This weekend, I'm cat-sitting for my friend's cat. So I jaunted down to South Philly and visited Bella for about an hour. We sat and talked for awhile, I petted her while I read a book, and then we played for a little bit.
On the way back to the city, I stopped at Borders because they are going out of business. Everything is 60-80% off - even the bookshelves are for sale! I got two magazines (80% off, sadly, all of the knitting magazines were gone), and a cookbook.
Then I walked to Trader Joe's to get a few things.
Meanwhile, I called to check on my mom. She's doing well, but resting a lot. She woke up, cooked breakfast and did a load of a laundry, then took a nap. Then she woke up, took the laundry out, and was ready for another nap. Poor thing; I feel bad for her.
She's planning on going to her Mom's house tomorrow for Mother's Day, and I hope she's up to it!
07 May 2011
06 May 2011
List #8: Things I Learned This Week
1. My Mom Will Always Make Me Laugh When She Says "Who" After I Say "Mandy Patinkin"
This is a LONG-standing inside joke. I've blogged about it before, but I'm way too tired to go digging for it. Some of you may remember it.
Basically, it started after a NASCAR race when Juan Pablo Montoya got punted by another driver. I called and told her "My name is Juan Pablo Montoya, you killed my car. Prepare to die," and she didn't laugh. Then, I couldn't believe she didn't remember oh-so-many multiple times that Scott M. and I watched "The Princess Bride" in our living room in middle school. So I told was telling her about it. I mentioned that Mandy Patinkin was in it. "Who?" "You know, he was Yentl." (One of her favourite movies.) She remembers the movie, doesn't remember him. "Okay, he's in Criminal Minds." "Which one is he?" Well, since I don't watch that show, I have no idea which one he is, but I tell her "I think he's the guy in charge" (I've half paid attention the few times they've had it on when I've been there on holiday).
But I told her that he has once of the most famous lines in "The Princess Bride" - My name is Inigo Montoya..." So that Christmas, I got her the movie. When it got to that line, so said, "All this because of a stupid wreck?" Pretty much, Mom.
Ever since then, every time I say "Mandy Patinkin" (and he comes up in conversation much more than one would think!), she says, "Who?"... even doped up on morphine.
2. Some People Are Incapable of Keeping Secrets
Mom told me not to tell anyone she was in hospital because she didn't want anyone to visit her. However, she has a friend lifelong friend named Juliah. They were born a month apart and lived a block apart since they were born. They were to the same school from K-12 and lived in the same city until Juliah moved to Colorado several years ago (oh wait - there were a few years when Mom's first husband was stationed in CA, compliments of the Navy, but you get the idea). Anyway, I called Juliah and figured that was safe because Juliah wouldn't go visiting Mom from CO, AND I knew Juliah would want to know Mom was in hospital. What I didn't realise was that Juliah then called her daughter Rhonda (who lives in the same area Mom does) and sent Rhonda to hospital to visit Mom. Also, Juliah promised to tell Mom that it was me who called her. Guess how long THAT lasted. HMPH.
(Btw, I texted Rhonda and thanked her for visiting my mom. She texted back "Of course. Thanks for letting us know.")
Then, Dale went to bowling league and blabbed to his bowling partner and Mom's bowling partner. Dale's bowling partner, K, told his wife, C. C went to visit Mom. Mom's bowling partner L went to visit Mom. Dale blabbed to his brothers D and R, so then then the sister-in-law K found out and went to visit.
Clearly, people should not be trusted.
3. Some People Who Ride Public Transit Are Gross
While I was waiting for the trolley the other day, this woman sitting on the bench took off her flip-flops, and proceeded to put lotion on her bare feet. The only thing I kept thinking was that she was then going to handle the handrails with the same hands she had handled her bare, sweaty feet with. And if the seats were full, she might have to hold the bars on the trolley to steady herself if she was a standee. I decided that I was NOT going to get on the same trolley with her. And that I was going to start carrying more Purell with me.
