december 20th

It's only been a month ... that's not so bad, given what all has happened in the last 30ish days.

Rick decided that he hadn't been to the hospital in awhile and thought it would be fun to be there over Christmas.  Yeah, no.

So, ho ho ho.  Oh ...

Rick was in need of some attention ... so he had us take him to the ER.  He likes the nurses there.  He likes nurses everywhere, actually.

We hadn't had our Christmas card photos taken this year ... seemed like a good time to get this done.  Yes?

Christmas dinner is all taken care of ...

And we'll be using our finest silver.

Oh vey.

Ho ho ho, NO!

.

sailing, sailing ... flooding, flooding ...

So, we did go to Hawaii.  We were fortunate enough to set sail on my daughter's ship, The Pride of America, and get to see her in action at some of her work events.

We also met her "intended", Ben Adams.  Lovely man.  Lovely couple.  We will be proud to have him join our little family.

While in Hawaii, we heard the most beautiful words in the world; "You have an offer on your house" from our real estate agent.  You don't know how much I wanted to hear those words.  I nearly cried.

Being in Hawaii though, I realized that I would no longer be able to hide scuff marks or cracks in the walls nor water damage.  I became stressed, worrying about hiding things and making the house sellable, but what could I do?  We had an offer.  And those words sat above any concerns that I had for the house.

We accepted the offer from the kind folks who wanted our house ... and we were still in Hawaii when the inspection happened.  Yeah, I really was forced to lay down my paintbrush and stop the madness.  I did it willingly.

We witnessed our future son in law ask for our daughter's hand in marriage.

We returned to Texas to begin packing up our big ol' house ... and start the closing process.  And find a new place to live.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE CRAZINESS BEGAN.

We packed and we packed and we packed.  And Rick got sicker and sicker and sicker.  And the Texas weather got hotter and hotter and hotter.  And Elizabeth and Ben (the intended) jetted off to Scotland and England ... and watched their luggage not follow them.  They spent two weeks with us in Frisco all the while waiting on their luggage to catch up to them. 

And wouldn't you know it?  The ring that Ben had planned to propose with was IN the suitcase that hadn't found them yet. 

Hundreds of phone calls to the airline and I finally jumped in and alerted the media.  Yep, I did.

WFAA's Monica Hernandez came to our little (big) house on Creek Point and filmed a story about a guy who wanted to propose to a little Texas gal ... but didn't have his luggage (and all of his worldly belongings) and didn't have the ring.

One phone call from WFAA and dang!  The airline found the luggage!  In Baltimore, of all places.  Go figure.

More packing, more closing junk on the house .... and finally the luggage arrived.  WFAA arrived, too.  They came back to film the actual proposal ... which was pretty darn cute!  We all hauled off to The Shops At Legacy and watched Ben propose ... and watched the news station film it.

AND .... right before we were slated to close on our Creek Point house ... we had a flood inside.  Of course we did.  OF COURSE WE DID! 

Got that all cleaned up and we were all set to close on the house ... WHEN RICK GOT SICK!  Ambulances and everything. 

Sigh.

Just when you think you've got it all under control ... the escrow folks would not close until Rick could sign, OUTSIDE of THE HOSPITAL, which he couldn't do.  Why?  Because Rick's little bout of a bladder infection began to spread ALL THROUGH HIS BODY ... enough that his bloodstream was infected and he had to be put in isolation.  NO ONE would go through the trouble to gown up and go in for Rick to sign the closing papers.  Not even the HOSPITAL NOTARY.  Like, seriously?

So, we waited.  And we extended our closing date.  And we searched for an apartment.  And we found ourselves NOT getting into any of the apartments that we wanted to ... sad tale after sad tale.  We were about to be homeless.  And you know what?  I didn't care.  I knew we'd be fine. 

So, Elizabeth was now engaged, Rick began to improve by leaps and bounds (turns out he was also a bit toxic and had to get some of those awful pain meds out of this body) and dang if ELIZABETH didn't turn around and get sick.  OF COURSE SHE DID.

