So I've been out sick as a dog for a friggen' week. A week ago Wednesday on my way home from work I call HD up to make sure he grabbed a change of clothes for me as I was meeting him at his dad's house. The 19th was his dad's birthday. He proceeds to tell me he's sick. He's all hot and feeling icky. When we got home we took his temperature and sure enough he was running a fever.
Thursday I felt fine but by Friday I was feeling kind of sinusy and my throat was a little sore. I bought us some Vicks 44 cough and nasal decongestant because he also had a cough to go along with his fever.
Saturday morning I woke up late and decided to take a nice long hot bath in hopes the steam would relieve my sore throat and nasal congestion. It sort of did. Afterward I went downstairs and snuggled up on the couch with some Entertainment Weeklies that I'd fallen behind in. I wasn't sitting there for 5 minutes when I felt really warm all of a sudden. The thermometer was sitting right there so I decided to take my temp. It wasn't much, just 99.7. I had glanced at my watch when I started and it was close to 11:30. A little bit later I felt even more warm so I took it again and this time it was 100.4. Another 5 minutes or so later it was up again and in less than an hours time it had shot up to 101.7. Yep, I was officially sick.
From that time on it didn't go down to normal again until Thursday. On Sunday it got to it's highest which was 102.5 a couple times. But mainly it stuck around 101.5 and went up and down from there. I coughed and coughed and coughed. Saturday I had muscle aches but that was it, no other day but then. So that was it, a shit load of coughing and a fever but I was out. That's all that HD had too.
I called in on Monday and went to see my doctor. She figured it was viral since HD was already starting to get better on his own without doing anything more then just NyQuil and Motrin. Although the Motrin wasn't doing anything for our fevers. But since my work needed reassurance that I wouldn't be spreading anything around she gave me a prescription for antibiotics anyway. Said to take Tuesday off too and as long as I felt better I could go in on Wed. I was her 5 patient that day with same symptoms. There's definitely some kind of bug going around.
By then my fever was down to just one degree over which did make me feel better so I did go in. I was able to last the morning, barely. But at noon I was out of there and soon as I got home I changed clothes and crawled back into bed. I was hoping to be able to go in on Thursday but I still wasn't feeling any better so I called in again.
But by Friday I was finally not coughing quite as much and I wasn't so exhausted anymore. I wasn't sure if I'd make it the whole day but I did. I just took it easy all day and refused to stress over anything so that helped.
I'm still coughing and it's annoying the hell out of me but it is better. I've lost close to 10 pounds because nothing tasted good and also I just had no appetite for anything. Even if something tasted half way decent I could barely eat any of it, I just got full so quickly. Let's hope that little side affect lasts.
Other than checking my Email once on Wed real quick when I was at work and then once on Friday this is the first time I've been on the computer. I've got a lot of catching up to do. But that's gonna have to wait. HD wanted me to wake him up when I got up so I guess I better go get him.
Media quote of the day: Do you have a cough due to cold?- Forrest Gump
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Eating habit
I had soup for lunch today and it reminded me of a conversation a few of us had a couple weeks ago. I'm a very picky eater. I'm also one of THOSE PEOPLE. I don't like my food to touch. I mean Not. At. All.
If say my corn or beans touch my mashed potatoes and I can't get enough of the potatoes off of the corn or beans then I won't eat them. Whereas most people I know mix them together, well, at least they do their corn and potatoes. Not everyone does it with their beans.
If we're having steak and the juice is still bloody enough and it runs into my veggies I won't eat the veggies that it touches. Nope, won't do it, that's just too damn gross.
And as mentioned I'm a picky eater too so it's actually pretty good that I am. At least at holidays when there's so much food. Because I don't eat very many foods I don't have to worry about them being piled on top of each other like so many people do with their foods. There are times that I'll look at someones plate and almost, not quite, but almost get a little grossed out.
I had read an article in Reader's Digest last summer about a girl who was so bad with the need to keep her food separate that she actually used a different dish for each food. Now I'm not that bad. My family, mainly mom and I, joke about my need to keep my food separate. I told her she should thank her lucky stars that I didn't turn out like that chick. She just laughed and said she wouldn't have put up with it. Which, yeah, no, she wouldn't have.
But back to the soup. If the foods are cooked together such as soup, stew, Chinese food, etc. I'll eat them that way. I don't know what it is. I guess because there's usually some kind of sauce that "binds" them together. But without that sauce I couldn't do it. I could not stab a bean, potato and piece of meat individually off a plate and eat them together. Nope, just couldn't.
Oh well, it's just one of my lovable quirks I guess.
Media quote of the day:
Eat it - Weird Al Yankovic
Don't want to argue, I don't want to debate
Don't want to hear about what kind of food you hate
You won't get no dessert 'till you clean off your plate
So eat it
If say my corn or beans touch my mashed potatoes and I can't get enough of the potatoes off of the corn or beans then I won't eat them. Whereas most people I know mix them together, well, at least they do their corn and potatoes. Not everyone does it with their beans.
If we're having steak and the juice is still bloody enough and it runs into my veggies I won't eat the veggies that it touches. Nope, won't do it, that's just too damn gross.
And as mentioned I'm a picky eater too so it's actually pretty good that I am. At least at holidays when there's so much food. Because I don't eat very many foods I don't have to worry about them being piled on top of each other like so many people do with their foods. There are times that I'll look at someones plate and almost, not quite, but almost get a little grossed out.
