Staples out today!

Before -

We began calling the area "Frankenstein" (after "Harvey" was removed). We thought the staples gave it that Mary Shelley touch.

At long last... an entry

Greetings and holy cow! There is so much to report, SO much to catch up on.

I actually tried to begin this blog entry earlier this morning, but became really tired from trying to remain upright and forward in the chair (GUT MUSCLES ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERYTHING!), and then Karl came upon me in the library and sent me back to bed. After watching The View and having a good nap, Karl brought me the laptop and set me up with access in bed - so here I am!

From this morning:

I am feeling up to a few moments of sitting at the keyboard, so I won't waste much time getting down to it.

Harvey, as many of you may (or may not) know, is no longer. Uh-huh. That's right.

In my last blog entry I was just saying how uncomfortable it was (just that morning), and by that afternoon I was actually rolling on the floor. The truth is, for approximately the last year (as it turns out), I was pushing a section of my small - or large bowel - back in through a hole in my peritoneum. It wasn't my intention, it just so happened the herniated sections were small enough and pliable enough to comply. But that afternoon, the tissue that popped was far larger in size and strangulated, so nothing I was going to do was going to help.

Harvey was the first of my body's messages to me that something was wrong (and he appeared on the scene over 2.5 years ago), but because I had no medical coverage to pay for a CT scan Aug/Sept 2007 (and still don't), I was told that it didn't seem life threatening by the physician who first examined it, and to take it easy for a bit and not strain it any further.

The intense pain I experienced at that time was excruciating, but subsided after two days with rest and becoming quite sloth-like in many of my habits. Also, by that time, Harvey and I had been living together quite simpatico-ly, and bouts of discomfort were minimal and easily handled with counterpressure at the sight of the bulge. Beyond relieving pressure and discomfort, I had no idea what it was I was really doing.

Hindsight and all of that.

At any rate, I am recovering from emergency abdominal surgery, and I am resting at home with family and friends nearby. My discharge was last week Tuesday (everything is running together like a bad watercolor painting), and I will be getting the staples out tomorrow in the early afternoon. Yea!!

Getting on with the

Thanks

I would very much like to express my profound thanks to many people for their love, prayers, help and encouragement over the last two weeks, but most especially to:

• Emma (my first roommate - of 30 minutes - at Crittenton Hospital) who said a prayer with me prior to surgery; she was discharged before I returned following the operation. God bless you, wherever you are, and I hope you are mending quickly and successfully.
• Maria, for sending out a note to our classmates and putting out good vibes. I felt it all the way from where you were. I haven't had a chance to really look over my inbox, which is now overflowing, but I owe you. ALSO, for visiting me in Rochester, and chancing getting lost to do so. ;^) Your floppy-haired mascot sits within eyesight, reminding me to be better to myself. Thank you, and God bless you, too.
• To my friends and classmates who've sent email and good wishes as a result of Maria's note, my sincerest thanks for your concern and thoughts, and for taking time to drop me a note. It is very much appreciated; I will be getting in touch shortly to answer your email.
• Jean, thanks for for not laughing at me when you found me on the bathroom floor; for hauling my azz to the ER and staying with me all that time into the wee hours of Friday morning - and for prompting the ER staff into action when it seemed they had forgotten I was there and not in CT; for staying with the boys until mom got into town, and for all of the visits and calls to check on me. Oh, yeah, and for coming back after mom left town; for loading your heavy-azz generator into your car and getting it here after the power went out on Saturday; for keeping things on track and powered up when you could have been comfortably at home instead, studying for your final exam; for dinner and birthday cake and letting my sons vent. And for being there Friday prior to the surgery (especially after so little sleep) - even though I don't think Friday existed - the drugs were incredible!
• Mom, thank you for coming all the way down from Marquette...for taking time off work and driving that distance in a heartbeat. As a mom I know you must have been distracted and worried, and I wouldn't wish that sort of trip on anyone. You stayed an extra day because you were afraid to go home, and I love you for that. Even more so because you drove home for a brief few days knowing in less than a week you would be returning to the 'troll side' of the bridge to stay with Gram for your allotted monthly shift. You spent hours by my bedside in the hospital, even though I slept much of the time, and made that darned nurse take out the IV when it showed signs of infection. And the flowers were very pretty to look at! I love you.
• Last, but not least, thanks to my sons for putting up with all of the inconveniences and disruptions to our daily lives. You know the rest, so I won't put it here, but I love you to death for picking up the loose ends and carrying on with getting to classes and work, and working with all of the curve balls and hassles that happened as a result of my absence. I also know that hospitals are not a fun place to visit, but thank you for dropping in so frequently - I missed you so much, and seeing you made my hospital stay tolerable. Karl, thank you for giving me your room for the past 9+ days to make recuperation easier.

