So I'm cruising through the categories on LastMinuteAuction when I come across a brand new queen-size set of black satin sheets and pillowcases. I thought they not only sounded kind of sensual, but would feel really cool during the hot summer months, so I ordered them. I was very proud of myself because they were only $16.99 with shipping.
We get them a couple of weeks later and Steve ignores them when he changes the bedsheets (this is a task I'm not allowed to do because I don't do it right -- big loss for me). Finally I catch him changing the sheets one day and suggest that he try the satin sheet set. So he does and they look gorgeous and feel really cool. When he goes to bed that night he just can't stand the way they feel and yanks them off the bed with the announcement that he can't sleep on those sheets!
Oh well -- maybe there's something to be said for basic percale. Anyone need some hardly used black satin sheets?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
On Summer
Summer in Florida is nothing if not both physically and mentally draining. It started out at 92 degrees today and extremely humid, as it has been for the past two months. Around mid-morning the skies got very dark and we had a downpour. Not having left my Midwest roots too far behind, I still cheer when it rains, as though it might lower the humidity. But alas, it doesn't.
This poor gecko got himself inside the screen on our mini-balcony and nearly drove the Fuzz Family crazy!
Steve's been working with our landlord, Ron, and neighbor, Brent, clearing trees and bushes on the property. Ron wants to clear out all the Brazilian pepper bushes (no, they don't grow peppers and no one knows why they're called that) to allow for more of a view of the water. The bushes by the water are all tangled together and when the guys can't pull them out, Ron uses a nylon rope to pull them up with his van. It's dirty and hard work especially with the humidity being so high. They'll probably be doing this in the early morning hours for the next couple of weeks.
This poor gecko got himself inside the screen on our mini-balcony and nearly drove the Fuzz Family crazy!
Steve's been working with our landlord, Ron, and neighbor, Brent, clearing trees and bushes on the property. Ron wants to clear out all the Brazilian pepper bushes (no, they don't grow peppers and no one knows why they're called that) to allow for more of a view of the water. The bushes by the water are all tangled together and when the guys can't pull them out, Ron uses a nylon rope to pull them up with his van. It's dirty and hard work especially with the humidity being so high. They'll probably be doing this in the early morning hours for the next couple of weeks.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Doctor Bloopers
Doctor's Ramblings...
Actual notes on doctor reports
1. She has no rigors or shaking chills , but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
2. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
3. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
6. Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.
7. Healthy appearing decrepit 69 year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
8. The patient refused autopsy.
9. The patient has no previous history of suicide.
10. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
11. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.
12. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
13. She is numb from her toes down.
14. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
15. The skin was moist and dry.
Actual notes on doctor reports
1. She has no rigors or shaking chills , but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
2. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
3. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
6. Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.
7. Healthy appearing decrepit 69 year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
8. The patient refused autopsy.
9. The patient has no previous history of suicide.
10. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
11. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.
12. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
13. She is numb from her toes down.
14. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
15. The skin was moist and dry.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Not Just Another Day at the Beach
It started out like any other time we've gone to the beach. We got there, took the chairs out of the trunk and assumed our spot in the sand. The tide was very low and the water was so warm it felt like a gigantic bathtub!
We spent about two hours getting in and out of the water and then packed up to leave. The keys were in the ignition but the car wouldn't start and doesn't make a sound when we try to start it. We knew this was coming since the starter has been touchy for awhile, but hoped we could get by a little longer.
We found some county workers with a cell phone (we're probably the only people in the free world who still don't have a cell phone) and called AAA to tow us to the mechanic. When the tow truck came, the guy from AAA got under the car and showed Steve where to tap the starter with a hammer. The car started and we were able to get home. We're bringing it to the mechanic tomorrow for a new starter.
We just made a quick trip to CVS for a few essentials and we now carry a hammer at all times. Our car is 16 years old and hasn't required a lot of maintenance since we got it seven years ago and the mechanic tells us it's a well-built car worth fixing, so that's what we'll do.
Brent stopped by last night -- he's been doing a lot of writing since his daughter is away for another month and he's taking advantage of the peace and quiet. Note his Edgar Allen Poe t-shirt.
