An Irish Bouzouki for a wee Jewish lass

My new instrument, the Irish bouzouki, I finally unpacked and, surprise of surprises, it was set up and tuned. I immediately cranked out The Water is Wide and it was lovely, it sounded great.  The instrument is a little bigger than I thought it would be and I need a good lesson in how to hold on to it.  Maybe the mandolin teacher will want to play it next week.  The frets are farther apart and while I can hit the ground running it will be at a trot and not a brisk pace.  It is tuned one octave lower than a mandolin but jeez the sound is deep and lovely.  Today, during the Jewish High Holy Days, I be a wee Irish lass playing a big tune.

A quickie

I did see the gut doctor today and I am to have a CT Scan and the dreaded colonscopy within the next week.  Oh, yay!  I so happy I could...wait a minute, that is the problem.  I had a great lesson tonight and I just looked over and saw Mister Gonif sprawled on the chair, thus so I am sharing a moment of calm with you.  Enjoy.

My Dear, why are you up at this Godforsaken hour?

Yes, after a mere two hours of sleep, restless at best, I am up at 1:11 a.m., showered and dressed for the day ahead.  Made no sense to stay in bed as my gut is very unhappy and I am up and down all the time.  Feels like I ate razor blades, all since I had some Mexican fare on Friday.  The jalapeños did me it.  I broke out in a sweat once I returned to work and got sick to my stomach.  I recovered sufficiently to go o Petoskey on Saturday but on the way home the sweats came back and the gut went its own way.  Sunday was calmer but now at 1:17 a.m. The pain has returned.  I took my ulcer medication and will call my GI doctor this week.  So now I am awake and an old episode of Leverage is on and I will try to sleep to that ambient noise.  And the upshot of the Petoskey trip is I didn't like the jerky I bought after all.  If I would have been able to taste it. I would have known but I was too urgy after lunch to eat anything,

And now for something completely different.  I received a Jewish New Year's card from Patricia.  It had no return address on it (as if I wouldn't have recognized her shaky handwriting).  Wished me a good year and how she was basically a good person as she recognized diverse holidays, and, in essence, is trying to worm her way back into my life.  Ain't gonna work but kudos for trying.  And maybe that is contributing to the ongoing gut problems.

And onto something else.  I joined Kehillat Israel, a Reconstructionist Synagoue in town.  It is based in an old school building in Lansing. Yes, Aunt Marilyn, I am now affiliated.  Dues weren't too bad for the first year and we will see what the second year is like, in about a year or so.  Dues, not passing the plate In front of ALL to see.  So I am trying to get a ride to Yom Kippur services on Saturday.  I know to break fast, if I am able to still eat by next Saturday, I will dine on a fine traditionall Jewish Meal of Chinese food from Asian Gourmet, a great dive of a restaurant that also delivers.

Okay, I am still not tired but my iPad is.  Good night all.

Petoskey Posse

Well, gentle reader, mayhap you missed yesterday's post. In truth you did not.  The Petoskey Posse was on the Jerky Jaunt.  Yes, Gastric, Br\ody's Mom and I went on the Great Jerky Jaunt.  A three hour drive to the pleasant burg of Petoskey, a resort town on the banks of Lake Michigan, home of, as I just discovered, to Gastric and mine favorite TV show, the Blacklist's Megan Boone.  Cool, eh? Anyway, we stopped midway up at Gastric's favorite rest stop and, well, rested a bit.  Brody's Mom did all the driving.  I had given her a GPS for her birthday and programmed it to go from her home to a restaurant on 321 Bay Street and had a fabulous lunch overlooking the Lake.  It was glorious, both the food and the view.  The place is the Palette, and was recommended by a friend of Captain Morgan's, and it certainly lived up to her hype.  After a leisurely lunch we walked the shopping district and I found way too much to buy at a store that specialized in olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  Then on to a kitchen store.  By then I was getting tired and Gastric had finked out on the walk as her knee was very sore.  We walked back to her people watching bench and headed to a toy store and then back to the car to go in search of JERKY!!!  I programmed the newly christened GPS, "Alberta"' to go to,Plath's Meats on East Mitchell Street.  Lo and behold we arrived prior to closing and we all purchased great beef jerky. Our quest had been very successful.  And Gastric and I talked about going up again, perhaps on a Friday night and staying overnight, getting up early for breakfast and a round of shopping.  On the way back I was feeling uncomfortable and sweating like a whore in church on Sunday which is my now somewhat normal reaction to stomach upset, either colitis or Ursula the Ulcer has returned.  Since last Friday when I was at a luncheon at the Kellogg Center on campus, I have been unable to eat without some gastric upset.  And, no, I am not actually related to Gastric.  I just have similar proclivities.  On the way back home I slept some and then turned into the beast that needed to get home NOW!  Brody's Mom wanted to take Gastric home and see her dog, but I didn't want to go.  I did protest, somewhat in the mode of shall we say a bitch.  They relented and took me home first for the beast must be obeyed.  Once home, I relaxed, took my meds and calmed down.  But the tummy continues to be an issue.  Being gentle to it today.  I did go to the farm market and got some lovely veggies and a great loaf of bread.  All of which I split three ways to give to Gastric and the Evil Nutella.

And thus ends a rather long post.

Practice practice and more practice

I feel like I am getting a better grip on the matter of the mandolin.  Chords are coming easier, I know proper fingering, even when I do it wrong.  I know how to correct my fingering mistakes now.  And Winging It is taking on its own life.  The song is going well, even if Gold Rush isn't.

