Life in a Box

We need rain so bad.  It appears to be raining across the river in Arkansas and the bootheel of Missouri.  Instead of traveling in a easterly pattern, it's going north.  The temperatures aren't as high as they could be for August.  But it's hot enough.  And poor Graham over in Wales needs the sun to shine!  Can we trade, Graham?

As menial as this may be to some, I took another shower today!  I know what to do to undress the wound.  And Dr. J said as long as I undress it right before the nurses get here and shower, he would allow me that luxury.  He just said it can't be left uncovered.  Isn't it amazing how we take for granted those simple things that we do so automatically?  There are folks in the world who don't have the luxury of running water.  Here I am excited at the thought of being well enough to take a shower while some people can't even get clean water to drink.  That's a definite 'shame on me' for taking something so special for granted.

I want to go out this evening and do some photography somewhere.  I just don't know where to go.  I did go to a cemetery yesterday in a neighboring town.  I didn't get all I went for because my vacuum wasn't charged.  I didn't realize it, as I always charge it at night.  While I had plugged my vacuum into it's power supply, the power supply box wasn't plugged into the wall.  Duh.  There's that 'blonde' thing again.  It had come unplugged whether by me or a cat.  But the machine was beeping, informing me it was 'battery critical'.  So I had to come home.

The guy at work who is 'stealing' got a 'first warning' yesterday.  No termination.  He could explain everything away.  Kayla was fit to be tied.  She absolutely hates what is happening.  She hates that she has as much proof as she does to substantiate the issues.  But it is hard as hell to get fired at Lowe's.  At least for some folks, I guess.  I know in the last year, I have seen Mike in a different light since I work closer with him than I did when I was in OPE.  And I hate what I see.  He's not the true blue I thought he was.  That makes me sad.  But that's also a bad trait in me.  I see the good in everyone, only to sometimes realize that I made a wrong judgement in character.  Oh well. 

I'm bored.  So I think I'll got straighten the house a little for what I know I can do. 

Ciao!~

Okay, I know.  This is Tuesday.  But yesterday was a busy day.  And I'm really not sure how it happened!  I started out by taking pictures of the hummingbirds and spending almost an hour making my blog entry.  Then it was off to do errands before the doctors appointment and then several things thereafter.

I had to go pay a bill at the hospital.  There, I ran into a lady who is married to a guy I dated several years back.  She also works at the eye clinic where I get my eyes checked.  I asked what she was doing.  I could tell the lady helping her was on the phone, and I could see that ex boyfriend's name, Ken, on the computer screen.  Norma said she tell me when she was done.  Only I finished before she was, and she told me Ken was in the truck and for me to go see him.  She knows Ken and I dated.  But apparently, I am no threat to her.  Good for her!  I knew something wasn't good, but.....When I got to the truck, Ken told me he had been having some stomach issues of late and the doctors couldn't find what was wrong.  Last Thursday, they did exploratory surgery.  Only the surgeon closed him right back up.  Ken has cancer.  He has been referred to MD Anderson in Houston, TX and they were getting it together to head there. 

The surgeon who opened him up said it was too much for him to handle.  I'm hoping that means we just don't have the facilities here in Smallville to do it.  After all, this particular surgeon came from Nashville with oncology as a background.  So my prayers go to Ken and Norma.

As for my doctors appointment, all is well.  However, I don't go to back for three weeks.  While the wound is healing very nice, it is not ready for stitches yet.  Although that is something he can do in his office, it won't be something that happens at the instant that I am there.  He said he has to obtain something from the hospital to aid him in doing the procedure.  Whatever it is, won't be for a while.  Even if he is able to stitch me in three weeks, I'm sure it'll be at least another two at a minimum before I am able to return to work.

Because he wants to see the wound, he removes the dressing the home health nurses have applied.  He recovers it with gauze.  Because he knew the nurses would be out after my visit with him, he gave me permission to take a shower!  WhOo HoO!  I haven't taken a shower since July 3! Sitting on the edge of the tub is far from a shower.  It's not technically a bath.  I call it a half bath.  Anyway, he said the water running over the wound would actually help it.  So I came home and took a shower! 

I had to go to the grocery store afterwards.  When I say grocery store, that almost always translates into Wal-Mart.  I hate that damn store.  But when you need prescriptions, toiletries and groceries it equals to one stop shopping.  As usual, I spent entirely too much money.  But one thing I really hoped I would be able to get was a tripod for the camera.  Believe it or not, they had one.  I haven't taken it out of the box yet.  I'll do that after I am finished writing.  I hope it's okay for a novice like me and that I can figure it out! 

Invariably when I go to Wal-Mart, I run into more than one person I know and spend as much time talking as I do gathering up what I need.  And sure enough, yesterday was no exception.  I ran into one lady that when she gets to talking, you might as well sit down.  You're going to be there a while.  And I was.  Finally, I just said I had to go.  I was afraid my meat was going to spoil! 

Kayla gave me an update on the guy at work they have been building a case against for 'stealing'.  And it keeps building.  I am so glad I am not in management.  I don't think they could pay me enough to do what they have to do.  Our Regional Loss Prevention man should be at the store right now.  Ultimately, Mike is going to be fired.  I hate that.  His wife has just served papers for a divorce.  I know he just took out a loan to purchase Chris' single wide.  But you can't steal and do what he has been doing and expect not to lose your job.  It makes me sad because I thought up until about a year ago that he was 'true blue'.  Once I moved to his end of the store, I have seen what he's not.  And that severely disappoints me.

