SeaSpray's - It's a Wonderful Life!

No Title Necessary, But ...HAHAHAHA! :)

2012-02-02T15:43:00.003-05:00

I checked it in Snopes and is a legend, passed around with various scenarios. Saw this in FB and had to share. Hope you got a chuckle out of it. :)

Nothing says L-O-V-E like Bacon Roses ;)

2012-02-01T19:08:00.003-05:00

Can you imagine having that bouquet sent to our men? Warm of course. If it's true "Food is the way to a man's heart" then that bacon bouquet says L-O-V-E forever. ;)

I Forgot How Much I LOVE This Song

2012-01-27T23:29:00.001-05:00

The Christmas Toy I Wanted to KEEP!

2012-01-12T22:37:00.005-05:00

I became totally addicted to one of the toys we were giving to Wrenna for Christmas.

The Hallmark Merry-Okee microphone!

Everyone knows that one of the reasons you have kids is so you can play with their toys. And birthdays and Christmases are especially fun because you get to play with said toys before they do and BEFORE you HAVE to share them. Okay ...give them their toys... give and their being the operative words here.

Well ...it all started in Walmart ...2 days before Christmas. Well technically, it was almost midnight and so almost 24 hours before Christmas morning. I was shopping for toys and this little elf microphone had been left in the wrong aisle. Actually ...I had been up and down the toy aisles looking for the perfect toys and never saw those microphones. So ...maybe a Christmas Elf left the Merry-Okee microphone just for me. UM ...I mean Wrenna - yeah ..that's it WRENNA ... of course. ;)

It has 3 options. Regular microphone mode, elf mode and then Christmas music so that you can sing along ..Merri-Okee style. :) Let me just tell you ..the elf mode is hilarious and sooooooooooo much fun ...if you like sounding like one of the Chipmunks.

I apparently do.

I was trying to be discreet in the store aisle. I didn't see anyone, but you never know. Not to mention ...who knows what they see and hear on the store security cameras. I wasn't really looking to be their late night entertainment, but I had to try it out ...again and again and again ...by leaning with my face into the toy shelf while speaking elf. I didn't know if anyone was on the other side ...who may've thought there was a rogue Chipmunk in the store. Especially when I yelled "A-L-V-I-N-N-N-!" No, I really didn't yell Alvin, but I did talk into the shelf so Elf voice wouldn't carry any distance. It just magnified instead - inside and so not really sure which was the better way to go. :)

Then when I was paying for my purchases at the register, the cashier got as excited as I was over it and began talking into it. Too funny! Obviously ...she and I, albeit different generations ...were kindred spirits. Someday ...I'll grow up ..but not yet. ;)

As soon as I got everything unpacked at home ..I began talking in Elf mode ...at about 1 am. Then when younger son came in ..I talked in Elf mode with him and then to the dog. She didn't know what to make of it. She cocked her head to one side ..then to the other and then ...began howling. Ha ha! Son was patient. Mr SeaSpray was sleeping. And then when Mr SeaSpray woke up ... I of course had to entertain him with my new found voice. But, at 1 am, Mr SeaSpray was not too thrilled with SeaSpray Elf voice. :)

Then while doing things around the house on Saturday ...I couldn't help myself ..I kept playing with it and even answered and talked on the phone in Elf voice and it was the last present I wrapped and not until the wee hours of the morning. I admittedly thought about keeping it for myself. But, it was only my deep love for sweet Wrenna that enabled me to let go of this toy treasure.

Then we played with it after we opened the presents and the next time she came over I asked my d-i-l to pack it with her things so we ...okay ..I could play with it. Didn't admit the *I* part to her Mom though ..although she knew.

Then after it was opened on Christmas ...I could even see that my dear and quiet m-i-l was looking at it with curiosity and so I gave it to her to try and she did. And some others tried it as well. How could they not???

I swear ...if that was near me at work ...ohhhh the TEMPTATION! I don't know if I could resist answering the phone in my best cheery, yet professional Elf voice, "Good morning, Dr Elf's office, Elfette speaking. How may I help you?" ;)

Defensive Jumping? And Distracted Driving

2012-01-11T17:22:00.001-05:00

After dinner, I went out to pick something up from the store. I was just driving along ..maybe on the highway a half mile when this car seemed to turn sharply toward me from the other line. Had the driver not caught their mistake, they would've slammed right into me in the front driver's corner/partial head on part of my car. Thank God, as quickly as the car seemed to turn sharply toward me ..it turned sharply back. Obviously, the driver was distracted with something.

I had an odd reaction though. It caught me by surprise and all happened so quickly. I wasn't driving defensively, but more in autopilot mode.

Even though my hands were on the wheel ...I don't think I was prepared to turn sharply away from the car ...maybe I would have. But ..if I had and he kept coming ..would he then have hit broadside and is that worse?

Instead ...with sudden fear ...I inhaled sharply and quickly lifted my left leg up toward me, while simultaneously leaning back into the seat.

I never reacted like that before.

All I can think is that my instinct was to jump out of the way.

It just strikes me odd in that it seems instead of defensive driving ...I'd do defensive jumping in the car to get out of the way.

Another thing. A few nights ago, I was with a group of friends. We were discussing driving safety and cell phones - talking/texting. A couple of guys stated they can and do drive with their legs - thighs/knees I think. I questioned the safety of it and they reiterated they were good at it. And another friend told me her brother drives with his leg out the window. WHYYY? And I know way can it be safe to drive with upper legs. They do it with cruise control and can turn that way. And do this because hands busy. I bet they are texting. Just a guess.

And a couple challenged me because I put lipstick on or used to put mascara on when driving. that was bad - the mascara and I've stopped that. Stupid actually. But, lipstick? I don't take my eyes off the road and feel for it and put on without looking. I am more distracted when looking in mirrors at other drivers or when changing settings on the radio. I also drink when driving. And have eaten. Not in a long time with food though. But ..I don't look down. I just grab the bottle or cup. And I have talked on phone, but in slow traffic/traffic light and I get off asap. N-e-v-e-r chat on phone. I also do not answer it. Maybe I am justifying my own behavior, but I really think lipstick compared to turning to look at the kids or pick things up you drop, etc. is so easy. I do not have to see to apply it. When I worked in LifeLine - reading maps when driving - that was bad. I confess to that.

And you may remember the post, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" ...in which I wrote about totaling a car when I was 17 and we all should've died, but miraculously all pretty much walked away from it. So ...I am not a saint when driving.

But, I am much more mindful. I wish we all could be more mindful when driving. No one ever plans an accident. but ...accidents DO happen. Anyone who has ever been in an accident knows how quickly they can happen. And I can't tell you how many times, while I worked in ED registration, that patients told me they felt so stupid over what happened and didn't have to happen. (They didn't plan the accident.) And not just in cars ...but all kinds of things. Of course hind sight being 20-20, it all seems clear after things happen. And even me - I know to drive defensively and I was on autopilot.

I honestly do not understand what is so very important that one HAS to answer their cell phone right away. Why can't your response be after you've stopped driving? Just pull over. Just think of it as something to look forward too. :) And seriously, if you think of the stupid things that get texted - okay funny ...but is it really worth killing yourself or innocent people? Or becoming disabled? And all the legal and financial fallout that will occur from that?

I tell my kids, "Don't let the phone own you. YOU own the phone."

On a lighter note, at least the ride home was uneventful. And the full moon was so pretty, I decided to take the longer way home so I could see the country side under the moonlight. The only thing more beautiful would be moonlight on snow. I LOVE snow light nights. :)

Venting - Green on Cream, etc.

2012-01-09T21:09:00.005-05:00

I happily made my green synergy drink. It's a dark green health drink filled with everything green. Every green plant known to man including grass. Green mold, green seaweed, green beer, green eggs, green olives, green wool and green shoes.

Okay ..so I'm EXAGGERATING a tad. ;)

Seriously ...THIS is what it is and does. I notice a natural diuretic effect and provides energy with clarity of mind and I believe one of things that have kept me healthy ...even when exposed to infections, etc. I've caught a few things ...but rarely and usually mild and of shorter duration ...compared to how I used to be. I also still drink the Herbal Aloe Force and eat the Manuka Honey and 5000 mg Vitamin D. I've been taking these things for a few years now ...and while I can't prove it ...I believe the reason I did not have sepsis when I had a uro relapse is because I consistently have taken these products. Like I said - I can't prove that claim - but I do believe they have facilitated better health at a cellular level in my body.

But, I digress.

Anyway ...I happily put the drink together, shook it a bit and then sat down in front of the computer and with eager anticipation of drinking it. However ..this dark green drink proceeded to pour out of the top of the container that became unsealed and right down the entire front of my pretty cream sweater ...from the top of my chest ..all the way down to the very bottom of my sweater. And I mean a big splash down ..not a little streak. But then ..it didn't stop there ..oh no ..landed right down onto my keyboard. *SIGH!* I immediately turned it upside down and shook it upside down ..let it sit and then blotted and so far ..all is well with the keyboard.

I can't remove my wet sweater because I don't feel like removing the curlers so it will slide over my head. I put extra ones in because I want my hair to be bouncy and more curls/waves on the bottom tomorrow and I don't want to redo it. The price we girls pay for beauty ...even if it means wearing something wet.

Murphy's law dictates that son will bring friends home and this SeaSpray will be making a mad dash for cover. Hopefully, Murphy has a night off. ;)

Don't you hate it when you spill stuff all over you?

Just venting.

Duck Hunting With Doctors ;)

2012-01-08T16:34:00.011-05:00

HERE is the link to the following joke over at the Happy Hospitalist's blog. I thought all the jokes were funny, but this one caused me to laugh out loud. :)

Btw, I hope I am not offending any docs with this joke. It is so very much my favorite kind of humor ...like in "Plains, Trains and Automobiles" or in "What About Bob?" and some others. Loved those movies. I could so totally picture this joke as a seen in a movie. And when the surgeon had enough and got the uzi ...well I busted out loud at the description of the sound effects. Talk about getting the job done - Ha ha!

An internist, a radiologist, a surgeon, and a pathologist all go duck hunting together. When they hear the first wave of ducks coming, the internist says "OK, you guys, I'm the smartest guy here, so I'll be in charge. Don't shoot until I say so." He looks up at the birds and says "Hmmmm...well...I don't know. Those could be ducks. But they could also be geese. Or even Swans. I read about something like this in NEJM once upon a time. I'm not sure we should shoot yet..." and of course, the ducks are gone.

The radiologist rolls his eyes and says "I'LL be in charge now, dammit." Another flock of ducks flies overhead. The radiologist looks at the water and mutters (in a monotone, of course) "Shadows appear consistent with duck-like structures but pigeons of unusual size cannot be excluded recommend additional angles and possibly a contrast study as well as clinical correlation period end report." Of course, the ducks are gone.

By now, the surgeon is PISSED. Another flock of ducks appears overhead. The surgeon pulls out an Uzi. BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM!!!!

As the smoke clears, the water is littered with carcasses. The surgeon turns to the pathologist and says "Hey...which of them's ducks?"

Is There a JACKHAMMER in the House??! and plans/goal

2012-01-06T14:10:00.006-05:00

They come in aqua?

Anyway - I needed that jackhammer and a couple of hardhats ...one for myself and one for the cat.

He looks better in lime than I do ...sooo NOt in my color palette. ;)

I'm looking forward to going to dinner at a friend's house tonight. Younger son and his friends will be their too. Her son is home from the Coast Guard for a couple of weeks and it's been so nice to see him again. And I'm looking forward to seeing her Christmas tree since I didn't get over there during the holidays.

Anyway ...I decided I would bring a couple of desserts. One of them these yummy Toffee bars - always a hit. Hint about the post - you could use these Toffee bar chunks to HIT someone!

Heh ...best laid plans ...

All you do is mix the packed brown sugar, softened butter, vanilla and egg then add flour and salt. Then press all of it into a greased 9x13 dish and bake. It comes out like one big tollhouse cookie - sort of. Then you immediately pour and spread 2/3 cups milk chocolate morsels on top ..let sit for a minute and spread like icing. Sooooooooooo easy and tasty. oh and if you want sprinkle nuts on top.

So, later I went to cut them into squares to pack in a tin and no matter what I did ...I could not cut through this dessert. I am telling you ...I got a heavy duty butcher knife, a heavy duty pizza cutter and other kinds of sharper,smaller knives. I tried coming down the outer edges, then when I finally broke through and got a piece out in fragments ...I then slid a large sharp knife underneath, trying to pry it upward ..which it did ..but sent pieces flying everywhere!

"Okay ..that's it! Too hard to do and I'm not fighting with it before going to bed."

I wrapped it tightly with foil, hoping it would somehow soften during the night.

Sooo ..now bright eyed and bushy tailed and with a better attitude ...I decided to work on it again. Now ...I'm thinking ...no one should have to "work" to get dessert out of the pan ...and maybe it wouldn't taste so good anyway ..although the fragment I tasted before bed was good... perhaps a bit harder than what it should be ...but it was the outer corner.

Well sitting overnight under tightly wrapped foil did not help it soften and there was NO WAY under God's creation I was ever going to get neat little squares out of this pan. I thought about using a strong stainless steal spatula to slide under and lift, but if it broke free because of leverage pressure I was having to use with a table knife ...a whole bunch of dessert would've become air born.

You might be wondering "Why bother?" Well I tasted it and it actually does have good flavor. At the very least, the guys could have it here.

Plus ...now the gauntlet was down ...battle of the wills ...not that dessert can through a gauntlet down or has a mind of it's own ...but challenge on and that dessert was coming out of that pan no matter what!

This would be the time to play the Rocky theme song ...if I had it.

Soooooooooo ...the next thing I did was get one of our heavily weighted table knives and tried to pry up a piece close to the middle, except it slipped and the pressure sent pieces of toffee bar air born again and the knife flying up hitting the cabinet just above and ricocheted it right down to the tile with a clatter ...JUST missing Mom's elderly cat, Peachy ..who was calmly drinking his water. Just missed him and made a loud noise and that cat did not flinch at all. He is hard of hearing. (He's 21) But, that cat is fearless. NOTHING scares him or e-v-e-r makes him jump. I think he was so loved and sheltered in Mom's apartment for 18 yrs, that he never knew fear. Or he is just a lion at heart among house cats. Not sure. if that knife had hit him, it wouldn't have impaled him, but I do think the force and weight would've hurt his back or head. Thankfully that didn't happen.

Ha! if that had been our other cat, Sneakers ...there would now be a cat shaped hole cutout in the ceiling, because he would've shot through the roof ...never mind ceiling. That cat splits in a second if he hears anyone inhale ...never mind noise. We got him as a kitten and he came from a house that had a lot of small children and 2 big German Shepherds and just to get him for us they had to chase after him under their furniture. I think he was in survival mode just living in their house and so now he is a fraidy cat ...so timid ...yet quite agile. I think he probably has 100 lives just because he can get out of a situation faster than a superhero.

Anyway, I admit I was more than a little annoyed and by God this stuff was coming out of this dish ...no matter what. I didn't care that there were now crumbs, displaced nits and oddly shaped broken pieces and some with the chocolate separated off the the cookie part.

If I'm not tenacious ...I'm nothing.

And then ...it hit me and I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. A chisel! Of course I don't even know where Mr SeaSpray has one and he didn't bring the hammer back in the house ...but there had to be s-o-m-e-t-h-i-n-g.

GOT it! And it worked ...in conjunction with the heavy weighted table knife.

"What? you ask?

I'll give you a hint.

It's VERY sharp and begins with an "I".

ICEPICK! I used an icepick! I never use that. It was my aunt and uncles from years ago. And today ...for the first time ...I used their icepick to get my dessert out of the dish. Ha ha! It's so sharp and good handle for leverage. I plunged it in repeatedly in places ...like Psycho cook ;) and then used the heavy knife to pop the dessert up. Some did fly around a bit but not like before.

Finally ...it was a fait accomplis!

I really expended some energy over this and was physically and emotionally drained. Nah ...I'm kidding about that ...but it was a bit of a workout. I'm pretty sure I've got stronger upper body now. ;)

Younger son told me he thinks I should still bring it because it tastes good. The only thing is you should see the pile of rubble it looks like in the dish. Not uniform little squares, but more like broken pieces of slate like what you see in patios. It looks like an excavation site in that dish. Most of the nuts came loose and some of chocolate popped off.

But ...I'm thinking ...maybe I can salvage the best pieces and kind of pile them up on a small plate and lightly sprinkle powdered sugar over them and on a pretty plate ...like I planned it all along. You know ...decided to get a bit creative instead of cookie cutter same old ..same old way of doing it. Presentation is everything. :) ??

The only thing is ...I got this recipe from THIS friend. She's gonna laugh for sure. I heard she's making a CHEESECAKE and I am bringing this pile of eatable rubble? I did bake brownies too. So all isn't lost.

Oh and I heard she is making Chicken Marsala, one of my FAVORITE dishes. Can't wait! :)

Anyway ...I am wondering what the heck went wrong? I have made this before. True not since last Christmas, but have made this about 4 times in last couple of years and it never cemented into the dish. ??? Normally, they're chewy ..but nice chewy... firm chewy ...not HARD.

Sooooooooooooooo ...I am wondering if maybe I packed TOO MUCH brown sugar without realizing it? The lighting wasn't good and I did keep packing it down. Or did I bake too long? I know it was within the normal time range. I was also baking the brownies and so left the toffee bars in 4 minutes longer, but was the upper end of toffee bar direction baking time. I didn't remove it out of the pan when they said and instead waited hrs later, but I've done that before. Oh and supposed to use cooking spray to grease and I used butter ...but, I always use butter.

Well, I think since they still taste good ...I am going to try to salvage them and see if I can create an appealing presentation with them.

I am making these next week for people.

Because ... they are yummy ...and when you fall off the horse ...you have to get back on it.

I'm just saying. :)
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Oh ... I am going to be baking and baking next week. I want to use up all baking supplies in the house and I've decided to stop using sugar until Mr SeaSpray's birthday in March. Ha ha ..."using" ..like I'm using a drug! Just about, if sugar causes you to want more and more and never be satisfied. :)

Anyway, I am going to bake and give away. Which is always fun to do. And of course keep some here for the guys. But then ..that's it! I'm not going to be all crazy about it. If sugar is in bread or something like that ..I'll have it. But no desserts of any kind. I don't care for sweet drinks and so I am lucky there. I don't like sweetened cereals and I really don't go for ice cream now that it is winter. That has been sitting in freezer for awhile now. I'm still having my love affair with apples and even tho ate Christmas goodies ..still craved apples ..which just never happened before and so I think I am finally turning the corner with actually preferring healthier food as close to how God made it. Tis a good thing. :) And once the baked goodies are gone ...Mr SeaSpray will have to buy his own stash if he wants sweets. he has a COOKIE MONSTER sweet tooth, but never has weight issues. So not fair!

I feel a little guilty that I will stop baking or bringing the stuff in ..but I just want to see what positive effect it has on me. He'll understand, but somewhere ingrained in me ... love = baking and wonderful aromas wafting through the house. True ...I can tease with candles, although not quite the same as actually eating the food.

Plotting Cat - Love it! :)

2012-01-05T22:22:00.000-05:00

No Chicken For Me!

2012-01-04T22:41:00.005-05:00

I didn't get to finish my dinner because I was busy with a toddler and a 1 year old.

Ha ha! At dinner, I imagined how convenient it would be to be an octopus with all those arms and their wide field efficient eyes. I had the baby to my right in the highchair and 2 yr old Wrenna to my left in a regular chair ...which posed a bit of a problem ...since she could easily be foot loose and fancy free and seemed more interested in that than in eating.

So on my right, Myles was eager to eat and not inclined to wait, while Wrenna took delight in playing with her food or getting up to rearrange her chair, the silverware ..whatever. or when she did eat ...was amusing herself by leaning way over with food in her mouth.

Is it any wonder I lose weight when I watch these two for a length of time? A hellacious ED is easier to multi-task in ...believe me. :)

If she is in the high chair ..she always seems to eat very well and pretty uneventfully.

And I was hungry and really wanted to eat while my food was hot. I envisioned feeding them using my ambidextrous skills while eating my dinner as if bobbing for apples. Hence my imagination kicked in in which I imagined the skill of an octopus. I used to tell our boys ..."I'm not an octopus!" But, they were 8 years apart. That's like having 2 ONLY children. And I thought that was busy. :) And back when they were younger ...I never actually imagined being one. Tonight ...I wished I was. I wanted to be an octopus. Just for dinner. Alas ..since that wasn't gonna happen ...I managed to wolf a few bites down in between keeping Wren in her seat, sitting up and getting them fed. But then I got them cleaned up and then diapers changed and then into the living room to play and yes I confess ...use the electronic babysitter so I could go reheat my dinner in the microwave and EAT it. But I played blocks with them first.

