Re-Entry

How many days does it take you to recover when you get home from a trip?

Trips (both fun and otherwise) exhaust me. It takes at least two or three days to get ready. I like to come home to a relatively clean house. I like to have the only laundry in the pile be what I am bringing back. I like to not see forgotten dishes in the sink.

And then I've come to the conclusion that for every day I've been gone it takes me at least one, and maybe two, to "recover." What I want to do when I come home is flop in my chair and veg for a bit. What I need to do is all the things that got left undone while I was gone.

Since I left the three boys...my dear husband kept the kitchen in good shape. But they still wore clothes (I am grateful for that) so the laundry was waiting. The boys spend a lot of time in their room, so the general public area was still pretty nice. And we needed a few odds and ends that I forgot to pick up before I left.

Yesterday involved shopping with a good friend for fifty yards of tulle (yes fifty) and some other sundry items. Shopping at the great "Stuff Mart" that I try to avoid. Resuming the chef's toque...okay cook's hat. I do realize I'm no chef. Putting back on my teaching tiara. Wrapping round my metaphorical laundress's apron. And sitting down to do the paperwork that is involved with being my eldest's secretary and personal assistant.

Not as much Pintrest time as I would have liked...just saying...

Today involves my chauffeur's cap, and continuing paperwork. Meatless menus. Long list-making. And fifty yards of tulle.

So I better get in gear...

Counting it all joy,

Julie

20 Years of Medical Practice Affects My Navel Gazing

So I went to see a new doctor (an internist); because, after two visits in July and August with complaints about my knee, specifically, combined with other joint pain and a overall sense of unwellness, the old doc told me, "As we age it just takes more time to heal. Let me know if it gets worse"

Which was doctor speak for, "It's in your head, get over it." And, just like that, she was out the door before I could ask questions. And, "Oh, by the way, let's just do everything via e-mail from now on." As in "We don't want to hear your voice on the phone because we are too busy to talk to you."

Luckily (and only 6 months later!), the orthopedic I took myself to did NOT think I was crazy. Of course he had the MRI and x-rays to consult. I learned a lot, but he is an orthopedic--and a resident to boot, so I likely will not be able to return to him, so I went searching for a new doctor.

There was the FP doctor I had seen at the practice my husband is/was using (another story for another day) and he also DID NOT think I was crazy. I would have gone back to him, but since my husband was struggling with the front office staff (the wife of the doctor who owns the practice), I decided to strike out for different pastures.

The new doctor, a woman, has a bio that lists her time prior to practice as a pharmacist. I am always concerned about drug interaction and the affects of meds on my blood sugar. I have a handful of issues that are starting to add up and I want someone to direct my medical care besides...well...me. This was going to be awesome.

Well...Dear Doctor-lady took one look at me and decided I was Holly Homemaker with nary a brain in my head. She ignored what I perceived to be my problems and gave me her best advice..."Watch Dr. Oz while you are ironing. He's got good advice for diets."

Really? Twenty years and that's whatcha got, lady?

Actually I did not say that.

I was in such shock, I just dumbly and numbly looked at her and let the rest of the whole five minutes of thorough medical care pass me by. I sat for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time waiting for lab work and then was shown the door.

Come back in a month.

I made it to the parking lot before crying. I sat there and just sobbed.

Her medical assumption of my person doesn't line up with my perception of myself. I've always seen myself as knowledgeable, and well-spoken. But maybe I am what she saw. I've been mulling that over. I know I don't look like a career woman, but really, do I look like, well...what do I look like?

So, anyhoo...I've been trying to decide what to do about her and trying to decide what to do about me. This should not be so traumatic, but it is. Part of it is facing my age and the fact that I will not be returning to 20, 25, 30 or even 40 anytime soon. OK...never. Even if I can get back in shape. It will be shape housed in a mature home.

And what do I think of myself? Can I allow fifteen minutes with a stranger to redefine who I think I am?

I've spent the last eighteen months dealing with several issues: family, health, spiritual, relationships, that have shaken me to my foundation. I finally thought I had regained my identity. And now this.

I am proud to be a homeschool mom and all that entails. I spend an inordinate amount of time chauffeuring, scheduling, meal-planning...blah, blah, blah. I am glad I am available to help other people (not my children) in my life that need me. I recently helped a friend proof-read parts of her book. The CEO of a non-profit organization asked for a few hours of my time to get input into the issues concerning their school (people like that usually don't bother with unintelligent people, do they? I don't have any money, so that's not the reason for the time). I play a stupid video game, I read, I explore many crafting options. But I don't watch television much and I DON'T IRON!!!!

