I'm at the doctor with my boss. He needed me to take him to the orthopedist to get a shot in his knee.
So I don't mean to have a pity party for myself regarding everyone else's problems; but do you ever feel like everyone around you is in complete turmoil? Like, what is up with the universe, people?!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Whilwind
Last week was busy busy busy. I came back Sunday from girls' weekend in Houston (which was wonderful, by the way), went to work Monday and Tuesday and then headed up to Monroe Tuesday PM after work. Neal and I stayed at his parents' house in Baskin and then got up at 4 Wednesday morning to be at the hospital before 6am. We stayed at the hospital all day until his Dad came out of surgery and went into ICU. By Wednesday night he was talking and coherent so all seemed good. I stayed in Baskin Wed night and then got up at 4 Thursday morning and drove home from Baskin so I could make it to work for 8.
I worked Thursday and Friday and then planned on staying at home the rest of the weekend (which I did). But Mr Steve started to have some complications with his breathing Friday so they had to call in a pulmonary specialist. I mean, he's smoked cigarettes for about 40 years, so honestly I think this was a little expected. He had fluid in his lungs and, on top of that, he was panicking when he tried to take deep breaths and couldn't quite do it. The man just had his chest cracked open, so again, this was all somewhat expected.
Neal's sister (Dawn) calls me Saturday morning to tell me that they're putting him back on the ventillator because they think the best way for his lungs to heal is for the ventillator to breathe for him. So they sedated him, but him back on the machine, put him on some antibiotics and waited for his lungs to heal. Dawn tells me that she thinks this is the worst of it and that he should start to heal since the machine is breathing for him. But, she says that Marilyn is freaking out and would like for Neal and I (he's back at work - 10 hours away) to both come up there. But Dawn says that she doesn't think that we need to come up there because he is starting to get better.
Not 5 minutes later Marilyn calls me and tells me to get in my car and come up there. I started to get choked up and was like, "Miss Marilyn, I'm so sorry, but I can't. I'm exhausted, and I just can't. And honestly, I think he's going to be okay." She is not okay with this becuase she thinks he's about to die, but judging from what Dawn told me, I don't think that's the case. And this is her husband, whom she loves more than anything, and I get that she's freaking out and cannot imagine life without him, so I understand. Completely. But really, I was so fucking tired and it was pouring rain outside and I couldn't even imagine getting in the car for another 4 hours to go up there and sit in the waiting room with her when he wouldn't even know I was there because he was sedated. I went up there last week, I told him I loved him and gave him a hug, and you know, I'm okay with that and I think he is too.
And she has family up there. I kid you not, when he went into surgery there were 28 people in the waiting room. The only ones from out of town were me, Neal, Dawn and Neal's Uncle.
So Neal gets off of work tomorrow night and he'll probably go up to Baskin again Wednesday or Thursday. If Mr Steve is still in ICU later this week, I'll probably go back up there too. He is still improving though, but I think everyone will feel much better about it after he's out of ICU and in a normal hospital room.
And my 17-year old sister is in rehab. So, there's that too.
I worked Thursday and Friday and then planned on staying at home the rest of the weekend (which I did). But Mr Steve started to have some complications with his breathing Friday so they had to call in a pulmonary specialist. I mean, he's smoked cigarettes for about 40 years, so honestly I think this was a little expected. He had fluid in his lungs and, on top of that, he was panicking when he tried to take deep breaths and couldn't quite do it. The man just had his chest cracked open, so again, this was all somewhat expected.
Neal's sister (Dawn) calls me Saturday morning to tell me that they're putting him back on the ventillator because they think the best way for his lungs to heal is for the ventillator to breathe for him. So they sedated him, but him back on the machine, put him on some antibiotics and waited for his lungs to heal. Dawn tells me that she thinks this is the worst of it and that he should start to heal since the machine is breathing for him. But, she says that Marilyn is freaking out and would like for Neal and I (he's back at work - 10 hours away) to both come up there. But Dawn says that she doesn't think that we need to come up there because he is starting to get better.
