However Although Thus Several Several

Props to myself

I realized today that I never posted this mini album from my Scrap, Etc. Design Team application. I loved making this thing, and I've decided that those Cosmo Cricket Blackboard albums are the greatest.

I promise I'm not this cocky IRL.

Takin' care of bidness and a RAK at the end

I'm pretty sure that we've covered most of these details before, but Lisa tagged me and I do what Lisa wants. Life is just easier that way.

4 places I visit over and over
    Barnes & Noble, Panera (every Sunday morning - Church of the Bagel), the ridiculous excuse for a Starbucks in my building at work, the lame Winn Dixie near our house (grrrr)

4 people who call/email/text me regularly
    PJ (emails and calls), Bobbie Jo (calls when she's not not speaking to me), Noele (we have the email Olympics going on, and she calls when she has a question...like, "Can I leave early today?"), Kala (emails almost daily and calls every now and then) No one texts me. Does this mean I'm not popular? People twitter me. Or is it "twit" me? Either way, I'm probably a much bigger deal than what you're thinking right now.

4 favorite foods 
    (This changes on a quarterly basis.) Reduced fat Cheez-its, thin crust pepperoni pizza, Special K Chocolately Drizzle breakfast bars, Girl Scout thin mint cookies

4 places I'd rather be
    Red Bar on crab cakes night, Seagrove Beach under the blue umbrella, on the Runaway in BVI, Scrap, Etc.

4 movies I'd watch over and over
    Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Dirty Dancing, Pulp Fiction, True Romance 

4 bands/groups/musicians
    Robinella, John Mayer, Emmylou Harris, Over the Rhine 

OK, now my turn to tag: I'm not tagging anyone because I can't think of anyone I want to know four things about. Just kidding. I'm not tagging anyone because I think everyone I know who has a blog has already answered these.

So...do you feel like you know me a little better now? I hope so.

For kicks, leave a comment with four words that describe you, and I will draw a winner Friday night. Winner gets some sorta RAK from me. I will customize the RAK to "match" the four words you use in your comment. How cool is that? Trust me, it's cool.

Quiet as a church mouse

So when I'm angry or sad, I'm quiet. I'm both angry and sad right now because of Phill's death. Because of the fact that all of us - all of our sweet group of friends from high school and 85th Street Baptist Church (the church with a spirit you can feel) and beyond - are going to die. Because we are all getting older. Because we don't keep in touch and because we can't go back and say what we should have said or do what we should have done.

Basically, I think I am angry and sad because I (this is really about me, isn't it?) am going to get older and then I am going to die. And I'm especially pissed because no matter who dies, life just goes on like it did before they died - only without them - or without us - or without me.

I'll give you an example:

After leaving a voice mail for my supervisor that I would be in late on Monday because of going out of town for Phill's memorial service, I thought I better email her, too. So that I did. I explained as I had in the voice mail that a friend had passed away unexpectedly earlier in the week, so forth and so on...

So I came in to work at noon yesterday - completely exhausted and emotionally drained. After an hour or so, this supervisor ran by my door and breathlessly asked, "Oh! How's your friend?" To which I replied (in a very alarming tone), "What?" And she said, "Your friend you went to see? How is he?"

So I reminded her that my friend is dead. That's how he is. He's dead.

And she went on to say that she needed me to do thus and such for this big hoo hah happening on this or that day...I have no idea what she said...but the point is: well, you know what the point is.

I feel sure I will snap back in a day or so...and even that's a little sad.

So are you depressed enough yet?

I'll be back tomorrow with thoughts on being awarded by my all time fave scrappy girl, Virginia (Yes, I'm now a super star. Can't touch this.) And then later in the week, I have some thoughts on music. Isn't that cute? Thoughts on music. That Mandy Johnson, she's an intellectual...

How you know there was a weekend

I did a little scrapbooking this weekend, and thought I would share the layouts here. These are also posted in my flickr photostream. I made these with page kits I got at Scrap, Etc. but I added some of my own stash and changed a couple of them up a tiny bit. The kits are really giving me a jumping off point lately. Sometimes we all need a little push (or shove, as the case may be).

First up, a layout about my niece, Kendall (AKA Sister Girl). We had fun hanging with her Saturday.

Next up is a layout about our 4th of July tradition. These photos are actually from 2007.

