Say what?

The TV asked, 'Who wants to be a millionaire?'

"I don't...not me.

I just want a couple of thousand. Maybe even $25,000. A little spending money."

I have heard this from Flo many times, and so this did not surprise me.

Over the years, Mom had been known to enjoy a trip to Atlantic City, and she also was on a first name basis with 'the lottery machine man.' Whenever Mom won any money, she kept some for herself, and then she mailed a check to me and also one to my brother. She said,

"When I win, you win!" [Sharing at its best, to be sure!!]
It was always a pleasant surprise.

One evening last week when the nightly routine was done [around 8 PM] and Flo was tucked in, I was in the bedroom watching TV and doing some computer 'stuff'. Asleep for a couple of hours, I figured she was out for the night. And then from the darkness I hear,

"What is the possibility of having an ice cream cone?"

I'm thinking...huh?...teeth had been brushed...it was 10:30 at night...

"Are ya serious, Mom?"

"Well, yes!!"

Normal people would most likely have told her that it was like 'the middle of the night' and tomorrow was another day...but ...HEY! 98!!

"I can make that happen for ya, Flo!!

There are always mini ice cream cones in the freezer because she loves them, they're a perfect amount for a snack, and they are easy for her to manage in that they aren't messy.

"You're going to have one, too, aren't you?"

"Well, I guess if I must so that you won't be eating alone!!"

I grabbed a covering to go over her PJ's, raised the head of her bed, and gave her the cone. Using the cell phone camera while eating a cone isn't recommended if you want to capture a good picture. After 5 tries, I decided if it wasn't blurry, it was a winner.

This photo doesn't best show the smiles and joy of the moment. Flo was so happy and I was so thankful that I hadn't squashed her request. Sometimes you never know when opportunity will knock at your door. I think this was a definite 'Seize the Moment' and out of the ordinary 'Why not?' question right out of left field. Then again, we are both lefties now...[only the last 3 years for Mom as a result of the stroke taking out the use of her 'right' side.]

Think about it the next time before you make the 'obvious' response. If it doesn't affect world peace, or anyone else's life, I say.....really...

FYI: Last week I had a dentist appointment to fix a throbbing tooth. And a shot of cortisone in my left knee for a good time!

Therefore, celebrate the good things, even if it is a mere midnight mini nutty-buddy.

And....SMILE!

My dentist visit had two purposes. I had a 10 AM routine hygienist appointment, followed by time allotted to fix two teeth that needed some TLC. On the mere chance that I would postpone it, last night one tooth made it perfectly clear that was not an option. It had gotten worse in that cold and sweet things annoyed it. It wouldn't quit throbbing, and it was keeping me awake. Okay! I get it! And the newest addition to the grocery list is Ambesol, so that it is in the house when the next 3-alarm toothache sounds an alarm!!

I grabbed 6 glads[ gladiolas] to take with me for the people in the office, headed the car west, ordered an egg mcmuffin in the drive thru, and hoped for the best.

The screaming tooth showed nothing on the xray, but something was clearly wrong. The cleaning, four x rays, and one filling [$338...ouch!!] removed a cavity beneath the existing filling. I hope that it solved the problem and the tooth calms down. Now I have a date for a crown...I wonder what should I wear to the coronation??

On my way home, I passed the house of a former colleague whom I haven't seen in ten years. I pulled into her driveway, and we talked and laughed for an hour catching up on all that has happened in our lives as well as people we know in common. There was never a pause in our journey recounting situations we encountered with the kids!! And then there were new events that each of us shared to fill in personal headlines of the decade where our paths didn't cross.

Just like a snow day, it was a surprise gift of unplanned time to chill out...no rush...no hurry...easy living.

Breathe in...breathe out.

Time I would refer to as 'smell the roses'....

And it was sweet!

Good laughing with ya, Brooksey.

Fasten Your Seatbelts...

I was shopping in Kohl's Department Store for a new coffeemaker and in my possession was a 30% off coupon...for absolutely anything in the store. There were no restrictions as many coupons usually exclude sale or clearance items. So, I knew that I had better head for the checkout because I could do some serious damage on the 'ol credit card acknowledging bargains that were simply 'too good to pass up'. Then I walked by a sale on a 'Rechargeable Philips Sonic Electric Toothbrushes' recommended by most dentists and an additional toothbrush was included. 15% off and then another 30% more with my coupon...Wahoo! Sounds like a winner!

