Here I thought she was just going senile ...

My mom's doctor is pretty convinced she (my mom) has been suffering mini strokes since February of this year.

My mom's been complaining of dizziness since she went to my nephew's bar mitzvah back in February. And you all know whenever I mention my mom, I always mention her bouts of "not remembering a damn thing".

Well, her doctor seems to think she falls into the category of TIA (transient ischemic attacks). Thanks, doc. Now my poor mother has done nothing but worry since she was told on Wednesday.

Now, I looked up TIA and the symptoms. Here are the major ones:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause (source)
  

She claims she has no numbness or weakness anywhere. I question that. She hasn't had much strength lately, less than normal. Her facial expressions are fine. She's not dragging or favoring a specific leg while she walks.

I won't even touch the confusion issue. I've been saying to Geo, "She seems to get worse by the second." Now we may know why. I already touched on the dizziness, and the headaches are unknown to me.

She had an MRI yesterday and today she is seeing another two doctors.

I told my mom it was no use in worrying about it. If she has it, we'll deal with it. If not, she worried for nothing. I told her if she's worrying too much to talk to God. I said, "That's what you always tell me to do."

She seemed to feel better after I said that to her.

But, I'll admit it ... I'm worried, too.

Naomi Campbell's weapon of choice - the telephone

Okay, anyone who has glimpsed at the news knows that Naomi Campbell was recently brought up on assault charges for hitting her housekeeper in the head with a cell phone. The housekeeper went to Lenox Hill Hospital where she received four stitches. The hospital contacted the authorities. The rest is pure media frenzy.

Of course, Naomi's publicists went immediately into action, declaring the housekeeper was doing this in retaliation because she was recently fired by Miss Campbell. They are trying to play the housekeeper as a vengeful thieving schemer.

The scheming part? As per the publicists, the housekeeper's wound was self-inflicted.

A gash in the back of the woman's skull was self-inflicted. Can you say "highly doubtful"?

But, I mean, Naomi is the real victim here, right? She was being the rational one, and the other woman went postal.

Ummmm, Naomi's past says differently. Naomi, in the past, has admitted she has an itsy-bitsy problem controlling her anger. Really?

"Naomi's History of Violence

2005 Reportedly beat a young female assistant with a BlackBerry in Brazil.

August 2004 Maid Millicent Burton claimed Campbell hit her across the face during an argument in the Park Avenue apartment about packing a bag. Burton also ended up in Lenox Hill Hospital.

May Won a long-running British legal battle with a tabloid newspaper that was found to have invaded her privacy by running a story saying, correctly, that she had visited Narcotics Anonymous.

2003 Sued by a former assistant who said Campbell had thrown a phone at her during a 2001 tantrum.

2000 Pleaded guilty to an assault charge for hitting assistant Georgina Galanis with a telephone soon after arriving in Toronto to make a film in 1998." (source)

Notice a pattern? Naomi and Mr. Alex G. Bell's invention? The two just don't mix.

I have a piece of advice for her next housekeeper: stay away from all forms of telecommunication equipment.

And for the love of God, don't anyone buy that woman a Motorola Razr! That would be like giving an accomplished third degree black-belt a ninja star.

Anyone got a used Chopin statue?

This blog post is dedicated to my blogfriend, Jade. She's gonna have a rough few days ahead of her and she'll need some levity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friends of ours ... no, wait. Our friends' kids ... darn, that's not right either. Our ... their ... they have ... hold on.

Okay.

Our friends Vince and Shell have a son. He is little Vince (at least to us he is). L'il Vince and his wife, Katrina, have a little boy, Austin.

That's the ground work I was trying to establish.

L'il Vince and Katrina mailed a HUGE package to the Dinks which arrived Monday.

We opened it last night. It was Dinks' Christmas gift. This is what she got.

Not what I expected.

Now, here's me thinking, "Lovely. An electronic dust collector that will have batteries eventually leaking in it from lack of use."

Dinks walked over, sat on the stool, adjusted the mic so it was at the proper height for her face, and started mimicking playing the piano. Not pounding the keyboard like some kids do. She actually moved each hand moving up and down the keyboard (the left only so much and the right moved a lot), and had her fingers searching and pressing the different keys.