We spent about two hours getting in and out of the water and then packed up to leave. The keys were in the ignition but the car wouldn't start and doesn't make a sound when we try to start it. We knew this was coming since the starter has been touchy for awhile, but hoped we could get by a little longer.
We found some county workers with a cell phone (we're probably the only people in the free world who still don't have a cell phone) and called AAA to tow us to the mechanic. When the tow truck came, the guy from AAA got under the car and showed Steve where to tap the starter with a hammer. The car started and we were able to get home. We're bringing it to the mechanic tomorrow for a new starter.
We just made a quick trip to CVS for a few essentials and we now carry a hammer at all times. Our car is 16 years old and hasn't required a lot of maintenance since we got it seven years ago and the mechanic tells us it's a well-built car worth fixing, so that's what we'll do.
Brent stopped by last night -- he's been doing a lot of writing since his daughter is away for another month and he's taking advantage of the peace and quiet. Note his Edgar Allen Poe t-shirt.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Glorious Insults
These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got
boiled down to 4-letter words.
The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my
husband I'd give you poison."
He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the
gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or
your mistress."
"He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -
Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great
pleasure." Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the
dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)..
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading
it." - Moses Hadas
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved
of it." - Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar
Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a
friend.... if you have one." -
George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is
one." - Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." -
Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -
Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." -
Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.." - Paul Keating
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -
Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.." - Forrest Tucker
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on
it?" - Mark Twain
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." - Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -
Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support
rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." - Groucho
Marx
boiled down to 4-letter words.
The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my
husband I'd give you poison."
He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the
gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or
your mistress."
"He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -
Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great
pleasure." Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the
dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)..
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading
it." - Moses Hadas
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved
of it." - Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar
Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a
friend.... if you have one." -
George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is
one." - Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." -
Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -
Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." -
Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.." - Paul Keating
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." -
Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.." - Forrest Tucker
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on
it?" - Mark Twain
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." - Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -
Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support
rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." - Groucho
Marx
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Margaret and Helen Speak out on Palin
From the Blog: Margaret and Heln
Best Friends for Sixty Years and Counting
SARAH PALIN CALLED A FAMILY MEETING AND THE RABBIT LIVED…
Margaret, I watched Sarah Palin’s resignation speech and all I have to say is, “What the hell was that?” My God that woman is an idiot. I have said this before, but I feel the need to say it again. Her problems did not come because the media was against her. Her problems come because every time you stick a microphone in front of her mouth a whole lot of stupid falls out.
Things are getting tough and once again she is trying to hide behind that dysfunctional family of hers. She actually stood there and talked about how the Palins had a family meeting and everyone agreed it was time for her to step down as Governor. Well, I call bullshit. The only family meetings the Palins have usually involve someone peeing on an early pregnancy test stick.
The time to step down would have been back when the older daughter was knocked up and needed a little privacy. The time to have stepped down would have been when the special needs child was a newborn and needed some peace and quiet at home with the family. The time to put the voters or her family first hasn’t happened with Sarah Palin yet and I doubt it ever will.
I would cut her some slack but she used up all her slack with me while on the campaign trail. This is the woman who called the parts of the country where I don’t live more Pro-American than the part where I do live. She stirred up crowds across the country to the point that McCain campaign stops frequently resembled a lynch mob. She mixes religion and politics like I mix gin and tonic but then calls for less government involvement. Freedom from government is her battle cry until a vagina gets involved and then watch how much involvement she wants. Show me a woman who is making a private medical decision to end a pregnancy and I’ll show you a Palin screaming for more government involvement.
She was elected to be Alaska’s Governor for four years and she bails having completed less than three. Can you imagine what she might do if she were to ever make it to the White House? All it would take is for Congress to overturn one veto and the Palins would be packing up the bear skin rugs in the Oval Office. And I bet they take all the little shampoo bottles from the private residence as well.
Like I said a few months back - that woman is a bitch. I meant it. Really.
