My Social Network

Last Saturday night I finally took the time to sit down and watch "The Social Network".  At first I thought, "this is way too fast and complicated for little, old me"  In the first 5 minutes, the main character Mark Z, speaks very fast and gives you a huge glimpse of his personality as well as his IQ....both of which I had trouble relating to.  After the initial first scene, you begin to acclimate yourself to the pace of the movie and the flashbacks intertwined. (Generally I dislike any semblance of flashbacks in either movies or books but I got the relevance and "dealt about it" (Baileeism). I'm still not sure what Zuckerburg's intentions were as the website began to form in his amazing brain.  Knowing little about the technology itself, they lost me at algorithm...but I continually reminded myself that this was nonfiction.. that kept me focused. I love a true success story.. (Maybe that's why I like Donald Trump so much.... it certainly has nothing to do with his mouth or hair....!!). I did learn, and I probably knew anyway, that good looks, a fancy suit and social skills      are not prerequisites for success. Ala..Mark Zuckerburg.  The man even wore his pajamas to a business meeting...on purpose and with a purpose.. it worked!  Long story short, Z is my man....My Social Network, Face Book makes my day (and often my night. Which, in itself, is a sad commentary for my social life outside my den.  As I've professed before, I ♥ it!  I have connected and reconnected with friends that I didn't even know were friends.  I think the number one thing I love most about FB is it's ability to put us all on a level playing field.  We all have the same issues we worry about, the same things that give us joy, the same hardships to battle and the same longing for the best we can be for the time that we're here. I am amazed that our commonalities are so much more than our differences and that it really IS possible to see the good in everybody and overlook what we might have once thought wasn't up to snuff.  I've connected with cousins that I haven't seen in 40 years. They're amazing!  It does make me a little sad that we missed that time but our connections are still viable.... Our parents and grandparents and great grandparents would be (or are) tickled shitless!!! I think one of the greatest assets of FB is not knowing what everybody thinks at every moment or what they did last night or even how far they ran or how much money they saved.... It's the genuine compassion and caring that every Friend really has.  We noticed that last week with Lee's heart issue.... Absolutely overwhelming!  Along with the concern came the knowledge that others have been where you are and made out just fine.... Not that's friendship!

C=T and G=D (not anymore)

I can understand a southern drawl and I can understand a few words of French ( I did ace French in high school but that was over 40 years ago). I'm Dora fluent in Spanish and I can understand a Foster Brook's drunken stupor. I cannot understand  the techs from Dell  (India) and I have a great deal of difficulty understanding political rhetoric. I CAN however understand Bailee.  I am Dama (Grandma) and if I can't guess something she's telling me, she'll happily give me a talue (clue). Her Mom was always fluent in "Balinese" and I learned it quite quickly.  Once you remembered that her hard C's and K's were T's and her hard G's were D's, you grasped the language quicker than igpa atinla.....That was just the way it was and you just had to "deal about it!".......................until Monday.  As is their daily routine, promptly Monday at 11a.m., in came Bailee announcing what she had done in CLASS that morning.....................Not T-Lass but Class..Well I'm not sure if I just needed a pick me up, some good news or I'd won the lottery but the reaction was the same. Lots of Who Hoo's, High Fives and Hugs and Kisses.... along with about 20 "Say it Agains".  After over 2 years of weekly speech therapy, those guttural sounds had finally escaped their hiding place.  You probably all think I'm over- reacting but this was a milestone....right up there with rolling over, walking, losing your first tooth, sleeping in a big girl bed and no more diapers!  This was no easy process and this little girl worked for every C,K and G she had gotten.  Her speech Therapist Angela, has been so impressed with her sticktuitiveness (yes that's a word, if only mine). Most 2, 3, and 4 year olds don't have the willpower and attention span to work at anything, especially those without a tangible goal. Not our Miss B...she worked for it and she got... that would be got not dot.  She was so excited when yesterday the G sound arrived when she was reading her book and she read gloves and not dloves.  She's a reading fool and she and Papa enjoy their story time.  We worked on "Grandpa" but we think she'll be sticking with Papa. 

