Our fat black cat, Roly Poly Ole, looks quite depressed today. It's probably my fault -- I've been pressuring her all week to get ready for her big act on Halloween. Thus far she has refused to go along with my plan to have her arch her back and poof up her tail; she won't even hiss! Our other cat, Beanie (Lena), is the Queen of Hiss and sometimes I think she hisses just 'cause she likes the sound of it. What's a feline owner to do?
I spent at least two weeks trying to get Beanie to speak for her treats. Never try to teach a cat to speak -- it won't work. She prefers to speak at night after we're in bed so we'll get really irritated. When she discovers she's alone in a room, she starts ranting and raving until one of us calls her so she knows she's not alone. She must've gotten that from Steve.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Trivia Stuff
Here's your totally useless fact of the day:
A full moon rarely shows up on Halloween, although Halloween is often associated with full moons. Full moons on Halloween over the past century have occurred in 1925, 1944, 1955, and 1974. The next full moon on October 31 will occur in 2020.
If you're still alive in 13 years, don't forget this.
A full moon rarely shows up on Halloween, although Halloween is often associated with full moons. Full moons on Halloween over the past century have occurred in 1925, 1944, 1955, and 1974. The next full moon on October 31 will occur in 2020.
If you're still alive in 13 years, don't forget this.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Real Women
I hate petite women on sight -- can't help it. I also hate women with perky breasts who don't have to wear bras. I hate bras, but I'll never be one of those women who can go without one. The way I see it, my boobs will hit my kneecaps by the time I'm 70! Isn't that a lovely vision?
Slug and I have always referred to ourselves as "Voluptuous Women" -- doesn't that sound much better than "Plus-Size Women"? There's no question that the men in our lives have something to grab, no matter where that may be on our bodies with several choices.
If I am to be friends with a petite woman, they have to work very hard to win me over with a delightful personality, or perhaps expensive gifts.
What got me started on this was looking at Last Minute Auction on the internet. There are so many bras in a size 34B that I just don't get it. Why would you even bother?
Slug and I have always referred to ourselves as "Voluptuous Women" -- doesn't that sound much better than "Plus-Size Women"? There's no question that the men in our lives have something to grab, no matter where that may be on our bodies with several choices.
If I am to be friends with a petite woman, they have to work very hard to win me over with a delightful personality, or perhaps expensive gifts.
What got me started on this was looking at Last Minute Auction on the internet. There are so many bras in a size 34B that I just don't get it. Why would you even bother?
Impress your Friends
Here's your totally useless fact of the day:
The original name of Goofy was Dippy Dawg. He first appeared in the
1932 cartoon "Mickey's Revue." Pinto Colvig was originally the voice
of Goofy. He was also the voice of Pluto and the original Bozo the
Clown (1949). Pinto also provided the voice to one of the Munchkins
in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz and Sleepy and Grumpy in the
1937 Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
Now you can wow your friends at the next cocktail party! You're welcome!
The original name of Goofy was Dippy Dawg. He first appeared in the
1932 cartoon "Mickey's Revue." Pinto Colvig was originally the voice
of Goofy. He was also the voice of Pluto and the original Bozo the
Clown (1949). Pinto also provided the voice to one of the Munchkins
in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz and Sleepy and Grumpy in the
1937 Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
Now you can wow your friends at the next cocktail party! You're welcome!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Who Knew?
Here's your totally useless fact of the day:
A cluster or bunch of bananas is called a hand.
Individual bananas are called fingers.
Now you can proceed with a life of total nirvana.
A cluster or bunch of bananas is called a hand.
Individual bananas are called fingers.
Now you can proceed with a life of total nirvana.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
On Loathing Cookie Jars
Who'd have thought that when I asked Steve to let me pick out a cookie jar on EBay for Christmas, I'd get more than 6,100 hits on my search? Guess what I've been doing all day? Did you know that it's quite possible to spend $300 on a cookie jar? The cookies I make would never qualify to live in a jar that expensive.
I simply want an interesting jar with some cobalt blue on it -- nothing resembling M. Monroe, Wizard of Oz, or Disney figures, etc. Yup, I searched the whole dang thing and ended up saving only three! I'm not even sure I still want a cookie jar anymore. Bah!
