Just a Simple Meal…

Dad baked a delicious ham today. He told me a secret for his delicious ham was Coca-Cola poured into the baking pan. I know it sounds gross, but it is delicious. Tracy and I were invited over tonight to eat ham and tomato sandwiches. Sandwiches just taste better when someone else makes them. Dad prepared a fine three sandwiches for us to eat.

“What are these green things on my plate?” Tracy whispered to me at one point.

“That’s pickled okra,” I replied. “Beware as it is very spicy.”

Tracy wrinkled her nose as she often does at something distasteful to her. I laughed and popped an okra in my mouth before taking a bite of my sandwich. I assured her they were delicious, but she didn’t feel that adventurous tonight.

Now It’s Time For My Pet Peeve…

Tracy likes to fall asleep to the drone of the television in the bedroom which aggravates me. I have to wait until she is sound asleep before I turn off the television or she will huffily turn it back on to my great consternation. I can’t sleep until it is quiet, dark, and cool in the bedroom.

Loss of Words…

Mom’s birthday was a few days ago. I drove to Waverly about 45 minutes away and put some flowers on her grave today. I still can’t believe she is gone. All this left me in a melancholy mood the past few days. I can’t seem to get motivated to do anything. I keep marveling at the fragility and finiteness of life. My turn to pass will come sooner or later as well.

Maggie got a good bill of health at the veterinarian with just a few nagging problems. Dr. Thomas drained the cyst on her leg which he said was benign and put her on some antibiotics for her eye infection. I also have to put drops in that eye which is no easy feat. I have to catch Maggie unawares as she sleeps on the couch lest she will run out the dog door at the first sign of doctoring. She is so sensitive about such matters.

Spring is fully underway here which brings joy to my melancholy soul. All the trees are leafing out and the azaleas are in full bloom. It got up to 76° degrees today which was really nice.  

Alice In Chains - Would?

Cocktail Hour…

“We won’t stay long,” I told Tracy after driving to my father’s house.

Dad had cooked corned beef hash and a big pan of Mexican cornbread for us.

“Hey Mr. John!” Tracy said as my father opened the backdoor.

Dad gave her a big hug as she stepped into the kitchen.

We sat down for a few moments and dad actually turned off the television so we could talk. Dad wanted to know all about Tracy’s class she is taking.

I was hungry so we bid my father goodbye. Our parting words were that my father said he was now going to have cocktail hour now that his good deeds were done.

“For Christ’s sake don’t drink and drive,” I told him. “Call me if you need a ride.”

The hash was delicious on this very chilly evening, btw. Tracy enjoyed hers as well.

Cause for Concern…

Maggie’s just not a very touchy feely dog unless when it comes to Tracy or Charlie. She will let them pet her as much as they want. I will try to pet her and she will move to the other end of the couch. Tracy and Maggie were sitting on the couch last night and Tracy was checking her out – giving her a good going over.

“Come feel of this,” Tracy said very alarmed.

I got up out of the recliner and walked over to sit on the couch next to Maggie.

“Maggie’s got some kind of big cyst or lump on her leg,” Tracy said.

I felt of it and it felt nasty – a big, hard lump on Maggie’s left front leg right at the joint. Maggie doesn’t seem to be in pain even when I squeezed the lump. I pray hope she’s not miserable and has no way to convey this to us.

“We need to get her to the vet as soon as possible,” Tracy told me.

I told Tracy I would get her out to see Dr. Thomas on Thursday. Dad is going to help me get her out there. This is all terribly traumatic for Maggie this going to the veterinarian.  She has a incorrigible tendency to release her bladder as she sits in your lap on the drive out there. I always have to wrap her in a towel as dad drives.

“Jerry will probably tell us she is dying,” my father sarcastically said on the phone last night.

“Oh, don’t say that!” I replied worriedly.

I wasn’t in the mood for playful banter yesterday evening.    

