When I'm bored at work

I do all sorts of things to entertain myself. Besides reading blogs and message forums and checking my bank balance and planning vacations, I like to look at home listings on Realtor.com
Today I chose New York City
that's one expensive ass place to live
I'm going to do Beverly Hills next

Sad News In Washington Dc

VERY SAD NEWS.

There will be no Live Nativity Scene in Washington, DC this year!

The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in Washington, DC this Christmas season. This isn't for any religious reason, they simply have not been able to find three wise men and a virgin in the Nation's capital.

There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable

I guess I really did like those eggs

Today was my follow-up visit with the GI Dr. that made me cry. After waiting 1.5 hours in his waiting room, being verbally accosted by an old man who I am certain also is the one who pee'd on the floor of the restroom, I finally got to see the Dr.
As I suspected, I didn't do to well with those eggs. You would have thought that as disgusting as they tasted, I'd be anxious to digest them, but you would have been wrong. I scored a whoppin' 26% digested. Normal is between 40-90%. I have a condition called gastroparesis (spelling sacrificed due to sheer laziness on my part but it should be close enough for you to google, should you so desire).
You know how you pray for shit and people say "be careful what you pray for"? Well, not that I ever prayed for God to find an easy way for me to lose weight or anything but basically, my body is functioning as if I've had one of those stomach stapling surgeries. All the illness and weight loss without the pesky surgery.
I'm supposed to avoid a whole list of slow to digest foods, including 99% of what I currently eat. So, becoming a vegetarian wasn't such a good idea after all.
The medicine to treat this condition is Reglan, which I previously decided I will not take. In addition to that small matter of suicidal thoughts, weight gain is another side effect I found out about today. I told the Dr. I'd wait 'till I lost 30 more lbs then take it. He laughed. In fact, I made him laugh alot and he kept saying how nice it was to see me again. Maybe next time he won't make me wait an hour and a half.
Oh and after reminding him that yes, I did have an ultra sound per his orders and him leaving the room to check (during which time the college radio station he had playing was blaring "Anarchy for the UK" in the background, I kid you not), he informed me that I do have a gal stone but he doesn't think surgery will help my symptoms.
Also, I asked him if this was in anyway related to the ischemic colitis or was I just lucky this year. He laughed yet again and said I was just lucky.
I tend to think that a high wbc, mysterious blood in urine, ischemic colitis, GERD, hiatial hernia, gastroparesis, et al can not just be randomly happening. How many weird diseases with no apparent cause nor cure can one relatively normal, not at all Muchauseneque get in one lifetime?

I've been a bad, bad girl

So, spying on N via xanga isn't much fun since she got out of high school.....

good thing I totally just found D jr's g/friend's blog. Seems my little stepson has been breaking some hearts and doing some playing the field.

Oh God, it's totally cracking me up to read these girl's cat fighting over him. Yes, he's an attractive young man (takes after his pops), but still, it's too funny how many girls have posted about how hot he is. I guess they've never had the pleasure of smelling one of his farts.

Updates

Huevos is doing better. He's eating, drinking and purring. Thanks for all the support & prayers.

The insurance co. called yesterday to say that the original estimator made a "mistake" and "forgot" to include the value of the modifications. So they aren't totaling the van and they will cut a check for the repairs needed. Of course, the check will also be made out to the lien holder so I still have that to deal with but at least I'm making progress.

I won!!!

No, not the new car but still it's pretty good
You know how I'm always talking about my favorite teas? Well, I won my wish list from them! Scent by Spirit
Over $90 worth of stuff, including a custom oil blend, just for me.

by the way

I hope no one caught Gray's Anatomy last night.
That pregnant woman, the one pregnant with 5 who acted shocked that there could be complications, even though she'd previously done IVF and had triplets, who said "I just wanted a girl" as the reason she did another round of IVF after having the boy triplets, the one that thought she was going to carry her babies to term and they'd be fine, the one that had to have 5 seperate surgical teams ready to care for her babies and the one that next week's show is entirely focused on, yeah that one....do you think the media could have picked a more stupid character to represent IVF'ers? No, me neither.

