Arrrgh!!!

Good news!

The tech called me yesterday to tell me that Ed had his procedure done on Tuesday afternoon. In the following 24 hours, he ate all his wet food, drank all his water and ate some of his dry food. He gained TWO OUNCES by Wednesday, when she called me.

She called again tonight, and I may be able to bring Ed home on Friday evening.

There are restrictions for the next two weeks, but they are not quite as rigorous as we believed. I think the family can carry this off.

Would you please tell me who came up with the bright idea of selling the management rights for our ports??!! For God's sake, have that person run to his nearest clinic for an MRI, to see if he HAS ANY BRAINS!!

I suppose selling the rights sounds LUCRATIVE. And in these days, when government is having trouble making ends meet, I know they are grasping at any straw to keep from having to make cuts or raise taxes, again! But, did ANYONE suggest there might be a problem with letting the security of our ports out of our hands? Why sell the rights to another country, when, if it HAD to be sold, it could have been sold to an American company? Were they just a bit greedy when it was time to sell the contracts?

It seems to me that between the mismanagement of the disaster due to hurricanes in the south, and selling the contract for port management, our Homeland Security is in serious trouble, and SO ARE WE!

Perhaps ten years ago, I read that one in every four Americans earns their living through some form of government. Village, city, township, county,state and federal government, police, national guard, the military and our justice system. Three of us have to pay enough taxes to support one of them, AND the services and improvements we need. I don't know about you, but that's a pretty bleak picture to me. When is government going to figure out that it's way past time to cut back? Do you think we could simply pick a percentage and cut back EVERYTHING? Less welfare, fewer cops, less pay for government jobs, less overseas aid, government documents printed in ENGLISH only?

And while we are at it, let's privatize more of what needs to be done, with contracts to be let to American citizens only. Privatize the security for the ports, if necessary, but establish the requirements that every company must meet for every port. They can choose to do more, but they have to meet the minimums.

Is that unrealistic? We need to create jobs for Americans, and we need to cut back on costs to Americans. Couldn't the two go hand in hand?

I'm rambling, I know. But what you should walk away with is my feeling that our government needs a serious overhaul. It's run amok, and doesn't understand that the people it serves are more important than it is. Rather than meeting the needs of the people, it prevents them from getting the help they need. Don't you think it's time for a change?

I really should have started a new category and named it "Raccoons."

I was sitting with the guys in the living room Thursday night, watching a sci-fi movie. The volume was up, and there was a lot of fighting on screen. I was sitting near the windows, at the west end of the room, at the computer.

I heard a noise, and my heart stopped for a second. "DH, mute the sound!"

We sat there, our heads cocked, quietly listening.

"I thought I heard a raccoon on the roof."

Now, you know we have a brand new roof, in part because the raccoons had chewed their way into the attic last year. I'm more than a little jumpy because half a dozen of them are still living somewhere in the grove. It's been such a warm winter that they haven't hibernated as usual, and we see them nightly under the bird feeder.

So....we're listening, and my stepson looks over at the window and laughs. There's a raccoon climbing up a ladder not three feet away from me.

Dear Husband has been cleaning the bees out of the sofit. The windows at the end of the living room run from about two feet off the floor up to the cathedral ceiling. There's a one foot spacer in the center of the window wall that has brick on the outside. DH left the extension ladder leaning there and a raccoon decided it might be a way to the roof. We've cut down all the other branches that might give them access (we think).

I've suggested to DH that he might want to put the ladder back in place so that he can clean the muddy raccoon prints off the upper windows.

I'm happy to tell you that my niece has had her surgery for breast cancer, and everything seems to have gone well. Her tumor has been removed, and they've found that only the first lymph node had been affected. The advances in surgery are so incredible that the only sign of surgery will be a small dimple, where the tumor was removed.

It's been a difficult week, waiting for her to be able to proceed. I'm sure it was a hellish week for her. I don't deal with waiting well. My often joked-about prayer is "Dear Lord, please give me patience, NOW!" Well....SHE was patient. She coped, and she has come out of this well.

....awhipping up the water in the bay.
Then April sighed, and said good-bye,
And along came pretty little May.

I know it dates me, but that music was popular when I was a kid. I can envision the classroom and the teacher.