I simply want an interesting jar with some cobalt blue on it -- nothing resembling M. Monroe, Wizard of Oz, or Disney figures, etc. Yup, I searched the whole dang thing and ended up saving only three! I'm not even sure I still want a cookie jar anymore. Bah!
Headaches and Guacamole
Saw my doctor again this week to review my systemic reaction to the blood thinners which I'll be on for another four months. My blood level of the drug was good, although I've been having really, really nasty headaches since I started taking this med. The Vicodin does absolutely nothing for headaches, so she prescribed a med that includes a barbiturate. I sure sleep well now!
Our landlord gave us two gigantic avocados from his tree and today I made guacamole for the first time. It turned out pretty good, but since we didn't have Doritos or corn chips to dip, we used just plain old saltine crackers. Works for me and Steve even liked it and he's anti-Mexican food! When I get a craving for Mexican, I usually go to the drive-thru at Taco Bell or make my own tacos at home. Yum.
Our landlord gave us two gigantic avocados from his tree and today I made guacamole for the first time. It turned out pretty good, but since we didn't have Doritos or corn chips to dip, we used just plain old saltine crackers. Works for me and Steve even liked it and he's anti-Mexican food! When I get a craving for Mexican, I usually go to the drive-thru at Taco Bell or make my own tacos at home. Yum.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Games People Play
For my birthday, Slug got me a renewal of my subscription to Pogo, which she'd initially gotten for me the previous year. I think this is perhaps her way of making sure I'll always have to take psychotropic medication. I'm truly a computer game junkie, thus Pogo is the place to be.
There's a game I play called Poppit; the idea is to pop as many combinations of balloons possible. I'm very addiced to Poppit and sometimes the computer tells me I've won, but I don't know why it's considered a win! If it weren't for the evil intermissions Pogo puts on this game, I'd probably be on it all night long.
My new quest for a higher score goes to the Action version of Bejeweled. Seems like a simple game, but my neighbor has gotten over one million points and I really need to top her since she's just being way too superior about it. So far I've gotten just over 800,000. Slug plays this too, although she's not doing very well --big shock there!
There's a game I play called Poppit; the idea is to pop as many combinations of balloons possible. I'm very addiced to Poppit and sometimes the computer tells me I've won, but I don't know why it's considered a win! If it weren't for the evil intermissions Pogo puts on this game, I'd probably be on it all night long.
My new quest for a higher score goes to the Action version of Bejeweled. Seems like a simple game, but my neighbor has gotten over one million points and I really need to top her since she's just being way too superior about it. So far I've gotten just over 800,000. Slug plays this too, although she's not doing very well --big shock there!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Fat Sucks
I'm sitting here eating candy corn like I'm going to the electric chair tomorrow! I sort of AM because I'm starting another diet in the morning. I've spoken to a lot of people who tell me the point system with Weight Watchers is a really good system. I found the point listing on a website so I don't have to join and pay money to lose weight.
In the year 2000 when my leg blew up, I was so sick that in the year that followed that I lost 140 pounds! If it wasn't diarrhea, I was continuously throwing up, either from the morphine, the antibiotics, or the hospital food -- take your pick. I got down to what I weighed in college and felt great! Of course, I gained the bulk of it back because evil retailers insist on putting chocolate on their shelves and I have no resistance. In Florida, hair and weight are a real problem; hair frizzes in humidity and I'm the queen of frizz so I cut it short; weight is a problem because you get rashes under your boobs when it's really hot and humid, and ill-fitting clothes are miserable.
In my next life, the man I live with will be fat, rich and maybe sick and he'll put me in his will. Steve can eat like a horse and never gain a pound, mostly because he's always burning it off with constant movement. Wish me luck -- I'll need it.
In the year 2000 when my leg blew up, I was so sick that in the year that followed that I lost 140 pounds! If it wasn't diarrhea, I was continuously throwing up, either from the morphine, the antibiotics, or the hospital food -- take your pick. I got down to what I weighed in college and felt great! Of course, I gained the bulk of it back because evil retailers insist on putting chocolate on their shelves and I have no resistance. In Florida, hair and weight are a real problem; hair frizzes in humidity and I'm the queen of frizz so I cut it short; weight is a problem because you get rashes under your boobs when it's really hot and humid, and ill-fitting clothes are miserable.
