Preparations

I am finally getting around to thinking about setting out the Halloween decorations. Actually, I have a lot of them in storage, but I do have a couple of things to put out... and I have purchased the obligatory bags of candy.

I have even had my first taste of candy corn for the season... probably also my last! I'm more a fan of Tootsie Roll Pops and Snickers. Normally, I would have the nut bowl out on the coffee table in the livingroom filled with nuts and nutcrackers handy. However, the livingroom is currently housing moving boxes and the coffee table is in storage.

While moving things to boxes and generally cleaning up around the house, I have been plotting and scheming. That trivia game is going to be fun! I will probably have more fun planning it than the kids will have playing, but I can live with that!

Unfortunately, my planned family post is going to have to be put off until after the holidays. I don't have pictures of some family members that I want to include. So, I will attempt to remedy that over Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the meantime, I will continue to select from the pictures that I do have the ones that I want to use. As with the trivia game, I am probably going to have more fun working on the post than you will have reading it and seeing the pictures. I can live with that as well!

Fall Back

For those of you impacted by the pesky daylight savings thing each year, don't forget to turn your clocks back tonight. NOT being a morning person, it is always a difficult adjustment for me when we lose an hour. However, falling back means gaining an hour, so to speak, and that makes me a happy camper for a while... until I have to spring ahead. This rodent does no springing when I lose an hours sleep!

So fall back tonight if you are able... in the spring I will lug my weary carcass out of bed an hour earlier and curse whoever came up with the stupid idea. Why do they want to mess with our biorhythms anyway? Sheesh!

What's Going On?

Where do you think she is?
Ya got me.
That must be some post she's working on since her last one.
Yeah... how big IS her family?
Do you think that cable got fixed yet?
Who knows?
Should we keep waiting?
Huh?
Well, do you think she is coming back?
Ya got me!
Aw, lets give her a couple of days. Ok?
Okay by me.
Got any snacks?

A Bit Of Fun Ahead

I have decided to work on a post about my family with lots of pictures. If I had access to a scanner I could scan some of the pictures of my kids and myself from younger years. That is if I had access to the pictures... they all seem to be packed in boxes in storage at the moment. So you will have to be satisfied with some more recent photos... maybe by Saturday. Right now I am just going through the pictures that I have available to use.

While thinking about family, especially my kids, I have dreamed up a trivia game to play with them over Thanksgiving when everyone is sitting around with tummies full of turkey and pumpkin pie. Each of my offspring will have the opportunity to come up with the answers to each question asked of them. Of course they will not be easy questions. They will be little facts that may be hard to figure out. I'd give you a sample now, but I don't want to give anything away. I have some REALLY good questions for them! Yup, I am going to have a wonderful time with this!

Long Day

Today was a long one for me. I was up early and didn't get home from work until after 7 o'clock tonight. I stayed busy pretty much all day, so it went quickly, but I am brain dead tonight. Therefore I am just gifting you with the above cute picture and then heading to bed. I intend to have wonderful dreams about something romantic or fun. Ta Ta for now... My blankie awaits!

Cable Problems Partially Patched... Perhaps

As you may recall, I have been having serious misgivings about my cable of late. As it is frequently not working, I think I have reason to be skeptical about what happened today...

The cable guy kept the appointment and thoroughly investigated my cable set up. He fiddled with the box and cable. He went outside and fiddled with the cable out there. He checked his meter thingy at least three times in my presence. He did a lot of wrinkled brow and head-shaking mannerisms. He mumbled a bit. He told me I have an older box that I could switch out at the Roadrunner pay station not too far from here. His conclusion? Well...

...it seems that it is an "area problem" of some sort. This conjured up all sorts of images in my mind. Like digging up underground cable lines, or big trucks with cherry pickers driving around. Or perhaps multiple member crews walking up and down the streets with their nifty meter thingys checking out eveyone's amps or voltage or something. Mostly it made me realize that the problem was most likely not going to fixed today. And guess what? I was correct!

