Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Three Weeks to Improve...
Today I saw the physical therapist. He did an evaluation and then taught me some exercises. I am to do them two times each day. I will visit him every Tuesday and Friday through March 16th. Then on March 19th I will go back to the orthopedist and we'll evaluate my progress to determine if physical therapy will heal this or if surgery might be needed. I'm going to give it my best effort with the hope surgery will not be needed.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
MIB - Man In Black...
I get the Groupon eMails for Lexington and Louisville. One came for a custom made suit. This was on Claude's bucket list. The Groupon made the cost half off. I approached Claude about the possibility of this being a great Christmas gift for him. He thought it was a great idea. I bought the Groupon.
Claude went to the tailor the beginning of November. The suit was to be finished before Christmas. That didn't happen. Then it was supposed to be done before our cruise in January. That didn't happen. After we got home Claude was finally able to go and have his final fitting. This last Sunday he wore his new suit for the first time.
This is what I saw as my hubby exited our bedroom into the living room and was my first view of my hubby in his new suit.
He is just sure he looks like MIB the movie.
Of course that necessitated me sending a quick eMail to our kids and son-in-laws. I got these responses back from them:
From Andie: Very nice! Bailey says he is "pretty as a horse". teehee
From Jake: Has he quoted Will Smith saying, "I make this look good" yet? Lookin' sharp.
From Michael: Bobo wants to know why Pa is dressing up like him? (FYI...Bobo is the cat.)
We headed to Church and I kept watching to be sure Claude didn't put on the black sunglasses. I know he really, really wanted to do that.
The suit is beautiful and he loves wearing it. There will never be another but it is a fun thing for a once in a lifetime event.
Claude went to the tailor the beginning of November. The suit was to be finished before Christmas. That didn't happen. Then it was supposed to be done before our cruise in January. That didn't happen. After we got home Claude was finally able to go and have his final fitting. This last Sunday he wore his new suit for the first time.
This is what I saw as my hubby exited our bedroom into the living room and was my first view of my hubby in his new suit.
Of course that necessitated me sending a quick eMail to our kids and son-in-laws. I got these responses back from them:
From Andie: Very nice! Bailey says he is "pretty as a horse". teehee
From Jake: Has he quoted Will Smith saying, "I make this look good" yet? Lookin' sharp.
From Michael: Bobo wants to know why Pa is dressing up like him? (FYI...Bobo is the cat.)
We headed to Church and I kept watching to be sure Claude didn't put on the black sunglasses. I know he really, really wanted to do that.
The suit is beautiful and he loves wearing it. There will never be another but it is a fun thing for a once in a lifetime event.
Sleepover #2...
We met Andie in Shelbyville to exchange kids. She took Bailey and we took Hayden.
Hayden was so cute. He got out of his car seat and snuck around their van and burst out to the side we were parked on. He was wearing round glasses and carrying a wand. He was like a blond Harry Potter. I had no camera out and totally missed that shot. I'll regret that for a long time but the mental image is there of a huge grinning blond Hayden Potter.
Bailey was all buckled in and started to cry. We asked her what she needed and she said she wanted a Hayden hug. Hayden hurried back in the van and gave Bailey a huge hug and a big kiss. She only cried the more. Then she said she wanted a soft kiss and hug. Back Hayden ran and gave her the most gentle kiss and hug. She was happy and we all parted ways, Andie and Bailey back to LaGrange, Claude, Hayden and me back to Sadieville.
Hayden wolfed down the snack bag I had in the car and was still very hungry. We stopped in Frankfort and found a McDonald's drive-thru to get him a Happy Meal. He wolfed that one down as well. This boy is getting a real appetite.
Hayden and I have a reading adventure going on. He and Andie have been reading the Harry Potter series. After they read a book they watch the movie. After they finish a book they loan it to me. When I finish reading it I get to watch the movie with Hayden. I finished the 6th book so our movie before bedtime for Hayden was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was a good movie and totally fun to enjoy with Hayden.
While setting up to watch the movice, Hayden was wearing stripped pajamas. I asked Hayden if he would like a stripped blanket and commented on all the stripes. Hayden simply said, "That's a 'striperific' idea!!"
Hayden brought me book 7, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We read one chapter on the drive back to Sadieville. Then before Hayden went to bed we read another chapter. Our little man chose to sleep in the guest room bed. It is queen sized and he looked really swallowed up in that big bed covered in all the blankets I had in the room. He went right to sleep and I didn't hear a peep out of him until 7:15 the next morning.
For breakfast we had his favorite at our house, cinnamon rolls and bacon.
I pulled out the little Legos set I purchased for him. It was a 3 in 1 set. It made a helicopter, a fire truck and a car. Hayden said it looked like a GPS car. My goodness my world is changing.
Now both Marx kids were home. Claude and I had a wonderful time with these youngest grandmonsters. Now it was time to point that red Buick back toward Sadieville. But we made a quick stop in Frankfort again for dinner at Cattleman's.
Hayden was so cute. He got out of his car seat and snuck around their van and burst out to the side we were parked on. He was wearing round glasses and carrying a wand. He was like a blond Harry Potter. I had no camera out and totally missed that shot. I'll regret that for a long time but the mental image is there of a huge grinning blond Hayden Potter.
Bailey was all buckled in and started to cry. We asked her what she needed and she said she wanted a Hayden hug. Hayden hurried back in the van and gave Bailey a huge hug and a big kiss. She only cried the more. Then she said she wanted a soft kiss and hug. Back Hayden ran and gave her the most gentle kiss and hug. She was happy and we all parted ways, Andie and Bailey back to LaGrange, Claude, Hayden and me back to Sadieville.
Hayden wolfed down the snack bag I had in the car and was still very hungry. We stopped in Frankfort and found a McDonald's drive-thru to get him a Happy Meal. He wolfed that one down as well. This boy is getting a real appetite.
Hayden and I have a reading adventure going on. He and Andie have been reading the Harry Potter series. After they read a book they watch the movie. After they finish a book they loan it to me. When I finish reading it I get to watch the movie with Hayden. I finished the 6th book so our movie before bedtime for Hayden was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was a good movie and totally fun to enjoy with Hayden.
While setting up to watch the movice, Hayden was wearing stripped pajamas. I asked Hayden if he would like a stripped blanket and commented on all the stripes. Hayden simply said, "That's a 'striperific' idea!!"
Hayden brought me book 7, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We read one chapter on the drive back to Sadieville. Then before Hayden went to bed we read another chapter. Our little man chose to sleep in the guest room bed. It is queen sized and he looked really swallowed up in that big bed covered in all the blankets I had in the room. He went right to sleep and I didn't hear a peep out of him until 7:15 the next morning.
For breakfast we had his favorite at our house, cinnamon rolls and bacon.
I pulled out the little Legos set I purchased for him. It was a 3 in 1 set. It made a helicopter, a fire truck and a car. Hayden said it looked like a GPS car. My goodness my world is changing.
Hayden came with his snorkling gear to play in the big tub. At one point he asked me if I would bring him the dolphin and turtle. I headed to the basement and brought up the blow-up things for the wading pool. Hayden played with them for a long time before he told me that he was talking about the little toys that you squeeze and fill with water then squirt it out of the hole in the top. I chuckled because we had inadvertently stumbled on a great way to enjoy the big tub. I went and got the other bathtub toys from the tub Bailey played in the day before. Hayden played long enough for me to read two more chapters in the Harry Potter book.
Eventually it was time to head back to LaGrange. This time we were going all the way to Hayden's home. That is about a 90 minute drive. Hayden faired well until we got to Shelbyville. That left about 30 minutes to his home and he needed something to fill that time. I pulled out a tiny ball of leftover yarn from the travel bag I packed. For that last 30 minutes we strung yarn from one side of the back seat to the other and created a pully kind of thing to move my sun glass from one side to the other and up and down into my hand. It was great fun. When we got to the Marx home Hayden ran in and got Andie and Michael to come and see his creation. Michael was just shaking his head as he walked away. I wonder if he felt I created a monster by letting Hayden play with yarn in the back seat. You know, one of those things that grandparents do that comes back to haunt the parents later on. If so, I could have been successful again!!
Sleepover #1...
Our little Bailey has had it in her head that she was coming to our home for a sleepover for a long time. A few weeks ago she packed her little suitcase and took it downstairs and informed Andie that she was packed and ready to go to Ma and Pa house for her sleepover. She further assured her mom that she had packed two pairs of pajamas just like her mom does. Last weekend was the best time we have had to get this sleepover accomplished for Miss Bailey.
Bailey attends pre-school Tuesday through Thursday each week. I would be able to go to pick her up Thursday afternoon. Then I would take her back Friday afternoon after Hayden was home from school and bring Hayden back for his sleepover on Friday night. Saturday I would take Hayden home.
I met Andie at the Taco Bell in Shelbyville. Bailey wanted nothing to eat. She only wanted to eat when she got to Ma and Pa's house. So we loaded her suitcase and bag of lovies in my car, Andie installed the car seat and Bailey and I headed off to Sadieville.
Bailey was out of the car seat and into the house in a flash. The first order of business was to feed this bundle of energy. Bailey loves yogurt and I always keep it and she know that. When asked what she would like to eat she headed right to the fridge, picked the flavor she wanted, got the flax seed to add to the top, got a spoon and headed to the table. Cracked me up. As she was eating Bailey said, "The yogurt goes down my throat and into my tummy and does a cruise." Love the mental processes of a little kid.
I had purchased pink and purple nail polish. We spread out a sheet and went to work polishing those little fingers and toes. Bailey has been learning about patterns in school so we used a pattern to paint those digits by alternating pink and purple.
