Thanksgiving with Family and Others

Oh I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I did . My brother and his wife invited me to join them at Karen's sister; Denise's in laws . With the Hosts' ok first, of course. They always get together with Karen's parents, and her sister's family . Karen's brother- in- law's parents built a home in the same block as two of their four children, so it makes sense to have everyone gather there. Along with extended family. The house was planned for these family gathering and lucky me. I was asked to join them. I was pleased.

It had only been 18 days since the heart stents had been put in and truthfully I just wasn't feeling up for family and Thanksgiving. But my brother had taken me to the hospital and stayed with me and waited until I was back in the room. We didn't know , going in , if it would be stents or by pass open heart -so I was doing a little independent female " I can do this by myself "- which he ignored and stayed with me. I felt closer to my brother than I have in years and when he asked me to join them -I was touched and said yes. I was thankful.

It was very nice, food was great and healthy. This is a picture of my niece, Rachel (21) with her boyfriend in the background; and a plate of the Thanksgiving feast! They made me feel very welcomed. I usually help out in the kitchen , but this year I just didn't feel like it. Thankfully, there were plenty of helpers to go around. I was able to sneak away and call my Aunt, from one of the bedrooms. She usually invites this maiden lady to join her family and I was missing them. They passed the phone around and I was able to talk to a couple of cousins and hear all the family in the background. The rest of the day I spent on the couch, next to my brother watching football games and sleeping (well I was the one sleeping). I let myself feel very vulnerable and safe next to him that day. My immediate family took good care of me that afternoon. I was grateful.

The only down side was my missing niece, Heather(23) who now lives and works in Texas and wasn't able to make it North for the holiday. We will see her for Christmas and I will be able to find out how she enjoyed her first Thanksgiving away from family. I hope her man and his family made her feel as welcomed and safe as I was made to feel. Everyone really missed her. I am so proud of her, for following her dream. I am humbled.

There is no such thing as an unimportant act of Kindness. Which reminds me I have to get the Thank you card in the mail to my hostess. I am blessed.

Fun Monday/ Monday December 1,2008

Fun Monday this week host is 'Beyond My Slab" Ari_1965 ; Tell us about your all-time worst Neighbors from Hell. You know, the family of Irish clog dancers who once lived in the flat/apartment above you? Mrs. Next door and her banshee-like multiple orgasms? Mr. and Mrs. Hard-of-Hearing with their television on full blast? The guys across the street who set off 4th of July fireworks starting in March and didn't stop until the first real snowfall?

Ahhhh -I cant think of any -I have only lived with my parents /in the dorms at college/ in a religious commune / in an apartment with a roommate / in an apartment with myself and this house in a small neighborhood where I don't know hardly anyone after 30 years. I guess I have been very tolerant or very boring.

When I lived with people (I don't now) all but one bathed and she, to be fair, took showers -but didn't believe in deodorant, or shaving her pits. Well, she used corn starch it was more 'natural' according to her father. It didn't work. She also didn't wash her clothes that often, and would dress out of a pile in the center of the floor after smelling them. sigh . It was the 70's.

She shared her little efficiency with me, as a favor to my oldest male cousin and his girlfriend. I moved my twin bed and furniture in and was just grateful I had a place to stay, as I started my new job. I can't remember how long I was there until I found an apartment in the next town.

She is still a friend of my cousin and his wife. I saw an ex boyfriend of hers a few years ago when he and a new friend came to cut some firewood from my back woods. -He had lost his job and was using wood to heat their house. He was freaky -I am glad he didn't keep in touch either.

I wonder how my neighbors would classify me? Maybe I am the neighbor from hell -I do like my music loud and do not rake leaves or plant flowers or grass seed.

On the other hand, I do buy stuff I don't need from little kids that knock on my side door.

And in my humble opinion - THAT is the best definition of a GOOD neighbor!