Tomorrow the girls, Gastric, Brody's Mon and me, are going to Petoskey.  Looks like it will be a beautiful day for a ride.  I told Gastric she could ride shot gun as I am more comfy in the back seat, give my proclivity to ride the passenger side brake.  We have a lovely restaurant picked out for lunch and a number of butcher shops to check out on the great jerky hunt.

Sunday will be a day of rest and a day of going to the farm market.  But mostly rest.  Monday should be an awkward therapy session followed by some medical test and lack,of a post therapy nap.  Music will be delightful.  I will play Winging It for Ben.  I think, that is.

So, these are the Days of Awe, the Jewish High Holy Days.  In that light I offer the following words.  I apologize for anything I might have said or done to hurt or offend anyone,  let me know if you area amongst those in that camp and I will make the apology more personal.  That's how I shall roll.

Winging it

I think that is what I am going to call the new song I wrote, right now a mandolin instrumental with words to perhaps follow.  Figuring the chord structure out and I am happy with it thus far.  Make a nice gift got G. Wayne, Brody's Mom's grandson.  Winging It comes from his truncated name.  It's sounding good.  I will play it for Ben on Monday.  I did practice for forty minutes this morning and I am still having some problems with Bill Monroe's Gold Rush.  It will come.

I see my psychiatrist today.  The Soul Sucker used to think the only reason I saw him was to get drugs, which is a big "D'uh" in my book.  I am bipolar, for goodness sake.  I don't like taking all the drugs but they keep me stable and I never want to be that far out there again.  But according to her, they were recreational drugs and I took too many.  What a shit!  Yes, I emerged from the office with four prescriptions, a sheath of paper, but all necessary.  And the complaint was coming from a woman who didn't want to be off her anti-anxiety medication.  What a hypocrite.

So that is the basic game plan for the day.  Work, break. Work, lunch, work, break and work to be followed by shrink visit.  Later tonight a friend is coming over to pick up a chair I purchased that is too big for the condo,  a large bean bag chair.  Just no room for it.  Oh, and I forgot to mention.  I bought an Irish Bouzouki.  Or maybe I did.  In any event it has shipped and should be here soon.  I'll have to take it in to be set up.  But it is like a large mandolin, tuned the same way but an octave lower.  It should sound great, played with a mandolin or solo.  The mandolin option would sound great with good harmonics.  I hope it is here and set up by Monday and I can play with Ben.  I am so excited.

And BTW, Shana Tova.  Yes, it is the Jewish New Year, the Days of Awe, to be followed by Yom Kippur.  I am actually going to go to synagogue on Yom Kippur.  And I am actually joining the same synagogue.  Like you do.  But who knew?

Alright...I am off!

deep, dark secret...

I has one...Seems I have in a lovely MSU forest green canvas carrying bag with leather handles the remains of my late neighbor and friend Jerry as well as his late cat Sassy (no, they died at different times and I did not have the cat put down to accommodate Jerry's last wishes.  The cat developed kidney failure and passed).  So what is the dirty little secret?  I had the canvas bag under my end table and when I was in the midst of a cleaning frenzy, like you do, I discovered much to my chagrin that Gonif had puked on the bag.  I laughed, I cried.  I know it was Gonif as he is my only puker.  Well, i hastily cleaned the bag up and it is almost good as new.  Folks tell me, as I confess this transgression, that Jerry would appreciate the humor of the situation, as would his cat Sassy.  I actually feel awful about this so I believe confession is good for the soul.  I have since moved the bag out of harm's way.  We are supposed to scatter the ashes but I can't seem to bring myself to part with Jerry yet.  It's been over a year and I can still see him laying dead and cold on the hall floor of his condo.  So until some of the grief issues are resolved I am holding on to him and his memory.

There.  I guess I don't feel better afterall.

New tune

I have a tune in my head that is nicely transferring to my mandolin.  I thought would make a nice song for Brody's Mom's new grandson.  It sounds like a traditional fiddle tune, but played on the mandolin.  I am thinking of some words but I really think Brody's Mom might be able to help more with the lyrics. Maybe we can get together this week before the Petoskey trip and sort something out. The tune is just stuck in my head.  It is not a lullabye; it is more of a happy 'boyish' tune.  Perhaps an aire.  Peppy would describe it.  So I practiced some but was trying to figure this tune out.  I think maybe I will play it for the mandolin teacher Monday and have him tell me if it sounds like something altogether else.

Gastric was out with a migraine yesterday and I was all by my lonesome.  I worked through break and lunch and I still can't get caught up,on the dammed list from when I was out sick.  Getting closer but every time I get it down to o e thousand headings they load more records and I am back over two thousand headings.  Job security, as we like to boast.

Today I will walk with a friend to fetch lunch for me and the girls.  The weather has turned nice after a real pre-autumnal cold snap.  I think this may well be our Indian summer.  I fear that we are in for another nasty winter.  After so many mild winters we got hit like a house of bricks last winter and I think we are due for another one.  Many of my neighbors were without power for almost two weeks while me and the cats just across the street were fine.  It was tense for a while but we made it.  This was around the Christmas holidays.  Not a nice holiday for a lot of people.  I get chills just thinking about it.

