Home for the Holidaze...

Okay...I don't normally let people know the things that get to me...because often family members are guilty of at least some of the "infractions." It's not always family...more often than not it is complete strangers that figure out a way to push my buttons. However, this Christmas season I am patting myself on the back because I have experienced each of the following issues and have yet to kill anyone. Call it the Christmas spirit, if you will, or tolerance or whatever PC term you wish to use.

You may not give a damn one way or another, but if you wish to be in my presence and live to see another holiday season, you might want to know my "Top Ten List of Things That Make Me Go Postal."

1. People who ask dumbass questions. I am on crutches. Don't stop me in the middle of my struggle to hobble through a store and ask me, "Are you hurt?" or "Are you okay?" I am on crutches you frickin' moron. Hell, no. I am not okay and yes, I am hurt. What kind of mental giant are you that you have to ask?

2. Women who are too good to sit down on a toilet seat so they "hover" and pee all over the seat...and don't wipe it off. Seriously? Have you ever known anyone who got a toilet seat disease? What makes you think that I want to sit in your pee? By the very nature of it being a public toilet that means your bacteria-laden DNA covers and then dries on my butt until I can get to my shower to wash away your yuck. You disgust me!

3. Self-appointed experts who have to loudly share their unique genius and perspective with everyone within a 25 foot hearing range. Recently I attended a hockey game. I love my Dallas Stars. I have been to literally hundreds of games and watched even more on television. I understand the game. I do NOT wish to hear Mr. Expert give a play by play of the entire game to his novice friend who has never attended, seen on television, or even heard of hockey before this particular night.

4. Companion to #3...Don't try to pretend that you have a personal relationship with each and every player. Just because you know their name, have watched them play, maybe even gotten their autograph...that doesn't mean you are new best friends. Hell, I have ridden in a golf cart with Nicholas Grossman and hugged and had my photo taken with Marty Turco, but neither of them would recognize me if we walked past each other on the street. Yelling out, "Come on Grossi" or get "Get on that puck , Otter," does not presume intimacy. Give it up you celebrity wannabe.

5. Malfunctioning coffee machines. I love my flavored coffee. My favorite is English Toffee. However, it pisses me off to pay $3 for a large cup of English Toffee coffee and when it cools down enough to take a sip it is watered down sludge. Get the mixture of powder to water right, Mr. Middle Eastern convenience store man! (Was that too harsh?) How hard can it be to read the label and put the appropriate amount of powder in with the water. The machine just mixes it so don't blame it on the machine.

6. Companion to #5: Seriously, who drinks boiling water? Why would you think that I would want my coffee at a temperature that immediately scorches every taste bud and leaves gianormous blisters on the surface of my tongue. I actually like to enjoy the TASTE of my coffee. Call me crazy, but that's just the way I am.

7. A-hole drivers who own the road and can't be bothered to extend common courtesy to other drivers. Just because you are in the lane doesn't mean you own it. Change lanes if you can while others are trying to enter the freeway. Don't speed up so they have to either floor it or slam on the brakes. Does it matter that you get there 2 1/2 seconds later because you allowed another driver to safely enter the roadway? Call it an act of Christian kindness if you must...just get the hell out of the way.

8. People who want me to see something so they lean across me and point at it...thus sticking their obnoxious arm and/or hand in my face right in my eyes. Do it again and I will bite you. I'm just saying...

9.People who can't say "Please" or "Thank You." My son-in-law is one of the most respectful young people I have ever met. Though he hates to ask for anything, when he does ask for something he always uses the nicest manners. He also says "yes, mam" and "no, mam" to me EVERY time. Old-fashioned manners, I know, but speaks to the integrity of the man.

10. People who presume to know my taste in movies/food/books, etc. You are not me. Don't tell me that I will like or dislike something just because you do. I may think you are a blithering idiot and just be too kind to make you aware of that fact. I am gracious that way. I am not you and you are not me. I am an adult who is perfectly capable of deciding for myself whether or not I like or dislike something. Even if my reasoning is flawed (in your opinion), I have the right to my opinion and it is not stupid just because it differs from yours. So, spread your propaganda somewhere else. This chick has a brain and she knows how to use it.