                    What a big Girl you are Miss B.....as you always say, "I tan be anything I want when I drow up"

Wait just a minute.... I think that's, "I CAN be anything I want when I GROW up!!"

Hospitals

This morning I'll share my little diatribe on hospitals.  I do not like them!! The smell nauseates me, the cleanliness makes my senses uncomfortable, The doctors and nurses always appear way too comfortable in their surroundings and everyone seems to stare at you while giving you a pathetic, "I'm sorry" kind of half smile..  I never see any McSteamys or McDreamys. These days they all seem to be McForeigners! Several times last Thursday, Lee couldn't recall the name of his doctor of the day (didn't have one for 60 years so I guess that's why).  I would joke and tell him it was AlQuaida... when in truth is was El Khally.  Hey, any semblance at humor was appreciated by both of us at this point.  Lee is not a fan of needles. These days they stick one in you as you're walking in the door. They do, however ask you your full name and birth date prior (and 100's of times thereafter)  They put one in his hand for a saline drip so he wouldn't get dehydrated....which he wouldn't have if he had been able to drink something for the past day.....One thing Lee will never be is dehydrated!!  Next they put another needle in his arm.."Just in case" (whatever the hell that means and neither of us were prepared to question in mortal fear of the answer).  Once in the cath. lab, they poked him again to numb the wrist and then just plain cut a hole in his artery.  If your fear of needles hasn't sent you into a severe case of diarrhea or cardiac arrest, you're good to go. The whole procedure in the lab was a matter of minutes and was probably the less stressful and easiest part of the day.  

OK, back to hospitals, Once again let me reiterate, I don't like them!  It may all stem from the fact that I have never really had a positive association with hospitals.  I never gave birth in one and came home with a bundle of joy. I take that back a little, I was able to witness Bailee's birth and cut her free...and that may have been one of my most treasured moments to date. But, other than that, I associate hospitals with broken bones, broken bodies and broken hearts:-(  I told Jeff last Thursday morning that I'd rather be sitting in a dumpster than sitting in that hospital... He, being my personal life preserver, told me he was sure there were several there somewhere and to go make myself comfortable!  

As my Dad was, I'm a card carrying member of the Hypocrite Club. I give what I can to the hospital...the new Maternity suites, the Hospital Annual Gala and any meaningful fundraiser that pleads their case. Dad would generously give to the church while openly professing his non-belief. I will continue to give to the hospitals while professing my disdain for the sights, the sounds and the smells while in the back of my mind repeating, "There but for the grace of God go I"

Getting our house in order!

We did so well building our new home, we're now tackling getting another house in order....Lee!  We made it through yesterday's visit and procedure at the "Plumbers."  He found an OLD 100%, blocked artery that had managed to reroute itself. ( I've always said that Lee could fix anything.. goes to show ya!). A teenier accumulation of blockage (plaque??) was found in another but it didn't seem to concern the Plumber too much.
The anticipation and uncertainty of the whole procedure and it's outcome was far worse than the procedure itself (That, coming from me who was not poked, cut open, threaded and dyed)  We were very fortunate that they were able to use his radial artery (wrist) which made the recovery time much faster and less rigid.  We left St. Joe's a little after 3 and I immediately got us lost.  Neither of us even cared as we were "out of there" and the sun was shining.  We made it home in time for a cocktail before dinner w/ Jess, Bailee and Chip (family). It was a good day after all.. at least for us.
Now that our plumbing has been confirmed as working, next week we'll visit the Clerk of the Works and see what we can do about finding an electrician who can fix his wiring.  As the "Plumber" explained, it's (his heart) like a flickering light bulb. It dims and brightens but it's not going out (Thank God).  It may be able to be controlled with medication or possibly a pacemaker... maybe even a cardio conversion....Wouldn't be choosing those paddles if we could avoid it.  We'll see where that visit goes.
There is some good news in all this.  Today is ONE WEEK of no smoking.  That's Billy Fucillo HUGE.  The munching is still in full force but as Bailee says, "we'll deal about it!"
I was able to use my iPhone in the hospital and it was heartwarming and overwhelming for Lee (and me) to see all the messages and posts of good thoughts, warm wishes and prayers.  As I said on Face Book, it's pretty great to live in a small town surrounded by old friends!