And singing! She was singing into the mic! It was like we had a young Elton John in the room.

We just might have a budding musician in the works. It wouldn't shock me. She loves music and is fascinated with the piano (my parents have one and she always wants to play it).

Downside: it takes 4 "C" batteries and we have 0 "C" batteries.

Geo is at Sam's Club as I type buying her a pallets worth.

No, I didn't have time to take pics. We'll do that tonight.

Look for them tomorrow.

Another "should I, shouldn't I" dilemma

For about 800 years now, I've wanted to learn to play guitar. I bought an acoustic Ibanez back in 1990. It never emerged from it's case and I ended up giving it to my girlfriend. At least she knew how to play.

Fast forward about 8 or so years.

My late husband was an accomplished classical guitarist. The man could make a classical guitar sound like a piano. Of course, he practiced about 85% of waking hours and had done so since he was knee high to a grasshopper.

I begged him to teach me. He agreed.

I bought another acoustic. This time a red Fender Dreadnought. The action was smoothe and easy on my tender fingertips. I practiced this time. But I was impatient. I couldn't understand why I wasn't able to play Lindsay Buckingham solos after two months.

Frustration abound. Again, I abandoned.

Then he died.

After his death, I didn't want to do anything. Then, slowly, I realized I could focus on my dream of playing guitar. All I had in my life were my cats and my job. I could throw my extra energy in really learning to play.

I also want to learn the bass. I really love the bass as opposed to the guitar. Something about the tone and the feel of the instrument does something for me.

But I had all these guitars so I figured, "Why buy a bass?"

I gave his most cherished guitars back to his parents, and one of his acoustics to a friend of his. Three remained which I kept. A custom 1972 Guild Starfire III, a maker unknown classical, and his beloved black with white fingerboard Squier Strat.

I love the Squier. The action on it is beyond fantastic. It is the PERFECT guitar for anyone wanting to learn. It is that user friendly.

I have an amp still in my attic. It's a little pratice amp (I forget who made it). I wanted a Pignose but my husband poo-pooed that. He said it was hype. Anyway, I have a stand and cords, too.

You see where I am going with this, dont' you?

It's back. The feeling. The want and desire to play the guitar. But I still want to learn the bass. I can pick up basslines in music quicker than the guitar.

So, do I break out the Endust and clean up the guitar and see if third time is a charm?

Or, do I buy an electric bass? I can get a decent one for around US$199. An amp, gig bag, strings, and other little whatsits will total the bill close to US$350.

It's not a money thing, either. I hoard my weekly allowance (yes, Geo and I have created an allowance for ourselves, so we don't feel liek we work for nothing). So, I have plenty for the purchase.

I know enough about both instruments to make a reasonably intelligent choice.

So, my dilemma is which.

Comments are most welcome.

I'm so glad the week is over

What? What do you mean it's only Tuesday? We haven't even reached Humpday yet?

Oh heck, it's worse than I thought.

Sunday flew by *Zoom*

Monday was a blur.

Honest, I feel like I sneezed on Saturday and opened my eyes to Tuesday.

I know I have to post pics. Geo will take them. Well, maybe I should ask him first. Sound like a good idea?

I have the new hair and I'm getting the clothes and shoes (I had no clue what a slingback was, but at least I do know strappies), but I still show my age.

Not physically but verbally.

I told someone the other day they sounded like a 33 on 45. They just kinda stared and blinked at me. I felt like a fossil. Anyone my age (+/- 5 years) and older would have understood it, I think.

Do they still say something is "the bomb" anymore? I believe that was the last time I was considered hip. Now? I guess I'm about as hip as a shin bone.

*sigh*

So, how's your day been?

I gol' darn gone and done it

As a precursor, let's just say I haven't changed my hair or clothing or shoe style since forever. I dress preppy, I have conservative shoes, and I rarely go to the hairdresesr.

Streats, my co-worker, gave me some blunt honest criticism last Friday.

"You dress dumpy, your clothes have no color or flair, and long hair does nothing for you, doesn't flatter you, and makes you look older than you are."

ouch

"Anything else?" I like punishment.

