Well, I survived my root canal just fine. I think going to work helped me alot. Helped me keep my mind off the pain and helped me push forward. So, I'm doing great and ready to be back to normal. I have to stop taking the motrin after tomorrow because of a test I have to have done next Friday. Not excited about the test, but it's one of those necessary cancer screenings to be done at "my age"!!

Yikes! what is that: "at my age"?????

Monday, July 17, 2006

Root Canal Day 3


Ouch!

Well, it's day 3, i feel better than day 1 or day 2 but still not back to normal eating. Lots of soup, fruit smoothies, water, cottage cheese, pasta and plain sauce, anything that is just "put in the mouth and swallow". But today I have hope that I will be back to normal sooner or later. I made it through the whole day of work, my teeth hurting a little, but the motrin's are killing the pain and helping the most. I'm sooooooooo glad.

I pulled this picture out, was taken last summer. Before I moved to California, on my deck in Cincinnati, at my house. New umbrella for my patio furniture, my grill in the background, early in the summer! Sometimes I miss my house, but I don't miss that part of my life. I'm glad to have had it, but am glad that things have turned this way now.

I like living in So Cali, like knowing that I'm getting married, and enjoying life to it's fullest. Loved that my oldest daughter came to visit the beginning of the month. Love that it's wonderful to live here and my son will be visiting us in September.

So much fun to be had, so much fun in the sun!!

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Root Canal

Day 1 and Day 2

Went to the dentist on Friday to get this damned root canal. I'm all geared up for it. I get dropped off, get some 3-D x-rays and then find out that I'm not getting the procedure! The dentist is running behind and she won't have time to do it on Friday........SHIT! Second day in a row that I'm all ready. Of course, the first time was my mistake. But I have work to do - you know.

Anyway, they ask me to come back Saturday morning.

OK

Saturday morning, I arrive and before you know it, I'm in the chair and things are moving along. I am thinking she's doing a pretty good job. I mean, she's quick, she seems pretty throrough, tells me to hang in there, if it hurts raise my left hand. I only raised it a time or two. Everything seems pretty good. Then all of a sudden, wow! She hits 'THE SPOT" and it hurts like HELL!! Supposedly, she got the root and all is well.

The temp filling was put in and it was on to tooth #2. This one was a double root, lots of pushing, deep roots, more lidocaine, and again it sucked. I guess there's nothing fun about a root canal. Nothing at all.

But the procedure didn't take too long. The lidocaine wore off pretty quickly. She gave me a 'super dooper' advil and sent me out the door with my instructions. Typical instructions - rinse 2-3 times a day with warm salt water, eat carefully what I feel like eating just no nuts, sticky, etc., expect to feel crappy for 2-7 days but up to 14 days.

The thing is the upper tooth is sore, where she pushed on it, drilling the root out. Ok I expect that kind of soreness. BUT THE LOWER TOOTH IS FUCKING KILLING ME! It hurts just with a touch of my tongue. I think there's something wrong, I don't think that this is the normal. My tooth is hurting worse now than before I went to the dentist.

So now tomorrow, I have to go to work, tough it out until I can get back to the dentist. I can only eat liquid stuff: jello, pudding, mashed potatoes, creamed soup, milkshakes, stuff like that.

We'll see how day 3 is!!!!!!!!!1

Saturday, July 15, 2006

one of the funniest things I've ever seen!!

A kid thing!

Oh my God! I laughed so hard when I saw this. One of my girlfriends in Cincy sent this to me. This is totally hilarious! I think what makes it even funnier is that when I was working in Cincinnati, one of my clients were the Femcare Group within P&G. That product group includes: Tampax tampons, Always pads, and Alldays minipads!

I hope some of my P&G friends see this post and share the laughter!!

Don't you love the minipad on his penis??????? I am still dying!!



Thursday, July 13, 2006

stupid moments

Dentist


Today, I went to my dental appointment. Keep in mind, I am terrified of the denist, so just going was tough enough. So the dentist had a plan, give me a valium before I get there, then some nitrous oxide to keep me relaxed. I followed her instructions, took the valium, got to the office and guess what!!??!! I was a WHOLE DAY EARLY! Yep, that's right, I didn't have to be there until tomorrow..................

Imagine that!!

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
- Robert Frost

Having a wonderful summer


Having a wonderful summer

Southern California

It just doesn’t get any more beautiful than this. It’s beautiful everyday. Here’s the weather for our week, 90 sunny, 90 sunny, 92 sunny, 88 sunny, 85 sunny and so on. I could be the meteorologist for San Diego!! Same every day!!

But living here is great. It’s dependable. It’s gorgeous! I’m loving it! There just can’t be any better weather any where in the world.

Proof Our World is Nuts

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Deep Thoughts from Bumper Stickers

Ok, a friend of mine sent me this in an email. Keep in mind, these are "bumper stickers" on cars!!

* Clones are people two.
* Ground Beef: A Cow With No Legs!
* A waist is a terrible thing to mind.
* Air Pollution is a mist-demeanor.
* Santa's elves are just a bunch of subordinate Clauses.
* I used to be indecisive; now I'm not sure.
* Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
* Editing is a rewording activity.
* Everyone is entitled to my opinion.
* Help stamp out, delete, and eradicate superfluous redundancy.
* What if there were no hypothetical questions?
* My reality check just bounced!
* It's so confusing to be a leader these days -- you don't know if people are following you or chasing you.
* Rap is to music what Etch-a-Sketch is to art.
* Energizer bunny arrested, charged with battery.
* No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.
* Boycott shampoo! Demand REAL poo!
* On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.
* Someday we'll look back on all this and plow into a parked car.
* Good news is just life's way of keeping you off balance.
* If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.
* In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.
* Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.
* A day without sunshine is like night.
* If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

the great outdoors

Heading out to enjoy the great outdoors! It's every day, the weather is the same, beautiful!! It's great living where outside is an important part of every day life.