4. Sometimes, I'm a Little Too Organised for My Own Good
I had an appointment for an MRI and an arthrogram yesterday. Since I was raised by a police officer and a teacher, it has been drilled into me that "YOU ARE NEVER LATE." Although it was going to take about 30 minutes (tops) to get to this 11:15 a.m. appointment, I left my house around 10:05 a.m. About halfway there, I realised that I had left the scripts at home. I got off the trolley at the next stop, crossed over to catch the trolley going back home, went home, looked for the scripts for about three minutes, then remembered where they were. They were in the side zipper pocket of the bag I'd had with me the entire time (I had put it there last week). Back on the trolley I went. And I still got to the appointment on time.
5. It Doesn't Matter How Often Mom "Watches" "The Mentalist," She Still Has No Idea What's Going On
Don't get me started on the epic (and utterly ridiculous) fight we had about this show a few months ago. Just trust that after the show was over, I called her to discuss it, because I know she and her husband watch it (because I've called during it only to be told that I was interfering with the watching and enjoyment of said show), only to discover that she had no idea who I was talking about. Basically, the end of the conversation went a little something like this:
Me: You know, THE MENTALIST!!!!!! (almost screeching)
Mom: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE THAT IS!
Me: HE'S THE GUY THE SHOW IS NAMED AFTER! HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW HIM?
(And it didn't better from there. We actually ended up hanging up on each other. Yes, over a tv show.)
Last night, I called her to see if she had watched it from hospital because the end was REALLY good (don't worry; this is a spoiler-free zone). No, she had gotten sucked into a show on HGTV. I told her something about Rigsby and Van Pelt. Then I said, "You have no idea who I'm talking about, do you?"
Mom: Uh... the main guy writes books, doesn't he?
Me: You're thinking of "Castle."
Mom: Oh. Right.
Me: Nice try, though.
Mom: OH! The main guy does all the thinking!
Me: They're CBI (CA Bureau of Investigation) agents, Mom. They ALL do thinking.
Mom: Oh. Well... the main guy... uh... is cute?
Me: Mom... make an effort. Or just give up.
Mom: Yeah, I have no idea.
Me: The main guy used to be a psychic, and his wife and daughter were killed by Red John. And he's spent the years since looking for Red John. That's the entire premise of the show. That's why he consults for the CBI.
Mom: Yeah, I have no idea what show that is.
Me: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? YOU AND DALE WATCH. EVERY. WEEK!!!!
Mom (laughing): Apparently, only he watches.
Me: This is the show with a Chinese guy on the team. And he has funny one-liners. Ring a bell?
Mom: Nope
Me: I give up.
This is a LONG-standing inside joke. I've blogged about it before, but I'm way too tired to go digging for it. Some of you may remember it.
Basically, it started after a NASCAR race when Juan Pablo Montoya got punted by another driver. I called and told her "My name is Juan Pablo Montoya, you killed my car. Prepare to die," and she didn't laugh. Then, I couldn't believe she didn't remember oh-so-many multiple times that Scott M. and I watched "The Princess Bride" in our living room in middle school. So I told was telling her about it. I mentioned that Mandy Patinkin was in it. "Who?" "You know, he was Yentl." (One of her favourite movies.) She remembers the movie, doesn't remember him. "Okay, he's in Criminal Minds." "Which one is he?" Well, since I don't watch that show, I have no idea which one he is, but I tell her "I think he's the guy in charge" (I've half paid attention the few times they've had it on when I've been there on holiday).
But I told her that he has once of the most famous lines in "The Princess Bride" - My name is Inigo Montoya..." So that Christmas, I got her the movie. When it got to that line, so said, "All this because of a stupid wreck?" Pretty much, Mom.
Ever since then, every time I say "Mandy Patinkin" (and he comes up in conversation much more than one would think!), she says, "Who?"... even doped up on morphine.