"Yeah, update your shoes. Spend some money on yourself, girl! You work, reward yourself."

She wasn't being mean. Streats is a good person and very classy. I was asking her what I could do to ... improve myself.

The start of all of that was me sitting at my desk wearing my new glasses and feeling ... off. I bought these new stylish eyeglasses and I felt like I looked silly.

Last year, in Florida, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando, I bought a t-shirt. I ladies t-shirt. I never owned a ladies style cut form-fitting t-shirt. All of mine are unisex.

I liked it. As weird as this sounds (for me), I liked seeing a shape under my clothes.

I never feel like that towards myself, except for lately.

Middle age? Or just wanting to feel different? I don't know. I love my life. I love my husband. I love my child. I love my family. I do everything for them.

But I forgot about me.

So ...

I cut my hair.

Short.

And got highlights.

For me, that's unusual.

I even told my hairdresser, "I want a style that's not so conservative. I want ... sassy!"

I hate that word. Yet, I used it. And I liked it.

Oh lord.

Geo looked at my hair when he got home tonight.

His comment?

"You've got bengal stripes on your head."

Thanks, hon.

Then he gave me a kiss.

"I like it. You look good."

That's better ... much better.

Bug-eyed with drool out of the corner of the mouth

It's 11:03 PM.

I'm drinking sugar-free MDX.

I'm watching the Sprout channel.

Melanie is telling a story of two turtles using her hands.

Sweet Jesus, someone please shoot me.

I am a Classic!

Coca-Cola, that is. Hee-hee-hee.

Thank goodness I wasn't a New Coke. Anyone else remember that marketing debacle?

You Are Coke

A true original and classic, you represent the best of everything you can offer. Just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of energy... you're the life of the party. Your best soda match: Mountain Dew Stay away from:Dr Pepper

What Kind of Soda Are You?

Model parents to be released from TN jail

See what happens when I do random Google surfing?

Parents Quick Release Stun Prosecuters

April 16, 2001: Jennifer Hargrove (above right) gave birth to her child in an apartment bathroom, slit her newborn baby's throat and the daddy, Thomas Gambrell (above left), did nothing to stop her! He claims he was sleeping. Yeah, he slept while a woman was in labor. LIAR!! Both of them ... effing sick twisted cowards! And that's not the worst part, the child lived! The baby was stuffed in a bag and thrown in the trunk of a car. Paramedics called on to the scene (I am still not sure why they were there) took the child and the two moron parents were promptly arrested.

In November 2004, under a plea agreement, each coward got a whole eight years.


The good news: The baby, a little girl, survived. After much rehab, she was put in the care of a foster family. A judge terminated the parental rights of Hargrove and Gambrell (and I thought that would have been the first thing to be done before they even went to trial), and the child was adopted by her foster family.

The crap news: Gambrell, after barely serving 14 months of his 8 year sentence, is out of jail already. And Jennifer will be out of jail soon because the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole on Tuesday recommended she be released!

I just hope his nuts were cut off and her hole was stapled, glue gunned, crazy glued, and cemented shut so neither can ever EVER have a child again.

South Park is really prophetic?

Here's a snippet from "South Park"s episode number 209 - Chef's Salty Balls



Could it be Trey and Matt had the lowdown on the Brokeback hoedown? Or were they actually Ang's inspiration?

Things that make you go hmmmmmm ...

My daughter, the hypochondriac

No lie.

Every blessed day since last Thursday, my daughter has been begging to see the doctor for a "check-up".

I ask her if she doesn't feel well.

"Yes."

I ask what hurts.

She points to various parts of her little body. On the side of consistency, she points to her head, ear, and nose all the time. It's very possible. She has been sick everyday since March1st. Stupid allergy season.

I tell her if she goes to the doctor, she can't go to school. She then smiles and says she'll "stay for home".

Ah! I get it now.

The little skiver. They learn so young.

This month has been downright awful

I left work early yeterday for a stomach ache.

Of course, the pain started Tuesday night and kept me from sleeping. So, in reality, I left for both a stomach ache and general dizzyness from lack of sleep.

And I drove. On the turnpike. With the Dinks in the car.

So much for my Parent of the Year Award.

