What am I doing here?

I was watching the Food Network last night. Alton Brown hosting a show called "Kitchens of the Future". It was a pretty cool show. Lots of cool fun gadgets that may or may not actually hit the market. Some of them were just lame. Like a spoon that tells you when something is sweet or sour etc... How stupid is that? I mean seriously folks, just taste it. Anyway, after that was over I left it on FN.

Rachael Ray was going to Santa Barbara, California. She visited places I had been to. Santa Barbara Seafood Company on the SB pier and Cold Springs Tavern, a biker bar and grill nestled in the hills. I was becoming very homesick. My hometown of Oxnard is a mere 40 minute drive south, and a Saturday afternoon drive into SB was something I enjoyed on several occasions.

After that show, the next episode had Rachael venturing into Los Angeles and surrounding areas. They went by Neptune's Net in Malibu. (Best clam chowder on the west coast.) Then she went to The Inn of the Seventh Ray, a vegetarian restaurant that my ex and I frequented in Topanga.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life here. My best friend is here, I have made wonderful new relationships here, I have a great house that I love (most of the time), I have a great job and of course, the best part, I live here with the love of my life, my husband Beau (who is, I might add, an Oxnard kid too). But, I do find myself daydreaming of being home again. I miss the beaches, the mountains, the diversity of its residents, skate punks and aging hippies alike. I miss bonfires at the beach, strolling through the many, many shops on Hollywood Blvd. and Melrose. I miss the farmers markets. Hell, I even miss the old Mexican ladies who hawk homemade tamales on Sunday afternoons. I realize now how much I took it all for granted. As a kid, it never occured to me that there was any other way of life.

I do really love living here in OK, but I can't imagine growing up here. Furthermore, I can't imagine growing old here. I don't know what the future holds, but one thing I do know, I need a beach or a mountain range to marvel at. The sweeping windy plains of OK are alright for now, but I can't see myself staying here forever. Will I go back to California? Unless we have LOTS of money, it is quite doubtful, but, I do know I don't want to die in OK.

More medical crapiola

I have yet another follow up on my toes today. They are healing but very VERY slowly. I was thinking about them last night. I am so used to caring for them and being conscious of them, that I don't know if I will ever be normal again. I mean, am I going to roll up my pants leg to get me feet in for the rest of my life? When walking about barefoot, will I always attempt to point my big toes skyward? Will I always be acutely aware of how close someone is standing in proximity to my feet? I don't know, but it sure is getting old.

On another note, I am meeting with a Diabetic Educator this afternoon. I am looking forward to this as I have no idea what I am doing. As far as my diet is concerned, all I know to do is to cut out the obvious. Sugar, pasta, white bread etc... But other than that I am floundering. It's a good thing I like salad. Right now I am enjoying a breakfast bowl from Carl's Jr. that Lashell was good enough to get for me. It's like a breakfast sandwich without the bread. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but, it's no sammich. *sigh*.

But, I digress, it could be much worse. While diabetes is a life-long disease, it is also a controllable one and I will live a long, happy life with a few modifications and some meds. I seriously need to get off my big, fat, white ass and do some exercise. I really want to start walking, but I cannot get into my walking shoes with my damned toes like this. I know it sounds like an excuse, but my feet get really sore and tired if I try to walk in these sandals I have been wearing. Bleh... I need to stop complaining!!

A musical meme

Answer the following questions using only the song titles from a chosen musician or band.

1. Musician I chose:
   Queen
   
   
2. Are you male or female?
   Foxy Lady (I know it was a Hendrix tune, but they did a remake and I am counting it)
   
   
3. Describe yourself:
   Fat Bottom Girls
   
   
4. How do some people feel about you?
   Friends Will be Friends
   
   
5. How do you feel about yourself?
   I'm Going Slightly Mad
   
   
6. Describe your ex:
   See What a Fool I've Been
   
   
7. Describe your current significant other:
   You're My Best Friend
   
   
8. Describe a best friend:
   Bohemian Rhapsody
   
   
9. Describe some one who is no longer your friend:
   Where Are You Now
   
   
10. Describe where you want to be:
    Freedom Train
    
    
11. Describe how you live:
    Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon
    
    
12. Describe how you love:
    Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
    
    
13. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?
    The Millionaire Waltz
    
    
14. Share a few words of wisdom:
    Stop All the Fighting
    
    
15. Now say goodbye:
    Don't Look Back

Tagged by Steph

I have been tagged by The incurable Insomniac.

1. What were you doing 10 Years Ago?
   I was living in Colorado with my now ex-husband and being generally miserable.
   
   
2. 5 Years Ago?
   Living in Kansas with my now husband Beau and working for ACME Brick as an office manager.
   
   
3. 1 Year Ago?
   I was in the very very beginning stages of negotiations of the sale of my home.
   