In my next life, the man I live with will be fat, rich and maybe sick and he'll put me in his will. Steve can eat like a horse and never gain a pound, mostly because he's always burning it off with constant movement. Wish me luck -- I'll need it.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Wedding Saga Part II
At the reception the couple's first dance was to the divine Etta James, "At Last"; when the new bride danced with her father, it was to the song, "What a Wonderful World" sung by, I thought, Louie Armstrong. When I looked over at the band, there was a smallish white guy doing an imitation of Armstrong singing! He also did Sinatra and several others.
Towards the end of the reception as folks began leaving the dance, bottles of Sauvignon Blanc with raffia and leaves once again, and a tag with the date and name of the bride and groom were presented to each guest. Nice touch...
The newly marrieds appeared the next morning where they provided a buffet breakfast for their wedding guests. Lots of really nice touches. The following day the couple left for Italy for a honeymoon provided by the groom's parents. Steve, his mom and I went back to Bobby and Maryanne's house where Maryanne regularly checked to see where the kids were on their flight. It was neat to watch when the plane landed in Rome on the screen.
The next day our hosts started to relax a little and Bobby shared his collection of didgeridoos (a wooden handpainted instrument made by the aboriginies in Australia) -- very unique collection. Maryanne is very gifted at so many things, but her painting truly stands out. She painted ivy on the walls in the master bathroom; the kitchen was beautifully done in blues; on and on and on. A really warm and beautiful showplace and home.
Towards the end of the reception as folks began leaving the dance, bottles of Sauvignon Blanc with raffia and leaves once again, and a tag with the date and name of the bride and groom were presented to each guest. Nice touch...
The newly marrieds appeared the next morning where they provided a buffet breakfast for their wedding guests. Lots of really nice touches. The following day the couple left for Italy for a honeymoon provided by the groom's parents. Steve, his mom and I went back to Bobby and Maryanne's house where Maryanne regularly checked to see where the kids were on their flight. It was neat to watch when the plane landed in Rome on the screen.
The next day our hosts started to relax a little and Bobby shared his collection of didgeridoos (a wooden handpainted instrument made by the aboriginies in Australia) -- very unique collection. Maryanne is very gifted at so many things, but her painting truly stands out. She painted ivy on the walls in the master bathroom; the kitchen was beautifully done in blues; on and on and on. A really warm and beautiful showplace and home.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Ain't Love Grand?
Steve's got two nieces and one nephew; I have six nieces and one nephew, and five great (grand maybe?) nephews and one great (grand?) niece. His niece, Jennifer, who just got married in NJ is the only child of his brother, Bobby and his wife Maryanne. She's a beautiful girl who looks very Italian with dark features and that gorgeous Mediterranean skin tone.
Jen dated several guys before she met Dan, the groom, on a cruise she took with her best friend who is her cousin Sabrina, and a few other single girlfriends. Dan is an undercover cop in Union City, NJ, and he's very Irish with very blue eyes, blondish hair and light skin. Jen is a chemist for Revlon and has already received a patent for a kind of moisturizer added to lipstick.
Dan took Jen to Ireland last year and proposed to her -- her parents knew about it; Jen didn't know it was coming, but she was hoping... He asked her to marry him on the property in Ireland where his grandfather had a farm at one time. Cool.
The theme of their wedding was autumn leaves and I've never been to a "theme" wedding before. There was a filmy covering on their wedding invitation with a leaf on it, and their wedding programs each had a tiny felt leaf on them. Dan has a 7-yr-old daughter from a previous relationship and they included her in the wedding as flower girl. After they exchanged their vows, they each took one of Daniela's hands as they walked to the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Sabrina, Jen's cousin, was her Maid of Honor, and Dan's father was his Best Man. He said he was told that the groom's best friend should be his Best Man, and that person was his dad. The rest of the groomsmen were his brother-in-law, another close friend, his cop partner and another cop friend. What a handsome group of guys! The bride and groom left the church in a horse-drawn carriage with the driver in full beard and a period costume complete with tophat.