Gonif is running crazily about the house.  I think he may be chasing Simcha.  Yankel is laying peacefully on the couch.  It is time for me to take my leave.  Adieu

Therapy and more

Therapy wasn't as bad as I had anticipated.  Actually, I didn't recall the substance of the session.  I think it was to reassure me that she wasn't going to dump me and that I wasn't causing her unnecessary stress or trauma.  I, on the other hand was making interesting slips of the verbal tongue accidentally saying vicarious victimization instead of Traumatization,   So, as usual, I can home and slept for a few hours before my lesson, which went pretty well.  I am wearing my wrist brace to play for a while.  It is helping the wrist I terms of pain and keeping it In the proper position to,play.  We didn't get done with lesson until almost 8:30.  I practiced for about forty minutes this morning and even with the brace the hand aches but not as bad.  So I am icing it and writing, probably not the best thing for it.

Gastric and I are having lunch with us today.  Mac and cheese and mandarin oranges.  Now, doesn't that sound healthy?  We've been eating better since I started taking lunches in for the two of us.  I have been losing weight, not perhaps as much as when I was sick.  But losing.  Yesterday, however, I had the munchies from the previous evening's zucchini bread festival.  But I am being more mindful about what I eat.  Tonight will probably be something.  Maybe a vegetarian dish, like ratatouille or pasta.

And as Grouch once said. "hello, I must be going..."

Updates

I just updated my iPad to the new operating system.  It takes a little getting used to.  It has the word suggestion line above the keyboard, just like the annoying one with the Android operating system.  And then there was the autobrightness option, which I immediately turned off.  I haven't done the Mac yet.  Basically all I use the Mac for is music.  The iPad is my go to tablet.  I am known in some corners as the techno-slut, due to my penchant for new technology.  I carry a different Android tablet with me for work, along with a cell for emergencies.  But at home I love my iPad.  We have to get Kathie's set up so we can do Face Time when we chat at night.

I have therapy today with Hyphen and before that a dental appointment for a cleaning this morning.  My mandolin lesson is tonight and my left wrist is sore again, which worries me.  I had that one surgically repaired less than a year ago and it is acting up again.  I think we will spend some time on my hand positioning tonight.  I have been icing the wrist and taking anti-inflammatory medication for the ache,  it may just be some arthritis in the wrist as the weather has been a little funky of late.  Cold, then warm and humid and then cold and wet again.  It's been a challenge few weeks for people with chronic pain issues.  We have a small support group for folks with chronic pain. We are taking a field trip to Petoskey for the day.  We will see the colors (which I am told is a big treat for the lovers of autumn, of which I am not one).  But aside from the color tour, we will have lunch and do some shopping and checking out various butchers for real beef jerky.  Oh, yes, we will talk about our lives with chronic pain, of which I think I may have less of than my compatriots.  But most just spend the day together away from the realities of everyday life.

One of the new features of the iOS 8 update is this:😘 😱.  I think this is a dehancement.  Who really cares about emoticons?  So I shan't be tormenting you with them.  I don't know if dehancement is a real word but We at the Library have used to for years to describe a update to a system that is either unwanted, unneeded or unnecessary.  But live with it I guess.

Okay, almost time for a long day.  See ya in the funny papers.🐱

Last day of summer

And it has gone by all too fast.  Did spend a nice day with friends and ran the roads some, which is something I haven't do e in quite some time, it was a good day.  Went to breakfast, did some shopping and got a nap in.  Was going to make an elaborate dinner but decided my tummy would be happier with something bland and light. Yes, this colitis reared its ugly head this afternoon. So a baked potato is on the menu.  Right now my gut is sore and I am very bored.  Only football on TV and the game is boring.  Nothing else appeals to me.

I am a little anxious about Hyphen tomorrow.  That may explain the gut reaction.  Vicarious Traumatization is on her menu and it is not something I have been doing to her but myself.  I am really growing weary of the stomach upset but am assuming at this point some of it is stress.

Next Saturday, homecoming at MSU, is a planned trip to Petoskey.  I am a little anxious about that.  I don't know why.  Maybe because I will miss my Saturday nap.  And then Sunday is such a short day.  Another month and the farmers will be gone for the season.  I am already tire of the cold weather. And it has just begun in earnest.  I did buy a pumpkin today to put outside my door in celebration if the season and changes.

What the hell.  Life goes on (until it doesn't any more).

Early bird

It's a little after 3:00 a.m. and I am awake and raring to go.  To go where I haven't a clue.  Showered, mandolin' and now I am icing my left wrist.  Yes, that old ache is back and I am treating rather I g than ignoring it as I did the last time when it turned out I torn cartilage in the wrist, and had to have surgery.  I want to rest the wrist the rest of the weekend and ice it regularly.  I just aches a little and it may be residual arthritis but I am not taking any chances.  Last time I did I couldn't play any instrument for almost nine months.  And that, sister, was intolerable and I was near suicidal because I had no music of my own.

Plans for today...yes, I has them.  Expecting some packages by FrdEx and they should be here by noon.   I am going to make short ribs in the fabulous crock pot.  A braising sauce of chilies, onions and peppers.  I have lovely flour tortillas and I think that will be sufficient.  Tomorrow is a lemon artichoke chicken cutlet.  That one I can play around with my rice cooker and have fresh veggies from the farmers' market.  Many sautéed zucchinis, onions and peppers.  So food wise I have a lovely weekend.  I really do enjoy cooking and trying new dishes,  and with all my new cooking toys it is even more fun.