I had read an article in Reader's Digest last summer about a girl who was so bad with the need to keep her food separate that she actually used a different dish for each food. Now I'm not that bad. My family, mainly mom and I, joke about my need to keep my food separate. I told her she should thank her lucky stars that I didn't turn out like that chick. She just laughed and said she wouldn't have put up with it. Which, yeah, no, she wouldn't have.
But back to the soup. If the foods are cooked together such as soup, stew, Chinese food, etc. I'll eat them that way. I don't know what it is. I guess because there's usually some kind of sauce that "binds" them together. But without that sauce I couldn't do it. I could not stab a bean, potato and piece of meat individually off a plate and eat them together. Nope, just couldn't.
Oh well, it's just one of my lovable quirks I guess.
Media quote of the day:
Eat it - Weird Al Yankovic
Don't want to argue, I don't want to debate
Don't want to hear about what kind of food you hate
You won't get no dessert 'till you clean off your plate
So eat it
Monday, March 17, 2008
I called it
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Got your green on?
So Friday night was a lot of fun. If you don't recall or didn't read, we had tickets to go see REO Speedwagon. They were at a small local venue. We had orchestra level seats in row X so not real close but at the same time not real far away either. We were in the middle though so that was good, I was worried we'd be off to the sides. And the two seats directly in front of us remained empty so for a short shit like me it was really good.
A little before it started a small group of people came in and sat directly behind us with a very loud and obnoxious woman. Her voice was extremely grating. It actually made me cringe quite often. And right when the lights went down one of the guys dropped his phone and it slid right in front of HDiTty's feet and she leaned over me screaming about it in my ear with her phone lighting his phone up. I reached down, snatched it and tried to hand it back to her right away so she'd sit back down but she just kept standing there screaming about it. Then HD hollered back at her but at least his voice is deeper so it didn't hurt as much. Plus it was funny. She finally took the phone and sat down.
Then a few minutes into the first song two couples came into the seats two rows in front of us. One of the chicks was deemed "The Drama Queen" right away. Now granted, this was a concert but most everyone there was of the "older" crowd and we started out sitting down. I know, I know but that's how it was. These four come in and the one couple was considerate and sat down but the other couple stayed standing which of course made everyone behind them have to stand. And the girl kept yanking on the other couple to get them to stand too. Which they did on and off. Luckily they were the ones in front of us so when they sat I'd be able to also.
But this chick, oh my god! She kept messing with her hair over and over again. This lady I was standing next too she and I were saying how we both just wanted to reach forward and yank her hair right off her head. She was hanging all over her boyfriend/husband/date/whatever. I cannot describe the annoyance well enough that was The Drama Queen. At one point the two guys left and were gone for a couple of songs and the moment they came back The DQ sat down in her seat (and at this time no one was sitting it was during the encore) and proceeded to cry. She had been perfectly fine, dancing and singing before hand with her friend just before he showed up. And then those two even left before they were done playing. DRAMA QUEEN!
Anyway. The concert itself was great. Those guys can still play and Kevin Cronin can still sing. I admit I'm a radio fan. Until last year I never owned an album and the one I got then was The Essential REO Speedwagon. But even still every song I've ever heard I've liked. Also, I saw them years ago when I lived in Louisiana at the State Fair in Baton Rouge. I think it was '90 or maybe '91. Anyway it was one of the best concerts ever. The crowd was totally into it and singing every song and the band fed off the crowd so the energy level was off the charts. I was hoping this one would be similar. I figured it wouldn't be quite the same since it was going to be indoors and there'd be seats so we'd be sitting (and we did) and we're all almost 20 years older, but still, a girl could hope.
For some reason HD thought we were going to see Cheap Trick and when I reminded him it was REO he asked what songs they played. And I drew a complete blank. I could not remember a single damn song, how bad is that. Well, none except for Ridin' the Storm Out. And when we were there he asked me what song he should say if anyone asked him what his favorite song is, I told him to say that one. It's a safe one to use, but no one asked. They did a good mix of rockin' and ballads. They also did a good mix of radio and non radio songs. They also played a few off their new album from last year that I didn't even know they had. I liked all of them so I guess I should go and get it. Different songs had people standing but for most of them we were sitting. Until they played Time for Me to Fly. That put everyone on their feet and for the rest of the concert that's were everyone stayed.
The encore was Ridin' the Storm Out and 157 Riverside Avenue Two great rockin' songs. At one point Kevin was talking to the crowd saying how he's glad they finally quit passing up this venue. He didn't know why they did before, probably because it was so close to Chicago they'd just pass it over. But now that they discovered it and have seen for themselves how lovely the venue is hopefully they'll be back. I'd definitely go back and see them again.
____________________________
Saturday was a bust as I predicted it would be. Well, as far as people coming over anyway. Every single person but two canceled and one of them we called to tell her not to bother before she had a chance to cancel herself. The other was the only one we had a yes from the very beginning. So Jim came over and we three went out to dinner. On the way home we were debating on what to do and started talking about movies. The Chronicles of Riddick wes mentioned so since it'd been quite awhile since any of us had seen them we decided to watch Pitch Black and Chronicles. It was 1:00am by the time they were all done and since I had a huge mason jar full of long island ice tea with dinner I was pretty tired. But HD didn't want me to go to bed so to keep me awake we decided to play a game.
We played Scene It - Movie then Scene It - TV which Jim won both games. Then because of something I said HD put in Firefly and we watched the first show of that. By then it was 4:30 and I just couldn't stay awake anymore so I went to bed. I have no idea when Jim left or HD came to bed. He said to wake him up when I got up but I knew that wouldn't happen.
