Just a weekly update

Today is 9/11.  I have to admit I feel some strange connection to NYC and Boston.  Maybe it is my work.  Maybe it is the number of times I've visited both cities.  I think the whole country was stopped in their tracks on 9/11/01.  I remember after it all, I felt like Americans put their differences aside and were supporting each other like I've never experienced.  I remember hearing so many people that got married within a year.  And how many babies were born 9 months later.  The tragedy that day is just simply overwhelming....even 12 years later.  I admit I eat up all the TV shows about 9/11.  I have this thirst to know it...feel it.  What would I have done if I was in those buildings.  What would I have done if I was in NYC that day.  At the time, we had lots of people traveling from work.  Because the flights were all cancelled, we had people stuck all over the country with no way to get anywhere.  I remember thinking it was pretty special when people hooked up and rented cars driving co-workers across the country to get home.  One group were good friends of mine.  There was a group of them that lived in California but they were stuck in Minnesota and surrounding areas.  Ted rented a car in Minnesota and picked up people as he drove across the country.  They drove almost around the clock to get home as quick as they could.  I miss those "neighborly" days.

I was lucky.  I wasn't traveling on 9/11.  But I did travel to Puerto Rico in November that year.  Everyone was still hyper sensitive at that time.  They took anything I had that was remotely sharp including my nail clippers.  We weren't allowed to bring any food or water on the flight.  We also couldn't bring any carry on except a purse and it had to go overhead so there was nothing to do.  They were very strict when you could get out of your seat to go to the bathroom and you could not line up.   It was really the first time I had experienced what we now know as TSA...but it was still a very rough process.  After going through the initial security, you were checked again at the entrance to the jetway.  All purses were gone through again.  Everyone was patted down.  I was really surprised at the armed guards through the airports.  Lots has changed since then and I would like to think TSA is better at their job now.  I've never begrudged the crazy things we have to do to travel....hopefully safer.

Today I was at Paradise Bakery waiting for Trudy to clean for me.  I just can't stand to see her before or after she cleans my filth so I always leave right before she comes.  I often go to Paradise because I love their salads and cookies but they also have free Wi-Fi which seems to work with my work VPN (security system).  I was sitting there savoring my favorite menu items, I noticed a very pretty woman, man, and assuming their daughter who was about 2 or 3.  The Mom was all done up.  Nice makeup, hair super shiny and styled in a cute side bun.  Husband look like he was taking a lunch break from work.  The little girl has a cute side braid and a cute outfit.  The little girl sat by Mom with Dad across the table.  This girl was cute as cute but she wasn't interested in eating nor sitting still.  She wiggled and ducked under the table.  Kicked the center pole of the table.  Stood backwards on the bench seat staring at the strangers trying to eat their lunch.  Kids always seem to look at me too.  For some reason, they usually stare.  I've taken 2 approaches to this.  1)  Smile and wave and play peek a boo if appropriate.  2) Make a really scary psycho face and stick out  my tongue.  I honestly don't know what makes me pick one over the other but I really try to choose option 1 over option 2.  Well this little girl got option 1 but she didn't care.  As cute as she was, she was a....bugger....or is that a booger!  haha.  What really caught me is the husband didn't do one darn thing to help keep the little girl stay in line.  The Mom looked almost exasperated trying to control the daughter.  One question I often ask is WHY didn't they bring something for the girl to do?  I never went anywhere without stuff for Philip to do when he was young (Philip used to tell me that grown ups chit chat too much).  Mom also ate much of the little girl's lunch in addition to her own.  I am positive lots of Moms do this to avoid waste and try to keep the peace with the hubby.  But this Mom was not thin.  Chunky actually and potentially could have been mistaken for a being pregnant again.  Why does the Husband think he doesn't have to do shit?  Why can he enjoy his lunch while his wife is stressed and working as hard as she could to keep that little girl calm and behaving?  You know he is going to get on his wife one day for being "fat".  Or is this the way families are and the woman has the carry the burden in the relationship so her husband remains happy and stress free?  If I was a betting woman, I would guess she is a stay at home mom and was so happy to come meet "Daddy" for lunch.  Well Dad is a big fat pig!  I guess that is why I am not married.

Today I got up so excited to watch the 9/11 stuff on TV.  Well the TV just wouldn't turn on.  So I called my cable company between meetings.  After 45 minutes, they told me I had to take my cable box to the store to get a new one.  Dammit!  This would be my 3rd box in 6 weeks.  Shouldn't be a big deal but we are HEAVY DVR users.  Last time I had to replace my box, I made a list of all the shows we watch to set them up to record again.  Wouldn't you know, I tossed it just last weekend when I cleaned up...because I had just finished finding all my shows I needed.  So since the display wouldn't even turn on before I had to take out the old box, I am forced find my shows the hard way.  I hate to admit, I think we have about 40 shows through the year that we watch and record.  That is kind of embarrassing.

