Peanut has a bald spot!!

He's kind of shy about it, but I like it. I had to sneak a picture while he was eating. They shaved him there and put a narcotic patch after his surgery.

Guess who was finally allowed to come home today!!!

I bought him this doggy steps thingy to make it easier for him but he didn't use it. He's pretty drugged out and a little bit skinnier. His surgical wounds were left uncovered to heal and looking at it makes me want to cry. He's doing good though and was so happy to see me. When we got home I thought he might want to have a tiny walk but he pulled his leash to go inside. I'm happy he's here but I'm leaving him alone so he can rest. I missed him.

Random things about Pea

-I don't like sushi. Yeah yeah, I know it's the cool people thing to order but I just don't like it. Add it to the list of all the other stuff everyone else in the world likes except me. I'm just picky. You name it, I probably hate it. And I hate it when people say, Oh you just have to get used to it, it's an acquired taste. My response to that would be, "Do you like getting slapped in the face? No? Oh but you just have to get used to it." Not that I would ever slap anyone, that's just the best analogy I can come up with.

-I have this really cool ability to tell time in my sleep. I have always been able to wake up precisely at the time I'm supposed to. It doesn't matter what time. I never need an alarm clock. I never used one all through high school when I had to wake up at 6am. Even if I were to set the alarm as a just in case thing, I'll always wake up about 10 minutes before it goes off. I've heard my grandfather was like that. This does not mean I'm always on time. It just means I always wake up on time.

-I've never worn anything with animal print. I've also never worn pointy toed shoes. I feel tacky in animal print and pointy shoes make me feel like I should be riding around on a broomstick.

Butts and Graduates

Well Peanut had his surgery today on his, guess where. I didn't post about it because I didn't want to think about it. He was supposed to have it last week but I rescheduled for today because I wanted to make sure I would be able to watch my nephew graduate from high school. I sat there trying not to cry over this little boy who sang ABC's and watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, who's boo-boos I kissed, diapers I changed, belly I poked, made endless cups of chocolate milk for, earlobes I pinched. I'm so proud of the person he is and wish always happiness for him. I wish he had been my son.

But my gosh I was only 13 when he was born so that would have been a little trashy... :O)
He will always be this little boy to me. I should mention that he's just turned 19 and we still call him Little Bobby. He already knows even when he's 50, my sisters and I will still be calling him that. I wanted to take him out to lunch this week to celebrate but my dern skin had to go and act up.

Now about my Peanut

I just spoke with Peanut's doctor and his surgery went well, although it was more invasive than they were hoping. He thinks he found the funny tissues that were causing my poor Peanut so much discomfort but he's going to have to stay over night and possibly tomorrow night as well. I felt like crying when Dr told me he was in a lot of pain. My poor Peanut. Hopefully when he recovers this will be the last time he has a problem back there, he's been through so much with that. He's been so good natured, nobody would even have guessed he'd been having so many, ahem, painful bowel issues. I can't wait til he gets to come home. I miss him and it's too quiet here without a little friend.


(My skin is much better, I ended up not taking the steroid pills. I don't need it. Still bumpy, but not as bad as last week. Still staying out of the sun and heat though. Also I'm still shy about it so I've only been going out when absolutely necessary which will be today because I ran out of Zyrtec.)

Little Pea is UG-LEEE

I am having a major skin allergy attack. I went to the doctor yesterday and he gave me some steroid meds. A cream that stings and some pills I haven't started taking yet because he said I could wait a couple days to see if I saw some improvement. I'm taking Zyrtec too. I took this pic yesterday at the Dr's office and still can't believe I'm actually going to post it. I might as well, ya'll saw all my other 'Pea is sick' pics so why should I deprive everyone the pleasure of feeling sorry for me this time too? I shouldn't. Notice how I made it small though. It's too gross for the large size. I'm actually much better today. The red and swelling have gone down but I have all those weird bumps that just look like I have really bad acne. It was the worst around my eyes. I'm pretty sure it's a reaction to the sun, sunscreen, and really strong soap I used on Wednesday because I was in a hurry. I also got stung by one of those mini-bees, a really angry one I should add. So the combination of all those things, plus the fact that it was really hot and there was some pollen in the pool made my skin really furious with me. I have some hives on my shoulders and belly too. But I don't itch. Just my eyes.

I have self-imposed a quarantine until Monday at least cuz I don't want to scare anyone. Plus the heat makes me feel worse. Hopefully I'll be presentable enough to make a public appearance in a couple days. Until then, the Pea is staying inside and out of the sun. Feel free to cringe. I'll probably take this picture down when I come to my senses so I suggest if you're thinking about printing this out for Halloween purposes, you better do it now. Enjoy your weekend guys. If you don't look like this picture then you're off to a head start already.....

Snake!

Psychoman better watch out!