I got up around 11:00ish. Watched a little tv and close to 1:00 I could barely keep my eyes open again so I laid down on the couch and from 1:15 until 4:15 I dozed on and off. Then I went and got HD up. We watched a few shows then a few more Fireflys then I went to bed.
Even though no one came over Saturday we still had a good time. I was disappointed and a little saddened but since I called it I wasn't surprised. And since we still had a good time that's all that matters.
Media quote of the day: - Of course I was going to use this one, and it fits with all the damn snow we've been having this winter too
Ridin' the Storm Out - REO Speedwagon
Ridin' the storm out, waitin' for the thaw out
On a full moon night in the Rocky Mountain winter.
My wine bottle's low, watching for the snow
I've been thinking lately of what I'm missing in the city.
And I'm not missing a thing
Watchin' the full moon crossing the range
Ridin' the storm out
Ridin' the storm out.
My lady's beside me, she's there to guide me.
She says that alone we've finally found home.
The wind outside is frightening,
but it's kinder than the lightning life in the city.
It's a hard life to live but it gives back what you give.
So Friday night was a lot of fun. If you don't recall or didn't read, we had tickets to go see REO Speedwagon. They were at a small local venue. We had orchestra level seats in row X so not real close but at the same time not real far away either. We were in the middle though so that was good, I was worried we'd be off to the sides. And the two seats directly in front of us remained empty so for a short shit like me it was really good.
A little before it started a small group of people came in and sat directly behind us with a very loud and obnoxious woman. Her voice was extremely grating. It actually made me cringe quite often. And right when the lights went down one of the guys dropped his phone and it slid right in front of HDiTty's feet and she leaned over me screaming about it in my ear with her phone lighting his phone up. I reached down, snatched it and tried to hand it back to her right away so she'd sit back down but she just kept standing there screaming about it. Then HD hollered back at her but at least his voice is deeper so it didn't hurt as much. Plus it was funny. She finally took the phone and sat down.
Then a few minutes into the first song two couples came into the seats two rows in front of us. One of the chicks was deemed "The Drama Queen" right away. Now granted, this was a concert but most everyone there was of the "older" crowd and we started out sitting down. I know, I know but that's how it was. These four come in and the one couple was considerate and sat down but the other couple stayed standing which of course made everyone behind them have to stand. And the girl kept yanking on the other couple to get them to stand too. Which they did on and off. Luckily they were the ones in front of us so when they sat I'd be able to also.
But this chick, oh my god! She kept messing with her hair over and over again. This lady I was standing next too she and I were saying how we both just wanted to reach forward and yank her hair right off her head. She was hanging all over her boyfriend/husband/date/whatever. I cannot describe the annoyance well enough that was The Drama Queen. At one point the two guys left and were gone for a couple of songs and the moment they came back The DQ sat down in her seat (and at this time no one was sitting it was during the encore) and proceeded to cry. She had been perfectly fine, dancing and singing before hand with her friend just before he showed up. And then those two even left before they were done playing. DRAMA QUEEN!
Anyway. The concert itself was great. Those guys can still play and Kevin Cronin can still sing. I admit I'm a radio fan. Until last year I never owned an album and the one I got then was The Essential REO Speedwagon. But even still every song I've ever heard I've liked. Also, I saw them years ago when I lived in Louisiana at the State Fair in Baton Rouge. I think it was '90 or maybe '91. Anyway it was one of the best concerts ever. The crowd was totally into it and singing every song and the band fed off the crowd so the energy level was off the charts. I was hoping this one would be similar. I figured it wouldn't be quite the same since it was going to be indoors and there'd be seats so we'd be sitting (and we did) and we're all almost 20 years older, but still, a girl could hope.
For some reason HD thought we were going to see Cheap Trick and when I reminded him it was REO he asked what songs they played. And I drew a complete blank. I could not remember a single damn song, how bad is that. Well, none except for Ridin' the Storm Out. And when we were there he asked me what song he should say if anyone asked him what his favorite song is, I told him to say that one. It's a safe one to use, but no one asked. They did a good mix of rockin' and ballads. They also did a good mix of radio and non radio songs. They also played a few off their new album from last year that I didn't even know they had. I liked all of them so I guess I should go and get it. Different songs had people standing but for most of them we were sitting. Until they played Time for Me to Fly. That put everyone on their feet and for the rest of the concert that's were everyone stayed.
The encore was Ridin' the Storm Out and 157 Riverside Avenue Two great rockin' songs. At one point Kevin was talking to the crowd saying how he's glad they finally quit passing up this venue. He didn't know why they did before, probably because it was so close to Chicago they'd just pass it over. But now that they discovered it and have seen for themselves how lovely the venue is hopefully they'll be back. I'd definitely go back and see them again.
____________________________
Saturday was a bust as I predicted it would be. Well, as far as people coming over anyway. Every single person but two canceled and one of them we called to tell her not to bother before she had a chance to cancel herself. The other was the only one we had a yes from the very beginning. So Jim came over and we three went out to dinner. On the way home we were debating on what to do and started talking about movies. The Chronicles of Riddick wes mentioned so since it'd been quite awhile since any of us had seen them we decided to watch Pitch Black and Chronicles. It was 1:00am by the time they were all done and since I had a huge mason jar full of long island ice tea with dinner I was pretty tired. But HD didn't want me to go to bed so to keep me awake we decided to play a game.
