I know it's been a while but I wanted to give al ittle bit of an udate...

I think there are still like 2 of you who pop over on occasion...lol

So, a quick health update. My stomach seems to be getting better since I've tried several different combinations of meds. I think I got the right one. We'll see. Though, as a result of all the stomach issues, I've lost over 30 pounds...glad that I lost the weight but not happy about the way it was lost.

I thought everything was going along ok and I was just waiting for January 21st to arrive because I have an appointment at the Celiac Center at Columbia Presbyterian. This appointment is supposed to finalize whether or not I do have celiac disease. I hope I don't but if I do, I'll have to deal with it.

Had a minor setback on New Year's day. The Tuesday before NYE, my father had a horrible stomach virus...I'll spare you all the gory details but it but him in bed for about 24 hours. My dad said he never felt so awful in his life and I felt so bad for him. Well, I wake up REALLY early Thursday morning, I'm talking like 4-5am and well...I have the virus. I want to kill my dad. Mind you, he still isn't ok. He's a lot better but not ok. This bitch lingers. In the late afternoon, early evening on Thursday, my dad comes to check on me to make sure I'm still breathing...he doesn't like what he sees. He said I looked really pale and just didn't look good. We call the dr and he says that a lot of his patients have this and if it gets really bad and I get too dehydrated, I'll have to go to the ER for fluids. A little while later, I feel awful and I can hardly stand up. Off to the ER...I got there, had a blood pressure of 60/40...let me tell you...that does NOT feel good. It also scared the shit out of me when I heard the dr tell one of the nurses to make sure that my heart doesn't stop beating. Well, I needed a lot of fluid. I was still dehydrated after 2 litres of fluid but I was feeling MUCH better. It took a little over a week to get back to feeling like a human being but I got there. That was one brutal virus and it's about the closest I ever want to get to death for a LONG time. It was scary as hell but it turned out ok.

For now, I'm feeling ok but sometimes it is one day at a time because some days I feel awful and have horrible stomach pains but those days seem to be less and less. I am ready for them to just go away completely.

That's pretty much all I have so far. Unfortunately it wasn't a great beginning to 2009 but I hope it only gets better. From now on, I don't want to share tales of medical issues and drama...I want to share good things. I'll keep ya posted. Sorry for the long hiatus.

This was kind of inevitable...

I'd say I'm taking a bit of a break but I already have been. Basically, I really haven't been feeling well. It looks more and more like I have an ulcer...according to the dr. So, I have to go through a battery of fun tests and whatnot. Though I am NOT looking forward to it, I am looking forward to feeling better. I've gotten to the point where I just don't really eat because when I eat, I feel worse. Yeah, it's not good. Anyway, I'll be back after I sort this stuff out. I'll still come by and visit others though. I'll be back soon.

Got a Private Plane I Can Borrow?

One of my really good friends from College is getting married on Saturday in Texas and it looks like I'm not going. I've been watching flights for this weekend for a LONG time. Well, here's the problem...I'm boxed into leaving on Friday because Thursday is Yom Kippur. Flying on Friday as opposed to Thursday, makes it a lot more expensive. To make a long story short, it would cost me around $600 including hotel, airfare, gift, etc to arrive in TX on Friday afternoon and leave on a 6am flight Sunday morning. I just can't justify it.

In the beginning, I told my friend that it was just going to cost too much but she kept saying I'd be able to find a good fare and wanted me there and I also wanted to be there for her. So, I never outright just said no. So here I am, it's Monday and the wedding is on Saturday and I have no ticket...that's where the private plane comes in. ;)

I was also supposed to share a room with one of the other girls. I don't feel THAT bad about canceling on her because she originally planned to have her own room so it was just an added benefit that I'd share it with her and cut her cost in half.

I just feel SO horrible that I'm going to miss this wedding. Then I realized that part of the reason she's having her wedding in TX and not in NY is because she wanted to save money. Well, I have to look out for my wallet too and $600 is just a lot of money for a day and a half. The other reason she's having it there is that is where her fiance's family lives and they are a lot of people. In addition, his mother is not all that well.

I've tried so many combinations of trying to get there, it's just not in the cards, or so it seems. I've tried using mileage and I've tried flying to other cities and driving...nothing. This is the other strange thing...I've checked travelocity, priceline, orbitz, etc and they don't have the tickets discounted from actually booking it through the airline at all. So, that's my frustrating tale.

