A family rendition of The Monster Mash

Happy Halloween to all!!

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Help..It's a blithering blubber butt alert!

Okay, so after 3 deaths, pneumonia, a collapsed lung, bleeding lungs and kidneys, a probable lupus diagnosis, in conjunction with 18 days in ICU followed by an additional week in hospital prison, the 3 more months on Home Health care probation, and a whopping 50 extra pounds of steroidal blubbering fat, just to remind me that this is most likely the worst year EVER..(so far)

Did someone think it was funny to curse me?? Did a lifetime of someone else's bad Karma set out to get ME? Well, well, we will just have to change the stars, shift the heavens and earth, and since I am now another year older...get busy ....

So with the whining done and said ....I'm back!!..(mostly, still not 100% more like 50%) What the.. hey..I am blogging again! Now, it is your turn..

How am I going to lose this blubbering baggage?

Any and all suggestions will be taken in quiet consideration!! In the meantime, I am getting my a*& off the computer and moving around...Oh yeah..Darrell and I finally cleaned out the pool, I mowed the grass ( horray me ), and last but not least it has finally given us a break in the rain department so....

I am headed out to the backyard- POOLSIDE- I think Tori and I are in need of some sun and water therapy!!

Synthetic hormones, and dirty laundry dont mix..and this is my vent!

Now for my next vent, a month prior to all of this, I had made an appointment with what appears to be a good credible female gynecologist..As many of you know, in 2004, I had ovarian and cervical cancer which lead to a full hysterectomy! Our conversation goes something like this...
{{Dr.}} WHAT you've had no follow up have you had since the Cancer?

{{Me}} Testosterone shots for about a month..

{{Dr.}} Now that just angers me, you do realize the reason he gives these shots is because he compounds the meds in his office and is making profit from them? He should have told you that you needed a pap every 3 to 6 months to ensure the cancer hasn't spread and you should have been placed on estrogen and progesterone to ease your discomfort. It is my belief that at your age these are necessary.

{{Me}} angry..disappointed..and in disbelief..

{{Dr.}} I am highly concerned with the symptoms you are presenting with! Why have you not followed up in the past four years with a GYNECOLOGIST?

{{Me}} Well, as the obvious idiot that I must be, I did follow up with my primary which does do paps in her office, and tells me there is no need since 1.) I am unable to take hormones due to the risks and family history (I was in a genetic study with my mom when she had breast cancer and mayo clinic found us both to be HR2 positive..they advised my Dr. against hormone therapy) 2.) My primary said "The symptoms you are presenting with are (not could be) related to you current medications" and she never changed that opinion even after the medications changed. So in essence, she refused hormonal treatment and attributed any symptoms to colon blockages and a hernia.

{{Dr.}} Well, this is definitely not a colon blockage nor a hernia...I am going to perform a biopsy (yes she found something during the pap-and I didn't even know you could get cancer there)and you will have results in 4 to 15 days. In the meantime, expect your moods to go array, as i am placing you on a high dose of hormones and will lower them over time. Do not be afraid, this could just be a cyst or a re-occurrence of endometriosis.

{{Me}} Wait a minute, my previous gyno told me endometriosis would no longer be an issue since he removed my female parts...

{{Dr.}} Well, he would be mistaken, and she went on to explain why...yadayadyayayda..

So I ended up with blood work, a pap, a biopsy, a ultrasound on the 25th, and a waiting period..oh and a whole new set of moods which...wow...which I can sleep but can also go from loving wife and daughter, to crying and laughing at the same time (for different reasons), to absolute angry wench in 1/10000000000000000th of a second!

The same day, I call in for my prescription refills...they make me come in..so on Tuesday, I go in, wait for 4 hours for a prescription refill that they could have called in and a major chewing out for going around her to a gyno (again I say..around her??)and taking hormones...OH, BY THEN THE SLEDGEHAMMER FELL...rockets have nothing on me based on the rate I went off..needless to say, it is my firm belief that my new gyno will be handling my medical needs hence forward.

And for my final vent, I spend the remainder of my week taking my mom to the dentist, running minor errands, and DOING LAUNDRY...and then I sit this morning to vent this whole week in one long blog...decide to read the hubby's blog, only to find...oooooopppsss, wait, there go the hormones..oh no... 1.) we agreed blogging is no place to air our dirty laundry (hahah) and what do I find?? I am 3 steps ahead of him..and maybe he should ask about his newly laundered clothes, and the clothes separated for good will..and then I can show him how to open his dresser..ok not fair...but its frustrating when you've spent 3 days separating and doing laundry to read his blog and he sounds as if laundry hasn't been done in a year..sacrablah...God knows I love him more than life but jeez..I could beat him with a switch sometimes...1000 kuddos to his mom and sister..if he is this hard to raise at 47 he must have been a bundle at 12 (tee hee). Anywhose, just the hormones talking...I think D may have my new Dr.s head on platter by the time my moods level out :)

Oh my...as we say in the south, "I am in Hog Heaven!"