We played Scene It - Movie then Scene It - TV which Jim won both games. Then because of something I said HD put in Firefly and we watched the first show of that. By then it was 4:30 and I just couldn't stay awake anymore so I went to bed. I have no idea when Jim left or HD came to bed. He said to wake him up when I got up but I knew that wouldn't happen.
I got up around 11:00ish. Watched a little tv and close to 1:00 I could barely keep my eyes open again so I laid down on the couch and from 1:15 until 4:15 I dozed on and off. Then I went and got HD up. We watched a few shows then a few more Fireflys then I went to bed.
Even though no one came over Saturday we still had a good time. I was disappointed and a little saddened but since I called it I wasn't surprised. And since we still had a good time that's all that matters.
Media quote of the day: - Of course I was going to use this one, and it fits with all the damn snow we've been having this winter too
Ridin' the Storm Out - REO Speedwagon
Ridin' the storm out, waitin' for the thaw out
On a full moon night in the Rocky Mountain winter.
My wine bottle's low, watching for the snow
I've been thinking lately of what I'm missing in the city.
And I'm not missing a thing
Watchin' the full moon crossing the range
Ridin' the storm out
Ridin' the storm out.
My lady's beside me, she's there to guide me.
She says that alone we've finally found home.
The wind outside is frightening,
but it's kinder than the lightning life in the city.
It's a hard life to live but it gives back what you give.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Two pretty damn scary moments in my life when I was kid (It's a long one, so kick your heels up and stay awhile)
As mentioned in my 100 things, that I don't feel like finding and linking to right now because I'm lazy, I had a paper route when I was a kid. I had it from the age of 10 to 14. A few days ago a few of us girls at work were talking about the scariness of the world today and how it wasn't that way when we were kids. Sure there were scary people out there that did things but as kids we just didn't hear about them. And it certainly didn't seem like they happened nearly as much as it does today. I'm sure parents do what they can these days to protect their kids from hearing about them as best they can but it seems that every other week something is going on somewhere and it seems like a losing battle. Even if the kids don't hear or see anything at home they could find out about it from friends or even overhear while out and about.
For the most part kids these days are brought up to not talk to strangers, they have cell phones to connect on a moments notice and parents and kids are just more aware. So although it seems like kids are being abducted or molested more often these days I don't think they are, I think it's just that it's talked about more. It's not a taboo subject anymore. For the most part kids do know who and what to look out for and know when something isn't quite right.
As a kid I didn't know any of that stuff. I don't remember being taught not to talk to strangers although I'm sure I was but not to the copacity that kids are these days. And if I was then it had been when I was really really young because I have no memory of it at all. But I was a very shy child so there really wouldn't have been much of a need anyway for that lesson.
I either walked or rode my bike to deliver my papers. Ours was an evening delivery except for the weekend edition, which was done on Saturday mornings. I did this like your postal person. Neither sun, nor rain, nor snow, nor anything else kept me from delivering my papers. I was never driven by my mother or any of my brothers or ever accompanied by them either. The only time that had ever happened was when I helped the boys from the ages of 8 to 9 when it was their route and I was their helper.
In all those years I never felt worried, not even during the winter months when it was dark as can be the whole time I was out there. It was my neighborhood after all. Sure my route didn't start for two blocks south from our house and end six blocks down and 3 blocks over but it was still my neighborhood. My elementary school was in the middle of those blocks and a couple of friends lived in there as well. And of course my customers.
Well, I never felt worried until one early evening in the spring of '83. I remember it was pretty warm and I was in jeans and a t-shirt. I had just started out and was on the in-between block. You know, the one between my block I lived on (we lived in the 1st house way at the other end) and the 1st block of my route. From about the middle of my block on there was this van that had been sort of by me off and on. The van was white and dirty. It wasn't a utility van but I don't remember windows in the back or on the sides either. I think it was closer to the kind that you would normally see the murals painted on the sides. But no murals for this one, just white and dirty. It had started off behind me for a few houses then went ahead a few houses and slowed enough that I caught up to it then sort of kept pace then I passed it then it started over again; until the middle of the in-between block. By that time they had gotten ahead again but this time they stopped in front of a house close to the end of that block.
But no one got out. That's what finally made me get a little weirded out. They had been sitting their for a good full minute or two without getting out while I was walking up. Which I had slowed considerably by this time. So, little ole me who had never been taught anything about abduction or molestation or anything like that deduced in a matter of seconds that there was no way I'd make it back to my house quick enough if these people meant to do me harm. So as natural as could be I turned up the walk to the house just before the house they were parked in front of and knocked on the door.
A little background info on this house and block. There was a parking lot in-between these two houses. Well, more an entrance and exit and one lane of parking between but still, there was some space between us. As mentioned this was the in-between block, but it was also one of the blocks on my brother's route. These two routes, plus one other route, had been in our family for years and years. There are 5 of us kids, as also mentioned in my 100 things. All but two of the routes were passed down to all of us. I didn't take the other two routes, at 14 I was done. So, although I didn't deliver to this house I knew who the owner was and he knew me. Also, the owner was the pastor at the Methodist church, which sat right behind the house that the van was parked in front of, and the parking lot was for. I felt completely safe and comforted in going up to the house.