And then I heard silverware clatter. And then I realized no one else was around and thought ..."NO ...she did NOT do that!" I came back into the kitchen to see that our dog was licking her mouth because she had jumped up to the table ..cleaned my plate and not only was I annoyed, but then alarmed because she had taken and eaten my chicken breast that I never got to eat and she ate the whole thing ...BONES and all! I couldn't believe it! She never did that before.

So ...I hope she will be alright. Our GSD, Bob got at some chicken bones in the garbage once and he was alright, but I heard they could perforate their bowels. I hope not.

Oh and I am not complaining about these wonderful children. I am just continually amused/amazed how busy they are and keep me. And tonight ...was the first time Myles had the run of the house (crawling and fast ...like a baby on a mission :) and supervised of course. That was the additional challenge tonight. I could've corralled them in with baby gates or put him in the playpen, but just chose not to.

I think he will be walking any day now.

Another Mylestone. :)

Fun in the Photo Booth and Midnight Shopping

2012-01-03T14:08:00.004-05:00

The following is a comment a friend left on my Facebook wall:

"Had fun last night at Macy's! I've never been out shopping at midnight...but the best part of the evening was our photo shoot in the Photo Booth at Shop-Rite! I really think we put some smiles on shopper's faces with our laughter. Did you hear that comment one person made? She said, they shouldn't be having that much fun...too funny!"

And it WAS funny! I actually didn't want to do it. We were headed down to Macy's and it was already going on 8pm. But, I had to stop at Shoprite to get some fresh strawberries as I had made the uro office a cheesecake pie ...better known in our family as "Heaven Pie", aptly named by then 5 year old Devan one Christmas. The plan was to bring the pie and other goodies in when I went for my uro appointment the next day and so I HAD to get the berries then. After we got them and were headed elsewhere in the store a guy stopped us and asked us if we wanted free pictures taken in the booth. I immediately declined his offer because I was a girl on a mission ..knowing all that had to be done. But ...they were free and he was persuasive and so we went into the little booth and closed the curtain.

It turned out to be a hilarious experience because we didn't realize it took so many pictures and was catching us by surprise and we'd crack up even more ...totally forgetting the short little curtain wasn't sound proof. And we were cracking up in a very busy section of the store because they placed the booth in a major walk through area and near the front desk.

The pictures were pretty good and I still have to get them to show some people or make copies.

Anyway - I wish we could've seen the faces of people walking by the booth as they heard adult women laughing so hard. :)

Macy's had phenomenal sales!

As the last person on the lower level, I was escorted out after midnight by the security guard so that he could lock the downstairs doors. But ...my friend was still shopping in Jewelery in upper level and so he told me he was escorting her out next and to just swing around to upper level to pick her up. It was kind of surreal. We never did that before. Oh and shopping that late at night, even though it was only 4 days before Christmas ...was so easy. Plenty of clerks to help and not many shoppers. Store looked somewhat trashed in places ...but no big deal.

***Mental note made: Do it again - the after 8 to midnight shopping. :)

Woo hoo! SNOW!

2012-01-02T23:31:00.005-05:00

And then ...I saw that the beautiful snowflakes were nothing but a TEASE!

We need to do a snow dance or something.
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Update next day: I take it back. Snow dance cancelled.

Younger son and friends (on college break) heading to Atlantic City for a couple of days ...as I type this. Son driving, but he has a Charger - rear wheel drive and not equipped for snowy weather.

But ...when they get back ...let it snow ...let it snow ...let it snow.

The Purple Dinner :)

2012-01-02T16:00:00.007-05:00

It's JUST a color!

PURPLE that is.

I just threw out our purple ham and carrots. I hate wasting food. I would've finished it if it hadn't been pushed into the Bermuda Triangle spot spot in our refrigerator.

Last week, Mr SeaSpray had asked me to cook the leftover Christmas ham with cabbage. I thought that was a great idea and so I did.

Much to Mr SeaSpray's dismay ..we now had purple ham, purple carrots ...thanks to the purple/red cabbage I used. Ha ha! Well ...I thought it was funny. He didn't.

I assured him purple is just a color and won't affect the food.

So ...he reluctantly ate the purple dinner. Well, he left some on his plate too. I thought it tasted alright. Maybe a little oddly purple cabbage sweet ...but okay. I mean ...the ham was cooked with pineapple ..right? And that is sweet ...just not cabbagey (I know - not a real word - but I like it :) sweet - there is a difference I guess. Green cabbage definitely would've been better.

But ...really it is purple just a color. Too bad I didn't add potatoes to and then we'd have purple potatoes added to the mix. The more purple the better. ;)

Anyway ...he was not a fan of my green eggs many yrs ago when I overdid the parsley and turned what was to be an omelet into green scrambled eggs. (It was the first time I made an omelet.) I thought they tasted good.

Anyway, I just threw the rest of the purple food out tonight.

I feel like there is a Dr Seuss story in here.

"No ..Ms SeaSpray ...I will Not eat purple ham.

NOT purple ham... NOT purple carrots ... NOT purple anything Ms SeaSpray.

NOT after Christmas ...NOT before New Years ... NOT anytime ...will I eat purple ham, purple carrots or purple ANYTHING... not EVEN for a SeaSpray ...Ms SeaSpray."

Happy New Year! :)

2012-01-01T00:17:00.003-05:00

So many people have expressed to me that they hope 2012 will be better than 2011. I hope it will be too. There are people who've predicted doom, gloom for 2012. I don't believe it. I think this will be a turn around year and things will get better. Time will tell.

May God bless you and give you a year filled with good health, prosperity, love, joy, peace, safety and all that is important to you and your loved ones.

HAPPY 2012!

A Few More Christmas Thoughts -Thoughtful Medical Staff, Ornaments, Maybe I DID Obsess After All .. And New Year Wishes :)

2011-12-31T19:13:00.008-05:00

This is a picture of last years Christmas tree. Do you see that little German Shepherd angel dog ornament? And also ..the second Christmas picture down ...on the sidebar ...you can play a "Where's Waldo and try to find it. :) Well that was a most thoughtful and sweet gift from the urology staff in the office I go to. It was actually from one of the women there I had spoken to ...no sobbed into the phone at ..in January 2010. I was to have had a stent removal that week and had a pre-op appt to see urodoc that afternoon ...neither of which I felt I could follow through with because I was so devastated. Our wonderful GSD ..had basically stroked out in front of us about a half hour prior to my calling them. And at the point I called them ...younger son had just gotten him into a quilt so he could carry him out to the car for an emergency run to the vets. He was so strong and healthy ...a young and very fit Shepherd for his almost 10 years. It was a devastating shock that morning. I would've cried at the appointment and cried all the way into the OR that week and figured it was not the way to go in an OR and so needed to cancel everything. Anyway ...the compassionate and supportive woman I was speaking with ...had gotten this for me and signed it from the whole office. I was so touched, moved and comforted by her gesture. This little dog has had a prominent place on our Christmas tree for 2 years now and always will. And when I see it ...it still warms my heart because I think of the kindness behind that gift and also how wonderfully everyone I've encountered in that office has treated me. Is it any wonder I have thought so highly of this group of people since having been a patient there? And not because of the gift. Anyone who has followed my uro posts knows how highly I think of them and without hesitation ...confidently recommend anyone needing urological care to go to this urology group. Professional, compassionate, upbeat, organized - on top of things, skilled medical expertise, dedicated and I could go on ...but am so glad that with everything I have been through (urologically speaking), that these are the people I entrusted with my health care. I was/am in good hands for sure. Btw, I am still healed and doing very well. I will miss them and be eternally grateful for all urodoc, partners and staff have done to facilitate healing and make it as positive experience as possible under the circumstances. Believe me ...there are some doctors and med staff out there that would benefit by looking to them as a role model. And they have stood the test of time. I had been a frequent flier at one time and have had multiple occasions to see them all in action. I am very grateful that if I had to go through what I did ...that it was with them. And that is all I have to say about that. Well ...maybe one day I will give the names out and website. The only reason I haven't is because I have written some things in here that might identify me and not sure I want to do that as yet. I have been blessed with other good doctors and nice offices too, but because of my uro history ...I've spent the most time at their office. I am most grateful for all the good docs and medical offices over the years that I have dealt with either for myself or my family. To the medical people that come in to read my posts ...you do make a difference to your patients. I know I have said these things in the past ...but not for a while now and so I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the excellent physicians, nurses, M/A s, front desk staff, billers, technicians and all the other people that interact with patients on a daily basis. Your positive attitude, respect, patience, empathy, compassion, kindness,understanding, warmth, smiles, hugs, HUMOR, consistency, reliability, interest, listening, treating patients with dignity, support, and medical expertise- goes without saying ...are all so important and you DO make a difference in the lives of your patients. May your patients be blessed as you work with them and may you be blessed by them too. You and the work you do really matters - Thank you. (And really - we all make a difference in how we interact with people. It matters. Our kindness goes out like a ripple of good ...going forward.

Back to the Christmas tree. Just as that little GSD ornament has a story ...many of the Christmas tree ornaments I have ...have a story connected to them. And I LOVE to tell my friends and family - every year about the different ornaments and why they are special. It's tradition. maybe someday ...when the kids inherit them ...they will remember some of what I've said and it will warm their hearts. Plus it is a way of keeping the memory of those no longer with us alive. And seriously ...if someone didn't know what to give this SeaSpray for Christmas ...they can always give a Christmas tree ornament. And then I will tell the story about it. :) I'm just saying.
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I actually thought ... I was going to get away with not obsessing about Christmas lites. I almost had to pinch me to see if it was still ME in my body because any other year ...the snafus would've had me organizing the troupes ..okay ..just me ..but I would not rest until everything was as perfect as could be. Even when it means I am alone ...no matter how long it takes ...how cold it is ...outside in the dark with a big bear around at 1 am. Well the bear year was a balmy one. I didn't know there was a bear until I saw him walk by the sliding door under the spotlight ...just AFTER I finally came in from finishing the lights. But my spidey senses were all weird and for first time ever ...I felt uneasy outside alone.

This year, I couldn't believe that more than half of our clear outdoor Christmas lights didn't work. Fortunately ...this year I decided to buy 8 boxes of cheap Christmas lights - strings of 100 each. And one of those didn't work either. And I really, really hate that those "cheap" light sets have receptacles that do NOT accommodate the plugs. Isn't it a standard now ...that all prongs in them have one large sized one and one small one ...thus needing to be plugged into something that can receive the larger sized one? I can tell you that the cheap sets from China to Walmart - do NOT.

Sooo ...I couldn't run the long extension cord down to hook up the blue lights on the evergreen tree. Now any other year, i would've been trying to figure out a way. Well okay ..I did, but not before saying ..."I don't care, I'll just put blue lights all over this lilac bush." and then seeing it didn't look good, removed all 200 lights and put them on the flowering tree that son and d-i-l gave us ...didn't look good and so removed them. Now after midnight and alone in the dark in the neighborhood ...I bring the 200 blue lights to a maple tree we have. All of these things are out front. Oh and Mr SeaSpray had mowed the lawn and I ruined my sneakers - green stains and all ...due to traipsing all over the loose grass in the dark.

Anyway ...I remembered how years ago when the tree was much smaller, I had put blue lights on it and it was very pretty. The thing is it is a lot taller, with much longer branches now. I could barely reach up to the lowest branches. I looked wistfully over at the small pine tree ...nope ..no way was the extension gonna fit into the end of those lights. And I didn't want to overload the receptacle I was using elsewhere.

Okay then ...I began running the lights along the branches ..didn't look right and tried a different way. Did I say it was well after midnight now??? Then I did it differently incorporating 4 branches out and back to the tree ...and did this 4 times ...so that while standing underneath ...the lights ran out in 4 directions and looked pretty. Until ...I stood back. Then they just looked pretty AWFUL ...like carnival lights! *sigh!*

And then I gave up. Although, I was tempted to just run the extension with other lights out to the pine tree anyway ...but thought better of it. I still had to tape the plastic Ziplock bags over all the connections. I don't know if other people do that ...but I figure it is extra insurance for keeping the water out and blowing the lights.

Our neighbors across the street seem to have an unusually dark house when I put the Christmas lights up. nary a light on anywhere. Sometimes I wonder if I am providing a night of entertainment. Ha ha ...the yearly Christmas light comedy. Seriously ...for all I know ...they are sitting in their living room with drinks and popcorn watching the light show. Maybe betting on how long it takes ...how many times I walk out to the road or in the house or slam the non working lights to the ground. The blue light debacle must've been particularly entertaining.

Normally ...the next morning ...I would've figured it out and gotten it done somehow, but I let it go. Oh and took the blue lights off the tree the next day. Then about a week later ...the bottom string of NEW lights burned out on one of the bushes. Even tho I had extra lights ...I let it go. I still have not replaced them. Okay ...I'm writing about it and so the burned out lights bother me ...but letting it g-o-o-o-o. :) So this is why I think I didn't obsess ...because I let it g-o-o-o-o and then I pondered why I did. I mean it just does not happen. I ALWAYS make sure it all works. I concluded that maybe this was just a year ...where other things seemed so much more important. Which is true.

And so 2 weeks later we put the lights on the Christmas tree ...only to discover that half of those lights had burned out as well.

WHAT happened in our attic this past year that caused most lights to malfunction???

So ...I didn't stress ...even tho the Christmas tree is my favorite thing. I left to buy lights.

But ...there were NO white lights to be found ...not anywhere locally. That is exactly why I do try to stock up on white lights. You can always get colors ...but the white lights vanish off the shelves. And yet ...to me ...it seems that more people decorate with colored lights than white. Perhaps the stores order less? All I could find was 2 small strings of 35 lights. Really?! 70 lights to cover the upper 4 1/2 feet of the tree?! I figured I'd have to fight Friday Christmas traffic and head down to the Christmas shops by the malls. However, I made a last ditch effort to try Shoprite, our local grocery store. They had 2 boxes of white lights left! The only thing is they were strings of 300 and I never use that many lights on one string because if they go out ...you have light loss over a larger area. I bought both boxes for insurance. We put the 300 lights on the upper part of the tree. Okay ...all was well now. We'd begin decorating the tree the next day.

But, it wasn't well. Something just didn't look right. I didn't know why. I stared at the tree from different angles ...checking it out ...up and down and all around. Normally ...I'd be real happy with the lites. What's not to like about a Christmas tree with lights on it? It was darker ...or not as bright. Then I remembered the guy dancing the tree around for us in the lot said it was a "dense" tree and so I figured maybe the lights weren't shining through the tree like they normally would. But, this year ...for the first time ...we even wrapped the lights all the way around the tree. It sits in a corner and so don't really have to do the back corner.

Two days. For two days ..or I should say 3 nights actually ...I stared at that tree and afraid to decorate it because the lights weren't right. Even the ceiling didn't look right. Something was just off. I asked everyone and they didn't know either. They also didn't care as much. Lights are lights are lights as far as they are concerned. Just lights.

And then it hit me ...I was obsessing after all. :) And I realized ...the string of 300 lights was duller than the better quality of lights on the bottom. The new lights were about half as bright as the older ones. Great ...now the bottom is brighter than the top and they are staying that way. But ..then the next night ...I did find an old working set of lights and indeed ...they were brighter. So, I wove them up through the upper part of the tree. And problem solved. They brought a better quality of light to the upper half of the tree. Yay!

Knowing myself ...I did think it was odd that I wasn't determined to make things work or fix them outside. Whenever I think of taking shortcuts or quitting on something I hear my Aunt Janet's voice in my head telling me, "Patricia ...if your not going to do the job right then you might as well not do it at all." There was more to that ...but suffice it to know her words have been the catalyst motivating me to do a job 100% any time I think of doing less than my best. (If only that worked for maintaining weight loss - I'm just saying :) And yes ...to quote my mother, "Patty's precise!" and couple that with my Aunt being a significant role model in my life and I can be overboard on the perfectionist side. Not hard on other people ...just my own personal expectations. Sometimes a good thing and sometimes not. This year was an off year and as I stated in a previous post ...felt like some things were just off for me this year.

Anyway ...Chevy Chase and I would make a good Christmas decorating team. I loved him in "Christmas Vacation"...a guy after my own heart ...with all his Christmas enthusiasm and decorating. I wouldn't be as gaudy ...but can relate to his Christmas decorating perfectionism.

I'm just saying. :)

And now ...I don't want it to end.

And here it is New Year's eve already.

And on that note ...I hope everyone has a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and most Blessed New Year - 2012.

Morning Call

2011-12-28T23:39:00.004-05:00

Around 7 am this morning, Mr SeaSpray woke me up to inform me that someone called out and even though he is on vacation this week, he was asked to come in to work. He has a strong work ethic and it would not be the first time he abandoned his vacation to help out his coworkers.

I was bummed for him because - vacation. And I was bummed for me ...because I do not always get good rem sleep ...and I was definitely having a nice dreamy sleep time. Then I was just drifting off again ...when the phone rang. I knew Mr SeaSpray was getting ready and so I answered it. It was one of Mr SeaSpray's coworkers informing me that it would not be necessary for him to come in after all because the coworker that called out ...was playing a joke. He was only 10 minutes from work when he called in ...faking his illness ...and stating he could not make it in.

I was gracious on the phone, but annoyed because I couldn't get back to sleep and I was going to be having a long, busy day. And, even though I was annoyed ...I was also chuckling to myself while lying there ...because I thought it was pretty funny. And it turns out the joke backfired because he assumed this other person would be at work and they were not. And so Mr SeaSpray was called while on vacation. The guy felt bad about it.

While lying in bed ...vacillating between trying to fall asleep and chuckling at the joke ...I began plotting a little joke of my own. I had the idea to call there, sound a little annoyed while stating I am Mr SeaSpray's wife and I would like to speak with the man that pretended to be calling out of work. Whoever answered the phone would probably tell him I sounded mad and then when he answered the phone ...I would just tell him that was a pretty funny joke and I was laughing while trying to go back to sleep. I really did think it was funny. And I thought it would be funny to reverse the joke on him. But then I didn't do it because I realized that might be a little passive aggressive on my part because why would I think it was funny to cause even a little angst in him. (Okay - I still do - it would've been funny. :) However, I delighted in telling Mr SeaSpray. He chuckled, but said don't do it. The thing is ...Mr SeaSpray said this guy has done this in the past. Sounds like he cries wolf a little too often.

After Christmas Thoughts

2011-12-27T17:15:00.012-05:00

Of course I'd pick and ocean picture :)

Since I didn't get to post before Christmas as I wanted to ...I will do some Christmas posts this week. I thought I'd get away without obsessing over lights this yr - looked like I would ...but then it happened. I also had a most favorite Christmas toy I could not stop playing with, still want to play with and may ask Wrenna to bring it over tomorrow. I want one! But for tonight ...I will share some other things.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas. We did. It was great being together. I wish d-i-l's family could've been here too like they were for Thanksgiving. I LOVED having them here. The food was delicious. My m-i-l makes the best ham and fudge. Not together of course ...mmmmm ham covered with fudge casserole... would cover the sweet - salt cravings so many people get. Not. She really does make a good ham. ham is not my favorite ...but I love hers. Every year I think I will make fudge and then never do. I used to. One of these years I will. My d-i-l made the best cookies and they are gone. So is the fudge. And lucky for me ...my m-i-l made the second layer of fudge with coconut. I hate coconut. I even tried eating it from the bottom. Coconut just finds it's way onto the food even when you think it's not there. ..so that didn't work. And Aunt Margie brought some good pies. The pumpkin was yummy ...but I have never warmed up to mincemeat pies. In theory ..I should like it because I like the ingredients ...except one thing seems a little weird and reminds me of fruit cake ...something else I am not fond of. Ha ha! For the longest time (even as an adult) ...I actually thought mince meat pie was hamburger meat somehow sweetened all weird or something and wouldn't even go near it. :) She bought that pie because it was labeled cherry and thought she was bringing a cherry pie. Surprise! I kept it simple this year and only made lasagna, broccoli casserole and some other things. Mr SeaSpray made sandwiches. Way too much food ...but all so good. :)

And watching the kids enjoy Christmas through their eyes was the best. 10 yr old Devan was beside herself with joy with the fabulous presents she got. A kindle, a much wanted game and other things. 2 yr old Wrenna ...was just so excited and filled with wonder and joy and that little voice of hers ..sooo sweet. Oh and one of her big things was a set of drums. i can't wait to see her play them Friday. And Myles ...who will be a yr old in a few days ...well he seemed to like the bows and paper the most and seemed very interested in our Christmas tree ...often staring at it. (Lot of lights, ornaments, and tinsel and 9 1/2 feet tall.) We will have the kids all day tomorrow and I can't wait to see them. I love Christmas week!