Perfect...one for me and one for Mom. At home, the toothbrush and charger were removed from the packaging, the charger plugged in, and soon would be ready for use..
It was during the week of my foot surgery that Nicole returned at night to get Flo ready for bed, and said,

"That toothbrush is not going to work out for Flo. First of all, when you put toothpaste on the brush, don't turn it on until you have it inside your mouth. I made that mistake, and toothpaste went everywhere...Flo's eyeglasses, pajamas, the walls, and me. When I tried again and had the toothbrush inside her mouth before pushing the button, the speed was so unbelievably fast that it scared her!! You may like it, but Flo never wants to see it again!"
"No problem. It should be fine for me. I'll get her a new one."

I changed the toothbrush top to the other one included, and was sure to put it inside my mouth when I pushed the start button. Oh My God! It was like jet speed, and when the whirling brush touched a tooth, it made the buzzing sound you hear when you have a new key made.

I called customer service to ask how the heck you turn the speed down, and I could not believe it when the answer was,

"There is only one speed!!"

"You mean that jet speed is the only speed?"

Well I gave it a second and third chance.... and thought it was definitely bizarre.

Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy?

Recommended by dentists...probably because your teeth fly out and they get to replace them!!
Customer service sent me a form, and it is on its way back to Philips.

Satisfaction guaranteed, or your money back.

Whew! Thank goodness!

I'd like to keep my teeth in my mouth for the time being.

Dishing up some 'Flo News!!'

As a friend left the house to go home, Mom smiled at her and said,
"Drive safe!!"
We watched her get into her car, and Flo smiled at me and said,

"I should have said, 'Drive safely', right?"

My reply to her was, "Ninety-eight and you are still right on top of correct grammar...even if it means recognizing that you goofed!!!"

Sometimes while watching Judge Judy, the participants say things like...

'Her and I' went to the store. We ran into 'so and so'. 'Him and I' used to date.

Flo's head turns toward mine.

"There's no such thing as 'Her and I'! It is supposed to be 'She and I', and then she tells me the rule: Drop out one of the subjects and it still has to make sense. You can say 'I went to the store, but you wouldn't say 'Her went to the store.'

I am fortunate in that I have a good grasp on the 'grammatically correct' way to speak the English language which is a very difficult language. There are so many exceptions to the rule. It was difficult , at times, to get it across to the kids. Two faces would appear in front of me, and one would say,

"Can me and Sam go to the library?"

I'd answer, " Can me go to the library?"

They'd rephrase, "Can Sam and I go to the library?"

"Sure thing!"

I realize that it should have been 'May 'and not 'Can I' , but I always found that to be a picky thing and so I didn't choose that as one of my battles.

Back to Flo, she would never, ever correct any one's incorrect grammar. She will only say something about it to me when it is just the two of us. Not every time she hears something...merely occasionally. She was a crackerjack secretary to the VP of the company and she was so used to things said correctly that it is second nature to her. And the nuns, like them or not[ that's a whole 'nother subject]...those NUNS were effective in scaring you...I mean...drilling you into using correct grammar.

Mom went to work at the age of 16.[ the oldest of 5 kids], and laments the fact that she never graduated from high school. Flo doesn't equate graduating from 'Coleman's Business School' as being any big deal. She knows a whole lot more than she gives herself credit for...and I'd bet the ranch that she would beat any kid at Math facts., too...even at 98! And there you have it!

She and I would also like you to know that she has ridden in the GOODYEAR Blimp!
A very long time ago.

And every evening when Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News ends his show with,

"Good night everyone."
She says outloud, "Good night Sweatheart!"

He and Flo share nightly smiles with each other!!!

Spread Some Glad!

Hallelujah! Back on the computer and happy to be here!!

So many stories, thoughts, ideas, new learning experiences... ups, downs, and all around the roller coaster of life!. And away we go...the first one...

Today I had a 9:30 Mammogram appointment at the radiology center. It's a yearly date for 'the girls' and 'it is what it is'. Annoying...yet necessary.