We were still packing and packing and packing ... and getting further and further behind it seemed.

We finally had to call out for help ... which we did get, in the way of four women who stepped up and helped us.  Note: Women.  Yep.  Women for the win!

So, to summarize, we finally did close on our house once Rick was out of isolation.  We nearly emptied our Creek Point house (a wayward desk and a few garage items had to stay behind, sadly) and moved into an apartment complex overlooking a baseball park in Frisco.  We have belongings in two different PODS and a storage unit AND WITH OUR MOVING COMPANY.  Yeah, don't tell me about having too much stuff.  That's all I hear from my dear, darling daughter.

107 degrees, 108 degrees, 109 degrees.  The temperature kept a'climbin'.  Life got hotter and busier and crazier ... but we were out of that house. 

And ... on July 31st, I returned to work.  Suddenly my summer break was over and you know what?  I'm totally ready.  That was the wildest summer ever and I'm happy to see it go.

Rick is home in the apartment with me.  Buddy and Jeannie are there, too.  And Elizabeth is recovered and prepping to return to her ship for one final contract ... and to her beloved, Ben.

Anyone doubt me when I say that we had a flood on day one?  Yeah, didn't think so.

And there's a wedding in the works (November 30th) and that's what's on our minds now.  Floods don't bother me now ...   HOWEVER, if the wedding goes off as planned, well, it'll be the hottest day of the year and yet, it'll rain.  We won't be ready on time and the dress will be delivered to Kansas.  And the whole place will flood.  I just know it.

'Cuz we're Kahles.

Warning: Graphic Images Warning: Graphic Images Warning: Grrrrrr.....

Sometimes I just don't have the strength to ................... and other times I just don't have the strength to ......................   You may fill in those blanks for me cuz I just don't have any strength left.

Yawn.

Wait, I'm typing.  That's a good sign.

So ... here's the latest.

Our being-built house began to get ready just a little too quickly.  Suddenly we had a date for closing and we hadn't even put our current house on the market.  I brought in a friend to help me de-clutter the current house ... and the job was so big that we filled up a giant pod (still sitting on my driveway) with clutter still being found everywhere, around the house.

Know what ISN'T CLUTTER?  TV remotes.  My packer packed and packed and packed.  She packed up everything.  She packed up remotes.  Yes, we are TVless.  And yes, we are sad.

But the house finally began to take shape and look purt near ready to put on the market, which it now is.

However, we still couldn't slow down the progress of the house we were having built.  So, we cancelled that one, and bought us a new one.  This is now HOUSE #3 that we have attempted to build.  I've chosen tile and flooring and bricks and carpet and cabinet colors and drawers and who knows what else for TWO HOUSES so far ... and this Friday, I'll go at it again.  Whee.  Picking all those colors and textures and styles and carpet just isn't the fun that it sounds like.  In fact, it's a four hour long experience of realizing that you can't afford what you want and you can afford everything you don't like.  Harumph.

So, the house is for sale, the new house is selected and right in the middle of it all .... Rick does this:

The boy done got the surgery that he has wanted for so long.

This is good.  Except we have our current house on the market and getting Rick and the dog out of the house for the showings is also not the fun that you'd think it would be!

Wanna know what else?

Those pictures you see above?  They upset someone.  They caused someone to say that I had no right to post them.

Know what else?

I don't care!

Ya know that address of my new, soon to be built house?  Said person ain't gonna get my address.

And that makes all of this worth it!

Hello new house, goodbye old house.  Hello surgery and new back and goodbye person who got squeemish!

Life is fun.

Graphic photos are funner.

.

spoke. too. soon.

There will be no surgery today and poor Rick was counting the moments. 

Rick needs an Echocardiogram (EKG?) and a stress test.   Those two items alone we were told he'd already had so there was no need to worry.  Well, I should've worried.  I'm worried now ...

So:   new roof  -  check
         new wall  -  check
         new non-buckling floor  -  check
         new house  -  check
         new back surgery  -  FORGET IT.