The weather in Northern Illinois brought that music to mind. I'm sure you've heard about the tornadoes that struck the Midwest, through Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. I'm sure there were other states involved. Most of the damage in Illinois was in the central area around Springfield, but we have our share of downed trees and branches.

We still have high winds two days later. I have chosen not to sit at our personal computer for a few days because the table it sits on is next to a wall of glass. On the other side of that glass is a very old grove of trees that are being whipped around by incredible gusts of wind. The noise of the wind is not the "freight train" sound of a tornado, but close.

And it's cold....colder than it was in parts of January. Maybe it's just the wind-chill factor. The sun is brilliant, but the winds blow away any warmth that develops.

I'm ready to hear April's sigh.

My chives are growing!

And where there are chives, I bet there are crocus. I'll have to go look.

We had a couple days of rain, and the lawn is greening, and perennial weeds are perking up. We have crocus and Darwin tulips that will bloom early. I'll try to get pictures of them this year. The daffodils are ringed around the front gardens. I think I've divided them often enough to have some in every garden.
The iris will start up soon, but we won't see any blooms from them until mid-May, and the peonies will follow in late May or early June.

I love the anticipation of this time of year. I love the warming of the temperatures, but the still crisp days. It's the best time to garden.

We have a plaque that says "To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow."

There's hope!

Today I had appointments with the dentist and the neurologist. The dental appointment went fine. I was in and out in a flash, and on my way to the second appointment.

I was 20 minutes early for the visit, so I resigned myself to a wait. I could see the doc conversing with one of his assistants, so at least I knew that he was at the facility. While I waited, the appointments secretary called me to the window. She is an overwhelming woman, larger than life, and simply large, and she has this faintly false pleasant demeanor that forces you to smile back and be nice.

I have to tell you, I ended up not being nice.

I was asked to read and sign and date two pages of information. One of the pages listed all the new charges that had been instituted. If you cancel your visit 24 hours or less prior to the visit, or miss a visit, they charge $50. If you call to have a prescription renewed over the phone, they charge $25.00. Completion of any type of form (insurance, letters to school or employer, etc.) cost $100.00, and Insurance company authorization calls by the doctor (for tests, admissions, etc) are $100.00 per call.

Only 58% of his patients paid their bills last year, so now, if you wish to see the doctor, you pay a set fee up front, BEFORE you see the doctor. They no longer accept personal checks, and requested a credit card. I offered them one, and they said they didn't take it. I offered another, and asked what happened when a patient didn't have a credit card. I was told that those who wanted to see the doctor managed to "discover that they had a card."

I was incredibly insulted. Because my doctor doesn't know how to run a business, he is treating me as though I am out to bilk him out of his fees.

The doctor kept me waiting. He didn't take my blood pressure or my temperature. He asked me what drugs I was taking, and whether the one he prescribed working for me. We spent less than five minutes on my health care. He then spent 20 minutes of my time trying to explain why he has had to make the changes.

I told him that he was likely to loose patient this way. I have always paid in full at every visit, and my checks never bounce. I told him that the quality of MY health care shouldn't suffer because others are not paying their bills.

The bottom line is, I spent $125.00 for five minutes of health care and a one year prescription for the drug I need for pain control, and wasted 40 more minutes of my time. The doctor is in so deep, and is so defensive, that he can't hear what you say to him any longer.

Needless to say, I'll have to look for someone else to help me with this part of my health care.

To be fair, I know that the health system needs a major overhaul. I know that insurance has had a hand in ruining many a practice, and it seems that the economy is now helping others to crash. We need improved guidelines that give both the doctor and the patient what each needs.

We need a miracle.

I'm working back wards this morning. I have another post ready to go that's on my personal computer, and I can't get to it. Now, the thing that will make later readers just crazy is that they will see "Short Shorts" first in line, just as I intended it to be read, followed by this post......but those of you who are around now, will only see "More Shorts." Sorry about that.....

Short Shorts

No, not the kind we wear. It’s cold outside, although it’s supposed to be in the forties. That’s just a bit too chilly for short shorts. So maybe I should have called this “Snippets.”

There are crocus blooming in the oregano patch. Some rotten little chipmunk has been redecorating.

We’ve had good news. My sister and her daughter recently underwent more testing for cancer, and the results of the test were clear for both of them. Perhaps things are starting to look up in our neck of the woods.