And speaking of the tree - I didn't even get to tell people that Immaculate Conception was again selling the most amazingly near perfect and very fresh cut trees ..proceeds going to the school. This yer they changed locations and sold them behind Hooters in their parking lot because the property across the street sold. The Immaculate Conception guys weren't all dressed in little Hooter's shorts tho. ;) Ha ha! I think it's so funny that a Catholic church/school was selling Christmas trees at Hooters. Actually - they're closed down. The men volunteering for the school are all so nice and it is a pleasure and delight buying their trees. Plus they did something really nice for me that I greatly appreciated. The price was excellent (between 40 and 65 and that is cheap for large trees - considering other local places wanted over 100.00 a few years ago. Also, they are fresh cut from a farm in PA within days of delivery. Our tree is still fresh and we put it up the first Sunday in December. And I only looked at 3 and any of them would've been great. I went with what Devan chose. She said, "I think you should take this one because it's greener and has detail." Devan's choice it was and it was a good one. We didn't even dance the tree around like I always have Mr SeaSpray do ...you know ..twirl it looking for the best side ..they were all good. Oh and since dealing with the Immaculate Conception volunteers and trees ...I no longer have to ply Mr SeaSpray with a pot roast or some other carnivorous treat ...thus sedating him like an opiate so he doesn't get all testy during the whole tree shopping/setting up process. So, buying trees there is a win/win/win for him, me and the Immaculate Conception school. :)

I have to say that our awesome sons and daughter- in-love greatly surprised Mr SeaSpray and me with the best present ...an HD TV - WOW!!! Which explains why older was pushing for us to get Directv and even set up the appointment ...even tho I protested initially. That is because I am a loyal type of customer and we always had cable and our local cable company has always given us excellent service, etc. That being said ...we will save between 30 and 40 a month for first year plus the additional 13.86 I paid for Tivo and I LOVE the storage for things recorded and all the things that come with the package. Sons were right. Thank you so very much! :)

I have been watching movies and recording what I can't. I'm looking forward to watching "Run Away Jury" later tonight. Looks like and excellent movie. Oh and I caught the last 3rd of "Good Morning Vietnam", which I really liked when it came out and appreciated it even more now. I picked up on things I missed back then.

I have been remiss in doing Christmas posts this year and just did not get my usual things done like I normally do and I admit it bothered me ...and okay ...maybe still just a little bit. But, I also know that those things are not the real meaning of Christmas ...which is the Christmas blessing of God coming to earth because he loved us so much and all that that has meant for mankind ...past ...present ...and future. And also important ...being together ..having good relationships and creating good memories and having your health.

I was annoyed at myself for being disappointed or annoyed that I did not get to do all I wanted to. So ...I am working on next Christmas now. No - I am not. Thought crossed my mind tho. :)

And this was an unusual fall and Christmas season. My friend dying ...well that definitely hit me more now than the whole time since. And I have just felt *off* during this Christmas season and fall and I suppose being so involved with my friend the last months of her life since spring ..really the main one getting her everywhere and other things, seeing all she went through ...well it had it's effects on me. I am so very glad I did tho. There was no other option and we did have fun amidst some of it ...even during chemo, but, there were stresses too ..of course. There has been a lot of loss these last few- 5 years ...and I wonder how other people feel after these things. I kind of feel like I have to recreate my life. So much has changed - key people important to me no longer here ..I feel disconnected in a way. It is NOT a good feeling. Fortunately it is fleeting ...but when it comes in ...it is disconcerting and sad.

Yesterday ...I searched for an old message on my voice mail ...long buried by other ones and found one from at least 2 years ago and I just needed to hear her voice and she sounded so ..like the Iris I remember. I could even see her expressions in my mind's eye as she spoke. I have been wanting to talk with her more than usual and is the first Christmas that we cannot. It is so FRUSTRATING and we should be able to talk about our Christmas with families ..sharing all the joys of what we did. I also very much missed my Mom ..later Christmas night ...after company left and things settled down.

And yet ...there is so much in my present and dreams for the future and so I mostly focus there. I am so grateful for every single person in my life that is important to me. It is just hard when the other really special people are no longer here. We all go through it in some way and death is part of life. And this is supposed to be a happy Christmas post ...but if I am being honest ...these may be some reasons ...things were different for me this fall/Christmas season. Why it all felt so off to me. except for special moments here and there. And then there were some health concerns that proved to be a non concern at all ...thank God.

I really did love this Christmas and being with everyone ...just a different year for me... and trying to redirect my thoughts and life ...going forward without the special people. And we all know that the holidays exacerbate the sense of loss when sad or difficult things have happened. For some it could be the loss of a job or a home or health ...or other challenges. And then I come back to ...for those that believe in the true meaning of Christmas ...that focusing on the birth of Christ ...helps to center us, bring peace and a renewed hope for the future. Even during years of no loss ...if I get too focused on the secular side and don't include faith ...it can feel hollow. Faith enriches the experience and gives it real meaning.

I am most grateful for the gift of faith and eternal life.

I guess this is a bittersweet Christmas post, but true to this year's experience ...now recorded in my on line diary.

Merry Christmas!!! :)

2011-12-24T22:42:00.010-05:00

"Santa Baby" is one of my fun favorites. :) Although ...since wrapping Christmas presents tonight, I am listening to Celtic and Classical Christmas songs on Pandora. "Silent Night" is another favorite ...although ...it is really hard to choose because there are so many wonderful songs. "Angels we have Heard on High" or my absolute favorite, "Handel's Messiah." There are so many wonderful songs!

I begin playing Christmas music right after Thanksgiving. How about you? I wish December had 10 weeks so we could have longer to enjoy it all. Anyway ...back to wrapping. I won't be up until 3 am wrapping this year - YAY.

I hope Santa is good to you this year. :)

Jingle bells ...Jingle bells ...Jingle allll the way. :)

SeaSpray Theory on Colonoscopy Topped With Orthovisk Injections

2011-12-23T17:14:00.007-05:00

Is that a big needle or what?

I highly recommend getting a colonoscopy to go along with your Orthovisk knee injections ...that is if you are a candidate for said knee injections. Yes ...in the morning, you get the colonoscopy with your gastrodoc ...well ...not *WITH* your gastro doc ...it's not a two for one sale. You're not Siamese twins conjoined at the hip. (My gastro doc is from India. Mom would have some splainin to do ...I'm just sayin. ;) Besides ...SOMEONE has got to do the colonoscopy.

Then ...top the colonoscopy off in the afternoon by getting your Orthovisk inections with Orthodoc. Again ...not simultaneous injections *WITH* Orthodoc ...because ...after all ...it's not a social event and ...SOMEONE as to do the injections. I'm just sayin.

And so ...where am I going with this you wonder?

Because ...this afternoon ...I had the Orthovisk knee injections sans morning colonoscopy and I have to tell you ...getting the Orthovisk injections almost right after a colonoscopy is wayyyyyy better!

This is because of the conscious sedation you get for the colonoscopy. It is still in your system ...thus provides pain relief when those big needles go into your knees. Well ...I think they are big and take so long to push it all in and stings and all. I was wishing I had another colonoscopy.

I was hoping the Orthodoc Orthovisk mantra would work. See ...last week ...we were discussing OR things prior to my being injected and I was saying how I hate the Versed and am afraid I will be too breezy in the OR and comment on how cute a doc is or something. Ortho doc laughed and said I could tell him he's cute. Ha ha! Then Orthodoc's m/a suggested I tell him how good looking he is while doing the injection and it might feel better going in. So ...I went for it. Not only did I say he was cute ...I said handsome and great sense of humor, etc. And it did hurt ...but, I repeated the Mantra when he did the next knee. We laughed and it was pretty uneventful. It did hurt ...but I remembered worse pain. Obviously the mantra worked. :)

But then today ...I found out that the SeaSpray Orthodoc Orthovisk mantra didn't work as well. I poured it on too. You really just need that colonoscopy first. ;)

"Hello, Gastrodoc? Hi There. I'm just calling to schedule two more routine colonoscopies. Yes ..I know I just had one. Yes ...I know I had good results. I just REALLY want two more please. And I'd like you to please fit me in for the next two Fridays and they have to be morning appointments. Ohhh ...insurance ...schminsurance. Why? Well ...because I have to have Orthovisk knee injections ...of course. Well ...you see ...I have this theory.... hello? Hello-o-o? Gastrodoc?"

Some people will do anything to avoid pain. I'm just sayin. ;)

Oh wait ...there is a little flaw in my theory.

*Sigh.*

Colonoscopy prep!

Prep verses pain?

Prep - pain?

Prep - pain?

P-r-e-p - pain?

I'll take the pain please.

Even a SeaSpray has her limits. ;)

Not My Perfect World Kind of Day

2011-12-21T19:30:00.005-05:00

Pretty version with Bell Ringers.

You know the kind ...where you have plans to do x,y and z ...but everything just gets off kilter. Nothing flows the way it should have. I am so Bummed ...with a capital "B"!

But given what I thought may've happened to one of my friends today ..well Sunday ...but heard it today ...my Bummed is a zero on the bummed scale. Thank God they are both alright and praying for one of their relatives. It was one of those ...my heart sunk thru the floor when I got the call. And the person calling me didn't know the facts and so then I called someone who did and then back to the first person and needles to say ...I did not get the food delivered with my appointment. Then I said I would bring it back in tonight because I am going back down to Macy's and this way they would have it for tomorrow. But ...DARN Christmas traffic. It took forever to get home. Never mind back out and to them before they locked up at 6. :( And I needed time to arrange and wrap it.

Sooooooooooooo ...I will bring it in in the morning, but now doc and one of the receptionists won't get any ...maybe leftovers? And I made a cheesecake pie with strawberries too. Devan calls it Heaven pie when she was 5. :) Plus ..I have to bring my license and copay in. I left wallet on seat and I should've just gone out and brought it in ..realizing I'd never get back with food in time.

Every Christmas ...I always bring uro office a basket of goodies and delighted to do so. I can't believe this is the 6th Christmas doing that. I used to say I would stop when healed or work ..maybe they'd get Costco cookies. :) But, I realize ...I will be one of those patients that comes by to remember them with a thank you for taking good care of me ...well after I've been healed ...which I am.... healed ...I AM healed. He even karate chopped my kidneys and I was fine. I have no complaints whatsoever. there was a time when I always had concerns about relapse, etc and I really do not now. I am glad I had the appointment because it reinforced what I already believe about being healed. :) And took care of something else too.

I always make sure my doc will be there to get first dibs if he wants any. It is of course for all the docs and staff and totally warms my heart when I know they enjoy it. What an enthusiastic group of people.

Actually ...didn't even know it was possible ...but I appreciate them more than before after having been around some ...less than stellar ...way less then stellar front office staff and most recently a specialist ...who fortunately ...I never really needed to see.

So ...while I was disappointed I did not bring food in today as planned ...it was still good to see all of them.

I went shopping at Macy's with a friend last night. We literally were escorted by security out the door after midnight ...so he could lock the doors. I was the last one downstairs and she was still in jewelry and so I had to swing around and pick her up out front. I never shop when I am making baskets up, etc. But I had to go. And we got home just before 1 am.

My schedule ...because of life events and some things with me has been crazy.

Also ..after leaving the uro office tonight, it was bittersweet walking out. :( Because ...as I left the building ...I heard beautiful music playing ...Pachelbel's Canon in D major. (One of my favorites :) I turned to look behind me off to the right and then I saw it. The Oncology center. I froze. I just stared at the light coming through the doors. All my memories of going there with my friend came rushing back into my head. I can't even describe what I was feeling ...a pull to go in ...a desire to look away and forget ...but I froze ..and just looked at that part of the building ..the walk way ...the shrubs and how it was lit up at night. I had never been there after it got dark early. I turned to walk away and after a few more steps looked back again. Emotions swirling around inside me. It was an emotionally painful feeling that I am unable to articulate. It's weird that I didn't even notice it or think about it as I walked into the uro office. I had been in that building almost every week during the summer and sometimes several times ...and I didn't even think about it the entire time I was inside. I'm glad. But weird.

Anyway ...once I gave up on getting back to the office tonight ...I decided I would go to church. But ....then my friend's s-i-l stopped buy with one of my Longaberger casserole dishes and I am so glad I got to talk with him. It is the first time since the funeral. We still talked outside and hugged a few times when I cried. Her daughter really married a great guy. I've been fond of him since we first met.

I got teary eyed because seeing him ...was like being connected to my friend again and we talked about a lot of things. I hated seeing him go and cried and said it was like letting go of her all over again. I told him I really don't cry a lot, and the grandchildren keep me so busy and bring such joy ...they have helped me tremendously during this time of missing Iris, but seeing him again ...makes it all fresh.

Anyway ...I am glad I didn't get out the door as planned tonight, although sorry I missed church. I think it would've been good for me tonight.

And ...n-o-www ...I am headed back to Macy's. I really just want to do some more baking and be cozy ...but Wednesday is their big sale day and so I HAVE to go back tonight. But ...I will finish shopping tonight. Plus ...I should not have paid for everything at one register last night. You get 50.00 back when you hit 200.00 in purchases. But if I divided it up ...I could've gotten another 25.00 back. 25.00 is 25.00. So I am going to return some things and then buy back and I still have more to get and so ...maybe I can save more.

They said I saved over 400.00, but I always wonder if they mark up to put on sale. Although ...Macy's does have good buys at Christmas - month of December and after.

So ...in my perfect world ...be it ever so fleeting ...since it is 20:30I should be down there in a half hr and should have almost 3 hrs to shop and hopefully will finish before that.

I am hearing "Carol of the Bells" in my head. I love the song, but when this close to Christmas and I am still shopping and buying food, etc. ... I feel the pressure as if I am moving ...bustling right along with the song. :)

*********************************

OOPS! Did Prep Wrong - Kidneys and Colonoscopies

2011-12-19T18:01:00.004-05:00

Fortunately ...it did not affect the procedure ...or I'd about died ...because drinking that prep stuff is AWFUL. It is the worst part of getting a colonoscopy. That being said ...it is so worth it to have the peace of mind that you are doing everything you can to prevent colon cancer. If you follow your physician's screening protocols you can prevent ...or at least have early detection ...when colon cancer is most likely to be successfully treated. It's one day out of your life as a trade off for many more in return if you would have been one of the cancer statistics.

So ...what did I do wrong?

I followed the doctor's printed instructions verses the instructions on the package. It had a diagram of the prep and a diagram of 16 oz of water to drink with it. They said to drink 8oz of the prep every 15 minutes. And to have 16 oz of water with it. So it showed the prep container with the 80z increments and then next to it it showed two 8oz cups of water.

I don't know why I took it this way ...but I chug-a-lugged the 8oz of prep. (took 14 swallows to get it down) Then I drank a 160z water chaser ...which was very much needed to get that God AWFUL taste out of my mouth. But ...i felt full on the prep ...which also causes quite a heavy feeling in my stomach too. The 16 oz of water in 15 minutes on top of that was a lot. But then every 15 minutes ..I repeated with 8oz of prep and another 16 oz of water. It was NOT a good feeling.

So in an hour's time ...I drank 64oz of water and 32 oz of that heavy prep and so had taken in a total of 96oz of fluid in an hour! I don't even think I had to drink that much in an hour when I did a specific urology test for urodoc in which he was looking to see how I tolerated and passed large amounts of urine when he was checking my ureter function. I remember he was happy that I didn't have any pain or problems when I did that.

Then I think he will be especially happy to know that in an hour's time, I drank all of that uneventfully, except for feeling full and a bit of nausea ..which I think the nausea came from the prep.

And then ...an hour and a half later ...I had to drink the same amount all over again. ha! And I was worried about dehydration while being NPO. :)

Anyway ...I remembered that a person can die from drinking to much water and recalled that a woman had died doing that and so got a little concerned about that. So ...I reread the instructions. It seemed it could go either way. And so the second time around ...I just drank 16oz after having the 32 oz prep. Although ...I did sneak a little salty chicken broth in to cut that God AWFUL prep taste.

The procedure went well. It is so weird how one second I was talking and the next second I woke up back in my little SDS area. I HATE that actually! Because ...you all that know my history ...I always worry that I am going to be too breezy on drugs they give me and I cannot stand to know that I was awake and talking and not know what I said or did. Darn Versed!

I told them that and then said ..."Although ...I remember that ED patients under conscious sedation would scream and cry when they were having their bones set and then walk out as peaceful and as happy as they could be ...not remembering a thing. and so I guess Versed is a good thing in this case because I don't want to remember a colonoscopy." Then the doctor comforted me by saying, "Oh don't worry ...we'll record it for you." Ha ha - funny. I think levity before going out in the OR is a good thing. Although I did secretly squirm on the inside. :) Then just in case I said, "I apologize ahead of time if I do scream and cry and also thank you for doing this." Then as I already said ...I don't remember anything else ..until I woke up in the SDS area.

Anyway ...I am pretty sure that last Thursday night ...my kidneys were swimming freestyle in there. ;)

Oh ...by the way girls (talking to my kidneys - of course they are girls), great job - keep up the good work! :)

Christmas Colonoscopy - Blinded By the Radiance :)

2011-12-15T23:45:00.005-05:00

Tis the season ...fa lala la la lalalala.

Just what every SeaSpray wants to do 9 days before Christmas!

I mean ...it is so much fun doing the colonoscopy prep. Yummy too! I didn't really want to bake those cookies ...or have a real meal. or coffee ...with milk. And I just love hanging out in the ..well you know.

And Jello? Well ...we all know Jello is to die for ...filling too. And plain chicken broth. A feast I tell you!

Just venting. This time it was harder than the previous times. I was hungry before I went to bed last night and so hungry all day today. Usually ..I am not ..not so much anyway.

Well ...one perk ...is ...that doing a Christmas colonoscopy has gotten me back on track with weight loss. I was doing so well ...even lost 4 oz the day AFTER Thanksgiving. That just NEVER happens. But ...then ...baking and other special meals ...and I began to gain again. It is just so easy for me to do. I think inhaling air makes me gain weight. Maybe I should stop burning all those dessert scented candles. What if? What if it is the Pumpkin or apple pie candles causing weight gain? ;)

So ...my theory is ..this fast/cleanse aided in damage control. Now ...if I keep my head about me ...*think* about what I am doing ...I will be very happy to just maintain and not gain. So ...this Christmas colonoscopy prep day may aid in facilitating maintenance. And if I can do what I had been doing ...could lose weight again.

Anyway ...I started out with plain tea, but then remembered how brown it made my teeth when I drank honey, tea and lemon all the time when I had an upper respiratory infection ...so I switched to green tea. I figure green teeth are better than brown teeth. Besides green teeth are more festive ...in keeping with the Christmas season. :) And then I had a couple of cups of broth and then Tropical Island Pineapple Jello.

I think I had better warn gastro doc to wear sunglasses before he does the exam on me because the combination of bright yellow Jello and bright green tea is gonna create some kind of bright glow in the lit up intestinal walls. (Also festive for the holidays) I'd hate for him to be blinded by the radiance. I'm just saying. ;)

Anyway ...drinking the prep twice in one night ...sheer torture. 8 oz every 15 minutes. then wait another hour and a half and repeat. UGH!!!

So ...I did it. Proud ...relieved and happy it was behind me ...pun intended. :)

Then ...just a little while ago ...I took a melatonin. The nurse from hospital said I could. I really want to sleep and they help.

But ..then ..I remembered the gastro doc nurse said only to take this one med in am and nothing else.

!!!!

So ..I read the ingredients in melatonin. Mineral oil. Instructions regarding diet say no oil. Then there is some kind of starch and other things.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope I didn't blow it by taking that little melatonin pill. And it has theanine which is a green tea extract, but that should be alright since green tea is allowed. But the mineral oil or the calcium whatever?

Which nurse is right? The one in gastro doc's office or the one in SDS? I am hoping the one was just being overly cautious. So ...I will bring the bottle and show the doc in the morning.

This was a routine colonoscopy that I was due to have back in September, but so much going on this fall ...I just could not get to it. And the only reason I would do this in December is because like so many patients this time of year ...my insurance deductible is met and I want to have it all paid for.

Then in the afternoon, I am going to orthodoc to have my first Orthovisk injection ..one in a series of three. I am not looking forward to the needles, but am looking forward to pain relief. And I am looking forward to a cozy night at home tomorrow night.

And now ...I have to try to sleep. I am not the least bit sleepy. So ...I will probably go in there with my eyes looking like two pee holes in the snow. Ahhh ...but then another perk of a colonoscopy is you can wear makeup. My toenails also have a red sparkly nail polish on them. I didn't remove it because there weren't any instructions to do so.

I don't think they are as particular with conscious sedation. Although ...I am NPO.

I hate NPO. I'm already thirsty and it's only 25 minutes past midnight.

Anyway ...I hope the melatonin doesn't cause a problem. I hope I read another "Well Prepped" when I read the report. I was so proud of that when I saw it in my first colonoscopy report. I took it as an A+ for prepping.