I finally got some pepper spray. I've been needing to get it for a long time now. I have to admit, and I've mentioned this before, I'm pretty paranoid. I always think everyone is a psychoman in disguise just waiting to kidnap me circa Silence of the Lambs and try to make an 'Angel suit.' I saw that movie when I was 15 and it ruined any sense of security I ever had. If Peanut and I are walking and I see someone walking towards me, I usually cross the road and walk on the other side, just in case it's psychoman. But one can never be too careful because, you know, psychoman can be hiding in the bushes. One morining when I was 19, I was out walking my pup in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood. There was a psychoman waiting for me crouched over on someone's driveway rubbing, um, himself on the asphalt. I called the police but they never found him. Doesn't matter though, psychoman is everywhere waiting for the right opportunity. Another time I was at a book store when I noticed a psychoman standing behind me trying to take a picture of my underwear with his cell phone. I screamed some serious profanities at him loud enough to make him run out of the store and into his psychovan. Then there was that psychoman incident at the pool. Not to mention another psychoman incident at Big Lots a couple months ago. I never told ya'll about that did I? Well I was checking out some picture frames when I noticed a man who, actually at first, I thought was my dad. I was just about to say hello but realized it wasn't my dad, it was a total stranger. He must have thought I was checking him out or something because he started talking to me. He asked me where I was from. I was polite but not friendly. I answered but then said I didn't have time to talk to anyone. He started making really creepy comments about how nice he thought my legs were. Again, polite, I said,"oh. ok. Have a good day." Then he kept following me and asked if my tan was natural and did I have tan lines and what kind of bathing suit do I have and do I have my bathing suit on underneath my clothes. I said, "ok, I'm sorry, this is creeping me out now. I really don't want to talk to you." He said,"ok nice talking to you." I thought that encounter was over. I was wrong. He kept passing by whatever aisle I was in. I got irritated and just decided to pay for my things and leave. Couldn't leave. Guess why. Yep, psychoman was standing near the exit watching. I pretended to look at vacuums just to see if I was correct for starting to get freaked out. I was. He started looking at vacuums too. So I just quickly walked out and got to my car as fast as I could. As I'm backing out, psychoman was standing in the middle of the damn parking lot watching me leave. When I told my friend Dee about it, she told me I should've called the police or at least told a store employee. She's right, but honestly I just wanted to leave, I was more irritated than scared. Every woman I know has a story like that and more than one so it's not like I think I'm special or that Psychoman just always picks me. This happens so frequently and it seems like we've all just accepted that it's a part of life. This makes me furious.

Don't think I'm sexist, psychoman doesn't nessesarily have to be man. A few months ago there were reports of some women going up to people asking what time it was and then hitting them in the face to snatch their purses at the grocery store where I shop.

Now I'm not saying that pepper spray is needed just because someone is bothering me at Big Lots, but I would have felt better knowing I had pepper spray in case psychoman tried to take it to the really scary level, like try to grab me. A close friend of mine got grabbed in a public bathroom at a department store. Luckily, she was strong and fought him off. Of course the police were called but he was long gone by the time they arrived.
SO now that I have my pepper spray I feel a little safer going on walks or jogging because if psychoman is hiding in the bushes I got something for him. Don't try it Psychoman. ok? Cuz Little Pea don't play.

I don't need to get on a soap box and tell ya'll to always protect yourself. I mean you guys out there too. Always trust your instincts and let's put that, "oh I don't want to be impolite" way of thinking behind us. Psychoman never attacked anyone because they were impolite. ( I got that tip from watching Oprah)

Got a creepy psychoman story? Leave me a comment so we can commiserate.....

Lounge Lizard

Pure Laziness. I offer no excuses for why I've been posting so little and visiting even less. What can I say, life is blissfully boring right now. Summer.

Ok in my defense I had such a crappy January, February and most of March with all those health issues. Then my in-laws came in April and I had to speak/comprehend French all the time with my tiny vocabulary, not to mention my poor mother-in-law's emergency surgery. So for the past few weeks I've been filling my mind with much needed 'nothingness'. And it's been wonderful.

Another thing I've been trying to do is get back into an exercise routine. Because of my crappysick winter and the fact that I was stuffing my face when my in-laws were visiting, I put on a few pounds. I only admit exactly how much to my sister. It's not so much the number that bothers me because I'm not really trying to lose weight(however, and small people chime in here, when you're 4'11",an extra 10 pounds might as well be 20) but I just want to be healthy. Strolling on the beach looking for shark teeth is only a workout for my eyes.

Last weekend I went to the pharmacy to get a passport picture taken. My last passport photo was AWFUL just AWFUL. So this time I was ready. Make up, perfect. Hair, check! The poor girl couldn't figure out how to use the camera. She said she couldn't make it zoom so she had to take it from up close. Suddenly about 5 people walked up and started asking her for stuff. She got flustered and confused. So guess who also got flustered and confused thus making a flustered and confused face for the picture? Should I just go ahead and pay the 6 bucks for a new one dammit? Just go to your bathroom mirror and imagine having to solve a difficult math problem. Are you making a face? That's my picture.

Random thing I noticed about the fitness room in my neighborhood

-There are pictures on the wall with directions about how to use some of the equipment . The problem is, the sort of equipment illustrated does not exist in our fitness room . So I'm not really sure what purpose those pictures serve.

-There are just 'guy' machines. Like upper body strength training stuff. Don't men have hips, abs, and thighs too? According to the association in charge of buying the machines, they don't. Sorry guys.

-The funky smell. 'Nuff said.

Do Sharks Get Cavities?

I never get a Thanks

When someone does something really stupid and then gets hurt as a result of that stupid something, I usually have a hard time feeling sorry. Don't get me wrong, I feel sorry but my pity comes more from the fact that that person is so stupid than the fact that he/she got hurt. Call me a bitch, I guess.