MSU plays Eastern Michigan at noon.  I may have to check in on the game.  I need diversios s this weekend as Hyphen wants to delve into something that sounds rather difficult, that is Vicarious Traumatization.   It is basically where the caregiver, in this case me, is traumatized by the woes of others as I try to help them with their issues.  I think that is the gist of it.  And don't think I mean you.  You, my friend, are always welcomed to talk to me about anything and everything.  I don't feel particularly traumatized.  I will have to wait until Monday.  I thought she was going to say that I was traumatizing her but that is not the case.

And finally, last night a friend and I went to the Ten Pound Fiddle , a local folk music institution in the area celebrating g their fortieth anniversary.  We had a great time and talked about going to The Ark in that other city with that other university.  I have never been to The Ark but I have only heard good things about it.  Looking forward at some point to dinner out and a concert.

I love my music.  Music is my religion.  Amen.

Breathing easy today

Mal is out today and it's as if a weight has been lifting from the room.  There is breathing room, people are saying hello and acting pretty normal.  Fridays are a little loose anyways and this is good.  But it is so evident that Mal is out today.  It is, really.  I can hum with impunity.

Going with a friend to the Ten Pound Fiddle tonight.  Folk music at its best.  It will be a pleasant evening framed by a pleasant day.  Huzzah!!!

Pompous Ass Redux

I had a very nice write up in my union newsletter. The MSU Administrative Professional Association is the largest union on campus and is affiliated with the both the Michigan Education Association and on the national level with the National Education Association. Pardon the horn tooting but "toot toot"!

http://www.msuapa.org/?p=2166

Also nice yesterday was a mid-week "thanksgiving" meal.  Brody's Mom came over to celebrate the birth of her grandson who reside with his parents in Grand Rapids.  She couldn't get away from work to go see the child but is going tonight.  I thought a celebratory dinner was in order plus some aroma therapy to take the edge off an otherwise hectic day.  I made a small turkey roast, the leftovers being ground up for Gonif's special diet, with mashed potatoes, broccoli, cranberry relish and some of my fabulous cucumber salad.  We had a great time relaxing to the sounds of jazz with a Pirates baseball game on the TV (on mute of course).   She helped to clean up and left about 8:30.  Again, it was a very relaxing time and she was able to enjoy herself and her new found grandmother-hood.  She is going to spend the weekend with her daughter and son in law and the baby, G. Wayne, and be back at work with pictures on Monday.  I am so happy for her.

Looks like to be a good day at work as Mal has the day off and there will be no bitching allowed.  We can all breathe a little easier.  I still and working off a list that date back over a month but I am very hopeful that I can have that cleaned up by next Wednesday at the latest.  My boss, The Brainiac, is going to Estonia for a conference and will be gone for a week.  She will be available via email.  But I told her I would protect the catalog from the interlopers and make sure it was running smoothly, as best I can.

So that is about it for the time being.  I hope you enjoy the horns.

Pompous Ass

That's me! I realized my earlier posting today painted a rather Dalai Lama like portrait of myself and nothing could be farther from the truth. I am self absorbed and do things to please me and make me happy. Self-centered is how I feel right now. I do things for people and it make me happy. That sounds selfish. I give and I think my motives may be selfish as I keep feeling good about myself when I do something that could be viewed as a positive. Maimonides would think harshly of me. The greatest level of charity is to give before it is asked or needed and to do so anonymously. I think I fail on that count. I expect nothing in return and don't want anyone to feel obligated to me. I just want to live a good life and share my good fortune with others. But I am feeling bad now so mayhap it is time to break off this link in the chain. The High Holy Days are approaching and it makes me a little more thoughtful about my life, its meaning and what I can do for others. And all I can hope for is that, selfishly, my name be written in the Book of Life for another year. Brody's Mom and I are going to Synagogue on Yom Kippur and breaking fast (for me afterwards. I will have lots of time to ponder things. I like to go to Yom Kippur services especially in a year when a relative or close friend has passed. So this time is for Aunt Martha. I can only hope.

Ch-ch-changes

What is it about me that I constantly want to help people? I am very openly emotionally supportive and lately I have been helping people eat a better diet. Like making both Gastric and me homemade lunches so she/I/we eat less crap and eat a more balance diet. Another acquaintance I was able to get her to accept a protein bar in lieu of a donut. Try to keep healthy snacks at work for, mostly high protein items. I am always handing out a Kind protein bar. And I eat them as well. Really helps me get through the day. I have been eating somewhat better myself since I saw the nutritionist. I should see her again. I haven't totally adopted her suggestions, like drinking a smoothie for breakfast. I can't get past having a Coke first thing in the morning. But the rest of the day I do pretty well. But I also an very emotionally available to people and it's not that I get dumped on, but sometimes I wish some people who are not that close to me would keep their thoughts to themselves. I am not talking about close friends, like Gastric, Brody's Mom, the European trip buddies minus one. But there is a person who also sees Hyphen and she recently dumped on me and I don't know how to handle it and I am afraid I may have hurt a close friend in the process. In this case I am clearly in the middle. I should stick to handing out protein bars and juices. Eh? I also want to give a big shout out to Brody's Mom who is not a grandmother to a fine young boy child. Baby and mom (and grandma) all doing fine. A great day for the family.