Bucket List Detour

I just got out of Presbyterian Hosp in Phil. I got another three stents in my heart -the LA D to be exact -that artery already had two stents from the 2003 heart attack along with the two in the RAC? RAD? anyway I have seven (7) pieces of metal in my heart. It is amazing. I really thought it would be a by pass this time but I guess the stents still work. Since I am allergic to the dye -I had to take meds to counteract the allergic reaction -ok -but it left me with sugars of over 400 -Not good and i cant go back to the gym for a week. I have a feeling I am going to be on insulin for awhile until this sugar level gets under control. All this and I still don't feel that well and I have to loose the remaining 60 or 70 lbs. Oh and the surgeon said "Why didnt I know you were allergic to the metal nickel?" It seems these new drug coated stents have nickel in them. Oh well it is over with now.

Am I ok? Well I am still positive -sort of overwhelmed -but still have scuba diving on my Bucket List. But I have taken a couple of things off the list. I use to think -daydream -what ifs and somedays -but that doesn't seem to happen any longer. I seem to be having a day to day life. And plans for the 'future' don't seem to be more than a month ahead of time. I wonder if this is normal? or just temporary while my body rids itself of the anesthesia?

I cant remember really being asleep -laugh- I Do remember talking so much that the surgeon told me to stop asking him questions he needed to concentrate. I was asking him non stop questions and I couldn't remember the answers so i just kept asking the same questions ----again! Laugh Out Loud

Anyway, I recovered at the parents home near the hospital and near my brother and sister, for 5 days and now I am home. My own pillows/blanket/lumpy mattress/ house noises/ one TV channel (I only had one channel and my parents have cable -which is so overrated) . Oh you know the little special things that make a house your home.

I would like to go to Fl to visit the folks for a week and am waiting right now for the Doctors office to call me back and see if I can fly between now and dec 3 when I have my followup appt. I also have my third and last dentist visit to reschedule -I still have the temp. filling in and the surgeon said no dentist for a month and the Dentist said -AH No call them and get approval for this last filling. smile

The sun is out today and it is cold and very windy -I think I will go and kick some leaves around. Life is good.

Who are you? Jackie or Marilyn?

I just took this "Hello Quizzy" quiz of two questions -and it turns out I am an Audrey ? Go figure. Only two questions -? maybe it is based on the birth year. I dont know but it was cute. It was really like me -except for the caring to much what peple think about me. :)))))) I dont know about that. I think in my quest to be healthy and THINNER -the image I keep in my mind is one of Audrey Hepburn -I really dont know what she was like -but I like that thin woman body type -of course not even a year after death will I ever be that thin or have that body image -except in my dreams . LOL

I have accepted that -sigh -I am at peace with me.

What are you? http://www:Helloquizzy.com/

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me
* If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure
* I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this
* Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit
* Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally
* Ask me questions to help me get clear
* Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery
* Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings
* I like a good discussion but not a confrontation
* Let me know you like what I've done or said
* Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey
* being nonjudgmental and accepting
* caring for and being concerned about others
* being able to relax and have a good time
* knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
* my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
* my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
* being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey
* being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
* being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
* being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
* being confused about what I really want
* caring too much about what others will think of me (?)
* not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often
* feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
* tune out a lot, especially when others argue
* are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents
* are supportive, kind, and warm
* are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

FUN MONDAY / Saturday October 18, 2008

Today's Fun Monday is being hosted by Sarah, who set forth this task for us:
I would like you to take your camera (or your artistic talents!) on a day tour with you. I want to know where you go, what you get up to on a “normal” day (disclaimer - it doesn’t have to be “normal”!). All the details you would consider boring! You are free to make your FM posts as long or as short as you’d like.

OK , Here goes -I only had my cell camera phone with me so some of the shots are crappy -but I had a great day:

I was startled 10 min before I had to roll out of bed by a call from my part time place of employment -the Gym -wondering if I could spend the day with them working for money -- I am a substitute and rarely get called - YEA but NO - I have plans all day today -SORRY -please call again.