I knocked on the door and turned to look at the van while waiting. Still no one had gotten out of it yet and it was still running. I knocked again, getting nervous now since no one answered and I wasn't hearing any noises inside. But finally the inner door opens and a young man in his mid 20's is standing there in a pair of shorts rubbing a towel on his wet head. I glance back at the still running van and tell him who I am. I tell him quickly what was going on and where I live and asked him if he'd walk me back home. He asks if I'd rather come inside and wait awhile until the van leaves but I say no, that doesn't mean anything. They could just drive down a few blocks or into an alley (which all the blocks had alleys) and wait. No, I'd rather go home and wait until either a brother or for my mom to get home and could come with me.
The whole time we talked the van stayed there. Never shutting off, no one ever getting out. He had me step inside while he went to get a t-shirt and shoes on and run a comb through his hair. Not until we were almost to the end of the block did the van finally drive away. We saw it go about 3 more blocks down then make a right up to the main road through town. We waited on the corner to see if it made it's way back our way but never saw it again.
He still walked me back home anyway just to be safe. I stayed there an extra 15 or so minutes before hopping on my bike this time so I'd get through the route quickly and also be able to boogie on home if I saw the van again.
Neither of us thought to get the license plate or even call the cops. In this day and age that would be one of the first things done. At least, I would think/hope it would be.
That was the 1st incident. The 2nd one happened a few months later. It was summer now and I was on my bike and on my way home this time. There were two guys in a hot rod. They had driven around the block and I hadn't thought anything of it, figured they were looking for a house. But when they came up the second time by me and hollered out at me driving on the wrong side of the street I got a little scared.
I didn't recognize them or their car. My youngest brother and I used to get strange people saying hi to us all the time because of our oldest brothers. They were the "bad" boys and many of the druggies knew who we were from sight but we didn't know them. But that's not how this was. This was completely different. Those people almost always knew our names and came across hippie like. These guys didn't say my name and were quite menacing.
I dropped my bike on the sidewalk and flew up one my customer's sidewalks to their house pounding on their door. As soon as I did the driver took off, he flew around the corner into the alleyway. I leaned over the porch to look between the two houses and saw that he had stopped and was looking back at me. We stared at each other for a bit before I leaned back and started pounding again. I heard him take off and since no one was answering I jumped off the porch and ran next door. I pounded on that door too but no one answered there either.
I could hear the car still in the alley but going pretty fast so I went into hurry mode. I ducked low and ran up grabbed my bike and staying as low as possible went back to the house and hid behind the bushes under the porch. I had just finished hiding when they came into view. I could see them but they couldn't see me. I was hoping they would think the people had been home and let me in or that I had just taken off. Either way I was gone. They sat there for a few more seconds and then took off.
I heard them go into the alley again and I quickly hopped on my bike and took off for home looking behind me every few seconds. But luckily didn't see them again.
Having never heard of the Ted Bundys or any of the individual cases I somehow had the wherewithal to not take a chance and go for help immediately. I would hope that my friends would have known to do the same but I honestly can't say if they would've. I think part of what helped me think that way was growing up with 4 older brothers and all of their friends. I was surrounded by males and was protected from an early age. But although I was protected I still learned how to fight and take care of myself BECAUSE I was girl. It was very odd really.
I don't know if I got "lucky" those two days or if Someone was looking out for me or if it was just "coincindence" what those two men were doing at those times or if I was just savvy enough to elude two bad men or what. All I know is that I'm grateful nothing happened and for the most part I forget that those two incidents even existed. The only time I think about them is when a discussion happens and the memory surfaces again. Sometimes I talk about them and sometimes I don't.
That day I did because one of the girls was saying how she won't let her daughter ride her bike around the block without her. And one of the other girls said she thought that was a bit much since she could see her daughter the whole way. That's when I spoke up and said it wouldn't have mattered if my mom could see me those two days, which she could have, both those days, clear as day. She wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing about it if either man would have decided to do a grab and drive other then describe the vehicle.
I know there's such a thing as being too over protective but at the same there's also such a thing as you can never be too careful. Also, I'm not a mom so I couldn't even say what I myself would do. I'd like to think I'd be able to find a happy medium though. I remember telling my mom about both incidents but I honestly couldn't tell you her reaction. It's been too long so apparently whatever it was must not have been too dramatic because it obviously didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'm thinking she made sure I was ok and and praised me for doing the smart thing and going for help to homes of people I knew. At least I hope that's what she did.
Anyway, I did this post not because I wanted to discuss what to do or not to do with your kids but just to relate what happened to me when I was a kid.
Media quote of the day: I'm letting you have shotgun. But cuz it's cuz only 'cuz I'm goin' inside. - Slater - Dazed and Confused
This is the type of guy that would normally come out of the wood work that would know my brother and me but we wouldn't know them. Dazed and confused but harmless.
For the most part kids these days are brought up to not talk to strangers, they have cell phones to connect on a moments notice and parents and kids are just more aware. So although it seems like kids are being abducted or molested more often these days I don't think they are, I think it's just that it's talked about more. It's not a taboo subject anymore. For the most part kids do know who and what to look out for and know when something isn't quite right.
As a kid I didn't know any of that stuff. I don't remember being taught not to talk to strangers although I'm sure I was but not to the copacity that kids are these days. And if I was then it had been when I was really really young because I have no memory of it at all. But I was a very shy child so there really wouldn't have been much of a need anyway for that lesson.
I either walked or rode my bike to deliver my papers. Ours was an evening delivery except for the weekend edition, which was done on Saturday mornings. I did this like your postal person. Neither sun, nor rain, nor snow, nor anything else kept me from delivering my papers. I was never driven by my mother or any of my brothers or ever accompanied by them either. The only time that had ever happened was when I helped the boys from the ages of 8 to 9 when it was their route and I was their helper.
