Planning appointment...

Had an appointment at the C center today, they said it was a planning appointment. I thought that meant we’d huddle around the computer screen and the dr would explain his plan. NOPE. We made the mold for the mask today which was kind of cool and kind of creepy. They have me lie down on a CT table (WAIT! NO ONE SAID I WOULD BE HAVING A CT SCAN! I’m claustrophobic and need to prep with meds. I try to be cool, but I’m totally freaking out.) They take what looked like a sheet of latex (but it’s plastic or rubber because so many people are allergic) kind of shaped like a head and face (that’s the creepy part) and they put it in a stainless steel box full of hot water (autoclave maybe?) wait for the timer to ding, then lay it over my face and head and put a hard plastic form over my face, clamp it on, then start pressing all over to get all the nooks and crannies of my face pushed in for the mold. Meanwhile, my eyes have been closed since just before the loose sheet of plastic went over my face and I’m deep breathing and trying to concentrate on counting backwards from 100. I forget track of my counting several times, but that’s ok, because it’s a diversion from having the plastic face form clamped on my head and the fact that the table is moving into the CT scanner.  It moved in and out multiple times, then 2 techs walk in and announce they are done. They unclamp the mask and I let out a huge exhale and gasp for air. They freak and ask what’s wrong. I tell them I’m claustrophobic and they ask why didn’t I say something. I say cuz I was told this was a planning meeting, you know, sitting around the computer screen and telling me the plan. Then they gasp and hold back a laugh and say no, this is what planning is and they apologized and told me how well I did getting through it. Then they ask this large woman, large STRONG woman and another woman to come in to lift me into a seated position on the table with my legs dangling off the side. It was 1-2-3 wooo and I’m dizzy cuz they lifted me so fast. I’m not kidding, I was dizzy and had to sit there a few minutes. Lying down to seated in 5 seconds! I was shaking a little as one of them walked me to my spouse and to the front doors.  My first treatment is Monday afternoon. I’m going to call and find out if I will be in the CT scanner because I cannot do that again. I still don’t know how I didn’t have a full blown panic attack. I dapped a ton of lavender essential oils all over my nostrils and under my nose. My sister-in-law, the super essential oils salesperson would tell me it was the lavender oil. But that wasn’t the only thing that saved me. 

They seriously pulled something in my lower back. I need to be sitting a a pool of ice. I am icing, but it’s never enough when the spouse and I are both using the ice packs and all the ice coming out of the fridge ice dispenser. I wanted to get up on my own off that table, I’ve done it myself almost 10 times this year with all the CT scans and MRI’s. I CAN do it, and I’ve never hurt like this when I got up on my own. Tomorrow I’m not going anywhere, I’m taking muscle relaxants, icing, sleeping, and praying.

For sale signs

Drummer Boy /Metallica Head’s run down inhabitable house is for sale. Whoever buys it will need to demolish it and build new. Yes, it’s that bad. Hoping that Camelot Homes snaps it up and builds new. They’ve done 2 houses on a empty land corner. One of them is complete, the other nearing completion. All brick homes. They recently demolished a condemned house 2 blocks down and have begun building a new house. So it’s not far fetched that Camelot Homes would buy Drummer Boy /Metallica Head’s place.

The frat boys who have been re-habbing the House next door (the old man’s house) finished last week. I could tell because they painted the front door red and spent a couple hours taking photos of the property. A For Sale sign went up the next day. We will miss the frat boys. They were pretty quiet for frat boys, still had parties, but never loud. They were always polite.

It will be a long time before we have a new neighbor across the street, but next door should be fairly quick. I hope they are friendly and not haters. Maybe I should put out the Pride Flag. Maybe weed out the haters and attract LGBT people or supporters. Just thought of that now. I’ll have to talk with my wife. LGBT or not, we’d love to have REAL neighbors. The kind I had growing up that actually talked to their neighbors, socialized, helped each other out. Do those kind of neighbors even exist anymore?