Snow Kidding!

We almost had lost all of our snow.  There's only one small 2' x 3' spot on the patio that has yet to melt and much of the back yard but the shrubs are now visible and even a chipmunk enjoyed brunch in the bird feeder yesterday.  We were so close!!!  In our front yard, it's Spring, in the back..still Winter-ish..  and then there comes.........today!  The weathermen are predicting 6-10 inches for our Finger lakes region.  It could fall anywhere from 8 a.m. this morning until 8 a.m tomorrow morning. Come on Mother... I know it's your call but even I'm ready for a break.  Tomorrow is our adventure in Syracuse and our introduction to the in depth world of the circulatory system.  I knew I should have paid more attention in Science class....although I was one of the few that actually aced that test by knowing the path of blood in and out of the heart... The auricular -ventricular (something) still rings a bell.  Thanks to all the world's technology, both Lee and I should get through the day.  He with all the medical advances and Me, with all the communication ones!  He'll be in good hands, both on the table and above it and I'll have my Kindle loaded with the book I'm reading and a new one, my iPhone loaded with a movie and also access to my emails and Face Book!  Also, with the assistance of the whiny voiced gal living in our GPS, we should be able to find the damn hospital.  The only hurdle left is to learn how to reverse her directions to get home. (my project for the day).
 So, with help from NBC, GPS, CBS, and GOD.....I'm hoping we can get through March 24th on a positive note.  Wish us luck!

Day Four!!

We're only hours away from the end of Day Four!  The patch appears to be helping. Being the "Dickless Tracy" that I am, I follow the evidence to ascertain the application of the morning patch.  So far, so good or else he's removing them from the package and stockpiling them in a remote location, yet to be determined.  Bailee does ask him each night, "Papa, did you smoke today?"  He replies, "No!"  She then answers, "You know fibbin' is the same as lyin?"  Hard to argue with that motivation.  I have noticed some tell-tale signs that he is, indeed, following his Dr's advice.  He, in no uncertain terms, explained that if Lee chose NOT to follow his orders, he would no longer be his Doctor.  Can't be much more upfront than that!!  Last night for supper, he had two sausages and two helpings of macaroni salad followed by a large bowl of Frosted Flakes.  He then found his way to the laundry room where, housed in a small, family dollar, shopping bag lives a mini candy bar concession stand.  Off to bed he went.  I heard rumblings in the kitchen about 11:00 and the Frosted Flakes were once again the pre-midnight snack of choice.  I can't argue with that.  My point being, the munchies have arrived so I assume (and you know what that does?) the smoking has left.  I may end up with a 300 pound diabetic but at least he'll be here.  Right now, that's my number one objective! ♥♥♥♥

March Madness

Well Syracuse has lived up to our expectations.....which thankfully weren't too high.  We have a small, interested group of gamblers who each year assemble their varied talents and put their knowledge of basketball together with $5.00 which helps to keep us interested in 3 weeks of March Madness.  Some make their choices through stats, some through favorite coaches and colleges and others still pick with their hearts....Not surprising at all, is after round three, the top four point-getters are women....  Women are much more adept at making the right choices through analysis, intelligence and guts.  We wing it on a daily basis and are pretty keen on each outcome.  Take for instance when your 12 year old says she's running away from home and you pack her a lunch or when your 16 says he's going to a party at Bill's and "yes", Bill's parents will be home (yea right). Sometimes we have a misstep like the time your eight year old says she needs to get home quickly so she can to feed her pigeon....and you smile knowing full well she has NO pigeon............till you open the door and the room has either been bombed by the Pillsbury Doughboy or she indeed DOES have a pigeon. (We're all entitled to an error or two in the "gut" department). But when it comes to gambling away $5.00.... we use our heads... That's a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread..or in my case a 12 pack of diet Pepsi.  I don't take that lightly.. not one little bit.  So far, I'm still in the running along with three other highly, sports minded gals.  One of us will be bringing in that coveted $55.00 prize.  It's not much but it might cover some new underwear, a splurge on chocolate or even some Easter Bunny treats for the little ones. No matter what...it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that no longer are men superior in the Sports Department. We've held that title LONG before Tittle Nine enlightened the world.