Up and ready early enough to eat a multi grain Thomas' Low fat English muffin with Better n Peanut Butter Low salt PB -very ok for almost no fat ;along with 6oz of Low Salt V8 -I take my Am meds and off to the Avalon Library Writers Group, We meet every other Sat from 10 to noon. I read my 241 words from an assignment on the last words after being beheaded. (7 sec) On the Library i-pod , I record my new story 1 ? For now I call it : A Gift from the Salt Hay -(see http://www.avalonfreelibrary.org/ Virtual Exhibits -Robin ; in about a week to hear it). My sister thinks I should call it just Salt Hay Farm.

The Group facilitator Dr Sue J., talked about our Barrier Island Writers Anthology coming out in Dec. and book signings and a silk screened shirt we are getting to wear at signings. One of the woman asks me a question about an IRS Collection letter and I explain to her where the error originated on her 1040. It feels good to be able to help. Now that it has been over a year since I retired I can actually acknowledge my former employer. Before I retired I told people I sold life insurance, smile\

My mind is on the Pumpkin Festival in Cape May I am going to ,-instead of lunch with the group. I am meeting a friend from N. jersey along with her family that still lives locally. I will have dinner with them and celebrate my friends 50th upcoming Birthday. I look forward to this day all year. This family has adopted me into their hearts and I just love them all. I have to stop and pick up the balloons I ordered from the dollar store yesterday -it is windy and they are not going in to the back of my SUV -escaping every time I try to shut the door -i start to laugh and know somewhere someone is filming me and it will be on You Tube.

Get to Cold Springs Village -Great parking space because I have missed the little kids Halloween Costume Parade (darn ) Txt my friend and she meets me at the entrance. First things first : eat a Hot Dog - she buys popcorn from her father who along with her sister and mother and brother in law are in the Rotary and working the Festival. We walk the Village and visit the 48 crafters -usually more are there -crowd stills seems good -cold and windy day -I am looking for the sorority that sells soup -but they are not here this year. Hugs to her nieces and great nieces and take great niece Kate and Patty's dog Bogey to get a face painting (Kate not Bogart)

Bought a sweatshirt from Cape May Shirt Shops' table -it is bright pink and says Cape May -I am happy -Patty bought a pink hoodie and the owner gave us a good deal for two. We go into the Village store that is having a 50 % end of season sale. She buys a rug and a diffuser. They are out of the only diffuser smell I like: Mango -so I buy the sample bottle for a dollar -I will put More water in and turn the sticks upside down -wet side up and throw it away when I am done. I take a chance on the Chinese Aution table the Rotary runs with prizes from local businesses and most of the crafters. I want to win a gift certificate to a local resturant C&J in North Cape May or another sweatshirt or some neat wooden dyed roses that are made from scrap birch shavings. As we leave the Rotary Pumpkin Festival at Cold Spring Village I buy mini low fat cinnamon donuts, with the money I have saved.

We leave the Village and I sort of run over a GIANT orange Police traffic cone -that was in the middle of the road -I didn't ah see it. Thank God the policeman wasn't there (I later found out her was Patty;s second cousin) It sort of got squashed under my car -so I couldn't drive without it making a noise (ok I did TRY to drive and Patty would not stop laughing) I had to pull over and crawl on my hands and knees (which I could NEVER have done before I lost this 50 lbs) and really pull hard on the cone thingies and it came out all smashed -and rather than litter-i quickly opened the back door of my car -balloons are in the back -and throw it in .

Over to Patty's parents home and give her my present. Her mother is out the store -but we go out when she gets home to get her mother a Birthday cake also. See a woman from a class I am taking at Vo tech and then see my Paper Mache teacher from a class I am taking at the CM Library. small world -I never see anyone I know. Of course I am getting out more and more. I like this retirement.

Dinner is Pasta with Home made meatballs and gravy & salad & bread. Patty tells the story at dinner -and the cone thing bounced back to life!!! Of course the great nieces and nephews look at it closely (it is now in the house -Patty's mother is doing Eagles cheers with it as a mega phone) anyway the little kids are calling me cone killer and tell me it has tire track marks and it might be torn. Patty decided not to take it home to N Jersey as a 50th birthday present-(her husband will just throw it away) takes a picture ( I don't have) with the now perfectly fine cone and her parents promise to give it back to the policeman cousin.