I have to comment on this one...

Wonderful actor, humanitarian and all around great person. As everyone knows, Paul Newman passed away yesterday.

When I first heard the news, I called my mother because she's a huge fan and she attended the Big Apple Circus benefit every year and sat with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. My mother always had the nicest things to say about them. They were unassuming and nice and just wonderful people. That and I always hear about how Joanne Woodward looks amazing and has the most amazing skin.

Though his acting was just amazing and he was a great talent, a lot of my admiration for him comes from his charitable work. He was one of the most philanthropic celebrities out there and just did everything he did as a gentleman. With that, I say, rest in peace and you will be remembered as a great man.

Facebook Strikes Again...

Well, it's all well and good til a friend finds someone you don't want her or anyone to find ever again. So, long story short is this...the last conversation I had with him was on my 25th Birthday...we were both very drunk and admitted we were in love with one another but there was just a hitch...he didn't want to ruin the friendship. Yeah well, since that conversation, there hasn't been a friendship so...well, so...you see why I didn't want him found. Just had to vent.

Also, I found my first crush from elementary school...I was in 6th grade. He turned out pretty well. I am pretty amazed to be honest. He looks very similar which I just find so funny since it's been so long. Found a few others from elementary school too which is interesting.

It's just not so fun when those you don't want found get found and peripherally re-enter your world.

That's it for now...I have to go continue fighting with airlines so I can book a flight to Texas for a wedding. Why is it that I could fly to Europe for less than I can fly to TX? Riddle me that?

Camp visit and a few other things...

I had a fabulous time. It was kind of surreal since I hadn't been there sine 1989 but it was amazing nonetheless. One of the girls I went to camp with from when I first started in 83 was there for the summer, her dad now owns the whole place. It was a little sad because the camp isn't doing so well, it was only at half capacity. Also, the kids are just brats. I'm sorry, they complain about doing activities when we were up at like 7 and did activities all day and then had evening activity then sleep. They were a little pathetic. Many said they don't know how to fold clothes because their maid does it. You get the gist.

There were about 5 if us who actually went to camp together who were there...one is a couple who went to camp together and somehow met up later and got married. I don't know the whole story. We looked around the camp and we reminisced A LOT. We looked at all the old color war plaques and saw the new pool and stable and a whole new area. Of course I forgot my camera but others had theirs so it was all good. I have pics. I saw a woman who was the girls head counselor when I was a camper and now she's the director of the camp. I thought she was ancient when I was a kid...turns out she's 65. I was SHOCKED! She looked the same...I guess she just didn't look so good then. I dunno. Here's a pic of the group of us on the front lawn of camp on the big bench. Ok so blogger didn't put the pic where I wanted it. Whatever. Today, I went to a craft fair near me and saw one of the girls and her husband because they had a booth there. So, I have to give credit to facebook because it's amazing how it all came together. There is now talk of doing a weekend reunion thing at camp one weekend when camp isn't in session. I think that would be a blast.

More on facebook. My 10 year college reunion is in October and my friend made a page for it on facebook to get people interested. Well, I graduated with almost 3000 people and wouldn't you know, it's the people I had zero interest in seeing who are all joining this page. I told my friend that since she's the administrator of the page she needs to delete a select few. ;) we'll see how that goes.

I mentioned growing some tomatoes....well...the plants are now about 10 ft tall and the maters and getting red. I'll take some new pics soon. I'm so proud of myself because I never grew anything from a seed....you know...being a city kid an all. If I wanted green, I went to Central Park. This is also exciting. My neighbor's string bean plant has run amok so it's ALL over my deck. I just picked the first one today and...DAMN...it was GOOD! There's also cucumbers infiltrating my deck...to bad I don't like those. I also have something else growing but I have NO idea what it is. I'm waiting for something to happen. Everyone keeps telling me they're more maters but they look nothing like any other ones I've seen. We'll see what comes from the flowers they now have.

Oh oh...I also have herbs...basil, mint, cilantro, thyme and sage. It's so cool. Again...city kid in me. That's all for now. :)

I'm going to CAMP!!!!