I have a temporary fix (see above illustration). The cable guy informed me that he did the best he could to "boost the signal" or something and that I should see a difference in three days by which time the "area problem" should be resolved. It's no wonder that I am often intrigued by shows on the SciFi channel... it's all real!!!

So here I sit, sort of able to have a secure internet connection. At least the outages of service are much more infrequent. I have been able to get this post done. I have been able to pay a few bills on-line. I have been able to read my email. Yes, and all of this in one sitting!

Also of interest (to me, anyway) today... I had another bone fragment finally let loose of my gums. I don't want to say that it may be the last one... don't want to get my hopes up. I figure that sooner or later I will run out of fragments-- or jaw bone.

Another Quickie

You gotta be pretty quick to get something posted around here of late. The cable is still blinking on and off. The Road Runner repair person will be here Monday afternoon to hopefully fix the problem. It's a good thing, too, because I think I am beginning to twitch from the stress!

The weather has been wonderful around here of late. Fall is definitely here... Florida style. My son called me yesterday to let me know that he was lighting his first fire in his fireplace for the season. Obviously he does not live in Florida! Some of my neighbors have been in Toronto for a wedding and have had the pleasure of a few snowfalls while there. Personally, I love the snow... for a visit. I would be clueless about winterizing a home and driving in the cold, snow and ice.

I hope that you all are experiencing and enjoying some nice fall weather. Maybe this week I will start checking on prices for a replacement heater for the hot tub in the back yard. What would Christmas vacation be without some hot tub time!

Cheers!

Yet Again?

Once again my Road Runner cable at home is floundering. It keeps going out intermittantly. It has been doing this for a week. I am at work, so this will be short... I will post again as soon as I can.

Quick Post

Got up this am



Went to church




had brunch out




mouth still hurts

yada yada yada




watched Bucs lose
watched Cowboys lose




played games on computer




watched Desperate Housewives
watched news




read some blogs





going to bed

oops




need to wash some clothes



oh well
I'll get up earlier

Magic Sliders And Sunset Boating

I really slept soundly last night and slept in a bit this morning. I think that yesterday's activities were a good prelude to sound sleep.

I started my Friday by arriving a bit early to work. After following my usual morning routine for a bit, I decided it was time to try out the "Magic Sliders" I has purchased on Wednesday to move the heavy safe in my office. They really do work! One of the maintenance men was originally going to help, but as he was busy and I didn't want to wait, I did it myself. It was really quite easy. I just tipped the safe and cabinet it was sitting on just enough to scoot the sliders under each corner with my big toe. Then I proceeded to slide the unit across the rug to where I thought I wanted it to go. I was quite pleased with myself, and made sure that everyone came into my office to see MY handiwork. Of course, I am a bit sore today, but I won't admit that to anyone at work!

One of my coworkers, Captain Mike, and his wife invited another couple and me out on their boat last night. It was absolutely beautiful! We went out for the sunset, some wine and cheese, and some good company. As the sun was setting in the West, the full moon was rising in the East. We saw huge flocks of seabirds and small schools of fish jumping about of foot or so out of the water because they were being chased by some hungry bigger fish. The weather was absolutely perfect, too. It was pleasantly cool... I didn't even need a sweater!

What a day! What a night! Tomorrow, I will think of some other things that I can move with Magic Sliders. Tonight I will dream of magic boat rides.

Hi There!

The trip to the oral surgeon this morning went as expected. She is surprised at the size of the last bone fragment that surfaced and is still in the dark about why these bone fragments are popping up now. If the trend continues, she will do the surgery to look at the jawbone. She just doesn't want to rush it, so if I am still having problems after two months she will schedule the surgery.

I had dinner out with the gang tonight. Good food and good friends is always fun. We will be going out on one of the couples boat for a sunset cruise on Friday night... wine, cheese, and a beautiful sunset. And I think the weather will be perfect!

Girls' Night Out is tomorrow night. Just a quick dinner at Steak N Shake because we will be hitting the opening of the new Kohls store in town. If it is too crazy, I will head to the mall to avoid the crowds.

So, I should be able to post again on Saturday if I don't post something tomorrow night. I sure hope that you all are having a great week!