Lola’s Diner c2008-2018

Happy 4th of July...through the years

When I was a kid growing up in a southeast suburb of Milwaukee every 4th of July was the same. We had a tradition. Dad would drop us kids off at the high school where the parade was lining up. He and Mom would park at the VFW and Dad would help set up the free ice cream and soda for the kids walking in the parade. 

Each elementary school had a section, the high school marching band, the old timey fire trucks, tractors and convertibles with the Mayor and various beauty pageant winners. We walked in the parade every year for our elementary school. 

Did you notice the part where I typed that the kids walking in the parade got ice cream and soda? Yeah, you didn’t think we just did it for the tradition did you? There were orange push-ups for the little kids and the rest got ice cream cups with a wooden spoon. There was pop too. Orange Fanta, Rootbeer, and RED Fanta. I don’t know what that flavor was, but it was the sweetest soda on the planet. If you were lucky enough to score a Red Fanta you got the biggest sugar rush ever, if you ate part of the ice cream and then made yourself a lil Red Fanta float. Do they still sell Red Fanta? It’s not Strawberry, not cherry, not fruit punch, it’s just RED.

After the ice cream and soda there were the usual contests:  cutest baby, best decorated bike, and baseball games. At dusk there were fireworks. And of course the beer was flowing in the VFW hall. We always left after my Dad helped clean up after the ice cream and soda. We weren’t into watching the ball games or the contests. After I got my first car we’d go back later for the fireworks and meet up with our friends.

Living in Chicago when my kids were little we didn’t know of any 4th parades, so it was a good excuse to drive up for my hometown parade. We’d pack a picnic basket or bring the Hibatchi and hot dogs, spread a blanket on the grass on a prime viewing spot. High enough to see, but low enough so the kids could catch Bazooka gum thrown when the fire trucks passed by. 

Making the long drive every year and having to do all the packing and driving got too much with my long hours at the village. I found a parade near Chicago, in Skokie that we started to go to. They didn’t have the ice cream and soda, but they did have the Shriners in those tiny cars, and I got pretty adept at finding parking close.

Nowadays we really don’t do anything for the 4th. Our burb does do a parade. They close off a main street nearby. It’s drop off or walk. We will bbq. We’re having ribs (thank you Jewel and your buy 1 rack, get 2 Free!) I’m planning on making homemade potato salad in the Instant Pot. My daughter has to work...4pm-8pm. What a crummy shift! We’ll be driving home right about the time all the neighborhood shenanigans start. (Illegal fireworks.) I’m not a spoil sport, if you want to drive to Indiana, spend a paycheck or 2 on illegal fireworks and blow off a couple fingers, go for it. If you want to shoot them off everyday the week before, the week of, and for a month after, gah! Not a fan! I really am very glad to be in the burbs. When I lived in Chicago there would be gunshots all night. Here in the burbs we might get 1 hillbilly shoot off a rifle, but it’s not sounding like a war zone in Chicago.

I was so looking forward to chillin with some brewski’s, or Lime-a-Rita’s. Just relaxing. Hopefully I can get some chillin in before bedtime. Lol!

Enjoy the 4th! If you must diy your own spectacular fireworks display, be safe. If you can’t be safe...have good insurance. 

Lola's Diner ©2008-2017

Memory books Part 2

So I did it. I actually bought 2 really cool looking journals to use as Memory Books.

MALEDEN Refillable Spiral Daily Notepad Classic Embossed Travel Journal Diary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GRMG6R0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Y4epBbTZGCHQB

I also had to spring for a set of quick-drying, no smear fancy markers. Being left handed, the no smear is not optional.

So then I decided I had to get something to tote these around in and make use of wait times for all my appointments. Not a tote. NOT a purse. More like a cross body messenger bag. Just like the Bellino one which has vanished on me.