Movies are a big deal when visiting. Bailey and I headed to the basement to find the perfect movie for before bedtime. She chose a Land Before Time movie and Claude set us up on the big TV. We enjoyed a movie and a dinner picnic in front of the TV. Then we headed upstairs to brush teeth and get ready for bed. We read three stories and it was time to tuck Bailey in. I offered the guest room bed for her to sleep in. She opted to sleep in the pod bed. So I tucked her in with all her lovies and blankets and started her music and she went right to sleep.
Friday we filled our day with lots of things from a bubble bath, to playing with Pa, to making jewelry with Pa, to trying to blow on the shofar, to inspecting Pa's newest wood carving (could the girl's eyes be any bigger??), to making sugar cookies and cutting them out, and ending with playing and finding the mini-light saber we tucked away and couldn't find for months. There seem to be no end to the possibilities to fill our day.
Bailey attends pre-school Tuesday through Thursday each week. I would be able to go to pick her up Thursday afternoon. Then I would take her back Friday afternoon after Hayden was home from school and bring Hayden back for his sleepover on Friday night. Saturday I would take Hayden home.
I met Andie at the Taco Bell in Shelbyville. Bailey wanted nothing to eat. She only wanted to eat when she got to Ma and Pa's house. So we loaded her suitcase and bag of lovies in my car, Andie installed the car seat and Bailey and I headed off to Sadieville.
Bailey was out of the car seat and into the house in a flash. The first order of business was to feed this bundle of energy. Bailey loves yogurt and I always keep it and she know that. When asked what she would like to eat she headed right to the fridge, picked the flavor she wanted, got the flax seed to add to the top, got a spoon and headed to the table. Cracked me up. As she was eating Bailey said, "The yogurt goes down my throat and into my tummy and does a cruise." Love the mental processes of a little kid.
I had purchased pink and purple nail polish. We spread out a sheet and went to work polishing those little fingers and toes. Bailey has been learning about patterns in school so we used a pattern to paint those digits by alternating pink and purple.
Nail polishing was accomplished on my bedroom floor with the jewelry chest right in view. It was a logical step to check out the jewelry. Bailey loves playing in there. We found a large heart pendant. By taking a pendant off a gold chain we put the heart pendant in its place and Bailey enjoyed wearing it around for a while. She is usually very careful with my jewelry.
Friday we filled our day with lots of things from a bubble bath, to playing with Pa, to making jewelry with Pa, to trying to blow on the shofar, to inspecting Pa's newest wood carving (could the girl's eyes be any bigger??), to making sugar cookies and cutting them out, and ending with playing and finding the mini-light saber we tucked away and couldn't find for months. There seem to be no end to the possibilities to fill our day.
The end result was that Claude and I won...as we drove Bailey back to Shelbyville to drop her off and pick up Hayden, the little darling fell asleep. Score one for Pa and Ma!!!
Shouldering On and That Patience Lesson...
I have Blogged about falling the Sunday after Thanksgiving and my shoulder issues. It was not broken and I was told to not use it for several days and then begin to use it and try to build strengthen and movement. If there were any issues, I was to return to my doctor.
As I got closer to the end of January I had recovered a lot of the movement and a good bit of strength. However, I could not left my arm straight up from my side or turn in to the inside or reach behind my lower back without a sharp pain running down it. The sharp pain was a source of concern to me. I could understand needing more time to build movement and strength but I felt like the sharp pain should be over after two months had past.
I called my doctor and went to see him on February 10th. We reviewed my concerns and he moved my arm and applied pressure in certain ways to determine what to do next. He felt there was probably a tear and the only way to be sure was an MRI. His office set me up with an appointment at radiology at the hospital in Georgetown for the following Tuesday.
Monday evening I got a call from US Imaging. It seems they started working with our insurance company on January 1st. Their purpose is to be sure the least expensive radiologist is used thereby saving the insurance company and me as much as possible. Really????
My Tuesday appointment at a convenient location where I have had all my radiology needs taken care of since we moved to Kentucky was canceled. They gave me some options in Lexington. I told them any time with the exception of Wednesday afternoon. They scheduled me for the following Monday, February 20th in Lexington. Now the upside to this is the Georgetown Hospital uses a closed MRI. The Lexington facility uses an open MRI. I have a bit of claustrophobia and my doctor had prescribed me one valium to be taken 1 hour previous to the procedure. Going to Lexington would be a bit further but I wouldn't need that valium and the MRI would be open.
Then I got another call from US Imaging. It seems their contract with the Lexington facilities was not current and we could not use them. There was another facility in Frankfort and it would be a closed MRI. Okay, let's save that money and I'll take the appointment in Frankfort for Monday afternoon.
Well...since it was a closed MRI and since that meant I would be on Valium and needed a driver that meant I needed Claude to take me. It turns out he had a meeting on Monday and would not be able to take me. So I called and they moved the MRI to Wednesday morning in Frankfort.
This was good timing because my little buddy Jessie who lives in Frankfort was having her birthday that day. I eMail Laura, her mom, and asked if we could pop in and give Jessie a little birthday present and a hug. I added that I would be on Valium at the time and it could be a bit amusing to watch me. Laura agreed. The date was set and the plan in place.
Wednesday morning, February 22nd, Claude and I were in Frankfort early enough for me to fill out all those lovely papers one must fill out when visiting a new medical facility. I had taken my Valium before we left the house and the thing I found most amusing is that I actually slowed down and read all the paperwork. My brain flits around so quickly that most times I just glide over stuff. But I could really slow down and focus.
By the time they put me on that table that slides into the MRI machine I was ready for a little nap. They laid me back on the table and I closed my eyes. After I was in the machine I remember thinking, "You are going to be very disappointed if you get through all of this and you never open your eyes to at least get a peek of what it really looks like in here." (I always think of Lot's wife in the Bible when I do these kinds of things.) So I quickly opened my eyes and then shut them again and settled in for being really still for about 30 minutes. That in itself is a miracle for me. I must have started to really drift off at some point because I remember having a strong impulse to roll over on my side and something inside me saying that was not a good idea. It seems like that time went quickly.
I went to the waiting room where Claude was and we waited for them to create a CD with all the pictures on it to take to my doctor. I asked if I could look at them on my computer and was told that would be fine.
As Claude and I walked to the car, Claude looked at me and said, "You know you are taking little bitty steps?" I said, "I just know I am walking forward toward the car and I can see a curb that I must step down." He chuckled and continued to walk slowly by me.
My hearts desire was for a big Dr. Pepper. I had nothing to eat or drink that morning and was ready for something. Claude pulled into a gas station and filled up his car for $3.25/gallon. This was the lowest price we found anywhere. Then he pulled across the street to the Taco Bell and we went inside for a little to eat and to get me that Dr. Pepper. While we were eating Claude was looking out the window back across the street at the gas station we used. He said, "Would you look at that. They just raised the price to $3.69/gallon!!" This is an amazing time in which we live.
We visited the Carter family. It is always so much fun to visit them. I got to sit and chat with Laura's mom for a while. I hope I was lucid enough for her. She loves a visit and that just makes it so nice. Jessie was happy with her little gift and hugs. And, as an added bonus, Laura's other two daughters and their little boys were there. So we got to see lots of the family. Great fun.
Then we headed home for a nap before I was to drive back into Georgetown to sing with Papa. Before the nap I had to peek at those pictures. As I'm looking at them on my computer I suddenly realized it made no difference. I didn't know what to look for anyway. It was neat seeing inside my shoulder but, really, I didn't know what to look for.
Thursday morning I went to City Hall for the swearing in of Detta Wilson as a city commissioner. Then I headed to Georgetown to drop of the CD of pictures at my doctor's office. I had been told they would fax him the results on Thursday some time. When I got to the counter and explained about the CD that receptionist said, "I think we have your results already. Let me check." Yeah!!! Sure enough she had them and they showed a tear in my rotator cuff. Yuck!! I needed to see an orthopedist for an evaluation to determine the need for physical therapy to correct it or surgery to correct it. They set me up an appointment for Monday, February 27th with the orthopedist.
Monday I visited him and he wants to try three weeks of physical therapy before determining a need for surgery. Yeah!!! I'm on board with that choice. He gave me the two physical therapy offices he prefers. I had a full morning of visits and things to be done in Georgetown and Lexington before I could head home. I felt like I needed to check out my insurance to be sure about quirks with it before I set up an appointment.
Monday late afternoon when I got home I pulled out the insurance book and read about coverage. I didn't have the book with which offices accepted our insurance. It turns out they use another service called OrthoNet to schedule this stuff just like the US Imaging does for radiology. I called OrthoNet and learned the process. They had me call the insurance company to find offices that would take the insurance. I called the one that was supposed to take our insurance to make an appointment and they said they no longer work with OrthoNet. Geez!!! I determined to go ahead and call the other office even though the insurance company said they didn't accept OrthoNet. Funny thing...they do accept OrthoNet, the receptionist knows the process and told me not to worry she had the forms and everything. We set up an appointment for tomorrow, Wednesday, February 29th to have the physical therapist evaluate the situation.
My hope is they can show me some exercises that I can do at home, tell me things I should not be doing that only make the situation worse and get me on the road to healing this tear so there will be no surgery. I'll have an update on how this goes in about three weeks. That is when I have another appointment with the orthopedist and we determine where to go from there.
I have learned that it takes TONS of patience to get through these medical things. I also can't really believe that we are saving a lot of money with all these 3rd party people but I'm sure I don't know all the details there. I have learned that I shall just 'shoulder on' in this process to healing my arm while be very, very, very careful to never, ever, ever fall down again.
As I got closer to the end of January I had recovered a lot of the movement and a good bit of strength. However, I could not left my arm straight up from my side or turn in to the inside or reach behind my lower back without a sharp pain running down it. The sharp pain was a source of concern to me. I could understand needing more time to build movement and strength but I felt like the sharp pain should be over after two months had past.