I am a sucker for organic and/or locally grown foods! I am large enough as it is, without farmers adding growth hormones etc. too my foods. Last night, "D" and I decided to visit our new local grocer, WHOLE FOODS. Yes, it was a little bit of a drive, a little less convenient than the grocer down the street, but well worth it. We left our house with the idea we would return home in an hour or so, and like two kids in a candy store, we wandered aimlessly for hours. I love this store!!! Everything about it was what I want out of a grocery store! It was 50,000 sq.ft. of organic, locally grown, and all natural foods, clothing, and beauty products! How much fun can one person have in one place! The reason I tell you this is 2 years ago a petition online began locally for us to get this store and we finally did! As Whole Foods will tell you they have a commitment to ethical trade, environmental issues, and quality products that is second to none! In my opinion, Go Whole Foods! Maybe, just maybe, if we demand more from the other grocers will get on the train thus lowering the costs a little! In the meantime, I will continue to take my stand, refusing to buy over processed, hormone added, unhealthy, chemically treated foods and continue my search for places like Whole Foods! Oh, and I added a link on the side so you can visit whole foods and other places we love!! Enjoy!

My dryer is on a diet!!!

Ok..so it's almost midnight and I am going to bed mildly frustrated...it appears that my dryer has to immediately join our family in our efforts to diet. Earlier tonight I decided I was going to change the sheets on the bed. In doing so, I happily wandered to the linen closet with thoughts of a nice skoochie snooze in freshly cleaned and lightly scented set of sheets only to discover that my dryer is eating one pillowcase per set of sheets. Most people have their socks disappear in the dryer- but no, not I, my dryer has a much larger appetite! So that settles it, a diet it is, and forced it will be...I will count and recount, and this is it- NO MORE PILLOWCASES FOR YOU MR.DRYER! Then again, maybe it is just getting cold in the garage and decided to stash them for the next big freeze which is coming this weekend by the way! Thus leading me to my final frustration, the garden is getting postponed! Tomorrow is another day..Bonne nuit! (Good Night)!

Romance and Magical Places!

Last nights temperature dropped to a whopping 37 degrees, wasn't I just bragging on our beautiful spring like days?? As luck would have it, I awoke this morning feeling melancholy, dreamy, out of sorts, and most of all lethargic. I have a million things to do and can't focus on any of them! Today seems to be one of those "Walking on moonlight during the daylight" kind of days. Fortunately for me, I live in one of the most inspirational states in the United States, Florida. The state that promotes vigorous daydreaming and listless motivation. So, I thought I would share with the entire cyberworld what I am dreaming of...

During the Spring and Summer months we spend countless hours in St.Augustine Florida. Whether you enjoy shopping, people watching, or wandering aimlessly, St. George Street is the place to be...

It is filled with quaint shops..

Great places to have lunch, a drink, and a listen to a little music!
Scarlett's..


The Milltop..Where Darrell proposed to me, also where we went on our first date, and where we go to have drinks everytime we are in St. Augustine..it's a rule!

and then we head out for more Music...Brad Payne..one of our favorite local Musicians!
There is heritage, history, and all the Old World charm you could imagine! I can't live without the Old World Charm..it's a necessity..
The Fort.....The Oldest Schoolhouse in the United States..The City has the most beautiful Architecture!!
And is truly one of the most romantic places to spend an afternoon,weekend, or hell spend all week!And you can't leave without driving Water Street, at least to visit the Fountain of Youth, which by the way obviously doesn't work..It just wouldn't be fitting to end this without showing you some of our sunsets!!

Oh and make sure you have a few Bloody Mary's at Harry's on A1A...call before you head this way..tee hee..

Lion droppings and Squirrel Food

It seems as if my self diagnosed seasonal depression is beginning to subside. All it takes is one 80 degree, sunny afternoon and the internal clouds part and warmth fills my soul. I officially come out of human hibernation. With that being said, my honey do list instantly triples. Maybe it is because my brain thaws thus igniting my ambition.

It is now time to start this years garden! This year not only am I going to plant my usual personal eye pleasures but, I have decided to incorporate a few edible treats as well. Of course, anyone who knows me understands that my "green thumb" is more of a yellowish green but that is just a tint issue, it's not a lack of trying. Hopefully, with a little bit of help from the local growers, I will "green it up".

It doesn't help me out much when my backyard is mostly shady and the soil doesn't care to be conducive to growing anything but weeds. {{{Hey, some of those are edible and provide some nutritional value!}}} What can I say, thus begins this years home grown, edible, learning experience. Weather permitting, next weekends agenda -I am getting my hands dirty!
I am thinking of adding..oh, a little endive, tomatoes, lettuce, dill, peppers, and lavender for luck!

Just a little tidbit, I learned this morning..If you have a problem with deer eating your vegtables and you have tried all the usual i.e. hair clippings, foil plates, etc. Then you should in complete but witty desperation call your local Zoo. They will provide you with free Lion poop, the deer will smell it and dilegently stay away from your garden fearing the Lion that is laying in wait.

Not that I have a deer problem, but what will I do with all the squirrels that I have fed for the past three years...I did say this was going to be an adventure didn't I??