Elegante Mother decided to make three “lap quilts,” for gifts to family members. (They’ve actually turned out to be more like twin size quilts.) She needs help with the cutting and a little help with the binding when she does these quilts. About three weeks ago we received an invitation to a bridal shower. One of mother’s grandsons is getting married and the shower is for his bride to be. Elegante Mother decided that the quilt she had planned for them should be the bridal shower gift. Unfortunately, we had started the other two quilts first, so I had to go into overdrive to help her get this third one done by Sunday. It’s quilted with a stipple quilting pattern, and I just finished sewing the binding to the front of the quilt. Now, the two of us will have to hand sew the binding to the back of the quilt. We’re under the gun to get it done, but it will be ready in time.

Somehow, I’ve managed to develop an infected finger. It’s the finger on the right hand that is traditionally used for rude gestures. We have a new doctor, and this will be my first visit to that office as a patient. I’ve suffered this once before, and the dermatologist put me on antibiotics to clear it up. Since I can’t get to the dermatologist, we’ll see what the family practitioner has to say.

The raccoons have tried to make our home their home once again. I’ll have to post more later. The little beggars have found another way to get to the roof, even though Dear Husband has cut down all the obvious branches they might use.

I am SO ready to be working in the gardens. We’ve had beautiful sunny weather but it’s been too cool to be kneeling on the ground or brick sidewalk. I want to clean out the old growth, prune back stuff that either shouldn’t be there or stuff that needs pruning to start new for this season. I think I’m going to buy lots of about five plants, and let the plant type and color carry out the theme for the gardens for this year. Purple and yellow…what do you think about that?

We saw a lawyer Monday. Our wills are outdated, and we are going to switch to revocable trusts which include living wills. I expect an avalanche of paperwork to come our way from the lawyer, but the sooner we get this done, the better I will feel.

We heard the Monmouth College Wind Ensemble perform on Saturday night. We were supposed to house two of the performers, but when it came time, our guest room wasn’t needed. Almost one third of the ensemble was missing due to conflicts or illness. Still, it was pleasant to have an evening out with Dear Husband.

Okay……I suppose this wasn’t terribly short, but at least you all know that I am still alive an kicking. I hope you’re all doing well, and as eager for Spring as I.

Our refrigerator has died. It's taken it's sweet time, but the refrigerator died a couple of days ago and now the freezer portion is going. I didn't realize the fridge wasn't working and made myself a sandwich from the leftover meatloaf, Friday. By evening, my stomach was upset. I'm taking Augmentin for a finger infection, and between the two, my stomach was a mess most of the night.

Dear Husband realized that if he wasn't proactive about it, he'd loose the chance to go to Sailpalooza on Saturday, so despite the the fact that I was starting to look and feel peaked, he dragged me to Se@rs to shop for a new refrigerator.

We purchased our first side by side with water and ice service to the door. It will be delivered on Sunday! We emptied out the refrigerator Friday night, storing the acidic condiments in a Coleman chest with ice. They should be cold enough for two days to be safe. Unfortunately, we ended up throwing out several hundred dollars of refrigerated and frozen foods.

I took Elegante Mother out to lunch today, and this evening we made a pot of Minestrone, from mostly canned goods. We'll have eggs, fruit and toast for breakfast, and then Elegante Mother and I will be attending a bridal shower at noon at a local Italian restaurant. I suspect that we'll do pizza or take out Sunday night, and then restock the fridge on Monday.

It's been much easier to get through three days without a refrigerator than I expected.

You have to read what Cop Car has to say about her "quilting" room. I was so into that post that I left a book-long response, and it seems that I have more to say about it.

I think, Cop Car, that we are simply in a season of our lives when organization becomes important. I keep thinking that I don't want to leave confusion for others to deal with, but as I work my way through things here, I'm discovering the pleasures of living a simpler life.

I'm a TOm Hanks fan. I'm not a stalker, and I'm not a card-carying member of his official fan club, but I love his movies. I suppose the only one I'm not terribly fond of is "Sleepless in Seattle." I watched "You've Got Mail" this afternoon before it was time to make dinner, and we've seen "The Green Mile" recently. "Apollo 13" is playing as I write this.

I understand that Hanks has been given the role of the main character in the "Da Vinci Code", which is coming out this Spring. I'll be one of the people who go to see it within the first week.