And lastly, a layout about our first night at the beach this year.

Oh, I don't think I ever showed you the ATC's I did for the Twilight swap on the Scrap, Etc. message board. I loved working on these and all of the ones I got in the swap were great.

I'm working on the New Moon cards now (in my head). They're due this week. (Nothing like the last minute.)

I also finished up some ATC's for a different swap on the Scrap, Etc. message board. I will post a peek of those soon. Stay tuned.

So it was a productive weekend except that I did zero housekeeping, zero laundry, and zero anything else I really should have done besides having crafty fun.

Next we will discuss the traffic

I'm gonna take a risk here. I'm gonna share some information that may not make the best blog content. But I've had a few emails and requests for an update so I thought I would fill everyone in at the same time. Forgive me in advance for sounding like Madge describing her sciatica at the Betty's Beauty Box.

I went to the orthopedist this morning to get results from the MRI I had Tuesday. Doogie says that the damage to my left shoulder is not that bad…no torn tissue, but several bone spurs and some tendinitis. He said that arthroscopic surgery would probably help, but he’s not ready to do that just yet for a couple of reasons – not the least of which is my typical really bad reaction to anesthesia. He says he’s  surprised that the relief I got from the cortisone injection in June didn’t last longer than it did and he isn’t ready to give up on that treatment.

 

Umm…yeah. I’m a little surprised, too. Can I just say that something that hurts that bad really should be a little more effective? (?!?!?!) In other words, I’m thinking the injection is not a good overall value.

 

I can have another injection in late August (apparently these can only be given every 3 months) so we will see. I’m willing to give it another whirl to avoid surgery and all that goes with that for now. If the next injection proves as worthless as the first, then he will talk to me about surgery. He will have to catch me first.

 

Another issue is the fact that there are medications that would probably help alleviate the pain I'm experiencing, but I can’t take them because I’ve had gastric bypass. I’m pretty limited as to what I can take in the pain relief department. Darvocet really isn’t helping…it’s just making me more emotional and weepy.  (Yeah, sucks to be PJ.) Skelaxin doesn’t help at all...just makes me feel like a noodle. (A noodle in pain.)

 

So, there you have it. NOTHING. Once again I have no solution. I was basically told to deal with it for now. And it hurts like a MUTTHA.

 

We're headed to the big city again tonight. Two weekends in a row! Aren't we somethin'? I wish I had time for a combat nap before we have to be at our haughty dinner party...but I'll probably use the hour long drive to bitch about my day. And my shoulder, of course.

 

Thanks for enduring the whiny recap. Don't worry - I will pep things up next time. Maybe I will write about the weather!

Praise Yahweh, it's Friday! and mom update

My mom is home from the hospital. Dr. Big Stuff finally made his way to her room late yesterday and says her heart doesn't look any worse or any better than the last time he looked. No additional blockage, no new issues...so he's not sure what made her feel the way she did. He changed some of her medication and told her to lose weight and start walking. I think he's told her that before, so I'm wondering if she actually heard him this time. The only thing that kept me from calling Dr. Big Stuff to complain about his disappearance is the fact that my mom really likes him. He is quite the charmer and the last time I saw him I even felt myself falling under his spell. So...I guess that's why he was spared my hysterics. And I guess that's why he continues to be Dr. Big Stuff while I am doomed to a life of pretzel sales monitoring. (Long story that you don't even want to know about.)

My sister and I have decided that my mom had a panic attack. My sister and I are also doctors, by the way. We're psychiatrists, actually. Tell us your symptoms and we will give you a diagnosis. We cannot, however, prescribe medication. We can only bitch about your condition and compare your symptoms and behavior to all of the other mental cases we have observed. And yes, we have studied countless mental cases. And no, we will not share our own personal medication.

Again, thank you for you thoughts, prayers, emails and phone calls. As you know, the feeling that so many people out there really care can make a stressful week or time in your life much more bearable. I cherish the connections. And it continues to amaze me just how connected we all can be these days. More on that later.

Tonight we are headed to the big city! I can't wait to actually go to a restaurant that doesn't have a salad bar.

And we're gonna hear live music!

The best part of the big city? Our friends that live there. Can't wait to see them.

Seriously. Life is good.