After the wedding we drove to the motel where we were staying for the night to drop off our luggage; each person with a reservation was given a goody bag from the bride and groom which had raffia and autumn leaves on the handles. We took a shuttle to the Crystal Tower in Livingston, NJ for the reception which started with a cocktail hour. The bride's father, Bobby, is currently taking jazz guitar lessons and his teacher played during this time. He was amazing! There was a bar set up just for martinis, another for mixed drinks. There was a long table with a woman making whatever kind of fajita you wanted; another table had only seafood; another table had just fresh fruits. Waiters mingled about with trays of wonderful appetizers, and I think I probably ate 30 coconut chicken balls (no, not actual chicken balls).
The doors were at last opened for the reception/dance and dinner was served -- guests had several menu options from which to choose. There were chocolate desserts, creme brulee (one of my personal favorites -- I told Maryanne that she'd better keep an eye on me or I'd be stealing from other tables). Then came wedding cake which was a sumptious carrot cake. Needless to say, we didn't starve at this affair!
To be continued...
Jen dated several guys before she met Dan, the groom, on a cruise she took with her best friend who is her cousin Sabrina, and a few other single girlfriends. Dan is an undercover cop in Union City, NJ, and he's very Irish with very blue eyes, blondish hair and light skin. Jen is a chemist for Revlon and has already received a patent for a kind of moisturizer added to lipstick.
Dan took Jen to Ireland last year and proposed to her -- her parents knew about it; Jen didn't know it was coming, but she was hoping... He asked her to marry him on the property in Ireland where his grandfather had a farm at one time. Cool.
The theme of their wedding was autumn leaves and I've never been to a "theme" wedding before. There was a filmy covering on their wedding invitation with a leaf on it, and their wedding programs each had a tiny felt leaf on them. Dan has a 7-yr-old daughter from a previous relationship and they included her in the wedding as flower girl. After they exchanged their vows, they each took one of Daniela's hands as they walked to the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Sabrina, Jen's cousin, was her Maid of Honor, and Dan's father was his Best Man. He said he was told that the groom's best friend should be his Best Man, and that person was his dad. The rest of the groomsmen were his brother-in-law, another close friend, his cop partner and another cop friend. What a handsome group of guys! The bride and groom left the church in a horse-drawn carriage with the driver in full beard and a period costume complete with tophat.
After the wedding we drove to the motel where we were staying for the night to drop off our luggage; each person with a reservation was given a goody bag from the bride and groom which had raffia and autumn leaves on the handles. We took a shuttle to the Crystal Tower in Livingston, NJ for the reception which started with a cocktail hour. The bride's father, Bobby, is currently taking jazz guitar lessons and his teacher played during this time. He was amazing! There was a bar set up just for martinis, another for mixed drinks. There was a long table with a woman making whatever kind of fajita you wanted; another table had only seafood; another table had just fresh fruits. Waiters mingled about with trays of wonderful appetizers, and I think I probably ate 30 coconut chicken balls (no, not actual chicken balls).
The doors were at last opened for the reception/dance and dinner was served -- guests had several menu options from which to choose. There were chocolate desserts, creme brulee (one of my personal favorites -- I told Maryanne that she'd better keep an eye on me or I'd be stealing from other tables). Then came wedding cake which was a sumptious carrot cake. Needless to say, we didn't starve at this affair!
To be continued...
Buddha Quote
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
-The Buddha
-The Buddha
Post-Vacation Frenzy
Steve and I got back from NY/NJ on Tuesday and we decided to use Wednesday as a just plain "do nothing" day to recover. I'll fill you in on our trip soon.
Steve had to bring a ring his brother gave him to a jeweler in Palm Harbor (where my sister and husband formerly lived) to have the stone changed, so we stopped at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on our way back. We're thrift shop junkies and enjoy finding anything unusual or useful at a lower-than-bargain price. It's awesome how many Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillacs are parked outside the store -- retirees looking for something or other I guess. Sometimes it amazes me what people donate, and often items look new, and sometimes they ARE new! We found some great nautical decor for our lighthouse-themed half bath; also got some antique-looking Christmas decorations, and some great Halloween decorations. This particular store in Holiday, FL is huge and also sells used furniture. We found a nice lamp for our Southwestern/Western second bedroom, and I found a brand new royal blue blouse for myself for $2.00! It was fun and these stores are always changing since people constantly drop off donations. A few years ago we got an excellent SLR camera for $10.00 and have been using it ever since; this will soon be replaced by the digital camera Jules is sending our way.
