Just some thoughts

Hey...three more days till vacation. Unfortunatly, there's been a big change of events regarding that. We were supposed to go to Kiawah Island for 3 nights, staying in the home of my brother-in-law's partner. We stayed there 2 years ago, and it's one of the nicest places I've been to. I was so looking forward to it. Going there turned my trip down south into a real vacation. Charlie, the owner, told them that his son decided to stay there for the week, after telling us that it was ours. This was the same person who offered it to my nephew for his honeymoon last year only to tell him the week before that the house was being renovated and there would be workmen there the whole time. They had to find a new place to go. Anyway, Andy, my brother-in-law is looking for someplace else for us to go. He mentioned camping in the Smokies. I'm sure its beautiful, but probably hot. Camping in the South in the summer?

Time for work. Later...

They say it's your Birthday

It's Monday, the last day of my weekend (hairdresser's weekend). Today is my birthday...it feels like such a non-event this year. I haven't mentioned it to anyone, so it will really go unnoticed, except to my family. I don't like the year I'm turning, so maybe if I ignore it... I went for a walk this morning and got rained on. It actually felt very good.

I'll be at the hospital with my Mother today, visiting my
father. Whoopee. My father gets out tomorrow. He's been in a hospital since May 5--that's almost 8 weeks. He tripped on a rug in the kitchen in the beginning of April and hit his head pretty hard on the refrigerater. If he'd felt bad, he probably would have gone to the doctor's, but as it turned out, he didn't even have a headache. Almost 4 weeks later, his left leg felt weak, and by the time he saw his doctor the next day, he couldn't walk. The day after that he had full brain surgery for a subdural hematoma--a bleed between the skull and brain. We thought, OK, you have the surgery and relieve the pressure and then you're fine. Well, not. He was totally bedridden for about 5 weeks. He was in Georgetown University Hospital for about 5 weeks and NRH rehab hospital for the remainder of the time. Finally, about 2 weeks ago, his leg 'woke up.' He's now able to get around with a walker and will start outpatient therapy 2 days after he comes home. What an ordeal it's been for him, and for us kids. He's expected us to be at the hospital visiting him as often as possible. It's been hard. I hope to not set foot in a hospital for a very long time! I spent the day today getting the bedroom at his home ready--moving furniture, etc... My Mom is spending the night here and we'll go to the hospital for the last time today. I can't believe that this is what my life is like now. Spending so much time with my Mother because of her stroke, and now with my Father because of this. I love them both very much, but really want my life back. Thank God I have my daughter, my home, my job that is just perfect for me, and an optimistic outlook on life.

Did I mention that my daughter is in Georgia? She's visiting my sister for about 11 days. I'll be driving out there to meet them in a week. My sister has a great family, and I'd love it if some of their values rubbed off on her. So far, it seems like they've done a lot of driving, taking the boys to their camps, etc... Soccer camp starts tomorrow for my daughter and her one cousin. That will be a first for both of them. I can hear the complaints now... too hot, too much running, boring, etc..Their reward for going to the camp is lunch out every other day and going swimming in a friend's pool every day. Not bad. I'd like to be in camp. Preferably in the finger lakes of upstate NY for the whole summer. With my daughter. That would be the best! I'm dreaming now. Well, time to get on with the day. My Birthday.