I called my doctor and went to see him on February 10th. We reviewed my concerns and he moved my arm and applied pressure in certain ways to determine what to do next. He felt there was probably a tear and the only way to be sure was an MRI. His office set me up with an appointment at radiology at the hospital in Georgetown for the following Tuesday.
Monday evening I got a call from US Imaging. It seems they started working with our insurance company on January 1st. Their purpose is to be sure the least expensive radiologist is used thereby saving the insurance company and me as much as possible. Really????
My Tuesday appointment at a convenient location where I have had all my radiology needs taken care of since we moved to Kentucky was canceled. They gave me some options in Lexington. I told them any time with the exception of Wednesday afternoon. They scheduled me for the following Monday, February 20th in Lexington. Now the upside to this is the Georgetown Hospital uses a closed MRI. The Lexington facility uses an open MRI. I have a bit of claustrophobia and my doctor had prescribed me one valium to be taken 1 hour previous to the procedure. Going to Lexington would be a bit further but I wouldn't need that valium and the MRI would be open.
Then I got another call from US Imaging. It seems their contract with the Lexington facilities was not current and we could not use them. There was another facility in Frankfort and it would be a closed MRI. Okay, let's save that money and I'll take the appointment in Frankfort for Monday afternoon.
Well...since it was a closed MRI and since that meant I would be on Valium and needed a driver that meant I needed Claude to take me. It turns out he had a meeting on Monday and would not be able to take me. So I called and they moved the MRI to Wednesday morning in Frankfort.
This was good timing because my little buddy Jessie who lives in Frankfort was having her birthday that day. I eMail Laura, her mom, and asked if we could pop in and give Jessie a little birthday present and a hug. I added that I would be on Valium at the time and it could be a bit amusing to watch me. Laura agreed. The date was set and the plan in place.
Wednesday morning, February 22nd, Claude and I were in Frankfort early enough for me to fill out all those lovely papers one must fill out when visiting a new medical facility. I had taken my Valium before we left the house and the thing I found most amusing is that I actually slowed down and read all the paperwork. My brain flits around so quickly that most times I just glide over stuff. But I could really slow down and focus.
By the time they put me on that table that slides into the MRI machine I was ready for a little nap. They laid me back on the table and I closed my eyes. After I was in the machine I remember thinking, "You are going to be very disappointed if you get through all of this and you never open your eyes to at least get a peek of what it really looks like in here." (I always think of Lot's wife in the Bible when I do these kinds of things.) So I quickly opened my eyes and then shut them again and settled in for being really still for about 30 minutes. That in itself is a miracle for me. I must have started to really drift off at some point because I remember having a strong impulse to roll over on my side and something inside me saying that was not a good idea. It seems like that time went quickly.
I went to the waiting room where Claude was and we waited for them to create a CD with all the pictures on it to take to my doctor. I asked if I could look at them on my computer and was told that would be fine.
As Claude and I walked to the car, Claude looked at me and said, "You know you are taking little bitty steps?" I said, "I just know I am walking forward toward the car and I can see a curb that I must step down." He chuckled and continued to walk slowly by me.
My hearts desire was for a big Dr. Pepper. I had nothing to eat or drink that morning and was ready for something. Claude pulled into a gas station and filled up his car for $3.25/gallon. This was the lowest price we found anywhere. Then he pulled across the street to the Taco Bell and we went inside for a little to eat and to get me that Dr. Pepper. While we were eating Claude was looking out the window back across the street at the gas station we used. He said, "Would you look at that. They just raised the price to $3.69/gallon!!" This is an amazing time in which we live.
We visited the Carter family. It is always so much fun to visit them. I got to sit and chat with Laura's mom for a while. I hope I was lucid enough for her. She loves a visit and that just makes it so nice. Jessie was happy with her little gift and hugs. And, as an added bonus, Laura's other two daughters and their little boys were there. So we got to see lots of the family. Great fun.
Then we headed home for a nap before I was to drive back into Georgetown to sing with Papa. Before the nap I had to peek at those pictures. As I'm looking at them on my computer I suddenly realized it made no difference. I didn't know what to look for anyway. It was neat seeing inside my shoulder but, really, I didn't know what to look for.
Thursday morning I went to City Hall for the swearing in of Detta Wilson as a city commissioner. Then I headed to Georgetown to drop of the CD of pictures at my doctor's office. I had been told they would fax him the results on Thursday some time. When I got to the counter and explained about the CD that receptionist said, "I think we have your results already. Let me check." Yeah!!! Sure enough she had them and they showed a tear in my rotator cuff. Yuck!! I needed to see an orthopedist for an evaluation to determine the need for physical therapy to correct it or surgery to correct it. They set me up an appointment for Monday, February 27th with the orthopedist.
Monday I visited him and he wants to try three weeks of physical therapy before determining a need for surgery. Yeah!!! I'm on board with that choice. He gave me the two physical therapy offices he prefers. I had a full morning of visits and things to be done in Georgetown and Lexington before I could head home. I felt like I needed to check out my insurance to be sure about quirks with it before I set up an appointment.
Monday late afternoon when I got home I pulled out the insurance book and read about coverage. I didn't have the book with which offices accepted our insurance. It turns out they use another service called OrthoNet to schedule this stuff just like the US Imaging does for radiology. I called OrthoNet and learned the process. They had me call the insurance company to find offices that would take the insurance. I called the one that was supposed to take our insurance to make an appointment and they said they no longer work with OrthoNet. Geez!!! I determined to go ahead and call the other office even though the insurance company said they didn't accept OrthoNet. Funny thing...they do accept OrthoNet, the receptionist knows the process and told me not to worry she had the forms and everything. We set up an appointment for tomorrow, Wednesday, February 29th to have the physical therapist evaluate the situation.
My hope is they can show me some exercises that I can do at home, tell me things I should not be doing that only make the situation worse and get me on the road to healing this tear so there will be no surgery. I'll have an update on how this goes in about three weeks. That is when I have another appointment with the orthopedist and we determine where to go from there.
I have learned that it takes TONS of patience to get through these medical things. I also can't really believe that we are saving a lot of money with all these 3rd party people but I'm sure I don't know all the details there. I have learned that I shall just 'shoulder on' in this process to healing my arm while be very, very, very careful to never, ever, ever fall down again.
Review and Update of Last Post...
It has once again been a while since I Blogged. Such is life. No apologies, just fact.
After referring to my last Blog entry I felt I should bring my Blog up-to-date with the items in that post.
After referring to my last Blog entry I felt I should bring my Blog up-to-date with the items in that post.
- Claude and I are still happily married...Yeah!!!
- Mimi is doing so much better overall. She has been a might perkier. Monday when I visited she just laughed at everything. Then put her head down for a quick nap. Then awoke to laugh again.
- The curtains arrived. They are ironed and hanging in the windows. The previous curtains were a mite more subdued because they were the same color as the curtains on the living room windows and the door to the deck from the living room. Now my breakfast room curtains are white and they stand out a lot more. But they fit perfectly and we are very happy with them.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Life's Roller Coaster...
Yesterday was our 42nd anniversary. Claude and I have spent two-thirds of our lives together. Absolutely amazing.
Since we just did the cruise and since we really, really, really don't need anything now, we opted to just have a nice dinner and evening together. That was the plan and we were sticking with it.
Claude had three meetings during the morning and early afternoon. When he finished the third one he came home and I was ready to leave.
We enjoyed an early dinner at the Chuy's in Lexington. I totally enjoyed watching this lady making tortillias. How she ever gets dough to roll that thin I'll never understand. Our server spoke way to fast and ran his words together. He was a nice server but we really could not understand what he said. At one point I believe he asked if we wanted more to drink and I nodded yes to that and Claude said, "What?" and off he ran to get Claude another soda. But the meal was delicious and we enjoyed it.
Then we headed to Office Depot and Best Buy for Claude to look at laptops. He is really needing to look at replacing his and we thought last night would be a good time to pause and start finding what was out there and making a list of what features were important to him.
Between Best Buy and Office Depot is a Bed, Bath & Beyond. When I washed my breakfast window curtains the other day (well more like a month or two ago), the crocheted lace on the bottom of one panel came completely off and dissolved. Since I purchased them 7 1/2 years ago when we moved here, they are not for sale any where I have checked in stores or on-line. So, I needed to replace the entire set. I parted ways with Claude as he headed to Best Buy and I entered Bed, Bath & Beyond to search for breakfast room curtains.
I found something similar to what I currently own and reached to get the 6 packages I need to have 12 panels. Hmmm...only 2 packages in there and one of those had obviously been purchased and returned. I searched for a sales person and one was called for and confirmed they had others in their inventory according to the computer but none on the shelf or in the back. They also didn't have enough at the Bed, Bath and Beyond across Lexington. She said she could order them and have them sent to our home and I could purchase what was in the store to get my 6 packages. Yep, that would work just fine. She put the order in the computer and deducted delivery charges because they didn't have any in the store and had to order.
I headed to the front of the store with the 2 packages in hand. I was to have the customer service desk print the 2 copies of the order, one for me and one for the store, and then pay for everything. I was told a cashier could also pick up the printed orders and I didn't have to wait at the service desk if there was a line there.
I got to the service desk and there was a young man there with a box and some broken dishes in it. It was definitely from a wedding present judging by the gift wrap in the box. They were waiting on someone to come with replacement plates so the customer service person went to retrieve my printed documents. The young man's bride (I found this cute since Claude and I were out for a 42nd anniversary) came back with her arms full of replacement plates. I moved over to a cashier who could help me while they young couple sorted through to replace broken plates.