I am not frustrated, I am not frustrated, I am not frustrated, I am not frustrated.
I AM FRUSTRATED.

Those thirty-seven days till surgery?  The count is growing ... with no end in sight.

Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, one hundred eleven ...

.

Two thousand seventeen ....


.

some things are just so simple ...

Some things are so simple, they're funny.  And some things are so ridiculously simple that you just stand and marvel at them.

This, however, is not one of those things.

Surgery for Rick has been in the works since NOVEMBER.  That's November of last year.  He was scheduled for a spine stimulator trial in November that didn't actually happen until JANUARY 30TH.  Two days later and it would've been February.  Good grief.

So, after the trial, and after we were told he qualified, we were told that he would receive the "real" surgery, the "real" stimulator within two weeks ... four weeks at the VERY MOST.  Um, it's been THIRTY-SEVEN DAYS now and surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. 

HOWEVER ...

We're only a "GO" if  Doctor A will sign off on the procedure, which she won't do until she receives a copy of the cardiac clearance that was faxed to the surgeon.  The cardiologist sent the clearance to the surgeon, skipping Doctor A.  In the meantime, the hospital needs the chest XRAY that Doctor A is in possession of ... but won't send until she has the cardiac clearance.

So ... our family room wall is being repaired right this moment; the floor-buckling people are at my house right now fixing the floor-buckles; our roof is being replaced on Friday and I have packers coming tonight to help me load up the POD that's sitting in my driveway.  It's easier to plan a house move ... than to schedule Rick's surgery.

He's smiling here.  He won't be, though, once I tell him the good news ...

                 

This about sums up my life right now ...

This does, too ...

.

ABC ... as simple as 1,2,3

1. Leaking roof         check
2. Buckling wall       check
3. Blown transmission         check
4. House for sale at the worst possible time     check
5. $25,000 deductible for insurance claim       check
6. Trying to declutter a very cluttered home    check
7. Five foggy windows and one broken one    check
8. Brand new wood floor that's already buckling      check
9. New home being built WAAAY too fast               check

But none of this matters.  Nope, none.  Cuz' ...

WE'VE GOT A SURGERY DATE!

This handsome young man is getting ready to go under the knife again and we are ecstatic!  Not many people would understand why we're so happy ... but he needs this surgery SO MUCH.

Ye Haw!    Almost pain-free, Rick!

SEVEN more days, Rick ...

.

so ....

... my dear, darling daughter wants to get married.
... my dear, darling husband had his "trial spine stimulator" removed.
... my dear, darling car is wreaking havoc on my life.
... my dear, darling daughter's cat adores me
and
... my dear, darling new house is being built faster than the speed of light ... and this is not good.  Not good because my dear, darling old house ain't near ready for being put on the market.

Oy vey.

I took Rick back to the hospital yesterday to have the trial "machine" ripped off of his back and the whole experience evaluated.  He passed with flying colors even though he had no idea what he was saying most of the time.  The man is completely sleep-deprived and I could see his brain exaggerating about how well the machine worked.  First it was 400%, then 75%, then 90%.  We let the 90% be the marker and yes, he was then approved for the next surgery that'll happen in three weeks.  Oh joy.  Another week, like we just had for him to recover from surgery ...  Whee.

Then my car decided to die and, of course, it was just fine when I got it over to the dealer.  Of course it was.  I hate my car.  It lies.  Maybe it exaggerates, too.  Maybe it just didn't want it's "machine" ripped out of its back.

And finally, there's a wedding pending.  And since I've never met the "boy", I'm about to rip the spine stimulator out of my dear, darling daughter's brain.  Uh huh.  No cash is coming out of my pocket till I at least meet my future son-in-law. 

Do you suppose a broken down Nissan Rogue would be a good wedding gift?

How about a cat?

.

oops

Rick is in so much pain today that we knew we had to call the doctor for advice.

"Is there any oozing or leaking at the surgery site?" he asked.

Um, well, um ...   I actually didn't know I was supposed to be changing his dressing.  I actually didn't even think of it.   So, naturally, I HAVE NO IDEA! 