Scared

I really don't want to be here. Every fiber of my being longs to be at home with my kitty. He wouldn't eat or drink this morning. I'm very worried.
N is going to go check on him and give me a progress report. I almost brought him to work with me. I may do it tommorow, if he makes it 'till tommorow. If he hasn't eaten or drank anything by the time I get off work I'm going to have to take him back to the vet. I don't want him to suffer.
My heart is breaking in new places

All is right with the world

Huevos is home. He's weak and tired (so tired he hasn't tried to take the colorful bandanna they tied around his neck off yet). But, he's home, napping on the table right behind me. I'm so damn grateful to have him still alive. It's like a miracle that they were able to save him.
D went to get pizza and movies and all is right with the world.

Please don't feed your dogs turkey bones

When we went to visit Huevos we had to wait a long time. The friendly front desk girl told us they were in surgery with a German Sheppard who had eaten turkey bones. They had splintered and he had surgery earlier today. They had to remove his spleen. After they finished his surgery he was resting in his cage and he crashed. They tried everything to save him but he didn't make it.

Huevos is doing better, eating and drinking but he was very quiet. I'm wondering if he was sedated? I think I will call and ask.

Rip Van Winkle

I just woke up from a 4 hour nap. If it's 4 hours, is it still a nap or does it qualify as full blown sleeping?

I'm still tired but we need to go visit Huevos. The vet said he's doing much better and both ate and drank today!

Plus, the turkey ended up being amazingly good. We cut it up and put it in the pan juices. Well, the drumsticks were toast but the rest was good.

I am both sleeping and sugar high from eating a bit of pie as soon as I woke up.

Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.

sawdust

It has been a very long, very emotional day. At one point it looked as though my kitty was going to die, right there on the exam table. He weighed only 4 1/2 pounds! Very dehydrated and they couldn't believe he had eaten last night and this morning. Renal failure. The first vet almost gave him a death sentence but when I started sobbing and she was about to close for the holidays sent us to the ER pet hosptial. Where for the mere price of $900-$1200 with a $500 deposit, I bought my cat a chance to live. He's getting intense iv treatment and antibiotics. If he gets rehydrated and his kidneys start working again by Friday, he'll be ok. As ok as a 17 yr cat with kidney disease can be. Ricky seems to be doing much better with his. And, they can give them fluids under the skin to help. There was a lady there with a 21 yr old calico who gets this weekly. My friend the vet tech said they had a siamese live to be 26 on subcutaneous fluids done weekly. 26! That would give me plenty of more years to discover the key to enternal life and admister it to my cats.
I'm very greatful for my Visa right now. I'm already swimming in medical bills this year. Too bad the IRS doesn't give me a break for vet bills. It's not looking too good for Christmas bonuses this year, either. So, my trip to visit my new niece or nephew may be delayed a few months (sorry sis).
We decided not to drive out to my brothers tommorow as that would involve a hotel stay that we, frankly, can not afford right now. We'll eat at our group. We are bringing turkey. D was supposed to cook it but he fell asleep, leaving that duty in my hands. We checked right before he went to bed and it wasn't quite done. I thought it needed 45 mintues or so, but I spaced out. I didn't burn the poor thing but it's meat is as dry as sawdust now.

Huevos needs prayers

Huevos kitty is sick, he's going to the vet at 1:30.
He's been acting oddly for the last couple days, losing his balance in his hind legs and doing strange things like zoning out in front of his water cup but not drinking or sticking his nose in it a couple times and not drinking. It's almost like he's stoned. He will drink eventually and he has been eating some canned food but he's just not normal. He has lost weight and I noticed his shoulder blades actually touch when he is sitting. His breath smells very bad. I think it's a bad tooth or an ear infection.
I realize he is a 17 year old cat and that is very old for a cat but I am not emotionally ready for it to be anything more serious. Oddly, Ricky, who is older and has renal disease is doing so well, he's put on weight and is spunky.
Yesterday when I got home, Huevos was actually laying on top of the back half of Ricky and they were both sleeping. They've been together for their whole lives

I won a prize

Yes, that's right folks. I won something.
No, not that car I wanted...something even...well stranger is the right word I think.

My soapmaking forum had their annual charity drive and raffle last night. I donated some soap and a gift set and I won...are you ready for this?

I won a Christmas themed, handmade, quilted water cooler cover. And, in the spirit of the season, I'm going to pass on this great gift to my readers.

