the daily report...

I feel like I'm keeping a death watch.  I'm not really.  It's just that today we went to church as usual and got the latest update on Dottie.  I think I mentioned in a previous entry that her mother was in the hospital for heart problems and she has alzheimers and she wanted her mom to go before she did.  Well, Dottie's mom passed away on Friday.  So, while it's sad when anyone passes, it's a rejoicing now that she's in heaven in the presence of Jesus with a whole body and whole mind.

But this week Dottie has become bedridden and is on a morphine drip.  You know what it means when they give you an unlimited supply of pain meds.

The boys and I took the food to them on Friday.  There was a group of people there, which I found out later that they usually have a parade of people coming in and out of their house.  That's how well liked the family is.  So anyway, since I had to park on the street, I just kinda shoved the food at them, the boys gave them the cards and the violet and we left.  Dottie's wheelchair was there, but she was not taking visitors.  I did not know at the time that she was bedridden.  I also didn't know that her mom had just died.

I was a basket case at church today.  I noticed that our sunday school class (obligatory) tissue box was almost empty after today.  So I bought a box to bring next week.  I hope we have no need for it, but I think we may anyway.  We are a crying bunch on any given Sunday.

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So, I'm embarrassed to even mention this, but I'm having surgery on Thursday.  I'm getting my saline implant swapped for a silicone.  I met with my plastic surgeon and feel confident that we are on the same page.  It should be an easy surgery.  I also talked to an anesthesiologist, which is usual when you do the pre-op stuff.  I told him about how I threw up all day whenever I ate or drank - and was fine the next morning.  He joked with me about how I assumed it was the anesthesia - of course it was!!  He said yeah.  BUT the turd said there wasn't much they could do about it.  They could tweak what they use, but they don't know what they use or some sort of nonsense.  He made a note on my file and told me to tell the anesthesiologist on the day of surgery.  I forgot to ask about anti-nausea meds.  I guessI could just bear it and enjoy the weight loss for a day.

the cards...

Jake and Ryan made the cutest cards.  They don't like to color, so it's just written in pencil. 

(unedited)

on the front Ryan's says: I hope you fell better Mrs. Dottie.  (big heart)

inside: You are a great Teacer Mrs. Dottie (heart, heart, heart)  To: Mrs Dottie  From: Ryan

on the front of Jake's: I Hope you feel Better

inside: (heart) I Love You, Mrs. Dottie.  I Hope you'r felling well.  you are the best sunday School theacher In the world!!!  (drawing of the front of a Bible and an open Bible with a line drawn to it saying "bible")  love: Jake

on the back: (a large rectangle with a fat cross inside)

I know those cards would put a smile on my face.  (but I'm biased)  And I didn't even have to threaten them to get them to make them. 

I explained to them that Ms. Dottie was not feeling good, and that's why we were taking her a meal, to help.  They already knew she has cancer, and they know she has a big family.  I had to explain why she was in a wheelchair.  They took it very well.  Yes, I've told them this before, but they are kids and they forget.

We also bought a purple violet plant.

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On another note, my little nephew is in the hospital.  I just talked to his mom (my SIL).  They admitted him because he hasn't been drinking or taking his medicine (due to a sore throat) and fevers.  He has been diagnosed with RSV, both ears infected and his tonsils and adenoids are swollen.  He's feeling better now, with an IV and antibiotics in him.  My SIL, Charity said that they have quarrantine signs posted and the cafeteria people just knock on the door and leave the food!

loss for words...

I'm 42 years old, was not long ago diagnosed with cancer (for a short stint) and still don't know how to talk to people when they are gravely ill.  You'd think I'd have learned something...

I'm scheduled to bring a meal to Dottie tomorrow, so I called up today to set a time and ask if bbq chicken sounded good.  One of her sons answered the phone so I asked for Dottie and he said she wasn't taking calls - so I know right then that she's not feeling good.  Told the son why I was calling and he passed me off to dad (who I've never talked to before) - made the arrangements and then I asked how Dottie was doing.  He said she wasn't feeling good, and then the bumbling begins.  I say something about of course she's not feeling good (how dumb is that?), tell her we are praying for her and we love her and wish her the best (wish her the best??  is she playing a game? ugh) and then I say I'm sorry I'm not very good at this and he has a wonderful comeback "I'm not good at this either", and then I sign off saying I'll see you tomorrow.

I really think it ought to be mandatory that we memorize appropriate phrases that are comforting and not dumb for the moments we have not adequately prepared.