Just In Time For Warm Weather…

Charlie stopped by this afternoon with his portable air compressor. We filled up my bike tires with air. I am set to start riding again. I’ve got bike fever like I did when I first got this bike back in the fall.

Charlie also brought four Chick-fil-A sandwiches on his journey here. They were very well appreciated. Two for me, the big guy, and one for Tracy and one for Maggie.

“Hey, I want to ride, too!” Tracy told me, feeling left out after Charlie had departed.

“We will have to drive down to the bike shop in Auburn and look for you a bike,” I told her in reply. “Unless you want to buy a bike at Walmart?”

We might drive down to Walmart in a wee little bit and see what kind of bikes they have for sale. We really don’t need anything fancy. Just a women’s bike that Tracy can ride around the neighborhood with me. I am thinking cruiser like mine so that is what we will probably buy.

A Train a Day Keeps the Blues Away…

I spent much of the day down at the railroad tracks watching trains and photographing them. The weather was just absolutely gorgeous. A fine spring day. I think I’ve wrote this on the blog before, but Tracy says that has to be the most boring hobby a man could have.

“What do you do when there are no trains passing by?” she asked me this evening.

“I listen to music on my iPod and read magazines and books,” I replied.

Lunch was some fried chicken livers and a chocolate milk I bought at the Qwik Mart across the highway. I got chided for eating those as well.

Newegg Sells More than Just Computer Parts…

Part of my Christmas coming up later in this year. I am so excited! I have always wanted a weather station.

Prince Philip at 90…

That’s what my father was watching when I drove over this morning. He is absolutely obsessed with the British royal family. I was largely ignored and didn’t stay but about 15 minutes – long enough to drink a crisp, cold, delicious diet Coke. I was hoping for our usual morning banter and playfulness. Dad was fixated with the program on YouTube. I was so disappointed.

“You leaving so soon?” my father asked me cluelessly. “You just got here!”

I didn’t expound upon my reasons.

“Have a good day off, dad,” I told him. “Love you!”

I wanted to make a joke about the revolutionary war and how we, a rag tag army of soldiers and militia, beat the pants off the British redcoats with the help of the French. I refrained from doing so.

Welcome Home Sweet Darlin’ of Mine…

Maggie and I were anxiously waiting in the window for Tracy to get home this evening. Maggie yelped and got so excited at her arrival. It was almost contagious. I wanted to yelp, bark as well, and wag my tail.

“How was your day, Sweetheart?” I asked her when she sat down in the den and took her purse off her shoulder.

“I’ve had a helluva day,” she told me. “A couple brought their Labrador retriever in for grooming. I cut one toenail too close to the “quick” and the dog liked to have never quit bleeding. I felt terrible!”

“Shit happens!” was my best reply.

“Are you hungry?” I then asked her very inquisitively.

“I am absolutely famished and starving!” she replied.

“I am going to treat us tonight and get us some barbecue pork sandwiches from Roger’s Barbecue,” I told her.

I went and called in our order and left to drive across the Chattahoochee and pick up our sandwiches. The lady with the wonky glass eye was there to greet me. I try not to stare, but it’s hard.

Alice In Chains- Down In a Hole Album-Dirt

Surprise! It’s Injection Time!

I purposely didn’t tell my father my injection was today. I wanted to see if he remembered and if he didn’t, then I wanted to surprise him.

I walked into the pharmacy at 9:05am and dad asked me what I was doing. The pharmacy had just opened.

“It is not like you to just show up at the pharmacy,” he said tersely. “What’s wrong?”

“My injection is this morning,” I replied with a Cheshire grin.

Dad fawned all over me that I remembered. I got many accolades this morning. I was beaming with pride.

“It completely slipped my mind,” he said, patting me on my back.

Tracy didn’t miss a beat, though. When she got up at 6:45am, she told me to get up and get ready for my injection. She had astutely remembered.