First person to post a message that wants it, wins.

Hell Ya

I just got a phone call from a lady in NC who got a gift from her daughter in law of my soaps. It was the little gifts I did up for my sister to give out when she spoke at the Jr. League.
The lady just placed a rather larger order.

I guess I need to give sis some commission!

Neglect

I have been neglecting the blogosphere lately. I will try to get around to read everyone's blogs today.
This weekend was very mellow for me. Saturday we hung out in our p.j.'s until mid-afternoon then went to a meeting of D's motorcycle club. He decided to re-join, just in time to participate in the Toy Run again next month. The meeting was at a small bike shop and dh talked to the guy who owns it about my Road Kits. He's taking him one today to check out. We found out later that this guy is National V.P. of one of the biggest clubs in the country. woot woot all those dirty bikers need one of my kits.
After that was over we went and saw the new Harry Potter movie. I can't believe all the people who brought young kids. I mean very young, infants even. Is a babysitter that damn expensive? This kid in front of us who was about 2 kept babbling the whole movie and his mother never tried to shush him. I know he's too young to be into HP so why bring him?
Yesterday was more lounging in pj's. Now I'm at work and I wish I was still at home.

If the President of Carnival can write me back

why can't my insurance company?

I emailed the President of Carnival about a friend who is going on a cruise for her honeymoon. She was supposed to go a couple months ago but the hurricanes nixed that idea. She is the one whose 10 yr old daughter died of a brain tumor earlier this year. I emailed him to see if Carnival could do anything special for them.

And HE WROTE ME BACK!

It was short & sweet and apparently we are on a first name basis!

D (insert my name here),
Thanks for your kind comments and "heads up."
Bob

Powerless?

This mess with A and the van has gone from bad to worse. Originally we were told by the adjuster that they would total the van and we could buy back the salvage and still have a little left for repairs. Last night they called and I find out since there is still a balance on the note, the funds have to go to the lien holder and the lien holder can decide not to let us keep the van.
I have written an email, left a message and mailed two letters to the company. In the 5 years I've owned the van, I've had numerous conversations with the insurance company in which I mentioned the fact that the van has modifications. Now they tell me the modifications aren't covered unless listed and insured. No one ever mentioned that to me. I'm pissed and I want an explination!

Guilt, it does a body good

Boss man just brought me an icecream sundae.

My boss just ran into my car

He backed right into it with his tow ball thing chipped the paint off the front. Now I'll have to get an estimate for repairs so he can pay. He feels really bad about it.
I keep telling him it's no big deal 'cause I entered a raffle and I'm going to win a new car on Saturday

I've decided

I'm going to try every flavor of Ben and Jerry's. I'm going to have to shop around to find them all. Thank goodness they have an online flavor locator so that I know to go to Brookshire's for "Marsha, Marsha, Marshmellow".

Last night after going to a late meeting with D, I was STARVING! I haven't been hungry much lately so I knew I'd better eat, even though I'd had stew when I got off work, 5 hours earlier. Since we had no food and D wouldn't let me get the french fries I've been craving for 3 weeks, we went to the grocery store. I ended up with whole grain english muffins (YUM) and a pint of "Dave Matthews Band Magic Brownies" B&J since they didn't have Karamel Sutra. It's vanilla ice cream with chunks of brownie and a raspberry swirl. I ate a spoonful and didn't like it much, then another just to see, then another and another and another. Damn, it was like crack. It gave me a fierce tummy ache but it was so worth it. (I only ate about an 1/8 of a pint but I'm not supposed to eat within 3 hours of going to bed).

Leftover's

I got some vegetable soup from the chinese place that is fabulous. All the veggies are "crisp-tender" which I normally don't like 'cause I'm a down home southern over cooked mushy veggie kinda gal, but in this soup, they work.
Yesterday was just one of those days. I'm over it today, though.

Ben & Jerry's Karamel Sutra is the bomb!

4 more hours

It's 12:30
4 more hours of torture
This bra is coming off the minute I get in my car


I did order delivery chinese to take my mind off of it. I hope the delivery guy doesn't get lost like last time.

Shit

You know it's going to be a bad day when the bra you wore yesterday doesn't fit today! It's driving me completly batty. I've adjusted, yanked and pulled and I think this thing might drive me over the edge before the end of the day. You might see me on the 6 o'clock news!