So today the boys and I are going to make snickerdoodles to go with the chicken and I want them to make cards for Dottie - since they like her and she's been their sunday school teacher this year.  Get well soon?  That's hardly appropriate.  Maybe just a We love you Miss Dottie.  They are not crazy about drawing (or writing) so this will mean I'll have to stand on them to get it done.  But that's all I can think of.  If you have any good ideas, I'd appreciate it.

I'm trying to pull myself together before we head out to the grocery store.

let's take a peek in my fridge, shall we?

This is the day before Christmas, as you can see by the time stamp.  Milk, eggs, pineapple, pita pockets, peas, Subway cup, bottles of water, diet pepsi, juice.... hey, what's that?  What's that glass of bright orange liquid next to the pitcher of frozen orange juice?  Why, it's freshly squeezed orange juice from the orange tree in my own back yard!!  Why look how bright the color is!  It looks like Tang, but it's not!  And how does it taste?  Delicious!

And this is the tree!  Absolutely loaded with oranges.  Or so it was, before I told the yard guys to help themselves.  Oh sure, we have plenty of more, green oranges.  The less rotten oranges in my yard, the better.  This is the same tree that had a total of 3 oranges on it last year when we moved in.  I'd like to tell myself that the tree is exceptionally happy to have our family in it's yard, but I'm thinking the reality is it alternates producing and fallow years. 

Yes, I'm journaling a LOT today.  I don't know why.  I've cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed the whole house, cleaned the jalousies with bleach water, dusted, I'm doing laundry, played on the Wii with the boys, read, I've been busy - but it's been a long day.  This is Gary's first day back to work...  Miss him...

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UH didn't win

UH didn't win the Sugar Bowl.  :-(  It was very quiet here on the island.  You can bet if we were winning, I'd hear the shouts and cheers from around the neighborhood. 

Check out this little You tube video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R0S79ybs5M&feature=related

It's a commercial.  It's of gingerbread men doing the haka.  Which is a little chant thingy.  The UH team goes out on the middle of the field before the start of their games and does the haka.  Now I don't know if it's their own haka (their own words or what), but it seems a little bit different. (I guess gingerbread men look different than real men)  What's funny is the controversy over it.  I did a search to see if I could find a video of UH doing it's haka.  I found a pretty poorly video'd one and the comments under it are crazy.  People getting all worked up over how their culture (New Zealand, Maori) is being infringed upon.  Not to get into it, but Hawaii is truly a melting pot of Pacific Island cultures and nationalities.  Let's cut some slack for da bruddahs, ya?  It's a cool ting and dey look fierce!!

Seriously, talking about fierce.  The UH players have the craziest hairdo's.    Wild and long.  It's kinda fun.

But, not to be disloyal, but how can I be loyal to a college that I didn't go to and is not in the family line at all..... Anyway, I'm not too surprised that they lost.  After all, it was an SEC team!(ahem)  I'm just saying...  Not that I'm a Georgia fan.  BTW,

WAR EAGLE !

Now you know where my loyalties lie.  Deep.

surfer photos

This is one of the things we did this weekend.

Went to the North Shore and it seems there had been a surfing contest.  They were handing out trophies when we walked up.

The water is crowded with surfers still.  I don't really get out there to watch surfers, so I don't know if this is normal.  Look how flat the water is!

Here is a shot of some surfing.  Not great.  Point and shoot is not good for this type of shot.

It was very cloudy all day.  The North Shore is a very romantic place to go to see some spectacular sunsets.  This one isn't great, but the sky was pretty, several shades of blue.  Trust me, this looks a lot better bigger and in person.

Surfer dude.

Surfer girl heading out.

See the tall figure in the way back?  He's back there in the calmer waters, standing on his surfboard with a paddle.  It's a popular new form of exercise.  Okay, so it may not be new, but it's new to me and the general public.  It's way cool to see.  Again, wrong camera!

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2008 - here I come!!

Happy New Year!!

how we celebrated:  we stayed in, I grilled pork chops, made black eyed peas, had some Ben & Jerry's, shot off our package of fireworks and fell asleep watching an episode of Lost on my season 2 Christmas gift pack.

Just could not keep our eyes open, despite all the noise going on outside.  We had done the Diamond Head hike with the boys earlier yesterday.

at the top - looking down into the crater, that's where the parking is.  However, the lot was full, so we had to park at a nearby park and walk up the hill to the crater, get our ticket and then take the hike up to the top.  It was sooooo crowded.

Halfway back down.

I'm going to save this then start a new entry with North Shore pictures...  Watching the new Biggest Loser right now.

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