I save the softest part of my heart for children and pets of stupid people. Those are the ones I feel the sorriest for. I could never sit back and let something bad happen to a child or helpless animal because of her parent's/owner's stupidity. I actually saved a child's life once and instead of thanking me his STUPID mother was mean to me. A long time ago I was in a laundromat waiting for my clothes to dry. A woman came in with a little boy who was about 2 or 3. There was a front and back door and the front door was facing a tiny parking lot and very busy street. I was sitting next to the front door reading a book and mentally babysitting this child because he was playing with some mini METAL cars next to some ELECTRICAL OUTLETS. I also want to add that she was dressed fairly nice but for whatever reason decided not to put any clothes except a diaper on her kid, and he had no shoes or socks on, even though it was 60 degrees outside. I also want to add that she had perfect makeup on, but didn't think wiping the ketchup from her son's face was a good idea. After about 5 minutes, the mother decided to go to the back door to smoke and flirt with a man who was repairing the screen who made a nasty comment about my legs just ten minutes before. No she did not bring her little boy with her. She just left him there with me, a PERFECT STRANGER. I assumed she was watching him from where she was-a big assumption. He kept calling,"Momma! Momma!" After a minute he just ran out the front door into the parking lot towards the street. Without even looking to see if his mother was coming I ran out after him just in time to grab him before he reached the street. When I brought him to his mother, she hadn't even noticed what the hell had just happened and was still there puffing away. When I told her what happened and handed her her little boy she said nothing for a few seconds a gave me the dirtiest, bitchiest look and said,"I thought he was with you!" I wanted to slap her, there I was freaking out, my heart beating a thousand times a minute and she's pissed off at me like it's my fault. Ok this was almost ten years ago and I still can't come up with a response to that. Why the hell I was non-verbally assigned to babysit for someone I'd never met in my life for free, I don't know. I didn't even say anything, I just went back to my book. Because of this I have bad feelings towards laundromats and we've never again lived in a place that didn't have a washer and dryer. OK and before any parents go and tell me about kids and how fast they are even under the strictest surveillance, I have 6 nephews ok. 6. I can garan-damn-tee that neither of my sisters, one of whom still smokes, have never been interested in hanging out at the back door of a laundromat flirting with a trashy guy thinking everything was fine because a PERFECT STRANGER was watching her kid.

Well this happened to me AGAIN. TODAY! Mr.Pea and I were eating lunch at a restaurant on their outdoor patio. A couple brought their dog and tied him to a chair. They both went inside to order. Why they tied him to a chair under the HOTDAMN 90 degree Florida sun with no shade and both needed to go inside, I don't know. Especially since they both looked like intelligent people. The poor lab was obviously trying to be a good boy since they told him to stay but was so hot and wanted to lay down about 2 more feet away under a tree. I went over to move the chair for him after a couple minutes because I couldn't take it anymore. Suddenly the guy comes out and says,"What's going on?" Like I'm trying to steal or something. I said, "He was trying to pull the chair to lay down in the shade so I was moving it." He looked at me like I was trying to murder someone. I said,"I'm not trying to steal him or anything." I was trying to make him laugh since apparently I must look like a criminal up to no good. I thought he would get it and say, oh ok thanks. He just said in a mean voice," Yeah well, we're all hot. Come here boy, it's ok."

F- YOU! Ok I didn't say that but I wanted to. I did however, smirk, when the dog walked to the shade on his own and laid down wagging his tail and looking at me. poor dog. At that point, I would have stole him, if I could have, just so he wouldn't have to have such a jerk for an owner.

 

Tuesday Confession:

I'm back on the coffee again. Dammit. I did my best. I'm not blaming anyone or saying I fell off the no coffee wagon because of some French people that came to visit who drink coffee like the Earth is about to fall out of the Universe. And I'm not going to mention that if not for the fact that I had lived with them for a year, I never would've have started drinking coffee in the first place. I also won't mention that it was such a damn cold winter in Canada and whenever I would come inside from walking Peanut outside in the subzero temperature to a coffee aroma filled kitchen and my MIL asking in her sweet way if I'd like to have some that I couldn't help it, because until then I never even drank coffee. Ok so I said it then. Not in a blaming way but...I'm just saying..... I need to try to quit again soon. And I will cuz it's May now and it's about to start getting HOTDAMN outside. It's just that.... before they left, they bought a really big cannister of some really good coffee and I don't like to waste. Does coffee go bad if you don't drink it? Is there any hope for me at all?

How is it that when I decided to quit smoking I never had a problem, it was so easy? I put the damn cigarettes in a drawer and played this mental game with myself. I would tell myself,"No, I'm not quitting forever, I'm just keeping them in this drawer and choosing not to smoke today." I told myself that everyday and it worked. After about 2 months I was able to throw those cigarettes in the garbage and never looked back. Today I smell cigarettes and get grossed out. I think they're disgusting, I don't even want to be near them. I can't imagine smelling fresh coffee and getting grossed out no matter how hard I try. I think coffee might be a tool of the devil. If you don't believe me just look at Starbucks....ok?

I love and hate Starbucks.

I'm going to try to 'detox' this week. It's not going to be pretty.

Back in the swing of things

I needed a few days of 'nothing' for my body and brain so now I'm ready to get caught up with you, my peeps. Everything went well as far as my MIL's recovery and her doc gave her the ok to fly home so they left Friday. I'm of course more than a little sad but I'm going to try to get up there by the end of this summer for a visit if I can get a decent priced ticket. My house is too damn quiet now and I'm still trying to 'switch back to English' in my mind. I'm also watching the tides so I can get out to my beach since I haven't been there in forever.