Not 5 minutes later Marilyn calls me and tells me to get in my car and come up there. I started to get choked up and was like, "Miss Marilyn, I'm so sorry, but I can't. I'm exhausted, and I just can't. And honestly, I think he's going to be okay." She is not okay with this becuase she thinks he's about to die, but judging from what Dawn told me, I don't think that's the case. And this is her husband, whom she loves more than anything, and I get that she's freaking out and cannot imagine life without him, so I understand. Completely. But really, I was so fucking tired and it was pouring rain outside and I couldn't even imagine getting in the car for another 4 hours to go up there and sit in the waiting room with her when he wouldn't even know I was there because he was sedated. I went up there last week, I told him I loved him and gave him a hug, and you know, I'm okay with that and I think he is too.
And she has family up there. I kid you not, when he went into surgery there were 28 people in the waiting room. The only ones from out of town were me, Neal, Dawn and Neal's Uncle.
So Neal gets off of work tomorrow night and he'll probably go up to Baskin again Wednesday or Thursday. If Mr Steve is still in ICU later this week, I'll probably go back up there too. He is still improving though, but I think everyone will feel much better about it after he's out of ICU and in a normal hospital room.
And my 17-year old sister is in rehab. So, there's that too.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Craziness
The past two days have been cuh-razy between both work and family. This is going to be a long one, so settle in for a minute.
I left Tuesday morning for my conference in NOLA. The conference was for Mass Critical Incident Training, aka 'how healthcare facilities and organizations should react in a disaster.' They had some good speakers, but the main speaker I was interested in seeing was Dr. Anna Pou, who was the MD from Memorial Hospital that the Attorney General's office more or less tried to charge for murder for the way she handled patients in the aftermath of Katrina. If you have an hour and are interested, here's an article about it: The Deadly Choices at Memorial. It is a very long read, but it is soooo interesting.
But before Dr. Pou gave her presentation, a professor from LSU law school gave a presentation where he bascially called her a criminal, said she got away with murder and then said that Louisiana is wasting away and we are all stupid for living here. And then he left the room before she had a chance to give her rebuttal; kind of a cowardly move if you ask me, but whatever. Listening to her story was fascinating; I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be in that hospital with no electricity, water, or outside communication for days and days.
Anyway, I came back home that afternoon and got a call from Neal telling me that he had just been promoted, on his same rig, working his same schedule, so yay! Thank goodness he didn't take that last offer two weeks ago. As long as nothing else changes, he will actually be off for Christmas and Thanksgiving this year for the first time in forever. So moral of the story - trust your gut, people. He told me when they offered him that promotion on another rig a few weeks ago that something was telling him not to take it, and I'm so glad he didn't.
So yesterday I get up at 5 o'clock in the freaking morning to go to the gym, etc and when I get there one of the gym regulars tells me that my one of break light is out. (This shit only happens when Neal's gone.) He's so nice and offers to fix it for me this morning, but I ended up getting the building manager at work to fix it yesterday. I stop by my usual Starbucks on my way out, but there's a sign on the drive thru that says they're closed due to chemical spill (what the fuck? What kind of chemicals are they putting in my iced coffee?). I finally get across the bridge to the hotel where the conference is and get situated for the presentations. Then I get a text from Marilyn that says "call me now - 911". FUCK, what now?
Well, my father-in-law who is working in Pecos, TX was having some kind of cardiac event (he's already had two heart attacks) and is on his way to the local hospital. She is hysterical. So I'm texting and on and off the phone with her and Neal's sister for a few hours. Neal's sister books Marilyn a flight from Jackson, MS (nearest major airport) to Odessa which is where they have to airlift my father-in-law because there is, of course, no cardiologist in Pecos, TX. But Marilyn has to make it to Jackson in less than two hours. I call her to check on her on her way there and she is flying about 90 mph with her flashers on, laying on the horn, hysterically crying. And, this woman has not flown commerical in maybe 10 - 15 years. She has to change planes in Dallas and is scared to death.