Fuxed

After my poor experience with Doctor S on Monday I called the office back and asked that Dr. B review my chart, refill the anti-potassium medication and make me a new appointment with him. What did I find out??? Well, the dumb ass Dr. S is leaving the practice in October and I will never have to deal with her again, only with Dr. B. To say I wa upset when I spoke with the office staff is an understatement, and Dr. B immediately ordered th refill of the prescription in question. Shit! I was so upset. But I am so glad I will be seeing Dr. B from now on. I have much more confidence in him. I have only one kidney, having lost the left one to cancer ten years ago. I was a lucky one; no chemo or radiation, the tumor was encapsulated. But dealing with only one kidney and aging has proven to be a difficult proposition. High potassium levels, hyperparathyroidism issues, high phosphorus levels, all do not bode well for a long life span. I must protect what is mine. I am as careful as I can be but I must constantly advocate for myself with physicians. Ever since I was young I was the one who had to make doctor appointments. When I was nineteen my dad told me to call the doctor as I was sick with gastric issues and he thought it might be cancer. Why I had to take care of myself when I was still under the my parents' roof is still beyond me. But I did make the appointment, took myself to it and was promptly hospitalize with ulcerative colitis. Stress and more stress and a genetic predisposition reared it's ugly head and I was relegated to a life of permanent medication for the illness. Forty years later I still have issues but I can deal. My dad developed Crohns a year after my diagnosis and sixty years later his brother developed Crohns. What a family. My mother, who thought the reason I was stricken was stress related, suggested I start smoking to relieve the stress. Dummy me took up smoking. I smoked for ten years only to quit after the sudden death of my beloved grandmother. I kept thinking I was having a heart attack so rather than stressing myself out over that I just quit smoking. And took up another addiction, anorexia. That lasted until my bipolar diagnosis when that medication managed to help me to bulk up. I feel like this is my full medical history and I have. Save for a few details. But for many reasons I no longer smoke or drink, but I do have an occasional magic zucchini bread. Oh, well. Addiction, addiction, addiction. Now I am dealing with arthritic hands, although I did manage to practice the mandolin for forty five minutes this morning. Still sore and swollen, but that will lessen as the day wears on. Excelsior!!!

I am disappointed

Doctors...what the hell? My kidney specialist wants me off the medication that keeps my kidneys copacetic because it aggravates my colitis. I don't know, death by pooping or a slow, lingering death by kidney failure. I'll take the pooping. I am going to call back the practice and ask to be seen by the doctor who originally prescribed the kidney medication and get back on it. I have no confidence in the younger doctor because of this. I just feel like I am reaching the end of an ever shortening rope. Oh, fux. Oh, me or my. And issues in therapy are proving to be easier, NOT!!! One friend tells me one thing about another person and this person comes to me with other complaints. No wonder my gut is in an uproar. Sounds like a good day to finish the magic zucchini bread and call in well. But, alas, it is my long day and I have much to do. I should practice some more but my hands just ache today because of the cold and damp weather of this morning I am just fuxed. I think I shall cuddle with the cats and make the bets of it, his side of eating zucchini bread.

Oh, oh

I am woefully unprepared for my lesson tonight and very anxious about my appointment with the kidney specialist today. Having been left with only one kidney and doing my best to keep this one happy, my last labs were a bit off so I am very anxious, very much so. I am dressed in a full Hyphen today and I look simply divine, but my gut is in an uproar with nerves. The Colitis Gods are not amused. Hopefully it will settle down a trifle before I depart for work. So from having a nice weekend and pushing concerns out of my mind, they have come roaring back this morning, grabbing me. I am the Girl with Colitis going by, as the Beatles song goes. But, the day will go as days do and I can only hope for the best outcome possible. Just have my gut settling down would be a good thing. My kidney doc appointment is right after Hyphen so I may cut my session short and go early to the kidney doctor. Oh, life, so cruel, so gentle; make your damn mind up...dame colitis. I am afraid to cough or sneeze, a situation that should make Mal and all her various malcontents very happy. Green Tuna is right. It is a little too tense down on the west side of the building. Like California, everything loose rolls west and that explains so much that is wrong with the current set-up. All the crazies that were spread out over two large rooms are now compacted into one smaller room. The air pressure is palpable. Okay, I am taking my 60 year old body off for a day of work and doctors.

Good day

Well, dear readers, I had a successful day of cooking yesterday. The new crock pot performed as advertised and the short ribs were good, not great but good. It was the first time I tried this recipe and he first time I make so ethi g I always follow the recipe to the letter. The next time I make it I shall use more beef stock, less water and mor seasoning. Garlic, and more salt and pepper. Perhaps a tad more thyme or in lieu of,thyme a few bay leaves. Today I had a lovely. Walk to the farmers' racket and got more short ribs for another go next week. Also lots of veggies for tonight's dinner which is roasted vegetables and farfalle pasta. I am roasting eggplant, zucchini, onions, grape tomatoes and whole garlic. Tossed with olive oil and salt and pepper and the house smells spectacular. I may turn it I to a small casserole and top,it with mozzarella and Parmesan Regiano cheese and bake. I have some lovely rustic bread, a ciabatta, and will toast that up with garlic and a little olive oil. I am so happy in my kitchen. I reorganized the counter with thrum turntables that I received for my last birthday and I finally put then to,use. The counter looks organized and ready to go. What I think I might do it take a relaxing nap after th veggies are done and put th casserole together after I wake up. Brody's Mom and I went to a late breakfast today and had a very good talk. I am so glad she is a close friend and my Wharton buddy for shows and symphonies. We went to a place in Okemos that use to be a very upscale restaurant but is now a terrific Greek owned Coney Island. That have great breakfasts in addition to spectacular coney dogs. Seems like, dear reader, the weekend has been full of good food and friends, the symphony on Friday was magnificent. We had our usual good seats. We are so lucky here in MSU country to have a world class concert venue. Even the recently remodeled Fairchild Auditorium is a wonderful place to hear music and see the MSU Opera Theater. No knock on Detrot (well, yes, in a sense) but I am so luck to have movie here when I did and have been able to see the rise of MSU into a truly wonderful place of education and culture. I love it here. It is really my home and MSU has been my family. Yes, I have Brody's Mom, Gastric and her/our family. But at a low point in my life MSU has nurture me and provided a glorious place to work and great relationships with people. As Nanci Griffiths' opined "I Love This Town". And the house smells wonderful. Time to check,on the veggies and see what I want to do next. Tootle loo