Ode to a Biscuit…

I cooked more Mary B’s biscuits this morning. I also scrambled some cheese eggs and fried some sausage patties. I cannot express in words how lovely and delicious these biscuits are. I ate mine this morning with real butter and Charlie’s strawberry preserves. They taste just like my grandmother’s homemade biscuits and that is saying something.

A Slice of Life…

The alarm went off early at 6:45am this morning. Tracy got up as well as I and got a clean set of scrubs out of the dryer to wear today. I told her she smelled wonderful after her shower. She was briskly drying her overly curly hair with a towel.

“Savory or sweet?” I asked her about our breakfast.

“I am in the mood for something sweet,” she said.

I got two apple strudels and warmed them in my toaster oven. We sat in the den as the morning television news droned on and we ate our strudels. The news was all doom and gloom as usual. I got the biggest kick out of the Trumpster calling Anne Coulter a “whacky nut job”. I laughed and laughed as it struck me as especially funny.

“I’ll see you at lunch sweetie,” Tracy told me as she kissed me goodbye.

Maggie ran outside to give her a barking send off as she does for us all. I got in the kitchen and washed the dishes we used for breakfast.

The Slimfast experiment didn’t last very long. They claim four hour hunger control, but we must be doing something wrong as Tracy and I were both ravenously hungry an hour after lunch.

I feel guilty sometimes staying at home and not working, but I have a decent income that pays all the bills except the cable and internet bill which Tracy now pays. I worked many, many years under arduous circumstances and it was time for me to retire.

Like Getting Your Grass Mowed…

Charlie’s coming tonight to cut my hair. Tracy is intrigued and finds it very interesting that my father’s best friend cuts my hair. She has been helping me get the house in tip top shape for their arrival.

“He cuts his own hair?” Tracy just asked me a moment ago.

“He cut it this morning and I saw him. It looked good,” I replied. “He also cuts Horsefly’s hair as well. Don’t worry so much!”

“Let me introduce you to one of my phobias,” I then told Tracy. “I hate going to the barber so Charlie saves my butt.”

“Are they bringing supper tonight?” Tracy asked.

“Sure, Charlie will go get our meals and then cut my hair.”

I Didn’t Think Charlie was THAT Cheap…

As you may already know, Charlie goes every morning before work and gets Horsefly a sausage biscuit. He always asks for a handful of strawberry preserves as well. Well, Charlie waits until he has hundreds of packets and empties them into jars. Today, I got a jar of his efforts.

“Keep them refrigerated,” he told me. “That large jar took 250 packs of McDonald’s preserves.”

I was just astounded at the number of packets and Charlie had to empty them all. Even more astounding was that he had more jars to give out to friends. Dad was the receiver of one jar as well. 

Although Too Much Trouble, It is Definitely Delicious…

I ate breakfast with dad this morning. I watched as he cooked his bacon which he broils in the oven on a broiler. It is certainly delicious, but I would never get that pan clean again.

“You don’t have all that grease splatter when frying,” he told me.

We also had some liberally buttered toast and grape jelly. I felt as if I was stuck in my childhood on my grandmother’s farm. Dad’s mom. The smells emanating out of the kitchen were certainly heavenly.

“It smells like Sally Lou’s farmhouse in here!” I exclaimed when I arrived.

My grandfather got a job as vice president of a local bank. He said he was moving into town out of the country where he would never have to step in chicken shit again. My grandmother, Sally Lou, left the farm and moved into the city with him. She never was very happy living a city life. When my grandfather died of a brain tumor in his fifties, she moved back out on the farm and lived out her days until she got dementia. She moved back into town in a house my father bought and remodeled that Charlie now owns. She didn’t know she was living in the city, though.

“Who is that bossy silver haired fellow that keeps coming in here?” she asked her sister in her end days.

“That’s your son, John,” Annie Mae replied.