My cashier could not get the order documents to print. They called management to help with the printing. We finally got the two copies of the order and the cashier started to ring me up. She rang up to the order for 4 packages of panels first. Then she started to scan the label on the two packages I was getting from the store. The package that had been returned had no labeling on the package to scan for price. In the process of her opening and taking out the two panels in the package to look for pricing lables I noticed, thankfully, that these panels were a creamier color than the newer, never opened package which was decidedly white. I told her I needed six packages all the exact same color and asked if she could change the order form she had worked to get printed to be for 5 packages instead of 4. Nope, couldn't do that. I had to go back to the person who originally placed the order.
Back to the back of the store to find the girl who really didn't work in the drapery department in the first place. She was eventually located and I explained that I had to have six packages all the same color. Could she delete the first order and create a new one or add another package to the first order. Nope, couldn't do that. She did create a new order for one more package and removed the shipping charges. I left her with an order for 4 packages, an order for 1 package and one real package in my hand. Back to the front of the store.
I found the cashier waiting for me with no one in line. Yippee. I explained what was done. She asked why it wasn't all on one order. I could only tell her it couldn't be done. She checked the printer for 2 copies of the new order for one package. It was retrieved. Then she charged me twice for the 4 package order and wasn't using me the one package order. Geez!!! I explained again that there were now two sets of orders, one for four packages and one for one package. There were also two copies printed of each order. She would need copy of each order for her records and she should give me the other copy for my records. The total I should be charged for was 6 packages. She grinned and said, "It's a good thing I learned how to correct these charges this morning isn't it?" At this point it was laughable.
The charges were made and my bag was filled with my one package and two orders.
One may ask why not just quit this at some point. Because I have looked in every store I have entered for the last couple of months for curtains and found none, zero, zip, nada, none that would work. I have checked on line for hours and found none, zero, zip, nada, none that would work. This was the first I found that were similar to what I currently have that I really, really like and it was definitely worth this hassle to get them. Now...let's see what comes when the orders arrive!!!
Purchase made and Claude was back patiently watching me go through all of this and now we were ready to continue on with our anniversary celebrating.
The choice to end our evening was ice cream or a movie. I had printed my Groupons for a movie my friend Valorie had suggested. We decided to go back to Georgetown and watch the movie 'The Vow' and have a candy bar instead of ice cream. This was a good decision. The movie is based on a true story and was excellent. My Junior Mints were great. We got out of the movie and the anticipated snow storm had not arrived so we were able to drive home on dry roads.
Into our stretchy, comfortable clothes and off to check eMails we both went. When I came back upstairs Claude was watching Sherman's march to the sea and I was not interested. I picked up my Sudoku book for the last 15 minutes of his movie and then it would be bedtime.
Just before 11pm I got a call from Papa. He asked if the nursing home had called me. I said, "no". He said they just called him and told him Mimi was having seizures and they were sending her in an ambulance to the hospital emergency room. I told Papa I would be in as quickly as I could get dressed. I poked my head in the living room and told Claude. He got up and we both changed clothes, I put extra Kleenex in my purse, packed my cell phone charger and took my craft bag just in case I was there for a long time. Claude drove my car in case I needed to drive for some reason later on.
We got to the emergency room to find Papa. Mimi had not yet arrived. We saw the ambulance drive in with her. I could see through a window and she looked like she was peacefully curled up asleep. The lady at the window for the emergency room said they would run a few tests and get mom settled before we could go back.
At some point the EMT driver was talking to the lady at the window. He spoke with Papa and me. I asked about the seizures. He assured me they had witnessed no seizures when they picked mom up. He did say she looked like she was having tremors but they witnessed no seizures. Her vitals were all good when they got her as well. I stated my concern when I heard seizures that she may have had a stroke or heart attack. He assured me if that were the case she would have other symptoms that would have directed their care that way. But he didn't believe from what they saw and did that she had a stroke or heart attack.
We were told they were doing a CT Scan on Mimi and we could see her after that was finished.
They called us back to Mimi's room in the ER after she returned. She looked just the same as at the nursing home. She was curled up in her almost ball sleeping position. She seemed chilled but that would be expected. She grabbed onto my hand when I placed it next to hers and she squeezed very hard until she settled down and went into a nice sleep for a bit. Her blood pressure was 161/100. Quite high but, after all she was going through, not a surprise.
After a while a nurse came in and I helped hold up Mimi's arms so they could place sensors on her for the monitor to take more readings.
Later another nurse came and said she was taking Mimi back for a CT Scan. I told her they had already done one of those. She explained this was for her chest, the first was for her head. We unplugged Mimi from the sensors and away they went.
When she returned Mimi to the room, I had her explain exactly what was going with the scans. She explained that when they came in they did a CT on her head and they did a chest X-ray. Since Mimi can't sit up straight the chest X-ray showed a shadow or spot they were concerned about. It may have been a sign of pneumonia. For this reason the CT Scan on her chest was ordered. In a laying position they hoped to get a better image to confirm what, if anything, was going on in her chest. This nurse was going back to enter all the data in the system and the doctor would review it and get with us after analyzing all of it.
The doctor finally came in and told us all the CT Scans and X-rays were normal. All blood tests were fine. The only thing he was concerned about was a possible urinary tract infection. He would prescribe medicine for it. He was also going to call the ambulance to take Mimi back to the nursing home. He didn't feel she needed to spend the night in ER, or what was left of the night in ER. He said we should all go home and get some rest.
After all of this I am very grateful for the timing. I believe a loving Heavenly Father was watching over us and teaching me lessons. Claude and I were able to enjoy a nice anniversary evening together. I was supposed to have had an MRI on my shoulder this morning. It was canceled yesterday because of insurance questions. That freed up my morning today. I also was able to see that my head and heart stayed very clear and calm under pressure. It was amazing to me how smoothly all of this went. Clearly we all felt it could have been time for Mimi to pass. I've wondered how I will deal with this when it happens. Last night taught me I can remain calm and be helpful when this time does come. For that lesson I am grateful.
Such an anniversary and now Valentine's Day. I'll go into Georgetown shortly and visit with Mimi again. Life is indeed a roller coaster.
Since we just did the cruise and since we really, really, really don't need anything now, we opted to just have a nice dinner and evening together. That was the plan and we were sticking with it.
Claude had three meetings during the morning and early afternoon. When he finished the third one he came home and I was ready to leave.
We enjoyed an early dinner at the Chuy's in Lexington. I totally enjoyed watching this lady making tortillias. How she ever gets dough to roll that thin I'll never understand. Our server spoke way to fast and ran his words together. He was a nice server but we really could not understand what he said. At one point I believe he asked if we wanted more to drink and I nodded yes to that and Claude said, "What?" and off he ran to get Claude another soda. But the meal was delicious and we enjoyed it.
Then we headed to Office Depot and Best Buy for Claude to look at laptops. He is really needing to look at replacing his and we thought last night would be a good time to pause and start finding what was out there and making a list of what features were important to him.
Between Best Buy and Office Depot is a Bed, Bath & Beyond. When I washed my breakfast window curtains the other day (well more like a month or two ago), the crocheted lace on the bottom of one panel came completely off and dissolved. Since I purchased them 7 1/2 years ago when we moved here, they are not for sale any where I have checked in stores or on-line. So, I needed to replace the entire set. I parted ways with Claude as he headed to Best Buy and I entered Bed, Bath & Beyond to search for breakfast room curtains.
I found something similar to what I currently own and reached to get the 6 packages I need to have 12 panels. Hmmm...only 2 packages in there and one of those had obviously been purchased and returned. I searched for a sales person and one was called for and confirmed they had others in their inventory according to the computer but none on the shelf or in the back. They also didn't have enough at the Bed, Bath and Beyond across Lexington. She said she could order them and have them sent to our home and I could purchase what was in the store to get my 6 packages. Yep, that would work just fine. She put the order in the computer and deducted delivery charges because they didn't have any in the store and had to order.
I headed to the front of the store with the 2 packages in hand. I was to have the customer service desk print the 2 copies of the order, one for me and one for the store, and then pay for everything. I was told a cashier could also pick up the printed orders and I didn't have to wait at the service desk if there was a line there.
I got to the service desk and there was a young man there with a box and some broken dishes in it. It was definitely from a wedding present judging by the gift wrap in the box. They were waiting on someone to come with replacement plates so the customer service person went to retrieve my printed documents. The young man's bride (I found this cute since Claude and I were out for a 42nd anniversary) came back with her arms full of replacement plates. I moved over to a cashier who could help me while they young couple sorted through to replace broken plates.
My cashier could not get the order documents to print. They called management to help with the printing. We finally got the two copies of the order and the cashier started to ring me up. She rang up to the order for 4 packages of panels first. Then she started to scan the label on the two packages I was getting from the store. The package that had been returned had no labeling on the package to scan for price. In the process of her opening and taking out the two panels in the package to look for pricing lables I noticed, thankfully, that these panels were a creamier color than the newer, never opened package which was decidedly white. I told her I needed six packages all the exact same color and asked if she could change the order form she had worked to get printed to be for 5 packages instead of 4. Nope, couldn't do that. I had to go back to the person who originally placed the order.
Back to the back of the store to find the girl who really didn't work in the drapery department in the first place. She was eventually located and I explained that I had to have six packages all the same color. Could she delete the first order and create a new one or add another package to the first order. Nope, couldn't do that. She did create a new order for one more package and removed the shipping charges. I left her with an order for 4 packages, an order for 1 package and one real package in my hand. Back to the front of the store.
I found the cashier waiting for me with no one in line. Yippee. I explained what was done. She asked why it wasn't all on one order. I could only tell her it couldn't be done. She checked the printer for 2 copies of the new order for one package. It was retrieved. Then she charged me twice for the 4 package order and wasn't using me the one package order. Geez!!! I explained again that there were now two sets of orders, one for four packages and one for one package. There were also two copies printed of each order. She would need copy of each order for her records and she should give me the other copy for my records. The total I should be charged for was 6 packages. She grinned and said, "It's a good thing I learned how to correct these charges this morning isn't it?" At this point it was laughable.