Bellino the Outback Sling, Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052ZGFAM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oWepBbYPW5SQ5

I think it took me 6 months to select that cross body messenger bag. I figure it will turn up after I buy a suitable stand in. 

So I got a deal on a Union Bay cross body bag. Not a messenger bag, but definitely NOT a purse. I’m not a purse person. Can we call it a satchel?

https://www.shopko.com//catalog/product.jsp?productId=206807&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=%5BPLA%5D+%5BNB%5D+State+-+Mobile&utm_content=Women+-+Handbags+%26+Accessories+-+Handbags+%26+Wallets+-+Union+Bay&cm_mmc=google-cpc-_-pla-_-women-_-19062488&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvezZBRDkARIsADKQyPmCUm8O-Etdj1zrlckiiseMicQWufQxxmGIZS71UBEDCB9kRI4wjw4aAjwLEALw_wcB

Ok, so it’s, kinda girly. But it’s also kinda 70’s...maybe? Boho? I have this thing lately about calling clothing and stuff Boho. So, it’s got that tassel goin on, that’s kind of Boho, right? It is a cross body bag. It’s very much that. I’m good with that. The 2 journals, pens and extra paper fit perfectly. Still room for a charger pack and phone cord too.

I’m so glad I painstakingly looked up photos for each item. Sorry, they are not showing up in the post. 🤨

Lola's Diner ©2008-2017

Memory books and boxes

Have you ever thought about writing a book with your memories for your children? Or doing a memory box? Do you have any ideas?

I went on Pinterest and got some ideas. I think the way I want to approach it is to take my Tupperware Photo Boxes, get them in chronological order. Start with those photos and not only write about them, but the spaces in between. And also write about my memories growing up. 

Because of my children’s illness’s they don’t talk much about before they became ill. I’m not sure if it’s the illness that caused them to lose those memories, or if they still have them but don’t talk about them because they don’t want to bring them up and possibly make me sad. My daughter brought one up about a week ago and I can’t even express how happy I was that she retained that one and that it was a happy one.

There is a noticeable gap between those photo boxes and photos saved from my Blackberry and iPhones onto my backup drive. 

I want to start taking more photos and start using the camera I bought for our wedding. 

Update: I ordered 2 journals on Amazon along with lined refills, a cabinet organizer thing, and my main reason for ordering...rubber covers for my Honda Key Fob. I had to spend $35 to get next day shipping. The key fob thing had me freaked out, since I can’t find the other fob and the valet key. (If my son would stop snooping and moving things around, the keys would be where I store them.) I had to get those suckers fast. My spouse was nice enough to check 2 nearby auto parts places. One used to sell them, can’t get them anymore, the other only had Ford covers left. Of course Amazon has everything. As soon as I ripped open the box I tore through it to find the 2 pack of covers, popped one out and put it on. That sucker is snug!

Lola's Diner ©2008-2018

Car repair is never ending

I bid farewell to the rental Cadillac. Pulled into the Enterprise lot. One last check of the back seat...still no baby.

Original diagnosis, passenger front sway bar had to be replaced. Oil change. Not too bad $. Spouse picked it up and me. Said something not right, still bad noise. So I drove it home. AWFUL noise. Dropped us at home and took it back and took the mechanic for a ride. Of course no noise! But she kept driving until it made noise. Diagnosis? Rear brakes AND rotors. And we still have power steering issues, either the hoses or the pump. Spouse wants to wait on the power steering. Nope. In my experience, Murphy’s law has always ruled. If the pump goes completely it could cause other problems. May have to split the repairs over Thursday and Friday because I have an appointment to get the results on my shoulders.

One silver lining? No payments on the Pilot! So I shouldn’t really complain, but all these repairs at once really hurts.

What hurts more, though, is to make the payment on the Odyssey every month when it has sat in the driveway for close to a year. 

                                               Lola's Diner ©2008-2018

New car!

And I even recalled how to parallel park a boat! I lived in Chicago driving an ‘84 Olds Cutlass Supreme when I lived in Wrigleyville-ish near LSD. I was a professional.