Patty's daughter gets in from work in Atlantic City and has brought a lashing tiara for her mother and little tiara's and rings and put them on the tiny cup cakes she made -we all sing Happy birthday again and the 50th Princess Birthday party is in full swing. The birthdy Queen , Queen Mum, Sister and Niece, Daughter, Grand Nieces and the 'adopted' tallest Princess ,me. A Good time was had by all. Cell phone photographer great nephew -Jimmy K,

We end the evening with people coming and going and Captain Kate the pirate's mom arriving from work, as i am leaving. More Hugs and goodbyes. I follow a niece that lives near me up the Parkway to make sure my car is ok -It is so far.

I am home with so much sugar in my system I know I will be spending Sunday close to my own Princess Throne! There is a message on my answering machine. I WON a Chinese Aution Prize!!!!!!!!!!

Let there Be DSL

I have a DSL line -I don't know what it stands for - but it makes me HAPPY!

A call to the Verizon Help line and ANOTHER connection with India -almost put me over the edge -when i heard the voice on the other end say: " I can not help you , everything seems to be connected - but it just isn't working -we will have a Dispatch person come out to " -remember that word Dispatch - it is the magic word or power word.

I said "No" at first -knowing that my house looks like a tornado went thru it, at least two times and if the dispatch person got lost in my house-I could be charged extra -but finally after a couple hours I gave up -

"OK schedule me for a dispatch man" i cried.

Then he told me to wait at my house from 8am until 8pm on Thursday-and they promised to only call on my cell phone to confirm and let me know when they are in the area.


Thursday my dispatch guy ( Tom) called on my House phone about 10am and he was in the neighborhood. I told him about the house -he said he had probably seen worse.


He went back to the little computer room and promptly said 'Lady -how old is this computer? Is that Windows 98? ' No Windows ME I said-then he said " I don't know anything about windows ME and is it connecting by USB? -oh no this isn't going to work! You need a new computer." - No shit but it is NOT in the budget this year.


Then my cousin David comes in the back door -Holding a small package he says is an ether net. I introduce him to Tom and it was like the angles started to sing and the babble of a male bonding -computer hardware geek language filled the room. My cousin Dave gave me a hug then -opened the back of my CPU. Tom lent Dave a tool from a tool belt he was wearing. (Oh yes, at that point I was ready for Tom, the dispatch man to get lost in my house - I had decided to keep him). But since the little room was now very crowded with these two big men, I left the room.


The ether net card and cousin David; did the trick -well that and a couple of hours and using the ORIGINAL disc to talk the installation thru AGAIN. The guys installed the DSL line -we found out Tom had a girlfriend in CA and he was suffering from allergies but liked his job here in NJ. He said finding my computer was like finding a beat up 57 Chevy that needed a lot of work, in your driveway. Is that like having your Steve Madden shoes stolen and PAYLESS left in their place? OH


It was finished -Tom did his 'ping" test and he left - Dave stayed to help me load a cleanup program and cleaned up my old computer memory.


It is now faster than dial up and I have been retired long enough to have forgotten how a really fast computer, at work responded. So this is great.

The first thing I looked at was YOU TUBE and my friend's nephew!!!!!
What a HOOT. I like this so far.

Happy Halloween !

DSL Disc

I just called Verizon installation help line and spoke to Ian (?) in the Philippians. He spoke ok English -pronounced words like a computer would ........................so NO I couldn't understand him -but he was very nice. Forgot to ask if he was single.

I asked him where the disc was? did Carlos really order it sent to me? He said Yes and it will take 5 to 10 days. OK -so I wait. The 30 day cancellation period ends Oct 8th. I hope it is installed by then.

My friend Jennifer said when she got her DSL line she called them and asked when they were coming over to install it?

You can do that? Hmmmmmm

NO it would take me a year to clean my house well enough for a stranger to come in. I can do this myself -it is now a point of honor. If Sarah Palin can field dress a Bullwinkle moose, (why would you want to dress up a moose in your clothes ?-but Alaska winters are long I guess ?) I can do this installation !!!!!!!!!!!