lisaviolet's diary

Thursday, February 08, 2007

otherstuff
03:29 PM - 02/08/2007
We found three pennies and two dimes on our walk this morning

The topic: I hate tomorrow’s walk
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I know it’s impossible to walk in a circle uphill all the way, but it sure seems like that’s what it is. There are a couple of short downhill areas and long, long, long gradual uphill sections. I’d say a full three quarters of the walk is uphill.

I hate it. Brian said we could find another route and I said “no, I really need to do this one since it’s so hard for me.”

I do know what might make it better, though. Tomorrow, I’m going to wear my tiara.

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otherstuff
03:05 PM - 02/08/2007

The topic: Today is Brian’s mom’s birthday
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I got her a nice lightweight cotton robe last month as well as a birthday card.

When I showed Brian the robe, he said “she’s already got a robe that color”. Exactly this color? “I don’t know, but it looks like the one she wears.”

I wrap it this morning and sign the card. He took it with him when he left for work and dropped it off at her house.

About fifteen minutes later, the phone rings. It was his mom.

“Thank you so much for the duster! How did you know I needed one?”

The one she’s been wearing? The one that looks exactly like the one I bought? It was her mother’s. Who died seventeen years ago in April.

I sang “Happy Birthday” to her and wished her a great day.

Men. I’m sure glad I went with my gut.

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catstuff
02:56 PM - 02/08/2007

The topic: Cat poop
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A couple of weeks ago, Brian told me that one of the cats was pooping in his shower. He’d report the consistency of said stool. The stool gradually got looser and even had blood in it.

Then this cat pooped in his sink. He said the problem with that was since the stool was loose, the cat would step in it and track it out of the sink. I fixed this problem, I shut his bathroom door, so the cat who had been doing this at night and had started during the day, would have to find a different place to go.

Brian said it was a black cat. He thought maybe it was Captain. I thought maybe it was Monica, since she spent so much of her time, day and night, in the bedroom window.

Well, shutting the door two days in a row, put an end to his shower and sink being used as poop boxes, even thought the door was opened.

And yesterday, a cat pooped in my bathroom sink. A fine, firm stool it was. I just didn’t know who did it.

This morning, when I took my shower, Captain was laying in my sink. After I’d gotten dressed, Captain had left the sink. Yes, he did, he’d left the sink a nice firm pile of poop.

*sigh*

But no blood and really easy cleanup.

I love my cats. I love my cats. I love my cats. I love my cats.

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tales from the parkside
02:41 PM - 02/08/2007

The topic: I took my mom to the oncologist this morning
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And sometime since Christmas Eve, my feelings towards her have lightened up, quite a bit.

I think it was an awakening for me. She was no longer the woman who was so vicious towards me as a child, but an old woman who loves me unconditionally. This woman would do anything in the world for me, anything I asked of her without hesitation. She’s not the same woman who raised me. She’s not angry and she’s not mean. She’s not defensive.

She didn’t play drama queen on the way, as I’ve come to expect, she was just a normal, relaxed person. It’s nice. Even though the visit was to a doctor, she wasn’t really nervous. I dropped her off at the front door and parked the car in a nearby grocery parking lot, since the Kaiser parking lot and structure were both full to capacity and I figured it would be easier to just walk than keep circling for a spot like a buzzard to dying prey.

Once parked, I got into the building, went up to the oncology department and mom was already out of the waiting room. They took her in earlier than her official appointment time and when one of the nurses opened the door to call the next patient, I asked her if I could get inside and go to the room where my mom was. She let me in, I was told mom’s room and went back. The wait for the doctor wasn’t long at all. While we waited, she told me her blood pressure was a little high, but not nearly as high as the last time she had it taken.

And when the doctor came in, he asked if there was anything new and I said “yes, she’s quit smoking. I thought she’d quit smoking when she had surgery, but she didn’t. She was busted on Christmas Eve when she’d had too many beers and too many tranquilizers.” He was pleased that she’d quit.

The visit was uneventful and she actually walked with me to the car, down two sets of fairly steep steps. She asked if she could take me to lunch and I didn’t really want to go, but it was something she wanted to do, so I figured I may as well. I never know when I’ll never have the opportunity again.

We went to Denny’s and she had a cheeseburger and fries, I had a grilled turkey/bacon/cheese sandwich with a side salad instead of fries. It was a pleasant little visit and she was smiling when I dropped her off at home.

She’s supposed to make an appointment for her mammogram (the doc looked at me and said “you’re getting mammograms, aren’t you?” Yes. Well, I didn’t last year, the appointment reminder from my doctor was late and I have to see him before I get the mammo. But I will be making it soon. It’s not something I plan on blowing off) and she looked at me and said “will you take me?”. Yeah, mom, I’d be happy to take you.

And, this time, I meant it.

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