2. Some People Are Incapable of Keeping Secrets
Mom told me not to tell anyone she was in hospital because she didn't want anyone to visit her. However, she has a friend lifelong friend named Juliah. They were born a month apart and lived a block apart since they were born. They were to the same school from K-12 and lived in the same city until Juliah moved to Colorado several years ago (oh wait - there were a few years when Mom's first husband was stationed in CA, compliments of the Navy, but you get the idea). Anyway, I called Juliah and figured that was safe because Juliah wouldn't go visiting Mom from CO, AND I knew Juliah would want to know Mom was in hospital. What I didn't realise was that Juliah then called her daughter Rhonda (who lives in the same area Mom does) and sent Rhonda to hospital to visit Mom. Also, Juliah promised to tell Mom that it was me who called her. Guess how long THAT lasted. HMPH.
(Btw, I texted Rhonda and thanked her for visiting my mom. She texted back "Of course. Thanks for letting us know.")
Then, Dale went to bowling league and blabbed to his bowling partner and Mom's bowling partner. Dale's bowling partner, K, told his wife, C. C went to visit Mom. Mom's bowling partner L went to visit Mom. Dale blabbed to his brothers D and R, so then then the sister-in-law K found out and went to visit.
Clearly, people should not be trusted.
3. Some People Who Ride Public Transit Are Gross
While I was waiting for the trolley the other day, this woman sitting on the bench took off her flip-flops, and proceeded to put lotion on her bare feet. The only thing I kept thinking was that she was then going to handle the handrails with the same hands she had handled her bare, sweaty feet with. And if the seats were full, she might have to hold the bars on the trolley to steady herself if she was a standee. I decided that I was NOT going to get on the same trolley with her. And that I was going to start carrying more Purell with me.
4. Sometimes, I'm a Little Too Organised for My Own Good
I had an appointment for an MRI and an arthrogram yesterday. Since I was raised by a police officer and a teacher, it has been drilled into me that "YOU ARE NEVER LATE." Although it was going to take about 30 minutes (tops) to get to this 11:15 a.m. appointment, I left my house around 10:05 a.m. About halfway there, I realised that I had left the scripts at home. I got off the trolley at the next stop, crossed over to catch the trolley going back home, went home, looked for the scripts for about three minutes, then remembered where they were. They were in the side zipper pocket of the bag I'd had with me the entire time (I had put it there last week). Back on the trolley I went. And I still got to the appointment on time.
5. It Doesn't Matter How Often Mom "Watches" "The Mentalist," She Still Has No Idea What's Going On
Don't get me started on the epic (and utterly ridiculous) fight we had about this show a few months ago. Just trust that after the show was over, I called her to discuss it, because I know she and her husband watch it (because I've called during it only to be told that I was interfering with the watching and enjoyment of said show), only to discover that she had no idea who I was talking about. Basically, the end of the conversation went a little something like this:
Me: You know, THE MENTALIST!!!!!! (almost screeching)
Mom: WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE THAT IS!
Me: HE'S THE GUY THE SHOW IS NAMED AFTER! HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW HIM?
(And it didn't better from there. We actually ended up hanging up on each other. Yes, over a tv show.)
Last night, I called her to see if she had watched it from hospital because the end was REALLY good (don't worry; this is a spoiler-free zone). No, she had gotten sucked into a show on HGTV. I told her something about Rigsby and Van Pelt. Then I said, "You have no idea who I'm talking about, do you?"
Mom: Uh... the main guy writes books, doesn't he?
Me: You're thinking of "Castle."
Mom: Oh. Right.
Me: Nice try, though.
Mom: OH! The main guy does all the thinking!
Me: They're CBI (CA Bureau of Investigation) agents, Mom. They ALL do thinking.
Mom: Oh. Well... the main guy... uh... is cute?
Me: Mom... make an effort. Or just give up.
Mom: Yeah, I have no idea.
