Sunday, May 24, 2015

As Frankie Reminded Me......

...it's good luck.  Yeah if you and Mama Kelley say so.

While out for a short walk around the hotel's immediate area, I noticed a drug store.  I'd been paying $2.25 a pop for bottled water & figured grabbing some in the store would save a few bucks.  So I grab a 6 pack for $3.45 and I'm happy.  As I leave and walk through the covered parking lot,

I feel something on my head.

 I pray it's condensation.

 I walk back to the hotel like a beauty queen hoping nothing slides.  I get to my room and tip my head to the sink.  My sunglasses fall into the sink.

Not condensation.

So I got back in the shower, two hours after the first shower and wash my hair 27 times.

I was texting Frank a little later and shared my story in hope of garnering some sympathy.

"It's good luck." Was all I got.

Monday, May 18, 2015

USS Constitution Restoration

Yesterday, down in The Charlestown Navy Yard, they flooded Dry Dock #1.  This was in preparation for an extensive restoration of Old Ironsides.

You can watch this amazing project as it happens by following along at "Restoring an Icon".  Information, pics & more are available from the site. Contributors include USA Constitution's official account; the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston; USS Constitution Museum & Boston National Historical Park.

Bookmark this link!!


 

Sunday, May 17, 2015

"I'll Take 'The Letter M' for $800, Alex."

"Here's the answer - 'When people who aren't from Boston describe themselves or are described by others as being Bostonians."

Ding! Ding!

"Yes, Diane."

"What are things that are MADDENING?"

"That is correct for $800.  Please let go of the signaling button, you're breaking it.  Can we get someone out here to pry her fingers off our equipment?"

Yes, that is how I feel when some clown writes about Bostonians and then references non-Bostonians.  So & so from Newton?  Not a Bostonian.  So & so attending a local college or university?  Yeah, that person is a glorified tourist.

It's not a nebulous definition.  As you enter Boston, there are signs "Entering Boston".  There is no Boston/Hopkinton or Boston/Marshfield line, so no, you aren't "almost" either.

And some of the most non-Bostonian people ever are the people who own, run & edit the Boston Globe.  Bostonians who read the Boston Globe do so largely for the sports page.  The paper is owned by The New York Times. And even when editorial control as local, you're talking about Tom Winship, born in Cambridge and moved to Lincoln.  For pity's sake!  You almost have to go back to founder Charles Taylor to find a Bostonian!

So when Politico announces "Bostonians Queasy On Death Penalty" based on a Boston Globe poll...........I think I'm having an aneurysm.

Saturday, May 09, 2015

So, How'd You Spend Your Afternoon?

I washed this sweater with my summer bathrobe.  The robe had a tissue in the pocket.  So I spent mine with a roll of masking tape.

Friday, May 08, 2015

Maybe I Am Angry

LOL!

First there are alllllll the stupid people whose tiny little minds can't grasp the concept of free speech.  Are you one of them? Here's a test - Have you ever said, "I support Free Speech, but...."  See that "but"?  That is your confirmation that your mind is not big enough to fully understand Free Speech in America.  Don't lose hope.  There are plenty of books to read that can help open your mind.  And if you say Pam Geller is "provocative like....", your comparison better be an apple to an apple, cause otherwise you are talking nonsense.  And Good God!, don't be like Chris Cuomo and cite some random, old case that doesn't even apply in hopes people will defer to your superior knowledge and let it slip without question.  The days where you could spout bullshit unchecked are gone.  There are too many people smarter than you who will have your nonsense forwarded to them and they will call you out.

Next, I ran out of a particular prescription.  I'm not supposed to name them, but let's say it's one that keeps me calm and normal and functioning as opposed to the others which actually inflict damage on me while damaging my cancer.  The pharmacy was supposed to call when it was ready.  They didn't, I had to call myself.  Yeah, I was miffed.  Then Tom was going to drive me to the post office to pick up two boxes I mailed to myself from Hyannis.  This is my 'travel hack".  At some point while traveling, I put what I want to have in VA, but don't want to carry in a box and mail it to Virginia.  The boxes were due Monday, I went Wednesday because that was when Tom wasn't working.  I am pretty independent here, but getting the two boxes back here would have been a little difficult.  So there was no slip in his PO box and I realized I hadn't brought the tracking slip.  Argghh, my fault, lets move on.  Then Tom asked where I wanted to go next and I said never mind, just take me back to the apartment.  But there were a ridiculous amount of stupid people driving around slowing us down.  Tom just kept an eye on me in case I jumped out and savaged the people who were stopping at green lights, driving in two lanes instead of one.  You know, people who needed a "come to Jesus" moment.

I was trembling and nauseous and I was Day 6 of Pomalyst (you know, the drug that's 70 times more powerful than Revlimid!).  So I made dinner and brownies and read on the couch.

Next day was better.  All meds were a go.  I had my tracking slip.  Tom takes me back.  Did I mention that I also need Tom cause it's his PO box and these boxes are addressed to him.  So I need him for this exercise.  He checks the box again, no slip announcing a box so we go to the counter.

Tom - "I am expecting two boxes".  I try to hand her the tracking slip/receipt from Hyannis post office.
Postal worker - "Was there a slip in your box?"
Tom - "No".  I again try to giver her the slip.  This time she takes it and looks at it.
Postal worker - "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"
Me (with eyebrows up around my hairline) - "Well this slip says it arrived here on Saturday the 2nd".
Postal worker - "Where is it supposed to be?"
Deeeeeeeeppppppp breath - Me - In my mind, "Look at the stupid slip you clown!!!!!!!!  With your clownish, Ronald McDonald not a red found in nature hair!  Scan the slip!  Scan it!  Scan it!"
Me - out loud "Here.  In this building."
She walks to a back door, picks up two boxes right next to the door on a shelf and gives them to us after checking Tom's ID.

We were laughing in the parking lot.  Thank God I didn't have the packing slip the day before when I was homicidal!  I would have gone over the counter.

So last night I watched the Dateline NBC because it was all about Tom Brokaw and the book he has written about his last two years living with cancer.  Like me, Mr. Brokaw has Multiple Myeloma.  I don't know what subtype or Stage, he didn't say.  I belong to a few MM email and Facebook groups.  I posted that I was surprised by what appeared to be a fumble by his doctors at Mayo Clinic.  Brokaw presented with back pain and was diagnosed with MM.  Then he went home to Montana, to an isolated ranch only to find himself in excruciating pain.  He was finally airlifted back to Mayo where he was told he had two compression fractures and a hole in his pelvis.  My question was "Why was he not given a full skeletal survey the day he was diagnosed."  They knew he had bone pain, why wasn't it investigated?  Now let me say, Brokaw never said he didn't have one.  He never said they asked him to have one and he refused.  I wasn't criticizing him.  And people in the thread got all defensive.  LOL!  Telling me that Brokaw's choices were his own, yada, yada.  I said yes, they are, reread the post, I didn't criticize him.  Then people defended Mayo.  Hello, they are doctors, not gods, mistakes get made.

Then this guy comes out and says he "senses anger in my posts".  I say no, I am just pointing out that IF doctors didn't investigate his bone pain or at least try, I feel that's irresponsible.  I am not angry at all.  He responds and says a second time, I seem angry.  I say "I am not angry, period."  Then he says it a third time and I say "Congrats!  I wasn't angry before, but now I am!"

What a clown.  Isn't that so irritating?  No matter what your situation, having some clown say "I sense your anger."  Especially a complete stranger?  WTF?  Shut up, read the post, respond to that, not the messenger.

And all this......wasn't even a steroid day!!!  LOL!