In all those years I never felt worried, not even during the winter months when it was dark as can be the whole time I was out there. It was my neighborhood after all. Sure my route didn't start for two blocks south from our house and end six blocks down and 3 blocks over but it was still my neighborhood. My elementary school was in the middle of those blocks and a couple of friends lived in there as well. And of course my customers.
Well, I never felt worried until one early evening in the spring of '83. I remember it was pretty warm and I was in jeans and a t-shirt. I had just started out and was on the in-between block. You know, the one between my block I lived on (we lived in the 1st house way at the other end) and the 1st block of my route. From about the middle of my block on there was this van that had been sort of by me off and on. The van was white and dirty. It wasn't a utility van but I don't remember windows in the back or on the sides either. I think it was closer to the kind that you would normally see the murals painted on the sides. But no murals for this one, just white and dirty. It had started off behind me for a few houses then went ahead a few houses and slowed enough that I caught up to it then sort of kept pace then I passed it then it started over again; until the middle of the in-between block. By that time they had gotten ahead again but this time they stopped in front of a house close to the end of that block.
But no one got out. That's what finally made me get a little weirded out. They had been sitting their for a good full minute or two without getting out while I was walking up. Which I had slowed considerably by this time. So, little ole me who had never been taught anything about abduction or molestation or anything like that deduced in a matter of seconds that there was no way I'd make it back to my house quick enough if these people meant to do me harm. So as natural as could be I turned up the walk to the house just before the house they were parked in front of and knocked on the door.
A little background info on this house and block. There was a parking lot in-between these two houses. Well, more an entrance and exit and one lane of parking between but still, there was some space between us. As mentioned this was the in-between block, but it was also one of the blocks on my brother's route. These two routes, plus one other route, had been in our family for years and years. There are 5 of us kids, as also mentioned in my 100 things. All but two of the routes were passed down to all of us. I didn't take the other two routes, at 14 I was done. So, although I didn't deliver to this house I knew who the owner was and he knew me. Also, the owner was the pastor at the Methodist church, which sat right behind the house that the van was parked in front of, and the parking lot was for. I felt completely safe and comforted in going up to the house.
I knocked on the door and turned to look at the van while waiting. Still no one had gotten out of it yet and it was still running. I knocked again, getting nervous now since no one answered and I wasn't hearing any noises inside. But finally the inner door opens and a young man in his mid 20's is standing there in a pair of shorts rubbing a towel on his wet head. I glance back at the still running van and tell him who I am. I tell him quickly what was going on and where I live and asked him if he'd walk me back home. He asks if I'd rather come inside and wait awhile until the van leaves but I say no, that doesn't mean anything. They could just drive down a few blocks or into an alley (which all the blocks had alleys) and wait. No, I'd rather go home and wait until either a brother or for my mom to get home and could come with me.
The whole time we talked the van stayed there. Never shutting off, no one ever getting out. He had me step inside while he went to get a t-shirt and shoes on and run a comb through his hair. Not until we were almost to the end of the block did the van finally drive away. We saw it go about 3 more blocks down then make a right up to the main road through town. We waited on the corner to see if it made it's way back our way but never saw it again.
He still walked me back home anyway just to be safe. I stayed there an extra 15 or so minutes before hopping on my bike this time so I'd get through the route quickly and also be able to boogie on home if I saw the van again.
Neither of us thought to get the license plate or even call the cops. In this day and age that would be one of the first things done. At least, I would think/hope it would be.
That was the 1st incident. The 2nd one happened a few months later. It was summer now and I was on my bike and on my way home this time. There were two guys in a hot rod. They had driven around the block and I hadn't thought anything of it, figured they were looking for a house. But when they came up the second time by me and hollered out at me driving on the wrong side of the street I got a little scared.
I didn't recognize them or their car. My youngest brother and I used to get strange people saying hi to us all the time because of our oldest brothers. They were the "bad" boys and many of the druggies knew who we were from sight but we didn't know them. But that's not how this was. This was completely different. Those people almost always knew our names and came across hippie like. These guys didn't say my name and were quite menacing.
I dropped my bike on the sidewalk and flew up one my customer's sidewalks to their house pounding on their door. As soon as I did the driver took off, he flew around the corner into the alleyway. I leaned over the porch to look between the two houses and saw that he had stopped and was looking back at me. We stared at each other for a bit before I leaned back and started pounding again. I heard him take off and since no one was answering I jumped off the porch and ran next door. I pounded on that door too but no one answered there either.
I could hear the car still in the alley but going pretty fast so I went into hurry mode. I ducked low and ran up grabbed my bike and staying as low as possible went back to the house and hid behind the bushes under the porch. I had just finished hiding when they came into view. I could see them but they couldn't see me. I was hoping they would think the people had been home and let me in or that I had just taken off. Either way I was gone. They sat there for a few more seconds and then took off.
I heard them go into the alley again and I quickly hopped on my bike and took off for home looking behind me every few seconds. But luckily didn't see them again.
Having never heard of the Ted Bundys or any of the individual cases I somehow had the wherewithal to not take a chance and go for help immediately. I would hope that my friends would have known to do the same but I honestly can't say if they would've. I think part of what helped me think that way was growing up with 4 older brothers and all of their friends. I was surrounded by males and was protected from an early age. But although I was protected I still learned how to fight and take care of myself BECAUSE I was girl. It was very odd really.