Me: The main guy used to be a psychic, and his wife and daughter were killed by Red John. And he's spent the years since looking for Red John. That's the entire premise of the show. That's why he consults for the CBI.
Mom: Yeah, I have no idea what show that is.
Me: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? YOU AND DALE WATCH. EVERY. WEEK!!!!
Mom (laughing): Apparently, only he watches.
Me: This is the show with a Chinese guy on the team. And he has funny one-liners. Ring a bell?
Mom: Nope
Me: I give up.
05 May 2011
Recipe: Mexican Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 t olive oil
8 slices rye bread
2 T mayonnaise
1 c fresh salsa, well-drained
3/4 c shredded Mexican cheese blend
2 T butter, softened
1. In a small skillet, sauté peppers in oil until tender. Spread four bread slices with mayonnaise. Layer with peppers, salsa, and cheese. Top with remaining bread. Butter outsides of sandwiches.
2. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sandwich for 2-4 minutes on each side on until cheese is melted.
Notes: I buttered all of the bread first and laid them out (buttered-side down) on a cookie sheet. Then I mayonnaise-d four of the slices of bread. I thought this made more sense than making sandwiches and then trying to butter the outsides.
I did NOT use rye bread. I HATE rye bread. Rye bread is disgrossting.
Next time, I will mix the salsa, peppers, and cheese together, and then just spoon the mixture on the break. Much less labour intensive than all of those steps.
Otherwise, the flavour profile of this sandwich - good heavens! SO GOOD! Rachel and I both ate two of them, AND a salad that we made (that recipe will go up next week). This recipe is definitely a keeper.
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 t olive oil
8 slices rye bread
2 T mayonnaise
1 c fresh salsa, well-drained
3/4 c shredded Mexican cheese blend
2 T butter, softened
1. In a small skillet, sauté peppers in oil until tender. Spread four bread slices with mayonnaise. Layer with peppers, salsa, and cheese. Top with remaining bread. Butter outsides of sandwiches.
2. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sandwich for 2-4 minutes on each side on until cheese is melted.
Notes: I buttered all of the bread first and laid them out (buttered-side down) on a cookie sheet. Then I mayonnaise-d four of the slices of bread. I thought this made more sense than making sandwiches and then trying to butter the outsides.
I did NOT use rye bread. I HATE rye bread. Rye bread is disgrossting.
Next time, I will mix the salsa, peppers, and cheese together, and then just spoon the mixture on the break. Much less labour intensive than all of those steps.
Otherwise, the flavour profile of this sandwich - good heavens! SO GOOD! Rachel and I both ate two of them, AND a salad that we made (that recipe will go up next week). This recipe is definitely a keeper.
04 May 2011
Wednesday Weigh-In
I'm down 0.2 pounds this week. I'm happily take it since I did little to no exercise this week and I ate like a happy little pig (yay Angel Food delivery! If you aren't familiar with Angel Food, I'll be blogging about it once the Mom-hospital saga is over; that was to be yesterday's blog entry before Mom decided SHE needed the spotlight). The reason I didn't do much working out was because my hip/groin pain decided it needed to act up. Yay. Speaking of which, my MRI is tomorrow, complete with the lidocaine injection directly into the joint (is anyone else imagining a big-ass needle?).
The Mom Update: It ends up that the MRI today did NOT indicate that she has temporal arteritis. However, the doctor is not ruling it out completely yet. In the meantime, they have ruled out tumours, cancer, and stroke. And they have relieved her pain (thank you, truck loads of morphine), so that's good. In addition to the morphine, they've also had her on huge doses of IV steroids, and she can't go home until they titrate her down to a dose she can manage orally at home. Until then, they are awaiting the results of some other labs they took to see if that gives them some answers as to what is going on.
Right now, it looks like she's be in hospital until Friday.