I am blessed and I know it! As things proceed I will be getting back to a more normal routine and will keep this 'issue' updated for you until it becomes a non-issue, but for now I am going to relax and follow instructions. Maybe I will have Karl bring me a piece of birthday cake, too - chocolate makes everything better.

If April showers don't bring May flowers, then we're getting wet for nothing!

Wow, that was a lot of rain! But, the birds are loving the wheelbarrow left out in the backyard; it has become their own personal swimming pool (and I admit to spending a good amount of time watching the silly things cavort and flitter and splash while taking a spring bath in what can only be very cold water). After two days of nearly solid rainfall, the wheelbarrow is filled to the brim!

Today, however, it is sunny and bright...and dry (as was yesterday)! Today began early enough - but with the assistance of an alarm clock - to be certain Karl did what he needed to do in order to get a spot in the Jewelry II class should one open up. Well, it didn't happen, so we sit waiting to see if anybody decides to drop it over the next two days, and he becomes the lucky one to get to the opening first. It is a horrible way to pass time. College registration... :^P

Of course [here comes the mom in me] if he had just registered when I told him to the first 16 times between the 6th of March and now, there would be none of this thumb-twiddling. At the present time, Karl is in Photoshop for the summer - all 15 weeks of it - and I really hope he gets something out of it.

Brian is spinning his wheels, thinking about taking a class or two, but not certain just yet. Ah well. [heavy sigh]

I am having a little difficulty this morning with moments of pain emanating from my good old friend Harvey, a bit more unusual and persistent than it has been over the last 2 years, but I will persevere as the options are limited without health care and funds. I have become a little more worried over time, though, as the discomfort comes at increasing intervals, so you can bet I am keeping my finger on it (so-to-speak). Will keep you updated.

'Til next time, be well and happy. Hugs all 'round.

It's raining, it's pouring...

Not much to add, except I finally received a rather brief text from the TV pilot dude (B.King), and he has planned a first production meeting for Sunday, beginning at 5pm. Hopefully it will be worthwhile and not (the usual) half-assed attempt I am becoming used to (all hope and schemes with no real substance or forward movement), and will have all players included.

So tired of pipedream meetings. [grrrrr]

I look forward to having something to report on the whole project by the beginning of next week.

Happy Easter!

Enjoy my little Eater Hams - just a bit-o-honey from days gone by. These photos are from 1990 - 1995.

I hope you get as big a smile as I do/did.

Here's wishing you find all of your eggs before they begin to smell!

Ah, yes, and don't forget to check out the latest bruhaha surrounding our infamous Clarkston mural. I've included a link from the latest Detroit News article for your amusement. http://www.detnews.com/article/20090412/LIFESTYLE/904120302

Just remember to click on the back button to return to the blog (if you're so inclined), otherwise, if you "close the link/article (by clicking the x at the top of the page), well...you must begin, again. :^)

FYI: Make certain to take a good-sized basket with you to collect those 'bad eggs' - especially if you're hunting in downtown Clarkston - there seem to be a lot of 'em hidden around the town lately. Well, to be fair, the 'egg' on the wall is a little too big to be "hidden."

One more photo of my two favorite "good eggs."

If yesterday was Good Friday...

...does that make today "Somewhat Satisfactory Saturday"?

Tomorrow is Easter - a day for parading around New York City in stylish chapeaus; searching for colored eggs in yards and parks all across America; grazing on roasted lamb, honey-glazed hams and scalloped potatoes 'til you need to unbutton your trousers (almost like a Thanksgiving-lite sort of thing); a day for reflecting on new beginnings and the one person who sacrificed and suffered for everyone. I guess that last one is more for the grown-up people in the audience than anyone else, although children do seem to get the concept far easier than we do.

Tomorrow is the day for another chance.

New possibilities.

A Christian do-over.

And - if the world were a little more perfect - tomorrow would see the beginning of a humankind 'do-over.' Wouldn't that be the coolest thing - people exercising no restraint in the acts-of-kindness department, and practicing extreme self-control in the need to 'stick-it' to somebody/anybody/everybody else?