I'm not anal - honest. ;)

Love the Banter! :)

2011-12-12T21:07:00.002-05:00

I love the banter. And Jewish guilt? Not in original ...but funny. :)

And then below - my favorite version, sung by Dean Martin. I think I was 11 or 12 when his weekly TV show was on. Even at that age ...I thought he was handsome. I think he could've been my grandfather! of course being older ...his endearing bad boy ways amuse me. Wait ...can a bad boy be endearing? Yes ..if Dean martin - that smile and glint in his eye - charming.

Of course back then ...I didn't like any of this music. If it wasn't rock music - B-O-R-i-n-g. Except ..well ... that's another post. ;)

Anyway ...I enjoy most versions and Dean's is one of my favorites.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!", I Shrieked. PETS!

2011-12-11T16:38:00.005-05:00

I've been wanting to post. No time. Just busy ...going here and there and doing Christmassy things around the house.

Tis the season ...faaa lala la la la laaaa. :)

However ...it seems venting will get me to post.

Darn DOG!!! And I love her. I do ..I really, really DO ...love her.

I will do a post on her sometime, but for now it's Christmas writing.

She is Miss Hoover when it comes to anything in her range of vision, sense of smell or hearing and most certainly the cat food. We use wooden baby gates to keep her out of an area if we need to. And just like our big German Shepherd was...she is terrified of these gates. Bob (our GSD - We had to put down in Jan, 2010) was fearless ...except for wooden baby gates. I think with both dogs ..when they fall ...they make such a clatter ..it spooked him and is the same for Faith.

Works for us! :)

However, we forget and Faith is ever plotting ...relentlessly for how she will get at her next target. I'm surprised our cats don't look as skinny as Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. Ha! With a Christmas ball hanging off each of their tails.

Anyway, I decided to feed Peachy, Mom's cat we adopted. (He is 21 years old) So I put the gate up between the kitchen and family room so he could eat in peace. Then, I took 5 minutes to make the bed. Then I went back to the family room.

Then I SHRIEKED in utter dismay. "AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! FAITH! WHAT did YOU DO???!! She was already out of there when I shrieked. And she knew exactly what she did. She ran to Mr SeaSpray who was watching TV in the living room. And I KNOW he was secretly chuckling to himself ...because it was my idea to bring her home ...when he did not want a dog yet. He loves her. But when she does some sort of destructive behavior ...he immediately reverts to the "She's your daughter!" mode some couples do when they get mad at the kids. Actually ...we never did that with the boys ...but he does do it with the dog. He doesn't call her daughter. But ..he has that attitude sometimes. "Y-O-U-U-U wanted her." I don't blame him. I have reaped what I've sewn. Payback for going against his wishes at the time.

But ...she has brought a lot of joy to our family too and she is excellent with the kids. Just more of a baby than the babies. But ...I digress.

So ...I looked down and saw that she had chewed some ornaments I had just organized and spread out on the coffee table. FIVE if them to be exact! WHAT was going through her brain when she chose them. And she polished them off in 5 minutes ...like some kind of Christmas ornament eating contest! Pieces ...strewn all over the rug. the cute handmade ornament Aunt Dee bought for us from a craft fair. The little boot with my initial on it that I made the first Christmas we were married. A pretty wooden candle that younger son had gotten at the school craft fair. That was a fairly thick wooden candle and she had it in SPLINTERS! A snowman and a little velvet Christmas stocking. Oh and thankfully ...I got out there before she could demolish the black velvet and plaid Scottie ...although she did get the star off the tip of his hat.

Fortunately nothing was valuable ...other than sentimental value. However ...if she had gotten the extra special sentimental ornaments from the boys ...I would've been really upset. And even as I type this ...I realize all the ornaments are still laid out ...waiting for me to finish decorating and I keep checking to see that she is still in here with us because I forgot to put the gate up.

That is the problem ...we forget.

And she also keeps taking the Christmas stuffed animals I have out. She chewed the flannel dress off one bear. She tries to take the kid's Beany Babies they play with. Oh and baby blocks or the wooden train. She IS like a kid... with very sharp teeth and a gnawing problem.

I really wish I knew what she was thinking when she saw all the toy like decorations in the box. Well ...I do know she wanted to eat them. I saw how she was eying them. I keep telling her "NO!", when she absconds with a stuffed animal, but it doesn't matter. She's got us trained ...to be ever vigilant!

Then ...I continually have to wrestle tinsel away from Mom's cat. he won't bother it on the tree, but I guess the movement with me pulling things out of the box get's his attention. He even tried to chew on the ornament hooks.

And then there's Sneakers ...our very agile cat. He did not waste any time Friday night after son pit the lights on the top of the tree. We had left the room ...maybe only a couple of minutes and when I went back toward the tree ..there he was ...sitting on the very top of the folding ladder. I yelled, "SNEAKERS!", because he looked all set to lunge right across and into the top of this large tree. I didn't even know he was in the house or where he came from. HE ...must've been somewhere watching everything ...just waiting for the moment ...but I FOILED his plans. And Sneakers goes outside. He can climb any tree he chooses. WHY this tree?

And, then also ...later Friday night ...Devan and I were standing near the coffee table, by some breakable Hallmark glass ornaments I had opened and laid out. I had placed these breakable ornaments at one end of the coffee table and then had some big red tubs stacked on top of each other right next to them. Out of nowhere ...SNEAKERS shot ... like a rocket, right for the upper stacked Christmas tub and jumped to what he thought(I can only assume) had a lid on it, but did not and so he fell down into this large tub. The commotion startled me and in conjunction with my panic that he was going to cause the tubs to fall on the collectible glass Christmas ornaments I shrieked ...this time in fear ...which both scared Devan and the cat ...who tried his darnedest to scramble out of the tub and indeed caused the tubs to fall over ...but thankfully in the opposite direction ...away from the ornaments.

Then there was the time said Sneakers ...the cat ...decided to run across the room like a bat out of hell, stopping long enough to pummel the breakable glass balls at the bottom of the tree ..shattering them into tiny pieces that then fell onto the Christmas tree skirt ...as he ran to somewhere else in the house. It all happened in a matter of seconds, scared the heck out of me and yes ...I shrieked. I 100% believe he did do that on purpose ...knowing full well those ornaments would break and that he would scare me. He had been on the other side of the sofa ...and I am pretty sure plotting ...waiting ...for just the right moment ...and that was when I had walked into the room and was standing near the tree. I know it.

The following is on my sidebar: Laughing cat - I'm pretty sure if cats secretly laugh under their expressionless faces...that he (my cat) was at the other end of the house ROTFLHAO! ;)

I wrote a post about Sneakers running out, pummeling the glass balls and running away, but can't find it or I would link it in here.

Anyway ...I just noticed ...the dog has gone MIA again and I need to get back to the ornaments and decorating the tree. I want to finish that tonight.

I did the math...

2011-12-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

REALLY?!

2011-12-04T18:11:00.002-05:00

"A mother walks into ******* with her two kids. She is wearing a parody shirt. Instead of saying Mountain Dew, it reads "mount and do me"

The woman walked into where younger son works.

I feel sorry for the kids.

Another Mylestone :)

2011-12-02T21:46:00.002-05:00

Myles first time standing in crib. :)

Frosty in the Grocery Store :)

2011-12-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

Broccoli Casserole ...Cardiac Casserole ...whatever ...It's YUMMY! :)

2011-11-30T15:22:00.004-05:00

I bake it in my 4 quart Longaberger casserole dish.

One of our fellow bloggers requested the Broccoli Casserole recipe after she read about it in my Thanksgiving post. So, I've decided to post in here in case anyone else would like to make it. I've been making it for years ...on holidays. OMGOSH! If I made it for regular meals ...it would be way too tempting to eat way too much because it is that good. I always get compliments on it and people go for seconds. (Not so much with my mashed turnips and carrots. Although we love them and good for you too if you omit the butter. :) But, this ...the broccoli Casserole ...they like.

A friend had brought it over during a get together and I just loved it and so she graciously provided the recipe ...again ...and again ...and again ...until I finally put it in my word program and now it is also in my special recipe file. Thank you Kathy. :)

Anyway ...here is the recipe - enjoy. :)

Oh and if necessary ...it would probably be a good idea to have a dish of Lipitor served on the side. ;)
*********************************************
***The size of frozen vegetable bags have gone down from 20 oz to 16oz. So, I buy enough to keep the vegetables at 60 oz as in the recipe. Also, I sometimes like to use extra sharp cheese and always regular mushroom soup and not the light.

And the topping is a must - the flavor/texture completes the recipe.

Broccoli Casserole

3 - 20 oz. frozen broccoli (or 2 - 20 oz. frozen broccoli + 1 - 20 oz. frozen cauliflower)

1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
3 tablespoons chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

cook broccoli and onions with salt in boiling water until just tender. Drain well.
add cheese to broccoli, toss lightly.

mix together:
2 beaten eggs
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mayonaise

add to broccoli and cheese, mix gently

combine 1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs with enough butter (approx. 3 tablespoons) in a small frying
pan. Warm until butter is melted and crumbs are moist and crumbly. Put broccoli mixture in a
buttered casserole dish and top with bread crumbs.

bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, uncovered.

Thanksgiving Blessings and the ...STREAKER

2011-11-26T17:58:00.009-05:00

Wrenna, trying on sunglasses. She loves my vanity in our bedroom because she can sit on the bench and see her whole body as she tries on hats, necklaces or whatever appeals to her in the moment. She likes to layer things...when not streaking that is. :) And I LOVE finding things for her. There is a pink Little Tikes vanity set in the attic and so we will bring it down for her today when we bring the Christmas decorations down. She can sit at her own little vanity and will be so surprised. :)

I have been so busy ...I have not had time to post something here. I did write, but never actually got my thoughts together the way I wanted to and so I am putting up what I put up in my Face Book. Okay ..so I wrote there which is why not here. I have changed and added a few things to it. Now, today ...I am torn between going down to Costco to use the coupons since last day to do so ...or trim the bushes and get the Christmas tree lights up. Normally that would be a no brainer ...because I am out there Thanksgiving night getting lights up ..or that Friday, etc. But as I said ...I have been so busy ...good busty tho. I did put the fresh Christmas wreaths up after everyone left Thanksgiving night and so I suppose that was the official kickoff to the Christmas decorating. :) It may rain and so I am thinking it should be the lights. Because you never know if it will snow and freeze and then lights are delayed. So ...it works best when done early. Okay ...lights it is. Now I am getting into Chevy Chase - "American Christmas" mode. :)

I hope everyone (Family and Friends) had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We sure did.

Devan Cosette (granddaughter) helped me get an early start by helping me bake our traditional Pumpkin cookies) on Monday ...which is so much nicer than the night before. I got a kick out of seeing younger son take a phone picture of the cookies while they were cooling on the counter. He had just come in from college class around 9:30pm, went to his room and came back out to take a picture. He does this every year. I never asked where he sends them ...but am amused by it. :) Even though making the cookies ahead of time was a plus ...the negative was that Mr SeaSpray, younger son and I did get into them. :) I first made those Pumpkin cookies in 1977 and only on Thanksgiving and became my holiday tradition to bake and bring over. (I know I have posted about the pumpkin cookies previously and put the recipe up)

Then during the 2o00's ..I finally shared the recipe when I brought them in for coworkers and so many people wanted the recipe. Not secret anymore. :) I still use the same orange tin for family that I began using in 77 ...also a tradition I guess.It was a fabulous day filled with many blessings, good food ...so-much-GOOD-food and fun. D-i_l ...please keep those cheesy potatoes and green beans with ham coming and I want the recipes for the pumpkin cheesecake and acorns too and if I ever do pies ...the apple pie, which was just the right balance and not too sweet. Rolling Crust intimidates me ;)

Mom D, makes the most awesome heaven pie (we call it that now because Devan said it was heaven when she was 5. A cheesecake pie with strawberries and graham cracker crust. She also brought a sweet potato pie - yum and the bean salad which I make ever since getting that recipe from her. And truffles. With guest like this ...who needs to cook? :) Also, a Butterball turkey that mom got for us. Boy ...they really ARE juicier. Even I couldn't dry it out. ;) I also made a dish of turnip and carrots, butter, parsley salt and pepper mashed together. My Aunt Janet always had that at our holiday celebrations and so I carry on the tradition. Important to have more carrots then turnip so not bitter. Stuffing - using sage from our herb garden celery and onions, homemade cran-apple sauce with cinnamon ..although this time I did go too heavy on the cinnamon. Still good tho ...if you like a lot of cinnamon. :) And also mashed potatoes, biscuits and corn. I usually do this broccoli - cauliflower cheese souffle to die for and probably is a a cardio challenge to the arteries ..but didn't get to it. even though I had cooked all the cauliflower and broccoli. (I am making that today - Sunday - um ..no I am not. Son used the extra sharp chedder cheesein his appetizers he put together. We will be having broccoli and cauliglower today - Sunday.) And d-i-l made the gravy which was sooooo good - THANK YOU! Gravy is not my strong suit. A cup worth ..yes ..enough to feed an army and still have good flavor ..no. Okay ...I can make larger amounts of fine tasting gravy ...but sometimes ...not so fine. This is because I am not consistent with how I make it. I will do a post on it sometime and maybe someone will give me a fail proof recipe. And how do you get the grease out and still have flavor? Younger son put together a wonderful appetizer. I have to say I am forever hooked on those stuffed olives marinated in wine. And just love the stuffed peppers too. There was so much food and of course the chips and dips. And a local apple cider that was so fresh it tasted like the apples were pressed right in our kitchen. (What is it with me and apples lately? Even with all the yummy desserts and food and chips, crackers, candy and other things for leftovers, I'd eat way too much of ...I began having some and then craved an APPLE instead.)And this has n-e-v-e-r happened - I LOST 4 oz the day AFTER Thanksgiving! That is greatly encouraging because it tells me I really am making some positive lifestyle changes.

We had it at our house this year with our family (sons, d-i-l, their children and my m-i-l ...and had the additional *pleasure* of having our d-i-l's mother, brother and sister out from Ohio visiting us. It was so nice to finally have time to get to know all of them and I feel like we're gonna be good friends and of course we share some really special people in our lives ...our kids and grandchildren. Plenty of good food and good company and lot's of laughter.Then our Thanksgiving streaker!Every family has one ...right? ;)

After dinner ...out comes 2 year old Wrenna ...STREAKING through the whole house ...nekkid ...with a big smile of sheer delight. Fortunately ...none of us felt inclined to emulate her behavior. ;) Her main mission in life these days seems to be to see how many times a day she can dress and undress and seems to think less is more of a fashion statement. (I thought it was hilarious when last week ...our son came to pick the kids up and the first thing he said to me about her ...just as soon as he saw her when she walked in the door, "Did she keep her clothes on today?" "Actually, she took her clothes off twice, but just streaked through the house without her clothes on and I couldn't get her because my hands were in the meatball mixture." :) Or she goes the other way and piles clothes on ...even going into her parents or big sisters clothes ...changing them non stop. And she is very pleased with herself, regardless of choices - sans clothing or too much. She also loves hats and can be quite creative with what she puts on her head. Of course I love to give her ideas and last night, let her wear a decorative pumpkin on her head. I love to look at d-i-l's flkr pics and in fb just to see what her outfit du jour is. :) It was Myles (so darn cute and ever ready with a warm bright eyed smile that just melts my heart every time:) 1st Thanksgiving and he will be a year next month. And sweet Devan is 10 and as always a delight to have around. We are blessed for sure. I am so grateful for family, friends and so much more. I can't wait to meet d-i-l's mom and family again and they all always have an open invitation. :)

Even when tough times hit ...I am grateful for how God brings us through the tough times. I miss my friend Iris so much. We were friends since I was 4 and she was 5. It is surreal to me that she is in heaven now and all day Thursday ..I thought about things I wanted to tell her... pics I'd want to show her. I am glad she got to see our grandchildren again this past summer during a chance meeting while we were coming back from an appointment.

We missed not having Aunt Margie with us. She is ill with an upper respiratory infection. But, Mr SeaSpray thoughtfully put some plates of dinner and dessert together for her and brought them over to her. Is that sweet or what? :) And I miss all the other aunts, uncles and cousins that we always saw on holidays , but family dynamics change because families grow.

***To family reading this ...I will always remember the time I brought the kids up to the football field and then we came back to sing the Happy Thanksgiving song we made up ...to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas and the kids were so excited to do it. :) Now they're all grown with their own families. :) And compared to my small family ...when I married Mr SeaSpray ...I felt like I married into the Waltons because your family is so large and loving.

I miss my family very much. No one in our older generation is left. My mom was the last and that has been since April 2009. She would've LOVED yesterday's celebration. :) And we used the gold flatware she gave me for a Christmas present years ago. It always makes such a pretty place setting presentation. I remember being upset with her because I knew she couldn't afford it. She said she wanted me to have something special from her. She was always happy when I used it and I am happy to use it. People always compliment the table and I always say that the gold flatware is from my mom. It's a warm feeling when I set the table, hand wash the pieces and even put them away. I make sure I am the only one that does it because I take extra care of it and make sure it is polished and not spotty when I store it back in the case. I know she would be pleased to be remembered each time at a celebration.

And I miss so many other relatives no longer with us. But, we were blessed to have all of them in our lives ...and I am very grateful for relationships ...past and present. I also look forward to the new ones that will come our way.

Family and friends ...Blessings every one. :)

God bless all of you and I hope you enjoy this Christmas season.

An Almost ...Poison Control Call

2011-11-20T14:09:00.004-05:00

Close call!

Would've been so dumb too ...like many accidents are.

Thankfully my still waking eyes caught the mistake ...just in time.

And I admit ...even after rinsing and using the brush ...I have felt like there is an odd coating in my mouth ...but I also know I can sometimes ...okay ..often can be susceptible to the power of suggestion ...and so I rinsed and spit more than usual.

So what am I talking about this time?

What substance did I ALMOST brush my teeth with and I mean like almost too my mouth brush my teeth with.

I'll give you a hint ...there were babies in the house this week.

Mr SeaSpray is a lefty. (His being a lefty is not a hint)

Soooo ...he always leaves the toothpaste on the front end, of the left side of the vanity. I guess he figures that the last one to use it has to put it away ...on the lower, front center shelf. He is always up with the birds. I am not and so it is always my thing to do. Reaching down with my left hand on that corner for the toothpaste is part of my morning ritual.

What saved me this morning from having to give poison control my zip code ...again ...was that just as it was about to go into my mouth, my eyes noticed there wasn't a denim blue stripe in the toothpaste. I just bought it ...a new brand of Crest (I'm a Crest girl all the way :) and it stood out to me that they had used a darker blue than the turquoise or minty green colors I am used to. I wondered what was all white on my toothbrush.

Any Idea yet?

#1 Choice of Pediatricians & Mothers

DESITIN

CREAMY. ZINC OXIDE DIAPER RASH OINTMENT
Fresh Scent - Hypoallergenic

HELPS PROVIDE OVERNIGHT RELIEF

GOES ON SMOOTH & WIPES OFF EASILY
HELPS HEAL, SOOTHE & PREVENT DIAPER RASH

I almost got a brushed on coating of DESITIN all over my teeth and mouth ... sans the cool, fresh minty scent.

Instead ...I would've had a DESITIN scent.

I somehow think that DESITIN BREATH would not be too appealing.

And how the heck would I get it OUT of my mouth and OFF my teeth?!

Close call!

So I removed it from the top of my toothbrush and then held it under hot water and then soaked it in hot water for a minute and rinsed again and then guardedly (because I figured the residue still on there but is my only electronic brush head) brushed my teeth as usual. I wanted to use soap, but then not sure if that would ruin my brush. Next thing I'd know I'd be be frothing at the mouth with bubbles ...or blowing them whenever I talked.

Ha ha ...perpetual bubbles floating into the air when speaking ...kind of neat ... yet distracting. ;)

I checked to see if you are supposed to call poison control if you get DESITIN in your mouth. After instructing you to keep this product away from children, they say, "If swallowed get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."

I wonder what happens if someone does ingest DESITIN?

Phew! I'm glad I dodged that phone call! :)

Yak Seed

2011-11-17T20:26:00.011-05:00

I was in the kitchen earlier fixing my dinner ...one of my healthier concoctions I make when we have all decided to have different things. Mr SeaSpray was standing nearby as he heard me talking to myself. I was feeling quite pleased ...each time I added what I considered a tasty ingredient. "Some waln-u-t-s, some c-r-a-i-s-i-n-s and now for some .." I know he would never go near some of the things I eat ...but what must he actually think I eat???

Suddenly he exclaimed, "YAK seed? WHAT is YAK seed?"

"Oh Mr SeaSpray ... don't worry ...trust me (snicker) I don't put it in YOUR food. Also, trust me ...you DON'T want to know what YAK Seed is or what it does. But, suffice it to know that you and I will be trekking through the Himalayas next week because I hear the fresh Tibetan Yak Seed is the most nutritional of all. If it's good enough for the Dalai Lama ...it's good enough for me!"