The charges were made and my bag was filled with my one package and two orders.
One may ask why not just quit this at some point. Because I have looked in every store I have entered for the last couple of months for curtains and found none, zero, zip, nada, none that would work. I have checked on line for hours and found none, zero, zip, nada, none that would work. This was the first I found that were similar to what I currently have that I really, really like and it was definitely worth this hassle to get them. Now...let's see what comes when the orders arrive!!!
Purchase made and Claude was back patiently watching me go through all of this and now we were ready to continue on with our anniversary celebrating.
The choice to end our evening was ice cream or a movie. I had printed my Groupons for a movie my friend Valorie had suggested. We decided to go back to Georgetown and watch the movie 'The Vow' and have a candy bar instead of ice cream. This was a good decision. The movie is based on a true story and was excellent. My Junior Mints were great. We got out of the movie and the anticipated snow storm had not arrived so we were able to drive home on dry roads.
Into our stretchy, comfortable clothes and off to check eMails we both went. When I came back upstairs Claude was watching Sherman's march to the sea and I was not interested. I picked up my Sudoku book for the last 15 minutes of his movie and then it would be bedtime.
Just before 11pm I got a call from Papa. He asked if the nursing home had called me. I said, "no". He said they just called him and told him Mimi was having seizures and they were sending her in an ambulance to the hospital emergency room. I told Papa I would be in as quickly as I could get dressed. I poked my head in the living room and told Claude. He got up and we both changed clothes, I put extra Kleenex in my purse, packed my cell phone charger and took my craft bag just in case I was there for a long time. Claude drove my car in case I needed to drive for some reason later on.
We got to the emergency room to find Papa. Mimi had not yet arrived. We saw the ambulance drive in with her. I could see through a window and she looked like she was peacefully curled up asleep. The lady at the window for the emergency room said they would run a few tests and get mom settled before we could go back.
At some point the EMT driver was talking to the lady at the window. He spoke with Papa and me. I asked about the seizures. He assured me they had witnessed no seizures when they picked mom up. He did say she looked like she was having tremors but they witnessed no seizures. Her vitals were all good when they got her as well. I stated my concern when I heard seizures that she may have had a stroke or heart attack. He assured me if that were the case she would have other symptoms that would have directed their care that way. But he didn't believe from what they saw and did that she had a stroke or heart attack.
We were told they were doing a CT Scan on Mimi and we could see her after that was finished.
They called us back to Mimi's room in the ER after she returned. She looked just the same as at the nursing home. She was curled up in her almost ball sleeping position. She seemed chilled but that would be expected. She grabbed onto my hand when I placed it next to hers and she squeezed very hard until she settled down and went into a nice sleep for a bit. Her blood pressure was 161/100. Quite high but, after all she was going through, not a surprise.
After a while a nurse came in and I helped hold up Mimi's arms so they could place sensors on her for the monitor to take more readings.
Later another nurse came and said she was taking Mimi back for a CT Scan. I told her they had already done one of those. She explained this was for her chest, the first was for her head. We unplugged Mimi from the sensors and away they went.
When she returned Mimi to the room, I had her explain exactly what was going with the scans. She explained that when they came in they did a CT on her head and they did a chest X-ray. Since Mimi can't sit up straight the chest X-ray showed a shadow or spot they were concerned about. It may have been a sign of pneumonia. For this reason the CT Scan on her chest was ordered. In a laying position they hoped to get a better image to confirm what, if anything, was going on in her chest. This nurse was going back to enter all the data in the system and the doctor would review it and get with us after analyzing all of it.
The doctor finally came in and told us all the CT Scans and X-rays were normal. All blood tests were fine. The only thing he was concerned about was a possible urinary tract infection. He would prescribe medicine for it. He was also going to call the ambulance to take Mimi back to the nursing home. He didn't feel she needed to spend the night in ER, or what was left of the night in ER. He said we should all go home and get some rest.
After all of this I am very grateful for the timing. I believe a loving Heavenly Father was watching over us and teaching me lessons. Claude and I were able to enjoy a nice anniversary evening together. I was supposed to have had an MRI on my shoulder this morning. It was canceled yesterday because of insurance questions. That freed up my morning today. I also was able to see that my head and heart stayed very clear and calm under pressure. It was amazing to me how smoothly all of this went. Clearly we all felt it could have been time for Mimi to pass. I've wondered how I will deal with this when it happens. Last night taught me I can remain calm and be helpful when this time does come. For that lesson I am grateful.
Such an anniversary and now Valentine's Day. I'll go into Georgetown shortly and visit with Mimi again. Life is indeed a roller coaster.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Happy Birthday to Bailey...
Last Wednesday our youngest grandmonster, Miss Bailey, turned 5 whole years old. We went Friday to take her birthday presents to her and also to watch her and Hayden while Andie and Michael went to a play.
We arrived before Hayden got home from school. Bailey donned her Birthday Crown from Pre-School and read us one of her books.
Andie was diligently working on the birthday cake for Bailey's party to be held Saturday. Bailey and I did the picking up Hayden at the bus stop duty so that Andie could continue with her project. Hayden came bounding off that bus and ran right up for hugs. We had not made it quite to the bus stop so it made for a fun 'run and greet' moment. Those are one of my very favorite kind of hugs.
We got the kids dread lock hats while on our cruise. We should have gotten the adult size but they were still fun.
Bailey opened her presents from us. Several years ago I found a wooden paper doll that had lots of dark hair and was actually named Bailey on the packaging. I have saved it until I thought Bailey would be old enough to enjoy it. This year we gave her the Bailey doll.
I was also fortunate enough to stumble into a bargain binat Walmart with a copy of The Last Unicorn. Bailey loves this movie so I bought it and we gave that as well. Bailey said something indicative of these years in which she is growing up. It was something like, "Is this mine and I don't have to wait for it to come from Netflix?" Very funny.
I found a Pixie toy that made noise. It made noise inside the wrapping while Bailey was holding the package. Bailey was most curious. It also took Claude some time to get all those pieces out of the box. They do put things together with lots and lots of ties and tape nowadays.
It was a quick but fun visit. Thanks Marx family!!
We arrived before Hayden got home from school. Bailey donned her Birthday Crown from Pre-School and read us one of her books.
We got the kids dread lock hats while on our cruise. We should have gotten the adult size but they were still fun.
While Bailey played with her toys, Andie and Hayden went through his school bag. Love watching these tender moments.
Hayden tried once again to help me learn to play Wii. I think I might be a lost cause. It becomes a lesson in patience for this little grandson. He also had Claude play a bit with him while I cut Andie and Bailey's hair.
These two pictures are self-portraits taken by Bailey of her legs and feet. While an adult may think they have to get everything in their frame, a kid is not limited by those rules. Bailey loved her 'stripped yegs'. The first picture she is sitting on the loveseat and the second picture she is laying on her back with her foot in the air. Gotta love it.
Claude got us pizza for dinner. Andie headed out to meet Michael for their dinner and play. Bailey wanted to watch her Last Unicorn movie. I finished reading the 5th Harry Potter book so Hayden wanted me to see the movie. Claude and Bailey took the family room to watch the Last Unicorn. Claude said this is probably the worst movie ever. I'm not sure about that. We tried to watch something called First Family many years ago and, while I don't remember a thing about the movie, I do remember we all voted it the worst movie ever. Hayden and I occupied the basement with Harry Potter.
After getting the Mini's to bed, I came down and watched TV with Claude. He was watching a Monk episode that had Adam Arkin playing an enormous person who is very evil and wealthy and can't get out of hid bed. As we watched this show I was diligently working a Sudoku. Claude said, "If I ever get that big you can kill me." Totaly engrossed in my Sudoku I mumbled, "Okay." Then Claude, in a most deadpan voice said, "I want you to do it with pasta!" I lost it and we both just sat on that loveseat in the family room laughing until the tears rolled down our cheeks. Nothing like being old and enjoying old people humor.
Michael sent me a picture on my cell phone. I think the next play was an hour long version of all the Star Wars movies in one. Hayden was impressed when I showed him this picture on Saturday morning.
Saturday morning we were up and out the door by 7:30am. We had to be back in Georgetown for a breakfast meeting for Claude. I remembered and quickly got a picture of Bailey's birthday cake. I'm not sure why it looks like it is leaning. With an 'Under the Sea' theme this cake is perfect. The inside is layers of cake batter in two different colors that look swirled around. They blue layer is the same color as the outside of the cake. Bailey is a happy camper with her cake.
Times Are a Changing...
Claude picked me up Friday at CVS Pharmacy. Then we headed to Frankfort to find something fun for lunch. Our choice was Chili's.
We were shown to a booth. I noticed something a little different at our table. Then I realized there was one at all the other tables.
It is a 'kiosk'. One for each table.
I decided what I would eat faster than Claude and began to play. You could go through the menu, you could view specials of the day, you could order things to eat. We didn't have to do that because we still had a server. There were even games you could play but you had to pay a dollar to play them. Then, when your meal was complete, you could check you bill and pay through the kiosk.
Amazing...another way to keep us from interacting as people and letting us use more electronics. And...since this is the cold and flu season...I believe this is another surface to spread germs for more colds and flu because I bet that is a surface they don't wipe down very regularly. Geez!!!
We were shown to a booth. I noticed something a little different at our table. Then I realized there was one at all the other tables.
I decided what I would eat faster than Claude and began to play. You could go through the menu, you could view specials of the day, you could order things to eat. We didn't have to do that because we still had a server. There were even games you could play but you had to pay a dollar to play them. Then, when your meal was complete, you could check you bill and pay through the kiosk.
Amazing...another way to keep us from interacting as people and letting us use more electronics. And...since this is the cold and flu season...I believe this is another surface to spread germs for more colds and flu because I bet that is a surface they don't wipe down very regularly. Geez!!!