We still haven't readjusted to the humidity here, and it was really great to actually have real goosebumps up north!
The wedding was totally unreal but I'll go into that later. It's almost 2 AM here and I have to be at the lab for bloodwork early tomorrow. Hope all is well out there. What's with Britney anyway?
Steve had to bring a ring his brother gave him to a jeweler in Palm Harbor (where my sister and husband formerly lived) to have the stone changed, so we stopped at the Salvation Army Thrift Store on our way back. We're thrift shop junkies and enjoy finding anything unusual or useful at a lower-than-bargain price. It's awesome how many Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillacs are parked outside the store -- retirees looking for something or other I guess. Sometimes it amazes me what people donate, and often items look new, and sometimes they ARE new! We found some great nautical decor for our lighthouse-themed half bath; also got some antique-looking Christmas decorations, and some great Halloween decorations. This particular store in Holiday, FL is huge and also sells used furniture. We found a nice lamp for our Southwestern/Western second bedroom, and I found a brand new royal blue blouse for myself for $2.00! It was fun and these stores are always changing since people constantly drop off donations. A few years ago we got an excellent SLR camera for $10.00 and have been using it ever since; this will soon be replaced by the digital camera Jules is sending our way.
We still haven't readjusted to the humidity here, and it was really great to actually have real goosebumps up north!
The wedding was totally unreal but I'll go into that later. It's almost 2 AM here and I have to be at the lab for bloodwork early tomorrow. Hope all is well out there. What's with Britney anyway?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Parenting Sons
You can find out some interesting things when you have a son. For
instance:
* A king-size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2,000 sq. ft.
house four inches deep.
* If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with
roller blades, they can ignite.
* A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded
restaurant.
* If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape.
* It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread
paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
* When using a ceiling fan as a baseball bat, you have to throw the
ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a
baseball a long way.
* The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
* When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh," it's already
too late.
* Brake fluid mixed with chlorine tablets makes smoke, and lots of it.
* A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
* Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
* Play-Doh and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
* Super glue is forever.
* No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool, you still
can't walk on water.
* Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
* VCRs do not eject peanut butter sandwiches even though TV
commercials show they do.
* Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
* Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
* You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
* Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not
like ovens.
* The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms
dizzy.
* It will, however, make cats dizzy.
* Dizzy cats can throw up twice their body weight.
* 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
* 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the chorine tablet and
brake fluid.
instance:
* A king-size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2,000 sq. ft.
house four inches deep.
* If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with
roller blades, they can ignite.
* A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded
restaurant.
* If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape.
* It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread
paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
* When using a ceiling fan as a baseball bat, you have to throw the
ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a
baseball a long way.
* The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
* When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh," it's already
too late.
* Brake fluid mixed with chlorine tablets makes smoke, and lots of it.
* A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
* Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
* Play-Doh and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
* Super glue is forever.
* No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool, you still
can't walk on water.
* Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
* VCRs do not eject peanut butter sandwiches even though TV
commercials show they do.
* Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
* Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
* You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
* Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not
like ovens.
* The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms
dizzy.
* It will, however, make cats dizzy.
* Dizzy cats can throw up twice their body weight.
* 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
* 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the chorine tablet and
brake fluid.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Spooky, but it worked!!!
Docs bathe Fla. woman in bleach to kill flesh-eating bacteria
Tammy Cox is being consumed by flesh-eating bacteria. The Florida mother is in a medically induced coma at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where WKMG-TV says doctors are soaking her body in raw bleach in the hope that this will kill the deadly bacteria.
"It just kept eating away at her," Cindy Cox, her sister, said. "So, they kept taking more and more and her whole backside is gone."