And now to my readers ...so that you can be further enlightened ...where do I begin? Well ...for starters, you should know that you don't have to be a YAK to reap the benefits of Yak Seed. Furthermore ...after ingesting said Yak Seed you will have the agility to leap Like a Yak, in the Himalayas but, only in the Himalayas ...not to mention that you will achieve Total Zen. Although ...you should be informed that studies have shown one side effect of Yak Seed for 2% of the population is "long shaggy hair with a dense woolly undercoat over the chest, flanks, and thighs." A coveted side effect in arctic climates ...but Yak hair will block the cooling effects of a nice balmy breeze blowing your way in Miami.

O-K-A-Y-Y-Y ..the truth is ...

...I busted out laughing, and said, "WHAAAT?! YAK Seed? NOOO ...NOT YAK Seed! I added FLAX seed to my Greek yogurt! YAK SEED! EWWWW! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Then ...I imagined YAK seed as I finished concocting my yogurt meal of Non fat plain Greek yogurt, FLAX seed, crasins, walnuts and a lot of cinnamon .

Suffice it to know ...that you don't want to know. I don't either.

And I am pretty sure I have never used the word "Yak" this much in my entire life ...up until this post.

I'm just saying. :)

Although ...God knows I have the gift of Yak. ;)

5th Blogiversary!!!!! :)

2011-11-13T12:34:00.005-05:00

Wow. It seems hard to believe I've been blogging for FIVE years. I am in such a different place now ...since November 13, 2006. But, then aren't we all? I wanted to have something up on the 13th ..began it ...but have just been so busy because I had been ill with an upper respiratory infection that really had me down for the count. And now I am making up for lost time ...things I wanted to do before Thanksgiving.

And I watched my beautiful grandbabies yesterday. Ha! They kept me so busy from morning to night ..that I lost TWO pounds since yesterday morning. I had a lot of fun with them. So ...TWO more wonderful blessings have been added to our family since I began blogging.

I've also been involved in some other things ...one of them medical ...that scared me greatly, but thank God ...it was a false alarm. And no ...it was not my ureter or anything urological. I know that is healed. Again - Thank you God ...and urodoc. And amidst this false alarm was some frustration with an office process that has left me feeling like I cannot ever trust things will be followed through on as they should. I hate that feeling. Anyway ...I will be posting on that.

Sooo ...back to this 5th anniversary of blogging.

I LOVE the hobby!

I've neglected this blog and not put all my energies into it as I had done initially. I want to clean it up a bit on the sidebar - reorganize ...categorize the links. And focus more writing in here. I know I have probably been more public with identifying myself than I realize. Maybe add pictures. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I do encourage you to check out the comments and their links on the side bars if you haven't read them, but scroll down as I am not sure the links are readily apparent. And there are some especially funny posts in my "Favorite Posts" section.

My blog feels like a place to go to ...to get away from things and just decompress. I liken it to that feeling I get after my second sip of an alcoholic drink ...where I can feel myself relax. I get that feeling once I have the mouse in my hand and see my SeaSpray blog come up. Although ...I don't get drunk from writing as I know would happen if I continued drinking. An yeah ...I know ...based on some things I've written ...some of you may beg to differ. :)

And when I have felt really afraid ...I have even put up prayer requests for people to agree with me in prayer regarding a situation. I didn't with the recent false alarm because I was still processing and hoping it was wrong and thankfully ...it was. It is still amazing to me how we can communicate to people locally and around the world in seconds. I believe in the power of prayer. I have no doubt my friend Mel has prayed all the way from the Philippines ...as have some others. But ...you never know who is reading and so I put the requests out there. I believe it was for urology issues ...when I had been really scared and the night I knew mom would die ...unless she had a miracle. I have since taken the prayer request for her down because it may've seemed inappropriate. But when I got that call from the nursing home that she had a GI bleed, I understood the seriousness of it ...especially in conjunction with her overall decline in health ...and did know that was the night she would die ...without a miraculous intervention ...and prayer was all I could think to do. Actually ...I could hardly think to say my own prayers that night. That is not the norm for me. But ...the fear that rose up ...the all consuming fear clouded my thinking processes all night long. (I knew the second I saw her lying there in the ED room that she was dying and would be merciful for her to go home to God and all her loved ones there. And I knew that she had already lost all quality of life due to the multiple mini strokes she had had during her stay at the nursing home. But all I could think to do amidst my tears, was to tell her to hold on that she could fight this along with other positive things to try to get her to hold on. Truthfully ...she looked like the only thing keeping her alive was the ventilator. She was not there. I wish I had told her to go home and that we loved her and we were all alright. But ...my eyes and my heart were having an argument that night. And I have to say the selfish part of my heart was winning that too. When you love someone ...you let go because you WANT the best for them. And maybe in the end ...it was just the little girl in me ...was afraid to lose her mommy and none of us can know what that is like until we walk through it. I just wish I had had more grace in the situation ...and faith. But it was what it was. And I said it before ...but, I will say it again ..the ED staff was wonderful that night ...so compassionate and caring. They had wanted me to make a decision and for as logical as I normally am ...I was incapable of it because my emotions were running so high. Her advanced directives had been botched. I am glad they were though because it allowed time for the entire family to be there when she died. I had always prayed mom would not die alone and she did not. We were all there. And I also called some people to pray for her while Mr SeaSpray was driving us over to the hospital. But ...like I said ..it was not to be. God called her home. It helped to write about it all when I was going through it.

I think blogging gives a voice to our thoughts. It is therapeutic to feel heard. It is healing.

So many blogging words have been written ...more than you know. I have never felt stressed or like I had to do it. I would not if that was the case. It's been mostly fun. My favorite posts are the funny ones - the ones that make me laugh ...which is a good thing in case no one else does. And of course if you laugh ...it makes my day. I know I've shared this in the past, but a mutual blogging friend and I had a blogging friend from Europe and her husband is a physician. She told me that sometimes when reading my posts before going to work in the morning ...that he could hardly catch his breath from laughing so hard. One of my favorite comments ever. :) (I do wonder what happened to her because she just disappeared from cyberspace. I hope she is alright.)

I appreciate the friends I have made in the blogasphere. I used to refer to my personal life as my "real" life, but now I consider the close blogging friends my real life friends too.

And I just have to say ...I was so surprised and thrilled when Ramona (Suture for a Living) sent me a baby quilt for soon to be born Wrenna. There is a picture of her on the quilt on my side bar. Fairly recently ...she also sent me a quilted post card I had admired because it reminded me of Wrenna's joie de vivre energy. I was so surprised when I came home one night, to see this package from Little Rock sitting on my counter and I knew instantly what it was and that it was from Ramona. And talk about perfect timing ...I had been stressed, etc., and seeing that just warmed my heart and uplifted me so much. She is always making a quilt, knitting or something for someone. This Little Rock surgeon has such a big heart and I am guessing with all the sewing she does, also the most nimble fingers in an OR. :) Thank you again Ramona. :) I am slow with getting pictures into the computer, but when I do ...I will put a picture of the postcard up. I framed it and just love it! :)

I have written some important ones ..mostly about my medical experiences ....both as a patient and a medical receptionist/Patient Access. (You can find links to them on the side bar) I have spent most of my blogging time in the medical blogasphere ...although there are some wonderful non medical blogs too. And even though I have worked in the medical profession (20 years and looking to go back now) I have written mostly from a patient perspective in here. Or maybe a patient perspective from one who also has an appreciation for the medical side of things because she worked in it for so long too. I truly appreciate what goes on from both sides of the registration area. I do believe my patient experiences and even reading the med blogs will enable me to be more enlightened and effective as a medical receptionist when I do return to work. Wouldn't it be nice if med blogging scored points for an interview? :)

Blogging has been cathartic. When I was dealing with uro ...I mostly liked to write some funny medical story. I vented with humor. Fortunately, I can almost always see humor in a situation. For awhile there ...it seemed like I'd never be getting out of the Bajingoland position and weird when assuming the position began to feel as natural as breathing. And it is weird when you've been nekkid so much around strangers that you begin stripping even in front of the janitor just because he walked into your hospital room. I'm KIDDING! I never did that. But, I felt like I could because I got so broken in with stripping down. I'm just saying.)

When Mom began declining ...it helped to blog about it. It helped to blog about cleaning out her apartment, transitioning into the nursing home and when she died. That period of time was one of the most difficult times in my entire life and that is saying something ...believe me. Because not only could I see that I was losing my mom ...but all the memories and things I tried to suppress came flying up within me and I had to feel things that I spent a lifetime avoiding. And realizing we had so much wasted time between us. My grief even spilled over into other blogs in comment section at the time (sorry about that), and one doc e-mailed and asked if I considered counseling and I had ...but his bringing it up was the catalyst that prompted me to act on it. The counselor truly helped me through it. She also helped me to see why I should not think it was all me. I was feeling such guilt and let me tell you ...grief is bad enough ...but if you have grief combined with guilt ...it's toxic. I could feel it. Thank God and counselor ...I did get past the worst of that. I also want to say ...that Mom was a good person and never did anything bad or mean. And I was never mean to her ...or even swore at her or did any of the horrible things you hear kids do to their parents. But, when she sent me away ...we grew apart and never got that closeness back again (well, we had moments throughout the years) ...until she was in the nursing home for the last 6 months of her life and that was fleeting because of the exacerbating dementia ...although some important things were said. And we loved each other very much. It's sad that things had been so complicated for us.

Why does it sometimes take dying to open our eyes to things we were blinded too? If only we had that kind of vision every day.

I vented in anger about a medical office losing my medical records and what put it over the top for me was the rudeness of the office manager telling me she thought I was "being silly" worrying about my records. There was more ...but talk about being insensitive, unprofessional and just plain stupid! How would she like to wonder about her personal information and social security number being "out there" ...not to mention the loss of documentation, among other things? In the end ...the documentation really has not mattered ...but I still feel upset that I don't know where my information went or if it will still turn up in the wrong hands someday - God forbid! And for all the anger, fear and frustration I expressed in those posts ...I did not take their lawyer up on having a free for 1 year security program to track potential identity theft. I just let it go.

*** Lost medical records must occur frequently though, because I often get hits to those posts from patients looking to see what kind of action they can take regarding their lost records.

Anyway ...blogging has been a lot of things to me. Not only have I blogged, but learned so much through other blogger's posts. This post has been a bit all over the place. I don't know why I reviewed the serious stuff. Part of me is tempted to remove it, but ...I will let it be. It is what it is and just some reflections of where I've been with this thing they call blogging.

I look forward to our holiday season and hope some funny Christmas post comes to mind.

Thank you for reading and for the friendships that have grown over time. :)

NOW ...I Understand the TEMPTATION! ;)

2011-11-12T16:39:00.008-05:00

What?

APPLES!

OMGOSH!

I bought the BEST apples in Costco the Thursday night!!!

Specifically:

PREMIUM ...

Eastern Apples ...Crispier...Juicier ...Tastier.

Red Delicious...

U.S. Extra Fancy ...

NET WT. 160 oz (10 lb)

Product of U.S.A

3" MIN. DIA.

Packed on 11/03/11

Castleton, NY

Aaaand ...ONLY $9.99!

I was thirsty last night and so got a glass of water and also grabbed an apple to have for a snack.

That apple was so firm and crisp. Noticeably crisp at first bite and in a way I don't recall with any other apple I've eaten before. And soooooooooooooo JUICY that I wasn't thirsty anymore after I finished eating it and so didn't even drink my water right away. The flavor was excellent! More than excellent. Can you have more than excellent? If you can ...this apple really was ...more than excellent. What a totally satisfying snack.

And so I had another one this afternoon. Just as delicious and juicy.

And usually when you touch an apple ...it will feel firm. But, there is just something different about these apples. Even touching them ..squeezing them a little ...it is just a different ..crispy feel to them. They are shiny ...but they don't have that overly shined chemical preserve look to them and when I washed the apples ...they didn't get all white looking as the chemicals wash off.

I was going to make a cranberry/apple dish with them ...but these are just too good to heat up in cooking. yes I would use good apples, but I am telling you ...these particular apples are so totally raw eating worthy it would be a shame to soften them in cooking.

These apples are so good ...the best apples I remember ever having in my life. I know when people come over ...I am going to be raving about the apples and say .."Here take this apple ..you're really gonna love it! I can't help but promote something if I love it. if I could cyber an apple to all of you ...I would. :)

The big mag of Hershey chocolates I also bought (for Mr SeaSpray and family) can get white and wormy before I forgo these apples. Interestingly ...if I have an apple ...I am completely satisfied. If I have a piece of chocolate ...it n-e-v-e-r satisfies that chocolate urge. Instead I just want more and more and more and more. Why is that?

Anyway ...they say you don't miss what you never had ...but now ...for me the the apple standards bar has been set.

I almost wonder if they weren't somehow dropped down out of heaven ..you know Heaven's perfect crop of apple manna ...secretly delivered by angels to the Costco warehouse? ;)

Anyway ...if Eve was tempted by apples like these ...and then Adam after she raved about them ...I totally understand. I do. (Actually, apples don't grow in the middle east and so Adam and Eve probably ate a pomegranate or some other fruit of the region ...I'm just saying.)

So, if anyone reading this is anywhere near the Wharton/Rockaway, New Jersey... Costo warehouse and you like apples ...I wholeheartedly recommend you go in and purchase these apples.

Enjoy! I know we are. :)

The Sack Lunches

2011-11-11T03:22:00.006-05:00

This has been around on the internet, FB and in magazines for a few years. I thought it would be a good post to put up in honor of our soldiers for Veteran's day. The story speaks for itself. Uplifting read. (Author unknown)

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. “I’m glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,” I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

“Where are you headed?” I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

“Petawawa, we’ll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we’re being deployed to Afghanistan.”

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time …

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. “No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks. I’ll wait till we get to base.”

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty-dollar bill. “Take a lunch to all those soldiers.” She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. “My son was a soldier in Iraq; it’s almost like you are doing it for him.”

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, “Which do you like best—beef or chicken?”

“Chicken,” I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

“This is your thanks.”

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. “I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.” He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, “I want to shake your hand.” Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain’s hand. With a booming voice he said, “I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.” I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. “It will take you some time to reach the base … It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.”

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little …

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount of “up to and including my life.”

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-07T18:20:00.002-05:00

I was making dinner and the grossest ...most ...disgusting thing happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still feel nauseated about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have it soaking in a cup of water and will try to get some pics. Using a magnifying was sooooooooooo gross and if THAT was in my mouth ...I'd about die!!! It's so BIG!

Thank God I stirred one more time before adding to the rest of the recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stomach still flip flopping.

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now dinner is ruined and wasted.

What the heck?????

Making pancakes and eggs instead. Something far far away from anything that looks like that.

Especially When They're Longer Than You Thought They'd Be!

2011-11-05T02:25:00.000-04:00

So ...I Called Poison Control This Morning ...

2011-11-03T23:54:00.003-04:00

For myself ...again.

Well it's been a few years since the last time ...I called Poison Control for myself. I never did put that post up.

Accidents are so stupid... aren't they?

And this morning's little event was no different.

I had just begun my day ...showered, dressed and brushed teeth.

I stopped to talk with younger son for a few minutes and the next think I knew was that my right eye felt like it was on FIRE! I scrambled for the bathroom sink immediately and began flushing it out with cold water ...then remembered the last time I called poison control after rinsing my eye out with cold water was the doctor's telling me ...My eye was red because I rinsed with cold water and should always use warm water.

So I switched to warm water. It didn't help very much. My mind was racing lightening fast ..about the pain ...going blind, I'm probably okay, call eye doctor ..no call poison control it'll be faster ...they're gonna want to laugh at this ...it has to be a first ..who does this? I remembered a show on Phil Donahue ... years ago in which a woman accidentally got mascara in her eye ...didn't think anything of it and she went blind. So, I thought all these things while simultaneously reaching for the saline wash that expired in November, 2009. I used it anyway ...then wondering if saline mixing with this substance would have a bad reaction ...or if being 2 years past the expiration date mattered? but, I kept using it and it helped. Still hurt ...but at least not on fire.

I googled the number for NJ Poison Control, called and was surprised when the physician didn't ask me if I could hold. Must've been a slow morning. I was prepared to say ...not to worry ...I have another eye. ;) Nooo ...I really wouldn't have said that. I am always polite whenever I have been put on hold for poison control. Yeah ...I used the words ..."always" and "whenever" in reference to calling NJ Poison Control. We have a little history going there. So much so that even today ...I cringed at having to give him my name and zip code again. Well at least DYFS won't be coming for the kids now. ;)

And I really was a protective mother. And baby proofed the entire house. But ...kids can be so quick and it was things I didn't think of. Thankfully ...they were always alright.

Anyway ...after he assured me that I would be alright. And told me to put my eye under a steady stream of warm water - gentle pressure ...I then asked him if this was a first for him. He said, "No ...I did it to myself."

"Have other people done this too?"

"Yes."

Anyone know what substance got in my eye?

... .... .... .... ..... ..... I'll give you a hint.

It sure as heck didn't whiten my eye ...although it smelled minty fresh.

Whitening Crest Pro Health TOOTHPASTE!

I figured I must've somehow gotten some on my knuckle and then rubbed it into my eye when I felt an itch to the area. YIKES! Let me tell you ..getting toothpaste in your eye will get your adrenalin going, get you hollering and running for something to help get it out of your eye.

I was also thinking ...I'm the person they write those ridiculous warnings for in the instruction manuals. "Don't immerse toaster in water when you plug it in." "This Iron is not meant to iron marshmallows." You know ..that bizarro stuff that anyone with common sense would know not to do. But ...evidently the Crest corporation has confidence in it's customers because nowhere on that toothpaste tube did it say to keep toothpaste out of eyes.

The doctor said he was using an electronic toothbrush (I LOVE mine) when some of the toothpaste splattered from the brush into his eye. Then I didn't feel so stupid. I mean if a DOCTOR could do it ...then I was in good company. :)

I'm thinking ...no more living on the wild side anymore when I brush my teeth. Maybe I should invest in a pair of goggles to wear until all toothpaste is away from my body. I'm just saying. ;)

White Halloween

2011-10-31T14:24:00.003-04:00

We always want a white Christmas around here ...but have never anticipated a white Halloween. If it weren't for the autumn leaves still on the trees ...the snow is deep enough to look like winter has been here for awhile.

I'm making a lasagna now ...for later. We will have that with a salad and warm garlic bread.

Looking forward to seeing the kids in their costumes later. Devan is going to be Little Red Riding Hood, Wren ...a blue crayon and Myles ...an elephant. Awwww! Charging the cameras now. :)

Happy Halloween! :)

Payback :)

2011-10-30T00:33:00.001-04:00

Some Other Thoughts and This Crazy October Snow Storm...

2011-10-29T14:27:00.009-04:00

and ...I LOVE it! :)

I want everyone to be safe though and not to lose power.

I took the above pics and put them in a post I did in Oct, 2009. I took these and it was the first time I as far as i could remember that we got a dusting in October. I had seen flurries ...but nothing ever stuck for long to the ground. And so today ...the east coast ...at least I know our area and up through New England are actually having a significant amount of heavy, wet snowfall. Our area may have 6-8 inches.

I'm telling you ...if this wet weather trend keeps up ...we are all gonna need to get around via snow shoes and sled dogs this winter. It's supposed to be sunny and 43 degrees tomorrow and so ...again the ground will be saturated. Actually ...it still is.

Anyway ... I did what I always do when there is any threat of losing electricity. I filled little Ziploc bags with water and placed in freezer last night. I got that idea from a news reporter on TV and that really helped to save the food after the hurricane we had in August. EXCELLENT idea! I even transferred some frozen bags to the refrigerator and it preserved our food for the 28 1/2 hrs that we were without electric. I did throw the salmon out only because I know fish can go bad easily. But the rest of the food was still good. I also filled the bathtub with water so we have water to flush the toilet if the power goes out. They said the snow is heavy and causing tree limbs to break. People should be careful not to stand or park under trees if they can help it.

This morning I went out and cut a good amount of orange, red and orange marigolds. They have been growing prolifically all over the yard. i want to show Devan when she comes over on Halloween because these all came form a container of wild flower seeds that she gave her Pa pa. :) Also there was one solitary rose bud and so I cut that in hopes that it will open inside. I have to say that I am impressed with that little rose bush. It has been thriving and the bush that keeps on giving ...roses all summer. I cut one remaining pink zinnia and two lavender petunias. I left the yellow marigolds because they are shorter.

Then I went back outside and cut a lot of fresh herbs. Sage, Greek oregano, rosemary and mint. I love how my hands smell after holding them for so long. Aroma therapy for sure. :) I still have them on the table for washing.