I Just Don’t Get the Weather Channel…

You would think that some who loves the weather and keeping up with it would just adore and love The Weather Channel. I hate it with a passion. It bores me to tears. That’s what dad was watching this morning after breakfast. They focused on the floods out in Nebraska. They had all these fancy graphics about ice flows backing up exacerbating the flooding. I just wanted to listen to my coveted weather radio and hear about the tornados in our storms the other night – weather that hits home.

Ben Folds - Bastard

Charlie’s Got Gas!

Tracy and I were sitting in the den last night when a car pulled up. I was reading a book (Twilight Series) and Tracy was doing needlepoint while the television incessantly droned on. Maggie went absolutely nuts and bonkers so that meant it was either my father or Charlie or both. It was Charlie.

“Come on and ride with me to go get some gas,” Charlie said, feeling lonesome. “Then we will get us a drink off the dollar menu at McDonald’s.”

Charlie said hello to Tracy and turned his attentions to Maggie. Maggie was in ecstasy as Charlie rubbed and petted her. 

“Let me get my coat,” I said, jumping at this chance to spend some time with my friend.

I grabbed my coat off the bed in the computer room and headed to the front door.

“We’ll only be gone about an hour,” Charlie told Tracy. “I won’t keep him away from you for long.”

“Y’all go have some fun!” Tracy replied, smiling.

Well, the traveling fair is in town and Charlie slowed way down to look at it and all the pretty lights as we passed on highway 29. A car behind us got to impatiently honking their horn because we were going so slow. Charlie shot them the bird and said, “Go around me assholes!”. Charlie’s driving is mediocre at best and can scare you. He swerved in his lane during all the commotion and I grabbed the “oh shit!” bar as if my life depended upon it.

We stopped and got some gas for the Caprica, not before looking at a few stations for the best price on regular unleaded. Charlie and I got on the subject of my ex-wife as we stood by the pump.

“She wasn’t just Mrs. Perfect either,” Charlie said which made me feel better. “Tracy and you are a much better match! Rachel was just too high strung and wanted to control you.”

Next was McDonald’s just across the street from the gas station. Charlie and I both got us a large dollar diet Coke. Boy, did that Coke taste delicious. We then headed towards home.

“What did you and Tracy eat for supper?” Charlie asked as he drove.

“We had shrimp and broccoli fettuccini,” I replied. “It was pretty good.”

“Well, I had peas and cornbread!” Charlie replied. “I don’t eat shrimp and I don’t think I have ever had a fettuccini.”

“You got the better meal,” I told him honestly. “I would die for some peas and cornbread!”

Janice, Charlie’s wife, cooks like Helen always cooked for us.

March's Computer Parts...

Walking With Old Fuss and Feathers…

Dad came and walked with me this afternoon. We are going to try and walk everyday he doesn’t work weather permitting. We talked a long time about my early years as we strode through my neighborhood.

“We should have sent you to a school for the musically gifted,” he told me.

I agreed. I just never fit into that classic mold of a student unlike my brother and sister who excelled in the classroom. I struggled to make C’s and B’s and was socially inept when it came to my fellow students and classmates. I could play a mean piano, though.

“I worried you were autistic at first,” my father added. “I had no idea you were schizophrenic and there weren’t any real drugs to treat you as well back then.”

“Ah, when you mother started taking Zyprexa then the pieces to the puzzle started to fall together,” he continued. “She was a different person within two weeks of taking that drug. We knew then it was schizophrenia that afflicted you.”

Dad drove over here for years to give me my medications knowing that was the only way I would have a normal life. I wouldn’t take them on my own volition fearing they were trying to drug me into submission and controlling me which is common with noncompliant schizophrenics. Dad always thought he could control my drinking with those pills, but he couldn’t. That had to be my choice. 