She tells me that she is flying American Airlines, so I decided to try and reach someone at the AA counter at the Jackson airport to see if they can help her out because she has no idea what to do. Well, the bitch on the phone was so not helpful and said that there is absolutely no way to contact the AA counter at the aiport but that she hoped that everything worked out. Neal's sister stayed on the phone with the MIL the whole time talking her through the airport process and it ended up that the first person Marilyn asked a question to was actually on her flight. And I can tell you, without a doubt, that whenever Marilyn recounts this story to me, it will go something like, "The Good Lord put that person there to help me out" and honestly, she's probably right.
But she made it to Odessa and they're together and honestly I was more worried about her flying that I was about him in the hospital. I haven't gotten an update yet, but as far as I know he's okay and they're waiting on the cardiologist to check him out and let him know what's going on.
And all of this was happening in the midst of work drama. The office was calling me every 5 seconds yesterday because there were problems with this or that so I had to keep walking out of my emergency preparedness conference to deal with emergencies. So finally I just said 'fuck it' and left the conference to come back to work. But I didn't get out of the hotel without first hearing a 15 minute long story from the valet about how he's from Honduras and knows how to milk cows and would like to move back and open a fish farm but he thinks he'll open a chicken farm instead. Apparently chicken farms are easier to maintain than fish farms, incase you were wondering.
So, I am totally hoping for a nice, mild, uneventful day today. I just want to do some work, stay in the office most of the day, and then go to Target tonight after work. And please keep my FIL in your thoughts and I sweet Lord I hope he's okay. And that is all.
I left Tuesday morning for my conference in NOLA. The conference was for Mass Critical Incident Training, aka 'how healthcare facilities and organizations should react in a disaster.' They had some good speakers, but the main speaker I was interested in seeing was Dr. Anna Pou, who was the MD from Memorial Hospital that the Attorney General's office more or less tried to charge for murder for the way she handled patients in the aftermath of Katrina. If you have an hour and are interested, here's an article about it: The Deadly Choices at Memorial. It is a very long read, but it is soooo interesting.
But before Dr. Pou gave her presentation, a professor from LSU law school gave a presentation where he bascially called her a criminal, said she got away with murder and then said that Louisiana is wasting away and we are all stupid for living here. And then he left the room before she had a chance to give her rebuttal; kind of a cowardly move if you ask me, but whatever. Listening to her story was fascinating; I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be in that hospital with no electricity, water, or outside communication for days and days.
Anyway, I came back home that afternoon and got a call from Neal telling me that he had just been promoted, on his same rig, working his same schedule, so yay! Thank goodness he didn't take that last offer two weeks ago. As long as nothing else changes, he will actually be off for Christmas and Thanksgiving this year for the first time in forever. So moral of the story - trust your gut, people. He told me when they offered him that promotion on another rig a few weeks ago that something was telling him not to take it, and I'm so glad he didn't.
So yesterday I get up at 5 o'clock in the freaking morning to go to the gym, etc and when I get there one of the gym regulars tells me that my one of break light is out. (This shit only happens when Neal's gone.) He's so nice and offers to fix it for me this morning, but I ended up getting the building manager at work to fix it yesterday. I stop by my usual Starbucks on my way out, but there's a sign on the drive thru that says they're closed due to chemical spill (what the fuck? What kind of chemicals are they putting in my iced coffee?). I finally get across the bridge to the hotel where the conference is and get situated for the presentations. Then I get a text from Marilyn that says "call me now - 911". FUCK, what now?
Well, my father-in-law who is working in Pecos, TX was having some kind of cardiac event (he's already had two heart attacks) and is on his way to the local hospital. She is hysterical. So I'm texting and on and off the phone with her and Neal's sister for a few hours. Neal's sister books Marilyn a flight from Jackson, MS (nearest major airport) to Odessa which is where they have to airlift my father-in-law because there is, of course, no cardiologist in Pecos, TX. But Marilyn has to make it to Jackson in less than two hours. I call her to check on her on her way there and she is flying about 90 mph with her flashers on, laying on the horn, hysterically crying. And, this woman has not flown commerical in maybe 10 - 15 years. She has to change planes in Dallas and is scared to death.