Well, we suck

D and I rented some video games last night. I'm not very good and we rarely play. We decided to get "Sims" because I'd heard how addicting and fun it can be.

We suck! Seriously, even after going online and getting hints, we still can't get out of the first "Get a Life" section.

Right now D's playing Fantastic Four and I don't think he's doing too good. I wish the kids would come over and show us how to play!

Potential

Well, apparently that sick feeling in my gut was just my gut being sick and not an actual warning of any type.
I got A's wife straightened out on all the issues and I'm just going to have to belive that if I give them the settlement money to fix the van they will continue to make the payments. One more year!

I got a wholesale inquiry from a gift basket company yesterday. I didn't think much of it as I get requests for freebies all the time and most people, once you tell them that they have to pay for shipping samples, will never write back. This morning she wrote back and has already Pay Pal'd the money for shipping. Her gift basket site is very professional! Go me!

Sick feeling

I have that sick feeling in my gut. That something bad is going to happen kind of feeling. I'm sure it's because of my total lack of control over the van situation. A's wife is having a hard time understanding my explanation of the fact that the van will be totaled out by the insurance company and they can keep it only if they buy back the salvage. I've explained it 4 different ways and she's not getting it.
I'm frustrated and depressed and totally powerless.

It's not all bad

In the midst of my breakdown over medical bills, something good did happen.
I got home to not one but two calls from customers of my soap business.
One of them is a regular customer but the other one is a lady I met at
the show I did Sunday. She placed a bulk order for tub teas and vaccum
potpouri. I just need about 200 more orders like that and I can pay off my
medical bills. Anyone need some soap?

Money Woes

I hate the fact that money problems can make me so depressed. I guess it's because I feel guilty about going on those cruises instead of saving the money.
I found out yesterday that yet another bill from when I was in the hospital isn't going to be paid. Apparently the fuckers that be decided that when you go to an in-network hospital it's ok to use out of network providers for things like lab services and pathology. My insurance co. had originally told me that they were paying these providers at an in-network rate and I was being billed the difference. Well, that's not exactly true. They pay 170% of the medicare rate for whatever it is. So, for example, they have paid $130.00 of a $1260 bill from the blood work lab and I'm liable for the difference.
I've already written letters of protest to a few places but they are being ignored. It's just a bunch of crap and it looks like I'm going to be out about $4000 total. So much for "maximum out of pocket".
In other news, the insurance company has offered $3400 to total the van, $2018 to total but let A keep it. Of course, the pay off is $4948!
I'm so depressed. I feel like I'm being sucked into a black hole. If any of these tests show something wrong that must be fixed with any time of medical procedure, I'm going to find a witch dr. instead.

I'm radioactive

This morning I had a lovely breakfast of neon yellow scrambled egg whites and cold toast. After my delightful meal, consumed while wearing gloves and a gown to protect myself from radiation, I got to lie perfectly still for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
I did nap briefly which helped me keep from going insane. I have no idea how well I did on this emptying test and I guess I won't find out until Nov. 29th 'cause that's when my follow up visit is.

Oh, and just because a hospital kiosk claims to serve Starbucks and puts it in a Starbucks cup does not mean they can properly prepare a chai tea latte.

You really have to check out this blog

Kitchen Culture

I shouldn't read a cooking blog while I'm at work!

Sisters, you'd BETTER NOT TELL ON ME!

Trixie's Blog
Trixie posted about office forwards and how much she hates them. Me too! I've been online since 1997 and I still get the same lame ass crap I got then! There are actually people who still think Microsoft is going to give them $50 for forwarding this email. There are people I don't know who somehow got me in their email address books. One chick has been emailing me forwards for 8 years! I have no clue who she is and I'm to lazy to reply and ask her to stop.

I try to have patience and tolerance, especially with my mom who just recently discovered email and sends me forwards of jokes and "cute sayings". She sent me the most racist email this morning, a joke about Barbie's for the Houston Area. I love my mom, she's an amazing, intelligent, funny lady, but sometimes I just have to shake my head and wonder why?

All the popular kids are doing it!

a little pregnant: Newly-minted mutant music

The mutant club is getting bigger. We mutants rock!