Things Going On Around Here Today…

• Tracy went and bought a bunch of vanilla and almond scented candles today. They are lit throughout the house. She said the house smelled musty after all those years I smoked inside. She also washed the curtains and hung them back up after drying them. It does smell nice in here. It smells almost like the sweet smell of pipe tobacco smoke.
• I drove to the Literacy Center and talked to the director today about volunteering again. She said they had plenty of volunteers at the moment, but would call me if she needed me. I was a little disappointed, but I will get over it. I have too much time on my hands at the moment.
• Tracy and I had our Slim-Fast for lunch. She cooked her chicken parmesan for supper and it was delicious let me tell you. It was so hard to resist going back for another plateful. She also had a salad with a vinaigrette dressing and bread sticks.
• Yet another niece has a birthday next week and I drove to Kroger a moment ago and got an iTunes gift card and a birthday card. Tracy rode with me and bought some more scented candles while we were there. 
• Dad called me tonight pooped. He had his long hell day today at the pharmacy. He wanted to let me know he remembered to refill my Prilosec prescription. I told him to leave it outside the door and I would pick it up tomorrow. I took my last dosage I had today. We talked for a moment about walking as well. He wanted to know if I was still walking everyday and I said yes. I walk around the neighborhood meanderingly. He said he needs to get to walking as well. His wine drinking has given him a little gut.
• The Cable Guy stopped by with our new cable box. Tracy is delighted at all the channels we get now.

“You Can’t Have That!” “That’s Too Expensive…” “You’ll Rot Your Teeth Eating Those…”

These were some of the responses I got from Tracy grocery shopping tonight. When dad told her to moderate me, she took the responsibility in earnest. I just wanted some Hostess Ding Dongs and Hebrew National franks. I felt like a toddler desperately hanging onto a box of Lucky Charms.

We did our shopping after she got home from class. Tracy and I have both gained some weight recently and we are going to drink a Slim-Fast for lunch. My mother once lost a lot of weight doing that and eating a sensible supper. Tracy also got a lot of Lean Cuisines for us to eat as well. I showed her which ones were good and which ones that weren’t so hot.

“It has cellulose in it,” I told Tracy of Slim-Fast. “That’s why you feel so full after drinking one.”

Tracy said she would give it a try with me. Tracy remarked on how expensive they were as well. Kroger sells their version of Slim-Fast, but we didn’t want to chance it. I’ll probably be so hungry by supper time that Maggie looks delicious.

This would just be our luck, but when we went to checkout, we got behind two ladies with complicated orders with WIC vouchers. Sigh! It took forever and we had too many groceries for self checkout. We just had to be patient and wait.

“At least, we get to spend some quality time together!” I quipped.

Tracy just smiled broadly and then laughed.

Tracy Said I Got Drunk Called…

My father had his fair share of wine again tonight. I got “drunk called” by him as Tracy put it.

“Do you get the Hitler channel?” He asked, slurring his words.

“Do you mean the History Channel?” I replied.

“Yeah, your mother always called it the Hitler channel. She hated when I watched it. Tune in as the Japanese are now assaulting Papua New Guinea.”

I chuckled a little and told my father goodnight.

“Get some sleep, dad! You’ve got to work ten hours tomorrow!”

A Sunday Among Sundays…

Tracy hurried into the bathroom to get ready for my father’s and Charlie’s arrival this evening. This always makes me smile. She will put on some makeup and fix her hair after putting on a different top. Maggie took her station in the den window on the lookout when I said Charlie and Papa are coming. It was just a few minutes later that Charlie’s Chevrolet Caprica came pulling up in front of the house. I walked out to greet them and to help carry all the food inside. It was a KFC themed week this week as much as I tire of KFC. Tracy and I both got chicken sandwiches and Maggie got chicken tenders. Wheezy can’t eat people food as it is too rich for her and she will throw it up every time. She has to stick to Cat Chow (She throws that up too occasionally). 

Tracy wanted to talk to my father about my Cable TV situation. She watches a lot of TV. I get very basic Cable and it seems lacking even for me and I don’t watch much TV. I don’t even get the Weather Channel anymore it is so basic. Originally, this was a compromise I had to make to get one Gigabit internet. Tracy told my father she would pay for our Cable and internet bill.