Good Ole Boys...
Friday morning I had a visit with my doctor regarding my arm and how it is healing. While the movement ability is getting really good in many directions, there is still sharp pain with some movements. My concern was the sharp pain and if it might indicate more than just a pull that needs more time to heal and strengthen.
Claude had a meeting in Lexington so he dropped me off at the doctor with the intent to pick me up wherever I may have wandered to when he finished. Then we would head to Frankfort for lunch and then to LaGrange.
My doctor said he was pleased with the movement and felt I was doing great. He did order an MRI to be sure there is no tear in my shoulder. He truly feels, if there is a tear, it is just a small one and would not require surgery (YEAH!!!) but he feels that with the increased mobility I have I probably will just need to give it at least 4-6 more months to heal completely. MRI is schedule for Tuesday, Valentine's Day. My honey will take me in for a closed MRI on Tuesday. My doctor gave me a Valium to make me very sleepy so I don't panic in that closed space. Hence, Big Guy Clauda will be escorting his honey to the hospital for Valentine's Day. Isn't it just so very romantic??
Well, on to my story...After the doctor visit, I decided to wander across Broadway in Georgetown to the Burger King for a bit of breakfast. I had nothing to eat or drink before leaving my home and a little something was in order. May I just make note that Broadway is a much 'broader way' than I thought is was driving on it all these years. Walking across it takes a good bit of time and I was walking quickly with NO traffic coming either way. I see people in those motorized wheelchairs going up and down Broadway a lot. I shall remember to be very considerate of their crossing Boardway from now on.
I got to Burger King and, as I entered, immediately noticed the 'Coffee Clutch'. This time it was Good Ole Boys from Kentucky. I smiled to myself and headed to the counter to place my order.
Another man came in and hello greetings were abounding. Again I found a grin on my face.
My order came. I got my soda and found me a seat by a window where I could work my Sudoku and eat quietly.
It was fun to listen to these men. All the jokes made about women and how we need to be together, even to go to the bathroom when out with others, etc. and I just listened with my back to these guys in amazement. Really, guys are a lot like girls.
They covered all the same kinds of topics, health of friends, latest purchase, homes and property, kids and their behavior, foods, etc. just as the women would. The voices were deeper. The purchased items were along the lines of machinery or cars but a lot of it was the same as women. They were happy wehn others arrived and sincere goodbyes were given when someone had to leave. But basically they were Good Ole Boys that have known each other for years having a morning coffee meeting at Burger King.
It is not something you saw a ton of when living in Washington, DC area. Usually things were in business suits and designed to talk business and position yourself better in whatever work environment you were in. These guys were just shooting the breeze and catching up and sharing friendships that have been there for many years.
It felt good and I left Burger King to walk to CVS Pharmacy to get my prescription filled with a smile on my face and a lightness in my step for living in a place that is so down home. It just felt really good.
Claude had a meeting in Lexington so he dropped me off at the doctor with the intent to pick me up wherever I may have wandered to when he finished. Then we would head to Frankfort for lunch and then to LaGrange.
My doctor said he was pleased with the movement and felt I was doing great. He did order an MRI to be sure there is no tear in my shoulder. He truly feels, if there is a tear, it is just a small one and would not require surgery (YEAH!!!) but he feels that with the increased mobility I have I probably will just need to give it at least 4-6 more months to heal completely. MRI is schedule for Tuesday, Valentine's Day. My honey will take me in for a closed MRI on Tuesday. My doctor gave me a Valium to make me very sleepy so I don't panic in that closed space. Hence, Big Guy Clauda will be escorting his honey to the hospital for Valentine's Day. Isn't it just so very romantic??
Well, on to my story...After the doctor visit, I decided to wander across Broadway in Georgetown to the Burger King for a bit of breakfast. I had nothing to eat or drink before leaving my home and a little something was in order. May I just make note that Broadway is a much 'broader way' than I thought is was driving on it all these years. Walking across it takes a good bit of time and I was walking quickly with NO traffic coming either way. I see people in those motorized wheelchairs going up and down Broadway a lot. I shall remember to be very considerate of their crossing Boardway from now on.
I got to Burger King and, as I entered, immediately noticed the 'Coffee Clutch'. This time it was Good Ole Boys from Kentucky. I smiled to myself and headed to the counter to place my order.
Another man came in and hello greetings were abounding. Again I found a grin on my face.
My order came. I got my soda and found me a seat by a window where I could work my Sudoku and eat quietly.
It was fun to listen to these men. All the jokes made about women and how we need to be together, even to go to the bathroom when out with others, etc. and I just listened with my back to these guys in amazement. Really, guys are a lot like girls.
They covered all the same kinds of topics, health of friends, latest purchase, homes and property, kids and their behavior, foods, etc. just as the women would. The voices were deeper. The purchased items were along the lines of machinery or cars but a lot of it was the same as women. They were happy wehn others arrived and sincere goodbyes were given when someone had to leave. But basically they were Good Ole Boys that have known each other for years having a morning coffee meeting at Burger King.
It is not something you saw a ton of when living in Washington, DC area. Usually things were in business suits and designed to talk business and position yourself better in whatever work environment you were in. These guys were just shooting the breeze and catching up and sharing friendships that have been there for many years.
It felt good and I left Burger King to walk to CVS Pharmacy to get my prescription filled with a smile on my face and a lightness in my step for living in a place that is so down home. It just felt really good.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Happiness...On Many Levels...
I've pondered whether to include this story from my life. I did not want to sound boastful. I wanted to record the happiness it brought. With that preface, I'll share my story.
A friend and I visit several sisters in our congregation each month. About half way through January we had not visited any of our sisters. Through a telephone conversation we realized we were both just not in a position to make these visits in January. I had been caring for my father and then had 2 trips out-of-town during the remainder of the month. She had a daughter who went in for elective surgery and it went very wrong. Her daughter had become septic requiring three more surgeries and was still in Intensive Care.
We determined I would make contact via mail for the month of January and we would do better in February at visiting these dear ladies in their homes.
Fast forward through January and into February. We returned from our cruise and have had a week getting over colds and other illness and getting back into the groove of daily life.
I received a phone call Monday from our Compassionate Service Leader at Church. Her requested was for me to provide dinner for my friends son-in-law and granddaughter. I was happy to help and asked if I could cover the Wednesday meal as I would be in Georgetown that afternoon for sure. It also allowed me time to feel better before providing this service.
Now there have been meals taken to this young father for a month, I was stumped as to what to prepare. I first tried to think of what a 3 year old might like to eat. Then I tried to think of something I could make for Claude and me and just make extra for father and daughter. None of these ideas seemed to be right.
Then I felt a strong prompting to get a gift card to a restaurant so he could take his daughter to a place they liked for dinner. This felt right. I thought on it through Tuesday.
This morning I called the father. He doesn't know me from Adam. I explained who I was and that it would be my privilege to provide a meal for him and his little one tonight. I then asked if he had a car. He said, "Yes." I then asked what his favorite restaurant in Georgetown was. He said, "Golden Corral!" He said it with such enthusiasm I felt like we were on a good path. Then I proposed to him what I was prompted to offer.
I told him I would be going to visit my mother and father this afternoon. I wanted to go to Golden Corral first and get a gift card adequate for them to have a nice dinner together. He couldn't have said yes with more joy in his voice.
My hope is to remember that happiness and pure joy in his voice. He said he would love for that to happen. He commented on how long they had been in their apartment and what fun it would be to get out a bit. I said a silent prayer of thanks for that bit of inspiration.
I headed into Georgetown this afternoon and picked up a gift card that more than covered his dining needs. As I drove to his apartment, I called as he wanted to come down to my car and get the gift card. When he answered he stated he wasn't sure if this would work. He realized he had no gas in his car and couldn't drive them to Golden Corral. I assured him not to worry about that.
When I got to his apartment, this gentle man was standing in the cold waiting. I previously pulled out a little gas money and had it with the gift card. The grin on his face went from ear to ear. He was so grateful. He said he was headed right back upstairs to get his little one ready to go.
I have felt happy all day.
First, because I wanted to help in the right way and an answer was given to me in a prompting. That feels so good when it happens in my life and I respond.
Second, hearing and then seeing the joy in this father's voice and face couldn't do anything but bring happiness. His dear wife has been in a hospital for a month and a lot of that time in critical condition. Her outcome still unsure. He has no job and a little daughter to care for. For a month, people he doesn't know have provided one good meal a day for them. He is so grateful for that help. But today, he got to take his little one out on a daddy-daughter date. Such happiness.
Third, learning again the lesson of service and the happiness it brings to the giver and the receiver. His gracious acceptance of my little offer of help. Being in a position to provide a little bit of help. That is a beautiful experience. It always brings happiness.
I believe we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares for each of us. I also believe that help often comes through our hands providing his service.
Today, I'm grateful for being given that opportunity to serve another and for the inspiration that made it particularly tender. Today is a good day.
A friend and I visit several sisters in our congregation each month. About half way through January we had not visited any of our sisters. Through a telephone conversation we realized we were both just not in a position to make these visits in January. I had been caring for my father and then had 2 trips out-of-town during the remainder of the month. She had a daughter who went in for elective surgery and it went very wrong. Her daughter had become septic requiring three more surgeries and was still in Intensive Care.
We determined I would make contact via mail for the month of January and we would do better in February at visiting these dear ladies in their homes.
Fast forward through January and into February. We returned from our cruise and have had a week getting over colds and other illness and getting back into the groove of daily life.
I received a phone call Monday from our Compassionate Service Leader at Church. Her requested was for me to provide dinner for my friends son-in-law and granddaughter. I was happy to help and asked if I could cover the Wednesday meal as I would be in Georgetown that afternoon for sure. It also allowed me time to feel better before providing this service.