• More love, less loathing.
• More tolerance, less judging.
• More acceptance, less condemnation.
• More sharing, less greed.
• More mentoring, less every-man-for-themselves.
• More team work, less backstabbing.
• Less restrictions, more helping hand-ups (not hand-outs).
• Less violence.
• Less fear.
• Less anger.
• Less blaming.
• More accountability.
• More village mentality.
• More fellowship.
• More healing.
• More peace.

Can we get there? Are we capable as a species? I don't know any more...I just don't know. I'd like to think so, but as I read the news online and in the press, and watch the horrible things happening around the world, it's hard to see where anyone would want to jump on the bandwagon and begin. Everyone seems more likely to say: "I'll drop my fist when that guy takes a step back," or, "I'll lower my gun after they put theirs down first," and this extends itself to all corners of the globe, in every aspect of daily lives - whether on the battlefield or in the supermarket parking lot. Boardrooms to gradeschool classrooms. Across all financial levels, from no income to the very well off.

If you would think of the earth as a ship sailing in a vast sea, please try to remember we are all in the same boat.

Don't pee in the pool, don't neglect to wash your hands, don't forget to smile and say hello to the next guy, cover your nose/mouth when you cough and sneeze, and don't forget to thank God every day.

We don't have to wait for Good Friday to practice being good.

Where does the day go?

It's nearly ten o'clock, and I have been all over the Internet, searching, applying, visiting, reading, ordering, dreaming, sending, asking, replying, exploring, improving. Oh yeah, I have been busy, baby! And while I have been busy, my friendly little woodpecker has been all around the neighborhood banging his brains out, but he is now back here in the large old maple out front, just going wild! I can't imagine there are many bugs for him to find this early on, but he stays amused and glued to his task. Maybe he is just searching for another place to roost for the summer. Hmmmm.

This looks as though it will be another beautifully clear, bright-blue-sky sort of day. Second one in a row, too. The wisteria is moved from east to west inside the house as the sun migrates, and it is paying off. The plant is producing many more suckers at each new juncture, and older suckers towards the top are sending out new growth as well, so the plant is thriving. Once I can get it to its permanent spot under the pergola, I can only imagine what will happen. Next year, maybe blossoms!!! But this year will really be a good year for it to establish and grow and fill out quite a bit, and it has a great head start. It only needs to get out of the pot and into the ground.

Karl has been helping by working on cleaning out his room a bit. His dresser was the target yesterday, along with part of his closet. I worked on the linen closet in the hall outside his door, so I think my noises spurred him on. Despite the fact he became sidetracked once in a while, he did fairly well. Although, when it came to his socks, he somehow managed to determine most of what he had either didn't fit him well enough to keep, or that he never really liked them because they were not thick/warm enough. So, when Brian arrived home he (gladly) inherited a goodly number of socks! Now to score some new socks for Karl that meet his exacting requirements.

Still working on the rest of the room (i.e.; floor and shelves).

I heard from Lakesha, as a response to a quick email forward (she was a Specs classmate, for those of you on the outs), and she said she's spoken with Dameon since he left the hospital. He's home and doing well, and that is good news! Thanks for passing that on, Lakesha.

Early this morning there was a lot of activity on the upper floor as Cleo lead the pack in pursuit of another mouse! Yes, she caught it, and presented the dead critter (in her excitement) with something hanging from it (near the head). No, I did not look too closely, and I had the lights very low so as not to wake the boys. It was probably a good thing to not have much light, too, as I am thinking the hanging matter was most likely innards or brain matter. Um, eewww! So, I praised the little monkey, then fed them all much earlier than normal.

Cleo's been looking forward to catching something for the past few days. She sits at high-alert-mode in the kitchen, eyeing two spots like a hawk, so I suppose it was just a matter of time for her before the opportunity presented itself.

Yesterday morning when I came upstairs I found one of the low cupboards open, and a box of rice on the floor, while a large Rubbermaid container full of flour was pushed well forward from behind! That container is quite weighty, so she must have been frantically moving around in there after her quarry (or the sounds of it).

Two down, umpteen to go!

Tell me what's happening in your lives, and make it good. Better yet, I have an assignment for you: write me and tell me the funniest old person story you can think of or remember from your own family, or of a close friend or neighbor. Do it soon, and I will show you why over the summer.

Have a shiny day.