Well, I guess that just about sums it up. I'm really not hard to get along with if you just steer clear of the "danger zones." Is that asking too much. In this season of togetherness with family and friends, I thought it would be a good idea to just put this out there in the interest of peace and harmony.

Merry Christmas everyone!~carol

Pass the tape, please...

Well, it's official. I am done. All the shopping is complete and the gifts are wrapped. The stockings are stuffed. Now, I think that I will just sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the lights! Sheer bliss!

Worries....

I must admit...I am worried. Yesterday, I lost my balance and fell back on my left foot. Ordinarily...not a problem. But, since I am in a fracture boot and am supposed to keep all weight off my foot for four more weeks...this kinda presents a problem. Ever since that little incident my foot has been "burning." It's a really strange sensation where my toes feel like there is an electrical current attached to them. I'm thinking that is not a good thing. Especially since when I went to the orthopedist after experiencing this same sensation for a couple of weeks he told me that a couple more bones had fractured. I'm really hoping to be out of this fracture boot when I return to Dr. Burney on Jan. 5th. We have a cruise to the Honduras and Costa Maya planned that begins on Jan. 23rd. It's hard to snorkel in a fracture boot. It's also hard to do all that walking. I'm getting the distinct feeling that my foot is continuing to degrade rather than heal and I will be in this stinkin' boot, or worse, by the time the cruise rolls around. After Dec. 18th I won't be working for 2 1/2 weeks so maybe I can stay off my foot more and give it a chance to heal. Who knows? As of now...I am officially worried.

Merry Christmas to All...

This Christmas has been significantly different than Christmases past. For one thing, it has been less stressful in terms of shopping. The ideas just came to me this year and I made my purchases. I am finished with all shopping except stockings and almost everything for Carter. I really need Kristin to go with me to buy for him. I don't want to duplicate...

This holiday season I have my dad with me. That's different...and nice. I don't know how many more Christmases I will have him so I purpose to enjoy every one that I do have.

Ronnie and I are both "retired" this Christmas, though he is the only one not working. I don't have the stress of work piling up on me to worry about. Also, the McMahen Christmas Eve isn't at my house this year so that makes it extra nice.

Most of all, I have had time to enjoy the season, listen to my Christmas music, watch the lights on the tree, and work in an occasional Christmas program. That is probably the biggest difference. I have made a deliberate effort to enjoy the Christmas holidays and remember the reason that I choose to participate in this celebration of the birth of my Savior.

My prayer for all families this holiday season is that you make a deliberate effort to reconnect with the reason for the season and take time from the hustle and bustle to celebrate the holy birthday of Christ. May you find the peace and joy of the season and have a delightful time celebrating with your loved ones.

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

An unbelievable week.....

This has been, without a doubt, the most difficult week I have had in a long time. Don't know why, but it seems that everything just piled up on me.

I worked Monday in pain all day...and most of that in a room without heat so it was like 50 degrees and I was chilled to the bone. Thought I never would get warm! It took a hot bubble bath and a couple hours under a fleece blanket for me to feel human again. Tuesday was no better...in fact, it was worse.

I got off work a little early on Tuesday because I had an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. On the way to my appointment I was rear-ended by another driver. No real damage to my car and neither of us was hurt. His car took a beating. Caved in a large section of his hood where it hit my spare tire. My tire cover got a tiny cut. He offered to pay me for the "damage" but I turned him down. He was driving a company car for a new chocolate candy company in Rockwall. Had he offered to pay me in chocolate I might have taken him up on it! On to the doctor I had to wait 90 minutes past my appointment to see the doctor because he had been called in on an emergency and was backed up. Then when I did see him I didn't like what he had to say..."stay off the foot completely for four more weeks." That means crutches and I HATE CRUTCHES!!! I left in tears. A quick dinner with hubby, Ryan, Richard and JC and then home to find out that I couldn't see my grandson in his parade on Saturday and he wouldn't get to spend the night with us on the weekend because he had gotten in trouble at school. So, I cried again. I'm punished because we are "fun" and he is grounded from fun when he is in trouble. :-(

Working on Wednesday was a beating because I tried really hard to use the crutches correctly and stay off the foot. My arms and wrists are so sore I can barely stand it!