Last night was the first night since the appointment that I did not dream about the whole doctor's visit. This was the first morning I got through without tearing up.

Obviously, I've allowed this to balloon into more than it should be. And so I am spewing it out to the internet. Maybe that will shake the blues that settled on my shoulders off.

Moving on...

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm.....

Really?....


ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

Well maybe...but what about this one and that one?

Because It Just Seemed Like the Thing to Do...

Blogging may be sparse the next few days. A severely crazy person Someone I had the bright idea to paint the boys' room ten days before Thanksgiving, right in the thick of Nutcracker rehearsals, in the car seven days a week...

So if you see me here, you have my permission to ask if I've accomplished my goals for the day. Likely as not, I will tell you, "No!" But feel free to ask anyway.

Pray for me. Pray for my children. Pray for my husband. We may or may not survive this.

Edit to add--Here is the finished project.

A Year Ago Today--A Halloween Reprise

Today's been kind of nice. Ballet was canceled and we had no where to go. It seemed like the weekend--only a little early. So, since we are boring today I will share what happened one year ago today:

(Originally posted 11-01-07)
So I woke up yesterday morning to no water.

Nice.

AmazinglyReally the bill had been paid. But somehow the water department had not credited customers who had paid on line.

So they had shut off several of their customers. The paying kind. Oooops. Their bad.

Ummmm…my mad.

The good news was no one here was in need of a shower and the kitchen was only mildly disgusting a little messy. We had plenty of clean clothes, because I got motivated for once am such a good housekeeper.

The bad news was Boo was sick. Chicken noodle soup was the lunch order of the day. His appetite is still good. That is more good news.

I did an easy stir-fry last night. One dish included a Toad Food I mean Tofu. Because Roo hates dislikes has requested an alternative to chicken.

Yeah, whatever. It is a good thing he looks a lot like me and acts like me in other ways (well sometimes he should NOT act like me--but that is another story that I will never share), because I am still shaking my head saying, “That is SOOOOOO not my child, eating Toad Food I mean Tofu. The Cave Geek and I are all about carnivorous eating here.

Then I needed to run to the grocery store last night.

So I walk out the door of my duplex last night to be greeted by forty something man. (Who I didn't know.) With two or three days beard growth. Dressed in a fairy outfit with a tutu (and boxer shorts under). Smoking a cigarette.

Apparently my neighbor was having a party. I hope it was a costume party. I'm just saying...

Well alrighty then. Halloween…ya never know what is going to happen.

And if you have any good Toad Food recipes for Tofu, could you let me know because it seems Roo is becoming a vegetarian. And I am such a supportive parent. Really.

On My Mind Lately

This song has been haunting me...

I've been trying to remember the lyrics.

Edited to add--The Cebu Song is no longer available on YouTube...Sigh...I am SOOOOOOOOO very sad.

We'll have to do with the pirate song. I love Veggie Tales. Larry is my hero. LOL!



...I think I could be doing something more productive.

BUT SINCE I'M NOT...

Just for fun...

If you are in need of more "Pirate-y" material:

Have I mentioned I love Captain Jack & Will Turner?:



LEGO Pirates:

AN IMPORTANT WARNING!!!!

I never, never post forwarded e-mails. But given the important and vital information this one contained, I felt it was my duty to warn women bloggers--mommy bloggers everywhere. My sister sent it to me so I am certain it is true. Read on and be afraid, be very afraid...


You've heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans. And then the thieves struck again.

My bu^t was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new bu^t was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world, wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts-stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something "lifted", look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere every night.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P.S. Last year I thought some one had stolen my Boobs. I was lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

My good deed is done for the day. This was one of those anonymous forwards. If anyone knows who to credit it to, I would be happy to do so.

The mysterious APPEARING $$$

I came home to find this...

...on the end table by my blogging chair.

My husband says he noticed IN my blogging chair about three days ago.

I have been gone. for. ten. days.

It was not there when I left.

I have never seen it before. My sons have never seen it before. My mother started a collection of these for each grandchild. If there had been two of them, (one for each boy) I would have been really freaked. For now, I am just seriously wondering how this came to be in my house.

Suggestions?