Looking Forward

It has been an interesting week. The weather has changed a bit and is giving us a hint of Fall. I probably had my last swim in the pool for this year... unless we get another extended warm spell. I'll miss the pool, but I really look forward each year to the cooler weather. In addition to weather changes I am still dealing with additional bone fragments making their appearance. I figure that I will eventually run out of bone so it has to end at some point!

This past week my son Matthew was in the area for a program class for work. He extended his stay to include the weekend so that he could spend some time with family. It was good seeing him. I got to meet one of the guys he works with at Lockheed Martin in Virginia. The girls, Matt and I along with a few others got to go out for dinner one of the nights to Bern's Steak House which is always a treat. "L" outdid herself with the most expensive meal. Somehow, I think I got a lot more from my steak (at least 2 meals) that she did for her tablespoon of caviar at $65! The lady sure has expensive tastes! Sigh.

Other than that I don't have much else to post about that is new. I am still popping pain pills and penicillin and am looking forward to another visit to the oral surgeon tomorrow morning. As I indicated in my first paragraph, sooner or later I will run out of jaw bone. I will concentrate on looking forward to the fall weather, Halloween, and my next cruise.

An Interactive Post

It seems that the pain in my jaw has had an impact on my brain functions. I don't normally have any difficulty in coming up with a limerick for any subject. At this time I can come up with the first four lines of a number of limericks about my dental dilemmas, but I have failed miserably in finishing them off with that one final line. So, using a bit of creative brain power that I have left, I decided that it might be fun to see if my blogger friends can come up with some interesting or funny final lines to the ones I have started. I finished a couple, but the rest are yours to complete...

Poor Rhodent has been in a funk
Her spirits have rapidly sunk
One thing or another
Including her mother

_______________________


Rhodent's blogging has been very scant
She has not even posted a rant
A piece of her jaw
Has made her gums raw

________________________



Twas a piece so seemingly small
You'd think it would not hurt at all
But it caused so much pain
That it drove her insane
So the surgeon recieved a phone call


I finally have some relief
And I managed to keep all my teeth
The fragment of bone
That caused me to moan

_________________________



Twas only a fragment of bone
That refused to leave me alone
I've taken my pills
And paid a few bills
But the reason still remains quite unknown




Bonus:

Detection
Infection
Rejection
Small Section
________________

Okay then. Get those creative brain cells working. You can do it!

Poor Pitiful Pearl

Yup, that's me... Poor, Pitiful Pearl. I have not been blogging of late because I have been tired of blogging about my woes. Life has been throwing me a few curve balls, but I will get through it.

To keep you up to date... I am still having problems with the bone fragments deciding to pop through my gums and cause nasty infections and a bit more pain than I care to experience on an ongoing daily basis. I went back to the oral surgeon today and had another X-ray, exam, an $85.00 bill to pay, and another appointment for a week and a half from today.

My mom has been doing fairly well physically after her brief stay at the hospital. Her mind is probably in another dimension somewhere. Currently she is on her way to Europe on a tour of the Scandinavian Capitols with a friend as part of a tour group. I made sure she got on her plane safely. I will be holding my breath for a couple of weeks until she is back in the states. I had to forego my pain pills while driving to pick her up 2 hours away, then driving another two hours to take her to the airport, and finally after getting her checked in and on her way, driving another 40 minutes home. I was not a happy camper about the pain, but I really didn't mind getting her to the airport. I would just have preferred it to be less painful!

Her friend will look after her, but the trip did not start off well. I got a frantic call on my cell phone from her friend who was supposed to meet her at the Atlanta airport. It seems she had been missing for a while. No one had seen her get off her plane and they had been looking all over for her. After an hour or so they found her sitting quietly waiting for someone to show up. I am certain that she was not a bit phased by the whole thing. I will feel like I am holding my breath, but I have faith that she will return in one piece. Her friend, on the other hand, may soon suffer from a stroke, heart attack, nervous tic or some other sort of anxiety related affliction.