Long weekend

Friday went to shit. It was a bad, bad, bad day. The straw that broke the camels back was going home and picking up the pile of newspapers on the table, only to discover that one of the cats had peed all over them.
It got better, though, after a meeting. And Saturday was fun, hanging out with my sissy mo and shopping. Sissy Mo got a message from her Dr. on Friday to call back immediately about some blood test results and of course, when she called back at 3 pm, he was gone for the day and apparently, the VA has no on call Dr.'s. So, I tried to distract her from worrying by working her ass off.
We had a craft show yesterday. The first two hours were dead slow. I was getting worried since it's only a 5 hour show but after noon things really picked up. I was on top of my game like never before. I even sold soap to the cop that was there for security!

Three question mark kind of day

Everything was going smoothly. A's wife said they were going to make the payment today. Then I mention that the negotiations on the van will be going through me and things came to a screeching halt.

"What you mean the negotiations would go through you??? They called A and said they will be calling him in couple of day???"

Notice the use of 3 question marks???

Well, shit, the van is in my name and the insurance is in my name, what the hell did they think???

So, then I get an email from a "friend" who publicly insulted me on our soapmaking forum and also called AA a cult and it's members brainwashed a week ago. She wanted to know if I was still mad at her???

Then I get a message from another friend. Her dh relapsed after 9 yrs (we found this out last night when he re-established). Last night she was acting like everything was fine and today the reality is hitting her full in the face. Do you know how hard it is to try to help someone with that serious of an issue via email and while you are at work and your boss is expecting you to, I don't know...work???

I'm so stressed about this crap I don't even have time to stress about my test results, which I guess I won't be getting until my follow up appointment, which means I have to go ahead and do the other test next week, the more expensive one.

Oh, yeah and D called, he and D jr just left. Have no clue when he'll be home or if he'll even have cell phone service while he's gone.

Fuck!!!

Never trouble trouble 'till trouble troubles you

That used to be one of my favorite sayings. But, I never follow my own advice.

A's wife emailed me this morning. They want to total the van. My heart is breaking. Plus, I don't think I have gap coverage so I'll probably end up screwed on the note and take a hit to my credit report 'cause I know A won't pay it off. In fact, they don't even want to make anymore payments until the insurance co. decides. That was what the email was for, to get my opinion. Well, shit my opinion is the fucking payment is already almost 30 days past due!

What a crappy way to start the weekend. It sucks to feel the way I do and know that D will be gone all weekend, too. He & D jr. are going to be attempting to murder a poor innocent deer.

Leather pants, ebay style

This is just too funnyLeather Pants

I knew she was big, but this big?

dooce

Holy crap.

Dooce makes enough money off her blog to support her family? To pay her mortgage, etc? I googled "Dooce" and came up with a bazillion (brazillion) hits, plus fuck, she's got her own entry in Wikipedia.

Damn, I wish I was a good writer!

My boss rocks

He wasn't in yesterday when the asshole British customer was so condescending to me. I guess one of the guys told him about it 'cause when I got here this morning (late 'cause I had an ultrasound of my liver & gall bladder, never knew a fucking ultrasound could be so painful!) anyway, when I got here he told me what a jerk that guy is and he said...get this...he said I should write the guy a rude note when I sent his papers back. Yep, he actually said "I give you permission". He was cracking me up.
Of course, being who I am, with years of customer service training, I told him I just couldn't. I'd rather kill him with kindness 'cause that's what my momma taught me.

It's getting to me

A customer was just so fucking rude to me on the phone and I started to feel overwhelmingly depressed. Normally, I wouldn't be depressed over some asshole. I think something else is up. It's not pms.
I feel like crying.

More Halloween

We decided to stay home last night so that we could give out candy. We only had about 8 trick or treaters and Devon wasn't one of them. We haven't seen the little guy in a while now. I think his parents are really strange or maybe they think we're strange for wanting to talk to their son? He's just such a cute kid!

All the grandkids except one did come over about 9ish, along with some cousins. All the kids except N came over, even D jr came, he was hauling the kids around in the back of his truck (not safe but I didn't say anything). He has grown into quite the young man, really makes me proud, even though I had nothing to do with it.

It was fun to see them all in their costumes and to get them hyped up on sugar then send them home!