Speaking of beach. Oh gosh. Over the weekend I finally broke down and went bathing suit shopping. This is a torture no woman should have to go through. I wish perfectly fitting bathing suits just fell down from the heavens with magic mirrors, that's all I feel like saying. I'm not the first one to say this. I don't care how perfect a woman's figure is, no one over 15 wants to look at her self in a bikini under those horrible lights. My advice is to go with your boyfriend or husband/ significant other, who's either A) already super in love with you and thinks you look cute in everything or B) been with you long enough to just automatically tell you look totally hot if he wants to avoid sleeping on the floor. But please don't fill my comments with how I shouldn't have a bad body image because I don't. Does this mean I think I look like crap? No. It just means I hate bathing suit shopping. Just not more than I like to eat....

What a scare

This has been a stressful week for us. Tuesday we rushed my mother in law to the hospital because she had nausea, abdominal pain and a fever of 103. After a CT scan we found out she had appendicitis and they had to operate as soon as possible. Ok I'm sure I mentioned in my last post that she is 82 years old. So imagine, she doesn't speak any English nor does her daughter and son in law who brought her here, and the day before she goes home her appendix nearly bursts. I chose a hospital near MrPea's work since, obviously, his French is better than mine and I wanted to make sure it would be easy for him to get there fast. Thankfully everything went well and she's convalescing comfortably in our home prolonging their visit for at least another week. I'm just so thankful this did not happen a day later while she was en route to Canada in a damn plane. I was so scared. I am proud of how well I held it together considering I only have two years of high school French. Ok and let me tell ya, anyone who goes on vacation with me to any French speaking country would be well taken care of...I might not be able to talk philosophy, my accent is not the prettiest, but dammit I can get you what you need! And I get better everyday. I'm as tired as tired can be from the sleeplessness and stress but I should be ok by this week's end.

Anybody need a ride ?

 

I might know someone who could help out. Designated driver service is also available for a couple milkbones....

Getting better

Unfortunately, I managed to give my 82 year old mother in law my cold. But that didn't ruin the whole visit. We managed to have a good time these past couple weeks. I'll be sad when everyone goes home. Last night we had this great idea to drive south to a protected beach to look at the stars. Until we realised there was a full moon out.....but still it was pretty. It was a giggly time.

Guess who has a cold...

Yep.

Still Alive

I got a lot of emails asking if I was ok. My in laws are here so I've barely been home. Sorry. My brain is all used up speaking French with just my 2 years of high school classes....I'll post better stuff and visit more soon.

Cross Creek

Thursday my friend Dee and I jumped in the car thinking we would just drive to "a river, any river" for a change of scenery not knowing we would end up here. We've been talking about making a trip to Cross Creek for a long time since both of us have read the book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings about a thousand times. Usually our plans to leave early and stay all weekend in a small town nearby are usually interrupted by my many health issues or hers. We were already halfway there when we decided, Dammit we might as well go now. I was more excited because she had already been there before. What used to be the orange grove is now a park with lots of trees, benches, and places to picnic.

The rusty gate....

I was dying, just dying to bang on that bell and yell, Dinner! Ya'll bad kids git in herr and eat!

I didn't take any pictures inside the house because there was a tour going on there and it was full of people putting their greasy fingers all over even though we were asked not to. Just picture your Grandma's house with lots of books, that's pretty much what it looked like. Ok when we were in the guest room, I heard the tour guide say that a few famous people had slept there, including Ernest Hemingway. I heard, and I won't say who, but I heard someone whisper in my ear,"I'da slept with him..." I giggled loud enough for the tour guide to give me a stern look which, actually, is the real truth about why I don't have any pictures for ya'll of the inside of her home.

Above is the front porch where she did her writing. Below is the side porch. If you've seen the movie(which, in my opinion, was not as good as the book ) you'll recognize the water pump which still works but we weren't allowed to touch it.

We walked around a bit. The orange trees were in blossom and I was scared of the bees but the air smelled so nice. This is the servants' house. We peeked inside since my giggling got us in trouble and seperated from the tour group who was by now in the barn(and I don't have pictures of that either because the tour guide was mad at me.)

It was full of 'antses'

We snuck behind the little house looking for varmints, keeping an eye on the ground for any snakes. We were both in awe of the canopy. It is exactly how I pictured while reading and exactly how I thought old, undeveloped wild Florida was.

We wanted to stay longer for more walking around, more giggling and more pictures but we were dying of starvation and getting eaten by the bugs--what nature girls we are! We ate lunch at a place with a name I can't remember for the life of me but it smelled like my Grandma's kitchen at the farm. I have to admit that we pigged out on fried chicken, biscuits and fresh honey, greens, butter beans, mashed potatoes, rice and beans...all the food I just answered as my favorites in my last post but no strawberry shortcake. Like I had any room left anyway. We both decided if we had been real visitors to Cross Creek, that's probably what we would've been served. Is the Spanish moss romantic? I think so.

Friday I went soul searching elsewhere and found some of these......

47 odd questions my Aunt sent me

1. Do you like blue cheese? Gross! That would be a No.
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No. It probably smells bad.

3. Do you own a gun? A glue gun.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? Haven't been there in probably 5 years but I like the Cherry Limeade.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Hello! Anyone who's been reading here knows YES. I pretend to not be scared though.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I think they're disgusting
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Don't really have one,
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee in the winter, Orange juice in the summer.

9. Can you do push ups? yes I can!!

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I haven't bought it yet. I'm not a big jewelry person but I have these pearl earrings MrPea bought me in Hawaii a few years ago that I love .