Now there have been meals taken to this young father for a month, I was stumped as to what to prepare. I first tried to think of what a 3 year old might like to eat. Then I tried to think of something I could make for Claude and me and just make extra for father and daughter. None of these ideas seemed to be right.
Then I felt a strong prompting to get a gift card to a restaurant so he could take his daughter to a place they liked for dinner. This felt right. I thought on it through Tuesday.
This morning I called the father. He doesn't know me from Adam. I explained who I was and that it would be my privilege to provide a meal for him and his little one tonight. I then asked if he had a car. He said, "Yes." I then asked what his favorite restaurant in Georgetown was. He said, "Golden Corral!" He said it with such enthusiasm I felt like we were on a good path. Then I proposed to him what I was prompted to offer.
I told him I would be going to visit my mother and father this afternoon. I wanted to go to Golden Corral first and get a gift card adequate for them to have a nice dinner together. He couldn't have said yes with more joy in his voice.
My hope is to remember that happiness and pure joy in his voice. He said he would love for that to happen. He commented on how long they had been in their apartment and what fun it would be to get out a bit. I said a silent prayer of thanks for that bit of inspiration.
I headed into Georgetown this afternoon and picked up a gift card that more than covered his dining needs. As I drove to his apartment, I called as he wanted to come down to my car and get the gift card. When he answered he stated he wasn't sure if this would work. He realized he had no gas in his car and couldn't drive them to Golden Corral. I assured him not to worry about that.
When I got to his apartment, this gentle man was standing in the cold waiting. I previously pulled out a little gas money and had it with the gift card. The grin on his face went from ear to ear. He was so grateful. He said he was headed right back upstairs to get his little one ready to go.
I have felt happy all day.
First, because I wanted to help in the right way and an answer was given to me in a prompting. That feels so good when it happens in my life and I respond.
Second, hearing and then seeing the joy in this father's voice and face couldn't do anything but bring happiness. His dear wife has been in a hospital for a month and a lot of that time in critical condition. Her outcome still unsure. He has no job and a little daughter to care for. For a month, people he doesn't know have provided one good meal a day for them. He is so grateful for that help. But today, he got to take his little one out on a daddy-daughter date. Such happiness.
Third, learning again the lesson of service and the happiness it brings to the giver and the receiver. His gracious acceptance of my little offer of help. Being in a position to provide a little bit of help. That is a beautiful experience. It always brings happiness.
I believe we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares for each of us. I also believe that help often comes through our hands providing his service.
Today, I'm grateful for being given that opportunity to serve another and for the inspiration that made it particularly tender. Today is a good day.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sailing, Sailing Over The Bounding Sea...
January was big trip month of Claude and me. We planned a Southern Caribbean Cruise to islands we have never seen. We left Saturday, January 21st and flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We would board the Carnival Victory on Sunday, January 22nd and return to San Juan on Sunday, January 29th. We would stay in San Juan and fly home on Tuesday, January 31st.
I must preface this post with a comment by Carrie Nipper. She is the Carnival Travel Agent that assisted us with our cruise purchase and follow up. She took this very cruise the month we booked. Her counsel..."Get plenty of rest before you go on this one!" All other cruises we have been on have a couple of days at sea. These are great for resting before the next shore excursions. This particular cruise had 5 ports of call and only 1 day a sea. Yike!! And we are getting older.
I did take 1,500 pictures. I'll share a few in the Blog and just briefly look at each day. Claude took lots of notes. He will write our narrative of the trip. I have edited the pictures. We'll make a big scrapbook of the entire trip that will have all the detail. So this Blog will just be a few highlights. It'll be long but shorter.
The flight from Cincinnati to Atlanta was 2 hours late and our connecting flight to San Juan was 2 hours late. We made it fine and all luggage arrived with us. Yeah!!
Monday, January 22, 2012 - San Juan, Puerto Rico:
We had the morning to play a bit in San Juan. Took a walk to the ocean just a block and a half from our hotel. Walked down Ashford Drive to see what we could find. Had lunch at Chili's followed by ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Puerto Rico is a United States territory so there are lots of things just like home. We would go back to the hotel and get our luggage for the taxi ride to the Carnival Victory, our home for the next week. We boarded the ship about 2:30pm and it left port at 10pm.
Tuesday, January 23, 2012 - St. Thomas:
We always book a shore excursion every day. We prefer they be something that shows us the lay of the land, how the people live, what they eat, what grows there, and/or the history. In St. Thomas our excursion was to have been Peaks, Panoramas and Plunder. After boarding the ship we learned this tour was canceled. We quickly found another and booked it via our television. It was called Colonial St. Thomas. It included some of the items from the tour we booked before. The tour included a drive through town, Magen's Bay, Blackbeard's Castle (which also included the Rum Factory, Britannia House, Haagensen House and the Amber Museum) and ended with shopping in the vendors area in town. We boarded our ship and enjoyed a beautiful rainbow from our stateroom balcony in the evening.
This is hammock chair styled after a hammock. Under the arms of the chair are extensions that could be pulled out. The ladies wearing long skirts and lots of petticoats could get very hot. They could recline in these chairs and spread those long skirts out of the extensions and get some relief from the heat.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - Day at Sea:
I woke up as the sun was getting ready to come up and took a lot of pictures and some video. Love watching the sun come up!!!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - Barbados:
Our shore excursion in Barbados was a 4X4 Island Adventure. And it was an adventure. Off road in places and on very pitted roads in others. We went through sugar cane fields, rain forest, and from the tops of mountains to the ocean shore. It left our skeletons sore but our hearts full of interesting and beautiful memories. We visited Bathsheba which Claude would hold up a huge rock in the Atlantic Ocean. We even found where Tiger Woods was married. Great day!!
Thursday, January 26, 2012 - St. Lucia:
This was a day I was looking forward to because of the view I anticipated. It did lot disappoint. St. Lucia had two peaks formed by volcanic eruption. They are called the Pitons. Our shore excursion for St. Lucia was named 'Piton Height Nature Trail. It would be our longest day away from the ship. The drive to the Pitons was 1 1/2 hours each way. After arriving at the location of the Pitons, we would first walk through the Tet Paul Nature Trail. This was a lovely botanical gardens built on a hill. Not unlike living in Sadieville. We would see lots of plants that grow on St. Lucia and learn how cassava is processed and tour a replica of an old home. The walk would culminate in viewing the Pitons from their level. The drive to and from took us through many villages, we viewed mud slide areas were many lost their lives, we saw farming for bananas and cocoa beans and lots of other foods. I even learned that ferns, given the right condition, can become fern trees!!! I do not think Kentucky has those conditions.
Saturday, January 28, 2012 - St. Maarten:
Our final port of call on the cruise is St. Maarten. This island is half French (St. Martin) and half Dutch (St. Maarten). We could see both halves in our tour. The name of our shore excursion was See and Sea Island Tour. There was lots of driving to see what the towns looked like and a feel for each side. We would also take a glass-bottomed boat out to a coral reef to see it and the fish. This island just feels wealthier than any of the others we visited. I felt it the moment I woke up and looked out the stateroom window of the ship.
We would enjoy our last dinner on our ship with delightful table mates Rita and Craig and our servers Guillermo and Arturo. Claude had teased Guillermo the entire cruise with the dessert spoon. It started the meal at the top of your plate. When your entree is finished, all dishes are removed and the dessert spoon was placed to the side of the place by Guillermo. Claude would wait until his back was turned and move the spoon to the where the top of the plate would have been. Guillermo would move it back when he returned without saying a word. By the end of the cruise we all decided to put all our spoon on Claude's side and see how Guillermo reacted. Alas, Arturo came and looked at that and said, "Four spoons, how did that happen?" Then he took all the spoons and brought us back new ones.
Sunday, January 29, 2012 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Carnival Victory put into port before we woke up. We determined to spend the morning on the ship since we couldn't check into our hotel until the afternoon. We had a tour purchased through our hotel for that evening and wanted a restful day until then. We walked to dinner to an Italian place and I enjoyed a Dr. Pepper again!! We also purchased new books to read as we both finished ours on the ship. Then we checked into our room, got on our bathing suits and headed to the lobby to catch our ride.
We were going to the 'Bioluminescent Lagoon'. We would paddle our kayak into the mangroves where we would observe little microbes that live in the water that are affected by oxygen entering the water. When your hand or oar go through the water it adds oxygen and the microbes light up just like fire flies do except they are underwater. It is amazingly beautiful. There are only 5 locations that this happens on earth. Three are in Puerto Rico, one is in Jamaica and one is in St. Thomas. Junie, my sister, told me this was a great tour and a must see in Puerto Rico. It was delightful. The downside is you can't take pictures. It is dark and just does not work. That, and the kayak is really wet so you need a camera that would work underwater.
The other thing we found totally fascinating is that Sunday evening are motorcycle and horse back riding evenings. The place we went to had lots of bikers out. Then we started noticing these smaller horses with kids riding them. They ride right down the middle of the streets just as you would a car. The horses have a funny little prancing gate and were all dark in color. It was a very festive atmosphere. Lots of music, family and energy in the air. Little open air restaurants full of people. Parrots on the edge of dining counters. Just fun.
Monday, January 30, 2012 - San Juan, Puerto Rico:
This day we slept in. Our touring today was to be on foot in Old San Juan. We caught a taxi there and then hoofed it around Old San Juan looking in the shops, noting the doors, balconies and streets.
We lunched at Cafe Berlin and enjoyed 'mofongo' and 'muffaletta'. Mofongo was recommended by our driver from Sunday nights tour. It is made of either yuca (cassava) or plantain that is fried and mashed and served with seafood or meat on top. It was delicious. Muffaletta is a sandwich started in New Orleans that Claude and I love. We ordered one of each of these items and then split them between us. Yum!!