Well when you check into the cable store, you go to the kiosk and get on the electronic list of customers.  I actually don't mind this because then you can relax and just wait for your name to be called instead of standing in line.  But it was crowded.  They were on number 138 and I was number 147 and there was only 1 person doing equipment exchanges.  After I checked in, about 20 more people came in.  It was standing room only at this point...and running out of standing room.   Well I waited patiently and tried to amuse myself.  They finally called my name.  I had to cross the store so I picked up my purse and my cable box and started to make my way across the room when I saw a guy jump up and take my spot!  Seriously?  I went up there and interrupted him.  At first I said "Excuse me, this is my slot".  He looked at my like I spoke Yiddish.  I then said "Is your name Redmond?"  He finally said "No.  I thought they called Brandon."  Serious?  That isn't even close.  My ears are plugged and they don't sound remotely the same even with plugged ears.  Nevermind the 40" screen showing my name in red.  Bastard was trying to steal my slot!  Well luckily he moved out of the way.  I told the lady that I waited patiently and wasn't about to give up my slot.  I did come home with a new box, remote, and HDMI cable.  I got everything hooked up which is a huge deal because of the way it is set up in the entertainment center.   I basically have to take it all apart and string it front to back and up and down. Now I am just waiting for the guide to update so I can start finding my shows.  I'll be gumpy if I miss anything.  I know I had 4-5 tonight but I can only find 3.  Maybe it is time to reduce my TV addiction.

Today I am feeling a little better with my pneumonia but I still struggle with my stamina.  I quit taking my narcotic cough syrup 2 nights ago.  The first night was okay although I couldn't sleep well.  Last night, I kept waking up coughing so I went and got another bottle of cough syrup.  I hate to keep taking narcotics.  It's been 4 weeks and I think that is too long to be on narcotics but I don't want to backslide on me getting better.  My ears are still plugged.  It is enough to make me really pissy.  But I have an appointment tomorrow (Thursday) at noon with my favorite ENT, Dr. S.  Unfortunately, I also get the opportunity to show him my new lump and talk about the fact that he might need to remove it down the road.  Since he is a plastic surgeon too, he is my "go to" guy for my weird lumps that are visable.

Speaking of cancer...I'm pissy I have a new lump in my eyebrow.  I'll spare you the stream of swear words that go through my mind when I think about it.  But I am not happy with the seemingly steady stream of eyebrow lumps.  Bastards.  My mind is now trying to decide if I should wait for my appointment in Mid-October with my Radiologist or do I call before?  Dr. L said it was too early to do anything but Dr. C told me to come in soon if "the lump got bigger".  Well what about a new lump?  I usually get some sort of clarity that hits me at some point letting me know the right decision.  It hasn't hit me yet....which usually means I just can't stand to deal with it yet....unless it starts bugging me....then I will find the umph to do something about it.

Philip is doing awesome.  I signed him up for a Continuing Education class.  He started his class yesterday.  He has been wanting to do a pottery class for awhile.  They had a wheel thrown pottery class so I tossed him in it.  He came home covered in clay.  Much to my surprise, they put them on the wheel the first day.  He made a cup.  He is pretty excited about the class but he is by far the youngest person in the class of 20.  I really wanted to take the class too (I took a pottery class in high school and loved it) but it didn't take long for me to realize I wouldn't be able to do it physically anymore.  I hate that.  Bastard Myositis.  Robbing me of opportunities of joy.  (Thus the extensive TV viewing.)

If I remember right,, the clay pretty much washes out easy except from white.
 I don't think I will wash these with my clothes.

This week, we started having cooler weather and some rain.  It is clear that has been a little change in the season and I can sense Fall is just around the corner.  Leaves aren't changing yet but I bet it will be just a few weeks.  Today at Paradise, they had super soft ginger cookies which they only have in the Fall.  They are my favorite and it was like a taste of Fall.  I wouldn't be surprised if I closed my eyes and did a soft moan at my first bite.  At Costco, they had their huge Fall Mums out.  Looked like they just recently came in as they were still wrapped in plastic.  I usually buy some to replace my sad looking geraniums from the Spring.  But as I looked at them, I decided this year I have no interest in watering the mums and to just put my pots away when I am sick of the geraniums.  You know you hit a new low when your summer planters have plastic flowers in them because you kept forgetting to water in July and they quit blooming.  But from afar, they look pretty full.  I think I'm turning into one of those weird neighbors with cheap plastic flowers in the yard instead of real ones.  They are low maintenance!  Maybe I need to find some plastic figurines at the dollar store to go with my flowers!  haha

So that is my update.  Sorry for swearing but I've decided Bastards is almost a common name and very much expresses my feelings in a non-accusatory way.  I hope you aren't offended.  So you will see everything is good with me overall....gripes and all.