We can breathe today

Mal is out for the day so there is a palatable sense of relief in the air. So nice to be able to breathe, fart, belch, sneeze and cough without the harrumphs from the other side of the cube farm. I just finished ordering storage items for my desk at home as I really need to tidy up some aspects of the condo. The drawers in the old desk are not suitable for a great deal of storage. And I think I will also tackle the long table and tidy that up as well. I am looking forward to a great weekend. Hopefully Brody's Mom's grandbaby will arrive soon and she can take off for a visit. Until then we are symphoning tonight. Maybe doing breakfast on Sunday. The prelude to all this is a calm day at work with a few meetings and a new fountain pen to play with. AND NO MAL!!! Life is good.

Meeting

I have a 10:00 meeting with my boss, The Brainiac, to discuss electronic theses and subject assignation. I just love that word. It will most likely last an hour so I will miss break and that's a big oh well. I really respect and like The Brainiac as she has such flights of intellect that it is fun keeping up with her. We have a great relationship and it is one, I believe, of mutual respect. Aside from my longest tenured boss, Justice's Mom, Brainiac is cool. And, like Justice's Mom, has a great sense of humor.truly an academic's academic. So we should have fun today. I finally have my lists below 2,500 hits so I may be able to finish my backlog by next week. Tonight is the first symphony of the season and that will make for a long day. But Lordy, how I love going to the symphony. I will take an energy drink tonight as I won't have time for a refreshing nap before going. And, it will be a late night. So here's to a quiet weekend of cooking short ribs for me and the Boys and steaming the house up on this first cool weekend of the season. I have had a taste for short ribs for a while and today the new crock pot will arrive so it will be an experience. I think mashed potatoes or buttered noodles as an accompaniment and roasted veggies. My favorite specialty grocery store has closed so I won't be able to get parsnips. Here's to Goodrich's. They had a long run and I miss them dearly. We will be getting a Whole Foods store in a year or so but that won't make up for all the good stuff Goodrich's carried. So long old pal. More room for student apartments, which apparently we need, but who really knows. Okay, Gastric and my long lost nephew are en route so I am en off...

Welsh rarebit

Yummy. Just as good as I remembered. Leftovers tonight. Also a shop at Kroger tonight as Gonif needs turkey and I still need potatoes. Hmmm,,Welsh rarebit over a baked potato...hmmm....but I think as this promises to be the first genuinely cold weekend thus far I may break out the short ribs and crock pot and warm the house with the smells of autumn. That or make a turkey breast and Gonif and I can eat well. Yankel and Simcha can share. Actually, the same would be true of the short ribs. Anyway, more UPS visits today and so e shuffling of accommodations to put things away. I am endeavoring to learn Bill Monroe's Gold Rush on the mandolin. Kind of frustrating but I think I have the melody down. The other stuff my teacher gave me to work on is pretty easy. But Gold Rush is proving to be a problem. I have made Gastic and me a lovely lunch. Since I started packing lunches for us both of us have been eating better. And I have a surprise for her today. A sweet treat for a snack. I am getting closer every day to catching up from the time I was off. No, children, I have no back up. Hell, I am indispensable, and,, as such, no back up. So the list I work off of daily is down from almost eight thousand to a little over three thousand hits. Busy, busy, busy. Well, time to hit the bricks. Later my friends.

UPS overload

Well, when I was so sick and not eating the only thing that sounded good was Welsh rarebit. And Huzzah! It arrived today. Gonna heat a tray up and make toast. Have a sliced tomato with it. I ordered a case, and that was the smallest amount I could get. And imagine that...it all fit in the freezer, very nicely I might add. Had a nice day and a lunch out with Dan the Man,,my financial guy. Had a great talk over lunch. By the the time we got back to campus the skies had opened and it was pouring. Dan gave me an umbrella to keep. What a guy. The Green Tuna Lady shot me an email today about hearing people breathing and how tense it was in he cube farm. She is right. But I just listen to music and try not to hum. Humming evoked a nasty outburst from Mal, who has taken to wearing foam ear plugs to drown out the ambient noise. She is such a crackpot. And,,of course, if she wants to chat she expects you to drop everything and pay close attention to her outbursts. Gad. So I am home and comfy. Had a bit of a nap and now to heat up my rarebit and indulge in some real comfort food. Hugs to you all...with the exception of Mal, who probably could benefit from one but disdains contact. Off I go.

Please don't breathe so loud...