No one knows how she contracted the infection, the station says. The prognosis isn't good. One out of four people with necrotizing fasciitis (nek-roe-tie-zing fah-shee-eyetis) doesn't make it. If the bleach works, doctors say Cox will spend six months in the hospital and undergo at least 18 surgeries.
Tammy Cox is being consumed by flesh-eating bacteria. The Florida mother is in a medically induced coma at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where WKMG-TV says doctors are soaking her body in raw bleach in the hope that this will kill the deadly bacteria.
"It just kept eating away at her," Cindy Cox, her sister, said. "So, they kept taking more and more and her whole backside is gone."
No one knows how she contracted the infection, the station says. The prognosis isn't good. One out of four people with necrotizing fasciitis (nek-roe-tie-zing fah-shee-eyetis) doesn't make it. If the bleach works, doctors say Cox will spend six months in the hospital and undergo at least 18 surgeries.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Frequent Flyers We're Not!
Knowing that packing and getting ready to go away can cause stress, Steve and I agreed to be agreeable today and it seems to have worked. We're so different though -- he worries about each item he'll wear for every kind of situation, and I could really care less as long as everything matches and I have earrings to go with whatever it is I'm wearing.
I'll be among the non-bloggers until the 17th so wish me luck as I meet the entire Aliano clan! We'll be staying with Steve's mom until after his niece's wedding next Friday, and after that we'll stay at his brother Bobbie's and leave from Atlantic City to come back here. Back atcha soon!
I'll be among the non-bloggers until the 17th so wish me luck as I meet the entire Aliano clan! We'll be staying with Steve's mom until after his niece's wedding next Friday, and after that we'll stay at his brother Bobbie's and leave from Atlantic City to come back here. Back atcha soon!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Pre-Travel Chores
We spent today doing all those pre-travel chores we put off until now. Got two cartons of smokes (they're over six bucks a pack in NYC), Werthers for the plane ride, picked up my prescriptions, tried to print our boarding passes (which Sister Slug informed me I can't do until tomorrow), stopped at the lab to have my weekly blood drawing (required when you're taking a blood thinner), got 15 cans of the ONLY cat food my fussy Fuzz Family will eat, etc.
JJ came by a couple of times today which is an indication that he's not doing well living alone with no current girlfriend. I've been forced to conclude that he's at a very self-centered stage in his life, and that he has a very distorted sense of himself. Seems there are so many people who spend money and hours perfecting their outer selves, but no time whatsoever figuring out how to be a better person, calm down, have patience and compassion, etc.
JJ came by a couple of times today which is an indication that he's not doing well living alone with no current girlfriend. I've been forced to conclude that he's at a very self-centered stage in his life, and that he has a very distorted sense of himself. Seems there are so many people who spend money and hours perfecting their outer selves, but no time whatsoever figuring out how to be a better person, calm down, have patience and compassion, etc.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Good News for those with a Conscience
Being a "conscientious" person may protect against Alzheimer's disease, finds a new study of more than a thousand older nuns, priests and brothers. The personality trait is characterized by being goal-oriented, self-disciplined, able to control impulses and purposeful. Subjects in the study tended to agree with self-descriptions such as this one: "I am a productive person who always gets the job done." The study was reported by Reuters, Associated Press, Medical News Today, HealthDay, Science Daily and Psychiatric Times.
Okay, so I don't have a lot of self-discipline. For me, it should say: "..who always gets the job done eventually."
Okay, so I don't have a lot of self-discipline. For me, it should say: "..who always gets the job done eventually."
Friday, October 5, 2007
Alianos in Flux
Steve's last name is Aliano, and this past week his family has undergone some pretty big changes. His brother's only child is getting married in NJ next Friday; his sister has a son and daughter, Louis and Sabrina -- we just learned that Louis and his long-time girlfriend got married in Mexico, and his niece is pregnant with a boy! For a guy with only three nieces and nephews, that's a lot of activity!
My family is just about the opposite of Steve's as it gets. Our family is real laid-back and I can't remember when we've even been mad at each other for anything! We seldom argue or raise our voices. These characteristics are both good and bad since we're probably all pretty bad at expressing negatives or having confrontations. When I was a clinic manager, one of the social workers used to call me a "Steel Marshmallow" 'cause I'd try to be tough and nobody would buy it.