On the way to hospital, I stopped by the farmer's market and from my favorite vendor, I bought 25 colorful, gladiolas, 2 sets of bloomin' sunflowers, and 3 small bouquets of mixed flowers.

Cradling the 25 glads in my arms, I entered the hospital by way of the emergency room as I do whenever I volunteer at the one day surgery desk. I stopped at the ER window and said to the two women working there,

"Pick out a flower!"
And I explained the 'glad routine' that if you pluck off the bottom flowers as they get past their prime, the gladiola will continue to bloom- flower by flower- all the way to the top! What was the result? Great big smiles and a more scenic ER waiting room!!!

On to radiology, and as I signed in, I had each of the staff members behind the glass window 'pick out a flower!'

As I went back to the x-ray room, I recognized two women who I met back in the 70's and we were on the same softball team. And then a former student, now an x-ray technician, smiled and we chatted about her career as well as her sister and two brothers whose paths crossed with mine in my classroom. I love seeing former '10 year old friends' become adults and venture out in the real world.

"Pick out a flower!"When I was done with the 'mammo', I asked the technician how many women had appointments today while she was there.

"Ten".

"Pick out 12 flowers...one for you...one for the room...and then ten flowers...one for each of the women who would certainly be 'glad' that they were taking good care of their health and the fact that it was over for another year!!! "

What did I see?
Great big smiles!! And I managed to 'squeeze' [get the pun?] a colorful addition to the stark machinery of the x-ray room.

On my way out, I stopped by the CEO's office and also to a doctor who I know is on the committee to hire new doctors, to remind them that we have not one rheumatologist on staff in the entire city and I, for one, will be GLAD when they manage to recruit one...or two. I know they are working on it, but so far no living, breathing rheumatology group has signed on the dotted line to help people who have one of the 100 different kinds of arthritis!! Neither of the two men were there and so I said to each of their secretaries,

"Pick out two flowers...one for you, and one as a visual reminder for your boss to further the cause. "

What did I see? Great big smiles! One of the secretaries said she would bring her flower to her 95 year old mother in the nursing home. Gotta like that!

As I exited the parking garage, I passed the last gladiola to the woman in the booth who collects the parking money for hours. More smiles....This is fun!!

At home, when the man who gathers my recyclables and trash stopped by on his regular weekly stop, I gave him one of the mini bunches of sunflowers to give to his mother [95], and the other bunch of sunflowers went to a friend's mom to keep her smiling while her daughter was away on vacation. What did I see? Great big smiles!

And I know that... as the flowers went to the many women whose smiles I didn't see firsthand...there were still smiles happening. And that little bit of encouragement goes on to influence their family's lives. On and on and on...And that is my motivation. My flower shower would not be considered normal [whatever that is!]

I share this only as a means of getting others to think of different ways to help generate some smiles. Bring a bag of Hershey Chocolate minibars to your next doctor appointment for the office people. I witnessed a man do this, and let me tell you...the smiles are big. Unexpected gifts are the best!

I don't want compliments for me. I want to know that you will join the wave. And how?

Glad to be back!!

Gulf Coast Solution...I've Got It!

There are some very famous inventions that were the result of mistakes made while trying to accomplish something totally unrelated.

Post-It notes were the byproduct of an attempt in making a strong non removable glue.

Frisbies began as metal pie plates from the Frisbie Bakery in Fairport, Connecticut. The staff began tossing the empty pie tins to each other when the pies were gone.

Velcro was the end result of a man taking a really good look at the burdocks that were solidly attached to his pants, and years later, recreating the attraction's process..
Microwaves, rubber tires, and even corn flakes were the result of an 'aha moment.'

Here is where I enter my solution to cap that well... where I happen onto a strange occurance.

I had foot surgery on both feet and after 6 days I couldn't stand the 'non-shower' status anymore. Not one more day could I do the abbreviated wash at the bathroom sink. So I wrapped my feet in plastic bags, sealed the tops with UPS very sticky clear tape, and stepped into the shower. Heaven on earth. Sweet smelling shampooed hair. A totally renewed spirit. And soaking wet feet!! I mean...there was standing water in the bags sealed shut with that super sticky tape which was still stuck to my legs and to the plastic bags.