We are packed like the proverbial sardines in Technical Services. Two large rooms have been combined into one smaller room and we are all on top of each other. To her credit the head of Tech Services has asked us to be consideration of others but some people, alright Mal, makes a point of telling every one how loud they are and she is one of the worse offenders of idle chatters and while she shot me an email about me humming, she hums herself. Rather than setting off a pissing match I have opted to turn the volume on my iPod up. I can still hear her coughing and humming but the music hath charms and all that. The worse part is people can overhear phone conversations and I am a tad worried that some conversations may become grist for the rumor mill, like when I call my doctor for lab results or to make appointments. Well, shit, I just hope people can learn some discretion. Today is the library open house I am working from 1-5 to cover for another person. I will most likely work until 6:00 tonight. Almost twelve hours. And I have to make some time up for my lunch meeting with my financial guy tomorrow. The life insurance he wants me to have keeps getting shot down because of all my health issues. I just might as well up and die...as long as I do it quietly so as not to disturb Mal. My open house table is with the ergonomic team wherein we approach students and weigh their backpacks to see it they are carrying too much weight. Just to make them aware of potential problems. Plus we have hints on computer usage, reading and gaming. It's a nice way to welcome the students to the campus. So that is my day. No crap, just complaining about Mal and her attitude. I thought and I thought and I can't find one nice thing to say about her so I won't

Monday, Monday

Resumed work full time today, save for an appointment with Hyphen. It was insurance request application renewal day. Such great good fun. Why do I need therapy. Je suis meschuganah. That is as the French say poop de shoe be;in psychiatric terms...Crazy. Bipolar in need of medication and constant attention. No problem, approved for thirty more visits. That will get me through the rest of the year and well into winter. So, here I sit, certifiable, waiting for my mandolin lesson to commence and see how badly I have done the last few weeks practicing. I have still felt under the weather really until just this past weekend. But I'd rather be sleeping than practicing. Getting up at 4:00 a.m. is not a great way to start the day, especially if you don't lay down until 11:00. Back to session. It was, generally. Speaking a good session. I did take a nap after I got home and now I want to lay down again. But, on an up note, it is a glorious day, soon to become a shit Ty week with cold weather arriving. Rain and cold. Yahoo. And now it is time to be a curmudgeon and call the condo association and complain about the appearance of the front lawn, which is littered with bikes and an easy chair. Hiking my pants up I am off.

Lazy Sunday evening

A friend from work sent me the link for this cat cocoon. Gonif has taken to it. It's not exactly cool tonight but after an evening's play with catnip scented bubbles he retracted to the safety of his Peruvian made wool cat cocoon. Here he is at repose,

Crone

I'll get to that later but there is a point. As I was walking to the farmers' market this morning I passed by a large number of very young women, most likely new minted freshmen, rushing various sororities lining my route. I was overwhelmed by the hormonalosity of the throngs and thought to myself how glad I am that those days have passed and I have become a crone. Let us resurrect the crone from the language graveyard from which it has lay in repose lo these many years. Let us resurrect it to a proper place and meaning, that being, a passage into wisdom, freedom and personal power. Let's get all Feminist. Look at all the handsome women of a certain age. Full of wisdom and and a passion for life. Let us celebrate our age, beauty and most important our collective wisdom. I am proud to be a Crone. So here I sit in my comfy living room dispensing wisdom to the world, such as it is. Say it loud, I am old and proud. I owe this realization to a precursor to the lovely Hyphen, a therapist who saved me from my crazy self and brought me into the sanitized light of my well being. Let's just call her androgynously Pat. I hope she is still out there, retired in her own Crone dome, enjoying her fruits of her labors. There for the grace of Pat did it not descend into a permanent crazy land of youth. I have emerged as a Crone. Life is good, even as we have grown older, yes, and wiser, and yes, closer to the end of days. It all come down to that.

Saturday

Switching between watching football and baseball and just ordered in some Chinese food. It has been a day of errands and had a lovely lunch with Gastric, the Sherpa and the Evil Nutella. Was able to hit Kroger and get some lovely short ribs for a future cold weather (yes, that is coming all too soon). Later the same day...hit Walgreen's and as I had a gift card and points only spent $60 for almost $100 of soaps, shampoos, aspirin, well, you get the idea. Couldn't decide on what to make for dinner so I finally thought fried dumplings sounded good. They will be here about 9:00. I also received a phone call from an Ex (not THE EX) who was my realtor who told be a classmate from college had passed away suddenly. So Honest Bon and I talked for a long time, reminisced and then ended up talking about our own fragile health. It is hell getting older but it beats the option. Back to lunch. Sherpa and I talked about her future plans for schooling and a potential career. I'd like it if she could shadow me for a day as I think she'd make a fabulous librarian, given her love of reading and her discipline, she is a senior in high school this year but wise beyond her years and has a good head on her shoulders and lots of good sense instilled by her dad and Gastric, her grandma. She and Gastric remind me so much of me and my grandmother. That was the best familial relationship I ever had. I felt truly loved by one person. Oh, there were some rough spots and my whole family seemed to think that withholding affection was the best form of discipline, which really fuxed me up. But more on at another time. With Gastric and the Sherpa they have a special bond that is so lovely to see. So that was my day. Lunch out, errands and reminiscing. Okay. Onward to baseball.

So long loading dock

This is the last day this 'summer' where early entrance to the library is via the loading dock. Come Sunday night we resume 24/7 operations and don't have to watch the loading dock. This really signals the end of summer for me, it was nice sitting with Gastric in the morning on the dock waiting for the ducks, who are apparently late sleepers and have not appeard since July. Of course the hawk may have had something to do with that but who knows. So on the last day of dock duty, until Christmas break, we shall observe a moment of silence for the summer gone by. A topic change, I had my first pizza in a month last night and that was not a smart move. Body wasn't ready for the influx of grease. So today's lunch of a light salad may be just what the doctor ordered. If I eat at all. Don't tell Gastic, who has been monitoring my food intake since the great illness of 2014. Right now I just want an iced tea and some quiet time this morning. Insights, I ain't got them. Alright, maybe one. My dad used to say 'to be a king is not worth it', only to be contradicted by Mel Brooks years later when he opined 'it is good to be king'. I am of the latter opinion. Dad world's view was too narrow. Sure, with rank comes responsibility but also great reward. Who amongst us would opt to be a peasant rather than a king? Alright. So that wasn't a great observation. And A sad farewell to Joan Rivers. No, I won't have to close her dates in the authority file but a sad passing nonetheless. 'Nuff said.

