| Author | Message | ||
     greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4446 Registered: 5-2001  |
I got the weirdest e-mail yesterday. One of my best friends from high school (whom I'd long lost track of) found me on Classmates.com & sent me her e-mail address. So, I answered her back - how are you, how's your mom, do you have kids, etc? She e-mailed that her mom had died of lung cancer 7 years ago. I remember that her mom used to let us smoke pot in the basement because she thought we were safer than in a car or the park. I e-mailed back, told her that my mom has lung cancer, too. Asked about some old mutual friends, including one who's perverted father used to stick his hands down my pants & pinch my butt & tell me I had a hot •••. I thought I was soooo hip & wordly as a teenager, but I never knew what to do about that, so I just kept my mouth shut. And always prayed he wouldn't answer the door when I went to her house to visit. She e-mailed back that she hopes I quit smoking (which I did - 18 years ago) and that she had quit 20 years ago. Is pretty uspet about my mom. She also told me that the same friend's father did the same thing to her & she never told anything to anyone, either. We just didn't know it was wrong or that it wasn't our fault back then. We grew up in a world where everyone's parents were to be respected, not questioned and called Mr. & Mrs. Every once in awhile, I think about that creep & how different things would be now, with so much education on good touch/bad touch with kids. I also wonder what he did to his own daughter.....  She had a breast reduction at age 19, before it was common for medical reasons. I hope he didn't make her want to hide or be ashamed of her own body. Sorry - very icky story to share. But, on the bright side, it's great to hear from an old friend & I plan on keeping in touch. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1408 Registered: 9-2003  |
Might show up for a bit Friday if you girls are still on. I mentioned it to cynical boy, and he said "oh, you should go, you never get out." Sez I, "now that the house doesn't smell of lidocaine and BenGay, and you're not groaning there like a mildly animated corpse, I don't need the break." So if you're on, might turn up for a bit. I'm pretty beat on Friday nights even without all of this hullabaloo. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4450 Registered: 5-2001 |
We're on. I'm playing hooky tomorrow. So, between errands, I figured I'd get fixings for stuffed mushrooms, shrimp skewers & maybe (long shot) chicken satay. Then, when TS gets home, I'll say "Look what I bought you to cook"! 'Night SOLady.... | ||
| algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 3411 Registered: 5-2001  |
I bought wine! I'll be here and ready to roll by 6:30ish I assume. So whenever people want to come over is cool. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4830 Registered: 5-2001  |
Las - The peonies - ! I left a message on your cell. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1518 Registered: 6-2001  |
I bought wine, too, and yes, Alg, I still have your address. I'm going to visit my friend in the hospital (I'm going to PL you about this one, Alg) or more hopefully at her home and then swing over there. I may even leave work at 5 p.m. Greene, I'll try to get some sleep tonight, but I say that every night. I don't have time for MOL at work anymore (except when I'm over-stressing about something or eating lunch at my desk), so the only time for catch-up is at night. My dear boss heard of NJM threatening to cancel my insurance if a certain someone didn't prove that he had his own, personal car insurance and wouldn't be driving my vehicle. Even after I told them that CS hadn't been living here since 3/21, I have to write them a letter with this information and somehow convince him to change the adress on his license and registration (great!!). So my dear boss told me that I'd probably need to take a few days off in the next few months. I thought the jury duty summons for the day after Memorial Day would be my last time off until July, but I'll be taking him up on his offer, thank you very much. Okay, I have to go patrol the SOS:MOL sections. I will see you ladies tomorrow (las - do you see any irony in this?  ). | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 1050 Registered: 6-2002  |
Alg, can I come too? Not sure I will - depending on how wrecked I feel tonight (pretty wrecked now after a very weird week, and the day hasn't even really started yet) - but I'd like to if I can. I was really sorry that I missed the last time. I have unopened wine in the fridge, can bring something to nibble on too. | ||
| algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 3413 Registered: 5-2001 |
of course you can come -- do you still remember where I am at? | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 1051 Registered: 6-2002 |
Thought I still had your address, but I can't find it ... can you PL it to me? | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1411 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thread drift! Read about Charles Watters, who died in Viet Nam, an incredibly heroic priest who rescued all kindsa soldiers from under fire -- without a weapon. One of 4 Catholic priests to every get Medal of Honor. If curious: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Charles+J.+Watters&btnG=Google+Search I bring this up not cuz I'm Catholic, but because my husband's a Viet Nam vet. Stuff like this always makes me feel proud of him, by proxy. And I was against the war at the time (still). Guess just as cancer patients are more than, well cancer patients, so too veterans aren't just some stereotype either. He's no priest (!) but he is an artist/cartooner souped up Chevy kind of a guy. --End of advertisement on how people are more complex than any one attribute -- | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4458 Registered: 5-2001 |