I then seasoned and browned a rump roast that is now simmering ever so slowly with a lot of coarsely cut onions on the stove. This is going to surprise and greatly please my carnivore husband ...Mr SeaSpray when he comes in after working all day and then shoveling snow at his mother's house. (See my sidebar - I can use meat like an opiate with him and get my way with things - no Christmas trees to go out for today tho ;) And yes I did cheat and do something unhealthy ...I added cream of mushroom soup with garlic and water ...that I will later thicken for a sauce and add a lot of fresh mushrooms to at the end. And then we can have either with ...or over broad noodles. Mr SeaSpray often prefers slices ...and this SeaSpray prefers comfort food ...meat camouflaged in something ...over noodles. It is the perfect ...snowy day for something like this. Plus ...I am responding to the Dark Night of the Soul I had in the wee hours of Friday morning ...that I may or may not blog about in here. And ...even though I've done a 180 ...okay 160 ...i still want the comfort food and I am giving into it. That being said ...I used to live on "comfort" food and any food and now I do not. So ...this is my splurge in moderation night. :) Then ...we will also have peas ...because to me ...peas go with something like this. Like peas and mashed potatoes ...peas go with broad noodles ...IMO. And because it's October ...even though it is not Sauerbraten ...I always get a craving for German food in October (my German genes kicking in :), we will also have cooked red cabbage. I also bought a ton of apples last night and so making baked apples for later.

Admittedly ...I bought a ton ..well almost of baking supplies because the baking of goodies soon begins. Ha! If I remembered EGGS ...I would've baked. But ...instead and I think even better ...I am about to bake an apple crisp.

It is a great day for blogging and I've decided on my next post for in here ...one in which I got a major and unexpected ...and most unpleasant surprise. Timing could not have been worse.

And I had so much fun with Devan and her friend last night. I brought them to our church Harvest Festival. It is outdoors and open to the surrounding communities. They did a fabulous job putting it on. The people at church put a lot of work into that and it was a great success.

EVERYTHING is free and the kids have such a good time. :) They play games to win candy and they always win candy no matter the outcome. They had cotton candy and popcorn. Did spin art. Danced a little to the band that was playing. They had a raffle every half hour. We didn't win ...but fun just thinking you might. They also had hot dogs and the moon walks to bounce in, small tractor hayride to go on ... but ...the girls didn't do any of that. They focused more on the games and winning the candy. Watching Devan's enjoyment and ability at shooting baskets caused me to think she should go out for basketball sometime. And she's tall. Devan had her face painted with a little pumpkin on it and we all got orange balloons. the girls just had to let their first ones go up into the night sky. There was also a guy in a dunking cage. We didn't go there but I assume he had a wet suit on with this cold weather. I began to look like a tree rack as I held all the girls things while they participated and I also got to meet up with some friends here and there. And I just love talking with the girls and listening to them giggling and talking in the back seat. In fourth grade and growing up so quickly! It was a fun night. Next year we will bring Wrenna. :)

It looks like a winter wonderland out there. SNOWMAN snow too! Trick or treating should be interesting. Never had to shovel a path for them before ...although perhaps it will be mostly melted by Monday. I can't wait to see our grandchildren in their costumes. I'm making a lasagna for everyone on Monday.

Stuff to do now, but will definitely blog later. I don't know why ...but I LOVE blogging during snowy weather.

I hope you all have some fun things you like about this weekend. :)

Our Wedding Anniversary :)

2011-10-25T17:26:00.007-04:00

Wowww ...it's hard to believe that Mr SeaSpray and I are married for 36 years today. 36 years! And we dated 3 years to the month before that. So we've been together as a couple for 39 tears. I used to think people were old when they hit 25 years. Needless to say ...I definitely do not think that at all anymore. Interesting how perspectives change.

Did I ever tell you how we met? Hmmm ...maybe I will do that when I come back later. And maybe I will put up another picture ...what I looked like when he met me. I don't want to repeat the story. I feel like I told it, but I checked all the Octobers ...although QUICKLY and I don't think I wrote about an anniversary. I will double check later to be sure I am not duplicating something ...although I know there are new readers too.

***Update - Actually I did write about it last year and put pics up. HERE is the link. And I will save the "How we met" post for another time. :)

36 years ago right now, we were at our wedding reception. Later ...someone drove us down to Newark for the night so that we could fly down to Paradise Island, Bahamas in the morning. I always like to think of what we were doing at "this time" on the special dates ...and then I like to think about how there is no way we could know what we would be doing in the present on those dates. Interesting thoughts to ponder. :)

I've been running around a lot today ...beginning with babysitting early in the morning at son and d-i-l's. It will be near miraculous if I don't catch a cold because both babies have one and there is just no way I wouldn't be cuddling with them. Taking more supplements. :)

I came in to find a card and flowers on the counter. I Had other errands ...squeezed in baking a chocolate cake (Choc icing/chock cake - his favorite :) for Mr SeaSpray and then this post. Now back out door while it's cooling.

We will be celebrating our anniversary on the weekend. :)

So Cold!

2011-10-23T16:29:00.010-04:00

photo credit

You know your house is cold when emptying the dishwasher and putting the dishes away is pleasurable.

Why is that task ... pleasurable you ask?

Because the dishes .... still WARM ...warmed my fingers up. But, I didn't stop there ...I practically hugged each dish ...letting them linger against my hands ...before finally letting go. I had to resist not just lying down and piling up the clean warm dishes all over me. Just imagine ...taking a cozy nap with toasty warm bowls on my feet, working my way up with plates all over my legs and abdomen, cups over ...ahem ..never mind and luncheon plates over my arms and hands. Need help with last one though. Then again ...they are pottery and would no doubt take on the room temperature and I'd wake up freezing and then I'd have to wash them all over again ...well ...if they didn't break first from clanging together while I shivered. Best laid plans ...

I just do not want to turn the heat on yet. I caved once. But ...trying to save that heating oil. Oh and Mr SeaSpray has to remove the air conditioners tomorrow. That will certainly help! It's my fault because we were having warm weather and I can't stand to be hot. And I'd rather be cold than hot. We never went almost into November though. Well ...we've been busy too.

So ...I am going to take a really ...loooong ...HOT shower ..the pampering kind ...if I can get myself to move out from under the hot spray ...which I probably won't do until the steam warms the bathroom up like a sauna. Of course that defeats the purpose of oil conservation since we heat our hot water with oil. Still ...a long ...HOT ..shower has to be cheaper than heating the whole house. Right?

I have dinner cooking in the oven and so I discovered that leaning against the oven feels toasty warm. I warmed all sides ...like a SeaSpray on a rotiseserie. :) Also ... draping myself across the top was nice and warm too. Now...if I could just lie down and cover myself with the oven ...like a blanket - perfect! Do you think if Mr SeaSpray walked in saw me lying on the kitchen floor with the oven on top of me,that he might realize just how cold it is in here? "Hi Honey ...I'm just warming up a bit." ;) I even cracked the oven door open and then pulled the bottom of my sweater open, draping it across the open oven door and all that 350 degree heat rushed up and under my sweater. I even heard the girls chatter out "THANK YOU!" ;)

And we do have oil. I could put the heat on. But...until the air conditioners come out ...I just will not because cold air comes in through them and so obviously defeats heating efficiently. I might as well crank the heat up and open the windows. Well ...at least we don't have to worry about radon. :)

Anyway ...this post reminds me of a post I wrote a few years ago ...on the day our furnace froze ...in the middle of January. I ended up having to call Poison Control for myself after getting out of the shower. I never did post that. Maybe I still will. :)
******************************
Update Tuesday: A/Cs still in windows. House still cold. We look like Smurfs - BLUE from being cold. Even the dog. ;)

Pink Glove Inspiration

2011-10-22T22:08:00.006-04:00

With October being breast cancer awareness month ...I'm thinking it's time to put up some Pink Glove Dance" videos. An uplifting way to show solidarity in the fight against cancer. They remind us that there is support and to have hope.

The first one ...from Gordon Hospital is encouraging ...reminding us that we are not alone and to "get back up again."

Then the next video ...from the Medical Center Of Plano is uplifting. I Love the enthusiasm! When I watched the OR staff, I couldn't help but imagine the surgeons I know ...participating in the Pink Glove Dance. :) I wonder if they would? I think it would be neat if our local hospitals participated in the Pink Glove Dance competitions. :)

And the one that began it all:

Immobilizing Pain of the Mind and So Much More

2011-10-16T13:35:00.007-04:00

I experienced an immobilizing pain I had never experienced before ...even though it certainly wasn't the first time I have been deeply grieved over the death of a loved one. This time it was my life long friend (52 yrs), Iris. I will come back to this experience.

Her funeral was this past Friday.

She would've really been pleased with everything. So many flowers and aqua ribbons (Aqua was her favorite color) and Irises in the bouquets. Someone sent the most exquisite ...rich in color red roses that I have ever seen. I usually like to read the cards ...but I could hardly go to the casket... never mind read anything. And it was a closed casket. I was greatly relieved it was closed. We had discussed these things in the passed and I was pretty sure she had wanted a closed casket. I just wanted to remember her alive ...not in the casket.

Our sons were pall-bearers. Older son had to take a day off from work and I am proud of them for helping out. I know that would've warmed Iris' heart and they felt good about helping the family and doing this for her.

They had a beautiful collage of pictures of her ...from childhood into adult. So many wonderful, pretty and cute pictures and they truly captured the essence of her ...when she was happiest with her family, friends and on vacations. :) I was profoundly moved to see that the kids had included multiple pictures of me with her ...from childhood ..up through adult years. Seeing us together really caused memories to come flooding in and hurt as much as they warmed my heart. They even had included some with our sons when they were little. And there was one of her ..alone on the beach in shorts ...that was so typical of how I remember her younger. I hope I can see them all again, because I couldn't really take time to absorb all the pictures.

Her daughter is due to have her first baby ...a boy ..in November. My heart breaks even more for her. But, and I can't prove this of course ...I do think that God allows loved ones in heaven to see the special occasions in our lives on earth and so she knew how nice her service was and how many people cared and will miss her. And she will still see her family and grandchildren when important to do so.

The pastor did a wonderful job with the eulogy and had been instrumental in providing peace and encouragement throughout her ordeal. She would have appreciated his words at the service.

So many of her husband's relatives made the trip down from New England as did her cousin Paula and her husband. I haven't seen Paula since we were teenagers and it was nice to see her again. I wish we could've talked more, but they had to get back after the service. And many others. It is really kind of a blur for me and admittedly ...I don't remember all that I saw ...or maybe it is that I couldn't focus on anyone thing for too long. It was all so surreal.

Knowing she was in that casket was just crazy to me ...even though I was very much involved with getting her to appointments and being a support ...and mostly a friend to her through all of this and so I do know how ill she was. But ...I guess it is just like they say ...that no matter how prepared you are for someone's death ...you really just cannot be prepared for the loss you will feel. There are no words. It is a profoundly painful experience ...even though you know they are better off and in our case being Christians ...we know she is in heaven now ...a far better place. But we are here. They are not. She is not.

Iris and another friend helped us so much after Mom's memorial service because they set up all the food afterword for the repast. They were with me all day. later that night, while we were sitting in the family room ...I had said to Iris, "You cannot die before me because I cannot imagine living life without you!" She said the same of me. And we discussed how we would want our services to be. And she like the cemetery she was buried in and more than once had said because she has such good memories in the town she lived in and thought that cemetery was pretty with the pine trees and sun going down ...that she would want to be buried there.

Little did we know that 6 months later she would begin to feel the symptoms (pain from pleural effusion on right side and short of breath going up stairs) of what a couple months later would be stage III and almost immediately into stage IV nonsmoker's lung cancer. She had been feeling profound fatigue and I think that was also part of it.

And people say that life is unfair. This diagnosis just did not make any sense. Of allllll the people I know ...including myself she always took care of herself more than anyone. Eating right and exercising (from time she was a teenager) before gyms even became popular. Never crash dieted or skipped meals, never needed meds of any kind for hypertension or any disease and did not even have pain in her body. She never smoked. She always took care of herself. She had schedules that she stuck to for exercise. She did have antibiotics for Lyme disease in early 90s and even that did not cause arthritic pain. That was it. Hardly got colds or other viruses. She was mindful to get quality sleep too. She just most of the time took excellent care of herself.

She was compassionate toward others to the point it would hurt her. She felt deeply. If there was a negative ...it would be that she worried too much. She would never intentionally try to hurt another person. She loved deeply. She always wanted the best for everyone. She was fun loving. We had a friendship that is rich with wonderful memories. It was not perfect. But ...what relationship is ...particularly if you've spent a lot of time together? We had some falling outs ...but never for long. And counting from when we were little ...our significant disagreements wouldn't even hit 10 fingers in number. (Unless you counted all the times we fought over who would ride the aqua walrus vs the red walrus in the pool :) That is a pretty good track record for 52 years of friendship.

I am so relieved that she died well ...with well controlled pain and peacefully. I am so glad her family let me be by her side (said I WAS family) throughout the weekend and last Monday ...when they had their own grief and responsibilities to contend with. I am so glad ...I got to hold her hand, caress her head ...kiss her cheeks and give her hugs and mostly tell her "I love you." , which I said many times over those last days. I am glad I got to read some scriptures to her on Sunday night. I noticed that she had fallen asleep with a little smile on her face when I was doing that. :) I am glad I got to hold her hand and stay by her side for so long on Monday night. First I silently prayed for her comfort and easy transition to heaven, but then admittedly against what all my senses were telling me ...I silently prayed for a complete healing miracle ...all the while aware that ultimate healing comes after death into new life. I am grateful her family shared their precious time with her ...with me ...letting me in ..in those last hours of her life.

And the kids ...her adult kids and their spouses really jumped in and helped her husband and their Mom. They really made a huge difference with their love and support. And their d-i-l ...she was so fantastic ...she could leave her career and go into nursing. She was awesome. the hospice nurse was not scheduled to come in until the day she died and so her husband and d-i-l ...lovingly took care of all of my her needs.

And even though I could see my friend was weakening and I knew there was some pain and confusion ...over the weekend, I was especially glad to see joy and fulfillment in her eyes when she took in that her family was all around her and interacting ...loving her and each other. I saw that in her eyes.

And that is so very important. I remember when my uncle Jim was dying. He was set up with a hospice bed in my cousin's living room. We got to talk the night Mom and I got there. He was weak, but did say some things and he maintained his sense of humor. But ..the most important thing he said is what I think was most on his heart. He said, "The important thing is that you want to know your children will be alright."

I agree with that statement. For me the two most important things are that they would have a faith in God that will sustain and bless them throughout life, knowing I will see them again and that they will all love and be committed to each other. It warms my heart now to see that our sons and d-i-l get along so well, that younger son is such a wonderful uncle to his nieces and nephew and that they love him too. I know son and d-i-l would be the same way for younger son and his family someday. And I know they would all look out for their Dad and Papa too. And I would want them to be as connected to other relatives and good friends as possible too. To have a good support system. That would give me great peace. And like I said ...it warms my heart now to see the love between them and that they have fun together. :)

And that is what my friend's family did for her. She has always been very happy with her kids marriages ...very much loving her d-i-l and s-i-l and seeing their strong, happy marriages always gave her comfort. And her grandson is close to everyone in their family. And she knew they will be there for her husband. And so that last weekend of her life ...last weekend ...I saw that look in her eyes ...of peace, satisfaction, and joy at seeing her family loving each other and her. I noticed it throughout Saturday and Sunday when she was in and out of sleeping. And I loved that she appreciated the sweetness and the humor of her little 3 yr old grandson announcing he was going downstairs to play his drums so she could have music to sleep with. :)

And I am so glad to know that with the assistance of the hospice nurse and family around her ...that she made a peaceful transition from this life... into the most amazing one she is experiencing now. And I am thankful that the hospice nurse and hospice social worker were so helpful to my friend and her family ...truly a blessing for them.

But, back at the funeral home ...seeing her casket covered and surrounded by flowers ...and knowing it was *her* in that casket ...I just felt a disconnect. So much so ...that when the teal (another favorite color of hers that she decorated with) beams in the funeral parlor were pointed out to me ...I had the instant thought to call and tell her that there were even teal beams at her funeral. now mind you ...I was also looking at her casket when I had the thought! Seriously ...talk about disconnect! Or denial! Or just missing my friend. I don't know.

After it was over and we again paid our respects at the casket ...I laid my hand on it ...and quietly said "Oh Iris!" and stopped myself from breaking up badly and then in next breath said "I'll see ya I... and were PLAYING SCRABBLE when I see you again in heaven too!" And I turned and hugged her family. (She liked when I called her I out of familiarity and she was my best scrabble playing partner. We used to play often ..although not so much in last few years and not at all since she was diagnosed with cancer.

It was bittersweet when some people came up to me to ask if I was her best friend. I also didn't want to be offensive to any other friend that may've been there and so I said "Yes ..I am one of her good friends. And for the last time ...i said we were friends since I was four and she was five."

It was supposed to be stormy and rainy, but fortunately it held off until later in the afternoon. She would be real happy to know the location of her plot is like she described she would like. It is always hard to walk away ...for that last time.

The food afterward had been catered and was very good. I met her husband's relatives she had often told me about and we enjoyed some conversations with them. Very nice loving and supportive family. And so many others were there too. She absolutely would've loved how it all turned out and been so appreciative of everything. I do think that perhaps when these things happen ..that people on the other side ...perhaps even other relatives/close friends that already passed do get to see these things. But, regardless ...she is happy now. And she will be very missed.

I stayed in the car after we dropped our neighbor off and Mr SeaSpray went inside. I opened the roof, put the seat all the way back and just looked up at the clouds ...pondering the whole day and trying to comprehend the reality of never speaking to her again. then I called older son to tell him I thought it was so considerate of him to take the time off from work to help the family out and that Iris would've been so appreciative. And we just talked for a bit. I still could not get myself to leave the car, although the rain caused me to close the sunroof. And finally ...I went inside ..got undressed and just went to bed. I actually fell asleep quickly, but then when I woke up ...the reality of all that had transpired hit me ...my friend is gone. It was so painful to go through with her. I'm glad the suffering is over, but I am going to miss her beyond what any words could ever describe.

And each time I woke up ...i wanted to move. i wanted to get up. But for the first time ever ...I just could not move. Not a foot, leg, hand or even a finger. All I could do was remain motionless. i wanted to change position because I had been in it for hours. I could not turn over ...I could not move a muscle. I could breathe. Tears could fall onto my pillow, but I couldn't actually cry. I could close my eyes and go back to sleep. This happened several times ...during the daylight and then after it was dark. I just felt my immobilized ...dead weight still lying on my side ...until finally sometime after it was dark ...I just got up.

This experience ...the depth of my despair in those moments ...thinking of everything that happened along this disease process and right toward the end ...having that awful falling out (I STILL can't believe that happened ...after trying so hard to be there and I was ...I really was!) and the thoughts of never again on this earth being able to share anything with my lifelong friend, reminds me of something I read years ago in "The Sketchbook" by Washington Irving, chapter of, "The Broken Heart", in which he said, "There are some strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul--which penetrate to the vital seat of happiness--and blast it, never again to put forth bud or blossom." I believe that was the depth of emotional pain I experienced, rendering me motionless for hours. Maybe I had to go through it ...to let it go. If this seems odd to anyone ...because she was not my husband, child or grandchild. Nor was she another close relative. And I don't pretend for a second to compare my loss to that of her own husband and children ...because they are feeling pain in ways that I do not ...having to say goodbye to his wife and their mother. We have our own experiences with these things.

But, for all of our differences and living at a distance for most of our lives ...we were soul mates ...like 2 peas in a pod ... we had the kind of friendship that transcends time and space ..the kind of friendship that will always right the wrongs in the end and thankfully they were few and far between. I just wish we did not have that blowup at the end and had I realized it was the cancer talking ...I would not have been so hurt or taken it so personally. I think it was the cumulative effect of all the bad things that had transpired with my friend since her diagnosis, coupled with my profound sense of loss at losing her forever on this side of heaven that just bludgeoned my heart and mind so forcefully ..I literally could not move in those moments. And I have to say ...it is weird when *you* can feel your own dead weight in your arms and your legs.

Having said all that ...for anyone who has made it to the end of this post ...I want to tell you that was also my turn around ...let go experience. I miss her already and I am sad ...and no doubt will have many times I think to call her or will miss her. And as a Christian ...with our belief system ...I know we will be reunited with our loved ones and continue to learn, grow and have awesome experiences in heaven ...beyond what we can comprehend here. I once heard a person who had died and had a life after death experience in heaven state that we are more alive there than we are here. (Interesting concept to ponder) Even so, honestly ...I am not all that anxious to do that yet because God willing ...I have a lot of living to still do in this life.