I've talked about the fact that Elegante Mother and I go to an exercise class three days a week. I love the woman who leads us through the routines, even when I have a day when I'd rather stay in bed.

When our Dragon Lady first came to us, we were quiet and well behaved. That lasted a whole three months. She thought we hated her. Gradually the class began to talk with each other (during class), resuming the semi-rowdiness and friendship that had characterized the class before DL joined us.

The oddest thing happened today. We have a new member. The class is supposed to be limited to 40 people, but they have overbooked it by 5 at least, for this session. The new member took her place toward the back (the front positions are coveted, as are the ones all the way to the back). Class started and the noise level was unusually high, and during the warm up, we heard the new member's voice boom out, "Talking is incredibly RUDE!!"

My mother frequently talks about wanting a RED convertible. I've heard this story for years. Something small, bright red, and driven by a handsome man.

At exercise today the Dragon Lady asked if the weather didn't make you want to go driving in a convertible, and a sizable portion of the class said "NO!" But, Elegante Mother said yes.

The youngest member of the class had a suggestion for me. She asked why we didn't consider renting a red convertible to drive Mother to brunch on Mother's Day. What a fabulous idea! I'm going to talk it over with Dear Husband tonight and see if I can reserve one right away.

Spring has officially arrived. Elegante Mother noticed that the squill which grows around the base of a tree in our grove is in full bloom. I'll find sprigs of it here and there on the north lawn, courtesy of our chipmunk redecorators, but the largest patch has been extending away from a tree that is at the northwest corner of the house. Now that so many dead trees have been cut down, there's more sunlight in that area. I wonder if next year we will see a bigger patch of squill?

My youngest sis, and her two daughters are coming for a visit this weekend. We hope to make a trip to Chicago. The youngest one has requested a visit to Chinatown. I hope our weather cooperates!

We're about halfway done with our three-quilt project. I need to call the woman who is quilting the tops for Elegante Mother and see if she is ready for me to pick up the second and drop off the third. I have the last of the binding cut, and may get it assembled tomorrow.

The lawyer has sent me a laundry list of all the information she needs to be able to proceed with our revocable trusts. I have several fairly large projects in the works right now, and that's one of them. I hope several of them will be off my desk before Spring is officially over. Don't these people know I'm supposed to be in the garden!!!?

Ed has had his one month checkup at the vet. I don't know if he tripped the Geiger counter or not, but I'll know the results of the blood test by Saturday. He's gained a quarter of a pound. They didn't say if that was good or bad. Mr. Feisty swiped at me as I went to close the door of the cat carrier and got me good. It's a good thing I'm still on antibiotics for that finger infection! The vet would have been more concerned for me if Ed had bitten me. She says mouth germs are more dangerous than claw scratches.

My niece has come through all her biopsies and surgery well, and has started chemo. We have high hopes that she is going to sail through her treatment, and come out strong.

I'm ready for summer meals. We're doing spinach salad tomorrow night, and I think salad is going to be a major player in the menu now. I need to find a few new salads to throw into the mix. I'll have to take my notebook with to write down appealing combinations when we go out to eat. *G*

I hope you are all safe from the dangerous weather this Spring is bringing. I'll have to tell you tomorrow how we weathered this evening's thunderstorms.

Stay safe!

Today was the first day of 2006 for hands and knees weeding!

I pulled out about 90% of the volunteer vinca to give the emerging lilies a better chance to get a healthy start. I gave one of the ornamental grasses a haircut, pulled most of the verbena, and clipped back the chrysanthemums at the sidewalk. I'm addicted to Homestead Purple Verbena, but it isn't perennial in zone 5, so I have to replant it each year.

I brought the bucket of gardening tools upstairs, as well as an unusual device for gathering clippings. It's a tube of plastic with a bottom, and has a spring that spirals from the bottom to the top. When you aren't using it, it flattens down, and there are loops and toggles so that you can store the container in about a four inch wide space. When I need it, I undo the toggles and it springs up to about the size of a garbage can. I seriously overfilled it with grass stems, but the load was light enough not to do any damage.

I used the Christmas wreaths to protect a Peace rose for the remainder of the winter. I removed the wreaths and pruned the canes back. If we get back down to freezing, I'll have to put a bucket over the rose to protect it.

So.....I've had my first two hours of gardening. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!