I asked a friend who was already going to stop at the store to bring me some gauze and bandages so that I could rewrap my feet. She brought me 'self grip bandages' which needed no clips and boasted 'tears easily and evenly' as well as 'will not stick to hair or skin'. I thought, "Wow! What a great product!! This was going to be easy!"

I wrapped my feet, put on my black Velcro shoes, and all was well getting stuff done and helping Mom get ready to call it a night. And then... I removed the shoes and went to slide my feet in between the sheets and there was no such thing as slide. Those self grip bandages stuck to everything, and there wasn't going to be any sleeping until a solution was found. My original ace bandages were in the wash. First I thought that if I put each foot in a pillowcase, then maybe I could move my feet, but this was ridiculous. I figured socks would work, and I got the loosest, oldest socks and cut the toes off, and managed to get them over the thick bandages. Ahhh...sleep.

The next day...

When I went to remove the tape and put the ace bandages back on, I could NOT peel them off in any way...shape...or form! The gauze underneath it slid and moved, and so I was able to loosen it and slowly edge off the whole thing. It was like a foot mold!!! Absolutely unbelievable! Amazing...Baffling...

I am not joking when I say...

That stuff would have surely stopped the surging oil. I have no doubt about.

For me, I won't be using it again. Unless, of course, my roof suddenly starts to leak.

My Intentions Were Good!

Last night as I was channel surfing to see what might be on TV on a summer Sunday night, I came across a PBS special about 'Penguins of the Antarctic'. It had absolutely stunning photography as well as a mesmerizing narrative of the life of a penguin. This was not news to me.

I was instantly transported back to the day that I suggested to a good friend that we should go to the movies and that she should invite her married daughter to go along, too. Her daughter was in the midst of an unplanned divorce with two children under the age of three. Obviously, she was in extreme mental turmoil as were her parents who also were experiencing their daughter's trauma on a different level. Kids may grow up, fall in love, and move out on their own but it is undeniably an arrow through a parent's heart when their grown children are heartbroken. Been there myself.

I remember thinking that a movie would be a great distraction for a couple of hours...and National Geographic's 'The March of the Penguins' was playing at the local theater. Sounded relatively harmless...no people...no romantic saga to identify with...and National Geographic has a wonderful reputation for documentaries and photography. Good idea!! Right?

Nothing could have been further from the truth. Oh...My...God!!! Those 80 minutes were among the longest 80 minutes of my life.

A penguin:

-walks 70 miles to arrive at the 'find a mate' to serenade.

-mates and transfers the egg across frigid ice to be warmed by the male...where if the egg touches the ice for a few seconds it freezes [this after a 70 mile walk,etc.].

-fasts for months at a time

-walks for 20 days back to the sea [the mom] to feed herself and another 20 days back to the 'dad' and then she feeds the baby..and ,oh yeah...the male walks 20 days back to the sea to feed. He must be pretty hungry by now!!

-sleeps standing up

A penguin's life is very, very difficult with the possibility of so many, many unfortunate occurrences. Mother Nature and the cycle of life and prey/predator status can pack quite a powerful sting.

There are orcas, and leopards, and giant gull-like creatures who are predators. After watching the happy couple overcome so many hurdles, it suddenly seemed as if a gull was going to swoop down and grab the baby. At that point, I decided that I would walk out if that was indeed the next trauma. I had endured too much already...I couldn't take anymore.

Meanwhile back in the movie theater, remember that the young married friend going through a divorce and getting out for a matinee for a needed diversion ...is just about sobbing, and sniffling through a box of tissues. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me up. Like those 'sink holes' we've been seeing on the news these days!!Maybe it was cathartic and a good cry was meant to be. There's a saying that "When you are up to your ass in alligators, it is difficult to remember that the original objective was to drain the swamp."

My 'take away' from the movie was that no matter how difficult my life seemed to be to me...things most certainly could have been worse!

I could have been born a penguin!

I don't get it!!

I want the truth!!
I have had 2 people tell me that they were unable to leave a comment on my blog, and would I check my settings to see if that is where the problem originates. Yet, of the 6 comments from my last entry, 2 were anonymous and others were fellow bloggers. I don't get it!!

Anyone understand this scenario? I know that there are people who read my blog, and do not leave a comment...ever...or rarely...but these 2 people are friends who have left messages before, and were now unable to leave a comment.


Thoughts on this??