“I will get him signed up for expanded basic in the morning,” my father told Tracy. “Do y’all want the cable box like I have with the channel guide?”

Tracy said yes and thanked my father profusely. This will give us channels like MTV, TNT, A&E, Sci-fy, TBS, WGN, etc. This will also give us a lot more high definition channels as well.

Charlie was busy doing Charlie stuff. He was getting Maggie fresh food and water and washing the handful of dishes in the sink. He also gave Wheezy some fresh food and water as well. Then, he went in every room to see if there was something he could do. Tracy and I keep a pretty tidy house.

Gotta Love Daylight…

Dad and Tracy both had to work again this Saturday morning. I was disappointed dad and I didn’t get to do our usual routine as of late. Dad finally called me at 12:30pm and told me to come on over. He had some cinnamon buns for me from Daylight Donuts. It is a treat he buys for us all every Saturday. These things are truly delicious and so soft and gooey with cinnamon goodness. We sat and talked a long time while we had a diet Coke. We mainly talked about mental illness and how it can effect your whole family. Before my mother was diagnosed and medicated, she was hell on wheels let me tell you.

“Be sure Tracy gets some of those cinnamon buns,” my father told me as I was leaving.

Tracy was home when I arrived back to our casa. I was so very glad to see her.

“Here are some cinnamon buns,” I said as I handed her the bag and she said thanks.

She gave me a peck on the lips and started to change out of her scrubs. I took a moment to determine her mood. She was tired, but in very good spirits.

“You up for a date night?” I asked, wanting to treat her after a busy week of work and school.

“That would be wonderful,” Tracy told me happily. “Let me go pick out something to wear.”

I told Tracy the eating venue was her choice and she picked Zen House again. Our favorite restaurant. I ate my usual General Tso’s chicken and Tracy ate much milder fare this time, Moo Goo Gai Pan. My mother’s favorite mild Chinese dish and I told her so.

Tracy said the clinic was really busy this morning and that she was pooped. She laid her head on my shoulder on the drive up the interstate and fell asleep. I didn’t wake her until we were pulling into our driveway. I was enjoying the moment as well. I still can’t believe this beautiful and outgoing creature has decided to share her life with me.

When the Cat’s Away the Mice Shall Play…

Mouse or man?

Every morning lately, I call my father at 10:50am to make sure he is up and at home. I then drive over and we watch Dr. Phil at 11am. I drink sodas and my father drinks coffee. This has been one of the most pleasurable times spent with my father in years. We laugh and talk and reminisce about my mother and past times in the family. We love to psychoanalyze the people on Dr. Phil's show. I also want to spend as much time with my father while he is still of able body and mind. Mom was taken too soon and I didn’t appreciate the moments we spent together as much as I should have.

Dad and I sided with the supposedly antagonist male this morning on Dr. Phil. The poor nerve racked fellow didn’t have a chance between his two very demanding teen daughters and ultra demanding ex-wife. I would have changed my phone number and moved to another state to be honest. They weren’t very pleasant people and could learn that lesson about catching more flies with honey than vinegar regarding their father and ex-husband.

I so look forward to a repeat performance in the morning, Sunday and Monday. Dad has to work Tuesday and Wednesday. I am sure Tracy will want to come along Sunday. She is welcome to visit and has expressed interest.

“Now, you and Old Fuss and Feathers don’t get to drinking wine at lunch and raising hell,” I just told her jokingly for which she rolled her eyes at me and laughed.

“You’re the one we need to be watching closely!” she replied huffily to my dismay.

I feigned innocence as I chuckled nervously!   

Her Biggest Pet Peeve…

Tracy came home for lunch today. I prepared some toasted deli turkey sandwiches. I asked her after we’ve been living together for over a month, what was her biggest pet peeve living with me.

“The weather radio drives me crazy,” she responded. “It is the same information repeated every ten minutes.”

I chuckled.

“It is soothing and calming to me, but I will only listen to it while you are at work,” I replied. “You should have told me it bothered you so much earlier.”

