It's Raining, It's Pouring....

This morning my friend, neighbor calls me to tell me that nobody is trying to break into my apartment through my terrace, as she witnessed - first hand - the wind picking up and moving/knocking over my Adirondack chair... I swore someone had to have been on my terrace and attempting to get in because that big heavy chair was moved from one end to the other... but.... the weather is horrid, rainy, thunder, tornado warnings/watches, and on top of that - my dear, dear friend's father passed away and I had to drive her in this miserable weather to the airport - almost 200 miles from home - because that was the quickest and cheapest flight... so thank GOD for Lefty - she was the co-pilot, while our grieving friend huddled in the back of my car, heartbroken... Lefty and I just turned on music and talked about anything - thinking that it would probably be best - because if we started talking about sadness and all - I truly believe the sniffling, soft crying would have turned to downright heart wrenching sobs and nobody can get on a plane, go through that horrid security in such a state.... It makes me think, I am getting older... and if I am getting older, so are my parents, regardless of whether they want to believe it or not {{chuckles}}... It was a LONG night - though we treated ourselves to some Pollo Tropical before heading back home... I'll make the trip once again when she comes back to the States, but not another late night trip....

When your family lives so far away, and you live all alone as I do - you tend to adopt your friends as your family.  So, for Lefty and I to make this long haul, may have been tiring, but it was selfless because we love our friend...

Life has been nothing but work, going home, work, and going home... I got asked to do something by this guy I have seen off and on over the past few years... Hans.... Yes, that's his name, but he doesn't go by it... I should feel privileged that I know his real name - as I imagine most of the groupies/gaggle of barflies he tends to hang out with don't - and dare I have to explain after that comment why I don't like him....?  

I Don't Care About Your Band: What I Learned from Indie Rockers, Trust Funders, Pornographers, Felons, Faux-Sensitive Hipsters, and Other Guys I've Dated by Julie Klausner

"The author likens herself to Miss Piggy from the Muppets, plucky, stylish, mouthy and irrepressible, chasing after the perennially indifferent Kermit, who just wants to hang out with his guy pals."

I so related to Julie... it's about her love life... it's a fantastic, hilarious and extremely entertaining book that I read last year and LOVED... and it helped me understand why I shouldn't even bother, even if I get lonely, with Hans...

My son will be coming home from college for Summer break soon.  Actually right around my birthday in May.  So... we begin again, being a Mom... no more running around the house in the nude - no more not going to the grocery store and just living off what crumbs are still in the cabinet... no more keeping the A/C off as long as I can till it is intolerable because I want to save a dime... no more coming home to a perfectly spotless house - or even to a house that is the way I left it... but... I'll be happy - I'll have my baby back...

I haven't blogged because life is rather boring... I don't want to drink or go out and eat because of my dieting - I am tired because I have still been working long days - though not like I was - I cut that down - those are hours of my life I cannot get back, and on top of it all - I am swelling - serious edema - scary edema - the doctor gives me new meds, stronger meds, I am still severely swollen... I've already spent this past weekend lying on my back watching movies with my feet up on pillows... just when it goes away - I go to work - and it begins all over again... I'll have to go see the doctor and get lab work done now... I was hoping to avoid it - but I am afraid of the danger of all these water pills, the damage to my kidneys and heart from the swelling.  To have to go through what I've already gone through over the past 20 years to find out why, and to be told it could be this or that, then to be told they don't know why... I don't want to go through it again.  I had a full scan and testing with the Mayo Clinic - they said "Ideopathic" edema - meaning they don't know....