   
4. Five snacks you enjoy:
   Now that I know I am diabetic, the list has changed, so it now is as follows:
   Pig Bubbles (aka fried pork rinds)
   Sugar Free wafer cookies (peanut butter is way yum!)
   Cottage Cheese
   Vienna Sausages
   Tuna salad with soy crisps
   
   
5. Five songs you know by heart but wish you didn't:
   YMCA - Village People
   Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
   Theme from the Brady Bunch
   My HS alma mater
   The Boston market "Eat Steak" song
   
   
6. Five things I would do with a LOT of money:
   Pay off all debt (house, bills etc..)
   Take care of all my friends and family
   Buy a new reliable vehicle, or 2
   Seeing as I now have quit my job, I would travel the world
   Settle somewhere in Europe
   
   
7. Five things you would never wear:
   An OSU t-shirt
   Diamonds
   A cowboy hat
   Fake hair
   Any religious symbol
   
   
8. Five things you should never have worn:
   Leg warmers
   Stretch pants
   Leather overall shorts with fishnet stockings
   A gold wedding band
   Catholic school uniform
   
   
9. Five things you enjoy doing:
   Hanging with my peeps
   Playing video games
   Entertaining
   Napping on Sunday afternoon
   Cooking
   
   
10. Five bad habits:
    Smoking
    Interjecting unsolicited opinions
    Leaving my shoes where ever I have taken them off
    Not replacing the TP
    Not replacing trash liners
    
    
11. Five people who must fill this out:
    I think Steph tagged 'em all!

I knew I was sweet, but this is ridiculous

Last weekend was an adventure. Saturday morning our sewer was backed up AGAIN, so we decided to try our new drain bladder. It is a device that you hook up to your garden hose and shove down into the main sewer line. It fills up with water, and then lets the water go in a huge burst. This is to get the clog unstuck. It will do this over and over until the clog has been completely swooshed away with the force of the water.

So anyway, Beau hooked the damn thing up and shoved it in the line and just let it go. He went off to work and I monitored the progress. I pulled the thing back out and was puzzled because it didn't seem to be working, so I tried just filling it up outside of the main. Hmmm...it's not filling. Must be a defective bladder. (I know how funny that sounds.) So, I pack the thing up and through some miracle I find the receipt, and decide to take it back to Lowes.

OK. New bladder in hand, I hook it up and stick it down the hole. (Why I didn't test it first is beyond me.) About an hour and a half to 2 hours go by. It is a beautiful day, I decide to open all the windows in the house. I go into the office to open that window, and discover that the carpet is soaking wet, from the back wall and in a good 5 feet or so. HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! I run outside, pull the thingy from the main again, and discover the problem. The bladder would have worked just fine if the hose had been spewing water out of it, instead of backing up into my house!!!!!!!!

WOW. One problem escalated into 2 problems. Crapiola! Well, I called the Home Warranty company and of course, no one is available until Monday. In the meantime, I think to myself, hopefully we can at least hook the bladder up to one of the other 2 faucets outside. But the hose is too short. I need to get groceries anyway, so off to the Evil Wal*Mart faction I go. Hooked up the thingy to a different faucet and shoved it back in the hole. At least this time it was working properly. Still didn't resolve the plumbing issue, but it was filling up. Beau finally came home in the afternoon, and being as we had no sewer system, we decided that it was necessary to vacate.

We ended up in Tulsa at an extended stay hotel. You know the kind that have little kitchens in them so you aren't spending a bunch of money on eating out. We came back to Stillwater on Monday and had a plumber out to fix the sewer problem (FOR NOW). Apparently, we have broken pipes. We have time before we have to get them fixed, but it will cost around $2000.00.

*sigh*

I had a pre-existing Dr's appointment on Monday as well. A follow up appointment for my toes. The Dr. looked at them and could see that they are not healing right. He asked me if I was a diabetic, I replied, "Not that I know of." So he decided to do a blood sugar test. Low and behold, I popped 297. Normal levels are somewhere between 70 and 90. So he says to me, "There's your problem, dear. You're an undiagnosed diabetic!"

I knew it, I just knew it, but I needed the kick in the ass he gave me to face it and finally do something about it. An appointment was made for me to see Dr. English, a family practionioner here in Stillwater, the following Thursday. She confirmed what I already knew. So, now I am on diabetic meds and testing my blood sugar twice a day.

So it's official. I am a diabetic. But the sewer is running fine.

Habits and addictions

It's funny how one gets used to things being a certain way. We don't tend to realize how much we take those things for granted until they are gone, or even delayed.

My dearest friend and favorite blogger, The Incurable Insomniac, has been rather under the weather and has been unable to blog. It has only been 2 days, but it feels as though it has been weeks!! Reading his blog is part of my morning routine. When I get to work, it is usually one of the very first things that I do.

I have known Steph for almost 20 years and have a fairly good grasp on how he thinks and emotes. In fact, we are more like siblings than merely friends, but I have found that I am still learning more about him and continually getting to know him through his blog.

Get to feeling better soon Stephooch! I need a fix! (Jeez, sounds like it's all about ME dosn't it?) ;) No seriously, I hope you get to feeling well again.

If you believe...they put a man in the beans

This is kinda cool. See if you can find the man in the pile of coffee beans.Yes, he is in there.

Scientists say if you can find the man in 3 seconds or less then your right brain is developed better than most people. 3 seconds to one minute, then your right brain has developed normally. More than 3 minutes, then your brain is functioning slowly and you need more protein.
I found him in less than a minute. Once you find him, you will wonder why it took so long. LOL.