The stomach ache did finally leave after 24 hours of pure suffering.

The solution?

Pepto-Bismol chewables.

Mmmmmm-yummy

PA's version of Jessica's Law almost a reality, though one senator thinks the measure is "overkill"

What I feel is a long time coming, a state senate committee has given initial approval for a PA's version of Florida's "Jessica's Law".

You remember Jessica Lunsford? She was that 9 year old little girl who was abducted from her bedroom while she slept, raped, and killed last year. Her murderer? A registered sex offender, John Evander Couhey.

Registered!

The entire nation saw just how well "registering" sex offenders was in deterring them from repeating their crimes when the news of Jessica's killer was brought to light.

In an albeit too late reactive move, Florida created "Jessica's Law".

And PA will soon have its own version.

The measure will give DA's the power to put sex offenders away for a minimum sentence of 25 years AND the accused will have to where a GPS monitoring system for the rest of their life.

As a mom, I applaud the measure.

But a state senator from Erie thinks the measure is overkill.

Jane M Earll (R) is quoted as saying “I know that there have been incidents around the country where you have someone who’s out on probation or parole who re-offends. But to my knowledge, we don’t have that problem in Pennsylvania.”

Gee, Senator, let me think about what you said for a minute. You're saying that since such an incident hasn't happened here in Pennsyltucky that the law is not necessary. That Pennsylvania should also be a reactive state as opposed to proactive. We all saw how being reactive allowed Jessica to die in Florida. If such a measure would have been in place at the time of her murderer's initial conviction back in 1991, he would have still been behind bars.

Senator, do we really need a dead child on our hands so you can feel the measure is justified?

Anyone who would like to comment on the Senator's comment can do so by writing her an e-mail. Just click on the link above to get it.

One Dumb Dog

One of my favorite vidoes. Is it any wonder that the dog is a blonde?

Note to my blonde friends: That's a JOKE!

Love them or hate them, cats are funny!

Too funny!

It was an e-mail, now it's an annoying tell all

10 FAVORITES

Tv show: None right now

Flower: Roses, Lilies, and Carnations

Alcohol: Beer or Disaronno with seltzer on the rocks

Movie: Grumpier Old Men, Tommy Boy, The Princess Bride

Color: Purple, Green, and Orange

Sport: Football and Hockey

Phrase: I see.

Mall: Roosevelt/Neshaminy/Court and Plaza at King of Prussia/Oxford valley/Willow Grove

Music genre: Everything except soft rock or traditional Christian

Food: Steak and green beans or PIZZA (when I don't care about the calories I'm eating)

10 FACTS

Height: 5'6"

Hair color: Dark Brown

Hair length: Short

Hair style: straight

eye color: Brown

Weight: fluctuates between 130 and 137

Personality: have none

Style: preppie but trying to convert to hip with the help of a co-worker and the Bravo Channel

10 LIFE

How's life?: Ummm ...

What are you doing as we speak?: typing, ... duh

What are you doing over the weekend?: car inspection, haircut/color

What do you want to do with your life?: raise my child and then retire to the mountains. Or win the lottery

What color is your life?: green or orange

Where are you right now?: work

10 LOVELIFE

Have you ever been in love: Yes

Do you believe in love?: Yes

Why did your last relationship fail?: He died.

Have you ever had your heart broken?: Crushed

Have you ever broken someones heart?: Yes

Have you ever fallen for one of your best friends of the opposite sex?: Nope

Are you planning on getting married?: Already did ;)

Are you afraid of committment: Nope

10 RANDOMS

One thing sitting next to you: nothing interesting

Funny story: My daughter said to me in the doctor's waiting room last Monday, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Had the place cracking up.

Do you like the color purple? yes

How many cds do you own? Too damn many

Longest phone conversation?: 4 hours

Whos your closest relative? me rents

If you could go anywhere, where would it be?: Disney World or Hawaii

10 THIS OR THATS

Pepsi or coke?: Coke

CD or Radio?: both

Tommy boy or black sheep?: Tommy Boy

Saturday or Sunday?: Saturday

Single or taken?: So taken

Colored! or black and white?: Black and White

Phone or in person: in person

10 HAVE YOU EVERS

Have you ever been caught sneaking out?: No

Have you ever fought someone?: Yes

Have you ever skinny dipped?: Yes (I was two)

Have you ever done something you regret?: Yes

Have you ever bungee jumped?: Ah, no

Have you ever been on a house boat?: Yes

Have you ever finished an entire jaw breaker? Yes

Have you ever wanted someone so badly it hurts?: Yes

Repiercing of the ear

Seriously, that's what I did yesterday.