Road trip a-coming

Well, the great beef jerky search has evolved into a road trip the last weekend of the month. Brody's Mom, Gastric and I are going to take a nice Saturday drive to the town of Petoskey wherein Gastric has found at least two butchers that make their own jerky. One doesn't sound that good as they make it with cherries and cherrywood smoke, but the other sounds like the real deal. Come the end of the month the colors may have started to change that far up north so we should be treated to a nice show. A few weeks later and we might miss the display. I don't know what it is but the changing season of fall leads to the ohs and ahs of the season. All this does is make me depressed. It means winter is coming and after the last winter of long duration I am not in the mood for a repeat. And according to the Old Farmers' Almanac we are due for yet another horrific winter. Yes, the first snow is pretty, but when it is gray from exhaust and tires and lingers into late April I scream in the dark night of the soul. Spring is my time of year...as in Hope Springs and yes it does. Already I am sad. Students are back, the Lugnuts are done for the year, football is in full swing, nights, well, the nights haven't started to cool yet, but we had such a mild summer. Why, on the 13th of August I was walking around in a sweatshirt as the night had gotten so cold. So, this ode of a road trip has turned I to a piss and moan about the change of season. Greet the color change, ye mighty, with shock and awe, but it does not bode well. The first cold winds will come, the skies will get November slate and before you know it another year is gone and we are knee deep in snow.

Morning Blog

In spite of the short week, it is the first full week of classes at MSU. Kind of a crazy time of year until routine takes hold in mid October. Should be a good day to shop, Krogering that is. Gonif has decided he likes a new deli sliced turkey and has turned his elegant nose up at the ground turkey. Who wouldn't? At least he is eating and not doing the proverbial scarf and barf. So he can have the $5 a pound shaved turkey. Until he decides maybe ham would be a nice change of pace. But He Who Must Be Obeyed has spoken with his appetite and he shall be obliged. The others are fine with the kibble and the treats. But the G Man puked too easily on that diet so he gets special treatment, which also befalls the Other two in the form of extras. Simcha is more the glutton than the big boy, Yankel, which is surprising. Yankel is not overly fond of human food, other than the occasional KFC and turkey. But he is not a big eater. Just a big boy. As for me the jerky odyssey continues. The Welsh rarebit should be here this week pro priding a much needed change in pace for me. And I will endeavor, no, persevere to lose another ten pounds in a more rational manner than the first twenty of the last two months. The I am not hungry diet. The appetite is back and I must make more rational choices about my food. Or not. Who knows how long we have and why not enjoy jerky and rarebit? And for those of you who may be unfamiliar with rarebit, it is basically a beer laced cheese sauce served over toast points. Yummy...topped with a broiled tomato or some crumbled bacon, double yummy. Okay, off to work to make the bacon to buy the bacon.

In search of...

Ever since The Ex took me to the Petoskey I have been in search of the perfect beef jerky. Up there they had a butcher who made beef jerky from brisket and it was meaty and spicy and all very chewy. I am in search of a similar experience but so far have yet to find anything close. There is a butcher shop in Williamston that is supposed to have something not unlike that in Petoskey. So today's find has been bacon jerky and some brisket jerky. Prepackaged of course, not like the butcher's. Ah, for some succulent beef jerky with spice and bite. Yes, every since I have been ill I have been off my feed so I am trying to get foods that sounds good and that I will actually eat. Which is why I ordered a case of Stouffers Welsh rarebit. True comfort food. Oh, I'll share with you all but not too generously. Twelve boxes of rarebit to find space in my overburdened freezer. However, Gastric has offered to keep some for me and not eat any. What a gal! I think I can keep six in the house and eat three right away. So let's hope the Jerkies I have purchase today come closer to my ideal. Until then, ham sandwiches and bread and butter pickles. But at least I am eating once again. I'd still want to lose ten pounds but not like I lost the first twenty. Cheers

Rainy Days and Mondays

Today we celebrated Gastric's birthday with a very wet Lugnuts' ball game. In the sixth inning the skies opened and we departed the stadium, splashing in puddles all he way to the car. Gastric had a good time,,even if we didn't see the end of the game. The rain was gentle at first and then...WHAM! Soaking wet. Luckily no thunder of lightening but my gosh did we get wet. Baptizing as it were Gastric on her natal day. Gastric's granddaughter, The Sherpa, fetched me a hot dog before the rain commenced. It has since stopped raining completely. And the sky...blue. It figures. I got home and changed I to dry clothes and will blow dry my hair in a bit. Basically, I won't need a shower today. Rain water has washed me clean. And it was fun playing in the puddles. Brody's Mom leading the way, splashing and laughing. It was a little tense driving in the rain and some idiot virtually cut us off, but Vicky the. car got us home safely. I think I am going to finish drying off and get me a Coke. In any every...Happy Birthday to Gastric. We are a couple of old ladies now, but raring to go and have more adventures.