Honestly?

I feel “dirty” when I write about my bad times with my mental illness – like I have something contagious and should be avoided. The stigma is palpable. I am shy as to what to write today feeling like a child whose peers are laughing at him. I feel like a fool and feel embarrassed as well. At least, these “episodes” happen more and more infrequently. You never know what kind of curve ball life can throw at you at times. I can’t get out of my head that I wrote Tracy got scared. I don’t want the most important person in my life scared of me.

I just have arrived home from my father’s house. Thankfully, he wasn’t drinking tonight. We sat and listened to NPR while we drank sodas. We talked about what happened some.

“An episode like that would put you in the hospital for a week in the old days,” my father told me. “You get better and better at recognizing the signs and getting help. You also didn’t panic and do something stupid.”

He told me I handled the whole situation with grace and aplomb. That made me feel a lot better about myself this evening. I also told Tracy that we needed to set up a contingency plan for when that happens again like a big, whopping 4 or 5 mg dose of Risperdal in the morning and in the evening. I told her I would call my doctor tomorrow and get the ball rolling. 

Kim Richey's Let It Roll...

Just Another Social and Mental Casualty…

Not quite! This old dog is not down for the count just yet! My loved ones really rallied around me today. Dad just called this afternoon and asked how I was feeling. It’s not like him to call from work so it was very, very special for him to do so.

“I was just so worried about you this morning. You were like a zombie!” he exclaimed. “I was afraid you shouldn't be driving. I kept waiting for a call you had been in a car wreck.”

“I took a long four hour nap when I got home and I woke up a brand new man,” I replied to him. “My medications kicked in while I was asleep.”

Soon, my girl with the curls and the curves walked in the front door.

“You’re like a completely different person today,” Tracy said relieved when she got home from work earlier.

“We need to get you extra medications to take the day before your injection,” she also said to me and I agreed.

I told her we would talk to my psychiatrist soon.

I was mentally perky and very socially amicable this afternoon. I had also straightened up the house and had us some supper on the stove. Tracy hugged me a long time and told me she doesn’t like to see me hurting or in distress. It melted my heart and I hugged her ever tighter.   

It’s All Better Now…

I struggled yesterday all day with my mental illness. My injection was due in the morning and had petered out leaving me without that constant flow of medications into my bloodstream. I couldn’t concentrate on anything my mind was racing so fast. I went to open the front door and Tracy asked me where I was going late yesterday afternoon.

“I am going for a long walk to clear my head,” I told her with a grimace.

Tracy woke me up this early morning before heading to work.

“Remember your injection is this morning,” she told me worriedly.

She had never seen me get in such a state and it scared and worried her.

I got up and got ready to go. I was in a daze on the drive to the pharmacy to pick up my injection. To make matters worse, my father didn’t have my injection ready to go when I arrived. I had to wait about 15 minutes. I finally grabbed my injection and headed to Kamath Medical.

“You’re awful quiet this morning,” my nurse, Rebecca, remarked upon me.

On an interesting weather note, we had a freak sleet storm last night. My car was just covered with ice pellets this morning and I worried about slick roads. 

Weird and Wild Weather…

The weather got crazy for a few moments this afternoon. We had just torrential and blinding rain for about an hour and then the wind kicked up something fierce. A very large pecan tree limb fell on the corner of my house, but it didn’t damage my roof. I was very lucky. Tracy and I heard it fall with a very loud crack and boom. I will have to get dad’s chainsaw and cut it up tomorrow. A tornado passed just a few miles to our south through Tuskegee and Wedowee. I told Tracy we were getting in the basement if the weather got any worse. The alarm on my weather radio kept going off with tornado warnings. Luckily, it didn’t have to come to that. The rain ended and then the sun decided to peek through the clouds almost miraculously – the proverbial calm after the storm.