I don't know if I got "lucky" those two days or if Someone was looking out for me or if it was just "coincindence" what those two men were doing at those times or if I was just savvy enough to elude two bad men or what. All I know is that I'm grateful nothing happened and for the most part I forget that those two incidents even existed. The only time I think about them is when a discussion happens and the memory surfaces again. Sometimes I talk about them and sometimes I don't.
That day I did because one of the girls was saying how she won't let her daughter ride her bike around the block without her. And one of the other girls said she thought that was a bit much since she could see her daughter the whole way. That's when I spoke up and said it wouldn't have mattered if my mom could see me those two days, which she could have, both those days, clear as day. She wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing about it if either man would have decided to do a grab and drive other then describe the vehicle.
I know there's such a thing as being too over protective but at the same there's also such a thing as you can never be too careful. Also, I'm not a mom so I couldn't even say what I myself would do. I'd like to think I'd be able to find a happy medium though. I remember telling my mom about both incidents but I honestly couldn't tell you her reaction. It's been too long so apparently whatever it was must not have been too dramatic because it obviously didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'm thinking she made sure I was ok and and praised me for doing the smart thing and going for help to homes of people I knew. At least I hope that's what she did.
Anyway, I did this post not because I wanted to discuss what to do or not to do with your kids but just to relate what happened to me when I was a kid.
Media quote of the day: I'm letting you have shotgun. But cuz it's cuz only 'cuz I'm goin' inside. - Slater - Dazed and Confused
This is the type of guy that would normally come out of the wood work that would know my brother and me but we wouldn't know them. Dazed and confused but harmless.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
So be it
So my birthday was nice and relaxing. That's because I didn't do anything at all but sit on my butt for it. HDitTy had to work and my family never does anything for them unless they're for kids. We had thought about going out for a good steak dinner tonight but circumstances negated that. And he has to work overtime tomorrow night and he works this weekend and, and, and so I'm gonna say it's not gonna happen and be ok with it.
Besides, we'll be having people over on Saturday the 15th to have game night for both our birthdays which is always fun. Also we'll be going to see REO Speedwagon on the 14th which I know is more for me than him so it's all good. We can have a good steak dinner any other time.
I have this feeling game night is gonna end up a bust though. I don't know why, I just do. I feel like no one is gonna show up except for Jim. We already know his sister (the older one) won't be able to make it because that's her weekend with her son and since he'll be with his dad the whole following week she really wants to be with him the whole weekend. Especially since she's been sick and in the hospital these last couple of days, hence the no steak dinner tonight among other reasons. Anyway, she's emotional now and wants to be with her son as much as possible and I don't blame her for that, that's for sure.
The one brother of mine that I invited was in a rush when I was telling him about it so I didn't get a commitment out of him so who knows. And I don't think HD has heard back from anyone else yet. Yeah, I'm not confident. I miss the days when it was a given every other Saturday night get together. So be it.
Media quote of the day: And if wishes were horses, we'd all be eatin' steak. - Jayne - Firefly
Man I miss this show. Another one cut too soon.
Besides, we'll be having people over on Saturday the 15th to have game night for both our birthdays which is always fun. Also we'll be going to see REO Speedwagon on the 14th which I know is more for me than him so it's all good. We can have a good steak dinner any other time.
I have this feeling game night is gonna end up a bust though. I don't know why, I just do. I feel like no one is gonna show up except for Jim. We already know his sister (the older one) won't be able to make it because that's her weekend with her son and since he'll be with his dad the whole following week she really wants to be with him the whole weekend. Especially since she's been sick and in the hospital these last couple of days, hence the no steak dinner tonight among other reasons. Anyway, she's emotional now and wants to be with her son as much as possible and I don't blame her for that, that's for sure.
The one brother of mine that I invited was in a rush when I was telling him about it so I didn't get a commitment out of him so who knows. And I don't think HD has heard back from anyone else yet. Yeah, I'm not confident. I miss the days when it was a given every other Saturday night get together. So be it.
Media quote of the day: And if wishes were horses, we'd all be eatin' steak. - Jayne - Firefly
Man I miss this show. Another one cut too soon.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
38 Today
Media quote of the day:
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Dance
You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Birthday by the Beatles
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday
I would like you to dance--Birthday
Dance
You say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too--yeah
You say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Another Weekend Update
Natalie - Whiskers came through her surgery just fine. Thanks for asking. We did get a little concerned though. I called HDiTty at 4:30 to make sure he was up and to see what they had said and they hadn't yet called. But all was well. For an extra $100.00 they would have done a biopsy on it to see if it were cancerous but we were satisfied with what they had told us be before that it was a cyst. We figured if it happened again then we'd worry about it then. But so far she hasn't had any other growths. And luckily they only had to take one tooth. They took her left eye tooth, the gum was a little red and pussy around the edge. But the back teeth which we thought would have been the worst weren't. So they just cleaned 'em up.
They sent her home with several syringes of pain medicine and amoxicillin in pill form. Silly, silly people. I can't believe they didn't give us the liquid form of the amoxicillin. But so far HD is doing a pretty damn good job of making her take the pill. Thank God they clipped her nails or we'd be all scratched up.
________________________
The wedding was nice. Apparently they worked at the same place but they met online. I don't know if I got that right but I think so. At any rate they seem very, very happy. They had a harpist and man was that chick really good! I wanted to clap after each song but of course it wasn't appropriate. She went to the reception to play there as well and when she was done she did get a rounding applause then. I had gotten a migraine before we had even left for the wedding, luckily not a real bad one, and I was very glad that the harp was the only music played the whole time.