Kicking and screaming

I hate leaving the beach. I drag out the last day as long as I possibly can...making PJ stop at every little place I may have missed and pose for every little photo opp I can think of along the road out of town. He didn't pose for this one...I just happen to have a crush on this view that I had all week. Hoping it will marry me.

I would have written while we were there, but I just couldn't break away from doing absolutely nothing. Doing absolutely nothing in the hot sun all day really takes it out of you.

So, we're back.

Sigh.

We had a great time as usual. It was such a relaxing week of sun and food and drink and conversation and friends and family and fireworks on the water and so forth and so on.

PJ learned to play Guitar Hero. (He's really good...and REALLY gets into it.)

And we saw Get Smart. (It was excellent.) And I got new shoes.

Let's see...What else? Oh...this little guy:

So glad we got to spend a few hours with little cousin. (He says great things, BTW. More on that later.)

And no, we don't have a new puppy. This is just the hair PJ and I got off of Clover today using the FURminator. That thing is downright amazing. She must weigh five pounds less. And how could she not feel better? Instead of thanking me and realizing how fortunate she is to have me, she's pouting and avoiding eye contact with me now. Ungrateful little snit.

I can't even believe I have to go back to work tomorrow. God help me.

She has a green thumb...& a seafoam green blouse

I thought it would be wise to take photos of the two potted plants that are actually living under our care right now...since I can't be responsible for what might happen while we are gone. I think I will just load them up with water and move them out of the direct light and see what happens. We do have one other hanging basket that's doing pretty well, but it's very needy and I doubt it will make it through vacation. I can't remember what the flowers in it are...petunias, maybe? PJ knows. Obviously, I know nothing about plants and flowers. I just feel really lucky that the ones I like so much are still alive. I hope they survive next week. If not, I will put these pictures in my wallet so I can remember our brief yet intense love affair. 

Oh, and in case you are wondering, that foxglove we had bit the dust weeks ago. Jerk.

This first one is our little lantana friend. So cute and such fun colors. And I've even re-potted it twice.

Next is the caladium that PJ's parents gave me when my grandmother died. I love this thing...so regal...and such perfect colors for our decor.

And can you believe that these two plants - both so lovely and innocent looking - are poisonous to dogs? Yep. Part of the thrill of keeping these two alive is simultaneously keeping the two dogs alive. It's a big challenge, but so far, we have succeeded.

And finally, a picture of my new hair. I thought it would be wise to photograph it as well since it may not survive next week either. PJ took this photo this morning before I left for work, Is it me or is it common for eyebrows to get a little WHACK as you age? I used to think my eyebrows were my best feature. They are now starting to look more like my dad's...kind of like a mad scientist...no offense, Daddy - that look is fine for you, but not so attractive for me.

She's on short time

Only one more day of work and then we're off to the beach! That's only two more sleeps, as Wilna would say. I am more than ready. I got new hair today - cut and color, had a pedicure yesterday, got a new sun hat and silver bling flip flops the day before, and loaded up on bottles of all SPF levels of sunscreen this past weekend. Not to mention I've been to the tanning bed so I have the base tan (I know, why even bother with sunscreen since I'm doomed anyway), and oh - I have loaded more tunes on my Nano, and PJ and I both got new swimsuits Saturday. So...all that's left is just getting in the car and driving there, I guess.

I made a list today of what not to forget and after fretting over it all day I decided to take another Buspar and put the list away. I think it's quite telling that I have to medicate myself in order to prepare to think about preparing to vacation.

I would say that I will post from the beach, but I may not. I may be too busy doing NOTHING. But we'll see. Maybe. Maybe not.

A little SMUDGE love

I think if you click on this picture it will open up in a different window so you can read the journaling...I won't bore you by telling the story twice. This is a layout about my niece, the one I call "Smudge," and what she decided to wear (and how she decided to style her hair) on picture day. She's a trip. And as my grandmother would say, she is my sister "made over." I've been trying to convince PJ to let me take her to the beach with us, but that's not gonna happen. He loves her, but he also wants a vacation. And she's no picnic.

If you still can't read it, click here to go to my flickr photostream.

In unrelated news, PJ saw a church sign here in town that reads, "You Can't Email Your Way Into Heaven."

Really?

Speaking of email - off to get ready for the circus to start all over again this morning...I can't believe it's Monday already. Geez.