11. Favorite hobby? Looking for shark teeth and painting

12. Do you have A.D.D.? Probably

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? my temper maybe, and my body image issues

14. Middle name? Marie

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. I'm thirsty. It's finally warm outside yay! I need to get my house together before my inlaws' visit next week.

16. Name 3 things you bought yesterday. I didn't buy anything yesterday....

17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? water, water, water

18. Current worry? I have so many--that I might have to move before I can enjoy my summer here, my next CT scan in July, Peanut's turning into an old man

19. Current hate right now? high-waisted pants.I don't know who decided to try to start that trend but whoever did needs to give up that idea, they look horrible on everyone.

20. Favorite place to be? at the beach or on my patio with Peanut
21. How did you bring in the New Year? kissing my husband

22. Where would you like to go? to Hawaii but I could stay here in FL a little while too

23. Name three people who will complete this? whoever wants to

24. Do you own slippers? yes, some Hello Kitty ones I got in the kids' section at Target for my hospital stay last year

25. What shirt are you wearing? A white tee--also from Tar-jay

26. What year would you go back in time to? Kindergarten because I got to be the little Lady Blue Bird character in our Gingerbread Man play and sing,"Run Home! Chirp, Chirp! Run Home! Chirp, Chirp!" It was the best day ever.

27. Can you whistle? yes but I don't often, I'd rather sing

28. Favorite color? Don't really have one. I like to wear white alot but it's not my favorite color
29. Would you be a pirate? If the clothes look good on me. Just kidding! I'm not to big on pillaging and plundering so that would be a no.

30. What songs do you sing in the shower? Mostly reggae songs. Anything.

31. Favorite girl's name? Annabelle Lee from the Poe poem I think.If I had a daughter I wouldn't name her that though

32. Favorite boy's name? Any name that starts with a J. Every boy I've ever know with a J name has always been really nice, and really cute so I like J names.

33. What's in your pocket right now? Peanut's next doctor appointment reminder and a shark tooth

34. Last thing that made you laugh? My husband, he likes to make me laugh

35. Best Halloween costume? a dead rabbit

36. Worst injury you've ever had? hurt my leg in junior high, it aches sometimes when I'm tired. Spider bite form when I was a kid, I still have the scar
37. Do you love where you live? YES!!!!

38. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2

39. Who is your loudest friend? My friend Dee or my sister C

40. How many dogs do you have? One, (sigh)....I'd like nothing more than to have a basket full of pups but I live in a condo.

41. Does someone have a crush on you? always...just kidding, how the hell would I know

42. What is your favorite book(s)? Don't really have one. When I was little I loved all the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.
43. What is your favorite candy? I don't like sweets but Hershey's Kisses are good once in a while. I'm more of a chips person

44. Favorite Sports Team? I don't do sports. I love the Olympics though.

45. Your favorite meal? Southern food.....fried chicken with biscuits or corn bread and mashed potatoes with butter beans. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. And my mom's Filipino food.

46. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Watching tv with MrPea and Peanut on our new bed
47. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Damn I love this new bed!

Whoever wants to use this for a post be my guest.

Tuesday Confession: My height

I tell everyone I'm 4'11". Actually I'm exactly 4'10 1/2". It's just that saying the "and a half" part sounds like it actually means a lot to me so I don't bother. Because it doesn't. And I figure I might as well round up since either way people laugh.


Tattletale!: My sister Neenee tells everyone she's 4'11" too. I'm taller than her so she can't be. I'm also taller than my mom and my other sister C. I'm the tallest girl in the family. Ha! I accomplished this by drinking milk....


These pics are bad because I took them with my cell phone. I was too lazy to dig out my camera and in a hurry to find some teeth.

I was barely there for 2 minutes when these popped up.
I rode my bike as usual and the scent of honeysuckle was in the air the entire ride. It was nice to be back, it's been too long. I have to admit, I laughed the whole way down the entrance stairs, I was so damn giddy. Jumping up and down was also involved.
The weather this week is going to be stormy so I probably won't get back out there until Sunday or Monday, depending what time low tide will be on those days.

"no news is good news" my liver!

My doctor's office called me today because I left a message this morning asking if my CAT scan results were in or not. She told me there was a bump on my liver but not to worry because it's probably something I was born with. Due to my history they want to keep an eye on it. So I will have another CAT scan in a few months and probably yearly follow ups just to make sure it's the same size. This is not good news but not bad news either, just news. Well it's sort of good news that they'll leave me alone for a few months because I need the break. Plus she told me not to worry because if Doc thought there was even a possibility of cancer on my liver, they wouldn't be waiting a few months, so I'm not going to worry. I guess.

Since it's on my liver, does that mean no more boozy, drunken, smoky sleazy bar fly nights? Damn I guess I'm going to have find a new hobby :O)

I don't remember the exact scientific word she used because I was in the car and I couldn't write it down. So I asked her to send me a copy of the report. I also asked for a letter stating my radiation information so that I could travel. I don't want to be taken to a secret interrogation room or sent to Guantanamo Bay just for trying to visit my sister.

I started feeling much better this week. I've been abnormally tired since I came home from the hospital and it was from anemia which I always have a problem with. MrPea calls me a weak link of nature. SO!? But I've been taking iron supplements in addition to my regular multi-vitamin and this week I finally feel the difference. So guess where I'm going tomorrow...

yes! I can't wait. All day I've been singing that song from, "Annie," Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya Tomorrow!