I change my diet - no sugar, no extra salt, exercise, don't exercise, lose weight, you name it - it doesn't matter - it still happens... and every now and then worse than ever - like now - onto 2 weeks... my friends are terrified when they see me walk up with my bony (visible veins and tendons) feet and ankles looking like giant marshmallows stuffed into my shoes... then when I can't talk because I am out of breath - well that's even worse - because they threaten to take me to the hospital or call an ambulance... it's like Congestive Heart Failure - yet there is nothing wrong with my heart after having all those tests done...{{whine whine whine - can I have some Cheez Whiz with my Whine?}}

Dreams-they are so strange at times, so vivid and colorful - last night I dreamt my uncle was divorced from his wife, but he had a son too (he has all girls) - - - he was asking me about some house and we walked out into the rain, the streets were washed out - police sitting at the intersections of these waterfalls that were once streets with their lights on - and as we were trying to figure out where to go - I looked out over this field and saw 3 large tornadoes barreling right at us... and there was NOWHERE to go for shelter - I said "we have to find a ditch" - then I moved, the cat was disturbed who was sleeping between my knees, and he fussed, and that was it- don't know what happened, what was going to happen, if we found shelter - but I do remember right before I woke up seeing a trailer home all mangled up and hanging in a tree... weird... weird stuff... I know it is all because of the wet weather and the tornado watches we've been under... really stinks...

Well, another day, another dollar - time to stop rambling on about nonsense for now... and go put these swollen ham hocks up on pillows and try and finish watching the French film I taped - though it takes place in Tuscany - oh it is so beautiful - the English name of the movie is "Certified Copy"....

R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor

 

Today I couldn’t help but be sad – to shed a tear – when I read she had passed on… R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor… you deserve it… she was so beautiful, talented, a true Movie Star!  I think she’s the only movie star I have ever said I wanted to be like… when I was a little girl I wanted to be married 8 times, and have Purple eyes …

I cried through Lassie Come Home, National Velvet, and sobbed my heart out when she, as Helen Burns, passed away in Jane Eyre… I could only wish to have that sultry appeal she had – in Cleopatra, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof… she may have let herself go at times in her later years, but I will always remember her as she was, even if just inside at times through her bad spells… a beautiful and talented woman who was not afraid to speak out and stand up on subjects that were “taboo”… she was a tough cookie!

"London is drowning ~ And I live by the river" ~ The Clash

 

I had the loveliest visit with my son this past weekend.  He came home on Saturday, and I fed him, babied him, spoiled him, we went to the movies, watched movies at home, and I introduced him to The Ricky Gervais Show and An Idiot Abroad that I love so much – and he’s totally hooked now.  We mimicked Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington the entire visit… For example, my son would start to tell me something about school, something serious, and I’d mimic Ricky Gervais and say “Don’t talk sh*t!” – and my son would be in tears laughing so hard… we have a strange and twisted sense of humor …. I was sad to see him leave – he went on to go hiking/camping in the mountains with his dad… but he’ll be home in May for Summer break… then I’ll get enough of him!!!  Messy Marvin a/k/a The Absentminded Professor!!!

Now back to the usual of all work and no play.  I’ve lost over 12 lbs. since I went to the doctor on February 28th.  I am very happy about it!!  I have become a very creative salad maker.  Last night’s dinner was Hearts of Romaine lettuce chopped up, avocado slices, chopped tomato, a handful of olives, and then I mixed up Grey Poupon Coarse Grain Mustard, Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, ground pepper and tossed the salad up… it was yummy.  Otherwise, you will find me eating Brussels Sprouts… seems to be something my system needs because I can get a really strong craving lately for the darn little veggies… they just smell up the house cooking, otherwise they are wonderful!! 