Himself and I are still living in the same house even though the divorce is final. He has found a place to rent and will be moving into it in a few weeks. There has been some discussion among family about moving my mom in with me in my current home. I am still not sure that is the best plan. It also leaves me in limbo for a bit. Do I finish packing, start unpacking, or do nothing? Will I be able to afford to stay in the house? Do I want to stay in the same house?

My last paycheck was pretty sorry-looking as I had missed so much work between my mom being in the hospital and my mouth problems. The next one will not come too soon! Looks like it is a good thing that I have managed to put a bit into savings!

So that is me these days... Poor Pitiful Pearl. Now do you see why I have avoided blogging? I need to get some new material. Something a bit more pleasant. I will work on it. Right now I need to go pop another antibiotic and pain pill. Ciao!

Another Exciting Day In The Life Of Rhodent

Accentuate the positive...
I had a great night's sleep last night. I got a lot done at work today. I tried a new (to me) cereal and really liked it. The cats were glad to see me come home tonight. We had a wonderful rain storm today. Looks like we will have a couple of nice days ahead. I finished my antibiotics for the infection in my mouth tonight.

Deal with the reality...
I have started to break out in hives. I have evidently developed an allergy to the antibiotic I have been taking for the infection in my mouth. I don't think I will have a great night's sleep tonight, and I have to get up extra early tomorrow morning to get ready for a repairman in to fix some windows.

Life goes on... but I am a bit itchy at the moment.

More Boring Tooth Woes

I went to the oral surgeon on Friday morning. She looked in my mouth for 10 seconds, and then told me to continue rinsing my mouth with warm salt water, to finish my antibiotics, and return in two weeks. For that I had the pleasure of paying $65.00. The main reason that the endodontist sent me to her was to look at the jaw bone where he had cleaned out the infection. She didn't want to disturb the thin layer of skin covering the exposed bone.

The last time I had this problem it was in my back molar on the opposite side. I had pieces of dead bone sluffing off from when I had my wisdom teeth removed in 1971... over 30 years ago. The endodontist told me to make sure to tell her about that experience which happened within the past year. I did. She wasn't listening. For some reason she thought that the hole in my gums was from something I did to puncture my gum. I think I must have repeated the pertinent information 3 times. Evidently she had something more inportant to do and was out of the room in record time.

So I have been popping pain pills, trying to work, and trying to deal with what is going on with my mother at the current time. I am not sure that I want to go back to this same doctor for my next appointment. If I am going to waste another $65.00, I can think of much better things to do with that money!

This, by the way, is my excuse for being a negligent blogger... and I didn't even have to make it up!

If you want a good chuckle, stop by Cliff Morrow's Blog and read his post from Sunday, September 17th. He is a funny man!

Ugh

Went to the endodontist this morning...

Still on pain pills...

and antibiotics...

I need more pain pills...

Appointment with the oral surgeon on Friday!

Could Things Be Sorting Themselves Out?

I must have done something right and your prayers must be working because some of the confusion in my life might possibly be getting clearer. Here is what is happening...

Tomorrow morning I will go back to the endodontist so that he can decide what the next step for my infected tooth and gums will be... resolution to this is a good thing... at least something will be done even if it is to pull the tooth.

I have had a couple of good conversations with my sister in California regarding my mom. What a relief! My sister now understands better what the situation is with my mom and is willing to let me take the lead with decisions about her care since I am the one here and having to deal with everything. After the doctor visit today and the news that she cannot drive, my mom is beginning to realize that she will need to make some adjustments.

Himself was quite helpful over the past few days... including driving me up to Dunnellon and picking up my mom to take her to the doctor in Ocala since I could not drive while taking the pain meds for my mouth. He also surprised me by making a very helpful suggestion regarding housing for me and for my mom. I will not go into it just yet, but I did talk to my sister about his idea and she agrees. Once I have it all clearer in my mind I will post something about it. Hopefully it will work out, and my life will be much more sane.

So, thank you all for the prayers, and please don't stop!

My friend Rosie has been investigating the blogosphere and may soon have her own blog up and going. I will post a link to her blog as soon as I have her blog address. Right now I am off to read your blogs which I have been missing the last couple of days!