The best laid plans of mice & men..... It's raining. It's not supposed to rain on my hooky day. Maybe it's for the best - I wasn't comfortable calling in on a Friday anyway (seems so obvious) so if it's not a nice day, it makes it more believable. This is all my mother's fault. We had it beaten into us never to lie. So, even tho I take about 1 or 2 sick days a year, max, I still feel guilty doing it, even if I'm feeling a bit under the weather but can still walk. The up side is that TS played, too, so I'm convincing her to do a small sampling of some of her best goodies to bring tonight. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1528 Registered: 6-2001 |
That sounds heavenly, Greenetree. I woke up, heard the rain, and said "Should I????" The answer was "No," but I hope you two have a great day! And think of how happy your flowers and shrubs are about this weather. | ||
| algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 3414 Registered: 5-2001 |
My son's kindergaten had a trip to the Central Park Zoo today. So he and I planned on meeting the class there. We ran out of the house not realizing it was raining, took thetrain in. I had to drive around NYC doing shopping for my boss and we got to the zoo at 10, which was good cause it was still empty. So we walked around in the rain, went to the children's zoo and by the time the class arrived we were ready to go back to my office -- which is where he and I are now. Watching Mister Rogers. See you all tonight! Cathy -- I PL'd you. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1413 Registered: 9-2003 |
Sorry I missed youse guys...got home and the my husband was...STIR CRAZY! He wanted to go out. So, we went to Cen t'anni and had a light dinner. That hasn't happened in months, so it was a not to be missed. 'Bout 11 a I got a crying call from our kid at Beachjam. She and a few other girls were in one chaperone's car, wet, sandy, cold. They all had asthma, and the weather was getting to them. Fortunatey, the poor troop leader secured motel rooms. So awful to get a call from 3-4 hrs away with little you can do other than words of encouragement. Anyway, sorry i missed you guys... | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1538 Registered: 6-2001 |
Glad you got an evening out on the town, I haven't been to Centanni's in ages. Am VERY glad beachjam girl got a hotel room and was made more comfortable; there's nothing worse than the helpless feeling you have when your kid's in trouble and you can't fix it for her immediately. Hope today remains emotionally sunny for all three of you. We missed you too; I was looking forward to meeting you. Next time... Bets | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4460 Registered: 5-2001 |
Cyn- glad you & Cynboy could have a grown-up night out, but I can't really believe you preferred the hub to the girls.  Hope Cynicaldaughter wasn't too traumatized - sounds like it all worked out. Had a great time at Algebra's last night. Mom had a rough week, so I had a rough week. When the ice machine sprang a leak (someone who shall remain nameless pulled it out too far to clean the compressor & loosened the water connection) I melted down. I'm surprised none of the neighbor's called the cops, I was so hysterical. So, last night was definitely right on time. TS really enjoyed meeting Strawberry - "He's a really nice guy" was the pronouncement. IRL, he doesn't bite.  Part of mom's rough week has been that her esopheagus is so burned from radiation that she can't get any food down; everything burns or causes major indigestion. She was in tears Thursday night (which made me cry, too). Something about feeding tubes, hospitals, etc. It didn't make sense, so first thing yesterday a.m., I called the radiation and the oncologist & asked them exactly what they said to her. Long story short, they can give her liquid nutrition thru her port every few days to keep her from dehydrating. No one will own up to the feeding tube comment (and mom may well have conjured that in her own head) but one nurse did say to me "we were trying to stress how important it is that she eat". I told her, "you got the 'stress' part right; you can't make her feel so pressured that she can't eat at all. You'd better re-explain it when she comes in today". Then, I called mom back & explained it all. I called her again later to make sure they explained it & she was calm. And, for the umpteenth time this week, I told her to try unsweetened soy milk. But, she has a lot of reasons why that wouldn't work. One being that any dairy causes terrible heartburn. Despite my repeated insistence that soy milk has as much relationship to dairy as road apples do to fruit, she refused to consider it. So, when I called her best friend this morning (she's spending the weekend at her lake house), her friend said "she had chicken (pureed - ugh) and soy milk for breakfast. The soy milk went down really well. But, she doesn't want me to tell you because she doesn't want you to know you were right". When mom got on the phone, I of course