My social life has been to a low dull.  Between work, having the kid coming home for a very (too) short visit, and my new dieting program, going out to eat and drink is not on the schedule!  I am too Gung Ho…  I need to go to Barnes & Noble and carouse the salad recipe book area for some good ideas!!  I need new and tasty – but easy – salad recipes that don’t have starch or sugar added…

At lunch today – I was reminiscing over the trips I took with the Kid… I just thought of his 11th birthday in London, 2001, when we went to Trafalgar Square and there were still pigeons!!  A little old man came over with some bread crumbs and offered them to my son to attract the pigeons – he was so excited – until they all flew away from some noise that startled them – beating my poor child with their wings!  Loved it!!!  Something kids today don’t experience, I am told – a thing of the past… makes me realize – the World just is not as we once knew it… it is changing – quickly… and if the scary news reports – the terror-mongers of the media – are correct regarding Japan and the nuclear melt-downs, I imagine a lot of the world will change – drastically and not for the better.  Makes you wonder about all those Japanese movies that came out after WWII – with Godzilla, Mothra, etc.  - may not have come true with the Hiroshima bombings, but maybe with their own nuclear power plant disasters… sad, very sad, and though I might sound lighthearted, I am actually pretty scared – pretty frightened for my sister-in-law’s family, my brother and sis-in-law’s friends that live over there, the future of Japan, the World that will be exposed to the dangers, the money, and most of all my unborn grandchildren and great-grandchildren… that is why it drives me insane that places such as Iran – North Korea – China – Third World Powerhouses - have access to nuclear power – forget terrorism and wars – just the fact that the issues of Japan would be far more worse in Iran—who isn’t immune to natural disasters and has far less money than Japan!  China who makes things “cheaply”… and a total “nutter” in charge of North Korea…

So, what to do… just live today… what else is there to do… be happy with the blue skies over head – the pretty blooming Dogwood trees – anticipating the hatching of the new set of Canadian Goose eggs outside my office (6th generation!!!)… going home to Habibi, who now crawls all over me when I get home, purring, and even chatters (meows) at me, the very spoiled kitty… and seeing my son happy and proud of himself during the end of his first year at University….

 

RANTING & RAGING….

An attorney practices law, his paralegal assists him with preparing docs, research, etc., a legal secretary types and schedules and coordinates, and clerks – well they do whatever filing, etc.  So, that’s the normal cycle of things… but lately with the huge foreclosure boom, all these shysters coming out of the wood work, I see more and more secretaries and clerks practicing law and the harm it causes the innocent who is not knowledgeable enough to know the “wrong” that has been done to them… these attorneys are just signatories – they don’t know one case from another – but their secretary who is practicing law does – she will give out advice, answer why something was done a certain way, and be ever so above the law to give advice!  AND what happens when they get caught?  Nothing, the attorney with a sulky attitude will back paddle, cancel whatever it was that was done incorrectly and continue on with treating the next innocent with the same bad practices – thievery!   My rant isn’t about the plaintiff or the defendant owing or not owing … I’m talking about following the RULES… My experience with working in the field of criminal law, our legal system works (nothing is perfect); we are presumed innocent and the prosecutor has to prove you’re guilty… rules are followed by the book… in Civil, someone’s livelihood, such as their home, can be ripped out from beneath them, regardless of whether or not they owe or don’t owe, because some clueless, ignorant secretary decided to practice law – her employer, the attorney, deciding it was okay to be a “robo-signer” and seemingly knowing that the Bar isn’t going to do anything about it – because they won’t… if they did, this would not be happening. 

I want to be a whistle blower, an advocate, I want these shysters behind bars… I want their secretaries locked up, their homes taken from them, and I want these illegal practices of law to STOP… day in and day out… how many of these attorneys I have made enemies of by just being quite blatantly truthful about the fact that they KNOW NOTHING about the case I am calling about – and how they always have to go and ask some clerk about the document “they, the attorney” signed before answering my question, and then they never call back, never write back, and eventually it gets to where I have to go above their heads and get the firm’s head attorney to get them to call me – oh… the best was when an attorney wrote an email to his assistants– I was copied for some reason – that they were never to patch my calls through to him again… funny thing, I never spoke to him in my life – I only wrote his boss and complained that he was refusing to respond to our correspondence or messages left with the secretary.  That is the kind of immature crap I deal with when it comes to these Foreclosure Mills.  They are right out of law school, no experience, and for some reason think they are Godly, invincible, what are they 4 year olds pretending to be Superman?…. the truth is – they are ignorant buffoons.  Maybe the secretaries do know more than they do – but that means the attorney’s knowledge of the law is that of a monkey’s.