The Mom Update: It ends up that the MRI today did NOT indicate that she has temporal arteritis. However, the doctor is not ruling it out completely yet. In the meantime, they have ruled out tumours, cancer, and stroke. And they have relieved her pain (thank you, truck loads of morphine), so that's good. In addition to the morphine, they've also had her on huge doses of IV steroids, and she can't go home until they titrate her down to a dose she can manage orally at home. Until then, they are awaiting the results of some other labs they took to see if that gives them some answers as to what is going on.
Right now, it looks like she's be in hospital until Friday.
03 May 2011
Thinking of My Mom
I had a blog topic for tonight, but that was pushed aside when my mom called me today and said she was waiting for Dale (her husband) to get home so she could go to the ER. She's been having a really bad headache since Sunday night/early Monday morning. On Monday, she went to the chiropractor and got minor relief. This morning, she called her doctor, but the phone rang and rang and she never got through. So she called the chiropractor again. That provided little to no relief. I told her to just go to the ER. She said she would tomorrow if things weren't better, but for now it was on to Grandma's (her mom) for sewing day. I told her I thought sewing was a Bad Idea, and she said she was just going to Sit and Visit (a good ol' Midwestern past-time).
I had a doctor's appointment of my own today, and when I got out, I hit Trader Joe's, then called Mom to see how she felt. This is when she said she was sitting at the door waiting for Dale to take her to the ER. I knew this was bad. This is the person whose leg could fall off, and she would pick it up and keep trekking. Okay, clearly, that's hyperbole, but you get my point. If she's giving in and going to the ER, this isn't a good sign. She had even already written down all her scripts, her doctor's info, and emptied her purse except for her insurance card and driver's license. This was a woman on a mission.
A few hours later, I got a call from Dale. Apparently, he's FINALLY learnt his lesson; he's learnt to call me and give updates when my mommy is in hospital. This is a vast difference from the time my mom had been in hospital for TWO DAYS and he didn't bother to tell me. I found out only when I finally called his daughter to find out where the hell everyone was and why I couldn't get ahold of anyone, and SHE tells me "Oh, your mom's been in [name of hospital] since [two days ago]." Suffice to say, I went a bit postal. This incident was repeated AGAIN a year later. So I think he's finally caught on.
Anyway... my mom was originally scheduled for a biopsy on her ophthalmic blood vessel tomorrow, but she JUST called and said they changed it to an MRI. The think she has temporal arteritis. They caught it in time before the inflammatory response of the ophthalmic blood vessel cause any permanent vision changes/damage, so that's good news. The other great news is that this is a completely curable condition. She'll have about a year of oral prednisone treatment, and that is stuff that her current rheumatologist can oversee. After that, there will be no lasting effects.
For now, she's loaded on morphine because the swelling of the blood vessel has caused her some pretty major pain. She seems to be in good hands. The treating neurologist is a visiting doctor from Loyola (in Chicago), because the neuro team who regularly staff that hospital are all on maternity leave (they must have had one hell of a party nine months ago). Despite all of the things I've heard about the "new" hospital in the city, Mom has had no complaints thus far (except that she thought the garlic mashed potatoes came WITH the strip streak for supper and they did not).
And, as always, it's difficult to be half a country away from someone I care about who is going through a scary time.
I had a doctor's appointment of my own today, and when I got out, I hit Trader Joe's, then called Mom to see how she felt. This is when she said she was sitting at the door waiting for Dale to take her to the ER. I knew this was bad. This is the person whose leg could fall off, and she would pick it up and keep trekking. Okay, clearly, that's hyperbole, but you get my point. If she's giving in and going to the ER, this isn't a good sign. She had even already written down all her scripts, her doctor's info, and emptied her purse except for her insurance card and driver's license. This was a woman on a mission.
A few hours later, I got a call from Dale. Apparently, he's FINALLY learnt his lesson; he's learnt to call me and give updates when my mommy is in hospital. This is a vast difference from the time my mom had been in hospital for TWO DAYS and he didn't bother to tell me. I found out only when I finally called his daughter to find out where the hell everyone was and why I couldn't get ahold of anyone, and SHE tells me "Oh, your mom's been in [name of hospital] since [two days ago]." Suffice to say, I went a bit postal. This incident was repeated AGAIN a year later. So I think he's finally caught on.