Steve's family is extremely talkative and I think they actually enjoy arguing sometimes. They're all pretty high-anxiety types and are prone to panic attacks with what seems to me little provocation. With Steve I've learned to be more outspoken (or I'd never get a word in edgewise) and he's the first man I've lived with who I've actually yelled at!
Having survived two divorces, I've learned that in-laws are a big part of relationships and they can make or break you. Steve's family is great and I like how different we are. Keeps things interesting!
My family is just about the opposite of Steve's as it gets. Our family is real laid-back and I can't remember when we've even been mad at each other for anything! We seldom argue or raise our voices. These characteristics are both good and bad since we're probably all pretty bad at expressing negatives or having confrontations. When I was a clinic manager, one of the social workers used to call me a "Steel Marshmallow" 'cause I'd try to be tough and nobody would buy it.
Steve's family is extremely talkative and I think they actually enjoy arguing sometimes. They're all pretty high-anxiety types and are prone to panic attacks with what seems to me little provocation. With Steve I've learned to be more outspoken (or I'd never get a word in edgewise) and he's the first man I've lived with who I've actually yelled at!
Having survived two divorces, I've learned that in-laws are a big part of relationships and they can make or break you. Steve's family is great and I like how different we are. Keeps things interesting!
Freebie from my Favorite Niece!
My favorite niece, Jules, wrote in her blog that her boyfriend gave her a new digital camera for her birthday. Within two minutes of reading that, I e-mailed Jules to find out if she'd consider selling me her old digital camera. To my delight, she's GIVING it to me! I have absolutely no idea how to use a digital camera, but I will definitely figure it out. Just think how exciting this blog would be with pictures! Too bad I didn't have one earlier though 'cause I could've shared photos of my leg wound! Darn!
On Calling Mom
My sister Slug and I have an agreement as to when we'll each call Mom -- Slug's in Texas and calls Mom on Sundays and I call her from Florida on Thursday nights at 8PM. If for any reason I'm 20 minutes late calling her, she calls me wondering what's wrong with my leg. Then Slug usually calls me over the weekend and always asks what Mom had to say. When your mother is 86, you're nearly always wondering how she's doing. Happily, she's doing well, enjoying crocheting, reading lots of books, watching the news, etc. We're all proud of the way Mom's handling living alone with close neighbors.
Before I call Mom I go into the website for the hometown newspaper and check out the local news, as well as the obituaries so I can get a jump on her. She's always telling me about people who died, are sick, have moved, have their kinfolk visiting, etc., whether I know these people or not. I started checking the obits in the NY Times while I was working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 'cause I got to know several of the patients. If I ever wondered why I didn't see them anymore, the obits would often answer my questions. Now I even check them in the St. Pete Times even though I probably know only 50 people in the entire Bay area! Maybe I'm like Archie Bunker and like knowing that my name's not there.
Before I call Mom I go into the website for the hometown newspaper and check out the local news, as well as the obituaries so I can get a jump on her. She's always telling me about people who died, are sick, have moved, have their kinfolk visiting, etc., whether I know these people or not. I started checking the obits in the NY Times while I was working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 'cause I got to know several of the patients. If I ever wondered why I didn't see them anymore, the obits would often answer my questions. Now I even check them in the St. Pete Times even though I probably know only 50 people in the entire Bay area! Maybe I'm like Archie Bunker and like knowing that my name's not there.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
A Shrink Bites the Dust
Went to see my shrink (actually she's a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in Psychiatry) today even though I have no intention of ever seeing her again. I decided it would be therapeutic for me to tell her why I'm angry and why I won't be coming back. I'm glad I did.
First I told her about the MD shrink I saw in NYC for more than ten years. He was a psychopharmacologist, and was therefore, very knowledgeable about medications and their side effects and also the effects drugs have on other medications. I trusted him and he taught me a lot, both about my illness and what to do in a crisis. Since I've been in Florida, I have referred two people in NYC to him and they've been very satisfied.