The remainder of our day was spent touring Castillo San Cristobal. This fort is hundreds of years old and has a sister fort about a half hour walk away named Castillo San Felipe del Morro. You can see the walls that completely surrounded Old San Juan at one time. We purchased tickets for both forts but due to time running out we only saw Castillo San Cristobal up close. It was interesting to enter and see Department of the Interior plastered over the entry. Many years Claude spent with the Department of the Interior during his career.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - Traveling Home:
Another sleep in kind of morning. The bulk of this day would be in airports and on planes. I couldn't check us in the night before because they changed the flight times again. So we left a little early to be able to deal with any issues that may have created at the airport. All went well, we ended up with exit row seats for each leg of the trip home so there was plenty of room. We got home about midnight, tired and happy.
May I just say here that, as nice as all our accommodations were the entire trip, there is simply nothing like crawling into your own bed to sleep, stepping into your own shower, getting the soda you want for the day when you want it, etc. As fun as travel is, an I do love it, there is, as Dorothy says, "No Place Like Home"!!
I must preface this post with a comment by Carrie Nipper. She is the Carnival Travel Agent that assisted us with our cruise purchase and follow up. She took this very cruise the month we booked. Her counsel..."Get plenty of rest before you go on this one!" All other cruises we have been on have a couple of days at sea. These are great for resting before the next shore excursions. This particular cruise had 5 ports of call and only 1 day a sea. Yike!! And we are getting older.
I did take 1,500 pictures. I'll share a few in the Blog and just briefly look at each day. Claude took lots of notes. He will write our narrative of the trip. I have edited the pictures. We'll make a big scrapbook of the entire trip that will have all the detail. So this Blog will just be a few highlights. It'll be long but shorter.
The flight from Cincinnati to Atlanta was 2 hours late and our connecting flight to San Juan was 2 hours late. We made it fine and all luggage arrived with us. Yeah!!
Monday, January 22, 2012 - San Juan, Puerto Rico:
We had the morning to play a bit in San Juan. Took a walk to the ocean just a block and a half from our hotel. Walked down Ashford Drive to see what we could find. Had lunch at Chili's followed by ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Puerto Rico is a United States territory so there are lots of things just like home. We would go back to the hotel and get our luggage for the taxi ride to the Carnival Victory, our home for the next week. We boarded the ship about 2:30pm and it left port at 10pm.
 |
| Tiny Crab on Rock |
We always book a shore excursion every day. We prefer they be something that shows us the lay of the land, how the people live, what they eat, what grows there, and/or the history. In St. Thomas our excursion was to have been Peaks, Panoramas and Plunder. After boarding the ship we learned this tour was canceled. We quickly found another and booked it via our television. It was called Colonial St. Thomas. It included some of the items from the tour we booked before. The tour included a drive through town, Magen's Bay, Blackbeard's Castle (which also included the Rum Factory, Britannia House, Haagensen House and the Amber Museum) and ended with shopping in the vendors area in town. We boarded our ship and enjoyed a beautiful rainbow from our stateroom balcony in the evening.
 |
| Claude with statue of Jack Sparrow. There truly was a real pirate named Jack Sparrow. We always thought he was a fictional character made up for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Not so, he was a real person. |
 |
| This is 25 foot man-made waterfall. It is backed with real amber stones. |
I woke up as the sun was getting ready to come up and took a lot of pictures and some video. Love watching the sun come up!!!
Our shore excursion in Barbados was a 4X4 Island Adventure. And it was an adventure. Off road in places and on very pitted roads in others. We went through sugar cane fields, rain forest, and from the tops of mountains to the ocean shore. It left our skeletons sore but our hearts full of interesting and beautiful memories. We visited Bathsheba which Claude would hold up a huge rock in the Atlantic Ocean. We even found where Tiger Woods was married. Great day!!
 |
| Old Sugar Mill |
 |
| Termite Nest in crook of trees on right |
 |
| Can you find the 'Sleeping Man'? |
This was a day I was looking forward to because of the view I anticipated. It did lot disappoint. St. Lucia had two peaks formed by volcanic eruption. They are called the Pitons. Our shore excursion for St. Lucia was named 'Piton Height Nature Trail. It would be our longest day away from the ship. The drive to the Pitons was 1 1/2 hours each way. After arriving at the location of the Pitons, we would first walk through the Tet Paul Nature Trail. This was a lovely botanical gardens built on a hill. Not unlike living in Sadieville. We would see lots of plants that grow on St. Lucia and learn how cassava is processed and tour a replica of an old home. The walk would culminate in viewing the Pitons from their level. The drive to and from took us through many villages, we viewed mud slide areas were many lost their lives, we saw farming for bananas and cocoa beans and lots of other foods. I even learned that ferns, given the right condition, can become fern trees!!! I do not think Kentucky has those conditions.
 |
| Can you find the cashew?? |
Friday, January 27, 2012 - St. Kitts:
On to St. Kitts. What kind of adventure can we find on this island? Our shore excursion was titled St. Kitts Highlights and Brimstone Hill Fortress. Our driver was Donald (he said not to confuse him with Donald Trump). At times his voice sounded like Darth Vader to me. I loved that he put on a special hat so we could find him in a crowd when touring. Our tour would take us through the towns with narrations about history, we would visit the Romney Manor Gardens and Caribelle Batik, Brimstone Hill Fortress ending with a drive to the other side of the island to see the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. The Romney Manor Gardens are built on land originally owned by Samuel Jefferson, the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States. The name Caribelle is made up of two words: Caribbean and Rebellion. We watched a lovely demonstration of the making of batik. We also learned that St. Kitts is really St. Christopher after Christopher Columbus. St. Kitts is shorter and what has stuck as the name.
 |
| Atlantic Ocean on the left / Caribbean Sea on the right |
Our final port of call on the cruise is St. Maarten. This island is half French (St. Martin) and half Dutch (St. Maarten). We could see both halves in our tour. The name of our shore excursion was See and Sea Island Tour. There was lots of driving to see what the towns looked like and a feel for each side. We would also take a glass-bottomed boat out to a coral reef to see it and the fish. This island just feels wealthier than any of the others we visited. I felt it the moment I woke up and looked out the stateroom window of the ship.
We would enjoy our last dinner on our ship with delightful table mates Rita and Craig and our servers Guillermo and Arturo. Claude had teased Guillermo the entire cruise with the dessert spoon. It started the meal at the top of your plate. When your entree is finished, all dishes are removed and the dessert spoon was placed to the side of the place by Guillermo. Claude would wait until his back was turned and move the spoon to the where the top of the plate would have been. Guillermo would move it back when he returned without saying a word. By the end of the cruise we all decided to put all our spoon on Claude's side and see how Guillermo reacted. Alas, Arturo came and looked at that and said, "Four spoons, how did that happen?" Then he took all the spoons and brought us back new ones.
 |
| Pond to collect salt water. They used to make salt from these ponds. |
The Carnival Victory put into port before we woke up. We determined to spend the morning on the ship since we couldn't check into our hotel until the afternoon. We had a tour purchased through our hotel for that evening and wanted a restful day until then. We walked to dinner to an Italian place and I enjoyed a Dr. Pepper again!! We also purchased new books to read as we both finished ours on the ship. Then we checked into our room, got on our bathing suits and headed to the lobby to catch our ride.
We were going to the 'Bioluminescent Lagoon'. We would paddle our kayak into the mangroves where we would observe little microbes that live in the water that are affected by oxygen entering the water. When your hand or oar go through the water it adds oxygen and the microbes light up just like fire flies do except they are underwater. It is amazingly beautiful. There are only 5 locations that this happens on earth. Three are in Puerto Rico, one is in Jamaica and one is in St. Thomas. Junie, my sister, told me this was a great tour and a must see in Puerto Rico. It was delightful. The downside is you can't take pictures. It is dark and just does not work. That, and the kayak is really wet so you need a camera that would work underwater.
The other thing we found totally fascinating is that Sunday evening are motorcycle and horse back riding evenings. The place we went to had lots of bikers out. Then we started noticing these smaller horses with kids riding them. They ride right down the middle of the streets just as you would a car. The horses have a funny little prancing gate and were all dark in color. It was a very festive atmosphere. Lots of music, family and energy in the air. Little open air restaurants full of people. Parrots on the edge of dining counters. Just fun.
Monday, January 30, 2012 - San Juan, Puerto Rico:
This day we slept in. Our touring today was to be on foot in Old San Juan. We caught a taxi there and then hoofed it around Old San Juan looking in the shops, noting the doors, balconies and streets.
We lunched at Cafe Berlin and enjoyed 'mofongo' and 'muffaletta'. Mofongo was recommended by our driver from Sunday nights tour. It is made of either yuca (cassava) or plantain that is fried and mashed and served with seafood or meat on top. It was delicious. Muffaletta is a sandwich started in New Orleans that Claude and I love. We ordered one of each of these items and then split them between us. Yum!!
The remainder of our day was spent touring Castillo San Cristobal. This fort is hundreds of years old and has a sister fort about a half hour walk away named Castillo San Felipe del Morro. You can see the walls that completely surrounded Old San Juan at one time. We purchased tickets for both forts but due to time running out we only saw Castillo San Cristobal up close. It was interesting to enter and see Department of the Interior plastered over the entry. Many years Claude spent with the Department of the Interior during his career.
Another sleep in kind of morning. The bulk of this day would be in airports and on planes. I couldn't check us in the night before because they changed the flight times again. So we left a little early to be able to deal with any issues that may have created at the airport. All went well, we ended up with exit row seats for each leg of the trip home so there was plenty of room. We got home about midnight, tired and happy.
May I just say here that, as nice as all our accommodations were the entire trip, there is simply nothing like crawling into your own bed to sleep, stepping into your own shower, getting the soda you want for the day when you want it, etc. As fun as travel is, an I do love it, there is, as Dorothy says, "No Place Like Home"!!
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