Anyway... my mom was originally scheduled for a biopsy on her ophthalmic blood vessel tomorrow, but she JUST called and said they changed it to an MRI. The think she has temporal arteritis. They caught it in time before the inflammatory response of the ophthalmic blood vessel cause any permanent vision changes/damage, so that's good news. The other great news is that this is a completely curable condition. She'll have about a year of oral prednisone treatment, and that is stuff that her current rheumatologist can oversee. After that, there will be no lasting effects.
For now, she's loaded on morphine because the swelling of the blood vessel has caused her some pretty major pain. She seems to be in good hands. The treating neurologist is a visiting doctor from Loyola (in Chicago), because the neuro team who regularly staff that hospital are all on maternity leave (they must have had one hell of a party nine months ago). Despite all of the things I've heard about the "new" hospital in the city, Mom has had no complaints thus far (except that she thought the garlic mashed potatoes came WITH the strip streak for supper and they did not).
And, as always, it's difficult to be half a country away from someone I care about who is going through a scary time.
02 May 2011
Book Review: Jump
Recently, I started reviewing books for a site called Fresh Fiction, thanks to my friend Diana.
The first book I received and reviewed for them was Jump by Terra Little, a fellow Missourian. This book was excellent, and I find that I cannot stop recommending it to people.
The full review is here.
The first book I received and reviewed for them was Jump by Terra Little, a fellow Missourian. This book was excellent, and I find that I cannot stop recommending it to people.
The full review is here.
01 May 2011
Burlesque (or: Phone Calls with My Mom)
I called my mom tonight, and she informed me that she was just sitting down to watch "Burlesque." I reminded her that I had also wanted to see it. Knowing that she and her husband rarely rent movies just for the two of them, I suspicious asked "Is Laura there?" (Laura is Dale's daughter.)
Mom: Yep.
Me: So you're watching a movie I wanted to see, but with Laura?
Mom: Pretty much.
Me: You're showing favouritism! That's not nice!
Mom: I think my daughter has told me that before.
Me: Well... I want to watch the movie.
Mom: I can turn it up and hold the phone up and you can hear it.
Me: Hmmm. Okay. That'll work.
Mom: If I had a webcam, you could watch it.
Me: I have a webcam!
Mom: Okay, aim it at Missouri and see if that works.
Me: Why are you watching the movie without me?
Mom: Because I want to see Cher.
Me: Then just fast-forward to her part. Don't watch the rest.
Mom: I can call you when it's over. Will that help?
Me: No! I don't want to just see the end!
Mom: Oh.
Me: Next time, can you just watch movies that I DON'T want to see? I can send you a list. It's a big one. You'll have plenty to choose from.
Mom (laughing): Okay, honey. That sounds good.
Mom: Yep.
Me: So you're watching a movie I wanted to see, but with Laura?
Mom: Pretty much.
Me: You're showing favouritism! That's not nice!
Mom: I think my daughter has told me that before.
Me: Well... I want to watch the movie.
Mom: I can turn it up and hold the phone up and you can hear it.
Me: Hmmm. Okay. That'll work.
Mom: If I had a webcam, you could watch it.
Me: I have a webcam!
Mom: Okay, aim it at Missouri and see if that works.
Me: Why are you watching the movie without me?
Mom: Because I want to see Cher.
Me: Then just fast-forward to her part. Don't watch the rest.
Mom: I can call you when it's over. Will that help?
Me: No! I don't want to just see the end!
Mom: Oh.
Me: Next time, can you just watch movies that I DON'T want to see? I can send you a list. It's a big one. You'll have plenty to choose from.
Mom (laughing): Okay, honey. That sounds good.
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