I look forward to being with my family and friends, doing fun things and the many more wonderful experiences in our future ...seeing our kids, grand kids and even great grandkids (someday :) being a part of their lives. There are many things I still want to do. I am most grateful for my life and I hope I will have a long, productive and quality life in which I can be a blessing and experience blessings.

I may or may not leave this up. It was healing to write. Obviously such a personal experience. A definite turning point in my life.

To everything ...there is a season.

I feel such gratitude for the rich friendship we had for so long. It was not perfect ...but pretty darn close. I know it was meant to be. I know it was a gift from God ...the way it all worked out ...our meeting ..all those fabulous magical childhood summers and that we maintained our close friendship over time and distance ...it was a meant to be ...gift to both of us from God.

Farewell my dear friend. :)

So True

2011-10-12T20:23:00.005-04:00

The following comment was on my sidebar and I just had to post it as speaks to me greatly:

"If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest." ~author unknown~

And then this:

"Don't Judge Life By One Difficult Season.

Persevere Through The Difficult Patches

And Better Times Are Sure To Come

Some Time Or Later"

Ton of Bricks

2011-10-12T12:16:00.004-04:00

I hate waking up the morning after someone I love dies ...when my thoughts first come together and it all just hits me like a ton of bricks. That first waking realization of profound loss and emotional pain.

But ...then the alternative ...is to never wake up.

So ...I will still take the ton of bricks.

And ... I know ...I just have to find my way out of it.

And ...I will.

I'm just saying ...

Iris and Me :)

2011-10-10T13:59:00.003-04:00

This is one of her favorite pics of us. She is on left and I am on right ..eating a snack. We used to love to lie on that chase lounge together on her screened in porch and tell spooky stories at night. And we'd talk about other things. We did that until we were about 13, when one day it tipped over backwards. That was funny. Her father had to come rescue us and get us right side up again. We stopped sharing it after that. :)

Laxative MIA - Oh NO!!!

2011-10-06T22:25:00.005-04:00

About a half hr ago, Mr SeaSpray who was prepping for a colonoscopy tomorrow (see previous post) informed me that he dropped 1 Dulcolax on the floor about an hour earlier and did not try to find it.

Faith ...our dog ...aka Miss Hoover, sucks up everything like a canine vacuum cleaner and could have eaten it. I do not know. I swept floor in area I thought it would be in, but not whole kitchen because it wouldn't go around the counter. It's possible that it slid under the fridge or stove. I would feel a lot better if I could just find it.

However ...I am going to just vacuum now.

Does this mean what I think it does ...that if she ingested it she will have the laxative effect? GOD FORBID!!! I am just beside myself and will never be able to sleep tonight if I don't find that pill.

I am assuming she is safe because if a 6 year old can take one, then I am guessing a 50lb dog can.

I see it is advertised as the reliable, gentle laxative. Hopefully it is not so reliable and is way too gentle to work on a dog.

Hopefully she didn't find it.
**************************
Update 3:53 pm Friday: Thankfully everything all came out all right in the end. Not hers thankfully. ;)

I vacuumed kitchen and family room tile near kitchen - TWICE ...just in case.

Gatorade - MiraLAX Cocktail

2011-10-06T19:39:00.004-04:00

Want some? Yum!

EWWWW ..no YUM.

GROSS with a capital "G" and then some!

And I only had to stir and smell it ...but once you've had one ...you never forget. Kind of like the first drink you ever had a hangover on ...which for me was SeaGram's Seven ...many moons ago. To this day ...if I get a whiff of whiskey ...my stomach will do a momentary flip flop.

Mr SeaSpray is scheduled for a routine colonoscopy tomorrow. And so I mixed the cocktail for him this morning so it could chill. There is so much to drink and I feel for him. Been there ..done that ...and I am due to schedule after him ...oh YIPPEE!

NO YIPPEE.

But ..so very important for everyone to have this test done when their physician recommends a screening. And let me tell you ...Mr SeaSpray has been resistant to seeing any kind of doc for most of his life ..until last decade. Once he got into swing of routine physicals, I have to say ...he is actually good about following through with them. And even after his first colonoscopy ...he has told people that they are no big deal and he would not hesitate to do it again.

Actually ...I think the prep the day/night before is the worst part.

And talk about the power of suggestion ...all I did was get a whiff of that cocktail I was stirring and I experienced instant nausea. And now I can't even look at it without my stomach doing a flip flop!

Sympathy nausea?

Noooo ...REVULSION nausea.

And who knew he liked lime so much? All these years of marriage and I never realized he liked lime. Lime Gatorade. Lime Jello. Oh yeah ..that too. You get to feast on Jello. I say feast because you can fill up on all the Jello you want ...providing not red or purple. Great if you are a fan of Jello and you don't enjoy eating solid food. Oh ...and if you want to be really decadent ...you can also have clear broth. And Italian Ice (that sounds good) hard candy, soda, plain coffee or tea. But he is limiting his decadent feasting to only the chicken broth and Jello.

There is also another laxative in pull form.

You also should try to have have 8 0z of water/beverage every hr.

He is still in the process of drinking the green cocktail.

CHEERS! :)

***Seriously ...please check out the following link if you have never had a routine colonoscopy for cancer screening. Colonoscopies CAN save lives! (Emphasis mine)

Tap-Tap-Grind :)

2011-09-28T01:36:00.005-04:00

(I wanted to put a pic up, but some things are better left to the imagination ;)

Tap-tap-GRIND.

Tap-tap-GRIND.

I was getting into the rhythm.

Tap-tap-GRIND.

Tap-tap-GRIND.

"How's that feel?"

"Still feeling it."

Tap-tap-GRIND.

Tap-tap-Grind.

"How about now?"

"Not yet." (I was getting concerned I was taking too long, but also wanted it just right ..although also concerned I'd go to far and then what?)

"Tap-tap-Grind"

"What about now?"

"Perfect!" :)

That was me yesterday. Totally into the rhythm. "Tap-tap-GRIND. Tap-tap-GRIND."

Still can't get it out of my head. :)

Now if only I had tap shoes and a pretty costume and was on dancing with the stars ...THAT would be a really fun "Tap-tap-grind."

But ...no ...I was in the dental exam chair following my dentist's instruction so that he could take down any high spots before I left. You know ...where you bite down to have the dye on paper transfer to where it needs to be smoothed down for a better bite. He did a great job resurfacing 3 teeth on my right side ...removing/covering silver filling with white filling.

I've never had a dentist with such rhythm though. It does stay with you like when you can't get a song out of your head. And I really felt like putting my whole body into it ...but I controlled myself. You'd have to hear him to appreciate it. :)

SeaSpray Vs the Eye Exam :)

2011-09-25T01:44:00.012-04:00

My world without glasses. :)

I had my annual eye exam at the opthamologist's office last week.

First, the tech comes in to do the eye chart test, before the eye doc comes in to do his part of the exam.

So ...I'm sitting there ...ready to get started ...ready to prove myself ...that I can still beat the chart. Never mind that I already need glasses for distance. That being said ...I can drive and see without them. No big deal if I don't mind driving as if navigating through a Monet painting ...you know ...an impression of what is really there. Seriously, I can still drive without my glasses, providing I'm not cruising at 90 mph. Objects come up pretty fast at 90 and so you do need visual clarity at a distance when driving at that speed. Conversely, 30 mph ...no big deal. I'm just saying. ;)

I never wear my glasses, except for driving and TV. Part of the on going resistance I suppose. Although ...I do wonder if people that know me, who may see me from a distance in public and perhaps smiled from a distance may've thought I snubbed them? Because from one end of the store to the other ...I know it is a human form with a face ...but again Monet comes to mind, because I don't see detail.

But, I digress.

So ...there I am ...anticipating the challenge she has set before me. Let the competition begin!

She had me put my glasses on. Then she handed me the shield to hold up over my eye and told me to read the chart.

Now I know they want you to read from the top line to as far down as you can go.

I got all cocky and smarty pants ...eager to demonstrate what I could do. No flies on this SeaSpray! Yes ...I know it's not a competition. Just an eye exam. But, the pressure brings it out in me ...pressure to perform. So ...I looked at the chart and I happily said, "Well ...I might as well save you some time and cut to the chase ...I can see that is a "Z" at the bottom of the chart, down in the lower right hand corner!"

She began to notate it and then stopped ...looked at me and said , "You HAVE to put the shield OVER your eye!"

Ha ha! We both laughed. :) When I looked down, I saw that I was holding it down on my lap. I was so eager to start that I had gone full speed ahead ...WITHOUT the eye shield. "DARN! I really can't see that "Z" ...unless I use BOTH eyes." So ..I had to go back up a line or two. I forget now. But throughout the test ...I'd get to that area and state, "Well I already KNOW that is a "z". :)

I think that the second I squint and say ... "I know that is a "C" or a "D" ..or wait an "a" ..wait I can do this." ... I should just give it up. I'm done. Guessing isn't a viable option when driving, etc.

But ...then they get really tricky with all that shifting of the lens they have you look through. "Which do you like better? This? Or This?"

"This one! No that one! Wait! Can you do it again? Yes that one."

"So ...you like that?"

"I think so?"

"Or this?"

Now ..I'm confused because I begin getting into my head ...trying to get into her head and feeling like she's tricking me. Really ...they could totally mess with you if they wanted to... just for fun. :)

"Wait ..are they NUMBERS?"

"No."

"They look like numbers ...3, 5 not sure. And that one on the end looks like a 9 or is it a 7 ...except I know you said that their not numbers ...but I'm seeing numbers on this line."

Why was she still testing me at this point? Entertainment? When I asked if they were numbers and she told me they were not numbers ...I would think the test would be over at that point for sure.

Nope!

"Which do you like better? This ...or this?"

"Okay ..this is better because it's darker ...but that other one is better because it's larger. Can I see the other one again?" (Beginning to feel like when taking those tests in school where at the end just took my #2 pencil and colored in any option ..hoping for the best to get it over with. :) "Yes this one is sharper. I like this one. Firm in my resolve I said, "I'm going with this one." I always feel like I want to impress with the right answer. And I also always second guess myself ..wondering ..what if I picked the wrong one? But, I made a decision. She was good with it ...I was good with it ...test over!

It was a workout I tell you.

I am happy to say that this near sighted SeaSpray's distance prescription hasn't changed since 2006. Ha ha! Unless ...my weariness of it all at the end just happened to keep me in that range. :) There is a very slight change in reading, but not much and I can still read without glasses ...unless teeny, tiny light colored print on a pastel shampoo bottle. Ha! The first time I couldn't read the back of some shampoo bottle ...I thought the print was defective. :)

Anyway, I still don't want glasses with reading and distance combined and so only use those cheap store reading half glasses, but I did find a pair with pretty bling on them. The only thing is I guess even the weakest that I chose, should be even weaker and the eye doc said they are hard to find. But, I rarely wear them either. I don't know if it's an old wive's tale, but I avoid wearing glasses unless I have to because I don't want to be dependent on them. Although, admittedly ...I suppose that is why my eyes feel tired sometimes.

I am so glad they stopped using that puffing thing test. I've always hated that. So drying and dusty feeling. Like I blew into dust and flew back into my eyes. And I may be weird ...but I like the test where they dilate your pupil. I always try to see inside but can't. And funny thing ...after exam was over the doc and I were talking for a bit outside the exam room, and I was not thinking about my appearance. I forgot I always leave those exams with sunshine yellow/gold stained eyes, until I saw them in the elevator mirror. It just hit me funny ..that there I was talking away like I looked normal. Status quo for an opthamology office I suppose... kind of an opthamology office chic to converse and leave with yellow stained eyes. Yeah ...that's it chic. ;)

Anyway ...I won! No new prescription necessary ...unless I guessed my way into that prescription! ;) And the rest of the exam was uneventful. Good report - YAY!

And that eye doc and his staff are all terrific. Always a positive experience when I am in there.

What a Day!

2011-09-16T11:23:00.002-04:00

Another spectacular autumn day ..when the boys were little. :)

And here is older son's and d-i-l's first born daughter, picking apples. :)

WOW!

What a day!!

A GORGEOUS day!

I love today!

It's so nice to have a completely sunny day, with hardly a cloud in the sky! Even though it isn't officially fall for another 4 days ...it feels like a cool, crisp autumn day. The leaves are beginning to change and in another couple of weeks will be a spectacular display of rich hues of crimson, yellow, gold and orange.

It was so weird yesterday. The weather was warm and humid when I left. In the few hours I was in the hospital with my friend, a cold front had come through. And so now it's time to bring the warmer clothes out. I do miss the pool though.

Have a great weekend! :)

Good Intentions

2011-09-15T11:31:00.011-04:00

ne morning, a grandmother was surprised to find that her 7-year-old grandson had made her coffee! Smiling, she choked down the worst cup of her life. When she finished, she found three little green Army men at the bottom. Puzzled, she asked, 'Honey, what are these Army men doing in my coffee?' Her grandson answered, 'Like it says on TV, Grandma. 'The best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup''

That was also from facebook -author unknown

Kids are so sweet ...aren't they? :)

When I was about 5, I thought I would do something nice for my Grandpa MacDonald, so one early one sunny morning ... before everyone got up, I grabbed all his pipes out of tobacco cabinet ..and washed them in warm, soapy water and hung them all back up in the little tobacco stand he had. It was right next to his favorite chair. After he lit and began smoking his pipe ...the flavor wasn't the same and he didn't understand what was wrong. So he tried another one ...same thing.

I happily informed him that I had washed all his tobacco pipes. :)

The only thing I remember after that was being told never do that again because it ruins the pipes. I can imagine him saying "What the bloody hell is wrong with this pipe?!" He was born in Scotland and so that seemed to be a word I heard often from him. I really bet he said it? Ha ha!

And I know they thought it was funny, because I heard the story told over the years. :)

Grandma MacDonald always liked to begin her day with a teacup of hot water before she got out of bed. This one bright and sunny morning, I offered to make it for her. I was little, but not sure what age. I got it all together and proudly brought it in to her. She sipped on it and then asked "Patty, did you boil this water?" I said, "No, I got it from the sink." Obviously, it wasn't steaming as she preferred it ...but she graciously sipped it until it was finished.
******************************

Funeral Medical Humor :)

2011-09-13T21:31:00.010-04:00

A cardiologist died and was given an elaborate funeral. A huge heart covered in flowers stood behind the casket during the service. Following the eulogy, the heart opened, and the casket rolled inside. The heart then closed, sealing the doctor in the beautiful heart forever. At that point, one of the mourners burst into laughter. When all eyes stared at him, he said, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking... of my own funeral... I'm a gynecologist."

The proctologist fainted.

And so this SeaSpray wonders ...where does the urologist go?

This was in FB, thought I'd share. :)

If you think...

2011-09-12T20:40:00.004-04:00

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito." ~author unknown~

Some Thoughts 10 Years After 9/11

2011-09-11T13:36:00.006-04:00

WTC Memorial (photo credit)

WTC Memorial (photo credit)

WTC Memorial (photo credit)

I am so GLAD they have finally completed this memorial. What a powerful tribute to all the people that lost their lives that day. A place to remember all the sacrifices made by the many heroic people, risking their lives to help others.

I am still so sorry for all the devastation the attacks caused on 9/11/2001, in the WTC -NYC, the field in PA and the Pentagon, Washington DC. I am still so sorry for all the grieving people that have lost family and friends. It is a solemn day. I am sure it has forever changed most of us. The cost has been astronomical in so many ways. I wish for healing and peace for all of us ...and in the same breath ...I say ... may we remain ever vigilant against those that would bring this great country down if they could ...may we never forget.

I hope it is alright (since giving credit) that I posted the sergeant's comments in here. (see below) I will remove it if it is not.

I was only looking for a picture to put up to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 being celebrated today, when I came across this blog: September 11 Ten Years, but then was greatly moved by the following comment:

Sgt.Swannick said...

I’m Not Invited To Ground Zero On 9/11

I strapped a gun on my hip and a badge on my chest
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I lost my right kidney to cancer
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

My left kidney is at stage III renal failure
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I lost my thyroid to cancer
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I suffer from Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS)
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I have a lesion on the right side of my brain
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I suffer from lung scarring, inflamation, atelectasis
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I suffer from chronic bronchitis, small airway disease, growing lung nodules
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I suffer from a chronic cough
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I suffer from sinusitis and rinitis
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

I suffer at the hands of our self-serving politicians
and I’m not invited to ground zero on 9/11

There was one other time I was not invited to ground zero
09/11/2001
Guess it was a good thing myself and thousands of others showed up

Sgt. Michael Swannick
********************************
I was grieved when I first heard that the 9/11 responders and clergy were not invited to this 10 year anniversary memorial. It just isn't right. There had to be some way to include them. I know they say logistics/seating, etc., but big screen TVS somewhere ...some kind of connection in the moment. They were there on 9/11/2001 and should have been there today. Certainly the families are a priority. And there are security concerns. But, why couldn't they have representatives from the emergency services that were present on that fateful day, and then have the overflow of first responders in another area? Something to INCLUDE the FIRST responders? I'll go even farther and say that at some point, it would've been nice to have both presidents come and speak to the first responders in the overflow area... if there had been one. A visit from from former President Bush and President Obama into the that area, would have personalized it for them. Say what you will about President Bush ...he helped to pull us together that day ...his words while on that pile of ground zero rubble ...empowered those workers. Being with him again would've meant a lot, I am sure.

And, regarding not inviting clergy because they felt they couldn't be all inclusive ..is just wrong.

Faith was instrumental in pulling us together that day and providing comfort and hope. Does anyone remember former President Bush, other political leaders and clergy speaking at the memorial in national cathedral right after 9/11? There were no outcries against having clergy speak. Nor was there an outcry against our political leaders publicly speaking about and praying to God.

Congress united in spirit, singing God Bless America.

Our country ...America ...the United States of America was founded on Judeo - Christian ethics. Our court system is based on Judeo -Christian ethics. We have an American culture. It has been the "city on the hill", a beacon of light to so many people around the world. Even my maternal grandparents and most of their siblings left Scotland to come to live here in the early 1900's, as did my paternal side of the family leaving Germany and Switzerland to come here. People from all around the world left their countries to come here. And people still risk their lives to leave Cuba and Mexico to come here. The Vietnam boat people risked their lives with the hope of making it to this country. Knowledge of our culture didn't deter them.

If I decided to live in India, France, Egypt, Greece, China or Israel... I would not expect them to change their traditions or religious worship because it is offensive to me. Nor would I expect to have my views espoused. I would believe what I believe and be respectful of their cultures.

America is a a multi-cultural nation, based on the Judeo-Christian ethics that the founders of this country established. We are all free to worship in any faith of our choosing or to reject all faith. I don't believe most people take offense at our historically religious values, but rather only a minority of people do this ...ruining it for the rest of us.

Furthermore, I see an erosion of our American culture and sovereignty. And this is a dangerous path to go down. We have to stop being so politically correct that we neutralize the very values that empowered this country. History speaks for itself and anyone can read about the founding of this country ...but read the original words of George Washington and others ...not the sanitized politically correct versions in which their religious views and influences on this country have been omitted.

When I was growing up and for most of my life in this country (until the last decade and a half or so) ...we never had to worry about offending people if we said "Merry Christmas", put up a Christmas tree, said "under God" in the pledge of allegiance and I could go on. What a sad state of affairs that some people get all squirrelly over these things. Good traditions! And if you don't want to participate - don't.

Also, I am appalled that an atheist group has tried to prevent the cross (2 steal beams that emerged from the rubble in the form of a cross) at the WTC site from becoming a part of the WTC museum. It was found within 24-36 hours after it all came down and was considered to be a miracle that most certainly provided comfort and hope to many people that were working there and/or lost people they love in that terrorist attack. It had been on the grounds for 10 years and people have left remembrances around it. But, now the atheist organization wants to is coming out against it.

No one is barring objects of other faiths from being there.

But ... That cross was found in the rubble. Can you just imagine the emotions that hit those workers when they saw and erected that amidst the rubble?

That cross ...IS a part of the history of this grievous event. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that it became symbolic of hope ...providing peace and comfort amidst the horror in those awful days, weeks, and months of cleanup. And it has continued to remain an important symbol for this last decade.

Just don't look at it if it is offensive to you. But, please ...stop ruining it for the multitudes of people it has powerfully impacted, bringing them hope, peace, comfort, and is perhaps a touch point in faith for those who lost their friends and family that day ...on September 11, 2011.

Here is an interesting interview discussing this matter.

Where's Rudolph When You need Him?

2011-09-10T21:25:00.004-04:00

It was scary driving home tonight ...with no HEADLIGHTS!

It was dusk and getting darker by the second when I realized my headlights weren't on.

I didn't see it initially because the dashboard lights were on and all the store and street lights.

And then as I pulled out onto hwy ... I thought it seemed oddly dark.

They do come on automatically, but then I still turn them on at night by pulling out all the way.

I did.

They didn't come on.

I pushed them off and on again.

Oh no!

What to do? What to do?