BTW since my post title is "no news is good news," I need to complain about that. I hate that. If anyone is going to charge me an arm and a leg for an invasive medical procedure the least they can do is call me even if it's just to say, "all's good!" What the hell?! To me it just means laziness.

Tuesday Confessions: Vanity Smurf or a Heathen

I found a gray hair on my head this week. Actually it was white. Yeah. Not a "bleached by the sun and peroxide" strand. It was a white hair growing from my head. Ok. I'm a little confused that it was a white hair not a gray one. I thought they were supposed to be gray first and then white. Did my hair decide to skip the gray and go straight into white? I'm not freaking out over this, I'm just wondering, is it happening now? And since I'm already on the topic, I have a small bald spot just above my ear from when my doctor removed a big ugly mole. I'm not very happy about it but it could be worse. I also found an age spot on my lower cheek. I pretend like it's just a freckle but it's not.


Ok those are just silly confessions. I have two more. 1. I ate meat on Good Friday and 2. I did not attend church on Friday or Easter. Ok in my defense, I had to eat meat because I am anemic again. But the church thing I don't really have any excuse, the truth is I just didn't want to go. oops.

Your turn guys.

Me and my Shadow(box)

Check it out ! I did stuff again...scientific stuff. Yessss! This isn't ALL of my shark teeth, I have thousands more. These are some of the bigger and nicely shaped ones. It was MrPea's idea, sort of. I haven't decided if I'm going to hang it up or keep it on the coffee table. I need to be able to geek out over them when the mood strikes so it has to be easily accessible.

I'm dying to get to the beach to look for some more. It's sunny and warm enough but the ocean wind is still so cold, I'm afraid I'll get sick so I'm waiting til next week maybe. I can't even describe how badly I need to get out there. Maybe that's how addicts feel. Oh but soon. Soon.


BTW If anyone thinks I got the Latin names wrong, let me know.

Oh and I forgot to mention that MrPea found a few himself(but I found all the big ones)

Random Tuesday Confessions about my CAT scan

-I have a big purple and green bruise on the inside of my arm where I had a HUGE IV needle from Friday's CAT scan. Technically it's two bruises close together to make one big butterfly shaped bruise because my vein, ahem, rejected the first needle poke and pushed it out. I didn't know my veins could do that. If only I had known this before, imagine all the other needles I could have rejected all those other times...damn. Oh well. Moving on, back to my confession: I show these bruises to anyone who bothers to look my way in an effort to get some pity because frankly I'm beginning to enjoy the attention from them. In fact I almost took a picture of my arm to post for extra blog-pity until I realized how pathetic and twisted that would seem . I'm just hoping no one mistakes them for heroine track marks. I don't look that sick.

-Speaking of my IV, the person in charge of the injection told me I would get a flush of heat and feel like I'd peed in my pants but not to worry. What?! Yeah. It happened. Not the peeing in the pants part. The freaking-out-because-I-thought-I-did-even-though-they-were-nice-enough-
to-explain-to-me -that-I-would-feel-like-I-did-but-not-to-panic-because-
I-didn't happened. I yelled loud enough to disturb whoever was having their own CAT scan in the next room,"Am I peeing in my pants? Omigawd, please tell me I'm not!" And as they were correct, I did not pee in my pants, I only felt like I did for a minute or 2. That would have been the tipping point for me. If I had actually peed on myself, I think I just may have relinquished the minuscule remainder of sanity I had left and would perhaps be in an insane asylum at this very moment. But fate smiled upon me Friday and luckily I'm still here, my peeps. So just to reiterate the most important part of Friday: I was peepee free and therefore held on to my sanity.

-BTW anyone out there ever had one too? If you're nodding your head(s) my hat goes off to you, dear(s). The prep they give you to drink....I don't even have words for this drink. It's called Berry Smoothie flavor. Um. They got it wrong. They should have just been honest and called it Berry Repulsive Goo. There's also a banana flavored one I was lucky enough to not have formed an opinion about. But let me tell you, this drink is so disgusting, it's the color and texture of lotion and you have to drink a big #$%* bottle of it in 20 minutes. Yes. Ever get the urge to drink an entire bottle of lotion for breakfast? Me neither.

SO I guess the conclusion of my whole post for today is, I'm a pretty crappy patient. I freak out even when I'm told not to and my freak out sessions are loud enough to disturb others with probably more serious issues than mine. I'm definitely afraid of peeing in my pants. I hate needles yet enjoy the pity and attention I receive after the trauma of it all is over. And I complain about anything I'm given to eat or drink that has the word "prep' on it. You don't have to feel sorry for me if you don't want to.


I'm not sure when I'll hear from my doc about the scan, I'm guessing next week so I'll let ya'll know when I do. Keep your fingers crossed. f-ing cancer, I swear!

If hell had another name

It would be called Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I'm not sure why but that place intimidates and entices me at the same time. It's too organized or something. Organization intimidates me a little. If you shared a room with my sister growing up, you'd understand, but I'll tell you guys about that another time. And have ya'll noticed that all the smells are enough to wake the comatose? Those sachet things with an aroma haze dizzying up the air always have names like,'Pomegranate Breeze,' and, 'Lavender Fields' . I love those things. Only I can't differentiate what exactly I'm smelling when I pick one up because all the smells have become one big perfume soup and I've been enveloped in it. I felt like a cartoon character trying to get away from a bee swarm and the only way to really escape is to jump in a lake. And there's just so much damn stuff in there. I do need stuff don't get me wrong. Our walls are bare. I need new rugs for my bathroom and kitchen. We both need new shower curtains. Our comforter needs replacing and I need some extra blankets for when my in laws visit next month. And dammit I want some serious black out curtains in my bedroom before the summer sun starts waking me up at 7am. But there's almost too many choices, I get all confused. I don't go to those places with MrPea because I feel sorry for him when I subject him to this kind of stuff. Why? Because when I go to these places I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to turn over, inspect, investigate every item in the store until I decide not to buy anything at all because the exact color, style, design I'm looking for does not exist.