“Look on the Bright Side of Life…”~ Monty Python, Life of Brian

 

 

Some bumps in my life’s road this week, starting with feeling poorly because I went a bit obsessive with the house keeping this past weekend, my allergies have turned into a sinus infection, Habibi has picked up some kind of stomach bug or just an upset stomach from something he ate (so he’s having a little issue with pooing on the carpet), and then a crappy beginning to my work week…add the great hike in gas prices, the lack of extra money, and you have one miserable person.

So, instead of dwelling on the “Grumps” – I prefer to dwell on happier things… so I listened and watched the little Monty Python clip the song above belongs to… took in a good view of the sunshine and Springtime surroundings on my way into work, and made lunch plans to have a salad with a friend today.  I will ask her what travel plans/vacations she has planned this year.  She always goes away with her mother and two sisters every year to do something new and fun.  I love hearing about the plans, as well as, I love to hear about it all when she gets back from vacation.

Therefore, I have not been blogging because I have been feeling quite the “stick in the mud” and preferred to be quiet… I think today will be a better day – and if not – Bah Hum Bug ….

I Come in Peace…..

 

Today is Peace Day, and the rules and terms to Peace Day are as follows:

One day, March 4th, we all stick to three simple rules that will make the world a little bit more bearable. Feel free to partake in this before and long after then; the only reason I have the event set that far into the future is because I want word to spread and allow this to have as big of an impact as possible.

This event is to take place everywhere we go in the world, preferably all the time.
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Rule #1.
Say not a single unkind thing about anyone or anything. If at all possible, try not to even think a nasty thought. If we do, reflect on why it was that we thought to say it in the first place.
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Rule #2.
Show everyone we cross paths with some genuine human compassion. Be it with a smile or kind words, just spread some love.
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Rule #3.
Make not one person the exception to the rule. Not everyone deserves to have roses thrown at their feet and have a holiday in their honor, but nobody deserves to feel alone. Reach out. Talk to someone new. Care about them, and we will be cared for in return.

It’s a difficult thing when it comes to those who give you difficulties, to have them cross your path and not think a nasty thought!!!  Very difficult indeed…but I am going to do my best….

Ariba, Ariba, Andale, Andale!!!!! ~ Speedy Gonzalez

 

Today is my first day on Adipex, and I am feeling quite “zippy”… I have accomplished so much work at the office, it’s unbelievable.  Clients are impressed with my productivity – if they only knew – that they are thanking me for taking a prescribed form of “speed”… I got the medicine to kick start me into the diet mode, the health mode.  It helps me so much with having the energy to make it to the gym – otherwise, if I take it and don’t do anything – I crawl out of my skin… My mind feels like this painting looks:

Tonight I will be meeting friends for the new Tuesday Night weekly get together.  I made conditions to it – do not entice me with liquor or food, I will order Seltzer at the bar and a side salad with a light dressing on the side… Cheap, easy, and not fattening!!! 

Ever since I saw my friend’s video clip on her Facebook page, a salsa video, I’ve had the Merengue on my mind…

I saw the movie My Blue Heaven, with Steve Martin and Rick Moranis, years ago, and the characters went to S.O.B.s in NYC, and I was so enthralled with the sound and the dancing – as an adult I went and paid just to have Merengue lessons.  I knew I wanted to learn it and the moves weren’t difficult – anyone can dance the Merengue!!!  The story I was told was that a Dominican man had broken his leg but wanted to dance – and so – The Merengue!  I even got to show off my dancing skills when Lefty and I went on vacation to the Dominican Rep.  I wish I could get the guts up and find someone who wants to go to a Latin club so I can dance!!!!!  Dance before I forget how and/or am too old …. Right now I could get up and just move … it’s the Adipex!!!!!