Spring has definitely sprung in the South and next comes very cold overnight temperatures. We are supposed to get down to 25 degrees the night after next. I fear all these budding and leafing trees are going to get their buds and tender leaves killed in the process. Weather radio is already warning about it and here my lawn was just starting to get green again. C’est la vie!

Nothing Stops the Dynamic Duo…

Maggie, the proximity alarm, alerted me to their presence. I opened the door and welcomed the dynamic duo inside. Papa and Charlie have just left after bringing pizza and Maggie’s chicken tenders. Christmas comes every Sunday night for Maggie. Charlie upped the ante and got Tracy and I the “extra most bestest” pepperoni pizzas with lots of extra cheese and pepperoni. Charlie has always known how to please a crowd. I was just thrilled they remembered to get Maggie her chicken tenders. I forgot to remind them.

Blessings Bestowed Upon Us…

Tracy was telling me this morning we were spoiled when it comes to Charlie.

“He’s one in a million, isn’t he?” I agreed.

Charlie brought us breakfast this morning and then asked what we wanted for supper. I decided to get two large pepperoni Little Caesar’s pizzas tonight.

“Run that by dad, Charlie. I am sure he won’t mind,” I urged him.

Tracy didn’t believe me when I told her a Hot-N-Ready large pepperoni pizza only costs six dollars.

Somewhere down the rumor mill it got to Charlie that I needed some strawberry preserves. He handed me a large bottle of Smucker’s along with our biscuits and drinks.

“That must of been my father’s doings,” I told Tracy. “I told him I bought two bags of Mary B’s biscuits this week.”

We are supposed to have severe thunderstorms today so my eye is to the skies and on my computer’s radars. It was spitting rain when I left my father’s house a moment ago. Old Fuss and Feathers was watching political talk shows which are not my cup of tea. I only stayed a few moments – long enough to play with Samantha and her toys.

SLUGS! I TELL YOU!

Tracy and I have both been absolute slugs today. Isn’t that what Saturdays are for? I haven’t even had a shower and shave yet and it is after 7pm. Tracy had to go in to work to assist with a surgery for a short while this afternoon, but that’s about all we’ve done today.

Apparently, a young Boston Terrier had swallowed a bunch of smooth river rocks. They had to go into it’s stomach and remove them. I know it sounds strange, but it is true.

“What were they feeding that dog?” I asked incredulously when Tracy arrived back home.

“The owner was a sweet younger lady,” Tracy replied. “She didn’t look like the type that would abuse her dog. She was just worried sick. She said the dog got to retching and couldn’t quit.”

I asked how the surgery went and Tracy said it was straightforward. They removed the rocks and then sutured back up the stomach. Tracy also told me the surgery cost over $2000 as well.Yikes! I looked at Maggie and told her she better not be eating any rocks.

Old Fuss and Feathers cooked a delicious supper tonight. I just had to drive over and pick it up. We had his boneless porkchops and rice, green beans boiled in a beef bullion sauce, and pear salad. The green beans were especially tasty as was the pear salad.  

Just the Facts, Ma’am…

It was bound to happen. The stars were aligned just right. Tracy asked me this afternoon if she could keep a few bottles of wine in the fridge and have a glass or two at night as she unwinds. She is one of those normal people who can drink a few glasses and that’s it. I would drink the whole bottle and then drunk drive to get some more. I know my modus operandi very well. I get crazy and stupid when I drink and that’s the god’s honest truth.

“If you want a sober boyfriend, then you wouldn’t do so,” I told her. “It would just be too tempting for me.”

I explained to her how going to the package store is a hardship and helps keep me from drinking. Having wine in the fridge would be like taunting the dynamite monkey. It would just be too easy to walk in the kitchen and pour me a drink during a weak moment.

“Save the wine for special occasions like going out to eat and visiting with my father,” I told her.

Tracy was cool with my answer. She said she would never drink another glass of wine if that meant helping me and keeping me sober. We hugged and I told her she could go down to the pub downtown and have a few drinks in the evenings. That wouldn’t bother me at all.