Here's one of my beautiful plants in my own little piece of heaven - my patio!

A day in the life

Every day we take care of many things.
our spouses
children
parents
friends
co-workers
and even strangers



We act responsible
drive defensively
eat better food
work out
swim
drink plenty of water

We love to garden
read
write
travel
see movies
and have fun.

It's great to drink a nice glass of merlot
nibble on great cheese
taste delicious seafood
and enjoy the occasional creamy cheesecake!!

But of all the things we love to do, eat, and love I enjoy sitting in my own little piece of heaven - my patio where the plants provide color, shade and fragrance, the walls provide privacy and the sun provides a great place to relax.

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
- Robert Frost

Monday, July 10, 2006

Sad to see my girls go home

Back to Cincinnati

The girls left to go home Saturday morning. On the way to the airport, we went to IHOP for a little yummy breakfast. We broke all the rules, got some super yummy food with syrup and fruits and gravy and eggs. YUM YUM. (not all on the same plate or the same person) We reminisced at breakfast about how much fun everyone had during the week; the trip to Hollywood; the hangover that Dew Baby had; the "take my bathing suit off and swing it all over the place!! at Pacific Beach and the sandle collection that Baby Girl brought home from the beach!! Lots and lots of fun!

JACKPOT!!

Anyway, then we still had some time to kill, so off to Mission Bay to relax in the sun, laugh and spend a little more time together. I think this visit was fantastic. I think that it just reassured everyone that I'm doing ok, my relationship is the beat, no need to worry on their part and I love them all very much. I also realized that things are moving along for them, the new house, jobs are ok, getting her car fixed and should be able to drive it soon and just generally doing much better.

I'M SO GLAD!! IT'S SUCH A RELIEF!!

I've never left my kids behind before now. But I just had to. The circumstances that brought me here couldn't have been changed so that he could come to Cincinnati. If that was the case, we would have done that. But, his health and job and insurance and retirement all hinge on his living and working here in Cali. So here we are.

I'm just glad to know that my kids are ok, they are growing up and being responsible. Now, we gotta get Jake the Snake out here to visit!! I'll work on that next.

We spent most of the weekend relaxing by the pool, reading and went to see Pirates of the Carribean. I LOVED IT! It was so good, so much fun to watch. And of course, open ended for another such film. Johnny Depp is amazing as Cap'n Jack and he's totally funny and fun to watch. We gave it an A+

Well, I'm off to work. I'm going to take time this week to post some recent pictures - so stay tuned to see the family in action :)

Friday, July 07, 2006

Corvette

All I can say is that I'm loving driving the vette to work! It's so much fun. I drove this morning and I find myself grinning all the way to work. I have to admit that part of the grin is because I like my job, but I think I like driving the car alot too!!

here's what one looks like. of course, this is a pic from the internet and this one is totally perfect! Ours still needs some work, minor body and interior - paint and new interior - but overall it's absolutely cool.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Happy Holidays!!

Happy 4th of July!!

well, the 4th has come and gone. It was a long weekend for me, off work on Monday and Tuesday - SWEEEEET!! I loved it. I had my girls here and extra time with my honey.

We went to see Superman. I loved it!! I liked the story line - it was interesting another twist in the never ending saga of love between Lois Lane and Superman. I liked the ending - nice and open ended for another movie to be done. The actor they found to play Superman was great, I actually liked him better than Christopher Reeves (sorry to all of you Reeves fans). And I thought Kevin Spacey made an EXCELLENT Lex Luther. I had my doubts, Gene Hackman is a tough act to follow, but he pulled it off very nicely.

This weekend will be Pirates of the Carribean! Can't wait!

The girls had a wonderful weekend, beach, boating, lots of fun in the sun, nightclubbing and just general vacation mode! They went to Hollywood yesterday and had a lot of fun just hanging out - they went to a taping of "So You Think You Can Dance" that was aired last night. Today's their last full day here. Not sure what they are going to do all day, but we're heading out for seafood dinner tonight. Then it's to the airport in the morning. That will seem so sad and the house will definitely be quieter without them. There was so much fun and laughter happening this week! Wonderful memories.

Well, its Friday and I can't wait for 3pm. I'm leaving work around then. Not too much happening in the office. I'm driving the Corvette to work again today, so I'll be happy to be out and tooling around this afternoon. It's so cool driving it. People act funny around the car, especially middle aged men in their Honda's or SUVs. I don't drive it fast, I am going around 70 on the highway and they pull up next to me, look at me and the car, then zoom off! Like they can tell their friends they beat out a 'vette on the 5. Big Deal!! It's too funny.

Been working out, was at the gym this morning. I do enjoy going now and I like going early in the morning. I get in there around 5:30 or 6, do a full workout, or at least as full as my trainer has developed at this point. Come home, shower and get ready for work. I feel great, have more energy. I am probably more productive at work now too.

Have a great day and hope you enjoy your weekend!

Monday, July 03, 2006

house guests

Heavenly Thoughts

My daughter and her friend are here to visit for the week! It's great, yesterday was my daughter's birthday and today is her friend's! It's wonderful to have them here. Today all of the girls are out renting a boat and having some fun. Then they're going to go to the beach and just hang out. I'm so glad that it worked out for them to come to visit us. It's great living in vacationland where everyone wants to come to visit!!

Going to see Superman today. Will let you know how much I like it.

Been working out and feeling much better. Most of the soreness is gone from this particular muscle group. I'm sure he'll have something more in store for me next week!! Abs, abs, abs! Next week, hopefully ass ass ass!!