My mom's cousins owned a sleepaway camp so when I was 6, I was shipped off for the summer. I had a blast. I went for 7 summers. Through the magic of Facebook, I have reconnected with people I went to camp with who I haven't spoken to for 25 years. On Saturday, I'm going up to camp with some of the girls I went with. It's a mini impromptu reunion and I CAN'T WAIT! I've been having dreams about camp and there have been so many pictures being posted. This is just SO exciting to me. :)

Now my dad's cousins own a sleepaway camp. My mom's cousins sold theirs and have since passed but my dad's cousins are just fine. Their camp is about an hour or so from my old camp so I'm going to stop there too.

I'll be reliving my youth on Saturday. Here come the 80s all over again. I'll let you know how it goes...you know...all 2 of my readers! :)

I know, I suck...

Anyway...it's been a while. I've been spending less and less time near the computer so that when I am around it, I haven't been posting. So...I live 4 blocks from the beach but haven't been yet. I know...again....I suck. I do do some gardening. It's fun...some of it. I got my first ripe tomato the other day. I'll take some pics and post em.

I had a bbq a few weeks ago for my birthday. It was a blast. I worked a lot cleaning and doing all kinds of things but it was nice to have people around and just relax and have a nice time.

I had my first car accident a few weeks ago. I'm fine and so is the car but...I was at a red light and I was rear ended. The guy was a total asshole. Said he was driving his dad's car and didn't have any info like ins card or registration...you know...the things you're required to carry BY LAW! I was nice and didn't call 911. Had I called 911, he would have been charged with felony hit and run because he left and because there was property damage and personal damage (my back was not happy...I almost ate the steering wheel but I'm fine). So, guy was nice enough to give me his phone 3 before he left and I got his plate #. I told him what it would cost to fix because he didn't want it to go to the insurance co. Well, he said it didn't cost what I said and just acted like a dick. Well, a little birdy I know at a police station ran the plate and got me the info I needed. His insurance company was involved and the adjuster said the damage was more money than I had originally told him. Well, screw him and his rates'll go up now. Fucker. Don't rear end people. Anyway...

Not too much else of interest going on. It's kinda rainy and not nice out today so I'm gonna try my hand at some lime meltaways.

Oh...the other thing...this suburban living thing...neighbors can be really nice. Several of my neighbors are keeping my produce needs filled all summer. I think they think I don't eat...I don't know but I could open a farm stand at the rate it comes in the door. It's nice though. Fresh picked produce tastes pretty damned good.

Now I'm done. I'll try not to neglect the blog as much anymore.

I'm not a cat person but...OMG!

Ok, my first attempt at before and after house pics...

OK so here goes nothing...the pictures weren't cooperating. The before pic is the one where the house is white with the nasty green awnings...the after is the brick. Ok...now I'll do some 'splainin. On the right hand side (where the tyvek wrapping is) is the extension that was built on...it's a 4 ft extension to make the master bed and bath bigger. The house was originally built around 1942 and it was a horrible yellow stucco. Over the stucco was what you see, nasty trailer park looking vinyl siding. The siding was just so gross...it wasn't even on the house in some places. Also, if you touched it, it would bend...it stood away from the house about 6 inches. The awnings were also just gross. The other major change done to the outside was the garage. Originally, it was a garage but then it was made into a room and now it's back to being a garage. The nice thing is that there is heat and central air down there since it was a room (we added the central air).

Ok, next....The front of the house is now all brick as you can see. The sides are shingles but they are vinyl. It really looks like a totally different house. This isn't a complete picture because since this was taken, there is now an iron railing and banister by the stairs. I don't know if you can tell but the porch and stairs are also new. They were concrete that was painted green. Now it's brick and slate. There is also now a mailbox, address numbers and a glass and iron awning over the door so you don't get wet in the rain. On the left side of the house is the deck and that's in the picture that has a lovely finger in the way. On the right side of the house is another deck with the hot tub (the hot tub is right outside my bedroom and there's a door there. :)) There is also an outdoor shower by the tub which you can see and now there is also a door to that deck so it's more closed to the outside.

I think I've rambled on enough...so that's about it. I'll try to get to the inside soon. I'm not quite sure where the before pics are so I have to keep looking. Oh and I managed to fall down the stairs inside the house already. That was fun...I was just a bit bruised but I'm fine.