Sunday, January 27, 2013

Crepe Murder Time


Steve Bender at Southern Living - The Grumpy Gardener had started his annual Crepe Murder Contest.


Some of my neighbors get anonymous copies of his article in the mail.  Not everyone in my neighborhood murders their crepe myrtles so it is not difficult for that anonymous person to remain anonymous. 

Yuck

Well,  life can be weird. 

I have tonsillitis.  And my tonsils are supposed to be gone.

I've been feeling bad for a week but it sounded like the sinus and allergies moved to my chest.  I scared the kitties because my voice was so strange Friday morning.  

I already had an appointment with the knee doctor Friday afternoon and couldn't get in to my regular doctor as he takes off at noon on Fridays.  So I went home after getting a cortisone shot in my knee and took home knee replacement information - as in it needs to be done sooner rather than later so the leg bone doesn't get too damaged.  Oh, and made a web appointment from home. 

Got called in around 5pm and discovered I have tonsillitis now.  I don't have tonsils or am not supposed to have any.  Apparently when they remove them or they are absorbed by the body, not all the tissue is removed.  So they can grow back. 

Good think he mentioned cortisone shot so I told him I just had one in my knee a few hours earlier so he changed the meds.  Went home with 4 prescriptions.  The cough syrup is strong.  As in knock me out strong.  I'm getting better and won't be contagious by this afternoon.  LOL now I have to clean my car to get rid of all the germs.  Not sure how long those germs will live on things.  Guess I will have to take some germ cleaning stuff for my desk tomorrow.

Oh well, hope everyone out there is well.  We are getting some rain.  YEAH  we still need rain. 

take care!




Saturday, January 12, 2013

A Wnter Day

Yikes!  It's still foggy and wet out there!  We sure need the rain though.  We got a reallly nice almost 3 inches this week.  But we were spoiled when we saw the sun yesterday and it got almost up to 70.   It's supposed to get down in the 20's again tonight.  That plus the wet should make for an interesting Sunday morning.
ummmm smells good
 
It was nice to not hear the heater on last night.

The cats are in their winter mode of sleep, eat, sleep, poop, sleep some more.  They have their annual kitty exams on the 21st.  Don't tell them though.  They'll start screaming about it now if they know.

Short days.  Short post.


Saturday, January 05, 2013

Life in the Fast Lane....

In Texas, it takes forever for cremations.  First, all known children by blood must sign and agree that cremation is ok.  And it can't be done within the first 48 hours either.

Once that paperwork is complete, the city requires a permit.  And that takes forever.  After that all it takes is scheduling a time for the cremation.  Of course one would tend to assume that since the funeral home owns the crematorium that it wouldn't be a problem.  I mean, it is a known fact that deaths occur 24 x7 right?   So almost 2 weeks after the permit, and dozens of calls, the cremation is scheduled.  And I can pick Dad up in his little urn on New Years Day.

Starting out the New Year in proper form, a friend and I went to Fred's Texas Cafe in Ft Worth for the best on the earth cheeseburger and fries.  And, even Diners, Drive-ins and Dives has been there (They left their brand on the wall above the bar). Ok OK, it's a minor diversion from the story......

Afterwards, I go by the funeral home and wait.  And wait.  And wait some more and played games on my iPhone.  At first, they didn't want to give me the urn because the paperwork indicated all four of us had to be present to receive the remains.  I almost came unglued.  Boy, I tell you, in Texas, I'm surprised there are any cremations at all.  I finally got him though after proving who I was.  I'm the executor of his will as well, but I can't spell the female version.  So Dad is placed in a box with styrofoam peanuts, they take him out to the care, put the box in the back seat and off we go.

Now there is construction all over the place.  I can see 75 to the west about a mile away and decide to go home on 75 instead of the slower streets because I've been gone most of the day and I know the kitties are getting anxious.  I swear, I follow all the signs that say 75 and somehow, after a few curves and hills, I come out on 75 alright.  But in the HOV lane.

Now these HOV lanes are the kind with the concrete barrier on the left and the wobbly cane things on the right (spaced about 6" apart).  Ok.  Fine.  So this lane is suffering from lack of cleaning and many of the cane things are in the middle of the lane - not like you go anywhere but straight.  which I did at the speed limit knowing that if someone came up behind me, they'd be honking because most go closer to 80 in the HOV lane on 75.

Now, after destressing from finding I'm on the HOV lane - thank heavens it was a holiday- I realize I will be stopped because there's only me in the car.  So now I'm really stressing out.  Then out of nowhere, the weight lifted off my shoulders and I realized when asked why I was in the HOV lane by myself, I would be able to say without lying "but my Dad is in the back seat".

I then started giggling and giggled all the way home.

Oh, in case you think this is too gross, well, it is life.  And Dad would be laughing right along us.

We will have a grave-side service later when it is warm.  Yes, that is prolonging the death period but Dad and I both hate being cold.