As Misty's World Turns - October 2004


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Oct. 1, 2004

Bit by bit things are getting back to normal here. I spent the morning putting everything back out on the porch, and in the yard. The worst part were the ornamental low voltage lights. Getting up and down is not a strong point of mine these days. My FMS has kicked in lately and pain is my constant companion again. I do a little something and I have to sit down and recover. Between the FMS and these chest pains, I'm not getting much accomplished.

I stopped at Home Depot yesterday and bought screen material and spline to repair the porch screens. Naturally I'd bought the wrong sized spline. So I went back this morning with a piece of the spline I need to replace. Now all I have to do is figure out how I'm going to get the screens redone. There's no way in hell I'm going to be able to tackle that job. I'll have to see if my brother can do it....if he ever gets back to normal hours. He works for an insurance company, and right now he's putting in 10 hour days, 7 days a week.

Oct. 4, 2004

Today is a double anniversary for me. A year ago today I had my first heart surgery, and a year ago today I had my last cigarette. I no longer dream of smoking, however I still WANT ONE in the worst way. I guess that feeling will diminish over time, or then maybe it won't. I do know one thing. If the doctor were to tell me tomorrow I have 6 months to live, I'd buy as many cigarettes as I could afford and smoke 24/7 till I keeled over.

I tried to rescreen the back porch today. Talk about visions of grandeur! The only thing I really seemed to accomplish was to get the old screen ripped out along with the old spline, and lots of chest pain. Putting up screen is definitely a two (or 3) person job. There's no way in hell you can hold up screen, put in screen, and put in spline at the same time. I'm just going to have to wait till I can get my brother to help me.

Oct. 6, 2004

Like many Americans I watched the debate between the Vice President, and Senator Edwards last night. I find it mind boggling that there are still people who think this administration is doing a good job. If it were only Democrats who believed this I could understand. But when more and more well respected Republicans also agree that this administration is killing America, I begin to wonder what's wrong. Every month more and more Americans return home in body bags. Every month more and more Americans return home with a limb missing, or some other horrible disability and or deformity. This is the only administration ever to make it their policy not to allow film and photos of dead soldiers returning home. Why would you make it your policy not to show these photos unless you had something to hide.

I keep thinking how this administration reminds me of the child's story of the Emperor's New Clothes. Where the Emperor keeps telling folks he's got beautiful clothing on when in actuality he's naked. That's George Bush. He tells you the economy is great.....while more Americans lost jobs in the last 4 yrs than ever before. He tells you the war in Iraq is going well....as the numbers of dead and seriously wounded soldiers climbs every month. He tells you he cares about Americans....as more people lose health coverage, jobs, and homes.

This morning my Mom and I had the opportunity to see John Edwards live at a rally in West Palm Beach. This man has it all, looks, character, charm, and most importantly intelligence. Something I might add neither President Bush or V.P. Dick Cheney have. We arrived at the convention center around 9 am and secured a place in line. About 10 am they began to let you into the hall. Thankfully there was seating for the handicapped. They also provided cold water to the crowd too. Listening to Senator Edwards speak was a thrill for both of us. My hope is that more and more people will see this adminstration for what it is, and end it come election day.

Oct. 11, 2004

I've been trying to recoup from my weekend. The yard and the pond area hadn't been touched since hurricane Jeanne roared through here several weeks ago. I had gotten most of the shingles out of the yard, but I hadn't touched the pond area. So my weekend job was to drain the pond, clean it out, plant flowers again (the other ones were blown away), and get the pump and fountain working on the pond. Draining it was easy, I just made sure the fountain spilled out of the pond. But cleaning it out was a different story. It was full of tree limbs, leaves, and various other things. All I had was a pond skimmer and I knew that wasn't going to work. Thankfully we have a really nice family next door, so I borrowed their shovel.

As soon as I started to drain the pond I saw all this stuff swimming in the water. I knew right off it was mosquito larva. Sure enough, once the pond was drained the mosquitos were thick. I sprayed myself...and the pond area....really good with repelant. I'm not sure it worked all that well since I look like a giant mosquito bite now. Four hours later the pond was drained, cleaned, filled and the fountain was perking along. The flowers were planted and the bird bath cleaned and filled. Of course I'm not walking now and I can't bend over, but the place looks nice again. It's amazing how much work is involved with preparing for a hurricane. Everything that isn't nailed down has to be removed. Almost as much work as cleaning up AFTER a hurricane! lol

I spent my morning at the mall shopping. Those who know me know I'm not a "shopper". But I thought it was time to cash in on some of the Columbus Day sales. I'm going to my girl friend's house in Kentucky next weekend, and I didn't have anything warm to wear. Plus I had to find the perfect gift to take too along. lol I was able to find a really cute 3 piece jogging outfit, a few blouses, and some sleep wear. I'd tried to find comfortable shoes but I don't think they make such a thing! If they do it's certainly not in my price range. What I'd really like to find are some comfotable loafers. Something I can slip on and off at ease. Ever since 9/11 they require you to remove your shoes at the airport. Who's brilliant idea this is I'm not sure. I do know it sucks when you're pressed for time and in a long line of people.

