Mental Meanderings

My schedule has been juggled, thank goodness, working 52 hours last week nearly kilt me. Dead. We negotiated and I'm now working a much more reasonable 2-3 days a week; more than plenty after a decade of not working, in my opinion. More may be possible after I've had the opportunity to build up my stamina... in the meantime, it's very lucky my employer is understanding and willing to keep to our original agreement. This also frees up energy and time for writing (and for visiting your blogs). 

We're living in a small retirement community; most of the residents are currently 'up north' and won't be returning for a month or two. It's quiet here and not a lot of demand for community gatherings, etc... just yet. This I find quite agreeable, Cranky as I am. About 50 ft. beyond our place is an unmarked wall with no entrance; something about it intrigues me. Perhaps it's the brief glimpses of a roofline through the trees, maybe of a set of flats, or it could be the occasional sounds of people talking and children laughing. It could even be the occasional soft cock's crow which piques my interest.

I keep picturing a late-middle age woman in shorts and hiking boots, carrying a backpack, perched on the wall with a smile on her face... leaping suddenly to other side, laughter trailing behind.

Dunno for sure but methinks there might be a story in there somewhere; what do you think?

It's been a while so here's some food porn.

Above: Chicken salad with pecans, tart apple and sharp cheddar. Below: Liquid pizza aka tomato soup with sausage, pepperoni, minced green pepper, mushrooms, onions, and black olives with slices of fresh mozzarella. 

It's A Grand Theft, Otto

And I have perpetrated it on Debra, She Who Seeks (aka Otto)... go Here if you'd like to know what in blazes I'm talking about. I don't feel bad, she stole it from someone else.

1. Are you named after anyone? I was named after any number of people but was named for Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and my Uncle Jack, (first name) and the actress, Diane Carol Baker.

2. When was the last time you cried? Three nights ago, I laughed so hard I cried.

3. Do you like your handwriting? I once had beautiful handwriting and was rather proficient at calligraphy; my writing has deteriorated somewhat.

4. What is your favourite lunch meat? Pastrami works well for me; there is a little deli where I used to live that had the best pastrami in the history of ever. The lovely and gracious rabbi who owns the deli makes it herself, on-site.

5. Do you have any kids? The kidling, of whom I often speak.

6. If you were another person, would you be friends? Hell no, I wouldn't give that bitch Debra She Who Seeks the goddamn time of day. Oh wait, I wouldn't give me the time of day. Oopsie!

7. Do you use sarcasm? What's that?

8. Do you still have your tonsils? Nope.

9. Would you bungee jump? Only if I have a spare pair of skivvies handy.

10. What is your favourite cereal? Cereal is from the debbil.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Why? Then you just have to re-tie them later.

12. Do you think you're strong? Well, I have been chucking 50 lb. boxes about lately.

13. What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Peppermint; according to my horoscope this makes me both uncool and a potential ax murderer.

14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Their voice. If I can abide their voice I usually like them.

15. Red or pink? Brighter colors work better for me as I get older, just not neons.

16. What is the least favourite thing you like about yourself? How self-absorbed I've been the last few months; it's been feeling very drama mama out.

17. What colour pants and shoes are you wearing right now? Erm, who said I was wearing any? (I'm in my sleep shirt you perverse creatures.)

18. What was the last thing you ate? Chicken salad with tart apple, sharp cheddar cubes, pecan pieces and just a hiiiiint of cinnamon.