For some, its Friday

Most people love Fridays cause its the last workday or school day of the week. For a hairdresser, its the day before Saturday, our last day. Friday's are good because you know there's only one more day to go, then you're off on Saturday and Sunday. I've had a really busy morning, but I was so organized with my time! I went out at 7:00 and watered all my plants. I can't believe how wilted they all were. So it took a while to really soak them. Most of my front yard is a perennial garden.When I was done I washed my car. It's been sitting in my parent's driveway for a few days and was covered with pollen. Next, I took a shower and got all ready for work and then it was off to the grocery store. When I got back I made my salad and tuna salad,cut up mango, blueberries and strawberries and got it all packed up for lunch. And here I am. It's 10:10 and I have 10 more minutes till it's time to go to work. I work 11-7 today. I didn't walk this morning (obviously) cause I thought it would be nice to do it tonight. Yesterday was such a long day. BG&E came at 12:30 and stayed till 2:00. I am so glad my AC is working. It'll be back in the 90's today. Anyway, Mom and I went to NRH to visit my Dad (more about that another day) and stayed there till 5:30. Then we went to Mom's house and I got her situated, and watered the outside plants. I searched in the shed for a sprinkler, but no luck. I went to Magruder's and bought veggies and mulch. Then I went to Safeway for bagged salad and my pictures. The salad was free cause of my coupons ($4) and the film was free because it wasn't ready on Sunday when it should have been. I saved $11. Anyway, when I got home my garden was so dry that I had to water it ( yes, last night and this morning. That's how dry it was).I didn't get inside the house till 9:00, and then had popcorn for dinner. What a day. I better stop here so I stay on my good schedule. Later!

Thursday

Ladeda...I work up real early and walked again, this time to the music of Five For Fighting. Everyday I take a new path, this time by the new 'villas' and Porten Homes. Had to walk past lots of construction workers. They all appeared to be Latino. I walked with a gusto for 30 minutes, and then had to take a shortcut home. A muscle in my back thigh was killing me. Still, not a bad walk for only the 3rd day. My favorite day to walk was always Tuesdays, recycling day. It was interesting to see the discarded boxes from what people bought, who was recycling and who was not, how many soda cans or beer bottles were out, etc... I know, I know, but it kept the walk interesting. I came home today and read the whole paper and drank my coffee while sitting on the front porch. I saw the hummingbird once, but it was probably there when I wasn't looking. I thought they were supposed to be colorful. This one is just a plain brown. I really like watching birds. I've given up on feeding them, though, because the squirrels eat all the food. I'm keeping up with the bird bath. I don't mind the squirrels drinking from it. I'm home today, waiting to BG&E to come with the parts to fix my AC. It's been out of service for about 2 weeks. The first week was HELL. That hot. We had a heat wave of 90+ degree days. I had my ceiling fan on full blast and 3 floor fans going just to make it bearable to sleep. That and a spray bottle of water. I'll say that it did create a memory for my daughter and me. This is all one big paragraph because I don't know how to make a new one! I'll write more later....

A new day

A new day. I was so beat when I got home from work. I sat outside in a daze, waiting for my hummingbird to show up. It's great having a front porch. I love being outside, and it's a private place. The trees and bushes kind of hide me from the street. Not that my suburban cul-de-sac is teeming with activity! When I turned to get up, I saw that the brick wall behind my head was teeming with tiny ants. Too much nature for me. Raid for ants really works instantly! Unfortunatly, I had just cleaned my porch and now I have dead ants to wipe off.

I watched Blow Out on Bravo last night. Being a hair stylist, it's a kick. Still, Jonathan is unlike the hairdressers I know. High maintaninece and a prima donna. The producers probably tell him the more dramatic he is, the better ratings the show will get. I can't stand when he goes to his shrink and acts like a cry baby. The show's on Bravo on Tuesdays at 9:00. Lots of hairdressers watch it and talk about it at work.

Almost time for work. I walked this morning. Two days in a row now. I used to walk a few miles a day, everyday. It felt so good. When people would tell me how impressed they were, I'd tell them it was a fluke. One day, I just stopped, and it's been about 2 years now. It's like dieting-you feel great about your weight loss and celebrate by eating. Lately, I've watched my thighs turn to jello, and I'm finally ready to do something about it.

My daughter leaves for almost 2 weeks this morning. She'll be staying with my sister in Georgia. It'll be the longest time I've been alone in about 12 years. I'll let you know how it goes.

Off to work!

6-20-05

It's my first day of having this blog. I wasn't really ready to start writing, so this is really just a test. La de da.