Well, how was I supposed to know that I had to do such awful work!  I don't want to see that, ESPECIALLY if it's leaking and oozing.

And, um, can't Rick do that?  Never mind that he can't see back there.  Or reach back there.

So, um, I told the doctor no, it was not leaking or oozing.  Well, if I can't see it, it ain't happening.

Shut up.

Maybe the cat can do it.  She's pretty flexible.

.

two days and counting ...

Rick is supposed to feel great on the third day following his surgery.  Things are not headed in that direction.  I think they're headed to Tennessee instead.

His incision site is more painful than the pain that he had going into this procedure.  Okay, we knew that might happen.  

He was told that he needed to give it two or three days to get past the surgery soreness.  Okay, we are approaching that.  The "two days" is here and "three days" is soon coming.

The remote control he has to control the pain was charged up, we were told, and ready to use.  Okay, not charged.

Yet, because he would feel so great, he wouldn't even need to adjust the pain controller remote thingy.  Okay, not feeling great ... how do you charge up the thingy?

So, instead of Rick walking around yelping in pain previously ... he's now sitting around yelping in pain constantly.

Um, something has gone terribly awry.  Yep.

Unless he wakes up with a song on his lips tomorrow morning ... I will deem this trial surgery a "misfire".

I, however, am going under the knife for a lobotomy.  Since Rick had his surgery, the dog has been sleeping with me ... and I must be out of my mind for allowing this. 

Wait, let's just give the dog a lobotomy. 

Couldn't hurt.

;)

Oy vey.

.

just because ...

Welcome to Medical City Frisco

Because we haven't ever gotten to check out this particular hospital in Frisco, we decided that Rick should have some surgery done here.  Uh huh.  That's the only reason.  And isn't it nice how they welcomed us?  We're not even there yet and we get a "welcome to" message.  I wonder what we'll get when we actually arrive?

They claim that Healthcare is better in the City.

Good thing we don't live in the country.

But seriously (or not) we've never gotten to visit THIS hospital before.  Heck, I didn't even know this hospital existed and here it is just minutes from my house.  I hope they have a good gift shop.  And a good cafeteria.  That's my only criteria, you know, shopping and eating.  And more shopping, and occasionally checking in on Rick.

So, after all is said and done (and believe me, I've said plenty), we FINALLY have a surgery date for Rick.  He's been waiting for over two months for this particular trial surgery and we have high hopes for its success.

I'm expecting great things after this.

Like a trip to Hawaii, a trip to Europe, a new car, a new house, jewels, money and ...

well, I am getting a new house ...

Thanks Rick.  Your pain guarantees me lots of fun things!  I hope you get something out of it, too.

-------------------------------------

Tuesday Morning at 9:15 AM Texas time, Rick will be under the knife.  Please lift him in prayer for a successful and uneventful surgery!

The guy there on the left has been through so much.

(:^)

2017 in review ...

2017 has closed out.  Gone.  Kaput.  Kicked to the curb.

We ended it with a bang, literally.

Our house is falling apart around us, with creaking noises going on overhead incessantly.  None of our doors are tight so cold air seeps in all the time, in all the wrong places.  Several of our toilets flush at will, usually during the middle of the night. And just as we were about to sit down and watch that ol' ball drop ... the oven kicked the bucket.  Out came the crockpot for our dinner.

So, as we plan to move in 2018, we will not be sad to see this house go.  No oven (although we did reboot it and get it to work), no heat (because I turned the heater off and it thought I meant FOR GOOD), no fireplace logs (used them all, trying to warm up the house), creaking, creaking and MORE creaking, flushing toilets (ghosts?), and several ruined floors from several broken pipes awhile back.   And a peeing dog that helps keep those ruined floors ... ruined.

Yep, we couldn't get out of 2017 fast enough.

So what does 2018 hold for us?

A new house (that'll break us for sure), back surgery for Rick (that'll break us more), a daughter in Hawaii who constantly needs help financially (need I say it, we're broke) and a move (that's it, we're officially poor) done in two parts.  We'll need to take an apartment after we sell our house ... and before we can move into the new house.  My hands are already up in the air in desperation.