Whatever

Making plans to be at Gram's again towards the end of the month, but only for a few days here and there; the second session I will be there as my mom arrives for her stint, so I will be able to give her the lap quilt I began for her [years] ago. Oddly enough, I began working on it again over the Christmas season and she asked after it! So, I guess that's the sign for me to get it done and get it out of the house.

Of all the blankets and quilts in the house, it is by far the preferred device for kitty happiness (as far as Cleo is concerned), so it will be a sad thing to see it go. But go it must.

I have applied for three more production opportunities since Monday, and I am wearing my heart on my sleeve and my hope in my eyes (masked by determination and capability).

Preparing to mail my tax payments to Uncle Sam and the greedy Keebler Elf, Gov. Granddreamsandbs. Ouch, ouch, ouch!!

Have had to cease working on the family production project for the time being...my trial version of MS Office has finally run dry. [Heavy sigh] I ordered the same version that came loaded on the laptop (at not too bad a cost) from an online retailer and I'm now simply waiting for it to get here. It should arrive before I head to Gram's the first time so I can load it and quickly pick up where I left off...and I will have something to do while in Livonia that makes excellent use of my time. Woohoo!! Yes, I became quite enamoured of the ease of use of the MS Picture Manager tool. Very cooperative and fast way to edit the 800+ photos and store them for the next step.

That's it for now, things are pretty slow around here except for the cleaning and reorganizing. But that has been very cathartic and necessary.

I know, I know...cleaning - blah, blah, blah. Whatever.

Side trips

Let's hear it for the ol' winter one-two, eh.

The winter storm warning for this afternoon into evening has been cancelled, but the first wave of snow (which began sometime late in the evening into the early morning hours) was remarkable! Lots of inches here in 'Knob' territory.

Clarkston schools were not included on the list of closings during the morning news, so I was really quite surprised (or not) to find the elementary and alternative high school parking lots empty as I drove by to get to the recycling bin. Seemed odd and surreal to me (tho' I can't figure out why), but it makes no never mind.

Lots of vehicles in ditches, and plenty of broken trees and large branches laying in yards throughout the neighborhood(s). Poor trees were so ready for spring and they let their winter guard down. The weight and amount of the snow was too much, and [plink] voila! Down comes another half a tree here and there. A few short years after we moved in here, there was a tremendous ice storm in mid-April...so I am well aware it can happen, it just always amazes me when it does. The boys and I had to leave the house and the cats to fend for themselves for 4-5 days as the temps hovered in the 20's and the power remained off. I stayed local and came back to feed the girls and check on everything day in and day out, but the boys were away and warm for the entire time.

This time around, there are several thousand folks in Oakland county without power - and I am glad (thankful) we aren't included in those numbers.

Psst! Thank you, God.

Karl asked me to wash his hair before class today, and I didn't say a thing to him! If you know Karl, you will understand what a big deal it was, and he asked me to trim his beard, too! Holy smokes! So he walked out of here all duded up and suprisingly all together for a change. Baby steps, man, I'm tellin' ya.

I am going to attack the dirty dishes and vacuum a bit (beard trimmings and dust bunnies) before heading out to pick up Karl from school. Then there is a bit of prepping to do before gathering Brian and heading to Gram's for dinner and a visit. All the while the wind is whipping the trees and throwing the precariously balanced (and heavy) snow from the branches onto the cars and against the house. It makes a lot of noise when it strikes the windows and eaves, and the cats are all cuddled downstairs on the bed trying to ignore the sounds. Poor scardy cats.

Oh, I also need to make mom another copy of a composite music CD - the last one wouldn't play in her car for some reason, and since she didn't try it in any other player at home...

So, I will see you all another time, when the news isn't so boring and the time isn't so brief.

Stay well and safe, and be good to each other.

RAM

Random Access Mom thoughts...sorry for the bad tease.

With my usual dose of determination, inquisitiveness, sense of fair play in an unfair world world (whoever said "it" was going to be fair, anyway?), a lack of willingness to wait too long (past stated deadlines and promised dates), a dash of desperation, and my nearly typical full speed ahead-ed-ness, I called the TV pilot producer (from the interview of almost two weeks ago) and asked the casual question: "Neh....what's up, doc?"

Of course, I did it on the terrible Wednesday, when the world was falling apart and nothing was going right. The day that made breathing and acting as humanly normal as possible become merely an illusion. People were in peril that day, and nobody knew a thing.