I informed Tia (the NP) that I had the same sort of expectations with her. I was in a hypomanic crisis recently but she didn't even returned my call. I had to take things into my own hands but I don't like doing that since I'm not a professional. Tia claimed that she didn't get my message and that she had fired that answering service. I don't believe that and told her I didn't. I also told her that if I'd gone into a full-blown manic episode and had gone to an ER, I would've had grounds to sue her, even though I'm not the suing type. My own physician even tried to call her and didn't get a response! I asked her for a referral to another psychiatrist and requested three months of medications which she gave me. Then she actually charged me for the visit, and I told her that she should be paying ME for coming in at all! I have to wonder if she's on some kind of medication 'cause she looks a little out of it all the time. I'm glad I won't be seeing her again. She's done nothing for me except provide my meds.
First I told her about the MD shrink I saw in NYC for more than ten years. He was a psychopharmacologist, and was therefore, very knowledgeable about medications and their side effects and also the effects drugs have on other medications. I trusted him and he taught me a lot, both about my illness and what to do in a crisis. Since I've been in Florida, I have referred two people in NYC to him and they've been very satisfied.
I informed Tia (the NP) that I had the same sort of expectations with her. I was in a hypomanic crisis recently but she didn't even returned my call. I had to take things into my own hands but I don't like doing that since I'm not a professional. Tia claimed that she didn't get my message and that she had fired that answering service. I don't believe that and told her I didn't. I also told her that if I'd gone into a full-blown manic episode and had gone to an ER, I would've had grounds to sue her, even though I'm not the suing type. My own physician even tried to call her and didn't get a response! I asked her for a referral to another psychiatrist and requested three months of medications which she gave me. Then she actually charged me for the visit, and I told her that she should be paying ME for coming in at all! I have to wonder if she's on some kind of medication 'cause she looks a little out of it all the time. I'm glad I won't be seeing her again. She's done nothing for me except provide my meds.
Monday, October 1, 2007
The JJ Beat Goes On
Finally I'm back to JJ and his ever-changing love life.
After he split with Gina, he stopped by to tell us about the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen. Her name was Tish and she had hair down to her butt and, according to JJ, a body that just didn't stop. He started "dating" Tish and then found out that she had a two-year-old son who was half black. You can imagine how JJ accepted him! We always knew when Tish was visiting 'cause we'd hear the little boy yelling continuously. When JJ quit working at the strip club he broke up with Tish, stating that she just had too much baggage. Imagine a stripper with too much baggage!
Now JJ met a "real" girl on the internet and they hooked up in St. Pete last week. He was amazed that she had an education, a job, and no kids! They got together again last night but now he thinks she's too inexperienced at sex to make him happy. I suggested that perhaps he could be patient and teach her a few things, but I don't think he wants to continue the relationship. He says there's no chemistry. He also stated that he felt sex was at least 85 percent of a relationship. Steve and I both pointed out that maybe that's true when you're 25, but it sure doesn't stay that way. JJ has no concept of a give-and-take relationship where there's also something in it for the woman. He just doesn't get it. I told him he needs to get his brains out of his balls and get real, but he doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about. Steve said we should just save our breath with JJ until he's older. He may be right.
After he split with Gina, he stopped by to tell us about the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen. Her name was Tish and she had hair down to her butt and, according to JJ, a body that just didn't stop. He started "dating" Tish and then found out that she had a two-year-old son who was half black. You can imagine how JJ accepted him! We always knew when Tish was visiting 'cause we'd hear the little boy yelling continuously. When JJ quit working at the strip club he broke up with Tish, stating that she just had too much baggage. Imagine a stripper with too much baggage!
Now JJ met a "real" girl on the internet and they hooked up in St. Pete last week. He was amazed that she had an education, a job, and no kids! They got together again last night but now he thinks she's too inexperienced at sex to make him happy. I suggested that perhaps he could be patient and teach her a few things, but I don't think he wants to continue the relationship. He says there's no chemistry. He also stated that he felt sex was at least 85 percent of a relationship. Steve and I both pointed out that maybe that's true when you're 25, but it sure doesn't stay that way. JJ has no concept of a give-and-take relationship where there's also something in it for the woman. He just doesn't get it. I told him he needs to get his brains out of his balls and get real, but he doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about. Steve said we should just save our breath with JJ until he's older. He may be right.
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