She tells me that she is flying American Airlines, so I decided to try and reach someone at the AA counter at the Jackson airport to see if they can help her out because she has no idea what to do. Well, the bitch on the phone was so not helpful and said that there is absolutely no way to contact the AA counter at the aiport but that she hoped that everything worked out. Neal's sister stayed on the phone with the MIL the whole time talking her through the airport process and it ended up that the first person Marilyn asked a question to was actually on her flight. And I can tell you, without a doubt, that whenever Marilyn recounts this story to me, it will go something like, "The Good Lord put that person there to help me out" and honestly, she's probably right.
But she made it to Odessa and they're together and honestly I was more worried about her flying that I was about him in the hospital. I haven't gotten an update yet, but as far as I know he's okay and they're waiting on the cardiologist to check him out and let him know what's going on.
And all of this was happening in the midst of work drama. The office was calling me every 5 seconds yesterday because there were problems with this or that so I had to keep walking out of my emergency preparedness conference to deal with emergencies. So finally I just said 'fuck it' and left the conference to come back to work. But I didn't get out of the hotel without first hearing a 15 minute long story from the valet about how he's from Honduras and knows how to milk cows and would like to move back and open a fish farm but he thinks he'll open a chicken farm instead. Apparently chicken farms are easier to maintain than fish farms, incase you were wondering.
So, I am totally hoping for a nice, mild, uneventful day today. I just want to do some work, stay in the office most of the day, and then go to Target tonight after work. And please keep my FIL in your thoughts and I sweet Lord I hope he's okay. And that is all.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Keeps on Tickin'
1. I bought myself a watch yesterday. It's the first time I've worn a watch in, well, I can't remember the last time I wore a watch. Must have been years and years and years ago. The ticking on my watch seems really loud. Like, it's bothering me. It's nothing fancy, just a gray Timex. But it feels weird on my wrist. And FYI - I almost bought a "baby g" watch. I mean, I didn't buy it because I'm not 13, but I honestly thought about it. Why do those things appeal to me? I don't understand my own fashion sense sometimes.
2. Neal leaves tomorrow. I'm not going to complain, because ya'll know the drill. But I wish it didn't suck so hard.
3. On a happier note, I get to both gossip incessantly and pollute my body with numerous toxins this weekend with my bestest friends in the whole wide world. Good times, good times!
4. I hate my work radio. I went from having one oldies radio station to having one slightly fuzzy/static-y oldies radio station. I want to beat it to death with a baseball bat.
5. I have to be on the Southshore tomorrow and Wednesday morning for a conference downtown at 815am. Fuck.
6. Honestly, this is what I'm hearing right now: "tick, tick, static, what I think is a song by the band Chicago, static, tick tick, phone ring, tick, static." Can I go home yet?
2. Neal leaves tomorrow. I'm not going to complain, because ya'll know the drill. But I wish it didn't suck so hard.
3. On a happier note, I get to both gossip incessantly and pollute my body with numerous toxins this weekend with my bestest friends in the whole wide world. Good times, good times!
4. I hate my work radio. I went from having one oldies radio station to having one slightly fuzzy/static-y oldies radio station. I want to beat it to death with a baseball bat.
5. I have to be on the Southshore tomorrow and Wednesday morning for a conference downtown at 815am. Fuck.
6. Honestly, this is what I'm hearing right now: "tick, tick, static, what I think is a song by the band Chicago, static, tick tick, phone ring, tick, static." Can I go home yet?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
More Cynical than Sweet Right Now
There were at least four instances yesterday when I wanted to yat up and say to someone, "hey - go fuck ya'self." I mean, I didn't say it but I sure did think it. I'm a little more chipper today (as of right now, anyway).