Thursday I didn't work. Instead, I took Ryan and Rich out to the Arboretum and Northpark to take pictures for their Christmas card. The decorations at both places sucked! There were NO Christmas decorations at the Arboretum and Northpark had only lighted trees and a few poinsettias. Disappointment all the way around.

I took a job on Friday as a sub for elementary orchestra. Little did I know that I would have to travel to two schools because she is a floating teacher. The good part is that I only had to cover three of her classes. So, I can't really complain about that. I did come home tired however, and immediately fell asleep on the couch for a two hour nap.

I had just awakened and learned that my son had been stranded on the side of 635 with a blowout, but was now safely at home, when my phone rang. A strange number and a strangers voice said, "Is this Carol? I'm going to put your dad on the phone." Panic poured through me as I became aware of background noises and my dad's shaky voice came on and said, "Sis, I've torn up my little truck. I rear-ended a woman on 460. Horns are going off and the police are on their way." Ronnie and I rushed out to the car and raced to his side. He was so rattled he didn't know who had called me or how they had gotten my number. Physically he is fine, but his truck is a total loss. The hummer he hit had minimal damage but being the kind of car it is, I'm sure his insurance will pay a hefty sum to fix it.



Today, my dad and I went to get his "stuff" out of his car at the wrecking yard. A sad little truck sitting broken and shattered in the rain. Daddy had trouble looking at it and I had trouble watching him hurt. Afterwards, we picked up my desktop which is now fixed (yea!) and finished my Christmas shopping...all except the stockings. So, emotionally it has been a roller coaster this week. I'm just glad that it's over!

Wonder what next week holds in store....?

Decking the halls!!

I literally spent all day today working on Christmas preparations. First, I bought ink and photo paper and began printing the Christmas cards that my creative/genius daughter, Kristin, showed me how to make. Amazing in it's simplicity. And quite cute, too, even if I do have to say so myself. Thank you, Kristin.

Printing the cards was sporadic. In between giving the printer commands to print four or five cards at a time (in case I ran out of ink it wouldn't ruin a ton of paper!), I changed all the bed linens, did numerous loads of laundry, vacuumed, dusted, rearranged the living room furniture, and finally, began carefully and methodically placing the Christmas decorations. Their placement must be precise since I only get to enjoy them for one month out of the year. My policy...Christmas decorations go up the weekend AFTER Thanksgiving and come down New Year's Day. I have a vendetta against those I consider cretins who ignore the symbolism and purpose of Thanksgiving by jumping right in with their Christmas decorations right after Halloween. Though it's not in the true spirit of Christmas, I hope all their bulbs burn out. Maybe next time they will learn to wait. But, I digress...

I'm tired...Tired with a capital "T." Lugging around the extra weight of this fracture boot and the constant throbbing in my heel and toes is taking its toll on me. I don't know how to do things in increments. I think everything must be done at once. I know it's a problem...I just can't help myself. I can't make myself sit down and take it easy when there are things to be done. I think I am paying for it in that I'm not sure that my foot is healing...at all. However, the tree is up (though not yet decorated), the house is decorated, most of my Christmas gifts have been purchased (though not wrapped), the house is clean, the laundry is done...maybe, just maybe, I will sit down tomorrow night and begin my yearly tradition of watching all my Christmas DVDs between December 1st and Christmas! Of course, that will be after work, after dinner is fixed and the kitchen cleaned...

Merry Christmas everyone! I am reminding you, as I remind myself, to take time to enjoy the season and reflect on the reason that we celebrate.

If I could save time in a bottle...

You know, I really do mean to keep up with this blog, but then a day goes by...and then a month...and then...I'm playing catch up again. So, here goes...