Best Friends for Sixty Years and Counting
SARAH PALIN CALLED A FAMILY MEETING AND THE RABBIT LIVED…
Margaret, I watched Sarah Palin’s resignation speech and all I have to say is, “What the hell was that?” My God that woman is an idiot. I have said this before, but I feel the need to say it again. Her problems did not come because the media was against her. Her problems come because every time you stick a microphone in front of her mouth a whole lot of stupid falls out.
Things are getting tough and once again she is trying to hide behind that dysfunctional family of hers. She actually stood there and talked about how the Palins had a family meeting and everyone agreed it was time for her to step down as Governor. Well, I call bullshit. The only family meetings the Palins have usually involve someone peeing on an early pregnancy test stick.
The time to step down would have been back when the older daughter was knocked up and needed a little privacy. The time to have stepped down would have been when the special needs child was a newborn and needed some peace and quiet at home with the family. The time to put the voters or her family first hasn’t happened with Sarah Palin yet and I doubt it ever will.
I would cut her some slack but she used up all her slack with me while on the campaign trail. This is the woman who called the parts of the country where I don’t live more Pro-American than the part where I do live. She stirred up crowds across the country to the point that McCain campaign stops frequently resembled a lynch mob. She mixes religion and politics like I mix gin and tonic but then calls for less government involvement. Freedom from government is her battle cry until a vagina gets involved and then watch how much involvement she wants. Show me a woman who is making a private medical decision to end a pregnancy and I’ll show you a Palin screaming for more government involvement.
She was elected to be Alaska’s Governor for four years and she bails having completed less than three. Can you imagine what she might do if she were to ever make it to the White House? All it would take is for Congress to overturn one veto and the Palins would be packing up the bear skin rugs in the Oval Office. And I bet they take all the little shampoo bottles from the private residence as well.
Like I said a few months back - that woman is a bitch. I meant it. Really.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Bad TV and Salvation
Netflix has already proven itself over summer TV viewing! We've already watched 20 movies with only one or two real duds. "Savages" was one of my personal favorites --it dealt with real issues in families that we might all have to face at one point or another and it was both funny and bittersweet. Steve didn't like it as much I did, but then he prefers science fiction and action movies which comes as no shock to anyone who knows him.
I also liked "Rails & Ties" with Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden. Great cast, good story. We have a really unsual group of selections on our Netflix queue between the two of us.
To switch gears, I really get annoyed at ads on television for prescription medications. The drug companies are required to give you the major side effects but they do it so fast that I doubt if anyone even hears them. My favorite is when they tell you not to take a certain drug if you're taking benzodiazipines -- how many people KNOW if they're taking a benzodiazipine anyway?
I'm happy to report that I haven't gotten hives after being at the beach this year. After eliminating the ocean water and the sun as possible allergens, it turns out it was the sunscreen I was using! I switched to a generic Walgreen's sunscreen and ouila! No hives! Yeah!!!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Infirmary and the Feline Mystique
I've been gulping antibiotics and Prednisone again for the past two weeks and now Steve has a cold too! Thankfully it's been raining nearly every day so the longing to get out has been minimal, not to mention that we're very short on energy anyway.
You've probably seen commercials on TV with cats in them. How do they get those cats to be so calm? Are they drugged? I envision directors, camera persons, etc. all over the place and my girls just freak when one neighbor visits!
This is how Roly Poly Ole sleeps at night. She doesn't just lie down -- she just plain collapses and if my head is in the way, tough luck for me!
And when I decide to lay on the bed and read, sometimes she wants all the attention and lands exactly where the book needs to be.
Nature in Florida is a real trip. Here's a cactus out back and it's right next to a pine tree and a palm tree!
You've probably seen commercials on TV with cats in them. How do they get those cats to be so calm? Are they drugged? I envision directors, camera persons, etc. all over the place and my girls just freak when one neighbor visits!
This is how Roly Poly Ole sleeps at night. She doesn't just lie down -- she just plain collapses and if my head is in the way, tough luck for me!
And when I decide to lay on the bed and read, sometimes she wants all the attention and lands exactly where the book needs to be.
Nature in Florida is a real trip. Here's a cactus out back and it's right next to a pine tree and a palm tree!
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