Ok, you know, it’s a rental and I got very lucky. I reserved a Full-Size car with Enterprise on Priceline. Went for pick up and they had none on the lot. They tried to give me a Ford Edge, I said No, No, No. (Amy Winehouse) I own a large SUV, can’t afford to rent one, but I did get an awesome deal for a full-size car. I won’t drive a small car. All my previous rentals I’ve luckily gotten upgraded, the last one was a Dodge Charger, before that a Dodge Caravan, before that a Dodge Challenger. So I got upgraded to Premium, same deal I got for a Full-size with Priceline online. 

And the guy said ‘Mam, what about a Cadillac STS?” 

Yes, he said ‘Mam’, but I let it slide because I got to drive away in a 2018 Cadillac STS! 

I was so excited! A Luxury automobile! Rich, probably not Corinthian leather, but leather (yes I have leather in my Honda Pilot, but this is new leather, with new leather smell!)

I feel like I’m cheating on my Honda Pilot! It will be a short affair, though it's really so nice having a driver’s seat that functions properly. I reserved for 2 days because we have a lot of medical appointments all over. My baby is going in the shop Tuesday morning. Same repair we had done to driver’s side front needs to be done to passenger front. I think it has to do with the axel, the ball joint that attaches the wheel. I’m sure it will be the usual $300. Because no matter what the problem is, that’s the bill. Hoping it’s done before I have to drop off...her. I really don’t want to pay for a 3rd days rental. 

So, let’s get to it. Heated and COOLED front and rear seats. (Love, especially since the dash was reading 100 degrees for the outside temperature.) 

Front and rear cameras, with audible alert when you come within a foot of a parked car.  The alert went off when I was parallel parking, I had my son get out and check, and I had plenty of room. 

Push button start. Touch screen everything. If ever a crime were committed with her there would be plenty of fingerprint evidence. 

When you turn the car off, an alert pops up to remind you to check the back seat.

I checked, no baby back there...I was all good. 

The ride. Meh. Not impressed. It did not feel like a luxury car ride. It felt like an SUV ride on the Interstate. Even my spouse commented about it. She said, ‘wtf, why does this feel like your Honda Pilot?’

I don’t know. Maybe it was the tires. I have bought all my tires for the Honda Pilot at Discount Tire. I am brand loyal, I only buy Kumho. I always get a lot more mileage than they are rated for, and they’re reasonably priced. The particular model I buy are SUV tires. Every time I’m in for new tires they try to upsell me to the tires for a luxury car ride. It’s an SUV, I bought it because it’s an SUV, why would I want to try to make it feel like it drives like a luxury car? I don’t get it. Perhaps they put inappropriate tires on the Cadillac to talk you into a set of luxury ride tires? Or maybe it’s just a thing for this year and model Cadillac?

And now for something completely different...

(Bonus points if you know where that line comes from.)

If I were to say Patti Smith, Madonna, Amy Winehouse, what would you say they have in common besides being singers?

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Armpit hair.

First I have to say my son and I must be telepathic. My daughter had bought several sleeveless Bohemian looking tops. I saw them, and said ‘how about these?’ She lit up. I didn’t think she’d go for it, but bought 2. She wore one when we were having lunch days later. First my son says, ‘hey you should probably shave more’. Her response was, ‘no, they don’t show much and I think they are fine’. My son and I lock eyes, I kid you not, we both started singing ‘they wanna make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no.’ Then he says you have Amy Winehouse pits. Then we looked at each other and sang it again. Then we sang it again and changed rehab to shave my pits. We laughed our butts off! We told my spouse, she didn’t get it. You might not either, but it was hilarious! And yes, I did follow up with a quick talk about, it’s your body, it’s your choice, many women choose not to shave there, or only trim. You decide for yourself. Your brother and I just locked eyes and started singing Amy Winehouse, we’re goofs like that.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2018