I did buy a couple things including a tension rod I wanted to use to hang up a curtain to separate my closet from my bathroom. This is because my closet is in the bathroom so whenever I'm in front of the bathroom mirror, reflected behind me is my messy closet and I'm sick of looking at it. So rather than clean it up like any other non-lazy sane person, I'd rather just hang up a curtain there instead. However I managed to bend the tension rod in less than 5 minutes after I got in my car when I adjusted my seat to accommodate my, ahem, short legs. Great. I tried to fix it when I got home with some pliers and ended up squishing my finger which resulted in me re-breaking the tension rod with my foot on the balcony in a full fledged temper tantrum, Peanut joining in on the attack with teeth as his chosen weapon. There goes my $4.99.

All in all though, I feel good about my day. But I'm still not cleaning out that hole that is my closet. In fact I'm going back there tomorrow after my appointment for another tension rod cuz I'll be damned if I have to look at that mess in the mirror one more time.

Seems like it never ends

I heard from my doctor on Monday about my scan and she says the radiologist mentioned "activity" was seen around my liver that may or may not be a "technical issue" whatever the hell that means. So I'm scheduled for a CAT Scan tomorrow morning so they can figure out exactly what it is. She doesn't think it's anything since it never showed up before on my last body scan from January but my doctor is the damn queen of checking and rechecking. I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to feel about this. I'm definitely not happy. Frankly, I'm pissed off. I have to be selfish and irrational for a second to say, I feel like this is all unfair. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't use drugs, I eat healthy and I exercise everyday. I don't understand why my body is doing this to me. I sick of looking at those (medical)people's faces. I sick of being asked about my period and other personal bodily functions by complete strangers in front of my husband who's never even seen me pluck my eyebrows because that's just the way I am. I'm sick of needles, I'm sick of IVs, I'm sick of the white or pastel paint and ugly tacky artwork in every hospital waiting room, I'm tired of being on hold listening to really bad jazzy muzak trying to get appointments and confirmation numbers and insurance information. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of it. I'm. Sick. Of. It. There I feel better.

I have to wake up early tomorrow and drink some really nasty tasting liquid before my appointment and then drink some more nasty tasting liquid when I get to my appointment and they're going to put an IV in my arm for the procedure. It's going to be so much fun......

Tuesday Confession:I ruined some baptism photos

I know it's not Tuesday yet but I haven't done this since forever ago. I was looking at some old pictures and I remembered....my wrath.
Click on the picture for full explanation cuz they're kind of blurry.


My sister's crying. Person responsible for making my sister cry is receiving wrathful thoughts and dirty looks from me. I blanked them out since I don't have permission from them even though I don't think they would care anyway, I'm just trying to be respectful.

Yeah, this wasn't one photo mean look. This lasted for the entire service. Check it out.


I will not confirm or deny allegations that I may or may not have been caught on film rolling my eyes while her ex-inlaws were taking, "Let's pretend there's nothing wrong cuz' we're at church, Lord forbid anyone find out the TRUTH at CHURCH of all places. Hypocrisy feels better," family photos.

I guess I'm just a blasphemous heathen. Pray for me....

Hibiscus Kool-Aid and a Cute Frog

Dear Spring,
Hurry up damnit I'm waiting. Sure, you gave me a few warm days the past couple weeks and we change times starting, oops right now. Still though, I had to wear ugly shoes on my anniversary because you're late this year and my feet are cold and swollen. I had to tie myself over with these pictures from last year.

See?! See what you can do? You can make pretty Strawberry Kool-Aid colored flowers and all these sweet little Kermit lookin' frogs crawl out from all over the place.

Come on Spring you can do it! Be the little engine that could. I believe in you hun. My flip flops are getting dusty and we can't have that in the month of March in Florida, it's just unheard of. Plus the shark teeth are alone out there, waiting for me after the rough seas you're sister, Winter graced us with. She's had her beautiful moments but it's your time to shine now don't you think? Don't just do it for little old me think of the shark teeth, the shark teeth! Ok I have noticed some new leaves and pollen is every where, cursing my sinuses, but frankly I expect more from you. I'm giving you a couple more weeks before I call your Sister Summer, who's way hotter than you by the way, and just ask her to skip over you all together, how'bout that, my friend, no threat! It's not like that's never happened before, ok? You know she steals all the glory just when you're beginning to settle in, are you gonna let that happen? I'm not going to beg.

Waiting Patiently,
Your Number One Fan Angel

Well it's my anniversary

And I feel like gloating. SO HA! Why do I feel like gloating? No reason. Or maybe because everyone I knew thought we were making a huge mistake since we'd only just met 4 months before. Today makes 11 years so I think it's safe enough to assume we did ok. So here's "us" in a nutshell since I don't talk too much about my MrPea.