But 2018 won't be all bad.  Did I mention that we're getting a new house?  A NEW house.  Literally.  And nothing goes wrong in new houses, right?  Oh, shut up.

We won't be too much further from where we are now ... but we will be out of the Frisco tax umbrella.  We will not live in a creaking house (can I get a BIG AMEN!?) and our peeing dog ... well, he's coming with us ... unless I kill him first.  The toilets might just flush on cue, and the house might just be warm.  And maybe the pipes won't freeze and flood.

There is hope for us in 2018.  The biggest hope is for Rick.  He will be having back surgery that is supposed to be the be-all/end-all back surgery.  It is supposed to put an end to his pain.  And for that, we can only say that no matter what, 2018 will be a good year.

2018, here we come!!!!

.

64 and counting

My husband turns 64 tomorrow.  He's THAT MUCH CLOSER to retirement age, although he's basically already retired.  The man hasn't worked since 1997.

Now, before you go thinking he's a bum of some sort, he ain't.  This man would be working if he had a choice, but he has no choice.  He just isn't able to work since his brain injury nearly 20 years ago.  AND ... it all started because he was a workaholic.  He literally worked himself to death.  Well, to near death anyway.

So, what does being 64 mean?  Besides being oh-so-close to 65?  Welp, it means that the Kahles have to think about moving now.  It's always been in the distant future but now we're within a year.  May I say UGH?

Rick was blessed to have been given $1810 per month for 'long-term disability' back in 1997.  That's a nice piece of change, yes ... but not when that's your only income and you're a grown adult with a family and a house.  So, yes, we were blessed.  But there wasn't much left over ever to save.

In one year - one year exactly, mind you - Rick will no longer receive that money.  It all stops at age 65.  I do not want age 65 to come any sooner than it has to.  I really don't know what we're going to do.

Oh yes, I do.  We'll be moving.  Whee.

So, giving up our big ol' house in Frisco is not the problem.  It's a money pit anyway.  And it needs so much work done to it.  So, that's not the problem.  But finding an affordable place to live?  THAT'S A PROBLEM.  We'd love to stay in Frisco.  But that's a problem.  Houses here are not available and if you do find one ... and you are lucky enough to secure one before it ever hits the market ... then you will be paying an exorbitant amount for it ... and it won't be worth it.

Still not a problem, if you can find one.  Our current house will be worth more, too.  Although not in it's current money pit condition.  Anyone have an extra $100,000 laying around to fix ours up?

Surrounding areas are not much better and are offering homes that are WAY out of our reach, too.

So, I think I found a house for us.

The housewarming party will be on his 65th birthday.  Bring your axe.

And some dynamite.

.

25 and counting

We are 25 days away from beginning our second adventure in filming ... and the subject has gotten sick. 25 days?  That's a long time, right?  Yes. And no. I have faith that Janette will rally and be as good as new, despite Pneumonia and a host of fluid around her liver. Rick lives with fluid around his heart, so ... oh wait, that's a bad example.  But she will be fine. The fluid will be drained on Monday. Janette's fluid will, not Rick's. Rick has to live with his.

So, two subjects are sick ... is that what I'm saying?

Nope. Three are. Rick just gave me his cold.  Yes, in addition to the fluid on his heart, he has a cold. And now, so do I.

If this cold would only take my appetite, we'd be in business. But two out of three sick people have lost their appetites and one hasn't. Yep, my appetite is doing fine, darn it.

Quadruple chin, here we come.

Maybe I can catch some of everyone's fluid and it'll wash away my appetite. Or my chin.

Or my shoes.

Being sick made me want to go shopping. I bought some shoes.

And a car.

But I don't want the car washed away ...


😉

long day ...

Actual conversation that took place in my closet this morning ...

"Rick, can you step out of the closet for a moment, so that I can get ready?"

"But I have to be at the doctor at 11:00."

"But I have to be at work at 8:00.   Rick, you have four hours to get ready."