Do we want to talk about Casey Anthony? Probably not, but I'm going to give you my two cents anyway. I paid attention to the case a few years ago when it all first happened, but I didn't watch any of the trial. Honestly, what I think happened is this: she used chloroform to drug her daughter so she could go out and party. I think she accidentally killed her one night after doing this and then started with the lies and cover ups, etc. I was kind of surprised when the state went after her for first degree murder. I thought they should have gone after her for accidental manslaughter (is that a thing?) or somthing along those lines, but I'm not a lawyer so what do I know. Either way, she'll get what's coming to her eventually.
Most of you, at one point or another, have probably heard me bitch about my issues with mosquito bites. I think I'm allergic to mosquitoes; like, more so than the average person. When I get bitten, my bites get super red and swell up and look horendous and itch more than you can possibly imagine. I was outside Monday night for about 15 minutes in cropped pajama pants and I got attacked around both of my ankles. So Tuesday night I kept waking up to put cortizone cream on them every 30 minutes because they were on FIRE. I barely slept and then had to wear pants to work instead of a skirt because they looked so bad so I was pissy all day. I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and she gave me a steroid shot and told me to take Benedryl. It helped a lot, but they're still there. But what I don't understand is how medical professionals can come up with cures and treatments for the most outrageous diseases, but for some reason they can't figure out a decent way to stop f-ing mosquito bites from burning, itching and swelling? I guess it's because there's no money in it. Sorry, rant over.
I'm getting near the end of The Sun Also Rises. Why didn't I read this book in highschool or college? I feel like I need to crash an American Lit class or something because I need some of this shit explained to me. I'm pretty sure that there's a lot of symbolism that I'm not getting.
And FYI to anyone who's interested: we're having a girls trip to Houston from July 15th to the 17th. Me, Jeanne, and Kristen are meeting Jill and Pero at the Doubletree by the Galleria where we will be staying for the weekend. We will probably be outside by the pool for the most of the time. If you're around and would like to come hang out or meet up for dinner or whatever, please let me know!
Do we want to talk about Casey Anthony? Probably not, but I'm going to give you my two cents anyway. I paid attention to the case a few years ago when it all first happened, but I didn't watch any of the trial. Honestly, what I think happened is this: she used chloroform to drug her daughter so she could go out and party. I think she accidentally killed her one night after doing this and then started with the lies and cover ups, etc. I was kind of surprised when the state went after her for first degree murder. I thought they should have gone after her for accidental manslaughter (is that a thing?) or somthing along those lines, but I'm not a lawyer so what do I know. Either way, she'll get what's coming to her eventually.
Most of you, at one point or another, have probably heard me bitch about my issues with mosquito bites. I think I'm allergic to mosquitoes; like, more so than the average person. When I get bitten, my bites get super red and swell up and look horendous and itch more than you can possibly imagine. I was outside Monday night for about 15 minutes in cropped pajama pants and I got attacked around both of my ankles. So Tuesday night I kept waking up to put cortizone cream on them every 30 minutes because they were on FIRE. I barely slept and then had to wear pants to work instead of a skirt because they looked so bad so I was pissy all day. I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and she gave me a steroid shot and told me to take Benedryl. It helped a lot, but they're still there. But what I don't understand is how medical professionals can come up with cures and treatments for the most outrageous diseases, but for some reason they can't figure out a decent way to stop f-ing mosquito bites from burning, itching and swelling? I guess it's because there's no money in it. Sorry, rant over.
I'm getting near the end of The Sun Also Rises. Why didn't I read this book in highschool or college? I feel like I need to crash an American Lit class or something because I need some of this shit explained to me. I'm pretty sure that there's a lot of symbolism that I'm not getting.
And FYI to anyone who's interested: we're having a girls trip to Houston from July 15th to the 17th. Me, Jeanne, and Kristen are meeting Jill and Pero at the Doubletree by the Galleria where we will be staying for the weekend. We will probably be outside by the pool for the most of the time. If you're around and would like to come hang out or meet up for dinner or whatever, please let me know!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuesday
This weekend flew by. Did I really have three days off? 'Cause it doesn't feel that way!