I called BK while sitting in my car at the OCC campus, after dropping Karl off for his Java class. See, normally, after letting Karl out of the car, I turn around and head for home. Let's face it, there is a lot to do - even without a full time job (or a part time job, for that matter).

Though, before we left the house that morning, I had already called several agencies supposed to be helping Karl and members of the OCC staff, and their supervisors, and was either awaiting callbacks or planning next moves. This whole "post-high" program they pretend to have Karl in is a huge sham, and I fell for it, just like I believed school personnel were behind him in HS. Thpppbbbbbt!

Turns out Karl's MRS (MI Rehabilitation Services) caseworker (Melanie) hasn't been working with MRS for weeks! and nobody let us know. Which really is par for the course since the woman never returned ANY calls during the last three months of attempts (January, February, March). I even asked his Care Coordinator to assist in contacting this new person, and she (Nancy) dropped off the radar!!

Sometimes it gets pretty overwhelming.

Cut to the chase: Her (Melanie's) supervisor - the District Manager for the Macomb/Oakland area - was astounded to learn we didn't know Melanie was no longer working on Karl's behalf...not that she ever was. Also, the DM was surprised to hear that nobody said a word about the lack of Melanie to us when I phoned and specifically asked for help regarding her at the office that morning. AND, the DM was more surprised to hear I left a VME for Melanie on her voicemail, where the outgoing message still gave instructions specifically for reaching Melanie at either that office number or another location with another phone number referenced! How's that for stirring the pot?

My incredulousness grew as the DM became surprised with the news.

Worse yet, Karl's "account" for assistance from this program reflects a substantial debit against the total for time against the balance...even though nothing was really ever done for him by anyone either from CLS or MRS. Twice, he received a ride to class at OCC from the Care Coordinator (Nancy), but that was a one way drive on two separate occasions, and the bill reflected shows hours of use! It's a twenty minute ride - so you KNOW she billed for a lot more than the pick up and delivery. So Karl's account balance dwindles with nothing to show of it all. I want to get paid for transporting him!!!!

Hey! Where's my paycheck??

Deep breath. In........... Out..........

Also that Wednesday, there was the phone run-in with a well-meaning but self-important, under-brain-challenged, sad-excuse-for-an-administrator woman at OCC (Mary) who tried to get out from under a blunder. As she was railing and spewing and pointing pointless fingers in my direction (and Karl's), I told her I was on campus and didn't think the conversation was best had over the phone, so I told her to hang tight for 5 minutes and I would find her office. This took her completely by surprise.

I was left in the outer waiting room to cool my heals, when suddenly a 'severe weather' announcement sounded and drove all occupants of the building to the shelter area, away for the small office.

Let's hear it for perfect timing.

I made my way to the corridor I knew Karl would be entering from, and caught up with him in order to spend that time productively.

Once the drill ended (half an hour later), Karl went with me to the office to have the meeting with Mary - and her supervisor, Mary.

I won't go into everything, because it was very long and involved, and it would be hard to navigate with all the blessed Marys in the room. Suffice to say, Karl was told he would have to make a big decision: drop/withdraw from the java class in order to save his GPA, or take an incomplete for the semester and repeat the entire class over the summer session, and try to improve the overall grade. A third option was to complete the class this term and hope that his grade would be good enough. Currently he has several missing assignments which he has not had any help with as his tutor has missed more than half of her time with him due to sick kids and her own flagging helth.

Any way you cut it, the options are bleak and unfairly balanced against Karl at this time.

He has until April 10th to withdraw, if he so chooses. More on this another time.

As I said much earlier, I did get a return call from BK regarding the camera position for the TV pilot, and the word is that they are hoping to get rolling by Easter, if not before. The Monday meeting (which should have been all-inclusive) sort of changed, and other conversations were had. So, this will be very much like other productions I have been involved with. Hopefully, as things become more stable and the show is up and running, communication will improve. For now...I sit and wait.

On a brighter note, here's a link to one of my BF's having an interview on The View, early in March. Ahhhhh, enjoy.

http://www.whedon.info/Nathan-Fillion-The-View-Tv-Show.html

If you watch it, Nathan goes on to talk briefly about his cat (due to Whoopi's question), and this aspect just makes him that much more adorable, and provides a reason to respect him beyond his Canadian meaty goodness. I always appreciate an update about the cat and a chance to watch those beautifully quirky facial expressions.