said "how's the soy milk working out for you"? "F- you" replied my wilting mother. She definitely feels better. Oh - she picked up the phone yesterday when the Caller ID didn't come thru, and it was GMF. According to mom, GMF kept asking what she did wrong, did my mother love her, why wouldn't she talk to her, etc., etc. Mom just kept saying "I don't want to talk to you and I'm not going to discuss it". She finally hung up. Now, GMF is afraid to call me because she knows I'll say that I told her not to call and to leave mom alone until she was ready. As usual, my issues with her are my own & I'm not getting in the middle of those two. Mom has asked me 3 times since yesterday "have you talked to her"? When I do, I won't tell mom. Even tho I know she's dying to know what GMF says to me about it. Oh well - I am Switzerland. BTW - TS is very mad that I refer to her as "GMF" & that I was calling her that when telling more stories last night. She says it's crude and beneath me. She's probably right. I will admit that Alg's friend, who doesn't read MOL, was horrified by my pet name for my grandmother. I think she was OK when I explained a little. Moral of the story - I won't do it around TS anymore.  Good thoughts out to Bets today, who is doing some major cleaning and purging. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1539 Registered: 6-2001 |
I used that today, during a dispute between my sister and my niece. Yes, las did me the huge favor of waking me up 1/2 hour before sis called so I was awake and aware-ish. I got at least 9 hours sleep without meds, so ahhhhhh to that. His father and stemother couldn't have been more gracious, and we got everything but the filing cabinet (gotta get my schtuff!) and computer (ditto). They understood and said they'd be there when I was ready to get those picked up. My precious sister (who helped today) has offered to come over tomorrow and collect all the sliding piles of paper/magazines/catalogues/bills/ and sort them out while I finish my preparation for a Monday morning meeting with HP/Compaq. Purrrfect. So the weight is lifted, there are lots of empty spaces on walls and shelves, but I feel myself re-emerging from the barriers I had around myself. Last night was perfect, and if I'm so profoundly lucky to fall into a circle of friends, how much better does life get? (To Greene and Cynical: you're both dealing with far more critical situations than I'm in, and I truly admire your courage and wit and ability to vent on this board. I'm a willing ventee.) I'm burnt, we did it, tomorrow more will get done. Thank you algebra2 and strawberry for a wonderful evening that restored some semblance of my self esteem. BTW, Bunny says "Love you" to all of us. Disarray and discombobulation surround me, but I finally feel some peace and closure. Progress reigns and continues. Greenie, tell TS that if you can't cry you laugh. And GMF is PFF (add pretty and funny). Cat was freaked during packing/moving stage today but was calm within 1/2 hour of the removal. As I said: progress. Hope everyone has a wonderful tomorrow. Bets | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1417 Registered: 9-2003 |
good for you, bets. Sorry I missed you at the Friday shindig, but annudda time... Sometimes I fantasize about cleaning-as-if-we're-moving, to achieve that rare sense of tidiness/order you get when the clutter's all gone. Somehow, I never get around to it unless I am, though...Glad to hear you cat has chilled out! | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 4464 Registered: 5-2001 |
We went to the Bra Ladies at Helen Hirsch yesterday (lots of women there after Oprah's Friday show). Got swim suits, too. I wanted to cry - I finally accepted the fact that I have a curvy, middle-aged body & can't buy out of the Land's End catalogue because nothing fits me on top. So, I got one of those "miracle fabric, plunging-neckline-down-to-there to camoflauge the hips" suits that show mucho cleavage but are tasteful and not at all sexy on someone with my body type.  TS, OTOH, got motivated. She's upstairs now, on the treadmill, for the first time in a year. I hear her running & am waiting for the "thud" that will indicate she's given herself a heart attack & I need to call 911. She's in an adult women's soccer class & every week as she's leaving I say "have a good time and don't pull anything". She pulled a muscle in week 3 (I wasn't home to tell her not to) and she wore a knee brace this week. I really do hope she doesn't kill herself up there. Have you ever noticed that people who were jocks in high school & who fell out of it in their 20s seem to wake up at 40-something and think they can just do an extra set of stretches & pick up where they left off? I'll bet the entire medical discipline of sports medicine docs are built on these people.... Me, I'm gonna have a cup of coffee and go plant something...... | ||
| shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 2549 Registered: 5-2001 |
That's so funny. My mom watched it and called me and said "they're about to show what flat chested women need" or something to that effect. "Can you watch it?" As a SAHM I vowed never to watch Oprah, plus I think I was folding laundry or something, so I missed it. I told her to tell me if she learned anything good. She was very excited to have seen it. Also, recently got a few new suits to show off her new small size. Said the same thing to me about the lands end suits, and she bought some off the rack but had a few custom made. |