Shortly after my losing trip to Winstar my older boys, Ryan and Rich, took me to Vegas. It was an early birthday present...and it was a blast. I had never been to Vegas so all of the sights, sounds and smells of "sin city" were new to me and I wallowed in every minute of it. Apparently my training for the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk paid off because we took off walking down the strip and I had to stop every so often to let the boys catch up. We gambled, we ate, we walked, we saw the sights, we gambled, we took funny pictures and we gambled some more. I learned how to play Blackjack...not that I am an expert. I won $150 when playing with the guys (they lost) and then I played alone my last night there and lost $200. The highlight of the trip, for me, was being with my boys. I did, however, also enjoy winning $700 on the nickel machine, Lucky Meerkats. We stayed four days and had a fantastic time but then reality reared its ugly head and we had to come home.
The Three Muskateers

Have a drink...or TWO...Ryan

Me and my boy

My boys in Vegas


Back home I began seriously training for the 3-Day 60 mile walk which would be held in November. Then the rains began. It rained every day for 14 days...and I could not train. One day of no rain and then days of more rain. It was ridiculous how much rain we got. During the entire time I continued to work pretty much full time. Still, I snuck in a training walk occasionally when there was a break in the rain. That didn't happen often enough, apparently.

On the morning of November 6th I got up at 3:30 a.m. so that I could be in Plano to begin the Opening Ceremonies and the walk around 7:00 a.m. Bags were packed, loaded and the journey was about to began. As almost an aside, I remarked to my hubby that it was not a good day to wake up with a tender foot. I had an ache in my toes on the left foot when I walked. Didn't think much more about it and went on. That day proved to be absolutely beautiful. After weeks of rain the sun came out and shined down on us and we began our journey. Around 3,000 men and women participated in this walk. Literally thousands more lined the sidewalks cheering us on as we walked through Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison and Farmers Branch that first day. In the afternoon it became literally steamy and combined with the car exhaust and an upper respiratory infection that I was still being treated for, I walked "only" 17 miles that first day. I completely forgot about the pain in my foot that day and had an enjoyable time with my team of walkers and all the new friends that I met along the way. Saturday, however, proved to be not so much fun. Every step that I took was agony in my left foot. I walked the entire 20 miles that day, but it was a struggle. I had gianormous blisters on the balls of both feet and my left foot hurt like a demon. Hobbling back to camp I headed to the showers and then dinner and went to bed around 8:00 p.m. after visiting the medics to have my blisters lanced and drained. Phone calls of encouragement from my son and dad and texts of encouragement from my hubby kept me hopeful for the next day. Let me insert here that I was more than a little sad that I had missed my youngest grandson's first birthday party on Saturday to participate in this walk. A good cause, I know he would support it if he understood, but there is a part of me that can't let go of the fact that I wasn't there for his first real celebration. My mood darkened on Sunday morning about 5:00 a.m. when I awoke to get the day started, pack my gear, and begin the third and final day of walking. I could not stand up on my feet. I could not walk on any part of either foot except the heel and outside bone. Nothing involving the balls of the feet or the toes. I was very unsteady on my feet and almost fell several times just trying to make it to the bathroom. I knew that I had to throw in the towel...no choice, but it killed me to do so. The good news in all this is that I DIDN'T walk that third day. Little did I know that I had fractured my left foot (probably injured before the walk and then stress fracture during the walk) and that walking on the third day would have made things much worse. A week on crutches, a week limping around in a crock and finally and MRI disclosed a "nondisplaced stress fracture and edema in the tendons surrounding the injury." In English, that's a couple of fractured bones in the top of my foot and strained and swollen tendons surrounding the injury. Was it worth it...hell, yeah! Even though I have to wear this fracture boot until New Year's Day, my pain and inconvenience is nothing compared to what those who suffer from breast cancer experience. This one's for you, my sisters!
I hate crutches!!!

Designer shoe

Slightly before all the nonsense with my foot, my 81-year-young father took a tumble during the night and broke both bones in his right wrist. He spent a week in the hospital because his pulse ox was too low. During that time they didn't allow him out of bed because he was "a fall hazard." So after a week of lying around it came time for him to be discharged...and he couldn't support his weight with his legs. So, off to the rehab center for physical therapy. Four weeks later we got him home...just in time for Thanksgiving.
Can anyone say, "Handicapped Parking?"


Again, during all this madness, I continued to work full time because as we are all reminded every time we have stepped into a store or turned on the radio since Halloween, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and we must make our local retailers happy. The entire state of the economy of the United States is depending on how much money I spend on Christmas. All I can say is, "We are in deep sh*t!"