I'm on an upswing at the moment

It's funny how a mood can change so quickly. I'm finally in a good mood. I've been in a pretty sour mood for a while now. But things seem to be perking up for me, at least today. I just read four days worth of whirlwind blog entries from friends and "internet friends" alike and it was almost too much to process at one time. It's hard for me to sort it all out. And then I wanted to comment on several of them, but they've all run together and I'm just overwhelmed by it all. So just take note that I've finally read what you've been writing and I send my condolences/congratulations/hugs/high-fives where appropriate. You all rock.

This past weekend was a local SCA event and we were hosting quite a few friends in our little house. I try not to get worked up about those sorts of things, but I know that I enjoy having my own space, so I always want my friends to have their own as well. I also have to remind myself that just because friends are staying at our house, I do not have to be the cruise director for the day or be responsible or anyone other than myself. And it's amazing that when I just chill the fuck out and let everyone do their thing, it all works out fine. I take solace in the moments when I'm freaking out (knowingly and needlessly) I can just tell Rich "I don't want to deal with this - make it go" and he just does. It makes me feel worlds better and helps me remember that I don't need him to take care of me, but it's very nice when he does.

I go in for my HbA1C (hemoglobin A1C) and thyroid blood work tomorrow morning, so everyone think good thoughts and hope that I do well on my tests. I would say I've been studying hard for them, but really I've just been eating everything in sight this week and am thinking about having dinner now that it's nearly midnight. We'll see what the doctor says next week when I meet with him to go over the results.

This whole entry is boring even me, but I just needed to get some words down to try to get back in the swing of things. It's too much to try to capsulize in a few witty paragraphs, but things are good right now and I'll try to be more specific in my ramblings about our daily lives really soon. For now it's time for dinner and then bed (probably very close together in that order).

Mama knows

Mom is home and the ICD implant went fine. She said they need to schedule all their surgeries over the holidays because it wasn't busy at all and everyone there had plenty of time for them. Dad said the only "bad news" is she can't play sports or drink alcohol for two weeks. Those of you who know my mom can imagine that this is no great inconvenience to her.

I finally took Mom's advice and bought Mucinex after she's been trying to give me some for days. Today is the first day I feel human again. I feel so good, in fact, that I'm going to go get my bake on and make some banana bread for Mom's recovery.

There's a sappy country song called "Mama Knows" that my parents reference from time to time. Not only does Mama know I need cold medicine before I admit it, she knows that banana bread is how I say "I love you."

Updates on me, Stanley the beagle and my mom

My cold has moved on to the coughing stage. At least I can breathe through my nose again, but I almost slept on the sofa last night because I coughed so much and was shaking the bed. I took some bad ass cold medicine this evening and it seems to be helping a bit, but I'm still coughing a lot. Today is the first day I've put on fresh clothes since Christmas day, if that gives any hints as to my general health. I've been wearing all my Christmas presents at once, so I have on my Green Bay Packers tuke (because it has a big G on it for Genie) and sapphire earrings from the Puddin' mixed with my Homer Simpson "I am so smrt" sweatshirt from the Puddin's brother Lee. Were it not for the glitter of jewelry, I would look like a dock worker on break (complete with hacking cough). Stanley the beagle houseguest goes home tomorrow. He's been a good dog and fine company to have on the sofa while vegetating in my weakened state, but I won't miss the constant barrage of dog farts he unleashes each evening. It makes me hesitate to shop for a second dog again because there are so many gambles that our new dog might be flatulent or bark a lot or be scared of the toaster or any of the other random quirky things that our pets have had over the years. I'm sure we'll know when the time is right.

Mom goes in at 6am tomorrow to get her implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) installed and hypothetically should be out by noon. She technically has had congestive heart failure for the last five years, but she takes medicine and as a rule doesn't let it get her down. According to her doctor, the ICD is just a precaution and she shouldn't have any complications from it. It's hard to watch the people you love get old but since Mom is still working and Dad is still climbing trees I'd say they're getting along fine.