We met at a restaurant where I worked as a hostess. It sounds so high school but I was too shy to ask him for his number since I don't do that and damn it he never hit on me so one of the nosy waitresses asked him for me. Our first date was (Hello!) at the beach. We also broke social rules and talked about both politics(gasp!) and religion(gasp gasp!). Shocking, isn't it? I went home and told my roommate I was going to marry him. I'll spare ya'll the corny details of our courtship so Blahblahblah, we got engaged 2 months later and decided to elope, which consisted of of us driving to the St.Augustine courthouse and getting married in the garden there. The most I remember about that day is the fact that we giggled the entire time and he screwed up the words, "I thee wed" because he said,"I be wed." I'm not sure why but we could not stop giggling. I'm still happy I never had a ceremony. Yeah, like I wanted to hang around a bunch of people who have negative feelings about me getting married on my own wedding day. Instead I have memories of he and I giggling surrounded by Spring flowers and the sound of birds.
Just a few random things:
-We drove from Florida to California in our first year together without ending up in an asylum. Well, he drove and I enjoyed the scenery. We had fun.
-He is under no obligation to buy me flowers or gifts on any Holiday. This is true and not a game/test on my part. I don't like gifts out of obligation. I like a gift from his heart. Even if it came from a gum ball machine. I don't believe in pouting and acting like a baby for a stupid Valentine's gift. I'd rather a husband who loves, cherishes and respects me year round than one who treats me like crap but buys me pretty things on the Holidays. I think the lack of pressure makes him feel more generous actually.
-I thought I was the pickiest eater on Earth, until I met him. That trophy belongs to him.
-We never went on a honeymoon. It never bothered me since we always lived in the tropics.
-Between the 2 of us, I'm the talker he's the quiet one. Shyness makes him come across as aloof or mysterious. But he talks to me.

Pretty exciting stuff huh?




*BTW Just a little update* I'm still not feeling great but I feel better. It's just taking longer than I thought to get to my normal self. I'm still exhausted all the time,achy and slow but I'm getting there. Maybe next week. Have a good weekend internets!

Necesity is the mother of invention

I feel like burning incense. Problem: I have incense but no incense holder. Solution: go to the store? $19.99 for a fancy pants one, my foot! What else could I do but poke a hole in one of my favorite shells and use this dish for friggin' free. Kiss my behind Pier One!

Monday rules!

My massage was today. I picked out the girly-est, foufou place I could find. It was the nicest thing I could have ever done for myself. I almost feel like I should find some new things to get stressed out about just so I can have an excuse to go back there. The masseuse got a nice tip because not only was she good, but she also told me I had pretty skin. Rule of thumb good masseuses out there: Appealing to one's vanity when one feels like the Bag-Haggis of the Year increases tip outlook, whether it's a fake compliment or not. So there was my Post-Traumatic-Radiation/11th Year Anniversary Gift. The actual date is on Friday the 7th but I took my gift now thank you very much.

Today is the 3rd day since I've been back on my med and I notice a small change. Still tired but I'm getting there.

Somethin' good to blog about durnnit

So far Peanut's doctor thinks he's ok. He got some shots and an antibiotic to start tomorrow. And I have to say, he was way more well behaved than any of the other dogs at the vet this morning. I did have a laugh over something I learned: It's just an observation but, you probably look pretty sickly if your own dog's doctor takes a look at you and asks,"Have you been unwell? Do you need to sit down and let the vet tech hold Peanut for you?" Especially since I don't go around telling everyone and their cousin(well besides on this blog) about my personal health issues. I just said,"Yes, thanks for asking," because I know he was just trying to be nice and I do really look puffy and pale. But that will be remedied, my friends. I have a therapeutic massage scheduled for Monday after lunch. Yay! I haven't had one in like, never. What about poor Peanut you ask? Well it's his butt that hurts not his back and I'm not going there...and anyway he gets back rubs and belly rubs on command, he doesn't need to make any appointments.

Oh, and I saw a lone bald eagle yesterday scouting around. He was small but beautiful and scary-looking in the good way. I always see them here in March usually just one or two. I've heard they come here in the Spring to nest but don't quote me on it. They are so protected that an entire development had to stop construction for the season when some people spotted some in the area one year. The developers bitched and tried failingly to appeal but I was happy about that actually(Oh I just love developers don't you, they care, they really do). I've been looking for him ever since but I think the osprey mates that live in a dead pine on the golf course may have chased him away, because I know for sure they hatched a chick recently. How do I know? Oh I have my ways, peeps. I have my ways. I did forget to mention that for 3 days before I went to the hospital for the radio-iodine, there were a pair of yellowish golden hawks I couldn't figure out hanging around the neighborhood too. I saw them every morning and they were bee-u-tiful. They, also must have moved on, because I don't see them anymore. It would be nice if I had some pictures for you guys wouldn't it? But I'm too lazy to drag my camera around with me so you'll just have to take my word and imagine I guess. Poor you peeps, ya'll missed out. I've been down with the birds of prey lately haven't I?

And oh no(!), I saw a small alligator swimming in the lake behind our building. I'll try to get a pic of her tomorrow, I know where she's been hanging out. I make it my business to figure these things out. Not by the pool like last year's monster, but thankfully on the golf course side. I just hope some idiot doesn't decide to take matters into his own hands and try to feed it or harm it , it's too little to really pose any threat right now and will likely move on to the bigger marsh nearby. I'm not aiming for me or Peanut to be her lunch but there are professionals to take care of those issues. It's that time of year again. I'm actually thanking the heavens because it means we're into Spring. Couldn't have come at a better time.