"Three and a half."

"What?  Whatever.  Please step out."

"I.  HAVE.  TO.  BE.  THERE.  AT.  11:00."

"I get that.  But since I have to be there at 8:00, could you give me a moment, FIRST?"


Rick left the closet, grumbling, and then grabbed his planner and his coat and his keys and headed to the car.


"Where are you going?"

"I told you.  I have to be at the doctor's at 11:00."

We then headed to our one and only car and headed to my work, which, of course, I was now late to.

"You can pick me up at 4:30 today."

"If I'm back from the doctor ...  You know, I have to be there at 11:00."

what some people won't do to get out of paying their taxes ...

Here's something fun to do on a Sunday ....

 Give your husband the drops that go in the dog's ears .... 

                                then tell the dog to run!!!!

Just kidding.  I didn't tell the dog to run.  The dog did that on her own.

Then Rick and I RAN to the ER.  Yep, down he went.  Up, he couldn't do.

So, yeah.  We spent the afternoon at the ER and now Rick is home spending his days upon the couch.  And me?  I'm spending my days and nights and nights and days waiting on him hand and foot.

And mouth.

I've run out to Taco Bell more times than I care to note.

And the dog hasn't tripped me once!

.

so, just what've we learned this year?

1) Hospital stays don't last forever.
2) Hospital stays feel like they're going to last forever.
3) Hospital stays are long forgotten when something funner comes along.
4) Something you've wanted for nearly 58 years just may actually come to you.
5) Something you've wanted for nearly 58 years may not be as scary as you think it will be.
6) Something you've wanted for so many years ... still may not feel like you've got it.  You're brain may still be searching for it.
7) Milk spoils.
8) Eggs spoil.
9) Some children are spoiled ... but not yours.  Or mine.
10) Being an empty-nester is awesome, except on Christmas day.
and
11) Something you've wanted for 58 years, that's going to appear on TV in three months ... WILL FEEL LIKE IT'S TAKING 58 YEARS TO HAPPEN.

It's going to be the longest 3 months of my life.

Famous last words.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

one moment in time

It's been one of those nights. It followed one of those days. And it culminated in this night. One of this night. One of ... those nights?  These nights?  It. Is. Still. This. Night.   Make it go away!

First, I had to pay a handyman. He wasn't home so I slid the check under the mat at his front door.  When he asked me about his money, I told him what I had done. And no, the check was no longer there. Of course it wasn't. And chances are, he doesn't believe that I actually did leave it there.

Next I had to pay a pest control service so they would come back to my rental property and perform their final service. I paid them ... but they didn't get it. Of course they didn't. So they didn't come.

Rick is busy filling out some forms for a new doctor he's hoing to tomorrow.   "How do you spell stenosis?"  I yell back that I don't know, even though I do.

And while he fills put repetitive paperwork, I am busy baking a cake that I have to bring to my work tomorrow in honor of the October birthdays. I wanted it to be homemade so I worked hard at this cake. All night.  It truly is a masterpiece. A masterpiece of mush. I created a strawberry cake with a wonderful buttercream frosting.  I also baked cookies because ... I had some extra time on my hands???  Sure. Okay.  Too bad they burned. But it was okay. Extra time, remember?

The buttercream frosting was too sweet. TOO SWEET. So I did what they suggested ... I added milk.  And suddenly I had soupy too sweet frosting on my hands. To thicken it up, I added more butter.  Now it was too buttery as well as too sweet. I took another tip from the recipe maker and added two tablespoons of cocoa powder. And now I had a light brown version of this too sweet, way too buttery buttercream frosting.

I went ahead and frosted my cake, knowing that this cake would not be going to work with me tomorrow.  It was a poor version of Neapolitan, as the white buttercream was not mixed very well with the chocolate powder. White was peeking out from everywhere. And it wasn't until I finished frosting the cake that I noticed in the recipe that I had missed one step. Kind of an important step, I might add.  Beat at medium speed for five minutes. Yep, missed that. I was lucky to have completed two minutes.  But hey, I'm  impatient.