It's another gorgeous day in Smallville.  I've got a couple minor tasks to do in the house.  I feel like I need a nap.  I couldn't go to sleep last night because I had Ken's illness on my mind.  Then I got up too early this morning.  I had to be sure the sitter got Lauren up and on the school bus.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to go out and 'shoot' today.  I like cemeteries.  That may sound morbid, but I think headstones, especially the ornate ones, make interesting shots.  Especially in black and white.  So until then....

Arrivederci!

Actually, in my case, I think it's impatience.  Lauren is in school (Yeah!).  There are no sitters in the house (Another BIG Yeah!).  It's just me, my iPod with Meatloaf playing and the gatos.  And my camera.  I can't believe how attached to that thing I have become in the last week.  What's that all about? 

Once Lauren got off to school, and the caregiver left, I got myself ready for my doctors appointment this afternoon.  At least, most of the way ready.  For the last two hours, it's been 'Point, Aim, Fire'.  And I think, by George, I got it!  And these pictures are mine.  They are not uploaded from MSN or anywhere except my camera. 

Waiting for a Visitor......

Ah!  Refreshment!

 

Hey!  Where'd you go?

Birds Eye View

"This wind is messing up my feathers!"

These are my pictures.  And I am very proud of the way they have turned out.  This feeder is very close to a bedroom window.  An old desk chair minus the back sits in front of that window.  This is where the cats lay.  To say they were entertained this morning would be an understatement.  Currently, a little guy is feeding.  But Allie is sleeping and couldn't care less.  I started this entry about 10.  Because I am using Live Writer, it's taken me 50 minutes to get it formatted.  I'll figure it out as I go.  Hope you enjoy!

Now, that's not real lady-like, is it?  My goal before I go back to work or the hummingbirds fly south, which ever is first, is to get the most awesome picture I can of one of these little rascals.  I know that I have been neglectful of the feeder up until the last week or so.  So when these gracious birds are gracing me with their presence, all I can say is Thank You.  My 'problem', for a lack of a better word, was that I wasn't seeing any Little Birds.  So I began to neglect their food.  Also, it didn't matter what I did, but ants seemed to find the food literally quicker than the birds.  That bothered me.  But why would I think something would come around in search of food, if I didn't keep it out and clean?  Am I going to McD's if they run out of food or the food they offer is bad?  Well, no.  Of course not, Silly Girl!

Last week, the feeder that was out fell from the shepherds hook and broke.  This led me on a quest to locate another feeder.  Like everything I have in this house, I usually have more than one of anything.  Sure enough, I found a feeder that I had bought at the Store probably two years ago>  It even has an ant guard built into it.  Now why I wasn't using this feeder is beyond me.  So I got it out and cleaned it up.  Made up the food and hung it out.  First there was only one bird.  Then two.  Then three.  And now I think there are four.  Because I know there is always a 'bully' in the bunch, I bought another feeder.  Unfortunately, I can't find another one in Smallville with an ant guard.  So I have to conjure up something for this new feeder. 

There is a shepherds hook that has been very lonely for quite some time.  It is right at the window at my front bedroom aka the office.  Perfect place for the new feeder.  There is one catch:  The other feeder has a perch.  This one does not.  So they seem to be preferring the one with the perch.  Except when Mr. Bully is chasing everyone else away.  However, I have seen them feeding already at this other feeder.  So I got out The Camera.  From the inside, I can take pictures.  But the screen on the window would interfer if I didn't get the camera focused real good on the feeder.  Suddenly, it hit me!  Take the screen off, Silly. 

So I did just that.  Now I have a clear shot, a cool place and I think enough quiet so that the don't get spooked and go away.  So stay tuned.  I am hoping to be able to provide some really good pictures, hopefully real soon.

**I did not mean to, but apparently, I led poor Patricia to think I took the picture above.  If only I did!  I'm sorry!  I just stuck that in there because I've been goofing around with Live Writer.  I got the picture from msn search!  PLEASE! Accept my apologies!

What a night!  He came, he saw, he conquered.  Who?  Michael Phelps.  In a country that views the number eight as an indication of wealth and prosperity, Michael is The Man!   I have never really watched the Olympics, but I've known who certain athletes are.  I'm sure my interest this year is because of all the hype surrounding this amazing 23 year old.  I, too, wanted to see history made and changed over the course of the last week.  To be his mother or sisters?  Oh my goodness!  I would have to take a nerve pill!  I can't imagine what those women were feeling, simply because I know how I felt watching and I am but a spectator!  The Olympics began on 8/8/8 at 8:00.  He said he wanted to win eight gold medals.  About as prophetic as the legendary Babe Ruth pointing his bat to center field before hitting the home run heard around the world. 

 

And then there is Dara.  Last night, she missed her individual gold by .01 of a second.  She missed the gold in the relay, too.  When asked what she would tell her 2 year old about the Olympics of 2008, she said that she would tell her never to give up your dreams, no matter what your age.  Yesterday I saw an article on Madonna turning 50.  She is said to be inspiring fiftysomethings they can do whatever they want.  To me, Dara is a whole lot more of an inspiration.   I suppose with Dara, I see a much more wholesome picture of a woman who has respect for herself than I see in Madonna.  So Dara, it doesn't matter that you didn't win the gold.  Girlfriend,

YOU ROCK!!~