It wasn't dark, but almost. Darker at road level then the sky kind of getting dark. So, I quickly took some other roads that run parallel to the hwy and then got back on.

Everyone's car lights seemed so bright.

Parking lights don't enable you to see, but at least others know your car is there.

Boy ...I didn't realize how well the lights work until not having any and feeling scared. It wasn't dark yet ...but I should have had those lights on and so I put the hazard lights on and made sure that I was right behind a car with lights and one was right behind me and I only had about a half mile to go before turning off the main road.

All the while, preparing to pull off the road and call for help.

Then the full moon helped light the way on my road.

It felt so good to pull into our driveway.

We just got the car. It's a used car, but in excellent condition. We know who owned the car and they took good care of it. The body is in excellent condition too. They did just spend a thousand dollars repairing the electrical system. I hope this isn't a problem like that.

Why would the headlights suddenly not work? They worked last night. Anyway ...I hope it is a simple repair.

And I am really glad I got home before it was completely dark.

But ...where's RUDOLPH when you need him?! I know ...I know ...it's coming into their busy season and he's probably training for that 24 hour marathon in which he pulls Santa's sleigh all around the world. After all ...Christmas is only a few month's away. ;)

Hey! I love that Christmas and all the holidays are just around the corner. Actually, just tonight ...I picked up a little something and it is my first official Christmas present ...which just happens to be for my son and his family ...a family present. :)

And Yet ...ANOTHER use For Duct Tape ;)

2011-09-07T01:36:00.008-04:00

It takes 7 seconds for food to pass from mouth to stomach. A human hair can hold 3kg. The length of a penis is 3 x the length of the thumb. The femur is as hard as concrete. A woman's heart beats faster then a man's. Women blink 2 x as much as men. We use 300 muscles just to keep our balance when we stand. A woman has read this entire post. The man is still looking at his thumb. (that was from a link in facebook)

I can't sleep ...even tho I am Dorothy going down in the poppy fields kind of tired. I mean Just like Dorothy ...I went down, down, down into blissful sleep in those poppy fields alright, but Mr SeaSpray is in the I'm gonna kick my leg every 19-21 seconds and still sleep like a baby mode.

And so ...I ask you ...what's a SeaSpray to do?

I think I am woken up all night ...even when I don't know it. And if trying to fall asleep when he is in that mode ...I just doze and my body is kicked or jerked again and I stir right back awake.

I am a basically easy going person. But, it has occurred to me that If I am upset enough to count to 19 -21 seconds ...repeatedly...while lying there in the dark ...just to see if it really takes him every 19-21 seconds to kick me and/or shake the bed again ...then I must not be so easy going in those moments. Furthermore ...I think counting sheep is more conducive to falling asleep (I prefer counting waves rolling in :) ...not bracing for the next assault!

You'd think when I am this exhausted ...it wouldn't wake me. ???

Anyway ...I am not supposed to, but I took a Benadrly and that really does help. One doctor told me to do that. My new pcp told me I should not because I could develop a tolerance to it and may not work if I have an allergic reaction. That was earlier in the summer and I have been compliant. I don't want to take any chances either. But, I have a really busy day tomorrow and so I had to tonight. I will tell the pcp and I am going to ask if it's alright if just once in awhile. And most nights, I do get by with just melatonin with green tea extract. Although ...I still think I am probably not getting quality sleep ...not all night.

As for tonight ...drastic times call for drastic measures.

If anyone else has dealt with this ...I'd love to know your solution.

Like ...what would happen if I used duct tape and taped him down (just the lower half ..and maybe ...just the one leg) while he's sleeping ...I mean aside from his wondering why he can't get out of bed when he wants to? What would be the harm? And after doing that ...it would give me ample time to make my great escape when he figured it out. ;)

For some reason ...and I don't know why ...we have an unusual amount of duct tape lying around here ...here and there.

You know ...they say there is an element of truth to all humor....

I'm JUST saying. ;)

Y-a-w-n and nite nite. Benadryl kicking in and if I don't go to bed right ...now ...my face will be planted on the keyboard and I really don't want to greet people tomorrow with little squares branded into my face. ;)

Determination!

2011-09-05T15:20:00.005-04:00

I wholeheartedly agree with this quote!

Admittedly, I have been letting fear and some other things alter what was always my optimistic and upbeat spirit. One thing I have learned through the process though, is that it is certainly a whole lot easier to be positive when life is going your way for the most part ...with maybe a few setbacks here and there. I am someone who has always seen the glass half full and could still see good come out of most bad things. Ever ready with a smile and a positive word of encouragement. Almost always believing everything really will be alright. And my faith in God has carried me through so much. There is always hope with God in the picture.

But, I have found that when illness, loss of loved ones and loss of other things rock your world ...in one continuous tremor in which things you hold dear are shaken loose ...those optimistic foundations can be shaken, the glass half full can spring a leak and if you're not careful ...all the negatives can insidiously chip away at the cracking foundation in which you could lose your footing ...yourself along the way. Again, I have found that faith goes a long way to bring restoration back into life ...providing hope for the present and future. I am grateful for that.

I have also determined that instead of allowing the negatives in life to pull me down ...I am going to use that energy to succeed at the current goals I have set for myself and for future plans.

No ...nothing bad has happened in my life. I'm just re-evaluating some things.

I Am Just CRAZY For These Kids! :)

2011-09-03T14:22:00.005-04:00

I love this pic of M! He has crazy hair. that is one determined cowlick. He is ALWAYS bright eyed and happy. Boy is he strong. :) 8 mos old.

My Angel Girl - sweet and beautiful D. I think she could read an entire library in a day and is quite the writer as well ...not to mention a delightful sense of humor and fun to be with. :) 10 yrs old.

Future photographer in the making? Sweet, bright and oh so busy W, my Angel Muffin ....always ready with a big smile and for the next adventure. :)

I had the pleasure of watching the two wee ones the other day, while D and her Mom went school clothes shopping. Wow ...hard to believe fall is just about here and school begins this week. Actually, some schools in the area already opened and kids back to college now.

W and M kept me busy for sure. M gets around quickly on the floor now and I am certain will be crawling soon. W is totally into reading books now and she seems to especially like the kind you pull to create action or reveal something hidden. She just has to be guided to NOT rip the parts out, but seems to be doing better with that. So ...just guess what her Mum mum (that's me) is going to buy her next? :)

D and Mom's shopping trip was successful and she got a lot of nice clothes. It's always exciting to begin the new school year.

I am just crazy for these kids, love them so very much and boy do I love their hugs and joie de vivre. I love to watch them when they are busy ...taking everything about them in. I am continually amazed at how special they are in every way. And I count my blessings that they are in our lives. :)

Oh ..wait ...just one more picture ...

M - 8 mos

Idiot In the Bathroom

2011-08-25T17:14:00.004-04:00

OMG! ...I was I was in the public restroom - I was barely sitting down when I heard a voice in the other stall:

"Hi How are you?"

Me embarrassed, "Doing fine."

Stall: "So what are you up to?"

Me: "Uhhh ...I'm like you ..just sitting here."

Stall: "Can I come over?"

Me: (attitude) "No, I'm a little busy right now."

Stall: "Listen, I'll have to call you back. There's an idiot in the other stall who keeps answering all my questions!" ~ Repost this if it made you laugh. :)

Ha ha! I just couldn't resist that one! It is going around in Face Book. The truth is, I fell for it. I thought it really happened to my friend. I could absolutely imagine her saying those things. :)

Surreal - Earthquake Tremors

2011-08-23T14:30:00.004-04:00

I just don't think of earthquakes happening here on the east coast.

Even when standing near the computer armoire, an my computer monitor fell over on my foot and I screamed and fell back in pain hitting the dog that ran right into my Tiffany floor lamp which thankfully was spared because it only fell over on the chair, but scared Mom's cat who has the most GAWD awful scream (you have to hear it) and he bolted into the kitchen...at which point Faith, our dog chased moms cat out to the family room. All happened so fast while shaking was going on and my foot ...well that doesn't hurt because none of that really HAPPENED! ;)

Now the real story.

I BLAMED the dog!

I was typing at the computer when the keyboard and monitor began shaking ..wobbling and so I told Faith, "STOP it Faith!", because I assumed she was under the chair and causing it to shake and me to wobble too, if she was scratching. Then I went back to type and saw it was all still moving and then looked up and saw the whole armoire was moving and then looked under my chair and saw faith wasn't under there and so back at everything moving in front of me and then looked to my left and there was Faith ...on the sofa, looking all alert at me. Earthquake? I jumped up and she jumped up and with lightening speed questioning whether I should go under the door frame or outside. When under door frame I said a prayer for myself and everyone else. While praying, the phone rang and it was my neighbor, obviously shaken up too ..no pun intended. Faith was out in family room wanting to go out and so I talked briefly and then let her outside.

Concerned, I called my dear m-i-l, Mr SeaSpray and dear d-i-l. Interestingly, they didn't feel a thing. I told my m-i-l to put television on because I heard they were evacuating buildings in Washington DC. I initially thought that perhaps a terrorist assault had occurred, until I could finally hear someone state it was an earthquake. Thank God it wasn't terrorist activity.

If that thinking seems extreme, I know I wasn't the only person to think of being close to the 9/11 anniversary and some event like that happening. It felt like an earthquake. But, when I heard Washington was evacuating the buildings, etc., it was alarming. Obviously that is significant. And I heard someone on the news state that the Pentagon building felt the same as it did on 9/11 and they thought it was happening again. Can you imagine how frightening that must've been for them?

I last heard (haven't updated with any news as yet today), that the quake was felt in 25 states. WOW! Yet, my family members about 2 miles away in one direction and maybe 4 as the crow flies in another direction, didn't feel a thing. How does that happen? I know there is a fault line that runs down from Canada and down through High Point, NJ (just north of us) and down into NYC. But, I think since this traveled northward toward us ...it must've been through something different. ???

And I also heard someone being interviewed on the radio down in the city, that he thought the quake was 10 seconds. My perception was 20 seconds give or take a few. I remember we had one that was about 3 seconds one evening a few years ago. This seemed to just keep on going. I'm pretty sure I can safely say that being hit by an Earthquake are one of the furthest things from an east coaster's mind.

My older son, working down below ...had just gotten into his car and the quake began right after he started his car. He thought something was wrong with his car. He didn't know what it was until he got back into the office. It was no big deal up here ...but still unnerving when it wasn't stopping because I couldn't help but wonder if it would. I know west coast people are used to this kind of thing. I don't know how they do it. I'm sure they are more prepared.

I called our insurance agent yesterday to see what the earthquake option would cost. We have a brick house and brick does not fair as well in quakes. He gave me a quote of 106.00 per year with a 2% of your house value fro a deductible. That's high! I might call around. And maybe I'll forget about it again. I don't know.

Ha! I assume that right after an earthquake tremor is not the optimum time to get quotes on earthquake insurance.

I wonder what the local hospitals, medical offices and other businesses felt? What about grocery stores? What did other people think? When would you know if you need to evacuate patients or the store? And if it is a bad one ...they tell you to go outside or under something if you can't. But can't objects fall on you outside, particularly in the city? And what about the ground breaking open? Extreme scenario, I know. I guess I should read up on it.

The other thing, it shows you how we never know what will happen and life can change in an instant. The questions is ...are we prepared? We are not prepared for disaster in this family. I do think it is important, but I guess because of where we live ...I don't usually feel any immediate concern. Well, except during bad storms, I immediately fill the bathtub with water for the toilet and put drinking water in various containers. I do that in case the power goes out, because if it does then our well pump doesn't operate.

It seems like there is so much calamity around the world in our country that has gone up exponentially in recent decades. I hate thinking about it. But, we all should be prepared for a disaster. And we can go to a Red Cross site, etc., to find out what we should have ready in case disaster strikes. I guess doing so ...is sort of like having your will prepared. You don't want to do it let alone think about it, but once you do ...you have peace of mind.

Anyway, thank God it wasn't a major quake.

I am going to church tonight. I haven't been able to go on Wednesday nights for a while because of other activities and I had already made plans with friends to go tonight. But, I do wonder if there will be more people just because they felt shaken up a bit?

The last I knew we had a hurricane headed this way. I assume we'll get heavy rains. I have a story about that from last week's heavy rains if I can get the pics into a blog post.

If anyone feels like sharing, I'm curious to know your thoughts/experience about yesterdays earthquake.

Bladder Boot Camp :)

2011-08-22T06:48:00.009-04:00

GOOOOD Morning everyone!

I wasn't supposed to be up for another 12 minutes from now, but my bladder had other ideas. At that point ...waking up with the birds ...I decided that since I need to be out the door early this morning ...as tempting as it was to go back to bed ... yes- t-e-m-p-t-i-n-g ...it's also a risk for oversleeping. I have my cell phone alarm set for 7 ...but sometimes it doesn't go off. I have to go get another baby Ben alarm clock. My other one was ruined when it was splashed on the pool deck.

Actually ...my bladder decided to have some fun with me at about 03:30. Then it always takes awhile to fall back asleep. It must been so much fun for my bladder ...that she decided to toy with me again at 06:10. REALLY?! Jiggling around didn't work. I've written before, that sometimes ...just making whizzie winkles swish from side to side in bladder will alleviate the urgent feeling. That's when we're having a battle of the wills. But, I ask you ...just how effective is my sleeping then? So ...she's already winning the skirmish at that point ...but sometimes I win the war and override her. But, still ...so much for rem sleep . Actually ...at that point ..everything in me is awake ...except my eyes. They just can't open yet and so for all intents and purposes ...I'm sleeping, be it ever so compromised.

But ...she won the second round too this morning and so I ambulated into the kitchen, made some coffee and here I am. Now said coffee finished ...time to hit the shower. I'm a bit tempted to go in the pool quickly, since I didn't yesterday.

I have to say bladders ...well my bladder is quite the effective alarm clock. Now ...if only I could time my consumption of fluids perfectly ...so as to coordinate with the perfectly timed bladder wake up call ...the kind in which you sleep all night, but wake up exactly when you want to. Wait ...someone pinch me ...AM I still dreaming?

Anyway, I've heard they use bladder training on people. Can they train the bladder to coordinate with the setting on the alarm clock?

Ha ha! Boot camp for bladders! Can't you just picture them ...all lined up in a row, outside ...ready for their morning calisthenics ...little uniforms on and all ...drill sergeant up close and personal, yelling into their little ..um ..well...bladder faces?

Anyway ...have a MAGNIFICENT Monday!!! :)

Pumpkin Beer? Cravings

2011-08-20T19:48:00.007-04:00

Just got an announcement in my FB that a local pub just hooked up to Pumpkin Beer. Pumpkin? I think I might just LOVE that. :)

Oh and noooo ...I'm not a regular pub goer or drinker for that matter. It's a local Irish pub/restaurant that I like to go to every now and then. Love the thatch roof and stone on the outside and cozy on inside. A sports bar out front and restaurant (casual) in the back.

Okay ...honestly ...at this very moment ...I could go for a pumpkin beer and some fish & chips. I really could.

But, after the meal we just had that our dear d-i-l made for son's birthday (it was absolutely so delicious that we all overate.. except Mr SeaSpray ...he knows when to stop. :) ...the Irish Cottage plans will have to go on hold. But ..I definitely want to try that beer. Pumpkin beer.

Has anyone had Pumpkin beer before? Is it cinnamonyish? (I know - not a real word, but I like it :) Spicey? Clovey? (I know ..also not a real word, but I like it :)
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Update Sunday 14:41 - I am still craving fish and chips with pumpkin beer. Oh go away craving. But, you know how sometimes you get something in your head and not satisfied until you have it? I will probably be better off to make plans to go out and have it ...so I don't eat all the wrong things because I am trying to satisfy a hunger for what I really want. I've done that. i really want something else ...but end up just eating whatever is there and it means nothing to me...but then take in all those calories and carbs. If you're going to indulge ...it should be worth every calorie and carb. I can actually see where having the fish & Chips and beer will help me to lose weight and control my blood glucose level. Sure! Because I will be happy with the quality food/drink and not need or want all the extra meaningless carbs and calories. And furthermore ...I can appreciate that if I set up a reward system in which I can look forward to special treats ...doing so will actually help me to continue in my weight loss with healthier food choices.

A SeaSpray's gotta indulge every now and then. ;)

Road Rage to Our House!

2011-08-20T18:17:00.009-04:00

Anyone living in the area, keep your eyes out for an old, beat up white VW Jettam driven by a scruffy looking man in his mid thirties. And please let us know if you know who it might be. (See video at bottom of post for info on how to handle a road rage situation)

This past week, younger son (a responsible driver), had left his grandmother's house after mowing her lawn. His drive home was uneventful, until he heard someone blast him from behind as he turned in to an area that would lead him to our road. It was rush hour and he was going the speed limit and used his signal to turn in.

Not only did the guy lean on his horn, but also shouted obscenities at him. Okay annoying ...but no big deal ...until he saw that this guy in a beat up white VW Jetta had swung around a corner to catch up with him. Still yelling that our son had cut him off, son said "I think you need to go somewhere and chill for awhile." At hearing that, the guy began to open his door shouting, "So, you want to fight?!"

At that ...son continued driving and turned onto our road. When he saw the guy was again right up to his bumper, he called the police from his cell phone and unfortunately ...son also stopped in front of our house and parked. The guy must've seen that he was on the cell phone, yelled "F.U." to son as he sped by and up the road.

The police came by, but unfortunately can't really do anything because son didn't have the guy's license plate number. But, son gave a description, which was that of "a 30 something scruffy looking guy, driving a beat up old white Jetta."

I asked son if he thinks he cut him off, but when he explained the route he drove home from his grandmothers ...I agree ...there isn't anything he could've done that would've allowed for him to cut the crazy rage guy off. Traffic lights and all. Son said he was driving slower than the speed limit because of rush hour traffic. He said he thinks the guy was speeding and maybe had to stop short when son turned into the next road.

You know ...drivers ...because they are human ...make mistakes. Heck ...I totaled a car "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", when I was 17 and that was a huge mistake. that was an obviously HUGE, stupid mistake that never should've happened and thank God we were all alright ...miraculously alright.
But, when it comes to the usual ...inadvertent *little* mistakes in timing and judgment ...gees ...seriously ...CHILL ...so long as no accidents happen and no one is hurt. I am not making excuses and yes ...I get annoyed when someone cuts right in front of me and I have to stop short. I confess I usually say "IDIOT!" and let it go.

But ...what the heck is going on in the mind of a person that gets so aggressive and will actually follow a person ...right on their bumper which in itself could cause an accident?! What rationale are they using to justify their continual and obviously poor judgment and behavior? And beyond tailgating ...will follow them to their destination and will want to fight them? That is just CRAZY!!!!!!!!

I told son that it would be better if he didn't tell the guy to chill because you don't want to provoke a person like that because they are obviously not thinking clearly, but rather their thinking processes are clouded with RAGE and the other driver is the target of that rage. I told him that I remember seeing a news story on TV in which this couple was driving along on some Virginia highway and another driver perceived them as cutting him off. I don't recall the facts of the case. But, this CRAZY ROAD RAGING driver ...pulled up along side of the passenger side of their car and shot his wife dead. Shot her in the head!

So, I think people should not retaliate with any gestures or words and just keep driving. Oh ...and DON'T drive to where you actually live! I told son he probably shouldn't have stopped here and he agreed with me.

And ...admittedly ..it worried me because what if the CRAZEE ROAD RAGE guy came back? We have an extra car here now because we haven't gotten rid of one yet and so one car is always parked out front for now. But, I told son to bring that vehicle to the back and just park on the grass and he agreed.

I am sure I don't have to tell you what a CREEPY and UNNERVING feeling it is to know that someone that angry KNOWS where the person he was so angry at lives. UGH! I am glad the police were notified. I've thought of it the last 3 nights.

Road Rage: Handling Aggressive Drivers : How to Stay Safe in Road Rage Situation

Heart Test :)

2011-08-16T15:14:00.003-04:00

Your Heart is Generous

You feel deeply and freely. You let yourself explore all your emotions, even the scary ones.

You have strong emotions. You listen to your heart... it has rarely led you astray.

You're most attracted to someone who will take care of you and make you feel safe. You want a reliable partner.

You tend to fall in love easily and stick with the one you've chosen. You were born to love.

What's Unique About Your Heart?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

I found this over at Dr Deb's blog (thanks Dr Deb:) and thought for fun I would put it up in here. I do agree with the description (except the fall in love easily :) assigned to me after taking the test. Although ..I'll say that while I do listen to my heart and have strong emotions ...I am also extremely analytical ...which balances the other out. But, if feelings and analytical processes were on scales ...they'd probably tip a bit more on the feeling side ...depends on the situations I suppose. I'll have to think about that. ;)

I haven't done one of these in a long time. They're fun to play around with and you can take other tests once you take this one. Have fun! :)