Oct. 14, 2004

I've just spent the last few hours watching Fahrenheit 9/11. This is a movie that every man, woman and child should see. What I learned about our President watching this movie is as startling as some of the photographic footage.

I had NO IDEA about the relationship between George W. Bush...(and his family)...to members of Osama Bin Laden's family. The Bush family and the Bin Laden's were on the same board of an American company. While George H.W. Bush was President, people in Iraq funded George W's failing business ventures. While George W. Bush was Governor of Texas members of the Taliban visited him.

Another fact I wasn't aware of was that the government not only allowed Bin Laden's family to leave the U.S. after 9/11...they HELPED them to leave WITHOUT allowing police and other investigators to interview them. Why????

This is a movie everyone should see. My heart goes out to the families of the dead...both in our country and in Iraq. My heart goes out to the maimed. Men and women without legs, arms, hands. Whose lives will never be the same again. To go to war when it's justified is one thing. To go to war when you've lied to the American public is another. May God have mercy on us!

Oct. 15, 2004

Mom, my nephew Brian and I went to Perkins for breakfast this morning. Brian was wearing his "Kerry Edwards" pin and I was wearing mine. None of us leaves home without them. (lol) Our waitress came over and said, "I see you're campaigning this morning." I said to her, "absolutely." She said she was glad to see we were campaigning for the right man.

She said that under Clinton she had a good job in a company in New Mexico. She had her own home, and money in the bank. She said soon after George W. Bush took office she lost her job. Several months later she said she got another job. Only to lose that job after 9/11. She told us her job had been sent to India! She said after losing her job she had to sell her home in New Mexico and move to Florida to live with her father. She said she no longer had any money, and was forced to find a job waiting tables. She said to us, "I'm one of those people who is DEFINITELY NOT better off now than I was 4 years ago!" I said that neither of us were either. I think the only people who are better off must be millionaires.

Oct. 26, 2004

Over the weekend I flew to Kentucky to visit a friend of mine. We've been friends for many, many years, but we'd never met before. This was also my first time flying alone. My flight up was nice. No turbulence, a nice seat mate, and a window seat! When I got to the airport I realized it was HUGE. I had to ask for directions to the baggage area. Jeannie and her husband were going to meet me in the baggage area. I came down the escalator and was amazed at the sea of faces of people waiting to meet frieinds and relatives. I thought to myself there's no way I'll ever see her in this crowd. Then I happened to look up and there they were!

Jeannie was just like I'd imagined her to be, and her husband is as sweet as they come. I had a really nice time with both of them. The trees were near peak there. It had been so many years since I'd seen the change of leaves, and felt cold temps. I loved it. Unfortunately by Saturday night I had to repack to head home Sunday. Maybe the next time I go to visit I'll stay longer. lol

My trip home was uneventful. Before I knew it we were coming in to West Palm Beach again. From the air all you can see is a sea of blue. The Government had given away blue tarps for people with roof damage. From the air that's all you can see. The minute I stepped off the plane I could feel the heat and humidity. I was home. :)

My sister called me today to invite Mom and I to dinner. She also announced that her husband had been laid off from his job last week. She had been laid off from her job 2 weeks ago. So now neither one of them are working. I hear this more and more lately. People who've held down good paying jobs, suddenly without work. I really think this is just the tip of the ice berg, and if Kerry doesn't get in I'm afraid you'll see more of this happening. Mom and I went out to dinner tonight. I wore my Kerry for President T-shirt. As we got up to leave the lady across the isle said that she loved my shirt. I stopped to talk to her and her friend. We all agreed we needed to keep our fingers crossed in hopes that Kerry would get it. I worry what will become of all of us if Bush gets re-elected.

Oct. 28, 2004

We went to the hearing aid place this morning. Before we went I cleaned out my Mom's ears. They're all the time suggesting she see an ear guy to have them cleaned out, but christ who can afford another doctor? Especially when I can clean them out just as good for free. Must be I do good work too, she said they looked great today. (lol) After the hearing aid place we went to the Cracker Barrel for lunch....for the last time! We sat there for 40 minutes waiting for 2 eggs for mom, and the lunch special for me. Unbelievable, and naturally both orders we cold. This isn't the first time we've had problems like that at this location. Needless to say we won't be going there again.

When we got home I went to bed and slept until 5:30 pm. After dinner I felt like getting out, so we went to one of the ritzier malls nearby. We've got 2 cheap malls and 2 VERY high price malls. The cheap ones you shop at, the expencive ones you stroll through. (lol) So we strolled through the mall then stopped and got a drink. I enjoy people watching.

My friend has felt bad that I've not felt good since I got home from her house. I knew I'd have some bad days after I came up, but I often have bad days for no reason too. So at least I can look back on my weekend with fond memories. If I quit doing things because it would cause me pain, I'd have died a long time ago. With FMS you just have to push yourself to go on sometimes. It's a lot easier to just go to bed and never get up, but that's not living. I may not live to be very old, but dammit I'm going to enjoy what time I've got!

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