And they did what I had wanted to do, forgo the receiving line and just walk around and thank everyone for coming at the reception. I hate receiving lines, they're too formal for one and for two as a guest unless you're family you don't know anyone but the couple (usually) and it's really awkward. And as the couple it's tiring having to hug and kiss person after person without a break. HATE.
________________________
Saturday morning we got up to watch a friend's kid tae kwan do tournament and also so HD could take some photos with his cool camera. Neo (the kid's nickname by his coach) won two of his four competitions and ended up in third place. He won a medal and a wooden plaque to hang it on. It was a lot of fun to watch these young kids throwing each other around. Some of them were as young as five. But it was also pretty sad. They'd get so intense and when they'd lose they couldn't help but cry. It was pretty hard to watch those times.
Saturday evening we went bowling with his dad and played four games. FOUR! I haven't bowled in months and I'm not the most active person around. The insides of my thighs are still paying for it. But we had a great time and that's what counts. I broke a hundred each game so I'm happy about that, I did better than I thought I would. Got a strike or two in each game so I was happy about that. In one of the games HD got four in a row. In one game his dad marked in every frame until HD mentioned it, that of course jinxed him in the very next frame.
_______________________
On Saturday both of us had noticed this humming noise but we both thought it was coming from the train yard not too far away from our house. But at the same time realized we could only hear it in certain areas of the house and barely outside where it should've been louder. By Sunday morning I figured it out. It was our sump pump. I was standing in our kitchen and realized the noise was loudest in that room and that was directly above the pump. So I go downstairs to check it out and it's pumping out water continuously and has been since Friday. Which is really when I had noticed the sound when I got home from work but didn't give it any thought. So I unplug it and watch the water start to fill up the hole and when it got about half way up I plugged it back in and it pumped it back out. I unplugged it again and set a timer for 13 minutes.
Yep, every 13 minutes I went back in and plugged it and then unplugged until HD got up. Actually even after he got up because he didn't fix it right away of course. It was actually several hours before it finally got fixed but that was ok. It's fixed for now but we'll need a new one eventually along with an ace-in-the-hole. Especially having all our electronic stuff in the basement. Silly, silly people we are.
So that was our exciting weekend. Can you stand it? Aren't you jealous? Thought you would be.
Media quote of the day: What's classier than bowling? - Xander - Buffy the Vampier Slayer
They sent her home with several syringes of pain medicine and amoxicillin in pill form. Silly, silly people. I can't believe they didn't give us the liquid form of the amoxicillin. But so far HD is doing a pretty damn good job of making her take the pill. Thank God they clipped her nails or we'd be all scratched up.
________________________
The wedding was nice. Apparently they worked at the same place but they met online. I don't know if I got that right but I think so. At any rate they seem very, very happy. They had a harpist and man was that chick really good! I wanted to clap after each song but of course it wasn't appropriate. She went to the reception to play there as well and when she was done she did get a rounding applause then. I had gotten a migraine before we had even left for the wedding, luckily not a real bad one, and I was very glad that the harp was the only music played the whole time.
And they did what I had wanted to do, forgo the receiving line and just walk around and thank everyone for coming at the reception. I hate receiving lines, they're too formal for one and for two as a guest unless you're family you don't know anyone but the couple (usually) and it's really awkward. And as the couple it's tiring having to hug and kiss person after person without a break. HATE.
________________________
Saturday morning we got up to watch a friend's kid tae kwan do tournament and also so HD could take some photos with his cool camera. Neo (the kid's nickname by his coach) won two of his four competitions and ended up in third place. He won a medal and a wooden plaque to hang it on. It was a lot of fun to watch these young kids throwing each other around. Some of them were as young as five. But it was also pretty sad. They'd get so intense and when they'd lose they couldn't help but cry. It was pretty hard to watch those times.
Saturday evening we went bowling with his dad and played four games. FOUR! I haven't bowled in months and I'm not the most active person around. The insides of my thighs are still paying for it. But we had a great time and that's what counts. I broke a hundred each game so I'm happy about that, I did better than I thought I would. Got a strike or two in each game so I was happy about that. In one of the games HD got four in a row. In one game his dad marked in every frame until HD mentioned it, that of course jinxed him in the very next frame.
_______________________
On Saturday both of us had noticed this humming noise but we both thought it was coming from the train yard not too far away from our house. But at the same time realized we could only hear it in certain areas of the house and barely outside where it should've been louder. By Sunday morning I figured it out. It was our sump pump. I was standing in our kitchen and realized the noise was loudest in that room and that was directly above the pump. So I go downstairs to check it out and it's pumping out water continuously and has been since Friday. Which is really when I had noticed the sound when I got home from work but didn't give it any thought. So I unplug it and watch the water start to fill up the hole and when it got about half way up I plugged it back in and it pumped it back out. I unplugged it again and set a timer for 13 minutes.
Yep, every 13 minutes I went back in and plugged it and then unplugged until HD got up. Actually even after he got up because he didn't fix it right away of course. It was actually several hours before it finally got fixed but that was ok. It's fixed for now but we'll need a new one eventually along with an ace-in-the-hole. Especially having all our electronic stuff in the basement. Silly, silly people we are.
So that was our exciting weekend. Can you stand it? Aren't you jealous? Thought you would be.
Media quote of the day: What's classier than bowling? - Xander - Buffy the Vampier Slayer
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