"How do you spell hospital?" Rick called out.

I cleaned up the kitchen, I packed up my cookies. I prepared my lunch and I took care of the dog. I cooked dinner (well, dominoes did) and I got all of my laundry started.  Too bad I didn't get it finished though. I ran out of extra time.

And I may never have free time again, judging by all the messes that I have yet to clean up.

And all the words I need to spell for Rick ...

.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

Could a day get any worse?

No, really, could it?

Good grief!    From a moving company that doubled their price by counting their footsteps (and not parking by the nearest door...) to having to FIRE the moving company after many arguments over their price ... to a doctor's appointment gone bad ... to the declining health of your husband who refuses to take the necessary steps to "fix" himself ... to unlimited arguements with said husband over taking care of himself ... to a negative balance in your checkbook causing many bounced checks ... to some bills that didn't get paid ... to the capper of the evening; finding out that the awful moving company charged you a huge cancellation fee and plans to keep your deposit as well.

And then the dog threw up.

Then she pooped in the kitchen.

I'd slit my wrists (just kidding) if I hadn't received the good news that ...

MY DAUGHTER GOT A JOB AT DISNEYLAND TODAY!!!  Yee haw!   I've got free Disneyland passes!  I mean, SHE got free Disneyland passes!  (For me.)

And I booked a trip out to see her in November AND December!

Take THAT moving company!   Oh wait.  I doubt they care.

;)

26 years

So ... just how DID we spend our anniversary?  Outside of the hospital, I mean?  

We got home from the hospital around 4:00 AM and dove straight into bed.  After about five hours of sleep, we headed to a TGI Fridays to have lunch.  TGI Fridays, because that's where we met ... 

29 years ago on a blind date.  

We like to return there and reminisce.  We didn't actually meet at this particular one in Plano, Texas ... but it's close enough.

Then these two crazy kids pulled out a camera.

Yep, that's how we celebrated.  

We were scheduled to have dinner that night at a Brazillian Steak House but after a short hospital stay ...

and zero sleep (no that five hour nap does not count for quality sleep)

we did not make it to dinner that night.  Or the next night.  Or the next.

I'm still waiting for my special dinner.

Sigh.

Happy Anniversary, Rick.

Let's try not to celebrate our 27th in the hospital.

.

T minus 2 again

The first T minus 2 didn't happen.  It couldn't.  The T minus 2 girl herself just couldn't get packed in time.  T minus 2 girl didn't get her car checked over, her apartment cleaned nor her apartment checked out of, either.  She certainly didn't have the time to turn off her utilities and perhaps get some money back.  No, T minus 2 girl is still here.

We have a new T minus 2 time.  The ol' girl is set to leave now on Tuesday morning.  At 4:00 AM.  No, I will not be up at that time to say goodbye.  Well, I might be, but I'm not planning on it.

So, what else happened in the last week?  Well, suffice it to say that it's a good thing that T minus 2 girl didn't leave yet because that ol' dancing fool on the last post?  You know, Twinkle Toes?  Well, he done danced himself right into the hospital on Tuesday night.  Actually it was Wednesday morning.  All evening, Tuesday night, Fred Astaire was having extreme pain in his left hip.  And at midnight, Tuesday night (or early Wednesday morning) Fred asked me to take him to the Emergency Room.  Normally he doesn't like hospitals, so when he asks to go... we go.   No, WE GO!  And we did.

The pain THIS time is caused by arthritis.  Not from too much dancing.  And why it cropped up now?  Well, Gene Kelly forgot to tell me that he was out of his pain pill.  So he was pain pill-less.  And pain full.

Know what else I learned?  When we checked into the ER I signed everything 9/8/15.  The nurse there quickly told me that it wasn't 9/8 ... it was now 9/9.    And I quickly told him ... oh, great.  It's also my wedding anniversary now.   SERIOUSLY, RICK???  What great timing you have.

The nurse took a liking to us and brought us an anniversary meal.

And ya know what?  We ate it.

You just haven't had an anniversary dinner until you've had one with Rick...

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