We stayed in Abita Friday night and went to the Brew Pub. Saturday we headed to Baskin which started off awkward but ended up being fun. Sunday morning we went to Alex and then got home Sunday night around 6. Yesterday we cleaned the house, went to the grocery STORE(Neal makes fun of me b/c I go to the grocery, not the grocery store), BBQ'd and watched the fireworks in Abita from our back yard. It all went by so quickly.
Now let me explain Baskin. Most of Marilyn's family was at their house when we arrived. And it was just a little awkward because it didn't seem like anyone wanted to be there. It was quiet and everyone was just looking at each other and it just felt uncomfortable. Once all the extended family left, Neal, my father-in-law and I popped a top and finally relaxed a little. We ended up drinking and playing cards and it was pretty fun. I just wish that my MIL wouldn't try to get everyone together whenever we come in town; it's usually more fun when it's just us hanging out.
And as for Hannah Claire? She is the most beautiful baby ever. She was so good during the christening and was laughing and smiling and making faces at the priest and she just melts your heart. She has these massive blue eyes and she's such a chill little baby. I wanted to take her home with me. Patrick and Jeanne and Hannah look soooo happy and they are the sweetest little family. And no I didn't take any pictures because I didn't have my camera with me, but everyone else there was taking pics, so I'm sure they'll end up on facebook at some point.
Can I name just a few of the things that I ate this weekend? Ribs, fried alligator, peanut butter cake, a hamburger, red velvet cake, boudin, crawfish etouffee, fried biscuits (yeah, that happened), bacon, pancakes, and the list goes on. Are you sick to your stomach after reading that? 'Cause I am. Like, how freaking gross. So even though I did not want to get up this morning, I did manage to drag my ass to the gym. I had to after the way I stuffed my face this weekend.
We finally ordered a bistro set for our back patio. This is what we got:
Hopefully it's delivered before Neal leaves next week so I don't have to spazz out and put it together myself. Slowly but surely we're addressing the needs of the backyard. We still haven't landscaped yet though. Oh well, it will happen eventually.
Hope everyone had a good 4th!
We stayed in Abita Friday night and went to the Brew Pub. Saturday we headed to Baskin which started off awkward but ended up being fun. Sunday morning we went to Alex and then got home Sunday night around 6. Yesterday we cleaned the house, went to the grocery STORE(Neal makes fun of me b/c I go to the grocery, not the grocery store), BBQ'd and watched the fireworks in Abita from our back yard. It all went by so quickly.
Now let me explain Baskin. Most of Marilyn's family was at their house when we arrived. And it was just a little awkward because it didn't seem like anyone wanted to be there. It was quiet and everyone was just looking at each other and it just felt uncomfortable. Once all the extended family left, Neal, my father-in-law and I popped a top and finally relaxed a little. We ended up drinking and playing cards and it was pretty fun. I just wish that my MIL wouldn't try to get everyone together whenever we come in town; it's usually more fun when it's just us hanging out.
And as for Hannah Claire? She is the most beautiful baby ever. She was so good during the christening and was laughing and smiling and making faces at the priest and she just melts your heart. She has these massive blue eyes and she's such a chill little baby. I wanted to take her home with me. Patrick and Jeanne and Hannah look soooo happy and they are the sweetest little family. And no I didn't take any pictures because I didn't have my camera with me, but everyone else there was taking pics, so I'm sure they'll end up on facebook at some point.
Can I name just a few of the things that I ate this weekend? Ribs, fried alligator, peanut butter cake, a hamburger, red velvet cake, boudin, crawfish etouffee, fried biscuits (yeah, that happened), bacon, pancakes, and the list goes on. Are you sick to your stomach after reading that? 'Cause I am. Like, how freaking gross. So even though I did not want to get up this morning, I did manage to drag my ass to the gym. I had to after the way I stuffed my face this weekend.
We finally ordered a bistro set for our back patio. This is what we got:
Hopefully it's delivered before Neal leaves next week so I don't have to spazz out and put it together myself. Slowly but surely we're addressing the needs of the backyard. We still haven't landscaped yet though. Oh well, it will happen eventually.
Hope everyone had a good 4th!
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