It all started a few weeks ago when the first hole in my left ear started to hurt. Then it started to turn rather red. I don't how I managed but an ear piercing that was over 20 years old had become infected. I swabbed it with alcohol and/or H2O2 and that seemed to work. It scabbed (eww) and healed.

Alas, it healed too well.

Yesterday, I tried to put an earring in the hole.

No go.

I tried again.

It went through the front but not the back.

Upon inspection, it was determined the back of my ear had sealed shut.

Crap.

I didn't think I had any starter earrings lying around to open the bugger again.

I was wrong.

Found a gold one from ... oh say ... 14 years ago. I unsuccessfully tried to get the top of my left ear pierced at the time. It become really infected and swollen. With the help of a pair of needle nose pliers and some beer, I pried it off. So I guess I kept the unused starter earring as a twisted momento as sorts.

Or it could be I'm a pack rat.

Swabbed the hole a few dozen times with alcohol. Gave the starter earring an alcohol bath. Put the little spear in the hole, clenched every part of my body that could clinch, and *POP*

It is done!

Anyone who truly knows me knows this was quite a feat.

I loathe needles.

But I still want a couple of tats and a body piercing or two (but not the tongue ... no way).

I have since unclenched the various parts of my body much to Geo's happiness.

To all of my loving blogfriends

Blogger sucks.

It seems some of you can't see my blog, or can see but can't comment. I apologize for Blogger and their crappy servers.

I can't complain too loud. It is a free service. You get what you pay for.

So, if you really want me to know you're still alive and reading the blog, send me an e-mail. If my sidebar doesn't work, just click here. Or if you have a seperate e-mail server than your default for your computer, the addy is lifefamilyetal@gmail.com.

Comcast and Blogger both suck. But at least Blogger is a freebie. Comcast can kiss my backside.

I'm naturally a flirt

You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt. And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting. Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt. And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

This is true. My late husband used to get so angry with me 'cause I'd flirt and not even realize it. Oooops.

I'm glad that's over

What a crappy week. Some would say, "If I had a chance to do this week over again, I'd blah blah blah and blah blah blah". Whatever. Personally, I don't want to a do-over for this week. It's done and good riddance.

Yes, I'm a crab.

Dink has a sinus infection. I've been saying that all effin week and what do I hear in return:

Doctor: "It's a virus."

Mom: "And when did you get your doctorate?"

Those at work: "You're just being overly mothering." This was uttered by those with NO children.

Geo: "You're probably right." At least he agreed with me.

I take the Dinks to her allergist on Thursday. I tell him what's been happening. Her checks her out. Checks her ears and nose. Looks in her mouth and eyes. Looks at me and says, "She has a sinus infection."

Big middle finger to all those that made fun of me.

She's dosed on meds and antibiotics right now. I want to be dosed on meds. You'd think she'd share. I guess they teach that in kindergarten. Figures. Two years too young.

I had a killer sinus headache Wednesday. Top it off with a migraine and I couldn't move. I was crying at 4AM 'cause the pain was so unbearable. After an hour of paralyzed suffering, I literally crawled out of bed and went in the kitchen to take drugs. Excedrin Migraine and some of the Dinks Sudafed. She was asleep, she had no clue I was breaking into her stash. After the drugs, I put a hot herbal mask on my eyes and a hot herbal shoulder compress around my neck. The herbs damn near knocked me out with the fumes. But it was relief! I passed out and didn't wake again until 7AM.

I awoke. Work and the rents were called. Since Dink was still battling her "virus" at this time, she was still out of school. At 11AM, we went to my rents home. Dink tortured them as I slept on the couch. Then we went home.

That was my Wednesday.

Whoopty-effin-doo!

Like I said, this week was crappy and I don't want a do-over.