19. What are you listening to right now? Iggy Pop Lust For Life

Image Source

20. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Verdigris

21. Favourite smell? Fresh basil.

22. Who was the last person you talked to? Jenae, a co worker.

23. Favourite sport to watch? Ummmm; get back to you on that.

24. Hair colour that's real? It used to be dark blonde with a lot of red, now it's dishwater blonde with a lot of grey.

25. Do you wear contacts? No. I do have reading glasses.

26. Favourite food? Prawns and/or scallops.

27. Scary movies or happy endings? Neither, I prefer the weepies.

28. Last movie you watched? Finding Neverland or Trainspotting; forget which.

29. What colour shirt are you wearing? Orange.

30. Summer or winter? Summer

31. Hugs or kisses? Hugs.

32. Favourite sweet food? Carrot cake!

33. What book are you currently reading? Only one? Hmm, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

34. What is on your mouse pad? My mouse.

35. What did you last watch on TV? Beat Bobby Flay

36. Favourite sound? The sound of water moving. Any water. 

37. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Either

38. What is the farthest you have traveled? Mexico

39. Do you have a special talent? Making people take an instant dislike to me; am quite proficient at it.

40. Where were you born? Indiana, US

A Little Mischief

But doesn't Jim look just lovely, sound asleep with his mouth hanging open, lol.

He's had a few rough moments, that's to be expected when a transplant is involved, but nothing anywhere near so frightening as the initial surgery. Mom grabbed this photo just after he fell asleep.

This ugly fellow nearly gave me a heart attack when I got home from work tonight:

This is the toxic cane toad, a giant of a toad which has rapidly become an invasive species in many parts of the globe; this particular one was about the size of a baseball and hurtled past my feet. Fortunately for me, it didn't touch me and quite considerately knocked itself out on the car's under carriage.

One more day until some time off, hallelujah! 

What (Pink) Style! She's a Rock Star!

Mom is Indiana now with Jim and will be up there for a month or longer; Jim will be in hospital three to four weeks, albeit he's determined to prove the doctors wrong and get out of there sooner. Knowing how stubborn he is, I'll not be the least bit surprised if he does just that.

He did require an epidural for the pain yesterday, he's breathing on his own but wasn't able to take deep breaths until after the epidural; it was just too painful. They had him up in a chair briefly yesterday and for nearly an hour today... not bad for a guy who had a 15 hour surgery Tuesday night/Wednesday morning! 

Wish I'd seen his face when Mom's best friend, Judy, picked her up at the airport and when Mom walked into Jim's room. Heck, I'd have loved seeing the expression on stranger's faces when she walked through the airport, etc... She decided to give everyone a little surprise and asked me to help her with it, so before heading to the airport I did this:

Pink highlights around her face! 

I'll likely be MIA over the holiday weekend (Labor Day here in the States) but fingers crossed things slow down a bit after Monday; I miss everyone. Be safe and well, till soon!

Boneless

With relief that is.

He made it!

Thank you everyone.

This Is It And I'm Terrified

My oldest brother, Jim, after months of waiting... is now in surgery.

A double lung transplant. Right now. 

I'm supposed to do another long day at work tomorrow but how can I just toddle off to bed whilst Mom is in her room crying as though her heart will break? Jim was born when she was just 15; they've been through it all together, hell, they grew up together. I want to scream, to cry, to make everything better but I can't.

I can be here and I can get her up there, to Indiana. Probably on Friday, if all goes well.

Flying By

On my way to bed, working tomorrow.

Man am I tired. What the hell happened to starting out part time??? I'm already into overtime and working the bakery on my own and it's still two days from my two week mark! Work is good, getting paid for work is even better, but I'm seriously not sure I can keep up this pace; there were a number of excellent reasons for me wanting to work part time, at least for a while.

Ah well, today was good. Had the day off and took Mom out to eat at Olive Garden (her choice) for her birthday/3 years cancer-free celebration. Think she enjoyed her meal?

Picked her up some new puzzles, since she's rather fond of jigsaws.

A bird wall-hanging and a showy plant. (Kalanchoe)

My sincere apologies for not getting around to everyone's blogs; by the time I get home I'm too whipped to do more than eat, shower, and fall in bed. Frankly, if Mom weren't cooking I'd be too tired for the eating part. I am thinking of everyone.

Oh! The kidling has a new, better-paying job!

Until next time! Have some music.