Brian's interview with the author who has asked him to illustrate his comic book went well, and Bud expects to be getting a copy of the story to begin illustrating to shortly. I am adamant about having a contract regarding the pay and use of the artwork, rights to it, etc., etc. This is critical, and I think Brian may be hesitant to bring it up for fear of losing out on the opportunity. There is still time, but he needs to be up front and proactive right from the get-go. I am proud of him for moving forward and trying this. As for his big southern excursion - yes, he still thinks he will be driving the rat trap of a pick-up to Georgia in June! Argh!!!

Dear Lord, please let me win the lottery before then.

As for the family pictorial project: I have nearly 400 photos edited - but I have not devoted time every day, as I thought I would, so I am not as close to the finish line for this portion of the project as I hoped to be. I still have over 500 photos yet to edit!

I know, right?!

Uh-oh news: The dryer is now not drying clothes any longer. It tumbles with great enthusiasm, but there is no hot air whatsoever, and so the clothes are nearly as damp coming out after 3 turns of the dial as when they entered. Can't tell you with any certainty when this whole death of the dryer happened, but it was quite recent.

I know one thing...it is going to make the last 4 loads of jeans and towels and such a real challenge! [Laughing madly to keep from crying] Have figured out I can simply wash them here at home, then bag the loads and drive them to a laundromat to dry for the time being. Once the weather turns nice I will take to hanging them outdoors on the line again. I used to love doing it on the farm in Hadley, so why not? All I need to get are clothes pins! tah-daaaaahhhh!

We have been rat-sitting Lillie (or is it Lilie...or Lily?) since last week. She is a cutie pie, and a lot of fun for the cats (and for the humans, too). She had an infection no too long ago which seems to have left her blind in one eye...so she is very challenged when it comes to looking around and taking it all in. It is sad to see her lose her balance and tumble just trying to do simple things, but she is a love and really perseveres, so you can't help but adore her.

The boys and I will head to Gram's tomorrow to visit both the grandmas for a short while. Brian has an outing planned, and I still have things to get done, but seeing mom and having the boys visit their great-Gram is important.

Today marked the 40th or 41st anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination...what a thing to memorialize. Saw a great bumper sticker on a car while out with Karl today. It was simply the drawings of Ghandi, Mother Theresa and MLK with something about your life's actions defining you or defining who you are. Karl thought about it for a moment then said, "George Carlin is the only thing missing from that bumper sticker." Huh.

And on that note...

See, I told you it was going to be a lot of random memory-type stuff. Hope some of it made sense

Blustery, blustery day

Ah, what Pooh would've done with a day like today.

Kite flying, balloon travels, sailing with a bedsheet tied to a lincoln log raft! Who knows?...but I'm bettin' it would have been an adventure.

The morning was crisp and springlike, but definitely warned that something was afoot for the remainder of the day. Who knew it would turn ugly and February-like? The wind, which blew slightly early on, now tugs and pushes at the barren trees and mocks the tulips and daffodils which are already well on their way to becoming lovely, waving greeters for spring. Grey clouds pile one on top of another, blocking the daylight and reminding me that we had an easy journey out of winter, and that my thankfulness for the mellow March must now be met with Mother Nature's gentle temporary rebuke.

What a hag!

So I busy myself with cleaning and weeding (papers), feeding critters and Trolls, contemplating sewing projects and next steps, and finally curling under a quilt on the sofa to watch a movie; something that will make me laugh and make me cry. The blustery wind outside my walls seems to be telling me I need some meat therapy from my Scottish boyfriend. Happily, I will comply!

As I head off to grab a box of tissue and a large glass of milk, I bid you all "ado" until tomorrow.

See you on the bright side!

I keep waiting...

I keep waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes, or from behind a tree, and yell "April Fool's!" - but it never happens. So while this day feels like a complete joke, it was far too stressful to be anything but a joke, and poor Karl was at the root of it all. Oh my gosh!...make it all go away. Please...I'm beggin' ya.

Poo! I promised myself I would NOT mention AFs day in this, the first blog of April, but doggone-it, I had to. And now that it's over, let me sigh and lean back in my chair, take a cleansing breath and mix a hi-yooog (i.e.; Huge) White Russian (have to have my calcium donchya know). Maybe I will explain tomorrow, we'll see.

Soon, I will have to begin dinner, then do dishes...and move laundry from the washer to the drier...fold the dry clothes after emptying the drier so's I could fill it again...and on and on. Oooh, and let's not forget to wash the darned dinner dishes!

Calgon! Take me away.

I'm still waiting!